Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-10-31

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Prime Minister in London. No positive stance unless the faits accomplis of the military aggression are legitimized.

[02] Turkey's Ambassador to the US calls on Kurds to respect the unity of Iraq but calls "TRNC" the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus.

[03] Mr Talat met with Condoleezza Rice.

[04] Mr Talat continues Rauf Denktas´ efforts to prove to the world that the two communities cannot live together.

[05] Ankara and Talat took over the administration of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce.

[06] The Settlers' Association conveyed letters to UN Secretary-General and the British Prime Minister Blair signed by 10 thousand persons.

[07] VATAN supports that Talat was addressed as "president" during his visit to Washington.

[08] Aliyev calls on Islamic countries to support the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[09] The illegal Near East University became member of the EUA.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Prime Minisiter in London. No positive stance unless the faits accomplis of the military aggression are legitimized

Erdogan held a press conference after attending the Informal Meeting of EU Heads of State and Government in London.

Replying to a question about implementing the agreements Turkey has signed with the EU, Erdogan said: "Whatever the outcomes will be, we will not adopt a positive stance as regards to opening of ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot side if the blockade on Turkish Cypriots is not removed. What did Northern Cyprus do that it deserves to be exposed to such an implementation? As Turkey, we will immediately do what we should if they end the blockade. We have always been the constructive party. Now we expect a positive approach from them."

When a journalist said, "Austria will take over the EU rotating presidency after Britain. Do you have any concerns that actual negotiations may not start in Austria's presidency? When can the actual negotiations start?" Erdogan said: "Actual negotiations may start within this year. If the talks do not start within this year, they may start in the first six months of 2006, under the presidency of Austria. There is not any impediment for the start of actual negotiations. However, how long the talks would last depends on the course of the negotiations. There is no cause for concern."

Replying to a question about his meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Erdogan said: "Schroeder had very sincere support both before and after December 17th and October 3rd. I believe that this support will continue in the coalition government. The performance which Britain put forward during its presidency particularly in start of negotiation process was very clear. We had the opportunity to discuss all those during our meeting. The talks will continue."

In London Mr Erdogan opened the Turkish Studies Center set up in the London School of Economics (LSE), on Thursday.

Speaking during the ceremony Mr Erdogan said: "We do not have a decision yet regarding approval of the Customs Union Additional Protocol in the Parliament. Talks continue. We will make a decision after meetings with the commission. There is no clarity on the issue."

Replying to a question of the participants about Cyprus, Erdogan said Turkey continued its positive approach which it had displayed on April 24th referendum.

Recalling that Cyprus became a full member of the European Union (EU) a short time after the referenda, Erdogan said Turkey had difficulty in understanding the existence of a member having "border problems" (as he called the occupation of Cyprus by 40,000 Turkish troops) within the EU.

Erdogan said UN forces were across the ceasefire line on the island adding: "As the UN forces are still there, this means there is Greek Cypriot administration and TRNC there. If the blockade on TRNC is removed, Turkey will remove its embargo on Southern Cyprus regarding the ports and airports."

[02] Turkey's Ambassador to the US calls on Kurds to respect the unity of Iraq but calls "TRNC" the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus

"The USA should urge the Iraqi Kurds, who have announced their commitment to the idea of united Iraq, to keep their promise, Turkey's Ambassador to the USA Faruk Logoglu said on Friday.

Commenting on Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani's visit to Washington, in a meeting organized by Turkish-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Logoglu said: "What is important is the declaration of the Iraqi Kurdish group, published in The Washington Post, that they are committed to one and united Iraq. Everybody, particularly the USA should urge the Kurds to keep this promise."

On the other hand, Logoglu referred to the Cyprus problem, and said that if sanctions on `TRNC´ (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) were lifted, the Greek Cypriot administration could be made to agree on a settlement."

[03] Mr Talat met with Condoleezza Rice

"Mehmet Ali Talat, the (self-styled) President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) said on Friday that he asked the US to continue steps for ending the "isolation" of Turkish Cypriots and to encourage other countries and international organizations to do the same thing.

Responding to questions of journalists after meeting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Talat said: "It has been a very good meeting; we have explained all of our views.

We explained that our number-one target is the solution of the Cyprus problem, unification of Cyprus. We asked for the end of isolation basically because we want solution of Cyprus problem. We requested the US to continue its initiatives to this end."

Mr Talat added that he didn't ask for a concrete demand from the US, adding that he asked the US to continue its current policy.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side was determined for settlement of the Cyprus problem, Talat said that the Annan plan was the only one on the table. When a Greek journalist asked Talat "you mean the Annan plan with its existing form?" Talat said: "Certainly, as it is. If one side asks for an amendment, it should make proposal. Turkish Cypriots approved the plan."

On 29.10.05 Ankara Anatolia news agency reported the following from Washington:

"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat said on Saturday that he would ask the UN to take an active role for solution of Cyprus problem during his meeting with Secretary- General Kofi Annan to take place in New York next week.

Holding a press conference, Talat said that the Greek Cypriots were not against a UN process, but they did not want to share power and political equality with Turkish Cypriots. He also said he was hopeful about a settlement.

Commenting on the news that the USA was in search of a military base in TRNC, Talat said: ''These are only conspiracy theories. Such a proposal was not made.''

Talat said that Britain was not successful as a ''guarantor state'' in Cyprus, when referring to Britain's stance on Cyprus.

On his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Talat said: ''Today, Turkish Cypriots are speaking the world language. And, its reunification vision is appreciated. This is why Rice invited me. As Turkish Cypriots, we want our rights and political equality. And, this can be achieved by a settlement.''

Talat noted that he reiterated their demand for direct flights to TRNC (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) during his meeting with Rice, and deemed direct flights as a step that could end isolations ''in symbolic sense''.

On the other hand, Talat said that he did not get any concrete promise about end of the `isolation´ of `TRNC´."

Istanbul NTV television (30.10.05) broadcast that the self-styled President in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, who is having talks in Washington, said that Turkish Cypriots now have a vision for a solution in Cyprus, that this is appreciated across the world, and that this is why US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice invited him [to the United States]. Talat said that the isolation [of north Cyprus] will be overcome in time, though not in the near term, thanks to the solution policy his (self-styled) government is pursuing. In a special interview with NTV Talat noted the difficulty of the problems that the Greek Cypriots have created within the EU for the Turkish Cypriots as well as Turkey.

Talat said that he asked the United States to continue its steps to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots and to encourage other countries as well as international organizations to do the same.

US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said that [Talat's meeting with Rice] echoes the efforts of the United States to find a fair and lasting UN-backed solution in Cyprus for the last 30 years.

Stating that such meetings underscore Washington's support for the political forces on the island, McCormack said: "These meetings help to reduce economic differences between Turkish and Greek Cypriots by easing the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots in a way that supports the reunification of the island."

Meanwhile, Douglas Silliman, Deputy Director of the Office of Southeastern European Affairs at the US State Department, said that the United States is doing everything it can to ease the "isolation" measures. However, no progress has been made on the issue of direct flights [to occupied Cyprus] or upgrading the status of the US mission in occupied Cyprus.

Talat said that in New York he will tell UN Secretary General Kofi Annan about the need for a new solution process in Cyprus. He added that Britain has succeeded in getting accession talks started between Turkey and the EU but that its role as a guarantor power in Cyprus has been unsuccessful.

[04] Mr Talat continues Rauf Denktas´ efforts to prove to the world that the two communities cannot live together

"The (self-styled) Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat sent a letter dated October 12th to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, underlining that Greek Cypriots have assumed a racist, chauvinist and ultra-nationalist attitude towards Turkish Cypriot `people´ recently.

In his letter, Talat noted that it should be remembered that to promote nationalism among Greek Cypriots, the Greek Cypriot administration has declared 2005 as the "Year for the Remembrance and Honouring of EOKA Liberation Struggle".

"Nevertheless, Turkish Cypriots are determined to continue to tread the path of unification in the island. It is obvious that the good will of one side is not enough for achieving progress towards that end," he stressed.

Talat stated, "we call on the international community and in particular the EU to urge the Greek Cypriot administration to take necessary steps for the immediate cessation of all forms of discriminatory acts against Turkish Cypriots."

Talat said: "Lately, T-shirts carrying a racist and chauvinist slogan 'A good Turk is the dead Turk' worn by the Greek Cypriot soldiers during 1990s have again reappeared in Greek Cypriot National Guard camps in South Cyprus. This time, there was a minor change in the slogan, 'The only good Turk is the dead Turk'."

On the other hand, Talat stated: "The established practice of maltreatment of Turkish Cypriots in the Greek Cypriot prisons was also confirmed in the report of Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles, the Commissioner of Human Rights of the Council of Europe, dated February 12th, 2004."

[05] Ankara and Talat took over the administration of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce

The winner of the election was the "New Formation Group" headed by Erdil Nami. The Formation won all the seats of the 50-member KTTO Assembly.

In its meeting tonight, the new assembly will elect its 9-member administrative board and chamber's chairman.

Commenting on the issue, Turkish Cypriot AFRIKA newspaper (31.10.05) writes that "Ali Erel is gone as well with instructions of Ankara". The paper argues that after the big increase of its power with Ankara's support, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) began to "clean one by one" everybody with whom it has been cooperating in the past and with whom it has organized the "big rallies at the squares". The Peace and Democracy Movement, the Communal Liberation Party, the Cyprus Socialist Party and the New Cyprus Party "have been put aside upon the instructions of Ankara", notes AFRIKA and adds, inter alia, the following: "All the associations, societies and trade unions were tied to the CTP and put under its control. Those who resisted were done away with. ...Erel paid the price of acting against the policies of Ankara...".

Meanwhile, in statements to daily KIBRIS newspaper (31.10.05) Erdil Nami, the chairman of the New Formation Group who is expected to be the new chairman of KTTO, said that they would deal with the problems of the business world with an objective approach and exert efforts so that the necessary "legal arrangements" are made.

Mr Nami accused the Chamber's former administration of behaving like a "main opposition party" and of forgetting its real duty. "We will have the Chamber of Commerce function as a real chamber of commerce", he said.

Arguing that the Erel administration has always been accusing the self-styled government in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus and has not supported the "right steps" it had made, Mr Nami said that the new administration believes that the foreign policy of the "government" was "right and successful".

He said that they supported the accession to the EU and a solution based on the Annan Plan, but they would be very demanding on the issues of the equality and bi-zonality.

Mr Nami noted that they were against the opening of the ports of Turkey to the Republic of Cyprus and that they supported the opening of all ports, including the occupied ports of Cyprus, at the same time.

He concluded: "We do not want Turkey to recognize a structure from which we are absent. Turkey is not in a weak position, as in 1878. On the contrary, it is the shining star of the Middle East. Therefore, it does not have to accept unbalanced things which are put before it. From now on we will support Turkey's decisiveness as well".

I/Ts.

[06] The Settlers' Association conveyed letters to UN Secretary-General and the British Prime Minister Blair signed by 10 thousand persons

The Settlers' Association handed over a letter to a UN official at Ledra Palace check point in order to be conveyed to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. In the letter the association informs the UN Secretary-General about the "injustice" faced by the Turkish Cypriots and supports that no one of the promises given to the Turkish Cypriots before the 24 April 2004 referendum was kept. It is also written in the letter that the EU and the UN apply double standards, since the Turkish Cypriots, who said "yes" in the referendum, "were punished" and the Greek Cypriots became member of the EU "as one side".

In the letter that was sent to Mr Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of Britain, which is holding the EU term presidency, the Association demanded the recognition of the "TRNC" (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) and the lifting of the "isolation" of the Turkish Cypriots. The letter for Mr Blair was conveyed to the British High Commission,

The paper writes that 10 thousand persons signed the letters conveyed to Mr Annan and Mr Blair.

C/S

[07] VATAN supports that Talat was addressed as "president" during his visit to Washington

The paper writes the following:

"President Talat met with members of the Congress and Senators yesterday before his meeting with the USA Secretary of State Rice...Talat, who met the Senators and the members of the Congress visiting them one by one in their offices and who received great interest through the whole visit, was addressed 'Esteem president'".

In addition, as Turkish Cypriot daily CYPRUS TIMES newspaper (30.10.05) wrote, Mr Talat met Henry Hyde, the Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives, senior member of the Committee Don Burton, Oregon Senator Gordon Smith and Congress members Gretchen Barret, David E. Price, Robert A. Aderholt, Rob Inglis and Robert Aderholt.

(C/S)

[08] Aliyev calls on Islamic countries to support the occupied areas of Cyprus

During a press conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Aliyev said: "Of course being one of the closest countries to Turkey, we have started, as we promised, direct flights to Cyprus. However, in order for the north Cyprus to breathe freely, only Azerbaijan's stance is not enough. In the first stage, Turkic states and then Muslim countries that are members of the Islamic Conference Organization should support the people of north Cyprus. The initiative started by Azerbaijan to remove isolations imposed on north Cyprus, should be supported by all Islamic countries".

Moreover, local Turkish Cypriot daily GUNES newspaper (29.10.05) reports that Mr Aliyev told a group of Turkish journalists who went to Baku, that Azerbaijan fulfilled its responsibility and took the necessary steps as regards the "TRNC". "This injustice should be done away with and I hope that it will be", he said.

Answering questions put to him by the visiting Turkish journalists, Aliyev referred to the 24 April referendum and said that the `TRNC´ had said `yes´ to the `reunification´ plan but the other side cast a negative vote. "As a result of this referendum various organizations such as the UN started speaking about the removal of the isolations imposed on the `TRNC´. Why the side which expressed goodwill should be punished? This is not fair. Who should take this step? Of course, Azerbaijan! The closest country to Turkey, Azerbaijan should have taken this step".

[09] The illegal Near East University became member of the EUA

According to information provided by the illegal NEU, the "university" applied to the EUA for membership on 15 July, 2005 and the application for full membership was accepted at a meeting held in Uppsala, in Sweden, on 20 October.

"The European University Association, as the representative organisation of both European universities and the national rectors' conferences, is the main voice of the higher education community in Europe. With over 750 members in 45 countries, EUA promotes through its policy and project work the development of a coherent system of European higher education and research", the paper writes.

(Tr. Note: Universities in occupied Cyprus operate in accordance with the rules of Turkey's Higher Education Board (YOK) imposed by the 12 September 1980 military coup.)

(DPs)

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