Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-11-01

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CUMHURIYET reports that Turkey objects to the EU's draft Accession Partnership Document.

[02] The self-styled government forced Ali Erel to present tomatoes produced in Turkey as being produced in the occupied area of Cyprus.

[03] Erdil Nami is the new chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce.

[04] The Turkish Cypriot leader met with Kofi Annan.

[05] Talat's meeting with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the local Turkish Cypriot press.

[06] "This Country is Ours" platform conveys letter to the UN Secretary-General.

[07] Greek Cypriot teachers give lessons to Turkish Cypriot students in the occupied area of Cyprus.

[08] The Turkish Prime Minister said that he is marketing both for Turkey and the "TRNC".

[09] Turkish Human Rights Association Istanbul Chairperson detained at Istanbul Airport.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CUMHURIYET reports that Turkey objects to the EU's draft Accession Partnership Document

Turkey will also convey to Brussels its objections as regards the demand that the Kurdish language be taught as an official language in education, that the Office of the Chief of the General Staff comes under the Ministry of Defense and that border issues be settled.

The paper reports that as regards the demand that Ankara should normalize its relations with Cyprus, Turkey's argument is based on the fact that in the referendum on the Annan Plan the Greek Cypriot side said "no" and the embargoes imposed on the "TRNC" (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) are still in force. So as long as no solution is found, whether UN or EU based, for the removal of the isolations imposed on the occupied area, Turkey refuses to normalize its relations with Cyprus and open its ports and airports to the Republic's ships and planes.

As for the border issues, the paper reports that on this issue Ankara has problems with Armenia and Greece and that these problems do not originate from Turkey. There exist no problems to settle. The problem with Greece has been settled down by the international treaties.

[02] The self-styled government forced Ali Erel to present tomatoes produced in Turkey as being produced in the occupied area of Cyprus

The paper writes the following:

"Ali Erel, who has been removed from the post of the chairman at the general assembly of the Chamber of Commerce upon a conspiracy by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), made shocking statements yesterday on Radio `Mayis´.

Hosted on the 'Straight to the Truth' program of Hasan Kahvecioglu, Ali Erel said that the TRNC government had demanded from him to give health certificate for tomatoes from Turkey as if they were local produce and in this way these tomatoes to be sold to south Cyprus.

Noting that he rejected this falsification suggested by the government, Ali Erel stressed that as from yesterday morning discussion on the validity of the stamp of the Chamber of Commerce has started in the European Union.

Stating that pressure came from the government on them in order to show the tomatoes of Turkey as if having been produced in northern Cyprus, Ali Erel said: 'If you cannot say `no´ to these pressures and if you implement these demands, the Chamber of Commerce will have no prestige and credibility'. Stressing that in case such a practice is adopted, the EU will revoke the authority of the Chamber of Commerce, Ali Erel noted that they would be following the activities of the Chamber of Commerce from now on".

I/Ts

[03] Erdil Nami is the new chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce

In statements after his election, Mr Nami said that the visit of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat to the USA is a result of the positive image of the Turkish Cypriots in the world and added: "If we are able to preserve the unity we created we can do a lot of things both from the point of view of the trade and of our country, because, this institution is officially recognized by the world, by the EU. If we work in a homogenous manner, we can achieve very good goals".

Mr Nami said that they would establish "fully authorized committees" which will create ties with the whole world during this new period.

I/Ts.

[04] The Turkish Cypriot leader met with Kofi Annan

"Mehmet Ali Talat, the (self-styled) President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) met UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the UN headquarters on Monday.

In statements after the meeting Mr Talat has said that the EU can neither find nor encourage a solution to the Cyprus problem. He said: "That is because the EU is not an impartial organization. The Greek Cypriots are in the EU but the Turks are outside the organization. Even from a structural point of view, the EU is not suitable for such an effort. It does not possess the means to act as an impartial mediator." Talat said: "We had a good meeting. We informed Mr Annan on our views. We saw once again that he is willing to make an initiative for the solution of the Cyprus problem. Of course, that is important because the Cyprus problem can be solved only under the UN auspices. We clearly outlined that during our meeting. We informed him on our views. We informed him that we maintain our determination for the solution of the Cyprus problem, the unification of Cyprus, and the finding of a solution to the problem on the basis of the Annan Plan."

Stressing that he asked Kofi Annan to continue to support the removal of the isolationist measures that have been imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, Talat said: "The UN Secretary-General's views on the removal of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots are common knowledge. They have not changed. We have seen that again. We reaffirmed our shared conviction that the lifting of the isolationist measures will contribute to the solution of the problem and that it will provide for unification, not division. The meeting was rather useful. We hope that the UN Secretary-General will assess the developments and launch the necessary initiatives."

Responding to a question, Talat said that he does not believe that a calendar exists for an initiative at the present time. He said: "However, the UN Secretary- General wants the new process to be definitely successful. He believes that the necessary preparations must be made for success. It is common knowledge that he is not very willing to initiate a new negotiations process before the necessary preparations are made. We observed that during our meeting today. However, we also observed that the Secretary-General believes that the Cyprus problem must definitely be solved. He believes that the Cyprus issue is a serious problem that might affect Turkey's accession to the EU as a member and cause instability in the region. In other words, an initiative will be made. But, at least as far as I am concerned, its time, form, place, and conditions are unknown.

Responding to another question, Talat said that the EU can neither find nor encourage a solution to the Cyprus problem "because the Greek Cypriots are in the EU and the Turkish Cypriots are outside the organization. Even from a structural point of view, the EU is not suitable for such an effort. The EU does not possess the means to act as an impartial mediator."

A Greek Cypriot journalist asked: "Can you foresee when the negotiations can be resumed?" Talat said: "I do not make predictions. That is something done by sorcerers."

Talat asserted: "He [Kofi Annan] sees a possible failure as the most serious obstacle. We want him to assume a more active role. He is aware of that. However, he wants to have the ground prepared for an initiative to avoid a failure."

Stressing that he is not informed on the kind of step Kofi Annan might take, Talat noted: "We will wait and see."

Asserting that he urged the UN Secretary-General to make an effort to have the UN Security Council debate the report he has drawn up on Cyprus, Talat said: "What is more important than that is that we urged him not to consider the possibility of another failure and move to have the talks resumed on the basis of the Annan Plan, which is the framework he prefers.

President Talat is expected to leave for Boston to address a conference on Cyprus at the Harvard University".

[05] Talat´s meeting with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the local Turkish Cypriot press

English language CYPRUS TIMES reports under banner headlines in its front page- "The Annan Plan is coming back".

VATAN: "President Talat, after meeting Annan has stressed: `The EU is not suitable for settlement´.

"Unless success is guaranteed Annan will not resume the negotiations" is the title with which VOLKAN daily, which opposes Talat´s handling of the Cyprus problem, is covering the meeting.

KIBRISLI: Reports under the title "Talat met with Annan" and says that Talat had declared that the EU is not a side that will find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

ORTAM: "After Mrs. Rice, Talat had a meeting with Mr Annan. `There is no ground´ is the title in ORTAM newspaper.

YENIDUZEN: Reports in its front page under banner headlines: "Talat said: `If the negotiations resume they should finish with peace´.

"Preparations for settlement" is KIBRIS´s banner headlines.

In its turn HALKIN SESI reports under banner headlines in its front page: "Talat: The UN is not ready to take initiative".

CUMHURIYET: "Talat-Annan meeting realized - the EU cannot be the venue for the settlement of the Cyprus problem".

[06] "This Country is Ours" platform conveys letter to the UN Secretary-General

Members of ''This Country is Ours'' platform, consisting of various Turkish Cypriot organizations handed over the letter to an executive of UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), to submit it to Mr Annan.

The Businessmen's Association Chairman Ozalp Nailler told reporters: ''We, as NGOs, exerted great efforts for a peaceful solution of the Cyprus issue. We want negotiations to be resumed.''

Mr Nailler also said that NGOs wanted "isolations" imposed on the occupied areas of Cyprus to be lifted.

The letter stated: ''The actual deadlock in the Cyprus problem causes concern among Turkish Cypriot `people´. That's why Turkish Cypriot NGOs decided to send a letter to SG Annan.''

Alleging that the Greek Cypriots which said 'no' to the UN plan, did not exert any effort to solve the Cyprus issue, the letter reads: ''Turkish Cypriot `people's´ social, cultural and economic problems stay unresolved.''

The Turkish Cypriot organizations indicated that the Cyprus problem should be solved without any delay.

[07] Greek Cypriot teachers give lessons to Turkish Cypriot students in the occupied area of Cyprus

The paper reports that these lessons are "illegal" and that the teachers are charging a lot of money for them. The paper notes that many Turkish Cypriots went to colleges in the free areas of the Republic after the self-styled government decided to close down the colleges in the occupied part of the island.

I/Ts.

[08] The Turkish Prime Minister said that he is marketing both for Turkey and the "TRNC"

Noting that those who love Turkey and the Turkish nation show sensitivity not only to Turkey's issues but also to "our young country 'TRNC' (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus)", Mr Erdogan said: "Do you think now that businessmen and politicians who are going to the 'TRNC' and investing they have started all these things by themselves? In Turkey, there are those who do not know this type of work and they should learn about it. In other words, in politics, there is such a thing as marketing which they don't know about. Even some leaders in parliament do not know this. Let them consult some scientists, let them consult some specialist scientists in this field; let them learn that marketing can be employed in politics and in the social sciences. Yes, I market my country. And I do the same thing with the 'TRNC'. Think about it, Cyprus is now an observer at the Islamic Conference Organization and the future of the 'TRNC' will be very different."

(D/P)

[09] Turkish Human Rights Association Istanbul Chairperson detained at Istanbul Airport

She was taken into custody on charges of not appearing at the hearing against her for insulting the Turkish Armed Forces in a speech she delivered in Germany.

Keskin was detained last night when she arrived at the passport control in International Terminal and taken to the police station. Keskin was expected to be released in the morning.

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