Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-12-05

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat admits that the draft law for the properties has been prepared aiming at creating acceptable local remedies in the ECHR and changing the course of the Cyprus problem in favour of the Turkish Cypriots

[02] Dervis Deniz admits that he approved the draft-law for the properties without studying it

[03] Mr. Talat explains that the bridge at the Ledra street crossing point "is to protect the civilians from the military vehicles.

[04] Izzet Izcan: The unification of the island cannot be secured through artificial bridges

[05] Angolemli inspected the Ledra Street Barricade

[06] Erdil Nami to hold contacts in Brussels

[07] The citrus fruits producers face big problems in occupied Cyprus

[08] Construction boom in the occupied Karpass peninsula

[09] Cem TV begins test broadcasts in Turkey

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat admits that the draft law for the properties has been prepared aiming at creating acceptable local remedies in the ECHR and changing the course of the Cyprus problem in favour of the Turkish Cypriots

In an interview with illegal TAK news agency, Mr Talat said that in case the ECHR accepts this law as local remedies, this would be a serious fact that would stop the bad course of the Cyprus problem from the point of view of the Turkish Cypriots.

Noting that the draft-law was a local product, but the views of jurists from Turkeys Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Strasbourg have been also taken, Mr Talat argued that those who criticize the draft-law could not make any other suggestion and that the problem derives from this fact.

Mr Talat said that the political parties in the self-styled assembly had been informed about the draft-law on Thursday and wished that everybody would behave with responsibility and avoid actions that would harm the Turkish Cypriots.

Referring to the decisions of the ECHR regarding the cases of Mrs Titina Loizidou and Mrs Myra Xenides Aresti, Mr Talat noted:

Since we feel uncomfortable with the decisions of the ECHR, which at the end convicts Turkey regarding Cyprus and therefore move totally within our area and furthermore they are making the solution of the Cyprus problem more difficult and even impossible in the future, we have prepared this law thinking that the way of getting rid of all these is to create serious local remedies.

Reiterating that their effort is to create acceptable local remedies, Mr Talat pointed out that these remedies must be accepted by the international law and the ECHR. We will arrange the law, not as we wish, but as the international law could accept it and in a way that responds to our needs, he added.

Mr Talat said that the draft-law has not been prepared aiming at solving the issue of the properties. It is a temporary arrangement which we planed in order to find a solution to the claims regarding the properties in the conditions of the non-solution, he argued.

Mr Talat noted that those who wish could protest at the Supreme Court against the decisions of the so-called Property Compensation Committee.

He said that for the moment a list is being drawn up of properties which are both in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus and in the government controlled areas, but this has nothing to do with the above-mentioned draft-law.

Mr Talat alleged that the Greek Cypriots are trying to eliminate the bi-zonality with many court decisions which force everybody to return to the property he owned before the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and thus to do away with the parameters created in the United Nations. This is very dangerous. It is a serious danger that could push the Cyprus problem to the no-solution. Therefore, we are in a position to stop this, he added.

I/Ts.

[02] Dervis Deniz admits that he approved the draft-law for the properties without studying it

The paper notes that the developments within the Democratic Party, the minor collation government partner, are very interesting.

GUNES adds: The chairman of DP, Serdar Denktas has almost remained alone on the issue of the draft-law. His father, former president Denktas and the MPs of the DP are against the draft - law. In statements he made last Friday on Dilek Kiricis program on Kanal T, the Economy Minister, Dervis Deniz, member of the DP, admitted that he approved the draft-law without studying it.

The fact that it is difficult for the MPs of the DP to change their stance is seen in the statements of Mustafa Arabacioglu, former General Secretary of the party, notes GUNES, pointing out that Mr Arabacioglu said that there is no such issue in the protocol and the program of the government and added that when the two parties asked for the votes of the people they did not say such a thing. A law having this understanding will never pass from the assembly with our votes, noted Mr Arabacioglu.

I/Ts.

[03] Mr. Talat explains that the bridge at the Ledra street crossing point "is to protect the civilians from the military vehicles.

Answering a question on the complaint filed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos to the permanent members of the UN Security Council against the Turkish Cypriot side, Talat stated that the Greek Cypriot leader summoned the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to the Foreign Ministry of Cyprus with allegations that the buffer zone has been violated."

Talat said that the ambassadors of the United States, Britain, and France visited him two days ago. He said that he explained the situation to the ambassadors, that the envoys did not tell him that [the Turkish Cypriot side] has done anything wrong, and that they only tried to understand the situation. Noting that subsequently the UN also issued a statement, Talat said: "After these explanations the permanent members of the UN Security Council did not make any demands on us."

Talat continued: "Consequently it has become evident that the Greek Cypriot allegations to the effect that the buffer zone has been violated are not consistent and that their stance on this issue is comical."

Noting that the military units assigned to the Lokmaci sector (Ledra Palace crossing point) are elements of the so-called Security Forces Command in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Talat said that a pedestrian crossing is being built on Ermou Street, which is under KKTC's control, to allow the passage of military vehicles without running into civilians. Claiming that this pedestrian crossing is entirely on KKTC territory, Talat said that no military objective other than the passage of Security Forces Command vehicles is at issue and that the sentry station [at Lokmaci] has been removed.

Stating that no military advantage has been gained with these arrangements, Talat said: "Nonetheless we remain determined to reunite Nicosia which has been divided since 1958."

[04] Izzet Izcan: The unification of the island cannot be secured through artificial bridges

Noting that the unification of the island cannot be secured through artificial bridges, but rather through a Cyprus settlement, Mr Izcan called on concerned parties on both sides of the divided island to cooperate and quickly resolve the issue of the Ledra Street checkpoint.

Noting that Turkish Cypriots aimed at the unification of Cyprus with their pro-solution stance, Mr Izcan said that Turkish Cypriots wanted to smash the borders but not like this.

Mr Izcan concluded: The insistence on unilaterally opening the Lokmaci barricade is negatively affecting the two communities relations. Such an approach, which is not based on reconciliation, does not serve peace efforts.

(DPs)

[05] Angolemli inspected the Ledra Street Barricade

Speaking during the visit, Mr Angolemli said that the opening of the Lokmaci Barricade will contribute to efforts aimed at bringing about a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr Angolemli also said that the Lokmaci Barricade had become the focus of discussions on the Cyprus issue as it will bring the two sides on the island closer.

Underlining the need for the two sides to work together to open a gate at the barricade, the TKP Leader expressed the view that the gate will be opened sooner or later.

[06] Erdil Nami to hold contacts in Brussels

The Direct Trade and Economic Aid Regulations, which was prepared by the European Union to help boost the north Cyprus economy, will be taken up during their two-day contacts.

Within the framework of their contacts, the group will express the chambers views to EU officials on the Direct Trade and Economic Aid Regulations before a decision is taken at the Council of Ministers.

Speaking to the illegal TAK news agency, Mr Nami referred to a recommendation of the European Union Council on the 26th of April, last year, which envisages the removal of the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, saying that they will ask the EU officials to put the recommendation into practice.

Stating that there were many differences between the current Financial Aid Regulation and the one which was prepared in July 2004, Mr. Nami stressed that the Regulation will become useless if the meaningless demands of the Greek Cypriots side continue to be added to the draft regulation.

[07] The citrus fruits producers face big problems in occupied Cyprus

As the paper writes the citrus fruits producers are worrying because of the danger the fruits they produce to remain in the trees and not to be sold. They are also afraid that the damages they faced the previous years will be repeated this year as well. The producers accused the self-styled government in the OTRC of having no policy as regards this matter and call on it to take measures in order to help them. According to the paper, the lemons and the grapefruits have remained on the trees.

[08] Construction boom in the occupied Karpass peninsula

According to information obtained by the self-styled Tourism Planning Bureau, the majority of tourism-related construction is being carried out in the occupied area of Kyrenia, totalling 52 construction sites out of 72. The total hotel bed capacity is estimated at 7,500 hotel beds. But the real construction boom is occurring between the occupied areas of Trikomo and Karpassia. In the occupied village of Vokolida alone, 17 new complexes are being built, which would have a total bed capacity of 5,500.

According to the data of the self-styled Tourism Planning Bureau, nowadays in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus there are 118 tourism constructions with the capacity of 12,500 hotel beds. The 95 constructions are in the occupied town of Kyrenia with 9,000 hotel beds, in the occupied area of Famagusta and Karpasia 18 constructions with 2,400 hotel beds, in occupied

Lefkosia 3 constructions with 300 hotel beds and in the occupied Morphou 3 tourism constructions with 120 hotel beds.

(DPs)

[09] Cem TV begins test broadcasts in Turkey

Cem TV's General Director Kenan Kaplan says that they will prepare programs that make Alevism known in their television broadcasts, and that they plan to begin normal broadcasting during the month of Muharrem (February), during which Alevis hold a fast of mourning.

/X.Chr.

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