Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-01-05

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Foreign Minister before leaving for Gaza

[02] Statements by Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer before a meeting of the self-styled Council of Ministers

[03] Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer declares measures to create a more competitive economy in the occupied areas

[04] The National Unity Party decided to take the new Property law to the Constitutional court

[05] Rustem Tatar retired from the missing persons committee

[06] Project by the breakaway regime for the economic development of the occupied area of Morfou

[07] Cumhuriyet newspaper: Erdogan tried to postpone a possible attack by supporting the USA. Bargaining with the USA over Iran

[08] A Turkish Cypriot Businessmens Association asks from Turkey to transfer the administration of the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus to the Turkish Cypriots

[09] The Turkish Health Minister confirms patients tested positive to bird flu

[10] Reply to a question on Cyprus by the Turkish Chief of the General Staff

[11] Purchase of missiles to be discussed by the Defence Committee

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Foreign Minister before leaving for Gaza

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said he knows nothing about a new initiative by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the Cyprus issue.

Speaking shortly before leaving for Gaza where hes been having contacts on Turkeys possible contribution to the restructuring of the Palestinian territory, Mr Gul responded to a question on the Cyprus issue and said that a solution could only be brought to the Cyprus problem within the United Nations.

The Turkish Foreign Minister said Ankaras position in support of a negotiations process within the United Nations framework remains unchanged, as well as its view that a solution can only be found within the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Attempts to draw the Cyprus issue to other platforms will be futile and unsuccessful, he said, and underlined the need for a comprehensive settlement as the only way out of the problem.

Yesterday, the Turkish Foreign Minister told an interview with the CNN TURK that Turkey will not grant diplomatic recognition to the Greek Cypriot Administration.

For Turkey to grant diplomatic recognition to South Cyprus is purely a matter that can only be considered as part of a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem he said.

[02] Statements by Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer before a meeting of the self-styled Council of Ministers

Speaking before entering this mornings Council of Ministers meeting, Mr Soyer said Mr Matsakiss attack and insults on the Turkish Flag represent a violation of the principles on which the Republic of Cyprus was established.

This is also a violation of the basic principles on which the European Union is established he said.

He said the strangeness of the incident lies more in the fact that Mr Marios Matsakis is a product of the totally illegal and undemocratic occupation of the six seats in the European Parliament that should normally have included the two seats for Turkish Cypriot deputies.

Repeating the Turkish sides readiness to take part in fresh negotiations process under United Nations, the Prime Minister said such a new process should start as soon as possible and on an acceptable basis.

Mr Matsakis is a weird product of the illegal occupation of Turkish Cypriots seats in the European Parliament he said, reminding that the Turkish Flag is one of the official flags of the 1960 partnership Republic of Cyprus.

On the Cyprus problem Turkish Cypriot Kibrisli newspaper (05/01/06) quotes Mr Soyer to have said that the Greek Cypriot side is avoiding the solution and that the Greek Cypriots are applying delaying tactics.

[03] Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer declares measures to create a more competitive economy in the occupied areas

Speaking on illegal BRT television, Mr Soyer said economic growth had been prevented because of the ongoing non-solution of the Cyprus problem.

He said, however, that this has been changing recently with the Turkish Cypriot peoples support for a solution which was clearly displayed in the referendum in 2004.

Explaining that reforms will be introduced to expand the tax base with the aim of reducing tax evasion and creating a more competitive economy, Mr Soyer said that by doing this the State will become more self-sufficient in meeting public expenditure.

[04] The National Unity Party decided to take the new Property law to the Constitutional court

The main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) is taking the new Property Law to the Constitutional Court.

The UBP issued a statement yesterday afternoon to announce it has embarked on technical legal preparations to apply to the TRNC Constitutional Court for it - to rescind the new law on Property Compensation, Exchange and Reinstatement.

The law, adopted last month, envisages, among other things, the return of immovable property to those who had had to leave North Cyprus before February 1975 as a result of the events in the summer of 1974.

[05] Rustem Tatar retired from the missing persons committee

Rustem Tatar the Turkish Cypriot member of the autonomous Missing Persons Committee has retired from his post.

Pierre Guberan, the UN Representative of the Committee also retired from the job.

Speaking to the BRT newsroom, Ahmet Erdengiz-a member of the Committee said that new appointments are expected to be made to the vacated positions soon.

[06] Project by the breakaway regime for the economic development of the occupied area of Morfou

The paper writes that efforts will be exerted for the development of the sectors of the citrus fruits and the universities in Morfou. At the same time, an area of three thousand donums (Tr. Note: A land measure of about 1000 square meters) has been declared as tourism area. Within the next few months, the self-styled government will be accepting applications for investments in the fields of tourism and the universities in the above-mentioned area.

Furthermore, the breakaway regime is working on a project of a 17 kilometer long road with two lanes towards the Technical University of the Middle East and the village of Kazivera.

Meanwhile, the self-styled government is working on giving 1500 donums of land (about 2000 plots of vacant land) to young couples aiming at helping them to stay in the area. They plan to distribute the land within this year.

In statements to KIBRIS, the self-styled Minister of Internal Affairs, Ozkan Murat expressed their determination and special interest for the development of Morfou in the fields of universities, citrus fruits and tourism.

I/Ts.

[07] Cumhuriyet newspaper: Erdogan tried to postpone a possible attack by supporting the USA. Bargaining with the USA over Iran

It was learned that the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said to the CIA chief, Porter Goss, who came to Turkey about three weeks ago, that they share the same views as regards Iran. However, he wants a long period of time to be given to this country.

The paper writes in its front page:

Noting that ´it is wrong to search for something behind´Goss´visit, Prime Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan said: ´Turkey () is talking with institutions dealing with open-secret information. CIA came to Turkey upon MIT´s invitation. The FBI too came upon a similar invitation. It is wrong to search for something behind (the visit). There will be closer relations between the information organizations against international terrorism."

In addition, the paper writes that the Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad who is constantly on the news with his remarks against Israel wants to visit Turkey. The Iranian administration is waiting for Ankara's invitation and has started to prepare for the visit which it wants to pay before Nevruz, the start of the new year in Iran, in April. Ankara, however, thinks that the timing is not suitable.

Faced with international pressure for its nuclear efforts, Iran is aiming at establishing closer relations with the leading countries in its region in the new year. To this end, the Iranian Government is preparing a regional tour for President Ahmadinejad. We have learned that Turkey heads the list of the countries the president wants to officially visit. The Iranian side is waiting for Ankara's official invitation for Ahmadinejad's visit.

During his visit to Tehran in 2002, President Sezer had invited his Iranian counterpart Khatami to Turkey, but the latter had lost to Ahmadinejad before paying a visit to Ankara.

The Iranian side now wants Turkey to renew that invitation and extend it in the name of Ahmadinejad.

Iranian sources are saying: Our president must pay this visit before Nevruz; in other words, in the coming two to three months.

There is no preparation in Ankara, however, in connection with such a visit. Diplomatic sources believe that the timing is not suitable. Behind Ankara's unease lie Ahmadinejad's remarks that Israel must be wiped off the map and the Iranian Administration's rejection of cooperation in the nuclear field.

Diplomatic sources are also saying that inviting Ahmadinejad at a time when US Secretary of State Rice is getting ready to visit Turkey would irk the US Administration.

[08] Turkish Cypriot Businessmens Association asks from Turkey to transfer the administration of the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus to the Turkish Cypriots

Noting that the expectations and concerns of Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) regarding a settlement to the Cyprus problem are not in harmony with those of the Turkish Cypriots, ISAD warned that there is a danger the Turkish Cypriots could become a minority and loose all those rights they have gained.

The Association said the rights of the Turkish Cypriots derive from the 1960 Agreements and the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus and that they should be demanded immediately.

ISAD also accused the AKP that it cannot see that losing time is not in the Turkish Cypriots favour. They also called on the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) of the self-styled coalition government to fulfil the expectations of the Turkish Cypriots.

On the same issue, ORTAM newspaper reported that ISADs stance is courageous. The paper added that the Association repeated the view of the Communal Liberation Party (TKP), which is: Turkey should return the sovereignty of the TRNC to the Turkish Cypriots.

(DPs)

[09] The Turkish Health Minister confirms patients tested positive to bird flu

"One of the patients diagnosed with bird flu is Mehmet Ali Kocyigit who died earlier. The other patient is Fatma Kocyigit from the same family. Fatma's condition is serious and she is currently in hospital. The third patient is suspected of carrying the bird flu virus but this is not certain yet," said Akdag.

[10] Reply to a question on Cyprus by the Turkish Chief of the General Staff

Following is Mr Ozkok´s reply to a question on Cyprus:

Question: There is also the question of Cyprus, which, as is well known, has become linked to the EU. In your opinion, what kind of settlement might be acceptable to Turkey? Under what conditions can the interests of the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey be guaranteed?

Answer: As is well known, Turkey has pledged to do its level best to solve the Cyprus problem within the UN, and together with the Turkish Cypriots has fulfilled the requirements of that pledge.

The side that has to make a move today in the Cyprus problem is the Greek Cypriot side, which is obstructing a solution by opposing the Annan Plan.

At this time when the promises of ending the isolation of the KKTC (Tv Note: Occupied Territories of the Republic of Cyprus) have been forgotten, it does Turkey a great disservice to ask it to make even further goodwill gestures.

Turkey supports a new round of talks between the KKTC and the GKRY (Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus) (Tr. Note: The Republic of Cyprus) under the auspices of the UN in order to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem. However, with the comfort of being in the EU now the GKRY assumes that time is on its side and is non-committal in its approach to talks.

It is also known that there is no question of Turkey recognizing the GKRY as the sole representative for the entire island. Turkey may establish relations with a new partnership state that emerges as the result of comprehensive talks between politically equal sides on the island under the auspices of the UN, and which is not a continuation of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus. This new order must not nullify Turkey's rights and obligations arising from the guarantee and alliance agreement.

[11] Purchase of missiles to be discussed by the Defence Committee

While possible operations of the U.S. on Iran and Syria are still making headlines, Turkey is trying to take measures to prepare for possible threats.

The committee meets in Ankara at the end of this month. The meeting, which will be realized with the participation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen Hilmi Ozkok and Defense Ministry Vecdi Gonul, is set to make decisions about the procurement of air defense systems.

Among the systems set for consideration are the Patriot, Russian-origin S-300 and Israeli-origin Arrow-2 anti-missile systems. Turkey first encountered the Russian S-300 in 1997 when Greek Cypriots bought them to the island.

One of the issues on the agenda of the committee meeting is the modernization of F-4 warplanes. Some 54 units of these aircraft were modernized in Israel. The modernization of 48 additional units will be done at TUSAS Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) and Eskisehir facilities of the Turkish Air Forces.

Israel will be the subcontractor in the new modernization project, and radars and avionic systems will be purchased. The aircraft avionics, which will be totally renewed, will be structurally modified. This modernization will lengthen the lifespan of the aircraft for 15 years.

The committee will also discuss the procurement of police aircraft for the Naval Forces Command and the modernization of the C-130 carriage aircraft at TAI and Kayseri facilities of the Air Forces Command.

EG/

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article