Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-02-17

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] The Turkish Prime Minister asked for Bahrains support to the Action Plan

[02] Statements by Mr Talat

[03] The close relations between Erdogan and Talat encourage the Islamists in occupied Cyprus

[04] Hamas delegation visited Ankara

[05] Israeli Spokesman Terms HAMAS Visit Big Mistake on Ankara's Part

[06] Memorandum of understanding signed between Turkey and Egypt on the transportation of natural gas

[07] The breakaway regime wants electricity until May for occupied Morfou as projects to exploit the Greek Cypriot properties are being speeded up there

[08] Sales from the occupied areas to the free areas in the framework of the Green Line Regulation

[09] Turkish Cypriot woman will get her house in Larnaca within three months; She calls on the breakaway regime to help her to file charges against the Republic of Cyprus

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] The breakaway regime is accused of mistreating Evren Maner and imposing restrictions on Ibrahim Aziz

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister asked for Bahrains support to the Action Plan

The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked for Bahrains support to its Action Plan on Cyprus.

Mr Erdogan gave a dinner in honor of the Bahraini Prime Minister Halifa Bin Salman Al Halifa last night, who is the first Bahraini Prime Minister to visit the country.

Speaking at the dinner, Mr Erdogan said that Mr Al Halifas visit to Turkey will strengthen relations between the two countries.

Welcoming Bahrains friendly approach and support to the Cyprus issue which he said is a national cause for Turkey, Mr Erdogan asked for Bahrains support to its Action Plan on Cyprus.

For his part Halifa Bin Salman Al Halifa said that the efforts aimed at increasing cooperation between the two countries would also give a boost to relations based on mutual benefits.

Yesterday, Mr Halifa stated that Bahrain was ready to invest in the ´Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ in the field of tourism and expressed support to the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot people.

[02] Statements by Mr Talat

The comments came in response to a question put to him by a reporter that President Tassos Papadopulos was planning to ask the involvement of the European Union and five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on the Cyprus issue during his upcoming meeting with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Mr Talat said that Mr Annan will not be deciding on whether or not to start a new initiative on the Cyprus issue after his meeting with Mr Papadopoulos.

Explaining that the Turkish Cypriot Side had no objections to the European Union contributing to efforts towards a solution, Mr Talat warned that the EU could not be an unbiased arbitrator like the United Nations as Greece and the Republic of Cyprus were both members of the Union.

As for Mr. Papadopoulos attempts to involve the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, Mr Talat reminded that those countries were already actively involved in the Cyprus Issue.

He also drew attention to the fact that it was the UN Secretary-General who had requested to meet with the Greek Cypriot leader since it was the Greek Cypriots who are refusing to return to the negotiating table.

Asked to comment on whether or not the newly appointed Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni, who is known to be a moderate compared to her predecessor, will contribute to breaking the current deadlock on the Cyprus Problem, Mr Talat said that he did not know her well enough to make such a comment.

However, he expressed the hope that she will take on an active role in encouraging the Greek Cypriot side to return to the Cyprus negotiations process.

Mr Mehmet Ali Talat underlined the need to encourage the Greek Cypriots to work towards a solution especially as the division on the island was deepening day by day.

[03] The close relations between Erdogan and Talat encourage the Islamists in occupied Cyprus

[04] Hamas delegation visited Ankara

The executives confirmed that the delegation was from Hamas, but no invitation has been made through the MFA. They said the delegation must have come to Turkey through some other channels.

A delegation of Hamas arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Thursday to meet Turkish authorities. Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Khaled Ari Abdelgadir is among the five members of the delegation.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs later announced that Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khalid Meshal has arrived in Ankara today and that Meshal's delegation will be informed about the expectations of the international community.

"Hamas delegation's visit came upon a request from Hamas leadership," said the ministry.

Hamas delegation will have meetings with officials from the Middle East desk of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Ankara informed U.S. and Israeli authorities on Hamas' visit to Turkey.

Palestinian diplomats in Ankara told the A.A correspondent that Hamas' visit was a sudden one and that they were not aware of any Hamas delegation coming to Ankara.

The Hamas delegation will have meetings with officials from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the afternoon today.

Ankara Anatolia reported also from Ankara that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will not meet the Hamas delegation, which is paying an unofficial visit to Turkish capital of Ankara, sources said on Thursday.

Sources indicated that Hamas delegation would in fact meet Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, deputy chairman of (ruling) Justice and Development Party (AKP) responsible for political and legal affairs.

According to the sources, the meeting will take place at AKP headquarters in Ankara.

The same sources noted that Hamas delegation asked for an appointment from AKP executives, and party executives decided to meet the delegation.

Stating that this visit was not formal, the sources said that PM Erdogan, who had always had a positive perspective on Palestinian government, would assume the same attitude towards the future Palestinian government, and assess any demand for a meeting following formation of a Palestinian government within this framework.

On the same issue Ankara Anatolia also reported that the talks between Foreign Ministry officials and the HAMAS delegation that arrived in Ankara this morning have ended.

Heading the delegations during the talks, which lasted approximately two hours at the State Guesthouse, were Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu, deputy under secretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief Khalid Mish'al.

No statement was issued to the press after the meeting.

[05] Israeli Spokesman Terms HAMAS Visit Big Mistake on Ankara's Part

Pointing out that there can be no justified reason for Ankara's reception of Mish'al, Gissin said: Engaging in relations with the head of a terrorist organization constitutes the deepest blow to the Middle East peace process. Recalling that the United States and the EU have included HAMAS in their list of terrorist organizations, Gissin added: We cannot understand why Turkey made such a mistake.

Gissin told NTV: By inviting the head of a terrorist organization to your country, the Turkish Government committed a large-scale mistake. This is an organization that was defined as a dangerous terrorist organization by the international community. The EU also stresses HAMAS's danger. This organization will never divest itself of the terrorist organization label as long as it refuses to accept Israel's sine qua non conditions.

The Israeli spokesman reiterated that Israel will never sit at the negotiating table with HAMAS unless the latter officially accepts the existence of Israel and desists from its goal to annihilate the State of Israel and from its terrorist actions. The initiatives and dialogue efforts to this end are in vain, Gissin claimed, adding: We did not ask anyone to sit at the table with a terrorist.

Gissin: I wonder what the Turkish prime minister would feel if the Israeli Government spoke to Ocalan and his men, and invited them to Israel. This is what we feel at this moment, and we find it difficult to understand this insensitivity.

Explaining that Israel was aware of the HAMAS leader's visit to Turkey and warned Ankara with the aim of preventing the visit, Gissin said that Israel failed to receive a positive response.

[06] Memorandum of understanding signed between Turkey and Egypt on the transportation of natural gas

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Guler said that the joint venture will transport the natural gas (coming from Egypt), construct the pipeline and market the gas to Europe.

Guler said that efforts were underway to sell the natural gas to Europe, adding that they would have a tripartite meeting with the concerned minister of Syria in the first week of March in Cairo about the project.

Guler said that both Turkey and Egypt would have 50 percent share in Tergas, adding that the pipeline would transport 2-4 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Turkey and 2-6 billion cubic meters to Europe.

Guler said that the natural gas would start to flow to Turkey at the end of 2007. Upon a question, Guler said that Turkey's Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) would own the 50 percent of the joint venture.

Egyptian Petroleum Minister Sameh Fahmy said on his part that they wanted to transport the natural gas to Romania as the final destination, noting that Romania could become a partner of the joint venture that would be founded.

Fahmy stressed that they would also meet Bulgarian officials for transportation of the natural gas to Romania, adding that Syria could also take part in Tergas in the future.

Turkey will market the Egyptian natural gas to Europe for the first time with the 323-kilometer natural gas pipeline. Sources said 93 kilometers of the pipeline will be on the Turkish soil and the project is expected to finish in 22 months. The pipeline will transport 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Lebanon, 2 billion cubic meters to Syria, and 3 billion cubic meters to Jordan.

[07] The breakaway regime wants electricity until May for occupied Morfou as projects to exploit the Greek Cypriot properties are being speeded up there

In the face of continuing power shortages and failures, the (TRNC) ´Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ Electricity Department has announced its intention to continue buying electricity from the Greek Cypriot Administration, until May 2006.

Officials from both the TRNC ´Electricity Department´ and the Greek Cypriot Electricity Department came together yesterday to discuss the purchase of 20 Megawatts a day to supplement the Guzelyurt (occupied Morfou) supply which faces problems of low voltage.

Speaking to the ´BRT´, the Director of TRNC Electricity Department Fuat Mertay said that the purchase of the 20 Megawatts of electricity was aimed at dealing with a seasonal increase in the demand within the Guzelyurt (occupied Morfou) district.

Explaining that a meeting was held yesterday with officials from the Greek Cypriot electricity department for the purchase of further electricity from the South, he also announced plans to put the Teknecik Power Plant into full capacity as from today.

Mr. Mertay said that once this takes place, there will be no shortages in the power supply and no need to continue purchasing electricity from the South, with the exception of the Guzelyurt (occupied Morfou) Area.

Explaining that Greek Cypriot officials told them during yesterdays meeting that they had reserves until May, Mr. Mertay said that transferring power to the Guzelyurt area (occupied Morfou) was an option beneficial to both sides, but said that they havent receive a definite answer on the issue yet.

The Director added that further discussions will be held between the two electricity departments on the 27th of February.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a breakaway regime set up by the Turkish Republic in the occupied areas of Cyprus by 40,000 Turkish troops)

[08] Sales from the occupied areas to the free areas in the framework of the Green Line Regulation

[09] Turkish Cypriot woman will get her house in Larnaca within three months; She calls on the breakaway regime to help her to file charges against the Republic of Cyprus

KIBRIS writes that Mrs Ali told the paper that Greek Cypriot officials called her yesterday and informed her that after a week the reparation works of the house will begin and that within three months the house will be returned to her.

Mrs Ali said that the Larnaca District Officer promised her that she will be given the money she paid for rent from the day the court decision was issued until she enters the house. Mrs Ali called on the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus to keep their promise. She also called on the officials of the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus to help her in filing charges against the Republic in order to demand the money she paid for rent from the day the court decision was issued until she gets the house.

Noting that she intents to recourse to the court for this money, Mrs Ali said: I want the officials of the TRNC (breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus) to employ a lawyer for me, because I have not got enough money. I will be glad if they help me.

Mrs Ali said that she has taken the advice of Greek Cypriot lawyers who told her that she will win the case and get the moral and material compensations she wants.

(I/Ts.)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] The breakaway regime is accused of mistreating Evren Maner and imposing restrictions on Ibrahim Aziz

The paper praises the reaction of relatives of a 14-year-old girl who gathered outside the so-called court to lynch the rapists of the girl.

The paper assesses this development as positive because nobody, including womens organizations, so far reacted to the trading of women and to opening ceremonies of brothels.

The paper also complains about the lack of reaction against the papers reports on the treatment of journalist Evren Maner and adds:

Mustafa Akinci yesterday submitted a written question to the Assemblys chairmanship and demanded that either the Prime Ministers Office or the concerned Ministry provides a reply.

Akinci submitted two questions:

One is related to Evren Maner and the other to Ibrahim Aziz.

The written questions are as follows:

There are press reports that Citizen Mr. Evren Maner, who is an AFRIKA columnist, is continuously subject to detailed body search by the Turkish Cypriot officials at the border gates.

Furthermore, there are also press reports that despite assurances given to the person in question by the Presidents Office, there is no change in the persons situation.

What is the reason, as mentioned by the press, that contrary to the treatment of other citizens, Evren Maner is subjected to continuous search? Is the above mentioned person considered potential criminal? If yes, what does the law say?

Does your government consider seeing into the matter, since the Presidential Office is unable to do something?

Otherwise, is this issue out of the authority of the Presidential Office and the Prime Ministers Office?

Is crossing of Ibrahim Aziz to the TRNC, who is a Turkish Cypriot who for years lives in south Cyprus, forbidden? Is there any arrest warrant issued against him? Does he have, in case he crosses to the north, freedom of movement as others?

We too are awaiting with anxiety the answers to these questions the officials will give.

EG/

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