Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-03-14

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey´s position on efforts to resume the stalled Cyprus talks is made known bit by bit through leakages to the press.

[02] How the press covers the information regarding the telephone conversation between the Turkish Prime Minister and the UN Secretary General.

[03] Mr Talat avoids making statements on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

[04] The occupation regime co-operates with Israel for a desalination project.

[05] Sixteen Turkish companies from Britain and occupied Cyprus will participate in the Dockland-Excel Real Estate Fair in London.

[06] The Spokesman of the Turkish government on the screening process and the accession negotiations on all 35 chapters.

[07] Sudan extends support to Turkey´s Cyprus Action Plan.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] While the desecration of hundreds of churches by the Turkish army continues unabated in occupied Cyprus Mr Gul continues to pose Turkey as bridge between Christian and Muslim worlds.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey´s position on efforts to resume the stalled Cyprus talks is made known bit by bit through leakages to the press

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week conveyed to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan his disappointment over Annan's joint press statement with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos following their talks in Paris on February 28, the New Anatolian (TNA) has learned.

The New Anatolian learned that, in a telephone conversation with the UN Secretary-General, Erdogan complained about the introduction of issues of "disengagement of forces, demilitarization on the island, complete de-mining of Cyprus, and return of Famagusta" as steps of confidence-building measures before the revival of the peace talks.

Erdogan told Annan that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots earlier initiated and proposed several confidence-building measures and expressed readiness to establish technical committees to facilitate an atmosphere to revive the Cyprus peace talks. But Erdogan further stressed that significant and complex issues like the "demilitarization of the island and return of Famagusta" cannot be subject to technical committees but only be negotiated as part of an overall solution.

The Turkish prime minister expressed his concern that in putting forward these new requests, Papadopoulos was trying to divert the attention from the start of peace talks and undermining efforts to restart peace talks as soon as possible. Erdogan also expressed his concern that Papadopoulos was trying to use this Paris statement as a "pre-election show".

Turkish sources told TNA that the Secretary-General tried to ease Erdogan's concerns and told the prime minister that there is no shift from his earlier positions and this joint statement does not mean a change in the parameters of possible Cyprus peace talks. Annan stressed that his aim was to leave the door as open as possible to the demands of the parties in order to facilitate restarting Cyprus peace talks.

According to sources, Annan also recalled that during his joint press conference with Papadopoulos he made clarifications for the joint press statement and also stressed that for a Cyprus peace, words are not enough and good will should be shown with practical steps.

The UN Secretary-General also told Erdogan that he views Turkey's recent Cyprus proposal as a valuable suggestion which should be seriously evaluated.

The Turkish government proposed early this year talks under UN auspices to mutually lift all restrictions on Cyprus, suggesting a four-way meeting of officials from Turkey, Greece, and Turkish and Greek Cyprus. Ankara suggested the meeting be held no later than May or June to endorse a timetable. But the proposal was summarily rejected by the Greek Cypriots.

Turkey seeks strong honest broker

TNA learned that during their talks, Erdogan and Annan also discussed about the possibility of appointing a new representative for the new peace talks.

Erdogan asked the Secretary-General to appoint a new representative who has the capacity and background to work as an honest broker. Erdogan stressed that for a new representative to get used to the details of the complex Cyprus problem, it would be better to appoint one as soon as possible.

Diplomatic observers told TNA that current resident Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus Michael Moller is not up to playing an honest broker role, and a stronger name should be appointed to this position to ensure the success of the talks.

[02] How the press covers the information regarding the telephone conversation between the Turkish Prime Minister and the UN Secretary - General

KIBRIS, under the title Warning by Erdogan to Annan, writes that Mr Erdogan called on Mr Annan and criticized the joint statement issued after his meeting with President Papadopoulos in Paris.

YENIDUZEN, under the title Reproach on Cyprus from Erdogan to Annan, reports that the Turkish Prime Minister said to Mr Annan, inter alia, the following:

While we feel so much confidence in your good offices mission, we cannot understand the fact that you expect Turkey to make steps on issues that could be a part of an overall solution. How could you think that we can make steps? The Greek Cypriots are using delaying tactics again. They do not want a solution.

CUMHURIYET, under the title Annan must give an answer, writes that after the self-styled Minister of Foreign Affairs of the TRNC (breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus), the Turkish Prime Minister asked as well for explanations from Mr Annan and conveyed to him the uneasiness of the Turkish side about the joint statement issued after the meeting in Paris. According to the paper, Mr Erdogan warned Mr Annan that with this statement the UN went out of the parameters followed at the Cyprus talks until today. Ankara is also uneasy about the UNs Special Representative in Cyprus, Mr Michael Moller, writes the paper, noting that Mr Annan allayed Mr Erdogans concerns and told him that he thinks that Ankaras so-called Action Plan for Cyprus is positive and that we could work on it.

VOLKAN, under the title Good morning Mr Tayyip, argues that Mr Erdogan woke up late and conveyed his concerns to Mr Annan two weeks after the UN Secretary Generals meeting with President Papadopoulos.

GUNES refers to the issue under the title Cold shower and reports that political observers argue that the Turkish side is paying the price of its excessive confidence towards the UN and the EU.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily HURRIYET newspaper (14.03.06) refers to the issue and reports that Ankara is uneasy about Mr Annans statements which could be understood that new openings are expected from Turkey on Cyprus. Turkey conveyed this uneasiness to Mr Annan through diplomatic channels, adds HURRIYET noting that Ankara reacted against the reference to demilitarization of the Island and the return of the closed city of Famagusta to its legal owners as a part of the confidence building measures before the commencement of the negotiations. The paper notes that sources of the Turkish Prime Ministry did not confirm that Mr Erdogan had a telephone conversation with Mr Annan on the issue.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Mr Talat avoids making statements on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem

Thanking for the close interest and warm treatment he was given at the hospital, he said the most difficult episode for him was the time when he was kept away from politics, thats about 15 days.

The President is strictly under orders from the team of doctors who conducted the operation not to haste into business, and to take it easy as he slowly gets down to work as President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

I was kept from the developments concerning the Cyprus issue, and knew nothing about what had been going on, and this is why I wont be able to answer your questions he told reporters waiting to put questions for him to answer upon his arrival to the occupied areas.

He said that he will be resuming official work through telephone and contacts with a few of his aides and advisers and that he will rest for one more week.

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

[04] The occupation regime co-operates with Israel for a desalination project

Speaking during the inspection Mr Murat stated that two wells are excavated in the campus of the METU in order to meet the water needs of the six thousand students who will study at the university.

He also reminded that a project of desalination is being prepared in the occupied area of Vokolida and he added that they will be benefited from Israel on this issue, which is the most experienced country on this matter. He said that in the first stage their aim is to produce two thousand square metres of water and that an agreement with Israel was reached on this issue. Mr Murat also said that the aim is to produce six thousand square metres of clean water and to supply water to eight villages.

On his part, Mr Turgut Tumer, the deputy dean of METU stated that they have invested 80 million dollars so far for the university, and added: We have become Morfou citizens now.

[05] Sixteen Turkish companies from Britain and occupied Cyprus will participate in the Dockland-Excel Real Estate Fair in London

In a written statement the director of the Property North Cyprus Magazine, Mr Mehmet Kozansoy stated that along with the team of his magazine, eleven real estate agencies and investors of construction, a total of sixteen firms will successfully represent North Cyprus in the Fair.

He also said that despite the obstacles put by the Greek Cypriots, they will continue to promote the progress and the economic development in north Cyprus. He said that despite the fact that the Greek Cypriots withheld CDs and periodicals while his company was going to Larnaka Airport in order to go to Spain for the Real Estate Fair that was taking place there, they managed to participate in the Fair in the end. As he said they have printed even larger posters of north Cyprus and with the special help of the officials of the Fair, who reacted against the attitude of the Greek Cypriots, as he alleged, they promoted successfully the areas of Cyprus under Turkish occupation.

(C/S)

[06] The Spokesman of the Turkish government on the screening process and the accession negotiations on all 35 chapters

The screening process between Turkey and the EU will be finalized till the end of this year, Turkish Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said on Monday.

Following the meeting of Council of Ministers, Cicek told reporters that the introductory and detailed screening on 35 chapters would be completed by October 13th.

''This means that the screening process will be finalized before the end of 2006, and, negotiations on these chapters will be launched,'' said Cicek.

[07] Sudan extends support to Turkey´s Cyprus Action Plan

According to the Sudanese Embassy in Ankara, the Khartoum government extends support to Turkey´s Cyprus Action Plan that was announced in January.

We support the 10-article plan that seeks a solution within the framework of the United Nations, said the Sudanese government.

The Sudanese government assures Turkey that it will continue to back the policy on Cyprus so that peace and stability can prevail, noted the Sudanese sources.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] While the desecration of hundreds of churches by the Turkish army continues unabated in occupied Cyprus Mr Gul continues to pose Turkey as bridge between Christian and Muslim worlds

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was recently in Vienna and Salzburg to attend an EU Troika meeting with Turkey and for talks with European politicians and commission bureaucrats. In addition to explaining Turkey's position on a list of outstanding issues topped by the Cyprus problem, he took the opportunity as well to explain the "bridge role" Turkey could play in East-West relations, between the Christian and Muslim worlds.

One important message Gul gave to European leaders was the absurdity of expecting Turkey to fulfill all its obligations under an additional protocol to the customs union deal between Ankara and the European bloc -- that is, extension of the customs union to cover all new members of the union, including the Greek Cypriot state, and the opening of Turkish ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels -- while the European Union has failed so far to honor its pledges to Turkish Cypriot northern Cyprus and as the Greek Cypriot leadership maintains its intransigent and uncompromising attitude on resumption of the Cyprus peacemaking process.

Particularly in view of the latest developments on the issues of EU financial assistance and direct trade with northern Cyprus and due to the high political cost, Ankara is far more reluctant to take any further unilateral steps on the island before seeing some positive moves from the EU.

Even if there is the threat of a potential Greek Cypriot veto to the Turkish accession talks process, no government in Ankara could accept any move that would amount to rewarding Greek Cypriot intransigence at the expense of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. Though we have our reservations, Ankara does not believe that the EU will become hostage to the small Greek Cypriot state and let the accession talks process with a country like Turkey be derailed.

Still, European politicians must understand that Gul was speaking the plain truth when he said Turkey simply can't do anything more than the latest offers Ankara has made regarding the simultaneous lifting of all sanctions and the resumption of talks within the framework of an action plan Ankara has suggested. Otherwise, in the months ahead we will come to a very critical point of no return in the Turkey-EU-Cyprus triangle that will be costly for all.

Another message Gul stressed in those talks as well as in remarks to the media involved Turkey's "bridge role" in Europe's relations with the Muslim world.

The warning by Gul to his European colleagues that the EU risks damaging its image worldwide if it does not do more to protect Islam against insult was a genuine and sincere one.

No one is asking Europe to do Islam and the Muslim people a favor but rather to put all religions and the feelings of all believers on an equal footing and to stand

firm against defamation of religion and the intentional spewing of hatred against the followers of any faith. We believe respect for religions and respect for others' identities are as important a fundamental part of European values as is freedom of expression.

Racism, xenophobia and all sorts of discrimination cannot be ignored for the sake of defending freedom of expression.

/SK

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