Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-03-16

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Through statements by diplomatic sources Turkey continues its reaction to the efforts to revive the Cyprus dialogue.

[02] Turkey has started a concerted war of attrition against the UN Secretary-General´s Special Representative for Cyprus. More statements by diplomatic sources.

[03] AKP deputy called on Syria to recognize Ankara´s puppet regime.

[04] Four new power plants from Finland for the occupied areas.

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Minister of Internal Affairs visited Israel and reached an agreement on the issue of desalination.

[06] The Census in occupied Cyprus was postponed for April.

[07] Granting citizenship to Turkish settlers is being facilitated.

[08] The ambassadors of the Islamic Conference Organisation and other countries to Ankara rejected an invitation to visit occupied Cyprus.

[09] The Turkish Cypriot ombudsman will visit Austria.

[B] COMMENTARIES , EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Commentary in Turkish Cypriot paper stresses that as in Turkey only the Turkish army can take decisions in occupied Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Through statements by diplomatic sources Turkey continues its reaction to the efforts to revive the Cyprus dialogue

Turkeys disappointment at the press release issued after the Paris meeting between President Tassos Papadopoulos and the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, will be conveyed to the Secretary-General in New York when he will be meeting the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

The Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gull will explain Turkeys reaction to the presentation of the press release as a binding joint statement .

At the meeting, Mr Gul will also be seeking Mr Annans official view on Turkeys new Action Plan on Cyprus.

Stressing the existence of two political sides on the island, Turkey maintains that statements to be issued by the UN Secretary-General after talks with only one of the two parties concerned in any conflict, will not be considered a joint statement.

Ankara also states that such action cannot be considered compatible with the Secretary-Generals Good Offices mission.

Diplomatic sources underline the fact that up until now, any joint statement to be released was released after agreement had been reached by all sides concerned, including the United Nations, and that this latest practice had led to the Turkish Foreign Minister demanding an explanation from the UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan.

Diplomatic sources drew the attention, however, to the fact that the Secretary- General has since, ensured Ankara that the statements in question should only be taken as those of the Secretariats.

Turkey also reacted angrily to the presentation of the proposals for the establishment of technical committees on the day-to-day problems, as having been proposed by the `Greek Cypriot Administration´, despite the fact that this idea had originally come from `President´ Mehmet Ali Talat last year.

Another reaction from Turkey was on the appointment of Michael Moller as the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Cyprus, who, the Turkish side says is more leaned to finding a European solution to the Cyprus problem rather than a UN-sponsored one.

[02] Turkey has started a concerted war of attrition against the UN Secretary-General´s Special Representative for Cyprus. More statements by diplomatic sources

Turkey has conveyed its uneasiness on the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's new Cyprus Special Representative Michael Moller of Denmark. ''Turkey believes that Moller cannot act objectively on the matter of Cyprus'', sources said.

Ankara is concerned that Moller will bring forth the EU mechanism in trying to find a solution under the auspices of Kofi Annan.

Ankara believes that Moller cannot act without taking side and has already rejected a request from Moller to visit Ankara.

Turkish sources indicated that the meeting between Annan and Papadopoulos was not in line with the good offices mission of Annan. ''We have requested information on this meeting'', said a Turkish diplomat.

Sources remarked that presenting the idea of establishing committees to facilitate confidence building measures as a Greek Cypriot idea has been seen as a surprise.

On the other hand, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is scheduled to visit the U.S. at the end of March. Gul will likely meet Kofi Annan in the U.S..

Gul-Annan meeting will make Annan's position on the Cyprus process clearer and his thoughts on Turkey's Cyprus Action Plan more understandable.

The statements against Mr Moller are given wide coverage in the Turkish Cypriot press also. Most papers publish the news originating from Ankara Anatolia under the title: No appointment for Moller and Discomfort over Moller.

[03] AKP deputy called on Syria to recognize Ankara´s puppet regime

''We know that Syria is not guilty in the Hariri case. We welcomed Syria's decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Lebanon,'' said the chairman of Turkish-Syrian Parliamentary Friendship Group and Justice and Development Party [AKP] MP from Karaman, Yuksel Cavusoglu.

Cavusoglu hosted a lunch at the Turkish parliament in honor of the visiting Syrian-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Muhammad Hallaq and his accompanying delegation.

Speaking at the lunch, Cavusoglu indicated that the free trade agreement between Turkey and Syria, which was ratified at the Turkish parliament on March 1st, will contribute to the promotion of bilateral commercial relations.

''At a time when we were expecting the trade volume between Turkey and Syria to reach 1 billion USD from 820 million USD, the volume dropped to 817 m USD in 2005,'' said Cavusoglu. ''Last year, 288,000 Syrian tourists visited Turkey and the number of Turks visiting Syria was 689,000,'' he also commented.

Cavusoglu reiterated that the Syrian people support the Turkish theses on Cyprus. ''We ask for Syrian action to recognize the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´'', expressed Cavusoglu.

Cavusoglu reminded Hallaq that Kirkuk is a very prominent topic for the Turks. ''We expect your support in this matter,'' he underlined.

Meanwhile, Hallaq remarked that the low trade volume between Turkey and Syria is due to certain laws. ''Today, over 200 Turkish businessmen do business in Syria,'' said Hallaq.

Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.03.06) reported the following also from Ankara: The Speaker of the Turkish parliament Bulent Arinc has received the Chairman of the Syrian-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Group Muhammad Hallaq and an accompanying delegation at his office in the parliament today.

Arinc indicated that relations between Turkey and Syria are exceptional in the past few years. Arinc stated that the peoples of Turkey and Syria are brothers and sisters. ''We wish for strong ties in commercial, economic, financial and parliamentary fields,'' added Arinc.

Meanwhile, Hallaq remarked that he and his delegation feel at home in Turkey.

''We look at Turkey as a brotherly nation,'' noted Hallaq.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the illegal regime the Turkish Republic set up in the territories of the EU member Cyprus through the force of arms).

[04] Four new power plants from Finland for the occupied areas

The deal reached with the Finnish firm provides for the purchase of four separate 17.5 megawatt power plants.

The power plants will be delivered in the coming six months.

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Minister of Internal Affairs visited Israel and reached an agreement on the issue of desalination

According to the paper, during his stay there Mr Murat studied on the spot the biggest Desalination Project of the world.

In statements to the paper, Mr Murat said that they have prepared a desalination project for the area of Vokolida village and that they have reached an agreement with Israel on the issue.

Mr Murat noted that they are planning to desalinate two thousand cubic meters of sea water in the above-mentioned area at the first stage and added that within the next years they will bring 75 million cubic meters of water from Turkey with pipelines.

(I/Ts.)

[06] The Census in occupied Cyprus was postponed for April

According to the paper the census was postponed because the necessary technical works as regards the census have not yet been completed and in order for the training of the persons who are participating in it to be finished. The new exact date for the census will be announced soon.

(C/S)

[07] Granting citizenship to Turkish settlers is being facilitated

In statements after a meeting of the council of ministers yesterday, the self-styled minister of economy and tourism, Dervis Kemal Deniz said that a person who is not a citizen of the TRNC will have the right to file an application for a permanent stay permit in case he works there for five years uninterruptedly. Mr Deniz noted that a person who gets a stay permit will acquire the right to file an application for the citizenship of the TRNC in case he lives in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus another five years, that is totally ten years.

Mr Deniz said that if a person gets a permanent stay permit, this does not mean that this person becomes a citizen and added that granting the permanent stay permit and the citizenship will be under the authority of the council of ministers. He pointed out that, in the meantime the persons who acquire permanent stay permit will not have the right to elect and be elected as well as the right to be employed in the public sector. They will, however, have all the other rights of a citizen.

(I/Ts.)

[08] The ambassadors of the Islamic Conference Organisation and other countries to Ankara rejected an invitation to visit occupied Cyprus

The invitation was addressed by Mr Tamer Gazioglu, the self-styled ambassador of the breakaway regime to Ankara, aiming to the lifting of the so-called embargo of the TRNC.

The last date of replying as regards the acceptance of the invitation was the 27th of February, but due to the fact that no answers were received, the period was extended. Despite this only the ambassadors of Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Mongolia replied positively and will participate in the trip. All the other ambassadors refused the invitation. In order for the invited ambassadors not to get in a difficult situation, no official meeting will take place and the visit to north Cyprus will be a visit to the universities, writes the paper.

In addition to the ambassadors of the countries which are members of the IKO, the self-styled ambassador invited the ambassadors of western countries among which the USA and the UK and the ambassadors of Venezuela, the Philippines and Mexico. From all these countries, only the Mongolian replied in an official manner.

Self-styled Turkish Cypriot diplomats, who said that every passing day the support given to north Cyprus is increasing, said that the results of this effort were disappointing. The paper also writes that in 2005 Mr Gazioglu addressed the same invitation to diplomats and that eight ambassadors visited occupied Cyprus for a weekend.

(C/S)

[09] The Turkish Cypriot ombudsman will visit Austria

Invoking information from the Official Gazette of the TRNC (breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus), KIBRIS writes that Zeki Gursel will also participate in the meeting of the same organization in Vienna between 11 and 14 June on the issue of The General Skills of the European Ombudsmen.

(I/Ts.)

[B] COMMENTARIES , EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Commentary in Turkish Cypriot paper stresses that as in Turkey only the Turkish army can take decisions in occupied Cyprus

The Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Republic, General Hilmi Ozkok has warned Tayyip Erdogan in a more tough manner than it was thought of

He said: This indictment is not only against General Yasar (Buyukanit). It is an action aimed at shaking the Turkish Armed Forces´ (TSK) image in the eyes of the people. In this situation it is your duty, as Prime Minister, to defend and offer support to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). As TSK we expect this from you. In our speeches, by being obliged to defend ourselves, everybody is benefiting. As Turkish Armed Forced, from the highest to the lowest rank, we are behind General Yasar (Buyukanit).

YENI SAFAK newspaper which is known as pro-Erdogan newspaper in Turkey, carried out a poll.

In the poll they put the following question:

If there is an election today which party you will vote for?

Following is the result:

AKP 42.7%

CHP 17.2%

MHP 10.6%

DYP 8.9%

DTP-DEHAP 6.6%

ANAP 5.6%

Felicity Party 2.5%

Others 4.7%

If this survey reflects the truth then it means that Erdogan´s Party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) did not lose anything from its strength. In fact it became stronger.

However, this cannot be explained that this is due to his success.

There is no other party which people could support.

Deniz Bayakal was unable to fulfill the opposition duty given to him with the help of America.

Baykal has already rocked the ship.

Nobody, even those who are not close to Erdogan admire Baykal anymore.

Turkey needs a strong opposition. Unfortunately, those powers which brought the AKP to power, were able to kill two birds with one stone. They have succeeded in bringing the AKP into power and in the meantime they have destroyed the opposition

The warning made by the Chief of the Staff General Ozkok to Erdogan reflects the present picture in Turkey. We have written the other day, the strings are in the hands of the army and not in civilian hands

What the army says this will happen

This is the most important aspect when one evaluates the situation in Cyprus..

Nothing could be realized here without the Army´s approval

As the case is, having Erdogan in Ankara and Talat here has no meaning

May be Talat gets the order from Erdogan But Erdogan gets the order from the Office of the Chief of the General Staff. The Government of the `TRNC´, even if it wants, cannot remove the bridge at the Ledra Street crossing

But the Army can The `Government´ of the `TRNC´ even if it wants, cannot stop entry into the `TRNC´ with Identity Cards

But the Army can and if Varosha will be opened to settlement no one but the Army could open it

We are the prisoners of the Army here. There is a general and not a president sitting on top of us.

/SK

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