Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-03-27

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 Prime Minister on Cyprus

[02] Statements by Serdar Denktas, Abdullatif Sener and Turkish officials on Turkey´s opening its airspace to Cyprus planes

[03] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Sener on the Property Law

[04] New property law to be discussed soon

[05] Erdogan´s foreign policy adviser alleges that Greece and Cyprus do not want a solution to the Cyprus problem

[06] Chief Turkish negotiator with the EU: We´ll continue to be a step ahead on the Cyprus issue

[07] Statements by the leader of UBP. Talat to address the PACE?

[08] Statements by Salih Tunar

[09] Erdil Nami and Salih Tunar are attending the American-Turkish council meeting

[10] Exhibition of Turkish Cypriot handicrafts in Brussels

[11] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the statement by President Papadopoulos that he is ready to discuss humanitarian issues with the Turkish Cypriot leader

[12] Jack Straw in favour of direct flights with occupied Cyprus

[13] Turkeys handball national team to the occupied areas of Cyprus for a match with the national team of the TRNC

[14] The occupation regime is getting ready to allow the entrance of the Turkish Cypriots to the casinos

[15] Sezer votoes the government nominees for Central Bank top post

[16] Investigation has started regarding Seyh Nazim´s pro-islamic rule brochure

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Prime Minister on Cyprus

Mr Erdogan stressed once again that the Cyprus issue is the national cause of Turkey and no concession can be given as regards the problem.

Speaking today at a meeting of his party the Justice and Development Party, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will not allow any speculation on the Cyprus issue. Cyprus is a national cause for Turkey. We will never let our Turkish Cypriot brothers alone, he stressed.

Referring to the Greek Cypriot sides request from Turkey for the opening of Turkish sea and air ports to the Greek Cypriot registered vessels and planes, Mr Erdogan stressed. The international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot ´people´ must be removed first.

The Greek Cypriot administration can only request for these demands after the isolation of Turkish Cypriots comes to an end, he added.

Reiterating that Turkey is only a guarantor power and the Greek Cypriot sides collocutor is the Turkish Cypriot side, the Turkish Premier said the Greek Cypriot side can sit at the negotiating table with the Turkish Cypriots right after the removal of the isolations.

Speaking earlier at another meeting of his party in the Kartal district of Istanbul, Mr Erdogan reacted sharply to statements that Cyprus has been given away.

In contrary he said the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is running after some circles and they are trying to escape.

Pointing out that nothing has been given and will not be given, the Turkish Premier said the TRNC has a significant and honorable place within the world policy. Reminding the Turkish sides position at the referendum on the Annan plan, Mr Erdogan stressed that nothing should be expected from the Turkish side, but only the principles of the Annan plan.

We kept our promises; the party which fell short of keeping its promises is the Greek Cypriot side and its supporters, he added.

Alleging that the Greek Cypriot side was awarded while the Turkish Cypriot side was punished, the Turkish Prime Minister requested for justice to be manifested.

Mr Erdogan stressed that the collocutor is the Turkish Cypriot side and the negotiations must be carried out with Turkish Cypriots.

A positive outcome can only be achieved if the Turkish Cypriot ´people´ is given its rights, he said.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the illegal regime set up by the Turkish Republic in the territories of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops)

[02] Statements by Seder Denktas, Abdullatif Sener and Turkish officials on Turkey´s opening its airspace to Cyprus planes

Serdar Denktas, Foreign Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [KKTC], has disclosed that an agreement was reached with Ankara whereby, as a sign of goodwill, Turkey would open its airspace to Greek Cypriot planes. Nevertheless, Turkish State Minister Abdullatif Sener who is holding talks on the island has denied this report.

Serdar Denktas said that the KKTC reached an agreement with Ankara a few months ago to open the Turkish airspace to Greek Cypriot planes, but that the timing will be up to Turkey. Denktas asserted: We expect the same goodwill from the EU and the United Nations.

He reiterated that unless the isolation of the KKTC is lifted, Turkey will not open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot ships and planes.

Abdullatif Sener, however, denied the reports that Turkey will open its airspace to Greek Cypriot planes. Sener also said that Ankara does not look warmly to the 139 million Euro aid the EU plans to extend to north Cyprus under the control of the Greek Cypriots.

Turkish Foreign Ministry officials too have denied that Turkey is going to unilaterally open its airspace to Greek Cypriot planes. The officials recalled that opening the Turkish airspace to Greek Cypriot planes is part of Turkey's Action Plan, but that the condition is that the sanctions placed on the KKTC are lifted. The officials stressed that the Turkish airspace has never been closed to the planes of third countries that fly to or from the Greek Cypriot sector.

On the same issue Ankara Anatolia news agency (24/03/06) reported the following from Ankara: Opening of the Turkish air space to the Greek Cypriot administration was a part of the January 24th action plan, and the Turkish air space would not be opened unilaterally if the Greek Cypriot administration did not take any step, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) sources said on Friday.

Sources noted that the there was not any change in the current situation.

Referring to the statement released earlier in the day by ´Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister´ Serdar Denktas of the ´Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ (TRNC), the same sources noted that the statement was misunderstood.

Denktas meant January 24th decisions in his statement, they said. Recalling that January 24th decisions envisaged to allow the Greek Cypriot Airlines to use the Turkish air space under the relevant international rules, the same sources added that the action plan was prepared as a package, and it should be put into as a whole.

[03] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Sener on the Property Law

KIBRIS, quoting illegal Bayrak Radio and Television, reports that the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister said he believes the so-called new Law on Property Compensation, Exchange and Reinstatement, which envisages the return, compensation and exchange of Greek Cypriot property left in the occupied area following the Turkish invasion and occupation in 1974, meets the standards required by the European Court of Human Rights, (ECHR) and, at the same time, secures Turkish Cypriots legitimate rights.

Replying to questions, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, said he believes the new law fully satisfies the requirements of the ECHR, and, at the same time, protects Turkish Cypriots own rights while safeguarding a bizonal solution to the Cyprus problem in the future. Sener said that in the so-called law the rights of the Turkish Cypriots who lived in the houses belonging to the Greek Cypriots for 30 years and in case he applies to the Commission then he will win the right to stay in the house.

Expressing disappointment with the fact that the so-called new legislation has been taken to the TRNC Constitutional Court despite earlier discontent felt in Turkey over this possibility, Mr Sener called for more stable, serious and strenuous efforts - tuned to the language of todays international relations.

KIBRIS further reports that Sener disclosed that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the leader of the main opposition party UBP Huseyin Ozgurgun and told him that it would be wrong if they recourse to the so-called constitutional court for having the law rescinded. Sener also said that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in his turn, called on former NUP leader Dervish Eroglu and told him that it would be wrong if they recourse to the so-called constitutional court for having the law rescinded.

Abdullatif Sener concluded by saying that the Turkish government does not approve of the recourse to the so-called constitutional court.

(MHY)

[04] New property law to be discussed soon

The President of the High Court and the Constitutional Court Metin Hakki has announced that the TRNC Constitutional Court will start to discuss the annulment of the new Law on Property Compensation, Exchange and Reinstatement within a month. Mr Hakki added that the Court wants to reach a decision on the lawsuit as soon as possible.

Speaking to the BRT today, the President of the Constitutional Court Metin Hakki said that the National Unity Party has taken more paragraphs to the Court to be rescinded than the Communal Liberation Party.

Noting that the Court wants to reach a decision on the lawsuit as soon as possible, Mr Hakk1 said if the Court decides that the law is violating the Constitution, it can totally rescind the law or some of its paragraphs.

The National Unity Party and the Communal Liberation Party decided to make a recourse to the TRNC Constitutional Court earlier to demand that a new law is rescinded.

They claimed that the new legislation constitutes a violation of the TRNC Constitution. The new law is designed by the government to be seen by the European Court of Human Rights as a local remedy to cases filed by Greek Cypriots on property.

The law envisages compensation, exchange and reinstatement of property in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus that belonged to Greek Cypriots before the events in 1974.

[05] Erdogan´s foreign policy adviser alleges that Greece and Cyprus do not want a solution to the Cyprus problem

Bagis delivered a speech on the current situation of Turkish-U.S. relations.

Bagis noted, ''there are five main political matters in Turkish-U.S. relations. Those are Afghanistan, the Greater Middle East Initiative, Middle East peace process, Cyprus and Iraq.''

Noting that everyone understood that Greece and the Greek Cypriot side did not want solution to Cyprus issue, Bagis said that the United States made great contributions to the current point that was reached on the Cyprus issue.

Stating that Turkey had experienced difficult days because of economic and political crises three years ago, Bagis indicated that Turkey has achieved great success over the last three years.

''Turkish economy ranked the 17th among the biggest economies of the world. According to the figures of World Bank, foreign investment in Turkey will triple in 2006,'' he stressed. Bagis added that Turkey was a key country in solutions to several problems in the world.

[06] Chief Turkish negotiator with the EU: We´ll continue to be a step ahead on the Cyprus issue

Turkish Minister of State and the countrys Chief Negotiator with the European Union Ali Babacan has reiterated the Turkish governments position in support of helping find a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.

Speaking in Stockholm where he held contacts on Turkeys relations with the EU, the Turkish Minister of State responded to a question on the Cyprus issue, by saying that Cyprus continues to be one of the most important issues of Turkish Foreign Policy.

Responding to reporters questions in Stockholm where hes been having contacts on relations between the European Union and Turkey, Ali Babacan stressed the fact that Cyprus continues to be an important issue for Turkey, on which, he said, the country must be very careful when taking steps.

It is also important that we keep-up our strenuous efforts to help find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem and this also constitutes an important issue in our relations with the European Union he said.

Mr Babacan reminded that Turkish Cypriots had voted to approve the Annan Plan as a basis for a comprehensive settlement to the problem, and said this is a sign of Turkish Cypriots sincerity in their expressed willingness for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

He said Turkey will continue to be a step ahead on the Cyprus issue, looking for a solution to the Cyprus problem. He stressed the importance of the need for a negotiated and comprehensive settlement to be found to the Cyprus issue within the framework of the United Nations.

[07] Statements by the leader of UBP. Talat to address the PACE?

The UBP leader added that Mr Mehmet Ali Talat could deliver a speech at the Council of Europes Parliamentary Assembly in the near future if he and the Republican Turkish Party MP Ozdil Nami have succeeded in creating an opportunity.

Speaking to the TAK news agency, the leader of the main opposition National Unity Party Huseyin Ozgurgun reminded that he is one of the two MPs who represent the Turkish Cypriot ´people´ at the Council of Europes Parliamentary Assembly (PACE).

Noting that the Turkish Cypriots are being represented at the Council of Europe for the first time in the Turkish Cypriot ´peoples´ political life, he expressed his honor to work with his European colleagues.

The UBP leader also said that he and the Republican Turkish Party MP Ozdil Nami are striving to create an opportunity so that President Mehmet Ali Talat will deliver a speech at the Council of Europes Parliamentary Assembly.

Referring to his partys contacts with the European Union also, Mr Ozgurgun said that he had contacts with 20 diplomats within a one-month period.

As for recent contacts of the European Parliaments High Level Contact Group in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, he reminded that the UBP held contacts with Euro MPs while the minor partner of the coalition was throwing eggs to them.

[08] Statements by Salih Tunar

He said that work is underway to accelerate the mechanism of trade across the green line, and to remove the existing barriers that prevent exports from the North to the South.

Complaining of the Greek Cypriot businessmens reluctance to cooperate with Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs, he expressed disappointment over the fact that no Turkish Cypriot product is being sold in markets in South Cyprus.

He also added that there is no concrete step from the Republic of Cyprus to allow the Turkish Cypriot trucks to cross into South Cyprus.

Asked about how he perceived the EU Financial Assistance Regulation, Mr Tunar said the Regulation must be adjusted so that Turkish Cypriots will not be left to the mercy of the Greek Cypriot Administration, as he called the Republic of Cyprus.

He warned against any preconditions being set for the implementation of the Direct Trade Regulation, and said such a thing would be unacceptable and a good example of double standards.

[09] Erdil Nami and Salih Tunar are attending the American-Turkish council meeting

The President of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce Erdil Nami and the President of Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry Salih Tunar are attending the meeting of the American-Turkish Council in Washington.

Improvement of economic and military relations between Turkey and the US will be taken up during the four-day meeting. In line with their contacts, Mr Nami and Mr Tunar will also meet with US officials to discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.

[10] Exhibition of Turkish Cypriot handicrafts in Brussels

The exhibition will be open to visits between this coming Tuesday and Thursday, and will be inaugurated by the Minister of National Education and Culture Canan Oztoprak.

The Chamber said the exhibitions objective was to make the Turkish Cypriot businessmens voice heard within the European Union, and to help bring forward the implementation of the Green Line Regulation.

A statement issued by the Chamber said the opening of the exhibition is part of a greater campaign of enlightenment aimed at highlighting the need for the Turkish Cypriot side to be relieved of the effects of its unjustified international isolation, and give prominence to the responsibility that falls on the EU to prevent the Greek Cypriot Administration from exercising any kind of authority on the use and spending of the financial aid being provided by the Union to the TRNC.

[11] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the statement by President Papadopoulos that he is ready to discuss humanitarian issues with the Turkish Cypriot leader

KIBRIS refers to the issue under the title I am ready to meet with Talat and argues that President Papadopoulos before the sincere policy of the Turkish side for the solution, has made a U-turn from his policy of not meeting with Mr Talat.

AFRIKA, under the title I am ready for meeting with Talat, expresses the opinion that the leader of Greek Cypriot administration, Tassos Papadopoulos stopped being stubborn, made a complete volte-face and surprised everybody!

HALKIN SESI refers to the issue under the title Papadopoulos could discuss only the missing persons.

YENI DUZEN invokes information published in the Greek Cypriot press arguing that after the letter of the United Nations to the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat, the situation in south Cyprus became confused. The paper alleges that the above-mentioned letter has fallen like a bomb in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus. The front-page title of the paper is The game is over.

KIBRISLI uses the title A U-turn by Tassos.

CUMHURIYET refers to the issue under the title New trick by Papadopoulos. Proposal for a meeting regarding the missing persons.

VATAN argues that Tassos Papadopoulos has made a volte-face.

(I/Ts.)

[12] Jack Straw in favor of direct flights with occupied Cyprus

[13] Turkeys handball national team to the occupied areas of Cyprus for a match with the national team of the TRNC

The paper writes that enthusiasm was created in the occupied areas because of the fact that seven players of the mens national team will be participating in the team which will be visiting northern Cyprus. The Turkish delegation will consist of 16 athletes and three trainers.

(I/Ts.)

[14] The occupation regime is getting ready to allow the entrance of the Turkish Cypriots to the casinos

Mr Soyer made these statements on Saturday in a meeting of the Union of the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers, which took place in occupied Kyrenia.

The self-styled prime minister stated that the universities and the casinos are the tourism advantages of the TRNC and added that a law is under preparation for four universities and two casinos in north Cyprus and added that they follow closely the developments. He also stated that they are preparing an important casino law for the development of the casinos in the TRNC in order for the casinos to be improved and have more quality.

Meanwhile, under the title They will make us all gamblers Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (27.03.06) comments on Mr Soyers statements and writes that the self-styled government is preparing a casino law which will allow the Turkish Cypriots to enter the casinos freely.

The paper also reports that as the period of the municipal and by-election, which will take place on the 25th of June, 2006 is approaching, the coalition government of the Republic Turkish Party (CTP) and the Democratic Party (DP) is submitted to the gambling barons in order to be able to have their support for the elections. The paper also writes that the gambling barons have asked since 1993 for the casinos to be opened for the citizens of the breakaway regime but no other government except of the CTP and the DP coalition has found the courage to accept this demand.

(C/S)

[15] Sezer votoes the government nominees for Central Bank top post

Releasing a statement, the press center said that the decree of the Council of Ministers was not approved by the President's Office.

It added that the decree on appointments of Adnan Buyukdeniz as the governor of Central Bank, and Mehmet Simsek and Birol Aydemir as deputy governors was rejected by the President's Office on March 23rd, 2006.

On the same issue Ankara Anatolia (25/03/06) reported the following from Istanbul: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that the Council of Ministers would nominate a new candidate for the Central Bank governor.

Replying to a question on President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's rejection of the cabinet decree on appointment of Central Bank governor, Erdogan said: "We presented our nomination to Mr. President Sezer, but he turned it down on the ground that he did not find the nomination appropriate."

Asked what the next procedure would be, Erdogan noted, "We will submit our new candidate. The cabinet will nominate a new one."

[16] Investigation has started regarding Seyh Nazim´s pro-Islamic rule brochure

(I/TS )

EG/

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