Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-03-31

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The first detailed statements by Talat after his operation.

[02] Turkish Cypriot company was forced to withdraw its demand to export from the port of Limassol.

[03] VATAN: The foreign member of the Property Commission is biased.

[04] COE Committee turns down Greek Cypriots´ initiative on property.

[05] Turkish Parliament speaker meets in Finland his Finnish counterpart.

[06] Illegal immigrants from Turkey destined to the EU.

[07] Wartsila´s agreement signed.

[08] Erdogan refers to Cyprus during a Joint Conference with OIC´s S-G in Jeddah. Turkish Cypriots to attend OIC meetings as Turkish Cypriot state.

[09] Turkeys handball national mens team won the TRNC handball mens team.

[10] Turkey supports UN Security Council call on Iran´s nuclear program.

[11] NATO´s Air Police mission to be undertaken by Turkey in Baltic Airspace.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The first detailed statements by Talat after his operation

President Mehmet Ali Talat has announced he may be meeting with the Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tassos Papadopoulos in the coming days, possibly, at a reception to be given on the occasion of the appointment of a new UN representative to the Missing Persons Committee.

The President said that a venue and a date for the reception are yet to be decided.

He stressed that the Greek Cypriot Side should present a list of its objections to the Annan Plan before full-scale negotiations between the two sides restart.

The President who has been resting at home after last months by-pass heart operation, issued his first detailed statement since then.

In an interview with the TAK news agency, the President of the Republic said he will be resuming his official work as from Monday.

He said he will only be at his office for limited periods as suggested by his doctors, and will continue to rest at home for a few days a week for some time.

The President, currently resting at home, will receive the British High Commissioner in Cyprus Peter Millet tomorrow.

Referring to press reports quoting the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos as having said he is ready to meet him to discuss humanitarian issues, President Talat expressed the view that this is a move aimed purely at gaining political advantage before the parliamentary elections due in South Cyprus in May.

He said the suggested meeting that is likely to take place at a reception to be given on the occasion of the appointment of a new UN representative to the Missing Persons Committee will not be focused on humanitarian issues, as suggested.

Reminding that the setting up of technical committees was proposed by him soon after becoming the President of the TRNC, Mr Talat said that the UN envoy Mr Moller had proposed the setting up of 10 different technical committees, and that this was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side.

Strongly rejecting Mr Papadopoulos claim that technical issues cannot be taken up without touching upon the essence of the problem, Mr Talat said the Turkish Cypriot side is not against talks being held on the essence of the Cyprus problem.

Referring to the EUs Financial Assistance Regulation for North Cyprus, the President said that the implementation of the Regulation will be directed by the European Commission.

Furthermore, under the front page title We cannot enter into the issues of substance before the Greek Cypriots submit their proposals for changes, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (31.03.06) reports that Mr Talat said that the UN Secretary General called him when he was in the hospital in Istanbul and informed him about Mr Annans meeting with President Papadopoulos in Paris. Until that phone call I had no information about the meeting of Annan with Papadopoulos in Paris. The Secretary General said to me he met with Papadopoulos. I began telling him that we are ready for talks. And during this conversation my blood pressure went up and I began to sweat. .

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper (31.03.06) refers to Mr Talats statements under the front-page title Yes from Talat to the demand of Papadopoulos for a meeting. The paper writes that referring to the so-called property law, Mr Talat said that this law was prepared upon pressure from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and not according to the wishes of the Turkish Cypriots. He added: Therefore, the approach that it has to be submitted to referendum is tantamount to passing the time with trifles.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (31.03.06) reports that referring to the issue of the financial aid regulation of the EU, Mr Talat said that the situation has not been clarified yet and alleged that the Financial Aid Regulation is not possible to be put into force in case the positions of the Greek Cypriots are accepted. Therefore, the discussions for accepting or rejecting it are unnecessary and exaggerated. The paper notes that regarding the issue of the properties, Mr Talat expressed the opinion that for the first time the Turkish Cypriots are given the chance to use this issue within the framework of the ECHR and that for the first time they have made a law which will cause major changes in the proprietorship regime and influence positively the parameters for a solution.

Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (31.03.06) refers to Mr Talats statements under the front-page title The Property Law is imposed by the ECHR and Turkey.

[02] Turkish Cypriot company was forced to withdraw its demand to export from the port of Limassol

The paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot company which had applied to the Chamber of Commerce for preliminary permission in order to export citrus fruits from the port of Limassol within the framework of the Green Line Regulation has withdrawn its application.

This information was given yesterday to illegal TAK news agency by the chairman of the transport workers trade union KAR-IS, Aziz Gece who said that there was a development regarding the exports from the Greek Cypriot ports and their protest two days ago and that the Turkish Cypriot company which expressed the wish to export citrus fruit from Limassol informed the Chamber of Commerce that it is not interested in doing this anymore. Officials of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce confirmed this information.

Commenting on the issue, the editor-in-chief of KIBRIS, Basaran Duzgun says that in case the exports of citrus fruit had been conducted from the port of Limassol then the view of President Papadopoulos that no one applied embargo on the Turkish Cypriots would have been proven to be right. He noted that he heard for the first time by the self-styled Prime Minster, Ferdi Sabit Soyer that a group of businessmen from occupied Morfou were ready to export citrus fruits from the port of Limassol. According to Mr Duzgun, Mr Soyer was informed about the issue when officials from the EU Commission called him and asked him what they were trying to do with these efforts.

Mr Duzgun writes, inter alia, the following: However, what does it mean to behave in such a manner that strengthens the positions of Papadopoulos? A symbolic export from the port of Limassol will ensure commercial profit to no one, but it will bring a heavy blow to the Turkish positions. Very well, who are these businessmen and what are they trying to do?...

(I/Ts.)

[03] VATAN: The foreign member of the Property Commission is biased

VATAN reports that Mr Dervish criticized Mr Krueger about statements he had made to the CYPRUS MAIL newspaper of 24 March 2006. Mr Dervish quotes Mr Krueger to have said during the interview that regarding the mission of the Commission work could either end with fiasco or not. Dervish said that with this expression Mr Krueger had cast a shadow on the Commission. He also referred to Mr Kruegers another expression in the same interview that One has to act on the basis of returning of movable and immovable property and warned that if decisions are taken on the basis of this expression, then bizonality principle will be done away. Dervish went on and said: Esteemed Kruegers statement includes elements of bias and has eroded the credibility and neutrality of the Commission .Unless the `TRNC´ side starts a planned comprehensive initiative based on legal arguments and property documents, the Arestis case could end up with returning of her property. If this is realized then there will be a domino effect and at the first stage the return of the whole of Varosha with compensation payments, and then 1400 application with compensation could be on the agenda.

(MHY)

[04] CoE Committee turns down Greek Cypriots´ initiative on property

The committee also rejected a demand by the Greek Cypriot Administration that Turkey gives a report about the construction and land development activity in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The Council of Europes Committee of Delegates also heard the TRNC self- styled Presidential Undersecretary, Rasid Pertev whose speech focused mainly on the most recent legislative work on property issues in North Cyprus, and in particular, the recently adopted TRNC Property Exchange, Compensation and Reinstatement Law.

Mr Pertevs detailed briefing focused on the new law, which, among other provisions, introduces new regulation that paves the way for Greek Cypriots to take legal action in the TRNC to demand that their former property in North Cyprus be compensated, exchanged with former Turkish Cypriot property left behind in South Cyprus, or, reinstated.

At the end of the session, both demands by the Greek Cypriot Administration were rejected without being taken into the agenda.

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

[05] Turkish Parliament speaker meets in Finland his Finnish counterpart

"Turkey's ethnic and religious diversity is not a reason for enmity. The EU should grant equal treatment to Turkey as other countries," said Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc.

Meeting Finnish Parliament Speaker Paavo Lipponen on the second day of his visit to Finnish capital of Helsinki, Arinc expressed his belief that Finland will maintain its positive approach as regards Turkey's EU membership after it assumes the function of new acting president of the Union.

According to Arinc, Turkey will do its best to complete the negotiation process successfully.

Commenting on the Cyprus problem Mr Arinc stated: "The EU and UN should support Turkey's efforts aiming to find a lasting and fair solution to the Cyprus problem.

He noted that only Turkey's efforts will not suffice to resolve the problem, and said that the Cyprus problem should not be presented as a precondition of Turkey's EU membership.

When a Finnish parliamentarian said, "Kurdish minority is an important matter, and the EU respects minority rights," Arinc emphasized that Kurds were not accepted as a minority, according to the Lausanne Treaty.

"Kurds living in Turkey enjoy equal rights and are first-class citizens of the Turkish Republic," said Arinc.

Drawing attention that the terrorist organization PKK killed thousands of people (in the past), Arinc noted that there are people in Turkey who qualify themselves as Kurds. "However this is not a deficiency, but just a diversity," he stated.

According to Arinc, 70-80 of 550 Turkish MPs can openly say that their mothers or fathers are from Kurdish origin.

Arinc later participated in a luncheon hosted in his honor by Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen.

[06] Illegal immigrants from Turkey destined to the EU

The illegal immigrants came secretly to the occupied Famagusta Port from Mersin, Turkey, hidden inside a lorry which was inside a freighter ship. The ship has the name Guzelyurt (Morfou) and it has the Turkish registered numbers 47 KF 183. .

As the paper writes, the immigrants have paid the human merchants two thousand dollars to take them to the TRNC and from there to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

(C/S)

[07] Wartsila´s agreement signed

The agreement is part of a master plan aimed at boosting North Cypruss energy production capacity by 70 Megawatts.

The installation of the four new power plants will start six months from today, according to the agreement signed last night at a ceremony attended by the self-styled Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Huseyin Oztoprak, the Minister of Finance Ahmet Uzun and the Director of the `TRNC´ Electricity Authority Fuat Mertay on behalf of the TRNC.

Speaking after the ceremony Mr Oztoprak said the new generators will be in service two months after their installation starts.

The four generators will be situated at the Teknecik Power Plant, to the east of Girne, (occupied Kyrenia) at a cost of about 22 million Euros.

[08] Erdogan refers to Cyprus during a Joint Conference with OIC´s S-G in Jeddah. Turkish Cypriots to attend OIC meetings as Turkish Cypriot state

Holding a joint press conference with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), in Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, Erdogan underscored importance of OIC and similar organizations for global peace and stability.

Being the first ever Turkish prime minister visiting the OIC HQ in Jeddah, Erdogan indicated, "we have launched important initiatives in the last three years to contribute to global peace and welfare, and avoid violence and clashes. The Alliance of Civilizations Initiative, our EU membership perspective, and our vision for reconstruction of OIC are some of these initiatives."

Erdogan noted that Ihsanoglu briefed him on the ten-year action plan aiming to solve problems of this organization, and he supported and appreciated Ihsanoglu's efforts.

On the other hand, Ihsanoglu said, "Turkey is playing a leading role in the Islam world in political matters like Iraq and Palestine, in solidifying economic and commercial cooperation and cooperation with African countries, strengthening solidarity in natural disasters, and Alliance of Civilizations Initiative. Turkey is also contributing to efforts aiming to bring the West and Europe together with the Islam world, thanks to its wide historical and cultural heritage, unique geopolitical location and policies it pursues with common sense."

Ihsanoglu announced that Turkey will host the OIC Conference on Women to be held in a ministerial level at the end of this year.

"As long as isolations imposed on the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ (`TRNC´) are not lifted, no one should expect Turkey to take a positive step about opening of Turkish ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot side," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Upon a question about the Cyprus issue, Prime Minister Erdogan said: "The `TRNC´ will attend the OIC meetings as a monitoring member and as the Turkish Cypriot State from now on. It is a very important development. We hope that the United States will make a similar decision in future. The Turkish Cypriot side has fulfilled its responsibilities by approving the plan of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the referendum."

"As long as isolations imposed on the `TRNC´ are not lifted, no one should expect Turkey to take a positive step about opening of Turkish ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot side," he said.

Referring to recent crisis about Iran's nuclear program, Prime Minister Erdogan said: "As Turkey, we do not want weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. But no one can reject the use of nuclear energy for humanitarian purposes. On the other hand, circles which do not want weapons of mass destruction in Iran, have their own weapons of mass destruction."

Upon a question about the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, Erdogan said: "The elections in Palestine were of importance in regard to democratic developments in the region. Everyone who believes in democracy, should respect results of the elections. The international community should keep supporting Palestine in this new period under the resolutions of the United Nations. We believe that dialogue is the ideal way for resolving problems."

[09] Turkeys handball national mens team won the TRNC handball mens team

(M/L)

[10] Turkey supports UN Security Council call on Iran´s nuclear program

Turkey supports the UN Security Council "presidential statement" calling on Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment work, Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) said on Thursday.

Releasing a statement, the ministry indicated that the Security Council had a meeting yesterday, and adopted a "presidential statement" demanding that Iran suspend uranium enrichment.

"The presidential statement says that Iran should fulfill its responsibilities, and is expected to have a full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It also underlines that Iran's abiding by the IAEA's decision will contribute to solution of the problem through peaceful means," added the ministry.

[11] NATO´s Air Police mission to be undertaken by Turkey in Baltic Airspace

Turkey will undertake "air police" mission in Baltic air space, Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) executives said.

Releasing a statement, MFA executives indicated that Turkey will patrol the air space of Baltic states between April 1st and July 31st, 2006 within the scope of NATO Council resolution.

According to MFA executives, four recreational aircraft and military personnel will be deployed at Lithuania's Siauliai Airport.

MFA executives stressed that this mission will further improve Turkey's relations with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Under a Council resolution, NATO member states are patrolling the Baltic skies rotatingly in three-month terms since March 29th, 2004.

/SK

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