Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-04-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Soyer.

[02] UN Secretary -General proposes step-by-step process for Cyprus.

[03] The self-styled minister of tourism on the new casino law and the tourist potentials of the breakaway regime.

[04] The breakaway regime continues to oppress its political opponents.

[05] TPK and UBP lawsuits´ against the so-called property law.

[06] The Civil Defence Organization in the occupied areas has launched its own second radio station.

[07] The rate of inflation in Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Soyer

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) self-styled Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, reacting to the statement by Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni that "The Turks of Cyprus want a solution in order to benefit from the advantages of the EU", has said that he is "unable to accept" these words.

Mr Soyer, stating that he was extremely sad to hear such a thing coming from the mouth of the foreign minister of an EU member-country, stressed that the Turkish people of Cyprus also care for their economic and democratic interests. Mr Soyer criticized the rhetoric of Bakoyanni in which "a solution was only desired for the sake of money and benefits".

Mr Soyer, in a statement he made while the so-called Draft Law on the Real Estate Tax [Amendment] was being debated in a general session of the so-called Republican Assembly, noted that they "have made continuous efforts to motivate the Greek Cypriot community, which had said 'no' to a solution, toward 'yes', by inviting them to a process of negotiations, for the sake of an atmosphere that will jointly shape the interests of the two sides, and have likewise not discriminated among people in accord with their religions or languages or seen them as lesser because of such elements."

Mr Soyer, saying that "I am unable to accept this statement by Ms Bakoyanni, and her presenting the Turkish people of Cyprus as worthless", pointed out that the EU is a unity of equals, and called upon Bakoyannis to recognize the Turkish Cypriots.

Mr Soyer reported that a British citizen who had purchased real estate in the TRNC was arrested by Cyprus police yesterday while crossing into free areas of Cyprus via the Ayios Dhometios checkpoint. Mr Soyer said that, with this approach, the Greek Cypriot side wants to damage the country's economy by exacerbating the controversies regarding the property issue in the TRNC.

Mr Soyer explained that the Cyprus government wants to achieve its model of a one-sided solution in the Cyprus problem by linking it to its one-sided advantage of EU membership, and for this reason has referred property issues to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Stressing that the Greek Cypriots are doing this in order to destroy the efforts at a comprehensive solution to the property issue, Mr Soyer said that the Greek Cypriots, who filed property suits for the sake of psychological warfare, have now stepped back, and that this derives from the adopting of the Property Compensation Law and the ECHR's beginning to see this as a matter of domestic remedy.

Explaining that the proposal by the Greek Cypriots at the meeting of Council of Europe delegates that a moratorium be applied to occupied northern Cyprus was rejected, and that that this was a great defeat for Greek Cypriots Mr Soyer asserted that it was for this reason that the Greek Cypriots arrested the British citizen who crossed from the TRNC into the free areas.

Mr Soyer, providing information regarding the construction sector, announced that applications to the self-styled Interior Ministry by foreigners to buy property had been 228 in 2000, 309 in self-styled 2001, 591 in 2003, 2,827 in 2004, 1,571 in 2005, and 300 in the first two months of 2006.

Mr Soyer reported that actual purchases of property in the TRNC by foreigners had been 114 in 2000, 231 in 2001, 130 in 2002, 425 in 2003, 249 in 2004, 667 in 2005, and 267 in the first two months of 2006.

Mr Soyer, noting that there has not been a decline in foreigners' purchases of property, and that a steady trend has been observed, explained that the argument that "The construction sector is dying" is not true, but that problems are being experienced because many people have entered into what has been a growing pie.

Mr Soyer advised that [the government] is going to introduce legal provisions in order for the problems involving real estate agents to be overcome.

Mr Soyer, stating that the Greek Cypriots has been trying to wage psychological warfare regarding the Cyprus problem, stressed that, when the Cyprus problem is resolved, whoever has purchased property in the north will be under the guarantee of the state.

Noting that with the population and building census that will be conducted in the TRNC on 30 April, data on the types, numbers, and strengths and weaknesses of the buildings in the TRNC will be obtained, Soyer stressed that a struggle will be waged against the Greek Cypriots' psychological warfare. Stating that they are making few initiatives but ones that will have important impacts, Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that the Greeks will be unable to raise on any other platform the moratorium that was rejected by the Committee of Delegates of the Council of Europe.

So-called deputy Hasan Tacoy, of the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP), citing the Cyprus police arrest of a British citizen, stated that the treatment that the Greek Cypriots have been applying to individuals from EU member-[states] is a scandal, and condemned it.

Reporting that a British citizen who had bought property in the TRNC was stopped by Cyprus police and had his bags searched and his property contract seized, Mr Tacoy said that this is done with all foreigners who cross from the TRNC into free areas. Tacoy said that this was incompatible with humanity and called for preventive measures to be taken against it.

Mr Tacoy said that joint efforts must also be made in order for the incident to be brought onto the world's agenda.

Following the speeches, the so-called Draft Law on the Real Estate Tax [Amendment] was passed in a majority vote.

[02] UN Secretary -General proposes step-by-step process for Cyprus

SABAH further reports that a similar letter by Annan has been sent to the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul last Friday.

In both his letters the UNSG stresses that his good offices mission as regards the Cyprus problem continues and that the process will progress not as piecemeal but step-by-step. We propose as a first step to take up technical issues. This will be to fill the gap existing between the two sides, to create the trust and the necessary conditions for a lasting solution.

The paper reports that Mr. Annan went on and said that the conditions for a comprehensive settlement are not ripe yet, however, he added. with technical meetings a step forward could be taken. In his letter Mr. Annan had clarified the return of Varosha is included in the Paris declaration which made Ankara angry. The UNSG in his letter recalled that this was included in the Action Plan submitted by Turkey and that naturally in such meeting the Varosha issue as well was on the agenda.

(MHY)

[03] The self-styled minister of tourism on the new casino law and the tourist potentials of the breakaway regime

Mr Deniz stated that he TRNC was known for years as a money laundring place. As he said that with the new casino law the casinos will be taken under control and the great incomes of the tourism will be safeguard.

We will make TRNC a country of tourism, not a country of gambling houses, he said.

He also said that during the last two years the breakaway regime took important economical steps. He also said that their biggest problem is that the world has not been convinced that they are equal with the Greek Cypriots and added that a lot of money is needed for the promoting of the TRNC.

We were not able to do enough for the recognition and we were not able to go the places we wanted, he said.

Mr Deniz said that the businessmen in Turkey, as well as the ordinary people, do not know TRNC and they know Cyprus only from the nationalistic statements. He added that these people do not know anything as regards the culture and the tourist foundation of the TRNC.

(C/S)

[04] The breakaway regime continues to oppress its political opponents

AFRIKA notes that the investigation was launched without a court decision in this direction. The police called the parents of Mr Incirli, who live in the occupied part of Nicosia, and told them that they had to go to the police station in order to discuss something about their son. When the parents did not go, the police visited their house and asked to be informed about Serhat because of his articles in AFRIKA.

The paper writes, inter alia, the following:

The stance of the police shows that there has been absolutely no change in the operations of intimidation and threats by the regime against its political opponents in our country. We are curious to know whether or not this investigation, which was launched without any court decision, is within the knowledge of Talat and Soyer. We call on Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer to make a statement on the issue.

(I/Ts.)

[05] TPK and UBP lawsuits against the so-called property law

Fuat Veziroglu is the TKP advocate, while advocate Enver Ozturk will represent UBP at its lawsuit.

(M/L)

[06] The Civil Defence Organization in the occupied areas has launched its own second radio station

Briefing journalists on behalf of the Civil Defence Organization, Mr Zekai Aksakalli, head of the organization, referred to its aim, its recent participation in the humanitarian aid in the earthquake stricken Pakistani area, and to the forthcoming exercise. He said that for the first time the exercise will be organized in an international dimension and under night conditions.

Briefing on Radio Nihavent, the Director of the Civil Defence Organization´s Voice of the North, Radio Vatan, Mr Ali Gurtekin, said that with a view to increasing the listening range and the quality of Radio Vatan, which was established in 1999, the capacity of it was upgraded. Since part of its equipment acquired increased capacity they decided to establish Radio Nihavent which started broadcasting on the 100.4 and 89.8 frequencies on the FM band, he said.

[07] The rate of inflation in Turkey

As of March, annual inflation became 8.16 percent in consumer prices and 4.21 percent in producer prices.

Inflation rates in the first three months of this year were calculated as 2.48 percent in producer prices and 1.25 percent in consumer prices.

12-month inflation rates as of March were 8.05 percent in consumer prices, and 4.49 percent in producer prices.

/SK

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