Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-04-19

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] More about Serhat Incirlis case.

[02] Turkey plans to send the unanimous decisions of the EU to arbitration.

[03] The information that Louroudjina football club expressed the intention to participate in Cyprus Football Associations league caused great reactions in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[04] Statements by Ferdi Sabit Soyer. Interview with NTV television.

[05] TRNC-Azerbaijan business cooperation to intensify.

[06] Letter by KTOS to the coordinator of the European Parliaments High Level contact group.

[07] Erdogan advised by doctors to rest for a few days. Trip to Holland postponed.

[08] CHP released its Semdinli report attachment.

[09] Yilmaz Durmus new Central Bank governor.

[10] Toxic barrels in Tuzla create controversy in Turkey.

[11] The Turkish Foreign Ministry in action to stop the Eurovision representative of Cyprus from visiting Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] More about Serhat Incirlis case

The paper writes that a delegation of the Communal Liberation Party paid a visit yesterday to the family of Serhat Incirli and expressed its support. According to a written statement by TKPs General Secretary, Mr Mehmet Davulcu, the purpose of the events that occurred as regards Incirli, aimed to harass his parents and threaten him. Davulcu noted that what is wanted is to interfere into Incirlis freedom of through and expression. The harassment which took place, is an open indication of the non-tolerance against the freedom of thought and expression by the CTP-DP government which says that its goal is to participate in the European Union, he said. He has also said that the TKP delegation sent the message to Incirlis family that they are not alone.

In addition, as the paper also writes, Mr Kemal Darbaz, the chairman of the Press Labourers Union (BASIN SEN) commenting on the Incirli case stated that charges cannot be filed in Turkey for an article published in Cyprus and noted that this is unacceptable. He also said that the case of Serhat Incirli causes concern about the freedom of the press in Cyprus.

Moreover the Cyprus Journalists Association has started an initiative towards various European and international press organisations, informing them about the Incirli case and protesting about it.

(C/S)

[02] Turkey plans to send the unanimous decisions of the EU to arbitration

According to the information received, reports the paper, the latest point arrived at the developments regarding the Cyprus problem placed Ankaras difficulties in its EU process to the highest level.

The Greek Cypriot no to the Action plan announced in January by Turkey and the hesitation demonstrated by the UN Secretary-General in taking a new initiative regarding the Cyprus problem showed that in the short-term there will not be any progress in the Cyprus problem. As a result of this, adds CUMHURIYET, Ankara started to look for ways so that the EU negotiation process will not be cut off and various formulae were on the agenda. Among the formulae, recourse to international arbitration is gaining importance and if the sides agree during the Association Council meeting then there will be recourse to International arbitration which will give Turkey time in the accession negotiations and the EU will not be able to suspend the negotiations because Turkey did not fulfill its obligations under the Customs Union Agreement, Additional Protocol. Thus Turkey will gain time and will increase its political pressure within the EU.

In case the international arbitration gives a verdict that Turkey has to open its ports, then the hand of the Justice and Development Party (JDP) will be free and thus the Government will say that it has to abide by the verdict and will open Turkeys ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot-registered ships and planes.

Another alternative formula, reports CUMHURIYET, is recourse to the World Trade Organizations (WTO) arbitration.

Moreover, Turkish daily RADIKAL newspaper (19.04.06) reports under the title Ankaras problem is to gain time and says that in order for Turkey to avoid a crisis with the EU regarding the opening of the ports it will agree to refer the issue to the Court of Justice. Despite the fact that, reports RADIKAL, Ankara does not expect a favorable decision from the Court, it will gain time because of the recourse procedure.

(MHY)

[03] The information that Louroudjina football club expressed the intention to participate in Cyprus Football Associations league caused great reactions in the occupied areas of Cyprus

Invoking information published in Turkish MILLIYET newspaper, CUMHURIYET writes that the above-mentioned football team has already filed an application to play in the second division of CFA. It reminds that a player of Louroudjina, named Ali Imam had been transferred to Greek Cypriot Nea Salamina Famagusta football team. Then the team of Louroudjina applied to the so-called Turkish Cypriot Football Federation and asked for the punishment of Ali Imam or in case he returned to the occupied areas of Cyprus to play only in their team. Imam played 2-3 months in Nea Salamina and returned to the occupied areas where he agreed to play in the team of Kondea village, where he was born. Louroudjina asked from the federation to correct the situation, but the federation gave its permission to Imam to play in Kondea, notes the paper adding that for this reason the team of Louroudjina filed an application to participate in the Greek Cypriot sides second division.

Meanwhile, under the title Dangerous game, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (19.04.06) reports that the efforts launched by Louroudjina to participate in the CFAs second division caused a great repercussion in the occupied part of the Island.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the chairman of the so-called Turkish Cypriot Football Federation, Niyazi Okutan said that no official application had been made to them until now by Louroudjina and added that they do not see positively the fact that Louroudjina discussed the issue with CFA. He said that they could not accept the demand of Louroudjina, alleging that the 1960 agreements provided for the two communities to have separate football federations and organize separate leagues. He noted that they could give permission to a player as individual to play in the Greek Cypriot league and reiterated that they do not see positively the participation of Turkish Cypriot teams in those leagues.

Furthermore, the self-styled Minister of Youth and Sports of the TRNC (breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus), Ozkan Yorgancioglu said that Louroudjina had not officially applied to them in order to play in the CFAs league and added that he did not believe that such a development could take place. He noted that in case a football team behaved as if the Turkish Cypriot Federation does not exist and became a member of the Greek Cypriot federation, their political gains would be taken backwards. It is not possible for us to accept such a thing, he said and added, inter alia, the following. We do not believe that such a thing could happen. And we do not wish it to happen. We are discussing the issue with the Louroudjina club.

KIBRIS reports also that in statements on the issue, the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas said that for him it is an unthinkable and unacceptable approach the young people to be detached from the Turkish Cypriot Federation and appeal to the Greek Cypriot side, because this or that happened. In such a way they support the approach of the Greek Cypriots which provides for our being scattered slowly slowly. I wish they do not proceed with the application which has been made orally and they stop this mistake, he said.

Finally, the chairman of Louroudjina Club, Mr Emin Ozyalcin, said that he did not want to state anything on the issue at this stage and added that they will issue a written statement after they evaluate the situation with the clubs administrative board. This morning Mr Ozyalcin will be visiting Mr Yorgancioglu, notes KIBRIS.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Statements by Ferdi Sabit Soyer. Interview with NTV television

Speaking on NTV television in Turkey, Mr Soyer pointed to the importance of the approval of the Annan Plan by the Turkish Cypriot side, and added that this has led to the Turkish Cypriots achieving big political gains at international level.

He recalled that by going to the polls on the 24th of April, Turkish Cypriots had - for the first time - experienced and enjoyed the chance and the privilege of exercising their right to self-determination to determine their own future.

Answering a question on the new Property Law that envisages compensation, exchange and reinstatement of the property (the Greek Cypriots had to abandon to be saved from the Turkish army in 1974), Mr Soyer reminded that the government considers the property issue to be part of a future comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

He added that the new legislation was important also, as it created a domestic remedy that will address the outstanding problems related to the issue.

Referring to Turkeys new Action Plan on Cyprus, Mr Soyer said he believes the European Union could not reject the plan because it was a good example of a democratic initiative.

Responding to another question, he said that the occupied area´s dependency on Turkeys financial support has gone down from 50 percent to 25 percent, thanks to recent economic development in occupied Cyprus.

[05] TRNC-Azerbaijan business cooperation to intensify

The Union of Azerbaijan and Turkish Entrepreneurs (ATIB) has announced the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTTO) as the non-governmental organization of the year, the Azerbaijani media reported yesterday.

The head of the representation of the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ (`TRNC´) in Azerbaijan, Mustafa Evran, told the Trend Analytical Information Agency, a delegation from the KTTO is currently visiting Baku and seeking further cooperation opportunities with Azerbaijan's private sector.

This is a process which lasts not a day, Evran was quoted as saying in reference to possible implementation of joint projects between the businessmen of Azerbaijan and the `TRNC´.

If businessmen of Azerbaijan and northern Cyprus find definite benefits in the realization of any economic project, they will put every effort for this end, he added, while also noting that the intensification of trade and economic contacts will considerably complicate the transport problem.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the illegal regime set up by the Turkish Republic in the ethnically cleansed by the Turkish army territories of the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish army and Ankara´s subordinate regime continue with the usurpation of the properties of the Greek Cypriots, which they sell out to the foreigners, mainly to the British and Israelis).

[06] Letter by KTOS to the coordinator of the European Parliament´s High Level contact group

The Secretary General of the Cyprus Turkish Teachers Union, Mr Sener Elcil, has sent a letter to the Coordinator of the European Parliaments High Level contact group with the Turkish Cypriot side Françoise Grossetete, briefing her on the ongoing legal battle being waged by the union to push for the opening of a Turkish Language school in Limassol.

The letter which touches upon the political exploitation of education by the `Greek Cypriot administration´, points to the fact that Turkish Cypriot children living in Limassol are forced to attend Greek Cypriot schools where they are unable to receive any education in their native language.

It furthermore adds that this constitutes a violation of Turkish Cypriot childrens basic human rights and was aimed at assimilating them.

Explaining that the Trade Union had launched a legal struggle at the `Greek Cypriot´ High Court to push for a Turkish Language School in accordance with the provisions of the 1960 Cyprus Constitution, the letter accused the `Greek Cypriot Administration´ of trying to prevent and undermine the case, citing the political situation and the non-solution of the Cyprus Problem.

Drawing the attention to the Turkish Cypriots support for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan Plan, the letter calls on the European Parliament to step up its efforts aimed at helping facilitate the opening of a Turkish Language School in South Cyprus.

[07] Erdogan advised by doctors to rest for a few days. Trip to Holland postponed

Sources told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that Erdogan was earlier scheduled to pay a visit to this country between April 19th and 20th, 2006 to receive the "World Leader Cycle Award" by Rotterdam Erasmus University, stating that his visit was cancelled as he suffered from muscular spasm.

Erdogan underwent a medical examination at Ataturk Research Hospital in Ankara yesterday. Doctors advised Erdogan to have a bed rest at home.

[08] CHP released its Semdinli report attachment

Opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies who were members of the parliamentary commission formed to investigate the bombing in Semdinli on November 9, 2005 released their attachment to the report prepared by the commission, noting that while they found the report comprehensive, it still lacked certain details.

CHP deputies Ahmet Ersin and Mesut Deger, in a press conference in Parliament on Monday, said the incidents were local with no links to Ankara, but criticized the commission for failing to call on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to testify after saying the incidents were not local.

The CHP deputies said the government had failed to address the matter in time, noting that 52 explosions had occurred in the region in four months. They criticized Justice Minister Cemil Cicek for attacking the commission, claiming that a state official who had testified was removed from his post.

[09] Yilmaz Durmus new Central Bank governor

Durmus Yilmaz was appointed as the new governor of the Turkish Central Bank, on Tuesday.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer signed the decree making Durmus Yilmaz the new CB governor.

Yilmaz was born in the western city of Usak in 1947 and graduated the City University of London.

He has been a member of the Central Bank's Executive Board since May 2003.

[10] Toxic barrels in Tuzla create controversy in Turkey

Local environment official Mehmet Emin Birp1nar said on Monday they believed the barrels were buried in 2001 or 2002, claiming that the barrels full of toxic waste were opened on purpose in order for the waste to be disposed of into the nearby river.

Birp1nar said if more barrels were uncovered, the process may last for up to a month. The disposal of the barrels seemed like the work of an organized gang, he said, adding, We believe the land owner allowed this to happen in exchange for money .

Istanbul Agriculture Department Manager Ahmet Kavak said they had found no negative effects of the toxic waste on the local plants or animals, noting that the local greenhouses did not receive their water from the Konasl1 River.

The weeklong debates over the toxic barrels resulted in the discussions on the environment bill to be put forward. According to the bill, which is expected to be discussed this week, fines imposed for environmental crimes will be increased considerably, with companies that do not have waste disposal facilities being fined YTL 30,000.

Individuals found guilty of allowing toxic waste to be imported into the country will be fined YTL 1 million.

The bill also gives the Cabinet the right to increase these fines.

The toxic barrels were found in Tuzla on March 20, with officials announcing that the waste contained cancer causing materials.

The process of retrieving and destroying the barrels full of toxic waste found dumped in Tuzla began on Sunday, with Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe noting that they had known about the incident for around a month.

Pepe said experts believed around 1 million tons of dangerous waste was produced in Istanbul and the wider Marmara region every year, with most of it disposed through illegal ways.

He said the polluted soil would be removed with the waste and the region would be reforested.

He said test results gave them an indication of who was responsible for this crime, but added that they had no intention of releasing names until they were 100 percent sure.

On the same issue The New Anatolian newspaper (19.04.06) reports that the Chamber of Environment Engineers is preparing to file a lawsuit against the Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe on the grounds of breach of duty.

A statement from the chamber said that every day a new chapter opens in the Tuzla barrel case. It claimed that with the rapid industrialization process in Turkey the environment and its natural resources were badly affected and management of those resources was not professionally handled. "Tuzla is only a result," said the statement, adding that a modern policy would focus on preventing pollution rather than just making polluters pay for it afterwards.

It also stated that for days the minister has been acting like a representative of a non-governmental organization (NGO), rather than a government official, and that the chamber is preparing to file a lawsuit against Pepe.

[11] The Turkish Foreign Ministry in action to stop the Eurovision representative of Cyprus from visiting Turkey

A decision by state-run Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) to send Sibel Tuzun, this year's Turkish representative in the Eurovision song contest, to Greek Cyprus has led to friction in Ankara and put the TV station at odds with the Foreign Ministry.

TRT signed a document which paved the way for Tuzun to visit southern Cyprus earlier this month in an effort to win the support of Greek Cyprus, although the nation is not recognized as an official state by Ankara. Foreign Ministry officials are now searching for ways to block a possible request from the Greek Cypriot contestant to visit Turkey in a reciprocal move.

Lashing out at the decision made by TRT officials, the Foreign Ministry has been pressuring the station to find a way to cancel the possible visit, according to information obtained by The New Anatolian.

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