Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-07-13

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Brazilian football club Flamingo is planning to build a 29-story tourist complex in occupied Kyrenia

[02] Erdogan says his visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus is important from the point of view of being able to give a different message; Statements by Turkish officials on Cyprus

[03] 80% of the workers in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus are illegally employed

[04] Mathew Bryza will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader in occupied Cyprus

[05] A big fire broke out in occupied Pentadakylos; helicopters from Adana and Mersin assist on extinguishing the fire

[06] A permanent committee is to be established by the Greek Cypriot Technical Chamber and the Union of the Chambers of Turkish Cypriot Engineers and Architects

[07] Ali Babacan warns Brussels of consequences of killing Turkeys EU bid

[08] Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission head assures that EU will not suspend Turkeys accession negotiations over Cyprus problem

[09] The EU representative in Turkey calls on the country to open its ports to Cyprus´ vessels

[10] ECHR fines Turkey for violating human rights

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] EU debate spills over the domestic policy

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Brazilian football club Flamingo is planning to build a 29-story tourist complex in occupied Kyrenia

In his turn Aygin said that according to the TRNC laws four story buildings are allowed to be built in the area. The complex that the Brazilians want to build is 29-story complex. He said that he will submit the project to the self-styled government in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus for approval and when it is approved it will be the biggest investment in Kyrenia. MILLIYET reports that the government, in order to draw the world attention to the TRNC, will give a positive reply for the building. The paper then gives some details of the plan and writes that the whole project is estimated to cost 150 Million USD.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the illegal regime set up by the Turkish Republic in the territories of Cyprus occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops.)

(MHY)

[02] Erdogan says his visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus is important from the point of view of being able to give a different message; Statements by Turkish officials on Cyprus

In statements during the meeting Mr Erdogan said that he will be in the occupied areas of the Island between 19 and 21 July on the occasion of the 1974 Turkish invasion of

Cyprus and added that his visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus is important from the point of view of being able to convey a different message.

Expressing his satisfaction for the latest developments on the Island, Mr Erdogan stressed the importance of the fact that the TRNC exists as a state according to the Organization of Islamic Conference.

Commenting on the meeting between the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat and President Papadopoulos, Mr Erdogan described as important the fact that President Papadopoulos, who was allegedly saying that he wanted to meet only with the Turkish Prime Minister and not with Mehmet Ali Talat, came to this point.

Noting that in spite of their statements that they will not make a compromise from their principles, some persons say that the TRNC is being given away; Mr Erdogan wondered what has been given away.

Mr Erdogan said that they will remain standing upright, but they will not get stubborn and added that they will continue their efforts for the creation of a public opinion in the world.

Meanwhile, in his statements Mr Sezer reiterated that Turkey will always support the TRNC and said he was proud of the economic developments in the occupied areas of Cyprus in spite of the so-called restrictions. He expressed his belief that the TRNC will take the place it deserves in the international field.

Mr Sezer alleged that the Turkish Cypriots did whatever they could for a solution on the Island and argued that now is the Greek Cypriots turn.

Furthermore, Mr Agar in his statements said that he did not want to think what could happen if the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island was not carried out. He alleged that the the EUs point of view in the Cyprus problem is not right and that the Greek Cypriots are getting what they want step by step.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (13.07.06) reports that Admiral Karahanoglu said that loosing Cyprus is tantamount to loosing one of its hands for Turkey. Cyprus cannot be sacrificed for the EU, he noted adding that Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces are a whole with the TRNC.

(I/Ts.)

[03] 80% of the workers in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus are illegally employed

Noting that there are 10,000 people who have been illegally employed in the last 5-6 years in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Yukselis said although there are 47,000 persons registered as workers, 35,000 of them do not contribute to the social insurance.

Mr Yukselis went on to say that foreign companies, which are currently in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, conquered the market.

(DPs)

[04] Mathew Bryza will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader in occupied Cyprus

According to the paper, Mr Talat told the reporters that the meeting with Mr Bryza will take place at his office in the Presidential Palace of the TRNC. When he was asked to comment on the fact that President Papadopulos will not meet with Mr Bryza if he meets Mr Talat at his office, he said: This is his own problem This is my office and I hold my meetings here and that meeting will also take place here.

Mr Bryza will arrive in Cyprus on the 16th July for a three-day visit.

(Tr. Note: Breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus)

(M/L)

[05] A big fire broke out in occupied Pentadakylos; helicopters from Adana and Mersin assisted on extinguishing the fire

The fire destroyed 45 donums of land (Tr. Note: a land measure of 1000 square meters) covered with pine, cypress, carob and olive trees.

The fire was put out around 08:00 yesterday morning by firemen from occupied Kyrenia and Lapithos.

According to the paper, helicopters from Adana and Mersin, South Turkey, came for providing assistance for extinguishing the fire.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

(M/L)

[06] A permanent committee is to be established by the Greek Cypriot Technical Chamber and the Union of the Chambers of Turkish Cypriot Engineers and Architects

The agreement was reached during the talks between the Presidents of the two chambers last Monday.

In a written statement issued today, the President of the Union of the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects Ahmet Ulas said that the members of the two chambers believe that the right policy to be pursued on the Cyprus problem is to work on ways making it possible for the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots to live in peace.

[07] Ali Babacan warns Brussels of consequences of killing Turkeys EU bid

If it fails, very few people will blame Cyprus, Babacan was quoted as saying during a meeting with foreign media in Istanbul. Instead, it will be taken as a message that East and West don't mix'. Babacan said some in the EU were using Cyprus as an arm-twisting tool, while others used anti-Turkish rhetoric to gain votes in member countries where citizens are weary of further enlargement.

The feeling of unfairness is quite widespread among Turks, he said, adding that Turks are being asked to do more and more things unilaterally.

Babacan also said that the Parliament may convene earlier than scheduled to pass an EU-inspired reform package.  The Parliament may be back from recess earlier than normal, maybe in September, he said.

[08] Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission head assures that the EU will not suspend Turkeys accession negotiations over the Cyprus problem

Underlining that it's difficult for the EU to halt talks with Turkey over it's refusal to implement the Ankara Protocol, which extends the Customs Union to the 10 new members of the Union, including Cyprus, Dulger said: "The consent of one third of member states is required to suspend talks with a candidate country and I don't expect such a majority."

Speaking to The New Anatolian, Mr Dulger also said, however, that although the EU won't suspend talks, it will increase political pressure on Turkey. He also stressed that there are certain member states which don't support Turkey's membership but which try to hide their true intentions by making use of the Cyprus problem. Mr Dulger also noted that although Cyprus has threatened to use its veto three times -during the decision to begin talks in December 2004; at the beginning of talks in October; and at the opening of first chapter of negotiations in June 2006- it has never done so.

Mehmet Dulger also criticized the Union's double standards and said that it's impossible for Turkey to implement the Ankara Protocol under such conditions.

"If the country were ruled by a single party or a coalition government, if it's ruled by the Justice and Development [AK] Party or the military, the ruling party or parties wouldn't allow for the opening of Turkish ports and harbors to Greek Cypriots under these conditions."

Noting that Turkey became a party to the Customs Union in 1996, before its EU membership, Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission head said: "The ´Greek Cypriot administration´ became a party of the Customs Union when it became an EU member. Turkey had the chance to veto ´Greek Cyprus ´ membership in the Customs Union, but didn't because Ankara doesn't want to increase tension surrounding the Cyprus dispute. But what Ankara is saying is that the time to repair the damage done to the Turkish Cypriots has come. However the EU still has double standards."

Mr Dulger said that there was an example of the EU's double standards after the referendum held on the divided island about the Annan plan. He underlined that although the Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of peace and the reunification of the island, they we punished with isolation while the Greek Cypriots, who rejected the plan, became members of the Union.

The commission head also said that one of the main reasons for the EU's continuing double standards is that it's accepted a member state with an internal conflict. "The

Union's acceptance of ´Greek Cyprus´ as a member before the ´administration´ solved its problems with the Turkish Cypriots was a big mistake," he said. "This has created a situation in which the demands of one member state are reflected as the demands of the EU."

Underlining that the EU ending the Turkish Cypriot's isolation and in return Turkey opening its ports and harbors to the Greek Cypriots, could be considered as "giant steps," Mr Dulger suggested taking 10 little steps in place of one giant leap, which is the equivalent to 10 little steps. "For instance," he said, "to begin with little steps, Greek and Turkish Cypriots could open their ports to each other simultaneously".

[09] The EU representative in Turkey calls on the country to open its ports to Cyprus´ vessels

The Eurobarometer poll, which was carried out in April and based on 1000 responses, found that only 43 percent of Turks had a positive image of the EU. The recent figure showed that there had been a plunge in Turkish support for the EU from 60 percent over a six-month period.

Mr Kretschmer, whose four-year tenure will end in October, said at a press conference that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had initiated a historical transformation process in Turkey. "I personally believe that this prime minister and this government could succeed in the EU membership process. There is no other alternative."

Mr Kretschmer said that Turkey should not get stuck on the issue of ports and harbors, recommending that the country open its ports to the Republic of Cyprus. "The EU has kept its pledge, now it is time for Turkey, he noted.

[10] ECHR fines Turkey for violating human rights

Töre, who was arrested for trying to change the constitutional order through armed insurrection in 1993, was kept in jail for eight years and four months. His trial lasted for 13 years.

The court said the time it took to conclude Töre's trial was beyond acceptable limits, ordering Turkey to pay 10,000 euros to Töre plus 1,500 euros in court expenses.

Töre had previously applied to the European court, arguing that his freedom of expression had been violated. The court ordered Turkey to pay 9,810 euros in compensation in connection with that case.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] EU debate spills over the domestic policy

Turkish-European Union relations are witnessing tense days due to the Cyprus debate.

Putting aside its effects on Turkish-EU ties, this issue is fast becoming one of the top items of domestic policy. It is by no means new to wonder out loud whether this politician or that is "selling out Cyprus." However, there is a difference now. We see all too clearly that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is cutting a different figure than what it said a year ago.

The attitude of the opposition parties on the Cyprus question has been clear from the beginning: Their belief was that the AKP would both "sell out" Cyprus and "fail to obtain" Turkey's membership in the EU. This attitude, totally understandable when it comes to opposition-government ties, has failed to create an impact on the Turkish public opinion.

However, the troubles in Turkish-EU relations have caused the AKP to have a different opinion. This, in turn, made Cyprus a tool even more open to the exploitation of the opposition, which, in effect, affected the ruling party more. Thus, the escalation may even bring the opposing ties of the past together.

Parallel to that, the Turkish public's interest in the EU is declining, which also has an effect on political parties. Those who have harvested votes on the basis of their pro-EU rhetoric now are in the process of modifying that attitude. However, there is also the international relations side of the matter: In other words, while the government increases the dose of its Euroskepticism domestically, it is also under the obligation to conduct official ties with the EU. This dichotomy has an adverse effect on the members of the ruling party, some of whom raise their voices out of tune compared to that of the government.

Thus, circles close to the government's EU policy-makers express different views in the capital. Some believe that Turkish-EU ties will witness tensions in the days to come and could even suspend talks toward the end of the year. While neither of the sides want to be the one to slam the door, this unnamed suspension would automatically lead Turkey to a "special relationship" with the EU, those circles believe.

It remains to be seen whether this pessimistic scenario will be realized. However, it is clear that such a development in Turkish-EU ties would have effects both in Turkish domestic policy and in the region, and we do think that this analysis, carried out by circles close to the government, is worth taking seriously.

/ES

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