Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-07-14

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] The inauguration of BTC oil pipeline. Opening remarks by Erdogan and Sezer.

[02] Talat met with Finnish Ambassador to Cyprus. Ercakica issued a statement after the meeting.

[03] A German Member of the European Parliament argues that the continuation of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots will lead to the division of Cyprus.

[04] EP High Contact Group to come to Northern Cyprus on November 23-24.

[05] Financial protocol between TRNC and Turkey was approved.

[06] Turkish daily: Helsinki will create difficulties.

[07] Huseyin Angolemli: The five-point agreement is the last nail driven into the Annan Plan coffin.

[08] Rauf Denktas met with civilian organisations.

[09] Turkey cant approve customs protocol in 2006.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The inauguration of BTC oil pipeline. Opening remarks by Erdogan and Sezer

The 1,768-kilometer pipeline is designed to bring Caspian oil to the European markets.

BTC CEO Michael Townshend, BP CEO Lord Browne, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia and Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer made opening remarks during the inauguration ceremony.

Besides guest heads of state, the self - styled Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer of the TRNC (breakway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus), British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, and ministers and deputy ministers from 31 countries attended the ceremony.

Serbia, Albania, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Yemen, the TRNC, Israel, Estonia, Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Britain, Georgia, Lithuania, Oman, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan, Moldova, Austria, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, France, Kazakhstan, Norway, Bulgaria, Croatia, Pakistan and the United States were represented at the ceremony at the ministerial level.

Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Minister Mehdi Eker, Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe and a number of bureaucrats also attended the inauguration.

The BTC pipeline will transport crude oil from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oilfield in the

Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. It passes through Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia; and Ceyhan, a port on the southeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. It is the second longest oil pipeline in the world (the longest being the Druzhba pipeline from Russia to central Europe).

The construction of the pipeline started in September 2002. It was constructed from 150,000 individual joints of line pipe, each measuring 12 m in length.

The route of the pipeline crosses Azerbaijan to pass through Georgia and Turkey. Of its total length of 1,760 km, 440 km lies in Azerbaijan, 244.5 km in Georgia and 1,070 km in Turkey.

Its structure includes 8 pumping stations, 2 intermediate pigging stations and 101 block valve stations.

The pipeline has a daily capacity of 1 million barrels. It was commissioned by a consortium of energy companies led by BP (formerly British Petroleum), which has a 30.1 percent stake and is the operator of the pipeline. The other members of the consortium are: State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR): 25.00 percent; Unocal (USA): 8.90 percent; Statoil (Norway): 8.71 percent; Turkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortakligi (TPAO) (Turkey): 6.53 percent; Eni/Agip (Italy): 5.00 percent; Total (France): 5.0 percent; Itochu (Japan): 3.4 percent; Inpex (Japan): 2.50 percent; ConocoPhillips (USA): 2.50 percent and Amerada Hess (USA) 2.36 percent.

The first oil pumped from Azerbaijan reached Ceyhan on May 28th.

After the pipeline becomes operative, 8 percent of commercial oil in the world will transit from Turkey and Turkey will earn an annual income of nearly 300 million USD.

Meanwhile, an agreement was signed by Azerbaijani and Kazakh presidents on June 16th for the inclusion of Kazakhstan in the project.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at the inauguration of the BTC pipeline, said: "Today, we gathered here to formally open one of the biggest

energy projects of the world. The BTC is an engineering miracle as well as a story of great success. The project, which constitutes the most important element of the East-West Energy Corridor, will reshape the future of our region. The BTC is of vital importance in regard to economic and social development of the region. The pipeline also proved that we cannot reach prosperity, stability, economic and social development without providing energy safety."

Erdogan stressed that inclusion of Kazakhstan further increased the importance and productivity of the BTC.

"Recently, the EU has speeded up its efforts to diversify energy resources. Turkey became the fourth artery behind Russia, Norway and Algeria to this end. Therefore, the East-West Energy Corridor is of great importance not only for regional countries but also for the EU, the United States and the other consumer countries. Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline, the second leg of the corridor, will be completed by the end of 2006," he said.

"Multi-dimensional energy strategies also contain Iraq's rich natural gas reserves. We are planning to bring Iraqi natural gas to Ceyhan through a pipeline to be constructed in parallel to the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline. Also, we are planning to send the natural gas to the eastern part of the United States with a LNG terminal to be established in Ceyhan. On the other hand, construction of Turkey-Greece-Italy natural gas pipeline, designed to carry Caspian natural gas to the EU markets via Turkey, has been continuing," he stressed.

Prime Minister Erdogan stated: "besides the East-West Energy Corridor, we attach great importance to cooperation in the North-South axis. The Samsun-Ceyhan by-passing oil pipeline will be constructed as soon as possible to transport Russian and Kazakh oil to consumer markets via the Mediterranean."

"Also, I want to reiterate that we have given priority to nuclear energy in an effort to meet energy demand of our country in the coming period," he indicated.

Speaking at the formal inauguration of the BTC pipeline, President Sezer said: "Technological developments and globalization process have further increased the importance of energy. In our century, energy is considered one of the basic elements of national independence and security. Turkey takes place in the middle of Eurasia, one of the new strategic regions of the world due to its oil and natural gas reserves, and it is located at the intersection of energy transfer routes. This position puts Turkey in the center of the new global energy map. Turkey is aware of its responsibilities stemming from its geographical position. It aims to unify Europe and Asia and create new opportunities for regional stability and prosperity by establishing new energy and transportation corridors.

Turkey develops its energy strategies on the basis of its national requirements and global developments."

Later, President Sezer, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and British Petroleum (BP) CEO Lord Browne opened the BTC symbolically.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (14.07.06) reported that the self-styled Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and the self-styled Minister of Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas attended the reception and the dinner that Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer gave in honour of his guests.

According to the paper, Mr Soyer and Mr Denktas shared the same table during the dinner with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Gul, Head of the General Staff Ozkok, Azeri President Aliyev and Georgian President Saakashvili.

[02] Talat met with Finnish Ambassador to Cyprus. Ercakica issued a statement after the reeting

President Mehmet Ali Talat today received the Finnish Ambassador to Cyprus Risto Piipponen whose country holds the EU Term-Presidency.

In a written statement after the meeting, the Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica said that President Talat had found the opportunity to convey the Turkish Cypriot Sides view regarding the Direct Trade Regulation to the Finnish Ambassador.

Stressing that it was a fact also accepted by the European Commission in 2004 that the direct trade is the right of Turkish Cypriot People, Mr Ercakici said that the European Union should at this point establish guidelines and methods for the implementation of the Direct Trade Regulation.

Referring to Greek Cypriot press reports that the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo has been trying to link the Direct Trade Regulation with the issue of Maras, he said that the Regulation cannot be linked in any way with the issue of Maras which could only be handled as one of the components of a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

`It is impossible to establish any links between the Direct Trade Regulation and the issue of Maras or any other issues` he said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot Side will in no way take such a move into consideration.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot Sides position on the issue had been conveyed to EU officials through different channels, the spokesman reminded that the Presidential Undersecretary Rasit Pertev had also discussed the issue with Austrian officials during their Term Presidency of the Union.

Referring to press reports that Greece and the Greek Cypriot Side had agreed on a joint program of action within the EU last Monday, he said this showed that they will act in coordination within the EU organs and raise the issue to achieve results.

`Such a move is completely in violation of the agreement reached on the 8th July between President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopulos` he said, warning that these efforts will not only disperse the positive atmosphere created but it will also make the agreed-method for the talks non-functional. (Tr. Note: The TRNC is the breakaway regime established by Turkey in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus).

[03] A German Member of the European Parliament argues that the continuation of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots will lead to the division of Cyprus

The European Union Director General for Enlargement Andrew Rasbash has announced that the EU office in the TRNC could be opened at the end of this month.

A group of Turkish Cypriot journalists who are in Brussels as guest of the European Commission has met with the Directorate General for Enlargement - Head of the Task Force Turkish Cypriot Community, Andrew Rasbash.

The group also met Cem Ozdemir Turkish origin member of the Greens within the European Parliament and a member of the High Level Contact Group for Relations with Turkish Cypriots.

The international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People and the Direct Trade Regulations were on top of the agenda of the two meetings.

During the meeting, the Directorate General for Enlargement - Head of the Task Force Turkish Cypriot Community Andrew Rasbash said that preparations on the Financial Aid Regulation are about to be completed, but he added that there is no clear date yet for the approval of the Direct Trade Regulation.

Expressing the view that Turkey should keep its promise towards opening its ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot Side, Mr Rasbash said that the Direct Trade Regulation seems to have been linked to this process.

Mr Rasbash also noted that the Direct Trade Regulation does not include flights to Ercan Airport but, just the use of the Gazimagusa Port, adding that the port will become an important one in the region once the regulation is implemented.

Andrew Rasbash also announced that the EU office in the TRNC could be opened at the end of this month, adding that he will be visiting the island in two weeks time.

Meanwhile, Cem Ozdemir, a Turkish origin member of the Green Group within the European Parliament who is also a member of the High Level Contact Group for Relations with Turkish Cypriots, has announced that the Contact Group will be visiting the TRNC at the end of September.

Warning that the continuation of the isolations could lead to the separation of the two communities on the island and the division of Cyprus, Mr Ozdemir expressed the view that these isolations will be lifted if Turkey agrees to open its ports to the Greek Cypriot Side.

Within this context, he also said that, the EU should work towards helping to bring about a bi-communal and bi-zonal settlement in Cyprus.

(Tr. Note: The TRNC is the breakaway regime established by Turkey in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus).

[04] EP High Contact Group to come to Northern Cyprus on November 23-24

The High Contact group will visit Northern Cyprus for the third time and they are expected to present a report related to their visit to the EP in December.

The two earlier reports were verbally relayed to the EP Presidents Office by Francoise Grossetete head of the group. It was stated that the long verbal report that was presented to the EP Presidency Conference was to the benefit of the Turkish Cypriots.

[05] Financial protocol between TRNCand Turkey was approved

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily YENIDUZEN newspaper (14.07.06) reported that the Turkish Prime Minister, who will be in the occupied areas of Cyprus for the celebrations of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974, will also sign the Economic and Financial Collaboration Protocol 2007 2009, between Turkey and the TRNC. (Tr. Note: TRNC is the breakaway regime established by Turkey in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus).

[06] Turkish daily: Helsinki will create difficulties

According to the first proposal, in case Turkey does not make a step on the issue until December 2006, its accession process will be postponed when it comes to the chapters which are related to the customs union. The second proposal provides for recourse to the European Court of Justice, after both sides give their consent for it. If one of the sides does not accept this, Turkeys accession process will be frozen.

The paper notes that diplomatic sources said that this step of the Finnish term presidency is to a great extent against Turkey.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Huseyin Angolemli: The five-point agreement is the last nail driven into the Annan Plan coffin

According to a written statement issued yesterday by the TKP Press Office Mr Angolemli expressed the view that with the above mentioned agreement, the Annan Plan ceases to be the basis for the negotiations towards reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem. He stated that the Paris Agreement between President Papadopoulos and the UN Secretary-General will be the basis for the negotiations from now on.

(M/L)

[08] Rauf Denktas met with Civilian organisations

Calling for those attending the gathering to unite under the roof of a federation, he also read a statement called the `20th July 2006 Declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus`.

The meeting at the Saray Hotel was also attended by old politicians.

Delivering the opening speech, the former President Denktas called on the institutions, non-governmental organizations and political parties to join their forces under the roof of a federation.

The former President said he had organized todays meeting in the light of the latest developments on the Cyprus Problem, which he said, were threatening the existence and future of the TRNC.

Referring to last weeks visit to the island by the UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, Mr. Denktas said that the visit was not a new initiative as it had been described by many, but in fact, a backward step.

He called for those attending the gathering to protect the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (14.07.06) publishes the five point declaration, where Denktas implicitly criticizes the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his government, who campaigned for a Yes vote on the Annan Plan during the referendum held on 24 April 2004.

In the Declaration Denktas summarized all his known intransigent views regarding the Cyprus problem and he reitareted and propagated his secessionist ideas.

(MHY)

[09] Turkey cant approve customs protocol in 2006

Failure to ratify the so-called Ankara Protocol does not necessarily mean Turkey will not open the country up to vessels from Greek Cyprus this year, the official told reporters on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The EU has warned that failure to implement the protocol this year extending Turkey's customs deal with the EU to 10 new members could jeopardize Turkey's negotiations with the union.

Asked about the chances of ratifying the protocol this year, the official said: There is zero chance of this. ... In an election year it's impossible.

Political pressure in the run-up to a 2007 parliamentary election is making it hard for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to push the agreement through Parliament for fear of a nationalist outcry.

The official added, however, that Turkey and the EU could come to some agreement to avoid a halt in negotiations.

If there is a train crash both sides are hurt, not just one side, the official said, responding to EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn's phrase for the potential crisis.

The main stumbling block with the EU is over Cyprus, with Turkey sticking to a demand to end the economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots in the north of the island before it allows Greek Cypriots access to its ports and airports.

/ES

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article