Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-07-19

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Ercakica after Talat-Bryzas meeting

[02] US State Departments deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Bryza meets Mehmet Ali Talat

[03] Ship departs from TRNC to help Lebanon evacuation

[04] Erdogan is visiting the occupied part of Cyprus; Two frigates of the Turkish army arrived in Kerynia

[05] Serdar Denktas meets with the member of the Jordanian Parliament Ali Abu Rabina in occupied Cyprus

[06] Rauf Denktas: The senior officials of the CTP understood the Greek Cypriots

[07] Turkeys Foreign Minister discusses the Cyprus Problem with his British counterpart

[08] The occupation regime is planning to build 18 hotels in the occupied Morfou region

[09] Zambelas and Bulutoglulari agree on a common project

[10] The Turkish Armed Forces have started military operations against the PKK; US comments and the Turkish reaction

[11] Turkeys Opposition political parties support Governments potential operation against PKK

[12] A medium range airplane is to be jointly developed by Turkey-Italy-Russia

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Ercakica after Talat-Bryzas meeting

Mr Ercakica said that Mr Talat had explained to the US envoy the Turkish Cypriot sides stance regarding the latest developments on the Cyprus issue. Noting that the meeting had been useful, Mr Ercakica said that Mr Talat reiterated the Turkish Cypriot sides readiness to work for a settlement to the Cyprus problem under United Nations framework.

Mr Ercakica said that the EU Financial Assistance and Direct Trade Regulations were also discussed at the meeting when Mr Talat also explained to Mr Bryza developments unfolding after Cyprus EU membership.

He said Mr Bryzas great interest in the problem resulted in the meeting lasting longer than expected.

Pointing to Washingtons expressed support to the UN efforts on the Cyprus problem, Mr Ercakica said that the TRNC would prefer any possible US initiative on the issue to be initiated through the United Nations.

Noting, however, that no new initiative is expected on the Cyprus problem before the UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari presents his findings to the Security Council, Mr Ercakica said: No new proposal or an initiative was on the agenda. The United States has repeatedly stated that it would support UN-led solution efforts.

Commenting on the technical committees issue, Mr Ercakica said that progress is expected in coming weeks but it is unclear how the procedure will be continued. He added: The only fixed thing is the issue of exchange of headings of these lists. On the matter how this would be done, UN initiative must verify it.

Noting that work to decide on the subject headings for the technical committee talks has started, Mr Ercakica said that the text - which will be prepared by taking also the views of the Turkish Cypriot political parties into consideration - will be completed after being evaluated along with the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan who is arriving today to the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus.

Mr Ercakica also referred to accusations by the Chairman of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the effect that it is the Turkish Cypriot leadership that does not allow Turkish Cypriot products to be exported through Limassol port.

Mr Ercakica tried to justify the Turkish Cypriot leadership's bid to upgrade the self-styled regimes status by insisting that Turkish Cypriot products should be exported through occupied ports. He said: The Turkish Cypriot side believes that embargoes and isolations in the trade sector will be lifted only when Turkish Cypriots are able to trade freely from the ports belonging to the Turkish Cypriots. It is obvious that this attempt as well as others, like the demand of opening Turkish sea and airports to Cypriot ships and planes is related to the other political demands of the Greek Cypriots.

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

(DPs)

[02] US State Departments deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Bryza meets Mehmet Ali Talat

No statement was issued after the one-hour-forty-five-minute meeting.

Later in the day, Mr Bryza held talks with Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Mr Serdar Denktas.

The American envoy who is on the island as part of a fact-finding tour of the region, later visited the main opposition National Unity Party for an exchange of views with its leader Huseyin Ozgurgun.

Cyprus is the third leg of Mr Bryzas tour of the region; he arrived in Cyprus at the end of talks in Ankara and Athens.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.07.06) reports that Mr Bryza was accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, Roland Schilder during his meeting with Talat.

[03] Ship departs from TRNC to help Lebanon evacuation

A Turkish passenger ship Su left the (TRNC) yesterday to evacuate Swedish and other European Union citizens stranded in Beirut, reported the Turkish Cypriot News Agency (TAK).

The ship was to reach Lebanon later on Tuesday and take some 450 Europeans to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Mersin, it said.

All preparations for EU citizens' evacuation from Lebanon are under way, an official from the Swedish Foreign Ministry, Klas Lgehbear, was quoted as saying by the agency. The same official also said the ship would be taking EU citizens to the Mersin port.

The Turkish ship was originally planned to take European citizens in Beirut to the TRNC port, which drew strong protest from Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos. If that had happened, the TRNC ports, which are under international embargoes, would have been opened to international traffic for the first time, though for humanitarian purposes.

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

(DPs)

[04] Erdogan is visiting the occupied part of Cyprus; Two frigates of the Turkish army arrived in Kerynia

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus tomorrow to attend Thursdays 20th July Peace and Freedom Day celebrations.

The Turkish Cypriot people will mark the 32nd anniversary of the Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus which brought peace to the island with celebrations to be attended also by important guests from Turkey, led by Prime Minister Erdogan.

The Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will be represented by the Presidential Adviser Retired General Nezihi Cakir, and the Turkish Grand National Assembly by Erdogan Yetenc.

Mr Yetenc arrived in the Republic this afternoon and was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat soon after his arrival.

Speaking during the visit, President Talat said that the 20th July was a turning point in the history of the island and expressed the hope that this years anniversary will start the process of finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot Side has been doing its best to bring about a solution to the problem, he expressed the hope that a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution will be found to the Cyprus problem.

Later, Mr Yetenc visited the Speaker of the Republics Assembly Fatma Ekenoglu and Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

Within the framework of this years celebrations, warships from the Turkish Navy have docked in the Girne harbour.

The two frigates, Gelibolu and Bartin, under the command of Rear Admiral Deniz Cora, will remain docked in the Girne harbor for the next three days.

The Turkish Stars, the supersonic air acrobatics team of the Turkish Air Force, will be performing in the skies of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on July 20th as part of the celebrations.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the ceremonies, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will lead a Turkish delegation during the discussions and the signing ceremony of the 2007-2009 Protocol for Economic and Financial Cooperation between the two countries.

During his stay in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Turkish Prime Minister will be received by President Mehmet Ali Talat, and have separate meetings with the speaker of the Republics Assembly Fatma Ekenoglu and Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

Mr Erdogan will also be paying a courtesy visit to the 1st President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Rauf Denktas.

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

[05] Serdar Denktas meets with the member of the Jordanian Parliament Ali Abu Rabina in occupied Cyprus

(M/L)

[06] Rauf Denktas: The senior officials of the CTP understood the Greek Cypriots

Mr Denktas made these statements yesterday during a meeting he had with a delegation of the Association of Ataturks Supports Though. Mr Denktas stated inter alia that the senior officials of the CTP understood who the Greek Cypriots are but, as he added, the partys grassroots need to be educated as regards this issue.

(C/S)

[07] Turkeys Foreign Minister discusses the Cyprus Problem with his British counterpart

On the Cyprus problem, Gul said that the Cyprus problem and Turkey's EU membership bid should not be associated with each other, but expressed his view that everything should be done to continue the negotiation process without any interruption.

Gul alleged that Turkey has always been constructive about Cyprus problem.

"Nobody in the world can say anything to the Turkish Cypriots or Turkey. And, we shared this view with the British executives," he said.

According to Gul, Turkey maintains its reforms and implements EU acquis.

"As Turkey, we are aware of our responsibilities. If fewer Turkish people are supporting EU membership bid today, this is not because of the reforms but because of some unacceptable demands regarding Cyprus," he claimed.

Gul added that the Turkish government is fully supporting endeavors of the TRNC.

[08] The occupation regime is planning to build 18 hotels in the occupied Morfou region

Mr Deniz stated that eighteen hotels with a bed capacity of 400 to 700 each will be built in the occupied Serianohori village. He also stated that 80 donums of land will be allocated to every hotel owner in the area.

(C/S)

[09] Zambelas and Bulutoglulari agree on a common project

The paper writes that the two men agreed on the preparation of a new project as regards the sewage system which is a common problem for Lefkosia. Zambelas and Bulutoglulari have agreed upon the repairing of the sewage treatment plant in occupied Mia Milia village.

(C/S)

[10] The Turkish Armed Forces have started military operations against the PKK; US comments and the Turkish reaction

On the same issue, Turkish daily MILLIYET newspaper (19.07.06) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, put a strong reaction against the statements made by the US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson, regarding cross-border operations by the Turkish armed forces in North Iraq against the PKK.

Speaking to the private Turkish TV channel NTV, the US Ambassador to Turkey said that: A unilateral intervention to the North Iraq will not be reasonable and logical. This is not double standards. Turkey has a partner in Iraq. Israel does not have such luxury. Also the PKK is not present only in North Iraq; there are PKK in Turkey and in Europe as well, urging the Turkish government not to engage in unilateral cross border operations.

Reacting to this statement the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said: It is not the esteemed ambassador or ambassadors who will take decision on such issues. It is the authoritative organs of the government of the Republic of Turkey that takes such decisions. If it is true, it is a very unbecoming statement we take the decision and implement it. However, what we want, if there is a concerned country, we wish that we, take decisions together with this county.

(MHY)

[11] Turkeys Opposition political parties support Governments potential operation against PKK

The opposition said it extends support to the government for a possible cross-border operation. ANAVATAN, True Path Party [DYP], and Republican People's Party [CHP] noted that Turkey has this right and called the government to take action.

ANAVATAN leader Erkan Mumcu suggested that the Assembly should convene and have the opposition and government sign a joint declaration, which reflects the national stand in the fight against terror. Mumcu added that national security cannot be contracted to a foreign force.

"Turkey does not need to define a new red line. Turkey has only to say and shout to the world that it reached its limits and cannot tolerate this situation any longer."

DYP leader Mehmet Agar, in turn, called on the government to use the rights stemming from international law and gave a blank check to the government for a cross-border operation.

"What we want to say here is that our opposition does not go beyond the Habur gate. We stand by the government. We are saying to the government to carry out its action."

CHP whip Ali Topuz, in turn, called the government to take action before it is too late, adding that Turkey does not have to ask permission from anybody in order to protect its right of survival and territorial integrity.

"There is no drawback to entering another country's territories. This is the right granted by the United Nations to countries in Turkey's situation. We expect the government to act more courageously."

[12] A medium range airplane is to be jointly developed by Turkey-Italy-Russia

"TAI's feasibility study reached an important phase" sources said.

Experts point out to Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) type plane, developed jointly by Russian Sukhoi and Italian Alenia firms, as the most appropriate plane.

TAI authorities have studied aircraft from Canada, Brazil, Ukraine and China and have come to the conclusion that RRJ is the most advantageous airplane when operation costs are concerned.

Turkey is preparing to be involved in the development, production and after sale services of the RRJ airplane. Sources said that 3/4 of the RRJ project has been completed so far. According to them, Turkey will be able to participate in the development and joint production of the RRJ prototype aircraft.

Two-engine RRJ planes can carry up to 100 passengers.

Passenger planes carry around 30 million passengers in Turkey annually. This number is expected to go up to 55 million by the year 2015.

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