Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-07-28

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mehmet Ali Talat meets with the leaders of political parties represented in the Parliament.

[02] The UBP leader expresses concern over the principles for resumption of talks.

[03] The usurpation of the Greek Cypriot properties and the implementation of the Financial Regulation.

[04] Turkish Cypriots ask the breakaway regime to help them for filing lawsuits against the Republic of Cyprus in the ECHR.

[05] Talat attended the change of command at another Contingent of the occupation army.

[06] Sixteen Turkish Cypriot institutions and private companies requested to join the Global Compact.

[07] Rauf Denktas cancels his activities due to health reasons.

[08] Iranian volunteers want to go to Lebanon via Turkey to fight Israel.

[09] Kosovo was compared to Cyprus during a meeting in Vienna.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Article by Hasan Ercakica in the CYPRUS OBSERVER. He stresses that unless the TRNC is acknowledged there will be no solution.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mehmet Ali Talat meets with the leaders of political parties represented in the Parliament

The two-hour long meeting focused on the latest developments and proposals being prepared on the Cyprus problem.

The meeting was attended by the Republican Turkish Party leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer, the partys General Secretary Omer Kalyoncu, Democrat Party leader Serdar Denktas, the leader of the National Unity Party Huseyin Ozgurgun, the partys General Secretary Turgay Avci, and the Peace and Democracy Movements General Secretary Mehmet Cakici.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, the Republican Turkish Party leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that the aim of yesterday´s meeting was to enable political parties represented in the TRNC Parliament to convey to and exchange views with Mr Talat on the latest developments on the Cyprus Problem.

Referring to the set of principles agreed upon by the two leaders, Mr Soyer said that the agreement reached between Mr Talat and President Tassos Papadopoulos was based on a twin track process-the first aimed tackling day-to- day issues and the second to discuss substantive issues concerning the Cyprus Problem.

Reminding that the Turkish Cypriot Side had welcomed the agreement reached, Mr Soyer said that the Turkish Cypriots were ready to accept a bi-communal, bi-zonal and federal solution to the Cyprus Problem.

Mr Soyer added that he had found the opportunity during the meeting to convey the CTPs views and suggestions regarding the Cyprus Problem which included in taking the Annan Plan as a basis for any solution to be found to the Cyprus Problem.

Speaking after the meeting, the Democrat Party Secretary General - Ertugrul Hasipoglu said that he had conveyed some of his partys concerns on the planned establishment of the bi-communal technical committees.

Pointing to the fact that the Turkish Cypriots had voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Annan Plan during the 2004 referendum, Mr Hasipoglu accused the Greek Cypriot Side of not wanting a solution to the Cyprus Problem and of trying to assimilate the Turkish Cypriots into a minority within a Greek Cypriot State.

For his part, the leader of the Main Opposition National Unity Party Huseyin Ozgurgun, said that he had found the opportunity to ask Mr Talat how long the new process on the Cyprus Problem will last.

Complaining that the Republic of Cyprus was against finding a solution to the Cyprus Problem, Mr Ozgurgun said that any settlement to be found in Cyprus should take into reality that there are two separate states on the island.

[02] The UBP leader expresses concern over the principles for resumption of talks

Mr Ozgurgun´s concerns were expressed during a press conference held at his party's headquarters yesterday for assessing the domestic and the foreign developments, where he also announced the partys decision of holding regular monthly press conferences.

During the press conference, Huseyin Ozgurgun said that a new process has begun on Cyprus on the basis of UN initiatives and noted that the new process must satisfy both sides on political equality. Referring to the set of principles, he said that his party has not approved the inclusion of Maras (occupied Varosha) on the agenda of the technical talks, stating that the way we will attend the negotiating table must be determined through a new UN resolution, which should be adopted in the light of the Greek Cypriot approach and the realities.

Recalling the recent statements by the officials of the opposition Greek Cypriot political parties, Mr Ozgurgun said that finding a federal solution is not the main objective of the Greek Cypriots and noted that they view a federal solution as an interim formula.

Asserting that the statements Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made when he visited occupied Cyprus to participate in the Peace and Freedom Day celebrations on 20 July were very important for the Turkish Cypriots, Mr Ozgurgun added that Turkey will not open its ports to the Greek Cypriots before the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots ends and the embargoes imposed on them are lifted. He noted that Erdogan's statements about the Annan Plan and the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus) complied with his party's views.

He also announced the reason behind the resignation of the Erdem Ozaskin, UBP deputy from occupied Famagusta, as the partys refusal to allow him to step down from his position as head of the UBP occupied Famagusta district branch. The leader of UBP also stated that Ozaskin´s decision to resign will not have negative effects on the party. He said that his party maintains its strength regardless of the external plots that are drawn up against it and that the party grass roots are strong and aware of the developments.

[03] The usurpation of the Greek Cypriot properties and the implementation of the Financial Regulation

Invoking a confidential source, the paper writes that the government of the Republic of Cyprus will be able to have an opinion on the projects but it will not have the right of veto.

The paper also reports that the office of the EU Commission will be accommodated in a three-storey building opposite Buyuk Hamam in occupied Lefkosia. It is expected that the German company GTZ will sign the agreement on behalf of the European Commission with the Evkaf Office. Heading the office will be European Commission official, Mr Alain Bothorel. An office has also been opened in the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus, for the purpose of having a legal address and be a recognised office.

The first projects will be submitted to the government of the Republic of Cyprus during August which will have no right to raise any obstacles to these. The projects can be executed by any Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot or any other company.

[04] Turkish Cypriots ask the breakaway regime to help them for filing lawsuits against the Republic of Cyprus in the ECHR

Alp and Keray Nuri, who are holders of US citizenship, came to the free areas of the Republic in 2002 and hired a lawyer for getting back their fathers property. In statements to KIBRIS they alleged that in spite of the fact that after some time the lawyer told them that the case had been completed and that they could take back their property, when they went to the Department of Lands and Surveys in Larnaka, the officials there did not accept their documents.

Mr Alp Nuri, who is currently living in occupied Yerolakkos village, said that in 2005 they sent a letter to the ECHR on the issue and that they received an answer saying that the Court decided to examine the case.

Mr Nuri said: We need a lawyer to defend us in this case. We expect help from the state. A lot of money is needed to go to these Courts. Not everybody can afford this. The Greek Cypriot government helped a lot in the Loizidou case.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Talat attended the change of command at another Contingent of the occupation army

The scheduled Transfer of Colours and the handover ceremony at the Turkish Contingent in Cyprus took place yesterday evening.

The regiments commander - Staff Colonel Sendogan Karakus handed over his duties to the new commander - Staff Colonel Ali Dogan Ince.

The handover ceremony was held at the regimental headquarters yesterday evening, attended by `President´ Mehmet Ali Talat, the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Major General Tevfik Ozkilic, the Commander of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus Lieutenant General Hasan Memisoglu and other civilian and military officials.

The regiments history and biographies of Staff Colonel Sendogan Karakus and Staff Colonel Ali Dogan Ince were read out during the ceremony before Staff Colonel Sendogan Karakus handed over his duties to the new commander, Staff Colonel Ali Dogan Ince.

`President´ Mehmet Ali Talat, the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Major General Tevfik Ozkilic and the Commander of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus Lieutenant General Hasan Memisoglu presented shields to Staff Colonel Albay Karakus for his successful services as the Commander of the Turkish Contingent in Cyprus.

The ceremony ended with a parade.

[06] Sixteen Turkish Cypriot institutions and private companies requested to join the Global Compact

The letter was conveyed to the United Nations Secretary-Generals Special Cyprus Representative and Chief of Mission Michael Moller in Lefkosia yesterday.

The 16 Turkish Cypriot institutions and companies joined the framework known as the Global Compact Principles, run jointly by six different organisations affiliated to the United Nations Development Program - Partnership for Future.

The sixteen organisations received assistance and cooperation of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce, the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry, and the UNDP Partnership For Future in announcing their decision.

The directors of the 16 companies, yesterday morning presented a letter to the UN Secretary-Generals Cyprus Special Representative Michael Moller to be conveyed to the Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Speaking during the event, Michael Moller said that the 16 Turkish Cypriot organisations will be part of the Global Compact which includes more than 3 thousand firms worldwide.

Explaining that the Global Compact cooperated with its members on human rights, labour rights, labour morality and environmental pollution, Mr Moller said that the main aim of this treaty was to leave a better world for the future generations.

Michael Moller also stated that this is the first step in Cyprus in creating such an initiative, as a result of which, the network being set up in Cyprus will be working with fifty or so networks worldwide.

[07] Rauf Denktas cancels his activities due to health reasons

(M/L)

[08] Iranian volunteers want to go to Lebanon via Turkey to fight Israel

HURRIYET further reports that Iranian volunteers will enter Turkey via land route without weapons. The paper claims that Iranian citizens have the right to enter Turkey without entry visa and stay in Turkey for three months.

(MHY)

[09] Kosovo was compared to Cyprus during a meeting in Vienna

«Boris Tadic, the Serbian President who opposes Kosovar independence stated: «We will not allow a second Cyprus case in the Balkans.»

He made the declaration to the press following a top level meeting in the Austrian capital Vienna to determine the status of Kosovo under UN supervision and said that Kosovo belonged to Serbia according to the Helsinki final Act, UN Security Council decisions and all international treaties. In response to a question Tadic stated: «They did not consider a military intervention in the case of Albanians insisting on their independence.»

Tadic, in response to a question as to whether they would consider a military intervention as Turkey did, referring to Turkeys 1974 `Cyprus Peace Operation´, replied: «Serbians and Albanians lived together in Kosovo for hundreds of years. I do not see a reason for them not to do the same today. We do not consider a military intervention either for Kosovo, or for any other area.»

The Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Draskovic, answering the same question said that Turkeys 1974 military intervention in Cyprus could not be compared to the situation in Kosovo. «Making such a comparison is a big mistake. You all know about the situation in Cyprus. Today both Greece and Cyprus are members of the EU. There will be no second Cyprus case in the Balkans.»

The Prime Minister of Kosovo said that Kosovo had satisfied all the requirements to be an independent state since the war in 1999 and added: «All we are actually missing is international acknowledgement.»

Fatmir Sejdiu, President of Kosovo, who presided over the Albanian Commission at the meeting, stated that they would not step back regarding Kosovos independence, and added that the Belgrade administration did not present a new opinion at the meeting but only repeated that Kosovo would only receive a wide autonomy but still remain as a subordinate zone to Serbia.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan´s Kosovo Private Representative Marti Ahtisaari, who chaired the meeting, stated that a second meeting among the parties was being planned adding that the second meeting would be in the second half of August or the beginning of September at the latest. »  

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Article by Hasan Ercakica in the CYPRUS OBSERVER. He stresses that unless the TRNC is acknowledged there will be no solution

The Greek Cypriots are constantly trying to minimize and degrade all the efforts of the Turkish Cypriots through their claims that the Turkish Cypriots are only after `advancing their political status´. This Greek Cypriot attitude keeps appearing, no matter what the topic. When we talk about making the living standards of the two communities in Cyprus better, the Greek Cypriots claim that `this approach would strengthen the Turkish Cypriots´ political existence´ and prevent any such development. They even tried to prevent the Turkish Cypriots from offering humanitarian assistance in the evacuation of foreigners stuck in Lebanon with the same claims. They are also trying to block the European Union efforts to develop a better relationship with the Turkish Cypriots.

Political recognition, the UN and the Greek Cypriots

The aim of the Greek Cypriot efforts is obvious; they want to keep the isolated state of the Turkish Cypriots as it is. They continuously hide behind the excuse of protecting the unity of Cyprus.

The first efforts towards gaining political recognition by the then fledgling Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus came up against the United Nations Security Council barricade when it was first established and therefore remained non-functional. The UNSC announced that they did not acknowledge the political existence of the `TRNC´ back in 1983 when it was first proclaimed.

The Greek Cypriot side hides behind this 1983 UN declaration when it objects to all actions that might develop the status of the Turkish Cypriots. They repeatedly claim that any sort of relation with the Turkish Cypriots would mean to `take another step towards the recognition of the `TRNC´, which would eventually lead to the partition of Cyprus.

Another supporter of division

To tell you the truth these claims are more or less reasonable. The great nations of the world are against the division of Cyprus and therefore they are reluctant to recognize the `TRNC´. They do not see the steps taken by Turkish Cypriots as positive attempts.

Over the years, from 1983 until the Annan Plan referendum in 2004 and the post Referendum period, it has been shown that the only reason preventing the Cyprus problem from being settled is not the recognition of the `TRNC´ or the efforts related to that. There is yet another obstacle: the concerted aim of the Greek Cypriots in taking the whole of Cyprus under their control. As long as the Greek Cypriot side maintains their efforts in this area it will remain impossible to reunite Cyprus. The support they find allows the Greek Cypriot effort at isolating the Turkish Cypriots to continue.

Therefore, as long as the international players refuse to acknowledge the political existence of the `TRNC´ they will be supporting this Greek Cypriot attitude and, indirectly, they will be preventing the reunification of the island of Cyprus.

Who and what are the Turkish Cypriots?

There is yet another problem. Who are the Turkish Cypriots, as one of the entities that will be necessary to reunite Cyprus? Are they not a `political entity´ just like the Greek Cypriots?

The state established in 1960, known internationally as the Republic of Cyprus, consisted of the `political entities´. The Cyprus problem came about as a result of the intention of one of the `political entities´ to remove the other. During the time which has passed since then one thing has become clear: the entity in power in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriots, could not, cannot and will not remove the Turkish Cypriots. Accordingly we need to go back to the situation that prevailed in 1960 and reunite the two communities under that agreement. As a matter of fact the agreement between Talat and Papadopoulos on July 8, 2006 hints at confirming this need.

Since the Turkish Cypriots are one of the `two political entities´ claiming that every action or step leads to developing the political status of the Turkish Cypriot side, it is doing absolutely nothing to advance the current situation.

Political acknowledgment a necessity

At one time in the past, the US stated that they would acknowledge the Turkish Cypriots in order to prevent any further uncompromising acts by the Greek Cypriots. Even if it is not presently possible for them to do so by recognizing the `TRNC´, it seems to be obvious that unless the `political existence´ of the Turkish Cypriots is acknowledged there can be no chance of a development to the Cyprus problem.

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