Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-08-03

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat and President Papadopoulos to meet next Thursday.

[02] Statements by Ercakica on the technical committees´ agenda; Recognition as a political entity a pre-requisite for the Cyprus problem solution.

[03] The Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman on a reported military co-operation agreement between France and Cyprus.

[04] The financial cooperation protocol with Turkey was approved by the government.

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat meets with political parties´ delegations today.

[06] The Commander of the occupation forces Major General Ozkilic paid a farewell visit to the Council of Ministers.

[07] Turkish deputies are resigning from the Turkey-Israel Friendship Group.

[08] Syrian President to visit Turkey at end of August.

[09] Turkey's talk of military action in Iraq ends.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat and President Papadopoulos to meet next Thursday

Speaking in a live interview on illegal Radio Bayrak yesterday afternoon, Mr Talat said there will be discussions in two separate channels on the issue in the coming days.

Mr Talat repeated that the proposed discussions will be conducted under the technical heading, in addition to other discussions that will be aimed at the essence of the Cyprus problem.

While the technical issues will be taken up at technical level, the two sides have already exchanged views on substantial issues making up the Cyprus issue itself, he said.

Pointing to the existing differences between the two sides on the substance of the Cyprus problem, Mr Talat reminded that the two sides have already been conducting discussions on these differences.

Making it clear that it is still too early to say whether or not technical or substantial negotiations will be kicked-off soon, Mr Talat reminded that the Turkish Cypriot side has already announced it was ready to initiate its own technical committees.

He said that it has become clear there are big differences between the two sides on procedural issues and modalities; adding that without removing these differences, it will be impossible to take up issues of substance concerning the wider Cyprus problem.

We want all aspects of the Cyprus issue to be taken up, and we wish that progress will be achieved in a given time, he said.

Mr Talat added that a meeting is being planned for next Thursday (10 August) between himself and President Mr Papadopoulos, during which the ongoing work on the proposed technical committees will be taken up.

[02] Statements by Ercakica on the technical committees´ agenda; Recognition as a political entity a pre-requisite for the Cyprus problem solution

The `Presidential Undersecretary´ Rasit Pertev and the Greek Cypriot official Tassos - Djonis will meet again tomorrow to establish a common agenda for the negotiations on the Cyprus problem and on the formation of the proposed technical committees.

This was announced by the `Presidential Spokesperson´ Hasan Ercakica today who said that the Turkish side envisages 15 days for the establishment of a common agenda.

Tomorrows meeting between the `Presidential Undersecretary´ Rasit Pertev and Tassos - Djonis will be the third in a week.

They resumed their discussions yesterday on how to classify the outstanding issues listed respectively by the two sides - that they believe - need to be taken up as part of the efforts aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The `Presidential Spokesperson´ reaffirmed the Turkish Cypriot sides political will to support the setting up of the technical committees in a bid to help restart the comprehensive negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem, improve the relations between the two sides, boost the living standard in the two sides and help prevent crime.

Pointing to the Greek Cypriot sides tendency not to respect the Turkish Cypriot Side as a political entity, Mr Ercakica criticized the comments by the Greek Cypriot leader Mr Papadopoulos and the AKEL Secretary-General Demetris Christophias in connection with his article in which he stressed the need for the recognition of the Turkish Cypriot side as a political entity as a pre-requisite for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr Ercakica said the fact that the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives is considering amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus which render the EU Acquis-Communaitre superior to the Constitution; is a good example of the Greek Cypriot sides strategy of not respecting or recognizing the Turkish Cypriot side as a political entity.

This also reflects its policy aimed at keeping the Turkish Cypriot side internationally `isolated´, he said.

Meanwhile, the five-point Agreement of Principles reached between `President´ Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos - according to which the two sides in Cyprus would exchange proposals concerning the issues making up the substance - or the essence - of the Cyprus problem, has been published as an official UN document.

According to a statement issued by the `TRNC´ New York Representatives Office, the two documents initialed by `President´ Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Mr Papadopoulos on July 8th, have been published as an official UN document.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the puppet regime the Turkish Republic has set up and maintains with 40,000 troops in occupied northern Cyprus)

[03] The Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman on a reported military co-operation agreement between France and Cyprus

HURRIYET claims that President Papadopoulos has opened the Papandreou Air base in Paphos, which was built by Greece against Turkey, to France. It says that the deal is that in return for the air base the French will support Cyprus Armys entry into the European Army, will provide weapons to the National Guard and will support Cypruss stance in the Cyprus problem.

Subtitle: France is getting to settle down the Middle East

The paper reports that once France gets military base in Cyprus she will realize the following objectives:

France through the Andreas Papandreou Base in Paphos will be able to defend and provide for logistics supply to her troops that she wants to deploy between the Lebanon and Israel.

She will be in a safe position away from attacks that might come from organizations like the Hezbollah. She will be in a dominating position in the Middle East.

She will be able to control all kinds of Economic, political and military developments in the East Mediterranean. She will become an active player in an area dominated by Britain and the USA.

France will be able to use apart from the Andreas Papandreou Air base the other military facilities of the Greek Cypriots.

Subtitle: Greek Cypriots objective is Turkey

The Greek Cypriots by providing military bases to France aim at several objectives with a single stroke. The Greek Cypriots´ first objective is to secure both in the UN and the EU Frances support against Turkey. Following are the provisions in the Military Cooperation Agreement:

The Greek Cypriot Army, which was weakened as a result of the British and the USA arms embargo, will be able to get weapons of advanced technology from France.

The French army will give military training to the Greek Cypriot officers on the French soil.

Paris will solve the Greek Cypriot armys spare parts and technical support issues.

France will extend support for the Greek Cypriots to participate in the European Defense System and in the international organizations such as the NATO where Turkeys veto is in question.

HURRIYET also reports about the statement made by the Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan that the military cooperation agreement cannot be binding on the whole of the Island.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (02.08.06) reports the following:

"´Greek Cypriot administration` can not make commitments on behalf of the whole island of Cyprus," Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Namik Tan said on Wednesday.

Asked a question on news in the Greek Cypriot press that France and the ´south` of Cyprus are about to sign a military cooperation agreement, Tan told reporters that Turkey is closely following such rumors.

"As you know, security issues in Cyprus are based on international agreements. On the other hand, the ´Greek Cypriot administration` can not make commitments on behalf of the whole island of Cyprus. We hope that all parties will act responsibly in this very sensitive issue (of military cooperation)," stressed Tan.

(MHY)

[04] The financial cooperation protocol with Turkey was approved by the government

The protocol, which includes the period 2007-2009, has been sent to the assembly for ratification, noted Mr Usar.

(I/Ts)

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat meets with political parties´ delegations today

Latest developments on the Cyprus problem will be taken up during the meeting which will take place in the afternoon.

[06] The Commander of the occupation forces Major General Ozkilic paid a farewell visit to the Council of Ministers

The Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Major General Tevfik Ozkilic who completed his end of term in the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´, paid a farewell visit to the `Council of Ministers´ this afternoon.

Major General Ozkilic met with members of the `Council´ before it convened under the chairmanship of the `Prime Minister´ Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

[07] Turkish deputies are resigning from the Turkey-Israel Friendship Group

Sources said that 55 parliamentarians from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), 12 from the Republican People's Party (CHP) and 3 from the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) have resigned from their posts in the group so far.

[08] Syrian President to visit Turkey at end of August

[09] Turkey's talk of military action in Iraq ends

The U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a daily briefing that Turkey was no longer considering a cross-border offensive into Iraqi territory and that instead all related sides were now working together to solve the PKK problem. McCormack was asked to comment on remarks by Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, who reportedly said last week, If any country attacks Kurdistan, we will defend ourselves. I don't think that's what people are talking about right now. What people are talking about is how to work together to solve the (PKK) problem, McCormack said. So you don't have the Turkish government talking about launching attacks into Iraq. Everybody wants to find a solution to the problem.

In Ankara, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nam1k Tan voiced optimism that Iraqi authorities would take measures against the PKK.

Iraq has recently given us information about the measures it foresees to stop the activities of the PKK terrorist organization in Iraq, Tan told a press conference. We expect these measures to produce concrete results very soon.

The Iraqi government has begun to take steps and we are following these, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan said later in the day. He also pledged that the fight against the PKK would continue in a manner involving the coordinated effort of all the state institutions concerned.

/SK

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