Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-10-06

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot politicians and leaders of organizations assess the Finnish proposal.

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat is going to Brussels.

[03] Speech by Mr Sabit Soyer in Ankara.

[04] Vote of confidence for the new government.

[05] The High Administrative Court to examine the Democratic Partys recourse next Wednesday.

[06] Angel Merkel in Ankara. Joint press conference with Erdogan.

[07] The imports and exports in occupied Cyprus for the firs six months of the year 2006.

[08] Turkish Cypriot Automobile Association has sent a letter to FIA.

[09] Medical congress to take place in occupied Cyprus.

[10] The self-styled Ambassador of the occupation regime in Ankara gave a dinner for the Ambassadors of the countries-members of OIC.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Foreign buyers of the Greek Cypriot properties in Karmi are prepared to face the owners of the properties and their lawyer.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot politicians and leaders of organizations assess the Finnish proposal

In a statement Mr. Akinci said that instead of opening just the Famagusta Port for the joint use of the two sides, all sea and airports in Cyprus - both those in the occupied and the free areas of Cyprus should be opened for the use of the two sides.

Referring to the Finnish EU Presidencys latest initiative on Cyprus, the BDH leader said that the proposal actually did not contain new elements and was in fact similar to an earlier proposal by President Tassos Papadopoulos who suggested the opening of the occupied Famagusta port to free trade under the supervision of the EU in exchange for returning the closed fenced city of Varosha.

Mr Akinci reminded that his party - which had predicted the current developments a year ago - had prepared a set of proposals which included the joint use of all ports in Cyprus under the supervision of the European Union.

Noting that Turkey could also open its sea and airports to the use of Greek Cypriot vessels and planes within this context, Mr. Akinci added that the proposals had envisaged the return of Varosha to its legal owners and a partial withdrawal of Turkish troops.

In addition as Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (06.10.06) reports, Izzet Izcan, the chairman of the United Cyprus Party stated that the Finnish proposal on Cyprus must be evaluated positively. Mr Izcan stated that the proposal has not been rejected by the Greek Cypriot side and by Turkey but, as he said, he observed a rejecting attitude by the Turkish Cypriot side. This approach will open the road for crisis and chaos, he said.

Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (06.10.06) writes that various Civil Society organisations in occupied Cyprus stated that the proposal of Finland on Cyprus is incomplete. The officials of the EU Cyprus Association, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO) and the Businessmens Association (ISAD) stated that the proposal must include also the Ercan (occupied Tymbou) airport. KTSOs general secretary Mustafa Gunduz stated that the proposals cannot be accepted if they do not include Ercan. On his part KTSO chairman Erdil Nami said that they will not look warmly to any proposal which does not include the opening of the Ercan (occupied Tymbou) airport. On his part, EU Cyprus Associations chairman Ali Erel stated that the proposals were made for the sake of Turkeys EU negotiation. Our benefits or our damages were not taken into consideration, he stated. ISAD chairman Ozalp Nailer said that the plan was made without respecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.

(C/S)

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat is going to Brussels

(C/S)

[03] Speech by Mr Sabit Soyer in Ankara

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer has emphasized that both Turkey and the European Union have obligations concerning Cyprus as part of Turkeys EU membership process, and said that these must be mutually implemented.

The Prime Minister was speaking in Ankara at a gathering on the Cyprus issue, organized by the Centre for Studies at the Middle East Technical University.

He said that as it is Turkeys legal obligation to open its ports to the Greek Cypriot Side it is also a fact that the EU has a political obligation to remove the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People.

Prime Minister Soyer has underlined the need to interpret the Cyprus problem from a historical perspective saying that the dominant ideology on the island is leaned towards ignoring the need for a solution when one of the two sides holds the power.

Mr Soyer referred to the collapse of the CTP - DP coalition government and said that the two parties had sharply opposing views on significant issues such as the EU financial aid, the visit to the TRNC by the EU Parliaments contact group with North Cyprus, and the 8th of July agreement reached between President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos.

Rejecting the claim that Turkey had intervened to bring down the CTP DP coalition government, the Prime Minister stated that he never opposed in principle working together with people who had different views on a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The major goal is to secure common objectives and achieve an atmosphere for creative and constructive results in the benefit of the People he added.

Addressing the new coalition government established with the newly formed Freedom and Reform Party, he said the new governments policy is based on the spirit of the Annan Plan and its provisions, together with the set of principles signed between President Talat and Mr Papadopoulos.

Expressing the view that it is neither possible to postpone a solution to the Cyprus problem, nor to leave it to after Turkeys accession to the EU, the TRNC Prime Minister said the new coalition government in Lefkosia will keep up to the standing EU policy, work for a UN basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem, try to bring the Greek Cypriot Sides authoritative strategy into debate.

[04] Vote of confidence for the new government

The Republican Turkish Party - Freedom and Reform Party coalition government has won a vote of confidence in the Republics Assembly.

Twenty eight of the thirty deputies attending todays session gave their backing to the new alliance while deputies from the main opposition National Unity Party - together with the Democrat Party - boycotted the session.

The Republics Assembly met this morning under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the Parliament Fatma Ekenoglu to hold a vote of confidence in the newly formed Republican Turkish Party-Freedom and Reform Party coalition government.

Twenty eight of the thirty MPies who took part, gave their support to the new government led by Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, while the Leader of the Peace and Democracy Movement Mustafa Akinci and the independent deputy - Erden Ozaskin opposed it.

The CTP General Secretary Omer Kalyoncu was absent because of illness; Ergun Sukru Serdaroglu an independent voted in support for the government.

The two biggest opposition parties are boycotting the parliament in protest at what they claim are `unethical and undemocratic` methods used in the formation of the new coalition government.

The new government boasts 28 seats in the 50-seat TRNC parliament, 25 of which are being occupied by the Republican Turkish Party and 3 by the Freedom and Reform Party.

Speaking after his governments win of the vote, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that the new coalition will continue to work with the President to bring about a solution to the Cyprus problem based on the political equality of the two sides.

Stressing that the main objective of the new alliance will be to provide better living conditions for the Turkish Cypriot people, Mr Soyer said that his government will be in power to make all the reforms needed in the country.

[05] The High Administrative Court to examine the Democratic Party´s recourse next Wednesday

The `TRNC High Administrative Court´ has postponed until Wednesday, 11th of October, taking up a legal application by the opposition Democrat Party aimed at extracting a stay of execution for the workings of the `Presidency of the Republics Assembly´.

The Democratic Party earlier filed a complaint with the `High Court´, claiming that the way the `Council of Ministers Decree´ had been conveyed to the General Assembly, had violated the principles of normal parliamentary procedures and the `Code of Rules´.

The `High Court´ postponed taking up the application, to provide time for the defendant.

[06] Angel Merkel in Ankara. Joint press conference with Erdogan

When asked by a German journalist whether Turkey would implement the Additional Protocol and allow the Greek Cypriot vessels to use Turkish ports, Erdogan said: "We will discuss details of the issue with the German Chancellor. However, I want to reiterate that the Ankara Agreement does not include a unilateral sanction. On the contrary, mutual sanctions are in question. First of all, isolation of Turkish Cypriots should be lifted. It is not fair to expect such things (opening of Turkish ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot traffic) from Turkey unless isolation (of Turkish Cypriots) is lifted. On the other hand, is northern Cyprus an area of terrorism? Is it a centre of illicit drug trafficking? Why are you imposing isolation on Turkish Cypriots?" "EU-member countries encouraged the parties in Cyprus to hold referenda on April 24th, 2004. While Turkish Cypriots supported the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plan in the referendum, Greek Cypriots rejected it. However, Turkish Cypriots were punished while Greek Cypriots were awarded with EU membership. It is not a fair approach. This should be corrected first. We acted honestly and accepted inclusion of the Greek Cypriot administration in the Customs Union. We are not positive about opening of Turkish ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot traffic unless isolation of Turkish Cypriots is lifted."

On her part German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Turkey should fulfill its commitments stemming from the protocol (that extended its Customs Union agreement to cover the new EU-member countries) in order to maintain the negotiation process with the EU.

Speaking at the press conference, Merkel said that her meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan focused on Turkey-EU relations, Customs Union, Turkey's reform process and other related issues.

Upon a question, Merkel said: "There is the Ankara protocol and, in our view, this protocol must be implemented."

"I believe that it is understandable and obvious that, when member states in the European Union want to cooperate with each other, free trade relations and access to ports and airports should be part of that," she said.

Merkel went on saying: "We now have a Finnish proposal on the table and I have heard with interest that this has been welcomed by Turkey and I hope that we can solve a difficult problem. It is a problem we must address. It is a necessary condition for progress with the EU negotiations."

Referring to problems of the Turkish community in Germany, Merkel said that Turkish young people could not benefit from education opportunities since they could not speak German. She stressed that they aimed at removing obstacles in front of integration of Turks with German society.

Recalling that both Turkey and Germany decided to contribute troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Merkel said that it was a difficult decision to make.

Later, Merkel was received by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

Merkel and Erdogan will proceed to Istanbul to attend tomorrow's Turkish-German Economy Forum meeting, organized in association with the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD).

Merkel is expected to hold talks with several religious leaders before departing from Turkey.

[07] The imports and exports in occupied Cyprus for the firs six months of the year 2006

As the paper writes the imports in occupied Cyprus for the first six months of the year 2006 have increased up by 5% as compared to the imports of the same period in the year 2005 and reached the amount of 983 million Turkish lira.

Exports during the same period have also increased from 63 millions 839 thousand Turkish lira to 65 millions 530 thousand Turkish lira, according to figures announced by the Director of the Commerce Department Selim Gokboru.

(C/S)

[08] Turkish Cypriot Automobile Association has sent a letter to FIA

The paper reports that the Chairman of KKTOK Zeki Topcu, in his letter sent to FIA Chairman Max Mosley, writes that KKTOK looks forward to the time when all the isolations imposed in the field of sports will be lifted. In his letter, Mr Topcu argued that the Cyprus Automobile Federation, which is a FIA member, does not represent the Turkish Cypriots and has no right to do this.

Referring to the punishment of Turkey upon the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat granting the cup to the F-race winner in Istanbul, Mr Topcu alleged that with this decision FIA expressed support to the division of the island.

(M/L)

[09] Medical congress to take place in occupied Cyprus

The Congress is organised by the Turkish Medicine Firm Organon Turkiye. The paper writes that persons from Turkey, Israel, Spain and England will be speakers at the congress. Around 600 persons were invited to participate in the Congress which will take place in the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel.

(C/S)

[10] The self-styled Ambassador of the occupation regime in Ankara gave a dinner for the Ambassadors of the countries-members of OIC

Twelve Ambassadors of the seventeen foreign missions attended the dinner, as well as military attachés, diplomats and senior officers of the Embassies. The Ambassador for Cyprus Affairs of Turkeys Prime Ministry, Mr Murat Oguz, the Director of the Cyprus Department of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Mr Haydar Berk, also attended the dinner.

(D/Ps)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Foreign buyers of the Greek Cypriot properties in Karmi are prepared to face the owners of the properties and their lawyer

A feeling of being `calmly alert´ is apparent in the hillside village of Karaman (occupied Karmi) this week following reports that Greek Cypriot lawyer Constantis Candounas has threatened to serve summonses on village residents for the re-possession of former Greek Cypriot owned property.

Described by senior Turkish Cypriot lawyers as a premature and miscalculated act, Candounas´ threats to target more British or German tenants of houses in the pretty village will probably end up with the same result as the last time he took such futile action; he was arrested, fined and deported by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.

It beggars belief that he should try to pull the same trick again, commented a resident in the village pub The Crow´s Nest´. If he comes here with handfuls of papers to serve summonses on villagers to appear at a South Cyprus Court, we are ready for him. Every property owner or lessee has been issued with a card giving details of the action they should take if Candounas or his henchmen try to serve Court papers. The action people should take is to refuse to accept any papers or packages from anyone they don´t recognize and telephone Ali at Kyrenia CID on 0533 863 3491, a long-term village resident told the CYPRUS OBSERVER.

Further investigations by CYPRUS OBSERVER reporting staff reveal that villagers are reluctant to talk about the threat from Candounas; we were asked not to take any photographs, or mention any names in case we inadvertently provide information which may be of use to the South´s court officers, or Candounas´ field operatives. Suffice to say we are ready, we are informed, we know what to do, so if these idiots come here, they will be on a failed mission, said a resident who lives in one of the 30 houses which are privately owned; the other 130 houses in the village `parcel´ are owned by the Turkish Cypriot Government under the Department of Tourism and are let to residents on conditional long term leases.

Whilst touring the village our correspondent met many visitors, some UK tourists on an organized coach tour; others were Greek Cypriots who seemed quite friendly and non-threatening, they even popped into the Crow´s Nest for a lunchtime libation. Villagers treated them with courtesy and all the usual pleasantries, but no conversations took place. Hardly surprising, as there have been some `unfortunate´ incidents since the border was opened in April 2004, which no one wants repeated.

It seems most odd that Candounas, or his clients, want to carry on threatening to take legal action against residents of Karaman (occupied Karmi), especially since the Orams´ victory in London´s High Court; the court papers have hardly been filed and an appeal, although likely, is again bound to fail, pondered another Karaman (occupied Karmi) resident, Perhaps they just want to feed the South´s propaganda campaign against the North of the island and consider the costs involved as quite worthwhile. So be it, they will get short shrift in Karaman (occupied Karmi. Should the Candounas court crew attempt to serve papers or summonses on the tenants of one particular Karaman (occupied Karmi) residence, they are urged to take note of the name of the house, where formerly, a boot and shoemaker made a living: COBBLERS! he concluded.

/SK

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