Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-11-06

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister who ordered the Turkish troops to occupy Cyprus died.

[02] The Israeli Deputy Prime Minister supports separation based on ethnic origin.

[03] Talat met Tuomioja in Brussels.

[04] Talat: I expect official invitation from Azerbaijan.

[05] Soyer left for Chile.

[06] Erdogan on article 301.

[07] Ozturk: Let more British buy houses; they are useful for our policy.

[08] Garry Robb was arrested.

[09] Izcan says that the Turkish Cypriot side follows policies which aim at upgrading the status of the secessionist regime.

[10] The Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU) applied to UNESCO accusing the Greek Cypriot side of trying to apply educational embargo on the illegal universities of the TRNC.

[11] A Cyprus panel in Copenhagen.

[12] Press release by the Turkish General Staff on Buyukanit´s visit to Greece.

[13] More press reports on YIMPAS.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister who ordered the Turkish troops to occupy Cyprus died

(MHY)

[02] The Israeli Deputy Prime Minister supports separation based on ethnic origin

The paper reports that Mr Lieberman made this statement to the British Sunday Telegraph newspaper as well. He said that the existences of minorities everywhere in the world are cause for conflict and in order to avoid such conflicts as far as I am concerned physical division between the two nations is the best solution and the best model is Cyprus. When he was reminded that in Cyprus the division was realized by force of arms Lieberman said: Yes it is true but the final result was better.

(MHY)

[03] Talat met Tuomioja in Brussels

Mehmet Ali Talat, met with the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs - Errki Tuomioja in Brussels last night. The meeting took place at the EU Commission's office.

After his meeting with the Finnish Foreign Minister, Mr Talat told a press conference at the TRNC Brussels Representation that he had had a very useful meeting with Mr Tuomioja.

Mr Talat said that he explained the Turkish Cypriot Side's views on the Cyprus issue, the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people, Turkey's EU membership negotiations process and the Finnish proposals on Cyprus during the meeting.

Mr Talat also made it clear that the priority of the Turkish Cypriot People is to bring about a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

He added that a comprehensive solution should also be a priority for the United Nations and the European Union, adding that a solution in Cyprus will also open the way for Turkey and the EU.

Responding to a question, he reiterated that the platform for a solution to the Cyprus problem is the United Nations.

Responding to another question on the closed city of Varosha, Mr Talat said that the issue could only be discussed as part of a comprehensive solution.

Meanwhile, speaking to Reuters news agency after his meeting with Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, the Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said that his country will never give up its initiative towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem adding that it will continue to discuss the issue with all the parties concerned separately.

Mr Tuomioja, also said that the failure in gathering the sides around a table should not be seen as the end of the efforts.

Illegal Bayrak television (05.11.06) broadcast that Mr Mehmet Ali Talat returned to the occupied areas of Cyprus last night from Brussels where he met with the Finnish Foreign Minister Errki Tuomioja.

Speaking at the occupied Tymbou Airport, Mr Talat said that he explained to the Finnish Foreign Minister that the Turkish Cypriot Side is still committed to a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem but underlined the need that the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people should be lifted in line with calls by the United Nations and the European Union while the efforts for a solution in Cyprus continue.

He pointed out that it would be wrong to use the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people as a tool to overcome the problems that could emerge in Turkey's EU membership process, warning that the use of issues, which are components of a comprehensive solution, will open the way for a partial solution in Cyprus, instead of a comprehensive one.

Stressing that such a move is unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriot people, he said Cyprus' participation in all EU institutions in a position as if it also represents the Turkish Cypriot People, creates a lack of dialogue between the European Union and the Turkish Cypriot Side.

Underlining the need to find a way for the representation of the Turkish Cypriot people in EU institutions in order to establish dialogue between the two, he said that Finland will continue its initiative and that the Turkish Cypriot Side will continue to contribute to such efforts.

Meanwhile, the Finnish Foreign Minister Tuomioja also said that his country's initiative on the Cyprus issue will continue.

[04] Talat: I expect official invitation from Azerbaijan

We wish to improve fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The main target in our relations with Azerbaijan is to establish cultural and social relations, Mehmet Ali Talat, the President of TRNC, stated at the briefing held for foreign media in Istanbul.

We understand the problems of Azerbaijan, as we have analogous problems. But despite all problems we are resolute to improve our relations, he said.

Mehmet Ali Talat said that he paid an official visit to Pakistan and noted that he expects an official invitation from Azerbaijan, APA reports.

Mehmet Ali Talat said the resolution of the UN Security Council concerning TRNC is applied unconditionally, but Armenia does not fulfill the resolutions of the same organization on the liberation of Azerbaijani territories.

I don´t like the word double standard. There are but more standards here. Different standards are applied to both countries. Nagorno Garabagh and Northern Cyprus should not be substituted. The occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani territories is a terrible fact. The world community is indifferent to it. The accession of Greek Cyprus, to the European Union, is an important factor against us. The Greek Cypriots do not reach consensus. In this situation it comes into view why we are facing manifold but not double standards, he said.

[05] Soyer left for Chile

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) left for Chile today to participate in a meeting of the Socialist International.

Soyer will stop by Turkish capital of Ankara after he visits Chile, and participate in the Second Regular Congress of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) upon invitation of Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan on November 11th.

PM Soyer will return to TRNC on November 12th.

[06] Erdogan on article 301

"If there are some problems stemming from Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code's (TCK) being abstract, we are open to suggestions to make the article more concrete," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday.

Erdogan met representatives of NGO's including, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (Hak-Is) Chairman Salim Uslu, and Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Turk-Is) Chairman Salih Kilic.

Erdogan said the obstacles before freedom of thought expression were eliminated to a great extend.

"Our position and decisiveness about the issue is obvious. Of course, we assess the problems that erupt or may erupt in implementation," he noted.

Indicating that there were similar arrangements in all EU countries, Erdogan said this was not an arrangement below the European standards.

"Article 301 does not have any aspect that contradicts with EU regulations.

We also see that there are some problems in implementation. This article clearly discriminates freedom of criticism from the crime of insulting. There is need for a change of mentality. This will take time. We examine various alternatives how to handle the article in line with the reforms to prevent any violation of freedom," Erdogan remarked.

"There are joint values like mutual interests, democracy, freedom and rule of law in the basis of Turkish-EU relations. To this end, I believe that Turkey's EU process has a depth which some conjunctural developments can not impede," he added.

[07] Ozturk: Let more British buy houses; they are useful for our policy

According to Mr Ozturk, in the last years British citizens are buying houses in the occupied part of Cyprus, and alleged that this strengthens the policy of the TRNC in the world. We are not feeling any discomfort from this situation. I wish they buy more houses, because in this way we are taking them under the TRNC administration. The fact that there are British coming is useful for our policy; they are our honorary representatives.

Mr Ozturk also stated that in 2006, approximately 300.000 tourists from Turkey and 100.000 from the UK have visited the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus. For us, Britain is very important. We are sad because while 5-6 millions of tourists are visiting the south, the TRNC which has much more natural richness, does not take its share. This is because the British tourists who are visiting south are paying 198 Sterling Pounds as an air-ticket fee and they need four hours for reaching the island. In our case, they are paying 235 Sterling Pounds, there are no direct flights so they stop in Turkey, and therefore they need six hours for there coming. That means 45-50 Sterling Pounds difference. That is why we received the decision for the incentive, he added.

The paper also publishes a table of data, based on which the number of tourists visiting occupied Cyprus scored a 25% increase. According to the paper, in 2004 per capita income was 4.400 dollars, while in 2006 per capita income reached 10.000 dollars and bank deposits reached 3 billion dollars.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (05.11.06) reports that Mr Ozturk represented the breakaway regime in the MEDTRAVEL 2006 Antalya Mediterranean Health and Congress Center Fair, which ended yesterday in Turkey. Mr Ozturk addressed the Meeting of the Ministers of Tourism on the first day of the forum which was organized within the framework of the MIDITOUR 2006 II Mediterranean Tourism Forum and Cooperation Days. Mr Ozturk expressed his views on the future of tourism and the new cooperation strategies. The Ministers of Tourism of Jordan, Turkey, China, Tunisia and Serbia addressed also the meeting. Mr Ozturk briefed the attendants on the political developments and the tourism in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

(ML-ITs.)

[08] Garry Robb was arrested

(04-10.11.06) newspaper reports the following:

Gary Robb and his former AGA Developments partner Tahir Soycan were remanded in custody yesterday for three days after allegations that they faked documents so that Mr Robb could avoid military service.

The two men were arrested on Thursday and appeared yesterday at Lefkosia District Court where they were remanded pending further investigations which could lead to Mr Robb eventually facing a military court.

According to reliable legal sources, Mr Robb is alleged to have paid ¤ 5,000 to Tahir Soycan for the preparation of a document in December 2002 so he could avoid military service.

Mr Robb needed to present a document to the military stating that he had completed military service in the UK and Mr Soycan is alleged to have told Mr Robb that such a document could be prepared for a suitable sum.

According to sources close to Mr Soycan, Mr Robb obtained a document from a friend who often visited the TRNC indicating that he had done his military service in the UK. Mr Robb is alleged to have forged this document, changed the name, and presented it to the Army Recruitment Branch for him to be exempted from military service.

If he did not do this, he couldn´t become a TRNC citizen, said the legal source.

He claimed the reason for the arrest of Mr Soycan was because police found a copy of the forged document in his possession.

Mr Robb and Mr Soycan are now being held in cells at the central police station in the old quarter of Lefkosia. They will reappear in court on Monday.

The source said it was possible Mr Robb could be tried by a military court.

However, it is believed the TRNC Cabinet, when it meets on Tuesday, will determine Mr Robb´s fate. A source told CYPRUS TODAY that authorities were concerned that Mr Robb might be preparing to snatch and run.

The Cabinet could put Gary Robb on a plane or in a car and give him to the British authorities or they might accept a guarantee that he will return the money he took (to Thailand) and finish the building projects he started but left half-completed, the source said.

Another reliable source also told CYPRUS TODAY it was believed the intention of the government was for Gary Robb to be handed over to the British authorities once problems surrounding AGA Development were solved.

According to the source, some of Gary Robb´s developments were built on land belonging to other people, adding: They are waiting for this problem to be solved. Then they will hand him over to the British authorities.

The source claimed Mr Robb and Mr Soycan used the money paid to them by prospective homeowners and then attempted to squeeze an additional ¤ 15,000 out of each homebuyer on the basis that, once Robb had fled with the money, it was impossible to finish the building work.

All was going well until Mr Robb was stripped of his citizenship. When Robb´s citizenship was taken away, Mr Soycan benefited from the opportunity presented to him.

[09] Izcan says that the Turkish Cypriot side follows policies which aim at upgrading the status of the secessionist regime

Mr Izcan argued that both sides caused the blockade of the procedure by bringing onto the agenda the discussion about their status. Mr Izcan stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side follows policies which aim at upgrading the status of the structure created in northern Cyprus and that the Greek Cypriot side brings to the table the trump card of being the only representative of Cyprus since 1964.

Mr Izcan noted that a possible crisis in the relations of Turkey with the EU will influence negatively everybody and give a blow to the efforts towards reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem. He noted that the implementation of the Additional Protocol of the Ankara Agreement is Turkeys obligation towards the EU and that the Republic of Turkey intents to fulfill this obligation in parallel with the lifting of the isolations on the Turkish Cypriot community. Mr Izcan stressed that the EU officials have repeatedly stated that these are two different issues.

(I/Ts.)

[10] The Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU) applied to UNESCO accusing the Greek Cypriot side of trying to apply educational embargo on the illegal universities of the TRNC

Mr Guven made these statements on Friday, speaking at a press conference in Saray Hotel in occupied Lefkosia.

Mr Guven, who stated that a protest and a slander campaign was started abroad as regards thirty students and four instructors in charge along with the university rector, who came from San Diego State University to DAU last July, in the framework of a six-weeks exchange programme, said that they applied to UNESCO in order to prevent the harassment, the discrimination, the differentiation and the political attacks against the DAU. Guven stated that they have also applied to the EU Ombudsman and the application was accepted.

He went on and said the following: Education is a basic right and does not recognise borders. We have more than fifteen thousand students from sixty-eight countries and nearly two thousand workers. We severely condemn the initiatives of the Greek Cypriots on this issue and we cannot find any good intentions. We do not think that it will contribute to solution either, he stated.

(C/S)

(Tr. Note: The universities in occupied Cyprus are illegal. They are a product of the illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus by Turkish troops and they operate under the regulations of the Higher Education Board of Turkey (YOK) and a decree by the President of Turkey, in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus)

[11] A Cyprus panel in Copenhagen

The network for Turkey in the EU is organizing various activities in Denmark with a view to making the EU-Turkey relations to be understood better in the Danish public opinion.

(MHY)

[12] Press release by the Turkish General Staff on Buyukanit´s visit to Greece

1. It is announced that the Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces General Yasar Buyukanit paid an official visit to Greece from 01 to 04 November 2006, upon invitation of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff Admiral Panayiotis CHINOFOTIS. The aim of the invitation and the visit was to exchange views on matters of common interest and explore ways to enhance mutual confidence and understanding.

[02] Specifically during the meetings the following issues were explored:

b. Improvement of the technical measures for maritime and air navigation safety.

c. Creation of a committee at Chiefs of Defense level of the Balkan states, which will periodically meet in order to promote regional security and also discuss military issues of common interest. The first meeting is expected to take place at Thessalonica early next year.

d. Creation of Combined-Joint Operational Unit in the framework of NATO with the aim to participate in Peace Support Operations.

e. Creation of a common Land Unit in order to participate in NRF operations if necessary.

f. Creation of a Combined-Joint Disaster Relief / Humanitarian Aid Task Force capable to operate in a wide range of missions and areas.

g. Exchange of working visits between the commanders of the two countries' Armed Services and other military commanders.

h. Exchange of visits and development of good relations between the personnel serving at the Turkish-Greek border units in Thrace.

i. Cooperation and mutual exchange of personnel in the framework of NATO deployed naval units.

j. Regional threats and particularly the illegal immigration issue.

k. Mutual exploitation of the two countries' military training capabilities aiming at improving the level of communication and understanding of both Armed Forces' personnel.

l. Additionally, regional security issues to include recent developments in Iraq and Middle East.

[13] More press reports on YIMPAS

The YIMPAS company was reportedly investigated in Germany "on suspicion of ties to the terrorist attack" in the inquiry related to the terrorist attacks on New York on 11 September 2001. The German police requested an investigation of money transfers by YIMPAS "on suspicion of ties to the terrorist attack" and demanded that the inquiry be deepened in that direction. As will be recalled, the fundamentalist terrorist organization Al-Qa'ida claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks in the United States, which launched an offensive on Afghanistan after the attacks.

CUMHURIYET has obtained a new document related to the investigation conducted by the German police in connection with the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. The German police contacted YIMPAS in the course of its investigation related to the terrorist attacks in the United States. The investigation focused on charges that money was laundered at YIMPAS Proma Warenhandels GmbH, a YIMPAS subsidiary company run by YIMPAS Holding Executive Board Chairman Dursun Uyar, for whom Germany has issued an international arrest warrant through Interpol, and Huseyin Unal. This investigation was subsequently deepened in the direction of the terrorist attacks in New York on the suspicion that [the money laundering activity] could be related to them.

Subtitle: Loans at high interest rates

According to the testimony of the person in charge of YIMPAS's financial accounts, loans were made to the company's subsidiaries at the high interest rate of 13 percent. In addition, accounts were opened for the administrators of the subsidiaries and large sums were deposited into these accounts. The same employee testified that numerous fund transfers were concealed. He said that he found out only by accident that [presumably YIMPAS] took a 52-percent interest in the Iranian company Stareh Sharg Co. in 1996, and that funds were transferred on numerous occasions to countries like Iran and Turkmenistan. According to the document drafted by the Aschaffenburg police and sent to the Offenbach police, the subject of YIMPAS ties to the September 11 attacks in the United States first came up in the testimony of a senior employee of the company.

Subtitle: 'Investigation needs to be conducted'

The police document says: "During the interrogation of , possible links between the company and the September 11 attacks in the United States were suggested. No concrete connections to this issue were found. However, an investigation needs to be conducted to clarify the matter."

/SK

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