Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-12-12

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The EU agrees to suspend eight chapters of Turkey's EU entry talks.

[02] The first reply from Erdogan to the EU.

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the decision of the European Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Turkeys accession negotiations.

[04] Cemil Cicek: EU states tried to block Turkeys EU path.

[05] The commander of the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus alleges that the Island is real Turkish territory.

[06] Talat stresses the importance of a strong economy.

[07] Turkish Cypriot daily argues that the Erdogan government has changed the policy of reaching a solution in Cyprus.

[08] Soyer says that the number of the Turkish Cypriots who work in the free areas decreases every day.

[09] Turkish Parliament Speaker: Military is not to elect the President.10. Bulent Arinc pays a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Turkish General Staff.

[11] Akfen Holdings five-star hotel in Kyrenia will be opened on 15 December.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The EU agrees to suspend eight chapters of Turkey's EU entry talks

The EU foreign ministers reached a partial deal on Turkey in the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels. They agreed in principle to freeze 8 of the 35 chapters (of Turkey's EU entry talks) within the scope of the European Commission's proposal, sources said on Monday.

The EU countries have been searching for an agreement on possible sanctions against Ankara on the ground that it did not fully implement the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement. EU leaders agreed on suspension of 8 of 35 chapters and they are also working on other possible penalties.

Austria, Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration consider that a definite date must be set for Turkey on implementation of the additional protocol.

On the other hand, some EU countries proposed that "positive signals" on lifting of commercial isolations imposed on Turkish Cypriots should be given.

[02] The first reply from Erdogan to the EU

You know the decision of the Council of the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs. First of all, I think that stressing the following would be useful: In spite of the efforts which we exerted for overcoming the stagnancy, the relations of Turkey with the EU are unfortunately passing through a serious test. We have conducted the reforms until today for the good of our own people. We know very well what we have to do in this direction within the coming period. Our reform process will continue with the same determination. An injustice was made to Turkey on the issue of the supplementary protocol. There is a promise which our EU friends admit that they did not fulfill. After the rejection of the Annan Plan by the Greek Cypriots, they have been committed to lift the isolations applied on the TRNC. When we were signing the additional protocol we declared that this does not mean that we recognize the Greek Cypriot administration. The EU, in a counter declaration it issued for this statement of ours, has stated that Turkey should apply fully its obligations to all member states. From the beginning, our government stated that, within the framework of Turkeys commitments, it would make no step without the lifting of the isolation on the TRNC and that the opening of the ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot ships and airplanes will be realized only on this condition.

Mr Erdogan then referred to the Finnish initiative and noted that within the framework of these negotiations Turkey submitted no proposals in writing to Finland or to the other sides.

We received no proposal in writing. We are in harmony with the basic state policy we adopted, he added and said: Making a unilateral step was never on our agenda. With the decision of the EU Council Turkey was treated unfairly after all these.

Mr Erdogan reiterated the Turkish view that the Cyprus problem will never be solved in the EU and added that the Union should feel more widely what is happening in the world and see better the benefits which Turkey will secure in the international field.

He alleged that his country supports the just and lasting solution of the Cyprus problem to be found within the UN and expressed the view that the two leaders should meet and launch a process for reaching a comprehensive solution. He accused the Greek and Greek Cypriot side of benefiting from the non-solution of the Cyprus problem and alleged that the Greek side does not want a solution.

Replying to the accusations of the Turkish opposition that the AKP government is making concessions in Cyprus he said that those who allege that during period which the AKP is in the government it made concessions in Cyprus are those who do not want to see the benefits of Turkey and the TRNC. He strongly criticized the main opposition leader Mr Deniz Baykal and called on him to look where the TRNC was when the AKP came to power and where it is now.

(I/Ts.)

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the decision of the European Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Turkeys accession negotiations

The European Ministers have not set a time table for Turkeys full implementation of the Supplementary Protocol and the opening of the Turkish ports to Cypriot registered ships and airplanes, notes KIBRIS, but an observation report will be prepared on this issue in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

According to the decision, the issue of the lifting of the so-called isolation of north Cyprus will be discussed in January 2007 during the German term presidency of the EU.

The paper reports that the European Ministers adopted the recommendation of the Commission regarding the freezing of the eight out of 35 chapters in Turkeys accession negotiations. It is also decided that no other chapter will be closed until Turkey fulfils its obligations deriving from the Supplementary Protocol.

The decision noted that Turkeys accession negotiations will slow down. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Finnish term presidency, Erkki Tuomioja stated that the Union wants Turkey to apply fully the Ankara Protocol and added that the lifting of the isolation of northern Cyprus is a different issue. The Commissioner responsible for the Enlargement, Olli Rehn said that the decisions have great importance.

Under the title They agreed on eight chapters, Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (12.12.06) reports that Mr Rehn asked from Turkey either to give detailed information on the issue of the ports which it will open for the Cypriot ships and airplanes or to write a letter to the EU term presidency and give guarantees on the issue. The paper reports that France withdrew its support to the German proposal for setting a timetable and stated that the recommendation of the Commission was sufficient.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper (12.12.06) refers to the issue under the title The EU remembered the promise it had given to the Turkish Cypriots.

Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (12.12.06) refers to the issue under the title Eight chapters are suspended, the isolation on the table!

Turkish Cypriot daily CUMHURIYET newspaper (12.12.06) refers to the issue under the title The fact that eight chapters will freeze is definite, but the uncertainty continues.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (12.12.06) refers to the issue under the title They want more, alleging that as long as the AKP government makes one concession after the other, the Greek Cypriots and the EU want more.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Cemil Cicek: EU states tried to block Turkeys EU path

Informing the press following the Council of Ministers meeting, Cicek said that EU issue was on the agenda of the Council.

"By its very nature, relations with EU are not so easy... At the point we have reached, Turkey-EU relations have entered a new lane... In this period policies should be carried out very carefully, in a calm way and with integrity," Cicek said.

Cicek stressed that Turkey was willing to move to a new phase and gain a new step, however, several EU-member countries and in particular Greek Cypriots tried to block Turkey's way with the rocks they rolled.

Noting that the government did not have a choice like "Cyprus at one side, EU at THE another", Cicek said: "Whoever says something like that, defames the government of the Turkish Republic".

Cicek also stated that what they had been doing concerning this issue was to bring Turkey's two basic policies one step forward within a certain balance by both protecting Turkey's interests and Turkish Cypriots' rights.

Cicek underlined that Cyprus issue was a policy important to Turkey just like the EU issue being a state policy.

Stressing the importance that has been attached to this issue by all governments of the Turkish Republic, Cicek noted that their government was the leading one among all, with its support for providing the best conditions for Turkish Cypriots to continue their presence, as well as protecting their rights and benefits.

Upon a question on whether a Turkish airport and a port would be opened in return for opening of occupied Tymbou Airport and occupied Famagusta port, Cicek said that everybody should have confidence in the government on this issue and underlined that the government tried hard to achieve the two basic targets - protection of Turkish Cypriots' rights and Turkey's benefits - within the opportunities and instruments of diplomacy.

[05] The commander of the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus alleges that the Island is real Turkish territory

General Kivrikoglu pointed out to the contribution of the UBP in the establishment of the TRNC and alleged that the Turkish occupation army fulfils with great sensitivity its duty of protecting peace and security in the whole of Cyprus and expressed their commitment to continue to do so. Cyprus is real Turkish territory, he claimed.

Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (12.12.06) publishes the statements of General Kivrikoglu under the title Cyprus is real Turkish territory and the subtitle The existence of the TRNC is guaranteed.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Talat stresses the importance of a strong economy

In statements during a meeting with a delegation from the Chamber of Industry, Mr Talat argued: In order to reach our target in the political field and make the Turkish Cypriots live better, we definitely must have a highly competitive economy, which satisfies the people enough.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Turkish Cypriot daily argues that the Erdogan government has changed the policy of reaching a solution in Cyprus

With the recent proposals regarding the ports Turkey, which began to indirectly have the Greek Cypriots as its interlocutors, has entered into the tendency of putting the Cyprus problem into the EU with its own hands, argues KIBRISLI adding that the Turkish side needs a new policy with which Turkey not to be directly or indirectly interlocutor of the Greek Cypriots inside or outside the EU and with which the fate of the Cyprus problem will not be determined in the EU process.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Soyer says that the number of the Turkish Cypriots who work in the free areas decreases every day

Addressing the self-styled Assembly yesterday during the discussion of the Public Servants Law (Amendment), Mr Soyer noted also that when the fact that everyday six thousand persons cross over from the occupied to the free areas of the island and that on Sundays this number is around three thousands is taken into consideration, it is understood that 3-4 thousand Turkish Cypriots work in the free areas of the Republic.

He argued that this number decreases every day. He noted that with the development of the economy of the breakaway regime, the opportunities for finding jobs in the occupied areas increase for the Turkish Cypriots.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Turkish Parliament Speaker: Military is not to elect the President

Referring to the controversy in some circles over the possibility of a "turbaned first lady" in the Cankaya Presidential Palace, Mr Arinc said: "There are no rules about whether the wife of the president should have a covered head or not. People might be more or less religious, but this does not create a danger for the governmental order itself."

[10] Bulent Arinc pays a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Turkish General Staff

(MHY)

[11] Akfen Holdings five-star hotel in Kyrenia will be opened on 15 December

(I/Ts.)

/SK

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