Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-02-28

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Hasan Ercakica says that the 8-July Agreement will be evaluated with Turkey

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat continues his contacts in Brussels

[03] The self-styled government came to an agreement for GSM licence with the Turkcel north Cyprus

[04] Three persons were put in custody for two days each, for the case of Ahmet Mesut Kafkas

[05] The occupation regime refused to give a T license to the enslaved Zaharias Andreas who transports the students of the Greek Cypriot elementary school and high school of Rizokarpaso

[06] The mayor of occupied Lefkosia Cemal Bulutoglulari met yesterday with Brian Haley, the mayor of the Haringey municipality of London

[07] More information from AFRIKA on the bathroom massacre incident

[08] Erdogan, Gul and AKP deputies reply to Massoud Barzani

[09] Turkish court sentences DTP mayor to jail

[10] Turkey receives 500 million Euros as EU fund during 2006

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[11] Head of the Human Rights Association: The European Court of Human Rights has always protected Turkey in its decisions

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Hasan Ercakica says that the 8-July Agreement will be evaluated with Turkey

Speaking at his weekly briefing to the press, the ´Presidential Spokesman´ Hasan Ercakica said that the Turkish Cypriot Side will not allow the Cyprus issue to be dragged into an endless process and added that a joint evaluation of the 8-July process would be made with Turkey at the beginning of March.

The ´spokesman´ complained that all details concerning work being carried out within the 8-July process were leaked to the Greek Cypriot press, a move which he said, reflected the Greek Cypriot Sides insincere approach towards the process.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot Side had complied with the principle of secrecy agreed upon in the process, he said the different approaches adopted by the two sides was enough to show which side was actually responsible for the failure to achieve any progress.

Responding to a question, the ´spokesman´ said there is no reason for him to be optimistic about achieving the targeted goal of bringing the two leaders together by March, as envisaged in the agreement.

He however added that a joint evaluation of the 8-July process will be made soon after ´President´ Talats return to the ´Republic´ to see whether this objective can be achieved.

Commenting on the news published in a Greek Cypriot paper about the 8-July process, he said that the paper reflected the realities to a large scale and added that the main difference between the two sides is that the Turkish Cypriot Side supports the resumption of the comprehensive negotiations at the end of a short preparation period while the Greek Cypriot Side, on the other hand supports an indefinite process.

But he stressed that the Turkish Cypriot Side does not intend to allow the 8-July process to be dragged into an endless process.

Responding to a question about Ahmet Mesut Kafkas, the Turkish Cypriot Businessman who has been missing since Thursday, the ´spokesman´ said that the case has once again underlined the need for the setting up of bi-communal technical committees.

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat continues his contacts in Brussels

(CS)

[03] The self-styled government came to an agreement for GSM licence with the Turkcel north Cyprus

(CS)

[04] Three persons were put in custody for two days each, for the case of Ahmet Mesut Kafkas

(CS)

[05] The occupation regime refused to give a T license to the enslaved Zaharias Andreas who transports the students of the Greek Cypriot elementary school and high school of Rizokarpaso

(CS)

[06] The mayor of occupied Lefkosia Cemal Bulutoglulari met yesterday with Brian Haley, the mayor of the Haringey municipality of London

(CS)

[07] More information from AFRIKA on the bathroom massacre incident.

(CS)

[08] Erdogan, Gul and AKP deputies reply to Massoud Barzani

Turkeys Prime Minister has lashed out at comments by Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani saying that the Iraqi city of Kirkuk was Kurdish.

Addressing a meeting of the executive board of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Tuesday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said no one group could lay claim to the oil rich Kirkuk region or the city itself.

Kirkuk is a miniature Iraq, it is never title-deeded to an ethnic group, Erdogan said.

The position of Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), was not good for the future of Iraq and would cast shadow over peace, love and fraternity, Erdogan said.

Furthermore, ANKARA ANATOLIA news agency (27.02.07) reports the following from Ankara:

"Neighboring countries, UN, and all countries related to Iraq comprehended the importance of the neighboring countries," Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday while responding to a question whether there are plans to hold summit of countries neighboring Iraq in Turkey.

Gul replied to the questions of reporters aboard the plane while returning to Turkey after completing his tour to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Gul said everybody, particularly the neighboring countries, should assist Iraq, and noted that Iraq's unity and integrity should be preserved. He said neighboring countries should serve to efforts to solve internal problems in Iraq, ensure security and healing of the wounds.

Asked if Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would travel to Iraq, Gul said there was not a planned visit.

"This does not mean that Erdogan, me or any other official would not go to Baghdad," Gul said.

"We would like to go to Iraq and show that we are in solidarity with Iraqi government and support Iraqi people. However, there is no planned visit at the time being," Gul emphasized.

When reporters recalled the statements of regional Kurdish administration (in the north of Iraq) leader Massoud Barzani who said, "get used to Kurdistan idea", Gul said, "while the region and especially Iraq has been passing through a critical period and while Turkey is following a constructive and embracing policy; making such statements are examples of irresponsibility."

Gul said that Iraqi decision makers should take lessons from the experiences of the past 10-15 years if they wanted to do any good to their people.

"Otherwise, they will end up with causing much more trouble for them," Gul told reporters.

Gul also noted that Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit would visit Turkey soon to hold talks over an agreement between Egypt and the Greek Cypriot administration to explore and exploit oil and natural gas on the seabed around Cyprus. Gul did not mention a specific timetable for Gheit's visit.

Additionally, ANKARA ANATOLIA news agency (27.02.07) reports that Ministers and MP's from Justice and Development Party (AKP) assessed the remarks of Massoud Barzani, leader of the regional Kurdish administration in northern Iraq, who recently said "get used to Kurdistan".

Replying to a question on "whether Turkey should get used to such a thing", prior to AKP's group meeting, the party's deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat said, "Turkey's policy is clear. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have expressed their attitude towards this issue. There is nothing more to add on that".

Moreover, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen stressed that Turkey always contacted the central Iraqi government while establishing relations with Iraq and in the international platform.

"Messages that could cause problems in domestic politics should not be revealed. We have Turkomans, Kurdish and Arab brothers in Iraq. We want to live in peace and tranquility with all of them," Tuzmen underscored.

On the other hand, commenting on the same issue, AKP's deputy group chairman Salih Kapusuz noted, "As we have seen thus far, we can sometimes be faced with such presumptuous statements which we totally disapprove".

[09] Turkish court sentences DTP mayor to jail

A court sentenced mayor of the Kayapinar township of the eastern Turkish province of Diyarbakir, to six month jail term on Tuesday on charges of supporting a terrorist organization.

However, the court then converted the sentence imposed on Zulkuf Karatekin to a fine of YTL 3,000 YTL.

Karatekin was found guilty of breaching article 116 of the political parties law after he provided a municipality vehicle to women who planted trees on the day that was also the birthday of imprisoned leader of the terrorist group the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan.

In his defence, Karatekin said that the municipality tried to support any social activities as much as it could.

[10] Turkey receives 500 million Euros as EU fund during 2006

First Secretary (Head of Section D - Financial Co-operation, Co-ordination of Investment) of the Turkish Delegation to the European Commission (EC) Dr. Holger Schroeder pointed out that financial funds provided to Turkey rose considerably in recent years and said the funds provided to Turkey rose from 250 million in 2004 to 500 million in 2006.

Schroeder gave a presentation titled "EU Funds: How the System Works," at the EU Info center.

Stating that the goal of the projects founded by the EU was preparation for the EU membership, Schroeder said, "the funds provided to Turkey rose from 250 million Euro in 2004 to 500 million Euro in 2006. This amount will continue to rise and reach 654 million Euros in 2010."

Of the funds provided to Turkey by the EU, 412 million euro was spared to "administrative capacity building", 395 million euro to social and economic adjustment, 339 million euro to social policy, 291 million euro to infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, transportation and environment, 208 million euro to domestic market, customs union and agriculture, 128 million euro to justice, freedom and security projects, said Shroeder.

Expressing that the projects to be funded were chosen jointly by the EU and the Turkish government, Schroeder said EU determined the areas to provide funds with for the period between 2007-2010, as institutional development, regional development, rural development, human resources development and cross-border cooperation with a budget of 2,256,000 euro.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[11] Head of the Human Rights Association: The European Court of Human Rights has always protected Turkey in its decisions

Turkey has paid more than 45 million euros in compensation since the European Court of Human Rights ruled against it in a number of cases, most of which involve a violation of property rights, according to Justice Ministry data.

In a high-profile case, Turkey was ordered to pay more than 1 million euros to Greek Cypriot applicant Titina Loizidou for blocking her access to her property in northern Cyprus. There are 2,250 similar cases pending.

In 2004, out of a total of 44,128 applications filed at the European court, 3,930 were against Turkey. While Turkey was ranked third following Russia and Poland with respect to applications filed against them in 2004, it moved to the second place after Italy as of the end of 2006. Turkey became a party to the European Convention on Human Rights in 1954 and allowed its citizens to seek justice at the European court in 1987. Although the first personal application against Turkey was filed as late as in 1993, Turkey has become the highest compensation paying country over the 14 years since then.

Following the first application from Turkish citizens in 1993, the European court delivered some 1,310 judgments; three in 1995, five in 1996, eight in 1997, 18 in 1998, 19 in 1999, 39 in 2000, 218 in 2001, 99 in 2002, 123 in 2003, 171 in 2004, 290 in 2005 and 317 in 2006.

According to the Justice Ministry data, only 26 judgments of the court were in favor of Turkey. Some 513 cases ended in friendly settlements between applicants and Turkey. The court has ruled that 198 applications were inadmissible during this period. The court has dropped another 16 applications. Turkey has paid 4.6 million French francs in friendly settlement cases. Another 4.7 million francs were paid to cover court costs.

Complaints against Turkey were mostly on political matters in the past, with most of the complaints relating to right to life, freedom of expression, prohibition of torture, right to liberty and security. In recent years, the nature of the complaints has changed dramatically, as recent applications pertain mostly to property rights. Some 70 percent of the applications filed after 2000 related to delays in the payment after nationalization of private property, violation of property rights and delays in court proceedings. Particularly after Loizidou secured more than ¬ 1 million as compensation from Turkey, the applications from the Greek Cypriot citizens soared to 2,250.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the compensation paid in connection with 567 European Court of Human Rights judgments as of September 2005 amounted to ¬ 33 million. The Foreign Ministry data also shows that Turkey would pay an additional YTL 14 million as compensation in 2006.

The European court learned from Turkey

Yusuf Alatas, who heads the Human Rights Association, said Turkey was a unique case for the European court: "Turkey has among the three highest number of applications filed against them at the European Court of Human Rights. We are yet to be the first. Nevertheless, the applications from Turkey differ in content from applications from other countries. Though in high numbers, the applications from other countries relate mostly to property rights or length of proceedings. On the other hand, the applications against Turkey pertain mostly to cases of murder by unknown assailants, evacuation of villages, torture and suicide. Virtually no application is made from Europe in connection with such cases. If Turkey were not a member, the European court would never have to deal with such applications. In this respect, the court learned a lot from Turkey," he said.

"For the European Court of Human Rights, Turkey is a unique category. Some groups in Turkey claim that the European Court of Human Rights issue political judgments in connection with Turkey. But for me, the court has always protected Turkey in its decisions, only delivering judgments against it when it is impossible to keep it by the book. And when it ruled against Turkey, it did not follow European standards. If it did, the compensation paid by Turkey might amount to billions of euros. We cannot say that Turkey's performance with respect to human rights is improving."

Here is the breakdown of the judgments issued by the European Court of Human Rights on Turkey:

Right to life -- deprivation of life.............................50

Lack of effective investigation................................89

Prohibition of torture.................................9

Inhuman or degrading treatment............................91

Lack of effective investigation..................................8

Prohibition of slavery / forced labor..........................0

Right to liberty and security..................................181

Right to a fair trial..........................................354

Length of proceedings..........................................127

No punishment without law......................................4

Right to respect for private and family life...............28

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion...........1

Freedom of expression.........................................123

Freedom of assembly and association...................18

Right to marry.................................................0

Right to an effective remedy.................................143

Prohibition of discrimination......................................2

Protection of property...........................................353

Right to education....................................................2

Right to free elections..............................................1

Right not to be tried or punished twice....................0

Other articles of the Convention............................26

Number of judgments........................................1310

EG/

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