Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-04-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ercakica on the 8 July procedure, the measures announced by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Direct Trade Regulation

[02] Fatma Ekenoglu: If the isolations are lifted, the TRNC can stand by its own economic power

[03] Young Turkish diplomats are trained in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[04] Student exchange programs between illegal DAU and the University of Melbourne

[05] British Lords continue their contacts in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[06] Measures have been taken against a Turkish Cypriot associate professor

[07] The CTP self-styled government will reportedly reject to cooperate for the refinery project in occupied Mia Milia area

[08] Turkish Foreign Minister Gul met with his German counterpart

[09] Political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Turkey and China

[10] Turkey seeks EU funding for establishing refugee centres

[11] Turkish military is preparing Azerbaijan for NATO membership

[12] AKP presidential candidate to be announced on April 18

[13] Recent data on Turkish citizenship

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ercakica on the 8 July procedure, the measures announced by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Direct Trade Regulation Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (04.04.07) reports that the Turkish Cypriot side has conveyed to the United Nations through the representative of the breakaway regime in New York a document regarding its positions about the 8 July process. A copy of the same document has been also given to the UN Secretary Generals special representative in Cyprus, Michael Möller. Mr Hasan Ercakica, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat, said yesterday that the Turkish side has contributed to the progress of the 8 July procedure by openly putting forth what it understands from this process.

Mr Ercakica noted that the document which explains how the Turkish side sees the 8 July process is not a non-paper and it has been directly conveyed to the General Secretariat of the UN. He pointed out that this document has the character of an evaluation and no proposals are made in it. In case there are any proposals, noted Ercakica, they will be put directly onto the table.

Referring to the Direct Trade Regulation, Mr Ercakica said that the German term presidency is asking the sides what they could accept and what they could not accept. Reminding that Rasit Pertev, Mr Talats advisor, had visited Brussels and Berlin last week, Ercakica noted that in spite of this they do not know what the EU term presidency thinks because it is working very seriously, discreetly and it is not leaking any information on the issue.

Even if we knew anything, it would not be right to discuss this information with the press at this stage. This could impede the works, he said.

Referring to the package of measures prepared by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for supporting the Turkish Cypriots, Mr Ercakica alleged that the effort of preparing an economic package totally smells enmity. The aim, he claimed, is to sabotage the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot side or taking it under control. He further alleged that this package has been prepared in order to prevent the Turkish Cypriots from establishing relations with the EU.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Fatma Ekenoglu: If the isolations are lifted, the TRNC can stand by its own economic power

Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener arrived in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Tuesday to hold talks and sign an economic program agreement.

Sener was first received by TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat today in Lefkosia.

Sener will attend the signing ceremony of economic program agreement between Turkey and TRNC tomorrow and have meetings with TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and TRNC Foreign Minister Turgay Avci.

"No economy can succeed under isolations" said Turkish State Minister and Deputy Premier Abdullatif Sener, on Tuesday.

The Speaker of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Fatma Ekenoglu received Abdullatif Sener in her office today.

Abdullatif Sener said he is in the TRNC in the framework of an economic and fiscal program, rooted from a protocol signed by prime ministers of the two countries last year. "We made some progress but we have not succeeded yet," said the minister regarding opening of the TRNC economy to world markets.

Sener pointed out that no economy can succeed under isolations, and stated that, one of the most important factors of increasing national income and good performance in the TRNC economy is economic assistance made by the Turkish Republic.

On the other hand Fatma Ekenoglu said the developments following the referendum held on 24 April 2004 are pleasing, adding that implementation of Direct Trade Regulations is very important for the citizens of TRNC. She pointed out that if the isolations are lifted the TRNC can stand by its own economic power.

[03] Young Turkish diplomats are trained in the occupied areas of Cyprus

Yesterday they met with the self-styled Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and the speaker of the assembly, Fatma Ekenoglu.

During the meeting Mrs Ekenoglu stated that after the 24 April referendum the world saw who wants a solution in Cyprus. She expressed the belief that if the Direct Trade Regulation is accepted, the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots will be lifted and they will be strengthened economically. She noted that the direct flights should begin as soon as possible so that tourism is developed.

Mr Soyer said that they take strength from the fact that they see that Turkey is by their side at the struggle for reaching a solution within the parameters of the UN.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Student exchange programs between illegal DAU and the University of Melbourne

Mr Suleyman said that they are visiting the island in order to implement a project of exchange of students between the University of Melbourne and the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU).

He noted that exchange programs will take place in June this year when students from Australia will visit the DAU and in January 2008 when students from the DAU will visit the University of Melbourne.

(I/Ts.)

[05] British Lords continue their contacts in the occupied areas of Cyprus

Furthermore, Lord Maginnis said that a serious planning is needed so that the Turkish Cypriots may influence the EU and take positive results. The Lords reiterated also their support to the launching of direct flights to the illegal Tymbou airport.

KIBRIS publishes the activities of the Lords under the title The Lords: We support the direct flights. Above the title it says: During the visits they conducted, the Lords participating in the delegation of Britains House of the Lords which is holding contacts in North Cyprus, expressed support to the TRNC.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper (04.04.07) reports that the Lords met yesterday with Mrs Ekenoglu and the self-styled prime minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Measures have been taken against a Turkish Cypriot associate professor

Responding to information published in the Greek Cypriot press regarding Dr. Besiktepeli, Dr. Hassan noted, inter alia, the following:

The common sensitivities which anyway exist on the issue of the national cause and direction as well as the YDUs own administrative understanding are sufficient for the necessary warnings to be made and measures to be taken. Our university is taking the necessary measures which will ensure that associate professor Dr. Zeki Besiktepeli gives weight directly and only to his academic work and not to stay behind in these works.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The CTP self-styled government will reportedly reject to cooperate for the refinery project in occupied Mia Milia area

The paper wonders which excuse will the CTP government find to tell the EU for rejecting this money. The paper notes that the Greek Cypriots, for their own reasons, accepted the Turkish Cypriots contributing only the 10 % of the project and for them financing the 90 %. However, the CTP government has once more run contrary to Bulutoglulari and the inhabitants of Nicosia, notes CUMHURIYET.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Turkish Foreign Minister Gul met with his German counterpart

EU ambassadors recently agreed that Turkey could begin negotiations on one of the 35 policy chapters that each aspiring country must complete to join the EU. With the opening of chapter 20 on enterprise and industrial policies, the EU has only opened two chapters with Ankara since accession talks started on Oct. 3, 2005.

"In this context, we will discuss with [German] Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issues regarding their term presidency, and issues relating to political relations and cooperation between the two countries," Gul said, while downplaying his snubbing of an informal Gymnich-type meeting of the EU that was hosted in Bremen over the weekend by Germany in its role as EU term president.

Gul's decision not to participate in the Bremen meeting has been interpreted as an obvious indication of Ankara's uneasiness over the fact that Turkish leaders were not invited to celebrations held in Berlin to mark the 50th anniversary of the EU. Nevertheless Gul said yesterday that his schedule hadn't allowed him to attend the Bremen meeting.

Last week, Germany's Ambassador to Turkey Eckart Cuntz also said that he hoped three more chapters would be opened before the German presidency ends, and he indicated that the recent problems in Turkish-German relations were due to misunderstandings and misinformation.

Furthermore, TURKISH DAILY NEWS newspaper (04.04.07) reports that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday relayed Turkey's concern to European Union term president Germany about not receiving an invitation to the bloc's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Gul met with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on the first day of his visit for talks focusing on bilateral, regional and international issues, as well as Turkey's European Union process and the Cyprus issue. His visit comes after declining an invitation to attend an EU meeting last Saturday, which was mostly linked in the Turkish press to disappointment over the bloc's failure to invite Turkey to its 50th anniversary summit.

Speaking to reporters before his departure to Germany, Gül said his working schedule did not allow him to go to Bremen. Foreign Minister Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan represented Turkey at the informal gathering.

On Turkey's EU process, Gul hailed the opening of accession negotiations with the EU on second chapter as an important development. He voiced Ankara's expectation that Germany would open three more chapters by the end of its term presidency.

We appreciate the German efforts [during Turkey's EU membership process], Gul said.

Turkey's EU membership bid suffered a serious blow in December when the EU froze membership talks in eight of the 35 policy areas that candidates are required to complete in response to Ankara's refusal to open up its ports to Greek Cyprus.

In Germany, Gul sought German assurance for the adoption of the EU-promised direct trade regulations aimed at easing the sanctions imposed on Turkish Cypriots. Under the German term presidency in January, the EU agreed to go ahead with the direct trade package.

Today Gul will travel to Cologne to meet with representatives of the sizeable Turkish immigrant community in Germany and launch the e-consulate project. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Germany April 16-17.

[09] Political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Turkey and China

According to a written statement from MFA, the talks will be headed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan and Ambassador Yang.

During the talks, bilateral relations will be reviewed and an exchange of views will take place on regional and international issues, the statement said.

Ambassador Yang, who is also responsible for efforts combating international terrorism within the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be received by Turkish Minister of Interior Abdulkadir Aksu on the same day as well.

A political consultation meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC was previously held in Chinese capital of Beijing last October.

[10] Turkey seeks EU funding for establishing refugee centers

"The Interior Ministry has appealed to the EU for the centers and it has been awaiting a response, but this could take very long time as we sought funding from the Union," Metin Corabatir said.

Turkey adopted in March 2005 a national action plan for immigration and asylum in a bid to conform to the EU standards and the seven centers which would be established in Ankara, Izmir, Gaziantep, Erzurum and Van were part of this action plan, Corabatir added.

[11] Turkish military is preparing Azerbaijan for NATO membership

Having been in territorial conflict with its neighbor Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh since 1993, Azerbaijan's military is preparing for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership by 2015 with the help of its traditional ally and NATO member Turkey. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Azerbaijan Armed Forces (ASK) have intensified their co-operation in the last months with high-level visits and another delegation from the Office of the Chief of General Staff will pay a visit to Baku in April.

The Turkish delegation will meet with their counterparts in late April, the Turkish Daily News has learned. Azerbaijan is asking the Turkish military to give it more assistance on meeting NATO's standards for military training, know-how and usage of technology in military operations.

After the visit, the two militaries are expected to establish a joint commission to co-ordinate the ASK's preparations for NATO membership.

With strong cultural ties to Azerbaijan, Turkey will continue to hasten the reform process. Turkey is also planning to help Azerbaijan establish an army company that meets NATO standards, Gen. Ergin Saygun, deputy chief of the Turkish General Staff, announced during his visit to Baku in February.

Baku decided to increase the number of Azerbaijan's troops serving with NATO in Afghanistan in March. In 2005, Azerbaijan had 22 troops in Afghanistan, according to NATO figures.

Azerbaijan's participation in NATO's Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), a set of requirements that must be met by alliance candidate-members, is scheduled to end in 2007. Azerbaijan aims to continue the IPAP program for the next two-years. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev views NATO integration as a top foreign policy priority for Azerbaijan, and a new strategic doctrine is expected to be adopted by the Azerbaijan Parliament by mid-2007.

[12] AKP presidential candidate to be announced on April 18

(M/L)

[13] Recent data on Turkish citizenship

During the period 2004-2006, 3,625 people acquired Turkish citizenship through marriage to a Turkish citizen, in accordance with Article 5 of the Turkish Citizenship Law, as revealed by statistics from the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs. The number of those who adopted Turkish citizenship through marriage was 528 in 2004. This number rose to 1,274 in 2005 and to 1,823 in 2006.

Syrian citizens, with 311, are the most numerous amongst those who adopted Turkish citizenship through marrying a Turkish spouse. The home countries and numbers of those who adopted Turkish citizenship by means of marriage between 2004 and 2006 are as follows:

Syria 311, Russia 263, Bulgaria 189, Azerbaijan 187, Iran 182, Romania 170, Macedonia (FYROM) 137, Iraq 113, Moldova 86, Georgia 66, Serbia and Montenegro 63, Germany 54, Turkmenistan 49, Bosnia-Herzegovina 28, and other nationalities 1,727. Over the same period a further 16,586 people also adopted Turkish citizenship by other legal means.

Meanwhile 106,505 people were given permission to abandon their Turkish citizenship and adopt foreign citizenship between 2004 and 2006 in accordance with Article 30 of the Turkish Citizenship Law. However, the numbers of those doing so fell with each year: 43,046 in 2004, 27,206 in 2005 and 36,253 in 2006.

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