Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-04-05

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] Talat: The lifting of the isolation is the only way I see for the solution

[02] Abdullatif Sener says that the economy of the breakaway regime stands on its feet because of Turkey

[03] Soyer notes that they are facing the duty of using the economic development for breaking the isolations and establishing economic relations with the world

[04] Warning to Germany by Pertev on the Direct Trade Regulation

[05] Kuwait promises to open a trade office of the TRNC and to make investments in the occupied areas

[06] Serdar Denktas says that the Gambari process should be abandoned

[07] A Kyrgyz football team is visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus

[08] A 19-year old Syrian has been arrested by the breakaway regime

[09] The so-called TRNC wrestling team is to leave for Bulgaria

[10] The Turkish Foreign Ministry offers training for foreign diplomats

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[11] Turkey entitled to 150 Aegean islets, experts say

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat: The lifting of the isolation is the only way I see for the solution

Referring to the opening of a trade office of the breakaway regime in Kuwait, he said that this could significantly support the economy of the country. Reminding that Kuwait is important from the point of view of its relations with Asia and the Middle East, Mr Talat described this development as very positive step. He noted that the Greek Cypriot side will try to prevent this development, but expressed the belief that the winner of this race will be the side which always makes new steps, not the side which tries to put obstacles.

Referring to the issue of the recognition of the TRNC, breakaway regime in the occupied areas of Cyprus, Mr Talat said that there is an international environment where recognition is not a matter of primary importance and added that establishing good relations with the institutions and organizations of other countries is important from the point of view of the strategy for the lifting of the isolations.

Commenting on the issue of the measures announced by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for the Turkish Cypriots, Mr Talat said that consultations should have been conducted first with the Turkish Cypriots. He claimed that such packages should have been discussed first at the technical committees during the Gambari process. He reiterated the allegation that the measures have been prepared in order to do away with the Direct Trade Regulation of the EU.

Replying to a question he said that the place where a solution to the Cyprus problem should be reached is the UN and not the EU, because the EU does not know the Cyprus problem.

When asked to comment on information to the effect that a thousand Greek soldiers had been brought into the island and to say whether or not the Turkish Cypriot side will ask from Turkey to send more army to Cyprus, Mr Talat said that it is appropriate to have as much army as needed, instead of applying a a thousand soldiers in return of a thousand soldiers policy. He noted that they estimate that there are 4-5 thousand Greek soldiers on the island.

Referring to the crisis between Ferdi Sabit Soyer, the self-styled Prime minister and General Hayri Kivrikoglu, commander of the Turkish occupation army, Mr Talat said that some political parties play the national anthem at their congresses and some others do not and added that this is a matter of preference.

He noted that according to the law of the breakaway regime, the flags of the TRNC and Turkey are used in the occupied areas. He added: The Turkish flag there, is not the flag belonging to the Republic of Turkey. It is also the flag of the Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots have accepted the Turkish flag until the TRNC flag is accepted.

Last night Mr Talat had a closed-door meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Abdullatif Sener says that the economy of the breakaway regime stands on its feet because of Turkey

In an exclusive interview with KIBRIS, Mr Sener evaluated the Economic Program and Text of Mutual Understanding signed yesterday between Turkey and the breakaway regime. He noted that the total aid of Turkey will be 600 trillion Turkish liras. 560 trillions will be spent to state expenses and 40 trillions to incentives.

Mr Sener noted that with the financing of Turkey issues such as the salaries of the public servants, roads, schools, the building of hospitals and investments for universities and airports have been guaranteed. Some works have been made with donations by Turkey, he added.

Reiterating the Turkish allegation that embargo is being applied against the Turkish Cypriots, Mr Sener said:

The Cyprus economy stands on its feet completely with the support provided by Turkey. Even the operation of the private sector, of the market, is secured with Turkeys support. We have secured the establishment of six universities here and we have provided support. More than 40 thousand students are studying in the universities. The great majority of these students come from Turkey. We provide great support for tourism. Turkey has provided great financing support for tourism installations. Furthermore, because of the embargo, the majority of the tourists who come here are from Turkey. The minimum salary of the public servants in Turkey is 500 dollars. In Cyprus it is 900 dollars. That is, Turkey shares its bread with this place. The national income is 5.500 dollars, whereas in Cyprus is 11.800 dollars. When you look at the purchasing power it is 22.000 dollars. .

Claiming that their determination will defeat the embargo which the world applies on the Turkish Cypriots, Mr Sener alleged that in case poverty existed in the occupied areas of Cyprus the world would think that the Turkish Cypriots would surrender. He added:

Northern Cyprus exists now. It has constitutional institutions. A democratic tradition has been created. It has economic potential and performance. This is how they look at it. Both the Greek Cypriots and the world and Greece and the EU and Northern Cyprus (look at it in this way). The mechanism which brought this to surface is the cooperation with Turkey.

Referring to Turkeys Cyprus policy, Mr Sener said that Cyprus is a national cause for Turkey and that Ankara wants the Turkish Cypriots to live in security and prosperity. He noted:

Turkey is one of the 19 biggest economies of the world. It supports Cyprus. It defends the rights of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriots in every meeting all over the world and mainly in the EU. The lifting of the isolation on Northern Cyprus has been one of the basic topics on Turkeys agenda in all the meetings.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Soyer notes that they are facing the duty of using the economic development for breaking the isolations and establishing economic relations with the world

He noted that the visits from Turkey give strength to the Turkish Cypriots. He claimed that the Direct trade Regulation of the EU should be accepted during the German term presidency, because otherwise it would be difficult to be adopted.

The paper further notes, that Mr Sener met also with Ferdi Sabit Soyer, self-styled Prime Minister. During the meeting he stated that in spite of all the limitations, the economic performance of the TRNC is good and the point to which the country came gives hope.

In his statements, Mr Soyer said that the economic protocol signed yesterday between Turkey and the breakaway regime will add a new energy to the economic and social development of the Turkish Cypriots. He noted that they are facing the duty of using the development in the economy for breaking the isolations and establishing economic relations with the world.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Warning to Germany by Pertev on the Direct Trade Regulation

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (05.04.07) reports that the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Gul met yesterday with his German counterpart Steinmeier and asked him the adoption of the Direct Trade Regulation of the EU in a functional manner. He reiterated the Turkish position that the EU should keep its promises on the issue of the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Kuwait promises to open a trade office of the TRNC and to make investments in the occupied areas

On the same issue, Turkish daily HURRIYET newspaper (05.04.07) reports under the title TRNC surprise on yesterdays visit of the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammet Al-Ahmet Al-Sabah to Ankara and writes that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that a trade office of the TRNC will open in Kuwait, announcing in this way Kuwaiti help to the TRNC. According to the paper, late in the evening the Turkish Prime Minister gave the good news to Mehmet Ali Talat who was a guest in the Prime Ministerial Residence in Turkey.

As the paper writes, during the joint press conference held after the meeting of the two Prime Ministers, Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave importance to the acceptance of Kuwait to open a trade office of the TRNC following the acceptance of Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the issue. On his part, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister said that they are preparing cooperation with Turkey on the TRNC issue and added: As all the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council we approach the cooperation with the TRNC with pleasure. With Gods permission Kuwaits investments will be in a satisfied level.

The paper further writes that the Kuwaiti Prime Minister made a significant gesture towards Turkey on the field of trade. Turkey can transfer its industrial and trade products to the Gulf countries through Kuwait. We want the Turkish products to be transferred to the entire region, from Kuwait to the Oman Sultanate. With Allahs will, we will see all the Turkish products in our markets, Sheikh Nasser said.

According to the paper, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister also gave his word for cooperation with Turkey on the military field, while he asked for Turkeys cooperation on the veterinary medical science field too. On his part, Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised for an industrial defence and veterinary medical science cooperation with Kuwait.

Finally, HURRIYET writes that major Kuwaiti investors were accompanying Sheikh Nasser during his visit to Turkey.

Under the title Kuwait will open a trade office for the TRNC, Turkish daily MILLIYET newspaper (05.04.07) reports on the issue and writes that the Kuwaiti Prime Minister called his Turkish counterpart as brother. The paper writes that Sheikh Nasser, who stated that they approach positively cooperation with the TRNC as member counties of the Gulf Cooperation Council, also added: Within this environment a trade office of the TRNC will open. On his part, the Turkish Prime Minister stated that he will be pleased with the assistance to the TRNC by the Kuwaiti businessmen.

Finally, SABAH newspaper (05.04.07) reports on the issue under the title Green light for a trade office of the TRNC from Kuwait and writes that today the Kuwaiti Prime Minister will hold contacts with Turkish businessmen in Istanbul.

(I/Ts. M/L)

[06] Serdar Denktas says that the Gambari process should be abandoned

The Gambari procedure is a process of taking away from us part by part the rights we obtained, he alleged and described the 8 July process as the beginning of the process towards osmosis.

We must look for ways of being integrated with the world from the point of the Turkish Cypriots administrating themselves, he noted.

(I/Ts.)

[07] A Kyrgyz football team is visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus

(I/Ts.)

[08] A 19-year old Syrian has been arrested by the breakaway regime

(I/Ts.)

[09] The so-called TRNC wrestling team is to leave for Bulgaria

The five wrestlers who will represent our country at the two-day tournament are: Sukru Cintosun, Ugurcan Buk, Turgan Cil, Salih Kursun and Kubilay Cil.

The team headed by the Chairman of the Wrestling Federation Huseyin Kavaz also includes official Dalman Yucel, trainer Mertdogan Soyalan and referee Oruc Erturk.

The chairman of the Federation Huseyin Kavaz made a statement and said the following: An important event from the point of promoting our country. The Federations increasing of foreign contacts with the contribution of the Sports Department has motivated our youth as well as increased the number of sportsmen and helped adopting new things from the technical point of view.

The nine-member delegation will return to the island on Monday 9 April, 2007 in the evening.

[10] The Turkish Foreign Ministry offers training for foreign diplomats

Dozens of young diplomats from different continents will gather in Ankara next week in order to be trained within the framework of a program arranged by the Foreign Ministry.

Forty-two diplomats from different countries in the Balkans, Caucasia, Middle East, East Asia, Northern Asia, Africa and Northern America, will participate in "the 12th International Young Diplomats Education Program," which will take place in Ankara between April 9 and May 18, a statement from the Foreign Ministry announced in a written statement, earlier this week. A ceremony will be held on Monday, with the participation of Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, to begin the program.

During the program, prominent academics from universities based in Turkey, along with senior diplomats at the Foreign Ministry, will deliver conferences concerning diplomacy and international relations. All the conferences will be delivered in English. The Foreign Ministry will also arrange sightseeing tours, both in and out of Ankara, to help these young diplomats have a better idea about the economic, historical and cultural richness of Turkey. The first of such international training programs by the Foreign Ministry was held in 1992, and so far, 463 foreign diplomats were trained at these programs.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[11] Turkey entitled to 150 Aegean islets, experts say

Two professors are trying to prove that Turkey has a historical claim to 150 islets currently claimed by Greece.

Within the context of its EU accession bid, Turkey is seeking resolutions on the Cyprus issue and Aegean maritime disputes. Diplomatic sources indicate the Turkish and Greek sides are involved in intense talks, and two academics showed that a decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) legally supports Turkey's position concerning its disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea.

Unlike its previously held position, Greece will be reportedly reluctant to resort to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the settlement of long-standing disputes with Turkey as it now contends that the EU could play a constructive role between the parties.

That being said, international lawyers Sertaç Hami Baseren and Ali Kurumahmut, political science professors at Ankara University, have recently published research on the disputed islands in the Aegean Sea. Baseren and Kurumahmut proved that the PCA's reference in its decision regarding a dispute over the islands, islets and reefs in the Red Sea to Article 16 of the Treaty of Lausanne provides a legal advantage for Turkey. In their book, based on international conventions and Ottoman archives, the two asserted that considering the PCA's decision in question, Greece has no jurisdiction over the 150 islands whose sovereignty still remains non-transferred. Baseren and Kurumahmut recall that a consensus between the parties is needed to determine the future of those islands.

Once Greece's lack of jurisdiction is legally grounded, the entire Aegean map will require significant alterations, which they illustrated in their book. In such a case, Turkey will gain striking leverage in the long-standing bilateral disputes, including the issue of territorial waters. Given Greece's unilateral action to extend its territorial waters from six to 12 miles, the issue of non-transferred islands is an important one.

The book examines the comment outlined in the decision of the PCA that settled a maritime dispute between Yemen and Eritrea by making a special reference to Article 16 of the Treaty of Lausanne. The authors subsequently conclude that the said decision treats the disputed islands as territories over which no certain jurisdiction was available. Departing from this conclusion, the authors further assert that international law clearly states Greece has no jurisdiction over the Aegean islands, islets and reefs.

Paragraph 165 of the court's decision rules that "in 1923 Turkey renounced title to those islands over which it had sovereignty until then" on the condition that the future of the islands in question would be determined by the parties. Recalling that this provision does not apply to the Aegean islands, the authors allege that Greece is unable to claim sovereign title over the island territories. In their view, the islands are territories whose sovereignty was not denounced by the Ottoman Empire and for this reason they were transferred to Turkey as the heir of the empire.

A partial list of islands over which the authors believe Greece can't claim sovereignty includes Gaidaros, Mandiraki, Farmakonisi, Pserimos, Adelfia, Plakhida, Sofrana, Astakidhapula, Kandhelioussa, Levita, Zenari-Kinaros, Liadi, Furni and Fimena. Baeren and Kurumahmut underline that except for the islands whose transfer was made in accordance with international or bilateral treaties, the undesignated ones in the Aegean Sea do not fall into any state's jurisdiction as outlined in the PCA's Eritrea vs. Yemen arbitration ruling.

The new argument based on recent scholarly inquiry suggests that inclination to resolve the Aegean maritime disputes within the EU context is not healthy, as the said disputes concern international legal rules and could be settled through the rights and obligations under the respective rules and provisions of public international law.

Therefore, this approach implies that Turkey should resort to its entitlements under international law rather than political means to resolve the disputes in the Aegean Sea.

Dr. Erdem Denk, also a political science professor at Ankara University, said Greece should be convinced that there are disputes other than the rift over the continental shelf. Noting that the Aegean disputes could be resolved through a mutually agreed approach that allows give and take, Denk recalls that the settlement of the disputes should start with determining naval authority areas, which will depend on to whom the islands, islets and reefs belong.

Denk said the dispute is a fairly recent one, adding that only by determining the legal status of the disputed islets will there be further action toward a comprehensive resolution of the rift between Turkey and Greece. He noted that the parties have been holding secret negotiations and meetings to resolve the disputes, drawing attention to the Greek media's coverage on the deadlock in the Aegean maritime disputes.

Following the EU's Helsinki summit, Greece and the Aegean disputes have acquired a special place and attention in Turkish foreign policy, which has become more focused on fulfilling its long-standing goal of Westernization. The EU has for some time served as the indirect mediator and facilitator in the disputes between the parties. Even though it seems uncertain what this tripartite relationship will bring in the near future, Turkey should be more demanding in regards to Greece. Recalling that the Turkish population in the Aegean region alone is twice as large as Greece's population, Professor Bayram Ozturk underlines that Greeks should understand the Aegean Sea is not exclusively a Greek lake.

Although the Aegean Sea has been generous to both Turkey and Greece, the latter has acquired extensive benefits from this generosity. Given Turkey's dependence on the Aegean Sea through food security and the fertility of the islands' adjacent waters, it is clear Turkey should pay attention to the resolution of the disputed islands and islets issue.

In the region, there are other risks in addition to the jurisdictional issues. For instance, 100,000 tons of Russian and the Caspian oil is sent to world markets through the Marmara and Aegean seas. Any major accident near the islets and islands would likely destroy them, resulting in enormous financial losses associated with tourism, fishing and other activities. Ozturk said that obtaining 5-6 percent of the Aegean Sea, which essentially includes the disputed island territories, would earn Turkey new economic resources. Describing Turkey's foreign policy regarding Greece as excessively romantic, Ozturk draws attention to Greece's continuous expansion since its foundation.

Retired Adm. Cetinkaya Apatay notes that the Eritrea vs. Yemen decision may reveal the justification of Turkey's assertions with regard to the islands. He said the legal verdict implies that the parties to the dispute should get around the negotiation table for a comprehensive resolution.

Apatay also recalls that in a NATO meeting where an imminent dispute between Turkey and Greece was discussed, a young military officer asserted that Gauda island belonged to Turkey. Apatay believes that a mutually constructive approach toward the issue rather than resorting to the binding rules by the ICJ should be the basis for a viable resolution.

Some believe that the PCA's Yemen vs. Eritrea ruling will most likely exacerbate the deadlock in the Aegean Sea. Turkey's former Ambassador to Athens Tuncer Topur said if Turkey claims sovereign right to these islands, there will be a strong reaction from Europe. In an effort to make social life in the islands more attractive and entertaining, Greece has been investing heavily in the Aegean islands and islets. Financial incentives have been released to promote more inhabitants on these islands. Despite the enormous financial expenses involved, the Greek government has spared no expense in keeping the islands inhabited.

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