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

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Hasan Ercakica during his weekly press conference

[02] Officials from the so-called ministry of foreign affairs comment on Mrs Joan Ryans appointment to the post of Britains special representative for Cyprus

[03] Turkish Cypriot political parties fail to agree on amendments of the constitution

[04] Akin Sait says that 200 Greek Cypriot refugees applied to the so-called Property Compensation Commission

[05] Mechtild Rothe: Our duty is to work against the isolations of the Turkish Cypriots

[06] Teachers from Arizona University held contacts at the illegal East Mediterranean University

[07] The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry is participating in the 5th World Chambers Congress

[08] The police demanded the return of Ahmet Ozcag from the Republic of Cyprus

[09] Embargoed! Group is organizing a new campaign to end discrimination against Turkish Cypriots

[10] Appointments of new commanders in the Turkish army

[11] Portugal expresses support for Turkey´s EU bid

[12] Constitution Court to hear objections to popular vote for president

[13] Ankara against referendum for Kirkuk

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Hasan Ercakica during his weekly press conference

The Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercak1ca has stated that the elections in Turkey have nothing to do with the efforts aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

He said that the Presidential elections in South Cyprus will have an impact on the efforts aimed at bringing about a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Speaking during his weekly press briefing, Mr Ercak1ca warned that South Cyprus attempts to bring about pro-Greek Cypriot solutions to the problems being faced because of the continuation of the Cyprus issue are deepening the problem and raising tensions on the island.

The Presidential spokesperson Hasan Ercakica started his weekly press briefing by expressing the Presidential Palace s deep grief over the death of the US Embassy s Military Attache Thomas Mooney who was found dead in South Cyprus yesterday.

On the Cyprus issue, the spokesperson repeated that the elections in Turkey have nothing to do with the efforts aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and said that the Presidential elections in South Cyprus will have an impact on the issue.

Mr Ercak1ca warned that South Cyprus attempts to bring about pro-Greek Cypriot solutions to the problems being faced because of the continuation of the Cyprus issue are deepening the problem and raising tensions on the island.

He cited the fund-raising campaigns launched by the Head of the Greek Cypriot Orthodox Church Archbishop Chrysostomos to repair the churches in the North and to send monks to those churches and to organize a `return to the closed city of Maras (occupied Famagusta) as good examples of these attempts.

He complained that the main objective of the Greek Cypriot Side is to realize osmosis, assimilation of Turkish Cypriots into the Greek Cypriot Society, as voiced by the Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tassos Papadopoulos.

But, he stressed that the Turkish Cypriot Side which is in support of an immediate, just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem will continue its efforts to realize this objective.

As Portugal took over the EU Term Presidency on the 1st of July from Germany, the Spokesperson repeated that the Turkish Cypriot people are still waiting the implementation of the Direct Trade Regulation.

He stated that Finland and Germany had failed in their attempts to get the implementation of the Regulation because of the methods they used and said that Portugal could get a positive outcome by following the path of the European Commission instead of trying to pursue the Greek Cypriot Administration on the issue.

He said this will be the first step to be taken by the European Union to get rid of the Greek Cypriot Administrations domination in relations between the Union and the Turkish Cypriot people.

The Presidential spokesperson also welcomed the appointment of Labour Party MP Joan Ryan as Britains Special Representative for Cyprus and said her appointment to the post is a signal that Britains interests to the Cyprus problem will increase further.

He also noted that the Turkish Cypriot Side is ready to work with Mrs Ryan or with any other official and to contribute to the efforts aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Referring to a campaign launched by the Greek Cypriot Side to present Mrs Ryan as pro-Turkish, he said this is an attempt to put pressure on the British government.

[02] Officials from the so-called ministry of foreign affairs comment on Mrs Joan Ryans appointment to the post of Britains special representative for Cyprus

The officials said that the Greek Cypriots might want to force Prime Minister Gordon Brown to change his mind. However, they do not have a chance to succeed. They are making commotion in vain, they argued. The officials said also that the appointment could be accepted as a sign of the increased interest of Britain for the Cyprus problem.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Turkish Cypriot political parties fail to agree on amendments of the constitution

The leader of the CTP and so-called prime minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer said after the two-hour meeting that the proposals have been evaluated and that in the forthcoming meetings they will continue to evaluate the proposals.

The chairman of the UBP Tahsin Ertugruloglu stated that he could not say that the meeting was very positive and that there were some impasses. He argued that the impasse exists because of lack of will on the issue of the early elections and because of delaying tactics in an effort to change the agenda.

The leader of the DP Serdar Denktas said also that there were some impasses, that they could understand the problems which the CTP is facing on the issue of establishing a minority government without the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP).

Mr Denktas reminded that they could support a minority government, but he demanded the removal of Ahmet Yonluer, head of the so-called religious affairs department, and his brother, Fahri Yonluer, coordinator at the so-called ministry of foreign affairs, from their posts.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper (04.07.07) refers to the issue under the banner front-page title From Tuesday to Tuesday and adds that everybody seems to be waiting for 22 July and the elections in Turkey.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Akin Sait says that 200 Greek Cypriot refugees applied to the so-called Property Compensation Commission

He noted that 100 applications were filed in 2006 and the rest in the first six months of 2007. Mr Sait argued that a long period passed since the constitution of the breakaway regime was accepted and therefore its amendment is inevitable.

He said that some articles of the constitution should be adjusted to the conditions existing today. He noted that the political parties should agree on the amendment of article 162. Mr Talat stated that he would feel very happy when the constitution is amended.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Mechtild Rothe: Our duty is to work against the isolations of the Turkish Cypriots

Addressing the panel, Mrs Rothe referred to the period since their last visit to the island and said: At the moment we are not seeing a real progress, but we asked for this meeting, because our duty is to work against the isolations of the Turkish Cypriots.

She noted that they are a bridge between the Turkish Cypriot and the EU, but they also wish to be a bridge between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities. Mrs Rothe said that they want to learn better the situation of the illegal universities in the occupied area of Cyprus and argued that the fact that the students in the occupied areas face difficulties because of the isolations is unacceptable.

When reminded by a Turkish Cypriot student that during the last visit of the Group they had asked them to do something about the racism in the prisons of the Republic of Cyprus, Mrs Rothe said that today they will have meetings with Greek Cypriot officials and they will bring the issue onto the agenda.

Cem Ozdemir, German of Turkish origin member of the Greens Group at the EP, and Ashley Mote, British independent member of the EP, participated in the panel.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Teachers from Arizona University held contacts at the illegal East Mediterranean University

The rector of DAU Halil Guven said during the meeting that they want to cooperate with the universities in the government controlled areas of the Republic, but the latter are not ready to do this because of political reasons. He noted that they gave the right of scholarship to Greek Cypriot students, but there has been no interest. Only one Greek Cypriot will graduate this year from the Engineering Faculty, he added.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry is participating in the 5th World Chambers Congress

(I/Ts.)

[08] The police demanded the return of Ahmet Ozcag from the Republic of Cyprus

The so-called ministry of foreign affairs undertook an initiative towards the UN Peacekeeping Force for Ozcags return. In a statement issued yesterday by the ministry, it is said that Ozcag arrived in Larnaka on 23 June through Istanbul and that he is still there.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Embargoed! Group is organizing a new campaign to end discrimination against Turkish Cypriots

The London-based human rights group Embargoed! is continuing its preparations for new events to be held in July as part of its ongoing campaign to end discrimination against Turkish Cypriots.

The group will man a stand at the London Mayor Ken Livingstones annual RISE festival at Finsbury Park which will be held in the middle of July.

Embargoed! will also be hosting a public seminar called Second Class in Cyprus, Second Class in Britain to address the growing racism and discrimination British Turkish Cypriots face.

This is the seventh year that the Mayor of London has organized the RISE festival to oppose racism and celebrate the diversity of London.

The Embargoed! announced that it is hoping that its information stand in the Exhibition section will help raise awareness of the discrimination against Turkish Cypriots to a much wider audience.

Last year nearly 100,000 people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds attended the festival.

The Embargoed! group also organized a seminar under the title of Second Class in Cyprus, Second Class in Britain which will take place at the Turkish Cypriot Community Centre, on Monday, the 16th of July.

The seminar is timed to coincide with both the RISE festival and the 20 July 1974 commemorations, when 30 years on from Turkeys intervention in Cyprus, Turks continue to be vilified.

Embargoed! is an independent human rights group campaigning for the immediate and unconditional end to all embargoes against North Cyprus.

The group was launched on 4 March 2005 and aims to play an active role in raising awareness about the isolation of North Cyprus and lobbying world leaders and institutions to restore the fundamental political, economic and social rights of Turkish Cypriots.

[10] Appointments of new commanders in the Turkish army

The paper also writes that names of two officers will be put in front of the Council for promotions. These are the Brigadier Suha Tanyeri, Chairman of the General Staff Strategic Research and Study Centre who participated in the Hudson Institution meeting, and Junior Rear Admiral, Mucahit Sislioglu, who participated on behalf of the Turkish General Staff in the negotiations which took place in Switzerland, before the Annan Plan was submitted to referendum.

(CS)

[11] Portugal expresses support for Turkeys EU bid

Portugal which assumed EU Presidency will remain engaged in supporting and taking forward the process of accession talks with Turkey, stated Portuguese Embassy in Ankara on Tuesday.

Portugal took over EU presidency from Germany on July 1st.

"The priorities of the Portuguese Presidency are in accordance with the 18-month program of the troika of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia, and they have four main goals: (1) Future of the Union, (2) Lisbon Strategy, (3) Strengthening the area of Freedom, Security & Justice and (4) Europe & the World," stated the embassy.

"The Portuguese Presidency remains engaged in supporting and taking forward the process of accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia, in accordance with the European Council decisions and keeping in mind that the shared objective is full membership. Development of the European perspective for the Western Balkans will remain a central feature of the EU's agenda," noted the embassy.

The embassy stressed that the new European Treaty is a main priority of the Portuguese Presidency, and stated that the Intergovernmental Conference will be held on July 23rd and 24th.

"The Portuguese Presidency will also seek to develop a fresh approach towards the entire Mediterranean region, which has a clear strategic relevance to the EU," stated the embassy.

[12] Constitution Court to hear objections to popular vote for president

The Constitutional Court will hear on Thursday the applications filed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the main opposition party Republican Peoples Party (CHP) for the cancellation of the constitutional amendment that would introduce the election of the president via popular vote.

If in agreement with Sezers and the CHPs applications, the Constitutional Court will annul the constitutional amendment and the issue of presidential election through popular vote will drop from the agenda. If the top court rejects their applications, the referendum pertaining to the constitutional amendment will be held on October 14, 2007, as the law shortening the referendum period from 120 to 45 days was vetoed by the president.

However, it is still unknown whether the parliament newly set up following the general elections to be held on July 22 will attempt to elect the president without waiting for the outcome of the referendum. Some jurists argue that the first thing the new Parliament should do is elect a president, while others note that Parliament has not automatically moved on to holding early elections due to failure to elect a president and therefore the outcome of the referendum may be sought. If the Constitutional Court does not annul the constitutional amendment, the dispute over whether the new Parliament will move on to the election of the president without waiting for the outcome of the referendum will emerge.

The Constitutional Court previously held that a quorum of 367 deputies is needed for presidential election, which clogged down the election process and forced the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to introduce a constitutional amendment that presents, inter alia, the popular vote of the president and holding of general elections every four years. The amendment was supported by the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN). Sezer vetoed it, fully using the legal period of time allocated to him, but Parliament sent it back to him without changing its text, which made it impossible for Sezer to veto it again. Then Sezer took it to referendum, once again fully using the legal period of time allocated to him. The law that shortens the referendum period was also vetoed by Sezer.

[13] Ankara against referendum for Kirkuk

There will be a civil war in Iraq if a referendum on the status of the strategically important, oil-rich city of Kirkuk slated for the end of 2007, does not take place on schedule, said Kemal Kerkuki, deputy speaker of the regional parliament in northern Iraq.

Speaking at a meeting held on Tuesday at the Brussels Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium, he said: "Its being postponed or being cancelled is out of question. This referendum will definitely take place. If not, much blood will be shed," reported Turkey's NTV news channel. The meeting was hosted by Jan Beghin, vice president of the Brussels Parliament.

Iraqi Kurds will not overlook any intervention by Turkey, Kerkuki also said in an apparent reference to a possible military operation by Turkey into northern Iraq in order to eliminate presence of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) there. Iraqi Kurds are ready to defend themselves, he stressed.

Speaking at the same meeting, Mohammed Ihsan, human rights minister in the regional government in northern Kurdish region, asked Turkey to respect international borders by abandoning the policy of threat.

"We are beside you and we hope that you will succeed," Bert Anciaux, Flemish minister of culture, said in a closing speech at the meeting as he addressed the Iraqi Kurdish delegation.

While Iraqi Kurds are currently pushing for the referendum, the city's other residents, Turkmens and Arabs, are reluctant, fearing that the referendum will only confirm Kirkuk as part of the Kurdish region in the face of a massive influx of Kurdish immigrants over the past years.

Ankara says a referendum's result is a foregone conclusion, given the fact that tens of thousands of Kurds have migrated to Kirkuk in what it sees as a systematic campaign to change the demographic structure of the oil-rich city ahead of the vote.

EG/

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