Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-08-07

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The occupation regime welcomes Ankara´s efforts to explore gas in East Mediterranean

[02] Ali Erel: The Turkish Cypriots made a fuss about the name halloumi

[03] KIibrisli criticizes foreign diplomats accredited to Cyprus the head of the Religious Affairs Department

[04] Tension in Pyla over the decision by the British Base police to ban entry of products from the occupied area to the village

[05] More on the drawing of energy lines to the occupied Cape Apostolos Andreas area

[06] Independent deputy Kamer Genc a candidate for the post of the speaker of the Turkish Assembly

[07] Fifty-five percent of people says ´no´ to Gul´s candidacy for the post of the president according to an opinion poll conducted by Hurriyet

[08] Turkish Naval forces took over the command of BLACKSEAFOR from Russia

[09] Bilateral Relations and developments in Iraq are expected to be discussed during the visit of the Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki to Ankara - Turkey and Iraq will sign an agreement on fight against terrorism during the visit

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The occupation regime welcomes Ankara´s efforts to explore gas in East Mediterranean

Releasing a statement on Monday, Avci said that if these efforts yield results and Turkey starts drilling, it will be Turkey's and TRNC's reaffirmation to maintain their legal rights and interests in Eastern Mediterranean.

Avci reminded that he also had talks in Turkey in February regarding hydrocarbon prospecting and drilling in the region. He said, "We hope all these efforts will be the necessary message to all interested parties, including Greek Cypriot administration."

Italian Fugro Oceansismica, one of the world's most important drilling companies, carries out the activities in Eastern Mediterranean for Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO). Many Italian, Turkish, British and Indian experts are taking part in the prospective. Following scientific tests, experts will find out --in a week-- whether there is natural gas or not in the region.

[02] Ali Erel: The Turkish Cypriots made a fuss about the name halloumi

Speaking to Kibris the general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry, Mustafa Gunduz said that if the European Commission approves the Greek name halloumi as the Protected Designation of Origin then the Turkish Cypriot side until a settlement is reached will not be able to export the halloumi cheese. He said that they will struggle against all kinds of attempts that are aimed at registering halloumi cheese with its Greek name only.

He went on and said that they have asked for adding the Turkish name hellim in addition to Halloumi which is part of the common culture of Cyprus. He added that for them it is unacceptable that control of the production of the cheese be under the Ministry of the Republic of Cyprus. Gunduz said that as the Chamber of Commerce they are ready to carry out the controls in the occupied areas.

In his turn the Chairman of the Cyprus EU Association, Ali Erel said that it was the TRNC officials that made a fuss regarding the name of halloumi. They were the ones who made a big fuss out of it. He said: The Republic of Cyprus has announced that all the regional and historical names of halloumi be submitted to it for registration. However, the TRNC officials made a big fuss out of it by saying that the Greeks are making the hellim to halloumi. The Republic of Cyprus in order to prevent other countries to market halloumi it will apply to the EU Commission to register the name.

Erel said that registration of the name halloumi only is not in the interest of the Republic of Cyprus.

[03] Kibrisli criticizes foreign diplomats accredited to Cyprus the head of the Religious Affairs Department

The paper reports that the Turkish Cypriot community is not ruled by Muftis or religious people and that the diplomats with their visits to Yonluer are trying to turn the Turkish Cypriot community into a community ruled by Muftis as in the case of Western Trace Muslims in Greece. The paper calls Yonluer illegal Mufti.

The paper publishes a picture of Yonluer with the Dutch ambassador to Cyprus Jan Eric Van Den Berg.

(MHY)

[04] Tension in Pyla over the decision by the British Base police to ban entry of products from the occupied area to the village

(MHY)

[05] More on the drawing of energy lines to the occupied Cape Apostolos Andreas area

The paper reports that the injunction order filed by the environmentalist organizations to the supreme administration court as regards drawing energy lines to the occupied Cape Apostolos Andreas area and stopping tenders to this effect was taken up yesterday and has been postponed. The so-called court will see to the case on 22 August, 2007. The paper reports that the company which won the tender has started putting orders as regards the material to be used in the project.

In another news article Kibris reports that, despite the repeated attempts by the officials, the occupied Karpass peninsula continues to be turned into a concrete mass.

(MHY)

[06] Independent deputy Kamer Genc a candidate for the post of the speaker of the Turkish Assembly

Kamer Genc, independent deputy from eastern city of Tunceli, declared on Monday that he is a candidate for parliament speaker. Genc is the first MP to apply for this post. Application process will end at midnight on August 8th.

Meanwhile, NTV television (07.08.07) broadcast that Mr Bulunt Arinc, outgoing speaker of the Turkish Assembly, stated that he will not be a candidate again.

[07] Fifty-five percent of people says ´no´ to Gul´s candidacy for the post of the president according to an opinion poll conducted by Hurriyet

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has removed an opinion poll about his candidacy for president from his own web site. Fifty-five percent of people who joined the survey said "no" as compared with 45 percent who said "yes" according to allegations.

They were asked: "Do you support Abdullah Gul's election as president?"

The leadership of the Justice and Development Party has not formally announced their candidate for president yet while Gul implied in a news conference that he would run for president although he did not clearly announce his candidacy.

Turkey is divided on the issue. Some people believe that Gul should announce his candidacy whereas the other camp share the view that he should not run for president in order to avoid causing political tension.

Meanwhile, hurriyet.com.tr asked readers whether Gul should announce his candidacy without questioning his possible candidacy.

A total of 1,214,332 people had responded to the question when this report was written. Eighty-six point one of them (1,045,139) said that he should not while 13.9 percent (169,193) voted in favor of his candidacy.

[08] Turkish Naval forces took over the command of BLACKSEAFOR from Russia

Turkish Naval Forces took over the command of Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Force (BLACKSEAFOR) from Russia in a ceremony held at Golcuk Naval Base of the Fleet Command in northwestern city of Kocaeli on Monday.

Captain Levent Gorgec will be the commander of the BLACKSEAFOR for one year.

"Black Sea is important not only because it connects six countries with open seas, but also because it links Balkan countries with Caucasus," said Admiral Yener Karahanoglu, the Naval Forces Commander, in the ceremony.

The main goal of BLACKSEAFOR is to ensure peace and stability in the Black Sea, and boost regional cooperation and good neighborly relations in the region, Karahanoglu noted.

Karahanoglu added that there is need for a serious cooperation among the littoral states to fight against terrorism in the Black Sea, which has a strategic importance.

Vessels within the framework of the BLACKSEAFOR command will leave for Bulgarian city of Varna on Tuesday, and visit Varna port between August 10th-13th. Then they will proceed to Constanta port in Romania and be there between August 17th and 21st.

[09] Bilateral Relations and developments in Iraq are expected to be discussed during the visit of the Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki to Ankara - Turkey and Iraq will sign an agreement on fight against terrorism during the visit

"Bilateral relations, developments in Iraq, and international efforts regarding Iraq are expected to be discussed during the visit Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki will pay to Turkey on Tuesday," Turkish PM's Office announced on Monday. According to a statement by the PM's Office, al-Maliki will be welcomed by a formal ceremony at the Prime Ministry building after he visits Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk --- the Founder of Turkish Republic --- on Tuesday.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have a bilateral meeting with al-Maliki, who will later be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

Al-Maliki will be accompanied by Iraqi FM, Interior Minister, Minister of Oil, Minister of Youth & Sports, Minister of Science and Technology during his visit to Turkey. These ministers will have the opportunity to have bilateral talks with their Turkish counterparts. Erdogan will host a formal dinner in honor of al-Maliki and accompanying delegation.

In addition, Ankara Anatolia (06.08.07) also reports from Ankara that Turkey and Iraq will sign an agreement on the fight against terrorism during Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's visit to Turkey on Tuesday if the draft text is finalized.

Diplomatic sources said Monday that Turkey earlier offered Iraq to sign a cooperation agreement on the fight against terrorism. The two countries are debating on a draft agreement, sources said. "We offered them (Iraqi authorities) to sign a cooperation agreement on counter-terrorism and they welcomed this offer. The two countries are now working on a draft agreement but it is not finalized yet. There is a chance to sign the agreement during Maliki's visit if it is completed on time," sources added.

The agreement envisages strong cooperation between Turkey and Iraq against terrorism. The two countries will also sign trade agreements if preparations are completed.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia (06.08.07) also reports from Ankara the following:

"We qualify PKK as a terrorist organization and ban its activities," said Ali al-Dabbagh, the spokesman of the Iraqi government, on Monday. "We can understand the agonies Turkish people have felt because of the terrorist organization PKK," he told A.A correspondent. Al-Dabbagh said that the Iraqi government is ready to negotiate steps to be taken to end threat and violence of the terrorist organization PKK against Turkey, do everything they can to eradicate the problem, and cooperate with Turkey.

According to al-Dabbagh, Iraq sees the terrorist organization PKK as illegitimate. "We will not allow such an armed group to function in Iraq," he stated.

Arguing that two countries "need some time to totally overcome this 15-year issue", al-Dabbagh said that they are working on a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in countering terrorism.

Al-Dabbagh referred to Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki's scheduled visit to Turkey on August 7th-8th, and said that the memorandum can be signed on Tuesday if it is finalized. According to him, the memorandum envisages measures like not providing shelter to terrorists, and freezing the financial and logistic resources of terrorists.

On the other hand, al-Dabbagh said that the terrorist organization PKK is "a complicated issue", and Turkey's option to stage a cross-border operation has been on the table for years. However, it was seen in the past that the issue could not be solved through this method, he claimed.

Al-Dabbagh said that a unilateral operation of Turkey will not be good for bilateral relations, and called on Turkey "not to take a unilateral step that can threaten Iraq's sovereignty". Noting that they want to find formulas that will avert a cross-border operation, al-Dabbagh said, "We have to find other formulas to end this threat."

Al-Dabbagh stated that Iraq has many problems and it has not yet established an army, and said that they are not yet capable enough to fight against the terrorist organization PKK which takes shelter in a mountainous area. Turkey, Iraq and the USA should cooperate for solution of the issue, al-Dabbagh said.

Al-Dabbagh noted that Kirkuk is also an issue concerning Iraq, and a fair solution should be found for all groups living in Kirkuk with a consensus.

Al-Dabbagh also said that the Iraqi government wants to establish strategic relations with Turkey, and expressed expectation that al-Maliki's visit will pave the way for such relations. Noting that Turkey assumes a huge role in the region, al-Dabbagh said that Turkey is also an important partner in Iraq's reconstruction. Al-Dabbagh stated that they are also working on some economic agreements, and added that they can be signed on Tuesday if they are finalized.

EG/

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