Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-08-17

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] An exclusive interview given by Rasit Pertev to YENIDUZEN paper

[02] Talat: Annan plan will be off table in new talks

[03] The Turkish press on the Republic of Cyprus´ oil exploration tenders

[04] Slovak Ambassador visited Serdar Denktas

[05] Protests against the supply of electricity to the occupied peninsula of Karpass continue

[06] The trade from the occupied part of Cyprus to the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus have increase to 3.9 million TL

[07] Sezer leaves decision on approving new cabinet to his successor

[08] National Security Council will convene on 21 August

[09] 1.2 billion Euro provided for Ilisu dam project

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] An exclusive interview given by Rasit Pertev to YENIDUZEN paper

Mr Pertev said: We have received Papadopoulos reply to our letter. In our letter we have proposed that Tassos Tzionis and me should meet as soon as possible and fix a date. They accepted this. I will meet Tzionis and we will fix a date.

Mr Pertev further said that, Mr Talat, in his letter addressed to the President Papadopoulos, proposed that besides the comprehensive settlement issues; he also wants to discuss side issues as well. Mr Pertev went on and said: The Greek Cypriot Administration by considering the 8 July process nonexistent wanted to return at the very beginning. Against this, Talat in his letter put on the agenda, overcoming of the obstacles existing in the 8 July process, within the framework of the UN parameters and the work carried out by the UN until now in the solution course in Cyprus.

When asked to comment on the so-called tough stance exhibited by the Greek Cypriot side towards the Turkish Cypriots, Mr Pertev said: To say these is very bitter thing. To the level that they cannot even tolerate playing of a friendly football match. In fact the Greek Cypriot Administration cannot tolerate the existence of the Turkish Cypriots in the island. The football match is an excuse. The Greek Cypriots are at the point where they may tolerate the existence of the Turkish Cypriots, if the Turkish Cypriots take positions which will be unnoticed within the Greek Cypriot community. Otherwise, two equal people will come together and they will plan a future which will be based on political equality is seen almost an unacceptable proposal.

When asked to comment on the statements that there will be tension between the Cyprus Government and Turkey as regards the oil and natural gas exploration work to be carried out in the East Mediterranean, Mr Pertev said: The natural resources of the island is the common property of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The natural resources, especially the petrol, could stay where it is now. That is, the Cyprus problem could be settled then this work could have been carried out. This is the right path. It is not right while the Cyprus problem is not settled to offer with a one-sided action, a right that is common to both sides. This could create difficulty. The area is also disputable area. There is no clear cut division as regards the exclusive economic region.

Mr Pertev further said that since May 2004 there was no contact between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots on all levels and he considers this three years and three month a lost period. He claims that president Papadopoulos was responsible for this.

(MHY)

[02] Talat: Annan plan will be off table in new talks

Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said he did not expect a UN plan proposed for reunification of the island in 2004 to be the basis of renewed talks for a solution in the deep-seated problem, warning that tough negotiations are likely to mark the course.

"The Cyprus issue will be tackled separately from the Annan plan in the new era," Talat was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency late on Wednesday, referring to the UN blueprint that collapsed after it was rejected by the Greek Cypriots in a referendum in 2004. The plan, named after then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, was approved by majority of the Turkish Cypriots in a simultaneous vote.

Talat said the plan was not negotiated extensively, due to the limited time left for mediated talks between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, and that the sides were unable to even bargain on terms of settlement. The Turkish Cypriot leader also said fresh negotiations, if they ever start, were unlikely to be conducted through mediators, unlike the negotiations on the Annan plan. "The two sides used to express their stance to the mediators. This time it will not be the case," he said. "The new era will be time of really tough bargaining. We will probably not be talking to the mediators. I don't see the circumstances for that." According to Talat, a solid economic power would be an asset for a strong negotiating stance in the new era.

[03] The Turkish press on the Republic of Cyprus´ oil exploration tenders

The paper writes that none of the applicants has been named, but according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, an application to explore one block was from a company in the US based in Texas, while two applications were submitted from a consortium consisting of three companies from Norway, Britain and the United Arab Emirates.

On the same issue, the paper writes that having as a partner Italian companies, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has launched its exploration procedure in the Mediterranean, as well. According to the paper, Turkey has launched the operation using the seismic research ship Pehlivan-2.

The TPAO which had carried out exploration works in the areas around Antalya, Mersin, Iskenderum and the TRNC, will divide these areas, named farm-out, into parcels and will invite tenders for joint exploration and leasing. The TPAO announced that up to now, seven countries have expressed their interest to Turkey in the exploration of natural gas and oil, the paper notes.

Finally, the paper writes that Israel and Syria have rejected the request of the Republic of Cyprus for signing an agreement on the issue of natural gas and oil exploration.

On the same issue, Turkish daily MILLIYETs (17.08.07) correspondent in occupied Cyprus, Sefa Karahasan, reports on the issue under the title The petrol fiasco of the Greek Cypriots and writes that applications for oil exploration have been submitted only for three out of eleven exploration areas where the Greek Cypriot exploration will be conducted.

In the meantime, reports Karahasan, the Greek Cypriot Administrations decision to leave at the end of 2007, the decision regarding the tenders, is considered by observers as an election investment of the Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos.

[04] Slovak Ambassador visited Serdar Denktas

The Democrat Party (DP) has decided to attend bi-communal meetings organized by the Slovak Embassy in Cyprus.

The announcement came during a visit paid by the Slovakian Ambassador to Lefkosia Anna Turenicova to the Democrat Party. Anna Turenicova has been paying courtesy visits since the start of her new duty as the Ambassador.

Speaking to the press during the meeting, DP leader Serdar Denktas reminded that the Slovak Embassy has been organizing meetings since 1987, aimed at bringing Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots together, and said his party attended all these meetings except those that took place within the last 6 months.

Mr Denktas said the reason for not attending the latest bi-communal meetings organized by the Slovak Embassy was Slovakias approach against the Turkish Cypriot People.

However, the DP leader said his party has decided to participate in the coming meetings to give a chance to the new Slovak Ambassador.

[05] Protests against the supply of electricity to the occupied peninsula of Karpass continue

Members of the Sustainable Environment Platform held a protest in Lefkosia this morning against the supply of electricity to the National Park area in the Karpass region.

Members of the platform carried banners and distributed brochures at the main junctions in the capital Lefkosia.

The Platform will be continuing to carry out its protests until the 22nd of August when the High Court will be holding discussions on injunction ruling to suspend the implementation of the electricity project.

[06] The trade from the occupied part of Cyprus to the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus have increase to 3.9 million New Turkish Liras

Exports from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to Southern Cyprus rose 3.9 million New Turkish Liras (YTL) as of end of July 2007 within the scope of Green Line Regulation, it was reported on Thursday.

Green Line Regulation, prepared by the European Union (EU), regulates flow of commercial goods and services between the northern and southern sides of the island. The regulation took effect on August 23rd, 2004.

Wooden products and furniture are among the main goods exported to Southern Cyprus this year, whereas vegetable topped last year's list of exported goods.

According to data supplied by the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Trade, TRNC's exports to Southern Cyprus rose gradually, however, could not reach the expected figure.

[07] Sezer leaves decision on approving new cabinet to his successor

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer left Thursday the task to approve Turkey's new cabinet to the country's next president, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

"Approving the new cabinet list is left for the new president," Erdogan told reporters after a brief meeting with Sezer.

"No need to even show the list now and it would be much more appropriate to submit it to new president," Erdogan quoted Sezer as saying.

Moreover, Ankara ANATOLIA news agency(16.08.07) reports:

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had made a "gesture" when he left the task to approve the new cabinet to the next president.

"I do not want to overstep my limits, but I think that Mr. Sezer has made a gesture to our next president," he told reporters after a brief meeting with Sezer, saying that the presidents move came as "a surprise."

Premier also stressed that one cannot qualify Sezer's move as "a disapproval of the cabinet list, saying, "President Sezer did not even take a look on the list."

Erdogan said that certain revisions would be made to a number of ministries such as Culture and Tourism, Energy and Natural Resources, and Environment and Forestry.

[08] National Security Council will convene on 21 August

The National Security Council (MGK) will convene on August 21st at Cankaya Palace, it was reported on Thursday.

The regular meeting of MGK, which takes place once in two months, is expected to start at 1:30 p.m.

Foreign and domestic developments are expected to be assessed at the meeting.

[09] 1.2 billion Euro provided for Ilisu dam project

Around 1.27 billion Euro of financing has been provided for the Ilisu dam and hydroelectric power plant project, the Treasury Undersecretariat announced on Thursday.

According to a statement by the Undersecretariat, the loan agreements for the project were signed on Wednesday by the Treasury and the banks that take part in the consortium led by Austrian VA Tech Finance GmbH.

The commercial agreement regarding the dam and the hydroelectric power plant was signed by the State Water Works (DSI) and the Ilisu consortium comprised of Germany, Switzerland and Austria on Tuesday (August 14th).

The dam and the power plant will be constructed on the River Tigris which has the biggest hydroelectric potential after the River Euphrates.

The project will cover Diyarbakir, Batman, Mardin, Siirt and Sirnak. When completed, the Ilisu dam will be the fourth biggest dam in Turkey in regard to annual energy generation capacity.

The project is to be completed within seven years.

ES/

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