Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-10-22

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat accused once again the Greek Cypriot side for the non-solution of the Cyprus problem

[02] NTV reveals Talat proposals to the UN Secretary-General during their recent meeting in New York

[03] Ercakica: No scheduled meeting between Talat and Moller

[04] Serdar Denktas: The way things are going as regards the Cyprus problem, it will lead to double osmosis for the Turkish Cypriots

[05] Evkaf Records in Cyprus to be exhibited in Istanbul

[06] The real estate market in occupied Cyprus today is under the ruins of the construction explosion

[07] Property owners in occupied Cyprus to lobby Euro MPs in favour of the Orams Case

[08] Construction works in Amaranta Valley in occupied Klepini to start again

[09] The so-called minister of agriculture on the animal disease scarpie detected in occupied Cyprus

[10] The Turkish Ambassador to USA returns to his post

[11] Turkish nation votes in favor of the Constitutional amendments package on the referendum

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat accused once again the Greek Cypriot side for the non-solution of the Cyprus problem

Mr Talat stated that if one puts side by side the two proposals made by the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot side, one can see the differences between them. Mr Talat said that even himself would have needed long negotiations in order to be able to understand Papadopoulos proposals, while the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side are very easy to be understood. It is open what we say and what we want, he said.

Mr Talat also said that their proposals, both the proposals which are related to the 8th of July process, and the package for Confidence Building, have the quality of being carried out immediately. They were prepared with care so that they will not create status problems or new discussions. We did not make the proposals just to say that we made proposals, he said and added that this is the difference between the proposals they made and the proposals put forth by President Papadopoulos.

Mr Talat went on and said: When, after 2.5 months of preparations of the process I say Let us sit and have comprehensive negotiations and solve the Cyprus problem, and I am told No; I do not want time limits, who is responsible? We point out the one responsible. The criticism of the Greek Cypriot side is in this framework, he stated.

Asked about his meeting with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Mr Talat said that it lasted for 45 minutes and added that during the meeting he conveyed to the UN Secretary-General the position of the Turkish Cypriot side on the measures of increasing the trust between the two communities, the fact that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready for comprehensive negotiations, the 5th of September proposals stressing that they made these proposals in the framework of the 8th of July process. Mr Talat also asked for the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Referring to the opening of the Ledras Street crossing point, Mr Talat said that it is said that the area is controlled by the army, but he denied that this. As he said the control of the people that will pass from this crossing point will go on by the self-styled police, but no one can put obstacles to the duties of the army in the area. This is an issue of safety, he stated and added that we are living in a time that a lot of cases of human trafficking is taking place. Mr Talat, who said that we cannot sacrifice the military safety in the area, also referred to the issue of disengagement, and said that the presence of the army in area can be discussed in the framework of the discussion of disengagement.

On a comment made by the journalist that Talat is complaining recently that the Turkish Cypriot society is a morbid society and that before the meeting with Ban Ki-moon he was pessimist and stated that he does not expect a lot, Mr Talat said that he pessimism is not only related with the non-solution of the Cyprus problem. The life of people should not be depended on the solution, because the solution can exist only with the desire of both sides in Cyprus. If one side does not want the solution, the solution cannot be reached. Then must we start crying, saying that there is not going to be solution? What can we do; if there is no-solution, we will look at what we can do under the conditions of non-solution, we are looking into this now, he stated.

Referring to the issue of the direct trade, he said that for the approval of this regulation, the consent of the Greek Cypriots is needed. He also stated that the EU Commissioner Responsible for the enlargement Olli Rehn stated that the Turkish Cypriot ports are not closed.

Asked why he did not have talks with the Turkish Cypriot parties prior to his meeting with the UN Secretary-General in New York, and why he did not share with them the proposals he was going to make, Mr Talat stated that the proposals were confidential and added that they were not new, but issues that were discussed with the Turkish Cypriot political parties in the past.

Asked about the statement of the UN Secretary-General that commitment must be shown from both sides in order for the negotiations to start again, Mr Talat said that the address of this (statement) was the Greek Cypriot side.

(CS)

[02] NTV reveals Talat proposals to the UN Secretary-General during their recent meeting in New York

President Mehmet Ali Talats package of proposals entitled Revised Version of Confidence-Building Measures -which he presented to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon during their meeting in New York this week- have been reflected in the press.

According to the Turkish news channel NTVs reports, the package consists of 6 articles which foresee some steps to be taken on confidence-building measures, opening of new crossing points and the establishment of cooperation between the two sides on particular issues.

NTV sources say in the proposals presented to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, President Talat quoted the confidence-building measures put forward by the Turkish Cypriot side in July 2006.

The President also presented some additional offers to Mr. Ban Ki-moon on the opening of new crossing points.

Among these is the opening of crossing points at Lokmaci (Ledra street) and Yesilirmak (occupied Limnitis) barricades.

The proposals also envisage free pass to-and-from the Erenkoy (occupied Kokkina) village as well as the opening of the road between the villages of Yigitler (Arsos) and Pile (Pyla) without any delay.

Furthermore, Mr. Talats proposals foresee the UN to own a mediating role in order to establish cooperation between the two sides in Cyprus while dealing with issues such as human trafficking, narcotics and other cross-border crimes.

The package also calls on the UN Secretary-General to stay committed to efforts aimed at providing a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem within the framework of his good offices mission.

[03] Ercakica: No scheduled meeting between Talat and Moller

Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica has stated that there is no scheduled meeting which is to take place between the UN Special Representative to Cyprus, Michale Moller and the Turkish Cypriot authorities.

Speaking to the TAK News Agency on the Greek Cypriot media reports which claimed that the Lokmaci Barricade (Ledra street crossing-point) would be opened after a meeting was held between President Mehmet Ali Talat and Mr. Moller, the Presidential Spokesperson said that there is no meeting scheduled between Mr. Talat and Mr Moller for now.

He said the UN Special Representative did not ask for such a meeting neither to the President, nor to the Presidential Undersecretary Rasit Pertev.

Mr. Ercakica added that there is no scheduled meeting between Mr Pertev and the Chief of the Diplomatic Bureau of the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos- Tassos Tzionis, too.

Greek Cypriot media reports earlier claimed that the opening of the Lokmaci Barricade (Ledra street crossing-point) for crossings would be on the agenda in the coming days after a meeting would be held between President Talat and the UN Special Representative Moller.

[04] Serdar Denktas: The way things are going as regards the Cyprus problem, it will lead to double osmosis for the Turkish Cypriots

Mr Denktas said, inter alia, that they always associate osmosis with the Greek Cypriot side. However, he said there is no difference if the osmosis is with the Greek Cypriot side or with Turkey. The result is that our existence, our state formation which was formed after years and after struggle, our power as a state, is taken away from us, he stated.

(CS)

[05] Evkaf Records in Cyprus to be exhibited in Istanbul

The exhibition, entitled `400 Years of Heritage: Evkaf Records in Cyprus`, will open for visits between the 1st and 30th of November at the Istanbul Modern Arts Gallery.

The exhibition will be opened by President Mehmet Ali Talat on the 31st of October.

The General Director of the Evkaf Foundation Hatice Cavlan told at a press conference yesterday that an initiative was launched to display the exhibition in Brussels after Istanbul.

She noted that there are plans to put the exhibition on display at Bedesten in Lefkosia after the completion of the buildings restoration next year.

[06] The real estate market in occupied Cyprus today is under the ruins of the construction explosion

Asked by Hasturer if the construction sector in occupied Cyprus, which in the past was booming, now is under the ruins of the explosion, Mr Cerkez said the following:

If when we look at the real estate market today it seems that it is under the ruins of the construction explosion, this is a result of the decrease in demand which derives from the lack of trust created towards the sector because no solutions were found in time for the problems which were saying we are coming.

According to information from researches made regarding the construction sector, the data regarding the houses built after the year 2004 in the Keryneia region is as follows:

2004: 450

2005: 498

2006: 1919

2007 (ten months): 1320

2004-2007: 513 houses (the year of the construction of the house was not possible to be determined).

Total: 4,700

The construction of houses reached its peak in the year 2006 as it will be shown by the data and in the year 2007 it has decreased. In my opinion, this decrease will continue next year. Because of the following reasons, the decrease in the demand which increased at a non realistic speed in line with our market, after the opening of the gates with south Cyprus in April 2003 and the Annan Plan, left the constructors, who entered into the market assuming that demand would increase with the same speed as in the first stages, and wanted to take a share from this pie, in a difficult situation. As a result of this the construction sector is not under its ruins, it is under distress because it entered a non planned slow down.

(CS)

[07] Property owners in occupied Cyprus to lobby Euro MPs in favour of the Orams Case

Property owners in North Cyprus are being urged to sign a petition lobbying Euro MPs in an effort to combat Greek Cypriot propaganda over the Orams case.

Linda and David Orams say they drew up the petition with the aim of defending the rights of all property owners in North Cyprus, including Turkish Cypriots as well as foreigners.

The couple are embroiled in a long-running legal battle over their Lapta villa, which Greek Cypriot Meletios Apostolides claims is built on land belonging to him.

Three London Appeal Court judges ruled in June that crucial EU legal issues raised by the case could only be resolved by the European Court of Justice.

This followed a British High Court decision last year which stated that judgements obtained against the Oramses in a South Nicosia court were not enforceable in British courts. The eventual hearing of the case by the European Court of Justice could be 18 months away but the Oramses believe the outcome is likely to be largely decided between now and then.

The time to influence opinions in order to make a difference begins now, said Mrs Orams, who this week was with her husband in their Lapta home.

The actual hearing in Luxembourg, when it takes place, is expected to be restricted to 20 minute summary presentations by both sides, possibly to 27 judges from EU member states. Interested parties, such as Euro MPs, will also be given five or 10 minutes to give their views. We would therefore urge everyone with property interests in North Cyprus to sign the petition before it is sent to Euro MPs and others. It puts the case that Turkish Cypriots have the right to own property in North Cyprus, including exchange land given in compensation for that lost in the South, and that they are entitled to sell their land to whoever they wish.

Unless we succeed in getting over this message, everyones property in the TRNC including that of Turkish Cypriots will be at risk. Some people appear to think the Orams case is a personal problem for us and nothing to do with them, but that is not so.

Most property owners here are in potentially the same boat.

[08] Construction works in Amaranta Valley in occupied Klepini to start again

Construction workers have returned to the stalled Amaranta Valley development more than two years after builders downed tools at the site following a major breakthrough in negotiations.

It is hoped the Aga Development Construction project will be completed within a year and that builders will resume work at the company´s smaller Hz Omer site in Catalkoy next week if further discussions prove successful.

The dramatic developments followed meetings this week involving Aga founder Gary Robb, members of two committees representing buyers on both sites, and Serap Destegul of the TRNC London office.

During talks on Wednesday with around 30 Amaranta buyers and Mr Robb, Miss Destegul said their proposal to complete the Arapkoy development had been presented to Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and now had full government backing.

The decision to restart work at Amaranta Valley could mark an end to two years of angst for 300 people, many British, who were left out of pocket with partly built homes when construction halted at the site in September 2005.

Chairman of the Amaranta Buyers Committee (ABC), Ron Hugo, told Cyprus Today: Miss Destegul informed us that, as per our request, she had been appointed by the Prime Minister as our point of contact with the government and had been given the responsibility to liaise between the Amaranta Buyers´ Committee and the government on issues where they can assist us.

On Thursday, ABC members went to Amaranta Valley to meet Gary Robb and his architects, expecting to study the site and its general condition after two years of inactivity only to find Mr Robb had started preparation work on the access road and was improving surface drainage before winter rains set in.

We now look forward to seeing work start in earnest as early as next week and we have already had some positive responses to the proposal from buyers in the UK, said Mr Hugo. On a close inspection, we found most of the 261 properties, which include 90 apartments, were in reasonably good condition, although some will require significant attention to repair weather damage. We are optimistic that we will have a completed Amaranta Valley development within a year.

Mr Hugo and another Amaranta buyer, Brian Godfrey, have spent 18 months in painstaking negotiations with Mr Robb, the Construction Contractos´Union and other bodies in trying to reach a solution enabling completion of the half-built Amaranta site.

They were recently joined by other buyers to form the ABC committee, which achieved the breakthrough with Mr Robb that has now been endorsed by the Prime Minister.

Key to the solution is a government agreement, announced on Wednesday evening, to issue buyers with Hisse (Share) Certificates which will allow hundreds of injunctions taken out to prevent the site being sold or mortgaged to be lifted. It is also expected that removing the injunctions would prevent any hostile action to force Aga into liquidation a move welcomed by Mr Robb and all those wanting their properties completed.

We also wanted an effective point of government contact in the form of Miss Destegul, which was granted, said Mr Hugo.

There has been a tremendous breakthrough but it is only the beginning, there is still much to do.

We will be having a meeting with all lawyers concerned over the next two weeks to work out a resolution to the injunction problems, which remain a massive legal tangle, although we now have the means to address it.

The members of the ABC now have a full time role to play and we are girding our loins for the work to come.

Gary wants to get workers back on site at both Hz Omer and Amaranta as soon as possible, so do we and so does the government.

[09] The so-called minister of agriculture on the animal disease scarpie detected in occupied Cyprus

The Minister of Agriculture Onder Sennaroglu has reassured the public that there is nothing to be concerned about the detection of Scarpie in small livestock in North Cyprus.

The Agriculture Ministers statement was in response to concerns regarding the detection of Scarpie in two flocks of sheep and goats in North Cyprus earlier in the week.

Speaking to the BRT, the Agriculture Minister said that it was not the first time the disease had been seen in animals in Cyprus and that similar cases had been detected in the past.

Explaining that all animals detected with the Scarpie disease in the TRNC were immediately culled and destroyed, Mr. Onder Sennaroglu reassured the public that the situation was under control and that there was nothing to be concerned about.

Over the years we have been following closely the issue of the Scrapie disease and the whole flock is culled if the disease is detected in any one animal said Sennaroglu, adding that there was nothing for the public to worry about.

Reminding that a flock of sheep detected with Scarpie in Agillar (occupied Mandres) village last August had been culled and destroyed, the Agriculture Minister said that the same procedure had been followed when the disease had been detected in an animal earlier in the week at the Cayonu (occupied Kalopsida) village. He said that the disease had not been detected in other flocks so far but urged breeders to contact the veterinary services if they observed suspicious symptoms in their animals.

Drawing attention to the fact that animals detected with the Scarpie disease in South Cyprus had still not been culled or destroyed, Mr. Sennaroglu said we cull and destroy the whole flock the minute we detect Scarpie in one of the animals adding that the aim was to provide safe food for the public.

[10] The Turkish Ambassador to USA returns to his post

Turkish Ambassador to USA Nabi Sensoy, who was recalled to Turkey "for consultations" after the approval of a resolution on Armenian allegations in the U.S. House foreign affairs committee, departed on Sunday to return to United States. Prior to his flight to Washington D.C., Sensoy told reporters that he would tell the U.S. authorities about the outrage in Turkey caused by the U.S. House committee approval of the resolution on Armenian allegations regarding the incidents of 1915.

Sensoy stayed 9 days in Ankara and had meetings with President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and other high-level officials to inform them about the developments in the United States.

"I think my stay in Ankara has been a serious message to reflect our outrage," Sensoy said. "I will continue to work to further Turkish-U.S. relations," he continued. "It seems that wind has started to blow in favor of us."

[11] Turkish nation votes in favor of the Constitutional amendments package on the referendum

All the ballot boxes have been opened in the referendum held today for constitutional amendments. A total of 69 percent of the valid votes were cast in favor of the amendments, while the remaining 31 percent were negative votes. According to the report, the rate of participation in the referendum was 67 percent.

EG/

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