Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-10-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas is satisfied with Guls statement and Talats stance

[02] Statements by the so-called ambassador of Turkey in occupied Cyprus on the Cyprus problem

[03] The Republican Turkish Party held contacts in Germany

[04] Talat: Cyprus problem can be solved in 2008

[05] Mafia is involved in racketeering in the Construction Sector in occupied Cyprus

[06] New regulations for getting construction permission

[07] Fire in occupied Bogazi burns ten acres of forest

[08] Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas to sign Memorandum of Understanding in Turkey

[09] Turkish political parties and NGOs urge reintroduction of death penalty

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas is satisfied with Guls statement and Talats stance

Denktas said: If such unification does not happen as a necessity of the world situation, the solution will be defending the state, we will continue the state. I do not count the unification with Turkey as loss. However, I respect this argument of the young people, those young people who forgot or do not know that the Greek Cypriot side is sooner or later heading towards enosis (Tr. Note: Unification with Greece).

Mr Denktas referred to the statements made by Turkish President Abdullah Gul during his recent illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus. He said: Esteem Guls statement (for a solution) on the basis of two states has made us feel relieved. Because this statement constituted the red lines of Turkey before the Annan Plan. This was the issue accepted by the Turkish Grant National Assembly (TGNA) and it still is. Nothing has changed. Therefore, it has really made us feel relieved. We want to hear these from the Turkish government as well. .

Mr Denktas referred also to the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat and expressed his satisfaction regarding Mr Talats present stance. He noted: We have very civilized contacts with President Talat. When we look at their position before the Annan Plan and we evaluate the line they have come today, we are very satisfied with esteem Talat. However, we have not heard still from him the statement that the Cyprus issue will be settled in connection with the formula of partnership of two states. We are expecting to hear it. With great nostalgia.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Statements by the so-called ambassador of Turkey in occupied Cyprus on the Cyprus problem

The Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosia Turkekul Kurttekin has stressed that a settlement in Cyprus should be based on the realities that there are two peoples, two democracies and two states on the island.

In his radio address on BRT marking the start of the Turkeys Republic Day celebrations, Mr Kurttekin pointed out that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people had done their best and openly proved their political will for a solution in Cyprus.

Reminding that Turkey will never allow the Turkish Cypriots to re-experience the suffering before 1974, the Turkish Ambassador said that there was no justification or legal base for the continuation of restrictions on the Turkish Cypriot side, which proved its willingness for peace and reconciliation.

The period we are going through makes it necessary for us to act in unity and solidarity on the Cyprus issue, he said, adding that attempts to end the existence of the Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus through osmosis will not be successful.

Pointing out that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was receiving more and more international recognition with its booming economy, its growing skilled workforce, its universities and increasing international contacts, Mr. Kurttekin underlined the importance for all segments of Turkish Cypriot society to work in unity and solidarity in order to further strengthen the TRNC.

Explaining that the Turkish Republic was established on the 29th of October 1923 at the end of a long and hard struggle led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Ambassador said that the establishment of the Turkish Republic was not only a symbol of the loyalty of the Turkish nation to the principles of independence, sovereignty and freedom but was also at the same time a project of modernization.

[03] The Republican Turkish Party held contacts with German officials and foreign ambassadors in Germany

The CTP delegation also met with the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the German deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour Franz Muntefering. The meetings were held in a sincere atmosphere writes the paper which adds that the Cyprus problem along with other issues were discussed in the meetings.

The CTP delegation also met with Mr Mechtild Rothe, chairwoman of the European Parliaments (EP) High Level Contact Group with the Turkish Cypriots. In the meeting the programme of the High Level Contact Group was discussed. The Group will visit, in the coming days, the occupied Cyprus. During the meeting, the Papadopoulos-Talat meeting which took place in Cyprus on the 5th of September and the developments after the meeting was discussed, as well as the Cyprus problem. The CTP delegation also had a short meeting with Kurt Beck who was elected the SPDs chairman. The CTP delegation met with various European MPs and German MPs, as well.

On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (28.10.07) broadcast the following:

The delegation also exchanged views on the Cyprus issue and regional peace with Ambassadors from Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Tunisia and Mongolia.

As part of their contacts in Hamburg the CTP delegation also attended a conference given by the Friedrich-Ebert foundation.

(CS)

[04] Talat: Cyprus problem can be solved in 2008

President Mehmet Ali Talat has said that there are signs that some initiatives will be made for the solution of the Cyprus problem shortly after elections in South Cyprus.

Reminding that a lot of preparations had been made for the solution of the Cyprus problem so far, Mr. Talat stated that it is possible to sit at the negotiations table even within a short period of time in order to bring about a solution by 2008.

Speaking at a gathering last night, the President said coming elections in South Cyprus weakened the attention of the international community, European Union and the United Nations towards the Cyprus issue.

Noting that the necessary preparations have been made by the sides concerned, Mr. Talat said that the UN have put forward a lot of efforts since 1977 which could shed light to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The President reminded that the Turkish Cypriot People has been facing difficulties for years and added that the ongoing international isolations are the major source of these difficulties.

[05] Mafia is involved in racketeering in the Construction Sector in occupied Cyprus

(CS)

[06] New regulations for getting construction permission

The ministry came to the stage of almost completing the preparations for amending the law. The so-called amended law will provide the so-called District Officer and the municipalities to issue construction and business permits, instead of the so-called Town Planning Department.

(CS)

[07] Fire in occupied Bogazi burns ten acres of forest

Ten acres of pine and carob forest were burnt in a fire which broke out at the Bogaz Picnic Area (occupied Bogazi) in Girne (occupied Keryneia) today.

Eyewitnesses said the fire broke out when two 6-7 year old children were playing with flames.

A total of 200 pine trees were burnt in the blaze which was put out quickly with the intervention of citizens picnicking in the area and fire fighters who rushed into the scene.

Police is continuing its investigation into the incident.

[08] Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas to sign Memorandum of Understanding in Turkey

Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet in Ankara in November. Both leaders will be the guest of Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

Peres will be in Turkey on November 11-13 while Abbas will travel to Turkey on November 12-13. Gul, Peres and Abbas are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on an industrial zone project to be implemented in the West Bank.

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) is pioneering the "Ankara Forum" which plans to carry out the industrial zone project in the West Bank. The union brings together Turkish, Israeli and Palestinian businessmen.

On November 13, Gul will host his Israeli and Palestinian guests at the same time and the parties will lay the groundwork of an economic cooperation project for peace in Ankara.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan visited the region at the beginning of October and conveyed Gul's invitation to Peres and Abbas.

[09] Turkish political parties and NGOs urge reintroduction of death penalty

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the Grand Unity Party (BBP) and some nongovernmental organizations have been making preparations for the reintroduction of the death penalty, removed from the Turkish Constitution in 2002.

The MHP argues that capital punishment should be included in the new constitution currently being drafted, for wartime crimes, massacres and similar crimes. The BBP leader Muhsin Yaz1c1oglu was the first politician to propose the reintroduction of the death penalty, particularly after 47 people were killed by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Yaz1c1oglu maintains that the removal of the death penalty has encouraged terrorist crimes; he also noted that the frequency of general pardons in Turkey, a country going through trying times, has created risks for the security of the country, which could be minimized under the deterrent effect of the death penalty.

Turkey had abolished capital punishment on August 2, 2002, soon after the capture of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. This constitutional amendment had caused disputes among the members of the coalition government, at that time composed of the MHP, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN), and during the voting on the abolishment of the death penalty, the MHP did not back the amendment. Another party which did not back the abolishment of capital punishment was the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which was a newly established party at the time. Turkey had ratified Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death penalty in peacetime.

Having assumed office as a single party government following the general elections in 2002, the AK Party ratified Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances on January 9, 2004.

Professor Burhan Kuzu, the chairman of the parliamentary Constitution Commission, speaking to Todays Zaman, said: Reintroduction of the death penalty is open to discussion. There are groups that seek reintroduction of a restricted death penalty. However, we must discuss it thoroughly and arrive at a healthy conclusion. We have ratified supplementary protocols no. 6 and 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights. The death penalty may be introduced for multiple killings. Capital punishment is implemented in the US. Some states abolished it, only to reintroduce it later. Having legal references to the death penalty may have some deterrence; but terrorism would continue its bloodshed if there was a death penalty in Turkey. We did not execute anyone under the death penalty after 1984. Well think about it when the proposal is made.

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