Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-11-07

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Toros 2007 exercise will start tomorrow in occupied Cyprus

[02] Hasan Ercakica accused the Greek Cypriot side of distorting the letter sent by Mehmet Ali Talat to the UN Secretary-General

[03] More on Rasit Pertevs resignation

[04] European Commission publicized Turkeys annual report

[05] The provisional decision to halt the electricity project in the occupied Karpas Peninsula has been rejected by the illegal High Court

[06] The Businessmenīs Association (ISAD) stated that EURO must be adopted in occupied Cyprus as from January 2008

[07] The self-styled minister of foreign affairs Turgay Avci went to Germany in order to meet with some German MPs and to have contacts

[08] Turkey to apply to the EU Patent Office against the registration of the Cyprus lokumi

[09] Statement by the Press Center of the Turkish Prime Minister's Office on the Erdogan Bush meeting

[10] Erdogan holds contacts in Rome

[11] Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicizes statement on EUs regular report on Turkeys progress. Disappointment of Ankara

[12] Turkish State Minister rejects 'Mediterranean Union' as an alternative to Turkey's EU membership

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Toros 2007 exercise will start tomorrow in occupied Cyprus

(CS)

[02] Hasan Ercakica accused the Greek Cypriot side of distorting the letter sent by Mehmet Ali Talat to the UN Secretary-General

The Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercakica has stated that the letter sent by President Mehmet Ali Talat to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in response to the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos address to the UN General Assembly is being distorted by the Greek Cypriot press.

He said that various Greek Cypriot media organizations falsely claimed that the letter was actually sent to Mr. Papadopoulos.

Speaking during his weekly press briefing Mr. Ercakica said that the statements used by Papadopoulos during his election campaign were very similar to his statements made during the referendum period for the Annan Plan.

He said that contrary to the Greek Cypriot claims, the letter served to convey to the UN Secretary-General the Turkish Cypriot Sides response to claims made by the Greek Cypriot leader in his earlier address to the UN General Assembly.

The presidential spokesman complained that the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan is being referred to as a sin in the statements made within the framework of the election campaigns on the Greek Cypriot side.

Mr. Ercakica also said that in the absence of necessary initiatives by the international community, the Greek Cypriot side had become more confident in destroying the ground for negotiations and had finally, come to the point of rejecting the established parameters and the body of work for the settlement of the problem reached as a result of the negotiations carried out within the framework of the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (07.11.07) reports that Hasan Ercakica, the spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, stated in his weekly briefing to the journalists, that the fact that the Annan Plan is referred as a sin in the statements made within the framework of the election campaigns in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, throws light to many issues regarding the Cyprus problem.

As he claimed, the Greek Cypriot side is insincere and unreliable. Mr Ercakica also alleged that the Greek Cypriots have a secret agenda which is similar to the one they had before, which was the Greek Cypriot side to become unilaterally member of the EU on the 1st of May 2004. Their plan in our days is osmosis, he stated.

[03] More on Rasit Pertevs resignation

Rasit Pertev resigned on Monday from his post and stated that he will form a new political party

Under the title CTP and UBP will be closed down, Afrika writes that the news about Rasit Pertevs resignation and the developments that will take place in occupied Cyprus after forming a party, as he announced, caused great interest and notes that apart of south Cyprus, which covered widely the issue, the news were broadcast by BBC as well.

The paper writes that Pertev, who participated in a live TV show at illegal Bayrak Television, last night, stated that after his party will be formed the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the National Unity Party (UBP) will be closed down.

Mr Pertev has not given more details about his party yet, however, everyone wonders about the support behind Pertev. Predictions are made as regards who are going to participate in the new party, but not a definite announcement has been made on this issue just yet. There are some claims that Pertev may co-operate with the Freedom and Reform Party of Turgay Avci and the Politics for the People Movement of the former mufti Ahmet Yonluer.

The paper notes that according to the public opinion in occupied Cyprus, Ankara is making over from the top the politics in north Cyprus.

The paper, which reports on the issue in its regular column AFRIKAdan Mektup (Letter from Afrika), goes on and writes, inter alia, the following:

At the live BRT programme he participated yesterday, he (Pertev) said some things which created shock Showing that he trusts and believes in himself, he stated:

-CTP and UBP will be closed down!

When?

After the formation of the new party

With these words Pertev won the title of the most pretentious politician until today

Nobody, as up to today, spoke that open and made so big pretensions

The posture of Pertev to be so sure of himself, reminds the state of Mehmet Ali Talat before becoming president.

Talat was also very confident

He warned numerous times at live screens in Turkey, where he was not taken seriously I will be elected and you will have to accept this despite whether you want me or not, he was saying

What he said came true.

Will the fortune telling regarding Pertev come true as well?

Reporting on the same issue, Bakis newspaper reports that Serdar Denktas stated that Pertev is supported by some powers from abroad. Mr Denktas, who was speaking at a programme of Kanal T Television, stated the following: We learned that Pertev will form a party, four months ago. Definitely esteemed Talat must have been informed about this development, for which we were informed from abroad, long ago as well, he stated.

On the same issue Volkan newspaper reports that the chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP) Tahsin Ertugruloglu evaluated Pertevs resignation and his decision to form a party. Mr Ertugruloglu stated, inter alia, that the aim of this initiative is to deal and blow UBP. He also stated that efforts are exerted with conscious, so as party inflation to be created in occupied Cyprus in order to drag TRNC into chaos.

Under the title Who is behind?, Star Kibris newspaper reports that one of the reasons that led to Pertevs resignation was the fact that the self-styled prime minister Ferdi Soyer refused Pertevs demand to become minister of agriculture.

(CS)

[04] European Commission publicized Turkeys annual report

The European Commission has made public its annual report on Turkey's progress, strategy paper and framework of financial assistance it will extend to Turkey in the following four years. On the Cyprus Issue, the report states the Turkish governments continued commitment to finding a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem under the auspices of the United Nations.

The progress report also expressed its expectation that the government will continue to support the launching of fully fledged negotiations on a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, for which the 8-July agreement signed between the leaders on the island should prepare the ground.

However, the annual report also repeats that Ankara must normalize its relations with the Greek Cypriot Administration and honour the Additional protocol which foresees the opening of its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

The European Court of Human Rights acceptance, in principle, the Immovable Property Commission established by the Turkish Cypriot side as a legitimate domestic remedy is also an important reference made in the report which has been welcomed by the Turkish Cypriot side.

A reference was also made in the report to protests launched by Turkey earlier in the year against an agreement concluded by the Greek Cypriot Administration with Lebanon on the delimitation of the maritime exclusive economic zone with a view to oil drilling and a defence cooperation agreement signed between France and the Greek Cypriot side, both of which it stressed was not in line with the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee and the international law.

In other areas, the progress report commends the country's government on solving a constitutional crisis earlier this year.

The report also points out that there remain serious concerns over Article 301 of the Turkish penal code.

The pace of reforms has slowed down since Turkey's membership negotiations opened two years ago, and significant further efforts are needed in the crucial areas, stated the report.

As concerns Iraq, the report states that Turkey continues to support efforts towards achieving national reconciliation, security and peace but the cross-border terrorist activities of the PKK, listed on the EU list of terrorist organizations, represent a security challenge to Turkey.

[05] The provisional decision to halt the electricity project in the occupied Karpas Peninsula has been rejected by the illegal High Court

The High Court has announced its final verdict on the case brought by the Expanded Sustainable Environment Platform against the Karpaz Electricity Scheme.

The court has rejected the demand for a provisional decision to halt the implementation of the project.

The Expanded Sustainable Environment Platform had filed a case seeking an injunction against the Karpaz Electricity Scheme.

The Platform is against the project, which it says will spoil the natural beauty of the area by attracting unwanted development.

[06] The Businessmenīs Association (ISAD) stated that EURO must be adopted in occupied Cyprus as from January 2008

(CS)

[07] The self-styled minister of foreign affairs Turgay Avci went to Germany in order to meet with some German MPs and to have contacts

Avci who was asked at the interviews mostly about the Cyprus problem, stated that the Greek Cypriots are not ready to come to an agreement with the Turkish Cypriots, and added that this can be seen easily if someone sees the developments taking place until today.

(CS)

[08] Turkey to apply to the EU Patent Office against the registration of the Cyprus lokumi

The manager of a Turkish delight exporting company, Adnan Ozdogru, announced on Tuesday that his company has applied to the Adana Chamber of Commerce to petition the European Union Patent Office vis-ā-vis a crisis that was sparked over the registration of Turkish delight as Cyprus lokumi.

Ozdogru said in a statement that an official application has been filed with the Adana Chamber of Commerce to petition the European Union Patent Office to resolve the crisis that erupted between Turkish and Greek Cypriot delight exporting companies after the Greek Cypriot Ministry of Agriculture registered Turkish delight as Cyprus lokumi.

The Ministry of Agriculture previously declared that the production of the sweet is not possible under the name lokum in any European Union member state unless they are first granted permission by Greek Cyprus. Greek Cypriot Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Fotis Fotiou stated that there are no barriers to calling the sweet Cyprus lokumi, adding: We asked for the lokum trademark many months ago, and the period for objections expired on October 21st, so lokum will be known as Cyprus lokumi in European Union countries. Every country has to receive a production permit from the Greek Ministry of Agriculture.

Following Fotiou's statement, Ozdogru called on the Adana Chamber of Commerce to take action and the necessary steps to protect Turkey's national sweet. Ozdogru said: The Greek Cypriot government had previously presented the Turkish sugary pastry baklava as a Greek dessert and now has registered Turkish delight as Cyprus lokumi. This dessert is known as Turkish delight in the global market. Greek Cypriots do not even know how to produce this sweet, whereas Turks have been manufacturing lokum since the early times of the Ottoman Empire.

He also recalled that the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) had made several attempts to register lokum as a Turkish sweet, adding, All attempts failed because Turkey faced several challenges as it is not a member of the European Union; yet we should have tried all means to obtain the lokum trademark.

[09] Statement by the Press Center of the Turkish Prime Minister's Office on the Erdogan Bush meeting

The Press Centre of the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement, saying: Our government's determination continues with regard to taking the political, diplomatic, and military steps to utilize the authority granted by the TBMM (Turkish Grand National Assembly) with the aim of struggling against the PKK terrorist nests.

A written statement issued on the subject said that the common political will of Turkey and the United States with regard to counterterrorism was displayed during the meeting held between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President George W. Bush.

During the meeting, the statement pointed out, the two countries focused on the aim to further develop their political, diplomatic, and military cooperation against the terrorist organization PKK.

The statement said: As it happens, the fact that in his statement following the meeting President Bush characterized the terrorist organization PKK as the common enemy of Turkey, the United States, and Iraq is another manifestation of this will. During the meeting, the sides discussed the basic principles of the multi-faceted and comprehensive cooperation to be conducted against PKK terrorism.

The matter was viewed in all its aspects, and in line with the common will that exists between Turkey and the United States, and a decision was made to strengthen the direct communication channels with a view to securing operational coordination between our authorities in the field of military measures. In this connection, the sides stressed the urgent implementation of good, solid, timely, and technology-based intelligence sharing.

Similarly, the sides reviewed the diplomatic and political measures that can be adopted in the fight against the PKK, and to this end they agreed to reinforce the communication channels between Ankara and Washington.

Our government's determination continues with regard to taking the political, diplomatic, and military steps to utilize the authority granted by the TBMM with the aim of struggling against the PKK terrorist nests.

[10] Erdogan holds contacts in Rome

Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived in the Italian capital city of Rome Tuesday on a three-day formal visit.

National Defence Minister, Vecdi Gonul, and General Staff Deputy Chief Gen. Ergin Saygun are accompanying Prime Minister Erdogan.

Prime Minister Erdogan is scheduled to meet Italian Premier, Romano Prodi, during his stay in Rome.

Besides the bilateral political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries, Turkey-EU negotiation process, Cyprus as well as regional and international topics will be high on the agenda.

Prime Minister Erdogan is also scheduled to hold talks with President Giorgio Napolitano, Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, Parliament Speaker Fausto Bertinotti and Senate President Franco Marini.

Erdogan will also attend Turkey-Italy Business Council meeting that the Italian Businessmen's Association will host.

[11] Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicizes statement on EUs regular report on Turkeys progress. Disappointment of Ankara

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said Tuesday Turkey would continue to be loyal to its EU full membership bid and maintain reforms.

Turkish government and people support this goal. Turkish government's decisiveness continues, and its determination to overcome our deficiencies and implement reforms influentially rises. We are determined to continue to implement reforms till our country reaches the highest level in democracy and human rights areas, told a statement released by MFA.

The statement said Turkey exerts efforts with good will in this course. European Commission prepares similar reports every year for all candidate and negotiating countries. This report includes the regulations and measures, but does not consider regulatory works on which preparations are underway. The deficiencies observed in regulations and implementation areas will continue to be included in the reports that will be prepared till the membership stage.

According to the statement, this year's Progress Report was of the same structure just as the previous years. The report expresses the expectations on which areas there should be development. The target of the elements that may be considered as negative in the report should be interpreted as areas on which works should focus on.

There are some elements in the report which Turkey is not of the same opinion, the statement said.

The statement indicated that Turkey was aware of its obligations that should be fulfilled to adjust with the EU acquis. The relative slowdown in the reform process in recent months related to Turkey's election progress is something that could be witnessed in any country (...) in the recent period important progress has been recorded regarding implementation.

As it is known, our parliament opened only three weeks ago. The preparations concerning reforms have started to be submitted to parliament gradually, the statement said.

MFA statement said, we have full belief that the EU member countries will display a strong will to prevent efforts to bring forth impediments that are irrelevant to the process. MFA also believes that the EU will better comprehend the contributions of Turkey to the process.

[12] Turkish State Minister rejects 'Mediterranean Union' as an alternative to Turkey's EU membership

Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin said on Tuesday, discussion over a Mediterranean Union -- proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy -- would be a waste of time if that implies a re-definition of European Union's borders or an alternative to Turkey's EU membership.

Aydin attended the 9th European-Mediterranean (EUROMED) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon.

Aydin told A.A. that participants of the meeting decided to declare 2008 as the year of dialogue between cultures. Noting that he criticised that a consensus has not been reached about the definition of terrorism, Aydin said that as a common definition is not found about terrorism, a sufficient answer could not be given for what can be done against it.

Aydin will return to Turkey on Wednesday.

EG/

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