Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-01-14

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Talat in Istanbul and after returning to occupied Cyprus

[02] Soyer: The struggle of the Turkish Cypriots should not be related to Kosovo

[03] Serdar Denktas continues to refer to interference of the AKP in the internal affairs of the Turkish Cypriots

[04] Kormazhan makes a call to the federation supporters

[05] Turkish Cypriot newspaper argues that a NATO base will be established in the Karpass Peninsula

[06] The breakaway regime will open tourism offices in two more countries

[07] Erel: The ECHR does not recognize the TRNC

[08] Turkish officials have reportedly said that the ferry lines between occupied Famagusta and Syria will soon start again

[09] Iraqi athlets who are visiting occupied Cyprus were reported missing

[10] Eurobank Tekfen to open a branch in occupied Cyprus

[11] The developments in Cyprus will be on the agenda of the visit of the President of the PACE to Ankara

[12] The Mediterranean Young Businessmens Confederation to be established

[13] Reference to Cyprus by the British Ambassador to Ankara during an interview with Todays Zaman

[14] Statements by British owner of usurped Greek Cypriot house in occupied Karmi on whether a writ was served

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[15] Milliyet Columnist: The Greek Cypriots cannot be intimidated

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Talat in Istanbul and after returning to occupied Cyprus

President Mehmet Ali Talat has returned to the Republic after completing his contacts in Istanbul.

Within the framework of his contacts in the city, the President met with the representatives of some media organizations and attended TV programs where he evaluated the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.

Speaking during a meeting with a group of Turkish journalists in Istanbul yesterday, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that a new initiative to be launched to solve the Cyprus Problem, following Februarys presidential election in South Cyprus could be the last chance for a settlement based on reunification.

The President warned that a failure to find a solution will render the permanent division of the island, a development he added which would be against the interest of both sides on the island.

Speaking to reporters, he said that the international community was expecting to see new developments towards settling the Cyprus problem following the presidential elections in south Cyprus on the 17th February.

Pointing to the fact that the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos was intransigent, Talat said that the whole international community had come to realize this fact due to the Greek Cypriot leaders delaying tactics.

Explaining that settling the Cyprus Problem is a top priority for Turkey, Mr Talat said the solution of the Cyprus problem will be found through an international agreement which will be accepted by all the parties concerned on the Cyprus Problem, that is, Turkey, Greece, United Kingdom, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

He stressed that the maintenance of Turkeys guarantor power on the island is vital and could not be removed or abandoned in any way.

But, he said, issues such as the number of Turkish troops to remain on the island could be negotiated.

Mehmet Ali Talat underlined the need for taking the Annan Plan as a basis of settlement and said that such a plan consisting of 9,000 pages cannot be ignored.

The President said that political equality of the two sides, equal status of two founding states, Turkeys guarantor position and the establishment of a federal state are vital for the Turkish Cypriot side in case of a solution, and the solution should not be an extension of the current Republic of Cyprus.

The state of partnership is the same thing with the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Like the birth of Jesus Christ, a new federal state will be formed all of a sudden as foreseen in the Annan Plan.

The principles we put forward for a solution are already accepted as common principles in standing UN Security Council resolutions and the reports of Secretaries-General, he said.

Mr Talat stated that gaining a positive outcome from future negotiations under the UN auspices primarily depends on the results of the presidential election in south Cyprus.

In case the negotiations fail to bring a positive outcome, the President said the UN and the international community can seek for other ways of solution aimed at lifting the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Explaining that the international conjuncture is not on the side of the Greek Cypriot side, he stated that the world is not putting the blame on the Turkish Cypriot side anymore for the non-solution after the Turkish Cypriot side said yes to the Annan Plan in the 2004 referenda.

[02] Soyer: The struggle of the Turkish Cypriots should not be related to Kosovo

According to a statement issued by the prime ministers office, Mr Soyer alleged the day before yesterday in statements to the private Kanal T television that after the 24 April 2004 referendums the existence and the rightfulness of the Turkish Cypriot people has been accepted and it was established that they have the ability to determine their own future.

Mr Soyer reiterated that the policy of the Turkish side for the solution in Cyprus is a partnership based on the equality of the two founding states and the bi-zonal political equality.

Mr Soyer said that the ferry line between occupied Famagusta and the Syrian port of Latakia should not be underestimated and argued that the Greek Cypriot have sent a letter to the EU in order to prevent this line, but the Union replied that the occupied ports of Famagusta, Keryneia and Karavostassi are not under embargo. It had been said that these ports are not in use. But for the first time an international organization decided and said that the ports are not closed. And this is an indication of the fact that we have covered a long distance, he added.

The paper notes: Soyer, who noted that the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people towards reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem should not be related to a Kosovo-type system, said that it is meaningless for the Annan Plan and Kosovo to be discussed equally and that the Annan Plan was in a much better stage than the independence of Kosovo.

According to the paper, Soyer said: If there is stagnation in the solution of the Cyprus problem deriving from the Greek Cypriot side, the EU must reply to this. While the Greek Cypriot Administration which is in the EU does not want a solution, keeping outside of the EU another people which want a solution does not comply with the principles of the EU.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Serdar Denktas continues to refer to interference of the AKP in the internal affairs of the Turkish Cypriots

In statements to Kibrisli, Mr Denktas said that the will of the assembly has been distorted by the AKP.

He noted that all the MPs of his party are determined to submit their resignation and added that on Wednesday the organs of the DP will convene and take a final decision on this issue.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Kormazhan makes a call to the federation supporters

Mr Kormazhan in a written statement said that Mr Talat who supported the federation as the basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem, after his visit to Ankara gave a new definition to the solution by talking of two states with equal status.

Korkmazhan further said that effort is being made from now to blow up the negotiation process to be started after February. Korkmazhan, expressing the view that President Talat and the CTP-ORP government are moving to the lines of Ankara and by hiding behind peace statements intensify the separatist efforts, called on all the powers supporting the federation to cooperate for peace and a United Federal Cyprus, the paper writes.

(EA)

[05] Turkish Cypriot newspaper argues that a NATO base will be established in the Karpass Peninsula

There are allegations, it adds, that for this reason Spanish officers have toured and examined the Karpass peninsula. The same sources said this was the only reason the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, wanted to see the Karpass area during his visit to the occupied areas and he had the opportunity to see on the spot the examinations which the Spanish officers carried out there.

Neutral observers are noting that an important part of the rich petrol deposits allegedly located in the Mediterranean Sea begins from the open sea of Karpass Peninsula, that the USA and Britain aim at benefiting from these wealth and therefore they attach great importance to the area, reports Ortam. The paper notes also that this was the reason for the pressure exerted on the CTP government to transfer electricity to the Karpass area and adds that the civil defence organization, based on this, increased its activities in the area.

(I/Ts.)

[06] The breakaway regime will open tourism offices in two more countries

In statements to Kibris, Mr Sanlidag refrained from revealing the names of the above-mentioned countries. Referring to the agreement with a company from South Korea, he said: The demand has come from them. They will open an office in South Korea in our name. There will be no great expense for the state.

Mr Sanlidag expressed the opinion that 2008 will not be a lost year for the tourism in the occupied areas of Cyprus and argued that 2008 will be better than 2007. He noted that they will spend five million US dollars in advertising during 2008 and that they will mainly focus on countries such as Turkey, Britain and Germany.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Erel: The ECHR does not recognize the TRNC

(I/Ts.)

[08] Turkish officials have reportedly said that the ferry lines between occupied Famagusta and Syria will soon start again

The paper notes that sources close to the foreign ministry of Turkey and the TRNC said that the journeys have stopped for a while because of the flag crisis and announced that they will start again during the next few days. The paper notes that the issue was raised during the recent visit of the Syrian Minister of Transport to Turkey and that the continuation of the journeys was reaffirmed.

A high ranking official said that the journeys stopped because of the pressures which have been exerted and the ships were taken off the flag of Georgia. However, he added, the crisis has been solved after Turkey registered the ships under its own flag and the journeys will soon start again.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Iraqi athlets who are visiting occupied Cyprus were reported missing

A group of 16 Iraqi sportsmen who came to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for a training camp have been missing since Thursday.

The squad who arrived in the TRNC on Wednesday to play a tournament with the TRNCs martial arts national team is believed to have crossed over to the Greek Cypriot side.

The group, made up of 11 athletes, a trainer and four children was last seen at 3 pm on Thursday afternoon as they left their hotel in Girne [occupied Keryneia] for a city tour.

No news has been heard from them since.

Speaking to the BRT on the issue, the President of the TRNC Martial Arts Federation, Mustafa Aktug, said that the same group had previously attended an international competition in the TRNC last October and had later applied to hold a training camp in the Republic in January this year.

He said that the group members which had been issued visas by the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad had entered the TRNC through Girne(occupied Keryneia) port.

Ertug said they (TRNC Martial Arts federation) had immediately informed Girne Police after noticing that the group went missing.

Police continues its investigation into the incident.

[10] Eurobank Tekfen to open a branch in occupied Cyprus

During a press conference held for announcing the targets of the bank for 2008, high ranking officials of Eurobank Tekfen did not exclude the possibility of opening a branch in occupied Cyprus within the framework of banks activities abroad.

According to the paper, the new name of Tekfenbank which was purchased by one of the biggest financial group of companies of Greece, Eurobank EFG, has changed to Eurobank Tekfen. The Greek bank purchased 70% of the Turkish Tekfenbank shares in March 2007.

(ML)

[11] The developments in Cyprus will be on the agenda of the visit of the President of the PACE to Ankara

Last night Mr van der Linden participated in a dinner given in his honour by the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), Murat Mercan. Today he is expected to meet with the Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, the Speaker of the TGNA, Koksal Toptan, the chairman of the EU Harmonization Committee, Yasar Yakis and Mr Mercan. He will also visit the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB). During his meetings he is expected to discuss the political and legal reforms at the TGNA, Turkeys EU accession process and the developments in Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[12] The Mediterranean Young Businessmen´s Confederation to be established

Young Businessmen Association of Turkey (TUGIAD) and Egyptian Junior Business Association (EJB) will sign a cooperation protocol to establish a confederation of Mediterranean young businessmen.

The protocol will be signed during Turkish President Abdullah Gul's official visit to Egypt between January 14th and 16th.

TUGIAD Chairman Murat Sarayli said that they have relations with the businessmen of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. "We will expand our relations to Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. In order to make our relations continuous, strong and institutional, we need a confederation," Sarayli stressed.

[13] Reference to Cyprus by the British Ambassador to Ankara during an interview with Today´s Zaman

Ambassador to Ankara Mr Nick Baird. Following are Mr Baird´s references to Cyprus:

The UK is now one of Turkey's top export markets. The trade volume between the two countries has reached 8.6 billon euros; around 1.5 million Britons visited Turkey in 2006 as tourists; and the number of Britons buying property and settling in Turkey is on the rise.

Britain is a strong supporter of Turkey's EU membership bid, and a significant part of the strategic partnership document sets out measures to help Ankara achieve its membership goal. The British government's special representative for Cyprus Joan Ryan held talks last week with senior Turkish officials in Ankara and suggested that opening a port to Greek Cypriot shipping would serve as a factor strengthening Turkey's hand in the upcoming process concerning the Cyprus issue. Ambassador Baird said all sides want to achieve a solution, so Britain is starting to put pressure on the parties, ensuring that they're engaged, and the process has been reinvigorated.

Question: An increasing number of observers argue that the government has slowed down reforms and lost much of its interest in EU accession. Do you agree?

Answer: It's been difficult, but it hasn't slowed down or it hasn't slowed down for anything that the Turkish government has done. The Turkish government has moved forward with great commitment and determination on the chapters where they have to adjust its laws to a European process. We've had problems, of course, problems related to the Cyprus issue, problems linked to the views of other member states which have slowed the process down, but it was never going to be easy. It's never easy to bring a country as big and as powerful as Turkey. It was very similar with the United Kingdom's accession process. What I see is a real determination and resilience in the Turkish government just to pursue this and keep pushing it on and not to let the obstacles prevent them from moving forward.

Question: What are Turkey's strengths?

Answer: We talk about a bridge between the East and West. It's right in concrete ways because Turkey has a set of relations and the ability to influence the Middle East and the broader Islamic world that no current European member state can match. I mean Turkey has very good relations with Israel and the Palestinians, and has very good relations with a number of communities within Iraq, with Iran and with Syria. And all these things are hugely important in bringing together people and improving the situation in the Middle East. That will increasingly be perceived as we see Turkey become more confident and more active as a generator of regional stability. Secondly, I think people will perceive much more as we move forward -- simply because there is great deal more contact -- that Turkey economically can be a real driver for competitiveness in Europe. I think Turkey can become a key manufacturing heartland for Europe.

Question: What are Turkey's weaknesses?

Answer: The problems in the accession are essentially of three kinds: one is Cyprus, which will become a barrier if we can't solve it; the second is political reforms here, but I say that up to a point because political reform has moved forward and it is moving further forward; and the third issue is the public opinion in Europe that we will have to address over the period before the point where we actually start taking decisions. But I genuinely think as people understand Turkey better, there will be a change in public opinion. I can't count the number of times I've had people here of all European nationalities who come to Turkey and say, 'I had no idea Turkey was so economically dynamic, so modern, so advanced.' There is a misperception in a lot of parts of Europe of what modern Turkey really is. And people will come more and they will see it, and their businesses will see it.

[14] Statements by British owner of usurped Greek Cypriot house in occupied Karmi on whether a writ was served

A second British couple with a holiday home in North Cyprus have been targeted by Greek Cypriot lawyer Constantis Candounas with claims that their property belongs to one of his clients.

Mr Candounas, instigator of a similar claim involving the Lapta [occupied Lapithos] home of Linda and David Orams, said this week he had served a writ against Bruce and Barbara Weedon who eight years ago bought the lease of a house in Karaman [occupied Karmi], administered by the TRNC Tourism Ministry.

The couple, who live near Canterbury, Kent, say, however, they have not accepted any writs sent or brought to their home and are now seeking legal advice.

Speaking from the UK, Mr Weedon, a 67-year-old former insurance agent, told Cyprus Today he was aware of four attempts to serve the writ on behalf of Mr Candounas´s client, Vasiliki Zehchiri, who left Karaman in 1974.

We returned home in October, having been abroad for some time and in the post was a letter from the bailiff of Canterbury County Court, saying he would like to see us, said Mr Weedon. When he arrived he told us it was to do with property in Cyprus, so I declined to accept it as I was pretty sure what it was about.

Since then we have had three further attempts to serve the writ on us two by post and one by DHL courier. The most recent attempt was in a letter carrying Greek Cypriot postage stamps which arrived on Tuesday last week.

We have signed none of them and have no intention of doing so because we purchased our right to live in the Karaman house and have spent thousands of pounds on repairing and improving it.

Mr Weedon said his son had opened envelopes containing the writ while they were abroad and told them it was claiming around £60,000 in rent and damages plus return of the house.

I´m pretty sure the woman making the claim was among a group which asked if they could take stones from one of our walls in Karaman as a souvenir because their family had lived there, said Mr Weedon.

I declined to let them do that because the wall had been built since 1974 and therefore had nothing to do with anyone who had lived there before that.

Over the eight years we have had the house we have had several approaches from Greek Cypriots. They seem to have forgotten that Karaman now is nothing like the derelict and deserted place they left in 1974.

Leaseholders like us have made enormous improvements while respecting its original architecture and history.

Mr Candounas told Cyprus Today this week that he had a certificate from the Royal Court of Justice confirming the writ had been successfully served on Mr and Mrs Weedon.

He said the Weedons were now legally obliged to appear before the South Cyprus Nicosia District Court within 30 days of November 23, when the writ was officially served.

However, when Cyprus Today contacted the UK court on Thursday seeking confirmation, we were referred to Canterbury Country Court, whose administrative officer, Rita Dobbyn, said: We only have a record of the bailiff´s visit in October, when the writ was refused. If it has been successfully served it must have been by another authority, or by another means. According to our records the writ has not been served.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[15] Milliyet Columnist: The Greek Cypriots cannot be intimidated

Mr Gursel goes on and lists three reasons why the unilateral division of Cyprus is not possible.

Subtitle: Kosovos difference: Its borders

In Kosovo, writes Gursel, the borders which were drawn earlier and recognized both nationally and internationally are in question, therefore, in the Kosovo issue, the sides who are party to the disagreement will not deal, on the negotiating table, with drawing of new borders. As for the de facto situation in Cyprus, the borders are drawn up by the Turkish army and no one, except Turkey, recognizes this border. In order to give political and legal identity to the division of the island, the Turkish side first of all, should convince the Greek Cypriots to accept the idea of partition and then sit with them for territorial negotiations. For the time being this is not possible.

Secondly, neither the USA nor Britain extend support for the permanent division of the island. So, you cannot make the Greek Cypriots to be afraid of this.

Subtitle: What about the UN resolutions?

The third one; What will happen to the UN Security Council resolutions 541(1983) and 550(1984) which stipulate the non-recognition of the TRNC? If the island will be divided, and the member states will be able to recognize the TRNC, then this should be recognized by a new resolution to be adopted by the UN Security Council.

In order to do this, without getting the Greek Cypriot sides consent, one has to prove strongly that it is the Greek Cypriot side that precludes a solution. This is not an easy job to do. Saying division will become permanent, means applying the Taiwan model and not the Kosovo model. It is doubtful that this model could be sustained in the TRNC. What is definite in the Cyprus problem is that we are on the eve of a new beginning. We have been informed on a statement by Tassos Papadopoulos; As far as the Cyprus problem is concerned, no one can talk about last opportunity. He is right.

EG/

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article