Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-06-25

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ercakica calls on Christofias to give his approval for the start for full-fledged negotiations

[02] Ozdil Nami will hold contacts in Norway and Netherlands

[03] Soyer stated that the negotiation process can start only on the basis of the 23rd May Agreement

[04] Formuzal met with so-called government and state officials

[05] A delegation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Samsun is searching for investment possibilities in occupied Cyprus

[06] UBP continues its contacts in Brussels- A member of the party expresses UBPs worries over the negotiation process

[07] European court rules against Turkey in deaths of Greek Cypriots

[08] The illegal Lefka European University became member of the Academic Cooperation Association

[09] Turkish Cypriot Australian students will search for postgraduate opportunities at the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University.

[10] An EU funded project launched in the occupied part of Cyprus

[11] Turkey to install an electronic jamming system in occupied Cyprus

[12] Roj TV was banned in Germany

[13] Erdogan and Basbug met for two hours

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ercakica calls on Christofias to give his approval for the start for full-fledged negotiations

The Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercakica has called on the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias to give his approval to the start of fully-fledged negotiations during his meeting with President Mehmet Ali Talat who has been calling for the immediate start of talks.

Reminding that the two leaders are to meet next Tuesday, the spokesperson said that the work by working groups and technical committees and the launch of fully-fledged negotiations will be on the agenda of Talat-Christofias meeting.

During his weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Mr Ercakica reminded that Tuesdays meeting will be held within the framework of the 21 March Agreement reached between the two sides, adding that a decision is expected to be taken by the two leaders on the start of substantial negotiations.

Referring to Mr Christofias recent statements concerning Turkey, he reminded that Ankara who supported the UN Peace Plan and is now supporting the new process started in Cyprus, had made its position towards the Cyprus issue very clear.

Emphasizing that the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias only collocutor is President Mehmet Ali Talat, he called on the Greek Cypriot Leader to give his approval to the start of substantial negotiations between the two sides.

[02] Ozdil Nami will hold contacts in Norway and Netherlands

President Mehmet Ali Talats Special Advisor for Negotiations and UN-EU Affairs- Ozdil Nami has flown to Norway to attend a meeting organized by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue of the Oslo Forum.

The announcement was made by the Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercakica during his weekly press briefing today.

Ozdil Nami will also hold a meeting with the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Store during which the Cyprus problem and the Turkish Cypriot sides stance on the new solution process on the island will be on top of the agenda.

The Presidential Advisor will later move on to the Maastricht city of Netherlands tomorrow where he will attend the meeting of the Political Academy of the Council of Europe.

Mr Nami will deliver an opening speech at the meeting and will also lead one of the panels.

Mr Ercakica added that this panel will also be attended by a group of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot youths.

[03] Soyer stated that the negotiation process can start only on the basis of the 23rd May Agreement

Mr Soyer stated that chaos was created after the Church and some political parties reacted to the principles of equality of the two founding states and political equality, referred to the 23rd May Agreement and added that the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Cyprus and the United Kingdom, aimed to surpass these principles.

He also stated that the negotiation must start without delay and accused the Greek Cypriot side of wanting to delay the launching of the negotiations process until the year 2009 when the European Union will decide over the membership of Turkey to the EU.

(CS)

[04] Formuzal met with so-called government and state officials

The President of the Autonomous Republic of Gagauz- Mikhail Makrovich Formuzal, who arrived in the TRNC to attend the Near East Universitys graduation ceremony, was received by Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Turgay Avci today.

During the visit, Formuzal expressed his countrys readiness to make all necessary contributions towards improving trade relations between the two countries.

Calling on the TRNC businessmen to make investments in the Autonomous Republic of Gagauz, the Gagauzian President said in that case, TRNC businessmen will be provided thousands of hectares of lands, and they will also be freed from paying taxes for 5 years.

Welcoming the President, Foreign Minister Turgay Avci stated that work is underway to improve trade, economic, cultural and sports relations between the two countries.

Informing that the Gagauzian President and his delegation will hold contacts with officials from the Chamber of Industry tomorrow, Mr Avci said there will be an opportunity to determine new fields of work other than agriculture and trade as well as to create new job opportunities in the fields of industry and agriculture.

The Foreign Minister also thanked the Near East University for playing a leading role in the future improvement of relations between the TRNC and the Gagauz Republic.

As part of his contacts with government and state officials in the TRNC, Mikhail Makrovich Formuzal was also received by President Mehmet Ali Talat in the afternoon.

[05] A delegation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Samsun is searching for investment possibilities in occupied Cyprus

(CS)

[06] UBP continues its contacts in Brussels- A member of the party expresses UBPs worries over the negotiation process

The UBP delegation met with various European MPs, among them the Belgian Raymond Langendries, the Dutch Jan Marinus Wiersma, the Bulgarian of Turkish origin, Metin Kaza, the German Vural Oger and the British Baroness Sarah Ludfort.

According to the paper during the meetings, the UBP delegation conveyed the partys views and gave information on the Cyprus problem, the red lines of the party and the negotiation process which started between the two leaders in Cyprus in March. Mr Ertugruloglu stated, inter alia, that the Turkish army brought peace in Cyprus and added that in order for negotiations for a United Cyprus to be started in the island, it must be accepted that there are two states in the island. As he stated UBP supports the TRNC and that for UBP the United Cyprus is not the only goal. For us the TRNC is the basis, he noted.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (25.06.08) reports in its first page that Irsen Kucuk, Lefkosia MP of the National Unity Party (UBP) stated that there are dangerous developments as regards the Cyprus problem. As he stated the establishment of a new state, the continuation of Turkeys active and de facto guarantorship as well as a solution that provides equal sovereignty, two zones and two states are extremely important for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

(CS)

[07] European court rules against Turkey in deaths of Greek Cypriots

The European Court of Human Rights yesterday ruled against Turkey in the deaths of two Greek Cypriots in 1996 on the divided island of Cyprus, sentencing Ankara to pay almost 400,000 euros to relatives of the two for both pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages.

The claimants in the case were 12 Greek Cypriot citizens, relatives of Anastasios Isaak and Solomos Solomou who died in 1996. Isaak had participated in a Greek Cypriot demonstration organized by the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation (CMF) to protest the Turkish military presence in the northern part of Cyprus. Tensions arose when the authorities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) announced that they would organize counter-rallies with the participation of the Turkish extremist Grey Wolves group and that they would fire at Greek Cypriot demonstrators. The claimants as well as the Greek Cypriot government alleged that during the demonstration Isaak was kicked and beaten to death by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot policemen and counter-demonstrators. As for Solomou, having attended Isaaks funeral, he entered the buffer zone with other demonstrators near the scene of the killing and, in protest, climbed up a flagpole flying the Turkish flag. He was shot and killed.

Under Article 41 [just satisfaction] of the European Convention on Human Rights, the court awarded 80,000 euros to Anastasios Isaaks widow for pecuniary damages. For non-pecuniary damages, the court awarded 35,000 euros each to Isaaks widow, his parents and to Solomous father, and also 15,000 euros to each of Isaaks and Solomous siblings. The applicants in both cases were also awarded 12,000 euros for costs and expenses, a press release on the courts Web site said yesterday. In both cases the court noted that the Turkish government had failed to produce any evidence showing that an investigation had been carried out into the circumstances of Isaak and Solomous deaths.

[08] The illegal Lefka European University became member of the Academic Cooperation Association

According to the paper Dr Ali Riza Buyukuslu had in the framework of the conference contacts with the Minister of National education and Research, Tonis Lukas and David Coyne Director for Education, responsible for coordinating of the European Commission's education programs and activities.

(CS)

[09] Turkish Cypriot Australian students will search for postgraduate opportunities at the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University.

(CS)

[10] An EU funded project launched in the occupied part of Cyprus

An EU funded project, titled "Support for Rural Development Policy in the northern part of Cyprus" has been launched.

The project inauguration ceremony was held at the new location of the EU Programme Support Office in Lefkosia this evening in the presence of European Commission officials and representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The European Commission has signed a 1,991,000 Euros contract with a consortium led by the company Agriconsulting Europe SA, and composed of Turkish company Agrin and French institution CNASEA, to support rural development policy in North Cyprus.

A statement from the Commission said that the Rural Development Support Team will help develop the capacity of Turkish Cypriot experts in the formulation of rural development policy, including assistance in the preparation of a Rural Development Plan, which will guide implementation of EU funded projects in this sector.

The Rural Development Plan will use the same methodology and approach as will be needed for the EU Common Agricultural Policy after a comprehensive settlement and reunification.

The Rural Development Support Team will play a vital role in the design of 17 million euros package of grant schemes, as well as helping potential beneficiaries prepare their applications.

Target beneficiaries include rural communities, farmers, producer organisations, cooperatives, agri-food processors, small and medium sized enterprises, companies, local action groups, non-governmental organisations and individual households.

[11] Turkey to install an electronic jamming system in occupied Cyprus

Ankara has started searching for ways of preventing the interruption of the broadcast of four TV stations in the TRNC after the national channel of the Greek Cypriot administration and the national channel of Greece have increased their signal powers. As it was made known, an officer from the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) of Turkey flew to the TRNC during the weekend and carried out studies. In order to solve the problem, it was made known that an electronic jamming system as the one used to obstruct Roj TV broadcasts in southeastern [Tr. Note: Turkey] will be used.

According to information, the Greek Cypriot sector, upgraded the frequencies of its national television, the RIK and the Greek national channel, the ERT, the above normal. Because of this the land broadcast of ART, ATV and NTV, transmitting to the TRNC from Turkey and Genc TV broadcasting in the TRNC, were brought to a state of not being in a position to emit clear pictures.

Upon this, the Supreme Broadcasting Board (YYK) in Cyprus [Tr. Note: occupied Cyprus] aiming to put an end to the problem has sent a memorandum to the United Nations representative in the island. As the letter submitted to the UN notes, the TRNC respects the broadcasts of the Greek Cypriot section and calls on the Greek Cypriot side to act the same. Yet, there has been no change in the stance of the Greek Cypriot Administration to what has been conveyed to the Greek Cypriots by the UN.

On the developments, the TRNC asked for technical support on the issue from Turkey. Evaluating the issue, Ankara has decided to send to the TRNC an expert on the frequencies. It was made known that the expert, who arrived in the TRNC at the end of the week, has started carrying out studies.

Officials who gave information to Cuhmuriyet stressed that an electronic jamming model similar to the one applied to obstruct Roj TV broadcasts will be used in order for the problem to be solved. Thanks to this system which will be based in Lefkosia, the transmission levels of broadcasts of RIK and ERT will be reduced in the TRNC, as in the case of Roj TV broadcasting interruption in southeast [Turkey]. Under this protection, the obstacles experienced in the broadcasts of Cyprus Genç TV, ART, NTV and ATV will be lifted.

The paper concludes that the same system in southeast Turkey, which is still in operation, prevents the broadcasts of Roj TV to a great part of the region.

(ML)

[12] Roj TV was banned in Germany

German Interior Ministry banned the activities of Roj TV, which is the broadcast organ of PKK terrorist organization, in the country. The ministry stated on Tuesday that the activities of Roj TV as well as "Mesopotamia Broadcast" institution were banned on June 19th.

It also stated that Roj TV encouraged PKK for violence, and helped the terrorist organization to find members to stage attacks in Turkey.

[13] Erdogan and Basbug met for two hours

The Prime Minister Erdogan and Ilker Basbug, the land forces commander, got together at a surprise dinner and discussed some items on the agenda.

The dinner lasted two hours and heated Ankara. The meeting is said to cover the fight against terrorism and the publications about the general Ilker Basbug. The dinner aroused attention as the land forces commander Ilker Basbug will be assigned as the chief of the general staff at the supreme military council in August. The Prime Ministry made a statement about the meeting: "The esteemed Prime Minister has held a meeting with the land forces commander Ilker Basbug tonight at the Prime Ministry's official building tonight. Prime Minister and Basbug discussed the steps to be taken in fight against terrorist organization for the following period and some recent issues on the agenda."

EG/

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