Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-07-01

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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 informed the Turkish Cypriot political Parties which are represented in the assembly about the latest developments of the Cyprus problems

[02] Former Australian FM to be appointed as the UN Special Representative for Cyprus

[03] Avci calls for a solution of the Cyprus problem based on two founding states

[04] A delegation of the German Alevi Unions Federation is visiting occupied Cyprus

[05] Reports on the status of the Turkish Cypriot CTP in the Socialist International congress

[06] Contributions from Turkey to the universities in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[07] The 2.9 % of the workforce of occupied Cyprus is employed in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

[08] The Keryneia Municipality participated in the World Cities Summit 2008 which took place in Singapore

[09] The Mayor of the German city of Waldkirchen may visit the occupation regime

[10] New developments in the Ergenekon investigation

[11] Ertugrul Apakan to replace Baki Ilkin to the UN?

[12] Turkey expects start of negotiations on 3 chapters during Frances EU Presidency

[13] Babacan asks Luxembourg to support Turkeys EU bid and calls for strengthening of economic relations

[14] Greens Party to be formed in Turkey

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat informed the Turkish Cypriot political Parties which are represented in the assembly about the latest developments of the Cyprus problems

The Turkish Cypriot press (01.07.08) reports also on todays meeting between the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat and President Demetris Christofias.

Under the title Will the negotiations start? Halkin Sesi reports in its first page that the comprehensive negotiations which were to start on the 21st of June have not started yet and notes that todays meeting between President Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat will be crucial as regards the launching or not of the negotiations.

Under the title critical day Yeni Duzen reports that the future of the Cyprus problem and the work done until now will be put on the table at todays meeting between the two leaders.

(CS)

[02] Former Australian FM to be appointed as the UN Special Representative for Cyprus

Its been reported that the former Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, will be appointed as the United Nations Special Representative for Cyprus.

According to the Australian media, Mr Downer who is to leave politics - is expected to announce his new duty on Wednesday.

The media reported that Mr Downer spent last week in the United States where he held discussions with UN officials on the issue.

The politician served as a Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest serving in Australian history.

One of Downer's earliest initiatives as foreign minister was to work with New Zealand to broker a peace agreement in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, which ended a long running civil conflict.

In 1999, Downer played a key role in assisting the United Nations to hold a referendum in East Timor and in negotiating the entry of the peace keeping force into East Timor.

[03] Avci calls for a solution of the Cyprus problem based on two founding states

Deputy Prime Minister Foreign Minister Turgay Avci has called for an immediate start of the full-fledged negotiations on the Cyprus issue.

Speaking during a reception today, Mr Avci said that the Turkish Cypriot Side is ready for a solution which will be based on bi-zonality and political equality of the two founding states which will include Turkeys guarantorship on the island.

He also called on the Greek Cypriot Side to put forward its intention as soon as possible.

Noting that Turkish Cypriot peoples will for a solution which was put forward in the 2004 referendum is still continuing, Mr Avci said that this does not mean that Turkish Cypriots are ready to sign whatever would be in the agreement.

Stating that the negotiations process will continue, Turgay Avci stressed that Turkish Cypriot peoples rights will not be abandoned.

He also added that efforts to strengthen the Turkish Cypriot people and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will continue while the negotiations process goes on.

[04] A delegation of the German Alevi Unions Federation is visiting occupied Cyprus

The President of the Baden Wurttemberg State, Mehmet Recber, in the speech he made during the visit said that the aim of the visit is to be acquainted with the TRNC and at the same time to introduce the TRNC to Germany. He also added that in the TRNC live a lot of citizens who came from Turkey, and said that the visit will give the delegation the opportunity to examine closely the way of living of the Turks who live in Cyprus. In addition the delegation is watching the political and economic situation in north Cyprus to offer its help if necessary.

Reporting on the same issue Kibris reports that Mr Avci stated during the meeting that the Cyprus problem must be explained to the world because it is not known that the embargo and the isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots is continuing.

(CS)

[05] Reports on the status of the Turkish Cypriot CTP in the Socialist International congress

The Republican Turkish Party United Forces (CTP-BG) has been accepted as a full member of the Socialist International.

The CTP-BGs membership was approved at the 23rd congress of the Socialist International which opened in Greece with over 650 delegates of global social democratic, socialist and labor parties.

The CTP-BGs full membership to the association was backed by all delegates attending the Congress except those from the Greek Cypriot EDEK party.

In an opening address at the Congress, Greece's main opposition leader George Papandreou who chairs the Socialist International, congratulated the two leaders in Cyprus for launching a new process and wished them success at their meeting tomorrow.

He also voiced the Socialist Internationals support to the efforts aimed at reuniting the island.

The Republican Turkish Party United Forces Foreign Relations Secretary Unal Findik and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee Kutlay Erk are in Athens for the three day Congress which is being held under the theme of Global Solidarity.

During their stay in the coastal Athens resort of Lagonissi, Findik and Erk will also have bilateral discussions.

The Congress will discuss climate change, peace and conflict resolution, the world economy and migration issues.

On the issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (01.07.08) reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) which is attending the 23rd Congress of the Socialist International in Athens Greece was elected as consultative member. According to the paper all the parties which are participating in the Congress, except EDEK, voted in favor of CTP.

(CS)

[06] Contributions from Turkey to the universities in the occupied areas of Cyprus

He said that together with TRNC officials and university officials they succeeded to reach the aim of these contributions with the most active, rational and economic way. Mr Kurttekin concluded that as Turkeys Ambassador his interest in the issue is multidimensional and that the contributions to the TRNC universities will continue.

The ceremony was also attended by the self-styled speaker of the parliament Mrs Fatma Ekenoglu and the district governor of Morfou, Mr Cemal Turkler.

(EA)

[07] The 2.9 % of the workforce of occupied Cyprus is employed in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

According to the paper, 3.5 % of the workforce was employed in the sector of agriculture in October 2007 (decreased by 1.3 % compared to October 2006), 9.9 % in the industry (increased by 0.4 %), 10.8 % in the constructions (increased by 0.4 % compared to October 2006) and 75.8% (increased by 0.6% compared to October 2006) in the services sector.

The survey showed that unemployment in the occupied areas of Cyprus was 9.4% in October 2007 and that the total number of the unemployed persons was 9.361. According to the survey 47 % of the unemployed persons were men and 53 % women. Unemployment among the men was 6.7 % and among the women 14.7 %. The highest rate of unemployment was observed in occupied Trikomo area (13.3 %) and the lowest in occupied Nicosia (7.7 %). The unemployment rate in the young people between the ages of 15 and 24 is 22.8 % in the whole occupied area of Cyprus. Trikomo is again the area with the highest rate (28.8 %) while occupied Nicosia has the lowest rate (17.7 %).

(I/Ts.)

[08] The Keryneia Municipality participated in the World Cities Summit 2008 which took place in Singapore

According to the paper the Keryneia municipality participated in the summit upon an invitation of the Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC) and notes that in addition to the self-styled municipality, politicians, administrators and scientists from Asia, Europe, Afrika and the USA participated in the summit. The paper also writes that in the framework of the Summit, Mr Aygin had contacts with foreign politicians with whom he discussed the Cyprus problem and gave information about Keryneia.

(CS)

[09] The Mayor of the German city of Waldkirchen may visit the occupation regime

In statements during the meeting Mr Josef told the team: It is five years now that we are meeting. This is my turn. The sooner possible I will come to the TRNC. On his part Huseyin Akcan, the chairman of the self-styled national team thanked Mr Josef who, as he said, embraced them with their true identity, in spite of all the pressures. According to the paper, the TRNC national cyclists team gave to the Mayor of Waldkirchen a letter from the self-styled economy and tourism ministry.

(CS)

[10] New developments in the Ergenekon investigation

(EA)

[11] Ertugrul Apakan to replace Baki Ilkin to the UN?

Turkey faces the risk of having no representative present during crucial voting to elect the non-permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, scheduled in October. Turkey's permanent representative for the U.N. in New York, Baki Ilkin, will retire just three days before the vote.

Turkey has declared its candidacy for non-permanent membership to the U.N. Security Council after nearly 50 years and will compete with Austria and Iceland for the two Western European and other group (WEOG) seats for the 2009-2010 term.

Ilkin, born in October 3, 1943, will reach Turkey's official retirement age limit of 65-years for government service ahead of the voting scheduled either on October 7 or 14.

Even as the replacement of Ilkin with current Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan is widely spoken in the capital Ankara, the intense agenda and ongoing turmoil in Turkey's politics blocks this appointment.

Ankara is moving through a tense period due to the closure case filed against Turkey's ruling AKP. The file is standing before the Constitutional Court; however no time has been announced for when a decision could be handed down.

Turkey's top prosecutor filed a lawsuit against the ruling AKP in March claiming the party has become the focal point of the anti-secular activities in the country.

The Foreign Ministry is working on new formulas to solve the bottleneck regarding the issue. One possible solution being voiced is to promote Ilkin as a coordinator to the same role through a special government decree.

[12] Turkey expects start of negotiations on 3 chapters during France´s EU Presidency

Turkey expects three new chapters to be opened to negotiation with the European Union (EU), as France takes over the rotating presidency of the union as of July 1st.

Negotiations are expected to start on chapters of "free movement of capital", "energy" and "education and culture", officials said on Monday.

A chapter on "social policy and employment" may also be opened to negotiation later on, same sources added.

High-level French officials have recently stated that France would not hinder Turkey's full membership negotiations, although the country is known for its opposition against Turkey's full membership.

France previously vetoed the opening of five chapters including "economic and monetary policy", claiming that such chapters evoked direct membership to EU.

On the other hand, French Senate recently rejected a constitutional amendment envisaging a direct referendum in France to vote on Turkey's EU membership. The amendment, which was previously adopted at the French parliament, stated that "the requirement of referendum should continue for the full membership of countries whose population exceeds 5 percent of the EU's total population".

The discussion on the constitutional amendment package will be concluded at a session next week which will bring together the members of the French parliament and the senate. In order for the amendment to be adopted, three-fifths of the members should vote in favor of it.

[13] Babacan asks Luxembourg to support Turkeys EU bid and calls for strengthening of economic relations

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan met on Monday with Luxembourg's Deputy PM and Foreign Affairs and Migration Minister Jean Asselborn and said that Turkey expects this founding member of European Union to continue to support its EU bid.

"Luxembourg is one of the most prosperous countries in Europe. Economic relations between Turkey and Luxembourg, which is one of the world's leading banking and finance hub, are important," Babacan told a joint press conference after their meeting in Ankara.

"We will do our best to improve and deepen relations with Luxembourg in the future," Babacan said.

Asselborn said Luxembourg's economy minister would visit Turkey later this year to boost economic relations between the two countries.

He touched on Turkey's EU bid and said that European politicians should support Turkey on its way to the Union. However, he said Turkish government should continue reforms.

Asselborn also said that European politicians should help resolve Cyprus problem and that 2008 could be an opportunity to settle the question, stating that EU and Turkey should both solve their domestic problems.

[14] Greens Party to be formed in Turkey

EG/

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