Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-02-13

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met for their 19th time

[02] Official of the illegal regime in occupied Cyprus boasts that the TRNC was allowed to participate in IMTM in Tel Aviv for political reasons and announces ferry services between Haifa and occupied Famagusta as of April

[03] Avci met with the chairman of Turkeys Prime Ministry Housing Development Administration

[04] Letter to Olli Rehn by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO)

[05] Increase in imports, decrease in exports.

[06] Turkish army denies claims about Chief of General Staff's involvement in Ergenekon

[07] Branch chairman of ADD convicted for insulting Turkish President Gul

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met for their 19th time

President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias met this afternoon to continue their discussions on the property issue. The meeting lasted for two and a half hours. As usual, the leaders first held a tête-à-tête meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, the United Nations Secretary-Generals Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer has said that the leaders have exchanged their proposals on the criteria of the property issue. Responding to a question, Mr Downer said, from the very beginning, the role of the United Nations is to help the two leaders to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr Talat and Mr Christofias will come together next Thursday, the 19th of February. The Property issue is the second topic of the talks that have been continuing between the two leaders since last September with the aim of bringing about a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.02.09) and all the other newspapers report about the 19th meeting held yesterday between President Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, in the framework of the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

In statements after the meeting was rounded up, Mr Talat repeated that on the property issue the Greek Cypriot side is in favour of priority to be given to the first owners of the properties. Mr Talat stated, inter alia, that the two leaders continued discussing the property issue yesterday and added that the criteria put forward by the two sides on the issues of compensation, exchange and return of properties were taken up. Mr Talat said that the two sides put forward their opposing views on these criteria and they made short evaluation regarding the talks that took place last week.

(CS)

[02] Official of the illegal regime in occupied Cyprus boasts that the TRNC was allowed to participate in IMTM in Tel Aviv for political reasons and announces ferry services between Haifa and occupied Famagusta as of April

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is being represented for the first time at the 15th Annual International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) which opened in Tel Aviv yesterday.

The Economy and Tourism Ministrys Private Secretary Savas Ugurlu who is in Tel Aviv to attend the fair said the TRNC stand drew a great interest and also announced that ferry services between Haifa and Gazimagusa [occupied Famagusta] will be launched as from April.

Mr Ugurlu also noted that the TRNC was allowed to participate at the fair as North Cyprus Tourism Centre for political reasons.

Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot side for the first time in 15 years is not attending the IMTM boycotting the participation of the TRNC at the fair however several private Greek Cypriot companies are attending the event despite an official ban.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (13.02.09) under the title, Northern Cyprus for the first time at the Israeli International Tourism Fair, reports that the occupied areas of Cyprus will be represented at the International Mediterranean Tourism Market, which is being organized in Israel every year, under the name Northern Cyprus. The Government of Cyprus, for the first time in 15 years, decided to boycott the fair due to its unsuccessful efforts to prevent the participation of the occupation regime in the fair. At the tourism fair, which began on Tuesday, the stands of Turkey and the TRNC were side by side.

Moreover, under the title, A Floating casino this time, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.02.09) reports on its first page on the establishment of a new casino in a cruise ship and notes: As if 32 casinos were not enough on territory now we will gamble at sea as well.

According to the paper, despite the fact that the society stands up on the issue of the casino, the government, is trying to add another one. Invoking reliable sources Kibris reports that Cafer Gurcafer, who is the owner of the KADA Constriction Firm Ltd and is also the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Constructors Union, asked from the government permission for a floating casino and four million dollars development credit. It was learned that the self-styled government looks positively at Cafer Gurcafers demand.

According to the paper, Cafer Gurcafer will use this credit with Israeli partners for a giant project which will cost 14 million dollars. A luxurious ship with a capacity of 700 passengers will be rented for trips between the TRNC and Israel and rich Israelis will be carried to the TRNC. In the future the ship will be transformed into a floating casino, according to Cafer Gurcafer.

The self-styled minister of economy and tourism, Erdogan Sanlidag, confirmed that Cafer Gurcafer applied for a credit from the Development bank and said that the demand is under examination. The undersecretary of Sanlidags ministry, Sacas Ugurlu, in statements to Anatolia Agency said that ferryboat trips between TRNC and Israel will start in April. Mr Ugurlu stated that on the passenger ferryboats there will be entertainment centres, duty free shops and a casino.

(CS)

[03] Avci met with the chairman of Turkeys Prime Ministry Housing Development Administration

(CS)

[04] Letter to Olli Rehn by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO)

According to the paper, in the letter of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, it is indicated that the fact that the Direct Trade Regulation, which is one of the three regulations targeted to develop the Turkish Cypriot economy and prepare the Turkish Cypriots for their accession to the E.U, has not been implemented yet, affects negatively the efficiency of the other two regulations. In the letter, it is also stressed that the delay of the direct trade has slowed down the development of the Turkish Cypriot economy.

The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce underlined also that in the present conditions, the Green Line Regulation offered opportunities for the trading of local products only, and asked for a regulation to be made so that they could sell to the South through the Green Line Regulation, the products which come from the countries which are included in the Customs Union. The proposals of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce cover among others the animal products, the need for steps to be made in order for the buses and business vehicles to cross to the free areas of Cyprus with the same conditions as saloon cars, etc.

(A.K)

[05] Increase in imports, decrease in exports.

According to data from the Trade Office regarding the amounts of foreign trade in the January to December 2008 period, imports increased by 2% compared to the same period of the previous year and reached at 1 billion 567 million dollars.

During the same period, 1 billion 58 million 815 thousand dollars of goods were imported from Turkey, while the value of the goods imported from third countries was 508 million 339 thousand dollars. While vehicles were in first place among imported products in the previous years, they fell to second place giving over its position to fuels.

(A.K)

[06] Turkish army denies claims about Chief of General Staff's involvement in Ergenekon

The Turkish army denied Thursday the claims made by Ergenekon suspect Ibrahim Sahin regarding the current military chief and a senior army officer.The former head of the Turkish Special Forces, arrested in a recent Ergenekon operation, has claimed that Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug was aware the ex-police officer was asked to head up a new anti-terror unit, daily Radikal reported on Wednesday.

[07] Branch chairman of ADD convicted for insulting Turkish President Gul

Ataturkist Thought Association (ADD) Isparta branch Chairman Mahmut Ozyurek has been sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in jail for insulting President Abdullah Gul.

Ozyurek's trial continued at the Isparta 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance yesterday. Ozyurek was facing charges over a speech he made on March 3, 2008, on the 84th abolition of the caliphate in front of the Isparta Municipality building.

In that speech, Ozyurek accused Gul of engaging in various anti-secular activities and invading the post of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk at the Cankaya presidential palace.

In his defence, Ozyurek denied insulting Gul, saying that his remarks should be considered within the context of freedom of speech. He demanded that the court acquit him.

The court sentenced Ozyurek to 11 months and 20 days in jail in line with Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 299/1. Since Ozyurek had no past criminal record, his punishment was postponed.

EG/

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