Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-08-07

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] The 40th meeting between Christofias-Talat; Statements by Talat after the meeting

[02] Talat called on the Turkish Cypriots to support solutionfavoured policies

[03] Putin said Turkey would become an energy transit centre. Reference to the Cyprus problem; The Blue stream project to be extended also to Cyprus

[04] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the meeting between the Prime Ministers of Turkey and the Russian Federation and Mr Putins statements regarding the Cyprus problem

[05] The Orams couple have a new lawyer

[06] Tacoy said the aim of the dredging and deepening of the occupied ports is to show to everybody that every span of land of the state will be supported

[07] Turkish settlers support the Koran lessons, while Turkish Cypriot organizations oppose to the assimilation of their community

[08] The breakaway regime is bringing new books from Turkey for the schools

[09] Charges against Kibris will be filed by 25 organizations because it published a list with the names and the over-time payments of employees

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish press of 6 August 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The 40th meeting between Christofias-Talat; Statements by Talat after the meeting

The first round of negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem was completed today. Todays meeting between the two leaders was the 40th since full-fledged talks began in September last year.

Todays meeting started with an hour-and half tête-à-tête meeting between President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader. The issue of aliens, immigration, citizenship and asylum was then discussed at the full session of the talks which concluded the first round of talks.

The second phase or review phase of the negotiations will start on the 3rd of September and will focus on issues where differences remain between the two sides.

In a statement on behalf of the two leaders, the UN Secretary-Generals Special Advisor Alexander Downer said that the completion of the first round of talks showed that significant progress had taken place at the negotiations.

The UN Special Advisor also said that the aides of the two leaders along with the UN Special Representative Taye Brook Zerihoun will be visiting Yesilirmak [occupied Limnitis] Monday to inspect work being carried out on the opening of a crossing point in the area.

Speaking to reporters following his return to the Presidential Palace, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that most challenging of issues to be taken in the second round of talks will be the property issue. He however noted that the Turkish Side also gave great importance to the issue of power sharing and governance.

Stating that they will start the second phase of the talks by first taking up the issue of executive under the chapter of power sharing, Talat said that they have agreed move on to the question of property after that.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot Side gave a positive reply to their proposal to discuss various issues at the leaders level in the second round, President Talat said: We didnt exactly receive a yes answer but the end result was satisfactory.

Responding to a question concerning the second phase of talks, the President said that their goal was to increase the areas of convergence during this period. By showing mutual flexibility we shall try to reach agreement on various issues where disagreement remains. Our intention is to minimize areas of difference before the give-and-take processes, he added.

Expressing his view that the property issue will be one of the most challenging issues in the second round, Talat said that although the property dispute affected individuals, the issue of power sharing and governance was the most important issue for him.

Asked to comment about the UN Special Advisors recent comments concerning the introduction of a time table to the talks, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that the Special Advisors intentions may have been not to offend the Greek Cypriot side.

I however have doubts that the process will yield any positive results without a time table. Nevertheless the talks are moving along a natural time table, he added.

[02] Talat called on the Turkish Cypriots to support solutionfavoured policies

The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Mehmet Ali Talat has called on his people to maintain their support to peace and solution-favoured policies which set the urgent settlement of the Cyprus problem as the prior goal.

More than 70 % of the TRNC people want a solution; and that matters a lot he said.

At a public gathering in the Dikmen village (occupied Dikomo) yesterday, the President noted that the Turks of Cyprus, who were once known as being the side of non-solution, have proven their peaceful reputation with the yes vote to the Annan Resolution Plan in 2004.

The President, who is finalizing the first phase of negotiations with the Greek Cypriot Leader Dimitris Christofias at the 40th round today, reminded that the new solution process took the start following the change of administration in the Greek Cypriot side.

Mr Talat said that the peaceful stance of the Turks of Cyprus which has internationally been proven, allowed Turkey to feel at ease regarding the international problems it becomes concerned in.

However, our only reason for making peaceful policies is not to open Turkeys international path. We take this issue as a whole and are happy with the outcomes of this stance he added.

President Talat went on to say that, for the first time in Cyprus negotiations history, the two sides have put their issues of agreement and disagreement on paper, and 30 papers on three main subjects have been prepared so far.

Noting that the second phase of Cyprus peace talks will start on the 3rd of September after a break, Talat said the procedure of the second phase has not gained its certain shape yet.

But generally, the two sides will work on increasing the level of rapprochement, the President stated.

Adding that the completion of the second phase will be followed by the give-and-take process, President Talat pointed to the need for the United Nations to take a more active participation within that framework.

[03] Putin said Turkey would become an energy transit centre. Reference to the Cyprus problem; The Blue stream project to be extended also to Cyprus

The Russian prime minister said on Thursday that Turkey would become an energy transit centre. Russia's Premier Vladimir Putin said that Turkey would become an energy transit centre throughout Europe.

"When the fact that the South Stream crude oil pipeline will pass through the economic zone of Turkey, Turkey will become an energy transit center throughout Europe," Putin told a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Putin said that Turkey and Russia had agreed on many issues, but talks on nuclear power plant unit price and construction costs continued.

The Russian prime minister enumerated important topics between the two countries as energy, particularly the South Stream crude oil pipeline, Blue Stream II (natural gas pipeline) and the construction of nuclear power plants in Turkey.

Putin underlined importance of the South Stream project for the energy security in Europe and the region.

The Russian prime minister said Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was also in Ankara. "We have agreed on giant partnership projects," he said.

On economic relations, Putin said that the bilateral trade volume reached 40 billion USD last year, and Russia was Turkey's number one trade partner and Turkey was Russia's number five trade partner.

Putin said two countries also discussed simplifying customs regimes, and agreed to open two additional green corridors, including a land and sea corridor. Also, two countries agreed to increase the Turkish products sent to Russia, he said.

Putin said two countries also agreed to extend the contract on sale of Russian natural gas to Turkey under appropriate conditions, and to extend the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline and transport gas to third countries including Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

The prime minister said they also agreed to construct natural gas depots in Turkey, which would help rapidly-growing Turkish economy and Turkish people.

Putin said electricity could also be sold to Turkey, and also said that the South Stream and Nabucco were rivals of each other and defined South Stream as Russia's priority.

The South Stream project would partly replace the planned extension of Blue Stream from Turkey through Bulgaria and Serbia to Hungary and Austria, and is seen as rival to the planned Nabucco pipeline. The completion is due by 2015.

The Nabucco project represents a new gas pipeline connecting the Caspian region, Middle East and Egypt via Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary with Austria and further on with the Central and Western European gas markets.

Also on Cyprus and Upper Karabakh issues, Putin said that Russia was supporting urgent settlement of Cyprus problem both in interests of Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Putin said Russia was supporting United Nations (UN) plans, and would continue to improve its relations, particularly economic relations, with both parties in the island.

The prime minister said Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev was holding talks with Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents regarding Upper Karabakh issue.

Putin said Russia wanted solution of the dispute, and was against any controversy in the Caucasus because any dispute in the region was negatively affecting Russia's relations with regional cuntries. "Russia can only encourage parties to reach a compromise for a solution," Putin said.

Erdogan and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had tete-a-tete meeting, which was followed by a luncheon hosted in Putin's honor by Erdogan. The two prime ministers signed protocols on cooperation on natural gas and oil, and later held a joint press conference.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul also received Putin.

[04] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the meeting between the Prime Ministers of Turkey and the Russian Federation and Mr Putins statements regarding the Cyprus problem

The paper reports that Mr Putin referred to the Cyprus problem and expressed the support of his country to the efforts for reaching a solution to the problem. We are targeting to develop our economic relations with both the south and the north part of the island, he said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (07.08.09) refers to the same issue under the title Putin: We will develop our economic relations with Cyprus, including the Turkish part of the island. The paper reports that Mr Putin said: We support an urgent solution to the Cyprus problem, which will be for the interest of both the Greek and the Turkish Cypriots.

The paper writes that responding to a question regarding the issues of Nagorno Karabah and Cyprus, Mr Putin expressed the support of his country to a solution of the Cyprus problem which will be for the interests of the Greek and the Turkish Cypriots and noted that they support the solution plans of the international community and the United Nations including the Annan Plan. According to the paper, Mr Putin said: From now on we shall continue to develop our relations, especially the economic relations with both sides of the island, including the Turkish side of the island.

Under the title Urgent solution in Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (07.08.09) refers to the same issue and argues that the Russian Prime Minister has spoken for the first time so clearly on the Cyprus problem.

(I/Ts.)

[05] The Orams couple have a new lawyer

The paper writes that Hasan Ercakica, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader, has stated that Mrs Cherie Blair and her team will continue to be on this case and that before Vahib & Co stopped its operation, the files of the case were taken away from it. In statements to Star Kibris, Mr Ercakica said that the Orams couple were looking for another lawyer and that they contacted with one firm. We were expecting this development, we had acquired the impression that it was not ok, noted Mr Ercakica. When asked whether he was referring to the Vahib firm with this, he said yes.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Tacoy said the aim of the dredging and deepening of the occupied ports is to show to everybody that every span of land of the state will be supported

Mr Tacoy pointed out that within the framework of the project regarding the ports and the fishing shelters, they will carry out works from the coast of occupied Keryneia until the coast of occupied Famagusta and added that these works will include the ports of the two occupied cities. He said they will continue this kind of works for the development of the maritime business, from the shipyard to the cruise businesses.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (07.08.09) refers to the same issue and reports that Mr Tacoy said, inter alia, the following: Our need is not only dredging and deepening the fishing shelters and the ports, but to show that every span of land of the state will be supported. This is the meaning of the fact that we came here and did these works. Our coming to Kokkina village today is aimed at the villages not feeling abandoned and showing that it is supported. We want to show to everybody, our friends and enemies, our neighbours, that everything we know is ours. Every span of land in the TRNC is property of the state, no matter how far it is.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Turkish settlers support the Koran lessons, while Turkish Cypriot organizations oppose to the assimilation of their community

Meanwhile, the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, Yusuf Suicmez stated that the lessons regarding the religion are held on an entirely legal basis and they are under the supervision of the self-styled ministry of education.

Moreover, the trade union of the officials dealing with the religion, issued a statement warning those who oppose to the Koran lessons. Do not exceed the limits of our patience, the union said.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (07.08.09) reports that some organizations and political parties accused the government of the National Unity Party (UBP) of trying to legalize and institutionalize the Koran lessons under the name of courses on religion, in order to take money from the AKP and the administrators of Turkey. The organizations noted that the lessons in occupied Gypsou and Kythrea villages might have stopped, but lessons are continuing in other places. They said they demand from prime minister Eroglu to stop these lessons and added that they will continue their struggle against reactionism, religious fanaticism and the assimilation of the Turkish Cypriots.

(I/Ts.)

[08] The breakaway regime is bringing new books from Turkey for the schools

The ministry of education which changes the history books, has the imams giving Koran lessons to primary school students and turned the religious courses in high schools into obligatory, is now planning to bring from Turkey books in order to change some of the school books which reflect the countrys culture and realities, writes the paper.

The news was conveyed to KTOS at a meeting held with the education department director, Mehmet Kortmaz the other day. KTOS is expressing its great concern over the issue, noting that the union will not accept this change to happen, writes the paper. During the period of the previous government, primary education school books had again been changed in a form that it would reflect the countrys cultureWe are expressing our strong reaction over changing these books, Mr. Ozhur said.

(ML)

[09] Charges against Kibris will be filed by 25 organizations because it published a list with the names and the over-time payments of employees

Meanwhile, the chairman of the public servants trade union, Mehmet Ozkardas called on Kibris newspaper to write also about the people who have villas with swimming pools and described as unethical the publication of the names, the salaries and the over-time payments of employees.

(I/Ts.)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish press of 6 August 2009

The Russian Prime Ministers visit to Turkey

Viewing the political issues to be discussed during Russian Prime Minister Putin's visit to Turkey in an article in Milliyet, Semih Idiz declares that the situation in south Caucasus has top priority given the recent rising tension between Georgia and Russia. Describing the statement made by US Vice President Joe Biden in his recent visit to Tbilisi as one of the factors fuelling this tension, Idiz points out that the "cooperation platform for stability" proposed by Ankara, which rescues Turkey from the responsibility of "taking sides," is still on the table. The Azeri-Armenian dispute, the search for conciliation between Turkey and Armenia, and the solution of the Karabakh issue are among the topics to be discussed, writes Idiz, conveying the views of certain "political observers" who question Moscow's sincerity in wanting to solve the regional problems since, they believe, solutions will diminish Russian influence in the Caucasus.

Questioning how Russia was convinced to extend its support to the Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline project in an article in Hurriyet, Erdal Saglam writes: "The first thing that comes to mind is that the government will grant permission to Russia to construct a nuclear plant in Turkey since Russia's interest in the issue is a known fact." Recalling that Energy Minister Taner Yildiz was opposed to giving this project to the Russians, Saglam says that the minister has somehow been convinced on the issue despite the financial and technical difficulties that have been foreseen. "If this project is given to the Russians and the United States turns a blind eye to it, it should be clear to all that the United States will get even at a later date," claims Saglam.

In an article in Hurriyet Daily News, Ersu Ablak points out to the similarities between Erdogan and Putin, maintaining that they will not have much trouble agreeing on the issue of Iran during their meeting. Viewing the two leaders' relationship to technology, Ablak argues that they are not very compatible with the new age of technology-driven growth since growth seeks innovation and tolerance, qualities that neither Putin nor Erdogan can provide.

An editorial in Hurriyet Daily News rejects the notion that Russian ascendancy and assertiveness can, somehow, be explained as a reinvention of the "Soviet bear." Expressing support for "the collective security concepts embodied in NATO," the editorial, all the same, argues that there is "much common cause for both Turkey and Russia to embrace."

Predicting that a nuclear power plant agreement will be signed during Putin's visit to Turkey, Sabah columnist Meliha Okur in an article quotes an energy analyst who believes that Turkey made the wrong choice in its nuclear power plant tender by rejecting Western technology. Viewing the dilemma between the Blue Stream-2 and Nabucco projects, Okur warns that Turkey might be dealt a heavy blow in the natural gas game it is playing.

Finally, in an article entitled "Energy to play great role in Turkish-Russian relations", Today's Zaman columnist Hasan Kanbolat argues that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Ankara today is set to "turn a new page on energy matters, including nuclear energy."

EI

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