Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-10-05

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan reiterates his stance for two separate states in Cyprus

[02] Eroglu says he is satisfied with Erdogans statements at the Congress of the AKP

[03] Turkish Cypriot NGOs urge for international recognition of the illegal occupation regime

[04] Water pipeline project between Turkey and the occupation regime approved by Turkeys council of ministers

[05] Self-styled minister attended the IMF meetings in Istanbul

[06] Turkish Cypriot organizations participate in the Human Dimensions meetings of the OSCE in the absence of the Republic of Cyprus

[07] The Turkish Red Crescent of Northern Cyprus applied for a membership to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent

[08] The breakaway regime prohibits strikes

[09] Statements by Talat: The permanent division of the island is the nightmare of the Greek Cypriots

[10] Nami completes his contacts in Brussels; EU to appoint a coordinator for technical assistance in the intercommunal talks and provide assistance to the TRNC in it harmonization with the EU

[11] Davutoglu at the European Policy Centre in Brussels: I cannot say Turkey reached its final borders after the Lausane Treaty was signed

[12] Gul refers to Cyprus negotiations in the Turkic-speaking countries summit

[13] Gul to attend Season of Turkey in France

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan reiterates his stance for two separate states in Cyprus

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been re-elected as Turkeys Justice and Development Party leader. The ruling party of Turkey held its congress meeting yesterday in the Turkish capital Ankara and delegates re-elected the current Prime Minister as its leader.

Speaking during the event Recep Tayyip Erodogan made remarks concerning the Cyprus issue. He said the Turkish side is the side that always supports a solution being found to the Cyprus problem.

Erdogan said a solution to be found to the Cyprus problem will be based on the fact that there are two separate peoples with two separate democracies, two separate states. The Turks of Cyprus will never give up on the fact that they can administer themselves, have equal status and equal partnership of the island, added Mr. Erdogan.

Noting that they will never bow to pressures from circles that are showing the non solution of the problem as a solution, the AK party leader also warned that no one should come to Turkey with new demands.

Explaining that the Turks of Cyprus are an inseparable part of the Turkish nation, Mr. Erdogan said Turkey as in the past, today and in the future is always a guarantee of the Turks of Cyprus peace and prosperity.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.10.09) reported the following from Ankara:

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected as chairman of his ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party on Saturday.

Erdogan won 1,362 votes of 1,363 AK Party delegates at the party congress held in Ankara. One vote was invalid.

AK Party members also elected members of party's executive boards. 17 members of AK Party's central decision-making and executive board have been changed. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, former ministers Huseyin Celik and Kursad Tuzmen and former deputy chairman of party's parliamentary group Salih Kupusuz have been elected new members of the board which is composed of 50 party members.

[02] Eroglu says he is satisfied with Erdogans statements at the Congress of the AKP

Pointing out that a long part of Mr Erdogans address at the Congress was related to the Cyprus problem, Mr Eroglu expressed his satisfaction about this fact and added that he was relieved from the fact that clear views were expressed by Mr Erdogan on the Cyprus problem.

Alleging that there are two separate peoples, two separate democracies and two separate states in Cyprus, Mr Eroglu noted that they have been always saying that a lasting agreement would be possible with the acceptance of the reality of the equal regimes and added that they were satisfied with the fact that Mr Erdogan as well drew attention to this (during the congress of the AKP).

Asked what was the aim of the statement made by Mr Erdogan that the non-solution could never be accepted, Mr Eroglu replied that Mr Erdogan wanted to say that the current situation in Cyprus will not be accepted.

Moreover, Kibris reports that during his address at the Congress Mr Eroglu argued that the Turkish Cypriots are fortunate to have a motherland such as Turkey and added that they would carry out together the holly Cyprus cause.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (05.10.09) reports that in statements to CNN-Turk television, Mr Eroglu argued that in case solution is not found in the Cyprus problem the will of the Turkish Cypriots should be recognized. Under the title The citizens want two separate states, the paper reports that Mr Eroglu expressed the view that this will be the last chance for a solution in Cyprus and wished for this to be the last chance. Mr Eroglu argued that in case a result is not achieved in the ongoing negotiations, the Greeks should go their way and the Turks their own. Eroglu alleged: Because the Turkish Cypriot people have been tired. Around 80-82% of the citizens want two separate states. Mr Eroglu supported the statement made by Mr Erdogan in New York that if there is no solution, the normalization of the status of the TRNC is a necessity that cannot be postponed. He also supported the time table given by the Turkish Prime Minister and said that a referendum should be held in Spring 2010. He expressed the view that the Greek Cypriots have no intention of reaching to reconciliation.

Mr Eroglu further argued: Turkey is a world state. It is a big state. Now the interests of the world are in accordance with the friendly relation with Turkey. Therefore, it is a reality that the voice of Turkey will be heard louder than the voice of the south and the TRNC will be recognized by the world.

In addition, illegal Bayrak television (04.10.09) broadcast the following:

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu has said that the National cause has come to the stage it has today due to the sacrifices made by the Turks of Cyprus and Turkeys efforts.

Speaking during the AK Partys congress meeting yesterday, the TRNC Prime Minister said we will continue to defend this holy cause hand in hand and heart to heart.

Noting that Turkey has become a member of important international organizations such as the United Nations Security Council and NATO, Mr. Eroglu said that Turkey has reached its aim of modern civilization. Explaining that the Turks of Cyprus had after many years of struggle obtained freedom with the support of Motherland Turkey the Prime Minister said when we look at what situation Palestine is in we once again say how wonderful for us that we have this motherland.

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu and the leaders of the political parties with seats at the Republics Assembly attended the AK Partys congress.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Turkish Cypriot NGOs urge for international recognition of the illegal occupation regime

A group of civil society organizations has sent a letter to the Turkish premier, asking him to exert efforts for the international recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Do not hold-off and do not delay efforts any more to win the recognition of the TRNC. The recognition is not an obstacle against a realistic solution based on the bi-state principle, but it would facilitate a solution, the group of forty-seven NGOs, headed by the TRNC Promotion Association, appealed to Recep Tayyip Erdogan in their letter relayed Friday to Turkey's ambassador to the TRNC.

The NGOs called for a strong and effective guarantor state status for Turkey in any possible settlement of the Cyprus dispute, urging Turkey to resist efforts to erode the equality and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots.

[04] Water pipeline project between Turkey and the occupation regime approved by Turkeys council of ministers

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu has met with the Turkish Minister of State in Charge of Cyprus Affairs Cemil Cicek on the sidelines of the 3rd General Congress of Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party in Ankara. The TRNC economy as well as the latest developments on the Cyprus Problem was on top of the agenda at the meeting.

Speaking during the meeting, the Turkish Minister of State Cemil Cicek announced that the pipeline project to carry water from the Dragon River in Turkey to the TRNC has been approved by the Turkish Council of Ministers.

Explaining that a tender will be launched in the coming days for the construction of a dam in Anamur as part of the first phase of the project, Cicek said that once the Anamur Dam is completed, a second tender will be launched for the construction of a dam in the Guzelyurt [occupied Morfou] area in the TRNC.

[05] Self-styled minister attended the IMF meetings in Istanbul

Mr Tatar noted that the breakaway regime has a great potential for growth, provided that we take the correct steps and become competitive. He argued that everybody should think of the entire community and behave in a self-sacrificing manner.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (05.10.09) reports that Mr Tatar and the self-styled minister of health, Ahmet Kasif, participated in a dinner of the North Cyprus Cultural Association in Istanbul. Mr Tatar stated that their main targets are to cover the deficit in the budget and open the way for the private sector. We should take this step in order to prevent the trade to slide to the south. Otherwise our trade will suffer a great loss from that, he argued.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Turkish Cypriot organizations participate in the Human Dimensions meetings of the OSCE in the absence of the Republic of Cyprus

The general secretary of KTOS, Sener Elcil referred to the right of the Turkish Cypriots living in Limassol to be educated in their mother language and noted that they have submitted an application to the court on this issue. During his address, the representative of the Turkish Cypriot Journalists Union, Sami Ozuslu said that the Cyprus problem lasted for a long period of time and that the new generations see the other community as the other. He noted that the education system and the media play the most important role in this and added that the Turkish Cypriot history books have been changed in the positive direction by the CTP government, while no step was taken for a change in the Greek Cypriot history books.

The paper reports also that a booklet prepared by the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation under the title Turkish Cypriots: Europes Excluded Citizens and some brochures have been distributed to the participants in the meetings. The paper writes that contrary to what was happening in the past years, no reply from a Greek Cypriot representative was given to the Turkish Cypriot allegations during the first week of the meetings. The seats of the Republic of Cyprus were usually empty in the room, notes the paper.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The Turkish Red Crescent of Northern Cyprus applied for a membership to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent

The paper also reports that during the meeting at the Federation Building in Geneva it was proposed that the Turkish Crescent of Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot Red Cross to participate in the congress separately under the name of the Republic of Cyprus. However, this proposal was not accepted by the Turkish Crescent of Northern Cyprus.

(DPs)

[08] The breakaway regime prohibits strikes

The self-styled prime minister, Dervis Eroglu stated that his government has taken all necessary measures in order for the assembly to operate and added that all the decrees in the power of law will pass from the assembly.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (05.10.09) refers to the issue under the title Strike prohibition for 60 days.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (05.10.09) reports that Ahmet Kaptan, chairman of KTAMS, told the paper that the decision of the UBP government is antidemocratic. He said that they will not go on strike today, but they will organize a protest activity.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Statements by Talat: The permanent division of the island is the nightmare of the Greek Cypriots

Mr. Talat said also that the Turkish Cypriots have been working dynamically to find a solution to the Cyprus problem whereas the Greek Cypriot side has been resisting a solution, and added that the whole world has witnessed this. He also added that the world was not aware until today of the property problem of the Turkish Cypriots and that Turkish Cypriots too have missing persons, adding that the world has now seen and understands that the Cyprus problem is not a problem which started during 1974 but a problem which started before 1963.

During his speech Mr. Talat said also the following We know what we want and we will never accept categorizing our citizens and say in the future that this group will be citizens but this group will not. He added that we dont want this kind of discrimination and nowhere in the world have people being categorized according to where they came from or their origin.

Noting that even if the reason for a solution is different the Greek Cypriots too need a solution just as much as Turkish Cypriots, adding that the permanent division of the island is the nightmare the Greek Cypriots fear the most and that they do not ever want to experience this.

(AK)

[10] Nami completes his contacts in Brussels; EU to appoint a coordinator for technical assistance in the intercommunal talks and provide assistance to the TRNC in it harmonization with the EU

The European Union prepares to appoint a coordinator to provide technical assistance to the Cyprus negotiation process, while the talks will be continued under the United Nations umbrella.

This was announced by President Mehmet Ali Talats Special Representative for talks with the EU and the UN Ozdil Nami who has just completed his contacts in the EUs capital Brussels. An official announcement is expected from the Union soon.

Mr Nami told BRT that the EU Coordinator will provide assistance to the TRNC in its harmonization with the EU Acquis Communautaire.

Ozdil Nami said that during his discussions in Brussels, he noticed that leading EU officials welcomed the Turkish Sides positive approach towards a settlement. `I believe that we will see the fruits of our positive approach. For example, we have got the impression that the Greek Cypriot pressure will not yield to results on Turkeys EU Progress Report to be issued in December`, he said.

Answering a question, Mr Nami said that during his discussions with EU officials, the statements issued by the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso on the acceptance of a possible agreement in Cyprus as a primary law of the Union were once again reiterated. He stressed that the Turkish sides position on the issue was not open to debate.

Upon being asked to comment on statements by the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias in New York, Mr Nami said President Talat waits to hear directly from Christofias himself what he meant by the word autonomous. `There is definitely a problem if Christofias used the word particularly with its widely-known old meaning`, he noted.

[11] Davutoglu at the European Policy Centre in Brussels: I cannot say Turkey reached its final borders after the Lausane Treaty was signed

Turkey is counting on joining the European Union by 2015 to bolster both its and the EUs global role, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Friday. Even 2015 is too late, not only for us, it will be too late for the EU as well, Davutoglu said at the European Policy Centre in Brussels.

The Turkish foreign minister also said Turkey and the EU were sharing a common destiny, history and fate, adding: Our vision is to make an EU, including Turkey, a global power in 2050.

Turkey has made piecemeal progress toward becoming the EUs first predominantly Muslim member since the process started in 2005, opening talks in 11 of 35 policy areas and completing one. The EU froze talks in eight areas in 2006 to punish Turkey for its trade embargo on Greek Cyprus, which joined the bloc in 2004. The dispute with Greek Cyprus has dogged entry talks since the debut.

The Turkish foreign minister blamed Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias for stalling unity talks after 42 meetings within a year. Unfortunately, Christofias is trying to slow down the negotiations, he said. Nobody can blame Turkey. We did everything and continue to do everything.

Davutoglu said he saw Europe as a sub-continent or an extension of Eurasia like the Indian Peninsula, instead of a continent that had borders or walls like that in Berlin during the Cold War era. As the Berlin Wall has been demolished, nobody can talk about cultural, political or economic walls separating Europe from Asia, Africa and even America, he said.

Davutoglu said Europe, a centre of power in the world in the 19th century, felt it necessary to lay the foundation of the EU after it started to lose power due to clashes within its borders after the World War II. Establishing the EU was a right solution to end the recession of Europe. It was a positive, creative and proactive answer, he said. But, he said, the rest of the world also exerted efforts, and China, Russia and the United States had entered into a new transformation. Therefore, Europe did not have the option of stopping in this rapidly changing world, he said.

Subtitle: Two alternatives

Davutoglu said Europe should choose between the two alternatives of becoming a global power or a continental power. If we, the Europeans, want to become a global power, there are two obstacles faced by all European powers from the first ages until today we should overcome, he said and enumerated them as a strategic connection with Africa and Asia and multiculturalism.

He said the EU definitely needed two key countries, Russia and Turkey, to become a global power. The Turkish foreign minister also said he could not say Turkey reached its final borders after the Lausanne Treaty was signed.

Of course, our borders are obvious since we have the strongest army in our region from the perspective of international law and real policy, and since we have strong international legal references, he said.

Davutoglu said Turkey's geography was multidimensional and defined Turkey as a European country with extension to Asia; a Balkan country; a Caucasus country; a Black Sea and Middle Eastern country; and a Mediterranean, Caspian and even a Gulf country. The minister said Turkey did not have the luxury of ignoring any of those regions and was behaving with this historic responsibility.

He said Turkey, which was opening new representations every year and which was asked to be a mediator in many world problems, wanted to play a global role not just deal with regional problems. The foreign minister said the EU's neighbourhood policy also covered Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East and North Africa.

At the same time, Turkey wants to achieve synergy by cooperating with the EU in this region, he said. The minister also said Turkey's benefits in diplomacy would become the benefits for the Union after Turkey became a member.

Everybody has been convinced that Turkey would bring stability to the EU, not problems, he said.

[12] Gul refers to Cyprus negotiations in the Turkic-speaking countries summit

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said that a solution to the Cyprus Problem is still possible before the end of 2009.

Speaking at the 9th Summit of Heads of Turkic-speaking States in Nakhichevan, the Turkish President expressed his belief that settlement before the end of this year was still within reach if the Greek Cypriot side adopted a constructive stance at the ongoing negotiations. I can only hope that the negotiations are concluded now because no Turk can bear to see our Cyprus Turkish brothers suffer under the unjust isolation imposed by the international community, he said.

Also touching upon his countrys EU membership process, Abdullah Gul said that Turkeys entry into the EU will also serve to improve relations between the bloc and the Turkic world.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (03.10.09) reported the following from Nakhichevan:

Turkic-speaking countries signed on Saturday the Nakhichevan Treaty to establish a cooperation council. The treaty was signed at the summit meeting of leaders of Turkic-speaking countries held in Azerbaijan's Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyzstan's President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Turkmenistan's Vice President Hidir Saparliyev attended the summit meeting hosted by Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev.

The agreement will also lead to the establishment of several other councils and will create a consultancy mechanism with a Secretariat to be established in Istanbul. Following the signing ceremony, leaders visited a sanatorium and had lunch.

[13] Gul to attend Season of Turkey in France

President Abdullah Gul will travel on Wednesday to Paris to attend events related to the Season of Turkey in France, a nine-month-long project promoting Turkish culture in France through various types of cultural activities, a statement released on Sunday by the Presidential Press Center announced.

Gul will participate in several festivities in Paris as part of the Season of Turkey in France, which will continue throughout this year. The Eiffel Tower will be lit up in red and white during Gul's visit and will continue until Oct. 29.

Known as a staunch opponent of Turkey's EU membership, France is hosting the Season of Turkey in France from July 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010. The season will present more than 400 events promoting Turkish culture and will convey positive messages about Turkey and its image in the West.

Jointly organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (0KSV) and Culturesfrance and overseen by the foreign and cultural ministries of both countries, Turkey Season was estimated to cost 24 million euros for events in 41 cities throughout France. The most comprehensive Turkish cultural event outside of Turkey, the Season of Turkey in France will hold numerous cultural events, particularly in October, November and December of this year.

Meanwhile, Gul will attend a dinner hosted by the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul today. Gul will also receive Finland's prime minister, Matti Vanhanen, at Tarabya Palace on Tuesday and then will participate in the official opening of CeB0T Information Technology Expo on Wednesday.

EG/

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