Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-08-03

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Statements by Eroglu

[02] Cavusoglu's contacts in Ankara

[03] Durust goes to Ankara

[04] BBP leader supports the idea of two separate states in Cyprus

[05] A "faculty of theology" to open at the illegal YDU

[06] Turkey criticizes British report; Vaz says report on Turkish border security to assist Ankara in EU accession

[07] Turkey received 13 million visitors in first half of the year

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

The main issues in today's Turkish press are the ongoing meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) and other domestic issues.

[01] Statements by Eroglu

Eroglu said that he will invite on Thursday the political parties represented in the "parliament" to brief them and receive also their views on the Geneva meeting and on the ongoing Cyprus talks. He added that they will continue until October the negotiations under different chapters. Eroglu concluded by saying that they will try to reach the aim of a viable, lasting agreement.

[02] Cavusoglu's contacts in Ankara

"The Cyprus issue is national cause of Turkey. The point of view of Turkey towards TRNC will not change although Governments change," Cicek said. Cicek said Turkey focused on the Cyprus problem in international meetings, underlining that, "we attach importance to the issue also for ourselves because Cyprus is our national cause. The public should know that Turkey and the TRNC have fraternity relations, not a relationship based on self-interest."

Cicek said that the Cyprus problem is one of the long lasting controversies in the world, and noted that maybe Cyprus was the oldest matter on the agenda of the UN, which could not be solved. "The Turkish party has always being involved in efforts for a peaceful solution to the problem. It has always been the Greek Cypriot party which impeded the solution. Unfortunately, the international community has not exerted pressure on the Greek Cypriots against this unjust stance.

However, I believe that it was understood necessarily in the world. This problem should end. The Turkish Parliament will do its best to ensure a lasting peace. Expectations of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot party are clear," Cicek said.

Referring to Cyprus problem, Cavusoglu said that Turkey and "TRNC" had been exerting efforts for a long time for a sustainable, fair and a permanent solution. "We want those efforts to be successful," he said.

Later on, Cavusoglu met with the Turkish Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin. Speaking to reporters prior to his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot delegation, Sahin said: "There are issues on which we need to strengthen relations with the Turkish Cypriot ministry of interior and local government. We will hold talks with Mr Cavusoglu in this regard."

Cavusoglu, on his part, said that they arrived in Ankara to boost relations between the two "ministries" after the establishment of the 61st Government in Turkey and added: "Strong cooperation with Turkey will continue. We are here to prove this to the whole world."

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (03.08.11) also reports that Cavusoglu met with Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cyprus Affairs Besir Atalay, however no statements were made after their meeting.

[03] Durust goes to Ankara

During his talks in Ankara, Durust will meet Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, Deputy Prime Ministers Bulent Arinc and Besir Atalay and the Education Minister Omer Dincer. Durust will return to the occupied area later today.

[04] BBP leader supports the idea of two separate states in Cyprus

In a press conference after the meeting, Destici said that he also discussed the Cyprus problem in the meeting with Atalay, adding that he supports the idea of two separate states in Cyprus.

[05] A "faculty of theology" to open at the illegal YDU

Meanwhile, the paper reports that YOK rejected a similar request by the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU). However, no explanation was given for the rejection.

[06] Turkey criticizes British report; Vaz says report on Turkish border security to assist Ankara in EU accession

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has conveyed to his British counterpart William Hague Turkey's uneasiness over the report, which was made public on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

"The report underestimates concrete progress our country has made in EU harmonization in justice and internal affairs as well as measures it has taken against irregular migration. The report also fails to give a fair account of our constructive cooperation in a way that it could cause misunderstandings and concerns over our EU accession bid," the statement said.

The statement said Turkey has never been a source country for irregular migration, adding: "As a transit country like certain EU countries, it is negatively affected by irregular migration. The report's insinuation that Turkey could become a source country is above all else contrary to the facts of today. Turkey uses all means and resources in its power to prevent irregular migration and human smuggling," the statement said.

The statement also criticizes the EU for rejecting to open the policy chapter in Turkey's negotiations on "Justice, Freedoms and Security," saying that the Union's failure held Turkey back from full cooperation with European institutions such as the Europol and Frontex.

In an exclusive interview with an A.A correspondent, Keith Vaz, Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee of the British Parliament, responded to questions on the report: "Implications for the Justice and Home Affairs area of the accession of Turkey to the European Union".

Vaz said that the report expressed concerns over risk of rise of migration from neighbouring countries in case Turkey became an EU member and noted that the EU should assist Turkey to tighten border controls. He said the report was written after his visits to Turkey and Greece and the session held in the House of Commons on the matter. He said the Commission including MPs from all the political parties in the Parliament were of the same opinion on the report.

Vaz said he hoped the report would help Turkey obtain more sources particularly in preventing illegal migration. He said it was a good report which assists Turkey's accession to the EU; it is not a report which states the things they wanted Turkey to do. He also said timing of the report was right although Turkey's EU accession process is not fast, and underlined that people would not enter Turkey to go to Europe if borders of Turkey are secure.

Underlining that he is a supporter of Turkey's EU membership, Vaz said however it is very important that Turkey should focus on matters which should be discussed before being a member of the EU. He said they wanted to see Turkey's accession to the EU, and expressed hope that the report would help Turkey solve two important problems like the organized crime and migration. Vaz also added that they wanted to see Turkey's accession to European institutions on border like Europol and Frontex before entering the EU. He said close cooperation with such kind of European institutions would prevent illegal migration more.

Vaz said that many illegal migrants from countries like Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia attempted to enter Europe via Turkey, adding that the report should be used as an opportunity to get more sources and assistance to deal with that problem.

[07] Turkey received 13 million visitors in first half of the year

According to the data, Germany had the highest percentage of tourists visiting Turkey in the first half of the year with 14.7% of the total number (1,915,691), followed by Russia with 11.45% (1,491,839). The UK represented 7.42% (966,690) of the total number of tourists, whilst tourists coming from Iran made up 7.03% (915,386) and vacationers from Bulgaria, 5.13% (667,814). Meanwhile, French tourists made up 3.89%, Georgian tourists 3.72%, Dutch tourists 3.65%, and tourists from Syria and Greece, 3.37% and 2.42%, respectively.

The most popular entry points into Turkey in the first six months of the year were Antalya with 32.38%, 0
stanbul with 27.34% and Edirne with 8.85% of the total number of tourists.

The Ministry's figures also show that there has been a sharp increase in tourists from Iran over the last few years, where Dubai was once the number one vacation destination of many Iranians. Now, however, Iranians are choosing Turkey for their holidays, which Turkish tourism companies attribute to an upsurge in their promotional activities in Iran. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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