Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-06-17

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey took advantage of the Istanbul Conference of Islamic countries to promote its designs against Cyprus. Joint communiqué issued by OIC.

[02] Turkey and its regime in occupied Cyprus express satisfaction with the results of the Islamic Conference.

[03] Replies by the Turkish Foreign Minister to questions on Cyprus after the end of the OIC. No reference at all to his country's violation of the human rights of EU citizens.

[04] Turkish Cypriot political party leaders met with the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.

[05] How the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Press covers the decision of the OIC.

[06] The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone is illegally visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[07] Nuri Cevikel elected chairman of the New Party.

[08] Pesticide-contaminated wheat was imported in the occupied areas.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey took advantage of the Istanbul Conference of Islamic countries to promote its designs against Cyprus. Joint communiqué issued by OIC

The joint communiqué of the 31st Session of the Islamic Conference of the Foreign Ministers, said: "The member countries decide that the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus should continue to participate in the work, activities and meetings of all OIC organs under the name envisaged by the United Nations Secretary-General´s settlement plan".

"We acknowledge that a new situation has emerged in Cyprus following the referenda on April 24, 2004 which necessitates a fresh and comprehensive assessment of the Cyprus issue. We reaffirm the full equality of the two parties in Cyprus as the principle enabling them to live side-by-side in security, peace and harmony without the one having the ability to govern, exploit, oppress or threaten the other," it said.

The joint communiqué noted: "We welcome the statement and calls made by the United Nations Secretary-General, international organization and states, as well as decisions taken by various international organizations for ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots; and call upon the international community to take immediate concrete steps to that end".

"We urge the member states to strengthen effective solidarity with the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus closely associating with them, and with a view to helping them materially and politically to overcome the inhuman isolation which has been imposed upon them, to increase and expand their relations in all fields and in particular direct transport, trade, tourism, culture, information, investment and sports contacts", it said.

The joint communiqué stressed: `We decide to actively support, until the Cyprus problem in solved, the rightful claim of the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus for the right to be heard and represented in all international fora on the basis of equality of the two parties in Cyprus. We request the United Nations Secretary-General to carry out the necessary contacts with the Islamic Development Bank with a view to seeking the ways and means of the latter´s assistance for the development projects of the Turkish Cypriot side".

The joint communiqué noted: "We decide to remain seized of the request of the Turkish Cypriot side of Cyprus for full membership of the OIC. We request the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures for the implementation of this resolution and to report thereon to the 32nd Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers".

Referring to recent developments in Western Thrace, the joint communiqué noted: "We condemn the judicial harassment of the elected Muftis of Xanthi Komotini, Mehmet Emin Aga, and Mr Ibrahim Serif. We urge Greece to take all measures to respect the rights of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace and urgently recognize the elected Muftis of Xanthi and Komotini as the official Muftis".

[02] Turkey and its regime in occupied Cyprus express satisfaction with the results of the Islamic Conference

Diplomatic sources noted that the decision did not mean either "recognition" or "acknowledgement" and added that the occupation regime would have some opportunities in the OIC with this decision although its observer status did not change.

Any change is not foreseen in the status of the occupation regime attending OIC meetings as "observer".

A high-level official told the A.A. correspondent that although the occupation regime´s status in the OIC was not improved vertically, its status changed horizontally and stated that its reason was that observers in OIC were listed as "minorities, groups, organizations and states". Bosnia-Herzegovina and Thailand were the only observer states till the 31st session of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) foreign Ministers in Istanbul. According the decision taken in this meeting, the number of observer states reached three with the "Turkish Cypriot State".

Sources stressed that observer members called as "state" could establish closer bilateral contacts with OIC members than the other observers.

The so-called foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Anakra´s occupation regime in Cyprus, Mr Serdar Denktas, who replied to questions on Tuesday said: "Our friends´ demands earlier were rejected politely during meetings of OIC that we have been attending for years. But we had the chance to meet with 16 foreign ministers on the fist day of OIC in Istanbul".

[03] Replies by the Turkish Foreign Minister to questions on Cyprus after the end of the OIC. No reference at all to his country´s violation of the human rights of EU citizens

"The meeting was important in two respects. One was that the organization was taking place in Turkey, that it was a major organization in terms of form. It was also very important in terms of content, in terms of the issues that were discussed. The issues were discussed at a time when the problems of the Islamic world are becoming increasingly more serious, such as the Iraq issue and the Palestinian issue. These headed the agenda, of course. All the participants expressed their views clearly about these issues.

Another important point was that elections were held for the post of secretary general. The ninth secretary general was elected. The fact that elections were held was important in itself. As you know, there were three candidates, candidates from three countries. For the first time in history, the OIC secretary general was appointed through elections. The fact that everything was done openly and transparently strengthens the organization greatly. To tell you the turth, we are proud that this began in Istanbul. This has been a first step in the OIC.

Two declarations have been issued. One of them was drawn up by the Secretariat and it reflects all the issues that were discussed at the meeting and the decisions that were reached. The other, the Istanbul Declaration, was shorter and it was a sort of philosophical basis for all the views expressed. It outlined the views expressed. Here too, the OIC members showed great understanding and spirit of consensus. In the past, in general, such documents were approved without being discussed in detail. These documents were discussed openly here. They were distributed to everyone and everyone´s views were heard. These documents were matured in line with all the views and then they were approved. That is a great achievement and it is a great change.

I would like to congratulate Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the ninth secretary general of the OIC: I wish him success. Turkey will of course stand behind the secretary general who comes from Turkey. Turkey will make every necessary arrangement and take every necessary step in this regard."

Mr Gul replied to the following questions:

"Question: The OIC approved a communique where the `TRNC´ is referred to as the Turkish Cypriot state. How do you view this? What are your specific expectations from the OIC members in terms of ending the `TRNC´ isolation?

Answer: That is an important question. Another important aspect of this conference was that it protected the Turkish Cypriots in line with the draft approved by the high level officials in Jedda last month. As you know, the foreign ministers approved a decision that was reached earlier. The Turkish Cypriots used to be represented as the Muslim Turkish Cypriot community. From now on they will be represented as the Turkish Cypriot State. That will be their status. We will undoubtedly continue to support the UN efforts for a solution. Everybody knows that. The isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is both political and economic. The Islamic world has done its share to end the isolation. The Turkish Cypriots are part of the Islamic world, the Islamic world cannot remain indifferent to them. The step that has been taken is appreciated. The step was taken unanimously

Question: Is it true that the Greek Cypriot sector and Russia will become observers at the OIC? Will the observer status of the Turkish Cypriot State change?

Answer: The Turkish Cypriot State now has observer status. We do not know what will happen in the future. The plenum will have to decide on that. The Russian Federation is closely interested in the OIC. It wants to join it as an observer. President Putin had attended the OIC summit in Malaysia. Foreign Minister Lavrov attended the meeting here. We held a working breakfast with him this morning. We invited him as a guest. Russia applied to join the OIC as an observer. Committees have been set up. There are other countries that want to join as observers too. The committees will assess the applications in line with the regulations and the criteria. Reports will be submitted at future meetings and decisions will be reached accordingly. Of course we were happy to have the Russian foreign minister come to Turkey and attend the meeting. I had invited him. No application has been made by the Greek Cypriot sector.

Question: You said earlier that the status of the `TRNC´ will be raised at the OIC. Will this decision help the reunification of the island?

Answer: What you say is true. The Turkish Cypriots were represented as the Muslim, Turkish Cypriot community until now. They will from now on be represented as the Turkish Cypriot State. This was part of the reunification plan but it was rejected by the Greek Cypriot side. The plan foresees a Turkish Cypriot State and a Greek Cypriot State. Viewed from this angle, we believe that there was no mistake. The Turkish Cypriots´ status has been raised from that of a community. All this happened within a plan. We hope that these efforts will not be misunderstood.

Question: Have you received any commitments from any members of the OIC to end the economic embargo against the Turkish Cypriot republic, such as the start of direct flights?

Answer: Yes, in any case, the UN Secretary-General issued a call along those lines. The OIC secretary general visited the `TRNC´ about two weeks ago. There is a general call regarding this issue. The OIC also issued a general call on this matter. At our meeting with the Russian foreign minister this morning, he told me that Russia is opposed to the embargo on the Turkish Cypriots. He said that Russia will encourage Russian companies to engage in all kinds of economic relations in (north) Cyprus. In other words, there is a general tendency along those lines. Furthermore, several ministers from the Islamic world have also started to go to (north) Cyprus. The Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone who left Istanbul following the OIC meeting today, went to (north) Cyprus. The Sudanese Foreign Minister is planning on going. Steps are clearly being taken.

[04] Turkish Cypriot political party leaders met with the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation

Talat told reporters after the meeting that it is known that Russia follows a policy which was not quite positive towards Turkish Cypriots so that Lavrov´s accepting to meet with him was important. Noting that it was difficult to change traditional policies of countries, Talat said: "However, Lavrov´s accepting to meet with me shows the hints of intellectual change in their traditional policy".

Talat said that their efforts would continue to settle new parameters to Cyprus policies of the United Nations Security Council member countries like Russia. He added that recent developments brought Russia, as well as the whole world, to a stage to re-evaluate the situation. Talat said: "They express that they are determined to lift the economic isolation. Thus, they are also accepting that reaching a solution will be easier in the future."

On his part, Mr Serdar Denktas said that the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) General Assembly approved the draft in which the occupied areas of Cyprus is named as "Turkish Cypriot State". He thanked all countries that voted in favour of this draft. Denktas said that they would leave the OIC meeting as a "state".

[05] How the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Press covers the decision of the OIC

KIBRIS: "Historical step from OIC"

AFRIKA: "They have named us Turkish Cypriot State"

HALKIN SESI: "Our status at OIC has been upgraded to a State"

YENIDUZEN: Under the title "What came with the YES vote", the paper writes that the OIC decision, the visit which the Cyprus coordinator at the US State Department, Mr Tomas Weston, is expected to pay to the offices of the pseudostate in Washington and the illegal visit of the minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone to the occupied part of Cyprus, were some of the positive results of the approval of the Annan Plan by the Turkish Cypriots. In its sports pages YENIDUZEN writes that the "Turkish Cypriot State" will be participating in the Islamic Games.

CUMHURIYET: "Step by step"

ORTAM: "Welcome Turkish Cypriot State".

KIBRISLI: "The first step"!

VATAN: "The first step for the recognition of the Turkish Cypriot people as a state".

VOLKAN: "Rauf Denktas: OIC´s decision is not a step that could substitute the TRNC".`

Turkish HURRIYET: "The first step came: The `TRNC´ community became a State".

Turkish MILLIYET : "The `TRNC´ achieved its goal".

[06] The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone is illegally visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus

Under the title: "An important visit which opens the door to the Islamic world", KIBRIS writes that the so-called Minister of Agriculture and Forests of the occupation regime, Mr Rasit Pertev, who met the foreign delegation at the illegal Tymbou airport, said that this visit was a "symbolic beginning´ for the other Islamic countries.

In his statements at the illegal airport, Mr Koroma expressed his satisfaction for being in northern Cyprus and noted that he told the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Gul that he would visit the occupied areas of Cyprus after the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul.

Mr Koroma said, inter alia, the following: "Three years passed since the ten-year war in Sierra Leone ended and we are looking for chances to develop our relations especially with other developing countries and northern Cyprus is an Islamic country. There is synergy to be shared between the two countries. As developing countries we believe that there are things to be shared in the fields of culture and education. We hope that this visit will not be the last one. We wish to strengthen our relations'".

[07] Nuri Cevikel elected chairman of the New Party

Among the members of the executive committee of the party are Arif Ozbayrak, the Turkish settler "Mayor" of Rizokarpasso and Erdal Barut, "Mayor" of Ayios Amvorsios.

[08] Pesticide-contaminated wheat was imported in the occupied areas

The paper says the so-called Minister of Agriculture of the pseudostate Rasit Pertev has ordered the destruction of the contaminated wheat, but the Council of control of Agricultural Pharmaceuticals refused to destroy the contaminated wheat.

As a result of this, Rasit Pertev has sacked the members of the Council.

The chairman of the Importing Company, Rasim Yankin told the newspaper that the imported wheat is in the free zone area and it is in line for re-export.

Meanwhile KIBRIS (17.06.04) reports that the potable water used by the villagers in occupied Kalivakia village is found contaminated by coliform bacteria. The so-called mukhtar of the village said that they urge the villagers to boil the water and then drink it and added that they already added bactericide (chlorine) into the water.

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