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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-10-18Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA No.199/05 18.10.05[A] NEWS ITEMS
[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] The so-called assembly of the occupation regime approves a decision on the Cyprus problemTurkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (18.10.05) reports that the so-called assembly of the occupation regime approved yesterday a new decision on the Cyprus problem, after unifying the draft proposals submitted by the groups of the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) to the so-called committee of legal and political affairs, which had been appointed as an Ad hoc committee on the issue. The MPs of the UBP, the CTP and the Democratic Party (DP) voted in favour of the decision, whereas Mustafa Akinci, the leader and only MP of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) voted against.The decision calls on the resumption of the talks for reaching an overall solution to the Cyprus problem under the auspices of the United Nations as soon as possible. It also claims that the provisions of the document for Turkeys accession negotiations with the EU are further toughening the intransigence of the Greek Cypriots and weaken the hopes for an overall solution to the Cyprus problem. The three Turkish Cypriot parties noted that they are opposed to the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey before a just solution of the Cyprus problem is reached. It also expresses the opinion that Turkey should open its ports and airports to the Republic of Cyprus only after the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is lifted. The paper writes that the decision will be translated into English and sent to the United Nations, the European Union, the United States of America and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Mr Mustafa Akinci, who voted against the decision, said that they could not proceed in the period after 3 October 2005 with the views included in this decision. Asking what will the Turkish Cypriots do and which is their position, Mr Akinci wondered whether or not they would watch the trade between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus from the stands just like they watched the football game between Anorthosis Famagusta and the Turkish team of Trabzonspor. Mr Akinci said that Turkey took what it would take in the Cyprus problem and it is not in a hurry any more. Mr Akinci noted that they submitted in writing their opinions to the so-called speaker of the assembly, Mrs Fatma Ekenoglu and argued that a process of normalization should take place in Cyprus in 2006. The leader of BDH asked also the Council of Europe be invited during the population census which is planned to take place in the occupied areas of Cyprus in February 2006, so that no one may claim that there is something wrong with it. Addressing the body, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, leader of the CTP, said that the basic parameters of the solution are the parameters of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality. Noting that these parameters could be formed only in the United Nations, Mr Soyer alleged that the Greek Cypriots are trying to change these parameters and the UN ground of the negotiations. Mr Soyer claimed that the declaration by the European Parliament that it will establish a contact group with the Turkish Cypriots is a defeat of President Papadopoulos, because it put forward that the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not represent the Turkish Cypriots. Huseyin Ozgurgun, MP of the UBP, said that the decision was important and balanced and pointed out that especially the fact that the three parties agreed on it is very important. Serdar Denktas, leader of the DP, argued that a new ground is created with the referendums and that their efforts are exerted now in this framework. He claimed that struggling for the lifting of the so-called isolations is a must and he asked for unity in this struggle. (I.Ts) [02] No further work permits will be given by the occupation regimeTurkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (18.10.05) reports that the so-called minister of labour and social insurances, Sonay Adem said yesterday that until 18 November 2005 the procedure of submitting applications for work permit will be completed and that as of today no work permit will be given in the occupied areas of Cyprus.Mr Adem said that since 1 October 2004 the regime gave 35.497 work permits and that the number of the work permits which were given only this year reached 31.096. Mr Adem expressed the belief that there are now many persons working without being registered. He also noted that they would make an amendment to the law so that those who posses a work permit of five years not to be able to get the so-called citizenship of the regime. Mr Adem said that 5.500 Turkish Cypriots are working in the free areas of Cyprus and that 4.000 of them are exploited by their Greek Cypriot employers, by working without being registered, just like some people from Turkey work in the occupied areas of Cyprus. Mr Adem argued that in case these Turkish Cypriots find better opportunities in the occupied areas they would prefer to work there. (I.Ts) [03] New developments in the Aga Development scandal: The bank accounts of Garry Robbs lawyer were blockedUnder the title The bank accounts of Talat Kursat were blocked Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (18.10.05) reports that very important developments started to take place in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus (OTRC) after Mr Garry Robb, the major partner in the Aga Development in the OTRC, fled with millions of dollars for Taiwan and refuses to return. The paper notes that the bank accounts of Mr Talat Kursat, who was the lawyer of Mr Robb, were blocked.According to VOLKAN the accounts of Mr Talat Kursat at the HSBC Bank, who was the lawyer of Mr Robb and the Aga Developments ltd, were frozen by the self-styled minister of finance and the self-styled public prosecutors office in the OTRC. The paper, invoking information, writes that the payments from the residences undertaken to be built by the Aga Developments for around 500 foreign clients, were deposited to the account of another real estate agent named Mark Unwin. This man later transferred the money to the account of Garry Robb. Because of some disagreements that occurred, the payments of the clients started to be deposited in the accounts of Mr Talat Kursat at the HSBC Bank. It was learned that the amount of the deposits was about 1.5 million sterling pounds monthly. It was learned that only during the year 2005, the total of 10 million sterling pounds were deposited to the accounts of the lawyer Kursat and were after transferred to the accounts of Garry Robb on behalf of the lawyer Kursat. In addition, Mr Robb started to transfer money from this account to his own account in the capital of Thailand, Bangkok. The last transfer took placed in August or in July but after a bank in Hong Kong took notice of a huge transfer of money, informed the Ministry of Finance of the British Government which laid hand on the money (around 1.5 million sterling pounds). The paper also writes that some years ago Mr Robb was arrested in the UK upon some claims for smuggling, however, because of the fact that there was no evidence he was set free. (C/S) [04] Self-styled parliamentary delegation from the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus to visit the U.S. for an international conferenceTurkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper (18.10.05) reported that a self-styled parliamentary delegation headed by the self-styled Parliamentary Speaker, Ms Fatma Ekenoglu, will fly to the United States on Sunday, 30 October, to attend an international conference on the Cyprus issue.The delegation will consist of one self-styled deputy each from the Republican Turkish Party, Mehmet Caglar, the main opposition National Unity Party, Turgay Avci and the Democrat Party, Mustafa Gokmen. [05] The British Ambassador to Turkey addressed a conference in EdirneAnkara Anatolia news agency (17.10.05) reported the following from Edirne:The EU should act like a partner, instead of showing its stick like a headmaster, British Ambassador to Turkey Peter Westmacott said on Monday. Making a keynote speech at a conference on ''EU and Turkey'' held in northwestern city of Edirne, Westmacott said that the thesis of clash of civilizations would be disproved by Turkey's membership. On the other hand, Westmacott stated that, Turkey should not be content with what had happened on October 3rd (start of its entry talks with the Union), but take more rapid steps to become a full member. Referring to EU's liabilities during the negotiation process, Westmacott said that the EU had to extend financial assistance to Turkey during accession negotiations. Westmacott pointed out that the EU was afraid of the 72 million young population of Turkey. However, he said, the old European population needed the employment of young population in Turkey. Meanwhile, Westmacott said that the EU accession process of Turkey would be difficult since no solution had been reached in Cyprus. Also, Westmacott said that Turkey's path would be opened in case significant steps were taken regarding honor killings and women's rights. [06] The Turkish Foreign Ministry on a monument erected in France to commemorate the Armenian genocideAnkara Anatolia news agency (17.10.05) reported from Ankara that Turkey strongly condemned on Monday the inauguration of a monument, built in France in the memory of ''the victims of the genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire against Assyro-Chaldeans in 1915''.Releasing a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that a monument, erected in the memory of the ''victims of the Assyro-Chaldean Genocide of 1915 carried out by the Ottoman Empire'' was inaugurated in the city of Sarcelles, some 30 kilometers away from the French capital of Paris, on October 15th. Condemning this inauguration, the Ministry said: ''We are reacting to the inauguration of this monument, reflecting a claim, the historical bases of which are not known. Those who are accusing a country of the heaviest crime that can be committed against humanity, like genocide, with baseless claims are only humiliating themselves with their disrespectful acts.'' [B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS[07] A struggle carries meaning if waged within the rules of JusticeColumnist Salih Celebioglu, in his column Round Table in the local Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (18.10.05) under the above title writes:Esteemed Talat says that those who wanted to return to the 1960 order were a certain minority Well if those who want to return to the 1960 order are a certain minority, what about the certain majority and what about the certain majority, what do they want? Do they want partition? (Taksim) Do they want solution on the basis of the Annan Plan? Or do they want the implementation of `non-solution is a solution´? What kind of solution does Talat mean when he speaks about a comprehensive settlement? Does he mean a unitary state or a federative system or a confederation? Frequently we hear his complaints; `I propose to Papadopoulos to meet with me. He is not responding´. Is he (Papadopoulos) committing a mistake? Did you (Talat) give a positive response in the past to his (Papadopoulos) proposal to meet? If you had given a positive response, the ridiculous situation as regards the Annan Plan, would have not been experienced and other avenues than no would have been created for the Greek Cypriots. Really, if there is no objection I would like to ask seriously, why did we refuse the Greek Cypriot side´s proposal during the last Switzerland negotiations, prior to filling the gaps in the Annan Plan, that `let us sit down and negotiate and settle the problems together´. The reason for this refusal is not explained to the people until today. Does any one believe that the time has come and the reason should be given now? We could ask the following as well: Had the meeting proposal been refused by the Ankara´s order? Or did Mr Talat and his lovely coalition partner, using their initiative, refuse the proposal to meet? In any case we do believe without any doubt that the Annan Plan was not put forward as a `serious solution path´ nor Ankara was willing to reach a settlement on this path. This was a plot. And we will continue for a long time to debate both among us and in public this plot. At this stage, the important issue that we want to focus on is; under what conditions Mr Talat wants to make peace? Let me tell you off hand, if he would continue imitating Ankara and its allies, by following the tail of the Annan Plan, then this will lead to `an impasse and it is doomed to failure´. There is no possibility of a solution based on the Annan Plan. In fact this possibility did not exist in 2004 as well. However, an illusion was created that there was a possibility for a solution based on the Annan Plan, thus the continuity of the status quo on both sides was secured and the duty, to fool and to cow the people were given to Talat and the Republican Turkish Party (RTP). Could you tell us what should we demand other than returning to the 1960 order? What would Mr Talat materialize when he is refusing this demand? Does he think that he will make the isolations be removed? Or does he think that he will realize a revolution on the other side and he will topple the Papadopoulos government and replace it with the people he wants to, so that he will advance more easily on the path of separate state. Mr Talat should excuse our ignorance. We do not believe any more in his `solution´ demand. When he was in opposition we had no doubt of his solution demand. But now? It seems that he had backed off the struggle to find a solution. A struggle carries meaning if waged within the rule of justice, and the only legitimate struggle which could be given within the rules of justice is trying to acquire our rights in the 1960 order. (MY) /SK Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |