Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-06-09

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] A meeting between Turkish Cypriot political parties and the Turkish government will be held in Ankara in July.

[02] KIBRIS: Important opening from Germany.

[03] New statements by Ali Babacan in Ankara.

[04] Greek Foreign Minister: Our peoples cannot bear with another dog fight.

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce asks for the change of Protocol 10 of the EU.

[06] YEN0 DUZEN and GUNES newspapers publish opinion polls regarding the forthcoming elections to be held in occupied Cyprus on the 25th of June 2006.

[07] Ferdi Sabit Soyer met with foreign tourist agents and journalists.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in AFRIKA challenges the Europarliamentarians who were prevented from visiting the fenced city of Famagusta.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] A meeting between Turkish Cypriot political parties and the Turkish government will be held in Ankara in July

Speaking after the meeting, Serdar Denktas said he was pleased to see that Turkeys stance on the Cyprus problem remains unchanged.

Serdar Denktas said Turkey remains committed to its unwavering position against opening its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot registered vessels and aircraft.

Speaking after his meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul today, the TRNC Deputy Prime Minister announced that a broad based meeting will be held in July in Ankara to be attended by political parties from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Turkish government.

Expressing relief - once again - for having had an opportunity to reaffirm Turkeys determination to continue to refuse to open up its ports and airports unilaterally to the Greek Cypriot registered vessels and aircraft, Mr Denktas said the Turkish Prime Minister Mr Erdogan had welcomed the suggestion for the broad based round table meeting on Cyprus.

Our meeting had amounted to receiving additional guarantees from the Turkish Prime Minister that Turkeys position with regard to the Cyprus problem remains unchanged just days before the countrys accession talks with the EU begin.

This clearly means that Turkeys position on the issue is exactly as explained in the Action Plan, he said.

He expressed the hope that the European Union will realize the Greek Cypriots position against sharing anything with the Turkish Cypriots.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the illegal regime set up by the Turkish Republic in the territories of Cyprus occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops).

[02] KIBRIS: Important opening from Germany

Furthermore, Mr Talat delivered a lecture on The Present and near Future of the TRNC at a gathering organized by the Union of Turkish Democrats, a society based in Germany.

Mr Talat is also expected to attend a brain-storming meeting organized by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Representatives from all political parties of Germany are expected to attend the event.

(I/Ts.)

[03] New statements by Ali Babacan in Ankara

The Turkish Minister of State and Chief Negotiator with the EU Ali Babacan has said that it is impossible for Turkey to open its ports to the Greek Cypriot side until a comprehensive and lasting solution within the framework of the United Nations has been found to the Cyprus problem.

Mr Babacan was speaking at a press conference in Ankara today.

Responding to a question, Ali Babacan reminded that the Greek Cypriot side had voted against the Annan Plan in the 2004 referendum and said that because of the failed solution efforts, the international community began to consider Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side as the side that wants a solution on the island.

Stressing the different view point that Turkey has on the implementation of the Additional Protocol extending the countrys customs union with the Union to include the new members, Mr Babacan reminded how Turkey has repeatedly explained its clear position on this.

He said that the new Action Plan as announced by the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in January is still on the table, and that Turkey is still waiting for a reciprocal move from the other parties concerned.

[04] Greek Foreign Minister: Our peoples cannot bear with another dog fight

During the interview Nur Batur asked questions regarding Cyprus. Following are the questions and answers regarding Cyprus.

Question: Dont you think that an important peace chance was missed in Cyprus by the rejection of the Annan Plan?

Answer: Several times solution chances were missed. I respect the answers given by both communities to the plan, to the Turkish Cypriots who said Yes and to the Greek Cypriots who cast a no vote. We have to find a solution that will be acceptable to both communities, because they will live together. Cyprus is an EU member country. It is very important that the young generation should know each other. If we have political will then we could find a political solution. After Papadopouloss meeting with Kofi Annan some low level initiatives had started.

Question: You say that this could pave the way to a new initiative.

Answer: A different initiative which will take into account the EU reality in Cyprus. There are minorities and majorities in our region and in the west Balkans. People with different religion are living together. We have to find ways where people with different cultures live successfully together.

Subtitle: Ankaras major role

Question: If the Greek Cypriots accepted, the Turkish Cypriots had already accepted.

Answer: Look, you are a Turk and I am a Greek. Most probably we will not agree on where the mistake is. However, I think we could agree on one think. We can work so that they could find a functional solution within Europe. We could agree on this. This could be an important step.

Question: What would be your approach, if the Turkish Cypriots, like the Montenegrins, hold a referendum and decide on the independence?

Answer: I think it would be a major mistake. You can not compare these two cases. Montenegro got the right to be a free country following former Yugoslavias change. In Cyprus the situation is totally different. There must be a solution in Cyprus. The wall in Lefkosia can last forever. When we were young we used to think that the Berlin wall was forever. It did not last.

Question: Well, what about Papadopouloss intransigent policies?

Answer: I think he too is after a bizonal bicommunal federal solution. We have to help them to continue the process. Ankara could play a major role. We do believe that the future will be more different.

Question: Dont you think that if the economic embargoes imposed on the north Cyprus are removed the impasse will be overcome? The Turks are isolated from the world.

Answer: The EU trade regulation is being debated. I do not think that they are isolated. They have to live together.

(MHY)

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce asks for the change of Protocol 10 of the EU

According to a written statement issued by the TCCC, during the meeting the Turkish Cypriot delegation expressed the opinion that the Protocol 10 of the EU which was published in the official gazette of the EU and entered into effect on 23 September 2003 should be changed, because it had been prepared before the referendum on the Annan Plan.

The Turkish Cypriot delegation described as discrimination the expression that northern Cyprus is an area which is not under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus. They have also reiterated the Turkish views for direct trade with the occupied areas of Cyprus and direct flights to the illegal Tymbou airport.

(I/Ts.)

[06] YEN0 DUZEN and GUNES newspapers publish opinion polls regarding the forthcoming elections to be held in occupied Cyprus on the 25th of June 2006

YEN0 DUZEN, which is the mouthpiece of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), publishes an opinion poll which was conducted by KADEM. The opinion poll refers to the municipal elections for occupied Kyrenia. The paper notes that Sumer Aygin, who is the candidate of CTP for the elections , comes first at the opinion poll.

The results of the opinion poll are as follows:

Sumer Aygin of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP): 38.4%.

Mehmet Ayder of the National Unity Party (UBP): 17.6%.

Hayat Aydinova of the Democratic Party (DP): 10.4%.

Halil Sadrazam of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) : 2.4%.

Undecided persons: 21.1%

Persons who will not vote: 10.1%

The distribution of the percentages, after taking into account the undecided persons and those who will not go to vote, is as follows:

Sumer Aygin of CTP: 55%

Mehmet Ayder of UBP): 26%.

Hayat Aydinova of DP: 15%.

Halil Sadrazam of BDH: 4%.

In addition, GUNES, which is the mouthpiece of the National Unity Party publishes an opinion poll which was conducted by ART Agency between 22-29 of May, by phone, with a randomly selected sample. According to this opinion poll the candidates of UBP for both the by-elections for the two seats at the parliament and the candidates for the municipal elections come first.

The results of the opinion poll are as follows:

Elections for the parliament seat in occupied Lefkosia:

Ozay And1c of UBP: 38.9%%.

Ozkan Yorganc1oglu of CTP: 36.0%.

Salih Tunar of DP: 15%.

Harper Orhon of BDH: 6.2%

Hasan Kasapoglu of the Communal Liberation Party (TKP): 3.0%

Others: 0.9%

This is the distribution of the percentages, after taking into account the 11% of the undecided persons.

Elections for the parliament seat in occupied Kyrenia:

Unal Ustel of UBP: 40.4%

Gulboy Beydagli of CTP: 37.1%

Neriman Saygili of DP: 12.3%

Boysan Boyra of BDH: 10.2%

This is the distribution of the percentages, after taking into account the 6% of the undecided persons.

Elections for the municipality of occupied Lefkosia:

Semi Bora of UBP: 36.6%

Kutlay Erk of CTP: 33.9%

Cemal Bulutogullari of DP: 18.1%

Unal Akifler of BDH: 7.4%

Mehmet Davulcu of TKP: 4.0%

This is the distribution of the percentages, after taking into account the 7% of the undecided persons.

Elections for the municipality of occupied Kyrenia:

Mehmet Ayder of UBP: 39.3%

Sumer Aygin of CTP: 35.2%

Hayat Aydinova of DP: 15.2%.

Halil Sadrazam of BDH: 10.3%.

This is the distribution of the percentages, after taking into account the 7% of the undecided persons.

Elections for the municipality of occupied Morfou:

Mahmut Ozcinar of UBP: 54.7%

Hakan Kuntay of CTP: 30.4%

Iltac Karayel of DP: 14.9%

This is the distribution of the percentages, after taking into account the 6% of the undecided persons.

Elections for the municipality of occupied Famagusta:

Hamza Ersan Saner of UBP: 37.9%

Ahmet Oktay Kayalp of CTP: 36.1%

Ismail Arter of DP: 17.7%

Dogay Cakici of TKP: 7.4%

Independent candidates: 2.9%

This is the distribution of the percentages, after taking into account the 14% of the undecided persons.

Elections for the municipality of occupied Trikomo:

Halil Ibrahim Orun of UBP: 40.3%

Selma Yorganci of CTP: 29.0%

Ejder Aslanbaba of DP: 23.5%

Ali Civisilili (independent): 7.2%.

This is the distribution of the percentages, after taking into account the 8% of the undecided persons.

Elections for the municipality of occupied Lefka:

Mehmet Zafer of UBP: 48.7%

Vehit Nekipzade of CTP: 40.1%

Ahmet Oksuz of BDH: 12.2%

This is the distribution of the percentages, after taking into account the 13% of the undecided persons.

[07] Ferdi Sabit Soyer met with foreign tourist agents and journalists

Among the press delegation, there are journalists from the two Bulgarian newspapers first in circulation, the Standard and the Monitor, journalists from the Bulgarian Novinar newspaper and reporters from the magazines Coi and Hemt.

During the meeting, Mr Soyer expressed his pleasure for the tourist representatives` visit to occupied Cyprus and informed them on the tourism oriented targets of occupied Cyprus and on political issues.

On the same issue, the Tez-Tour representative in occupied Cyprus, Mr Ismail Gunaydin, stated that occupied Cyprus is included in the 2007 tourist catalogues and that this year they are organizing to Antalya tour packages which they include in their program a 2-day trip to occupied Cyprus.

(M/L)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in AFRIKA challenges the Europarliamentarians who were prevented from visiting the fenced city of Famagusta

They say that the authorities of the TRNC will not give permission to the European Parliaments High Level Contact Group to visit the closed city of Varosha.! It is prohibited for you to enter here they were told! This visit of yours is not appropriate in the political situation we are now, they were told!

The European Union, which announced that it would attach greater importance from now on to its capacity to absorb new members, I wonder with which capacity will it digest this prohibition imposed on it on the issue of Varosha by the authorities of the TRNC? Think about it. Cyprus is a country which is full member of the EU. That is, this here is EU territory. Is it not so? Yes, this is exactly how it is. If anyone has an objection about it, or believes that it is not so, let him come forth and say it. In this situation, this means that the EU cannot enter into territories which belong to itself.

Why? Because, they say that the EU must take permission from the authorities of the TRNC! Yet, they have followed the necessary procedure on this issue! Very well, if the EU followed the necessary procedure and asked for permission from the authorities of the TRNC in order to be able to enter territories which according to the international law and agreements belong to it, would this permission not be given? No it would not be granted! Why would the European parliamentarians not be given permission to enter Varosha which is EU territory? Because, they say, the political situation in which we are today is not appropriate for such a visit! It is so simple!

Very well, what have the European Parliamentarians done before this situation? What would the poor people do? They did not have the energy to gather the European armies and organize a military expedition towards Varosha. If you say so, let it be so, they said and in great helplessness they humiliated themselves and returned back from Varoshas gate!

Thus, the European parliamentarians have once more been forced not to see this monument of disgrace, which is a result of the Turkish occupation that continues for 32 years! I do not know whether or not the European parliamentarians were offended by us. However, if they knew that even President Mehmet Ali Talat cannot enter Varosha and that he has no authority and permission for this, I am sure that they would meet this with understanding and acknowledge that we are right, even if it would be difficult and even impossible for this to be digested!

Varosha, which once was a corner of paradise with its sea and sandy beaches, now is a ghost city! It is a republic of snakes, centipedes and rats! Only the sultanate of the ghosts, the snakes and the rats rules there! Will they grant permission for the foot of man to step there, pollute this land of ghosts and ruin the magic of the Satan?!

The message given to the EU is clear! You did not take as your member the whole of Cyprus. You took only southern Cyprus. Your authority is valid only there. You cannot make even a step without our permission! This is inedible. We will see how Europe will eat and swallow this, how it will digest it without this sitting heavy on its stomach.

The price of humiliating itself before America and accepting the Turkish occupation in Cyprus might cost a lot to Europe. It has already started to have a price.

(I/Ts.)

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