Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-09-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Paper claims connection of Cyprus with the PKK.

[02] Nami and Erel assess the EP Report on Turkey.

[03] Finland announces initiative for facilitating direct trade between EU and occupied Cyprus.

[04] Cem Ozdemir assesses the EU Report on Turkey.

[05] Babacan and D´Alema statements during a joint press conference.

[06] Babacan comments on the Cyprus problem to Turkish reports in Rome.

[07] Statements by Gul on the Cyprus problem and on Turkeys EU process.

[08] Olli Rehn to visit Turkey on 2-3 October.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Paper claims connection of Cyprus with the PKK

(MHY)

[02] Nami and Erel assess the EP Report on Turkey

The chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Erdil Nami, commenting on the report said that it was a negative report and that they are preparing a note to be sent to the EU officials. He claimed that Turkeys opening of its sea and airports to the Cyprus registered ships and planes will be wrong and dangerous and the loss will be heavy and huge.

The chairman of the Cyprus- EU Association Ali Erel said that the new report did not include new elements and that these elements are those which Turkey and the occupied area were bound to implement. Ali Erel said that no one could force Turkey to implement these articles in the present conditions Turkey is trying to design the future of the Turkish Cypriots.

(MHY)

[03] Finland announces initiative for facilitating direct trade between EU and occupied Cyprus

Finland, the current holder of the presidency of the European Union, has announced it is working on ways to facilitate direct trade between the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ and the European Union.

The countrys Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, addressing the Finnish Parliament today, said a solution is being sought that would also pave the way for Turkey to open up its sea and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

Praising Britain for its success in paving the way for Turkeys accession negotiations to start during its EU presidency; the Finnish prime minister said a solution which will bring about direct trade between the EU and the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus;´ and the opening of Turkish ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels and aircraft, is the objective of the ongoing work.

He said more intensive negotiations and diplomatic activity lies ahead with both the Turkish Government and the `Greek Cypriot administration´, to see if any progress will be possible.

Referring to the forthcoming Progress Report on Turkey which is to be announced by the EU Commission in November; Mr Vanhannen said enlargement of the Union has more to do with values, rather than geography.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the subordinate to Ankara regime set up by the Turkish Republic in occupied northern Cyprus).

[04] Cem Ozdemir assesses the EU Report on Turkey

Cem Ozdemir- a member of the EU Parliaments High Level Contact Group for relations with the Turkish Cypriot People has said that the European Parliaments decision on the Cyprus issue strengthened those supporting the partition of the island and weakened the attempts of those favouring reunification and described the situation as an irony.

Referring to the Parliaments report on Turkey, which was drafted by Camiel Eurlings- a Dutch Christian Democrat member, he said that necessary changes in the report could not be made on the Cyprus issue and the issue was just a subject for bargaining.

Underlining the importance of the need to lift the international `isolation´ on the `Turkish Cypriot People´ even symbolically, Cem Ozdemir emphasized that it was an injustice that `North Cyprus´ is not being represented in the EU Parliament, adding that the contact group will bring the Cyprus issue to the Parliaments agenda and allow further discussions on it.

He stated that the Greek Cypriot representatives in the Parliament made huge efforts to make the Annan Plan forgotten and pointed to the approach by some Christian Democrats who agreed that the paragraph referring to the Armenian genocide be withdrawn; but also demanded the articles on Cyprus to remain unchanged.

As for `North Cyprus´ not being represented in the EU Parliament, Mr Ozdemir said that this is helping the Greek Cypriots to make their one sided propaganda possible.

He said that the views of the `Turkish Cypriot People´ are not expressed loudly enough in the Parliament and it is now the duty of the high level contact group to represent the Turkish Cypriot view.

On the same issue, Turkish daily HURRIYET newspaper (29.09.06) in an article titled How EP withdrew the Annan plan from the report reports that in the Eurlings report on Turkey, which was adopted by the European Parliament, there is no reference to the Annan Plan for Cyprus. According to AB Haber news agency, there was a meeting of the Socialist Group on the evening of 26 September. The Greek MPs were of the opinion that the Annan plan causes an allergy to Greece and to the Greek Cypriot side.

Moreover, the papers columnist Ferai Tinc writes that an important point which drew her attention was that there was no reference to the Annan plan or the name of Kofi Annan in the report on Turkey. For this reason, she called yesterday Cem Ozdemir, member of the EU Parliaments High Level Contact Group for relations with the Turkish Cypriots, who has protested on the issue. He argued: There is a change of line on the Cyprus issue within Europes circles. Although, there is the view that the Cyprus settlement must be on the basis of the UN, the Annan plan is withdrawn from the report.

Ferai Tinc writes also that the Green Group of the European Parliament decided to hold their meeting in the occupied areas in February in order to free the Turkish Cypriots from isolation and their voices to be heard.

(DPs)

[05] Babacan and D´Alema statements during a joint press conference

"We are open to new ideas on Cyprus. There is great possibility for certain steps to be taken on Cyprus by the end of the year," said Ali Babacan, Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks, today.

Babacan met the Italian deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema in a meeting that lasted about an hour. Both leaders held a joint press briefing.

"We are open to new ideas on Cyprus. We know that a solution in Cyprus will take a very long time. Yet we are hopeful that certain steps will be taken by the end of 2006," said Babacan.

"The issue of Cyprus must be resolved. All airports and seaports must be opened to Greek Cypriot planes and ships. At the same time, the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots must be ended. Italy wishes for a solid solution in Cyprus. We support consensus between the two communities in Cyprus," noted D'Alema.

D'Alema told the press corps that Italy supports Turkey's EU process.

"Supporting Turkey is part of our national policy. By taking into consideration reforms made recently in Turkey, we intend to continue with this policy," commented D'Alema.

According to D'Alema, Babacan and he discussed the Turkey report of the European Parliament.

"Turkey must go on with reforms in providing political freedoms and freedom of expression. The rights of minorities must be recognized by Turkey. Italy does not want to see any crisis in Turkey-EU negotiations," expressed D'Alema.

Meanwhile, Babacan held talks with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in the morning today. "We focused on bilateral issues and expressed happiness on the existing trade volume between Turkey and Italy," said Babacan.

Prodi encouraged Babacan to continue to make reforms in Turkey. "There is no need to be upset," added Prodi.

[06] Babacan comments on the Cyprus problem to Turkish reports in Rome

Speaking to Turkish press reporters in Italian capital of Rome, Babacan noted that changes in Turkey have positive impact on many regional countries.

On the report on Turkey's progress towards accession, adopted by the European Parliament yesterday, Babacan said that there are aspects in the report on which Turkey agrees and disagrees.

"The style of the report is very important when comparing Turkey with EU standards. If a right style is not used, this style is discussed in Turkey, not the report itself. And, this may harm EU enthusiasm in Turkey. Therefore, we think that sensitivities of Turkish people should be taken into consideration when preparing reports from now on. Also, a better style should be used," he stated.

Babacan indicated that what is important for Turkey is the European Commission's report to be made public on November 8th because the EU leaders will decide according to that report during the European Council meeting.

On the other hand, Babacan discussed the Cyprus problem with Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema. "In this meeting, I got the impression that Italy will exert efforts for an interim or a partial settlement in Cyprus," he said.

"They will work together with current President Finland. Everybody who knows Turkey's strategic importance for the EU does not want this to be hampered due to the Cyprus problem. And, they are working on a settlement. Naturally, this is a pleasing development for us," Babacan emphasized.

According to Babacan, it is not possible to answer questions like how successful these efforts will be.

Babacan added that the EU should launch initiatives to end isolation of `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)´.

[07] Statements by Gul on the Cyprus problem and on Turkey´s EU process

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has stressed that the United Nations is the only platform for a solution to the Cyprus issue.

Speaking at a press conference in New York, Mr Gul said that all aspects of the Cyprus issue were discussed during his contacts in New York where he attends the UN General Assembly sessions.

The Turkish Foreign Minister said that he explained to foreign dignitaries that the only platform for a solution to the Cyprus problem is the United Nations, calling on them not to give way to attempts by the `Greek Cypriot Administration´ to pull the issue into the European Union.

He also stressed that artificial obstacles related to the Cyprus issue should not be created in the way of Turkeys EU membership process.

Noting that his countrys EU membership process was high on the agenda of his discussions with his European counterparts, Mr Gul said he briefed the Finnish Foreign Minister Errki Tuomioja who holds the current presidency of the EU, and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, on the steps being taken by Ankara towards EU membership and its determination to join the block.

[08] Olli Rehn to visit Turkey on 2-3 October

European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn will arrive in Ankara as the guest of Turk-Is (Confederation of Turkish Employees' Trade Unions) on October 2nd.

Rehn will take part in a meeting on "European Social Model and Syndicated Rights in EU Negotiation Process" on October 3rd and will have talks with high ranking Turkish executives including Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek and EU Adjustment Commission Chairman Yasar Yakis.

On October 4th in the morning, Rehn will meet Mehmet Dulger, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Turkish Parliament.

Rehn will later meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, State Minister and Chief Negotiator Ali Babacan and Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.

Gul is expected to host dinner in honor of Rehn.

Rehn, will proceed to Istanbul on Wednesday evening and depart from Turkey on Thursday.

The EU Commissioner will have important meetings in Ankara prior to the EU Progress Report expected to be made public in November.

Following Rehn's visit, Ankara will host Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, which will take over the EU rotating presidency in January after Finland.

Merkel will visit Ankara between October 5th and 6th, and continue her meetings in Istanbul.

Germany is expected to make a formal announcement on Friday as regards to Merkel's visit.

/SK

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