Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-03-21

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] New statements by Talat accusing the Greek Cypriot side

[02] Pertev says they will meet again with Tzionis on Thursday

[03] Turkey and the breakaway regime to organize an expo fair in London

[04] Norway wants to renovate a house in the buffer zone

[05] The Responsible for Religious Affairs in occupied Cyprus Yonluer held meetings with the ambassadors to Ankara of the IKO members

[06] Hasan Tacoy, deputy of UBP attended the meeting of the European Parliaments High Level Contact Group with the Turkish Cypriots

[07] More on Mesut Kafkas issue

[08] Gul to visit FYROM today

[09] Babacan stated that the Cyprus problem has become a European problem

[10] Cooperation between Turkey and South Korea

[11] Fifty Turkish Russian joint ventures in Krasnador

[12] The German Ambassador to Ankara expressed support to a solution in Cyprus under the auspices of the UN

[13] European aid for five Turkish cities in Black sea region

[14] Erdogan and Zapatero to suggest Sampaio as High Representative for Alliance of Civilizations

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[15] DTP leader on Nevruz. Seventy DTP officials are in prison

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] New statements by Talat accusing the Greek Cypriot side

President Talat has called on the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tasos Papadopoulos to stop wasting time and to meet with him within the framework of the 8th of July process.

The President described a statement released today by the Greek Cypriot leader claiming that he was ready to meet with President Talat as soon as an agreement was reached on the establishment of technical committees and the experts working groups as a manipulative move.

He accused the Greek Cypriot Administration of trying to end the 8th of July process by deploying delay tactics.

The President was speaking at a press conference this afternoon on the Greek Cypriot leaders latest statement that the meeting held yesterday between Mr. Pertev and Mr. Tzionis had ended positively

Speaking during the press conference, President Talat pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot Side has so far displayed a relatively flexible stance on the 8th of July process but accused the Greek Cypriot Side of sabotaging the process by dragging its feet.

Reminding that a number of deadlines for the process had been clearly outlined in a letter sent by the UN Secretary-Generals Special Political Adviser Ibrahim Gambari to the two leaders on the island, the President said that the Greek Cypriot Administration had launched a desperate manipulative diplomatic manoeuvre as the process neared its 31st of March deadline.

He said that the issuing of such a statement on a day when Mr. Tasos Tzionis-a senior aid to Mr. Papadopoulos, was discussing the Direct Trade Regulation for North Cyprus in Brussels purely carried a manipulative purpose.

Stating that no agreement had yet been reached on the setting up of technical committees or working groups, President Talat underlined the fact that these groups could not start working until an agreement had been reached between two sides within the set of principles defined by Mr. Gambari.

Complaining that the Greek Cypriot Side had repeatedly leaked information on the process to the Greek Cypriot press despite the provision of secrecy agreed upon by the two leaders, President Talat said that his Undersecretary Rasit Pertev had on numerous occasions warned the Greek Cypriot Administration to stop doing this.

The President also highlighted the need for the Turkish Cypriot Side to review its policy on the 8th of July process in line with the Greek Cypriot Sides stance over the issue.

Speaking to BRT at the end of yesterdays talks, Mr Pertev said that he and Mr Tzionis will continue their talks on Thursday but stopped short to provide any details about the issues being discussed.

Earlier, the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tassos Papadopoulos has ruled out the possibility of a meeting between himself and President Mehmet Ali Talat.

He said that it was out of the question to accept to meet President Talat until the technical talks were underway claiming that such a move will neutralize the 8-July agreement reached between the two sides.

[02] Pertev says they will meet again with Tzionis on Thursday

Presidential Undersecretary Rasit Pertev and the Chief of the Diplomatic Bureau of the Greek Cypriot President Tasos Tzionis will meet again on Thursday as part of their regular contacts under the auspices of the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative to Cyprus Chief of Mission Michael Möller.

The two men will continue their discussions with the aim of preparing the necessary ground for the start of technical talks between the two sides.

Senior aides to the two leaders in Cyprus - Rasit Pertev and Tasos Tzionis met yesterday morning at the residence of the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Cyprus Chief of Mission Michael Möller.

After a break around noon, they continued their discussions in the afternoon.

Speaking to BRT at the end of yesterdays talks, Mr Pertev said that he and Mr Tzionis will continue their talks on Thursday but stopped short to provide any details about the issues being discussed.

The process is part of an agreement reached between the two sides on the 8th of July where twin-track talks would take place on technical and substantial issues.

The process envisages the establishment of technical committees which will deal with day-to-day issues while the experts working groups will hold talks on the essence of the problem.

[03] Turkey and the breakaway regime to organize an expo fair in London

The Turkey/North Cyprus Live Expo Fair, which is to take place in Olympia London - was introduced to a reception in Lefkosia last night.

The Fair which will be held between the 28th and 29th April, is the UKs largest and most popular Turkish lifestyle and property event where North Cyprus will also take part.

Last nights reception was jointly organized by the TRNC Prime Ministry and the deputy-Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In an address to the reception, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer underlined the need for the Turkish Cypriot people to realize economic development, democratic institutionalization as well as unification of the Turkish Cypriot People with the rest of the world.

`Our main objective is to make use of all opportunities to increase foreign investments, productivity and quality in the country to compete with other economies` he said.

Underlining the need for cooperation and coordination among all sectors, Mr Soyer said that the public sector should not be an obstacle in the way of healthy development of the countrys economy.

The Prime Minister also said that the misleading campaigns carried out by the Greek Cypriot Side will not stop the Turkish Cypriot People from continuing its struggle to unite with the rest of the world.

Also speaking at the reception was the Deputy Prime Minister- Foreign Minister Turgay Avci who stated that the Expo Fair is an important event in terms of promoting tourism, construction, higher education and industrial sectors of North Cyprus.

He added that the government will maintain its work to unite the Turkish Cypriot People with the world.

Referring to the Greek Cypriot Sides attempts to block the way of the Turkish Cypriot people, he said all initiatives by the government will be kept secret until reaching the outcome, in order to prevent the interference of the Greek Cypriot Side, adding that a similar approach is being followed for the opening of a TRNC Representation Office in Qatar.

Another speech to the reception was delivered by Ali Ozmen Safa who put forward the project of the Turkey/North Cyprus Live Expo Fair.

Mr Safa called on investors to attend the fair to form a symbolic Cyprus Turkish village at the fair.

[04] Norway wants to renovate a house in the buffer zone

The Norwegian bureaucrats asked questions about the 259 million EUROS aid of the EU and asked to renovate a house in the buffer zone, in the framework of a project of the government of Norway, since the country is not member of the EU.

(CS)

[05] The Responsible for Religious Affairs in occupied Cyprus Yonluer held meetings with the ambassadors to Ankara of the IKO members

Yonluer met with the ambassadors of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Palestine, Nigeria, Albania, Libya, Afghanistan, Egypt, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Arab Emirates, Yemen and Azerbaijan.

During the meting Yonluer gave information about the activities of the Religious Affairs Ministry in the TRNC. Bilateral relations were also discussed during the meeting.

(CS)

[06] Hasan Tacoy, deputy of UBP attended the meeting of the European Parliaments High Level Contact Group with the Turkish Cypriots

(CS)

[07] More on Mesut Kafkas issue

(CS)

[08] Gul to visit FYROM today

Turkish FM and Deputy PM Abdullah Gul will pay a formal one day visit to Macedonia on Wednesday, March 21st, 2007. While in Skopje, Gul will meet Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, and Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki.

Minister Gul will attend the meeting of the Turkish-Macedonian Business Council in Skopje. He is expected to hold talks on bi-lateral relations, Turks living in the region, EU process and various regional and international topics. Gul will return to Ankara later in the evening on Wednesday.

[09] Babacan stated that the Cyprus problem has become a European problem

"´Turkey has made significant progress in its EU process. Turkey's membership to the EU will make a valuable contribution to the unity of civilizations´, Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator Ali Babacan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a conference on ´Turkey's EU Membership Process and Turkish Economy´ in Bulgarian capital city of Sofia, Babacan said, ´the EU's enlargement will contribute to efforts of finding solutions to current problems. Turkey's accession will further strengthen the Union´.

´Turkey has made a remarkable progress in the last five years. It has achieved significant economic and political reforms. As a result, the negative environment created by those who opposed to Turkey's membership, has begun fading away´, he said.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Babacan said, ´the EU's accepting membership of the Greek Cypriot administration before finding a solution to the Cyprus issue was a mistake. Consequently, the Cyprus issue became a problem of the EU. On the other hand, isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has still been continuing. As the Turkish party, we are ready to resume talks. However, we expect the same productive attitude from the other party´.

Following the conference, Babacan and the accompanying delegation left Bulgaria for Hungary.

Babacan is scheduled to attend a conference to be hosted by the Central European University tomorrow.

Furthermore, ANKARA ANATOLIA on the same issue reported the following:

"Turkey has made great progress in relations with the European Union (EU) in the past four years. We are determined to continue making reforms in Turkey," Turkish State Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan said on Tuesday.

Minister Babacan is in Bulgarian capital of Sofia on a formal visit.

Babacan began his day by visiting the Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce. He talked to a group of Turkish and Bulgarian businessmen and gave information on the recent developments that took place in the Turkish economy.

Ali Babacan noted that the "Turkish government prepared a program to be implemented between 2007-2013 in regard to process of Turkey's membership in the EU. This program foresees reforms to be made. The program will be made public in April."

Babacan described Turkish-Bulgarian commercial ties as excellent. "In 2006, bi-lateral commercial volume was three billion USD. There are Turkish investments in Bulgaria worth 600 million USD."

During his talks with Babacan, Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce Bojidar Bojinov indicated that "Turkey is a highly important partner of Bulgaria. Turkey must become an EU member to help stability in the region."

Meanwhile, Babacan met Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin today.

In a joint press conference, Kalfin expressed Bulgaria's support for Turkey's EU bid. "We want to see Turkey in the EU," stressed Kalfin.

Speaking to press corps at the conference, Babacan underlined that Turkey will continue making reforms regardless of the pace of negotiations.

Babacan also met Bulgarian Deputy Parliament Speaker Luben Kornezov and Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski.

[10] Cooperation between Turkey and South Korea

Turkey-South Korea Information & Communication Technologies Cooperation Centre opened in Ankara on Tuesday.

A ceremony was organized on this occasion in Turksat's (satellite communication and cable TV operation company) facilities in Golbasi town in Ankara. Turkish Transportation Ministry Undersecretary Ibrahim Sahin and South Korean Vice Minister of Information & Communication Young Hwan Yoo attended the ceremony.

Sahin said that the centre would help to boost cooperation between Turkey and South Korea. He also noted that Turksat would produce satellites for Turkish customers according to a program which would last till 2013.

On the other hand, Young Hwan Yoo noted that the technologies centre would create important opportunities in exchange of information between Turkey and South Korea.

[11] Fifty Turkish Russian joint ventures in Krasnador

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Vladimir Ivanovsky paid a visit of courtesy to Trabzon Governor Nuri Okutan on Tuesday.

Ivanovsky offered his congratulations to Okutan for having been appointed as new governor of northern city of Trabzon.

´We must bring together Trabzon and Russian city of Krasnador within the framework of good relations. We look at Krasnador as the sister city of Trabzon´, noted Okutan.

Meanwhile, Ivanovsky stated that ´there are good relations between south of Russia and Trabzon and eastern Black Sea cities. At the end of February, Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Trade Tuncer Kayalar visited Russia. Kayalar's visit contributed to good relations between our two countries´.

Ivanovsky remarked that ´50 Turkish-Russian joint ventures are operating in Krasnador. The speaker of the Krasnador parliament will soon visit Trabzon´.

Ambassador Ivanovsky underlined that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin recently held a phone conversation in which Putin asked Turkey's support for selection of Sochi as the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics. He added that Russia wants excellent ties between Sochi and Trabzon. ´There are Turkish contractors operating in Sochi. They have done a great job in constructing new buildings´.

[12] The German Ambassador to Ankara expressed support to a solution in Cyprus under the auspices of the UN

"´Turkey has always said it does not think the EU is the right forum to negotiate the question of unification of Cyprus, but the negotiations must take place under the auspices of the UN. We agree with Turkey," said German Ambassador to Turkey´ Eckart Cuntz.

´We have to question how we can address the question of trade possibilities for northern Cyprus. That is also something that German Presidency has promised to work out. We cannot assure a success but we are engaged in the process and that is our aim´, Cuntz told the A.A.

Cuntz said it was not easy task to ensure unification of the island and noted that this issue should not be linked with (Turkey's EU membership) negotiation process.

Stating that opening of four negotiation chapter headings is a new initiative, Cuntz reminded that only one chapter was opened in negotiations after October 3rd. However, he said opening of four chapters shows the significant move forward.

Commenting on upcoming presidential and general elections in Turkey, Cuntz said they hope 2007 won't be a lost year as far as Turkey's EU process is concerned.

[13] European aid for five Turkish cities in Black sea region

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and local governments in five Anatolian cities in Black sea region of Turkey will receive 24 million euro grant within the framework of 'TR 90 Regional Development Program'.

Sources told A.A that, of the 24 million euro grant to be allocated to Black sea cities of Artvin, Giresun, Gumushane, Ordu, Rize and Trabzon, 18 million will be funded by European Union (EU) and the rest by Turkey.

The project that will be carried out under three headings --SMEs, tourism & environment, and local development -- is planned to start in one month time. Local administrations will carry out projects in the field of tourism & environment. Grants under local development initiative chapter will be available for NGOs.

SMEs will be able to use grants up to 100,000 euro.

State Planning Organization is expected to make a call for project proposals following the preparation of application guidelines.

[05] 6 million euro of the grants will be allocated for local development initiatives, of which 4.2 million will be provided by EU. SMEs and tourism & environment infrastructure projects will each get a total amount of 9.2 million euros, 6.9 of which is to be financed by the EU.

[14] Erdogan and Zapatero to suggest Sampaio as High Representative for Alliance of Civilizations

During the call, the two leaders agreed that former Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio's name should be suggested to the UN Secretary-General, in order to be assigned as the High Representative for the "Alliance of Civilizations" initiative.

Sampaio would be recommended to UN SG Ban Ki-moon as the common candidate of Turkey and Spain for such position, sources said.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[15] DTP leader on Nevruz. Seventy DTP officials are in prison

What bothers Ahmet Turk, the president of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), is that some people are making an effort to turn Nevruz into a day of tension. He is also concerned that political parties engaged in jockeying over the upcoming presidential election are trying to use the DTP.

The New Year for many peoples throughout the Middle East begins tomorrow with Nevruz, and the president of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), Ahmet Turk, stressed in an exclusive interview with the Turkish Daily News that this day should be one of freedom and peace, ensuring the brotherhood of peoples. Nevruz isn't just a holiday that Kurds celebrate, he stressed, but one that is also celebrated throughout the Middle East and the Caucasus.

´We are approaching this Nevruz rationally and we want to celebrate it rationally, said Turk. We wish for the brotherhood of the peoples in the Middle East and also, our country to solve its problems with its inner dynamics. This is the purpose of our efforts´.

The DTP, known as a pro-Kurdish party, held a discussion as to whether Nevruz should be held under the auspices of the party or "be left to the people." The decision taken was to celebrate Nevruz without any tension, thus the events should be controlled.

´Our decision was completely directed at lessening tensions. This is our party's attitude. So we created arrangement committees. We are exerting efforts for the 'Day,' in which our party assembly will send a message of brotherhood of peoples in the region´.

Subtitle: Using the DTP for presidential elections:

What bothers Turk is that some people are making an effort to turn Nevruz into a day of tension. He points out that political parties are engaged in jockeying over the upcoming presidential election and using the DTP in calculating their accounts. As part of that tension, he said, many DTP officials have been taken into custody and party buildings have been raided over the last month and a half.

The DTP wants to enter the elections and "as a last resort" will rely on independent candidates. Turk claims they could have 30-35 members in Parliament, a significant figure if the race does not result in one political party gaining a majority.

Asked about the pressure being exerted on the DTP in recent weeks with party leaders arrested and serious pressure put on the pro-Kurdish ´Gundem´ newspaper, Turk pointed out that the DTP has been engaged in constructive efforts, including working towards the cessation of all violence. The party also contributed to a "cease-fire" he said, and supported mutual methods for bringing the democratic forces in the country together through a conference that would provide answers to problems.

This effort wouldn't just rely on Kurdish ethnic identity but would be carried out with Turkish intellectuals, he noted. ´The status-quo forces did not want the DTP's unification with the intellectuals in Turkey´, Turk said.

Developments in the Middle East are observed carefully by the DTP. Turk pointed to the fact that Kurds in Iraq are achieving federal status. ´After they embraced this status, the DTP became a target here in Turkey. When we look today at many of our provinces, party officials and chairmen have been arrested. At the moment around 70 of our officials are inside [prison]´, he said.

´There is no legal basis to these arrests. Most of the cases opened carry penalties from six months to one year. When we look at the law on the methods of a trial, these people have no way to temper with evidence, no chance of escaping. According to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), in cases that require an arrest and call for fewer than seven years, the accused should be tried without being imprisoned. But our party officials have been arrested in one day. The judiciary has been politicized´.

´But we've never carried out an action or even spoken with the intention to incite people to hatred´, Turk continued. ´We are very sensitive in this issue; we are not creating anger and hatred, because we want brotherhood and unity´.

Subtitle: Other side of the coin:

The leader of the DTP then pointed to the other side of the coin: ´The president of the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN), Erkan Mumcu, in a speech in which he talked about Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani, characterized them as 'the dogs of imperialism.' A military official, implying that he was talking about DTP officials, used the word 'creatures´.

´Why aren't these people considered to be creating anger and hatred inside the community´? he asked. ´When we say it's not right for the military to invade northern Iraq, we are perceived as if we are guilty of opposing the state. But prosecutors close their ears to the real words of incitement and hatred. I propose the following to the government: please give us a list of whom it is free to call 'Sir' in this country and who can be blamed or sworn at, so we won't become involved in something criminal´.

Subtitle: Turk regards the cases opened against them as "the result of a concept."

´If it weren't so, the immediate decision to arrest people over such basic claims wouldn't have been taken´, he notes. ´However, nearly every day a provincial office of the DTP is being attacked, our officials are being arrested. Such a country cannot be named democratic´. The country at the moment is getting closer and closer to the presidential election with the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense. ´We see that in such an atmosphere, pressure against the DTP creates difficulties for the government´, he observes. ´Tension-creators don't have the right to use the DTP as fodder in the presidential election. They want to create a tense atmosphere and thus, push the government into a corner. We see that such a scenario will encourage the nationalists and force the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to retreat´.

EG/

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