Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-06-19

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] KTOS asks for the return of Varosha to its legal owners

[02] Information leaked to illegal TAK by Immovable Property Compensation Commission officials

[03] Soyer says that the Mortgage Law will be approved next week

[04] Ertugruloglu asks for the annulment of all the laws enacted on the property issue by the breakaway regime after the 2004 referendum

[05] Turkish Cypriot journalists protest against the army

[06] Leaders and representatives from Turkish Cypriot political parties will meet today

[07] So-called parliamentary delegation left for London

[08] Turkish Cypriot mayors participate in a meeting of the Islamic cities and capitals in Turkey

[09] A book published on the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots will be sent to parliaments and organisations around the world

[10] The process for constitutional amendments is continuing with Sezer´s actions

[11] Turkish Court sentences Ocalan's lawyer for assisting a terrorist organization

[12] Diyarbakir Prosecutor's Office launches investigation against Barzani

[13] Turkish-Chinese Economic Committee meets in Ankara; Protocol signed

[14] Turkish-Spanish Trade Cooperation Meeting held in Istanbul

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[15] Columnist in Today´s Zaman assesses Turkish-Russian military ties

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] KTOS asks for the return of Varosha to its legal owners

The general secretary of KTOS, Sener Elcil said:

This regime which is described by the whole world as local administration under Turkeys control, does nothing else but usurp the will of the people.

According to the paper, in the proposals KTOS asks for the removal of Hasan Ercakica, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Talat from his post because of his statements which are based on making the people enemies to each other.

KTOS demands also that the control of the so-called Central Bank of the breakaway regime be given to the Turkish Cypriots, the police and the fire brigade to be bound to the civilian authority and the annulment of provisional article 10 of the constitution.

Furthermore, the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha to its legal pre-1974 owners, the demilitarization of the whole island and the opening of all borders are included in the proposals of KTOS.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Information leaked to illegal TAK by Immovable Property Compensation Commission officials

As an investigation is underway on reports that the list of Greek Cypriot applications to the Immovable Property Commission was leaked to South-based news agencies, its been announced that the number of applications made to the Commission has risen to 198.

Officials from the Commission told the TAK news agency today that Greek Cypriots are still applying to the Commission which has so far settled 22 of the 198 applications.

The officials told the TAK news agency that applications are still continuing in spite of the publication of a list, said to be consisting of the names of those applying to the Commission, by the Greek Cypriot press on the 7th of June.

Pointing out that the names of those applying to the Commission are being kept secret in line with a regulation adopted, they said that a thorough investigation is still continuing to determine how the lists were leaked to the Greek Cypriot press.

Responding to a question, the officials said that the decisions taken by the Immovable Property Commission are being forwarded to the European Court of Human Rights.

`The information is about the number of applications` they said, adding that the names of the applicants were not forwarded to the ECHR.

The officials also noted that no clues have yet emerged about who leaked the lists but said that it is very interesting that no drop was recorded in the number of those applying to the Commission in spite of the Greek Cypriot Administrations threat to `name and shame` those applying to the Commission.

The Immovable Property Commission has so far settled 22 out of the 198 outstanding applications.

Earlier, in a landmark ruling, the Commission settled an application from a Greek Cypriot, who had also submitted a case to the ECHP, in an exchange deal with a Turkish Cypriot who left land of a similar value in the South.

In the past, cases have only been concluded by ordering compensation or the return of land. The latest settlement is expected to strengthen the credibility of the Commission and set a precedent for future cases. Legal experts believe it will open the way for all future Greek Cypriot applications on property issues to be passed to the Commission instead of the ECHR, which currently has 1,400 outstanding applications.

[03] Soyer says that the Mortgage Law will be approved next week

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ertugruloglu asks for the annulment of all the laws enacted on the property issue by the breakaway regime after the 2004 referendum

In statements during a press conference yesterday, Mr Ertugruloglu said that they do not oppose to the settlement of the property issue by paying compensations and exchange of property, but he added that the rights of the Turkish Cypriots which are allegedly violated since the 1950s should be taken into consideration. He noted that after the law passed in the beginning of 2006, another two laws on the property issue are being prepared and are currently being examined by experts.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkish Cypriot journalists protest against the army

(I/Ts.)

[06] Leaders and representatives from Turkish Cypriot political parties will meet today

Leaders and representatives of political parties with groupings within the TRNC Parliament will meet again tomorrow to continue their discussions on constitutional amendments, election and referendum law and parliamentary regulations.

Leaders and representatives of political parties with groupings within the TRNC Parliament will meet again tomorrow to continue their discussions on constitutional amendments, election and referendum law and parliamentary regulations.

Leading officials from the Republican Turkish Party, National Unity Party and Democrat Party will exchange views and proposals during tomorrows meeting which will be the second of its kind.

Tomorrows meeting will be chaired by the acting-Speaker of the Parliament Mehmet Bayram.

The first meeting among the partied was held last Tuesday. If the parties reach agreement on all the issues, a date for early elections will also be set.

[07] So-called parliamentary delegation left for London

A TRNC delegation, headed by the Speaker of the Parliament Fatma Ekenoglu, left the Republic this afternoon for Britain for contacts at the British Parliament.

During its week-long visit, the delegation will have contacts at the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The delegation headed by the Speaker of the Parliament Fatma Ekenoglu is made up of the Republican Turkish Party deputies Ali Seylani and Ali Gulle, Freedom and Reform Party deputy Mustafa Gökmen and the Communal Democracy Party deputy Mustafa Akinci.

Members of the delegation will also meet representatives of local officials and Turkish Cypriot NGOs based in London.

The delegation will return to the Republic on Sunday at the end of its contacts in Britain.

[08] Turkish Cypriot mayors participate in a meeting of the Islamic cities and capitals in Turkey

The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Gul noted that he was very happy to see the mayors from the TRNC among the participants in the assembly. In his statements, Mr Bulutoglulari said that the fact that mayors hold contacts with him is very meaningful and added that this derives from the fact that the Turkish Cypriot municipality of Nicosia is recognized.

(I/Ts.)

[09] A book published on the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots will be sent to parliaments and organisations around the world

The title of the book is Restrictions, isolations and Vendettas; The Lot of the Turkish Cypriots since 1963.

As the paper writes, the book will be sent to members of the European Parliament, to the EU Council and the members of the Commission, to the Foreign Ministries of Belgium, Germany and Portugal and members of parliaments, the US State Department and Congress members, and various civil society organizations around the world.

(CS)

[10] The process for constitutional amendments is continuing with Sezer´s actions

The said the bill envisages the lowering of the required time interval between the publishment and the holding of the referendum from 120 days to 45 days.

In another dispatch A.A. reported that the Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer filed a lawsuit on Monday at the Constitutional Court for invalidation of the constitutional amendment package that re-arranges the process for presidential and parliamentary elections.

President Sezer's petition for the lawsuit was handed to the rapporteur.After the rapporteur completes his report, the lawsuit filed by Sezer will be debated by the court together with the lawsuit filed earlier by Republican People's Party (CHP) on a date yet to be announced.

The package was earlier vetoed by President Sezer. In second reading, the package was approved one more time at the Parliamentary Constitutional Commission and adopted by the Parliamentary General Assembly without any change.Later, the CHP --main opposition-- appealed to the Constitutional Court asking for the cancellation of the package.

President Sezer sent the package to the Prime Ministry Office for its publishment for referendum and said that he would file a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court regarding it.

The package adopted by the parliament on May 31st envisages that general elections are held once in every four years; the president is elected by popular vote; the presidential term is lowered from the current seven years to five; the president can stand for re-election for a second term; and a quorum of at least one third (184) of total number of MPs is required to open a parliamentary debate.Finally, ANKARA ANATOLIA (18.06.07) reported also from Ankara that evaluating Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's returning of a draft law that brings down the term of holding a referendum in 45 days rather than 120 days for a vote on constitutional amendments, Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said that "Turkey is in a legal process that should be considered normal in a state of law."

Sener held a press briefing after Monday's Council of Ministers meeting.

In response to a question on the U.S. think-tank organization Hudson Institute's scenario on Turkey, Mr Sener indicated that "this issue did not come up in today's Council of Ministers´ meeting."

Sener told press corps that the European Union process of Turkey and the activities of the Boron Institute were discussed in today's meeting. Minister Mr Sener stressed that Turkey possesses 72 percent of all boron reserves in the world. He added that in 2006 Turkish exports of boron reached a volume of 367 million USD in 2006.

[11] Turkish Court sentences Ocalan's lawyer for assisting a terrorist organization

At the previous hearing at the 12th Criminal Court of Istanbul, the prosecutor had called for the punishment of Ocalan's lawyer Irfan Dundar and of Mahmut Sakar for being members of the terrorist organization. In his indictment, the prosecutor had said that the two had participated in the PKK/Kongra-gel Congress held on 16-26 May 2006, and that Dundar was part of the Turkish Coordination Center which is active on behalf of the organization. The prosecutor had also charged that Dundar enabled communication between Ocalan and the organization.

At the hearing today, the Court decided to sentence Dundar to three years and nine months for aiding and abetting the terrorist organization.

The second suspect, Mahmut Sakar, has not made his defense statement yet, and the ruling on him will be made at a later date.

[12] Diyarbakir Prosecutor's Office launches investigation against Barzani

Upon a denouncement by the Kemalist Thought Association (ADD), the Chief Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation against Barzani for allegedly extending support to the organization PKK.

After completing the investigation, the Office will decide whether or not to file a lawsuit against Barzani.

The Association appealed to the Chief Prosecutor's Office on June 13th, saying, "Barzani has been providing the terrorist organization PKK with all kinds of logistic support. He plans the attacks in Turkey and decides their timing together with PKK terrorists. An important part of PKK's weapons and ammunition have been provided by Barzani."

The Association requested the Office to seize any assets, including property and bank accounts, that Barzani may own in Turkey.

[13] Turkish-Chinese Economic Committee meets in Ankara; Protocol signed

While Tuzmen headed the Turkish party at the meeting Chinese Trade Minister Bo Xiali led the People's Republic of China delegation.Delivering a speech at the meeting, Tuzmen indicated that the bilateral trade volume between Turkey and China was expected to reach 14 billion USD by the end of 2007, adding that Turkish exports to China would solely constitute 1.2 billion USD of such figure.

"Bilateral trade will exceed 50 billion USD within the next 5 years," said Tuzmen, emphasizing that this figure would represent a large scale for both countries on an international basis.

"The synergy that will arise from the wide-scale economic cooperation to be established between Turkey and China, the two shining stars of our century, would remarkably contribute to our countries' stable growth for long years," Tuzmen affirmed.

"The strategic partnership agreement and preferential trade agreement should be signed shortly," Tuzmen indicated.

Tuzmen underscored that the preferential trade system should firstly be designed and implemented in a concept that would enable the improvement of Turkish exports to China.

"Let us finalize the agreement at the CIFIT fair next September," he added.Tuzmen who also stressed that a joint Turkish-Chinese Industry Zone should be constructed in Turkey, said that there were available lands in southern Mersin-Iskenderun region.

Tuzmen underscored that Turkey and China could cooperate in services, tourism and construction sectors as well.

Meanwhile, Chinese Minister Bo Xilai stated that the commercial relations between the two countries improved remarkably during the last 5 years.

Upon a question on his opinion on the "concern rising in countries due to the rapid entry of Chinese products in their markets", Xilai said China has been carrying out a specific policy for opening abroad for the last 30 years and the country produced cheap products of high quality.

Xilai also stressed that Turkish exporters purchased goods from China as a result of the market economy.

Turkey and the People's Republic of China have signed the 15th Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting protocol in Ankara on Monday.

State Minister Kursad Tuzmen signed the agreement on behalf of Turkey while Trade Minister Bo Xilai signed the agreement on behalf of China.During the signature ceremony, Tuzmen indicated that the protocol shows the good will and understanding that exist between Turkey and China.

"There are projects that involve Turkey and China in transportation, infrastructure, construction of residences and businesses, tourism, agriculture and industry," said Tuzmen.

Pointing out to the flags of both Turkey and China on the table, Tuzmen stressed that "these flags are the two most important flags in the world."Minister Bo Xilai, on the other hand, stated that they "gave positive responses to all issues brought up by Tuzmen and Turkish authorities."

"We will work so that China procures more goods from Turkey and the Chinese business community invests more in the Turkish market," indicated Xilai.Xilai stressed that he "supports the rise in the number of Turkish Airlines weekly flights to China from 7 to 21. My delegation has been very pleased with the JEC meeting between Turkey and China."

"The Chinese delegation of 100 members includes representatives from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry, Science and Technology Ministry, Chinese Eximbank and representatives from 20 leading Chinese companies. Such a participation shows the importance China attaches to Turkey," said Xilai.Minister Tuzmen underlined that the Chinese government will send delegations to Turkey "in order to establish joint industrial zones and investments." "A Chinese delegation will arrive in July, 2007 to study opportunities in (southern city of) Mersin."

Meanwhile, a Turkish company signed a contract with a Chinese company and sold chromium worth 100 million USD on Sunday.

[14] Turkish-Spanish Trade Cooperation Meeting held in Istanbul

"Trade volume between Turkey and Spain is more than 6 billion euro," Spanish Trade Attache Francisco J. Alfonso said on Monday.

Replying to questions of reporters during the Turkish-Spanish Trade Cooperation meeting in Istanbul, Alfonso said there was 3 billion euro exports from Spain to Turkey and 3.5 billion euro exports from Turkey to Spain.

"Turkey is ranked the second behind the United States in exports to Spain.Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero paid an official visit to Turkey last November and told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey was a preferential country for Spain," he noted.

"Spain thinks Turkey is an important market also for the EU and supports Turkey's accession to the EU," Alfonso remarked.

Alfonso said there were 72 Spanish companies operating in Turkey, and noted that Spanish companies prepared offers for the renewable energy and construction of the strait tunnel in Turkey.

Alfonso said Turkey and Spain signed a trade agreement worth of 353 million euro.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[15] Columnist in Today´s Zaman assesses Turkish-Russian military ties

Military relations between Turkey and Russia have been growing as Turkish Air Forces Commander Gen. Faruk Comert, in what is said to be the first visit by a Turkish Air Forces commander to this country since the establishment of diplomatic relations 87 years ago, returned home last Friday with the decision to set up a hot line between the two countries' air force commanders. Comert was reciprocating the visit of the then Russian air force commander to Turkey in 2004.

But both Turkish and Russian diplomatic and military sources ruled out that the growing trust between the militaries of both countries, reflected in the increased high-level military visits by top commanders, should be interpreted as part of an alleged growing tendency within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to liken itself to the rather tough Russian military.

"Russia does not think that Turkey's acting like the bad boy of NATO will serve Russia's interests. On the contrary, Moscow has been seeking good relations with NATO and a good NATO ally like Turkey will serve and currently serves the Russian interest. For example, it was through Turkish intervention that Russia participated in this year's European and NATO navy commanders' meeting, held once a year," said a Russian military analyst in Moscow to Today's Zaman in a telephone interview.

A hot line contact already exists between the navy commanders of both countries with the primary goal of diffusing any tension that might erupt in the Black Sea as Moscow decided to join in late December of last year the Turkey-initiated Black Sea Harmony operation to monitor and deter all sorts of asymmetric threats including the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction and human trafficking.

Russia appointed almost a month ago a lieutenant colonel as a liaison officer to the Karadeniz Ereglisi, the Turkish headquarters for the Black Sea Harmony operation. Confidential communication systems required to ensure the success of the operations within Black Sea Harmony have already been coordinated between the navies of both countries.

A joint Turkish-Russian Black Sea Harmony operation will also mark the first time that the navies of the two former foes, until the demise of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, will jointly operate against threats.

Turkey has been providing NATO with information on its findings in the Black Sea concerning asymmetric threats via the Black Sea Harmony operation.

But Ankara declined to allow heavy US involvement in the Black Sea through NATO's Active Endeavour operations in the Mediterranean over fears that it might pave the way for revisions in the 1936 Montreux Treaty, which gives Turkey control over the strategic Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.

Economic interests as well as security enhancement are now at stake in this energy-rich, strategically important Black Sea region.

With the membership of Bulgaria and Romania in NATO in 2004 and to the EU in 2007, Russia's influence in the Black Sea region, a strategically crucial area connecting the Balkans with the Caucasus as well as East and Central Europe with Turkey, has declined while US influence has increased.

By joining the Black Sea Harmony operations Russia, thus, seeks to neutralize the US in the Black Sea.

Ankara has the best and the most Western-oriented naval force in the region while Russia, though deprived of ownership of the now Ukrainian shipyard on the Black Sea, holds one of the best naval powers and has been building a naval base at its oil cargo hub at Novorossiisk.

In addition to now being a party to the Black Sea Harmony operation initiated by Turkey in 2004, Russia is also a member of the Black Sea Naval Cooperation task force, known as Blackseafor, which aims to enhance cooperation between Black Sea navies.

Despite growing military to military relations between Turkey and Russia, the level of ties between the two countries in military procurement projects has not been satisfying Moscow.

In the past seven years Russia has not even been able to sell one bullet to Ankara, says the Russian military sources that Today's Zaman contacted by telephone in Moscow.

"For a military industry relationship to be established between Turkey and Russia, we may perhaps need trust to be further achieved between the militaries of both countries," said a retired Turkish general.

Russia declines to bid in satellite and long-range missile projects

With Turkey a NATO member since 1952, the Turkish military tradition of using Western weaponry systems, meanwhile, plays an important factor in the failure of a sound defense industry cooperation ties to be set up between the two countries, said Turkish defense industry experts.

But at the same Turkish experts also recall that Turkey has entered into cooperation with South Korea and lately with Pakistan despite Ankara's reluctance in setting up a sound defense industry cooperation with Russia.

As a strong sign of Russian dissatisfaction over the alleged negative Turkish approach to forge defense industry ties with this country, Russian companies declined to bid in Turkey's satellite acquisition project estimated to cost around $250 million as well as the acquisition of four long-range aerial missiles worth around $1.2 billion.

In addition, Russia neither sent an official delegation to the eighth International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF07) held in Ankara in late May nor were its defense companies ready at the fair except for a Kazan defense industry company stand opened with only few representatives from the company.

This runs contrary to the earlier high Russian presence at Turkish defense industry fairs.

According to the Russian military sources in Moscow that Today's Zaman interviewed, the main reason for Russian frustration that has prompted it to decline in participating in Turkey's two major projects stem from the Russian feeling that its country, known for its still strong arms industry, were being used by Turkey.

The Russian invitation as a second runner in now the cancelled attack helicopter project in the second half of the 1990s to force US Bell to reduce its price in King Cobra helicopters continue the bitter feeling that Russia has been experiencing over what it has perceived as being used by Ankara against the US.

Turkey and Russia have joint defense committee meetings held once a year, with the last one taking place in November of last year in Ankara.

Turkey has turned down a Russian offer to negotiate at government levels on selling satellite and long range S-300 missiles to Turkey instead of competing in both tenders.

Russia sought to negotiate directly with the Turkish government instead of bidding in both projects due to a strong belief on the Russian side that Moscow has been quite good and famous in both systems that it did not have to compete.

US companies which can no longer compete in Turkish tenders due to what they term as tough procurement terms and conditions that seek among other things government approval of export licenses as a condition for the companies to bid in the projects have also been seeking equipment sales on Foreign Military Sales (FMS) conditions that do not allow much room for maneuvering in boosting Turkish defense industry.

US Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are bidding in Turkey's long-range missile project with Patriots under FMS conditions.

Turkey released a Request for Information (RfI) early in March of this year for the acquisition of four long-range air and missile defense systems code named T-Loramids to meet the requirements of the Turkish Air Forces Command.

The TSK has long been planning to acquire long-range missiles to strengthen its capabilities to deter both ballistic and conventional missile threats.

Russia also believed that there has been a political decision in Turkey to buy US Patriots and that there has been no reason for Russia to compete in this project for nothing.

However, in addition to Russia, the US as well as French and South Korean companies declined to bid in Turkey's 0.8 resolution reconnaissance and surveillance satellite system acquisition project code named Gokturk and opened for competition in late 2006.

The UK's EADS Astrium, Israel's IAI, Germany's OHB-SYSTEM as well as Italy's TELESPAZIO companies responded to the Request for Proposals (RfP) released on July 14, 2006 by the Undersecretariat of the Defense Industry (SSM) and terminated on Dec. 18.

US Lockheed Martin, which earlier showed interest in the project, did not respond to the RfP due to the existing problem of the terms and conditions of the Turkish military contracts.

In the meantime, Russian companies have decided to compete in Turkey's acquisition of anti-tank missiles as well as heavy lift helicopter tenders with the belief that in both projects Russia will seriously be taken into consideration.

EG/

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