Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-06-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Cypriot leader after their meeting in Helsinki

[02] More information and reactions on the issue of bribery and abuse of authority

[03] Turgay Avci: The government aims to increase the number of its foreign offices

[04] Turkish Cypriot suggestion for halloumi registration in three languages

[05] Rauf Denktas alleges that the information that the 1974 invasion of Cyprus was carried out with Kissingers support is not true

[06] Cakici says that CTPs policy for lifting the isolations is not sufficient and can bring no benefits on its own

[07] Oztoprak notes religious culture courses are postponed for next year

[08] Members of the Green Group of the European Parliament to held contacts in the island next week

[09] The so-called Northern Cyprus Chess Federation will participate in a championship in Bulgaria

[10] Ankara hopes Portugal to act objectively in Turkey´s accession process

[11] Turkey focuses on energy diplomacy

[12] Erdogan might still be prosecuted for calling Ocalan esteemed

[13] General Staff: Umraniye case within scope of military prosecution

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[14] Columnist in Afrika challenges the EU Commissioner for Enlargement to reply to why he lost trust in the EU

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Cypriot leader after their meeting in Helsinki

Mr Talat said that the target of the Turkish Cypriots is the overall solution of the Cyprus problem and added that their primary target is the approval of the Direct Trade Regulation by the EU. Talat argued: The lifting of the isolations is not a basic target for us. It is a set of developments which will facilitate the solution in the way towards the solution of the Cyprus problem and of course it will make the life of the Turkish Cypriot people easier.

Mr Talat said that he told his interlocutor that the EU should try to pass the Direct Trade Regulation with qualified majority, because the Greek Cypriots will not approve it. Mr Talat noted that he also referred to the issue of the Bologna process and the inclusion of the illegal universities in it.

He said that Mr Kanevra expressed the opinion that the Turkish Cypriots should not be disappointed because there is no positive result on the issue and that the problem could be solved with agreements which the illegal universities will make with prominent European universities.

Talat noted: Our universities are anyway doing this. Our wish was, by joining the Bologna process, to ensure our being equal with all the European universities at one go. It seems that Finland wants to solve the problems of the Turkish Cypriots, but its power and authority on the issue within the framework of the EU is limited.

Asked whether or not he is hopeful that the Direct Trade Regulation will be approved during the Portuguese term presidency of the EU, Mr Talat said their hopes on the Direct Trade Regulation are not exhausted. When one hope is exhausted, another hope begins, he noted.

Referring to the 8 July process, Mr Talat alleged that the Greek Cypriot side is seeing the process as opportunity to dynamite the solution of the Cyprus problem and claimed that the Turkish Cypriots see the process as a short preparatory stage.

(I/Ts.)

[02] More information and reactions on the issue of bribery and abuse of authority

According to Mr Ozcag, Mr Fahri Yonluer, brother of Ahmet Yonluer head of the religious affairs department, threatened him by saying I will break you apart. In the above-mentioned program a tape from a telephone conversation of Ahmet Yonluer, head of the religious affairs department, was also broadcast. In the tape Mr Yonluer was swearing at Asim Vehbi, minister of environment and natural resources. According to the paper, Mr Yonluer used the words that bastard Asim, for Mr Vehbi.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (29.06.07) reports that in his statements to the same program, Mr Ozcag said that in spite of the fact that no application was made, Variant Ltd was given 1200 donums of land (Tr. Note: a land measure of about 1000 square meters) the value of which is about 70 million pounds sterling.

He argued that this was done with falsification by Mr Yonluer, Mr Avci and Mr Vehbi. He also noted that Asim Vehbi has repeatedly visited him at his office and asked for his help for the removal of Enver Ozturk, former minister of tourism and economy, from his duties.

Meanwhile, AFRIKA reports that in statements after one of his meetings yesterday, Turgay Avci, so-called minister of foreign affairs, said that land had been allocated to Variant Companys director during the period when the Democratic Party (DP) was participating in the government and added that this land is in Aigialousa village area.

Mr Avci said that the relations between the chairman of DP, Serdar Denktas and Alarko Ahmet, as he described Mr Ahmet Ozcag, are going far back in the past. The brother of Mr Ahmet had been appointed to the post of permanent undersecretary during the DP period, he said and added that both himself and the ministers coming from his party are ready for any kind of investigation to be conducted about their actions.

AFRIKA reports that addressing the assembly yesterday, Mustafa Akinci, MP with the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) said that the person who alleges that he gave a bribe should be interrogated as soon as possible.

Moreover, Asim Vehbi, minister of environment and natural resources addressed also the assembly and said that he had not signed an agreement for leasing land to Variant Ltd in the occupied Vokolida area. He noted that the allotment was annulled. He said that he has been in this post for nine months and nothing bad came to the surface about him.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper (29.06.07) reports that the so-called ministry of finance has also launched an investigation on the issue of bribery and abuse of authority in parallel to the investigations of the police and the attorney generals office. Minister Ahmet Uzun stated yesterday that they will submit all their findings to the attorney generals office.

The paper publishes also statements by Serdar Denktas, chairman of the Democratic Party, who argued that the chairman and the officials of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) should be taken to a court which hears only cases brought against high government officials.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Turgay Avci: The government aims to increase the number of its foreign offices

Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Turgay Avci has accused the European Union of not taking necessary steps in line with its promises to lift the international isolations on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Mr Avci today, received the Secretary-General of the Islamic Conference Organisations Youth Forum Elsat Iskenderov and Azerbaijani MP Fuat Muradov who is on a one day visit to the TRNC.

Speaking during the reception, the Foreign Minister Turgay Avci said that relations between the TRNC and the OIC have taken progress in the last 6 months and added that efforts towards improving relations with the Organisation are still continuing.

Reminding of the ongoing and unjust isolations on the TRNC, Mr Avci said that the Euorpean Union has failed to take necessary steps towards lifting the isolations.

He stated that the Direct Trade Regulation which was expected to be implemented during the EU term presidency of Germany was postponed to Portugals term presidency.

The Foreign Minister also accused the Greek Cypriot Side of keeping its efforts to put sanctions and heavy pressure on the Turkish Cypriot People as an EU member state.

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot Side will never let this happen, Turgay Avci called for the establishment of commercial, social, cultural, educational and political relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

He added the government is aiming to increase the number of foreign offices and to open itself to the world not only politically but in all sectors.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Islamic Conference Organisations Youth Forum Elsat Iskenderov expressed his satisfaction for visiting the country at a time when the agenda is busy and said he made very intense contacts during his one day visit to the country.

[04] Turkish Cypriot suggestion for halloumi registration in three languages

The Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry, Union of Producers of Milk and Diary Products and state milk industries, KOOP-SUT have pointed out that `hellim` is a product unique to Cyprus and that it should be registered in three languages; Turkish, Greek and English.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the President of the Chamber of Industry Salih Tunar pointed out that the Greek Cypriot Cheese Producers Union did not use the name of `hellim` in its application to the European Union to register the product as a product unique to Cyprus.

Mr Tunar said that the three institutions raised their objections to the Greek Cypriot Ministry of Agriculture on the issue and demanded the registration of `hellim` both in Turkish and Greek languages and the need to produce high quality products.

`Our aim is not to prevent the registration of hellim as a product unique to Cyprus` he said, adding that the aim is to register `hellim` as a product of Cyprus in three languages, Turkish, Greek and English.

He noted that work on the issue is still continuing.

[05] Rauf Denktas alleges that the information that the 1974 invasion of Cyprus was carried out with Kissingers support is not true

Referring to the period after the invasion, Denktas stated: Kissinger said to me: Makarios is ready to give 25 % of the island to the Turks. With some pressure he will accept even 30 %.

Mr Denktas alleged that the information that the 1974 invasion of the island was carried out with Kissingers support is not true. Denktas said that referring to the Turkish invasion Kissinger told him that Archbishop Makarios cooperation with the former Soviet Union harmed Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Cakici says that CTPs policy for lifting the isolations is not sufficient and can bring no benefits on its own

Addressing the First Nicosia Congress of the party, Mr Cakici noted that only the policy of lifting the isolations, which is followed by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), is not sufficient and can bring no benefits on its own.

He criticized the CTP government for its policy on the Koran lessons, which it plans to transfer into the schools in the occupied areas and noted that in this manner the CTP is giving the message that there is a lack of faith in the Turkish Cypriots.

Referring to the issue of transferring electricity to occupied Karpass peninsula, Mr Cakici said that behind this decision are plans for the beginning of constructions in the area.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Oztoprak notes religious culture courses are postponed for next year

(I/Ts.)

[08] Members of the Green Group of the European Parliament to held contacts in the island next week

A delegation from the Greens group in the European Parliament will pay a visit to the island next week for contacts with the two sides.

The delegation will be received by President Mehmet Ali Talat on Thursday, the 5th of July.

The Greens delegation comprising of Co-President Monica Frassoni, MEP Cem Özdemir, Secretary General Vula Tsetsi and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Paolo Bergamaschi.

The delegation will arrive in Cyprus on the 4th of July for two days of contacts in both sides of the island.

On the first day of its contacts, the Greens delegation will meet with German, Portuguese and Italian Ambassadors and Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos.

On Thursday, members of the delegation will come together with the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative to Cyprus Chief of Mission Michael Möller and Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot religious leaders.

On the same day, the delegation will also be received by President Mehmet Ali Talat.

The group will also meet with TRNC Parliamentarians Özdil Nami and Hasan Taçoy.

Members of the Greens delegation will also have inspections at the EU office in North Cyprus and will come together with Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot journalists as part of their contacts on the island.

[09] The so-called Northern Cyprus Chess Federation will participate in a championship in Bulgaria

(I/Ts.)

[10] Ankara hopes Portugal to act objectively in Turkeys accession process

Ankara government hopes that Portugal, which is due to take over the presidency of the European Union from Germany this weekend, to act objectively as regards Turkey's EU membership process.

Ankara thinks Germany has not fulfilled its commitments for opening talks in three chapters before the end of their term. On the other hand sources say Ankara is optimistic about Portuguese rotating presidency, another Mediterranean country, mainly because of the positive signals from that country regarding Turkey's EU membership bid.

Diplomatic sources in Ankara underline that efforts to erect new obstacles on Turkey's path could be prevented during Portuguese presidency.

Ankara will insist on starting negotiations of "Economic and Monetary Policy" chapter by the end of 2007. The talks were previously suspended due to France's reservations.

Beside many others, enlargement process will be on the agenda of Portugal as of July 1st. In a statement regarding Portugal presidency, the country's EU envoy Alvaro Mendonca e Moura, said Turkey will be one of the most difficult issues in this period. Saying that proceeding in negotiations is very important for Portugal, Moura noted new chapters will be discussed during their presidency term.

On the issue of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Moura said they will not follow an open diplomacy if the Direct Trade Regulations come on the table, reminding open diplomacy did not yield benefits until this day.

Portugal thinks EU should meet its promises, and should not close the door to Turkey. The prospective president of EU does not support French president Nicolas Sarkozy's suggestion of a Mediterranean Union.

"New EU Treaty", "Lisbon Agenda", "Security, Freedom & Justice" and "Foreign Affairs" are the priority subjects that will be on the agenda during Portugals's rotating presidency. In this respect Portugal will work on the political deadlock of EU Treaty (to solve it by 2009), the negative effects of global competition within the framework of the Lisbon Agenda, increasing security threats following September 11, as well as strengthening EU's role in the international platform.

On the same issue ANKARA ANATOLIA news agency (28.06.07) reports the following from Brussels: "We see Turkey's accession to the EU as an important and principal development in case it fulfils the required criteria," said Manuel Lobo Antunes, the Portuguese Secretary of State Assistant and for European Affairs, on Thursday.

His country's stance on Turkey's membership bid is obvious, Antunes told a press conference in which he talked about the priorities of Portugal after it takes over the EU presidency on July 1st, 2007.

Antunes stated that he does not see any reason that can change their stance after Portugal assumes the rotating presidency.

Noting that Portugal does not have a secret agenda regarding EU's enlargement, Antunes said: "The EU perspective of Turkey, Croatia and Macedonia and West Balkans will be on the table (during our presidency). The final goal of all accession negotiations is the admission of candidate countries to the EU after they meet required criteria. Both sides have responsibilities. On one side the EU should maintain negotiations with good will and transparency and all member states should be loyal to their commitments, on the other side they should respect the accession criteria, values and principles for each candidate country."

[11] Turkey focuses on energy diplomacy

"Our goal is to give Turkey a more effective place in the energy equation, with its indispensable location," Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said on Thursday.

"What we are doing is energy diplomacy," he told reporters after a meeting he held with Turkey's ambassadors in nine countries, including Russia and Caucasian countries.

According to Guler, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) crude oil pipeline project and Shah Deniz project have been completed, and other projects like Nabucco and Samsun-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline are to be finalized soon.

Good relations and long-term projects between Turkey and Russia will continue, he noted.

Guler said that Turkey and Russia have discussed some possible joint projects like enlarging the Blue Stream to the south, constructing underground storage depots, increase investments in distribution and energy areas, and added that Turkey is now waiting for an answer from Russia.

Kurtulus Taskent, Turkey's Ambassador in Moscow; Taner Seben, Turkey's Ambassador in Almaty; Ertan Tezgor, Turkey's Ambassador in Tbilisi; Kemal Asya, Turkey's Ambassador in Tashkent; Serpil Alpman, Turkey's Ambassador in Bishkek; Hakki Akil, Turkey's Ambassador in Ashkhabad; Omur Solendir, Turkey's Ambassador in Ulaanbaatar; Akif Ayhan, Turkey's Ambassador in Dushanbe; and Huseyin Avni Karslioglu, Turkey's Ambassador in Baku, participated in the meeting.

[12] Erdogan might still be prosecuted for calling Ocalan esteemed

An Ankara court has annulled a prosecutor s decision to dismiss an investigation against Prime Minsiter Recep Tayyip Erdoan for referring to the head of a terrorist gorup s leader as esteemed.

The Ankara chief prosecutor investigating whether Erdoan broke the law when he referred to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party s (PKK) jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan with the honorific Say1n Öcalan, or Esteemed Öcalan several yaers ago, had earlier dismissed the investigation.

The prosecutor had said that since the words Esteemed Öcalan were used seven years ago, the statute of limitations on the deed had expired, adding that there was no intent of committing a crime on the part of the prime minsiter. However, the 1st Criminal Court of Sincan, hearing an appeal made against the chief prosecutors decision, ruled on Thursday to annul the prosecutors dismissal of the case. It said, a court had to review the evidence.

The prime minister and other members of Parliament have legal immunity that protects them from prosecution, and Parliament would need to approve any further legal steps against Erdoan.

Dozens of Kurdish politicians have been charged with illegally praising crime or criminals by using the honorific term of Say1n Öcalan. Those convicted include Ahmet Türk, leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), who received a six-month sentence. The initial investigation was opened when the recordings of an interview with Australia s SBS Network coundicting in Turksih, during which Erdoan can be heard saying Say1n twice, appeared in the media earlier this year. Erdoan is likelty to hold a strong majority in the 550-seat Parliament after next month s elections, and therefore also likely to have no trouble thwarting any effort to prosecute him.

[13] General Staff: Umraniye case within scope of military prosecution

The existence of the group was first suggested in a 1998 armed attack on a former head of the Human Rights Association (IHD), with further evidence provided by the 2006 attack on the Council of State, which left one senior judge dead.

In a press statement released Thursday, the General Staff said a military prosecutor had also launched an investigation into explosives and guns found in a retired army personnel's home. The statement comes one day after a police raid that revealed the existence of another home-turned-arms depot owned by a retired army member. Eight people, including retired Capt. Muzaffer Tekin -- who had earlier been held by the police during an investigation into the Council of State shooting -- were arrested as part of the Umraniye investigation, which also led counterterrorism teams last Tuesday to another house belonging to retired Maj. Fikret Emek in the central Anatolian town of Eskisehir, where a large quantity of explosives, guns, fuses and other ammunition were stored.

The General Staff's press release said that interrogation of the retired military personnel as part of the Umraniye and Eskisehir investigation fell under the scope of military prosecution.

Tekin, taken into custody and released during last year's investigation of the Council of State attack, described retired noncommissioned officer Oktay Yildirim as being "like my son." The latter is alleged to be the owner of the hand grenades found in Umraniye.

Investigators searching Tekin and Yildirim's computers found encrypted files that included plans from an organization named "Ergenekon," details about the organization and classified minutes from National Security Council (MGK) meetings. However, a statement from the MGK in the middle of this week denied that any such meeting minutes had ever been acquired by third parties.

The connections between the three incidents pushed an Ankara court investigating last year's Council of State attack, also connected to a bombing of Cumhuriyet daily the same year, to expand the inquest to include information uncovered during the Umraniye investigation.

Commenting on the Umraniye incident, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week expressed his opinion that connections revealed by investigators working on the case are fairly descriptive of the Turkish concept of "deep state."

"Just look where the links of the Umraniye incident led," he said in response to a journalist's question about his understanding of the deep state -- a phenomenon thought to be responsible for behind-the-scenes operations carried out by a network of influential individuals nested within the state apparatus.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[14] Columnist in Afrika challenges the EU Commissioner for Enlargement to reply to why he lost trust in the EU

The Editor in- Chief of AFRIKA writes under the title: You are right Talat, I have lost my trust in the EU and says:

Helsinki´s summer is different. One does not experience sun-stroke

The Baltic Sea

The Finnish sauna bath

Sauna is good for those who suffer from heart problems

As the summer season progresses is white evenings get in

You will never see darkness in the Baltic waters.

The Finnish language is not that much romantic as the Spanish and French but the Fins are polite and gentle people

Under that harsh Finnish language lies a clean childish spirit.

They do write lamentations for their death like we do.

It seems that Scandinavia had bewitched Talat as well.

And as though he has read my mind, this time he dropped his bomb there

He said: ´The trust Turkish Cypriots harbour towards the EU gradually diminishes´.

I thank Talat for expressing what were in my mind.

I wish he had been more specific

What does it mean: ´Gradually losing the Trust´

I have no trust at all

I am complainant

I have a lot to complain

If I find a fair court I will definitely file a lawsuit

But there is no such fair court.

Even the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has come to nought.

The ECHR did not even accept the case when we wanted to open court cases against the three guarantor powers, which did so much bad things to us. Is it possible now for the ECHR to accept lawsuit against the EU?

I would like to thank Talat

He has expressed my feelings.

I have no trust at all in the EU

I am a complainant, that, the EU turned a blind eye to the occupation of these territories that joined the EU

For supporting the occupation by the occupiers

I did not trust Verheugen in any case.

And I have no trust at all in Rehn!

All he thinks is Turkey´s accession negotiations

Whenever he speaks he repeats the same sentence:

´Turkey´s EU membership is very important to the EU´.

This phrase became so absurd that I do even report it in this newspaper

I want to have the answer to why there are so much occupation forces on an EU territory.

Why there are so many arms?

And so many military exercises...

I am complainant.

Because the EU never showed interest in Varosha and it did not do anything for its opening for settlement.

Don´t you think that if this territory is EU territory, then it should be at least, as much a problem to the EU as it is to me?

Why can the European Parliament members coming to the island not even lay foot in this closed city?

I want the answer to this Mr Olli Rehn.

For keeping total silence in the face of unbelievable plundering of property in this island, I have lost my trust in the EU.

And for not saying no to the transferring of people from outside.

Our mountains are slipping away from our hands under the grinding teeth of the quarries.

The EU is turning a deaf ear regarding the quarries operating in our mountains.

They are blown up by dynamite.

Our mountains are EU territory but the EU does not care a iota.

Just like issuing forged title deeds

As the things go with this pace there will remain no mountains.

And when we look from Lefkosia we will be able to see the Toros mountains in the south of Turkey.

What kind of trust could I have in the EU when it is unable to open the Lokmaci (Ledra Street) crossing, to clear the mines, to save Karpasia from the plundering jackals, to stop the destruction of the environment, and to safeguard our hundreds of years old historic and cultural monuments?

You are right Esheemed Talat

We are losing our trust in the EU

I thank you for expressing my feelings in the Scandinavian summer.

I have said I have no more trust.

And if the EU puts aside what I have listed here as my complaints, and starts dealing with your absurdity that you call isolation, then my trust in the EU will totally be lost and be zero.

We are finished, destroyed here.

Is living a hostages life here not enough and he (Talat) is trying to offer the isolation issue as a gift to those who hold us hostage?

Or, is he trying to save the occupier from isolation, since he can not liberate the EU territory from the occupier?

EG/

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