Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-09-12

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Speaker of the TGNA continues his illegal visit to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

[02] Pertev met Olli Rehn

[03] TUSIAD delegation met Olli Rehn

[04] Statements by Ercakica on the meeting between the leaders of the two communities

[05] ECHR accepts appointment of Turkish Cypriot judges put forward by Turkey

[06] Izzet Izcan accuses Talat of trying to get rid of the 8th of July agreement and calls on him to honour his signature

[07] Namis statements on the lifting of the isolation and embargo were included in the conclusions of the 2nd International Economy, Culture and Tourism Conference of the Islamic countries

[08] Syrian swimmer set to swim from occupied Karpass to Syria. Al Jazeera broadcast live to the Arab world his effort

[09] The Greek FIBA Europe Chairman ready to support the TRNC basketball federation

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[10] The two faces of Cyprus

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Speaker of the TGNA continues his illegal visit to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

Speaking during the meeting, Mr Talat said that Turkeys economic and political support is giving strength to the Turkish Cypriots.

For his part, Mr Toptan called on the international community to support the efforts being waged by the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey towards bringing about a just and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

He stressed that Turkey will continue to provide support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to prepare a better future for the Turkish Cypriot people.

On the Cyprus issue, Mr Toptan said that all should accept the reality that there are two people and states on the island and called on the international community to support the efforts being waged by Turkey and the TRNC towards a solution by lifting the isolation on the Turkish Cypriot people.

For his part, Mr Talat pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey have been doing their best to bring about a solution to the Cyprus problem.

This is a reality known by the whole world, he said, adding that its not the Turkish side which should take an initiative towards a solution.

Reminding that the Turkish Cypriot side had proposed that the 8th July process be regulated and that comprehensive negotiations restarted, he complained that this proposal was rejected by the Greek Cypriot side.

He said that the Greek Cypriot side wanted to return to the point reached 14 months ago and to restart the 8th July process.

Accusing the Greek Cypriot side of playing for time, he said: The Greek Cypriot side has been playing for time and trying to gain advantages in Turkeys EU negotiations process.

The Turkish Cypriot side is very relaxed in its current position as no one can find anything to criticize it with regard to its pro-solution stance, Mr Talat said, adding that Turkeys continued support has been giving strength to the Turkish Cypriot people.

[02] Pertev met Olli Rehn

Rasit Pertev has flown to Brussels for contacts with the EUs Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn.

Today, Mr Pertev is meeting with foreign diplomats and will then confer with Commissioner Olli Rehn.

Speaking to the TAK news agency before meeting with Mr. Rehn, the Presidential Undersecretary said that relations between the EU and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be on top of his meeting with the EU commissioner.

Mr Pertev also said he will be briefing commissioner Rehn on the 5th September meeting held between President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos.

The Presidential Undersecretary Rasit Pertev is expected to return to the Republic tomorrow.

On the same issue Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.09.07) reported the following from Brussels:

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Presidency Undersecretary Rasit Pertev met EU Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn in Brussels on Tuesday.

Pertev briefed Rehn about the meeting which was held between TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos last week.

Pertev and Rehn also discussed problems in implementation of Financial Assistance and Green Line regulations as well as Direct Trade Regulation which still has not been approved by EU.

Pertev who also held meetings with representatives of several political groups at European Parliament will depart from Brussels on Wednesday.

[03] TUSIAD delegation met Olli Rehn

In the first encounter between the European Union and Turkey after the summer break, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn warned yesterday that Ankara was losing friends because of its slow pace to reform the notorious Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

Meeting with a Turkish Industrialists and Businessmens Association (TUSIAD) delegation before a critical progress report expected to be released on Nov. 7, Rehn renewed his complaints about Article 301. He said Turkeys friends in Europe were facing fierce resistance due to the existence of 301 and underlined that Ankara was losing its friends.

The TUSIAD delegation, headed by Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, was told Turkish prestige had been damaged by the decision to delay the amendment of Article 301 of the TCK. You are losing the political and economic support of those member countries, said Rehn, indicating that Turkey was shooting itself in the foot by its insistence on not amending Article 301 immediately.

In a separate meeting with European Parliament (EP) President Hans Gert Poettering, known for his staunch opposition to possible Turkish EU membership, the TUSIAD delegation was told Turkey would be able to move toward membership as long as it pursued reforms. The EP president underlined that the majority of the parliament was behind Turkeys membership.

The TUSIAD delegation also paid visits to Christian Democrats Party Chairman Joseph Daul, Socialists Deputy Chairman Jan Marinus Wiersma and Greens Chairman Daniel Cohn-Bendit at the EP.

The progress report, which is still being written, does not look positive at the moment. Diplomats say to prevent the misuse of the report by Turkey-bashers, Ankara should immediately move to either abolish or amend Article 301.

[04] Statements by Ercakica on the meeting between the leaders of the two communities

The Presidential spokesman Hasan Ercakica has said that the Greek Cypriot side rejected all the proposals put forward by Turkish Cypriot side during the 5th September meeting, without introducing any alternative proposals.

Instead, the Greek Cypriot leader proposed for the establishment of several working groups which would allow the process to linger, said Mr Ercakica.

Speaking during his weekly press briefing this morning, the Presidential spokesman was evaluating the 5th September meeting between President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos.

Speaking during the press briefing, the presidential spokesman repeated that the Turkish Cypriot Side had attended the meeting with the best intentions, to regulate, accelerate and as a result pave the way for the implementation of the 8th July agreement.

He said that the Turkish Cypriot side has proposed to set a deadline for the implementation of the stalled 8th July agreement which had been initially brokered 14 months ago and to commence comprehensive negotiations in accordance with the purpose of the agreement following the end of this deadline.

Mr Ercakica also pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot side had proposed, in line with the 8th July agreement -for both sides declare their intent for the Cyprus Problem to be solved before the end of 2008.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos had rejected all the proposals put forward by the Turkish Cypriot side, the presidential spokesman said that the attitude adopted by the Greek Cypriot side was absolutely in contradiction with the 8th July agreement.

Underlining the need to account for the 14 months lost period in the 8th July process, Mr Ercakica called on the Greek Cypriot leader to respond to President Mehmet Ali Talats question as to whether the Turkish Cypriot side will have to wait for another 14 months, 14 years or 140 years to find a political settlement on the island.

Referring to the different kinds of scenarios circulating on the Greek Cypriot side concerning the Cyprus negotiations process, Mr Ercakica said that these scenarios were directly related to the forthcoming elections in the south rather than the Cyprus Problem itself.

The Cyprus Problem and relations with the Turkish Cypriot people have always been on agenda of issues debated during the election campaigns in the South, he added.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.09.07) reports that Mr Moller held 1-2 telephone conversations with Mr Pertev after the 5th of September meeting, as Mr Ercakica stated.

Also, replying to a question about the meeting between Mehmet Ali Talat and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Mr Ercakica stated that the meeting will take place in November but the date exact is not yet determined, the paper reports.

[05] ECHR accepts appointment of Turkish Cypriot judges put forward by Turkey

The European Court of Human Rights has rejected the Greek Cypriot Administrations opposition to the TRNC High Court President Metin Hakki and High Court Judge Gonul Eronen who were put forward by Turkey for positions at the Court.

The issue was taken up at a meeting in Strasbourg last week.

The European Court of Human Rights has rejected the Greek Cypriot Administrations opposition to the TRNC judges who were put forward by Turkey for positions at the Court.

The decision follows a meeting held in Strasbourg last Thursday.

The Greek Cypriot Administration lodged objections to two TRNC judges claiming that they could not be fair and objective because of the oaths they had taken to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The TRNC High Court President Metin Hakki was appointed as an ad-hoc judge by Turkey for 38 cases filed by Greek Cypriots against it.

Mr Hakki has been serving as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights on property cases and High Court Judge Gonul Eronen on cases concerning the missing persons issue.

On the same issue and under the title The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected the objections of the Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.09.07) reports in its first page about the appointment of the high court president Metin Hakki and the high court judge Gonul Eronen to the ECHR, after a suggestion of Turkey.

Commenting on the issue the retired attorney general Zaim Necatigil stated, inter alia, that this is a positive development for the Turkish Cypriot side and added that this decision shows that the ECHR sees positively the Property Committee in occupied Cyprus.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (12.09.07) reports on the same issue under the title Greek Cypriot lawsuits entrusted to Hakki and writes that the objections of the Greek Cypriots against high court president Metin Hakki and high court judge Gonul Eronen, whose appointment was suggested by Turkey, were rejected by the ECHR.

Afrika comments on the issue as follows: Did you hear this, my Greek Cypriot brothers? From now on our high court president Metin Hakki will look into the lawsuits at the ECHR. The weather is cloudy, forget about your properties in the north from now on!.

[06] Izzet Izcan accuses Talat of trying to get rid of the 8th of July agreement and calls on him to honour his signature

Noting that Mr Talat wants to kill the 8th of July agreement, Mr Izcan called on Talat to do everything necessary according to the agreement. Mr Izcan accused Mr Talat that by putting new proposals on the negotiation table he is leading the process to a deadlock and called on Talat to state why he wants to get rid of the process.

(CS)

[07] Namis statements on the lifting of the isolation and embargo were included in the conclusions of the 2nd International Economy, Culture and Tourism Conference of the Islamic countries

Speaking at the conference Mr Nami stated, inter alia, that the most important obstacle towards the development of tourism in occupied Cyprus is the fact that there are no direct flights.

(CS)

[08] Syrian swimmer set to swim from occupied Karpass to Syria. Al Jazeera broadcast live to the Arab world his effort

According to the paper, his effort was broadcast live to the Arab world for four hours through the Al Jazeera (El Cezire) television. Firas Mouala was accompanied for a distance of twelve miles from the TRNC shores by the TRNC national swimmer, Osman Akkus and a TRNC coastguard boat, as the paper notes.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (12.09.07) writes in its first page that Firas Mouala, a national swimmer of Syria, is planning to enter the Guinness Record Book, swimming a distance of 110 kilometres, in a race which will last for 32-34 hours without a stop. Firas Mouala, who undertook this project under the slogan Binding Europe with Asia, has already started to swim from Apostolos Andreas Monastery and is planning to swim up to Latakia. The swimmer will be accompanied by two Syrian captains who will be on two boats, writes the paper.

Commenting on the same issue Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.09.07) writes that in order for Moualas record to be tested successfully, a sport firm along with the TRNC deputy prime ministers office and the foreign ministry provided the Syrian swimmer with the necessary technical and logistics support. The paper also writes that TRNC national swimmer Osman Akkus accompanied Firas Mouala swimming with him until the limits of the TRNC territorial waters.

Speaking to Kibris, Mazen Al Haj Khalil, the director of the firm which organised the event, stated, inter alia, that they have received all the support and help they expected from the TRNC government and added that this cooperation has opened the road for the conducting of similar organizations between Syria and the TRNC. He said that if the Turkish Cypriots want to organise activities jointly with the Arabs, they will do everything they can to help them.

(ML/CS)

[09] The Greek FIBA Europe Chairman ready to support the TRNC basketball federation

Levent Cagdal and Tamer Bolat are in Spain to attend the Eurobasket Championship games, the paper writes.

(ML)

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[10] The two faces of Cyprus

On the one face of the TRNC there are luxury cars running in the roads ceaselessly, a very clear atmosphere and a fine scent of pure flora that can reach to you.

There are persons who earn money from selling 500-600 houses to the British every year. The construction companies have their profit too. Everybody is happy!

The number of young people who cross over from the TRNC to the Greek Cypriot side, i.e. the Republic of Cyprus for shopping is rapidly increasing. Turks who in the past were going to Istanbul (for shopping), now they are visiting the Greek Cypriot luxury stores in large numbers.

An advertisement in Kibris newspaper reads: At our casino Greek Cypriot and Turkish songs from the Greek Cypriot singer Elena. How nice, Turkish-Greek Cypriot friendship is developing! ... Another announcement: Mr North Cyprus is to be chosen tonight The term North Cyprus has taken the place of TRNC. Imperialism that created the puppet state in Northern Iraq, here it should be trying to blend the TRNC into the Greek Cypriot Republic

I am looking at the newspapers that come from Turkey; followers of the sharia and those in power are everywhere. A dialogue between a mufti and a priest has become a part of politics. As in Turkey, here too they are trying to create an artery of the followers of sharia.

The Cyprus island being the battering ram of the Greater Middle East Project (BOP), the ground of Sunni followers of the sharia must be established here. Will it be bad to place additional rope over this ground with Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia? In the past supporters of the British were secretly in the service of the Queens government. Now those in Turkey have undertaken this.

The national banks of Turkey, which are taken over by Western banks open branches in the TRNC at fast rates.

And the other face of TRNC

The position of independent state of the TRNC is taken by United Cyprus and North Cyprus. That is? Two states are united and they create one Cyprus? There is no such thing! The TRNC is being melted and patched up to the Greek Cypriot Republic. A Turkish minority basis is being created under the sovereignty of the Greek Cypriots.

Gradually in the TRNC the place of Turkey is actually taken by the USA, the UK and the Greek Cypriots.

Western imperialism wants to eliminate Turkey from the island. Politically, economically, militarily and culturally.

The TRNC must be dissolved and be taken under the Greek Cypriot administration as a minority

The Turkish Armed Forces must withdraw from Cyprus, because the USA, France and Germany are coming! ...

Western, Greek Cypriot and Israeli companies must take under their control Cyprus northern part

In the place of Turkish culture and identity the Sunni followers of the sharia and Cypriotism must be dominant in Cyprus.

Cyprus is the most strategic region

Because the Cyprus island is the most important weapon for the Greater Middle East Project (BOP); this is a project that aims at Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey.

In that case, what are Turkey and the army doing on the island?

They want the TRNC in a special status and to bind it as a Turkish minority to the Greek Cypriot Republic.

They are going ahead to bind Turkey with the EU with a special status also.

The regional policies of the USA and the EU after the cold war are moving step by step in the framework of these implementations.

Those who say 'let the Turkish troops withdraw from the island' are saying nothing about the British, the American and the Greek troops. The Greek Cypriots are making agreements with French for the French troops in Cyprus to support the logistic activities.

The troops of the USA and the EU gradually are being deployed in Cyprus. Israel is buying huge plots of land and open land areas. Israeli Companies are expanding their activities.

The existence of the Turkish Armed Forces in the TRNC is no longer only to protect the Turks from Greek Cypriot attacks: More important than that is for (the Turkish Armed Forces in Cyprus) to be a deterrent force for those who might want to attack Turkey from the island.

This is no longer a theoretical approach and a low possibility.

When the content and the targets of the Greater Middle East Project (BOP) are taken into consideration;

When the developments in Northern Iraq and the politicized Kurdistan project are estimated;

When the ruling Justice and Development Partys (AKP) mission and desire into BOP are considered, the options in front of the nationalist forces in Turkey will be clearer.

The army corps in the TRNC is a beneficial deterrent for Arab countries and Iran as they are for Turkey.

The development of a dialogue between the nationalist forces in Turkey on these issues with Russia and China has become inevitable. In the same way that we co-operated with the Russians on the Black Sea issue

(E/A)

ES/

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