Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-08-25

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat accuses the Greek Cypriot side of acting contrary to the parameters of the UN

[02] The illegal settlers are seen as a source of the problems in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[03] The debates for the illegal Turkish Cypriot airlines continue

[04] Turkey and the breakaway regime are signing a new protocol in the field of agriculture

[05] Data on the economy of the breakaway regime

[06] Ertan Ersan expressed full support to Talat in the negotiation process

[07] Activities in the fields of culture and sports are taking place in the occupied areas of Cyprus with the participation of foreign teams

[08] The British Ambassador to Ankara was interviewed by HurriyetDaily News. He expressed his hope for progress in the negotiation process and his countrys support for Turkeys EU bid

[09] Rasmussen to arrive in Turkey today

[10] Davutoglu to attend an informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU

[11] Details on the Kurdish opening by the Turkish government

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat accuses the Greek Cypriot side of acting contrary to the parameters of the UN

Referring to the first round of the negotiations, he said that except the property issue no serious situation was experienced. Mr Talat said that the difficult issue of governance will be re-examined during the second round of the negotiations, which will start in September. Responding to the question of how hopeful he is for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr Talat said that he is hopeful and that he believes in the solution.

Mr Talat referred also to the issue of the right to vote and be elected of nearly 300.000 Turkish Cypriots who leave in the UK as regards the illegal elections in the occupied areas of Cyprus. He said that this is impossible and added that he does not consider the idea of these people defining the destiny of the TRNC to be right. Mr Talat went on and said that those who promise such a thing do not say the truth and they are not realists.

(EA)

[02] The illegal settlers are seen as a source of the problems in the occupied areas of Cyprus

...However, the bitter reality is the following: Population so big that the resources of the country cannot bear it has been transferred and it is still being transferred to our country in an uncontrolled manner. While five years ago 70-80 thousand persons were receiving services at the emergency service of Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu State Hospital in Lefkosia, now this number is 180 thousand patients. Three times more than three years ago! While the number of the patients in the polyclinics was 200 thousand five years ago, now it is around 600 thousands. More doctors, more overtime, more means and more medicines are needed in order for being able to look after this population. The same situation is undoubtedly valid for the education as well. ...

It is important to know that without stopping the uncontrolled increase of population, stability will never be achieved, neither in the health sector nor in the education or the bureaucracy or in the other social and economic sectors....

Under the title The final notice to the government, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (25.08.09) reports that the representatives of 26 trade unions met yesterday and decided to give 24 hours notice to the self-styled government for withdrawing the decrees and the draft-laws and sit at the negotiating table with them. Otherwise, the trade unions will go on strike as of Friday. A rally will be organized in front of the self-styled prime ministers office and a communal resistance will start.

Commenting on the issue, the paper writes, inter alia, the following:

Ankara, which holds in its hands the political control in northern Cyprus, is on the other hand strangling our community with the economic packages it imposes. However, the trade unions which have started to act cannot oppose to Ankara and prefer to confront only with the puppet government here.

They cannot stop those who increase the expenses in the budget by transferring population to the country in order to secure cheap workforce to the capital and at the same time spoil out social and cultural structure. ....

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.08.09) reports that Sener Elcil, general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot primary school teachers trade union, has said that the real aim of those who exert efforts to present as issue of overtime payments the communal resistance against the impositions which endanger the communal existence of the Turkish Cypriots and aim at forcing the Turkish Cypriot to migrate is to force the Turkish Cypriots to migrate.

In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Elcil noted that with the policy Turkey followed after the 1974 invasion of the island, it turned its intervention into colonization process and added that the self-styled governments, which are elected under the guardianship of the Turkish governments are contributing to the economic, social and political annihilation of the Turkish Cypriots.

With the pretext of registering the unregistered workforce and by offering the possibilities of the state to the capital of Turkey, the heaping up of population on the island is encouraged, he noted.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.08.09) reports that Mehmet Mutlu, general secretary of the Memur-Sen trade union, has said that the self-styled UBP government should take measures to secure the reconciliation among the social partners and attach importance to policies which will increase employment and prevent unemployment.

In a written statement issued yesterday Mr Mutlu argued that the main problem of the occupied areas of Cyprus is the fact that enough opportunities for employment are not created, the population increases in an uncontrolled manner and hundreds of young persons are included in the workforce without new opportunities for employment. He said, inter alia, the following:

We should evaluate seriously the fact that our young people run off to the south because of the unemployment. ...The new investment and business possibilities, which stayed behind the increasing speed of the population, which is a structural problem of the TRNC, have come to a more negative position because of the influence of the crisis...

(I/Ts.)

[03] The debates for the illegal Turkish Cypriot airlines continue

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (25.08.09) refers to the strike of the pilots and reports that according to Ahmet Akpinar, director of the illegal airlines, the cost of the strike reached 400 thousand US dollars. The paper further writes that the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Travel Agents Union, Ozbek Dedekorkut said yesterday that the government is responsible for the strike of the pilots.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (25.08.09) reports that the chairman of the administrative council of the illegal Turkish Cypriot airlines, Mr Erol Atakan, has stated that the cost of the strike of the pilots reached 700 thousand US dollars. The pilots went on strike for 23 hours because their 13th month salary was not paid to them. The payment is estimated to be 300 US dollars.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkey and the breakaway regime are signing a new protocol in the field of agriculture

(I/Ts.)

[05] Data on the economy of the breakaway regime

According to the same data, the number of the registered unemployed persons increased from 1470 in the first quarter of 2008 to 1749 in the same period of 2009, that is an increase of 19% is observed. 49.23% of the unemployed persons are men and 50.77% are women.

The number of the foreign tourists who visited the occupied areas of Cyprus decreased by 7.62% in the first three months of 2009 in comparison with the same period of 2008, as it fell from 167.243 to 154.499 persons.

The expenditure in the budget of the breakaway regime for the first quarter of 2009 was 554.70 million Turkish liras and the income 598.62 million Turkish liras. The expenditure increased by 25.82% in comparison with the same period of 2008 and the income is raised by 27.70%.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ertan Ersan expressed full support to Talat in the negotiation process

The Society of Martyrs Families and Disabled War Veterans has said it is sure that the President Mehmet Ali Talat will protect the rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The Societys view was voiced by the President of the Society Ertan Ersan during a visit by a delegation from the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG).

Mr Ersan briefed CTP-BG officials about the Societys activities.

In an address during the visit, Mr. Ersan said that the Society is an independent institution above political parties and is interested in all issues concerning the country.

On the Cyprus issue, he said the Society is closely following the negotiation process which has been continuing for a year.

Expressing the Societys support to President Talat who has been conducting the talks, he said `we are sure that he will protect the rights of the TRNC and we are following the process`.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the CTP-BG for Lefkosa District Metin Karasalih who was heading the delegation said the party is in support of the continuing negotiation process being conducted by President Talat in order to avoid the repetition of the events of the part experienced between the two sides.

He stressed that the political equality of the Cyprus Turkish People, a bi-zonal order and security needs should be protected by a solution.

He said a solution to be brought to the Cyprus problem after a referendum will also contribute to peace and stability in the whole region.

Mr. Karasalih expressed the hope that bitter events experienced by the two sides would become a matter of the past with an agreement protecting the rights and guarantees, and addressing the security needs.

[07] Activities in the fields of culture and sports are taking place in the occupied areas of Cyprus with the participation of foreign teams

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (25.08.09) reports that the illegal volleyball federation will organize the International Beach Volley Womens Cup 2009 between 26 and 27 August at the Beach Volley Arena in occupied Lefkosia. Athletes from Poland, Ukraine, Estonian, Moldavia, Brasilia and the occupied areas of Cyprus will participate in the tournament. According to statements made by the president of the self-styled federation, Mr Enver Kaya, their aim is to increase the number of such organizations as well as the number of the participating countries. He added that their efforts towards this direction continue.

(I/Ts.-EA)

[08] The British Ambassador to Ankara was interviewed by HurriyetDaily News. He expressed his hope for progress in the negotiation process and his countrys support for Turkeys EU bid

Progress in the Cyprus, Kurdish and Armenian issues will help the region achieve stability, according to the British Ambassador to Ankara Nick Baird, whose new post will start next month in London as director-general for Europe and Globalization.

If Turkeys Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus issues are resolved, the region will be much better off, according to the outgoing British ambassador, who added that Turkey is making good progress in solving the points of contention.

'If we could over the next year really start addressing these three big issues, then the region will be in a much better position', Ambassador Nick Baird told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an interview.

On Turkish efforts to normalize ties with its neighbour Armenia, the ambassador said the government was very courageous to take that step. The process has been blocked, however, by Ankara linking an open border with Yerevan to progress in Nagorno-Karabakh upon pressure from inside and its regional ally Azerbaijan.

'My sense is now that probably we have to make progress on that [Nagorno-Karabakh] issue in order to take a step forward in the Armenian road map more generally', said Baird.

In April, both Turkey and Armenia announced a road map to normalize their troubled relations, saying they achieved tangible progress and mutual understanding in talks. Ankaras move drew criticism from Azerbaijan, which argues that opening the border will block a settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. Opposition to the road map, both inside Turkey and from Baku, prompted Ankara to return to its original position, with the prime minister assuring that the border would not be opened before a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

On Ankaras approach in linking the two problems, Baird said: 'I didnt think they have very much choice, frankly. Turkey has good relations with Azerbaijan and it is trying to build better relations with the Armenians. You cannot choose one over another. I mean, youve basically got to, for the purposes of regional stability, take these things forward together'.

He added, 'Well be strongly urging the United States and the Minsk Group mediating a solution between Azerbaijan and Armenia to reach an agreement now'.

Britain is one of the strongest advocates of Turkeys bid to join the European Union. While Cypriot leaders are preparing for the give-and-take in October to reunify their divided island, the Brussels deadline to review Ankaras performance in complying with Ankara protocol obligations is nearing. Turkey hopes a solution will be reached on Cyprus by the end of this year, which will give it an upper hand in its rocky EU journey.

'We very much hope that progress will be made in the autumn. The [Cypriot] leaders have now finished their first reading of all the issues, which means that they are now moving to serious negotiations. I do think you have a situation where you have two leaders who genuinely want a settlement', said Baird. 'They dont agree yet on what that settlement looks like, but the will is there. Thats my strong impression. I met them both personally myself.

On Turkeys EU talks, he said, 'We must ensure that whatever happens this process continues but to get a solution by the autumn would put a lot more momentum into this process and thats what we really want because weve had three quite difficult, quite slow years'.

In Turkish-EU negotiations, eight chapters were frozen due to Ankaras refusal to open its ports to shipping from Greek Cyprus. Turkey has so far opened 11 chapters since it formally started entry talks in October 2005.

'If Turkey can make progress in such a way as to unfreeze those chapters, then that would really give extra momentum to the process', said Baird.

Turkey second home

After three years in Turkey, Ambassador Baird said he would return home with good memories. He will serve as director-general in charge of Europe and Globalization in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

He told the Daily News that he would still be completely involved with Turkey. 'Ill work very hard for Turkey from London as well Turkey is my second home. It has been a fantastic, really, really good three years in Turkey', said Baird.

Turkey is so interesting as well, according to the diplomat. 'It is quite a complex society. If you are not here, you dont necessarily understand it as well as you should. One of the most striking things for me in my time here is how little Turkey is understood outside of Turkey. There are big misconceptions about what Turkey is like', he said.

Britains new ambassador to Ankara will be David Reddaway, who was born in Ottawa, Canada, and studied history at Cambridge University. He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1975. His career has included assignments in Iran (during the Iranian revolution), India, Spain, Argentina and Afghanistan. He last served as British ambassador to Ireland.

[09] Rasmussen to arrive in Turkey today

The secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will arrive in Turkey on Thursday. As part of his visit, NATO SG Anders Fogh Rasmussen will meet with Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He will also attend a fast-breaking dinner to be held by Justice and Development (AK) Party at Ankara's Rixos Hotel. Rasmussen is expected to deliver a speech at the gathering.

[10] Davutoglu to attend an informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will travel to Stockholm in early September to attend an informal meeting of foreign ministers of the 27-member European Union.

The 27 EU foreign ministers will meet in Stockholm on Sept. 4-5 during Sweden's term presidency, which commenced as of July 1. The foreign ministers from candidate countries Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey will attend the second day of the meeting, which is called Gymnich since the first meeting was held during the German presidency in 1974 at Gymnich Castle, north of Bonn. Apart from the regular meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), EU foreign ministers meet once every six months at an informal meeting in the country holding the presidency.

While in Stockholm, Davutoglu is expected to have meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the Gymnich meeting. Although no exact meeting has yet been scheduled, a conference between Davutoglu and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt is highly likely to take place.

Ahead of his visit to Stockholm, Davutoglu will pay an official two-day visit to EU-member Slovenia where he will have talks with his counterpart, Samuel Zbogar, as well as with other senior Slovenian officials.

The year 2009 has long been labelled a decisive year for Turkey's EU membership drive. The EU Council had pledged at a December 2006 summit to review Turkey's situation, while blocking eight negotiation chapters due to Ankara's refusal to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

[11] Details on the Kurdish opening by the Turkish government

The government has determined 10 items that will be included in its recently announced Kurdish package and is close to announcing a concrete plan, sources indicate.

The government announced its new Kurdish initiative last month, saying there will be a change of course in the government's Kurdish policy and a new package based on extending democratic rights and improving freedoms of Kurds will follow. Interior Minister Besir Atalay, who announced the plan last month, said the government was not offering any immediate remedies, but was open to suggestions as it formed a road map to solve the Kurdish question.

Since the day of the announcement, Interior Minister Atalay has spoken with various civil society representatives, political party leaders, intellectuals and researchers to hear their opinions. According to a government representative who spoke to Today's Zaman on the condition of anonymity, at least 10 items to be included in the Kurdish package are now certain. The interior minister, who is currently working on the main features of the road map, will submit a report for the Cabinet's consideration next month.

There are currently no legal obstacles to realizing the 10 items that have been included in the draft report based on suggestions that were relayed to the minister during his talks. In other words, no constitutional changes are needed to take these steps. The government's Kurdish initiative will include short, medium and long-term goals.

Constitutional changes are considered a medium or long-term goal.

Here are the 10 items currently on the agenda of the Kurdish initiative:

Turkey's unitary form of government to be protected

All political parties including the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), civil society groups and academics have expressed their opinion that the Kurdish question must be settled within Turkey's unitary structure, with a few marginal exceptions. The solution will be found inside a unitary structure.

Political campaigns in Kurdish to be allowed

As part of the package, the 81st Article of the Political Parties Law on the Prevention of Formation of Minorities, which limits the use of non-Turkish languages in political demonstrations, campaign slogans, signs, brochures and other materials, will be changed, allowing the use of Kurdish.

Opportunities for Kurds to learn native tongue

A provision that doesn't allow language centres that teach Kurdish to teach other languages will be changed to prevent these language centres from going out of business. However, no consensus has yet been reached regarding the use of Kurdish in public education. Suggestions include adding Kurdish as an optional language course in schools and offering Kurdish language classes at public education centres. A common demand voiced by all parties Atalay talked to was lifting limitations on Kurdish broadcasts by private television stations.

Kurdish to be allowed in prisons

The current ban on speaking Kurdish in prisons and detention centres will be lifted.

Place names to be restored

The former names of thousands of towns and villages in the East and the Southeast that were replaced with Turkish names during the republican era will be restored. As a first step, the K1rkp1nar area in Diyarbak1r -- part of the province's Kayap1nar district -- will be changed to its Kurdish name, Celkaniya. The decision has been approved by the Diyarbak1r Governor's Office and is pending approval at the Interior Ministry.

Kurdish institutes to be established

The government will ensure that Kurdish language and literature departments and Kurdology institutes are established at the Mardin Artuklu and Diyarbak1r Dicle universities.

Children are not terrorists

Children from Kurdish families who stone police officers during demonstrations in the East and Southeast have been facing trial in high criminal courts under the Counter-Terrorism Law. The government will put an end to this by changing Article 9 of the Counter-Terrorism Law, which will prevent courts from handing down adult sentences for these children. The government will also make the utmost effort to prevent children from becoming involved in demonstrations.

Active repentance law to be put into effect

The partial amnesty law stipulated under Article 220 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) -- known as the active repentance law -- will be made effective. This was also a common demand voiced by all parties spoken with. The first person to voice this demand was Chief of Gen. Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug. Giving back this law an effective status will bring more militants who joined the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) back home.

Hate crimes will not be allowed

The scope of freedom of expression will be expanded with changes to Article 216 of the TCK. At the same time, the government will take measures to ensure that there are no gaps in the law that allow hate speech or hate crimes.

Freedom to Kurdish intellectuals

An important demand rose by most of the individuals and organizations Atalay met with was returning citizenship to thousands of Kurds residing in Turkey. This will be most useful for Kurdish intellectuals who reside in Turkey. The citizenship of Kurds who have not participated in any terrorist attacks will be restored.

ES/

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