Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-10-13

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mehmet Ali Talat had a telephone conversation with Marc Grossman and met with TUSIAD committee.

[02] Erdogan interprets the acquis communautaire in a way to fit Turkey.

[03] Anatolia news agency quotes EU sources to have commented on the positions of Cyprus.

[04] MILLIYET newspaper writes that Turkey could buy weapons from EU countries which will be turned towards the Aegean Sea.

[05] HURRIYET quotes unnamed EU sources to have said that Cyprus' insistence that Turkey should abide by its obligations to recognize the Republic of Cyprus is "noise for nothing".

[06] Turkey and its puppet regime are trying to place the colonization of Cyprus on an organized basis.

[07] Serdar Denktas does not want the Turkish businessmen to trade directly with the Greek Cypriots but insists for direct trade between the occupied areas and the rest of the world.

[08] Turkish Cypriot "MP" Ozdil Nami says that they ensured a significant benefit at PACE and that the Turkish Cypriot representatives will be determined by the "assembly".

[09] The occupation regime continues its efforts to gain recognition through sports. It will participate in the World Votex Roc Cup Carting in Italy.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mehmet Ali Talat had a telephone conversation with Marc Grossman and met with TUSIAD committee

It is also reported that they exchanged views on the essence of the Cyprus issue and that Mr Marc Grossman congratulated the Turkish Cypriots in Mehmet Ali Talat's person for his "devotion" for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr Grossman reaffirmed the United States' support to the efforts of the Turkish Cypriots within the European Union.

Local HALKIN SESI (13.10.04) reports that Mr Mehmet Ali Talat met yesterday with a delegation of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD). In statements he stressed that the whole world and the UN are locked on to the day of 17 December on which Turkey will get a date for the beginning of its accession talks with the EU. For this reason, he added, there is no reason to take any initiative for a solution of the Cyprus problem before the 17th of December, but they should exploit this procedure until the 17 of December to give an end to their "isolation".

Finally, he concluded that the Cyprus problem would be on the agenda after the 17 of December and that the ground for the solution will be again the United Nations.

[02] Erdogan interprets the acquis communautaire in a way to fit Turkey

"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in response to a statement made by Greek President Stefanopoulos to the effect that Turkey should make new concessions on the Cyprus issue, has said: "Only the Copenhagen political criteria are binding on us."

Replying to reporters' questions, Erdogan assessed the proposals made by the Greek President to the effect that Turkey should be making new concessions on the Cyprus issue and that the ecumenical title of the Greek patriarch should be recognized. Erdogan said: "We are bound by what is included in the EU acquis. We are conducting our work on the issue, and we will continue to do so".

He further charged that it is wrong to discuss such issues through the media."

[03] Anatolia news agency quotes EU sources to have commented on the positions of Cyprus

"If the European Union (EU) Council decides to open entry talks with Turkey during its summit on December 17, 2004, talks may start in the first half of 2005, sources said on Tuesday.

EU sources noted that unless there was a very important development, negotiations could start in the first half of 2005. They also said that any condition on the Cyprus issue would not be on the table when the EU decided whether to start entry talks with Turkey.

When recalled some statements of Greek Cypriot FM George Iacovou, European sources stated that they did not expect Greek Cypriot administration to undertake any initiative to veto the process. A source stressed that it was impossible to accept any attitude of any country to prevent the process that was approved by 24 member countries.

Subtitle: Issues that Turkey criticizes

Sources said that the expression of "open ended" which was used for the negotiation process in the report was not a new expression, stating that it was impossible to guarantee the result of a negotiation from the beginning.

Noting that some expressions mentioned in the report were included in the report to ease European leaders' giving messages to their respective public opinions, sources said that efforts were being exerted to formulate such an important decision which would be taken unanimously, in a way that would please everyone.

On the other hand, EU sources stated that permanent limitation of free movement of (Turkish) citizens would not comply with the principle of "four freedoms" of the EU, --i.e. free circulation of people, goods, services and capitals-- noting that's why the legal validity of this expression was debatable.

Stressing that there was some difference of understanding between Turkey and the EU regarding the concept of "minority", sources said that Lausanne Treaty was not a part of the Law of the Community. They added that Turkey and the EU could reach a common understanding as regards the concept of minority.

When asked whether some expressions with which Turkey was not comfortable could be changed till December, a high-level EU official said that if there was serious uneasiness and if the EU found them appropriate, some issues could be changed. EU official added that there was not a rule that the EU Council would accept the report of the Commission without any change.

Subtitle: EU Public opinions should debate Turkey�s accession

The same official said that European public opinion started to debate Turkey's accession to the EU before the decision of the Commission, noting that it was in the interest of the EU.

Sources said that European public opinions should debate Turkey's accession to the EU, stating that it was necessary for governments to explain why Turkey's membership is essential.

Stating that EU citizens did not know Turkey sufficiently, sources also said that they supported the Turkish government's initiatives to promote Turkey.

Meanwhile, Hansjorg Kretschmer, the head of the European Union (EU) Commission Office in Turkey, said on Tuesday that if Turkey fulfilled all necessary conditions like other countries, it would be a full member of the EU.

Kretschmer is paying a visit to eastern city of Elazig under the project of modernization of vocational and technical education.

Answering a question, Kretschmer said that the Commission's office in Ankara contributed a lot to the preparation of the progress report on Turkey. Stating that he would also visit the eastern city of Tunceli to get more information about the city, Kretschmer said that there was a paragraph about Alevis in the Progress Report. He added that Tunceli was an important center for Alevis, that's why he would visit Tunceli."

[04] MILLIYET newspaper writes that Turkey could buy weapons from EU countries which will be turned towards the Aegean Sea

After the EU Commission's report, "the European weapon producers, who tried to sell modern arm systems which the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) need, have been strengthened", writes MILLIYET reminding that the European countries and mainly Germany had prohibited the weapon sales to Ankara during the war with the Workers' Party of Kurdistan (PKK), because of the violations of human rights on behalf of Turkey.

The first priority target of the tanks, airplanes and helicopters that the EU countries are trying to sell now to Ankara, will be the EU member country Greece, notes the paper, reminding that in the recent progress report of the EU Commission regarding Turkey, the Commission suggested to Ankara not to leave to the military the security strategy in the relations with its neighbours, noted that Turkey has to solve in a peaceful manner all its problems with Greece before becoming a full member of the Union and praised the relations between the two countries during the past few years.

"The German tanks are the main new weapons to be obtained having in mind the possible hot conflict scenario with Athens in Thrace, which in Turkey's analysis for danger is still evaluated as the 'primary external threat' since 1974," writes MILLIYET.

[05] HURRIYET quotes unnamed EU sources to have said that Cyprus' insistence that Turkey should abide by its obligations to recognize the Republic of Cyprus is "noise for nothing"

HURRIYET, quoting unnamed EU sources in Ankara, reports that Cyprus' warning that it might use veto if Turkey refuses to recognize it has been considered by the EU circles as "much ado about nothing". The sources said: "At one stage Turkey has to recognize the Greek Cypriot Administration, however, it is not a must that this should happen prior to the resumption of accession negotiations". HURRIYET claims that if 24 countries agree on something Cyprus alone could not say "no".

Subtitle: They do not recognize the Lausanne Treaty

As regards the "minority" issue the same sources claim that the main problem regarding this issue is that there is no international agreed definition on what minority is. And they said that before this issue becomes a major problem they have to come together and agree on a definition within the EU context. The same sources further said that the Lausanne Treaty was not an International Treaty and as such interpretations regarding the Lausanne Treaty were creating confusion.

[06] Turkey and its puppet regime are trying to place the colonization of Cyprus on an organized basis

"Turkish Cypriot `Minister of Internal Affairs� Ozkan Murat and Turkish `Ambassador� Hayati Guven have signed the `protocol� related to the employment and social security rights of the Turkish citizens in north Cyprus. Ozkan Murat recalled that the `protocol� was signed by the Turkish and `TRNC� delegations in Ankara on 7-8 September 2004 in accordance with the social security agreement Turkey and the `TRNC� signed on 9 March 1987 and the supplementary agreement they concluded on 8 January 1998. Stressing that he was tasked by the `TRNC Council of Ministers� and `Ambassador� Hayati Guven was tasked by Turkey to sign the `protocol� after the document was drawn up, Ozkan Murat asserted that it outlines the rules that apply for employment and the provisions that will create an opportunity for the `Government� to register the Turkish citizens who live and work in north Cyprus. Ozkan Murat asserted that the Turkish citizens, who entered north Cyprus using their identity cards but who became unlawful visitors after exceeding the duration of their stay, will be allowed to benefit from social security rights through the work permits that will be issued to them in stages in accordance with the existing procedure. Ozkan Murat said that, as such, they will have a legal status.

On his part, `Ambassador� Hayati Guven recalled that the `protocol� was initialed on 13 October 2000 and noted that it has been updated to comply with the present conditions. Asserting that the `protocol� focuses on the situation of the unregistered Turkish citizens employed in the `TRNC�, Guven said that the document calls for the issuing of work permits to them in stages to allow them to benefit from the social security system and gain a legal status. Guven said that those who used their identity cards to enter the `TRNC� in the past should apply to the Turkish `Embassy� with their passports within six months after the `protocol� is put into effect. He also said that they can now apply for residence and work permits provided that they are currently employed. `Ambassador� Guven noted that the Turkish citizens will have to use their passports to enter the `TRNC� to work in north Cyprus after the `protocol� becomes effective."

[07] Serdar Denktas does not want the Turkish businessmen to trade directly with the Greek Cypriots but insists for direct trade between the occupied areas and the rest of the world

Speaking during the meeting Mr Denktas stated that the Turkish Cypriot businessmen will come in a very difficult position in case the Turkish Cypriot businessmen ignore them and start to trade directly with the Greek Cypriots and stated that the Turkish businessmen must trade with southern Cyprus through the agencies of the Turkish Cypriots in the north.

Mr Denktas also said that the Custom Union between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus is an unavoidable event, but as he said the "economy" of the pseudostate can also profit someway from this situation. He also said that in the end of the day it is important to ensure that the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot businessmen will act in common.

[08] Turkish Cypriot "MP" Ozdil Nami says that they ensured a significant benefit at PACE and that the Turkish Cypriot representatives will be determined by the "assembly"

Mr Nami noted that "one of the seats left for the Turkish Cypriots, will be occupied by a representative of the Turkish Cypriot community and not under the name of the Republic of Cyprus".

Mr Nami pointed out that the Turkish Cypriots, who in the past could not even enter the door of the PACE, will for the first time be represented by one "MP" and one alternate "MP" member.

Noting that in the past the Turkish Cypriots have been invited to the PACE meetings as political parties, Mr Nami added:

"Three seats have been allocated to the Republic of Cyprus at the PACE. This annoyed us, because it is perceived as integrating us to the Greek Cypriot administration. We said that we did not want to be represented under the name of the Republic of Cyprus and we demanded from them to find a formula for this. Thus, two of these seats were given to the Greek Cypriot administration and one to the Turkish Cypriot community. The Turkish Cypriot representative has no right to vote. He, however, will be able to speak representing the Turkish Cypriots".

Mr Nami said that the names of the representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community could be found on the Cyprus page of the PACE under the name "Representatives of the Turkish Cypriot Community". These two representatives will be determined by the so-called assembly of the occupation regime, he noted adding that the Turkish Cypriots will have a separate room and telephone at the PACE.

Mr Nami said that in Strasbourg they met with the General Secretary of the Council, Mr Terry Davis, the Speaker of PACE, Peter Schieder, the reporter for Cyprus, Mr Eorsi and the chairman of the United European Left Group, Mr Eimmarsson. Mr Nami noted that they thanked them for their constructive attitude towards the Turkish Cypriots and told them that they understood that the acceptance of the two Turkish Cypriot representatives is the first step towards lifting the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. "We told them that we expected steps to this direction from now on and we saw that they are positive towards us", he concluded.

[09] The occupation regime continues its efforts to gain recognition through sports. It will participate in the World Votex Roc Cup Carting in Italy

The paper writes that about twenty countries will participate in the championship. It also writes that the names of the countries, the flags and the names of the athletes that will participate in the championship, are published in the internet side www.vortex-roc.com <http://www.vortex-roc.com/> and that the "flag" of the pseudostate is published above the flag of the Republic of Cyprus, under the name 'North Cyprus'.

/SK

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