Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-07-22

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey to sign the Customs Union Protocol soon but insists that it does not recognize an EU member with the vote of which its EU course is proceeding.

[02] Azerbaijan to follow Turkey in the violation of international law in occupied EU territory. Flights from Azerbaijan to the areas of Cyprus ethnically cleaned by 40,000 Turkish troops

[03] Turkish Cypriot MP says that cultural contacts between FYROM and the pseudostate began.

[04] Turkish Cypriot journalist warns that nationalist elements might cause trouble during the matches between Turkish Trabzonspor and Cypriot Anorthosis Famagusta teams.

[05] The Turkish Foreign Ministry repeats that it has imposed embargo on the Republic of Cyprus. Statements on the match between Anorthosis and Trabzonspor.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] The general director of nationalist VOLKAN newspaper praises Talat.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey to sign the Customs Union Protocol soon but insists that it does not recognize an EU member with the vote of which its EU course is proceeding

Customs Union [CU] Additional Protocol is expected to be signed by Turkey, at the latest, in the beginning of next week, said sources on Thursday.

The protocol extends Customs Union agreement to 10 new EU member countries, including Greek Cypriot side.

Diplomatic sources said that Turkey will sign the protocol and will make a statement that signing the protocol will not mean recognition of Greek Cypriot side by Ankara government.

Protocol signing process will be completed through exchange of letters between Turkey and Britain--on behalf of the EU.

Turkish diplomatic sources indicated that actual practice will not change very much after signing of the protocol and said that Turkish side still believes that Greek Cypriot vessels will not be allowed to call Turkish ports and airports.

[02] Azerbaijan to follow Turkey in the violation of international law in occupied EU territory. Flights from Azerbaijan to the areas of Cyprus ethnically cleaned by 40,000 Turkish troops

Imair, a private airlines company in Azerbaijan will start direct flights to `TRNC� (occupied areas of Cyprus) at the end of July, 2005, it was announced.

Azerbaijani officials said on Thursday that the first test flight to Ercan (occupied

Tymbou) Airport of `TRNC� would be performed on July 27th.

Officials said that there would not be passengers on that flight but only a team composed of experts and technical staff in order to set the route and to undertake technical studies.

Azerbaijani officials said that the regular direct flights between Azerbaijan and `TRNC� would start in September, at the latest. They stated that non-stop flights to Ercan (occupied Tymbou) Airport was the first step for ending the isolation of `TRNC�, adding that however it would not be correct to assess this step as an official recognition of `TRNC�.

The issue of direct flights between Azerbaijan and `TRNC� was put on the table first during Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Azerbaijan. If realized, Azerbaijan will be the second country--after Turkey--which will have direct air connection with `TRNC�.

[03] Turkish Cypriot MP says that cultural contacts between FYROM and the pseudostate began

Dr Albayrak said that a competition has been organized as well with the participation of artists from 53 countries. He expressed the hope that the fair will be exhibited in Strasbourg as well.

Dr Albayrak expressed the belief that the contacts they had in Skopje will contribute for the beginning of cultural give and take between the peoples of FYROM and the pseudostate. He said that they were pleased because they launched cultural contacts between the two countries.

[04] Turkish Cypriot journalist warns that nationalist elements might cause trouble during the matches between Turkish Trabzonspor and Cypriot Anorthosis Famagusta teams

Mr Ekmekci writes that if someone visits some sites in the Internet he will see what kind of preparations ultra nationalist circles make, especially for the match in Trabzon.

Calling on the administration of Trabzonspor, Mr Ekmekci says:

Let them not forget that football and sports are played in the name of peace, friendship and brotherhood. At this point the moves of some circles that are not sport funs must be followed well and the necessary measures must be taken. Will trouble be created during the match in the Greek Cypriot side? I do not think so. Trabzon will come, play the match and go. And there will be absolutely no problem. However, the ultra nationalist circles here in northern Cyprus what will they do? At this point the administration of Trabzonspor must ask the help of the Turkish Cypriot police. There might be some persons who crossing over from the north to the south will want to take the issue out of the spirit of football and sports and turn it into a fight between the Turks and the Greeks.

[05] The Turkish Foreign Ministry repeats that it has imposed embargo on the Republic of Cyprus. Statements on the match between Anorthosis and Trabzonspor

HURRIYET writes that Mr Senol Gunes, the coach of Trabzonspor, stated that the team is facing a lot of distress regarding the programming of the match because of the political problems between Turkey and Cyprus. If we succeed in going to Cyprus, I think that we will be able to win, stated Mr Gunes who added that they face problems coming to Cyprus because they cannot find a flight. As he said, the Turkish Airlines do not flight to Cyprus, and they will use them only to go from Istanbul to Athens. The team asked from the Turkish Airlines to charter a special flight but the Airlines refused and now they are in contacts with a private company trying to solve the issue. As he said, the fact that this is a tourist period makes the efforts with the private company very difficult. As if efforts are being exerted for our not going, stated Mr Gunes who said that they have informed UEFA about the issue. He also stated that he thought that the Turkish Airlines would have been helpful on the matter but they are not and noted that nobody wants to help them to go to Cyprus.

Commenting on the complaints of Mr Gunes, an official from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (name is not given) stated that Turkey does not recognise the Greek Cypriot administration, as he called the Republic of Cyprus and, therefore, the Ministry is against any activities on the cultural, social and sporting fields. Our policy is not to participate, he noted. However, because the Turkish sport clubs note that in case they do not participate in games it will be considered as legal defeat and they will not eliminate a rival, the Ministry says to them you can participate by your own means. The official of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign affairs stated that Turkey plans not to do anything on the matter and noted that definitely a plane will not be charted by the Turkish Airlines for this purpose.

In addition, SABAH writes that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that it does not approve of sport activities with teams from the Greek Cypriots sector. However, the paper notes, the Turkish teams were not able until now to refuse to go to Cyprus in order to participate in a sport event so that they will not be punished by the international sport federations.

SABAH also writes that the chairman of Trabzonspor Mr Atay Aktug stated that on their part they face no distress regarding the game. He stated that they made the necessary meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue. However, we as Trabzonspor, are going to the Greek Cypriot sector for the game, he stated.

The paper also writes that during the last years a lot of teams and sportsmen, especially the handball teams, went to Cyprus in order to participate in games with Cypriot teams.

On the same issue MILLIYET publishes statements made by Mr Ibrahim Sahin, Trabzonspors spokesman, who said that the team will not ask from UEFA for more safety measures.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] The general director of nationalist VOLKAN newspaper praises Talat

Afterwards Mr Yusuf gives some extracts from Mr Talats speech and concludes:

If in addition to this right opinions that president Talat expressed for the first time in his political life he could call Turkey my motherland and if for the TRNC he could stress the stance that our state will live forever, our sovereignty will be protected, an agreement will only be based on the reality of the two equal sovereign states, he would have made the last step for unifying around him the Turkish Cypriot people.

When we look at the so many realities which Talat showed the courage to say for the first time within a short period of time on the issue of our national history and national resistance, I want to hope that soon he will say the realities of vital importance which he did not say regarding our future. When that day comes, I want to note that we shall not refrain from supporting him openly.

/SK

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