Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-11-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Reaction continue against the measures imposed by the illegal authorities on the Turkish Cypriots who shop from the government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus

[02] A delegation of UBP is visiting Ankara

[03] High ranking Turkish Press and Information delegation is in the occupied areas

[04] Tenders are invited to lease occupied Lefkoniko airport

[05] Statements by the mayor of occupied Famagusta

[06] Feasibility study for CMC in the occupied Karavostasi area

[07] Turkey�s trade with Kazakhstan to reach $4-5 Billion in the next three years

[08] Turkey�s current account deficit

[09] Turkey plans to start construction of nuclear power plant within a year

[10] Gul to visit Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Columnist in Sabah discloses the new road map on Cyprus being prepared in Ankara

[12] Columnist in Turkish Daily News: Pertev is out to establish the AKP of Northern Cyprus

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Reaction continue against the measures imposed by the illegal authorities on the Turkish Cypriots who shop from the government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus

DEV-IS Trade Union in a statement declared that it is anachronistic to try to stop the purchasing of goods from south by cloak and dagger measures.

The KTOS in a new statement declared that the Foot and Mouth Disease and the purchasing of goods from south are just an excuse. They are meting out inhumane treatment on the Turkish Cypriot people.

In his turn the Foreign Relations Secretary of the New Cyprus Party (YKP) Alpay Durduran declared that by imposing such prohibitive measures the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) instead of opening it is closing the north of Cyprus to the world.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (29.11.07) reports that the occupation regimes police had arrested yesterday a Turkish Cypriot woman who bought a flower pot from the government controlled areas, and she wanted to take it with her to the occupied area. The incident took place at the Ledra Palace crossing point when the Turkish Cypriot woman argued with the so-called police. She was taken into custody for insulting the police.

(MHY)

[02] A delegation of UBP is visiting Ankara

A delegation from the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) headed by the Party Leader Tahsin Ertugruloglu is in Ankara for talks with Turkish officials.

The UBP delegation flew to the Turkish capital this morning for talks with Turkish officials. Soon after its arrival, the delegation met with the Minister of State- also in Charge of Cyprus Affairs - Cemil Cicek. No statement was issued after the meeting.

Tomorrow, the UBP Leader will meet with the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Koksal Toptan and the former President Suleyman Demirel.

Meanwhile, the Democrat Party (DP) delegation, which had contacts with political party officials in Ankara at the beginning of the week, is briefing members of the Party Assembly about its contacts. The Party will decide on its next move at the end of the meeting of the Party Assembly.

During its visit to the Turkish capital, the DP delegation headed by the Party Leader Serdar Denktas met with high ranking officials from some political parties.

[03] High ranking Turkish Press and Information delegation is in the occupied areas

The Near East University will host a conference, titled, the `21st Century Media Strategies, Expectations and Problems. The Turkish Prime Ministrys Directorate General of Press and Information Salih Melek is in the Republic at the head of a delegation to attend the conference which will take place tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Mr Melek and his accompanying delegations paid courtesy visits to high ranking state and government officials. Salih Melek and his accompanying delegation first visited the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosa Turkekul Kurttekin. Later, the delegation was received by the deputy-Prime Minister - Foreign Minister Turgay Avci.

Welcoming the delegation, Mr. Avci said media was playing an important role in the development of countries. `Media is the most powerful weapon in domestic issues and in the efforts aimed at opening up to the world` he said.

Pointing to the role being played by media in the lobbying efforts of the Greek Cypriot Side, the Foreign Minister said that media should be used as a tool to make the voice of the Turkish Cypriot People heard. `Because of this, cooperation between the TRNC and Turkey in the field of communication is very important` he said.

The delegation was also received by the Speaker of the Parliament Fatma Ekenoglu who pointed to the importance of cooperation between the two countries. Later, the Turkish delegation paid a visit to Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer who stressed the need to explain the Turkish Cypriot Peoples rightful position to the whole world. The Premier also said that the existing cooperation between the two countries should be very effective in order to achieve positive results.

[04] Tenders are invited to lease occupied Lefkoniko airport

The Central Tender Commission has opened an international tender to rent Gecitkale [occupied Lefkoniko] Airport for a 15 year period.

Tender applications will be accepted until the 18th of December 2007.

The tender was opened in line with an earlier decision taken by the Council of Ministers on the issue.

The aim is to open Gacitkale Airport to cargo transportation and plane maintenance services.

[05] Statements by the mayor of occupied Famagusta

The Mayor of Gazimagusa (occupied Famagusta) Oktay Kayalp has said that the issue of Maras (fenced city of Varosha) is one of the component issues of the Cyprus problem.

Mr Kayalp met with a delegation from the European Parliaments Committee on Petitions yesterday. The Committee will prepare a report on the closed city of Maras (occupied Varosha) at the end of its contacts on the island.

According to a written statement issued by the Gazimagusa Municipality, Oktay Kayalp voiced his satisfaction over the visit paid to Gazimagusa by the Committee on Petitions delegation but expressed disappointment over the presence of some members of the `Refugee Movement of Magusa` at his meeting with the delegation.

During the meeting, the Mayor also told the visiting delegation that the issue of Maras could only be discussed as part of negotiations aimed at bringing about a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr Kayalp said taking the issue of Maras separately from the Cyprus issue might satisfy the former inhabitants of Maras but warned that such a move could drive the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots away from a comprehensive solution on the island.

He said it is out of question for him to accept the idea of bringing a partial solution to the Cyprus problem, adding that the issue of Maras should be taken up within this framework.

[06] Feasibility study for CMC in the occupied Karavostasi area

The European Commission has signed an 889.000 euros contract with a German company to carry out a `Feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the former Cyprus Mining Corporation (CMC) area.

The project will last 18 months. According to a statement issued by the European Commission, the end goal of the project is to facilitate the process of decontamination of one of the major environment hotspots in Cyprus.

The German company, Plejades will carry out a detailed soil sampling and analysis plan, assess the level of soil and ground pollution of the site, determine the conditions for the complete rehabilitation of the area and prepare tender documents for the necessary reclamation works.

The project is funded under the 259 million euros EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, managed by the European Commission.

[07] Turkey�s trade with Kazakhstan to reach $4-5 Billion in the next three years

Turkish State Minister Mustafa Said Yazicioglu said Wednesday that the trade volume between Turkey and Kazakhstan will reach 4-5 billion USD in the next three years, up from the current 2.2 billion USD.

Speaking at the Turkish-Kazakh Business Council meeting, Yazicioglu stressed that Kazakhstan is on its way to become a global economic power.

"Turkish businessmen invested in Kazakhstan more than 1.2 billion USD. Turkish contractors have assumed projects worth 6.5 billion USD," Yazicioglu noted.

"On the other hand, investments by Kazakh businessmen in Turkish banking and tourism sectors have reached 4 billion USD. The upcoming visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Kazakhstan, between December 12th and 15th, will promote bilateral relations," Yazicioglu remarked.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Turkish-Kazakh Business Council Oktay Varlier said that preparations began for the establishment of a Turkish-Kazakh Joint Organized Industrial Zone.

"Turkey is the third biggest country in Kazakhstan, after Russia and China, as far as the number of active companies is concerned," Varlier noted.

"There are over 1,000 Turkish companies active in Kazakhstan. Likewise, more than 150 Kazakh companies operate in Turkey," Varlier stressed.

Speaking at the council meeting, the Chairman of the National Economy Chamber of Kazakhstan (ATAMEKEN) Azat Peruashev indicated, on his part, that companies from Turkey and Kazakhstan can collaborate on joint projects in Central Asian republics, Russia and China.

[08] Turkey�s current account deficit

As the country s current account deficit has exceeded $30 billion annually, alarming senior economy management and prompting State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Naz1m Ekren to convene the Economy Coordination Board (EKK).

Seven ministers and at least 10 high-level bureaucrats will try to find a solution to the problem during the next week. They will also discuss the possible effects on Turkey s economic performance brought on by losses sustained by credit card companies due to the mortgage crisis in the US.

The economic summit, to be held on Dec. 6 at the Prime Ministry, will be attended by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Hayati Yaz1c1, Finance Minister Kemal Unak1tan, State Minister for the Treasury Mehmet ^imek, State Minister for Foreign Trade K�rad T�zmen, Industry and Trade Minister Zafer �alayan and Health Minister Recep Akda. The summit s agenda will focus on national and global economic activities in addition to the current account deficit. The summit will address the causes of current account deficit, the financing resources of the deficit, direct and indirect effects of the deficit on the economy and the initiatives needed to effectively manage the deficit.

According to experts, the current account deficit shows the difference between the inflow and outflow of foreign currency. Experts also indicate that the current level of this deficit in Turkey calls for urgent measures. They point out that the share of hot money (short-term capital inflows) in the Turkish economy is extremely high and that this poses a risk for the country in the event of a fluctuation in international markets. They stress that Turkey must take the necessary measures before it is too late. A report on Turkey published by the Financial Times said, Turkeys ever-expanding current account deficit has become the Achilles heel of the countrys economy.

During a speech at the meeting of the parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission last week, ^imek touched on the current account deficit issue. I, too, am worried when I see the current state of the budge. This country needs further investments. The causes of the deficit need to be examined in detail, he said. Rifat Hisarc1kl1olu, the chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), asserts that a correct industrial policy would help to decrease the gap between exports and imports. Noting that 80 percent of the country s exports are actually dependent on imports, he explains that the domestic industrial sector should be fostered to minimize the imports.

With a 25.74 percent increase over the same month last year, Turkeys annual exports climbed to $102,779,892 in October. While the countrys success in exports is good news to economists, the rise in imports disrupts the balance of the current account. The countrys imports for the first nine months of this year rose above $120 billion. The ratio of the balance of the current account to gross national product (GNP), too, increases each year. It rose from 3.4 percent in 2003 to 8 percent in the last year. The central banks estimate for the current account deficit has risen from $34 billion to $35 billion. According to the governments 2008 targets, exports and imports are expected to be $117 billion and $182 billion, respectively. In other words, the deficit is expected to be $39.2 billion.

[09] Turkey plans to start construction of nuclear power plant within a year

Turkey could use nuclear electricity in 2013-2014, Okay Cakiroglu, chairman of Turkish Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK), said on Wednesday.

Cakiroglu attended a meeting on nuclear energy in Turkish capital of Ankara.

He said construction of nuclear power plants might start within one year and construction would probably be completed in 2013.

[10] Gul to visit Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan

On 7-9 December, President Gul will visit Turkmenistan and on 12-15 Kazakhstan, as an official guest of the Kazak President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

(ML)

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[11] Columnist in Sabah discloses the new road map on Cyprus being prepared in Ankara

We know that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not confirm it but according to the impression we get from the developments, a new road map is being prepared for Cyprus in Ankara.

Firstly let us convey two fresh statements from the TRNC.

The first one is from the President Mehmet Ali Talat: Our policy is a partnership state fixed on the UN parameters, based on two equal founding states under the roof of federation, he stated.

The other one is from the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs Turgay Avci: We will continue to walk on until the Turkish Cypriots achieve days full of independence, freedom and prosperity.

Is not strange that the President is saying a partnership state under the federal roof and the Minister of Foreign Affairs talks about independence?

It is strange but it is not contradictory. One is drawing up the framework of the initiative which is going to start next year, the other is showing the horizon after this initiative.

Again, according to our impression, two developments are expected for the issue of the application of the new road map.

The determining of the final status of Kosovo in the next month.

The outcome of the presidential elections in South Cyprus in February.

The solution in Kosovo as regards freezing of the diversities will be an inspiration; in fact it will be a precedent. As regards the outcome of the elections in South Cyprus they will make clear if the Greek Cypriots carry or not the unification desire.

Subtitle: Get the news from the Russians

The most important hint related to the new road map of Ankara, gave Leonid Abrambov (TR. Note: As written in the text) Russias Cyprus special envoy who made a series of talks recently in Ankara, Athens and Lefkosia. Turkey does not even want to hear the word 8th of July anymore, he said.

Abrambov, with the expression 8th of July means the document that Papadopoulos and Talat signed on the 8th of July 2006 with the efforts of Ibrahim Gambari, UN Secretary-Generals assistant (Now he is struggling with the Myanmar crisis). The two leaders had pledged this agreement from one side to solve the problems occurred in everyday life, and from the other side to establish committees for preparation for talks for the two sides which will lead to a comprehensive and permanent solution.

From that date on, no progress was achieved but Papadopoulos, started to put forward that the 8th of July document is a new beginning, meaning that the negotiations must start from zero.

As regards Turkey, she is supporting the contrary and is defending, as international law stipulates, that the negotiations must start from the point they were left. Where the point is the negotiations were left? Certainly the plan which was prepared by the former UN Secretary-General Koffi Annan and which at the referendums was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side and was rejected by the Greek Cypriot side. The meaning: Either this plan will be put forward with minor changes and become the key for the solution, or else

The last date: The end of 2008

Here it is, Turkey in order to name or else, at the end of February 2008 will call the UN for a new initiative. But under one condition: Solution on the basis of the Annan Plan to be found the latest by the end of the year.

While the public opinion polls in South Cyprus show that Papadopoulos will win the elections with big difference, and while Papadopoulos stated that he will never accept the Annan Plan to be put on the negotiation table, either the UN will not dare to take a new initiative or with full knowledge of the disadvantageous consequences we can say that in a few months concrete diplomatic efforts will be tried.

Here it is, after this process, Turkey will take out the joker. Since a UN model union cannot be done, an EU model union should be tried. The meaning: First to part and after to be united within the EU structure. Like the Checks and the Slovaks. Like the Serbs and the Montenegrins, even like Kosovars. Was it not in this way that the EU membership was promised to the Serbs who were against Kosovos independence?

If we must put a name to the joker, the meaning of the two states solution comes.

The TRNC Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avci meant this with the statements we have just mentioned above.

As a matter of fact, pressure on Turkey as regards Cyprus is almost stopped from the USA and the EU and it seems that they have prepared the international community for this probability or at the least such a solution will not surprise it a lot.

Cyprus is pregnant to very much surprise next year.

(CS)

[12] Columnist in Turkish Daily News: Pertev is out to establish the AKP of Northern Cyprus

A few days ago the junior partner of the Turkish Cypriot coalition government, the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), convened its first annual convention. The guest of honor was Egemen Bagis, the deputy chairman for foreign policy of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Scores of other former ministers from various political parties of Turkey were present at the convention as well, but with the presence of Bagis and messages from President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the ruling party of Turkey, leaving no room for any doubt, was declaring its all out support for the new ORP and its leader Turgay Avci, the foreign minister and deputy prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus coalition government.

The ORP was established by four deputies resigning just a year ago from two strong conservative parties of northern Cyprus, the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Democratic Party (DP). Less than a month after the establishment of the ORP - with the encouragement and support of Saban Disli, the then deputy chairman for foreign policy of the AKP, and Ahmet Yonluer, the Saudi educated then head of religious affairs department of northern Cyprus - the coalition government of the socialist Republican Turks' Party (CTP) and the DP collapsed and the CTP and ORP coalition government was established. It was an operation by the AKP to fine tune the right wheel of the coalition in Cyprus, or an attempt to get rid of the DP and its leader Serdar Denktas - who were not cooperating so well with the AKP government in Ankara.

Now, another party is in the offing in northern Cyprus. Former DP minister-turned undersecretary of President Mehmet Ali Talat at the presidency, Rasit Pertev, resigned from his post a while ago, declaring that he would establish a party that will bury in history the conservative UBP and the socialist CTP and become the new center of Turkish Cypriot politics. From the experience in Turkey one may say Pertev is out to establish the AKP of northern Cyprus. However, this time the AKP is not involved in the making of the new party while, as far as we have learned in past 10 days of contacts here, Pertev is after getting support from some wealthy families or some members of the northern Cyprus bourgeoisie...

While the AKP-supported ORP appears to be a success so far, the party of Pertev seems heading to a stillborn start while in latest public opinion polls the collective vote of the two conservative old parties, the UBP and the DP appears to hover around 60 percent with the UBP back around 35 percent support and the DP enjoying around 25 percent popularity. The CTP, on the other hand is suffering from the inability to deliver either a settlement or an end to international isolation of northern Cyprus - as it pledged before the referendum on the Annan plan which failed when Greek Cypriots voted it out although it was endorsed overwhelmingly by Turkish Cypriots in separate simultaneous referenda in April 2004. If an election is held today, according to latest opinion polls, it is very likely that the CTP will lose badly while the UBP alone or in coalition with the DP will cling to power. There is also talk that at the end of the day the present animosity between the UBP and the ORP may be put to an end and a coalition among them may become a possibility. What's clear is that the CTP will be the loser of an election. Still, veteran politician, first President Rauf Denktas says, "this is politics... We have no elections on the horizon though there is talk of early polls next summer. The AKP was believed to be losing in Turkey before the July 22 vote, and it scored an even bigger victory... Even a day is too long a period in politics."

EG/

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