Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-12-11

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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 Turkish Cypriot leader speaks out against Greece and demands equal treatment from Brussels

[02] Nami said common vision and target have been established with the agreements between President Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat

[03] The BKP said the separatist views of the Turkish Cypriot side on the Cyprus problem is the reason for which the negotiating process is not fruitful

[04] Statements by Avci accusing the EU

[05] Serdar Denktas predicted that elections in the occupied areas will be held in the period April-June 2009

[06] Turkish daily: The Greek Cypriot Administration began to give to the Turkish Cypriots houses which are Turkish Cypriot property

[07] U.S. Ambassador in Ankara: "US appreciates its strategic partnership with Turkey"

[08] Number of companies with international capital rises in Turkey

[09] High-Quality oil discovered in Southeastern Turkey

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press of 10 December 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader speaks out against Greece and demands equal treatment from Brussels

In statements at a press conference yesterday, Mr Talat accused Greece of using the Republic of Cyprus as a serious obstacle against Turkey behind the scenes, because it does not want to damage its relations with Ankara. He stated that he asked for technical assistance from the EU officials for the harmonization of the Turkish Cypriots with the acquis and their economic advancement.

Mr Talat noted that today he will hold meetings with some Ministers of Foreign Affairs, who will be in Brussels for the EU summit. He noted that during his meetings with Jose Manuel Barosso and Javier Solana, President of the Commission and EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy respectively, told him that the two leaders in Cyprus have serious responsibility for solving the problem.

Responding to a question regarding a possible timetable in the negotiating process in Cyprus, Mr Talat said that the views for solving the problem before the elections for the European Parliament are valid and necessary. He alleged that the Greek Cypriots have said they do not want this and put it into their agreement with Russia. He added that the consensus of the other side is needed for a timetable and that he does not see such an approach by the Greek Cypriots.

Reiterating that he demanded equal treatment from the European leaders, Mr Talat noted: We demanded equal treatment on the Cyprus problem, equal in full sense. For example, if the participation of our universities in the Bologna process is the issue and it is said that the obstacle to this is the Cyprus problem, we want equal treatment to this. .

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (11.12.08) covers the statements by Mr Talat under the title Encourage the south for the solution and reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader referred to the issue of oil explorations by the Republic of Cyprus. He said he could not understand this behavior of the Greek Cypriot side in spite of all the warnings and added:

It says this is my sovereign right. Is it so easy? It is not a responsible approach to say this is my sovereign right, I do what I want when there is a country which does not recognize such a sovereign right to you, that is Turkey, and the Turkish Cypriot people, who consider the use of this right by you as the biggest enemy of their own interests and their future life.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Nami said common vision and target have been established with the agreements between President Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat

Evaluating developments in the negotiations until today, Mr Nami said that with the agreements of 21 March, 23 May, 1 July and 25 July, the foundation stones of the new process were laid and added:

Common vision and target have been established and there remained the construction of the walls of this building, the cornerstones of which were placed.

Mr Nami noted that with the 23 May agreement a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution on the basis of political equality was accepted and for the first time the sides went beyond the 1977-79 High Level Agreements. He noted that this was a structure where the Turkish Cypriot founding state and the Greek Cypriot founding state would participate with equal status. He argued that President Christofias asked for an expression regarding the single sovereignty and single citizenship to be included in the text because he was facing internal political problems and an agreement was reached on 1 July. He said that the negotiations started with the governance and power sharing after a demand by the Turkish side. He noted that this is a very important issue for the Turkish side and if this is settled the rest will be easy.

Mr Nami said that very significant progress has been achieved on all the issues which could be discussed in the negotiations except on the executive power. He noted that the Turkish side proposes a presidential council, while the Greek Cypriot side wants a presidential system. He pointed out that the proposal of the Greek Cypriot side for a single ballot caused discomfort in the Turkish side and it is contrary to the political equality of the two peoples.

He noted that the negotiations advance slowly and steadily and it is obvious we are proceeding to the right direction. Mr Nami said that the commonly perceived target with the Greek Cypriot side is to complete the negotiations in 2009. We hope this will happen before the elections for the European Parliament, he added and pointed out that two important dates are the progress report of Turkey which will be announced by the EU in the second half of 2009 and the general elections in the occupied areas of Cyprus in 2010. He said that everybody will feel relieved if a good progress is achieved in the direction of the solution in Cyprus before the report on Turkey is prepared by the EU.

(I/Ts.)

[03] The BKP said the separatist views of the Turkish Cypriot side on the Cyprus problem is the reason for which the negotiating process is not fruitful

(I/Ts.)

[04] Statements by Avci accusing the EU

According to a statement issued by the ORP, Mr Avci evaluated the recent decision of the EU General Affairs and Foreign Relations Council. He claimed that demanding the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey does is not compatible with political ethics and that the call on Turkey to open its ports to Cyprus is tantamount to ignoring the realities in Cyprus by the EU. He argued that countries such as Britain and Sweden tried to include in the text a call for finding a just solution to the Cyprus problem, but this did not happen as a result of the cooperation between France, Greece and Cyprus.

He alleged: The EU, with some expressions in the decision, by supporting the Greek Cypriot administration, which with the allegation of searching for oil in the Eastern Mediterranean tries to usurp the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot rights and interests regarding the exclusive economic zones and the security arrangements, is openly encouraging the Greek Cypriot administration to behave more irresponsibly and to enter into adventures with unknown outcome.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Serdar Denktas predicted that elections in the occupied areas will be held in the period April-June 2009

He predicted that elections will be held in the occupied areas in the period April - June 2009, because of two reasons: a) The government will not be able to endure the consequences of the global economic crisis which will start influencing the occupied areas in the end of February and in the beginning of March and b) In the end of 2009 it will come to light that the Cyprus problem advances more speedily towards the non-solution.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Turkish daily: The Greek Cypriot Administration began to give to the Turkish Cypriots houses which are Turkish Cypriot property

Furthermore, the paper reports on statements of Mr Giorgos Theodorou, director of the Turkish Cypriot Properties Guardianship Unit established in South Cyprus. Mr Theodorou stated that giving houses to Turkish Cypriots who already applied are subject to certain criteria. In addition, Mr Theodorou said that the Turkish Cypriots could get houses belonging to them as long as they prove that they are owners or inheritors of that property.

Quoting sources which evaluated this stance of the Greek Cypriots politically, the paper writes that the Greek Cypriots, by giving houses to the Turkish Cypriots, aim to give the following message to the international public opinion: Look, we are giving back the properties of the Turkish Cypriots.

(EA)

[07] U.S. Ambassador in Ankara: "US appreciates its strategic partnership with Turkey"

Newly appointed U.S. ambassador in Ankara James Jeffrey celebrated the Feast of Sacrifice Wednesday saying the United States appreciates very much its strategic partnership with its close friend and strong ally, Turkey.

The United States remains committed to working with Turkey and I look forward to continuing and strengthening our partnership in all fields, he said.

Jeffrey, who arrived in HYPERLINK "http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/index/Ankara/" \t "blank" Ankara on Nov.30, served in Turkey in three positions and speaks Turkish. According to analysts, he was selected for the HYPERLINK "http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/index/Ankara/" \t "blank" Ankara post due to his vast knowledge of Turkey and experience in Middle Eastern affairs.

[08] Number of companies with international capital rises in Turkey

The number of companies with international capital in Turkey increased three times in the last six years.

The number of these companies rose from 5,438 to 21,039. Also 15,601 new companies were established between 2003 and September, 2008.

Foreign Capital Directorate General stated that 10.07 billion USD of direct investments were made in various sectors in Turkey in the last nine months of 2008. EU countries invested 7.4 billion USD, Asian countries 1.9 billion USD, Gulf countries 1.6 billion USD and the U.S. invested 347 million USD of capital in Turkey.

Istanbul became the city which drew the highest number of companies with 11,203 firms. Southern province of Antalya was ranked the second with 2,682 companies, Ankara the third with 1,370, western province of Mugla the fourth with 1,244 and western province of Izmir ranks the fifth with 1,228 companies.

[09] High-Quality oil discovered in Southeastern Turkey

Turkey's highest-gravity oil has been found in Bismil town of Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakir, the Anatolian Agency reported on Wednesday.

The oil, discovered at a depth of 2,450 meters, has a gravity ranking of 41.9 and is said to be of a similar quality to oil reserves in Saudi Arabia, the report said.

The daily production of the oil will be determined in the coming days.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press of 10 December 2008

a) Local elections

Turkish daily Cumhuriyet newspaper (10.12.08) publishes a column by columnist Orhan Birgit who criticizes the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government for remaining silent in the face of the sharp increase in the number of voters announced by the Higher Election Board. Recalling that the ruling party transferred the authority to inspect the elections from the judiciary to executive bodies through a legal amendment nine months ago, Birgit says: "The majority of the AKP deputies should be aware of the fact that the amendment made to Article 298 to transfer authority from judicial organs to executive bodies conflicts with the Constitution. They have to find a way to correct this mistake. Otherwise, Turkey will face an atmosphere of crisis and chaos after the local elections to be held on 29 March." He concludes his article by saying that the opposition parties, Republican People's Party [CHP] and Nationalist Action Party [MHP], might prepare a draft bill calling for the annulment of that legal amendment.

Referring to the "irrational increase" in the number of voters in Turkey, an article by Nail Gureli of Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (10.12.08) slams the circles that try to achieve an undeserved election victory through a "virtual increase." Gureli laments that the 15 percent increase in two years will cast a shadow over the reliability of the upcoming local elections.

Yalcin Bayer of Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (10.12.08) highlights political parties' efforts to name their candidates for the local elections to be held on 29 March 2009. Noting that the AKP is likely to announce Mayor Kadir Topbas as its Istanbul candidate again, Bayer lists Ali Ozcan, Ercan Karakas, and Ilhan Kesici as the possible CHP candidates for Istanbul. He goes on to speculate that Prime Minister Erdogan failed to announce the final list of AKP candidates on 5 December because of a disagreement within the party over the nomination of Mayor of Ankara Melih Gokcek. According to the columnist, the ruling party considers Gokcek as a strong candidate for Izmir, which has become a stronghold for the CHP for many years.

In an article entitled "AKP's Hopes for Local Elections," Turkish daily Radikal newspapers (10.12.08) columnist Ismet Berkan argues that the ruling party hopes to increase its votes from 47 to 50 percent in the local elections in order to be able to "return to its own political agenda." He says that the AKP believes it will gain "legitimacy against the Constitutional Court ruling" (the ruling that defines the party as the focal point of anti-secular activities) if it manages to increase its votes on 29 March. Berkan also says that the ruling party is willing to win particularly in Izmir and Diyarbakir. Describing Diyarbakir as a "symbolic city for the Kurdish movement," he adds that the AKP winning in Diyarbakir is a "remote possibility" because of PM Erdogan's strong reaction against the pro-Kurdish DTP and the PKK terror in the region. As for Izmir, he says, public opinion polls still show the CHP as the leading party.

b) Economy

Under the headline "724 Thousand People Returned to Their Villages Because of the Global Crisis"," Turkish daily Zaman newspaper (10.12.08) carries a front-page report which highlights comments made by Minister of Agriculture Mehdi Eker about the effects on the Turkish economy of the global financial crisis. He says that the percentage of people employed in agriculture went up two percentage points from 26 percent in 2007 to 28 percent in October 2008 because of migration from cities to rural areas.

EG/

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