Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-12-21

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] A Lebanese and three Greek Cypriots arrested by the police of the occupation regime for trying to smuggle eleven thousand forged US dollars.

[02] Izcan says the new law regarding the occupied Greek Cypriot properties is not in harmony with the international law.

[03] Akinci stated that the self-styled government offers the Turkish Cypriots empty hopes.

[04] The self-styled minister of finance stated that the economy in occupied Cyprus scored record development levels in the year 2005.

[05] HURRIYET reports that the ECHR will publish its judgment on the Xenides-Aresti case tomorrow.

[06] The President of Turkey supports the lowering of the electoral threshold.

[07] Rauf Denktas will address the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

[08] Turkish Minister of Justice: No plans to change article 301 any time soon.

[09] Turkey is manufacturing missiles. Tehir range is not disclosed.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Does Turkey want a solution?.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] A Lebanese and three Greek Cypriots arrested by the police of the occupation regime for trying to smuggle eleven thousand forged US dollars

As a result of the investigations, it was established that Mohammad Bechara intended to smuggle the forged dollars to the free areas of Cyprus through three Greek Cypriots named Yiannakis Christodoulou, Anna Karakanna and Paris Pieri, who have also been arrested by the police.

All suspects were taken yesterday before the so-called Nicosia district court. Chavki Bechara was proved innocent. The other four persons will remain three days under custody.

In his testimony, the police sergeant Hasip Tutuncu said that they had found out that Mohammad Bechara was about to give the forged dollars to Yiannakis Christodoulou and during the operation they carried out afterwards they arrested the other two suspects in the car of Christodoulou (Toyota, HYZ 438).

I/Ts.

[02] Izcan says the new law regarding the occupied Greek Cypriot properties is not in harmony with the international law

Mr Izcan said that the proprietorship regime created in the occupied part of Cyprus after the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island has collapsed and that approaches, which do not respect the property rights of the individuals and do not take into consideration the international law, could not be accepted. He pointed out that the aim with this law is gaining time and transfer the possible lawsuits from the European Court off Human Rights (ECHR) to the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus.

Mr Izcan expressed also the opinion that the property problem could be discussed and solved as a whole with the political solution in the island.

Reminding that with the ECHR decision on the Loizidou case Turkey is being held responsible for whatever is happening in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Izcan added, inter alia, the following: With the property law, the CTP DP government aims at taking the responsibility from Turkey and transfer it to the TRNC. The property law approved at the assembly is not in harmony with the international law and at the same time it will cause unjust and unacceptable separations between the citizens in northern Cyprus. As BKP we are calling on the Turkish Cypriot community to claim ownership of the pre-1974 title deeds of its property, wherever they are. .

I/Ts.

[03] Akinci stated that the self-styled government offers the Turkish Cypriots empty hopes

Mr Akinci made these statements in a meeting of his party in occupied Kyrenia.

The chairman of BDH stated that in the cases of Zodhia and Ledra Street Barricade, the government puts the priorities of the army in front of the needs of the civil life and added that this is not helpful as regards the solution.

(C/S)

[04] The self-styled minister of finance stated that the economy in occupied Cyprus scored record development levels in the year 2005

Mr Uzun made these statements yesterday, speaking at the self-styled assembly where the discussion for the budget is taking place.

Mr Uzun stated that despite the fact that the inflation in occupied Cyprus between the 1st of January 2004 until the September of 2005 was 12%, the salaries and the pensions where increased by up to 35%. He also stated that it is estimated that the growth for the year 2005 will be 10.6% and added that the goal of the growth as regards the year 2006 is 7.1%.

The paper writes that the budget of the TRNC for the year 2006 is going to be 1 billion, 624 million new Turkish Liras.

[05] HURRIYET reports that the ECHR will publish its judgment on the Xenides-Aresti case tomorrow

[06] The President of Turkey supports the lowering of the electoral threshold

In a meeting of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Higher Consultation Board which was closed to the press, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer made remarks that the electoral threshold in Turkey could be reduced to 7-8 percent from the current 10 percent. "Yet the Turkish parliament must make a decision on the topic of the electoral threshold," said Sezer.

Sezer indicated that some governments may go slowly in the European Union process. `The business community must help Turkey not lose pace´, the Turkish President said.

Mr Sezer stressed that efforts must be made to curtail the unregistered economy.

Turkish Cypriot CUMHURIYET newspaper (21.12.05) quotes the Turkish President to have said that efforts are underway to seek solutions to certain problems, including the Cyprus problem, within the European Union. Mr Sezer said that the Cyprus problem cannot be solved in the framework of the EU and called on the Union to lift the isolation on the Turkish Cypriots.

Turkish Cypriot KIBRIS newspaper (21.12.05) quotes the senior executive of TUSIAD, Mr Mustafa Koc, to have said that continuation of the status quo in Cyprus is not in Turkey´s interest. Mr Koc called on the Turkish government to take the initiative in its own hands and create formulas for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[07] Rauf Denktas will address the Turkish Grand National Assembly

The invitation to address the Turkish Parliament to Rauf Denktas came from the leader of the main opposition in Turkey, Mr Deniz Baykal, president of the Republican People´s Party.

[08] Turkish Minister of Justice: No plans to change article 301 any time soon

Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said the government was not at this time considering to change article 301, which covers the crime of insulting Turkish identity.

Cicek defended the governments position on not amending the article, saying the new penal code had only come into force on June 1st and could not be changed according different views of different people.

Such alterations would change the integrity of the code, Cicek said. The Minister also said that in an number of instances, the courts had ruled to dismiss the case against those charged under article 301.

Critics of the article claim that it serves to limit freedom of expression.

[09] Turkey is manufacturing missiles. Their range is not disclosed

Turkish Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gonul has indicated today that Turkey makes missiles. "I will not disclose the range of the missiles," said Gonul.

Gonul took the floor in the Turkish parliament and talked on the draft budget for his ministry in 2006.

Gonul stressed that the needs of the Turkish Land Forces, including rifles, are mostly met by domestic products.

According to Gonul, Turkey manufactures the electronic hardware of F-16 jets.

Gonul remarked that the Ministry of National Defense sponsored 24,241 tenders in the past three years.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Does Turkey want a solution?

The Chairman of the Turkish Industrialists´ and Businessmen´s Association (TUSIAD) Mustafa Koc (Tr note: Mr Koc is TUSIAD´s Supreme Consultative Council Chairman) said yesterday in Ankara that ` the status quo in Cyprus is not in our interests and a solution should provided´!

In the statement a very important message has been conveyed to the Turkish government and that ` It was said that steps should be taken to provide solution´. Will the warning by the TUSIAD which played important roles in the past regarding the Cyprus problem, put on the agenda whether Turkey wants a solution in Cyprus or not?

As far as I am concerned, it does.

If one looks into the immediate past he could give a positive reply to this question and say: `Yes Turkey wants solution in Cyprus, and it proved this with the steps it had taken during the Annan plan period´. Well is this question valid if we consider it today?

I think no.

Despite the fact that both the Turkish Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister repeat in every possible opportunity that they want a just solution in Cyprus, the fact is that they are not complaining about the existing status quo.

Following the referendum, when Turkey got rid of the `blame of being the intransigent side and in its relations with Europe it had confronted less the Cyprus problem, compared to the past, it has adopted the eluding policy of `the Greek Cypriot side does not want solution´.

In the past, wherever Erdogan went he confronted the Cyprus problem and he was complaining that he was unable to reply; but now Erdogan, with the answer `we want solution but the Greek Cypriots do not, he is able to silence his interlocutors.

It is an important development that Erdogan has no headache any more during his visits.

Well then, is continuation of the status quo and prevailing of the non-solution insignificant? In whose interest is the present status quo in Cyprus?

Turkey is on the verge of loosing the relative advantages it had secured by the 24 April referendum.

Non-solution is harming both the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.

As mentioned by Mustafa Koc, `the status quo is not as it appears in our favour´.

In order to change the status quo with a solution Turkey has work to do and steps to take. It is not in our benefit to try to avoid this with by having as pretext the Papadopoulos´s administration behaviour.

Turkey is a powerful country which could force the Greek Cypriot side to sit around the negotiation table. It has the influence to convince the EU, the UN and the USA.

It can take military and diplomatic steps in Cyprus and could change the agenda and could have the initiative. For example it could start with the demilitarization of Nicosia. The demilitarization of Nicosia is a project way back to 1988 when Madeline Albright was USA Secretary of State.

According to the project the military units within the Nicosia Walls would gradually withdraw and would hand over the duty to police force.

For the 1st Infantry Regiment stationed in Nicosia, new barracks were going to be

Built opposite to the Near East University. The barracks were built

However, the project to demilitarize Nicosia was not realized, but instead unmanning of certain military posts were carried out as deconfrontation.

Is it possible to raise again the project of demilitarization of Nicosia? Yes, it is.

All kinds of projects that will secure a solution could be on the agenda. Only if there is a will. There are doubts about the will. One has to do away with these doubts.

/SK

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