Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-12-22

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The coastal areas of occupied Cyprus reserved by the Turkish army as restricted are being reduced to 35 kms from 210 kms.

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat: The target of the new property law is not to solve the property problem in Cyprus.

[03] Rasit Pertev admits that the Turkish Cypriots behaved contrary to the human rights on the property issue.

[04] Statements by Linda Orams to SABAH newspaper.

[05] Akinci critical of Talat.

[06] The Turkish Foreign Minister stated that Cyprus is a matter of honor for the Turkish Foreign Policy.

[07] Azerbaijan has stopped direct flights to occupied Cyprus. Israelis are very active in the occupied areas.

[08] Government and opposition do not favour the lowering of the election threshold.

[09] AKSAM: Erdogan´s Black Box spoke.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The coastal areas of occupied Cyprus reserved by the Turkish army as restricted are being reduced to 35 kms from 210 kms

The self-styled minister of economy and tourism, Kemal Dervis Deniz said that the decision was taken in order to benefit the maximum from the sea at the coastal zones. Mr Deniz noted that the main reason for taking this decision was to create an opportunity to the fishermen to fish more easily and facilitate the activities for the development of the tourism.

He added that the coastal military zones in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus are now only Kokkina village, the area in the east of Limnitis village, Varosha, the Snakes Island (Kyrenia) and the area of Trapezou near Kyrenia.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (22.12.05) reports that the self-styled prime minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer described the decision as the biggest step made until today from the point of view of the demilitarization of the occupied land of the Republic of Cyprus and giving life to the economy of the Turkish Cypriots. This step will have a big contribution especially to the development of the fishery and tourism, he said.

The paper publishes the decision under the title A historical decision by the government.

I/Ts.

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat: The target of the new property law is not to solve the property problem in Cyprus

Commenting on the new property law, on Wednesday, Mr Talat said the self-styled assembly approved the law on Monday by a majority vote.

Talat refuted the allegations that the law was imposed by Turkey, stating that he expressed his views about preparation of the law in July 2004, for the first time.

Talat pointed out that a chapter will be added to the 2006 budget law pertaining to the compensations, and that a fund would be created. ''We will be able to get an international contribution in case the world deems it as a remedy,'' he noted.

When recalled that Greek Cypriots submitted a draft law to their parliament envisaging four years imprisonment sentence to those who would apply to the self-styled authorities in the occupied by Turkish troops territories of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Talat said: ''Such a law in an EU member country.... I have nothing to say. The EU member countries should assess themselves to what extend does this law abide by the Copenhagen political criteria.''

[03] Rasit Pertev admits that the Turkish Cypriots behaved contrary to the human rights on the property issue

In statements to KIBRIS, Mr Pertev alleged, inter alia, the following regarding the laws of the Turkish Cypriots: There have been mistakes in the laws that were applied. While our behaviour was outside the international law, the Greek Cypriots, even if they violated our rights, placed this under legal covers. We behaved contrary to the human rights.

I/Ts.

[04] Statements by Linda Orams to SABAH newspaper

The report in SABAH is supported by a photograph of Cherie Blair flanked by David and Linda Orams and a large team of Turkish lawyers taken after the Orams couple lodged an objection at a British High Court.

The report, under the title: We trust the Turks, is as follows:

The Orams couple, which became the target of the South Cyprus administration after buying land which in the past belonged to a Greek Cypriot family and which after hiring the wife of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair as lawyer is in the limelight, spoke to SABAH.

As a result of a court case opened in South Cyprus, which now is transferred to British courts, the Orams couple is asked to empty the plot of land. The Orams couple caused a surprise by carrying the trial to a political ground after Cherie Blair took over as defence lawyer. Linda Orams said: Having in mind KKTC (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat´s words `we are behind everybody living in North Cyprus´, we trust the Turks. South Cyprus is using the EU.

The couple of Linda Elizabeth and David Orams, came to the KKTC for holidays after retiring at the age of 65, bought a plot of land and decided to live there. They bought a piece of land in Kyrenia which belonged to a Greek Cypriot in March 2003 before changing place. In 2004 the borders in Cyprus were opened. And exactly at that time Meletis Apostolides, from the Apostolides family, who fled from North Cyprus in 1974, knocked on their doors. Apostolides said to the couple that this land still belongs to him and started a legal battle. Apostolides won the case he opened in south Cyprus courts against the Orams to empty the plot, and because the South Cyprus decision is not valid in North Cyprus, he opened one more case in Britain using Cyprus´ membership of the EU. And in this case the distraint of the property of the Orams in Britain is raised.

[05] Akinci critical of Talat

Addressing the self-styled Assembly on the so-called President´s Office budget, the leader of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) Mustafa Akinci called on the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, to be more creative as regards the peace, that he should give up quarrelling with south and that he should start searching conciliation.

Criticizing the stance as regard the Ledra Sreet crossing, Akinci said that, the understanding that turns a blind eye to looking for conciliation with the Greek Cypriots is wrong.

Noting that it is necessary to act in cooperation with the UN, Mr Akinci warned that the opening of the crossing with an unilateral decision, in order to put the Greek Cypriot side in a difficult situation, will lead to wrong results.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (22.12.05) reports that Mr Akinci during an interview to a Turkish Cypriot private radio station, referred to various current developments in the occupied area. Referring to the Arestis case at the European Court of Human Rights, (ECHR) Akinci said that the ECHR rejected the Turkish side´s argument that Varosha belongs to Evkaf and accepted the title deeds issued by the Republic of Cyprus. Mr Akinci urged the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat to stop making this kind of statements, which are nothing but repetions of Mr Rauf Denktas´ views. He urged Mr Talat to be realistic and consider the facts of the International Law.

[06] The Turkish Foreign Minister stated that Cyprus is a matter of honor for the Turkish Foreign Policy

Gul said that Turkey has become an important actor influencing the global agenda, and noted that Turkey, which had earlier been seen as a secondary actor, now started to be an indispensable element of solutions.

Assessing Turkey's EU membership process, Gul said October 3rd was a turning point for Turkey. ''The duration of the new era and its outcome will depend on our success in reforms and implementing membership criteria,'' he noted. Gul also pointed out that the screening process is going on successfully.

Mentioning the latest developments in Cyprus, Gul said they were after a comprehensive and fair solution that will protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. Gul emphasized that Turkish-Turkish Cypriot joint cause would never be sacrificed for other reasons. ''We hope that EU will keep its commitments it made to Turkish Cypriot people'', he said.

In addition, as Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper reports (22.12.05) Mr Gul stated that 575 trillion New Turkish lira have been reserved from Turkeys budget for the year 2006, for the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Speaking about the development in occupied Cyprus, Mr Gul stated that the per capita income in occupied Cyprus for the year 2001 was 4 thousand 303 dollars while in the year 2005 it was 7 thousand dollars. He also said that the occupied areas have trade relations indirectly and directly with 70 countries and that they have representation in 14 countries.

Furthermore, as Turkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper reports (22.12.05)

Mr Gul stated that speeches which create confusion as regards Cyprus should not be made. He also wondered if Turkey has withdrawn even a single soldier or if it has given one square meter in Cyprus.

C/S

[07] Azerbaijan has stopped direct flights to occupied Cyprus. Israelis are very active in the occupied areas

The self-styled TRNC representative in Ankara, Tamer Gazioglu, told the journalists that the flights started by Azerbaijan did not have continuity and they are stopped. He said that regarding direct flights, the real target is Britain where important passenger traffic could be secured.

Saying that among the countries that made one of the largest investments in the occupied area is Israel, Gazioglu said: Israels money and the businessmen are in the TRNC. They are very active in the tourism area. Next to my house a complex is being built with 165 villas in it. Behind it there is Israeli capital.

Gazioglu went on and said that Islamic countries did not involve in investment in the occupied area.

[08] Government and opposition do not favour the lowering of the election threshold

Speaking after a meeting of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), said the stability and the atmosphere of confidence which Turkey caught should not be damaged.

Pointing out that the government was working in solidarity with the non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Erdogan said: ''If confidence and stability do not exist in a country, an entrepreneur in that country can not walk in confidence toward the future. He can not draw a perspective.''

The Turkish Prime Minister rejected calls to lower the threshold of votes to enter parliament, saying the status quo was necessary to ensure political stability for the EU-aspirant country. ''We don't understand the need for pushing Turkey into a new coalition period.Turkey has to continue the period of stability. At present, our government does not have any agenda to reduce the election threshold,'' Erdogan said.

''As the AKP, we want to go to polls with the current electoral threshold,'' he added.

Mr Erdogan added that the screening process within the context of Turkey-EU accession talks continued, and noted that the European Commission announced that the negotiations would start next March.

Moreover, Ankara TRT 2 Television (21.12.05) broadcast the following:

The opposition too got involved in the debate over the early election and election threshold.

While insisting on an early election, CHP [Republican People's Party] leader Deniz Baykal said that at this stage he is against lowering the current 10 percent election threshold.

And Anavatan [Motherland Party] leader Erkan Mumcu said that instead of lowering the threshold the system should be changed.

In a statement, Deniz Baykal said that it is normal for Turkey to hold elections every four years. Stating that they are working as if elections will be held in 2006, Baykal said that if no elections take place then the government will pay a heavy political price for it.

Touching on the debate on lowering the 10 percent election threshold, Baykal said: `I was opposed to the lowering of the threshold even when I fell below the threshold in 1999, I am still opposed to it. I am not saying that it [the threshold] should remain the same forever. But I believe we need it [the 10 percent threshold] given the situation we are in. The lowering of the threshold might set off a political structuring on ethnic basis´.

Replying to a question on the lowering of the election threshold, Erkan Mumcu said that Turkey's fundamental problem is related to the system.

He said: Lowering it below the 10 percent will not by itself solve Turkey's problems. It could ensure a more representative justice, but will not be enough to solve the problems.

[09] AKSAM: Erdogan´s Black Box spoke

The Cyprus problem since 1974 was an unsettled problem remaining stalled. In fact when we became government it was a bomb ready to blow up. For 40 years Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side had the intransigent image favouring the status quo. He then recalls the discussion between the UN Secretary-General Annan and Mr Erdogan in Davos and Erdogan´s personal assurance to Mr Annan that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots will be always one step ahead in the Cyprus problem as a result of which Mr Annan took a new negotiation initiative. Mr Bagis added: Then referendum took place, the Justice and Development Party´s (AKP) foreign policy approach turned Turkey from unjust position to rightful position. Is there any concession up to here? No there is not.

We have broken the embargo imposed on the Turkish Cypriots. A twenty-man USA delegation made up of US Congressmen, landed at the Tymbou airport with a direct flight. We took part, with my wife in this trip. Mr Talat as the President of the TRNC had official contacts in the USA.

What are these then, if all these are not first steps of recognition?

Are they concessions?

We will score progress within the framework of our policy of `to stay straight without boosting´ in our Cyprus policy.

/SK

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