Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-12-27

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat says that Varosha is important for bargaining; Reactions on ECHR's decision for Myra Xenides - Aresti case.

[02] Onur Oymen assesses the ECHR decision on the Xenides-Aresti case.

[03] Mr Talat assessed the ECHR decision on the Xenides-Aresti case.

[04] The Turkish President is visiting Egypt.

[05] Gul comments on issues of the political agenda and Cyprus.

[06] Research on the number of Turks in the USA.

[07] Metin A. Hakki was appointed as the new "President of the Supreme Court".

[08] Turkish Cypriot politicians accused the ruling coalition that they prolong the existing situation without finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[09] All hotels with casino in the occupied areas are full for the New Year's Eve.

[10] SABAH newspaper: "Surprise support from Iran".

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat says that Varosha is important for bargaining; Reactions on ECHR's decision for Myra Xenides - Aresti case

In statements to KIBRIS FM radio, Mr Talat noted that the decision of the ECHR on the Myra Xenides - Aresti case was something they expected and reiterated that the new "law" regarding the occupied Greek Cypriot properties came to the form it is today after meetings of jurists from the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus with foreign and Turkish jurists.

Referring to the fact that the ECHR considers Turkey responsible for whatever is happening in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, Mt Talat said: "...We are the one that made this law. Even if the ECHR considers it (the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus) as an area controlled by Turkey, its President meets with us. The ECHR officials are having contacts with us".

Mr Talat argued that the new "law" guarantees the bi-zonality and described it as "an important change that will take the advantage from the hands of the Greek Cypriots in the legal fight which goes on for years".

Noting that when the "law" was being prepared they held continuous contacts with Strasbourg, he added that then "the information that a logical law will be accepted at the ECHR was leaked".

Mr Talat said:

"This is not a law which will solve the problem of the properties. It will create local remedies. Turkey will gain time. This is correct. Turkey needs time because the Greek Cypriot side rejected the solution. What is wrong about this? What should we do? No one suggests anything. What shall we do? Shall we give everything? There are some who say that the Turkish Cypriot community will be left without property. I am hearing unbelievable things. However, this law is creating local remedies. Its connection to Varosha is a political issue. We shall discuss this. ...".

Mr Talat noted that he will suggest fourteen persons for the so-called compensations committee and seven persons will be elected by the "judicial committee".

Referring to the issue of Varosha, Mr Talat said that the view that with the decision on the Arestis case the closed city will be given to the Greek Cypriots piece by piece is not right and added that "Varosha has great importance for the Turkish Cypriots in the procedure of the solution of the Cyprus problem".

Mr Talat argued: "We have discussed various proposals regarding Varosha. Therefore we said 'yes' to feasibility studies in Varosha. Afterwards we said let us give Varosha and you lift the isolations. There are some who say that Varosha will not be given because it is a military zone. This is groundless. Being a military zone is an issue of decision. I cannot express an opinion on Varosha from now. I cannot say that Varosha will be opened. ...If Varosha will be discussed outside the overall solution, there has to be an advantage that we gain. What had I said? Let us give Varosha and you lift all the isolations. Varosha is such a valuable place. Why? Not because it is so beautiful, but it is a part of the solution. If we give Varosha and its owners come, then what shall we bargain in the solution? Varosha is a part of the overall solution. We could not give Varosha without gaining something. For the time being I have no contacts with foreigners regarding Varosha".

Meanwhile, Mr Talat referred also to the issue of the opening of Ledra Street barricade and said that it will definitely be opened. He alleged that the demands of the Greek Cypriots on the issue are not limited only to the lifting of the bridge which the occupation regime built there, but they also oppose to the cabins built for the control of the crossings. Mr Talat argued that the bridge will be lifted with the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Furthermore, commenting on Mr Talat's interview to KIBRIS FM, Basaran Duzgun, editor-in-chief of KIBRIS (27.12.05) writes that there is the possibility of Varosha becoming an issue of bargaining in the future. The title of Mr Duzgun's comment is "The isolations in return for Varosha".

Meanwhile, under the banner front-page title "Either return it or open it", Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (27.12.05) refers to the decision of the ECHR on the Myra Xenides - Aresti case and writes that Turkey has now a dilemma: Either it will open Varosha for settlement or it will return the city to the Greek Cypriots. In both cases, points out KIBRISLI, Turkey will have to pay compensations.

Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (27.12.05) reports on its front page that Mr Emin Sirin, MP of Turkey's Motherland Party (ANAP), has submitted a motion to the Turkish Grand National Assembly asking from the General Staff to issue a statement on the decision of the ECHR regarding the Aresti case, in which the Turkish Armed Forces are described as occupation army in Cyprus.

If Turkey accepts this decision, will it not mean that it accepts that the Turkish army is an occupation army on the island, asks Mr Sirin.

I/Ts.

[02] Onur Oymen assesses the ECHR decision on the Xenides-Aresti case

''There are 1400 applications against Turkey. Turkey was given 3 months to compensate the losses. After that period, a decision will be made about compensation,'' he added.

''If Turkey does not object this decision of the ECHR, it would have accepted the decisions which will be taken about compensation,'' said Oymen.

He said: ''The decision is unacceptable in Turkey's aspect. TRNC is not under authority of Turkey. Turkey is not responsible for incidents in TRNC. There is an independent political authority in TRNC. The government is now under a difficulty by accepting the decision.''

''ECHR, in its decision, convicted Turkey, and it did not consider TRNC as an interlocutor. ECHR gave 3 months to Turkey for compensation of 1400 people's losses. Greek Cypriots even cannot bear 3 months and they ask for the compensation rapidly,'' said Oymen.

Oymen called the government to appeal the decision of the ECHR, noting that he was disturbed by the political emphasis in the ruling of ECHR.

ECHR ruled on Thursday in the case of Greek Cypriot Xenides-Arestis v. Turkey that Turkey violated property right, but there was no need to pay any compensation. Yet ECHR said that an effective remedy should be introduced.

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs was pleased with the decision of the ECHR.

Furthermore, Ankara Anatolia (24.12.05) reported from Ankara that the CHP (Republican People Party) Deputy General Chairman Onur Oymen spoke to an audience in the Kare Bookstore while signing his new book "National Interests".

Answering a question from the audience on how the ECHR's decision on Greek Cypriot citizen Mira Xenides-Arestis should be viewed, Oymen said that the court has convicted Turkey of violating the European Human Rights Convention and has found Turkey responsible for what has happened in Cyprus.

Oymen said: "I have worked with such matters for so many years. I have never seen a country that is so pleased for losing a case in the ECHR. A short while ago we were upset that we won. Leyla Sahin had sued Turkey in connection with headscarves, but the court ruled in Turkey's favor." He continued:

"We are pleased when we lose and saddened when we win. We will see how this issue will shape up in three months. Most probably Turkey will be slapped with a very steep indemnity payment. This government unfortunately accepted the same court's 1998 ruling in the Loizidou case. Previous governments had rejected it. Rejecting it was very sensible because when we recognized the ECHR's judicial authority we said that 'the court has jurisdiction over violations of the convention on Turkish soil.' The KKTC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] has its own constitution, courts, and laws. Is Turkey responsible for everything that happens in Cyprus? The court says, 'yes it is.' This is why all previous governments rejected [the Loizidou decision] but this government accepted it. They paid indemnities of $1 million and then they assumed this burden. How far can this go? Some people talk about Turkey making indemnity payments amounting to as much as 40 billion euro. Which country in the world has paid reparations after winning a war?"

Oymen said that the ECHR decision is a very negative development for Turkey and insisted that this has happened because the government recognized the court's decision in the Loizidou case.

[03] Mr Talat assessed the ECHR decision on the Xenides-Aresti case

"This is a good and important step, but it is only a start, we must work hard," said Talat to reporters while assessing the ECHR's recent judgment.

The decision of the ECHR showed once again that the new property law was so necessary, said Talat, adding that "if this law was not adopted, the ECHR verdict would have been similar to that of Loizidou case, this is very clear."

Talat stressed that they aimed to form an internal remedy regarding the property problem while preparing the new property law rather than sorting out the problem, adding that the property problem would be sorted out by settlement of Cyprus question.

Talat indicated that the inclusion of two foreigners in the Property Compensation Committee (due to be set up under the new property law) would increase the reliability of the committee.

"The ECHR took its latest verdict by being inspired by the preparation and adoption of the new property law here, this is very important. Therefore, the ECHR deemed necessary the formation of an internal remedy within three months," Talat said.

Mr Talat concluded: "The committee will be set up and its members will be appointed in the first three months and in the second three months the committee has to prove that it works effectively."

[04] The Turkish President is visiting Egypt

Sezer is accompanied by his wife Semra Sezer, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and Presidential Office's Secretary General Kemal Nehrozoglu.

Today Sezer will visit Giza Pyramids and attend the dinner to be hosted by the Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Safak Gokturk in his honor.

Turkish Cypriot KIBRISLI newspaper (27.12.05) reports that issues regarding Cyprus, Iraq and Syria will be discussed with President Mubarak of Egypt.

[05] Gul comments on issues of the political agenda and Cyprus

"In the modern world today our racial kinsmen are living within many different states. Some are independent while some are considered minorities. We are following all of them closely. It is enough that the Turks in Iraq, in Western Thrace, in Greece, in the Crimea and in Bulgaria are happy. Once they are happy they will be bridges of cooperation in the countries in which they live, they will be the feet of those bridges. That is the only way this can happen in this day and age. In today's modern world it is unrealistic to think of changing the lay of the land. We are following our racial kinsmen's problems closely."

Replying to journalists' questions after the meeting Gul said in response to one journalist's claim that there was tension between TUSIAD [Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen] and Prime Minister Erdogan: "Right from the very first day we said we were a government that was cooperating with the business world. We continue to invite TUSIAD, TOBB [Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodities Exchanges] and MUSIAD [Association of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen] ["M" sometimes interpreted as Muslim not Independent] and other places. We are continuously holding meetings. We are making continuous use of their ideas. In that respect I do not believe it correct to express this in terms of tension."

Deputy Prime Minister Gul said that everybody could speak their mind and share their ideas with the public in a civilized fashion. "Apart from that there is definitely no question in Turkey of there being any problems such as 'tensions' or 'the government being opposed to the business world' or 'the business world being opposed to the government'."

In reply to a question about Cyprus Gul stated that nobody should be worried here, and that both the Turkish Republic and the Turkish Cypriots were dealing with the issue in the best way.

"As can be seen, cases and files against Turkey at the European Court worth billions of dollars have been sent to the KKTC (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus). During this process the KKTC's economy is developing strongly."

Stating also that it was wrong to present other problems and confuse people, Gul said that Turkey would stand behind the Turkish Cypriots until the very end. Pointing out that the result of the referendum in the KKTC was the correct one Gul continued:

"These have all strengthened the Cyprus cause. Of course there are problems; of course there are a great many problems. What is needed here is patience and resolve. We are well aware of the Cyprus cause. Nobody should be worried. All that we have done for Cyprus over the past three years is gradually strengthening Cyprus. Not one soldier has been pulled out of Cyprus or one inch of land given over. But the world is now more aware of the Cyprus cause. This business demands patience. It is a case of gently blowing on the ice to melt it. The one who is patient and honest will win."

Talking about the visit of the Director CIA which was reflected in the foreign press Gul said: "What I can say about the news that appeared in the foreign press is this: The recent visits have nothing at all to do with Iran or Syria. These visits were aimed at strengthening relations between our two countries. They have nothing to do with any other country. Everything that has been written about this both at home and abroad is pure speculation."

Recalling that the United States and Turkey were two allied countries Gul said: "It is in both countries' interests to improve relations further. Both countries' governments are committed to this. The fight against terrorism is a topic that both countries attach importance to. PKK terrorism is also of immediate interest to both countries. A new era has been entered in this matter. We hope that it will start yielding results."

Abdullah Gul replied to a question about US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's remarks about pulling out 10,000 US servicemen from Iraq:

"The foreign servicemen in Iraq will of course be withdrawn one day; that is what is supposed to happen. What is important is that Iraq's own security forces are set up in the best possible way and that the people of Iraq become capable of governing Iraq. Work on this is still going on. The presence of foreigners is not good either for the foreigners or for the Iraqis. However, when they do pull out they should not leave a vacuum behind them. The timing for this will be done. It has been explained that there is a plan for this."

[06] Research on the number of Turks in the USA

"The Foundation Center for Studies on Turkey (TAM) stated that the number of Turks living in the United States is increasing, and these Turks have a higher ratio of education than other migrants in that country.

Germany-based TAM's Director Prof. Faruk Sen said: ''The number of Turks, who migrated to the United States since 1980, has reached nearly 80,000. According to figures of Turkish non-governmental organizations in the United States, there are 440,000 people of Turkish origin who are living in that country.''

Sen added: ''46,000 of these Turks are university students. TAM has worked on a research which compares Turks with Armenians and Greeks (in the United States) on socio-economic area. According to preliminary results of the research, Turks in the United States are more educated than other migrants.''

''More than 42 percent of these Turks are at least university graduates. 23 percent have masters or higher degrees. This shows that Turks in the United States are highly educated,'' he noted.

TAM's research which will clearly show the position of Turks in the United States will be completed next month".

[07] Metin A. Hakki was appointed as the new "President of the Supreme Court"

Mr Hakki, who got the position after the retirement of Mr Taner Erginel, will start his duties on 11th of February.

(DPs)

[08] Turkish Cypriot politicians accused the ruling coalition that they prolong the existing situation without finding a solution to the Cyprus problem

Commenting on the decision of the European Court of the Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the Aresti case, Mr Izcan said the cries of victory that were heard after the ECHR decision on the Turkish side were only for domestic consumption.

Mr Izcan said: "It is not possible to obtain a settlement to the Cyprus problem with a legal war and the only way out is anspeedy political solution."

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (25/12/05) reported that the General Secretary of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH), Mr Mehmet Cakici, in a speech made in the occupied village of Kythrea on Thursday night, said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and his party have changed their priorities after coming to the power.

(DPs)

[09] All hotels with casino in the occupied areas are full for the New Year´s eve

Under the title "Hotels full from now", the paper writes the following:

"The days to the new year are numbered. The hotels, especially with casino, are 100% full from now. The hotels without gambling facilities are not doing bad either. Holiday makers flooding the `TRNC´ wishing to gamble this new year too opted for our country. Almost all the country´s hotels will welcome the new year full".

The paper refers to developments after 2003, when Greek Cypriots too started to get interested, and concludes:

"According to information we gathered the percentage of bookings of some big hotels varies from 65% to100%. Bookings were already made for weekends mainly by gamblers from Turkey, South Cyprus, and other countries".

[10] SABAH newspaper: "Surprise support from Iran"

"Iran has given positive answer to Turkey's diplomatic initiatives for the lifting of the isolation towards the TRNC (Tr. Note: The occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus). On the top of the package of measures which the Tehran government is planning to take within the year 2006 is the creation of direct postal service between Iran and the TRNC. Western diplomats commented on the issue of this initiative that Iran, which came face to face with the international community because of its nuclear activities, wants to take Turkey with its side.

Subtitle: The private sector is in the lead

According to information acquired by SABAH, the issue came onto the agenda for the first time in the end of November, during the visit of Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Manuchehr Mottaki to Ankara. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul asked from his Iranian counterpart to take some steps which will be supporting the Turkish Cypriot people. Noting that they have the will on this issue, Mottaki conveyed the message that: 'it is difficult for us to overcome some obstacles, but we can begin with the public sector'. After the visit of Mottaki, works began on this issue in Tehran. An Iranian high ranking official who said that they are exerting efforts so that the steps to be taken by its country will have productive results in practice and be more than symbolic, referred to the following three measures:

- The creation of a direct postal network between the TRNC and Iran.

- The Iranian businessmen to trade with the TRNC and make investments.

- Encouragement of more Iranian students to study in the TRNC."

I/Ts.

/SK

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