Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-05-30

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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 argues that the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army could harm peace

[02] Kalyoncu says that the decision of the German Parliament on the Cyprus problem will accelerate a new process

[03] German of Turkish origin former member of the EP says that direct flights from Germany to the occupied areas of Cyprus will start soon

[04] Ercakica criticizes the campaign for the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha to its legal owners

[05] Kyrgyz MPs call on their government to recognize the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

[06] Pertev says that he discussed the issue of the technical committees with Tzionis

[07] Important congress in (the field of) health

[08] Sarkozys plan for Turkey French Presidents closest advisor in Turkey for contacts

[09] Bilman: MFA takes necessary steps over airspace violation

[10] "Recruitment of 10,000 Additional Village Guards Approved"

[11] Turkish current account deficit hits $9.1 billion in Q1

[12] A call from Sezer to OIC for lifting the so-called isolation from the occupied areas

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[13] Columnist in Afrika assesses the Turkish side´s position for a comprehensive solution

[14] The Turkish press on the reported short violation of Turkish airspace by two American F-16s on 24 May

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat argues that the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army could harm peace

According to ABHaber website, Mr Talat said that this was the first time that such a decision is taken in Germany and interest is shown for the problems of the Turkish Cypriots.

However, Mr Talat criticized the proposal regarding the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops from the island and claimed that this could harm the environment of peace. He said, inter alia, the following: The withdrawal of the Turkish army from the island before the solution of the Cyprus problem is not under discussion. No one should have such a demand, because such a demand will drag the Cyprus problem to the non-solution. .

(I/Ts.)

[02] Kalyoncu says that the decision of the German Parliament on the Cyprus problem will accelerate a new process

In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Kalyoncu noted that some demands of the Turkish Cypriots are included in the decision and that this happens for the first time in a foreign parliament. He accused the National Unity Party (UBP) for criticizing the decision and argued that the UBP does not respect the views even of its own MPs who visited Berlin.

(I/Ts.)

[03] German of Turkish origin former member of the EP says that direct flights from Germany to the occupied areas of Cyprus will start soon

The paper reports that Ceyhun noted that he knows a private aviation company in Germany which works intensively on the issue of how it will start direct flights to the occupied areas of Cyprus. Mr Ceyhun said: While six months ago even talking about direct flights was forbidden, I want to say that now these days are not very far away.

The paper notes that officials pointed out that with the launching of the direct flights, the tourism potential in the occupied part of Cyprus will be doubled, the costs will go down and tourists from Germany will massively be visiting the occupied part of the island through direct flights. Ceyhun told the paper that there will be surprises for the Cypriot people in September. He noted that he is hopeful about the developments, but he has concerns on some issues.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ercakica criticizes the campaign for the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha to its legal owners

Mr Ercakica argued that the view expressed in the letter that the Turkish Cypriots were directed to vote yes in the referendum for tactical reasons, is a great insult to the will of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS (30.05.07) reports that in his regular weekly briefing, Mr Ercakica alleged that the activities of the Greek Cypriot side regarding the churches in the occupied areas of Cyprus and the campaign for occupied Famagusta show the strategy of the Greek Cypriot side the reduce the influence of the Turkish Cypriot yes vote, to postpone the solution of the Cyprus problem and instigate the Greek Cypriots to aggressive activities.

Describing the mayor of occupied Famagusta, Alexis Galanos, as a mayor without municipality, Mr Ercakica argued that the campaign aiming at the return of the city to its Greek Cypriot owners is giving groundless hopes to the Greek Cypriots and that its aim is the strengthening of the belief that the problem could be solved with other methods. He said that Varosha will be discussed within the framework of overall negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Kyrgyz MPs call on their government to recognize the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

According to the paper, Kyrgyz MPs said that their government should act urgently on the issue of the recognition of the breakaway regime in Cyprus and send Kyrgyz students to the illegal universities in the occupied part of the island.

Addressing the parliament, Kyrgyz MP, Aslan Maliyev said that the EU should keep its promises to the Turkish Cypriots and after that to give advices to his country on the issue. He noted that the government of his country should put an end to the Cyprus problem and send students to the occupied areas. Prime Minister Almaz Atambayev attended the session.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Pertev says that he discussed the issue of the technical committees with Tzionis

In statements to illegal TAK news agency after the meeting, Mr Pertev said that they discussed the issue of the technical committees and that they will meet at least once more before the report for the renewal of the term of duty of the UNFICYP is discussed at the UN in June.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Important congress in (the field of) health

According to the paper, representatives from Turkey, the USA, Iran, Syria, Germany, Ireland, Egypt, Libya, Sweden and Israel will participate in the congress.

The rector of the university, Prof. Dr. Huseyin Gokcekus and the so-called minister of health Esref Vaiz held yesterday a joint press conference on the issue. Mr Vaiz said that during the congress all dimensions of the health system in the occupied areas of Cyprus will be discussed.

On his part, Prof Dr. Gokcekus said that scientists from more than twenty countries will participate in the congress and that the announcements of the congress will be published later in the form of a book.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Sarkozys plan for Turkey French Presidents closest advisor in Turkey for contacts

He will not prevent the opening of three chapters for negotiation in the end of June.

He wants the determination of the EU borders at the 22 June Summit.

He wants the presentation at the December Summit of the report which will include the geographical borders.

In addition the paper writes that following the telephone conversation held between Sarkozy and the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on the 24th of May, where the French President told the Turkish Prime Minister that they should not speak through the mass media, Sarkozy sent to Turkey his closest adviser. Mr Jean-David Levitte was sent to Turkey 72 hours after the telephone conversation between the two leaders, writes the paper and adds that Jean-David Levitte met with the Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, permanent undersecretary at the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Ambassador Ali Yakital, Erdogans chief advisor on foreign affairs. The purpose of the meetings was for the two parties to get acquainted with each other and the first step for a direct dialogue between the two countries to be made.

(CS)

[09] Bilman: MFA takes necessary steps over airspace violation

Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Bilman said Tuesday that Turkey made what he called "necessary diplomatic initiatives" as regards last Thursday's violation of Turkish airspace by two U.S. fighter jets.

"The necessary diplomatic initiative has been taken today in line with common protocols followed in incidents of airspace violations, after receiving Monday a detailed technical report from the General Staff HQ," Bilman said.

The spokesman did not elaborate what he meant by "the necessary diplomatic initiative," but foreign ministry sources said earlier that U.S. Ambassador Ross Wilson would be summoned to the ministry and a diplomatic note would be delivered to him.

[10] "Recruitment of 10,000 Additional Village Guards Approved"

Parliament on Sunday approved a law paving the way to recruit 10,000 more village guards in south-eastern Anatolia in the fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The law also provides new social rights for the guards.

According to the law, the number of village guards cannot exceed 40,000, which means 10,000 more guards can be deployed in the region upon the request of governors in certain cities. The number of guards can be increased by 50 percent with a cabinet decision.

The law also foresees an increase in the salary of the guards and sets the age of 55 as retirement age for the guards. Guards who serve for more than 15 years will be eligible to draw a pension. The amount of the pension will between YTL 235 and 375.

The village guards were first recruited in early '90s to fight against the PKK terrorists.

[11] Turkish current account deficit hits $9.1 billion in Q1

Turkish markets welcomed a $16 billion capital inflow, excluding a change in reserves and loans from the International Monetary Fund, in the first quarter of 2007.

Foreign direct investment increased to $7.9 billion while long-term loans saw a high of $8.7 billion in the same period. The foreign exchange reserves of the central bank hit $70 billion in the first three months.

The foreign debt stock of the private sector increased by 36.1 percent, and its payments abroad expanded 53.7 percent. Turkey's central bank released balance of payments figures on Tuesday for the first quarter of 2007. It said the acceleration of exports and slowdown of imports had been maintained but that the current account balance resulted in a $9.1 billion deficit. The deficit has increased only $300 million since the last quarter of 2006.

The largest contribution to exports was from the auto and primary metal industries, together responsible for the 8.6 percentage point increase of the 24.2 percent increase in total exports in the first quarter. Additionally, machinery and equipment and electrical equipment were also big contributors. In the first quarter of the year, imports of intermediary goods constituted 17.4 percentage points of the 17.6 percent of the total increase in imports. Imports of capital goods, however, slowed down and increased only 0.7 percent. The real increases in exports exceeded the real increases in imports. The rate of current account balance over gross domestic product (GDP) fell to 7.9 percent as of the first quarter. The same rate was 8.1 percent in September 2006.

The EUs share in total exports increased, whereas that of the US dwindled by 4.1 percent. In addition, exports to Russia and Middle East countries retained their upswing in the first three months. The weight of euro as a means of payment increased by 2.7 percent at the expense of the dollar. The surplus stemming from the services accounts in the balance of payments declined by 12.5 percent in 2006 compared to the previous year. In the first quarter of 2007, however, the services account surplus increased 1.5 percent and hovered above $1.2 billion.

Net tourism revenues climbed to $1.5 billion after a 3.9-percent increase in the first quarter. Construction services, largely projects conducted abroad, experienced a slight decrease. Transportation, however, enjoyed a real boom of a 28.1-percent increase, reaching $926 million.

Investment revenue was another item in the balance of payments statement that suffered a large deficit, declining by 25.8 percent and hitting $1.9 billion. This was largely because of the private sectors foreign debts and the increase of the interest rates in major international markets.

Meanwhile, Turkeys foreign financing requirement -- the sum of the current account deficit and net error and omission items -- shrank to $7.5 billion in the first quarter. The main factor in this decline was the $1.6 billion surplus in net errors and omissions.

[12] A call from Sezer to OIC for lifting the so-called isolation from the occupied areas

"Iraq is in a vital position regarding the stability of our region," Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said in a message he sent to the 23rd meeting of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic & Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) Follow-up Committee.

Sezer, who is also the COMCEC Chairman, stated in his message that, "it is our most sincere wish that Iraq leaves behind the difficult days and preserves its national unity and territorial integrity thanks to a democratic structure and stability.""We are pleased to observe that efforts of COMCEC, founded essentially to boost economic and commercial cooperation between member countries, yielded tangible results," Sezer added.

"Preferential trade system between our countries should take effect soon," Sezer said and urged all related countries to sign and ratify the Framework Agreement and Preferential Tariffs Protocol."

"Despite the calls of the OIC for the removal of blockade imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), no tangible result could yet be obtained to ensure full integration of the Turkish Cypriot people to the international community. We expect the member countries to take necessary steps to end this unjust isolation. Opening of TRNC representations in member countries will facilitate this process," Sezer said in his message.

"A permanent peace, security and stability in the Middle East can only be made possible through settlement of Israeli-Palestinian crisis through peaceful means. Clashes between Palestinian groups should also end. We are urging the Palestinian groups to remain in unity and resolve their differences through dialogue and compromise," Sezer said in his message.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[13] Columnist in Afrika assesses the Turkish side´s position for a comprehensive solution

If there is to be an agreement, the good will should be the first condition. And next to it the solution should be demanded.

Once the first condition is fulfilled then the solution will be unravelled.

Since 1960 we hear about the Cyprus negotiations.

Despite this a solution is yet to be reached. Some people are telling lies to us. But who?

Solution will come about by exploding every opportunity and not with a passive stance. Until today our interlocutors sat around the negotiation table not to reach a settlement. The negotiations were being held for time to go by and to give the impression that we are meeting and also to have little fun.

Our new government by using the winds of the Annan Plan and the EU started its activities.

We have hoped that this wind will bring something and within a short time we will have a solution.

What has changed in the past three years? We have neither a solution nor negotiation

The Annan Plan is at the mortuary. Papadopoulos is seeking to be re-elected again. Talat is after attending the receptions.

During the Bridge Crisis created in the negotiations with the army and by using the resignation weapon, a short-lived wind of excitement, one, like the Annan Plan and the EU was blown. The wind of: Solution now immediately.

The Turkish Cypriots who live in Cyprus and those living abroad were still hopeful regarding Cyprus.

In order to revive this hope one has to water it a little.

I use water metaphorically, it could be as little as the mornings dew.

What is expected? The kick off only.

Let us think: Where is the community who said in the Annan Plan ´we are ready to return part of the territory we are holding. We are ready to withdraw troops; We are ready to accept the Greek Cypriots among us, and all the Morfou people who were ready to be displaced.´

Some of them wonder around aimlessly. Some of them are abroad because they saw no future here for their children, and some of them are trying to fit in, or attune themselves to the existing order here.

Unfortunately, this weariness, this apathy, this insensitivity and the migrations are developing like an avalanche. As a matter of fact we could stop this avalanche with a drop of dew that a moss needs to grow.

Do you know what this dew is? They are small steps to be taken. A small concession, a promise which will be made in the name of the solution.

You demolished the Ledra wall, the people felt happy.

You built the bridge, it felt sad.

You demolished the bridge, it felt happy again.

You did not withdraw the army by 50 metres, again it felt sad.

Papadopoulos demolished the shameful Ledra wall, it felt glad.

If the army is not withdrawn, and the Limnitis gate is not opened, I will not open Ledra, he said and again the people felt sad.

Here you are, a small step

Open the Limnitis gate, not for the sake of the opening of Ledra street, but for the people. Open the gate not by putting the condition for a solution, but do it for the opening of the other gates.

If the intention is necessarily to corner the other side, this is a cornering.

With these steps the people can enter into the whirlpool of solution.

But you did not open it. Why?

Saying we want a comprehensive solution.

An excuse?

Our primary problem is not the opening of the Limnitis gate!

Besides, if we wanted to open the road which is in a very bad condition, we do not even have the money to pave it with asphalt.

I am hesitating to believe this. How come and in a period when in a few years our national income could be increased from five to six thousand dollars to eleven thousand dollars and our economy to be so good that we were able to build a two way street until Omorfo (Morfou) we are not able to pave asphalt to an one way road in Limnitis.

And in addition, we cannot do it while institutions which can help us, such as the UN and the EU, do exist.

We know in how difficult conditions the people of Tilliria live.

Will the opening of the gate not bring life back to Limnitis, the value of which has been reduced?

Are you not concerned about the people who live there?

It is true that the road that will be constructed will bring with it the negative effects for the area and the environment.

But whatever happens; we do not have the right to imprison the people of that area as if they were less important.

Let us come to another issue

Varosha

Is this very important? Of course, it is important.

Varosha was taken in order to be a trump card in our hands in the intercommunal negotiations, but what has it obtained for us for 35 years?

A big nothing

Furthermore, the necessary material burden for Varoshas becoming a town again influences negatively our power to use Varosha as a trump card

What will happen if we say ´I have opened it?´

If we made a call to the owners and say:

Come my brother, your house is empty, your hotel is empty, your plot is empty, but I do not have sufficient financing in order to build on them.

(It is known that we do not have even money to build a road)

Look after your own property until the solution is reached. Let us think a bit hard to find finance.

The world is full with institutions that give credit for these works.

If we revived again this area with its owners, if we gave it to the tourism, if the owners gained, if we also gained, would it be bad?

But there is only one condition. How would it be if we said that it (Varosha) would be under our administration until the solution?

Would the Greek Cypriots, who want their property back, not exert pressure to their authorities for a solution before this proposal?

But there cannot be such a proposal, because Varosha is part of the comprehensive solution.

If the isolations are removed, would there be a solution?

Are the isolations not a part of a comprehensive solution?

Why do we run after this so much?

Let them (isolations) be solved in a comprehensive solution.

In any case, has our economy not been improved?

Is it not possible? It is not It is not

Would we not have a little bit more good intention if we expected that there will be a solution in this road we have taken talking about comprehensive solution?

We would have. We would have.

[14] The Turkish press on the reported short violation of Turkish airspace by two American F-16s on 24 May

MILLIYET newspaper reports that Foreign Minister Gul's statements revealed that his ministry learned about the violation of the Turkish airspace over Hakkari region four days after the US Embassy. The report quotes the Turkish General Staff as saying in its defense that, it notified the US Embassy as well as the Foreign Ministry about the incident on the same day. Replying to reporters' question on the incident a day before Gul had said: "We would undertake the necessary initiative once information [on the incident] reaches us. These are routine occurrences. Such things do happen occasionally along the border. Once detailed information reaches us from the General Staff, we would undertake the necessary initiatives."

Asked how Turkey would react to the violation, Gul said in the same statement that the form of the reaction would depend on the content of the information about the nature of the violation. The report points out that details about the violation reached the Foreign Ministry at about the same time that Gul was making his statement, and quotes Foreign Ministry officials as saying that they would summon US Embassy officials and ask for an explanation.

The paper further quotes Foreign Ministry officials as saying that the Embassy officials accept that a violation has taken place but it was not intentional, and that the Turkish side would ask the American side to avoid similar violations, but will not go as far as sending a protest note to the United States. The report also quotes US Ambassador Ross Wilson as saying that the violation was an "accident" and they consider the incident closed.

A Milliyet report also points out that the segment on "airspace violations" on the General Staff Internet site was frozen as a gesture since Gen Buyukanit's visit to Greece in November 2006, but that it was reactivated after Greek jets violated the Turkish airspace during the recent Turkish naval exercise and that it was in that segment that the General Staff posted a statement insisting that it had sent timely information to the Foreign Ministry on American violation.

AKSAM newspaper reports that the airspace violation by two US F-16s on Thursday [ 24 May] has exacerbated the tension in the region and that the violation is seen as an American warning against any Turkish intervention in northern Iraq. After noting that the incident would also embolden the Iraqi Kurdish leaders, the Aksam report says Gul's complaint about insufficient information from the Army is seen as a product of the "cold and tense" atmosphere prevailing at the summit of the Turkish state. The Aksam report also quotes Prime Minister Erdogan's brief statement that that he has so far not received any request from the General Staff for a cross-border operation into northern Iraq.

A report in CUMHURIYET newspaper under the title: "The United States has partitioned Turkey," declares that the United States has brought Turkey's south-eastern region into the CENTOM, the US "command overseeing wars in the Middle East," and that the airspace violation took place within this region. Noting that the rest of Turkey is under USEUCOM, the paper says no other country in the world has been divided into two in this manner. Cumhuriyet quotes US Army Internet site https://www.opensource.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS00200240101943/http%3B/apps.opensource.gov%3B7011/opensource.gov/content/AuditLink/External?action=auditExternal&code=2e7EzUsDbA0UQqL%2BjfyGtj8ZXoAxvJZj&s=Product&sid=GMP20070529017001 http://www.army.mil for this command division.

In an article entitled "America should be careful", YENI SAFAK columnist Fehmi Koru, writing under the pseudonym Taha Kivanc, says that anti-American sentiments are mounting in Turkey and cites a passage from an article written by Katherine Belliel, a US citizen who lives in Istanbul, about unfriendly attitudes she has experienced in Turkey. Koru cautions that US policies are also alienating Turkish citizens who are not strongly anti-American.

In an article entitled "A civil war or a regional war?", YENI SAFAK columnist Ibrahim Karagul points out that the alleged violation of Turkish airspace by American fighter planes was made public at a time when political crisis and polarization that could set the stage for social strife was exacerbating. Tacitly criticizing the Turkish Armed Forces for remaining silent despite the fact that the United States has been using various logistic support bases and Turkish airspace for military purposes for years and that the United States and Israel deployed weapons in northern Iraq over the past one week, Karagul comments: "Are those preparations actually against Iran or Turkey? Why have missile systems been dispatched to the Turkish border? Nobody has said anything about that. What could be the point in speaking about the violation of airspace amid those developments and despite the fact that the United States is present in all parts of Turkey? Could it be that those complaints have nothing to do with the PKK and actually are intended to drag Turkey into a big crisis and design its political system?"

EG/

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