Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-10-09

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] EU Representative in Turkey: The Cyprus problem and ESDP two obstacles for Turkey

[02] Denktas, Eroglu and Cosar discussed the US operation against Afghanistan and the latest developments in the Cyprus problem

[03] Tansu Ciller joins the Turkish campaign to smear Cyprus

[04] Erdal Emanet attacks and insults a bailiff who served a summons on him

[05] Ertugruloglu goes to Qatar for the OIC meeting

[06] Pakistani military attache paid an illegal visit to the occupied areas

[07] The chairman of the higher education committee of Kazakhstan is in the occupied areas

[B] Comments and Editorials

[08] Kubilay Ozkirac insists that the Turkish Cypriots are a minority in the occupied areas.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] EU REPRESENTATIVE IN TURKEY: THE CYPRUS PROBLEM AND ESDP TWO OBSTACLES FOR TURKEY

Speaking at a seminar organized by Turkey Young Businessmen's Association (TUGIAD) on Sunday, Fogg said Turkey was progressing correctly according to its plans to join the EU.

Stating that the EU Investment Bank has assigned 450 million Euros of financing for Turkey, Fogg said this aid should not be understood as an adaptation stage to the EU.

Fogg said that Turkey was a part of EU`s expansion process and this process should speed up before the end of the year.

Fogg stated that the EU candidates should definitely implement Copenhagen criteria. ``It is very important that Turkey is in an agreement within itself. Turkey is the biggest candidate country. It lived the longest partnership process with the EU and it became a candidate in the shortest time. It is a candidate country which is the most strategic, which has the biggest income difference in its society, which has the lowest education level and which has the smallest share for health investments from its budget, `` she commented.

Fogg also said that the EU member countries became more active in justice and interior matters after the Sept.11 attacks in the United States.

Drawing attention to Turkey's economic problems, Fogg said the Cyprus issue and the EU Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) were two other obstacles for Turkey. She said the EU Joint Defence and Security Policy would not hurt Turkey's interests.

Answering a question, Fogg said the EU welcomed the constitutional changes, which were passed by the Turkish Parliament.

``The constitutional amendments form only the beginning of Turkey's EU membership process. It is not possible to say they are enough. These changes should reflect to people's lives in a solid way.``

When asked how the Islamist terrorism would affect Turkey's membership process to the EU, Fogg said the EU thinks that Sept. 11 attacks would not cause a conflict between the West and the Islamic civilization. She said the Islamist terrorism would not directly affect Turkey's EU membership process.

Responding to a question about financial aid provided to Turkey, Fogg said the EU was giving Turkey an average of 170 million Euros annually.

When asked to comment on the support given to terrorists by certain European countries, Fogg said these countries where terrorists live were being careful not to violate the laws. She said last week the justice and interior ministers of member countries had a meeting and decided to freeze the assets of terrorists. She said these countries believe that ``terrorists are terrorists`` everywhere.

[02] DENKTAS, EROGLU AND COSAR DISCUSSED THE U.S. OPERATION AGAINST AFGHANISTAN AND THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

In a statement to the media after the meeting, Eroglu said that Turkey's occupation regime in Northern Cyprus is outside these actions in question, adding that, however, the necessary security measures will continue to be taken. Referring to the Cyprus issue, Eroglu said: "UN Secretary-General Annan and his envoy De Soto, who are trying to drag the Cyprus issue into another adventure, can come up with new proposals any moment. We are taking our measures and formulating our policies accordingly."

[03] TANSU CILLER JOINS THE TURKISH CAMPAIGN TO SMEAR CYPRUS

Alleging that Cyprus has been financing terrorism for many years, Ciller said: ``What did Turkey do internationally about this issue? We had the chance to express our views on this matter. Unfortunately, Turkey should have a much more active foreign policy in order to benefit from the opportunities offered to it by its special geographical location. This is very important not only for Turkey's national interests but for the world peace,``.

Ciller also said that "Turkey should explain to the EU that the Southern Cyprus has been financing terrorism."

When a reporter asked if she thought the government was acting too passive, Ciller said: ``Turkey should openly display its policy. Turkey should open these issues to debate at international platforms: Can Islam and democracy go together? Is Islam really creating terrorism? The prime minister of Turkey should visit all the countries and explain these issues.

``What would you have done or not have done if you were the prime minister,`` a reporter asked Ciller. ``Turkey is a great nation; there are things that it has to do no matter which government comes to power. The first thing to be done is to visit all the countries. Turkey is the second biggest power in NATO. The world is reshaping and Turkey should have more power in the Central Asia.``

Commenting on the meeting with political party leaders, Ciller said:

``It was a beneficial meeting and there is no doubt that the government and the opposition will work hand in hand and bring a solution to such problems together.

Turkey should follow a very good strategy in order to start negotiations with the EU and become the only Muslim country in the Union,`` Ciller concluded.

[04] Erdal Emanet attacks and insults a bailiff who served a summons on him

Emanet`s name is in the list of wanted persons in the red bulletin of Interpol for murdering the Greek Cypriot Solomos Solomou in August 1996, during the incidents in the buffer zone near Dherynia village.

[05] Ertugruloglu goes to Qatar for the OIC meeting

[06] Pakistani military attache paid an illegal visit to the occupied areas

In a short statement at the occupied Tymbou airport, Iqbal said: "Pakistan supports the military operation that USA and Britain launched against Afghanistan". When asked to evaluate the USA military operation, the Pakistani attache said that they do not support terrorism and they give full support to the USA action.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani attache met yesterday also with the so-called Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu, who welcomed him to the occupied areas and claimed that his visit carries a great significance for the pseudostate. Iqbal said that during his visit he will have the opportunity to see the "realities" of the "TRNC" and it is better to get first hand information than just through reading. He also extended his full support to the pseudostate.

[07] The Chairman of the Higher Education Committee of Kazakhstan is in the occupied areas

[B] Comments and Editorials

[08] Kubilay Ozkirac insists that the Turkish CypriotS are a minority in the occupied areas

"Before the military intervention in 1974 the number of the Turkish Cypriots was about 120 thousand. However, in the 21st century the Turkish Cypriots, who think that they succeeded in getting their freedom, do not even know their own population. .

Population census is conducted, but the duty of the official side is to hide it. Ankara, Denktas and their local collaborators think that hiding from both the Cypriot and the world public opinion that the Turkish Cypriots have become a minority in the northern part of Cyprus is a special skill. .

However, if you ask the governing circles they will say that the population of Northern Cyprus is 200 thousand! And these 200 thousand are all Turks! That is, Turks from Cyprus and Turks from Turkey. .

But the most important thing is the existence of a people, which have become a minority on the land they were born and grown up. Let no one pretend that he does not see the truth and say that the Turkish Cypriots are not a minority in their own country.

The Turkish Cypriots are a minority in this country and they are treated like hostages. Even the one year-old child knows this reality.

While the chairman of the RTP, Mehmet Ali Talat was saying on a TV program that the Turkish Cypriots are the majority, I am sure that even himself did not believe his words. Talat went further than that and stressed that he did dot say these in his statements to "The Guardian". However, this paper is not like the papers we know. It will definitely remind Talat what he has said. If these people have become a minority in their own country and this reality is accepted even by the international community and if the reality that the number of these people has been reduced from 120 thousand to 50 thousand is known and seen in a concrete way, what is the benefit for RTP if Talat ignores it? .

RTP has been in the government of this country, CLP as well. NUP is in any case in the government. The party of Denktas too is in the government. These four parties, however, could never be in power, because they are not those who govern this country. Those who are in power in this country are Ankara and R. R. Denktas who is under her protection. .".

/EG

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