Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-09-15

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan promotes the long-term strategy of legitimizing Turkey“s crimes against Cyprus at the 8th ECO Summit.

[02] President of Tajikistan Rahmanov: "We want to strengthen our relations with the 'TRNC'".

[03] KIBRISLI writes that Al Kaida uses the illegal Famagusta port for smuggling.

[04] Serdar Denktas admits he had secret meetings with President Papadopoulos and that Talat knew it.

[05] After refusing to assist the US at the most critical stage of the war against Sadam Huseyin Turkey now accuses the US of killing civilians in Iraq.

[06] Kutlay Erk to participate in the 3rd World Municipal Conference in Moscow.

[07] So-called official of the education ministry to visit Limassol today in order to discus the opening of a primary school.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in MILLIYET praises Turkey for not assisting the Americans in Iraq and brands the US as the most hated country in Turkey and the Middle East.

[09] Columnist in AFRIKA argues that by orders of Erdogan everything is on the wait in the occupied areas.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan promotes the long-term strategy of legitimizing Turkey“s crimes against Cyprus at the 8th ECO Summit

In his speech Mr Erodgan tried to promote the regime Turkey established and maintains with 40,000 Turkish troops in occupied Cyprus. He noted that a workshop was held between May 5th and 7th, 2004 in occupied Cyprus on waste water administration and refinement technology, with the participation of 6 ECO-member countries and ECO secretariat, and added:

''This workshop was the first international meeting to take place in `TRNC“ after the simultaneous referenda held in Cyprus on April 24th, 2004. Turkish Cypriots should not be harmed more since they aren't responsible for the actual situation. Steps aiming to end unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots should be taken without delay.

It is time (for the world) to establish economic, commercial, social and cultural relations with the Turkish Cypriots. Establishing direct air and sea links and direct trade relations with the Turkish Cypriots will be a good beginning. Turkish Cypriots need to increase their trade with ECO members, and these countries should contribute to `TRNC's“ development by eliminating restrictions.''

In statements at Istanbul's Ataturk airport after returning from Dushanbe the Turkish Prime Minister said: ''One of the most important decisions which was taken during the 8th Summit of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was that `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus“ will participate in the activities of the organization under the title Cyprus Turkish State.''

The following question was put to Mr Erdogan by a journalist: ''You said a decision was taken in the summit in Tajikistan for the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus“ to attend the deliberations of the organization as ''Cyprus Turkish State'' instead of ''Muslim Turkish State''. The same decision was taken in OIC summit, however, no progress can be made to lift embargoes on `TRNC“. Did you discuss this issue in Tajikistan?''

Mr Erdogan reported: ''Both the `TRNC administration“ and Turkey express their views to friendly countries to take steps for economic cooperation, end isolation of `TRNC“, and launch initiatives for air and sea transportation. We have expressed the same views in Tajikistan. We wish developments will take place in `TRNC“ in line with the developments in the world.''

[02] President of Tajikistan Rahmanov: "We want to strengthen our relations with the 'TRNC'"

Speaking at the 8th Summit of ECO, which took place in Tajik capital of Dushanbe, Mr Rahmanov stated that the decision taken during the Summit of the Islamic Conference Organisation, as regards the pseudostate, is very important. Asked by a journalist what other measures will be taken for the pseudostate besides the decision to participate from now on to the ECO under the name Turkish Cypriot state, instead of Turkish Cypriot community, Mr Rahmanov said: "The decision taken as regards the 'TRNC' is very important. In the future we want to strengthen the relations".

[03] KIBRISLI writes that Al Kaida uses the illegal Famagusta port for smuggling

The paper writes that according to some information the cigarettes are imitation and a part of an operation of an international network for money laundering. It is argued that this network is extended and reaches Osama Bin Laden's terrorist Al Kaida organization.

"The world-known British cigarette producer Gallagher Group PLC, which got into action regarding the production of imitations of the 'Sovereign' brand cigarettes and their import to the Free Port of Famagusta with a ship named M/V Haj under the flag of Northern Korea, followed the tracks of the imitation cigarettes through Interpol and found out that they followed the route Dubai-Egypt-TRNC", says KIBRISLI noting that the ship would follow the route Dubai-Egypt-Greece-Larnaka, but afterwards this changed, something which "is curious".

Reminding that last week 25 tons of illegal tea was sent from Famagusta port to Mersin, Turkey, the paper expresses the opinion that the occupied port of Famagusta "has been turned into a transit bridge and a place of storing goods for smugglers". "These days when we struggle for lifting the isolations and for our ports to acquire a legal status, this kind of incidents which are related to Al Kaida, damages our image very much", says KIBRISLI.

The paper reports that the Gallagher Group PLC's representative in the occupied areas of Cyprus, advocate Mentes Aziz has launched "legal procedure" regarding the incident, but the "District Court" of occupied Famagusta refused his demand and transferred the case to the "Supreme Court".

A company named Melik Ltd is the importer, the "legal" owner of the cigarettes and bears the "legal" responsibility for them, notes KIBRSILI adding that a representative of this company, which is active in Famagusta, said that the legal producer of the cigarettes is a firm named Gulfstar in China.

The paper writes that in spite of the fact that no agreement has been signed between the above mentioned company and the Gallagher Group PLC, on the boxes of the cigarettes there is a sign saying that they have been produced by Gallagher Group PLC.

Mr Aziz told KIBRISLI that this was not the first similar incident and expressed the opinion that it will not be the last. About two years ago a network of smugglers unloaded in Famagusta a shipment of 5.000 cartons of cigarettes which were imitations of the famous American Philip Morris brand cigarettes. This shipment is still in the stores of the port, noted Mr Aziz adding that two months ago 5.205 cartons of imitation Monte Carlo brand cigarettes were imported in the occupied areas and they were exported before the occupation regime realized what happened.

Meanwhile, responding to questions on the issue, the so-called district director of the "Famagusta Free Port", Mr Adnan Zihni said that he could not make any statements on the issue because it is "in the court" and added that the "Free Port" is an independent zone and that they had no information about the quality of the products imported there.

Noting that he was not much interested about the fact that the cigarettes are imitation, Mr Zihni added: "We are only storekeepers. We preserve the goods that come according to the wish of the client".

[04] Serdar Denktas admits he had secret meetings with President Papadopoulos and that Talat knew it

In statements to illegal Bayrak television Mr Denktas said that Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, the so-called prime minister of the occupation regime, knew about his meetings with President Papadopoulos. He also added that if needed he is ready to meet again with Greek Cypriot leaders.

Asked why President Papadopoulos met him and not Mr Talat, Mr Denktas said: "According to Mr Talat our stars were more harmonious. Our meeting was very good. The seed for a future dialogue was sowed". Mr Denktas noted that the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot delegations knew about the meetings and added that he met once more President Papadopoulos at the latter's residence. In the above-mentioned meeting, he added, Mr Talat was represented by Omer Kalyoncu, the so-called minister of transport of the occupation regime.

[05] After refusing to assist the US at the most critical stage of the war against Sadam Huseyin Turkey now accuses the US of killing civilians in Iraq

Washington on its part, says the military operations at Tal Afar are targeting terrorist groups in the region.

However, Turkey is concerned both over the growing number of civilian casualties and fears that northern Iraqi Kurdish groups may take advantage of the turmoil in the region and attempt to gain control of Tal Afar.

The Foreign Minister said that he had conveyed Turkey's concerns to US Secretary of State Colin Powell in a phone conversation Friday.

"I told him that what is being done there is harming the civilian population, that it is wrong, and that if it continues, Turkey's co-operation on issues regarding Iraq will come to a total stop," Gul said.

Gul said that he had been very open in his message to Powell and would be prepared to back up his words with action.

"Of course we won't limit ourselves to words," he said. "We never shy away from carrying out whatever is necessary."

Responding to this veiled threat by Turkey a US State Department official said: "The attacks against militant groups in Tal Afar are being carried out in co-operation with the Iraqi interim government".

However, the State Department official cited by the AFP news agency, said that Turkey should discuss its concerns with the Iraqi administration in Baghdad or the multi-national force operating in Iraq, not the US.

[06] Kutlay Erk to participate in the 3rd World Municipal Conference in Moscow

This is the first time that the Turkish Cypriots will participate in this Conference, which is going to be held on 16-18 of September. The two previous Conferences were held in Paris and Athens.

As the paper writes, in the Conference will participate mayors of more than 100 main cities and 70 towns, among them the mayors of Beijing, Moscow, Paris, Havana, Rome and London. Commenting on his participation Mr Erk said that it is very important that he was invited to such a high level meeting. The paper writes that the Russian President Vladimir Putin will also participate in the closing of the Conference.

[07] So-called official of the education ministry to visit Limassol today in order to discus the opening of a primary school

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in MILLIYET praises Turkey for not assisting the Americans in Iraq and brands the US as the most hated country in Turkey and the Middle East

"The US Ambassador Mr Eric Edelman wrote an article for the HURRIYET newspaper on the third anniversary of the 11 September attacks.

He said, "Our efforts to bring order and wealth to Iraq, which has just succeeded in getting democracy, are under the threat of those in this country who are killing innocent people."

What an unpleasant coincidence:

On the same day, on the first page of the newspaper, it was written who was "killing the innocent people".

"When bringing democracy" to Tall Afar, the United States fired from tanks, artillery and aircraft without making a differentiation between civilians and militia. Over 100 Turkomans died in this attack. The US soldiers even shot the civilians who were going to the hospital.

For the first time, Ankara accused the US administration "for using excessive power without discrimination" and made a warning of "stop the attack".

According to the newspaper, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the following to Ambassador Edelman:

"You have not made any operation to eliminate the PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan]/KONGRA-GEL [People's Congress of Kurdistan] terrorist organization despite our repeated requests. It is impossible for us to be able to understand the use of force targeting the civilian Turkomans in Tall Afar."

Let us return to the article by the Ambassador. Ambassador Edelman says: "Our efforts are continuing against the PKK presence in Iraq for making the terrorists ineffective."

As it can be seen, what he was told by Ankara and what he said to Ankara himself are completely in contradiction with each other. Moreover, it was Ambassador Edelman himself who announced just recently that a military operation against the PKK in Iraq was not on the agenda.

We were pleased to see from the statement that Ambassador Edelman has not forgotten the news given in this column about the US officials talking with the PKK in northern Iraq. He once again made a referral to that news in his article. He had previously shaken that news item with anger at the watchers on the television screens. He was stating, "These unfair insinuations constitute an insult against the American people and aim to damage Turkish-American relations."

Whereas, these talks were later confirmed by the PKK sources as well. Subsequently, the subject was discussed at the NSC [National Security Council] meeting and it was decided to warn Washington, D.C. on this subject. Probably, he knows this very well.

Ambassador Edelman is a diplomat who was trained in the Operations Department of the US Department of State and always worked with the hawks. He has many black marks on his employment record. He created conflicts everywhere he has served up until now: The Gaza Strip, Moscow, Berlin and Slovakia...

Probably the anger of Ambasador Edelman stems from the fact that he could not put Turkey, his last stop, into the Iraqi quagmire.

Turkey did not enter into that hell, thanks to the opposition of the masses during the period of occupation and today, even the Turkish Prime Minister and the Chief of General Staff are able to say, "It is good that we are not there."

If Ambassador Edelman would talk with a few citizens passing on the street, rather than 3-5 of our Bush-lover colleagues, then he would be able to understand the situation better.

The occupation of Iraq built on the lie of the weapons of mass destruction and the subsequent barbarism and torture made the United States the "most hated country" in the entire Middle East, not only in Turkey.

It sowed the seeds of anger in the region, which will continue for generations. The world, led by the United States, will suffer a lot from this. Take no notice, the ambassadors of the occupation: The interest of humanity would be for the United States to be defeated in Iraq and to withdraw from the region."

[09] Columnist in AFRIKA argues that by orders of Erdogan everything is on the wait in the occupied areas

"The Summer nap finished.

Primary schools open today. The new school year starts with more than 1800 students and over 1400 teachers.

It does not make any difference as regard who governs. It could be National Unity Party (NUP) or the Republican Turkish Party (RTP). The problems that existed in the education field continue this year as well. The chairs are broken and they are in a broken and dilapidated state. The roofs are leaking. The window glasses are broken . There are schools that have no principal. Grievances created due to the transfers among the teachers either by use of backstairs influence or not.

The summer nap finished.

The Assembly resumed its work. Our parliamentarians in order to justify their salaries have started one by one arriving in the parliament.

It is not important who governs. The parliament, during the NUP government was rendered ineffective as well, and it is rendered ineffective during the RTP rule as well. The worst, the RTP- DP government do not have the absolute majority which is 26 seats in the parliament.

This means the following:

The 2004 budget will not pass from the Assembly and if the 2004 budget is not approved, the 2005 budget will not be submitted to the Assembly. And if the opposition refuses to attend the Assembly then there will be no quorum.

The Assembly was already idle. Now it will become totally meaningless. Is this a problem?

No. Since Talat gets the orders not from the Assembly, but from Tayyip. Tayyip's order is very open and clear:

'Let everything be suspended until December!

What about the budget? Let it wait! What about early elections? Let it wait! What about the EU harmonization laws?

Let them wait! What about the Cyprus problem?

Let it wait! What about the establishment of the Turkish State in place of the `TRNC“, (`Turkish Republic of North Cyprus“)? Let it wait!

What about the proposals regarding the Greek Cypriot confidence building package?

Let it wait!

Why everything should wait until December?

Let everything wait until December because.

Ankara does not want to change its position until it gets a negotiation date from the EU.

Since the Turkish side scored a goal during the 24 April referendum the Turkish side wants to capitalize on this goal without realizing that everybody considers that goal disallowed.

Even Denktas and Talat do not consider that goal counting for anything. Had we considered that goal valid, we should have taken the necessary steps and get rid of the `TRNC“ which is off the International law. We should have adopted the EU laws in place of the Colonial laws. We should have applied to court and file law suits against the Republic of Cyprus and get our partnership rights back. We did none of them. Tayyip has told us 'wait'.

Talat as well is waiting

The summer nap did not finish, it is going on"

/SK

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