Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-01-19

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] AFRIKA newspaper warns that the rush to build on Greek Cypriot properties is destroying the environment and creates risks for contagious diseases.

[02] Surprized "Appointment" to the "Yes" Greek Cypriots.

[03] Akinci says that the Turkish Cypriots must show "a more serious behaviour" on the issue of the missing persons.

[04] Angolemli calls on Turkey not to interfere in the "elections" of the pseudostate this time.

[05] Ali Erel met with the British High Commissioner to Lefkosia and asked UK's help for the lifting of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

[06] The revenue from gambling reached 3.5 million dollars for the occupation regime.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Columnist in RADIKAL describes as criminal the speech by Devlet Bahceli against minorities.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] AFRIKA newspaper warns that the rush to build on Greek Cypriot properties is destroying the environment and creates risks for contagious diseases

"While the construction boom on Greek Cypriot properties is going on in Kyrenia the environmental pollution cannot escape one´s attention. In the face of the pollution which is causing the reaction of the citizens, the `Municipality´ of Kyrenia does not give a damn. A construction company building a complex of sixteen houses at Thermia village has taken no measures at all even for the toilet needs of the workers and the area is experiencing a complete environmental disaster'

The citizens who complain to the `municipality´ about the dangers of contagious diseases from this situation come across the indifference of the persons in charge in the` municipality´. On our part, as newspaper, we warn once more' The rest is the `municipality´s job'"

[02] Surprized "Appointment" to the "Yes" Greek Cypriots

The paper reports that the visit will be realized following an "appointment" demand by the DYSI Spokesman Tassos Mitsopoulos.

Mr Anastassiades will visit Ankara in the beginning of next month.

The Deputy leader of the JDP, Saban Disli has said that if Prime Minister Erdogan´s program is convenient, it is possible that DYSI might meet Erdogan.

The paper, quoting Mr Anastassides, reports that the meeting will take place within the framework of the JDP application to join the European People´s Movement.

The paper reports that Mr Anastassiades said: "An official paper should be prepared. We shall prepare after meeting President Tassos Papadopoulos, an official document which will reflect the official stance of the Greek Cypriot state, and it will be given to Erdogan and other Turkish leaders".

HURRIYET reports that in the DYSI delegation, former president and honorary President of the DYSI Glafcos Clerides as well could be included. The paper reports that this will be the first contact , between Greek Cypriot politicians and the Turkish government since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island.

Moreover, the paper quoting the JDP deputy leader responsible for Foreign Relations Saban Disli said that if the programme allows the DYSI delegation might meet prime minister Tayyip Erodgan.

HURRIYET also reports that Mitsopoulos, while conveying the request for a visit, also asked Ankara to do something for those Greek Cypriots who visit Turkey at increasing numbers.

Mitsopoulos have asked to make arrangements mutually, something which will meet the various problems that the visiting Greek Cypriots might need in Turkey.

[03] Akinci says that the Turkish Cypriots must show "a more serious behaviour" on the issue of the missing persons

In statements during a meeting yesterday with a delegation of the Initiative of the Civilians of the North, Mr Akinci noted that more crossing points between the occupied and the free areas of Cyprus should be opened.

Mr Akinci argued that while the Turkish Cypriots are struggling for lifting the "isolations", limited negotiations on the Annan Plan must also be conducted. He expressed the opinion that struggling only for the lifting of the "isolations" is not enough.

[04] Angolemli calls on Turkey not to interfere in the "elections" of the pseudostate this time

Mr Angolemli stated that the so-called elections must be conducted "without interference and with free will", and called on the "high election committee" of the pseudostate to act in order for the "elections" to take place without any interference. He also noted that the Turkish television channels "interfere in every 'elections'".

The chairman of the CLP stated that the authorities in Turkey must stay neutral in the "elections" of the occupation regime and expressed his dissatisfaction about the fact that the so-called prime minister Mehmet Ali Talat and the so-called minister of foreign affairs Serdar Denktas were called to Ankara recently with the excuse to be informed about Russia's changing policy (as regards Cyprus) and about the fact that this visit was covered extensively by the Turkish channels.

[05] Ali Erel met with the British High Commissioner to Lefkosia and asked UK's help for the lifting of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots

Mr Erel expressed to Mr Parker the demand that Britain and other EU countries work more towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and also expressed the expectation of lifting the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

The developments in the Cyprus problem, the "isolation" of the Turkish Cypriots, the regulations as regards the green line and the changes that must be made, along with the issue of the direct flights and the regulations for the financial aid for the Turkish Cypriots were also discussed during the meeting, writes the paper.

[06] The revenue from gambling reached 3.5 million dollars for the occupation regime

"The decree, which is aimed at developing the legal basis for the casinos now operating and the ones to be opened in the future, is published in the Official Gazette and put into force", writes the paper.

With the new decree the fee paid by the Casino to the "state" has been increased. The annual license fee, which is 125 thousand dollars, with the new decree has been increased to 140 thousand USD.

License for a casino will be secured in three stages:

1. Pre-permission

2. License permission

3. Operation permission

For a casino of five tables and 50 machines the fee is 140 thousand USD. For each table the free is 1300 USD and 50 USD for each machine.

The paper also reports that at present there are 23 Casinos in the occupied area of which 20 are active.

The annual revenue for the occupation regime, reports the paper, has reached 3.5 million USD.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Columnist in RADIKAL describes as criminal the speech by Devlet Bahceli against minorities

"Two days ago Nationalist Action Party [NAP] General Chairman Devlet Bahceli, who was once described as a "statesman" by some, delivered a speech at a rally organized by his party in Adana. What he said in his speech cannot be dismissed easily. Let me first quote verbatim from the news report from the Dogan News Agency part of what Bahceli said:

"The bishop in Istanbul throws a cross into the Golden Horn. Then others try to build a tradition for themselves by recovering it from the Golden Horn. We did not see this for 81 years. What happened during the past three years of JDP [Justice Development Party] government to revive this practice? However Idealists patrol the Golden Horn in boats and send the message. They tell them: 'We will do what our ancestors did in the past.' Recovering crosses from the Golden Horn means turning Istanbul into Constantinople."

First let us make a few corrections to Bahceli's remarks. The cross is thrown into the Bosphorus, not the Golden Horn. Then young men from the [Greek Orthodox] community dive and recover it from the sea. Contrary to what Bahceli says, this tradition has been practiced not for the last three years but for perhaps a thousand years. According to Orthodox belief "Christmas" is not on 24 December but on 6 January. That is why the ceremony of throwing the cross into the sea is held every year on 6 January. It is also impossible to comprehend why recovering the cross from the sea means turning Istanbul into Constantinople.

Now let us turn to Bahceli's "disturbing" remarks:

So Idealists patrol the Golden Horn in boats and send a message. What is the message? They apparently say: "We will do what our ancestors did in the past."

One wonders what does the NAP leader, the "serious statesman" of the past, mean?

Could he be referring to the threatening letters signed by "Idealists" occasionally sent to citizens of Greek and Armenian ancestry in Istanbul?

It seems that everyone in Turkey has changed in one way or another but the NAP and the Idealists have not been able to change. They continue to exhibit a style that smells of violence, they still utter remarks that hint at the use of force, and they still try to suggest "our strongmen will teach you a lesson."

Now what will the NAP leader say if there are attacks against Greek churches or citizens in Istanbul some time in the near future? Will he admit that he played an indirect role in these attacks and apologize? Or does he actually want and yearn for these attacks?

How should we read Bahceli's remarks? How should the Idealist groups read them?

As I said earlier, these are not remarks that we can gloss over by saying: "This was a political speech made at a rally. It does not deserve any attention."

There are certain lines that politics and politicians in Turkey must not cross. One of these lines bans fanning discrimination based on religion or ethnic background.

Yet, as you see, Bahceli not only fans such discrimination but also delivers speeches that could be considered calls for violence and terrorism.

As far as I know such speeches are criminal acts according to Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code. Personally I read a "clear and present danger" of creating violence in these remarks. Do the prosecutors in Adana agree with me?"

/SK

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