Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-01-21

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Serdar Denktas: "Troops should not withdraw without the settlement".

[02] More information about the inquiries regarding the murder of the Guzelyurtlu family.

[03] Greek Cypriot enclaved in occupied Rizokarpasso was a victim of burglary.

[04] Turkish Cypriots to be represented in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat spent the first day of the Kurban bayram in the free areas of Cyprus.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Commentary in MILLIYET analyses the view of an energy expert on how Turkey tries to exploit the energy rivalry between the US and Russia to promote its foreign policy objectives.

[07] Turkish Cypriot columnist accuses Rauf Denktas of being accessory to the crime committed against Greek Cypriot missing persons in 1974.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Serdar Denktas: "Troops should not withdraw without the settlement"

The paper reports that Serdar Denktas had a meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. SABAH goes on and reports that Denktas´ last stop was Turkey´s Office of the Chief of the General Staff.

In a statement to SABAH Serdar Denktas summarized his Cyprus strategy and his expectations as follows:

Subtitle: "If the troops withdraw there would be no solution"

The only motivation for the Greek Cypriot side for reaching a solution is the presence of the Turkish troops on the island. The army is conveying the following messages: "I am here, present, you settle the problem, I will move" Why should the Greek Cypriots demand solution apart from some complaints?".

Subtitle: The USA could break the lock

The road to settlement in Cyprus passes through the USA. As of May, Cyprus negotiations resume. If a deadlock is experienced until the 3rd of October when Turkey-EU accession negotiations will start, it is only the USA which could break this deadlock. It is possible that Washington could not take steps to remove the embargoes, including direct flights from the "TRNC", however, if it turns a blind eye to some countries, as it is doing for Israel, then this is important".

Subtitle: Russia´s interest diminishing

The statements made by the Russian President Vladimir Putin has created major concern in the Greek Cypriot side. We do expect that these statements will be put into practice. Russia´s change even in its expression creates satisfaction".

[02] More information about the inquiries regarding the murder of the Guzelyurtlu family

According to KIBRIS, when asked what he was doing between 23.00 hours of Friday night when he crossed over from the occupied to the free areas of Cyprus and 06.00 hours of Saturday morning, the above-mentioned suspect said that he would meet with his girlfriend in a park and that he fell asleep in his car until 05.45 hours, because she did not show up.

Furthermore, the paper notes that the above-mentioned suspect crossed over to the free areas of the island with a stolen car which had false documents and that this person used this car many times to travel to the free areas of Cyprus.

The paper writes also that the one of the suspects taken into custody in connection with the Guzelyurtlu murder was not Mustafa Caluda, who worked in the security of the Rest Casino owned by late Elmas. The arrested person is Mustafa Cavka who used to work in the security of the above-mentioned casino.

Meanwhile, YENI DUZEN newspaper (21.01.05) writes that today the "police" of the occupation regime is expected to demand from the police of the Republic of Cyprus through the United Nations, some evidence and samples which could contribute to solving the case.

Furthermore, responding to a question on the issue of the crime against Guzelyurtlu family, Mehmet Ali Talat, so-called Prime Minster of the occupation regime, argued yesterday during his visit to the Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaka that the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) does not deal with such jobs.

[03] Greek Cypriot enclaved in occupied Rizokarpasso was a victim of burglary

The paper further reports that the warehouse was next to Mr Mitsarou´s house in occupied Rizokarpasso.

[04] Turkish Cypriots to be represented in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

"The first official representation of Turkish Cypriots in a European platform will take place next week.

Two `TRNC´ parlimentarians will participate for the first time in their official capacity in the meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg between 24-28 January. According to information from PACE sources two parliamentarians from the `TRNC´ will participate in the meetings of the Assembly, one as member and the other as alternate member. Mr. Ozdil Nami of the Republican Turkish Party will represent the `TRNC´ as member, while Huseyin Ozgurgun, of the National Unity Party, as alternate.

The `TRNC´ parliamentarians will be able to participate in all PACE general assembly and committee sessions as `Representatives of the Turkish Cypriot Community´, they will have the right to speak and express their views but they will not have the right to vote".

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat spent the first day of the Kurban bayram in the free areas of Cyprus

Mr Talat was escorted during his visit by his wife Mrs Oya Talat, Mr Omer Kalyoncu, the so-called minister of public works and transportation and his wife Mrs Ozay Kalyoncu, Mr Esref Vaiz, so-called permanent undersecretary of the "prime ministry", Talat's aunt Mrs Layka Atasagun, Mrs Talat's mother Mrs Ayse Sarp and her grandmother Mrs Emine Mustafa Raif.

Mr Talat, who said that the visit to the Hala Sultan Tekke was conducted mostly upon a request of the senior members of his family, stated that the Kurban Bayram is for the Muslims a day of friendship, peace and love. He also added that by choosing such a day to conduct the visit he shows openly the wish for friendship, peace and love in Cyprus. "With this visit we confirm that we continue to hold out the olive branch", he said.

Replying to questions of Greek and Turkish Cypriot journalists who covered his visit, Mr Talat stated that he made the visit not as "prime minister" but as individual. He also said that the only key for the solution of the Cyprus problem is the Annan Plan and added that the Turkish Cypriot side expects from the Greek Cypriots who rejected the Plan "concrete proposals".

In addition Mrs Oya Talat, wished for permanent peace in Cyprus and added that she promises to visit again the holy place if her wish for peace comes true.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Commentary in MILLIYET analyses the view of an energy expert on how Turkey tries to exploit the energy rivalry between the US and Russia to promote its foreign policy objectives

"The reverberations of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Russia have been overshadowed by the necklace and brooch presented as a gift to Emine Erdogan at the inauguration of the Turkish Trade Center in Moscow. Let us open the page again and pay attention to the threat of the United States' bombing the nuclear facilities in Iran. International energy expert Necdet Pamir has made a discovery:

"It is noteworthy that, just prior to his 6 December visit to Turkey, Russian Head of State Putin went to India on 3 December and Pakistan on 4 December, and that just after the Turkey visit, Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis was Putin's guest. The subtext of all of these visits was energy."

Subtitle: United States' goal

Let us not forget the support that Putin offered to Erdogan in resolving the Cyprus and Armenia problems, or the fact that India and Pakistan are cited as among the countries which constitute a threat of nuclear weapons. And let us continue by noting as well that the country with the next-largest natural gas reserves after Russia is Iran...

The United States is apprehensive over Iran's uranium enrichment program. Since to view the possibility of the bombing of the uranium enrichment facilities at Bushahr and Natanz as the United States playing a "card for peace" would mean disregarding the example of Iraq, there are indeed sufficient grounds to fear a possible war with Iran.

The reverberation of Putin's 6 December visit was the Good Intentions Protocol signed between BOTAS [Pipeline and Petroleum Transport Corporation] and the Russian energy giant Gazprom. Included in this were "the construction of a natural gas storage facility at Tuz Golu, the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Ceyhan, additional investment for the transport of natural gas coming from Russia via the Blue Stream pipeline to the Mediterranean and from there to Israel, and the transfer of a portion of the gas importation contracts belonging to BOTAS".

Subtitle: A de facto gas OPEC!

During Erdogan's 12 January visit to Moscow, the direct sale of electricity by Russia, via a line to be laid beneath the Black Sea, also came onto the agenda.

Pamir says: "Energy has become one of the absolutely indispensable factors of Russia's foreign and national policies."

The foreign policy support of Moscow, which provides the majority of Turkey's natural gas imports, is not coincidental. Pamir's assessment of Russia's energy balances is as follows:

"Russia, which first lost ground in Georgia and then afterwards in Ukraine as well, is aware that the US operations in its "back yard" have been more serious than anticipated. Consequently, it is promoting cooperation with regional powers, including Turkey, India, and Pakistan. Azerbaijan and Georgia are dependent on Russian gas, while Turkmenistan has contracted to provide 80 billion cubic meters of gas [per year] to Russia until 2024. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as well are selling their gas, in different quantities, to Russia. Russia has in a sense established a 'de facto gas OPEC'. Sixty three percent of the gas that Turkey consumes is obtained from Russia. And the countries of the world, in order to ensure security of supply, need Russian petroleum at a level equal to Saudi petroleum (9.5 million barrels per day)."

Subtitle: Global scale

While the United States has been consolidating its status as a super power by occupying Afghanistan and Iraq, it is drawing attention to the serious losses that Russia has suffered on a global scale (by such companies as BP and Exxon controlling Russia's resources by means of production sharing agreements).

Pamir says: "The dimensions of the increasingly rapacious United States' ambitions to dominate energy resources, and particularly the Persian Gulf, which began in the [Henry] Kissinger period, are gradually expanding. Starting in the [Ronald] Reagan era with the "Central Command", it was then broadened a bit more, and finally, with the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, it has reached a quite dangerous dimension."

He stresses that Turkey, with investments in power plants on the World Bank model, has suffered losses of tens of billions of dollars.

Interests in the energy field, and their cooperation in foreign policy, define the roles of Russia and Turkey within the United States' regional game."

[07] Turkish Cypriot columnist accuses Rauf Denktas of being accessory to the crime committed against Greek Cypriot missing persons in 1974

"'The issue of the missing persons and the mass graves is almost one of the most important headlines of the Cyprus problem. If we properly solve this issue, we shall be contributing to the re-building of trust especially between the communities. '

No sign of mass graves was found during the excavation conducted at the area called Trachonas, where Rauf Denktas informed the Greek Cypriot side that there were mass graves. Does this mean that there are no mass graves of Greek Cypriots in the north? There are. Everything that is known must be shared. Hiding it means taking on you everything done during the war and being partner to a crime.

Rauf Denktas showed a place that had no relation with the missing persons and the mass graves. Excavations have been conducted and nothing was found. Let us announce the places (of the mass graves) without being reluctant. Whatever comes out we shall have gain in the name of the humanity if we act with consistency. The Turkish Cypriot side has unilaterally accepted that all the missing Turkish Cypriots are dead. Has this decision closed the file of the missing Turkish Cypriots? No it has not. Even if the official policy closes it, the families have not closed it. According to our culture, we visit the grave of the relatives we have lost. With these visits we do a spiritual, emotional journey. '

A very good point has been reached on the issue of the missing persons and in parallel to this on the opening of mass graves. The difficulties on the issue of building a center for the diagnosis of the identity (of the missing persons) after the opening of the graves must rapidly be overcome and the mass graves must seriously be opened. If on this issue Prime Minister Talat, who supports the solution of the problem, ensures that people give information to a center which will be created, we shall know very quickly from our point of view where and what happened. '".

/SK

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