Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-06-17

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Exhumation of mass grave sites planned for July.

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat assesses the secret talks in Brussels. He speaks about promises regarding the occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops ports and airports of the Republic of Cyprus.

[03] The British High Commissioner on the organized usurpation of the properties of the Greek Cypriots who were forced to abandon them to be saved from the Turkish army in 1974.

[04] Leading member of the Platform "This country is ours" sold property in occupied Akanthou to Israelis.

[05] The Foreign Minister of Australia critical of the Greek Cypriots who said "no" in the referendum more than a year ago.

[06] Ten Turkish Cypriot buses will visit tomorrow the free areas of Cyprus.

[07] Greek Cypriot "Man with a mission" is presented by CYPRUS TIMES to be persecuted by the Greek Cypriots.

[08] Turkey-supported Turkomans in Northern Iraq blame the US for their problems.

[09] The Turkish military are not pleased with the US measures against PKK.

[10] Deputy of the ruling Islamic JDP calls on the US to end the occupation of Iraq.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Columnist in Turkish Daily News argues that Erdogan´s sincerity will be tested after the latest anti-US statements by MPs of his party.

[12] Columnist in CUMHURIYET analyses the fundamental differences between US and Turkey after the recent visit by Erdogan to Washington.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Exhumation of mass grave sites planned for July

"Exhumations of burial sites of missing persons are scheduled for three burial sites in early July. According to the Turkish Cypriot side, the three sites contain graves of Greek Cypriots killed during 1974. These exhumations are in keeping with the agreement reached last month within the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), which decided to take extraordinary measures for investigations of mass graves being threatened by construction developments.

The three sites are located close to areas that are under development or will be in the near future. All three sites are situated in Kyrenia district and contain graves of only a few people. Two of these sites are situated in private gardens, whose owners have expressed their intention to proceed with development plans. One homeowner visited the CMP office, telling them he plans to lay paving round his house where it is thought that one Greek Cypriot is buried. The CMP says it does not know if the suspected burial place represents one of the registered missing people in the lists. Already 22 sites have been identified in the north and 30 in the south.

The arrival of a criminologist-forensic expert from the International Forensic Centre (INFORCE) is required before the start of the exhumations, and is expected to arrive to Cyprus this month. When exhumations are carried out, results of the findings will be transferred to a special anthropology-forensic center lab located on the Green Line. The decision for the urgent exhumations was taken in the CMP meeting in the presence of INFORCE Head Margaret Cox, despite disagreements from the Institute of Neurology and Genetics."

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat assesses the secret talks in Brussels. He speaks about promises regarding the occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops ports and airports of the Republic of Cyprus

Mr Talat said that despite all the flexibility shown by the Turkish Cypriot side the talks ended inconclusively, because the Greek Cypriots did not give their permission for the direct trade regulation with the allegation that this (the regulation) would lead to the eventual recognition of the "TRNC". He added that after this point, the EU should do a re-evaluation on the issue whether they will keep or not the promise that they have given to the Turkish Cypriots. "We do not believe that the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community conflict with the interests of the Greek Cypriot community. Our interests are common and the road of obtaining these joint interests is the solution", Mr Talat said.

Mr Talat also said that the EU should decide whether or not it will continue to seek the approval of the Republic of Cyprus in every single step it plans to take on "North Cyprus".

Commenting on the property issue, Mr Talat said that the property issue will be solved only with the solution of the Cyprus problem and that he has already informed the UN Secretary-General on this. He also noted that in case the Greek Cypriot side wants a solution on the property issue, they should then respond to the demands of the UN Secretary-General, so that negotiations will resume.

Replying to a question regarding the desire of the Republic of Cyprus to open an embassy in Ankara, Mr Talat said that Turkey has already given the appropriate answer.

Commenting on the opening of the fenced area of occupied Varosha, Mr Talat, inter alia, said: "The Greek Cypriot side has a lot of proposals. They say 'give to us Varosha for direct trade'. These are neither balanced demands nor have they been subjected to negotiations."

[03] The British High Commissioner on the organized usurpation of the properties of the Greek Cypriots who were forced to abandon them to be saved from the Turkish army in 1974

When asked to comment on several British expatriates complaining that the Cyprus government persecutes them, issues arrest warrants and opens lawsuits against them because they had bought Greek Cypriot property left in the occupied area, Mr Parker answered: We very well understand, how much anxiety and discomfort it had created. One or two persons got in touch with us and said their problems. In my opinion, those living in the south, the government were carried away by the feeling... let us attack the Turkish Cypriots, let us attack Turkey, let us make them uneasy. Of course, everybody has the right to struggle for his/her property. But, as regards the arrest warrants which country, in which way will apply them?... If they are guilty, how will these people be arrested and deported to their country for a trial? All these were fixed by laws, regulations and rules".

As for the British bases, Mr Parker said: "The British bases are not sovereign. They are British Military Bases, recently their importance were once more proved. The status of the bases had been stipulated in the 1960 Treaties. If in the future the British government decides that there is no need for the bases then the territory on which these bases are established will be handed over to the Cypriots."

[04] Leading member of the Platform "This country is ours" sold property in occupied Akanthou to Israelis

The paper notes that this is a claim made to the paper "on behalf of a friend who knows very well KTOS and Sener Elcil and who follows closely the developments in the 'TRNC'".

The paper publishes the following as regards the information of the sale:

* Former owner of property: Sener Elcil

* Company to which it was sold: Podhorzev Gal-Sav Properties Ltd (An Israeli company which supposedly has partnership in the pseudostate)

* Total territory sold: 41 donums and ¾ of a donum.

* Place of sale: Akanthou.

* How was the property given to him by the "TRNC": With the exchange of points because of the equal value system of properties (Tr. Note: He was given points for property he owns in the free areas of Cyprus) and because he was considered to be a fighter.

* Money taken as equivalent for the property: Approximately 300 thousand pounds sterling.

* Time of sale: 3-4 months ago.

[05] The Foreign Minister of Australia critical of the Greek Cypriots who said "no" in the referendum more than a year ago

"The Foreign Minister of Australia, Alexander Downer stressed that the isolation applied against the TRNC must be lifted. According to the Anatolia News Agency, Alexander Downer made the statement in this direction at his meeting with Turkey's Minister of State, Kursat Tuzmen, who is in Australia for an official visit. Downer, who stated that as Australia they support the lifting of the isolation applied on the TRNC, noted that the stance of the Greek Cypriot side which rejected the Annan Plan in the referendum was very wrong. Downer said that they supported Turkey's EU accession process and that they believed that Turkey's accession to the EU will be beneficial for both sides".

[06] Ten Turkish Cypriot buses will visit tomorrow the free areas of Cyprus

Aziz Gece, the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot "Public Vehicles Operators´ Union" (KAR - IS), told Bayrak that they have taken all necessary permits from the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, that they continue their contacts with the Cyprus government and that the number of the Turkish Cypriot vehicles which will be crossing over to the free areas will increase.

Furthermore, the so-called minister of economy and tourism of the occupation regime, Dervis Kemal Deniz said that they have had meetings with EU officials aiming at buses and tracks with "TRNC" registration numbers being able to cross over to the free areas of the island, but there is a stalemate on the issue of the control and the licenses of these vehicles.

Mr Deniz noted that KAR - IS continues its meetings with the necessary authorities having the support of the pseudogovernment and that there was a result from these talks. Mr Deniz said that the ten buses that will be crossing over tomorrow will be only the beginning and that the Turkish Cypriots will be from now on able to visit the free areas of Cyprus with their own buses.

[07] Greek Cypriot "Man with a mission" is presented by CYPRUS TIMES to be persecuted by the Greek Cypriots

"Tony Angastiniotis is a Greek Cypriot photo-journalist and former Nationalist, who was featured in the 4 June issue, experiences a change of heart, and now produces documentaries exposing atrocities committed by Greek Cypriots against the Turkish Cypriot people. As a result, he is despised by his own people, lost his house and income and has become a hunted man forced to travel around like a gypsy, relying on the kindness of strangers.

He is a man much in demand these days, but took time from a frenetic schedule to speak with CYPRUS TIMES yesterday. His message is so important that we have given him another front page.

"We go day by day", he says. "My wife supports me all the way. She believes and I believe and I honour her very much for her support and courage. "Despite all the hardships, living away from his wife and child, sometimes even going hungry, he sees his work as a mission, "something in my heart I have to do and in my conscience that is beyond sides or politics". He says he is finding the truth that has no flag, colours or nationality. It hurts some people and it is hard for them because truth is truth. I will find it and expose it (acts of murder and aggression carried out by Greek Cypriots against Turkish Cypriots) to set the record straight as to what really happened. I believe in the power of the media to touch people in the heart and mind".

Angastiniotis said he never questioned what he was taught, believing that the "barbarian Turks" wanted to murder Greek Cypriots and had done so in the past. Not until the Green Line opened two years ago, when he decided to cross over to find out for himself, were those ingrained beliefs challenged.

What he discovered was the untold story of crimes committed against Turkish Cypriots by his won people, and discovered that the Greek Cypriots were not the victims, but rather the perpetrators. As a photo-journalist, he realized that he had to bring this truth not only to his people, but to the world. He wanted to see beyond the 1970s to what else happened, "and unfortunately", he said, "if you see what really happened, so much crime and bad policy that comes from the Greek side, then it becomes impossible to see things in the old way.

Even the most naïve person, if he knows what happened, and because of what happened before 1974, must see the truth for themselves. Yet 99 per cent of Greek Cypriot youth have no idea about what happened before 1974. The elders know but do not speak, and they carry the biggest responsibility. I am cursed and blessed with the truth. I made elders speak to me in `coffee shop interviews´ listening to their views. But they always said, "off the record", but that is how my first documentary called Voice of Blood was created. The second version, Voice of Blood II is now finished.

Then I came across to visit Turkish Cypriot villagers to hear their stories. They were suspicious of a man driving with Greek car plates. They didn't expect a Greek to write the truth. But when one man saw tears in my eyes, tears for him, he opened up and shared his story."

[08] Turkey-supported Turkomans in Northern Iraq blame the US for their problems

"Turkomans in Kirkuk are holding the US forces responsible regarding the arrest and torture of Turkomans by the Kurds in the city. Ali Mehdi, the deputy chair of the Turkmeneli Party, said: `The United States is not holding the Kurds accountable for their deeds´. In a statement to NTV, Mehdi said: `At the moment, there are no laws in Iraq. An insidious policy is being pursued against us in Iraq,´ and added:

"An insidious policy has been pursued against the Turkomans for the last three or four months. We are faced with immoral and corrupt methods aimed at preventing us from becoming a political force. We have repeatedly informed the Americans in writing of the situation. At the moment, there are more than 250 Iraqi Turkomans in prisons in north Iraq. Unfortunately, the Americans are aware of this. Every month some 15 to 20 persons are being released. Why were they arrested? No one is being held accountable.

We met with the US commander in Kirkuk an hour ago. We met an hour ago. Things are happening without our knowledge. The commander, however, goes to Arbil and to al-Sulaymaniyah and releases the ones captured there. If you can release them, then you can also question those responsible. Why were these people arrested? Why were they taken from Kirkuk to Arbil or to al-Sulaymaniyah? Who took them there? Naturally, the KDP [Kurdish Democratic Party] is in charge in Kirkuk. Armed forces are in charge of Kirkuk now. There are no laws in Kirkuk at the moment. This is definite. The Americans are the only recourse we have. We are concerned about the future of Kirkuk. The security of the Iraqi Turkomans is currently in danger".

[09] The Turkish military are not pleased with the US measures against PKK

"The Turkish military was unimpressed by the U.S. military recently including Osman Ocalan, the brother of imprisoned terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, on its most-wanted list of 150 people in Iraq . Dismissing the U.S. list as "only for show" and "business as usual," Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) sources say that what they want isn't a list but rather action against the PKK in northern Iraq .

TAF sources say that Turkey presented its 150-person most wanted list to Iraq and the U.S. at a tripartite meeting held between the U.S. , Iraq , and Turkey in Ankara at the beginning of this year. However, the presentation was reportedly met by silence.

This April, the U.S. Army published the list from Turkey at its Baghdad headquarters. However, the list was only published and no action was taken against the names on it.

Do what's necessary

The TAF dismissed the U.S. list, published two months ago, as "business as usual" for two reasons:

- Following the publication of the list, a local Kurdish Parliament was held late last month at Erbil in northern Iraq, attended by PKK/Kongra-Gel leader Zubeyir Aydar with a 20-car convoy. Although Aydar is on the most wanted list, no action was taken.

- When Turkey presented its most-wanted list to the U.S. and Iraqis, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's brother Osman Ocalan's address was also submitted. Osman Ocalan has given interviews to three or four reporters in the past two months. However, the U.S. Army has also taken no action against him either.

Who's on the list?

Abdullah Ocalan's brother Osman Ocalan tops the list, although he has reportedly cut his ties with the PKK. Osman Ocalan has established a political party named the Patriot Democrat Party in Mosul , Iraq . Turkish intelligence units gave information about Ocalan, including his home address, to U.S. Army intelligence units.

Faysal Dunlayici, Nizamettin Tas, and Kani Yilmaz, who worked as administrators in the PKK for a while, are also included on the list. The list was prepared with the names of PKK militants who have a red bulletin issued against them. It also provides the reasons for warrants of arrest issued for PKK militants, their photos, and the cases against them. Other key figures included on the list are Riza Altun, Isa Altunsoy, Cemil Bayik, Murat Karayilan, Ali Haydar Kaytan, Mustafa Karasu, and Hidir Yalcin. The U.S. Army issued an order stating that these militants would be arrested as soon as they were found and would then be extradited to Turkey".

[10] Deputy of the ruling Islamic JDP calls on the US to end the occupation of Iraq

"Ankara JDP [Justice and Development Party] Deputy from Istanbul Nevzat Yalcintas criticized the United States shortly after JDP Deputy Cavit Torun's anti-US statement. Addressing a meeting called "Countdown for a Real Democracy in Iraq" in Istanbul, Yalcintas said: "The occupation should either be terminated or eased. Additional UN forces made up of the military units of the impartial countries should be dispatched to Iraq. That is the only way to build an independent Iraq and defend the rights of our Turkoman brethren."

It will be recalled that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while en route to the United States, accused the Republican People's Party of supporting anti-Americanism in the country".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Columnist in Turkish Daily News argues that Erdogan´s sincerity will be tested after the latest anti-US statements by MPs of his party

"The JDP's Cavit Torun comparing Bush with Saddam and blaming the US President for violence made some think about Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to Washington. We'll see whether the prime minister keeps his word or not.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, upon hearing some things Justice and Development Party (JDP) Diyarbakir deputy Cavit Torun had said must have thought to himself: "Oh, brother. You just couldn't keep your mouth shut for a few days, could you?" Maybe the prime minister asked those around him, "Tell me how to deal with such people."

The reason is very simple. Because most of the complaints he heard in Washington were about such statements. Statements made by some JDP deputies were cited before he was asked what he would do about it.

The Americans didn't ask Erdogan to put an "embargo" on deputies making statements. Their complaint was the JDP leadership's failure to counter such statements.

The prime minister's comments in Washington were clear in a way they had never been before. He praised Turkish-U.S. relations and acted as if he were trying to make people forget about how some JDP deputies had spoken out. Even though it seemed exaggerated, he appeared like he was championing the United States. The impression of the White House after the talks between U.S. President George W. Bush and Erdogan was: "We don't believe these words. We will assess your policies from now on before we make up our minds." The headline in daily MILLIYET, "U.S. criteria," reflected the truth.

After all that has been said and done and at a time when all eyes are on the JDP in judgment, Torun's remarks ruined everything. Please don't misunderstand. The United States won't take Torun's statements seriously. What they will be watching for is how Prime Minister Erdogan or Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül reacts to it.

What can the prime minister do? Some anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli sentiment are in the genes of certain JDP deputies. No matter how much you tell them to be careful, they can't keep their mouths shut. They reach a limit and just burst out.

Prime Minister Erdogan is caught between a rock and a hard place. Let's see how he reacts."

[12] Columnist in CUMHURIYET analyses the fundamental differences between US and Turkey after the recent visit by Erdogan to Washington

"During [Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan's meeting with [US President George W.] Bush, a fundamental difference on two issues was observed:

- The United States was opposed to Turkish-Syrian relations.

- The "deep-rooted anti-Americanism" in Turkey created great concern.

Amidst the various other items on which there is disagreement, these two points are significant in terms of laying out the real reasons for the problems.

1) Turkey wants to develop its relations with Syria in every area. The United States vehemently opposes this. Because it does not want the countries of the region to cooperate among themselves.

It is only in this way that the United States can implement its aggressive and colonialist policies in the region. The most fundamental rule of imperialism is that of "divide and conquer"... In this way, America´s uneasiness emerges as the uneasiness of imperialism.

2) The "anti-Americanism" in Turkey is at the head of the issues that worries Washington. But this situation is a consequence. Until the causes creating this consequence are eliminated, the anti-Americanism will not end.

- If the United States is giving military and political support in the region to the PKK [Workers' Party of Kurdistan], starting in the 1990s in particular, it is going to find itself in confrontation with the Turkish people.

- If the United States is supporting the so-called Armenian genocide resolutions against Turkey, then the Turkish public is not going to be pleased with the United States at all.

- If the United States is trying to utilize the Fener Patriarchate [i.e, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul] as a pawn in order to control the Orthodox world, we are going to be opposed to this.

- If the United States is backing the demands of the Greeks and Greek Cypriots in the Aegean and on Cyprus for years now, then they are going to find us opposing them.

- The United States is seeking to occupy Iraq; if it is making plans of attack against Iran and Syria, the Turkish people are not going to like this.

These are the reasons why 82 percent of the people in Turkey are against the United States. Because the people are opposed to the imperialist policy followed by the United States in Turkey, in the region, and in the world, they are hostile to it.

Wrong Assessment...

Now Bush goes and calls upon Erdogan to find a solution to this. Erodgan's response to Bush is even more interesting, and is worthy of going down in the history of comedy:

"Don't worry, Bush, the people love you. Those who come out against the United States are marginals from the left and the right." But what sort of marginals are these?.. This is some marginalization! 82 percent of the population oppose the American policies: 18 percent versus 82 percent... a giant difference. And despite this great difference, the "majority" is "marginal".

Statistics were published earlier: In Western Europe, about 70 percent of the people are against America as well. So the marginals in Europe amount to 70 percent.

The Real Issue Is Something Else...

The real issue is, naturally the United States' (and the West's) imperialism. The great majority of humanity opposes imperialism. The oppressed do not want to be oppressed any longer. For this reason, they oppose the policies of the United States.

If the United States wants to end the anti-American politics in Turkey, then it has to abandon its imperialist policies.

You attack and colonialize, and then you oppose the people resisting you.

But you can only deceive the people for a time with [news] blackouts and media monopolies. It does not last for long, and then people begin to see the realities, and to resist.

And then you try to seek support from the governments that you squeeze in the palms of your hands. But this is also no solution. For those who collaborate with you are bound to lose out in the end.

This rule has always been valid. The people in the end become sovereign... sooner or later... in one way or another..."

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