Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-10-14

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Army commander of TMT who waged the struggle to destroy the Republic of Cyprus with Rauf Denktas, died in Ankara

[02] Reports that the Republic of Cyprus has used its veto right regarding Azerbaijan´s ties with the EU

[03] The National Security Council will meet on 24 October

[04] Prime Minister Erdogan to visit Pakistan, Kuwait, Yemen, Britain in October

[05] A third political party will enter the Turkish Assembly

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] The ten commandments of how to buy the properties of assassinated or evicted Greek Cypriots in the isolated by 40,000 Turkish troops territories of the Republic of Cyprus

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Army commander of TMT who waged the struggle to destroy the Republic of Cyprus with Rauf Denktas, died in Ankara

A colonel in the Turkish Army, when he was sent here by the army, Coygun had organized the terrorist organization the TMT.

After retiring, Coygun was living in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus. He died in Ankara and will be buried there. Rauf Denktas, a close associate of Coygun has expressed his deep sorrow at the death of Coygun.

[02] Reports that the Republic of Cyprus has used its veto right regarding Azerbaijan´s ties with the EU

Azerbaijan´s Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov, is quoted to have said: Until now only one flight was realized, and to reach a conclusion based on this is unnecessary. Azerbaijans approach to relations with the TRNC (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) emanates from the human point of view.

[03] The National Security Council will meet on 24 October

The main topics to be discussed by the council are expected to be the controversy over how best to combat terrorism, which has caused strong disagreements between the military and government, and the negotiating framework for Turkey's newly started European Union full membership talks.

In the meeting to be chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, Naval Forces Command Vice Adm. Yener Karahanoglu and Air Forces Command Gen. Faruk Comert will sit at the council for the first time following this summer's reshuffling of its top brass.

At the meeting's first session, a presentation is scheduled to detail the operations of separatist, reactionary and extreme-leftist groups active in the country.

Following Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok's public complaint this summer that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is being constrained in its fight against terrorism, a controversy erupted which will be slow to resolve. In response to the recent jump in terrorist attacks, then Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug in July suggested to a group of journalists the forming of a special anti-terror unit established under the Prime Ministry to coordinate a complete front against terrorism. Through this remark Basbug indirectly made, he gave a recommendation to the government. The government did not respond positively to Basbug's idea. Justice Minister Cemil Cicek a few days later said: "Instead of a separate council on anti-terrorism, it's easier to revive the existing mechanisms," alluding to the long-dormant Anti-Terrorism Council (TMYK).

After this "duel of words," no concrete conclusions were reached after August's MGK meeting. Finally succumbing to the military's pressure for the urgency of combating terrorism, a TMYK meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul convened last month, where once again no concrete solutions were made.

Still later, a proposal was made to establish a new unit to combat terrorism. As part of this body, which is characteristically still being debated by several branches of the state's apparatus, an anti-terrorism operation center is being rumored. The unit would be attached to the Prime Ministry and the proposed center's functions are expected to be discussed at MGK meetings on a regular basis.

After exchanging views in the MGK, a decision will be made as to the precise status of such a body in the MGK after which Cabinet makes its own decision.

Although primarily the military seeks new strategies, all Turkey's security forces are said to be clamoring for new legal regulations in the fight against terrorism. In the last wave of legal reforms as part of the Turkey's EU harmonization process, a condition was stipulated: Terrorists who were killed holding their weapons should be delivered to the Public Prosecutor's Office within 12 hours. This arrangement is reported to delay operations which are carried out in the mountains.

Incidents in Batman last month are an obvious indication of this. After six killed terrorists where gathered during an operation in Batman's rural areas, the military was forced to pause due to the new regulations. They accordingly collected the corpses with their weapons and brought them to the city center. Following this public unrest broke out.

Turkey's security forces, and especially the military, are giving priority to the removal of the regulation for bringing dead terrorists to a prosecutor's office within a certain period of time. They suggest burying the corpses, as has been the usual practice, and to fly the prosecutors in a helicopter to identify the bodies.

In addition to the terrorism issue, Turkey's EU negotiation framework document will be discussed. The document's legal conditions are expected to be scrutinized. It will also be discussed whether the framework document and Turkey's additional declaration, which coincided with the signing of the Ankara Protocol this summer, should be brought before Parliament.

[04] Prime Minister Erdogan to visit Pakistan, Kuwait, Yemen, Britain in October

Prime Minister Erdogan will visit Pakistan between October 20th-22nd to offer his condolences following last week's massive earthquake.

He will visit Kuwait on October 24th-25th and Yemen on October 26th-27th.

Meanwhile, Erdogan will attend the Summit of EU Heads of State and Government in Britain on October 27th.

[05] A third political party will enter the Turkish Assembly

With 21 deputies, the Motherland Party secured the necessary majority to enter the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) and be represented as an opposition party. The party has already submitted its application to the presidency of the TGNA to enter as the third party along with the ruling Justice and Development Party and the opposition Republican People's Party.

The current distribution of seats in the parliament is as follows:

Justice and Development Party (AKP)...356

Republican People's Party (CHP).......155

Motherland Party (ANAVATAN)........... 21

True Path Party (DYP)................ 4

Social Democrat People's Party (SHP)..4

People's Ascendancy Party (HYP)............1

Independent.........................5

Vacant..............................4

TOTAL................................ 550

(DP)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] The ten commandments of how to buy the properties of assassinated or evicted Greek Cypriots in the isolated by 40,000 Turkish troops territories of the Republic of Cyprus

The group consists of British who bought property belonging to Greek Cypriots who were among the 1% of the Cyprus population murdered at gun-point by the Turkish army in 1974, the hundreds of missing after seen alive in the hands of the Turkish army, or the 200,000 displaced who live in temporary housing estates dying of cancer and other diseases because of the injustice against them.

In addition to the problems they face with the Greek Cypriot legal owners of the property they buy in the occupied territories, the British receivers of stolen property come face to face with problems created by the Turks, who cheat and mislead them under the protection of 40,000 fully equipped Turkish troops.

The interview is as follows:

Before I begin I must tell you that I received a very disturbing telephone-call from one of our members who told me that they are returning to England because they can no longer endure the harassment from their builder. They wished us all luck with the Group.

Question: What were the main aims of the Group when you set on this journey?

Answer: Let me start by reiterating our aims and ambitions when Deborah, Richard and I set out on this journey. We wanted everyone with a property purchase problem together so that, instead of all individuals feeling like an island on an island, we could collate all the problems and issues and get them resolved quickly, lawfully and peacefully.

We intended to get some background on how these problems had arisen so we could prevent future buyers falling into the same trap as us.

Last but not least, we wanted to ensure that this problem does not add to the already bad press and to attempt to create global- and especially European-positive awareness of the `world isolation´ of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) thereby giving something back to the Turkish Cypriots who have mostly welcomed our presence here.

Question: So, what has been done since the inception of Homebuyers´ Presssure Group?

Answer: Now , let me tell you what has been done on behalf of the Homebuyers´ Pressure Group since its inception on 13 September 2005.

Initially we met with Dervis Kemal Deniz, (self-styled) Minister of Economy and tourism and explained how a few corrupt individuals are damaging tourism-therefore property sales-therefore the economy. We wanted to get his Departments support for our issues and he assured us that he would take the matter up with the (self-styled) council of Ministers. That was two weeks ago and, despite contacting his office; we have still not received any feedback from his office.

Secondly, we met with the President of the Barr, the Law Association of North Cyprus and the President of the Law Association of Lefkosia. We had been attempting, unsuccessfully, for three weeks to set up a meeting either with Ozkan Murat, the (self-styled) Interior Minister or his Undersecretary, Ali Alman.

Again, we have not received any feed-backs from the Law Association.

Later we visited the chief of Police in Girne (occupied Kyrenia) outlining the purpose of the Homebuyers´ Pressure Group and asked for his advice. As most of the problems are a civil matter the Police cannot intervene and they suggested that those with problems should contact a lawyer not connected with the building industry. They provided two names of lawyers in Girne whom they know not to represent estate agents or builders.

We contacted Ahmet Rus, President of the association of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects. A meeting has been arranged at their Lefkosia Offices. We contacted the construction Association in Lefkosia and we have a meeting arranged for tomorrow.

The Law Association suggested that we contact Mr Berk from the British Consulate as he has been carrying out similar work for British residents here. He has been on holiday but returns tomorrow when we will contact him to set up a meeting.

Question: How is the database you have mentioned in the previous meeting going?

Answer: On a group level we have continued to grow the database and have created awareness for the Homebuyers´ Pressure Group, thanks to the TRNC Press, here with homeowners, potential purchasers and with National Institutions who are in a position to help our cause.

We are also being recognized and listened to by homeowners and potential homebuyers who currently reside outside of the TRNC.

A website has been set up and, although still undergoing construction, it is live and being accessed by at least 100 people every day. Set up Task Forces gather information which, when collected, will be published on our website.

Question: And what are you going to do next?

Answer: Well, moving forward we must; continue to grow our database, as increased numbers means increased `pressure´.

We must inform any potential property buyers that we may come across in bars, restaurants or wherever of the procedure to follow so that they do not fall foul of the same unscrupulous individuals that we have.

Thank you very much for your time Marian Stokes.

Before the interview you showed me the `Property Purchase Procedure Guidelines´ prepared by the Homebuyers´ Pressure Group. May we call it `The Ten Commandments of Home buying in TRNC?

The PPPG `Property Purchase Procedure Guidelines´

1. Find a property you wish to buy.,

2. Find a lawyer-preferably not one associated with the agent or person you intend buying from. We understand that a number of Estate Agents receive a referral fee from the Lawyers. A list of lawyers in the TRNC will shortly be available on our website or from a member of our `Elected Representatives´. This list will be provided by Barr (The Law Association of North Cyprus).

3. It is most important that you ask the lawyer if he represents any of the other parties involved in the sale. If he does, it is advisable to find another.

4. The Barr have advised that you should firstly give the Lawyer details of the property and ask them to undertake preliminary investigations, including land search and the financial stability of the developer. The service will cost from nothing to a maximum 50 Pounds.

5. With this done, relax and wait for your lawyers written report on the results of his research. This may take 3-4 months. If the sales agent advises you that the property will either be sold to someone else or will increase in price during that time, please remember that it is better not to buy a property with potential future problems than buy it now and regret it later when all your money is gone.

6. If the search is satisfactory and you still wish to purchase the property, you should return here to sign the contracts in person.

7. `The Barr´ advises that, at this stage, you should enter into a formal `Agreement´ with the Lawyer, setting out precisely what he will do on your behalf, together with details of his fees and payment schedule.

8. When the terms of engagement with the Lawyer are agreed he should then prepare the `Sales Contract´ ensuring that all your requirements are fully documented and protected. It is important that all aspects of the build specification, together with the provision and connection of services, are tightly covered.

9. Ask the Lawyer/Agent/Builder for copies of all relevant Applications made on your behalf and your `File Number´. If necessary, you should engage the services of an English/Turkish translator so that there is no misunderstanding of promised undertakings at a later stage.

10. It is important to remember that the sales Agent is acting for the developer and being paid a fee, by the developer, in the region of 5% of the sale price. Also, the sales agent receives this fee when you sign the `Sales Contract´.

Some agents will pressure you into buying immediately but it is vital for your future security, that you follow these guidelines.

Remember, the self-styled government does not charge a fee for application or issuing of permissions to purchase/build and all government departments and employees are very willing to help and advise whenever possible.

Contact details of the Homebuyers´ Pressure Group:

http://www.homebuyerspressuregroup.com/ info@homebuyerspressuregroup.com

Phone: 05338763780

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