Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-11-09

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister on French risk and other current political issues.

[02] The main opposition party in Turkey criticizes Mr Erdogan for his comments on the causes of the French riots.

[03] Turkish political party leader brands the Greater Middle East Project as the Greater Israel Project.

[04] Pressure is reportedly exerted on the Republic of Cyprus for the approval of the Financial Aid Regulation regarding the Turkish Cypriots; Uzun: "The Greek Cypriots want concessions".

[05] Soyer: "Does Papadopoulos want to see Cyprus like this?"

[06] After exploiting the usurped properties of Greek Cypriots Talat's regime now turns to the occupied forests.

[07] Human trafficking continues unabated in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister on French risk and other current political issues

Mr Erdogan praised the ADTB's founders for their personal qualities: "They have been integrated with the German society. They also have great affection for Turkey. They speak perfect German and enjoy high social status."

Commenting on the recent incidents in France, the Prime Minister said: "Our prediction proved true. We have always supported the idea of establishing an alliance between the civilizations. We tried to emphasize that Turkey's membership in the EU would be greatly beneficial in that regard. But, we could not convince the leaders of some countries, especially those in France."

The Prime Minister noted that a "process launched in French schools," that is to say the ban on wearing headscarf had led to negative consequences, adding that isolation of immigrants as a result of such attitudes had instigated the incidents.

Erdogan called on the Turkish community in Europe to remain calm and noted that he had advised them to be integrated with society in the countries where they live.

Erdogan said that there were two fundamental problems obstructing efforts to form a new government in Germany. He went on saying: "One of them is Turkey and the other is a disagreement over the budget. They are, however, about to reach a compromise on Turkey. In fact, Merkel told me that Germany's foreign policy would not change. Her remarks can be found in the minutes of the meeting I had with her. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is tipped as the next foreign minister of Germany, is a social democrat and a close friend of Schroeder. He has positive views about Turkey, which Schroeder clearly confirmed during our meeting."

Could a problem arise during Merkel's tenure? The Prime Minister believes that it is a remote possibility. He added that recent reports claiming that Merkel had refused to meet with Erdogan during his trip were unfounded. He said: "Of course I will meet with Ms. Merkel after formation of a new government under her leadership. I do not think that there will be a problem."

Erdogan predicted that the two political parties in Germany, which are likely to form the new government, would work out an agreement on the budget and thus avoid a political crisis.

The Prime Minister also noted that there was no loss of impetus in the efforts to further bilateral relations with Greece, adding that Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis would pay an official visit to Turkey toward the end of next month. Asked whether assumption by Austria of EU presidency could create a problem during the process of Turkey's accession to the EU, he said: "I do not think so. I hope that there will be no problem."

Asked to comment on recent reports claiming that a CIA plane had secretly landed in Turkey in order to carry some people to the United States for interrogation although there was no court order for their extradition, Mr Erdogan replied: "What is the source of that allegation? I have received no such information. I talked with the Interior Minister and I will also have a meeting with the Undersecretary of the National Intelligence Organization. We have received no confirmation of those reports so far."

[02] The main opposition party in Turkey criticizes Mr Erdogan for his comments on the causes of the French riots

"Comments by Turkey's Prime Minister saying that race riots in France were prompted by a ban on Muslim women wearing headscarves in schools and other places were provocative, a senior member of the Turkish opposition said Tuesday.

Ali Topuz, the deputy group chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was calling on Turks abroad to go to the streets and those defending the headscarf in Turkey to get out on streets by linking recent incidents in France to the headwear.

"The Prime Minister was trying to achieve abroad what he failed to do in the country", Topuz said, adding that the headscarf issue had been introduced in way that would harm Turkey's efforts to become a member of the European Union.

Meanwhile, Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek called for peace to be restored in France but said that the intervention of authorities should be carried out without breaching human rights.

The head of Turkey's parliamentary human right committee, Mehmet Elkatmis, said that the incidents in France were gaining a dangerous dimension, saying that France should give up on policies relying on racism and fanaticism."

On the same day NTV television broadcast that the Turkish prime minister said that his remarks to the effect that he pinpointed the ban on the Islamic headdress as the cause for the incidents were distorted.

He said: "Everything is in the tape recordings. All my remarks are recorded, but I would like to clarify this with my nation here in order to dispel the efforts to steer matters toward a specific direction and to once again sow the seeds of a different tension in my country. Act honestly, and refrain from deceiving the nation. When I drew attention to the effect of certain restrictive practices on the incidents in that country, I did not boil the issue down to a single cause, and I am not doing so now."

The prime minister also called on the 4.5 million Turks living in Europe to act calmly and with common sense in the face of these incidents."

Meanwhile Ankara TRT television (08.11.05) broadcast the following:

"The expected did not happen in YOK [Higher Education Council] protest. This time the demonstrators sang songs and extended support to the activists in France. The students, who sought to protest YOK, were in the Ankara streets today as well. As opposed to the incidents yesterday, the protests of today were calm. The students who protested chanted slogans in support of the activists in France.

The Ankara police force was well-prepared after the incidents in yesterday's YOK protest. This time, however, the scenes of yesterday were not repeated. On the contrary, the protesting students chose to sing songs in order to have their voice heard.

The Turkish students in the YOK protest demonstration sent greetings to the protesters in France. The action ended with a message of support for the protesters in France."

[03] Turkish political party leader brands the Greater Middle East Project as the Greater Israel Project

"Felicity Party Acting Chairman Recai Kutan has said: "The Greater Middle East Project (BOP) is in fact the Greater Israel Project."

During the Mersin Province Congress that was held at the Meeting Hall of the Mersin Chamber of Drivers and Automobile Dealers", Kutan claimed that the Muslim world went through the Ramadan month with great distress and that the [Muslims living in the] Muslim region -- from Morocco to Indonesia -- are being persecuted.

Kutan said: "They put forth a project under the name of BOP. They said: 'We will reshape 22 countries and we will redetermine the borders.' We asked: 'Why will you do this?' They answered that 'they will bring democracy, human rights, and freedoms to these countries.' They attacked Afghanistan and Iraq on the basis of this mentality."

Claiming that "BOP is in fact the greater Israel project," Kutan said the following: "I ask you my brothers: What have they brought to Afghanistan and Iraq? These steps will not stop here. Currently they are using all their means in order to find a lie that will enable them to launch an attack against Syria."

Asserting that the United States has seized an opportunity with the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister al-Hariri and that the United Nations which is controlled by the United States and the Western powers has immediately reached a decision, Kutan continued as follows:

"They claimed that it is absolutely necessary to investigate Syria from this aspect. Meanwhile, they attack the Syrian soldiers stationed along the borderline between Iraq and Syria. In the past Saddam Husayn had initiated a project for establishing a nuclear plant in Baghdad. Who had given him this technology? The Westerns. Israel had opposed this project and as a result, they had destroyed this project with the aid of the United States. Do not be surprised if Israel attacks Iran in a similar manner in the near future. They are making preparations to this end. This will not end with Iran. You should know that Turkey is next in line."

Also leveling criticism against the government's EU policy, Kutan asserted that efforts are being made to ensure that Turkey enters the EU no matter what, adding:

"In September I said to them: 'They will give you a negotiation date.' You may ask why. Despite the fact that you have approached the door, these people do not want you in the EU. Still however, they do not want you to go away, either. They are concerned that someone like Erbakan may come to the fore, that he may turn his back to the EU, that he may unite 8 Muslim countries whose total population stands at 850 million, and that he may once again put the D-8 Project on the agenda."

During the congress Sezai Incesu who received the votes of 169 out of the 171 delegates was once again elected chairman."

[04] Pressure is reportedly exerted on the Republic of Cyprus for the approval of the Financial Aid Regulation regarding the Turkish Cypriots; Uzun: "The Greek Cypriots want concessions"

"The Greek Cypriots conveyed to the EU the message that they would approve the financial aid on the condition that the financial Aid Regulation and the Direct Trade Regulation are separated from each other and the (closed city of) Varosha is handed over to them", writes the paper and adds: "It has been known that the fact that the Greek Cypriots asked Varosha in return for the 259 million euro financial aid the EU will give to Northern Cyprus was seen with worry by the EU term presidency. EU bureaucrats in Brussels who talked to ABHaber noted that pressure is exerted on the Greek Cypriots to approve the financial aid regulation. ...".

The declaration vetoed by the Greek Cypriots had the character of a call in the direction of the lifting of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, notes HALKIN SESI adding that in that manner the EU "would be reiterating the promises given to the Turkish Cypriots on 26 April 2004".

Meanwhile, the paper writes that a delegation consisting of Icily Yilmaz, "permanent under-secretary" of the so-called State Planning Organization, Erhan Ercin, coordinator of the EU Center of the "prime ministry" and Ahmet Uzun, self-styled minister of finance in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus is having meetings in Brussels on the issue of the regulations.

Mr Uzun said yesterday that in case the regulation is approved, 119 million euros will be used within this year.

"However, the regulation must be approved until the end of this year so that the first part is used", he noted arguing that "the Greek Cypriots want concessions and are trying to prevent this".

Mr Uzun said that the issue of their meetings in Brussels is the field where the 119 million euros will be used. He added that the money will be used for investments in the field of electricity, the water used in the major towns of the occupied part of Cyprus and in projects regarding the waste water, especially in the refinery at the village of Mia Milia.

Mr Uzun said that the above-mentioned financial aid will be used in cooperation with the office that the EU will establish in the occupied areas of Cyprus. According to Mr Uzun, the second part of the financial aid, that is a sum of 140 million euros, will be used for the small and medium side enterprises and for infrastructure in the fields of tourism, ports and telephones.

He said that they wanted the two regulations to be approved together, but this was not possible. Mr Uzun added: "Afterwards, we asked a reference to the direct trade to be made while the Financial Aid Regulation was approved. However, the Greek Cypriots are putting forward conditions that could never be accepted. They are putting forward unacceptable conditions such as the return of Varosha and the preventing of the development. They are trying to prevent it. In this situation the Financial Aid Regulation will either be approved these days or be postponed. ...".

I/Ts.

[05] Soyer: "Does Papadopoulos want to see Cyprus like this?"

Answering a question put to him by visiting Kamu-Is trade union delegation about the reports that the Cyprus government will exercise its veto rights, Mr Soyer said that while the EU tries to separate the Financial Aid Regulation, it wants to issue a declaration stressing that it will continue to work to remove the so-called isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, and that the Cyprus government wants to veto this declaration.

Moreover, the main editorial in "Letter from AFRIKA" column in the local daily AFRIKA newspaper (09.11.05) refers to Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyerīs criticism directed to President Tassos Papadopoulos and writes that those who clash with police, burn cars and plunder shops and markets in Paris, are the third generation children of the refugees coming from former French colonies. "Therefore" writes the editorial, "Mr Soyer has chosen a wrong address. What he had said against Mr Papadopoulos should have been said to himself.

The refugees are not in the south Cyprus but in the north. Since the riots in Paris are refugee riots, so, if the same thing would happen here, it would happen in the north. Do you want the Turkish settlers from Turkey, to riot here, burn everything?

Donīt you think that the problems facing the North African refugees living in the suburbs of Paris, are the same with the Turkish settlers living here?

Arenīt they unemployed?

Yes, they are.

Are they getting enough services from the municipalities?

No they don't.

Do they find Turkish Cypriots racists?

Yes they do.

But Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer watches the riots in Paris and asks Mr Papadopoulos: `Do you want to see Cyprus like this?

So, in that case let us ask Mr Ferdi: `Do you want to see Cyprus like this?ī You have brought poor and destitute people from Anatolia and dumped them here. You have made them bait to greedy contractors who were looking for cheap labour.

You have turned a blind eye to their unhealthy and despicable way of living, in filthy motels, scrap cars or in parks and garages.

What will you do, if tomorrow, like the North African refugees, these Turkish settlers all together come out and start arsoning and destroying everything? Do not try to look for the guilty in other places. You are the guilty".

(MHY)

[06] After exploiting the usurped properties of Greek Cypriots Talat's regime now turns to the occupied forests

Platform spokesman, Mr Dogan Sahir, asked that all decisions regarding the environment be taken impartially without any political concerns or demagoguery.

Mr Dogan warned that in case a "special draft bill" passes through the self-styled Assembly, 150 donums of forest land in the occupied area of Vokolida would be turned into plots for "development".

[07] Human trafficking continues unabated in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus

The paper reported that the self-styled police spotted a fishing boat with a Turkish flag in the area, but they could not reach it due to bad weather. Yesterday morning, the self-styled police arrested two of the illegal immigrants, who are of Syrian origin, in the occupied village of Leonarisso. Eight more suspects succeeded in escaping.

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