Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-11-16

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan continues his marketing of Turkeys role in the alliance of civilizations but with ottoman mentality turns his back to Rasmussen.

[02] Reference to Cyprus by Gul during an address of a parliamentary committee. He denies secret Incirlik decision

[03] Inquiry into the prison in Van

[04] Talat: Removal of the isolations will destroy Papadopoulos treatment of the Turkish Cypriots

[05] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the illegal TRNC

[06] Suleyman Demirel: There are two states in Turkey

[07] Soyer met with British Minister in Charge of European Affairs Alexander and asked the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots

[08] The self-styled minister of tourism Deniz inspected the advertising panels of the occupation regime that were placed in the Tottenham Court Road station in London

[09] The heir of the Luzignians, who was among the administrators of the Turkish desk of Verheugen, visited occupied Cyprus for the celebrations for the unilateral declaration of independence

[A] NEW ITEMS

[01] Erdogan continues his marketing of Turkeys role in the alliance of civilizations but with ottoman mentality turns his back to Rasmussen.

"This is the result of the attempts to see a religion, a belief or a civilization as 'alien'. In our opinion, considering Islam and Muslims as 'the other' is unfair and dangerous. Humanity needs peace and prosperity, so such exclusions will not bring peace and tranquility," said Erdogan.

According to Erdogan, exclusion of Turkey will also be such a dangerous move that can bring Europe in particular and the West in general, on "a separation of path" with the Islamic world.

Recalling that 4 percent of the EU population is Muslim, Erdogan said: "So, it is meaningless to open cultural diversities to discussion (within the framework of Turkey's EU membership)."

"As a republic and democratic country, which was overwhelmingly Muslim, Turkey had adopted universal values, pluralistic democracy, rule of law, human rights, secularism, freedom of thought and conscience", stressed Erdogan.

Underlining the importance of Turkey's pacifism in a period when clashes, intolerance and extremism were increasing, and terrorism was escalating, Erdogan said that the aim of the "Alliance of Civilizations" initiative, he launched along with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero under the auspices of the UN, was to bring forward universal values among civilizations, and contribute to unification, cooperation and harmony among societies.

According to Erdogan, Turkey has demonstrated that it can play a critical role in dialogue among civilizations, thanks to its peculiar geographical location, historical and cultural heritage and its characteristics flourished by the synthesis of different traditions. Erdogan added that when Turkey's EU membership became a reality, the thesis of "clash of civilizations" would be history.

Replying to a question about Turkey's EU accession process, Prime Minister Erdogan said: "As you know, the full accession negotiations started between Turkey and the EU on October 3rd. It will be a long and difficult process, but Turkey has the necessary power to achieve it.

Upon a question on allegations of torture, Prime Minister Erdogan said: "Unfortunately, such declarations are made after consultations with ideological groups instead of relevant authorities. I firmly reject those allegations affirming that torture is still practiced in Turkey."

On the other hand PM Erdogan admitted that there were some deficiencies in Turkey about women's rights. "It is not easy to overcome some traditions. But we are determined to resolve those problems," he said.

"The EU should accept Turkey as a member since it is in its own interests. If the EU wants to create an alliance of civilizations, Turkey will be the most important factor in that alliance," he added.

Later the same day Istanbul NTV Television (15.11.05) broadcast the following: "The joint news conference of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen was supposed to start at 1500 [ 1300 GMT]. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however, did not want to start the news conference because Roj TV correspondents were in the news conference room as well. For this reason, Prime Minister Erdogan asked his Danish counterpart to request the Roj TV correspondents to leave the room. The Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, however, said that this was impossible. As a second attempt, a request was made to at least not have Roj TV correspondents ask questions during the news conference. Rasmussen replied to this request in the negative as well." "The prime minister, therefore, left the room without addressing the news conference. At this moment, Prime Minister Erdogan is on this way back to Turkey."

[02] Reference to Cyprus by Gul during an address of a parliamentary committee. He denies secret Incirlik decision

"We will continue to deploy efforts for a fair and sustainable solution in Cyprus that can safeguard rights of Turkish Cypriot people", Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday.

Addressing a parliamentary committee during a review of his ministry's 2006 budget, Gul underlined that a solution should be reached under the auspices of the UN and within the framework of Annan plan; and said that it should be based on a partnership of political equality of the two parties in the island.

Mr Gul also replied to questions of members of the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission.

Stating that there might be misunderstandings about several matters, Gul said: "Definition of Turkey's minorities is clear. International laws do not make a definition of minorities and let it to the countries to make the definition. Definition of Turkey's minorities was made in the Lausanne Treaty."

Gul underlined that it was impossible for the government to accept a definition of a religious sect or religious minority in Turkey.

Replying to a question on documents about Turkey that were released by the EU, Gul said that those documents included some reasonable and unreasonable views. Gul stressed that the important thing on Turkey's EU path was a significant transformation that the country recorded. Gul noted that the latest progress report on Turkey underlined the free market economy in Turkey and it was important for the country.

Recalling that the report also included civilian-military relations, he said that developments in the country for the past three years were praised in the report, but there were also some criticisms.

Stating that EU and human rights organizations said that there was not a systematic torture in Turkey, Gul said that the government did not tolerate torture and considered it totally a crime.

Noting that the trans-boundary waters issue had been mentioned for the first time in the Accession Partnership Accord dated April 14th, 2003, Gul said that the EU wanted cooperation in this matter.

Stating that the EU made some technical mistakes about the matter, Gul said: "We discussed this issue with EU Water Commission members. We said that technical assessments were wrong. They accepted it, and it was not included in the progress report."

Recalling that the borders of the EU would be extended with Turkey's accession, Gul said that Turkey's relations and borders with Syria, Iraq and Iran would also concern the EU.

Stating that Turkey's EU full membership would be an important integration, Gul thanked the opposition for their efforts and contributions.

Finally, Mr Gul said that the Council of Ministers did not have a secret decision on Incirlik Air Base.

Later, the 2006 budget of the Foreign Ministry was approved by the committee.

[03] Inquiry into the prison in Van

An inquiry has been launched into the Van M-Type Prison authority following the suicide of Enver Arpali, deputy secretary general of the Van Yuzuncu Yil University, and the sudden ailment of Rector Erdogan Askin. Two inspectors sent from the Justice Ministry began investigating the prison.

[04] Talat: Removal of the isolations will destroy Papadopoulos treatment of the Turkish Cypriots

Talat went on and claimed that removal of the isolations will also make the Head of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tassos Papadopoulos treatment of the Turkish Cypriots as second class citizens to collapse. He added that removal of the isolations will strengthen the faith of those in the south who believe that solution is the most sensible path. There will be a change in the political structure, similar to ours, and thus Papadopoulos´ intransigence will be broken. Talat said.

Underlining the importance of increasing the economic status of the Turkish Cypriots and bringing the level of the Turkish Cypriot economy to that of the Greek Cypriots, Talat said that this will help to shoulder more the burden of a solution. In short, removing of isolations will be beneficial for everybody. And if the Greek Cypriot side gives up its policy of trying to take the Turkish Cypriots as prisoners, then it will be the one which will benefit most, Talat declared.

Accusing President Papadopoulos of deceiving the UN Secretary-General by telling him he would accept the Annan Plan, Talat said the most important thing that Mr. Papadopoulos should understand is that Turkish Cypriots will never abandon their fundamental rights nor will they surrender: He should know that in the solution of the Cyprus problem his proper respondents are the Turkish Cypriot ´people´ and its elected representatives none whatsoever, especially Mr Papadopoulos and his government, could represent the Turkish Cypriot ´people´, but their democratically elected representatives, Talat declared.

We are not after secession when we demand removal of isolations, Talat declared and said that in the referendum, in no uncertain terms, they proved that they were not after secession.

Talat went on and said that he still extends his peace hand and added: We believe that sooner or late it will definitely be grabbed.

Talat called on the Turkish Cypriots to put their home into order by proving to the EU and European Court of Human Rights that the occupied area is not a province of Turkey.

Talat concluded by saying that the objective is still a united Cyprus in the EU.

(MHY)

[05] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the illegal TRNC

A high level delegation from Turkey also arrived to attend the celebrations, as well as the Turkish national mens handball team which played yesterday with the self-styled TRNCs equivalent. The chairman of Turkeys Handball Federation, Tarik Cengiz, said that they did not come to the TRNC (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) just to play game, but they came for the TRNC.

According to the Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (16/11/05), a high level delegation from Syria also took part in the celebrations for the 22nd anniversary of the TRNC. The delegation was composed of representatives from the Syrian Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Information Ministry, the Radio-Television Broadcasting Authority and some media organizations.

The Turkish Cypriot press covered the celebrations of the 22nd anniversary of the TRNC (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) as following:

KIBRIS: An enthusiastic celebration of the 22nd year. The paper reported that the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the TRNC was celebrated with glorious celebrations and various ceremonies at the four corners of the country.

HALKIN SESI: We celebrated with enthusiasm the 22nd year of our republic. The paper reported that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said: Our basic duty is to turn the TRNC into an effective and democratic state of law, which will also provides modern services to its people.

VATAN: The 22nd year of the establishment of our state was celebrated with enthusiasm.

CUMHURIYET: President Talats message to the world: TRNC is sovereign.

GUNES: Foggy celebration. The paper reported that nationalist factions were not pleased when President Mehmet Ali Talat - instead of pushing ahead with demands that the state he is leading takes its rightful place in the world - he expressed views tantamount to the continuation of their dependence on the Greek Cypriots.

AFRIKA: Talat: The Greek Cypriots nationalism causes anxieties.

OZGUR DUSUNCE: The (TRNC) flag from Talat with strict steps. The paper reported that Mehmet Ali Talat wrote in the Book of Congratulation that he will continue his efforts to safeguard a democratic republic based on the rule of law.

VOLKAN: The 22nd anniversary of the TRNCs establishment was celebrated with great enthusiasm.

KIBRISLI: The vanguard for peace and a Cyprus settlement are the Turkish Cypriot people. The castle sheltering our hopes for peace and a settlement in the Mediterranean is the TRNC.

YENIDUZEN: The account of 22 years! The paper reported: While we were celebrating the 22nd year of the establishment of the TRNC we asked the following: What did we do wrong, what did we do right? We discussed with our politicians what were the most important mistakes that we made during the 22 years, the historical mistakes, the correct efforts, the important steps that we took and what we should do from now on.

CYPRUS TIMES: Happy 22nd birthday TRNC

The Turkish Cypriot daily ORTAM newspaper does not carry any report on the celebrations of the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the TRNC.

(DPs)

[06] Suleyman Demirel: There are two states in Turkey

The former President said: It is fundamental that there should be one state, there cannot be two. In our country there are two states. There is one deep state and one real state. The one to be the real state is the reserve and the one to be the reserve is the real state.

Mr Demirel explained that in the face of a small difficulty the civil state stops functioning and the other starts to operate like an electric generator.

Repeating that the security of the state should be safeguarded under the constitution and that article 35 of the internal services rule should be abolished, Mr Demirel said: I cannot imagine a country the people of which are in fear of its armed forces.

Finally, the 9th President of the Turkish Republic assessed that the current political spectrum in Turkey is deformed because a party which received 35% of the votes possesses 66% of the seats in parliament.

[07] Soyer met with British Minister in Charge of European Affairs Alexander and asked the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots

The lifting of the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and possible ways to implement the Financial Aid package and the Direct Trade Regulations were top on the agenda during the meeting according to illegal BAYRAK.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Soyer said that he had told Mr Douglas during their talks that the lifting of the international isolation of Turkish Cypriots would act as an important contributor towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, encouraging the Greek Cypriot Administration (the Republic of Cyprus), to return to the negotiating table.

Mr Soyer also said that he had found the opportunity to convey the Turkish Cypriot Sides views on the implementation of the financial Aid package and the Direct Trade Regulations.

Stating that the European Union had failed to keep its promises it made to the Turkish Cypriots following last years referendum on the Annan Plan, Mr Soyer said that he had called on the EU to allow the implementation of the two regulations together.

[08] The self-styled minister of tourism Deniz inspected the advertising panels of the occupation regime that were placed in the Tottenham Court Road station in London

The paper writes that the self-styled minister of tourism, along with the self-styled permanent undersecretary of his ministry Mr Mehmet Basel and the self-styled director of Cyprus tourism centre Yilmaz Kalfaoglu inspected during their visit to London the advertising panels placed at the Tottenham Court Road metro station in London advertising tourism in the occupied areas.

Mr Deniz stated that the biggest market for the OTRC at the moment is England and said that the dynamic marketing and promotion policy will secure a bigger share from the English market. Mr Deniz also said that together with the placing of the panels at the Tottenham Court Road metro station, posters will be placed at the bases of the London municipality and stated that the policy followed will be very effective for reaching the goals they put as regards the 2006 tourism in occupied Cyprus.

C/S

[09] The heir of the Luzignians, who was among the administrators of the Turkish desk of Verheugen, visited occupied Cyprus for the celebrations for the unilateral declaration of independence

Prince Jacques Philip Reux, who was a surprise quest during the celebrations, was among the administrators of the Turkish desk of the Commissioner Gunder Verheugen, during the time Verheugen was responsible for the EU enlargement.

The Prince stated that he is a real Cypriot and he has close relations with the Turks. He said that he has also come to Cyprus in 1989 and visited the palaces and the fortresses and that this time will also visit historical monuments.

The paper writes that Prince Philip Reux participated in the ceremonies holding the Turkish and the TRNC flags and that he was among the persons that the self-styled president Mehmet Ali Talat addressed an official invitation to him in order to participate in the ceremonies.

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