Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-11-18

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Blue Stream project was inaugurated by Erdogan, Putin and Berlusconi.

[02] Guls statements prior his visit to Germany. Gul discussed with Annan his visit to Syria.

[03] Rasit Pertev expects UN officials to come to Cyprus within the next few days.

[04] An Attorney General of the Turkish Supreme Court to investigate Erdogans comments that decisions as regards the issue of turban must be taken by Ulemas.

[05] Akinci warned that they have destroyed the environmental and cultural heritage in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

[06] Star TV transferred to Dogan Group.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Turkey of the Greek Cypriots who demand their property give it.

[08] Erdogan's fears came true.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Blue Stream project was inaugurated by Erdogan, Putin and Berlusconi

Delivering a speech in the ceremony held at the Durusu Metering Station for the inauguration of the Blue Stream Natural Gas Project, Erdogan noted that the first step of this project had been taken with an agreement signed between Turkey and Russia in 1997.

Noting that this project was the first ring of the chain of cooperation among the three countries, Erdogan expressed his belief that the three countries would also carry out many other projects in the future.

Erdogan indicated that he believed that Samsun-Ceyhan by-pass oil pipeline project which would transport Russian and Kazakh oil to the markets via the Mediterranean would be constructed with a similar cooperation in 2010s.

Stating that Samsun-Ceyhan by-pass oil pipeline would also diminish oil traffic at Turkish Straits, he underlined that Turkish government was ready to do what was necessary for this project.

Erdogan said that Turkey's energy strategy was prepared by taking into consideration of requirements of socio-economic improvement, which was planned with global and regional developments.

On his behalf, Mr Putin stated that this project, jointly carried out by BOTAS of Turkey, ENI of Italy, and GAZPROM of Russia, was important for establishment of a giant energy field in Europe.

According to Putin, the Blue Stream project has made Turkey an energy corridor between the East and the West. This project created new opportunities to transport Russian natural gas to third countries, South Europe and Israel, Mr Putin noted.

He also said that the Blue Stream brought a new cooperation perspective to the area of energy, and added that it (the project) contributed to the enhancement of Turkish-Russian relations.

Mr Berlusconi stated that the Blue Stream was a project of cooperation among governments, peoples and institutions.

Noting that he was the first leader saying that Europe's borders should also include Russia, Mr Berlusconi said that a project once defined as "blue dream", became a reality today.

Concluding his speech, Mr Berlusconi said: We want to see Turkey as a part of Europe, and wish that (Turkey's full membership) negotiations will be successful.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (17.11.05) reported the following:

Russia wants to increase the amount of natural gas it transports to Turkey within the framework of the Blue Stream project to 30 billion cubic meters annually, sources said on Thursday.

The same sources noted that after Russian President Vladimir Putin said that they wanted to increase the amount of natural gas transferred to Turkey within the scope of the Blue Stream project, the ways of increasing this amount are under discussion.

According to these sources, the amount of natural gas transported to Turkey within the framework of Blue Stream will be increased to 16 billion cubic meters annually. And, later officials will debate the construction of another pipeline that can transfer 14 billion cubic meters. This second pipeline is expected to be constructed beneath the Black Sea parallel to the current Blue Stream pipeline.

[02] Guls statements prior his visit to Germany. Gul discussed with Annan his visit to Syria

Gul said that he would also hold meetings with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, Christian Democrat Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel and representatives of Turkish organizations and nongovernmental organizations in Germany.

Noting that Turkish-German relations were important, Gul said that Germany supported Turkey's EU accession process and added: We believed that its support will continue.

Replying to a question about his one-day visit to Syria, Gul said: I made statements regarding my visit. I did not take another country's message (to Syria). The developments in the region concern us. We should exert efforts to prevent problems from becoming chronic for the region. When a problem becomes chronic, we see unfavourable results of it. There have been such developments in the region. It is important to intervene in such issues at the right time.

Recalling that the probe carried out by UN Commission into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was continuing, Gul said that investigation commission would work till December 15th.

Gul said that he conveyed Turkey's views on this matter to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad clearly and in a friendly manner. Noting that they did not make a proposal that the said probe should be carried out in Turkey, Gul said that Turkey was ready to exert every kind of effort on this matter. "We think that the UN headquarters are more appropriate for such issues," he noted.

Gul indicated that he also discussed the security issue and reforms in Iraq with the Syrian authorities during his visit.

Replying to a question on Iraq Conference to be held by Arab League in Egypt, Gul said that he was invited to this conference, but he could not attend it because of his visit to Germany.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (17.11.05) reported that the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had a telephone conversation with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan about his visit to Syria, it was reported on Thursday.

Gul, who is currently in Berlin, Germany, evaluated his recent visit to Syria in his phone talk with Annan.

[03] Rasit Pertev expects UN officials to come to Cyprus within the next few days

This effort will be something more than making some inquiries, noted Mr Pertev who evaluated yesterday to illegal Bayrak television the meeting between the President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos and the General Secretary of the United Cyprus Party, Mr Izzet Izcan.

Mr Pertev reiterated the Turkish allegation that the Greek Cypriot side submitted no document to the UN or the Turkish Cypriot side with the changes it wants to be made in the Annan Plan. Mr Pertev claimed that the Greek Cypriots are trying to play a game and that the negotiation process has not started until now because of this attitude.

Mr Pertev alleged that the stance of the Greek Cypriot side must be more serious so that the negotiations begin and progress is made. He argued that if the Greek Cypriots had submitted the changes they want, the negotiations on the basis of the Annan Plan could have started today.

Responding to a question, Mr Pertev said that a visit by UN officials to the island is on the agenda for the coming months and reminded that during his visit to the United States the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat met with the UN Secretary General and his deputy Mr Kampari and discussed these issues.

Mr Pertev accused the Greek Cypriot side of not having good will and added that solution could be achieved only if both sides want it.

Referring to the EUs Financial Aid Regulation, he accused the Greek Cypriot side of using delaying tactics on this issue and said: If the decision of the EU is towards the direction of approving this regulation, there is no way for us to prevent it.

I/Ts

[04] An Attorney General of the Turkish Supreme Court to investigate Erdogans comments that decisions as regards the issue of turban must be taken by Ulemas

The Attorney General of Turkish Supreme Court Mr Nuri Ok has started an investigation for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as regards both the reasons for the criticism made to the ECHR and the banning of alcohol in the municipalities where the mayors are members of the AKP.

Attorney General Ok, who is responsible for supervising the political parties in Turkey, will evaluate the statements, the criticism and the reactions after the ECHR rejected the appeal made by Leyla Sahin on the issue of turban. These statements were made by the Prime Minister Erdogan, who commented on the ban of the turban in the universities, the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Bulent Arinc, AKP officials and deputies of the party.

The paper writes that the Supreme Court in Turkey followed carefully the news published in the papers regarding the banning of alcohol. One official has clarified that in case an investigation is decided to take place by the Attorney General all the decisions that were taken by the municipalities organs on the issue of banning the alcohol issue and mainly the decisions taken by the municipalities of Ankara and Istanbul which belong to AKP, will be investigated. In addition, the Attorney General will discus these decisions and will ask the municipalities organs to justify the decision as regards the alcohol ban. After these investigations, measures, could be taken against the AKP under the light of the law regarding the political parties. According to these measures warnings can be addresses to a party. In addition a party can be even closed down.

C/S

[05] Akinci warned that they have destroyed the environmental and cultural heritage in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

Mr Akinci, at a meeting of the self-styled TRNC Assembly showed yesterday photographs taken during his party´s visit to the occupied area of Karpasia inspecting the environment. The photographs are showing the environmental and cultural destruction, some of them were also published in AFRIKA today.

Mr Akinci said that a few weeks ago, they cut the pine trees in the occupied village of Vokolida to build a seven-store building. Noting that it is unacceptable to cover with cement antiquities, he referred to the incident where they put the Turkish flag over an ancient place, 8 thousand years ago, at the Aphrodite hill in the occupied Karpasia.

[06] Star TV transferred to Dogan Group

Savings Deposit and Insurance Fund (TMSF) Chairman Ahmet Erturk and Dogan Television Broadcast Executive Board Chairperson Arzuhan Yalcindag signed the transfer agreement in Turkish commercial hub of Istanbul.

Star TV was sold to Dogan Group in return for 306.5 million USD in an auction held on September 26th, 2005. Other participants in the auction were Ciner Television and Radio Enterprises, CGS Television and Radio Broadcasting Corp. and Atlantic Press and Publication Corp.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Turkey of the Greek Cypriots who demand their property give it

There are numerous property cases filed by the Greek Cypriots against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

These cases will come up in the coming months.

Turkey is worried, concerned.

Turkey does not want to experience another Loizidou disaster.

For this reason it gave to the people in the TRNC (Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus the following order). `Do whatever necessary and stop these cases!

How could helpless Talat and Ferdi who defend the TRNC like a lion to stop these?

What should they do?

They have decided to amend the Article 159 of the constitution.

The other day, Ferdi (the self-styled Prime Minister in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) had announced this, but he did not elaborate on it.

He kept everybody in suspense.

Something happened and he could not elaborate further.

What is the Article 159?

What would they amend?

He did not explain.

The Article 159 stipulates that immovable property left in the north Cyrpus, belonging to the Greek Cypriots, is under the TRNC possession.

That is the state can distribute these properties, whoever it wants

It could issue title-deeds.

This was not the case in the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus (TFSC) constitution.

Under the TFSC constitution, issuing of title deeds were not possible. It could only issue possession document.

The ECHR, did not give credit to the Property Compensation Committee established in the north Cyprus. The Committee was considered insufficient and it was not taken into consideration because it promises compensation to the Greek Cypriots for their property in the north Cyprus.

The ECHR demanded that, the return of property, in case demanded by the owner be included in it.

As a result of this the officials in Turkey and the TRNC panicked.

Recently, an order came from Ankara it said: `Of those who want their property, return their property as well. And do the necessary arrangements´.

When these news was in the press few months ago both Ferdi and Talat (the self-styled President in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) denied it and they had declared: `Return of property is out of question definitely´. And now even unwillingly, they confess and admit that this is inevitable

It seems that with words things do not progress

And undoubtly, we are late in introducing these changes.

Land were haphazardly distributed to those who came from abroad.

Know how many times these land change hands

No one bothered to ask; `Where is the first owner of this land?´

Different and various kind of pillage and plundering were experienced here. And this still continues.

And now it is time to save the skin.

It is possible to decive people by saying: `We are for peace and settlement´ but it is not possible to by pass the law

According to rumours that go around, the new arrangement will accommodate the Annan plan as well that is only one third of the land will be returned to the Greek Cypriots as envisaged in the Annan Plan. The rest will get compensation.

The new property regime will shake the community

Because the time has come, not to devour but to spew out what you have devoured.

[08] Erdogan's fears came true

The PKK and the Kurdish problem as well as the problem related to the Islamic headdress may force Erdogan to go to early elections.

Instead of diminishing, the tension that began to build up with the Semdinli incident is expanding and intensifying. Following the motions for a thorough investigation that were submitted by the political parties yesterday, the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) decided to investigate the facts behind the incident to the end. Meanwhile, tension continued to prevail under the roof of the TBMM and in Hakkari. It was Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu who was tense under the roof of the TBMM. Aksu, who briefed the Justice and Development Party (AKP) group, was bombarded by the deputies due to the fact that the information given by him was found inadequate. Ankara Deputy Ersonmez Yarbay's comment to the effect that "had Aksu spared time to read the intelligence reports, all this would not have happened" was quite noteworthy. Furthermore, a word uttered by Aksu prior to the group meeting raised doubts about whether or not he, as a politician who is in charge of the internal security of the country, was in control of the affairs. Aksu was reminded that TBMM Speaker Bulent Arinc said: "What is JITEM [alleged intelligence unit within the Gendarmerie]? The government should explain this." In his answer, Aksu said: "Do not ask me about such issues."

So, whom shall they ask about such questions? Is it not true that the identity cards found on the suspects of the bombing incident that occurred in Semdinli on 9 November belong to the Gendarmerie and is it not true that the Gendarmerie operates under the Interior Ministry? Or -- as it has always been noted, but never accepted -- is it true that the Gendarmerie operates under the Interior Minister only on paper? Yesterday I asked the Interior Ministry whether the Gendarmerie briefed the minister after the Semdinli incidents or whether Aksu called Gendarmerie General Commander General Fevzi Turkeri for receiving information on the issue. These questions remained unanswered until this article was written in the evening.

The tension that prevails in Hakkari expanded from Semdinli to Yuksekova yesterday. Until the evening two people died and 20 were injured in the clashes that emerged between the crowd that protested against the Semdinli incidents and the security forces.

The fact that three soldiers died in the vehicle that hit a mine near the Baskale District of Van immediately echoed during the session that was held at the TBMM.

There is something that separates Semdinli from Susurluk. As a matter of fact this makes the Semdinli incident more important than the Susurluk incident. The Susurluk incident had exposed a gang within the state (yes, a gang that had come together due to the war against the PKK, but that had been established prior to 1980).

The Semdinli incident, on the other hand, (regardless of how the facts will be exposed) is being perceived as an incident that is directly linked to the PKK problem as well as to the Kurdish problem (it is necessary to separate the two problems).

A report that arrived from Copenhagen just when these discussions continued resulted in a deeper frown. Prime Minister Erdogan had reportedly cancelled the joint press conference that he intended to hold with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen due to the fact that his Danish counterpart refused to ask the correspondent of Roj TV (which broadcasts from Denmark) to leave the conference hall. Looking from one corner, you may see that Erdogan reacted in this manner because he did not want anyone to continue to play with Turkey's pride. When you look from the other corner, however, you can see that the PKK problem and (it is necessary to separate the two problems) the Kurdish problem have reached a dimension that may seriously harm Turkey's relations with its allies and that all this has begun to jar on Erdogan's nerves.

An additional example from Copenhagen also showed that Erdogan is under nervous pressure. Erdogan said the following in the face of the decision reached by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the Islamic headdress: "The court does not have the authority to rule on this issue. Only a Muslim theologian is authorized to rule on this issue. If this is commanded by the faith, you should respect it. And I am saying that this is commanded by the faith."

This means that Erdogan, who can react in the most nationalist manner where the PKK is concerned, is able to react in a way that calls for taking religious criteria as basis in state affairs where the Islamic headdress is concerned. Erdogan may face unprecedented reaction as a result of this remark.

I had a conversation with a group from Erdogan's close circles several weeks ago. During the conversation I had the impression that they are actually not in favour of early elections and that the AKP may only be forced to go to early elections if the problems with the PKK intensify/are driven to intensify both at home and abroad. The group members believed that early elections (especially given that the AKP may lose vote to the Felicity Party due to Islamic headdress issue and to the Nationalist Action Party due to the PKK) may turn plans related to Erdogan's presidency as well as other plans related to the latter upside down. It is time for Erdogan to take this possibility into consideration.

/SK

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