Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-02-15

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Soyer announced yesterday the second part of the results of the population census

[02] Cakici described the self-styled government of the breakaway regime as a puppet government formed by the AK Party

[03] Efforts to increase the loans given by the banks in order to strengthen the economy

[04] VATAN accuses the Greek Cypriots of trying to prevent the products produced in the occupied areas to be marketed in the free areas

[05] Syrians were arrested for illegally entering into the occupied areas

[06] Swedish municipalities to establish cooperation with municipalities in occupied Cyprus

[07] Chief of General Staff: No one can dare to divide Turkey

[08] A person of Turkish origin has been appointed as a cabinet member in Holland

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Soyer announced yesterday the second part of the results of the population census

According to the results, in the de jure population the total number of the TRNC citizens is 178.031. The parents of the 120.007 TRNC citizens who permanently reside in the occupied areas are born in Cyprus. The mother of 8.084 of the TRNC citizens is born in Cyprus, while their father is born in another country. The father of 4.544 of the citizens is born in Cyprus and their mother in another country.

The number of those whose parents are born in Turkey is 42.572 and their percentage is 23.91 %.

Mr Soyer alleged that the Greek Cypriots use speculations regarding the population of the occupied areas in various international platforms, distort the numbers and exert efforts to serve their political aims. He noted that it is useful to stress that time has come for discussion to be conducted on the grounds created by the real numbers and not by the allegations.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (15.02.07) refers to the issue under the title Our population is very complicated and reports that the results of the second part of the census will cause debates.

The paper describes the numbers in the two tables announced as surprising, adding that in the one table it is noted that the de jure population of the TRNC citizens born in Cyprus is 145.443 and in the other it is noted that the number of the de jure TRNC citizens is 178.031.

According to the one table, the number of those whose parents are born in Cyprus is 120.000. In the other table the number of those whose parents are born in Cyprus is 117.626.

The paper reports that in spite of the fact that the registered workers and the foreign students are not citizens of the TRNC, they have been added into the de jure population and thus this population was determined to be 265.100.

Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that the students and the workers have been included in the de jure population because they reside in the occupied areas for more than one year. Mr Soyer noted that the aim of the census was neither to establish the total number of the TRNC citizens nor to find out the number of the voters in the occupied areas.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (15.02.07) refers to the same issue under the title Here are the numbers. The paper reports that Mr Soyer said, inter alia, the following: These data should have been established and announced much earlier. We are open and transparent. We fear of nothing. What is important is the people, no matter where they have been born.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily ORTAM newspaper (15.02.07) covers the issue under the title Let whoever wants to believe it. The paper reports: The Turkish Cypriot community has not been able to know fully its own population for a long time. When you look at the census results the last part of which was announced yesterday, it seems that the uncertainty regarding the population will continue for a long time.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cakici described the self-styled government of the breakaway regime as a puppet government formed by the AK Party

In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Cakici noted that the acquisition and use of these rights by the Turkish Cypriots might force an early solution to be found on the basis of a federal bi-zonal and bi-communal Cyprus.

He said that the system has not changed in the occupied areas and that only the persons changed. Mr Cakici described the self-styled government of the breakaway regime as a puppet government formed by the AK Party.

He accused the Republican Turkish Party of establishing a coalition with those who opposed the Annan Plan. Mr Cakici noted that the community is misinformed because the civilian organizations and the media are controlled.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Efforts to increase the loans given by the banks in order to strengthen the economy

According to the arrangement, as of 1 April 2007 the banks should keep 15 % of the deposits they collect from the occupied areas ready as recourses which to be able to be turned into cash. Today this percentage is 5 %. As of 1 July 2007 it will be increased to 20 % and on 1 October it will become 25 %.

It is expected that the banks will use as credits for the internal market the money they will be forced to have available.

In statements to KIBRIS, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, self-styled Prime Minster of the breakaway regime said that the banks from Turkey are expected to offer more credits in the occupied areas with this new practice.

The percentage of the credits offered by the banks according to the deposits they collected is the following for the 2005 fiscal year: TRNC Banks: Iktisat Bankasi 75 %, Universal Bank 73.28 %, Altinbas (Creditwest) Bank 65.71 %, Turkish Cypriot Central Cooperative Bank 65.23 %, Vakiflar Bankasi 61.95 %, Asbank 56.61 %, Limassol Turkish Cooperative Bank 55.63%, Branch Banks: Garanti bankasi 13.40 %, Isbanaksi 9.16 %, Ziraat Bankasi 3.55% and HSBC 2.69 %.

(I/Ts.)

[04] VATAN accuses the Greek Cypriots of trying to prevent the products produced in the occupied areas to be marketed in the free areas

(I/Ts.)

[05] Syrians were arrested for illegally entering into the occupied areas

(I/Ts.)

[06] Swedish municipalities to establish cooperation with municipalities in occupied Cyprus

Experts on local administration- Soren Backman and Husamettin Utkutug were received by the ´Mayor´of Girne (occupied Kyrenia) - Sumer Aygin today.

Acccording to the statement issued by the Girne ´Municipality´, the two experts are in the ´TRNC´ to hold a conference on establishing cooperation between the ´TRNC´ municipalities and municipalities in Sweden as well as on the issues of local democracies and urban transformation as part of the European Union adaptation process.

The conference will be held on April the 15th and 16th in Girne and is important with its emphasis on cooperation between the ´TRNC local administrations´ and those in the EU.

Addressing the visit, Girne ´Mayor´ Sumer Aygin said that the Girne ´Municipality´ has been establishing contacts with EU countries despite of the ongoing international isolation of the ´TRNC´ and added that Girne ´Municipality´ is always ready for cooperation.

[07] Chief of General Staff: No one can dare to divide Turkey

"As long as there are dynamic forces protecting Turkey, those with the dream to divide Turkey will wake up with a nightmare and get their lessons from us. No one can dare to divide Turkey. We will do what it takes to give a lesson to those trying to divide Turkey," said General Yasar Buyukanit, Turkish Chief of General Staff, in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.

Buyukanit was the guest of honor at a reception hosted by the Turkish ambassador in Washington, D.C. Nabi Sensoy last night.

Speaking to guests at the reception, General Buyukanit indicated that no one or institution can carry Turkey to a point other than the regime determined by the constitution.

General Buyukanit stressed that Turkey is facing some tough problems currently. "The Turkish Republic has not faced so many risks, threats and problems since its establishment in 1923 as it does today. We have the Iraqi problem at our border. North of Iraq is a problem. There is the Cyprus problem.

The Caucasus region poses a potential risk. Turkey's border with Iran is a potential problem. Turkey has never had so many problems since its establishment in 1923," underlined General Buyukanit.

Referring to a resolution submitted to the U.S. Congress on so-called Armenian genocide, General Buyukanit underscored that if the resolution gets adopted by the U.S. Congress, this would insult us Turks. "We will be seriously disturbed by the adoption of such a resolution," told Buyukanit.

Buyukanit concluded his remarks at the reception by making a call to all Turkish citizens living in different countries to unite and make the Turkish Republic stronger.

General Buyukanit is scheduled to meet the U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney and U.S. President George W. Bush's National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on Wednesday.

[08] A person of Turkish origin has been appointed as a cabinet member in Holland

(MHY)

EG/

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