Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-06-15

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The so-called Assembly discussed the ban on media imposed by the Office of the Turkish Chief of the General Staff

[02] Turkish Cypriot NGOs protested against the construction of a high voltage transformer in occupied Karpasia region

[03] Statements by Soyer on the construction of the high voltage transformer in occupied Karpasia region

[04] Gonyeli infrastructure Master plan started yesterday

[05] German Parliamentarian called on Turkey to fulfil its responsibilities regarding Cyprus

[06] Sezer should decide today on the package of reforms to the Turkish constitution

[07] Law expanding Police authority in Turkey goes into effect

[08] Turkey to establish Buffer Zone in North Iraq. US and Iraqi Kurds opposed

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[09] Invasion and occupation

[10] Columnist in Sabah comments on the ban imposed by the Turkish General Staff on Turkish Cypriot mass media

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The so-called Assembly discussed the ban on media imposed by the Office of the Turkish Chief of the General Staff

Addressing the Assembly Communal Democracy Party (TDP) member Mustafa Akinci referred to recent developments in the occupied areas as regards the ban on certain media establishments. He said: Unfortunately there is no democracy in Turkey, and not at all in the TRNC. What happened during the last two days here once more demonstrated the level of our democracy.

Akinci went on and said that as a community if they do not raise their voice nothing will happen in the occupied area and this will be considered an invitation to more serious interventions.

Replying to Akinci, the self styled Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that as long as the Cyprus problem was not solved they need the presence of the Turkish army. He said that this situation will change with a settlement. He urged people to maintain the present situation without creating further tension in their relation with the army.

(MHY)

[02] Turkish Cypriot NGOs protested against the construction of a high voltage transformer in occupied Karpasia region

Representatives of 20 NGOs staged a protest action in front of the Republics Assembly to protest the governments plans to build a high voltage transformer in an area between the village of Dipkarpaz (occupied Rizokarpaso) and Cape Zafer (occupied Apostolos Andreas Cape).

During the action, representatives of the organizations read out statement and opened placards criticising the plans to build a transformer in the area and presented to Members of the Parliament with a memorandum listing their complaints and counter views.

Speaking to the press during the action, the Head of the Green Peace Movement Dogan Sahir accused the government of keeping its eyes closed to the destruction of the environment and natural beauties of the country.

Reminding that the Karpaz (occupied Karpasia) peninsula was declared a 2000-Natura site by the European Union, Mr Sahir called for the immediate cancellation of the tender opened by the Ministry of Finance for the building of the transformer.

Claiming that there was no need to build a transformer in an area which he said, was not a centre of population, he said alternative energy sources, such as solar energy, could be used for the premises in the region.

Later, representatives of the NGOs handed out petitions to members of the parliament explaining the importance of the region.

The group was also received by the Speaker of the Parliament Fatma Ekenoglu and asked her support for the cancellation of the tender.

They pointed out that the Karpaz region (occupied Karpasia) which was declared as a `National Park`, was a natural heritage and said that the building of a transformer would destroy the environment giving a blow to the planned development of tourism.

For her part, Mrs Ekenoglu promised to consider the demands of the organizations and to discuss the issue with government officials.

After the meeting, NGO representatives entered into the parliament where they opened placards protesting the plans to build a new transformer in the region.

[03] Statements by Soyer on the construction of the high voltage transformer in occupied Karpasia region

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer has said that the planned construction of a high voltage transformer between Dipkarpaz villages (occupied Rizokarpaso) and the Cape Zafer (occupied Apostolos Andreas Cape) at the tip of the Karpaz Peninsula was necessity.

The Prime Minister gave the reassurance that utmost care and attention will be given to protect the environment while building the transformer.

Speaking on the issue at the Republics Assembly, Prime Minister Soyer said that he was cautiously following developments on the sensitive issue of bringing electricity to the Karpaz Peninsula.(occupied Karpasia)

Explaining that the government will be addressing the issue with great seriousness, the Prime Minister said that the Apostolos Andreas Monastery faced the threat of sliding into the sea, and that electricity was required in the renovation and repair of the church building.

He noted that it was possible to use power generators to conduct renovation and repair work at the building but added that an alternative and feasible solution was supplying 11 thousand megawatts of electricity to the area.

Pointing to the importance of taking necessary measures to ensure the protection of the surrounding environment while bringing electricity to the area, the Prime Minister underlined the need to seek the views of the relevant institutions.

The Prime Minister added that the cost of producing solar energy was too expensive for the government to cover.

[04] Gonyeli infrastructure Master plan started yesterday

(MHY)

[05] German Parliamentarian called on Turkey to fulfil its responsibilities regarding Cyprus

(MHY)

[06] Sezer should decide today on the package of reforms to the Turkish constitution

The paper publishes the news under the title Decision day for Sezer on the constitution package and writes that the time for the President to examine the package has been completed, that before him he has three options, and adds: The President of the Republic may approve the package as a whole, refer it to a referendum, or, he might separate article 1 which was approved by 366 votes and send it to the Constitutional Court. In the political backstage the view is heard that the President may refer again article 1 of the package to the Parliament since it did not receive enough votes.

Subtitle: Referendum is expected

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is counting on the future of the package being sent to referendum. The Deputy Chairman of the AKP parliamentary group, Mr Sadullah Ergin said: We do not know what the President will do. If the existing Constitutional rules are rendered useless and if windows for implementations at will are sought, one cannot assess the result. Stressing that the package was sent again to the President one for one in the same way, he concluded: We expect it to be approved in its entirety or be referred to referendum.

Subtitle: The AKP will not cause difficulties to the parliament

Another important action expected at the Presidential palace is the law reform which will secure the referral to referendum on 22 July of the constitution package. The period for the President to examine the package ends on 18 June. If the President vetoes this reform the holding of a referendum on 22 July is made difficult. If AKP insists, it might call for an extraordinary session and attempt to send the law to the President for a second time. But the AKP leadership does not plan to call for an extraordinary parliament session if the law on the referendum is vetoed.

(KVr)

[07] Law expanding Police authority in Turkey goes into effect

The law no. 5681 that expands the authority of Turkish Police went into effect.

Police forces from now on will be able to stop individuals and vehicles and conduct a search in cases where they believe there is a valid reason to do so. With the new police law, individuals applying for gun permits, driver licenses and passports will have to submit finger prints. Police will obtain finger prints also from individuals who want to become private security officers, who apply for Turkish citizenship, who apply for asylum in Turkey, who get detained by security forces, and, in rare cases, who are foreigners.

The records of finger prints and photographs will be in the computer system for eight decades.

In circumstances where police meet resistance while conducting legal procedures, police officers will be able to use guns.

[08] Turkey to establish Buffer Zone in North Iraq. US and Iraqi Kurds opposed

It has been learned that, at the high-level meeting on security, there was discussion of sending reinforcements in order to establish a "buffer zone" in Northern Iraq, extending 3 - 15 kilometers from the border. Kurdish sources have also confirmed that there is a [Turkish] desire for such an arrangement.

It has been learned that in order to prevent members of the [PKK] terrorist organization from infiltrating across the border, Turkey has brought up the reinforcement of the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] elements in Northern Iraq in such a way as to function as a "buffer zone" at certain points.

The "reinforcement" plan, which was laid out at the high-level security meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister, calls for TSK elements to be moved to a point at which they could establish a "buffer zone" 3 to 15 kilometers deep at critical points along the border. It is also noted that the government plans to engage in efforts with the US and Iraqi governments in order to dispel their objections in this regard.

It has been learned that, in the "summit" meeting held the evening before last in the Office of the Prime Minister, the military noted that it is difficult for the struggle against terrorism to be waged without border security having been fully established. It is stated that the military pointed out that, if infiltration were prevented entirely, the organization's militants would suffer logistical shortages, and with area control established through operations, it would be easier to combat terrorism within the country.

It was noted within this context that it is planned to increase the number of thermal cameras that monitor the region, as well as of patrol teams.

Turkey currently has a military presence at various control points in Northern Iraq that is spoken of as being between 1,000 and 2,000 men.

It is stated that the final decision on the buffer zone idea may be made at the National Security Council [MGK] meeting that will take place on 20 June. Kurdish sources in the region have claimed that Turkey has been engaged in discussions on the issue of buffer zones for some time both in the political and in the military area.

The Kurdish sources claimed that the formation of buffer zones extending from 10 to 15 kilometers toward the plains of Northern Iraq in a major portion of the 300-kilometer mountain border is being aimed at. The Kurdish administration has claimed that, with this project, the region will be depopulated, dozens of villages will be moved away from the border, and thousands of people will be forced to leave their homes.

One peshmerga [Iraqi Kurdish military] official, who declined to give his name, charged that the Turkish administration has committed to paying money, under the name of compensation, to families for the villages that would be vacated in the region.

It is stated that, at the summit in the Office of the Prime Minister, the topic of making new investments in Southeast Anatolia also arose, and that within this framework, it was deemed appropriate for the Finance Ministry to release an additional allocation of 200 YTL [New Turkish Liras] for dams and water canals.

On the same issue, Turkish NTV television (14.06.07) broadcast the following:

The United States of America, and the Kurdish groups in Northern Iraq, do not look warmly on the idea of Turkey's establishing a buffer zone in Northern Iraq.

US diplomatic sources have stated that, to date, no discussions have been held on this topic between Turkey and the United States.

An American diplomat who spoke with NTV [television] said that they did not possess information regarding the idea of a buffer zone.

The US diplomat also pointed out that a unilateral intervention into Northern Iraq would create danger from the standpoint of Iraq's stability.

Meanwhile, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan [PUK] representative in Ankara, Bahroz Galali, said that "Turkey's establishing a buffer zone 15 kilometers wide is unacceptable."

Galali asserted that the issue of combating the PKK terrorist organization should be dealt with in a three-way mechanism among Turkey, Iraq, and the United States.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[09] Invasion and occupation

A friend called for me

- Did you apply to attend tomorrows military exercise too?

- No, we did not

- We have applied You cannot believe in what reply we got. We called the commandership of the Security Forces. They put us through to a Major. We asked whether we could participate (with the journalists for the exercise). You cannot participate, he said.

When we asked why, (the reply was) So is the procedure Who applies this procedure?

The leadership of the General Staff of the Turkish Republic Some newspapers also sought for permission on this issue. To the great majority they gave no permission. It was known that they will not say the reason either.

We wanted to get information on the issue by dialling the number given.

In any case our newspapers opinion and of peoples calling on the phone were expressed in Sener Levent´s column Angle as main leader in Wednesdays issue of AFRIKA.

Others called SIM FM radio

We expressed our views to them as well.

The conflict between the military and the civilians in Turkey has been transferred here as well.

The Cyprus problem too is the soft belly of Turkey, like the Kurdish and Armenian problems.

The Turkish Armed Forces are not thinking about these issues in a peaceful and solution-oriented approachThis is the nature of the army in any caseThe Turkish Armed Forces are the only army in the world which owns a state. The northern part of Cyprus which has been occupied is under their control. They do not want to make a single step back

Think that if these three problems are solved the power of the Turkish Armed Forces is terminated!

The army will maintain its position as long as it is able to put the problems on the top the agenda.

Some newspapers reacted to the commandership of the Security Forces classifying the media into white and black lists.

In yesterday´s newspaper editions there were reactions in the form:

We said ´yes´ but they do not take even us to the exercise

As I said above the Turkish army is of a fascist nature They cannot tolerate neither the democrat, the liberal, the leftist or I dont know whom.

Have a look at whom they gave permission to All of them declare with every opportunity that they are wholeheartedly bound to the motherland

However, to say ´yes´ and implement an order coming from Ankara is one thing and to succumb to the army is another.

If you change course and extend support to them, even if there are fundamental reasons, they do not give a damn about people like you

The only thing that should be done is to speak loudly and inform the world that our free will cannot be expressed, the control here is in the hands of the Turkish Armed Forces and there is no right to live outside of their orders.

Ferdi (Sabit Soyer) and (Mehmet Ali) Talat were saying that we have a better democracy than in the south.

What has become of it? Of which military coup in number is this ruin? These matters will not end this way

As long as you continue to allow the perpetuation of unwanted activities behind their duties, they will deal a blow to you too and not limit themselves to the non-acceptance in the exercise.

Leave aside your complex of Those who say there is occupation in Cyprus will be proven to be right.

There is invasion and occupation, gentlemen! Occupation and invasion.

[10] Columnist in Sabah comments on the ban imposed by the Turkish General Staff on Turkish Cypriot mass media

The author refers to a debate held in the self-styled Assembly of the occupation regime yesterday during which the so-called Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer expressed his disgust regarding the ongoing discrimination among the Turkish Cypriots and Turks from Turkey. Soyer in his speech in the so-called assembly shrieked: We have been subject to unfair smearing campaigns and attacks. We have been accused of selling out the country. We are tired of listening to these people but they are not tired of telling these allegations to us.

Mr Erdal Safak then gives the pretext put forth on why the Turkish Chief of the General Staff banned these media establishments in Cyprus to cover the exercise and says that people are asking: How come an army which is tasked to defend a people and its press institutions could declare us enemies?

The writer goes on: Let us turn a deaf ear to criticisms that will come from the EU that it has once more become clear that the North Cyprus is under the military vassalage.

And Mr Erdal Safak concludes: However, we have to see a reality: We are losing the Turkish Cypriots.

(MHY)

EG/

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