Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-11-30

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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 repeats the subordinate regime´s determination to prevent the Turkish Cypriots from shopping in the government controlled areas

[02] Education trade unions to protest against the measures by the occupation authorities

[03] Two Centers in the TRNCs foreign Policy

[04] References to Cyprus in the resolution passed last week at the Political Affairs Committee of the Asian Parliamentary Assemblys 2nd General Assembly meeting in Tehran

[05] Tahsin Ertugruloglu is holding contacts in Turkey. Ankara suggests the conducting of early elections in occupied Cyprus

[06] Turkish President Gul meets his Serbian counterpart Tadic

[07] Priest from Turkey´s Syriac Christian community was kidnapped

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in Sabah comments on allegations about a Turkish Federal State which will include occupied Cyprus

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Soyer repeats the subordinate regime´s determination to prevent the Turkish Cypriots from shopping in the government controlled areas

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer has said that his government was determined to implement the measures taken at border crossings between the two sides.

Speaking on a program on BRT, the Prime Minister also reminded that meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, including chocolates, could not be brought from the South to the North as part of the precautionary measures taken against the foot-and-mouth disease, which was seen again in South Cyprus.

Mr Soyer called on the people to show the necessary sensitivity to the issue.

[02] Education trade unions to protest against the measures by the occupation authorities

The decision to form the trade-union platform was announced at a press conference held at the Cyprus Turkish Secondary School Teachers Union local in Lefkosa.

Speaking on behalf of the platform, the President of the Eastern Mediterraneans Academic Staff Union Huzeyin Ozkaramanli said that the platform was established with the aim of waging a more effective struggle against what he described was the failure of the government to protect education workers rights.

Stating that workers in the education sector were being subjected to undemocratic practices, Mr. Ozkaramanli said the platform was determined to defend any violation of rights committed against union members.

Meanwhile, the platform will be staging its first action tomorrow at the Metehan crossing point to protest the governments clampdown against Turkish Cypriots shopping in South Cyprus.

[03] Two Centers in the TRNCs foreign Policy

The paper writes that according observers close to the presidency the audacity of the foreign minister is increased and he is having contacts taking his own initiatives, without even informing the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

The paper notes that the fact that the Turkish Foreign Ministry is laying its hand on the TRNC Foreign Ministry through Avci opened the road to the creation of two foreign policy centers in occupied Cyprus, one with Avci and the other one with Talat. According to the paper, this is the reason why Talat appointed Ozdil Nami and Kutlay Erk as specials envoys, in order to represent him abroad.

The paper goes on and writes that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is bound by AKP, are responsible for the situation created. Talat is uneasy because of Avcis activities abroad, while Avci is worried about Talats initiatives. The paper, invoking political observers, writes that high political reasons are behind these circumstances and notes that this situation cannot continue for long.

The paper further writes that the results of AKPs cruel interference will be the breaking down of the coalition government and notes that Talat must either bend the knee or strip Avci of his duties.

(CS)

[04] References to Cyprus in the resolution passed last week at the Political Affairs Committee of the Asian Parliamentary Assemblys 2nd General Assembly meeting in Tehran

The Asian countries as well understood that it is the Greek Cypriot side that does not want peace, Avci concluded.

(MHY)

[05] Tahsin Ertugruloglu is holding contacts in Turkey. Ankara suggests the conducting of early elections in occupied Cyprus

Mr Ertugruloglu met with the Turkish State Minister Cemil Cicek on the 28th of November and following the meeting he had dinner with the leading group of the Justices and Development Party (AKP) and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the dinner, which lasted for about four hours, the latest developments in the internal politics in occupied Cyprus were evaluated.

The paper, invoking reliable sources, writes, inert alia, that some AKP officials follow the latest developments in the TRNC and they stated that in the current situation the stability in the TRNC can be safeguarded.

The AKP representatives noted that the only solution in the internal politics in occupied Cyprus now is the early elections. The paper also adds that the date of the elections was not discussed but an official of the AKP asked Mr Ertugruloglu: Why should elections not be held in February 2008?

(CS)

[06] Turkish President Gul meets his Serbian counterpart Tadic

Turkish President Abdullah Gul met Thursday his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic at Cankaya Presidential Residence.

The two presidents held a joint press conference after the meeting where Gul said they discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues.

Gul said possible steps which can be taken jointly to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Balkans were also taken up during his meeting with Tadic.

We are attaching great importance to the stability in the Balkans and we believe that problems of the region will be solved through peaceful means, Gul said when responding to a question about the Kosovo issue.

"I sincerely believe that Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina will all be a part of the European Union one day and I think that these countries can settle their issues in peaceful dialogue," Gul said.

Serbian President Tadic also paid a courtesy visit to Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan.

President of Serbia Boris Tadic said that Turkey and Serbia should eliminate the prejudices towards each other.

Holding a joint press conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Thursday, Tadic said that there is a big potential for Turkish businessmen to invest in Serbia. Tadic added that Turkish Efes Pilsen Company has investments in two cities in Serbia, expressing belief that Turkey has more potential in this area.

Noting that both Turkey and Serbia have some problems, Tadic said that the biggest problem of Serbia is the future of the status of Kosovo which concerns the integrity of the country.

Tadic said that Kosovo is past of Serbia as well as it is a national interest. He stressed that Serbia does not want a war.

Tadic said that Serbia asks from Turkey to act consistent regarding Kosovo issue, thus the relations between the two countries can further develop.

When a reporter asked what kind of assurance they gave to the Turkish side regarding the high Muslim population in Kosovo, Tadic said that Serbia is a democrat country, adding that religious rights in Serbia are protected by constitution.

[07] Priest from Turkey´s Syriac Christian community was kidnapped

Politicians, government officials and muftis issued statements on Thursday condemning the kidnapping of a priest from Turkey's Syriac Christian community in the country's Southeast, saying that security forces were on the alert to find the clergyman.

A car belonging to Edip Daniel Savc1, 43, was reportedly found abandoned near the town of Midyat in Mardin province on Wednesday. The kidnappers allegedly called Syriac Culture Association head Yohanna Aktas and demanded 300,000 euros in return for Savc1 s release.

The kidnappers called a second time and said, Be smart; well kill him if you dont bring 300, 000 euros, according to Anto Nuay, a local clergyman.

Interior Minister Besir Atalay said on Thursday he was deeply saddened by the incident and added that the security department was working on the situation with great sensitivity. He said the gendarmerie commander and the National Police Department chief were personally following the case.

Syriacs and Muslims have been living in peace for centuries, and such incidents cannot harm the feelings of brotherhood between the two communities, Mardin Governor Mehmet K1l1įlar said on Thursday.

The governor visited the Mor Yakup Monastery in Bar1stepe Village where Savc1 was abducted. Commander of the Diyarbak1r Gendarmerie Gen. Celal Citak accompanied the governor. The Deyrulzafaran Monastery s Metropolitan Salibe Ozmen and Deyrulumur Monastery s Metropolitan Samuel Aktas welcomed the governor.

It is disgusting and repulsive, Kiliclar said speaking to journalists here. Saying that security forces had been exerting the utmost effort since the incident occurred, he added: Not only Mardin, but neighboring cities and Ankara are using all their technical and human resources to solve the incident.

He said they still had hope that Edip Savc1 would be rescued unharmed. The governor left after talks with the metropolitans that were closed to the press.

Meanwhile, three people, including the village head and his son, were taken into custody for questioning over the incident. A written statement released by the Governors Office later on said a crisis desk had been set up and that a Midyat prosecutor had launched a legal investigation. There was no immediate clue as to whether the kidnapping had any ideological or political motives. Also late Thursday afternoon, the police investigation revealed that the priest had been abducted in a green luxury automobile. Police are currently searching for a vehicle fitting this description.

Subtitle: Anger over priest abduction

Turabdin Metropolitan Mor Timateos Samuel Aktas said in a written statement that, The large-scale effort our state has shown since the minute the incident was reported strengthens our hope that he will be released unharmed. We thank all the officials for the outstanding efforts they have made so far and [those] they will [make] after this time.

Mardin Mufti Mehmet Kizilkaya also released a statement, saying the people of Mardin, who had been living in peace for centuries, were deeply saddened by the incident. I strongly condemn this repulsive incident directed at the peace of our society. He said also said kidnapping had no place in Islam.

Turkeys Syriac Christian community numbers an estimated 25,000 and is based mainly in Mardin, in the Southeast, and in Istanbul.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[08] Columnist in Sabah comments on allegations about a Turkish Federal State which will include occupied Cyprus

The Turks call the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as daughter land.

The article is based on a book by former MIT (National Intelligence Organisation) member Mahir Kaynak and journalist-writer Omer Lutfi Mete under the title: Operation: The Secret Codes of the Great Game, to be released shortly.

In the book it is argued that the Kurdish formation in Northern Iraq is simply a daughter land like the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with its own government with a loose federation, being independent in its domestic affairs but in its foreign relations it will be under the auspices of Turkey.

Erdal Safak, commentating on the book says: Had it not been to an important strategist diplomats similar views, one could describe the book as the product of two researches having very broad imagination. He then quotes a recent statement made through telephone to a panel conference on the Kurdish issue organised in London, by former US Ambassador to Croatia Ambassador Peter Galbraith, who said: If Northern Iraq gains its independence, it will be an independence tied to Turkey. He then quotes Dr Ismet Turanli, a prominent gynaecologist in Turkey whose mother a Turk and his father is a Kurd, who deals with the solution of the Kurdish problem. He sent an e-mail message to Mr Safak and said: The Kurds´ homeland is Mesopotamia, which is within the boundaries of the former National Pact (Misak-i Milli) of 1920. The TRNC, Northern Iraq and South-eastern Anatolia should each be a province within Turkeys structure; thus Turkey becoming the biggest state in the Middle East. This integration will be acceptable to the Turkish Cypriots and the Kurds, as well as to the USA and to the EU, which want a stable, democratic and prosperous Turkey.

Erdal Safak then expresses his fears and points out the possible dangers regarding such integration. He says that such dreams could turn into nightmare. He says that in order to realise such a structure first of all Turkeys state structure should change radically. It is inevitable to go from the Unitary State to a state having a federal structure.

He then expresses his second concern that federations are doomed to dismantling, and asks What would happen if Northern Iraq comes up and says I gave up the federation, I want full independence? Are you in a position to hold on the South-east or could you defend it?

Just think about the map, which will come up. No, just think, because the map is ready. US Colonel Ralp Peters has already drawn it. It is the map, which was put on the table at the NATO meetings, and which was published in the US Armys magazine.

(MHY)

EG/

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