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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-08-22Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA No. 160/08 22.08.08[A] NEWS ITEMS
[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Reactions to the attack against Turkish Cypriot property in Pyla village continueTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.08.08) reports that both the police of the Republic of Cyprus and the self-styled police of the breakaway regime arrested no one until now regarding the attack against Turkish Cypriot property in Pyla village. The paper notes that the self-styled prime minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, the self-styled minister of foreign affairs, Turgay Avci and the interior minister of the breakaway regime, Ozkan Murat will visit Pyla today at 17.00 hours in order to examine the situation. Yesterday the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas and a delegation from the National Unity Party (UBP) visited Pyla.The paper notes that referring to the incident in Pyla, Mr Soyer said that signs started to be seen from today indicating that those who do not want a solution, either they speak the Greek or the Turkish language, will exhibit various attitudes within the next few days against the solution. He described the incident as provocation and added that the Turkish Cypriots should remain calm and alert before the agent provocateurs, who started to choose individual Turkish Cypriots as their targets. Kibris reports also that the Cyprus Turkish Platform issued a statement on the same issue alleging that the incident in Pyla is a warning for those who are daydreaming about a united Cyprus. Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (22.08.08) reports that the National Unity Party (UBP) issued a statement yesterday regarding the incidents in Pyla. Under the title Initiative of the Greeks for sovereignty, the paper notes that the party expressed its anger and condemned the incident. A delegation from the UBP headed by its chairman, Tahsin Ertugruloglu visited Pyla yesterday and met with inhabitants of the village who briefed him on the events. In its statement, the UBP alleged that the experience of the past shows that this is not an isolated incident and claimed that it is a known reality that the Greek Cypriot side has been all along claiming sovereignty on Pyla village, the buffer zone and the whole of the island. The statement alleged also the following: The issue of Pyla cannot be evaluated only as provocation. It is an extension of the allegation of the Greek Cypriot side for sovereignty. Referring to the same issue, Ahmet M. Kerim, in his column in Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (22.08.08) under the title Shameful attack, argues that similar attacks have been made in the past against the Turkish Cypriots in Pyla village, which is located in the buffer zone under the control of the United Nations. Accusing the UN Peace Keeping Force of remaining spectator to the events, Mr Kerim concludes his article as follows: The situation in Pyla is actually a lesson to all of us and it is showing to the world the realities in Cyprus in a concrete manner. What are these realities? The UN Peace Keeping Force is not sufficient for providing the security in Cyprus. It is remaining spectator to the events. The security of the Turkish army is most necessary for the Turks. The incident in Pyla is showing in a clear manner to everybody the necessity of the Turkish army for the security in Cyprus. (I/Ts.) [02] Reference to Cyprus by the Turkish National Security CouncilTurkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (22.08.08), under the title Emphasis to the close cooperation with the TRNC at the NSC, reports that the Turkish National Security Council (NSC) met yesterday in Istanbul under President Abdullah Gul.In a statement issued by the secretariat of the council after the meeting, the following reference was made to the Cyprus problem: Regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem, the basic elements of the solution were discussed in detail in the light of the decision for the commencement of comprehensive negotiations on 3 September 2008. It was decided that the close cooperation and the solidarity with the TRNC will continue with a great sensitivity during the negotiating process as well. The statement noted that the NSC discussed also the situation regarding the public order and security in Turkey and the initiatives for putting an end to the conflict in South Ossetia. Turkey has all along supported that the disputes in South Caucasus should be solved peacefully on the basis of the respect to the territorial integrity of the countries, added the statement. (I/Ts.) [03] Adem said they have registered fifty five thousand illegal workers until today and added that there are still illegal workers in the occupied areasTurkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (22.08.08) reports that in an interview with Ada TV television, the self-styled minister of labor and social insurances, Sonay Adem said yesterday that they registered 55 thousand illegal workers until today and added that in spite of these measures, there are still illegal workers in the occupied areas.Mr Adem noted that the illegal workers problem exists in many places of the world and pointed out that the problem exists in countries such as Britain. He said they know that Turkish Cypriots who live in Britain employ illegal workers. Mr Adem added that even the general secretary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), Izzet Izcan has been employing illegal workers in his business and pointed out that his ministry arrested them and made the necessary procedures. (I/Ts.) [04] Oya Talat is holding contacts in BremenTurkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (22.08.08) reports that Mrs. Oya Talat, spouse of the Turkish Cypriot leader, arrived in Bremen, Germany, as a guest of Mustafa Kemal Ozturk, a member of the parliament of the Bremen province.Mrs. Talat met with Turkish employers and representatives of non-governmental organizations in Bremen and attended a lunch with Sirvan Cakici, member of the parliament of Bremen province with the Left Party, and Uwe Woltemath, chairperson of the parliamentary group of the Democrat Free Party (FDP) in the same parliament. Mrs. Talat said that as Turkish Cypriots they are expecting support regarding the peace process on the island and added: You have very important positions in Germany. I believe that you will help in our conveying the Turkish Cypriot policies to Germany first and then to Europe and the world. During the lunch, Mrs. Talat invited the participants to Cyprus and noted that with their visits to the island they could establish business relations. (I/Ts.) [05] Marian Stokes complains about the problems which the foreigners who illegally buy occupied Greek Cypriot property are facingTurkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (22.08.08) reports that Mrs. Marian Stokes, founding chairperson of the Home Buyers Pressure Group (HBPG) in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus has said that there are some problems in the constructions sector in the occupied areas of the island and referred to the problems due to mistakes committed by some building contractors and to legal gaps.In an interview with Kerem Hasan on Ada TV televisions Dispatches program, Mrs. Stokes referred to the problems which the foreign buyers of property in the occupied areas of Cyprus are facing and to ways they could be protected. She noted that the issue of transferring the title-deed to the foreign buyer of property in the occupied area has become a great problem and pointed out that the buyer is not protected enough by the law of the breakaway regime. She called on the self-styled interior minister, Ozkan Murat to make the necessary legal amendments and said that the laws should be implemented. She noted, inter alia, the following: The British and other foreigners who want to buy property in north Cyprus are living difficult days because of lack of information before buying the property. Their aim is to buy a house here and live a quiet life. However, I want to stress that as buyers they are harmed because of legal gaps and some problems deriving from the fact that some contractors do not act according to the agreements. (I/Ts.) [06] Figures on the trade relations between Turkey and RussiaIn its economic pages Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (22.08.08) gives figures as regards the trade relations of Turkey with the Russian Federation. According to the data:The trade volume between Turkey and Russia reached $28 billion by the end of 2007, By the end of 2008, the trade volume between the two countries is expected to reach $37-38 billion, An amount of $30 billion is delegated for the performance of projects in the construction business in Russia by the Turkish firms, Other projects of $4.8 billion worth have been implemented in Russia by the Turkish firms during 2007. In 2008, new projects of $6-7 billion worth will be carried out in Russia by the Turkish firms, The direct Turkish investments in Russia have exceeded the amount of $6 billion, The Russian capital invested in the fields of energy and tourism in Turkey has started increasing rapidly. (ML) [07] A meeting between Turkey and CARICOM to take place in IstanbulAnkara Anatolia news agency (21.08.08) reports from Ankara the following:A high level meeting between Turkey and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will take place between August 22nd and 23rd in Istanbul. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 11 CARICOM member countries' executives and representatives to the U.N., will be among the participants of the meeting. Finance ministers from St. Kitts and Nevis and a state minister from Dominica will also attend the meeting. Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will make the opening remarks of the meeting and will have several bilateral talks. The participants will debate bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation opportunities between Turkey and CARICOM member countries and Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) will inform the representatives of CARICOM member countries on Turkey's social and economic development policies and foreign policy. The parties will exchange views on cooperation opportunities on tourism and contractor services. [08] Turkey gives the green light for ships carrying humanitarian aid to Georgia to pass through the StraitsAll the todays papers (22.08.08) make reference regarding the decision of the Turkish Government to grant permission to ships carrying humanitarian aid to Georgia through the Straits. According to Hurriyet, two military ships carrying the flags of Spain and Germany passed through the Straits yesterday heading for Georgia. During their passage through the Straits, the ships were accompanied by Turkish naval ships. A US Navy guided missile destroyer loaded with humanitarian aid and bound for Georgia is also heading for the Straits. In the previous days, Turkey has refused to grant permission to ships to pass through the Straits, since they did not conform to standards set by the 1936 Montreux Convention.(ML) [B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS[09] Commentary by Sener Levent on the incident in PylaUnder the title The fleas of Pyla, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.08.08) publishes the following commentary by Sener Levent on the issue of the attacks against Turkish Cypriot properties in Pyla village:In 1962 when the Bayraktar and Omeriye mosques in the south had been attacked, nobody thought that these attacks might have been conducted by the TMT. (Turkish Resistance Organization) Again, during the same years, when the Embassy of Turkey had been stoned, nobody thought that this might have conducted by fanatic persons in the Turkish Cypriot side. And what about the bombing of Rauf Denktash´s law office in 1962 at the Saray square? Had it come to anyones mind that it was Denktash who placed the bomb in his office? Could it come to anyones mind during that state of utter chaos days that, this had been done by Turks and not by Greek Cypriots? Who shot at the statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk at Keryneia Gate in December 1963? Do you think that only the supporters of EOKA had written on the walls the slogan Long live Enosis [Translators Note: The unification with Greece] with blue paint? Were you surprised much when after years you learned that most of the inscriptions were done by the TMT? Very well, who is stirring up Pyla now? Who are those who broke the windows of Turkish shops, who painted Ataturk´s bust, who attempted to lower the Turkish flag in the school. Centers in south Cyprus, Ferdi Sabit Soyer says: Centers in south Cyprus Do you have any eyewitness, they would have asked the man, if he were at the court. No! There is not! However Soyer, is certain that the attacks were conducted by some centers in the south. Thats the way it is. Does a Turk break the shop windows which belong to another Turk? Does a Turk attempt to lower the Turkish flag? Does a Turk attack Ataturk´s bust? If only Soyer had read little Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, he certainly wouldnt speak like that Is the murderer not always the last suspect and not the first? Our chauvinist front did not hesitate at all to put the blame on the Greek Cypriots for this issue And they gave a lesson to those who want united Cyprus! They shouted: See what happens and stay where you are. You want United Cyprus. Behold the united Cyprus. It means that the old tricks are still popular. Are they? We shall see. Let us see how many people among us would allow themselves to be caught by the provocateurs After all, our population has been refreshed in the period after 1974. I wonder, if everybody is able to understand that these are provocations? The dimensions of the events which took place at Pyla are still not big enough to create serious concerns. However, they are important from the point of view of revealing the existence of such hostile groups who oppose to peace among us. None of us is certain that bigger and more serious events will not be experienced in the future. Certainly, it is not a coincidence that Pyla village has been chosen as pilot-area, because Pyla is a mixed village. It is the only place where the two communities live under the umbrella of the UN Peace Keeping Force. Until today it was cite as example to everybody. Look, they live together and absolutely no incident happens, it was said. Perhaps this was a small picture of the future of Cyprus. However, it was not realistic, because the administration did not belong to the Cypriots, but to the Peace Keeping Force. In other words, actually Pyla was not very different from the examples of Britain or Australia. The Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots live in the same neighborhood in London and Melbourne, they eat and drink together, and they live peacefully without fighting. The Cypriots did not fight much with each other when they were under the British governor. They started fighting with each other as soon as they took the administration into their hands. It is not necessary to exaggerate about the incidents in Pyla, but they must not be totally skipped over. There are still some people in this country who are ready to cut off ones nose to spite ones face. If they cut off ones nose to spite ones face, will they not do the same for Pyla? EG/ Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |