Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-09-29

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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 occupation regime is giving every support to the Orams couple

[02] Details on Talats meetings in Strasburg in the framework of his visit to Strasburg

[03] Details on Turgay Avcis contacts in New York

[04] A delegation of Turkish Cypriot organizations to participate in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Warsaw.

[05] Gul: Christofias extended his hand at a party. It was not right to pull my hand back

[06] Statements by Sener Elcil, General Secretary of KTOS: Land destined for the construction of schools, has been given to the occupation army

[07] Two Dutch citizens have been arrested for taking photos in a military zone in occupied Varosha

[08] Increase of the narcotics trade cases in occupied Cyprus committed through the free areas

[09] The 3rd International Great Turkish Language Assembly took place at the illegal Lefka European University

[10] Turkey accelerates missile acquisition projects

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] How young Turks approach religion

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The occupation regime is giving every support to the Orams couple

In the case of this English couple which influences the Turkish Cypriot side as well, experts at the highest level have offered services, arguments, helped in the preparation and exerted efforts. From this point of view let us feel at ease. She said that the TRNC is not a side in the case, that this is not possible in a way and added that the TRNC is showing the necessary sensitivity in the case by giving every kind of support to the Orams couple.

(CS)

[02] Details on Talats meetings in Strasburg in the framework of his visit to Strasburg

On the same day, the Turkish Cypriot leader will hold meetings with Yavuz Mildon, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Terry Davis, Secretary General of CoE and the President of PACE, Lluis Maria de Puig, while he will attend a dinner offered in his honour by the latter.

On Wednesday, Mr. Talat will be received by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, while at 10 o clock he will address in Turkish the PACE and he will answer to questions. The following day, the Turkish Cypriot leader will attend a dinner hosted by the Turkish Ambassador in Strasburg.

On Thursday, Mr. Talat will be received by the President of the European Court of Human Rights, Jean Paul Costa and later on the day, Mr. Talat will return to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (27.09.08) reports that the PACE autumn session will be also attended by the self-styled Morphou deputy of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Mehmet Caglar, the self-styled National Unity Party (UBP) deputy of occupied Lefkosia, Huseyin Ozgurgun and the self-styled assistant director of the press, foreign relations and protocol of the so-called assembly in the occupied areas, Hulya Guneyli.

(ML)

[03] Details on Turgay Avcis contacts in New York

According to the newspaper, as a part of his contacts in New York, Turgay Avci met with the Qatari Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Halid Bin Muhammed El-Atiya and the Azeri Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov.

As Kibris writes, Turgay Avci has thanked the Qatari minister for the understanding and the support given by Qatar on the opening of a TRNC office in the capital of Qatar, Doha, and expressed his wish that this will serve as an example to be followed by the other Islamic countries as well. During the meeting, the two men also considered the future efforts that will be taken in the areas of trade, tourism and education between Qatar and the pseudo-state. Turgay Avci was received by Dr. El-Atiya at Qatars office in the UN headquarters.

Regarding the meeting with the Azeri Foreign Minister, Kibris writes that the two men considered issues and decisions to be taken related to the development of the relations between the two countries, while the will was expressed for exchange of visits after the formation of the new Azeri Cabinet that will come about after the presidential elections to be held in Azerbaijan next month.

As a part of his contacts in New York, Turgay Avci was also received by the UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe at the UN headquarters. During the meeting, the two men discussed the recent developments on the Cyprus problem, the attitude of the Greek Cypriots that had hardened and the speech that President Christofias addressed at the UN General Assembly which included points unacceptable by the Turkish side.

In addition, Turgay Avci attended a reception hosted by the Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

On Turgay Avcis contacts, illegal Bayrak television (27.09.08) broadcast the following:

Foreign Minister Turgay Avci has addressed the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Foreign Ministers Coordination Meeting in New York. Here he called for the observer status of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to be changed to full member of the OIC. He also said that he was very honoured to be able to take part in the meeting.

Reminding that Turkish Cypriots had been subjected to violence by Greek Cypriots through 1963-1974, Mr. Avci said the 20th of July 1974 Turkish peace operation had saved the Turkish Cypriot people from total annihilation.

Informing the participants of the new negotiations process that has started in Cyprus as of 3rd of September, he said the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to support a solution based on the United Nations parameters and one that would not allow them to live again the bitter experiences of the past.

He stressed that the solution to the Cyprus problem is based on the parameters of the bi-zonality, the political equality of the two peoples, the equal status of the two founding states and Turkeys effective guarantee.

But the Greek Cypriot sides illogical requests on land issues, power sharing and guarantees are negatively affecting the negotiations process, he added.

Mr. Avci also pointed to the importance of cooperation and good will between religions and expressed concern over the rising intolerance against the Muslim world.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Turgay Avci met with Turkeys Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Professor Doctor Ekmeleddin Ihsannoglu separately on the sidelines of his meetings in New York.

During his meeting with Ali Babacan the two men discussed the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue and exchanged views on the newly restarted negotiations process in Cyprus.

Mr. Avci attended a working lunch with Ekmeleddin Ihsaonglu. Here they discussed arrangements the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was planning on making the following year with OIC member countries.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.09.08) writes that Mr. Avci addressing the OIC Foreign Ministers Coordination Meeting also announced that the Tourism Forum of the Islamic Countries will be held in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus between 27-29 October.

On Mr. Avcis contacts, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.09.08) writes that Turgay Avci, held also contacts with the Jewish Lobby in New York. Mr Avci had met with officials of various organizations of the Jewish lobby at the US Jewish Congress building. Ahmet Erdengiz, the self-styled director of the foreign ministry, as well as Kemal Gokeri, TRNCs New York representative, and Hilmi Akil TRNCs Washington representative also participated in the meetings.

According to a statement issued from the press centre of the so-called foreign ministry of the occupation regime, the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, the openings of the TRNC to the countries of the Middle East and the Gulf countries and the TRNC-Israel social, economic and trade relations were also undertaken during the meetings.

As Kibris further writes, Mr Avci also visited the Public Library of New York, which is the biggest library of the world and made a donation of various books regarding TRNC. The librarys official thanked Mr Avci and stated that the donation will enrich the collection about Cyprus.

(ML/CS)

[04] A delegation of Turkish Cypriot organizations to participate in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Warsaw

According to the paper the representatives of the Turkish Cypriot organizations will make speeches regarding the violation of human rights of the Turkish Cypriots. In addition the booklet Turkish Cypriots: The excluded citizens of the European Union, will be distributed.

(CS)

[05] Gul: Christofias extended his hand at a party. It was not right to pull my hand back

(DP)

[06] Statements by Sener Elcil, General Secretary of KTOS: Land destined for the construction of schools, has been given to the occupation army

(A.K.)

[07] Two Dutch citizens have been arrested for taking photos in a military zone in occupied Varosha

According to an announcement issued by the so-called police, an investigation on the events has been launched, while the cameras of the two men have been confiscated.

(ML)

[08] Increase of the narcotics trade cases in occupied Cyprus committed through the free areas.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (28.09.08) under the title «England-Larnaka-KKTC- Narcotic line» reports that the fact the matter regarding narcotics has been taken great dimensions recently, is strongly connected with «South Cyprus». The paper reports on the arrest of the three youth as well as on the arrest of one person who came to Cyprus through Larnaka airport and was arrested by the so-called police after he tried to enter to the occupied areas having in his possession a quantity of narcotics.

(A.K.)

[09] The 3rd International Great Turkish Language Assembly took place at the illegal Lefka European University

The fist seminar took place in 2006 in Ankara, the second one in 2007 in Kyrgyzstan and the third one this year in occupied Cyprus.

(CS)

[10] Turkey accelerates missile acquisition projects

Turkey accelerated its various missile projects last Thursday when the country's military procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for the Defence Industry (SSM), issued two separate tenders for the acquisition of low and medium altitude air defence missile systems.

The SSM issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on Sept. 25 for the acquisition of Turkish Low Altitude Air Defence Missile System (T-LALADMIS).

The T-LALADMIS RFP has been issued in order to receive proposals for the direct procurement of 18 self-propelled (wheeled or tracked) armoured low altitude air defence missile systems including support equipment, training equipment, spare parts, training, other relevant services and documents and to receive optional proposals for direct procurement, co-production and co-development of 27 additional low altitude air defence missile systems, said a statement released by the SSM on Sept. 25 on its Web site.

SSM also issued an RFP on Sept. 25 for the acquisition of Turkish Medium Altitude Air Defence Missile System (T-MALADMIS).

The T-MALADMIS RFP has been issued in order to receive proposals for direct procurement of one medium altitude air defence missile system composed of one battalion headquarters and headquarters company and three batteries, each of which has a sufficient amount of launchers, missiles, radars, command-control and communication systems and other support equipment, said another SSM statement posted on its Web site on Sept. 25.

The deadline for companies to obtain an RFP for either system is Oct. 31, and their proposals are to be submitted to the SSM by Feb. 16, 2009. The SSM insists that only companies which have manufactured an air defence missile system and received an RFP have the right to submit a proposal.

The RFPs come after Requests for Information (RFIs) made in March and April of last year by the SSM in order to gather information for the T-LALADMIS and T-MALADMIS program.

Turkey also plans to purchase up to 12 long-range air and missile defence systems (T-LORAMIDS) at a cost of $4 billion, a project for which US, Chinese and Israeli companies are competing. Russia obtained an RFI for the project but wanted to produce the S-400 or S-300 missile systems as a sole competitor. Turkey has turned down the Russian proposal, advising Russian state-owned Rosoboronexport to bid in the tender.

The T-LORAMIDS program is intended to deter both conventional as well as ballistic missile threats; the system should operate effectively in low, medium and high altitudes and at long ranges. The first two systems will be located in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, and in the capital city of Ankara.

Turkey's plans to acquire different types of missile systems are intended to fill gaps in its defence system.

Subtitle: Turkey's Russian missile purchase angers Greeks

Russia's Rosoboronexport will provide Turkey with 80 Kornet-E medium-range anti-tank weapon systems (MRAWS) and 800 missiles, in a contract worth around $100 million.

Under the agreement, which was signed in late August but became public only recently, Russia will also provide Turkey 800 missiles with a range of up to 4,000 meters, tripods and related containers and accessories.

SSM sources say delivery of the systems to the Turkish Land Forces Command will take place over the next two years.

The contract is intended to meet Turkey's urgent need for medium-range missiles while it waits for domestic production of missiles purchased in 2005 from Roketsan to be completed.

Russian missiles were bought as an interim measure because Roketsan-developed missiles are not expected to be completed soon, said a local defence industry source.

Rosoboronexport made a 50 percent offset pledge to the contract price that includes a commitment that Russia purchase military Roketsan.

Meanwhile, it is not yet clear whether Russia has agreed to give unlimited usage rights of the missiles to the Turkish Land Forces Command, as set forth in a Jan. 30 RFP. However, local industry sources said a problem which occurred when Russia inquired about the sites in which the missiles will be deployed has been solved.

Some of the Russian missiles are to be fitted on tactical wheeled vehicles, for which Turkey opened a tender in December 2007.

Turkey has aging medium range Tow and Milan anti-tank missiles in its inventory.

The last arms deal Turkey made with Russia was in the early 1990s when it purchased BTR armoured vehicles and 17 MI-17 helicopters.

Meanwhile, the Greek Elefteroptia daily reported that Russia's missile sale to Turkey is causing strain with Greece, which is engaged in deep-rooted sovereignty disputes with Turkey in both divided Cyprus and the Aegean Sea.

Subtitle: Turkey to buy AMRAAM missiles

In a related development, the Aviation News Web site reported on Sept. 26 that the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to Turkey of AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), missiles guidance sections, as well as associated equipment and services. The total value of the contract could be as high as $157 million.

According to a statement released by the DSCA on Sept. 26, Turkey intends to purchase 107 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM, two missile guidance sections, missile containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, US government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program.

The statement continues: "Turkey is a partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in the region. It is vital to US national interests to assist its NATO ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defence capability that will contribute to an acceptable military balance in the area. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives."

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] How young Turks approach religion

While Turkish youth are less religious than their parents, they also worry less about a religious threat to secularism, according to a survey released yesterday.

These views and others concerning the political tendencies of Turks aged 17 to 25 were culled from a survey by ARI Movement, a nongovernmental organization, or NGO. ARI's survey also found the young generation's interest and trust in politics remain low.

Although five of 10 described themselves as "pious," Turkish youth were less religious compared to their parents, the survey revealed. Moreover, compared to the 1999 version of the survey, the number of youth who perceive anti-secular activities as a threat has decreased. ARI reached this conclusion in view of a decline in the amount of young people who said religion was a personal matter and should be separated from governmental policies.

"Adults have a determinate conception of political issues, whereas youngsters are more untroubled by the correlation of secularism and religion," said Emre Erdogan, a board member of ARI Movement.

Although the ratio of those who want to be governed by Shariah law dropped from 15 to 12 percent, "this might be attributed to a statistical error," said Erdogan.

Turkish youth were not really interested in politics and do not have faith in political figures was another finding. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is among those who have lost young people's trust. Most also do not trust Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, and Deniz Baykal, leader of the Republican People's Party, or CHP. Youth's dissatisfaction with the existing political system reveals itself through the scores they gave to political figures. Erdogan had five out of 10, Bahceli had three and Baykal had two.

"Turkish youth do not trust anyone," said Erdogan. "There is a feeling of insecurity and lack of faith toward the presidency, the government, municipalities and political parties. The military, the police and the courts are the most trusted state institutions."

As youths' trust in the political system is low, so is their interest in politics, although there has been a slight increase in interest toward politics in the last few years. In 1999 less than 45 percent of youngsters were interested in politics. The number decreased to 34 percent in 2003 and saw a 6 percent rise in 2008.

Half of the youth described themselves as nationalist, according to the survey, which revealed that 30 percent described themselves as right wing, marking a 3 percent rise compared to the 2003 survey.

The percentage of youngsters involved in NGOs has not changed in the last 10 years; only 4 percent of young people are members of NGOs.

The survey also revealed a sense of pessimism among the country's young. In total, 80 percent of the Turkish youth were worried that a political or economic crisis might erupt within a year's time. Even though they said they were satisfied with their life, they did not express optimism about the future.

Subtitle: Youngsters want to see Turkey as a part of EU

More than half of young people in Turkey want to be a part of the European Union, the survey uncovered. If there were a referendum today, 53 percent of young people would vote in favour of Turkey becoming a member of the EU. The percentage of adults in favour of Turkey's membership in the EU is more with 58 percent, demonstrating less willingness to join the bloc among the country's young.

When asked, 17 percent of young people said they would consider migrating to an EU country because there was a lack of education and job opportunities in Turkey.

"Although they are willing to go abroad to improve their life conditions, most of them don't know what they can do once they are in an EU country," said Erdogan.

The opinion poll's general conclusion was that Turkish youth were desperate about the future and their biggest complaint was not having alternatives.

The poll, the third of its kind, included 804 youngsters from 15 different cities around Turkey, including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Trabzon, Samsun, Erzurum, Malatya and Gaziantep.

EG/

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