Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-01-23

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Trade union leader well-known for his relations with Rauf Denktas was arrested for the Ergenekon case in Turkey

[02] Turkish actor confessed that he executed in cold-blood ten Greek Cypriots during the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island

[03] Statements by Talat on the Cyprus problem

[04] Serdar Denktas asks for a memorandum on the lawsuits regarding the property issue until a political solution is reached in Cyprus

[05] Statements by Soyer

[06] New scheduled flights will start from Germany to the occupied areas of Cyprus

[07] Turkish Prime-Minister Erdogan discussed the Cyprus problem with an E.P envoy. Statements by Martin Schulz, President of the Socialist Group of EP

[08] Egemen Bagis on Turkey´s EU negotiation process

[09] Statements by Kursad Tuzmen: Turkish overseas investments reach to 30 billion dollars

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Trade union leader well-known for his relations with Rauf Denktas was arrested for the Ergenekon case in Turkey

Mustafa Ozbek, who is accused of being the financer of Ergenekon, is included among the wealthy owners of plots of land in the TRNC. Ozbek is known for his closeness to Rauf Denktas. His son is the head of ART television which broadcasts in Turkey and Cyprus simultaneously.

Star Kibris notes also that forty persons, including policemen and military officers, were arrested yesterday in Turkey during the Ergenekon operation. The attorney general stated that more arrests might take place.

The paper reports that responding to a question on this issue, the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that the Ergenekon inquiry is a problem of Turkey and added that the requirements of the laws will be fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (23.01.09) refers to the same issue under the title Is the GKK preparing for an Ergenekon operation in Cyprus? and reports that the arrest of Mustafa Ozbek created great excitement in the occupied part of Cyprus and caused comments in the direction that the turn of Cyprus came in the Ergenekon case.

The paper writes, inter alia, the following:

While a strict investigation is carried out in places which belong to Ozbek in Ankara, the fact that his property in Cyprus is not touched drew the attention. It was known that the commander of the Security Forces (GKK) visited yesterday the attorney general and met with him for two hours. However, no information could be acquired regarding the issue of the discussion.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (23.01.09) refers to the issue under the title And Ozbek is also under custody and reminds that the name of the chairman of Metal Sen trade union and owner of Avrasya TV had come onto the agenda during the Eroglu-Denktas period when he acquired a £4 million property in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Furthermore, all the Turkish newspapers report about the 11th wave of the Ergenekon investigation. In particular, Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (23.01.09) under its front-page title, Metal wave, reports that an operation was taking place simultaneously in 15 provinces yesterday and 35 persons have been taken into custody, including a union leader, military and police officers. The Turkish Police carried out an inquiry into the Turkish Metal Union and the Eurasia TV (ART) buildings. The chairman of the Turkish Metal Union and owner of ART Mustafa Ozbek, the journalist Unal Inanc, the owner of the Verso Centre of Political Studies Erhan Goksel and the General Undersecretary of the Turkish Accreditation Agency Savas Avci are among the detainees.

Moreover, according to Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (23.01.09), Mustafa Ozbek is a close friend to the former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and during the referendum in the occupied areas on 2004 on the Annan Plan in Cyprus was supporting the campaign for the NO vote.

Furthermore, as Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (23.01.09) reports, Eurasia TV (ART), the buildings of which were searched for yesterday by the Turkish Police, broadcasts in the occupied areas of Cyprus, as well. Moreover, the paper publishes the assets of ARTs chairman Mustafa Ozbek. According to Sabah, Mr Ozbek owns assets in occupied Cyprus, as well. Particularly, he owns two villas on 15 donums of land in Ayios Epiktitos area in occupied Keryneia, an apartment in occupied Keryneia, 15 donums of land in occupied Kazafani village, one apartment in occupied upper Keryneia, one apartment in occupied Omorfita, one textile factory in the Industrial area of occupied Trachonas, 15 apartments in the most luxurious district of the occupied Cyprus, fields, plots of land, a house with garden with valuable trees in it .

(I/Ts.-EA)

[02] Turkish actor confessed that he executed in cold-blood ten Greek Cypriots during the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island

According to the requirements of the scenario, we have killed people as the character of Kilic, but unfortunately in the real life I have killed ten persons for this country. One day was remaining before I was discharged from the army. Then the Peace Operation in Cyprus happened. They sent me to Cyprus from Mersin. They gave me duties in the cleanup operation where the most merciless and the bloody part of the war was taking place. I cannot do it, I cannot kill people, I am an artist, I said to the commander. Art ends here. The real life is here, the war. When I command you, you will kill, he said. The fist boy I executed was a 19 year- old soldier, who was taken prisoner. When I pointed the gun at him, he spat on my face. I shot him on the forehead. He died. In the clashes that followed I killed nine more people. After I killed them, I used to go to the headquarters and cry. The next day I was killing again. I cannot stop seeing them in my dreams. I have undergone psychological therapy for a long time. Because of this, I still cannot eat meat. I cannot see blood. The boys I have killed, the smelly bodies come to my mind. .

Under the title He shot at the forehead prisoners with their hands tight in Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot journalist Cenk Mutluyakali refers to the same issue in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (23.01.09) and points out, inter alia, the following: Of course, it was a war and in this manner innocent Turkish Cypriots and innocent Greek Cypriots-children, older people and young people-were killed. Mutual pain was experienced. Pain was experienced, deep pain, unforgettable. Therefore I do not call it Peace Operation. I cannot call it, we cannot call it. For this reason we are experiencing the peace process all together. So that smelly bodies come to no mans mind again in the future. So that no one is forced to point the gun at the forehead of a 19 year-old young person. .

The story is also reported in the Turkish daily newspapers (23.01.09) under the titles:

Milliyet: I killed ten persons in the war

Sabah: It is not a scenario; he killed ten persons for real

(I/Ts.-EA)

[03] Statements by Talat on the Cyprus problem

Mr Talat argued that this reaction of the Greek Cypriot politicians show that they are not sincere on the issue of accepting the equality of the Turkish Cypriots. Asked to comment on a public opinion poll in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus which shows that 70 % of the people trust President Christofias, Mr Talat expressed the view that this situation causes discomfort and argued that the Greek Cypriot leader tries to behave more cautiously in order to keep this support at a high level.

Mr Talat alleged that President Christofias exert efforts to please everybody and added that a solution which will be satisfying everybody is not possible. Mr Talat said he believes that President Christofias wants to solve the Cyprus problem, but if he continues his determination of trying to preserve the peoples support at the level of 70 % in order to be able to achieve the solution, he might not be able to achieve it.

He argued that what is important is carrying out the ongoing process according to its rules, taking help at a certain point and supporting the result which will come out.

Mr Talat noted that there is no road map or a text in the negotiations and added that a long time is needed for these, but conciliatory proposals might be submitted regarding issues on which there is no agreement. He noted that they will evaluate such proposals in case they are submitted. Mr Talat said that the continuation of the negotiations abroad could happen not at this stage, but in the last stage with the participation of Turkey and Greece. He added that this could be similar to the processes of the past.

Mr Talat said that the fact that the issue of administration and power sharing has been completed in the negotiations is important because this issue is the cause of the Cyprus problem. He said that more progress than he was expecting has been achieved and added that the Turkish side could not accept the proposal of the Greek Cypriot side on this issue because it is a method which has not been used in any process of the UN until now and it is contrary to the principle of bizonality. He reiterated his belief that a solution until the end of 2009 could be reached and added that the discussions on the property issue could last for one and a half month. He noted that the discussion of the economy, the relations with the EU, the territorial issue and the guarantees will follow.

Asked about his views regarding the establishment of a Turkish Cypriot National Council, Mr Talat said that he informs the political parties on the developments, he is in contact with them and all the documents and records are in their disposal.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Serdar Denktas asks for a memorandum on the lawsuits regarding the property issue until a political solution is reached in Cyprus

Mr Denktas alleged that the property issue should be solved with mutual compensations and it will be a determinant of whether the agreement for the solution of the problem will be viable. He said: The continuation of the property right, which we accept in any case, is a matter which could reach a result through compensations that will be paid by the states in the procedure for the political solution of the Cyprus problem.

(DPs-I/Ts.)

[05] Statements by Soyer

He noted that the CTP started in 2003 with the slogan Talat to be the negotiator and it is obliged to continue until the end of this process in 2009 or in the beginning of 2010 in order for peace to be achieved in this process. He said that the per capita income in the occupied areas of Cyprus was $5 thousand in 2003 and increased to $15 thousand in 2008. Mr Soyer noted that the aim of his party is to increase the number of its MPs in the forthcoming elections.

(I/Ts.)

[06] New scheduled flights will start from Germany to the occupied areas of Cyprus

In statements to Genc TV television, Mr Sanlidag noted that the flights will be taking place from the cities of Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Munich and Berlin. He noted that the agreement with Pegasus Airlines will be signed next week and described Germany as important market for them. He added that the flights that started from Italy are continuing in a positive manner and the tourists depart satisfied from the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Mr Sanlidag referred to statistical data for tourism regarding the period 2005-2008. He said that the number of tourists who visited the occupied areas was 652.779 in 2005, 715.749 in 2006, 791.036 in 2007 and 808.682 in 2008. Mr Sanlidag noted that they are preparing a new plan and measures for developing tourism in the area of occupied Morfou.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Turkish Prime-Minister Erdogan discussed the Cyprus problem with an E.P envoy. Statements by Martin Schulz, President of the Socialist Group of EP

Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Erdogan, Martin Schulz said that he met Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis.

We exchanged viewpoints on current issues during our talks in Ankara on Thursday, Schulz said. We are pleased with the Turkish government's efforts to help Turkey's EU policy gain momentum, Schulz said.

The appointment of Egemen Bagis as Turkey's Chief Negotiator is an indication of how much importance the Turkish government attaches to its EU process, Schulz said. We discussed current issues pertaining to energy and support the opening of energy chapter in Turkey's entry negotiations, Schulz said. We also discussed the issue of Cyprus and received information on the Turkish government's reform projects and steps taken regarding Cyprus, Schulz said.

´Turkey must continue with its reform policies in order to become an EU member. The EU, on its part, must carry reforms further to enable its enlargement´, Schulz also said.

[08] Egemen Bagis on Turkey´s EU negotiation process

Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Egemen Bagis said on Thursday that EU's political and economic criteria improved the member countries' democratization processes, economies and living standards.

Bagis replied to questions of deputies during a briefing on "National Program" at the Turkish parliament. Bagis said that Turkey had carried out it EU process without making any concessions regarding its national policies so far. ´If we compare Turkey's EU negotiation process to a marathon, we have run this marathon by using our breath properly so far. We will continue to manage our breath well,´ Bagis said.

Upon a question on his recent remarks describing EU as Turkey's dietician, Bagis said that EU's political and economic criteria resembled a prescription written by a dietician.

There are 27 countries which have used such prescription,´ Bagis said, noting that such criteria made those countries more democratic, improved their economies and provided better life standards for their citizens.

Bagis also said that Turkey's National Program was a modernization project which included an intense negotiation mechanism. Bagis said that Turkey should make changes on many issues such as the protection of the rights of children, more participation of women in social life, improvement of economy, liberalization of the media and improvement of freedoms. ´The result of the negotiations is full membership. There is no other alternative than full membership in the acquis,´ Bagis said.

´I also emphasize on all occasions that Turkey will not accept any alternative other than full membership. I will continue to say that," he added.

[09] Statements by Kursad Tuzmen: Turkish overseas investments reach to 30 billion dollars

Overseas investments made by Turkish companies, excluding construction firms, reached 30 billion USD, Turkish State Minister for foreign trade said on Thursday.

Kursad Tuzmen, who is on a visit to Egypt with a group of businessmen, said that Turkish construction firms have made contracts worth 23.6 billion USD annually. He said total business volume reached by Turkish contracting industry was around 130 billion USD so far.

After inaugurating CSA Textile Egypt, a subsidiary of Turkey's Abalioglu Tekstil, in an Egyptian industry zone, Tuzmen encouraged Turkish firms to invest outside the country, saying that overseas investments would boost Turkey's exports as these companies would supply their raw materials and equipments from Turkey.

Speaking about his talks with Egyptian officials, Tuzmen said that Turkish investments in this country were growing. He said Turkish and Egyptian businessmen have made hundreds of meetings and cut several trade deals at the visit, especially on sales of medical materials, textiles, clothing and machinery. ´I hope we will get good results. We, as Turkish investors, want to take part in Egypt's new developing industry zones,´ he said.

Tuzmen also said that Temsa, a Turkish coach, bus and commercial vehicles maker that launched a plant in Egypt, plans to sell 100 buses to this country.

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