Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-12-09

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Erdogan congratulates Kucuk

[02] Bagis reiterates that the sides in Cyprus could be closed in a room until a solution is reached

[03] New airline to be established on 14 December

[04] Denktas says an "interim formula" will be put forward at the meeting in Geneva

[05] Ertugruloglu to establish a new party in six months

[06] Illegal YDU to sign protocol on tourism with European tour operators

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[07] Polish PM: "Cyprus problem not a black and white issue"

[08] "Turkey, Israel seek a way out of diplomatic crisis"

[09] "Iran seeks more trade via Turkish ports"

[10] "Turkey gears up to become OCCAR member"

[11] Turkey's inflation expected to drop

[11] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Erdogan congratulates Kucuk

According to a statement by the department of public relations and press of the "prime ministry", Turkish Premier Erdogan is his message to Erdogan reiterated that motherland Turkey will continue to support the occupation regime, and Turkey's determination to be in close cooperation with the occupation regime's government.

(AK)

[02] Bagis reiterates that the sides in Cyprus could be closed in a room until a solution is reached

Bagis delivered a speech in Denmark on the relations between Turkey and the EU at a conference organized by the Danish Institute for International Studies.

Bagis said Turkey is disappointed with its EU accession process, because no other country waited for so long to join the Union. Noting that both sides win from the relations between Turkey and the EU, Bagis said Turkey has five expectations from the EU: fair accession negotiations, solution of the visa problem, more cooperation on the issue of combating terrorism, a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, and Turkey's participation in the EU summits.

Bagis argued that the Republic of Cyprus is responsible for the fact that the Energy Chapter is not opened in Turkey's accession talks.

The paper writes that the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Copenhagen responded to Bagis, who afterwards reiterated his country's views on the Cyprus problem and summarized the current process. He said the Annan Plan resulted in failure for various reasons and reiterated that even the alternative of locking all sides in Cyprus in a room until they reach a solution to the Cyprus problem could be considered. (I/Ts.)

[03] New airline to be established on 14 December

Kucuk also said that they had increased the percentage of shares allocated for the private sector in response to a high demand coming from the sector. Moreover, he said that the minimum shares an investor can buy was reduced from 250,000 to 100,000 US dollars and that a committee at the so-called ministry of public works and communications will manage the issue.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (09.12.10) reports that the self-styled council of ministers decided yesterday that the Turkish Airlines (THY) will be given 10% of the shares of the new airline company. In statements after the meeting, Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled foreign minister and spokesman of the "body", said the new company is planned to start flying at the end of March. He noted that the new company's personnel would be recruited from the employees of the bankrupted "Turkish Cypriot Airlines". He said 40-45 persons will be needed for each airplane.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (09.12.10) reports that in statements on the same issue, self-styled minister of public works and transport, Ersan Saner said the fleet of the new company will consist of three Boeing 737-800 airplanes. He noted that the company will be established with a capital of 15 million US dollars and that the businessmen, who currently possess 60 % of the shares, will take over the company entirely within five years.

[04] Denktas says an "interim formula" will be put forward at the meeting in Geneva

In statements to a private television channel, Denktas said the most negative result from this meeting will be the signing of an "interim formula". He argued that this will further prolong the period of uncertainty. He said the climate of uncertainty should cease to exist and described this situation as "the biggest problem for the people".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Ertugruloglu to establish a new party in six months

In his statements Ertugruloglu said that the aim of the party is to change the collapsed the current system of the "country" which has collapsed and to support the implementation of a "presidential system". He said the aim of the new party will be "a liberal and fair" social system.

Moreover, the paper writes that Ertugruloglu enjoys support from the grassroots of several political parties and that he has a strong team behind him.

(AK)

[06] Illegal YDU to sign protocol on tourism with European tour operators

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[06] Polish PM: "Cyprus problem not a black and white issue"

The Polish Premier had a tete-a-tete meeting with Turkey's PM Erdogan, which was followed by a meeting between delegations of the two countries. Political, military, economic and cultural ties between Turkey and Poland were discussed during meeting, as well as bilateral relations and infrastructure projects.

Moreover, Turkish daily Zaman (09.12.10, online) reports that during a joint press conference, replying to a question regarding the approach to the Cyprus problem when Poland undertakes the EU presidency, the Polish Prime Minister said that for Poland, Turkey's EU membership is "unquestionable". Tusk said that one of the conditions for the [Turkey's accession] negotiations is the solution of the Cyprus problem, which is a very sensitive issue. He also said that it is not a black and white problem and if the parties involved realized that no one is 100 percent right on the matter, a solution could be found.

[07] "Turkey, Israel seek a way out of diplomatic crisis"

Officials from the two countries ended two days of talks in Geneva on Monday without agreeing on how Israel might apologize for its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla ? a key Turkish condition for reconciliation ? but members of diplomatic circles did not rule out further talks to resolve their differences.

Recent debate has focused on whether Israel might issue a humanitarian apology or a state apology, a discussion on which Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan weighed in late Tuesday. "There is no such distinction as 'the people' or 'the state.' They [the Israelis] must apologize to the Republic of Turkey," Erdogan said.

Any Turkish-Israeli agreement could face a challenge by right-wing Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is known to oppose what he sees as bowing to Turkish demands. Diplomatic sources recently quoted Netanyahu as saying that he places "great importance" on improving ties with Turkey. If Netanyahu and the Israeli Cabinet approve a compromise with Ankara, Lieberman cannot veto it, the Daily News has learned.

[08] "Iran seeks more trade via Turkish ports"

Ambassador Bahman Hosseinpour spoke while visiting Turkey's Black Sea coast as part of a fact-finding mission on the facilities available at Turkish ports. "We want to transfer a large portion of our trade from the Gulf ... to Turkey," Anatolian news agency quoted Hosseinpour as saying. "Hence we want to make use of your ports."

The envoy, who visited Mersin on Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the Black Sea ports of Trabzon and Samsun, said the plans were backed by officials in both countries.

[09] "Turkey gears up to become OCCAR member"

Turkey, along with Finland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden, is participating in programmes managed by OCCAR without being a member of the organization. Other European nations may join OCCAR, subject to their actual involvement in a substantive collaborative equipment programme. Belgium and Spain joined the organization in 2003 and 2005, respectively.

[10] Turkey's inflation expected to drop

The bank also revised its economic growth expectation for year-end up from 7% to 7.2% anticipating a 4.9% for end of 2011. The survey put year-end current deficit level at 41.31 billion Turkish liras from 39.98 billion Turkish liras in the second survey for November.

[11] Highlights

Commonwealth of Ottoman States

In an article in Hurriyet Daily News.com, Yusuf Kanli views the Turkish foreign minister's plans for a "Commonwealth of Ottoman States," arguing that developing this "Commonwealth" might prove an asset for the designers of the Greater Middle East Project, should Davutoglu and his boss be domesticated enough to accept that the ultimate aim of the COS, like the GMEP, should be to serve to the security needs of the state of Israel."

Police brutality on students

An editorial entitled "An educational 'Bush doctrine'" in Hurriyet Daily News.com, faults police brutality exercised on demonstrating students in Istanbul over the weekend. The "Bush doctrine" can be characterized as a "pre-emptive strike" or even "pre-emptive war," and the attack on the students can be viewed as an "educational version of the notorious 'Bush doctrine," it is concluded.

Kurdish issue and 'self-defence forces'

Writing in Milliyet, Taha Akyol criticizes Ocalan's plans to set up a "self-defence forces", arguing that these forces "will serve as the PKK militia and police force." Akyol stresses that this is a completely "separatist" and "totalitarian project." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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