Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-08-09

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu's speech at Kokkina

[02] Ozgurgun's statements regarding Cyprus's gas exploration activities

[03] Serdar Denktas says that Erdogan's Cyprus policy is in harmony with his own

[04] Oymen said that Cyprus is not the basic reason for the obstacles in Turkey's EU accession course

[05] Tolga Ahmet Rasit denies reports published in the Greek Cypriot press that he will sell his property in Paphos to Paphos Municipality

[06] Bureaucratic obstacles create problems for the construction of deluxe hotels and a "custom office" in Karpassia Gate Marina in occupied Yialousa

[07] Arrests continue in Turkey for Army officers

[08] Security summit took place in Ankara

[09] "Confident Turkey plans to raise arms expenses to historic high"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

Main issue in today's Turkish dailies is Davutoglu's visit today to Syria to have contacts with Assad's regime to send strong messages. Also, other issues highlighted is the contacts of Fred Hoff in Turkey, an official from the US State Department, who is responsible for Middle East issues and his meeting with Erdogan's Chief Advisor with whom he discussed all scenarios about Syria prior to Davutoglu's departure. On Cyprus, the Turkish press publishes a written statement by the so-called foreign minister Huseyin Ozgurgun on the natural gas oil activities of the Greek Cypriot side.

[01] Eroglu's speech at Kokkina

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Eroglu alleged that although their side was striving to find a just and permanent solution to the Cyprus problem, by keeping the realities of the island in perspective, the Greek Cypriot side is still playing games and that they are trying to continue usurping the rights of the Cyprus Turkish people. "We will never give up on our statehood or give concessions on bi-zonality, existence of two people and active and effective guarantees of Turkey," added Eroglu.

He also called on the Greek Cypriot side to "give up on its dream of returning to pre 1974 years and bringing the Cyprus Turks to its knees by using its advantages at the European Union."

'We have the full support of motherland Turkey and we will not continue to play the role of the victim forever. One day we will find a way to take our rightful place in the world' said Eroglu and expressed both Turkey's and the "TRNC's'" determination on this issue.

[02] Ozgurgun's statements regarding Cyprus's gas exploration activities

Ozgurgun called the Republic of Cyprus to "give up such kind of provocative steps." He claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side was resolved to take all necessary steps and make initiatives aiming at protecting its equal rights on the natural resources of the island.

He also claimed that the Republic of Cyprus does not have the right to represent the Turkish Cypriots and make decisions on behalf of them, and said: "All bilateral agreements signed without getting the approval of TRNC are invalid. In this framework, oil and natural gas exploration activities are also illegal. It was registered in the negotiations carried out under the supervision of the UN that decisions regarding the natural resources of the island should be taken jointly by Turkish and Greek Cypriots."

Ozgurgun said also that apart from the "elected representatives of TRNC", nobody has the right to make a statement and give a decision in the name of Turkish Cypriots, and underlined that the Turkish Cypriot "people" would never accept this.

"Insistency of the Greek Cypriot administration in taking unilateral steps by disregarding solution efforts as talks are underway, creates serious question marks on the sincerity of the Greek Cypriot administration on a solution. This approach of the Greek Cypriot administration naturally casts a heavy blow on hopes to achieve a solution," he alleged.

[03] Serdar Denktas says that Erdogan's Cyprus policy is in harmony with his own

Asked to comment on the course of the Cyprus negotiations, Denktas argued that the sides implement delaying tactics and their approach is to force the other side to abandon the negotiations table. He alleged that the ground, on which the negotiations are currently held, has stopped being a ground that could lead the Cyprus problem to a solution. He claimed that the approach of the international community is very important and that a solution could be reached if a new ground is created. "If it is said that it [the process] will definitely continue on the current ground, what falls on the Turkish Cypriots will be to use time for being directed towards other targets", he argued.

Denktas said that he does not believe that a solution will be reached.

Referring to the situation in the occupied area of Cyprus, Denktas said that in the economy, they should eliminate the need of looking for a "rich uncle" and added that "early elections" are the only way out of the problems of the "country". However, he noted, this time the "people" should not act with anger and choose capable persons who know how to do the job.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Oymen said that Cyprus is not the basic reason for the obstacles in Turkey's EU accession course

Noting that only 13 chapters have opened in Turkey's accession negotiations and that various vetoes exist on 18 chapters, Oymen pointed out that Turkey's negotiations process with the EU "has been de facto suspended".

Oymen argued that there are two reasons for which the Europeans allegedly want to prevent Turkey's accession to the Union. The one is that the decisions in the EU Council are taken by qualified majority and the current balance will be spoiled because Turkey will be among the big countries of the Union. The second reason, according to Oymen, is that Turkey will be taking a big share from the budget of the EU. "In case Turkey has one MP, it will be granted an annual unrequited aid of 28 billion Euros by the European Parliament's Budgetary Committee", he said noting that this is a big amount of money and could not be found.

Oymen expressed, inter alia, the following views: "?That is, what I want to say is that Cyprus is not the basic issue. France, for example, does not say 'settle the Cyprus problem and I will lift the veto on the chapters'. Moreover, how you will solve the Cyprus problem by exerting pressure only on Turkey? Absolutely no international problem could be solved unilaterally. They do not exert pressure on the Greek Cypriots, because a practice called the Luxembourg Rule exists in the EU. When there is a problem between an EU member country and a country which is not member of the EU, the EU always supports the member country. I do not know any exceptions. Therefore, let no one expect the EU to be impartial. The mistake was committed when Cyprus became a member [of the Union]?"

(I/Ts.)

[05] Tolga Ahmet Rasit denies reports published in the Greek Cypriot press that he will sell his property in Paphos to Paphos Municipality

Speaking to illegal TAK, Rasit said that two years ago, his brother held a meeting with the Mayor of Paphos after the latest demanded to meet him in order to discuss the issue of selling to the Municipality a 15 donum [Tr. note: A donum amounts approximately to 1000 sq. meters] plot of land and a house which is built there. However, as Rasit said, there was no agreement with the Municipality and added that no other meeting ever took place, since his brother died.

Rasit went on saying that all news reports published in the Greek Cypriot press are not reflecting the reality.

(AK)

[06] Bureaucratic obstacles create problems for the construction of deluxe hotels and a "custom office" in Karpassia Gate Marina in occupied Yialousa

Also, the paper writes that even though the "Karpassia Gate Marina" is the most beautiful marina in the Mediterranean, it still lacks of a "customs office" and adds that still is not a public place that will provide the "legal entry" of foreigners who are visiting the "country" with their yachts.

(AK)

[07] Arrests continue in Turkey for Army officers

An indictment in the case was accepted by the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court late last month and the prosecutor requested an arrest warrant for the 14 suspects implicated in the case immediately after the indictment was accepted by the court.

The court accepted the request and ordered the arrest of the suspects, which include retired Generals Hasan Igsiz, Mehmet Eroz, Mustafa Bakici and Hifzi Cubuklu. Aegean Army Corp Commander Gen. Nusret Tasdeler, who was recently appointed head of the Education and Doctrine Command (EDOK) in Ankara, is also among the suspects. A total of 22 suspects are implicated in the indictment.

The suspects in the propaganda website case are being accused of "attempting to overthrow the Government" and of "leading and being a member of an armed terror organization." They are also accused of categorizing military officers according to their religious or political beliefs, possibly for future reference. Fourteen officers on active duty, four retired military officers and a civilian public servant are accused in the indictment.

The first hearing in the trial is scheduled for September 12.

[08] Security summit took place in Ankara

The two-hour meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and included Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Defence Minister 0
smet Yilmaz and other civilian and military officials. A brief statement released following the meeting said "the officials reviewed all issues concerning foreign security issues in their broadest sense." The statement did not give further details.

According to information obtained by the Hurriyet Daily News, Iran's fight against the PJAK, an affiliate of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), was largely discussed. It was learned that Iran had launched an operation on its own and was not willing to give detailed information about their results.

The PKK's financial and political centres in Europe and the measures to be taken to cut these links were also part of the meeting, as were ongoing NATO operations in Libya and the Greek Cypriot deals with international companies to begin oil and natural gas exploration in the Mediterranean Sea.

[09] "Confident Turkey plans to raise arms expenses to historic high"

"Some major spending items have just started or are starting now, including those for the purchase of [around 100] Joint Strike Fighter jet aircraft [JFSs], submarines and utility helicopters," said a senior procurement official, who spoke over the weekend to Hurriyet Daily News on condition of anonymity. "As a result, the arms spending is jumping, approaching $5 billion this year. Thank God, the general economic situation of the country is fine."

In recent years Turkey has spent just over $4 billion a year on defence procurement. Turkey's ambitious military modernization program calls for the acquisition of the most sophisticated weaponry for the Land Forces, the Navy and the Air Force. In addition, the procurement office has made local acquisition a priority in meeting the military's equipment demands.

Two large-scale programs are expected to begin this year; the first is Turkey's national long-range air- and missile-defence project for which U.S., European, Russian and Chinese companies are vying to be selected as the main contractor. Turkey's selection for the multi-billion-dollar contract is expected late this year or early next year.

Second, Turkey is preparing to soon select a Landing Platform Dock, which resembles a helicopter carrier and can carry a battalion-sized force of more than 1.000 troops overseas. Three Turkish shipyards and their foreign partners are eyeing the contract, which will be worth between $500 million and $1 billion. Turkey's decision is expected next summer.

Part of the rise in Turkey's arms procurement budget is expected to be compensated by a parallel increase in the local defence industry's export capabilities. The Turkish defence industry this year is expecting to garner between $1 billion and $1.5 billion from exports of defence-related equipment. The largest sector in the Turkish defence industry's exports business is armoured vehicle makers.

Also, under a new measure adopted by Turkey's defence procurement agency, Ankara is slated to retain at least 70% of the money it spends for defence purchases from other countries. For past contracts, this figure was 50%. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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