Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-08-30

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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 reiterates that he wants a solution based on two "peoples" and two "sovereign states" in Cyprus

[02] Besir Atalay extends his Ramadan Feast wishes to the Turkish Cypriots prior to his illegal visit to the occupied area

[03] The International Peace Day will reportedly not be celebrated in the buffer zone by the two communities

[04] The "Turkish Cypriot Fighters Association" calls the occupation regime to stop allowing the crossing of Greek Cypriot vehicles

[05] Ersin Tatar on the breakaway regime's economy; the natural gas oil exploration and the explosion in Mari

[06] A Kazakhstani delegation of doctors is visiting the occupied area to establish relations with the "Near East University Hospital"

[07] Entry fee to occupied Karpasia peninsula to be abolished

[08] Data on the flights to be realized to and from the illegal Tymbou airport during the Ramadan Feast

[09] Friendly match between the Syrian National Team and Dogan Sports Club

[10] Erdogan stated that Turkey is dissatisfied with the EU

[11] Turkish diplomatic note to France over PKK demonstrations in Paris

[12] The Turkish Foreign Ministry issues travel warning for Syria

[13] Turkey's trade volume with 'Arab Spring' countries drops

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

The issue of a travel warning to Syria by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the statements by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan that the European Union "is holding a bias" against Turkey in its evaluations, the decrease in Turkey's trade volume with 'Arab Spring' countries by 11 % and other internal issues are some of the main stories covered in today's Turkish dailies.

[01] Eroglu reiterates that he wants a solution based on two "peoples" and two "sovereign states" in Cyprus

In a written message on the occasion of Ramadan feast and Turkey's national "victory day" of 30 August, Eroglu alleged, inter alia, the following:

"?There are realities today in the island the roots of which are based on the pains of the past. The sun rises every day over two peoples, who live on the island, two cultures, two religions and two sovereign states..."

Eroglu claimed that they continue the negotiations with patience in spite of the "obstacles, provocations and delaying strategies of the Greek Cypriots" and added: "However, we have come to the end of the road. The solution we search for is a lasting and honorable solution in which the realities on the island are not ignored and the two sovereign peoples will carry on with a new partnership. However, everybody should know that the Turkish nation is not the cause of the non-solution which continues for many years and it will never accept to be the victim and the injured party of the non-solution forever?"

Eroglu reiterated that Turkey is "the only guarantee of the independence and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (30.08.11) publishes messages of political parties and organizations on the occasion of Ramadan feast. The leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Mehmet Cakici said that the negative developments in the Cyprus problem and many fields of the internal political life of the Turkish Cypriots, especially in the economy, have poisoned the feast of the "citizens".

The leader of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) Turgay Avci said that the religious, national and spiritual values should not be weakened in order for the people to be able to live independently and freely.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Besir Atalay extends his Ramadan Feast wishes to the Turkish Cypriots prior to his illegal visit to the occupied area

Atalay added that the Turkish Government gives continuous support to the rising of the prosperity in the occupied area. "Of course, there is an embargo imposed unjustly on our Turkish Cypriot brothers by the international community," he said, noting that they exert efforts on how they can be least influenced by this. Atalay further said: "There was an energy issue on the island. In the periods of the AKP Governments, projects for the solution of this problem were produced. Basic difficulties in electricity supply were overcome. Now, efforts to transfer water to the island have begun. We hope that very soon the water problem will become history."

Meanwhile, according to the paper, during his visit in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus in early September, Atalay is expected to be accompanied by a number of businessmen and NGO officials in order to examine investment opportunities in the occupied area.

[03] The International Peace Day will reportedly not be celebrated in the buffer zone by the two communities

The paper writes that this decision of the UN caused various questions and wonders whether the UN sees any danger of provocation and conflict in the island because of the tension created due to the natural gas and oil explorations to be launched by the Republic of Cyprus.

Sener Elcil, general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS), issued a statement yesterday protesting against this stance of the UN, describing the stance of the UN as "secessionist and separatist". He called on all Cypriots "whose heart burns with the fire of peace" to gather at the Kugulu Park in occupied Lefkosia on 1 September at 6.30pm and march towards the Ledra Palace barricade.

(I/Ts.)

[04] The "Turkish Cypriot Fighters Association" calls the occupation regime to stop allowing the crossing of Greek Cypriot vehicles

Stating that the action of the Republic of Cyprus constituted "religious discrimination", Vural Turkmen, the chairman of the Association said that despite the fact the Greek Cypriot side does not recognize it, the "TRNC" will continue to exist as a sovereign "state". He went on and added that the occupation regime should stop tolerate the Greek Cypriots' religious and worship freedoms. He also said that the crossing of taxis, minibuses and cars in the occupied area should not be allowed if the Greek Cypriots do not allow the crossing of Turkish vehicles to the free areas.

[05] Ersin Tatar on the breakaway regime's economy; the natural gas oil exploration and the explosion in Mari

Tatar expressed the view that as Turkey strengthened politically and economically, this will have a positive impact on the Turkish Cypriot "people's" prosperity and security.

He reminded that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had given the message during his recent visit to the island that he would do everything possible for the creation of a real economy adding: "Erdogan's statements that Maras [fenced off city of Varoshia] will not be given back and that investments in the Karpaz region will continue to be welcomed in the "TRNC" gave us strength and confidence".

Tatar also described the "Greek Cypriot administration's" joint attempts with Israel to start exploring natural gas and oil off the coast of Cyprus as a move designed to divert the public attention.

Alleging that the Christofias Government was an unsuccessful administration bogged down with economic and financial difficulties, Tatar said that the Greek Cypriot leader had lost all support following the explosion on a military base in south Cyprus which resulted in the death of 13 people and knocked out the south's largest power plant.

[06] A Kazakhstani delegation of doctors is visiting the occupied area to establish relations with the "Near East University Hospital"

The nine-member Kazakhstani delegation participated in a one-week training on international health standards at the "Near East University Hospital" and the "Dentist Faculty Hospital".

According to the paper, within the framework of the visit, the Kazakhstani delegation signed a preliminary protocol on further participation of Kazakhstani doctors in "Near East University's" trainings.

[07] Entry fee to occupied Karpasia peninsula to be abolished

[08] Data on the flights to be realized to and from the illegal Tymbou airport during the Ramadan Feast

According to Topaloglu, the passengers are both tourists and students who study at the illegal universities.

As the paper writes, the biggest number of flights is expected to be realised on September 4, the last day of the festive period, and reach 78 flights. In addition, the most flights (192 flights) are being realised between Istanbul and occupied Tymbou. The airline companies that run their normal charter flights and the added flights for the ten-day period are Pegasus, Turkish Airlines, Atlas Jet, Atlas Airlines, Corendon, Tailwind and Sky Airlines. Meanwhile, as the paper, reports, from the beginning of next month, Sky Airlines will end its flights towards the occupied area due to its withdrawal from the Turkish market.

[09] Friendly match between the Syrian National Team and Dogan Sports Club

[10] Erdogan stated that Turkey is dissatisfied with the EU

"If it [Turkey's bid to join the bloc] does not work out, we will continue on our path under the guidance of the Ankara political criteria instead of Copenhagen's [criteria] and with the Istanbul economic criteria instead of Maastricht's [criteria]," Erdogan said in harsh words that showed the country's determination to keep up the pace of reforms, even though the Government was dissatisfied with the pace of the membership procedure.

Calling the stalled process "an eclipse of reason" on the part of the 27-nation bloc, Erdogan accused the EU member states of "not displaying the same level of sincerity Turkey does." "We have displayed a firm stance on the road for Turkey to rise up to a democracy at EU standards, and we will continue to do that in the same decisive manner," the Turkish Prime Minister said, but warned that the country was also capable of self-sustaining a transformation in its structure, through its own methods.

Repeating that the country is ready to make further moves towards a better democracy, Erdogan voiced hope that "common sense would prevail over narrow-mindedness" and that the EU would keep its promise to Turkey in line with "the spirit of the times."

[11] Turkish diplomatic note to France over PKK demonstrations in Paris

Citing diplomatic sources, the Anatolia news agency reported on Monday that the note was delivered by the Turkish Embassy in Paris to the French Interior and Foreign Ministries. The note -- concerning the demonstrations, held in front of the Turkish Embassy and also in front of the offices of the Turkish daily newspaper Zaman -- asks the French Government for better protection of Turkish offices across France. It also asked the French Government not to tolerate demonstrations held by PKK supporters.

In addition to protests outside the Turkish Embassy and the Zaman newspaper, PKK supporters also held a demonstration in front of the headquarters of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

[12] The Turkish Foreign Ministry issues travel warning for Syria

According to the statement, the developments in Syria have begun to negatively affect the safety of the life and property of citizens who have been travelling from Turkey to various places in Syria, and those who have been passing through Syria in order to travel to other countries. "We advise our citizens who must use Syrian highways to act with caution and be aware of the risks until security conditions in the country improve, to travel during daytime and possibly as part of a convoy, to not take breaks in uninhabited places if they do not have to, to be alert in any case and to urgently contact our Embassy in Damascus and/or our Consulate in Aleppo if they encounter trouble," the Ministry said.

Last week, a Turkish truck driver was killed by cross-fire from Syrian troops as they marched into restive areas of Deir al-Zour and Homs to subdue pro-democracy protests.

Tens of thousands of truckers enter Syria from Turkey each year since highways are the most convenient means to transport goods between these two countries, which were strong regional trade allies prior to the uprising.

[13] Turkey's trade volume with 'Arab Spring' countries drops

Turkey's trade volume with these countries was worth 5.7 billion USD in the first seven months of 2010.

In the first seven months of 2011, Turkey's trade volume with these five countries dropped to 5.1 billion USD. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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