Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-08-31

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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 says their target is to finish the negotiations at a place near New York at the end of October

[02] Data on population of the occupied area

[03] Turkish Cypriot daily points out the change of the population structure in the occupied area of Cyprus

[04] Former head of "religious affairs department" accuses the regime of intentionally causing tension at Agios Dometios barricade last Friday

[05] Low interest for the Turkish Victory Day celebrations

[06] Small-scale businesses close down in the occupied area

[07] Denktas returned to the occupied area

[08] A church bell has been found in occupied Agios Epiktitos village

[09] Turkey celebrates Victory Day; Gul hosts celebrations for first time

[10] Babacan visited Western Thrace; He spoke of the important role of the Turkish minority on Turkey's ties with Greece

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

The celebrations for the 89th anniversary of the Victory Day in Turkey, Davutoglu's contacts in Sarajevo where he celebrated the Ramazan Feast, statements by Ali Babacan during his visit to Western Thrace and other internal issues are some of the main stories covered by today's Turkish dailies.

[01] Eroglu says their target is to finish the negotiations at a place near New York at the end of October

In statements before receiving the congratulations, Eroglu said that the feast is celebrated "in the shadow of the negotiations" and added that their target is to achieve the necessary convergence on the Cyprus problem until October and finish the negotiations in a positive manner at a place near New York at the end of October. "We will see whether this is possible", he noted.

Eroglu gave to the "people" the message of "unity and solidarity" and added that it is the first time they celebrate Ramadan together with Turkey's national "victory day" on 30 August. "Given that unity and solidarity always bring the results which the people wish, we have to attach importance to this unity and solidarity", he said.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Data on population of the occupied area

The paper also writes that 4.4% of the total population lives in Lefkosia, 6.4% in Famagusta, 3.17% in Keryneia, 4.47% in Trikomo and 1.62% in Morfou. Turkish citizens live mostly in Zafer and Anadolu neighbourhoods and their regions of origin are Adana with 12.87%, Mersin with 8.54%, Trabzon with 5.81%, Istanbul with 4.54%, Alexandretta with 3.69%, Ankara with 3.37%, Kahranmaras with 3.08% and Gaziantep with 2.1%. The paper notes that no Turkish settlers from the Hakkari region appear registered in "TRNC."

Additionally, the paper presents statistical data from the 2005 "elections" and writes that in occupied Acheritou- Agios Georgios village, 93% of the voters were "citizens" coming from Turkey and being born in Cyprus. Also, in occupied Baykal village, in 2009 the "Turks of Cyprus" were 95% of the voters and the majority of them voted for left-wing parties.

[03] Turkish Cypriot daily points out the change of the population structure in the occupied area of Cyprus

However, writes the paper, the number of the Turkish Cypriots in the mosques was limited and notes that only 20 Turkish Cypriots participated in the prayers at the large mosque located at occupied Kazafani. Very few Turkish Cypriots were at the Nurettin Pasa mosque in occupied Keryneia, while only one Turkish Cypriot participated in the prayers at the mosque of Prosfygohori village in the occupied area of Lefkosia.

Commenting on the scene at the mosques, an anonymous Turkish Cypriot who spoke to the paper, said: "This is Cyprus' new face".

[04] Former head of "religious affairs department" accuses the regime of intentionally causing tension at Agios Dometios barricade last Friday

Suicmez recalled that when he was head of the same "department" many illegal Turkish settlers wanted to file an application to participate in the visit organized to Hala Sultan Mosque, but because the "department" knew that these people could not cross over to the government-controlled area of Cyprus due to the Green Line Regulation of the EU which entered into effect in 2004 with the approval of the Turkish side, they told the settlers not to file an application. He noted that they arranged a bus for ten settlers who insisted on going to the barricade and try to cross over. Thus, he added, they found a way not to create problems to the other Turkish Cypriots who could freely cross over to the government-controlled area.

Sucimez pointed out that the head of "religious affairs department" Talip Atalay himself was not granted permission to cross over into the government-controlled area last week because he is a Turkish settler. He noted that it was obvious that the other illegal Turkish settlers were not to be granted permission and adds that if the information that the buses which would carry the visitors to the mosque had no insurance is correct, the "religious affairs department' exhibited 'great irresponsibility". He also said that it is not possible for him to "approve the prohibitive behavior" of the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Low interest for the Turkish Victory Day celebrations

The paper notes that a number of soldiers, who were on leave, was among the viewers of the parade and notes that if there was not for them, there would be many empty seats throughout the area.

[06] Small-scale businesses close down in the occupied area

Giving data on the number of the businesses that closed down in occupied Famagusta, the paper writes that 550 workplaces closed down in a period of one year. As it is noted, in 2009 593 workplaces "took their shutters down" in both occupied Lefkosia and Famagusta, having restaurants in the first place. Restaurants were in the first place for 2010 and the three first months of 2011 as well. Based on data by the Chamber, the paper writes that in 2009, 365 workplaces closed down in occupied Famagusta, while from 2010 until March 2011, 550 places were closed down.

[07] Denktas returned to the occupied area

Denktas underwent a surgery on August 25 at the Gulhane Military Hospital (GATA), in Ankara.

According to the paper, Denktas will continue his treatment at the illegal Near East University (YDU) hospital.

(AK)

[08] A church bell has been found in occupied Agios Epiktitos village

As the paper writes, the police arrested a person with the initials N.Y (29 years old) owner of the car.

(AK)

[09] Turkey celebrates Victory Day; Gul hosts celebrations for first time

This was the first time ever that a Turkish President received guests on August 30 as the "Commander in Chief".

Meanwhile, the Turkish army removed a controversial 2007 memorandum intervening the nomination of Gul from its official website.

President Gul's hosting of Victory Day celebrations and the removal of a controversial army memo online mark a major shift in civil-military relations.

Gul's guests at the General Staff headquarters included the Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel, the chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu and other dignitaries.

In the past, the Chief of the Turkish General Staff and force commanders used to receive guests on the August 30 ceremony at the General Staff headquarters.

A ceremony also took place at the Mausoleum of the founder of the Republic of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, to mark the 89th anniversary of the August 30 Victory Day and the Day of the TSK.

The Victory Day on August 30 is a national holiday in Turkey to commemorate the victory in the battle of Dumlupinar, the final battle in the Turkish war of independence in 1922.

[10] Babacan visited Western Thrace; He spoke of the important role of the Turkish minority on Turkey's ties with Greece

Speaking at a gathering with members of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, Babacan said that Turks living in the region act like a bridge of friendship between Turkey and Greece.

Babacan said that Turkey is willing to improve its commercial and economic ties with Western Thrace; however, problems concerning visa procedures hamper such process.

Pointing to the problems faced by Turkish businessmen eager to do business in this region, the Deputy Premier said that visa procedures should be facilitated for Turkish investors."There are some rules in economy. The more freely people, products and money move, the better results we will get in economic relations", Babacan said. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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