Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-09-29

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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] Erdogan threatens that Turkey will not remain silent if international organizations will not fulfil their responsibilities for stability and security in the Mediterranean

[02] Bagis accused the Republic of Cyprus of provocation and hampering the Cyprus negotiation talks

[03] Bulent Arinc: "We are doing seismic surveys now but later we will start surveying for oil and natural gas"- He gave information on Erdogan-Papandreou telephone conversation

[04] More information by the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press about Piri Reis and its surveys

[05] "The agreement was endorsed"

[06] Denktas warns that the Piri Reis could only create military consequences

[07] The Chief of the Turkish General Staff to illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus

[08] Eroglu holds contacts with foreign diplomats

[09] Kasif to participate in OIC meeting

[10] Akansoy argues that Cyprus explorations for oil is a strategic step for brining on the agenda the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus

[11] More than 20 thousand settlers from the Black Sea live in the occupied area of Cyprus

[12] HAK to hold contacts in Germany and Belgium during November

[13] US official discusses Cyprus with Erdogan and Gul

[14] Bagis signed an agreement with the EU for Turkish experts to work at the European Commission

[15] BDP to end boycott; It decided to return to the Turkish Parliament

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

Statements by the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey will not remain silent if international organizations will not fulfil their responsibilities for stability and security in the Mediterranean, information about the Koca Piri Reis vessel and its seismic surveys in the Mediterranean Sea, the decision of the Deputies of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party to return to the Turkish Parliament to take their oath and other internal issues are some of the main stories covered by today's Turkish dailies.

[01] Erdogan threatens that Turkey will not remain silent if international organizations will not fulfil their responsibilities for stability and security in the Mediterranean

Erdogan also said that the "Greek Cypriot administration", as he called the Republic of Cyprus was making sabotage by calling it "drilling."

Erdogan stated also the following: "Institutions are saying nothing although their duty is to preserve peace". "Turkey was exerting utmost efforts for a settlement that would satisfy both parties in Cyprus, however the Greek Cypriot administration was finding pretexts, escaping from a settlement", he added.

"What the EU (European Union) does is obvious. It admits unilateral membership of the Greek Cypriot administration and punishes the TRNC", he said.

Erdogan said all countries should see the facts, that the Piri Reis seismic research vessel had launched studies in the south of Cyprus because Turkey was fulfilling its responsibilities as a guarantor state in the region.

Premier Erdogan also threatened that Turkey will not remain silent if international organizations that were assigned to restore peace and order, security and stability in the world were not fulfilling their mission.

Erdogan criticized the United Nations (UN), and said that it was condoning unjust and inhumane behaviours and acts of some countries, whereas it was imposing many sanctions on some other countries.

"On one hand you put pressure and sanctions on Iraq for nuclear energy projects while on the other hand you remain silent to Somalia and you do not follow any of 89 sanction decisions regarding Israel," he said.

Erdogan said the UN could not solve world problems if it did not behave fairly, and problems in Cyprus, Somalia and Syria were stemming from unilateral, insincere and unjust attitude of the international community, particularly Western countries.

Premier Erdogan also said Turkey does not have the luxury to remain indifferent to the very rapidly changing world.

[02] Bagis accused the Republic of Cyprus of provocation and hampering the Cyprus negotiation talks

Speaking to Turkish journalists in Strasbourg after meeting executives of the EU, Bagis highlighted the importance of his talks in Strasbourg in a period when the "Greek Cypriot administration" increased its campaign in EU institutions to smear Turkey. "What the Greek Cypriot administration is doing is a provocation, and it hampers the positive course of comprehensive peace talks" Bagis claimed.

Bagis underlined the timing of his talks in Strasbourg and his opportunity to discuss recent developments.

"We will give a response to Greek Cypriots' smearing campaign and efforts to show Turkey as a problem, in the right place and at the right time," Bagis said.

Bagis said what Turkey was doing was a response to Greek Cypriots' steps.

(?).

[03] Bulent Arinc: "We are doing seismic surveys now but later we will start surveying for oil and natural gas"- He gave information on Erdogan-Papandreou telephone conversation

Bulent Arinc, who was speaking at a television program, also referred to the telephone conversation between the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan. According to Arinc, the Greek Prime Minister said to Erdogan: "Do not create a trouble in the waters of Cyprus".

He went on and stated that Erdogan told Mr Papandreou: "We are against a movement that will prevent the negotiations. The Greek Cypriot started it. We will start surveys in the exclusive economic zone with our own possibilities", he stated. On his turn, Papandreou replied to Erdogan the following, according to Arinc: "You are right. If they are doing it, you can do it as well", and then asked Erdogan not to heat things up.

In addition, Arinc stated that Erdogan reminded that Turkey said "yes" to the proposal the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu presented to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. According to Arinc, Papandreou stated that "It is reasonable", but he said that he has to talk to the Greek Cypriots about it.

[04] More information by the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press about Piri Reis and its surveys

Turkish HaberTurk internet newspaper (29.09.11) publishes statements by Umut Yenice the captain of Koca Piri Reis vessel and Professor Dr Huseyin Avni Benli, Director of the Department of Marine Sciences and Technology at Dokuz Eylul (Nine September) University (DEU).

According to Yenice, they received a call asking them to get ready to conduct seismic surveys in the Mediterranean to which they replied that they needed twelve hours to get prepared to sail. After the passing of this time, they were told to sail off to the offshore waters of Cyprus and that they will be given the schedule for the surveys later, while sailing. So it happened. The instructions they received were to conduct surveys at the point G. "Until that time we thought that we would conduct surveys in northern Cyprus", he stated and added that they have not received any new instruction. "But if they told us to survey an X point, we will do so", he said.

He also stated that they are conducting their surveys at the G point which is 150 Km away, south of Cyprus and that they determined the area that they will survey. This is a 1,000 Km line of which they have already surveyed a part of 150 Km and that they have left 850 km. They will complete their work in seven days.

He went on and stated that currently they are working on the 12th parcel called Aphrodite. "We are not at the foot of the area that the Greek Cypriots are conducting the oil drilling but we are much close", he stated. He went on and added that they are in contact very often with the Turkish frigates and added that from time to time Turkish planes fly at the area. "If the Greek Cypriot side tries to interfere to our work, we will conduct Turkey. Then the Turkish frigates and planes will interfere", he said.

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (29.09.11) publishes an interview by an "important official" who is member of the Piri Reis' crew who stated that the ship is in a very good condition. As he stated, the ship is constantly under good maintenance. He also said that this is not the first journey of Piri Reis to the sea of Cyprus. "In the past we came here many times. Did you manage to see us?", the official asked the reporter.

The paper also reports that Seda Okay, a 21-year old Turkish Cypriot girl, is among the crew of the Koca Piri Reis.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Milliyet (28.09.11) publishes a map showing the G point in which Piri Reis is conducting the seismic survey. According to the map, the G point overlaps the parcel 12, 8 and 9.

In addition, Turkish daily Radikal newspaper (28.09.11) reports that Taner Yildiz, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources stated that a second Piri Reis is on the way. Yildiz said that the Turkish Government put out tenders for the building of the new seismic ship which is expected to be completed in 1-1.5 years. The new ship will be able to conduct three dimensional seismic surveys in a depth of 3,000 meters and will be one of the most modern ships in its field.

Moreover, in statements to Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.09.11) Yildiz stated that the Piri Reis was pursuing seismic researches; it was not conducting drilling activities, adding that the Turkish navy was escorting the vessel. "As our Premier Erdogan said, seismic research activities would continue as long as the Greek Cypriot administration (as he called the Republic of Cyprus) was continuing oil exploration or if it did not share the richness to be found with the Turkish Cypriots", he stated.

[05] "The agreement was endorsed"

[06] Denktas warns that the Piri Reis could only create military consequences

Denktas expressed the view that initiatives in the legal and diplomatic fields are needed first of all. "Actually the message given in America with the agreement signed between Turkey and the TRNC was good", argued Denktas noting that in this manner Turkey gave the message that its interlocutor is the breakaway regime. Denktas warned that Turkey's "friction" that it will explore for oil if the Greek Cypriots do the same, could lead the issue to conflict.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The Chief of the Turkish General Staff to illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus

(I/Ts.)]

[08] Eroglu holds contacts with foreign diplomats

Moreover, the paper reports that Eroglu met also with Alexander Downer, the UN Secretary General's Special Advisor on Cyprus. Downer was escorted by UNSG's Special Representative Lisa Buttenheim and her team. In the meeting present were also the director of Eroglu's office Hasan Gungor, his special representative Kudret Ozersay and his spokesman Osman Ertug.

[09] Kasif to participate in OIC meeting

[10] Akansoy argues that Cyprus' explorations for oil is a strategic step for brining on the agenda the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus

Akansoy argued, inter alia, the following: "I think that the initiative for oil and natural gas is a strategic step which will bring onto the agenda again the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus in the international field. Actually Turkey has spoiled the trick of the Republic of Cyprus especially with the stance it exhibited on the issue of the EU. They have a strategic approach. I definitely do not think that the issue is related with oil".

[11] More than 20 thousand settlers from the Black Sea live in the occupied area of Cyprus

In statements during the visit, the general secretary of the UBP Ertugrul Hasipoglu said that the settlers from the Black Sea are also "citizens" of the breakaway regime and argued that what is important is to accept this place as their homeland and work here.

In his statements, the chairman of the TDP Mehmet Cakici said his party is a modern and social democratic one and respects all cultures. He noted that the TDP is the only "clean party" which has not been tried in the "government" of the regime and constitutes the "third political choice" in the occupied area of Cyprus. The first political choice, he argued, is the UBP which has destroyed the "country" for years and the second is the CTP which says that it wants a solution in Cyprus, but did nothing when it came to "power".

(I/Ts.)

[12] HAK to hold contacts in Germany and Belgium during November

In statements to Ada television yesterday, Ulas noted that during their visit they will be accompanied by Ozan Ceyhun, German of Turkish origin, former member of the European Parliament and, also, one "citizen" of the breakaway regime who is "honorary counsellor", of the pseudostate in Germany. HAK will give lectures in Germany and Belgium and hold meetings with the Turkish councils there.

(I/Ts.)

[13] US official discusses Cyprus with Erdogan and Gul

In his statements Burton said that a solution to the Cyprus problem should be reached and added that he held "very informative and successful" talks with Erdogan and Gul. Burton said that they discussed the Cyprus problem, the issue of the drilling for natural gas and oil in the Eastern Mediterranean and the matter of Israel. He noted that especially on the issue of Israel, Erdogan gave "clear messages".

Responding to a question on the explorations for oil and natural gas by the Republic of Cyprus, Burton said that after Turkey, they would visit Cyprus and during their return they would stop at Istanbul.

(I/Ts.)

[14] Bagis signed an agreement with the EU for Turkish experts to work at the European Commission

Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis and Maros Sefcovic, EU Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, inked the agreement in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Bagis said that Turkish experts who would work at the European Commission are given a chance to gain new experiences with this agreement. "These experts will shape-up our common future (between Turkey and EU)," he said.

Communication between EU and Turkish experts would be boosted with this agreement, officials said.

[15] BDP to end boycott; It decided to return to the Turkish Parliament

The BDP made the decision in a Party Council (PM) meeting held in the predominantly Kurdish province of Diyarbakir on Wednesday. Meral Danis Bestas, a PM member said that the BDP Co-chairman Selahattin Demirtas was expected to officially announce the party's decision on Wednesday.

The Democratic Society Congress (DTK), a pro-Kurdish civil society group known to have close ties with the BDP, also urged the BDP to join the Parliament on Wednesday. DTK Co-chairman Ahmet Turk said they recommended the BDP return to Parliament.

The BDP refused to take the oath and join in parliamentary proceedings in protest of the imprisonment of six of its Deputies. Thirty-six independent Deputies supported by the pro-Kurdish BDP were elected in the June 12 elections. However, six of the BDP-backed Deputies are currently under arrest as part of the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) trial. The BDP made the decision to boycott after the Supreme Election Board (YSK) controversially stripped Hatip Dicle, one of the six jailed BDP Deputies, of his mandate over a prior terrorism-related conviction after the June 12 vote.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek have on several occasions called on the BDP to end the boycott.

(I/Ts.) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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