Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-10-26

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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: "We have no map, we have criteria"

[02] Eroglu: "Apliki crossing point to be discussed after New York"

[03] Eroglu and Tatar on the occupation regime's economy

[04] The regime is preparing to establish a unit for assisting foreigners who buy property in occupied areas of Cyprus

[05] DGP: negotiations for unification with ORP are held but nothing is clear yet

[06] Trade Union Platform to go on general strike in the occupied area of Cyprus on Monday

[07] Kurdish students will be organizing sit down strike out "YDU" every day protesting the "deportation" of their colleagues

[08] AMFORHT to organize the World Tourism Forum in the occupied area of Cyprus

[09] Turkey accepts international aid for victims of earthquake

[10] Retired General sentenced to 11 months for insulting Erdogan

[11] Turkey, Azerbaijan invest $5 billion in refinery

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

Turkey's decision to accept international aid, including from Israel, to cope with the major earthquake in the eastern province of Van, reports about the aftermaths of the earthquake, reports about the investment agreements signed by Turkey and Azerbaijan, news about a retired General sentenced to 11 months for insulting the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and other internal issues are some of the main stories covered by today's Turkish dailies.

[01] Eroglu: "We have no map, we have criteria"

Claiming that the Turkish side could more or less guess what plans the Greek Cypriot side will take with it to New York, Eroglu alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side will go with good will and saying that "there is hope". He also said: "Our stance will be in the direction of an agreement that will not devastate our people and where we will be able to live under Turkey's guarantees in this territory with sovereignty, freedom, tranquillity and security".

Eroglu argued that it is not possible to return to the pre-1974 period and to grant the Greek Cypriot side whatever it wants because, as he claimed, 37 years have passed from the "peace operation" (as Eroglu refers to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974). Eroglu also argued: "Within this period a state structure has emerged in the north [translator's note: the breakaway regime]. Our people have developed from the ground up a socio-economic structure. We are looking for an agreement, taking into account all of these things."

Claiming that the Turkish Cypriot side is the one which wants an agreement at the negotiation table, Eroglu argued: "We don't need to waste time, we don't need to play with time, because the Greek Cypriot side is an EU member country and a UN member while we are still under 'embargoes'. We want to look ahead." Eroglu said that in New York they want to see whether they will reach somewhere with UN Secretary-General's good will mission.

Eroglu added: "We are going with this aim. We made some proposals on all chapters. We are trying to pave the way for an agreement by taking some steps. We will see in New York if this is possible." He claimed that their projects, thoughts are known, adding that their policy on the property issue is clear. He also said that UN also liked this. Eroglu added: "We obtained some convergences on some issues. I can say that we agreed on the economy chapter and on the police issue within the domestic security issue, however, there are some chapters on which we could not agree."

Meanwhile, illegal Bayrak television (26.10.11) broadcasts that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu will meet tomorrow morning with the political parties represented in the so-called assembly to inform them regarding the latest stage of the negotiations prior the New York summit.

[02] Eroglu: "Apliki crossing point to be discussed after New York"

He also said that the equivalent to the opening the occupied Lefka ? Apliki road should not be the opening of the Aglantzia ? Athienou road and said that they will try to raise the matter again after the New York summit.

[03] Eroglu and Tatar on the occupation regime's economy

Eroglu further said that the national income of the occupation regime after 1974 was 570 dollars while today it has reached 12-13 thousand dollars.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (26.10.11), speaking on the occupation regime's economy, self-styled minister of finance, Ersin Tatar, inter alia, said that although Turkey will reduce its current expenses, it will transfer 800 million Turkish Liras (TL) to the occupation regime in 2012.

Tatar made the above statements during a meeting he held yesterday with the" Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry".

(AK)

[04] The regime is preparing to establish a unit for assisting foreigners who buy property in occupied areas of Cyprus

Kucuk discussed with the Union the problems of the foreigners living in the occupied areas of Cyprus. He stated that they are exerting efforts to help the foreigners on the problems they face regarding the purchase of property. He said that the regime is planning to establish a "unit" at the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs to help foreigners overcome the problems they face when they buy property in the occupied area of Cyprus. He noted that they will launch an effort to translate their so-called laws into the English language.

Nauroth stated that their union consists of members coming from 12 countries, nine of EU member countries. He said that their members are also diplomats, commanders and high ranking officials. Referring to the various problems they face in the occupied areas, Nauroth said that they consider themselves to be "TRNC citizens". He also added that they want to help the breakaway regime especially regarding the EU issue, using their knowledge and their experience.

[05] DGP: negotiations for unification with ORP are held but nothing is clear yet

In a written statement, the party confirmed that DGP is negotiating with ORP, however, it denied the "claims" that the two parties have already agreed on their unification.

The paper writes that DGP is represented with one "MP", while the ORP is represented with two "MP" in the so-called, assembly.

[06] Trade Union Platform to go on general strike in the occupied area of Cyprus on Monday

In statements to illegal TAK's correspondent on behalf of the "Trade Unions Platform", Mehmet Seyis, chairman of Dev-is Trade Union, said that they have decided to go on a general strike next Monday in order to demand the withdrawal of the "draft bills" which were prepared in the framework of the "economic cooperation protocol" [Translator's note: a so-called protocol signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime]. These are the "Social Insurance, Social Security, Providence Fund and the Migration and Privatization draft bills". According to Seyis, the approval of these "bills" will affect negatively the future of the Turkish Cypriots. Seyis further said that together with the strike they will also organize a rally.

Seyis added that the decision of the "Trade Unions Platform" for the protest and the strike was taken yesterday in a meeting with the participation of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Social Democracy Party (TDP), and the New Cyprus Party (YKP) which will support the protest and the strike together with the United Cyprus Party (BKP).

Seyis said that the program of the strike and their further actions will be announced at a later stage.

(AK)

[07] Kurdish students will be organizing sit down strike out "YDU" every day protesting the "deportation" of their colleagues

The students will be gathering every day in front of the main building of the illegal Near East University (YDU), conducting a sit down strike. The students said that they disagree with the reports published by some Turkish Cypriot papers that they are "PKK members who received education in the mountains".

In addition, Afrika also reports that a group of students visited yesterday the papers' headquarters and stated that they feel uneasy after the incidents that took place at "YDU". They also complained that someone scratched their car writing on it MHP (Nationalist Action Party) - [Translator note: The party of the Grey wolves].

The students said that before the incidents they parked their car near a "police" building in order to avoid being damaged. The students stated that either the "police" allowed someone to cause damage to the car, or the "police" itself scratched the car writing MHP.

(Translator's note: Incidents occurred on Friday 21 October at the illegal Near East University (YDU), when a group of Kurdish students studying there, clashed with the group of "Grey Wolves" who were gathered in order to commemorate the 24 soldiers who died after an attack by the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in Turkey. As a result 24 students of Kurdish origin were sent away from occupied Cyprus)

[08] AMFORHT to organize the World Tourism Forum in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the paper, the World Tourism Forum will be held at the illegal Keryneia American University (GAU) between November 11-13.

In statements on the issue, the chairman of the "International Tourism Education Council", of the illegal GAU, Prof. Dr. Ismet Esenyel and the vice-chairperson of the same "council", Emete Toros, said, inter alia, that the World Tourism Forum is organized every year in different places of the world, saying that last year it took place in San Paolo, Brazil, while two years ago in Paris. Esenyel underlined also the fact that the Forum taking place in the occupied area of Cyprus will be an important contribution to the promotion of the "country" and its tourism.

Esensyel stated also that illegal GAU and the "TRNC" [Translator's note: breakaway regime in occupied Cyprus] were selected as venues for this year's Forum, among many candidate countries such as Italy, Morocco and Portugal.

(AK)

[09] Turkey accepts international aid for victims of earthquake

Turkey initially turned down offers of international aid after Sunday's 7.2-magnitude earthquake, but the source said Ankara changed its mind because of the urgent need for housing materials for those left homeless.

Also according to Ankara Anatolia news Agency (25.10.11, online), Turkish diplomatic sources said there was need for tents, prefabricated houses and living containers for "the reconstruction phase that will follow search and rescue efforts."

Sources said the Turkish Foreign Ministry has informed Turkish foreign mission chiefs to countries and international organizations which had earlier offered help to Turkey. Japan became the first country to respond to the Turkish call as the Japanese embassy in Ankara has said Japanese International Cooperation Agency had moved to send around 400 thousand U.S. dollars.

[10] Retired General sentenced to 11 months for insulting Erdogan

Erdogan's lawyer, Fatih Sahin, petitioned the Ankara prosecutor's office in August 2010 alluding to a speech Berk gave in 2008 during a visit to the village of Basbaglar in Erzincan's Kemaliye district. Erdogan accused Berk of insulting him during his speech and claims that Berk told the audience, "Do you know the prime minister has sold the country?"

The paper reports also that Berk is a high-profile suspect in the investigation into the coup-plotting organization Ergenekon.

[11] Turkey, Azerbaijan invest $5 billion in refinery

The project is the largest single private investment realized in Turkey. Expected to be completed by 2015, the refinery's total oil refining capacity will be 10 million tons a year. Observers say the new project is significant in that it will domestically produce liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and other petrochemicals of which Turkey is presently a net importer. Turkey's dependence on foreign oil and gas is the most significant reason for the country's consistent foreign trade deficit, which in turn results in a high CAD. Data show that petrochemicals constituted $8 billion of Turkey's total $75 billion in intermediate goods imported last year, another important detail that makes the Star Refinery project of critical importance in positively impacting the CAD.

The project will provide jobs to 10,000 workers during the construction period, after which 1,000 will have permanent employment following its completion by 2015. It also involves the construction of a high school that will provide vocational training for Turkish and Azeri students, who will later have the opportunity for jobs at the refinery.

Speaking at the event, Erdogan first thanked the Azeri government for their support to the people of the eastern province of Van, which was hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Sunday. Underlining that Turkey has done its best to contribute to Azerbaijan's development and will continue to do so, Erdogan said the Azeri government has also showed its solidarity in joint projects with Turkey. He said they expected to open the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railroad (also called the Iron Silk Road), which will connect Europe to Central Asia, shortly. Sixty percent of the project is now completed, officials said last month.

Also addressing the audience, Azerbaijani President Aliyev said Turkey and Azerbaijan have realized prominent projects in the past and will continue to join forces in similar investments in the years to come.

In separate remarks, Kenan Yavuz, the CEO of SOCAR-Turcas, said that upon completion of the oil refinery, Turkey's dependence on oil and oil products will be reduced by huge amounts per year. Yavuz thanked the Turkish and Azeri governments for their support in realizing the project.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia News Agency (AA, 25.10.11) reports from Izmir that Turkey and Azerbaijan signed yesterday an agreement on the purchase and transfer of natural gas from Azerbaijan as part of the "Shah Deniz 2" project.

The agreement on natural gas was signed following a meeting of High-level Strategic Cooperation Council that was attended by Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Turkey and Azerbaijan on Tuesday also signed agreements for cooperation in fields ranging from forestry to communications and training of police officers.

Another agreement signed today was between Turkey's leading news provider Anadolu Agency (AA) and Azerbaijan's AzerTAC news agency for cooperation. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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