Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-11-24

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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 insists on permanent derogations and that the solution in Cyprus should become EU primary law

[02] Gul discusses the Cyprus problem during his contacts in the UK

[03] Yildiz's statements upon signing an agreement with Shell for oil exploration

[04] Lebanese MPs briefed by Swiss experts on oil and gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean

[05] BKP says that the 4 December census must be conducted by the UN

[06] More statements by Talat on the Cyprus problem

[07] CTP to participate in PES's Council and Convention in Brussels

[08] Gulin Kucuk travels to Baku

[09] "PM Erdogan apologizes over Dersim massacre on behalf of Turkish state"

[10] Italy's new foreign minister to visit Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

The apology of the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on behalf of the Turkish state for the 1937 massacre in the predominantly Alevi region of Dersim is the main topic in today's Turkish press. The papers also report about the contacts of the Turkish President Abdullah Gul in the UK and his statements against the Republic of Cyprus and the EU. The papers also write that Gul continued to accuse the Syria government of using oppression and violence against its people. In addition the papers report on the signing of an agreement between Turkey's Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and Shell for explorations and drilling in the Mediterranean.

[01] Eroglu insists on permanent derogations and that the solution in Cyprus should become EU primary law

Eroglu completed his contacts in Brussels and returned to the occupied area of Cyprus last night.

In statements at the illegal Tymvou airport, Eroglu argued that the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barosso knows that some problems will be created when the Republic of Cyprus overtakes the presidency of the EU in 2012 without a solution on the island to be reached. Eroglu noted that he explained in details to Barosso the stance of the Turkish Cypriot side during the tripartite meeting with the UN Secretary-General in New York. Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side insists that the agreement which will be reached in Cyprus should become EU's primary law and the derogations should be permanent. He noted that this was his third meeting with Barosso and described their meeting as "very good".

Moreover, Eroglu said that during his meeting with Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner responsible for the Enlargement, they discussed the same issues and some projects which are carried out in the occupied area of Cyprus with European funds. He noted that he also raised the issue of the obstacles allegedly put by the Greek Cypriot side to the Turkish Cypriot bus and truck drivers who want to cross over to the government-controlled area of the island.

Asked to comment on Turkish President Gul's statement that a "half state will be presiding the EU" when the Republic of Cyprus overtakes the Union's term presidency in 2012, Eroglu noted that similar statements have been made by the Turkish Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs as well. He recalled that Turkey has many times stated that it is annoyed by this issue and it would freeze its negotiations with the EU.

In Brussels, Eroglu met also with Martin Schulz, president of the Social Democrat Group at the European parliament, and Turkey's ambassador and permanent representative in Brussels. He also gave an interview to Financial Times newspapers regarding the recent developments on the Cyprus problem.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Gul discusses the Cyprus problem during his contacts in the UK

Speaking at joint press conference with the British Prime Minister Cameron after the meeting, Turkish President said that the ongoing Cyprus negotiations process had been discussed at the meeting. He said that both Turkey and Britain as guarantor powers in Cyprus, supported the negotiations process held under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. "I made specific emphasis that if the European Union fails to act with a strong political will, the reunification of the island might become impossible due to the Greek Cypriot side's unwillingness for a solution," Gul alleged.

Also according to the official website of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey (23.11.11), Turkish President Gul addressed members of the House of Commons. Evincing his pleasure to be "among true friends of Turkey", Gul proclaimed Turkey and the United Kingdom to be two countries acting as lynchpins for Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian regions and he also commented on the Arab Spring: "We hope that the people's genuine aspirations for a life in dignity, will be realized.

The Turkish President addressed the deputies of the Conservative Party, the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats as well as the Friends of Turkey Group members from the three parties.

Gul, also mentioning the Cyprus problem and the Cyprus presidency of the EU in 2012, claimed that the EU Presidency of such a "half government" in the second half of 2012 certainly demonstrates a weakness on the part of the EU, underscoring: "This is something that must be questioned by the European Union itself. More importantly, since the European Union considers all this to be normal at a time when negotiations are under way, this provides conducive ground for the Greek Cypriot Administration [Editor's note: The Republic of Cyprus] not to feel any obligation to work for a solution. Obviously, this puts the European Union in a position where it ends up strongly encouraging the absence of a settlement. [...] Under these circumstances, the European Union will be the cause of the beginning of a process that will render unification of the island totally impossible."

[03] Yildiz's statements upon signing an agreement with Shell for oil exploration

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz rejected suggestions that the deal was a response in retaliation to Greek Cypriot and Israeli oil exploration off the coast of Cyprus. "The deal is a result of technical work and has nothing to do with international speculation," Yildiz said at a ceremony yesterday.

The agreement, which covers seismic research off the Mediterranean province of Antalya as well as onshore drilling work near the south-eastern province of Diyarbakir, was signed between the state-run Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and Shell. Seismic research will be conducted off Antalya until 2014, after which exploratory drilling will begin. Shell and TPAO will share output equally if oil or gas is found, TPAO general manager Mehmet Uysal said.

Shell's Exploration and Production Chairman Malcolm Brinded said after identifying soil formation in Turkey's southeastern Anatolian region they would initially open five wells and could expand to more than 10 wells in the future.

Also Turkish daily Today's Zaman (23.11.11, online) reported that Yildiz stressed that the cooperation with Shell is far from being a product of political concerns and is instead the result of a technical study and efforts to rely on domestic resources rather than imported ones. According to Shell, the company will be responsible for transferring a drilling rig to the region and covering all production expenses associated with potential discoveries in the 2,500-meter-deep seabed, the drilling of which will cost about $300 million.

Turkey's Energy minister noted that although the country is working to develop renewable energy, which should reduce energy consumption to 75 percent by 2030, it is crucial to focus on securing oil and natural gas as they are expected to remain the primary sources of energy until 2050. Yildiz said: "As Turkey grows economically, the energy needs of the country are also growing. In order to cope with that, we are focusing on diversifying our sources of energy as well as investing in nuclear energy."

Yildiz talked at the meeting about Turkey's future plans to search for oil and natural gas. He said TPAO, which is operating the Surmene-1 Well in off the Trabzon shore, has already worked on oil exploration in 28 wells and is becoming more experienced in the energy sector. He stated, "Even though the drilling is very costly, we are continuing because of the positive results we are getting."

The minister also answered questions that have been circulating recently regarding the drilling in the Mediterranean by Israel and the Republic of Cyprus and claimed that both countries are acting against the law by drilling in off the Cyprus shore as international recognition of the two sides of the island has not been clarified. Yildiz underlined that any resources discovered should be shared equally between the Turkish and Greek sides of the island and that Israel should stop ignoring the killing of nine Turks in the Mavi Marmara incident. He commented, "We hope the Israeli government will act responsibly and exhibit the expected behaviours because these issues will remain serious barriers to any cooperation in the energy sector."

[04] Lebanese MPs briefed by Swiss experts on oil and gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean

Citing diplomatic sources, the paper writes that the Swiss think-tank "Association for Euro-Arab-Muslim Dialogue (ASDEAM)" had a joint working meeting with Lebanese MPs - members of the energy and transport committee ? at the Lebanese parliament between 17-18 November 2011. Lebanese deputies, military officers, as well as ambassadors and diplomats of Eastern Mediterranean countries have also participated in the meeting.

International law specialist Judge Lucius Caflisch, Prof. Vera Debbas and Prof. Alain Pellet informed them in detail on issues concerning areas of jurisdiction in the sea and the international law.

It is noted that the meeting had the support of the Swiss Foreign Ministry and the Lebanese community of Switzerland. The rights of Lebanon and the foreign policy it should follow on the issue of the explorations for oil and natural gas that Cyprus and Israel launched in the Mediterranean were discussed in the meeting.

[05] BKP says that the 4 December census must be conducted by the UN

In a written statement issued yesterday, Korkmazhan said that prior to conducting the census, entries and exits from the "country" must be taken under control and added that the curfew, which will be applied and the declaration method, which will be used during the census, is an anachronism.

He went on saying that even Ali Korhan, counselor of the "state planning organization" (DPO) admitted that the census will not give accurate result. Finally, Korkmazhan said that an end must be put to this tragicomic situation and the census should be conducted by the UN.

[06] More statements by Talat on the Cyprus problem

Speaking at a televised program broadcast by Genc TV the day before yesterday, Talat evaluated several issues, and said that the solution in Cyprus is a far away possibility because the Turkish side does not want a solution and the Greek side lacks will.

Evaluating the results of the last summit on the Cyprus problem, Talat stated that the important thing is a solution to be reached and not which side will find the solution.

Talat said that a solution to be reached by Eroglu would be massively accepted and lasting. "This is my biggest desire. However, looking at the process today, there is not such a possibility", he added.

Referring to Eroglu's wish to transfer the discussion of the territory issue to an international conference, Talat said that this will turn out to be worthless.

Replying to the question what will happen within the next two months, Talat said that any decision by the UN Secretary-General, other than the continuation of the efforts for a solution, would not be in favour of the Turkish Cypriots. He added that if Ban Ki-Moon concludes that a solution could not be reached, the breakaway regime will not be recognized. Talat noted that the UN Secretary-General will leave the continuation of the process for a later time. He also pointed out that Eroglu thinks that this would be a gain for the Turkish Cypriots, but it will be dangerous.

(AK)

[07] CTP to participate in PES's Council and Convention in Brussels

The delegation of CTP is headed by CTP's "MP" and Foreign Relations Secretary Ozdil Nami, and consists of the members of CTP's Foreign Relations Bureau Cim Seroydas and Armagan Candan.

The delegation will also hold contacts in the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Moreover, Nami will make a presentation at a round table meeting which will take place at the European Political Center (EPC).

CTP became PES member in 2009.

[08] Gulin Kucuk travels to Baku

She is also expected to deliver a speech at the conference, which will take place between the 24th-25th of November. Gulin Kucuk will also meet with the Azerbaijani Minister of Education Misir Mardanov and visit various institutions.

[09] "PM Erdogan apologizes over Dersim massacre on behalf of Turkish state"

It was the first official apology from the Turkish government over the killing of thousands of people in the south-eastern town of Dersim -- now known as Tunceli as a result of a name change in 1936 -- between 1936 and 1939.

Erdogan was responding to Kilicdaroglu's demands that Turkey must face its past. Kilicdaroglu's family is from Tunceli. The notorious massacre took place in 1937 in Dersim, which was historically a semi-autonomous region, as a brutal response to rebellious events. The alleged rebellion was led by Seyyid Riza, the chief of a Zaza tribe in the region. The Turkish government at the time, led by former CHP leader Ismet Inonu, responded with air strikes and other violent methods of suppression, killing thousands of people.

"Dersim is among the most tragic event in recent history. It is a disaster that should now be questioned with courage. The party that should confront this incident is not the ruling Justice and Development Party [AK Party]. It is the CHP, which is behind this bloody disaster, who should face this incident and its chairman from Tunceli," Erdogan said, targeting Kilicdaroglu. The two politicians recently clashed over the long-controversial massacre.

Contacted by Today's Zaman, Chairman of the Confrontation with the Past Association Cafer Solgun said that the prime minister's apology is of great value. "An apology coming from the Prime Minister of Turkey is historical. It was a historical speech. I am excited as a person from Dersim," he said.

Cemal Tas, a writer who has been working on collecting oral history in Dersim for the last 20 years, said that it was necessary to call on the CHP to issue an apology as the prime minister did in Wednesday's speech. "It was important for us from Dersim to hear that the Prime Minister does not share the CHP's views regarding this issue. This was important for us to hear and heals our wounds," he said.

According to Sukru Aslan, a sociologist at Istanbul's Mimar Sinan University and a writer from Dersim, Erdogan's words were important. "It was a first in Turkey for a prime minister to call what happened in Dersim a massacre, and say that it was not a rebellion and was planned well in advance," he said. "This forces other parties, like the CHP and the MHP [Nationalist Movement Party], to develop new polices about it." However, he said that the documents that Erdogan mentioned had previously been in the Turkish press. "What needs to be done is to have the archives of the General Staff opened. This is what the people of Dersim demand," he stated.

Huseyin Aygun, a writer and researcher who is also from Dersim, said that, next to the "double-faced" politics of the CHP, the prime minister's words were significant. "The world has a right to know what happened in Dersim," he said.

[10] Italy's new foreign minister to visit Turkey

The forum, the eighth of its kind, is chaired by the foreign ministers of Turkey and Italy and brings together politicians, businessmen, academics, journalists and representatives of non-governmental organizations from the two countries. The forum, which has convened regularly since 2004, will focus on the future of the Mediterranean region in light of the Arab Spring, according to a statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. It will also discuss civil society's role in reinvigorating Turkey's stalled bid to join the European Union.

Terzi di Sant'Agata and his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, will inaugurate the forum, to be held in 0
stanbul. The two ministers will also have talks on Turkish-Italian relations, Turkey's EU membership process, the Cyprus dispute and major international issues, the Foreign Ministry statement said, adding that the visit will make significant contributions to further advancement of Turkish-Italian ties. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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