Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-11-28

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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] Gul: "Either you will say enough now, or you will recognize two states"

[02] Bagis: "There are countries waiting for a signal to recognize the 'TRNC'"

[03] TPAO will start drilling in occupied Famagusta

[04] Turkish Ministers attended summits in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

[05] The Forum and Exhibition on Higher Education Services of the OIC starts in occupied Cyprus; Durust says they exert effort to achieve their goal of 60 thousand students

[06] OIC's General Secretary met with Eroglu; Eroglu says OIC's decisions are in favour of the breakaway regime

[07] Ozersay's contacts in Stockholm

[08] CTP's delegation held contacts in Brussels

[09] Doubts about the credibility of the 4 December population census

[10] Efforts to boost religious identity in occupied Cyprus

[11] A joint exercise between Turkey and the breakaway regime

[12] Unal Ustel participated in the "4th International European Quality Summit" in London

[13] Turkish Cypriots living in the UK protested against PKK

[14] "Turkey to declare its own sanctions on Syria"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

On Monday Turkish dailies mostly covered the Arab League's sanctions against Syria and an anti-terrorism rally held by Turks living in London. Over the weekend the Turkish press covered Gul's statement upon his return from London, Bagis statements regarding Turkey, its EU course and the Cyprus EU presidency. Also covered are the debate that started in Turkey for the Dersim massacre, new information revealed in court for the death of an ASELSAN engineer in 2006, contradicting previous explanations that the man committed suicide and other internal issues.

[01] Gul: "Either you will say enough now, or you will recognize two states"

Also commenting on the messages he gave to British politicians during his contacts, Gul said: "If you are sincere on this subject [the reunification of Cyprus], now it is the time. You may do whatever you can until June 2012. If you can persuade Greek Cypriots, if you will say 'enough', now it's the time to say it. If you fail to do so now and they [Greek Cypriots] undertake the [EU term] presidency in this situation, I said clearly that why should I agree respecting myself? Then don't say anything to us. After this you will go for two separate states and you will have to recognize what we recognize."

The Turkish President also expressed his wish for the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders to agree on a solution by the end of this year and a new plan for a solution to be presented at a referendum.

"I said openly that, as Straw has said, everyone will accept [the two-state structure in Cyprus] and bear the consequences of this," added Gul.

Meanwhile, referring to Gul's statements, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (27.11.11) reports that Gul gave a clear message to guarantor power Britain and the EU by saying "either you secure that an agreement is achieved or recognize the TRNC". The paper writes that Cyprus was one of the issues which Gul discussed the most during his visit to Britain. He said he gave the message that he does not discuss this matter with other countries and added that he discussed it in Britain because it is also a guarantor power in Cyprus.

[02] Bagis: "There are countries waiting for a signal to recognize the 'TRNC'"

"Turkey's ties with the European Union's executive arm and the 27-nation bloc's assembly will not rupture when Greek Cyprus [editor's note: Republic of Cyprus] takes over its rotating presidency next year, a Turkish minister said on Sunday.

Egemen Bagis, State Minister and Turkey's Chief Negotiator for EU affairs, said in televised remarks that Turkey will only avoid contact with the Greek Cypriot presidency.

'Our relations with the EU Commission and the EU Parliament will remain intact. We will just not sit across the same table as the term's presidency,' Bagis said.

Bagis's remarks follow earlier statements from Turkish leaders that Turkey will freeze its relations with the EU, if Greek Cypriots assume the EU presidency without any settlement in Cyprus being reached. (?)

Bagis also warned the Greek Cypriots that the Turkish Cypriots, running their own state in the north of the island [editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus], could be internationally recognized as an independent state if they continue to drag feet in negotiations for a settlement on the island. 'Turkey has a certain amount of leverage. There are countries waiting for a signal to recognize the TRNC [editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus], to initiate diplomatic relations with it,' he said.

'If the Greek Cypriots really want a solution, they should make good use of the coming six-month period; they will regret it otherwise,' Bagis added."

[03] TPAO will start drilling in occupied Famagusta

The Minister told reporters following a meeting of the Investment Consultation Committee that preliminary technical studies have been completed and that drilling will begin in three months.

Yildiz said: "We will open wells according to indications in the geological data and plan to go as deep as 3,000 meters for the first well". He added that these wells, which will be opened for the purpose of both oil and natural gas discoveries and drillings in occupied Famagusta, will contribute in a major way to their understanding of the validity of offshore drilling in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

He noted that the drilling in occupied Famagusta will be conducted outside of an oil and natural gas agreement with Shell, adding: "TPAO has around 1,100 wells like this in Turkey that it operates by itself and the joint deal with Shell in the Mediterranean only includes drilling off Antalya's shore."

TPAO and Dutch-British Corporation Royal Dutch Shell signed a deal on Wednesday for the exploration and joint production of oil and natural gas off Turkey's Mediterranean shores as well as onshore in Turkey's south-eastern region.

Replying to a question concerning previous comments he made during which he labelled Israeli drillings off the coast of Cyprus "illegal", Yildiz said: "We have already made it clear that any country drilling in a region where its economic [political] borders are not clear is operating against international law."

He emphasized comments made by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who reportedly proposed a solution for the equal and beneficial sharing of any oil or natural gas discoveries among all citizens of the island on the condition that exploration in the region stops.

Yildiz argued: "We must introduce oil and natural gas as a reason for peace and cooperation among neighbouring countries instead of its common perception as a reason for war. We hope it will be the most important message Turkey delivers to the world."

[04] Turkish Ministers attended summits in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

The two Ministers later attended the 2nd meeting of the "TRNC Investment Advisory Council" which was followed by a press conference.

Meanwhile, members of a Turkish delegation who arrived in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus to attend the 5th Energy Summit had also a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

Speaking during the visit, Eroglu said that it was a pleasure for him to see experienced Turkish industrial officials sharing their experiences with their Turkish Cypriot counterparts.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (26.11.11) reported that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, delivering a speech at the 5th Organized Industrial Zone Energy Summit, claimed that the oil which could be explored in the occupied land of the Republic of Cyprus would strengthen their economy.

"Oil that could be explored in lands of TRNC would also make Turkish Cypriots more powerful during talks in regard to the Cyprus issue", Eroglu alleged.

Eroglu said that the breakaway regime built a power plant with support by Turkey and completed infrastructure in regard to energy distribution.

Moreover, A.A. (27.11.11) reports that a final declaration was issued at the 2nd meeting of Investment Consultative Council saying that there was a need for a new economic program to be prepared by the so-called government covering the period between 2013 and 2015.

Speaking during the meeting, Eroglu said that measures were needed to overcome economic problems.

Kucuk said they expected a 4% growth in 2011, adding that a new economic program would be launched as of the beginning of 2012.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay, who also participated in the meeting with Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, said that they attached a great importance to the new economic program to be implemented in "TRNC".

[05] The Forum and Exhibition on Higher Education Services of the OIC starts in occupied Cyprus; Durust says they exert effort to achieve their goal of 60 thousand students

According to the paper, the three-day forum is co-organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the "foreign ministry" of the breakaway regime.

The paper adds that the General Secretary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who is illegally visiting the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, will inaugurate the forum.

Among the participants will also be the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, the so-called foreign minister, Huseyin Ozgurgun, the so-called minister of education, Kemal Durust, the general coordinator of COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. Atta-ur Rahman [Translator's note: COMSTECH is a Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation established by the Third Summit Islamic of OIC], the director of the Department of Science of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr. Faiq Billal and the chairman of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al-Madani.

Meanwhile, the so-called minister of education, youth and sport, Kemal Durust, in a written statement, referred to the "Forum and Exhibition on Higher Education Services of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)", saying that a total of seven ministers from Islamic countries are expected to participate in the forum. He also underlined that it is the first time that such a wide-ranging activity is taking place in the occupied area and said that it is very important for their educational system and their "universities".

Durust further said that they exerted intensive efforts to reach their goal which is 60 thousand students in the "TRNC's universities", stating that in this framework the promotion of the occupation regime's "universities" in the OIC members states is very important.

(AK)

[06] OIC's General Secretary met with Eroglu; Eroglu says OIC's decisions are in favour of the breakaway regime

Self-styled foreign minister, Huseyin Ozgurgun and the Turkish so-called ambassador to the occupied part of Lefkosia Halil Ibrahim Akca attended the meeting.

In statements during the meeting, Eroglu pointed out to the importance they attach to education and their close relations with the Islamic countries. He said that the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, participates as observer in the meetings of the OIC and influences the decisions that are taken. Eroglu noted that usually decisions in favour of the breakaway regime are taken in these meetings.

Pointing out to Ihsanoglu's efforts in the direction of the development of the relations between the OIC member states and the breakaway regime, Eroglu said they want these relations to be deepened further.

In his statements, Ihsanoglu said that the OIC has always been supporting the Turkish Cypriots even before he came on duty and added that in the past few years this support became concrete. Ihsanoglu noted that the OIC knows the "just", as he described it, cause of the Turkish Cypriots and they are doing whatever they can for the lifting of the so-called embargo and isolation. He alleged that they support the efforts exerted by the UN Secretary-General for a solution in Cyprus, that the Turkish Cypriot side does whatever it can for these efforts having a result and that they want a solution by January.

Ihsanoglu said he was informed that 53 persons from 22 countries came to the occupied area of Cyprus to participate in this Forum and added that ministers and deputy ministers are also among these persons. He noted that the aim is for the Islamic countries to "see the potential" of the "TRNC".

Noting that as a result of the measures they have taken and the efforts in the direction of the recognition of the diplomas of the illegal universities in the occupied area of Cyprus, the number of the students increased. He added that joint activities in the field of tourism have also been organized and the potential of the breakaway regime in this field has been seen.

Ihsanoglu reiterated the importance of higher education, tourism and the industry based on agricultural products in the lifting of the so-called embargoes and added that the development of these three sectors and with Eroglu's contribution in the political field the "embargo" and the "isolation" would become meaningless.

Ihsanoglu argued that the democratization process in the Arab world would be in favour of the breakaway regime.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Ozersay's contacts in Stockholm

During his contacts in Sweden Ozersay met with some journalists and academicians and talked about the latest phase reached during the Cyprus talks.

He also met with high level officials from the Swedish Foreign Ministry and exchanged views regarding the Cyprus negotiations process. According to illegal BRT, Ozersay was also expected to meet with some regional country diplomats while on his visit to the country.

[08] CTP's delegation held contacts in Brussels

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

As the paper writes, within the framework of its contacts, the delegation met yesterday with the European Parliament Vice President Libor Roucek, the President of the European Commission Jos? Manuel Barroso, special Representative on Cyprus, Jorge Cezar das Neves and the Deputy Director-General of the European Union's Directorate General for Enlargement, Stefano Sannino. Also, according to a statement made by CTP's press office, Ozdil Nami delivered a speech at a round-table meeting organized by the European Policy Centre (EPC).

In his speech during the meeting, Nami underlined the importance of achieving progress in the negotiations until January and of a multilateral summit to take place right afterwards.

Noting that CTP is following an active policy towards the solution of the solution problem, Nami called on the EU to fulfil without delay its responsibilities and to encourage the two leaders in Cyprus for the solution.

Nami recalled also that the EU did not implement the "Direct Trade Regulation" with the Turkish Cypriots.

(AK)

[09] Doubts about the credibility of the 4 December population census

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (26.11.11) reports that 20 trade unions in the occupied areas are organizing demonstrations against the "economic stability measures" and demanded the presence of international observes at the 4 December population census. The demonstrations will be held on Monday and Wednesday. Among the trade unions are the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS), the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOEOS), the Turkish Cypriot "Public Servants" Union (KTAMS) and others.

Kibris also writes that that Ali Korhan, counsellor of the "state planning organization" (DPO) stated that the results of the 4 December census in the occupied area depend on the accurate and responsible replies of the interviewees and called everybody to give correct answers.

He went on and added that the information given will be confidential.

Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (26.11.11) writes that Nazim Cavusoglu, self-styled minister of interior said that the illegal Turkish workers who will be registered at the population census will not be deported from the occupied areas.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (26.11.11) writes that the former workers of the Turkish Cypriot Airlines will boycott the population census reacting against the various problems they faced after losing their jobs.

On his part, Resat Akar, the editor in chief of Kibris daily (28.11.11) in his column criticizes the occupation regime for its decision to conduct the population census in one day with the application of curfew and notes that this does not apply to the EU criteria.

Finally, Cenk Mutluyakali, the editor in chief of Yeni Duzen daily (28.11.11) writes in his column that the census will be a "fiasco" and notes that even an efficient number of employees is not found to work for conducting the census and that they think of employing university students to do the job. He also writes that for days now questions are asked about the method which will be used for the census and wonders why information for the census is not gathered at the barricades, or the "airports" and the "ports" of the occupied areas.

[10] Efforts to boost religious identity in occupied Cyprus

The paper reports that already a plot in occupied Omorfita, an area of occupied Lefkosia, has been purchased for 250 thousand British pounds and an application for the construction of the centre has been filed with the town planning department. The paper writes that behind the 500 thousand GBP investment is Fethullah Gulen.

Additionally, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (28.11.11) reports that the director of the so-called department of religious affairs Talip Atalay said that there is demand for religious education in occupied Cyprus, however "due to pressures from the society they are embarrassed to speak up." Speaking to a reporter from the illegal Turkish Cypriot TAK news agency, Atalay argued that the opening of theological departments in the breakaway regime will help to cover the lack of imams. He also said that it is a contradiction to react to bringing imams from Turkey, but at the same time to react to educating people in Cyprus and added that qualified people with degrees, trained under the "state's" supervision will not constitute a danger for Turkish Cypriots.

[11] A joint exercise between Turkey and the breakaway regime

[12] Unal Ustel participated in the "4th International European Quality Summit" in London

As the paper writes, Unal Ustel and the chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly's (TBMM) Committee on the Constitution and MP in Istanbul, Burhan Kuzu met with Turkish business people.

Speaking during the meeting, Unal Ustel, stated, inter alia, that they are exerting efforts to develop the economy of the occupation regime in spite of the so-called embargoes.

Pointing out to the importance they attach to tourism and education sectors, Ustel said: "Besides all the difficulties we have and the isolation, we achieved to bring our country's tourism and education to a high quality level. Motherland Turkey is the only one which supports us".

Referring to the "embargoes" which are imposed on the occupation regime, Ustel said that they achieved the desired figures for this year in the tourism sector and added that they brought tourists to the occupied area of Cyprus from 14 countries with chartered flights. He also stated that it is the first time they achieved to "steal" tourism from "South Cyprus", as he called the Republic of Cyprus.

(AK)

[13] Turkish Cypriots living in the UK protested against PKK

The protesters marched from the Belgrave Square until the 10 Downing Street. The chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Association Council, Ahmet Basturk, conveyed a letter to the British Prime Minister, David Cameron on the issue.

[14] "Turkey to declare its own sanctions on Syria"

"Ankara will soon announce its sanctions against Syrian President Assad's regime in parallel to those accepted by the Arab League yesterday

Turkey will swiftly implement economic and financial sanctions against the disobedient Syrian administration amid growing tension with its southern neighbour, whose leader accused Ankara of having 'imperial dreams'.

Hours after the Arab League approved sanctions against its own member, the Turkish government met in a rush meeting in Ankara to finalize a draft of sanctions in what diplomats described as 'parallel and complementary to those of the Arab League'. The measures are expected to be announced in the next few days by a government statement.

'Obviously measures we will take against Syria will be national ones. But we will fully support sanctions announced by the Arab League', a Foreign Ministry official told Hurriyet Daily News yesterday afternoon following the League's approval of sanctions. 'But', the official said, 'as a neighbouring country which has a 900-km-long border with this country, our measures could differ from those of the Arab League in size and in timing.'

Cutting electricity sales to Syria, suspending all joint projects and investments, halting flights to and from Syria, freezing the assets of top Syrian officials in Turkey, halting ongoing financial cooperation with the Syrian Central Bank and other institutions and continuing a land and air blockade to stop arms transfer to Syria are among sanctions Turkey will implement against its southern neighbour.

(?)

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, sanctions to be imposed on Syria were based on three main principles. As Babacan earlier said, sanctions would never include cutting the flow of water to Syria, which stood as the first principle. Second, steps that would affect daily lives of Syrian citizens would be avoided as much as possible. And third, sanctions would not harm Turkish interests in Syria, especially in the fields of transportation and trade.

'What we have said from the very beginning is that sanctions should have first come from a regional organization', a diplomatic official said. 'And they did. And as Turkey, we will stand neither behind nor in the front of the Arab League. We will be nearby.'

Subtitle: Political sanctions not far away

However, sanctions will unlikely be limited to economic measures. Following organized attacks against its diplomatic missions and Bashar al-Assad's public accusations against Turkey, diplomatic sources no longer ruled out withdrawal of the Turkish ambassador to Damascus within days. The political sanctions could later be enhanced by closing the Turkish Embassy in Damascus and recognizing the Syrian National Council as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

'Withdrawing our ambassador or implementing other means of political sanctions depends on the Syrian leadership,' the official said. 'As it happened during the attacks of our diplomatic missions, if they cannot guarantee to protect our diplomatic staff, then there will be nothing to do except withdrawing the ambassador.' (?)" TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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