Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-01-10

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[01] Eroglu said Turkish Cypriot side is satisfied with UNSG's letter

[02] Eroglu will brief the self-styled assembly before Greentree summit

[03] "Delineation agreement" passes from breakaway regime's assembly

[04] Denktas' consultant Olgun: "The possibilities for a solution are 50%"

[05] BKP states that the EP's proposal concerning the Famagusta port should be taken into consideration

[06] The so-called ministry of internal interior says 2369 persons benefited from amnesty in one day

[07] Erdogan's intervention behind sale of residences in occupied Cyprus

[08] "CHP leader may face immunity cut, probe"

[09] Basbug is accused of serving Ergenekon goals

[10] Turkish army takes legal action against BDP leader

[11] Norwegian PM's contacts in Turkey; Yildiz said Turkey is ready to cooperate with Norway on oil and natural gas research project in the Mediterranean

[12] US delegation discusses with Turkish officials the political instability in Iraq, the unrest in Syria and the Cyprus problem

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

More reports and statements on the arrest of the former Chief Of General Staff, Ilker Basbug, reports that the Armenian bill is to be set for approval on January 23, Ali Babacan's visit to Saudi Arabia for contacts, statements by Leyla Zana, MP with BDP of Kurdish origin that arms constitutes the insurance of Kurds and Erdogan's meeting with his Norwegian counterpart are some of the main stories covered by today's Turkish dailies. The main issues on Cyprus are statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu after meeting yesterday with President Christofias, and Rauf Denktas' health condition.

[01] Eroglu said Turkish Cypriot side is satisfied with UNSG's letter

He reminded that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon sent a letter to both sides and that the Turkish Cypriot side is very happy with this letter as the UN Secretary-General also put forward his view that the last phase has been reached at the Cyprus talks.

Eroglu alleged: "The Greek Cypriot side has always been against a time limit being given to the talks ever since the Cyprus negotiations began in 1968, but the UN Secretary-General has also put forward his view that a time limit is necessary in this letter, and has shown South Cyprus's EU term Presidency as the deadline".

"With this letter the UN Secretary-General has clarified all factors of the last phase of the Cyprus talks and at this point we will do everything that falls upon our shoulders before a multilateral conference takes place", Eroglu also claimed.

"With this letter we can see our future more clearly", said Eroglu and added that "the Turkish Cypriot side will send a response to this letter in the coming days".

Eroglu also that the Turkish Cypriot side is preparing very well for the summit and expressed the belief that these workings will be very beneficial as it will aide them in overcoming all obstacles that may arise at the summit.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis (10.01.12) reports that Eroglu, commenting on self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk's statement in an interview at Greek Cypriot daily Kathimerini saying that the "Greentree summit has been postponed", said that he estimates that it may be a mistake in the translation at the newspaper. He added: "Esteemed prime minister knows that we should go to Greentree and this summit is unavoidable. He mentioned that it was postponed. I guess that there was a mistake in the translation of what Kucuk said. Otherwise, prime minister knows very well our policy. Even our people have no contrary thoughts on this issue."

Bakis, on its front page under the title "Kucuk's gems", reports that Kucuk's statement in the Greek Cypriot press created shock in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

[02] Eroglu will brief the self-styled assembly before Greentree summit

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (09.01.12), Eroglu will leave for New York on January 20. Eroglu will first go to Istanbul on January 19, and then proceed to New York on January 20. He is expected to return to the occupied area of the Republic of CYprus on January 27.

[03] "Delineation agreement" passes from breakaway regime's assembly

Ozkan Yorgancioglu, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) argued that this "agreement" contradicts the "internal legislation regarding the authority of sea territories" that passed in 2005 from the breakaway regime's assembly. He also added that by claiming rights on the natural gas findings of the Greek Cypriot side and on the other hand saying that Greek Cypriots do not have any right on the oil exploration in the breakaway regime, shows a mentality of "resources in the north are ours, resources in the south are also ours" and wondered if such mentality can exist.

Speaking second during the discussion of the "bill," Mehmet Cakici, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) reminded that Irsen Kucuk, the so-called prime minister, himself said he was not aware of such an "agreement," while it was being signed in New York by Eroglu. He supported that such an "agreement" should have been signed by the "government" and pointed out that a "foreign minister" who has no idea of the "international agreements" that are being signed, should resign from his position. Moreover, Cakici draw attention to the fact, that according to a later "agreement" giving Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) licence to conduct exploratory drilling, only 12% of the natural resources discovered will be exploited by the breakaway regime. On the same tone, CTP's Mustafa Yektaoglu argued that such percentage is very low and such an agreement does not exist in any country.

Turgay Avci, chairman of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) said that the importance of the place where the "agreement" was signed, its timing, the conjuncture and the message it gives to the world have great importance, adding that they support the "agreement."

[04] Denktas' consultant Olgun: "The possibilities for a solution are 50%"

Speaking to journalist Hasan Hasturer, Olgun stated that he does not think that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will say that the New York summit will be the last point as regards the negotiations for the Cyprus problem. "I consider that there is 50% possibility the UN Secretary-General to say that they reached an agreement", Olgun stated. He also added that the resources of the island can play a catalyst role for the solution.

[05] BKP states that the EP's proposal concerning the Famagusta port should be taken into consideration

Commenting on the proposal, Salih Rustu Somustun, foreign relation's secretary of BKP, stated that the EP's proposal is very important and that it should be taken into account.

Sonustun stated further, that the return of Varosha to its legal owners under the supervision of the UN, and the opening of the Famagusta port for use by the Turkish Cypriots under the control of the EU, will have a positive effect towards the negotiations for finding a comprehensive solution and at the same time, both communities will gain ground from this.

Sonustun reiterated further that the United Cyprus Party (BKP) has always supported the return of Varosha and the opening of the Famagusta port for the Turkish Cypriot community, under the control of the EU. He added that the priority is the early federal solution in Cyprus and thus, stressed the need to make openings and take confidence building measures that will contribute to the solution process.

(AK)

[06] The so-called ministry of internal interior says 2369 persons benefited from amnesty in one day

According to the statement, a total of 2396 people have been benefited by the amnesty since yesterday morning.

The paper adds that the deadline for the amnesty is until the 6th of February, and predicts that this number is expected to be increased rapidly within the next days.

(AK)

[07] Erdogan's intervention behind sale of residences in occupied Cyprus

Gurcafer argued that huge companies who have access to loans with low interest rates [referring to Turkish construction companies], will dominate the Turkish Cypriot market. He said that the so-called government instead of protecting local companies from unfair competition, do the exact opposite by granting citizenships with lightning-fast speeds to partners and officers of these companies [under "TRNC's Law 19/98 regarding Registration and Auditing" in order to perform constructions one must have the "TRNC citizenship"].

Referring to a recent TV advertisement in Turkey where the Turkish firm Bulut Constructions Ltd is selling 3+1 apartments in the occupied village of Gioneli for the price of 35,000 British pounds, Gurcafer stated inter alia: "You sell a house in TRNC for 35,000 pounds with a fixed ten year rate. Because we are the little homeland and you love us very much. Right, then I am asking why do you sell [the same house] in Turkey for 200,000 USD? Or don't you love the Turkish people? We are full of such lies. We are aware of the game that is being played and we will not participate in it."

Additionally, the paper in its column "Letter from Afrika" points out that behind Bulut Constructions Ltd is Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The column writes that a delegation from Turkey's Prime Ministry had contacted the KTIMB and asked for their support during the sale of the site. It also notes, that a crowd of interested buyers formed yesterday at the offices of the company in occupied Kerynia, however the company's plans differ. In their "Lavinium" site they plan to sell 50% of the residences to Turkish citizens, 10% to Turkish Cypriots and the rest to Arab nationals.

[08] "CHP leader may face immunity cut, probe"

"The public prosecutor in Istanbul's Silivri district, is seeking the revocation of the main opposition leader's parliamentary immunity so that he can face charges of 'attempting to influence a fair trial' and 'insulting public servants on duty'.

Public Prosecutor Ali Isgoren sent an official notice to the Justice Ministry yesterday to initiate the process of filing a case against Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Before the CHP chief could stand trial, the justice minister would need to approve the request and send it to Parliament to be put to a vote.

The main opposition party criticized the prosecutor's move in withering terms.

CHP deputy chair Birgul Ayman Guler said the move was another government-backed attempt to silence the opposition and challenged the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to lift Kilicdaroglu's parliamentary immunity so that he could stand trial.

'It seems that the AKP government, which has silenced the universities and politicized the judiciary, is now targeting the main opposition, which is resisting those dictatorial practices,' she told reporters yesterday in Ankara after a meeting of the CHP leadership.

'We are throwing down the gauntlet to both the court and the AKP. They can lift the immunity of both our chairman and all our lawmakers,' she said.

'The AKP is the party which calls dictatorship 'an advanced democracy.' No one in Turkey is safe any longer,' she said. (?)

The file against Kilicdaroglu is based on comments he made after a Nov. 9, 2011, visit to two CHP jailed deputies at Silivri Prison, where suspects in the Ergenekon coup case are being held.

Kilicdaroglu likened the prison to a 'concentration camp' and said he could not bear to call members of the court 'judges'. (?)"

[09] Basbug is accused of serving Ergenekon goals

Ergenekon prosecutors prepared a report, including their preliminary findings on Basbug, when the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court hearing the propaganda websites case filed a criminal complaint against Basbug in late December with the 0
stanbul Prosecutor's Office.

Most of the suspects in the propaganda websites case, told prosecutors during their interrogations, that Basbug knew about the alleged Internet campaign, prompting the court to file a criminal complaint against Basbug.

According to the prosecutors' preliminary opinion, Basbug and 22 other suspects in the case, even though they held posts at the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) , also worked to realize the goals of Ergenekon, meaning to foment chaos in the country with the ultimate aim of a military takeover. Also then were involved in the TSK-established propaganda websites, despite the fact that it is legally impossible for the military to support the content of such websites.

"Basbug is a member of the armed Ergenekon terrorist organization, working for its goals and using the people under his command not to work in line with the goals of the TSK, but with those of Ergenekon," the prosecutors said.

[10] Turkish army takes legal action against BDP leader

Commenting on Ozel's interview with Milliyet daily last week, in which the military chief said he was against the use of any other language than Turkish in public education, Demirtas said: "Even if your rank is that of a general, you are a corporal in our eyes. Your value is just that. It does not matter for us if it is a general or a corporal speaking. You have no value in our eyes."

[11] Norwegian PM's contacts in Turkey; Yildiz said Turkey is ready to cooperate with Norway on oil and natural gas research project in the Mediterranean

Stoltenberg arrived in Turkey on Monday upon an invitation by his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and had separate talks with him and President Abdullah Gul on state-to-state relations as well as regional developments, including the fight against global terrorism and a resolution of the Cyprus issue. Stoltenberg also paid a visit to main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu on Monday and held a joint press conference with Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek in the afternoon.

While Cicek raised the possibility of joint investments to be made by Norway and Turkey in third countries, Stoltenberg said he was impressed by Turkey's economic growth and added that the countries could pursue joint projects in the energy sector, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Stoltenberg is also expected to visit the Anatolian province of Corum, where one of the major Norwegian energy companies, Statkraft, will build a hydroelectric power station, but was unable to travel to the city due to adverse weather conditions. Stoltenberg instead, participated in the promotional ceremony through a teleconference from Ankara, as Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz hailed Norwegian partnership in Corum, saying Turkey was ready to cooperate further with Norwegian firms, including an oil and natural gas research project in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

[12] US delegation discusses with Turkish officials the political instability in Iraq, the unrest in Syria and the Cyprus problem

"A delegation from the United States held talks with Turkish officials in Ankara on Monday, to discuss the latest economic sanctions on Iran to pressure the Islamic Republic to abandon its nuclear program which, the West believes is a front for developing nuclear weapons.

US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns had separate talks with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu and discussed unilateral sanctions by the US on Iran due to its controversial nuclear program as well as other regional developments. (?)

Burns' visit came days after Davutoglu visited Tehran to discuss, among other things, the nuclear standoff between Iran and the West. Davutoglu offered to host the next nuclear talks in Turkey -- a move Iran welcomed.

Turkey is bound by UN sanctions against Iran, though it opposed the last round of measures in 2010, and it insists it is not obliged to follow non-UN sanctions.

Turkey is also evaluating whether to seek a waiver from the US to exempt Turkish oil importer Tupras, from the new US sanctions on institutions that deal with Iran's central bank.

US ally Turkey is among the biggest importers of Iranian oil and gas. It gets about 30% of its oil from neighbouring Iran, and Tupras, Turkey's biggest crude oil importer, is a big purchaser of Iranian crude.

Turkish diplomats said Burns and Turkish officials also discussed the Cyprus problem, the unrest in Syria and the political instability in Iraq." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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