Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-01-16

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

[01] State funeral to take place in the occupied area of Cyprus for Rauf Denktas death; the breakaway regime and Turkey declared official mourning

[02] Rauf Denktas will be buried in a park that symbolizes TMT and the declaration of the breakaway regime

[03] Turkish officials send messages of condolences for Denktas death

[04] Messages of condolences by the UNs Secretary-General Ban, OICs Secretary-General Ihsanoglu and other foreign officials

[05] Turkish officials and the General Secretary of the OIC will participate in Denktas funeral

[06] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers Rauf Denktas death

[07] How the Turkish press cover Rauf Denktas death

[08] Denktas: A man alone on the ocean

[09] Turkeys Davutoglu discussed the Cyprus problem with the UN Secretary-General in Beirut

[10] Eroglu reiterates his intransigent positions during a ceremony in Fazil Kucuks memory

[11] A Turkish Foreign Ministry official stated that the Russian ship carrying arms to Syria has anchored off Turkeys port of Alexandretta

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

All Turkish dailies covered over the weekend the announcement of former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas death, as well as the details of his funeral ceremony. Another topic was the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to Lebanon.

[01] State funeral to take place in the occupied area of Cyprus for Rauf Denktas death; the breakaway regime and Turkey declared official mourning

A week of official mourning has been declared by the council of ministers until Friday, the 20th of January. An official mourning has been declared in Turkey as well.

The former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Raif Denktas will be laid to rest on Tuesday, the 17th of January with a state funeral.

All flags have been lowered to half-mast until Friday the 20th of January. All state and government offices, schools and other workplaces for the exception of essential services will be closed on Tuesday, the day of the funeral.

Speaking on the details of the funeral, the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said that following an extraordinary meeting of the council of ministers attended by Rauf Denktas son - the leader of the Democratic Party Serdar Denktas - and himself, it has been decided that a series of ceremonies will be held for the funeral in line with state protocol for funerals.

The first ceremony will be held at 9:45am at the Near East University hospital where Rauf Denktas passed away.

The late Turkish Cypriot leader will then be taken to the so-called presidential palace where bureaucrats and government officials will be allowed to pay their last respects at a second ceremony.

A 24 hour watch will be kept by the late leader until 9:00am the next day.

On Tuesday, the late Turkish Cypriot leader will be carried to the Selimiye Mosque on a gun carriage for noon prayers.

The public will be able to pay their last respects during the funeral procession to the mosque.

Following noon prayers, the casket will then once again be carried out of the Selimiye Mosque and placed on the gun carriage drawn by a military vehicle.

A funeral parade will then convey the coffin from the Mosque to occupied Keryneia Gate where it placed onto a hearse and taken to the place of burial, which has been decided by Denktas family.

His body will be brought to the so-called assembly on Monday, where it will be kept in-state under a 24 hours watch until the funeral.

State bureaucrats and government officials will be paying their last respects to the late Turkish Cypriot leader. More dignitaries from Turkey and other parts of the world are also expected to attend the funeral.

Meanwhile, prayers are being read for the late Turkish Cypriot leader at mosques across the occupation regime.

[02] Rauf Denktas will be buried in a park that symbolizes TMT and the declaration of the breakaway regime

The self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk, some ministers, the so-called mayor of occupied Lefkosia Cemal Bulutoglulari and Rauf Denktas son Serdar visited yesterday the park and held on the spot examinations.

Afterwards, Irsen Kucuk told the press that they took into consideration the wish of Denktas family and added that they will immediately start to work for making the necessary arrangements for the funeral in the Republics Park, which represents the history of the national struggle, the TMT and the republic.

The self-styled minister of public works and transport, Ersan Saner said that they will build a monument there suitable for the TRNC state, for Denktas name and for the history of their struggle. He noted that the works for the monument will begin right after the funeral.

In his statements, Serdar Denktas said that the Republics Park, which represents TMT and the republic, will also be the symbol of Denktas from now on.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Turkish officials send messages of condolences for Denktas death

In his message of condolences, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that the death of such a heroic leader, as he described Rauf Denktas, was not only a loss for the Turkish Cypriots but a loss for the entire Turkish nation. He dedicated his whole life to the rightful national cause of his people. The TRNC is the biggest heritage he left behind. His struggle towards a lasting and fair settlement in Cyprus, reaching to a successful end, will be the most significant gain of his people. Turkish Cypriots will always find motherland Turkey by their side while maintaining their honourable struggle, Gul said.

In another message, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed out that Denktas has a unique place in the heart of the Turkish nation with his lifelong struggle for the national cause. He will live forever in the lands of the TRNC he said.

Also issuing a condolence message, the Speaker of the Turkish National Assembly Cemil Cicek, stressed that the memory of the strong defender of the Cyprus cause will be perpetuated by the Turkish nation forever.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Cyprus Affairs Besir Atalay applauded the determined national struggle waged by Rauf Denktas, in another message of condolences.

The 9th President of the Republic of Turkey, also a close friend of Denktas, Suleyman Demirel also issued a message in which he underlined the extremely significant role Denktas played in the establishment of the sovereign TRNC state.

A condolence message issued by the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc praised Rauf Denktas for his determined struggle for his peoples existence.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu emphasized in his message that, the Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish nation will never forget the veteran leader and his honourable struggle.

Political parties and sports clubs in Turkey also issued messages to express their deep sorrow over the death of Rauf Denktas.

[04] Messages of condolences by the UNs Secretary-General Ban, OICs Secretary-General Ihsanoglu and other foreign officials

Releasing a condolence message, Ban's spokesperson's office said: The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the passing of Rauf Denktas late Friday. Mr Denktas was a long-serving and historic Cyprus Turkish leader with whom the United Nations had a long relationship in the framework of UN-facilitated talks for the reunification of Cyprus and related to its peacekeeping responsibilities on the island.

The Secretary General expresses his condolences to the family of the late Rauf Denktas as well as to all Cyprus Turks, said the message.

The Special Adviser of the Secretary-General, Alexander Downer, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Lisa M. Buttenheim has also issued a joint statement expressing their condolences to the Turkish Cypriots and the Denktas family.

The statement read that it was with deep sorrow that the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General, Alexander Downer, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Lisa M. Buttenheim, learned of the passing of Rauf Raif Denktas.

On behalf of the United Nations in Cyprus, they extend their condolences to the family of Mr Denktas and the Turkish Cypriot community.

Mr Denktas was a preeminent figure whose dedication to the Turkish Cypriot community was steadfast through decades of leadership the statement added.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration, as President Demetris Christofias is called, has also offered his condolences to the Denktas family.

President Demetris Christofias has contacted Serdar Denktas via the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu and offered his deepest condolences.

Ankara Anatolia news agency (14.01.12) reported also from Jeddah that the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) SecretaryGeneral, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has also offered condolences after the demise of the former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas.

In his statement, Ihsanoglu described Denktas as a historic leader and unforgettable hero of the Islamic and Turkish world and underlined that in his struggle for peace and stability for his country, Denktas has been a role model for many politicians, particularly due to his wise and intelligent approach as well as integrity.

Finally, Ihsanoglu sent letters to the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu and on behalf of him and the Islamic world expressed his deepest condolences and conveyed his sympathy and prayers to the family of Rauf Denktas and the Turkish Cypriot people.

OIC Secretary General will also attend the funeral ceremony of Denktas on January 17, 2012.

[05] Turkish officials and the General Secretary of the OIC will participate in Denktas funeral

Moreover, the leaders of the Turkish opposition parties, Cemal Kilicdaroglu (Republican Peoples Party) and Devlet Bahceli (Nationalist Action Movement) as well as the former Chief of the General Staff, General Isik Kosaner will also attend the ceremony.

According to Haberdar, today it will be clarified whether Turkish former Presidents Suleyman Demirel and Ahmet Necdet Sezer, as well as Rahsan Ecevit, former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevis spouse, will participate in the funeral.

(I/Ts.)

[06] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers Rauf Denktas death

Under the title A historical figure died, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (14.01.12) reports that we lost Rauf Denktas who died on Friday night at 22.00 hours in illegal Near East Universitys hospital at the age of 88. The paper writes that in an interview in 1985 Denktas had expressed the wish to be buried in a public graveyard.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (14.01.12) publishes the news under the title Denktas died and reports that Denktas daughter, Ender Vangol told the press that in his last words Denktas said the following: Tell Christofias and the other Greek Cypriot leaders that there is an independent Republic here. Afterwards he shouted the name of President Christofias, she added.

The other papers on Saturday (14.01.12) covered the issue under the following titles:

Yeni Duzen: Denktas farewell

Havadis: A historical figure died

Vatan: We have lost Rauf Denktas. The deepest condolences to the TRNC people and the Turkish nation

Volkan: The deepest condolences to the Turkish nation. We will never forget you

Kibrisli: And he does not exist anymore, a historical figure died. When he was dying, he addressed the Greek Cypriot leaders

Halkin Sesi: The deepest condolences to us

Ortam: First President Rauf Denktas died

Bakis: We lost him

Star Kibris: The Turkish nation is crying

Haberdar: We lost our father (1924-2012)

Gunes: We will never forget

Cyprus Today (Weekend): A nation in mourning

On Sunday (15.01.12) Kibris reports that the self-styled government declared mourning for one week in the occupied area of Cyprus and that the government in Ankara also decided to declare national mourning in Turkey from Saturday until Tuesday, when Rauf Denktas will be buried.

On the same day (15.01.12), Volkan publishes statements by Turkish politicians on Denktas death under the title The Turkish world cries for Denktas. Furthermore, the paper writes that messages of condolences have also been sent by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and his representatives in Cyprus Alexander Downer and Lisa Buttenheim. According to Volkan, the news for Denktas death was also published in the media of the USA, the UK and Hungary. The paper reports that Azerbaijans prime minister Aliyev described Denktas as historical leader.

Havadis (15.01.12) writes that Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu.

Finally, Kibris today (16.01.12) reports that the office of the Embassy of the United States of America to Lefkosia has issued a message of condolences on the occasion of Rauf Denktas death. The commitment of the USA to assist in the finding of a comprehensive solution in Cyprus is reiterated in the message.

(I/Ts.)

[07] How the Turkish press cover Rauf Denktas death

The headlines of the Turkish dailies front pages (only of those received by our office) are the following:

Sabah (16.01.12): A mausoleum for Denktas. The paper reports Rauf Denktas, the founding Turkish Cypriot president will be buried at the symbolic Republican Park, which symbolizes the struggle of TMT.

Hurriyet (16.01.12): Here, he will be buried. His office will be a research centre. The paper reports that the archive of Denktas has thousands of official documents.

Cumhuriyet (15.01.12): The will and testament of Denktas

Milliyet (15.01.12): Turkish world in mourning

Taraf (15.01.12): Both states in mourning

Zaman (15.01.12): All flags have been lowered to half mast, North Cyprus mourns

Radikal (15.01.12): Has Denktas left with a desire left unsatisfied?

Hurriyet (15.01.12): In a mourn for a week

Sabah: (15.01.12): Even Christofias was sadden. The paper reports Greek Cypriot leader Christofias called Eroglu and gave his condolences to Denktas family

Milliyet (14.01.12): While he was in his sickbed, he exclaimed: Christofias, the independence is important

[08] Denktas: A man alone on the ocean

On his death bed, the old chubby man who devoted his life to the struggle of his people as he said he wanted to be remembered as such was talking or whispering to his daughter. What are we going to do with all those people to be displaced How are we going to make territorial adjustments? he asks.

His daughter replies back, Dont be bothered with such things now.

How cant I? I have to! How will the displaced people be settled? Where? he says.

The daughter insists, This is not the time to talk of this, dont be bothered with such things, rest now.

The old man on his death bed replies with some inaudible words, apparently in Greek.

Come on daddy I dont know Greek; say it in Turkish or English, she implores.

Tell them Tell [Greek Cypriot leader Demetris] Christofias! This is an independent state, he proclaims.

Then the old chubby man on his death bed starts singing a Turkish classical song, the song of him and his dear wife Aydin: No one can love you more than I Death is no problem, what I am bothered with, is parting from you.

Turkish Cyprus founding president, Rauf Denktas, was that sort of a person indeed. For him, his people and the struggle of his people came before him and the family. He was long out of presidential duty. He was no longer the Turkish Cypriot negotiator at the Cyprus talks, yet even on his deathbed, he was bothered with what was happening at the negotiations. Perhaps to the surprise of many people, when current President Dervis Eroglu visited him during his almost eight-month-long illness, he always asked for a briefing on the talks.

He entered politics in the early 1950s as an advocate of the struggle of his people for equal rights, liberty and well-being. He became a leader of the Turkish world. He was a humble man. All through his leadership of the Turkish Cypriot people (from 1973 to 2005), it was not just the door of his office that always remained open to his people, but his heart as well.

Naturally, he had critics and die-hard opponents. A leader needs to have a wide enough bosom to embrace everyone; the capability to forgive because a leader needs to be the one who embraces everyone without discrimination, he once said. Indeed, he was a leader determined not to give up like a lone man adrift on the ocean.

For him, the struggle was above everything, including family or his health. The struggle was first to achieve the rights and liberties and equal partnership of his people in the independence of Cyprus; later the struggle became a quest for a Cyprus settlement but also an attempt to consolidate the Turkish Cypriot state against any odd eventuality.

He would never give up and, indeed, did not give up even on his deathbed. Every minute was important for him, and he often said: I am like a man who has been dropped into the ocean. I am compelled to continue swimming I dont have the right to give up!

He never gave up.

[09] Turkeys Davutoglu discussed the Cyprus problem with the UN Secretary-General in Beirut

Davutoglu is currently in Lebanon to attend a UN conference entitled "Reform and Transitions to Democracy" organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Davutoglu and Ban exchanged views prior to the Cyprus meeting in Green Tree, New York.

They also assessed recent developments in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Africa and the Middle East.

UN-Turkey relations were also high on the agenda of Ban-Davutoglu meeting.

Bans spokesperson's office also released a statement after the meeting and said, "they discussed a range of regional matters, in particular the situation in Syria, as well as Iran and Cyprus. The Secretary General said the dangerous trajectory of the crisis in Syria was a source of grave concern."

Speaking to reporters in Lebanon on Sunday, Davutoglu, referred, inter alia, to the Cyprus problem, saying that he held a long meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Beirut and that they discussed the developments in Cyprus issue.

Ban attaches importance in making progress rapidly during the Cyprus summit which will be held in New York soon, added Davutoglu.

We are on a threshold of an important opportunity in Cyprus issue, and it is significant not to miss this opportunity, said Davutoglu, adding that Ban told him that Turkey's initiatives about Cyprus issue were important.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that all leaders he met in Lebanon agreed on Turkey's importance in the region.

The importance of Turkey's contribution in the stability of the region as well as Turkey's influence in the developments in Syria were confirmed by all leaders I met in Lebanon, Davutoglu told reporters on Sunday.

He noted that all the leaders he met had different perspectives and political views but almost all of them agreed that Turkey was important in the region.

I also conveyed the initiatives Turkey launched so far regarding Syria issue, added Davutoglu.

[10] Eroglu reiterates his intransigent positions during a ceremony in Fazil Kucuks memory

He alleged, inter alia, the following:

Unfortunately, they still try to push us to the position of being a minority, keeping open the doors of being able to carry out a new enosis movement when the day comes. I am forced to say these realities today, at this historical commemoration ceremony. Our Greek Cypriot friends could still not digest that we have equal rights with them. We are sovereign, we are equal and in order for these to be better perceived and digested, we want rotating presidency, but unfortunately, we are not seeing any understanding. We support bi-zonality, the existence of two peoples, the Turkish Cypriot people to have the majority of the property and population in the north and the Greek Cypriot people in the south and that the agreement to be reached should become primary law of the European Union, but the Greek Cypriot side is trying to do exactly the opposite of these. They still do not abandon the dream of returning to the pre-1974 period.

My esteemed brothers, we want peace. We want peace more than the Greek Cypriots, because we are the ones who are unjustly punished due to the fact that there is no agreement. I am the one who says that this should end now, but I am underlining the following: I will never say yes to an agreement which will pave the way of the return to the pre-1974 periodMy dear Doctor [Kucuk], there is not step back from the point of being a state, which caused you enthusiasm and joy during the last days of your life. It can never be possible for the Turkish Cypriot people to make the slightest concession from motherland Turkeys active and effective guaranteesIf the Greek Cypriot side has good will, solution by next summer is possible. We have shown and will show the necessary flexibility for a viable agreement based on the existing realities in Cyprus. However, there are concessions, which we cannot make and points on which we cannot go back. Let no one pressure us in vain on these points. The side on which the real pressure should be exerted is the Greek Cypriot sideThe UN and the EU should understand this now and call on the Greek Cypriot side to be reasonable and not ignore the just demands of the Turkish Cypriot people. If they do not understand this and if they think that they will be able to force us to make concessions, which we cannot accept, the United Nations should do what is necessary. We expect an active duty from the UN Secretary-General

(I/Ts.)

[11] A Turkish Foreign Ministry official stated that the Russian ship carrying arms to Syria has anchored off Turkeys port of Alexandretta

In statements on the issue, Selcuk Unal, Turkish Foreign Ministry' official, said Turkish coast guard and customs officials would board the Chariot before allowing it to dock at the port of 0skenderun [Alexandretta].

Unal said the ship left the Syrian port of Tartus early Saturday and reached 0skenderun [Alexandretta] later the same day. He said the ship's captain confirmed that the ship had arrived from Syria. But it's unclear what type of cargo the St. Vincent and Grenadines-flagged ship may have offloaded at Tartus.

The Chariot initially made its way to the port of Limassol on Tuesday after running low on fuel because of rough seas. Its arrival at a European Union member country meant the vessel would be subject to the embargo the bloc imposed to protest Syria's crackdown on the uprising against President Bashar Assad's rule. () TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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