Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-02-17

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

[01] Eroglu comments on the second round of licensing for oil explorations in Cyprus' EEZ

[02] Talat assesses the relations between Cyprus and Israel and the Cyprus problem

[03] How the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press covered the Israeli Prime Minister's visit to Cyprus

[04] BP and Shell deny any involvement in the oil storage facilities in occupied Eptakomi

[05] The reactor of Cukurova university replies to criticism about the establishment of a campus in occupied Trikomo village

[06] NATO's Rasmussen due in Ankara for talks

[07] Tayyip Erdogan is the most admired politician in Turkey

[08] The Turkish Energy Minister met with his South African counterpart

[09] Statements by OIC's Secretary General on his latest visit in Australia

[10] Academics unite against oppression at universities

[11] Turkey increases trade with OPEC countries in 2011

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

The Turkish press reports today about the visit of the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu to the Republic of Cyprus. Many papers publish a picture of the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan with the member of the Bosnian Herzegovina Presidency Bakir Izzetbegovich, which is the first picture of the Turkish Prime Minister after his second digestive system surgery. The papers also report that the Turkish Parliament passed a bill on the protection of M0
T staff and also write about the initiatives undertaken for Istanbul's bid for the 2020 Olympic Games. Finally Sabah publishes an opinion poll according to which Erdogan is the most admired politician in Turkey.

[01] Eroglu comments on the second round of licensing for oil explorations in Cyprus' EEZ

In statements yesterday during a meeting with the "Union of Referees and Observers", Eroglu alleged: "This means that as he has no intention to agree at the negotiating table, he does not intent to agree on these issues as well?I think that Mr Christofias started losing his prestige in his own territory..."

Eroglu claimed that President Christofias has brought the second round of tenders onto the agenda in order to make the reactions against him by the National Council and the people to be forgotten.

Reiterating that the Turkish Cypriot side had submitted a proposal to the Greek Cypriot side and to the UN Secretary-General on this issue, Eroglu alleged: "As you see, Christofias is trying to enter into an act of heroism by not taking our proposal seriously into consideration".

The Turkish Cypriot leader argued that President Christofias made this move one year before the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus in order to increase his votes and direct the reactions against him elsewhere.

Eroglu said that the Turkish side will be taking some steps in response for every step taken by the Greek Cypriot side, that within this framework they signed an agreement with Prime Minster Erdogan in New York for delimiting the "continental shelf" between Turkey and the occupied area of Cyprus and the "government" authorized Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) to carry out explorations. Eroglu noted that explorations in the occupied area will start soon.

Meanwhile, Gunes (17.02.12) reports also that in statements during a meeting with the Istanbul based Turkish Cypriot Cultural Association, Eroglu alleged that they want to make the best use of the time until 1 July 2012, when the Republic of Cyprus will overtake the EU term presidency and complete the Cyprus talks. However, he claimed, in order for this to happen the other side should also have the same view. He alleged that the Greek Cypriot side wants to postpone the solution of the Cyprus problem for the period after Cyprus' EU term presidency.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Talat assesses the relations between Cyprus and Israel and the Cyprus problem

Talat alleged that the drilling for natural gas and oil carried out by the Republic of Cyprus is contrary to the spirit of the solution of the Cyprus problem. He expressed the view that in case a solution is not found, both sides will be harmed and added that if a solution is found, the international interest for Cyprus will be increased.

Talat alleged that the elections are on the agenda of President Christofias and that every action in the government-controlled area of the island is related with the elections.

Assessing the issue of the four freedoms, Talat argued that the four freedoms are a necessary condition for securing the Turkish-Greek balance in the island.

Talat wished for the Cyprus problem to be solved before 1 July 2012 and Cyprus EU term presidency, because "there will be a very long postponement", which in the end "will be turned into an unproductive meaningless process and pass to the second half of 2013".

Talat expressed the view that the UN Secretary-General will not call an international conference on the Cyprus problem.

(I/Ts.)

[03] How the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press covered the Israeli Prime Minister's visit to Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot Haberdar (17.02.12) covers the issue under the front-page title: "Reserved visit" and argues that in spite of "provocative" questions by journalists and President Christofias' statements against Turkey, the Israeli Prime Minister was careful not to say anything about Turkey. This caused comments such as "Netanyahu behaves in a reserved manner", writes the paper.

Under the title: "This summer will be very hot", Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (17.02.12) reports that it is certain that the Turkish side will give the necessary response to the Greek Cypriot side, which on the one hand carries out explorations for oil and tries to come closer with Israel and, on the other, will overtake the EU term presidency as of 1 July 2012.

Other Turkish Cypriot newspapers cover the issue under the following titles:

Kibrisli: "The Mediterranean Sea will be divided into parcels"

Volkan: "Christofias who took support from Netanyahu poured out insults to Turkey: Turkey must recognize the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus..."

Star Kibris: "Gas' cooperation"

Yeni Duzen: "There is important perspective for cooperation"

The Turkish press reports on Netanyahu's visit to the Republic of Cyprus as follows:

Under the title: "The Greek Cypriot sector opened its bases to Israel", writes that the Prime Minister of Israel signed a cooperation agreement during his visit to Cyprus which became the centre of remarks like "he signed an alliance against Turkey".

Radikal reports on the same issue under the title: "Critical agreement between Israel and the Greek Cypriot sector".

Hurriyet writes that Netanyahu was the first Prime Minister of Israel to visit Cyprus and notes that he asked and managed to use the Greek Cypriot air base in Pafos for his arrival to Cyprus.

Cumhuriyet report on the issue under the title: "Historical visit of Netanyahu to Greek Cypriot sector".

[04] BP and Shell deny any involvement in the oil storage facilities in occupied Eptakomi

Moreover, an official from Shell, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he did not want to comment on this issue, but Shell Turkey had no relation with Rixoh Ltd.

Yeni Duzen reports that Shell Turkey is expected to issue a statement on this matter within the forthcoming days.

On 5 January 2012, Yeni Duzen had reported on its front page that Shell, BP and Esso companies would come to the occupied area of Cyprus and published a statement by the Turkish Cypriot businessman Mehmet Salih Karalim, partner of Rixoh Ltd who had said that Halis Bektas, owner of Rixo International and big partner of the project, had meetings with companies such as BP, Shell and Esso and that no one of these companies had any reservations for doing business in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[05] The reactor of Cukurova university replies to criticism about the establishment of a campus in occupied Trikomo village

Akinoglu, was commenting on the reactions created on the news that a campus of the Cukurova university will be established in occupied Trikomo area.

The Rector of the university stated that they are luring students from other countries like from Lebanon and the Eastern bloc and added that the establishment of the university will contribute to the economy of the occupation regime.

Claiming that the Cukurova university, ranks in the 500 position among the best universities of the world, he said that it will be built in the Trikomo area in a building plot of 800-900 donum (TR. Note: a domum is around 1000sm).

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (17.02.12) also reports that the self-styled assembly of the occupation regime has approved a "draft bill" regarding the establishment of the above mentioned university in occupied Cyprus.

[06] NATO's Rasmussen due in Ankara for talks

During his visit, Rasmussen will meet with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. He will also attend a joint meeting of the parliamentary Defence and Foreign Policy Committees and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) Turkish group.

Rasmussen will also be a keynote speaker at a panel jointly organized by Turkey and NATO on Friday.

Greek media reported that before coming to Turkey, Rasmussen said during a visit to Athens that the Cyprus problem negatively affects NATO and EU relations. He stated that he hopes that a solution to the Cyprus issue will finally come before July 1, the date when the Republic of Cyprus assumes the EU presidency. Rasmussen lamented that NATO-EU cooperation could not reach its full potential due to the Cyprus problem.

Rasmussen, who has worked intensively in the past for an arrangement to clear the way for closer NATO-EU military cooperation, said in remarks last week that he will not be taking any new initiatives to Ankara during his visit next week.

"Turkey is blocking further NATO-EU cooperation because of the unresolved Cyprus dispute, while EU member Cyprus blocks Turkish membership in the European Defence Agency. I won't bring new initiatives to Ankara during my visit. I will repeat what I said previously, irrespective of the Cyprus conflict" he said, adding however that "his Turkish interlocutors would be surprised if he did not raise the issue."

[07] Tayyip Erdogan is the most admired politician in Turkey

According to the survey, the second most admired politician in Turley is "nobody" with 32%. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu received only 9.1% of votes and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader, Devlet Bahceli got 4.1% of votes.

In addition, the poll shows that 54% of the people asked believe that the government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is very successful.

The poll was conducted by the Pollmark research company, in 26 provinces of Turkey with a sample of 5,100 persons between 15-25 of January.

[08] The Turkish Energy Minister met with his South African counterpart

The two Ministers later attended the closing session of the Turkey-South Africa Joint Economic Committee meeting which saw the penning of a joint declaration.

Speaking at the closing event, Yildiz said Turkey would no longer buy South African gold through third countries but directly from South Africa's Rand Refinery, one of the world's largest gold refineries. "Our Gold Exchange used to buy gold over British gold bourse. But from now on we will be able to import gold from the Rand Refinery directly. And the gold claims a share of 1.2 billion USD in our bilateral trade volume," Yildiz said.

Trade volume between Turkey and South Africa in 2011 was 2.5 billion USD.

Davies, on his part, said that unmediated trade between the two countries in gold constituted a major development in Turkish-South African economic relations, adding that he believed that Turkish contractors would claim a substantial share in South Africa's infrastructure projects.

[09] Statements by OIC's Secretary General on his latest visit in Australia

"There are efforts by European politicians to use Islamophobia as a tool to win votes. Assailing and offending Muslims has become the ugliest tool to win the advantage in elections. The more one attacks Muslims and offends them, the more votes are gained, which can be turned into a seat in the Parliament," Ihsanoglu said adding that Muslims have become part of the European political agenda.

"Attacks on Muslims first began in Belgium and the Netherlands and have now spread to France", he said, adding that hostility against Muslims is becoming a political tool.

According to Ihsanoglu, using Islamophobia for political gain is very disappointing because there is a risk of seeing religious hatred and discrimination as a natural expression of democracy. Therefore, he said, governments and coalitions formed in this way will justify themselves by saying, "We have done this because our citizens provided us with the authority to do so", he noted.

"It is the same as the decision by the French Parliament criminalizing denial of the Armenian genocide. This decision ignores other nations' religion and beliefs, which is a huge and dangerous threat to stability," Ihsanoglu further said.

(?)

During his meeting with several senior Australian officials, Ihsanoglu discussed Australia's Middle East policy and noted that Australia and Turkey have parallel policies in the Middle East.

The OIC Secretary-general had meetings with senior Turkish officials in 2011 to discuss regional developments, particularly the operation against Libya, and to brief the Turkish Prime Minister on the OIC's initiative regarding Libya.

Commenting on the escalating violence in Syria, the OIC official expressed regret over the veto from China and Russia and assessed it as a failure on the part of the UN Security Council to reach an agreement on a draft resolution that called for an immediate cessation of the ongoing violence to solve the crisis in Syria. Ihsanoglu noted that the veto coming from China and Russia tied the hands of an international decision-making mechanism and prevented any move forward.

[10] Academics unite against oppression at universities

Some 400 academics from 50 different universities in Turkey and abroad have formed a solidarity network called "International Workshop Group for Freedom of Research and Education" to act as a watchdog to document and prevent oppression in Turkish universities.

"Today, a wide policy of oppression and intimidation is being systematically implemented in universities under the name of a 'fight on terror.' Hundreds of university students have been arrested like this," Insel said.

"Our colleague, Professor Busra Ersanli, was arrested on unsubstantiated accusations and has been in prison for 108 days. However, she has devoted all her life to maintaining peace. This is the last straw," said Professor Zeynep Gambetti, an assistant professor at Bogazici University.

Ersanli was arrested three and a half months ago for her alleged connections with the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), the alleged urban wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey and much of the international community.

Academics who are especially known for their work on Kurdish or Armenian issues, as well as those known for being political opponents of the government, are being systematically suspended from universities, Gambetti said.

[11] Turkey increases trade with OPEC countries in 2011

Turkish exports to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reached almost 22 billion USD in 2011.

Turkish exports to OPEC members Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Angola, Venezuela, Ecuador, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates in 2011 went up 14.54 % when compared to the previous year and reached a figure of 21.8 billion USD.

In 2011, Turkey's imports from OPEC member countries were recorded at 18.6 billion USD. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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