Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-03-27

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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: No step will be taken in Varosha while the negotiations continue

[02] Bagis says he knows nothing on the opening of occupied Varosha

[03] The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the report on a possible opening of Varosha is simply not true

[04] Eroglu has reportedly indirectly announced a part of Turkish Plan B by denying Milliyet's information on Varosha; Milliyet stand by its story

[05] Erdogan discussed the Cyprus problem with the UN Secretary General

[06] Various Turkish Cypriot parties and organizations to participate in a conference about Cyprus' population in Brussels

[07] A delegation of the self-styled assembly to meet with the EP Turkish Cypriot High Contact Group in Brussels

[08] Besir Atalay to illegally visit the occupied part of Cyprus on Friday for the foundation stone ceremony for the "transfer water" project from Turkey

[09] "The inauguration is in Cyprus, the invitation from Turkey!"; The Turkish Cypriots treated as puppets

[10] Ayios Auxentios Church in occupied Komi Kepir about to be annihilated

[11] "Iran not invited to Friends of Syria meeting"

[12] "Timetable unveiled for defense boost"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: No step will be taken in Varosha while the negotiations continue

In statements to illegal Bayrak, Eroglu said yesterday that Varosha will not be opened and that while the negotiations continue it is out of the question to take a step on an issue which is part of the comprehensive solution.

Eroglu alleged: "I do not want to comment on speculative news published in the press, but, as everybody knows, the authority of disposing Varosha, which is inseparable part of the TRNC, belongs to our state. However, while the negotiations process continues, it is out of the question, of course, to take a step on an issue, which could be related with the negotiations, [and] has the character of being a part of the comprehensive solution".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Bagis says he knows nothing on the opening of occupied Varosha

Asked yesterday to comment on the information that Varosha will be opened under Turkish control after 1 July, Bagis replied: "I have not met with president Dervis Eroglu during his last visit. I have no information on such a project. If there is something like this, our esteemed Prime Minister will make the necessary statements when he considers that this is necessary".

(I/Ts.)

[03] The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the report on a possible opening of Varosha is simply not true

Ministry officials told Today's Zaman on Monday that every issue can be brought to the table regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem, including the opening of Varosha; however, it rejected the idea that there are specific plans by the Turkish Cypriot side to that end during the EU presidency of the Republic of Cyprus.

[04] Eroglu has reportedly indirectly announced a part of Turkish Plan B by denying Milliyet's information on Varosha; Milliyet stand by its story

Recalling that Eroglu said that Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution and that it is out of the question to take a step on this issue while the negotiations process continues, the paper's editor-in-chief Rasih Resat writes that actually Eroglu "gave the signal that such a step might be taken in case the negotiations collapse". The paper notes that from Eroglu's statement one could conclude that the opening of Varosha will be among the alternatives of the Turkish side in case the negotiations collapse on 1 July.

According to Resat, when we assess Eroglu's statement that "the authority of disposing Varosha belongs to our TRNC state", we see his view that with the opening of Varosha, which is an important trump card, they could secure to build up international reputation for the "Turkish Cypriot State" model, to which he had referred in the past, to relate this "state" with the international capital and especially to quickly develop the area economically.

Resat argues that when Eroglu's statement is reversely read, it is a confirmation of Miliyet's information.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (27.03.12) refers to Eroglu's and Turkish EU Minister Bagis' statements who denied the information regarding the opening of occupied closed Varosha and writes that they could not be persuasive.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (27.03.12) publishes statements by Milliyet newspaper's correspondent to the occupied area of Cyprus, Sefa Karahasan, who has been in Turkey for the last week and wrote this report there. Karahasan said he acquired the information, which he published in the article, from a "very important source" and added that he backs his news. "The news was denied because my source is very very reliable", said Karahasan, who recalling Eroglu's statement that "something like this is out of the question while the negotiations continue", added: "The news say that the opening of Varosha will come onto the agenda in case the negotiations are interrupted and that it will open under the TRNC's control". Karahasan said he acquired this information from a diplomatic source, which he is not obliged to reveal.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Erdogan discussed the Cyprus problem with the UN Secretary General

UN spokesperson's office stated: "The Secretary-General met with Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey, on the margins of the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit today. They discussed the latest developments regarding Syria and Cyprus." said the office.

Erdogan was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Deputy Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, Undersecretary of Turkish Intelligence Organization (MIT) Hakan Fidan and Turkish Ambassador in Seoul Mustafa Naci Saribas, during his talks in South Korea.

[06] Various Turkish Cypriot parties and organizations to participate in a conference about Cyprus' population in Brussels

According to the paper, the New Cyprus Party (YKP), the United Cyprus Party (BKP), the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS), DEV-IS Trade Union and the Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy will participate in the conference which is titled: "The demographic structure on Cyprus: Questions and Expectations".

The conference is organized by the European Parliament's left group (GUE/NGL) and the two EP Deputies of AKEL. GUE/NGL chairman Die Linkel will make the opening speech of the conference in which the General Secretary of AKEL Antros Kyprianou, the General Secretary of BKP Izzet Izcan and various other politicians will also deliver speeches.

[07] A delegation of the self-styled assembly to meet with the EP Turkish Cypriot High Contact Group in Brussels

The delegation will return in the occupied area of Cyprus on March 30.

[08] Besir Atalay to illegally visit the occupied part of Cyprus on Friday for the foundation stone ceremony for the "transfer water" project from Turkey

The foundation stone for the water to be transferred from Turkey project is to be laid on 30 March. In the ceremony, the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and various other so-called "officials" will also participate.

[09] "The inauguration is in Cyprus, the invitation from Turkey!"; The Turkish Cypriots treated as puppets

Speaking after Cakici, self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk admitted that Cakici was right and that a mistake was committed. Kucuk said they will correct the mistake today and send new invitations by the "ministry" of agriculture.

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (27.03.12) reports that the invitations caused reaction in the "assembly". Sonay Adem, "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said that "the issue concerns the existence" of the Turkish Cypriots.

(I/Ts.)

[10] Ayios Auxentios Church in occupied Komi Kepir about to be annihilated

According to the paper, which publishes various photos of the building, Ayios Auxentios church has not been taken care for many years. The paper calls on the "officials" to take action; otherwise the church will be soon annihilated.

[11] "Iran not invited to Friends of Syria meeting"

A Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the UN Permanent Security Council Members China and Russia are also unlikely to attend the meeting despite invitations from the group, while Damascus's close regional ally, Iran, has not been invited.

Ankara says the Syrian opposition is facing an asymmetrical military challenge because Iran and Russia continue to provide arms to President Bashar al-Assad, while the opposition has failed to convince its international backers to do the same for them.

Ankara also believes that Iran transfers arms to Syria via Iraq despite Iraqi statements to the contrary. The official said Iran has been told in diplomatic contexts that it will be on the losing side if it sides with Assad. Aware of the risks that could stem from Assad's fall, Iran is working hard to ensure Assad receives maximum support.

[12] "Timetable unveiled for defence boost"

"Turkey's Under secretariat for the Defense Industry has disclosed a new five-year strategic plan, which finalizes completion dates for key projects including Turkish-made tanks, aircraft, satellites, destroyers, and helicopters, in a bid to lift the country's defense industry into a higher league.

Altay, the Turkish-made tank project, will be complete by the end of 2015, the plan says. The first Turkish destroyer will be delivered in 2016. Atak, an attack helicopter, and Anka, an unmanned aerial vehicle, will be delivered in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

More than 280 projects have been carried out since 2011, according to the new 2012-2016 strategic plan. The total value of the contracts the under secretariat signed last year was about $27.3 billion.

The plan envisages Turkey's defense industry entering the top 10 worldwide within five years. The total turnover target for defense and aerospace industry exports for 2016 is $2 billion, out of an overall industry turnover of $8 billion, according to the plan.

Turkey will establish liaison offices in the Middle East, the Far East, the U.S., the Caucasus-Central Asia, and in Europe (EU-NATO). The Under Secretariat will encourage collaboration between prime contractors, sub-industries, and small and medium enterprises, with universities and research institutions improving the technological base.

The Turkish government will support the establishment of testing and certification centres that meet international standards, in order to meet non-military and non-public sector demands. A land vehicle test centre, a high-speed wind tunnel, an aerial vehicle flight test field, a missile systems test field, a satellite assembly centre, and an integration and testing centre will be among these facilities, according to the strategic plan.

The strategic defense plan has laid out dates for the deadlines to manufacture the first domestically produced prototypes in the local defense industry.

? A radar observation satellite will be ready by 2016.

? The third-generation of the main battle tank, Altay, will be manufactured by the end of 2015.

? The first destroyer will be delivered to the Turkish Navy by the end of 2016. Studies regarding development of a submarine will be completed by 2015.

? Atak, a national attack helicopter, will be delivered by 2013. An all-purpose helicopter will be delivered by the end of 2016.

? The mass production of a national infantry rifle starts in July.

? Hurkus, a training aircraft designed by TUSAS, and Anka, an unmanned aerial vehicle, will be delivered to the Turkish Air Force by the end of 2015 and 2014 respectively. And a jet motor prototype will be ready by 2016.

? Long-range and medium-range anti-tank rocket systems will be in the inventory of the Turkish army by the end of 2012 and 2013 respectively.

? Semi Active Laser Guided Missile, CIRIT, will be mass produced and integrated to ATAKs by the end of 2013.

? Low and medium altitude air defense systems will be designed by the end of 2016. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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