Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-04-11

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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] Atun says the land drilling for oil in the occupied area of Cyprus will start after 24 April

[02] Ozgurgun says they expect the UN Secretary-General to summon a multilateral conference or to change the ground of the Cyprus talks

[03] Ozersay suggests the construction of oil storage facilities in occupied Kokkina village

[04] Yorgancioglu stated that if the Turkish side leaves the negotiations, it will pay a price

[05] Cakici: "In case the negotiations break off, the leaders must resign"

[06] Exclusive statements by Markopouliotis to Yeni Duzen

[07] Trade Unions Platform protests against new regulations implemented by the regime at occupied Agios Dometios barricade

[08] Kucuk says the results of the population census will be known after 20 days

[09] "Investments in North Cyprus Forum" starts tomorrow in occupied Cyprus; OIC's Ihsanoglu and Islamic investors to participate in the forum

[10] Davutoglu confirms that Iran's nuke talks will take place in Turkey

[11] Erdogan due to Saudi Arabia for Syria talks

[12] Caglayan calls Chinese firms to invest in Turkey

[13] Gul approves controversial education reform bill

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Atun says the land drilling for oil in the occupied area of Cyprus will start after 24 April

Meanwhile, in statements during a visit to Turkish Cypriot Kibris newspaper (11.04.12), Atun noted that with the drilling at Syngrasi they will reach a decision as to whether the main exploration for oil and natural gas will be carried out on shore or in the sea. He reiterated that the drilling will start in the end of April and added that this effort is expected to give results within a period of three to six months. He said that their real target is the natural gas.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozgurgun says they expect the UN Secretary-General to summon a multilateral conference or to change the ground of the Cyprus talks

Ozgurgun alleged that the credibility of the UN Secretary-General will be harmed if he says that the negotiations should continue in their current form, because Ban Ki-moon has allegedly many times said in the past that the negotiations cannot continue forever and that we have entered into the final stage. He argued that the Turkish Cypriot side will not accept to be condemned to living under isolation by being "imprisoned" at the negotiating table.

Ozgurgun claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side thinks that there will be a result in the negotiations and a solution will be achieved, but if this does not happen they have a Plan B. He argued: "We think that there will be a result in the negotiations. Our belief until 1 July is still continuing. We are waiting for a call for a multilateral conference. Until that point, we do not want to refer to a Plan B. However, even persons have Plan B, not only states".

Ozgurgun said that the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, will open a representation in Jeddah, at the headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and added that they attach great importance to this development. He noted that efforts in this direction have been exerted for a long time and added that with a statement made recently by the Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, General Secretary of the OIC, the issue came to its end.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ozersay suggests the construction of oil storage facilities in occupied Kokkina village

According to Kibris, Ozersay shared this view last night on the Twitter. He said, inter alia, the following: "As far as I understood, it is not impossible for the government to change its current position in case an alternative place is shown?Wherever this installation is build, the reaction and the concern could not go away in case the above-mentioned place is a residential area. Therefore, my personal view is that the most appropriate place for this installation in these conditions is Kokkina, which is a part of the country of the TRNC. This is the most reasonable step, investment, if we want to make Kokkina a real part of the homeland, which is a symbol of people's struggling together".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Yorgancioglu stated that if the Turkish side leaves the negotiations, it will pay a price

Yorgancioglu stated that no step outside the international law can bring a result regarding the Cyprus problem. He said that no demand can be made outside the international law, neither by Turkey, nor by Eroglu. However, he said that CTP wants the Turkish Cypriots to play an active role in this procedure.

Referring to the Cyprus Report by the UN Secretary-General, the chairman of CTP stated that he does not believe that Ban Ki-moon will cut off the negotiations and added that the UN Secretary-General will take a position regarding the continuation of the talks. He also said that we have two months in front of us and the Turkish Cypriot side should make use of this period in the best possible way. He also said that an approach is needed which will be making possible an international conference regarding the Cyprus problem. Finally, he noted that he is against the Turkish Cypriot side to decide to leave the negotiations because in this case the Turkish Cypriot side will pay a price.

[05] Cakici: "In case the negotiations break off, the leaders must resign"

Cakici stated that very important decisions regarding the future of the negotiations will be taken shortly and said that his party supports the continuation of the Cyprus talks. "In case the negotiations break off, the leaders must resign", he stated.

He went on and stated that the salvation of the Turkish Cypriots is a just, permanent and early solution and argued that those who will suffer the most because of a deadlock will be the Turkish Cypriots. He also said that the duty of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu is to follow a policy which will lead to the solution and added that in case the negotiations break off and there is a deadlock, Eroglu must resign from his duties.

Cakici said that the Greek Cypriot side has as many responsibilities as the Turkish Cypriot side on the issue of the solution and added that if the results of the negotiations are not positive and no progress is made, the Greek Cypriot side will also be responsible for this and the Greek Cypriot leader, Demetris Christofias must also resign.

[06] Exclusive statements by Markopouliotis to Yeni Duzen

He inter alia, said, that the direct trade with the occupied area of the island will not be conducted before a solution to the Cyprus problem is reached.

Markopouliotis said that the Turkish Cypriots are important for the EU Commission, adding that the Representation's directives include matters which concern the Turkish Cypriots as well. He also added that they regard the Turkish Cypriots as a part of the whole island.

Markopuliotis went on saying that with the solution of the Cyprus problem, the Turkish Cypriots, as EU citizens, will be completely benefited by the EU implementations.

He also noted that the EU is responsible of bringing together the people who live on the island.

As regards the efforts exerted for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, Markopouliotis reiterated that the EU supports these efforts.

(AK)

[07] Trade Unions Platform protests against new regulations implemented by the regime at occupied Agios Dometios barricade

Sener Elcil, general secretary of KTOS, read out a joint statement made by the members of the Platform. Elcil said they witnessed arbitrary practices as regards the crossings though the barricades since 2003. He noted that there is absolutely no reasonable explanation for what the Turkish Cypriots are forced to experience, especially during the past few days, by those who long for the "system of the pen", as he described the period before 2003, when the occupation regime was not allowing even the limited freedom of movement in Cyprus.

Elcil added, inter alia, the following: "While in the crossings by car to the south, the Greek Cypriot police consider adequate to come to the car and take the identity card number [of the passengers], the Turkish police demanding personal appearance by putting all citizens in queue cannot be accepted. Encumbering the citizens with the responsibility of the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and creating problems at the crossings through the border gates stinks provocation. We cannot tolerate those who forced the Turkish Cypriot community to live a pen system for years and considered it as a herd for their own interests?It should be known that this issue will not remain here, it will be carried to international platforms and all necessary initiatives will be undertaken".

Meanwhile, the chairman of Dev-Is trade union, Mehmet Seyis stated that they protested against the practice, which the breakaway regime started to implement as of 5 April. Seyis described the decision of the regime as retaliation for the incident happened on 4 April in Pyla village.

Moreover, the chairman of KTOS Guven Varoglu said that the Turkish Cypriots are face to face with a practice similar to the "barricades of shame" through which they had been forced to pass after 1963. Noting that Cyprus is member of the European Union, Varoglu pointed out that it is not possible to accept barricades in their own country while the citizens in Europe can move freely without limitations in the entire continent.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Kucuk says the results of the population census will be known after 20 days

Sezai Sesen, "mayor" of occupied Komi Kepir, said they are facing big problems and complained that the regime gives them financial aid based on the de jure population and not the actual population according to the results of the population census held in 2006.

(I/Ts.)

[09] "Investments in North Cyprus Forum" starts tomorrow in occupied Cyprus; OIC's Ihsanoglu and Islamic investors to participate in the forum

According to the paper, the forum will promote the potential for investments in occupied Cyprus to foreign investors.

OIC's Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the chairman of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Ahmad Mohammed Ali, members and observers of the OIC, chairmen of chambers of trade and industry as well as several investors and businessmen are expected to attend the forum, writes the paper.

In statements to illegal TAK about the forum, the so-called foreign minister Huseyin Ozgurgun expressed the belief that it will contribute to the strengthening of the cooperation between the Turkish Cypriot businessmen and the investors of the member countries of the OIC, and it will also contribute to the promotion of the investment opportunities in "North Cyprus", as he said.

Ozgurgun claimed, inter alia, the following: "In spite of all the obstacles put by the Greek Cypriots we sincerely believe that the economic development of the TRNC will continue with the support of the sister countries members of the OIC".

(AK)

[10] Davutoglu confirms that Iran's nuke talks will take place in Turkey

"Turkey is ready to contribute to finding a solution for regional problems from now on as it has been up to today," Davutoglu said via his Twitter account yesterday.

Davutoglu said he had received telephone confirmation about the venue for the talks from EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. "Turkey favoured finding solutions via diplomacy and negotiations", he argued.

"Our principle attitude is clear. We want our region purged of nuclear arms and weapons of mass destruction," the Minister claimed.

(?)

[11] Erdogan due to Saudi Arabia for Syria talks

Erdogan, who is currently on an official visit to China, will pay an official visit to Saudi Arabia between April 12 and 14.

The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Turkey will meet to discuss Syria on Friday, a Saudi official told Reuters on Tuesday, in a mark of accelerating diplomacy on a crisis in which both regional powers have condemned President Bashar al-Assad. "The Syrian issue is top of the agenda," the official told Reuters in confirming that Erdogan would hold talks with King Abdullah in Riyadh at the end of the week. A Turkish newspaper said Erdogan would fly there directly on Thursday on his way home from an official visit to China.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter has led Arab efforts to isolate Assad over the violent repression of an uprising that the United Nations says has killed 9,000 people.

Turkey, a former friend to the Syrian President, has been angered by a flood of refugees fleeing the Syrian army and by shooting across its border on Monday that wounded five people.

Both predominantly Sunni Muslim in religion, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are both sympathetic to Syria's Sunni majority, which complains of oppression at the hands of Assad, a member of the Alawite sect and a long-time ally of Shiite Iran.

Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, citing officials in Ankara, said Erdogan would tell the Saudi king that Arab countries must take the lead in coordinated international measures against the Syrian government, which faces a deadline this week to comply with an internationally brokered cease-fire.

The newspaper added that Erdogan might then travel on to Moscow to meet with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Like China, Russia has resisted international efforts to pressure Assad into acceding to opposition demands, though it has supported the cease-fire.

(?)

[12] Caglayan calls Chinese firms to invest in Turkey

Speaking at the Turkish-Chinese Economic and Commercial Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Caglayan invited Chinese investors to discover economic opportunities in Turkey.

"Turkey and China are two strong countries of the world. In 2011, Turkey and China were the two top countries with biggest growth rates", Caglayan stressed.

"Turkey and China are countries situated in the most western and eastern parts of the Asian continent. Our countries have the necessary infrastructure to develop cooperation", Caglayan noted.

"The trade volume between Turkey and China is 24 billion USD. Our trade must be further balanced", Caglayan stated.

"We aim a trade volume of 50 billion USD with China by the year 2015 and a trade volume of 100 billion USD by 2020", he indicated. "There are 56 countries that could be reached from Turkey with only a flight of four hours", Caglayan said.

Touching on the new incentive system in Turkey, Caglayan said that the companies of the two countries could cooperate in third countries.

Caglayan extended an invitation to Chinese firms to come and invest in Turkey.

There are steps for the establishment of a Chinese organized industry region in Turkey, Caglayan also said.

Also speaking at the forum, Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan said that the participation of Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish-Chinese Business Forum was an indication of the importance the two countries attached to economic relations.

"Diplomatic relations between Turkey and China were established 41 years ago. Relations between our countries continue to develop through high level visits", Qishan stressed.

"Turkey and China work together in certain platforms, including G-20. The two countries are the rising economies of the globe", Qishan noted.

"Turkey and China can boost relations in transportation, energy and telecommunications. We can develop cooperation in the nuclear energy and space industries", Qishan added.

[13] Gul approves controversial education reform bill

The approval of the bill by Abdullah Gul came 11 days after the Parliament's approval.

The Government-sponsored bill has survived through thick and thin since the ruling party proposed the education reform. Weeks before Parliament's approval, a brawl erupted during the debate on the bill at the National Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Commission. The fistfight that erupted between Deputies of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) cast a shadow over the bill's approval in the commission's most recent session, which the CHP argues has no legitimacy.

The CHP claims the bill was not appropriately adopted as they allege procedures for discussing and voting on the bill were violated by the commission. The party showered the Parliament with a series of proposals to create a filibuster in the Parliament in a bid to prevent the bill from being adopted. But the ruling party prioritized the bill to avoid the filibuster.

The bill seeks to increase the current duration of compulsory education from an uninterrupted eight years to 12 years, divided into three four-year stages. The bill is popularly known as the 4+4+4 bill. The education reform was adopted by 295 votes on March 30.

The education reform bill allows children to enrol in other types of educational institutions -- namely vocational high schools -- after the first four years. The bill has been criticized by the main opposition party as not being based on pedagogical concerns, but ideology, in that it allows religious education at a younger age.

Women's rights groups and some civil society organizations have also harshly criticized the proposal, claiming it will lead to child labour and will strengthen the position of religious schools in the Turkish education system. The Government denies all these charges, saying the revision will boost vocations schools while extending compulsory education from eight years to 12.

(?)The education reform package also includes an article that will allow students to choose an elective course on the Quran and the life of the Prophet Muhammad in schools.

According to the approved article, an elective course on the Islamic holy book the Quran and the life of the Prophet Muhammad will be available at middle schools and high schools.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which previously presented a similar proposal to that of the AK Party, supported the AK Party during discussions on the article. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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