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

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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 asks the UN Secretary-General to end the negotiations

[02] The Turkish side once more attempts to manipulate politically the issue of the missing persons

[03] Bozer stated that the Turkish Cypriot side must prepare a road map if the negotiations fail

[04] Kucuk on the international investment forum, the privatization "law" and the fuel storage facility

[05] Reactions to the construction of oil storage facilities continue

[06] Ozgurgun said that the project of transferring water from Turkey will help the occupation regime to export agriculture products to Islamic countries

[07] TDP: "We do not want barricades of shame"

[08] Efforts by the regime to promote its illegal universities

[09] The Turkish Cypriot film "Code name: Venus" to be displayed in the Cannes Film Festival

[10] "Turkey calls for urgent UN Security Council action on Syria"

[11] Turkey-EU Partnership Committee to meet for 120th time on 12 April

[12] Bagis: Turkey 'Has No Alternative' but to full EU membership

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu asks the UN Secretary-General to end the negotiations

Eroglu argued that Ban Ki-moon should impartially decide that no agreement would be reached in Cyprus as long as actions are based on the assumption that the Greek Cypriots will always say "no". Furthermore, he alleged that Ban Ki-moon should leave aside the assumption that the Greek Cypriots will say "no" and decide that it would be beneficial to continue trying for a "Cypriot solution" at a meeting in which the guarantor powers will also participate.

Eroglu reiterated his view that continuing the negotiations after 1 July will be meaningless because there could be no result due to the EU term presidency of the Republic of Cyprus and the campaign for the presidential elections of 2013. He argued that both the Greek Cypriots and the UN Secretary-General know this.

(I/Ts.)

[02] The Turkish side once more attempts to manipulate politically the issue of the missing persons

Ozgurgun alleged that the issue of the missing persons was put onto the agenda by the Greek Cypriots, who were arguing that "the Turkish army killed many Greek Cypriot missing persons in 1974", and claimed that the Greek Cypriots were annoyed when the graves of many Turkish Cypriot missing persons started to come to surface and their own actions were revealed.

Alleging that there are many Turkish Cypriots missing from that period and that when the "realities started to come to surface" the Greek Cypriots were annoyed, Ozgurgun argued: "And as far as I understand, the last step is in the direction of preventing the DNA tests and we know that approximately eight thousand samples exist in the DNA data base, because there are many Turks missing from that period. Now this is a step taken to prevent this".

Ozgurgun alleged that the intention of the Greek Cypriot side is perhaps to stop the works of the Committee and lead the issue to be forgotten, because the number of the Turkish Cypriot missing persons is growing and this is a problem for the Greek Cypriots.

Meanwhile, writing in her daily column in Turkish Cypriot Yeni Duzen newspaper (12.04.12), Sevgul Uludag reports that Ozgurgun and the Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper are trying to turn the issue of the missing persons into a "Turkish-Greek war". Under the title: "They have involved politics into the 'missing persons' issue", she writes that these efforts by Ozgurgun and Hurriyet saddened the relatives of the missing persons, who have been calling her all day long yesterday to express their sorrow and concern for the politicization of a humanitarian matter.

Referring to the news published by Hurriyet's correspondent Omer Bilge that eight thousand samples exist in the DNA data base of the Institute and that the Greek Cypriots prevent the access of Turkish Cypriots who work at the institute as employees of the UN, Uludag reports that these allegations are untrue, because 1,000 out of the 8,000 thousand samples belong to relatives of Turkish Cypriot missing persons and the Turkish Cypriot experts work together with their Greek Cypriot colleagues without any problem.

According to Uludag, other Turkish websites such as those of NTV television's and Milliyet newspaper's also published the same false information yesterday causing comments by readers that increased the "war climate".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Bozer stated that the Turkish Cypriot side must prepare a road map if the negotiations fail

Bozer made these statements during a visit paid to him yesterday. He also alleged that it was due to the Greek Cypriot side's stance that a solution had not been found to the Cyprus problem.

[04] Kucuk on the international investment forum, the privatization "law" and the fuel storage facility

Referring to the international investment forum, that is to be held in the breakaway regime between 12th -13th of April, Kucuk said that nearly 150 local and foreign businessmen will attend the two-day forum. He expressed the hope that the forum which is being jointly organized by the Islamic Development Bank and the self-styled foreign ministry will be beneficial for the economy of the breakaway regime.

Also, touching upon the privatization "law" which was approved by Dervis Eroglu, Kucuk said that nearly 190 former workers of the bankrupted Cyprus Turkish Airlines will be employed at various "government offices" soon after the privatization "law" is published in the "official gazette".

On the latest phase reached at works related with the fuel storage facility in the occupied Karpassia area, Kucuk said that necessary works are being carried out in the area for the establishment of the facility.

He also said that the "government" is supporting all kinds of investments in the breakaway regime.

[05] Reactions to the construction of oil storage facilities continue

Meanwhile, Kibris (12.04.12) reports also that 13 citizens coming from different political parts of the society filed a "lawsuit" yesterday at the "High Administrative Court" against the "government", asking for the annulment of the decision of building oil storage facilities at occupied Eptakomi.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ozgurgun said that the project of transferring water from Turkey will help the occupation regime to export agriculture products to Islamic countries

Ozgurgun claimed that nearly 2,000 businessmen would arrive in the breakaway regime within the scope of the forum which will start on April 12 and would end on April 13.

The forum is important to introduce investment potential of the breakaway regime to foreign investors, according to Ankara Anatolia.

Ozgurgun said that after water supplies are transferred from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus as of March 2014, the breakaway regime would be an organic agriculture centre, and it would export the products to Islamic countries. "The forum would focus on this matter", he added.

Meanwhile, Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation will arrive illegally in the occupied area of Cyprus to attend the forum.

[07] TDP: "We do not want barricades of shame"

Ozyigit pointed out that the police of the Republic of Cyprus considers adequate to go to the cars which cross over into the free area of the island and take the identity card numbers of the passengers. He noted that during the period 1974-2003 crossings were forbidden by the regime and only those who were given permission by the authorities of the occupation regime could cross over to the free areas of the Republic for a limited period of time. He said that the barricades opened on 23 April 2003, as a result of various reasons with the decisions taken by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which condemned Turkey to pay compensations to Greek Cypriot refugees for their occupied properties.

Ozyigit protested also against the behaviour of the police of the Republic of Cyprus towards a Turkish Cypriot in Pyla village and the arrest of some young persons (Greek and Turkish Cypriots), who were holding an activity in the buffer zone [in Ledra Street area]. He argued that both sides should take steps which will facilitate the solution and peace and not to increase tension and make the crossings more difficult.

Meanwhile, journalist Mert Ozdag comments on the same issue in his column in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (12.04.12). Ozdag describes the new practice implemented by the regime at Agios Dometios barricade as "show by the state" and writes that Agios Dometios, or Kermia as the Turkish Cypriots call the area "is not a border gate, but a crossing point which is in a city that has been divided with barricades because of war".

(I/Ts.)

[08] Efforts by the regime to promote its illegal universities

"YODAK's" chairman, Ali Bicak said that last week they had invited, to the occupied area of Cyprus, an institution from Germany which gives accreditation to programs in the fields of engineering, natural sciences, mathematics and informatics. He noted that next week they will invite another institution, which gives accreditation in the field of medicine and health sciences.

Noting that their aim is to bring more students from third countries to the illegal universities in the occupied area of Cyprus, Bicak said that for this reason the quality of the "universities" should be sustained and increased. He added that one of the most important means for this is the process of international accreditation.

(I/Ts.)

[09] The Turkish Cypriot film "Code name: Venus" to be displayed in the Cannes Film Festival

According to the paper, the film is about the "black events" in Cyprus, between 1955-1974.

[10] "Turkey calls for urgent UN Security Council action on Syria"

"'The U.N. Security Council's Presidential Statement stipulates the condition that the Syrian regime must fulfil all its commitments as pledged to Mr Annan, 48 hours prior to April 12, the date on which violence in all its forms should be brought to an end in its entirety. Since this has not occurred, we urgently expect the Security Council to adopt a resolution that will also incorporate the necessary measures to provide for the protection of the Syrian people,' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement late yesterday.

The statement said the Syrian regime not only failed to start withdrawing troops from residential areas by the April 10 deadline but also intensified attacks on civilians along the Turkish-Syrian border, where camps on Turkish soil were also hit.

'Turkey has fully supported Joint Special Envoy for the U.N. and League of Arab States Kofi Annan's mission from its very inception; has assisted and continues to assist Annan's efforts aimed at bringing an immediate end to the bloodshed in Syria and [is] initiating a political transition process in line with the people's legitimate expectations. The Syrian opposition's support for Kofi Annan was openly communicated in Istanbul to his deputy, Nasir El Kidva,' it added.

[11] Turkey-EU Partnership Committee to meet for 120th time on 12 April

In a statement released, Turkey's EU Ministry said that the Turkey-EU Partnership Committee was established as part of the Ankara Agreement that went into force on December 1, 1964 and follows relations at a technical level.

The EU Ministry underlined that, in the Brussels meeting, Turkey and the EU would go over partnership relations, latest developments in the negotiations process and the problems that exist in the process.

According to the EU Ministry, negotiations process, the issue of visas, political and economic criteria, justice and interior affairs, financial assistance, energy, transportation, environment, customs union and free trade agreements will top the agenda in Brussels.

Turkey-EU Partnership Committee is made up of the Turkish Government, EU member countries, the European Council, and representatives of the European Commission.

The Partnership Council, the highest decision making organ in Turkey-EU relations at the level of Ministers, will convene in June.

[12] Bagis: Turkey 'Has No Alternative' but to full EU membership

Egemen Bagis said that the EU and NATO memberships were important for Europe's stability, peace and order.

"This continental peace project will be globalized with Turkey's membership," Bagis said during the 15th Eurasia Economy Summit in Istanbul.

Bagis also said that there was no other alternative for Turkey than EU full membership.

Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The Union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005. The EU has so far opened 13 of the 35 chapter headings to negotiations with Turkey. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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