Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-06-27

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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] Erdogan's response to Syria for the downing of the Turkish military aircraft; Erdogan said that Eastern Mediterranean is a sensitive issue for Turkey and alleged that Turkey has rights in the occupied area of Cyprus

[02] Eroglu reveals why the Turkish side interrupted the Cyprus talks: "As long as negotiations continue, no one will recognize you"

[03] The breakaway regime is organizing a protest in Brussels

[04] Kucuk: "The initiative in Brussels is not a protest but a warning to the EU"

[05] Turkish Cypriot trade unionists were banned from expressing their support to their arrested Turkish colleagues

[06] A delegation from the so-called assembly to participate to Grans Montana Forum in Baku

[07] "Stockbreeding Cooperative Company Ltd" has been established in occupied Cyprus; they will sent 10 thousand lambs to Dubai

[08] Turkey and Azerbaijan signed TANAP project; statements by Erdogan and Aliyev

[09] Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina signed cooperation agreement in agriculture

[10] Turkish-US strategic cooperation meeting took place in Ankara

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan's response to Syria for the downing of the Turkish military aircraft; Erdogan said that Eastern Mediterranean is a sensitive issue for Turkey and alleged that Turkey has rights in the occupied area of Cyprus

Speaking during the group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party today (yesterday), Erdogan said that every single Syrian military unit approaching the border with Turkey will be considered as a threat from now on.

He said efforts are underway to find the two pilots of the aircraft that was shot down on Friday.

Referring to Cyprus, Erdogan said: "Eastern Mediterranean is a sensitive issue for Turkey. We have rights in the region, particularly regarding the TRNC".

Also, according to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (27.06.12), in response to the downing of a Turkish jet by Syria in international airspace, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the al-Assad regime as a "clear and present danger to Turkey's security" and has instructed its army to intercept any potential security risk posed by Syrian security forces along its land and sea border.

"After this attack, we have entered into a new stage. The rules of engagement of the Turkish Armed Forces have changed. Any risk posed by Syria on the Turkish border, any military element that could pose a threat, will be considered a threat and treated as a military target," Erdogan stated.

The comments are his first public statements on the issue after it was clarified that a Turkish RF4-E Phantom jet had been shot down by Syria.

"We urge the Syrian regime not to make a mistake and test Turkey's determinacy and capacity. ? Our rational response should not be perceived as weakness, our mild manners do not mean we are a tame lamb. ? Everybody should know that Turkey's wrath is as strong and devastating as its friendship is valuable" Erdogan added.

He also underlined that Turkey would also use its rights stemming from international laws. "Turkey will use its rights born out of international law with determination and take the necessary steps by determining the time, place and method by itself in the face of this unfairness. This is what I want to stress", he said.

Erdogan stated also following: "Our plane was targeted on purpose and in a hostile way and not as a result of a mistake. The attitude of the Syrian officials following the incident is the most concrete evidence that our jet was attacked on purpose. The harassing fire on our Casa-type plane during the search and rescue operations is the most palpable evidence of this intent."

Despite his strongly worded statements that also mentioned increasing military measures against Syria, Erdogan said they would not fall into the traps of what he called "war provocateurs," although "this does not mean we'll stand idle with our hands tied."

He also vowed that Turkey would continue to support the Syrian people until they get rid of the "blood-shedding dictator and his gang."

"Turkey has no eye on any neighbors' soil and has no intention to intervene in their internal affairs", Erdogan said, emphasizing that the security of Anatolia was very much dependent on the security of Damascus, once ruled by the Ottoman Empire until the early 20th century. "Today when we are talking about Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, and Homs, we are not talking about political gain, but in the name of the bloodshed of our brothers, Erdogan said.

[02] Eroglu reveals why the Turkish side interrupted the Cyprus talks: "As long as negotiations continue, no one will recognize you"

Eroglu reiterated that the Cyprus negotiations continue at a technical level, "because it is not possible to reach a result by continuing the negotiations after 1 July". Eroglu said that seven technical committees, which will have Turkish and Greek members, will secure the negotiation of confidence building measures.

Eroglu said that they will wait to see the policy of the new President of the Republic who will be elected in February 2013. He alleged the following: "The negotiations continue open-ended for years. It is not possible to reach a result by continuing open-ended negotiations. We are under embargoes". He claimed that the Greek Cypriot side, "which together with its membership to the UN and the EU will overtake the EU term presidency", could attempt to keep the Turkish side for another 40 years at the negotiating table.

Eroglu said that they conduct the negotiations as "two community leaders", but in front of the Turkish Cypriot side there is an internationally recognized state. "As long as the negotiations continue, no one will recognize you", he noted and added: "If we wait for the Greek Cypriots to say 'yes', it means that we will continue the negotiations for another 100 years. Therefore, a time limit should exist? If an agreement is reached in the one way or the other until that time, it is ok. If it is not reached, alternatives will come up then. However, at this moment we could continue the negotiations in new conditions. We have openly said this to the UN both in writing and orally?"

Meanwhile, the chairman of the association, Nejat Kocaismail said that they fully trust and support Eroglu, but they have some concerns about events which will be experienced after 1 July. Kocaismail noted that they do not support the continuation of open-ended negotiations and argued that they should ask for the recognition of the breakaway regime during the continuation of the talks.

Moreover, Haberdar (27/06.12) reports also that Eroglu has been invited by Istanbul's Buyukcekmece Municipality to participate in the opening of the 13th Buyukcekmece International Festival of Culture and Arts, which starts on Monday. Eroglu is expected to the return to the occupied area of Cyprus on Tuesday 3 July.

(I/Ts.)

[03] The breakaway regime is organizing a protest in Brussels

According to the paper, the visit is being realized in order to remind the EU officials at all levels of the so-called isolations of the Turkish Cypriots a few days before the EU term presidency of the Republic of Cyprus.

Aybars Balabaner, director of Onur Air for Germany, Britain and Ireland, stated that they support this peaceful activity in Brussels aiming at protesting against and drawing attention to the international embargoes allegedly implemented on the "TRNC".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Kucuk: "The initiative in Brussels is not a protest but a warning to the EU"

Speaking during a visit paid to him today (yesterday), Kucuk said that the initiative of Turkish Cypriot civil society organizations was not a protest but a warning to the EU, against the "unjust" outcome it had brought.

Referring to his contacts in Strasbourg, he said that he was told by EP officials that the EU was mistaken in its stance concerning the Greek Cypriot side's unilateral membership.

Kucuk complained of the Turkish Cypriot "people's" restricted representation at EP, stating that two Turkish Cypriot MPs were only able to attend the EP meetings under an observer status, having no right to speak or ask questions.

He underlined the need for the EP High Level Contact Group for Relations with Turkish Cypriots to be restructured.

Kucuk also pointed to the fact that the "TRNC" was a democratic "country" that deserved international recognition.

[05] Turkish Cypriot trade unionists were banned from expressing their support to their arrested Turkish colleagues

According to the paper, tension was created during the activity after the "police" of the regime interfered when the protestors attempted to open a banner and place a black wreath in front of the door of the "embassy". A row started between the "police" and the protesters and some of the protesters fell to the ground.

In statements after the incidents, the chairman of KTOEOS Tahir Gokcebel and the general secretary of KTOS Sener Elcil criticized the practices implemented by the AKP government in Turkey and the UBP self-styled government in the occupied area of Cyprus. Gokcebel stated that the "country" has been turned into a "police state". Elcil said that there are 250 thousand policemen for every citizen in the EU, 309 policemen for every citizen in Turkey and much more in the occupied area. This shows that there is a "police state" here, he argued.

The protesters ended their gathering by shouting slogans such as "Fascist AKP, Collaborator UBP", "Down with AKP fascism" and "Peoples of Turkey we support you".

(I/Ts.)

[06] A delegation from the so-called assembly to participate to Grans Montana Forum in Baku

According to information acquired by the so-called assembly: Mustafa Yektaoglu, "deputy-chairman" of the so-called assembly and "MP" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) will be heading the delegation to go to Baku. The delegation is composed by Mutlu Atasayan, Afet Ozcafer and Ahmet Zengin, "MP's" with the National Unity Party (UBP), and Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Sibel Siber, "MP's" with CTP.

(AK)

[07] "Stockbreeding Cooperative Company Ltd" has been established in occupied Cyprus; they will sent 10 thousand lambs to Dubai

According to the paper, as a first step, the "Stockbreeding Cooperative Company Ltd", decided to send 10.000 lambs to Dubai.

In statements on the issue, Mustafa Naimoglulari, chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot Union of Cattle breeding and animal farmers" has said that the establishment of the "Stockbreeding Cooperative Company Ltd" is a result of efforts exerted for a lot of months. He added that they took the decision to establish the "Cooperative Company" in order to contribute to the improvement of the quality of their products and of the prices, as he said.

(AK)

[08] Turkey and Azerbaijan signed TANAP project; statements by Erdogan and Aliyev

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed the deal at an Istanbul ceremony to launch a project, set to be completed in six years, to pipe 16 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II field.

In statements during the signing ceremony Erdogan said: "Today's signing is the most important step in completing the legal framework for this project. This project would not just deepen ties between our countries; it will create an organic tie between Azerbaijan and Europe via Turkey".

Erdogan said that the project is a key for Europe to diversify energy supply routes. The Trans Anadolu pipeline deal is expected to help reduce the European Union's reliance on Russian deliveries in particular.

Turkey has a 20 % stake in TANAP, while Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR holds 80 %. In March, a Turkish Energy Ministry official said Turkey may raise its 20 % stake in the project.

Construction is expected to start at the end of 2013 or in early 2014, and the project's first phase is seen ready in 2018.

Representatives from the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), the Turkish state-owned pipeline and Gas Company BOTAS and the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) were also present during the ceremony which was held at the Turkish Prime Ministry,

In the signing ceremony, the Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev and Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Y?ld?z were also attended.

Under the project, some 10 bcm of gas is planned to be shipped to Europe, while Turkey will get the remaining 6 bcm. The project is designed to be expandable to 30 bcm and ultimately 60 bcm.

Erdogan said the link will initially carry fuel from Shah Deniz II, then from other Azeri sources. "Additionally, gas from the other side of the Caspian could be directed to the TANAP pipe, transiting via Azerbaijan," Erdogan said.

Analysts have said TANAP could undermine efforts to bring online the 7.9 billion euro Nabucco pipeline project, which aims to ship 31 bcm a year of Caspian and Middle Eastern gas to Europe.

Turkish officials have said Turkey will continue to be a part of Nabucco.

Austrian energy group OMV is counting on a shorter version of the Nabucco pipeline to win the business of carrying gas to Europe from Azerbaijan, Chief Executive Gerhard Roiss told Reuters earlier this month. Turkey and Azerbaijan signed an inter-governmental agreement on Tuesday on the $7 billion Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline project (TANAP), planned to carry Azeri natural gas across Turkey to Europe.

Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding in December of last year to establish a consortium that will build a gas pipeline to transport gas from the Shah Deniz gas field to Europe via Turkish territory. Currently, BOTAS holds a 20 percent stake in TANAP while SOCAR holds the remaining 80 percent share. The initial capacity of the pipeline is expected to be 16 billion cubic meters annually. About 6 billion cubic meters of that will be allocated to Turkey, while the rest will be transported to Europe. Preferring to diversify routes for gas exports to Europe via Turkey, Azerbaijan currently exports gas to Turkey via the South Caucasus gas pipeline.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (26.06.12) reported that Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said on Tuesday that there was no disagreement between his country and Turkey over a new gas pipeline project that would transport natural gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz-II field via Georgia to Turkey and on to Europe.

Speaking during the penning ceremony, Aliyey said: "There is no disagreement whatsoever between the two countries. This is exclusively an Azeri-Turkish project which we will be carried out with our own financial and technical means. Of course every project has its economic interest dimension, but without such a strong relationship between our countries we would have never be successful," Aliyev said.

[09] Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina signed cooperation agreement in agriculture

The agreement was signed in Ankara by Turkish Minister of Agriculture, Food and Animal Breeding, Mehdi Eker, and Bosnia's Minister of Foreign Trade and Economy Mirko Sarovic.

Speaking at the signature ceremony, Eker said that the agreement signed would contribute to cooperation in the agricultural field.

Mirko Sarovic stated that, with today's agreement, Turkey will support Bosnia-Herzegovina's investment projects in agricultural development worth around 200 million Euro.

[10] Turkish-US strategic cooperation meeting took place in Ankara

The Second Ministers Meeting of the U.S.-Turkey Economic and Commercial Strategic Cooperation Frame brought together Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, and the US Commercial Representative Ron Kirk as well as Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank.

Speaking in a joint press conference after the meeting, Babacan said that the goal of the cooperation frame was to raise relations in economy and commerce to their highest level and handling that goal as a strategic issue.

Babacan said the frame included many diverse areas such as trade, investment, finance, energy, aviation, defence, as well as infrastructure investments, adding that the meeting discussed business opportunities in the US for Turkish investors.

Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said Turkey and the US had a great potential for cooperation in construction sector to develop projects in third countries.

Caglayan said Turkish and American companies could boost cooperation especially in technical engineering as well as contracting and infrastructure services.

He added that 1,210 American companies ran business in Turkey and said that the US firms had made investments worth of 1.4 billion USD in 2011, placing second after Dutch investors.

Also speaking at the press conference, the US Commercial Representative Ron Kirk said Turkey and the US had a strong and historical friendship, adding that the future of the relations were promising.

Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank, on her part, said that Turkey was a very important country for the US, adding that commercial relations between the two countries deserved a better level.

Blank said energy was a promising sector in which the two countries easily boost cooperation in energy efficiency, production and alternative energy resources. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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