Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-06-29

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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] Turkey's National Security Council conveyed; it stated that Turkey and Turkish Cypriots will reserve all their "rights" for natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean

[02] Bagis on the Republic of Cyprus' EU presidency; he stated that the breakaway regime is ready to provide help to the Republic of Cyprus' EU presidency and undertake part of the EU presidency meetings

[03] Statements by Bagis from Sofia; he reiterated that Turkey will not have any ties with the Republic of Cyprus during its EU presidency

[04] A Turkish Cypriot association asks for the opening of the occupied fenced city of Varosha under UN and EU control

[05] Turkish Cypriot organizations evaluated the protest in Brussels: "Serving Turkey's separatist policies is unbecoming to us"

[06] Angolemli accuses the regime of reacting with delay to the Republic of Cyprus's EU term presidency

[07] The so-called constitutional court rejected the demand of CTP and some trade unions in occupied Cyprus for the cancellation of the "privatization law"

[08] Memur-Sen trade union in occupied Cyprus to host the International Consultation meeting of the Eurasia Education Trade Union

[09] The regime invited diplomatic correspondents from Turkey because of the Cypriot EU term presidency

[10] Turkey send military troops, anti-aircraft guns on Syrian borders

[11] Erdogan to meet with Kurdish lawmaker Leyla Zana on Saturday

[12] Turkey and Iran to boost trade volume

[13] Turkish court sends 22 KESK members to prison in KCK case

[14] Report reveals that 771 students in Turkey are in jail

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey's National Security Council conveyed; it stated that Turkey and Turkish Cypriots will reserve all their "rights" for natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean

In a written statement, the MGK said that Turkey was maintaining all its international rights in regard to the crisis with Syria, which shot down a Turkish jet on June 22, touching off a crisis in Ankara.

The council also said that Ankara supported a transition to democracy in Syria.

The body also said that terrorist activities would not succeed in sabotaging Turkey's goodwill and the search for a solution to the Kurdish issue.

"Turkey and Turkish Cyprus also reserve all their rights in the search for natural resources in their region", the MGK said.

[02] Bagis on the Republic of Cyprus' EU presidency; he stated that the breakaway regime is ready to provide help to the Republic of Cyprus' EU presidency and undertake part of the EU presidency meetings

Asked to reply to the question: "If the Greek Cypriot leader Christofias wants to come to Turkey, what would you say?", Bagis stated the following: "Let him come. Let him come to eat fish in Istanbul, and then to return back. But, if he wants to come officially, he should put heads together with the TRNC President Dervis Eroglu and come with him. If something like this is decided, we can cover his tickets because of the economic problems they experience. Besides, if the Greek Cypriots behave in a constructive way, the TRNC is ready to undertake one part of the 700 meetings of the EU rotating presidency that they refrain to undertake because of their economic problems".

(AK)

[03] Statements by Bagis from Sofia; he reiterated that Turkey will not have any ties with the Republic of Cyprus during its EU presidency

Speaking during the meeting, Bagis said that Bulgaria was the voice of Turkey within the European Union. "Bulgaria is our neighbour, friend, ally, and one of the strongest voices of Turkey in the EU", he said.

Bagis thanked Bulgaria for its support to Turkey's membership negotiations with the EU.

Regarding the Republic of Cyprus' assuming the rotating EU presidency as of July 1, Bagis said that Turkey, as a candidate country, did not need to have a tight relation with the EU term president, adding that Turkey's relations with the EU Commission, EU member states and the European Parliament would continue.

"Turkey already does not have any relation with the Greek Cypriot administration, thus, nothing will change during the EU term presidency", he said.

Meanwhile, Mladenov said that relations with Turkey, which restored stability and confidence in the region, were priority for Bulgaria.

Noting that both Turkey and Bulgaria were concerned about the recent developments in the Middle East, Mladenov said that they hoped violence in Syria would end rapidly.

Mladenov said that Turkey and Bulgaria would develop cooperation in energy area, adding that this cooperation would be for the interest of the whole Europe.

Bagis also held meetings with Bulgarian Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Lilyana Pavlova, Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, and Tomislav Donchev, minister of EU Funds.

[04] A Turkish Cypriot association asks for the opening of the occupied fenced city of Varosha under UN and EU control

Expressing their regret for the failure of the negotiations, Damdelen said that they thought it would be useful to bring their proposals as a whole onto the agenda.

According to Damdelen's proposals, the Turkish Cypriot community should be included in the Customs Union with the EU and products imported from both the occupied and the government-controlled area of Cyprus should move freely on the entire island. He noted that the legal basis for this should be Protocol 10.

Another proposal is the opening of the ports and airports in the occupied area of Cyprus under the control of the EU. He noted that in case the ports in the occupied area of Cyprus open, Turkey should also open its airspace and seaports to the Republic of Cyprus, as there will be no reason for Turkey not to implement the Additional Protocol.

Damdelen said also that the occupied fenced city of Varosha, which has been turned into "an unused and dead city", should be opened for settlement and this will benefit both the legal owners of the city and the two communities.

According to Damadelen, the direct trade with the EU will have very few benefits for the Turkish Cypriots. He said that the increase in their exports will be very little because their economy is not based on exports.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkish Cypriot organizations evaluated the protest in Brussels: "Serving Turkey's separatist policies is unbecoming to us"

According to the statement, in response to "the Greek Cypriot's not wanting to share the Republic of Cyprus with the Turkish Cypriots since 1963", Turkey exerts intensive efforts to make the division of the island permanent by using its collaborators in the occupied northern part of Cyprus. The statement adds, inter alia, the following:

"?Because of the two-faced policy that is followed, the Turkish Cypriots are dragged towards annihilation. This mentality, which declares 'traitors of the country' the Turkish Cypriots who exert efforts for the solution and the unification of our island, which makes use of the solution processes as an opportunity serving division and which made the Greek Cypriots member of the EU, is now trying to deceive the world with the lie of 'embargo and isolation'?"

Accusing Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu of trying to strengthen the division of Cyprus at the negotiating table upon instructions from the Foreign Ministry of Turkey, the statement says that UBP self-styled government serves Ankara's plans for assimilating and integrating the occupied part of Cyprus.

The organizations describe as an "egregious contradiction" the fact that on the one hand the regime prohibited the passports of the Republic of Cyprus showing as pretext the Cypriot EU term presidency, and on the other representatives of civilian organizations carrying passports of the Republic of Cyprus flew to Brussels on two airplanes paid by the regime in order to protest against the "embargoes and the isolations".

"You are the ones who implement the embargo and the isolation, but you are also the ones who pay the money for an event to protest against them", note the organizations referring to officials from Turkey and the breakaway regime. "This is a complete two-faced policy", they add.

The organizations conclude their statement by noting the following: "We do not need someone to hire a plane for us in order to go to Brussels and defend the communal rights of the Turkish Cypriots. It should be known that there are enough puppet administrators in the northern part of our island. Serving the Republic of Turkey's separatist false policies is unbecoming to us".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (29.06.12) reports that representatives of KTOS, KTOEOS, BES, KTAMS, TIP-IS, BASIN-SEN, CAG-SEN, DAU-BIRSEN, KOOP-SEN and GUC-SEN trade unions held a protest outside the "assembly" of the breakaway regime yesterday morning against the activity organized in Brussels. During the protest they opened banners saying "The Turkish Cypriots do not accept being subordinate administration to Turkey", "EU, Act now against the Turkish Cypriot extinction", "Solution now: Independent, United, Federal Cyprus" and "Turkey, Respect the Will of the Turkish Cypriots".

In statements to the press after the protest, Tahir Cokcebel, chairman of KTOEOS, said that the activity in Brussels was organized with passports of the Republic of Cyprus, with money of the "state" and "airplanes of the regime". He expressed the view that the participants in that activity do not represent the Turkish Cypriots.

On his part, Sener Elcil, general secretary of KTOS, argued that there is a two-sided occupation in Cyprus alleging that on the one hand there is so-called Greek Cypriot occupation over the Republic of Cyprus and on the other the occupation in the northern part of the island which continues by distributing land, "citizenship" and loots. He expressed the view that instead of carrying these problems in Brussels, the activity was held "with artificial realities".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Angolemli accuses the regime of reacting with delay to the Republic of Cyprus's EU term presidency

Angolemli criticized the fact that the 1960 agreements are not recalled and alleged that according to these agreements, Cyprus could not become a member in an organization of which Turkey is not also a member. He argued that the Republic of Cyprus's EU term presidency is due to the fact that they have not taken measures in time and expressed the view that the Turkish Cypriots are everyday losing the rights they acquired in the 1960 agreements.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The so-called constitutional court rejected the demand of CTP and some trade unions in occupied Cyprus for the cancellation of the "privatization law"

According to the paper, the "constitutional court", after evaluating the applications, decided to reject the applications of the party and the trade unions presiding as an excuse that the suspension of the implementation of the "privatization law" is not an "emergency case".

(AK)

[08] Memur-Sen trade union in occupied Cyprus to host the International Consultation meeting of the Eurasia Education Trade Union

According to information acquired by Celebi Ilik, chairman of the Memur-Sen trade union, the delegation to visit occupied Cyprus, will carry out contacts with "state and government officials" and will also sign joint protocols with the illegal universities, DAU (Eastern Mediterranean University) and LAU (European University of Lefka).

Ilik said that they will also organize a sightseeing tour and an information meeting for the group of people who will participate to the meeting, in order to promote the "TRNC".

(AK)

[09] The regime invited diplomatic correspondents from Turkey because of the Cypriot EU term presidency

(I/Ts.)

[10] Turkey send military troops, anti-aircraft guns on Syrian borders

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced, after Syrian air defences shot down a Turkish warplane last Friday, that he would step up security there.

Turkish television film showed the column moving off on Wednesday, escorted by police cars, along a narrow highway leading out of the main port of Turkey's Hatay province. It included rocket launchers on transporters, anti-aircraft artillery and military ambulances.

Erdogan said any military element moving towards the Turkish border and deemed threatening would be declared a military target. The preponderance of air defense weapons in the convoy suggested Turkey, was preparing for any possible approach by Syrian helicopters or warplanes.

State-run Anatolia news agency said armoured military vehicles were being transported to military installations in Sanliurfa, in the middle of Turkey's border with Syria and Hatay, a panhandle province that juts down into Syria.

It said several military vehicles had travelled separately to a military garrison in the border town of Reyhanli in Hatay.

There have been no details given of new rules of engagement issued to troops after the shooting down of the warplane which Turkey says was in international air space.

The Hatay region is sheltering over 33,000 refugees as well as elements of the Free Syrian Army.

(?)

[11] Erdogan to meet with Kurdish lawmaker Leyla Zana on Saturday

Earlier this month, Zana said she believes Erdogan can solve the Kurdish issue and that she has never lost hope in him. Her statements elicited some harsh criticism from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).

Zana said she does not think the Kurdish issue will be solved by appointing the military, police or judiciary with certain tasks, stating: "There is a solid fact here. Let's say this openly and accept this fact. If he wanted, the strongest can solve this issue. Who is that strongest one? It's the government and its head, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The person who is the head of the strongest government in [our] history is able to show the willpower and have the strength to sort out this issue. I believe that he will be able to solve this issue. I have never lost my faith in him solving this issue. And I don't want to lose my faith in him. If I had lost [my faith], I wouldn't be here."

[12] Turkey and Iran to boost trade volume

Speaking to reporters prior to the meeting with Yilmaz, Saidlu said that the Turkish-Iranian trade volume would exceed 23 billion USD in 2012 after it had reached 16 billion USD in 2011. "By utilizing our economic capacities, Turkish-Iranian trade volume would reach 35 billion USD before the year 2015", Saidlu stressed.

Saidlu said that Turkey and Iran shared common values coming from history, culture and Islam. "Commercial relations will strengthen our historic cooperation", Saidlu said.

Minister Yilmaz, in his part, said that among the important topics to be discussed with the Iranian delegation today (yesterday), was the finalizing of an agreement on preferential trade. "If we can reach an agreement on this topic, our second aim would be to proceed to a free trade", Yilmaz added.

Yilmaz's meeting with the Iranian delegation continued later behind closed doors.

[13] Turkish court sends 22 KESK members to prison in KCK case

Within the scope of a decision taken by the Ankara Specially Authorized Prosecutor's Office on Monday, dozens of people were taken into custody and 34 were referred to court for arrest. The court later ordered 22 of the suspects be arrested, pending trial, and released 12.

The investigation into the KCK, which prosecutors say is an umbrella organization for the PKK and other affiliated groups, started in December 2009 and a large number of suspected KCK members, including several mayors from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), have been detained.

[14] Report reveals that 771 students in Turkey are in jail

Prepared by academics from different universities, the report underlines that the majority of the students are charged with "propagandizing for an illegal organization," although most of the arrested students are not members of any illegal organizations.

"None of the students have exerted violence against anyone. Most of them are not members of any illegal organization, although they are charged with making propaganda for them. The issues they are charged with, are asking for free education or education in Kurdish. According to a decision by the Supreme Court in 2008, one can be charged with making illegal propaganda for participating a protest held by an organization," Mehmet Karl?, an academic from Istanbul's Galatasaray University, said. Even following the court cases of arrested students or attending press conferences regarding their arrests can be considered membership in a terrorist organization, Karl? said. "As a first step, the specially authorized courts should be changed."

Another academic, Basak Demir, said students are asked to pay a transfer fee of about 1,000 Turkish Liras in order to take their exams from prison, and they are not allowed to bring their class notes into prisons.

A recent case that brought the issue into the media spotlight was that of Cihan K?rm?z?gul, a university student who was arrested in 2010 for wearing a "poshu" scarf near a grocery store that had previously been attacked by unidentified individuals wearing the same garment, and sentenced to 11 years and three months in jail.

Another controversial case is that of students Berna Y?lmaz and Ferhat Tuzer, who were sentenced to eight years in jail for making terrorist propaganda after they staged a protest demanding free education. An Istanbul court announced its detailed ruling on the sentencing in the case on June 22, saying that the students were not found guilty for the banner they carried, but for the vests they were wearing, which carried symbols of a "terrorist organization." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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