Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-07-11

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu and Bozer met with AIESEC' students; Eroglu met with the KTMMOB

[02] Talat reiterated his allegations that the Cyprus EU presidency will not be successful

[03] Erdogan to visit Russia to discuss Syria crisis

[04] Bagis stated that the Irish EU Presidency will be launched earlier for Turkey

[05] Third part of KADEM research shows that Kibris is the most popular newspaper and Volkan the paper trusted the least

[06] Public opinion poll shows that undecided voters would determine the result if "elections" were held today in occupied Cyprus

[07] Salaries were paid but dispute continues for occupied Lefkosia municipality

[08] Turkish Cypriot daily criticizes the "racist propaganda" by the regime using the health situation of a young Greek Cypriot girl

[09] General congress of National Unity Party to take place on November 11

[10] Merit Tourism Investment and Enterprise INC the first firm of the breakaway regime to enter the Istanbul Stock Exchange

[11] A statue of a woman was excavated in occupied Salamina area

[12] Turkey pursuing energy deals with Arbil, Baghdad

[13] Data by TurkStat on Turkey's gold exports to Iran

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu and Bozer met with AIESEC' students; Eroglu met with the KTMMOB

The students are in the "TRNC" as part of the 4th "Promoting Abroad Project" which is jointly organized by the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU) and AIESEC.

Speaking during the visit, Eroglu underlined how important is for foreign students to meet with locals as they are studying in the "TRNC" and said "as you can see the TRNC possesses everything a state should".

Briefing the students about the Cyprus history and the Cyprus issue, Eroglu said that on the 20th of July 1974, Turkey used its rights as a guarantor power and saved not only the Turkish Cypriots but the Greek Cypriots as well.

Explaining that there were two main reasons for the non solution of the Cyprus issue, Eroglu noted that these reasons were "South Cyprus's" international recognition and its EU membership. "These two reasons are fuelling the Greek Cypriots side's intransigence. The Cyprus Turkish people were excluded from the 1960 Republic and forced to live under embargoes. This is a great injustice", Eroglu stressed.

Also, in his meeting with the foreign students, Bozer said the Turkish Cypriot "people" attaches great importance in uniting with the world and pointed to the importance of dialogue with the foreigners.

Stressing that the future was in the hands of the youth, Bozer called for the young generation to act responsibly.

Meanwhile, under the front-page title: "Eroglu: The negotiations halted", Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (11.07.12) reports on statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who met yesterday with the new "administration board" of the "Cyprus Turkish Architects & Engineers Chambers Association" (KTMMOB).

In statements during the meeting, Eroglu said that the basic negotiations were halted and the negotiations continue on a technical level in order for confidence building measures to be found. He added that new conditions are to be set in order to return back to the negotiation table.

Pointing out that he had conveyed in the past to the UN Secretary-General Ban that it would not be possible for a progress to be achieved at the negotiation talks after July 1st, Eroglu said that there is no other choice than waiting for the six months to pass.

Reiterating that the side that wishes for a solution at the negotiation table is the Turkish Cypriot side, he said that the Turkish Cypriot side proposed for a multilateral conference to take place, however, it was the Greek Cypriot side which rejected their proposal.

Referring to the issue of the protection of the cultural heritage, Eroglu reminded of the agreement being reached for the restoration of Apostolos Andreas Monastery and said that even thought the project being prepared in Greece was ready; there was not any development on the issue because of the intransigent attitude of the church.

Speaking on behalf of the "Cyprus Turkish Architects & Engineers Chambers Association" (KTMMOB), the chairman of the "association" Zihni Turkan stressed that there is instability in their sector because of the non-solution of the Cyprus problem and the problems experienced in the internal and called on the Turkish Cypriot leader to support them.

(AK)

[02] Talat reiterated his allegations that the Cyprus EU presidency will not be successful

"You cannot become European with such a mentality. Christofias will see even better if this union is a rose or an Indian fig", Talat stated. He also reiterated his allegations that the Cyprus EU presidency will not be successful. He also alleged that the Europeans will regret the undertaking of the EU Presidency by the Republic of Cyprus, but this task was unavoidable.

Evaluating the Cyprus problem, the former Turkish Cypriot leader stated that it is an international problem and as such it must be settled at an international meeting. He also stated that this time, it seems that the Turkish side put on the table the issue of the international conference in order to establish a dead-end (at the negotiations).

[03] Erdogan to visit Russia to discuss Syria crisis

The crisis in Syria will dominate the Turkish Prime Minister's agenda, but he will also discuss regional and international affairs.

Russia, which is hosting Syrian opposition groups for talks, is under international pressure to exert influence over Assad's government to make it stick to a peace plan laid out by UN envoy Kofi Annan. Moscow, along with China, has protected President Bashar al-Assad from harsher sanctions in the UN Security Council.

The Foreign Ministers of the UN Security Council's five permanent members - Russia, the United States, China, France and Britain - all attended the Geneva meeting along with Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, where they agreed that a transitional government should be set up in Syria but left open the question of what role Assad might play.

Cihan news agency reported that according to diplomatic sources, Erdogan is scheduled to hold talks with the Russian President Vladimir Putin and exchange views on transition period in Syria.

Diplomatic sources also added that Erdogan will discuss the recently downed Turkish warplane by Syrian forces and will ask to share with Turkey any possible data Moscow has regarding the jet.

Russian news agencies said on Monday that Russia planned to suspend arms shipments to Syria, possibly signalling a shift in its stance towards Assad, whom it has defended from harsher sanctions at the UN Security Council.

Russian Foreign Ministry sources said Erdogan and Putin will discuss trade, commercial and political relations, along with High-Level Cooperation Council meeting that will be held in Turkey in the fall.

The Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is expected to accompany Erdogan in his visit to Moscow and will likely meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

Meanwhile, Russia said on Tuesday it would be ready to host a new meeting of world powers aimed at ending the conflict in Syria and proposed broadening the talks to invite other countries, including Iran.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that Moscow had made the proposal at an international meeting in Geneva on June 30.

Bogdanov repeated Russia's position that any similar meetings in future should include other countries that have influence over the Syrian situation - namely Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Opposition representatives - in Moscow for talks - said they would only take part in discussions with the Syrian government after changes in leadership, a precondition Russia rejects and one which is not stipulated in Annan's plan.

(?)

[04] Bagis stated that the Irish EU Presidency will be launched earlier for Turkey

"From our point of view, the Irish presidency will maybe last longer compare to other presidencies. Perhaps we can interpret this presidency as being a year instead of six months. This is because, rather than the current presidency, we have already begun the preparations for the presidency of Ireland," European Union Minister Bagis said at a meeting with his Irish counterpart, Lucinda Creighton, on July 10.

Bagis, who attended the meeting wearing a necktie that had been custom-made for the 2004 presidency of Ireland, said, "As you can see, we have already started preparations for Ireland's presidency."

The locations of Turkey and Ireland on the edges of the European continent have accommodated their current positions in the centre of unique opportunities, and this has been advantageous for the continent as a whole, he said. "Recent times have turned out to be increasingly in favour of Turkey's EU membership."

Creighton, who spoke of the transformation they have witnessed in Eastern European and Balkan countries during the EU membership process, said this process of transformation was still in progress in Turkey. Creighton said that for full EU membership, the complete implementation of the acquis of EU was required. "The EU process has helped the improvement of several aspects of the Turkish agenda such as the achievement of civilian control over security forces, judicial reform, religious freedom, and the legislative protection of fundamental human rights."

Creighton said Ireland would take over the presidency of the EU Council next year. "As the EU President, we will continue to passionately pursue the expansion strategy adopted by the EU. The support given by the Irish government for Turkey's full membership will continue. I hope that our presidency will support Turkey's goal of membership."

In addition, reporting on the same issue, Turkish daily Zaman (11.07.12) reports that Bagis said that the Irish EU Presidency which follows the "Greek Cypriot Sector's EU Presidency", as he called the Republic of Cyprus, will last longer for Turkey.

[05] Third part of KADEM research shows that Kibris is the most popular newspaper and Volkan the paper trusted the least

The paper, who writes that today Kibris celebrates the 23rd anniversary of its establishment, writes that is grateful to its readers.

According to the survey for every 100 persons who read a paper in the occupied area, 83.5% reads Kibris and among them 60.4% trust the writings of the paper. In addition only 0.1% trusts the writings of Volkan newspaper.

Replying to a question regarding which paper they read at least three times per week, 83.5% replied Kibris, 23.2% replied Havadis, 16.1% replied Yeniduzen, 14.7% Afrika, 5.8% Halkin Sesi, 5.15 Haberdar, 4.1% Star Kibris, 3.1% vatan, 2.5% Volkan, 2.4% Kibrisli, 2.4% Demokrat Bakis, 1.6% Ortam and 1.2% Gunes.

Replying to a question regarding the writings of which newspaper they trust the most, 69.4% replied Kibris, 17.9% replied Havadis,10.6% Yeni Duzen, 9.8% Afrika, 2.7% Vatan, 2.5% Haberdar, 1.6% Halkin Sesi, 1.1% Star Kibris, 0.4% Demokrat Bakis, 0.1% Gunes and 0.1% Volkan.

Replying to a question regarding which is the television channel; the watch the most during the last month,54.9% replied Bayrak, 38.8% Genc TV, 21.7% Kibris TV, 12.4% Kanal T, 9.7% Sim TV, 2.8% ART, 1.2% AS TV and 0.4% AKdeniz TV.

The survey was conducted with a sample of 3148 persons, with face-to-face interviews. The persons participated in the survey were over 18.

(CS)

[06] Public opinion poll shows that undecided voters would determine the result if "elections" were held today in occupied Cyprus

When the undecided voters are distributed to the parties according to the results of the "elections" in 2009, the survey showed the following power for each party:

National Unity Party (UBP) 36.5% (a decrease of 10% is observed in comparison to 2009), Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) 24.5% (a decrease of 6% is observed in comparison to 2009), Social Democracy Party (TDP) 17.9% (it almost tripled its percentages in comparison to 2009), Democratic Party (DP) 14.7% (it increased its percentages by 3% in comparison to 2009), Democracy and Trust Party (DGP) 2.7%, United Cyprus Party (BKP) 2.4% and Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) 1.3%.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Salaries were paid but dispute continues for occupied Lefkosia municipality

Meanwhile, the paper reports also that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) applied to "constitutional court" yesterday against the "decree in the power of law" prepared by the "government" providing for the "compulsory 90-day leave" of the "mayor" and the members of the "municipal council" of occupied Lefkosia municipality.

Other parties also reacted against the above-mentioned "decree". The Democracy and Trust Party (DGP) described it as one of the typical examples of National Unity Party's antidemocratic behaviour, "which recognizes no law". Commenting on the same issue, the New Cyprus Party (YKP) said that "democracy in the country is searched with a candle", while the United Cyprus Party (BKP) said that the "decree" is antidemocratic.

Furthermore, some trade unions issued statements yesterday supporting the withdrawal of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) and the Democratic Party (DP) to boycott the work of the "assembly".

(I/Ts.)

[08] Turkish Cypriot daily criticizes the "racist propaganda" by the regime using the health situation of a young Greek Cypriot girl

The paper 's editor-in-chief, Sener Levent describes as propaganda the fact that the girl was visited by the self-styled prime minister of the regime, Irsen Kucuk, who, at the presence of the media, wished her to get well soon.

The paper recalls that thousands of Turkish Cypriots are treated in the hospitals in the government-controlled area of the Republic and notes that the Greek Cypriot hospitals could make much more propaganda, if they wanted to do so.

Levent says also that the girl was not a Greek Cypriot living in the free area, but a Maronite living in the occupied area of the island. He also notes that she was sent to the illegal YDU's hospital by another hospital in the occupied area of Cyprus, not by a hospital in the government-controlled area.

Levent also writes that while Eleni was treated, a Turkish Cypriot died in the same hospital during an operation of appendicitis.

(I/Ts.)

[09] General congress of National Unity Party to take place on November 11

According to the paper, prior to the congress, regional meetings of local UBP organizations will take place, starting as of September 1st.

[10] Merit Tourism Investment and Enterprise INC the first firm of the breakaway regime to enter the Istanbul Stock Exchange

According to the paper, speaking at a ceremony organized for this event, the chairman of the Istanbul Stock Exchange Ibrahim Turhan said that he is very pleased for this development since it is the first time that a an enterprise from the "TRNC" as he called the breakaway regime, started to trade its stocks at the Istanbul Stock Exchange.

[11] A statue of a woman was excavated in occupied Salamina area

The excavations are taking place with the contribution of the so-called Turkish embassy in occupied Cyprus and they will continue until July 19.

In statements during a press conference yesterday, Dr. Erhan Oztepe, vice chairman of the "excavation team", gave information about the excavation works which are taking place in occupied Salamina for five years now, and said that in a period of 14 years, a total of 14 statues come to light. He added that the majority of them belong to the Roman Period.

(AK)

[12] Turkey pursuing energy deals with Arbil, Baghdad

A technical delegation from the Iraqi government will visit Turkey shortly for negotiations on the Basra-Kirkuk pipeline project agreement, an official from the Ministry of Energy told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday. "The Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline operates at a capacity of only 35 %. The Basra-Kirkuk line will increase the capacity for oil transported to Ceyhan," the official said, adding that Iraq had requested the project.

Subtitle: Ties with both sides

Elaborating on news reports that Baghdad has declared Turkey's import of crude oil from the Iraqi Kurdish government to be illegal; the Turkish official said the problem was between Iraq's central government and Arbil, not with Turkey. Ankara is enhancing energy cooperation with the Iraqi government as well as the regional government, the official said.

The Kurdish Regional Government began exporting an unspecified amount of crude oil by truck to Turkey last week, where it can be refined into various products before being taken back to northern Iraq, the official said.

However, the central government in Baghdad insists that it reserves the sole right to export oil, which accounts for the lion's share of the country's income.

The Iraqi government said crude-oil exports from northern Iraq to Turkey were "illegal" and threatened to take "appropriate action," in a continuation of recent tensions between the two.

"This is an illegal and unconstitutional business that we will take the right decision on," said Faisal Abdullah, spokesman for Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussein al-Shahristani.

"The Oil Ministry [in Baghdad] solely reserves the right to export crude oil, gas or oil products to other countries," Abdullah said.

A dispute over oil between Baghdad and the Kurdish government in Arbil has worsened recently, with Iraqi Kurds having stepped up oil production and export capabilities, and also cutting off oil exports to Iraq in a payment row.

The Kurdish Regional Government has signed dozens of contracts with foreign oil firms, despite the central government saying that all oil contracts must go through Baghdad.

[13] Data by TurkStat on Turkey's gold exports to Iran

Data from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat) have shown that Turkey exported gold worth $4.02 billion in the first five months of 2012, with $3.08 billion of that sum exported to Iran. This means Turkey's gold exports to Iran have increased, roughly, eightfold compared to the same period in 2011. It is speculated that Iranians are turning to gold as a method of saving, as Western sanctions tighten.

The mass purchase of Turkey's gold is being undertaken by rich Iranian families living in Turkey. These families largely do business in the fields of construction and iron and steel production. There are rumours that they purchase Turkish gold via third persons in order not to be noticed, and that they entrust the purchased gold to the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CBI), again via third persons. The CBI supports the purchases in order to gain strength in the face of increasing sanctions from European countries.

Sanctions are aimed at forcing Iran to curb its nuclear program and mainly target Iran's energy and banking sectors. Turkey has become an increasingly important channel for the Islamic Republic following new measures added to already tight sanctions earlier this month.

A senior government official, who declined to be named, told Today's Zaman that Iran collects gold from countries such as Dubai and India as well as Turkey. "Iranian companies both earn money through gold purchases and serve their country by strengthening its CBI. They are worried that new sanctions may come after sanctions imposed on oil sales, and they are working to strengthen the CBI," the official stated.

There are also rumours that the US is uneasy about the skyrocketing Iranian purchase of Turkey's gold, and has been following the purchases.

Erkan Kurtulmus, president of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Jewellery Committee, is worried that Iran may be struggling to increase its gold reserves before a possible war. In his view, there are "big players" involved in Iran's gold purchases from Turkey, as ordinary customers would not be allowed to take a share of sales. Kurtulmus also said that Turkey imports scrap gold, which is melted down and then reshaped. However, the scrap gold business is mainly unregistered, and the state does not levy taxes in this sector.

According to TurkStat statistics, Turkey exported the highest quantity to Iran in May of this year, with an amount roughly five times higher than in the same month in 2011. Gold exports to Iran reached $1.3 billion in May. The total exports to Turkey in the same month were worth $1.6 billion.

Turkey has seen a rapid increase in Iranian-funded foreign companies within its borders. Turkish authorities suspect some of these may be front companies set up to circumvent Western sanctions. They are concerned that some of the activities of Iranian companies may risk an unwanted confrontation between Ankara and its Western allies.

According to the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), foreign companies financed by Iran in Turkey in 2011 totalled 590, an increase of 41 % compared to the previous year. That puts Iran at the top of the chart for new foreign companies established in 2011 not only in numbers but percentage-wise as well. As of December 31, 2011, the number of companies funded by Iran totalled 2,140, with a quarter having launched operations in the last year alone. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article