Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-07-26

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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] Sabah refers to HSBC's relations with the occupied area of Cyprus

[02] Eroglu meets with Downer and Pieter Van Nuffel

[03] Turkey's Yildiz on the Republic of Cyprus' oil exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean

[04] People Justice Council general secretary claims that the settlers are leaving the breakaway regime

[05] Kucuk met with representatives of a South Korea company

[06] Suspect of the murder of Solomos Solomou resigns from the "police"

[07] The occupation regime printed symbolic stamps for the "London Olympic games"

[08] Ramadan meeting with the participation of fourteen countries to be held in Istanbul

[09] Erdogan said that Turkey won't hesitate in military retaliation to any threat emanating from Syria's north

[10] Columnists on the heated debate in Turkey over the possible formation of a Kurdish state in northern Syria

[11] The occupied Lefkosia Folk dance association to participate to the 42nd International Music Days and Folk Dance Festival in FYROM

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Sabah refers to HSBC's relations with the occupied area of Cyprus

"It has come to light that HSBC had undertaken the financing of immovable property sales to foreigners in the TRNC", writes the paper noting that a lawsuit had been filed in Washington against HSBC because of this financing. According to the paper, in the reasons of this lawsuit it is noted that the bank was financing sales of immovable property to international investors in a country which is not recognized by the United Nations. Pointing out that the lawsuit was filed by Greek Cypriots living in the US; Sabah argues that the outcome of the case bears great importance for the interests of the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.

Sabah recalls that last month, Turkish Takvim newspaper, one of the newspapers of Turkuvaz Publications Group, had reported that Israeli citizens were secretly establishing bogus companies with persons living in the occupied area of Cyprus in order for being able to buy land and villas in the occupied area of the island. Takvim had noted then, that Israeli businessmen were establishing "companies" through some lawyers in the occupied area of Cyprus, that they started buying land and that many villas had been built, especially in many places in occupied Karpass peninsula.

The paper recalls statements made by Baris Mamali, former chairman of the Turkish Cypriot so-called bar association, who had said that Israel was buying land in the occupied area of Cyprus through cooperation of Israeli businessmen with Turkish Cypriot lawyers, that six of his colleagues were involved in this business and that there was one lawyer who had 30 companies.

Sabah reports that HSBC is accused of "illegally and wrongfully transferring money to an unrecognized country for the sale of immovable properties". According to the plaintiffs, the total average amount of money reaches 50 million dollars, the paper says.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu meets with Downer and Pieter Van Nuffel

Meanwhile, Gunes reports also, that Eroglu is expected meet today at 15.00 o' clock with Pieter Van Nuffel, special representative of the President of the European Commission for Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Turkey's Yildiz on the Republic of Cyprus' oil exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean

Evaluating the reports say that "south Cyprus", as the Republic of Cyprus is called, will launch the second round of oil drillings, Yildiz said that as soon as "south Cyprus", as he referred to the Republic of Cyprus, will commit this mistake, it will be isolated, as he said. "The international big companies do not delight from a collusive area (zone). Big companies do not go there because there is a controversial area. Turkey would not foresee a structure in the area from which the "people" of the entire Cyprus will not be benefited", Yildiz said.

(AK)

[04] People Justice Council general secretary claims that the settlers are leaving the breakaway regime

Baturalp came to this conclusion after observing that the place the Red Crescent Organization offers the iftar meal (Translator note: the evening meal with whish the Muslims break the Ramadan fast) has changed and instead of the Kugulu Park in occupied Lefkosia is now offered at the Sahin Ertugrul elementary school. According to Baturalp's claims, there is no population left inside the Lefkosia walls and many settlers left the breakaway regime. In the previous years, thousand of persons gathered at the iftar meals offered at the Kugulu Park, but this year only 300 persons gathered at the Sahin Ertugrul elementary school for the event, he said. As he claimed that is the reason why the place of the Iftar event changed.

In addition, Afrika (26.07.12) reports that the general secretary of Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS) Guven Varoglu, expressed his organization's reaction over the iftar meals offered at elementary schools. According to Varoglu, the iftar meals tradition is not familiar with the secular Turkish Cypriot culture, is imposed by Turkish ruling AKP Party, and is connected with the Quran lesson and the establishment of a Religious School in the occupied area of Cyprus.

[05] Kucuk met with representatives of a South Korea company

No statements were made after the meeting.

[06] Suspect of the murder of Solomos Solomou resigns from the "police"

Afrika recalls that Emanet is one of the suspects for the murder of Solomos Solomu, who had been shot dead while being on a flagpole in 1996 in Deryneia. Describing Emanet as "one of the heroes of the flagpole in 1996", the paper writes that this "heroism" was in vain [as he was not promoted]. Afrika notes also that Emanet is wanted by Interpol's red bulletin.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The occupation regime printed symbolic stamps for the "London Olympic games"

According to statements by the "director" of the "post-office department", Dogan Emirogullari, the "state printing house" has printed and will put up for sale the series of stamps on Friday, 27 July 2012.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (26.07.12) under the title: "Durust should go to London", refers to its sport pages to the launching of the "London Olympic games" on Saturday and writes that all eyes are turn to London.

Underlining the fact that none athlete from the "TRNC" will participate to the London Olympic Games, the paper stresses the need for the so-called minister of youth and sport, Kemal Durust to travel to London for contacts in order to demand the lifting of the so-called embargoes. The paper adds that Durust, together with the Turkish Cypriot sport organizations in London, should exert efforts to establish a lobby and ask for the lifting of the "inhuman embargoes" which are imposed in the "TRNC".

(AK)

[08] Ramadan meeting with the participation of fourteen countries to be held in Istanbul

The paper writes that the meeting will be held between 28-29 of July.

Delegations from Russia, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and India will be among the participants of the meeting.

[09] Erdogan said that Turkey won't hesitate in military retaliation to any threat emanating from Syria's north

"Turkish Prime Minister has warned that Turkey won't hesitate in military retaliation to any threat emanating from Syria's north as he acknowledged that Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad is abandoning territories close to Turkish border to Kurdish groups linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as he is rapidly losing control across the war-torn country.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan told in an interview with the TV 24 channel on Wednesday that a PKK-linked Kurdish presence could give Turkey cause to intervene militarily in Syria, as it has done repeatedly in northern Iraq since that region slipped from Baghdad's grip following the 1991 Gulf War.

"The terrorist PKK organization's cooperation with [the PKK-linked Democratic Union Party] PYD is something we cannot look upon favourably," Erdogan said in the interview. "If a formation that's going to be a problem, if there is a terror operation, (if) an irritant, emerges, then intervening there would be our most natural right," he added. [..]

Erdogan's remarks came amid a heated debate in Turkey over the possible formation of a Kurdish state in northern Syria that could destabilize Turkey's southeast provinces predominantly populated by 12 million ethnic Kurds.

Syrian Kurdish opposition figures claimed earlier this week that Assad's forces have quit areas of Hassaka and Aleppo provinces, which border Turkey, leaving them under the control of the PYD.

The head of the Syrian National Council - which aspires to political leadership of the revolt against Assad and much of whose leadership is in Turkey - said Assad's troops had lost control of some parts of those regions, but that the Syrian opposition did not endorse any Kurdish separatist project.

Erdogan confirmed reports that northern Syria is deserted by Assad's troops and the PKK-linked groups are controlling the area. He said Assad left five provinces to the groups linked to the PKK and that they are trying to strengthen their presence there.

He also added that Syrian opposition fighters are taking their final steps in finalizing the toppling of Assad's regime, while the Syrian president is cornered to the center.

He quoted Turkish consul general in Aleppo, who was recalled to Ankara earlier this week, as saying that from Aleppo up to the Turkish border, all areas are now under the control of the opposition forces."

(AK)

[10] Columnists on the heated debate in Turkey over the Possible formation of a Kurdish state in northern Syria

Under the title: "Sitting in a glass castle", Yusuf Kanli (25.07.12) writes in Hurriyet Daily News: "Turkey is increasingly concerned with developments in Syria, particularly with the apparent takeover of northern Syrian towns and cities by the Democratic Union Party (PYD). [?] Reports indeed should be alarming for northern Iraqi leader Masoud Barzani and his fraternal claim of being the leader of the Kurds. Or, is Turkey facing a concerted hostile effort which might be eventually directed at its territorial integrity? Can it be that after the "autonomous Kurdistan" in northern Iraq, the developments in the Kurdish-populated areas of Syria are just steps toward "liberating" the "second tranche" of the "Kurdish homeland?" Could Turkey -- as probably neo-Ottomanists in the Turkish government apparatus might believe -- come out of the current mess, pardon, Arab Spring, in the Middle East with more territory with the addition of Syria, Iraq and perhaps Iran's Kurdish-populated areas? Or, could Turkey end up with diminished territory, losing its Kurdish-populated areas to a new neighbour, the grand Kurdistan? [?]

Should Turks not think that a Kurdish autonomous region that might be established in Syria might be a by-product of the current mess? What might be the impact of such a development on Turkey? [?] Will Turkey's glass castle be the next target of the spring? The question is irrelevant in view of the potential nightmare already building up."

Under the title: "The PKK Republic Has Been Established; Congratulations"], Emre Uslu (25.07.12) writes in Turkish daily Taraf the following: "The PKK [Kurdistan People's Congress, KGK] is establishing a state in Syria. They have declared "Democratic Autonomy" in the Kurdish region and have announced that they have turned the administration over to Town Councils. [?] At the point we have now come to, the PKK Republic has been established thanks to the joint contributions of narrow-minded politics in Ankara, the negotiationist mindset, and the egotistical and arrogant structure that predominates among those around [Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan. [?]

Since Turkey did not have a "plan B" in the event of Al-Asad's not departing the scene, Turkey has looked on at developments in utter bewilderment as the PKK has established a state under the protection of Al-Asad. This has brought great advantage to the PKK, which had a strategy that was more forward-looking than the policy of Turkey, settled into Syria and acted together with Al-Asad to establish a position, and then as Al-Asad's end approached, made its move and took the Kurdish region under its control. From this standpoint, it is the miscalculation made in foreign policy, and the lack of a "plan B," that are primarily responsible for the establishment of the PKK Republic. [?]

Consequently, the main responsibility for the establishment of the PKK Republic lies on the shoulders of Besir Atalay and his team. History will see this. [?]

While the PKK has been busy establishing a state in Syria, Ankara has been busy freeing the KCK [Assembly of Communities of Kurdistan] defendants by eliminating the Specially Authorized Courts and launching a second negotiations process. I think that Ankara is thinking "if we free the KCK members, and in fact put Ocalan under house arrest, the PKK will give up the republic is has founded and put down its arms." [?] To sum it up, Ankara, (some influential) politicians and diplomats, MIT, and the intellectuals, have all together, with their own hands, enabled the PKK to establish a republic. My congratulations to the PKK, and my condolences to Ankara.

Under the title: "Why all the Panic Over a 'PKK State'?", Yavuz Baydar (25.07.12) writes in Today's Zaman: "[?] It has been visible in recent days that many pundits -- traditionally sworn enemies of Kurdish human rights in general and of a pro-military solution -- have moved to the forefront to play with the fears of the public and exert pressure on Ankara "to do something before it is too late." How real, feasible and immediate are the prospects of a Kurdish statelet led by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the north-eastern part of Syria? When the facts on the ground are thoroughly checked, it appears clear that, while caution on upcoming chaos in those areas is called for, there is no reason for panic. [?]

The fear and panic rising among Turkey's Kemalist and elitist pundits are, at the moment, widely blown-up, regarding an emergence of a "PKK state." Neither the KNC nor the Barzani administration would allow this to happen, and both Ankara and Washington know this (although, certainly, there are obvious risks that things may spin out of control). [?]

There are, in conclusion, some points to be made, if one is to make lucid predictions on the Kurdish actors' patterns: Assad's nearing end means a divided Syria, whose fate will be decided through negotiations between many internal groups. Loss of territory means the Sunnis and the Kurds gaining positions of strength in future talks. In the case of Kurds, Iraqi brethren will have to be added in. Also, an obstinately pro-Assad PKK will in the end be defeated or forced into a regional fight: against Ankara, Barzani and the USA. With Assad gone, it will be an unwanted orphan.[?]".

[11] The occupied Lefkosia Folk dance association to participate to the 42nd International Music Days and Folk Dance Festival in FYROM

Except from the "TRNC", among the countries that will participate are local groups from Skopje, Bulgaria, India, Serbia and Greece.

The delegation from the occupied area of Cyprus is expected to return to the island on the night of August 1st. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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