Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-07-31

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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 continues its threats against the companies that bid to the tender of the Republic of Cyprus for the second round of drillings in the Mediterranean

[02] Eroglu gives signal for bringing back the equivalent property system in the occupied area

[03] The Turkish "ambassador" to Lefkosia will reportedly replaced by a tougher envoy

[04] More on UBP crisis: The party's assembly dismisses Kucuk proposals and the election congress will be held on October 21

[05] Kucuk on the occupation regime's economy; Reaction by some trade unions in occupied Cyprus against the increase of prices

[06] Reports on the construction of a fourteen-floor building in occupied Gastria village by an Israeli firm

[07] The Archangelos Michael church in occupied Keryneia lacks of care

[08] The number of citrus fruits in occupied Morfou has been drastically reduced

[09] Davutoglu warns that Turkey will not remain silent watching the developments in Syria; Erdogan discussed Syria with Obama

[10] A strange allegation by the CHP deputy chairman on Davutoglu's removal from his post

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey continues its threats against the companies that bid to the tender of the Republic of Cyprus for the second round of drillings in the Mediterranean

According to the paper, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has made a warning on a governmental level to a total of 15 countries, including Russia, China, France, the UK and Norway which expressed interest to participate to the tender for the second round of oil drilling in the Mediterranean. The Foreign Minister in its warning said: "We do not allow the works. If you don't want our ties to be deteriorated, withdraw the tender".

The paper continues and writes that despite of Ankara's new measures, the "Greek Cypriot administration" which is using the advantages of its EU term Presidency, insist on the tender for the second round of drilling and oil researches in the Eastern Mediterranean.

On the other hand, Turkey presiding as an excuse that one part of the zone into which oil researches will take place fits into the continental shelf of Turkey and also that the "TRNC" has rights on the energy resources in the Mediterranean as well, Turkey through the Foreign Ministry warned the energy companies and the countries that will participate to the tender and send the following message: "we will not permit drilling works and researches in this controversial tender zone. If you want our ties not to be deteriorated, you shall withdraw from the tender".

In statements on the issue, the spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Selcuk Unal said: "One part at the west of the island where the naval zone for which a tender is to be opened by the Greek Cypriot administration coincides with Turkey's continental shelf in the Mediterranean. Turkey will not tolerate any action in these fields (zones)...".

Pointing also out that a big part of the naval zone in the south of the island where the tender is to open, coincides with the zone where the occupation regime has given a licence to TPAO to conduct researches, Unal said: "The continuation of further activities by international oil companies into these fields (zones), might constitute the reason for the creation of an undesired tension and for coming across with the TRNC and TPAO. We call the related countries and oil companies to act with common sense and withdraw from the tender". (...)

(AK)

[02] Eroglu gives signal for bringing back the equivalent property system in the occupied area

According to the paper, the practice of the equivalent property system in the breakaway regime, was discussed during the meeting. Eroglu stated that those who have equivalent property rights will not lose their rights. As he said the equivalent property distribution was stopped during the previous "government" while the negotiations were continuing because there was a hope for the Cyprus problem's settlement. However, since an agreement was not reach, the issue must be re-examined by the current "government".

In addition, Vatan (31.07.12) also reports that speaking on the Cyprus talks, Eroglu stated that the open ended negotiations is "a Greek Cypriot job" and added that this is against the benefits of the Turkish Cypriots. "We will demand time restrictions otherwise we will become the victims", he alleged.

He noted that "south Cyprus", as he called the Republic of Cyprus has entered election atmosphere and added that the seven technical committees which were established for building confidence measures have started their meetings and that the issue of the environment is the first issue to be discussed.

(CS)

[03] The Turkish "ambassador" to Lefkosia will reportedly replaced by a tougher envoy

Under the title: "Bring a governor and you are done", on its "Afrika'dan Mektup", (Letter from Afrika) column, Afrika writes that according to political backstage information, Turkey wants to remove Akca from his duties because he was unsuccessful. The paper writes that Akca failed on the full application of the economic measures package prepared by Turkey for the breakaway regime. The issue for Akca's dismissal was mentioned at the "Progress Report" document, which was prepared by a technical delegation that visited the breakaway regime recently. The document was signed by the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay who headed the delegation that visited the occupation regime and was presented to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, writes Afrika.

The "Progress Report" also contains complains about the operation of illegal Bayrak, the Telecommunication department and other services.

The paper writes that Akca will be replaced with a more decisive and tougher envoy and reports that the former illegal Turkish ambassador to occupied Lefkosia Kaya Turkmen was also replaced for being "too democratic".

"They see everyone as a governor", writes Afrika and wonders if Akca was considered as "too soft" for the job.

"How many times did we say this? Let us repeat it for one more time?Abolish the assembly and this government? Give an end to this game! Do not send an ambassador, send us a governor... And then, you? And then us too? After this we will all know what to do?[?]", writes the paper.

(CS)

[04] More on UBP crisis: The party's assembly dismisses Kucuk proposals and the election congress will be held on October 21

Kucuk suggested that the congress should take place on October 7 and also suggested the Trust and Democracy Party (DGP) and the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) to return to UBP prior to the congress; both proposals were not accepted by the UBP's party assembly.

In addition, the paper writes that the self-styled minister of health Ahmet Kasif, who is candidate for the UBP"s leadership opposite Kucuk, stated that he is nobody's candidate, replying to rumours that he is supported by Dervis Eroglu, former leader of UBP. He went on and added that if Eroglu, a man with a long history in UBP, expresses his support towards his candidacy, he will receive it with respect and said that he did not decide to run for the position thinking who will support him or not. He also reiterated that he is still a candidate and that he will not take a step back from this decision.

(CS)

[05] Kucuk on the occupation regime's economy; Reaction by some trade unions in occupied Cyprus against the increase of prices

Kucuk said that strengthening the financial and economic structure in the "TRNC" was among the "government's" priorities.

Referring to the law on privatization, he stated that Ercan airport [illegal Tymbou airport] had been the starting point with the build-operate-transfer (BOT) system.

He noted that the tender concerning the BOT project of the Ercan Airport will be finalized in August. "The construction of two landing strips is part of the project and the new structure of the airport will be serving 5 million passengers annually", Kucuk said.

Touching upon the water transfer project which will be realized by March 2014, Kucuk said that plans are underway on the use of the 75 million cubic meters of water that will be annually transferred from "motherland" Turkey to the "TRNC" via underwater pipelines.

Meanwhile, under the front page title: "What kind of success is this?", Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (31.05.12) reports on statements made by the so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk the day before yesterday, when he said that "the occupation regime's economy has entered into a phase of growth and that the measures they took during the period they are in the power, yield results", and wondered for which success in the economy Kucuk has spoken.

Presenting figures by the "State Planning Organization", showing several increases which took place in occupied Cyprus since 2009, the paper writes that several trade unions prepare to organize protests against the increases.

Particularly, KTAMS trade union is to organize a protest on Thursday in front of the building of the so-called ministry of finance, in order to protest for the raised prices and the increases.

Also, KAMU-Sen trade union has announced that it will organized today a protest in front of the so-called ministry of finance, in order to express their dissatisfaction for the "government's stance" on the issue of the wages.

Moreover, the chairman of the Turk-Sen trade union, Aslan Bicakli, in a written statement yesterday condemned strongly the so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk and the so-called minister of finance, Ersin Tatar for their statements that the occupation regime's economy is growing.

Pointing out that even though Kucuk and Tatar stated that the economy is growing, Bicakli said that the purchasing power in occupied Cyprus, has been reduced by 35%.

He also accused the so-called government for not giving even one cent increase to the wages of the workers during the past two years and underlined that the minimum wage remained also the some despite of the increase on the price of fuels, the gas and energy.

Meanwhile, according to the figures given to the paper by the so-called State Planning Organization, since 2009, there was an increase of 60%, to the fuel oil, 90% for the liquefied petroleum gas, 28% to the education fees, 15% to the health charges, and 35% to electricity charges.

(AK )

[06] Reports on the construction of a fourteen-floor building in occupied Gastria village by an Israeli firm

The paper writes that the building will be constructed at a sandy area near the beach and adds that information regarding the construction creates uneasiness to the persons living at the area. The paper writes that the self-styled ministry of interior gave permission for the construction of a bridge at a stream bed in the area in order the fourteen-floor building to gain access to the road. The persons living in the area worry about the environmental consequences of the bridge at the stream bed, as well as of the construction of the fourteen-floor building at the beach. The paper also writes that there are also worries for the careta-careta turtle which lays its eggs in this beach.

(CS)

[07] The Archangelos Michael church in occupied Keryneia lacks of care

According to the paper, the church which is open and serves as an "Icon museum", is waiting for restoration for years now, since it attracts a lot of Christian tourists.

According to the paper the plaster and the colour on the walls of the church fall off whereas the outside place of the church is full of grass.

The paper underlines that there are important Christian icons inside the church and points out that the tourists who are visiting the church are getting surprised by the bad situation of the church and accuses the occupation regime's "authorities".

The church which is located at the west of occupied Keryneia was build during 1860.

The paper reports also on statements made by the so-called minister of tourism, environment and culture, Unal Ustel who has said during an inauguration ceremony of the Cyprus house museum at occupied Keryneia port last week, which opened in the framework of the museums week, that there are totally 29 museums in occupied Cyprus and added that in the near future they intend to inaugurate two more museums in occupied Lefkosia and Famagusta.

(AK)

[08] The number of citrus fruits in occupied Morfou has been drastically reduced

The paper writes that the citrus fruits sector, which was considered "the goose that laid the golden eggs" faces many problems due to the inconsistent policy followed by the "governments" and due to the salinization of the waters and notes that the "goose" have come to a mortal point.

Speaking to the paper, the chairman of the citrus fruits producers union, Ali Alioglu, stated that 10 thousand donum more are in danger and accused the policy followed by the government on the issue. In addition, Mehmet Ali Aybar, a former chairman of the citrus fruits producers union, stated that in 1974 there were three million 750 thousand trees in Morfou while today there are only one million 750 thousands.

[09] Davutoglu warns that Turkey will not remain silent watching the developments in Syria; Erdogan discussed Syria with Obama

Davutoglu, called on the United Nations and the international community to take up responsibility on their end.

Speaking at a fast-breaking dinner late July 29, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Ankara newspaper bureau chiefs the following: "If tens of thousands attempt to flee Turkey and Syrian forces open fire on them, neither Turkey nor the whole world can remain silent to such a situation".

Davutoglu recalled the United Nation's duty to protect civilians in armed clashes as part of the Security Council's earlier resolutions on the matter, in a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon July 29.

Turkey could do nothing to stop the 1988 Halabja massacre by the Saddam Hussein administration, in which nearly 5,000 Iraq Kurds were killed by chemical weapons, Davutoglu said, adding that they are determined not to allow a recurrence of such a massacre in another neighbouring country.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (30.07.12) reported that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the US President Barack Obama agreed on Monday to accelerate efforts for a transition period in Syria, which includes the exit of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad accused of brutally cracking down on a 16-month uprising that has now left more than 20,000 Syrians dead.

Sources said the two leaders exchanged views by phone, on the latest developments in Turkey's southern neighbour in a 36-minute conversation.

A statement released by the Turkish Prime Ministry said both leaders discussed the coordination of efforts aimed at accelerating political transition of Syria, which also includes the departure of Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad and addressing the legitimate demands of the Syrian people.

Both leaders, the statement added, expressed concern over the intensifying attacks by government forces on Syrian people and worsening of humanitarian situation, particularly in Syria's largest city of Aleppo, where clashes between opposition fighters and the army have increased recently.

The statement also added that Erdogan and Obama agreed to coordinate efforts to help Syrian refugees, fleeing the violence in their country to neighbouring countries, particularly to Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon.

"The two leaders decided that officials from both countries should work together to support the democratic transition period in Syria," the statement said.

[10] A strange allegation by the CHP deputy chairman on Davutoglu's removal from his post

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