Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-08-08

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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] More threats by Turkey on the issue of oil and natural gas explorations

[02] The occupation regime continues to distribute "TRNC citizenship"

[03] Tension in Turkish-Iranian relations because of Syria

[04] Afrika criticizes Turkish Cypriot parties for not condemning Isaak and Solomou murders in August 1996

[05] Former self-styled foreign minister wrote a book about the separation in Cyprus

[06] Number of students in jail hits 2,824 in Turkey

[07] CHP leader claims that he has been wiretapped

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] More threats by Turkey on the issue of oil and natural gas explorations

Noting that Turkey's stance on this issue is very clear, Unal argued the following:

"The Greek Cypriots should not carry out these activities before the Cyprus problem is solved or without having the approval of the Turkish Cypriots. The Greek Cypriots invited new international tenders last May for natural gas exploration and drilling. One part of this tender violates the licensing fields of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

We and the Turks of Cyprus called on the countries concerned and the international oil companies to disregard this tender. We have said that the absolute consent of the Turkish Cypriots should be taken. We supported the proposal submitted in this direction by the TRNC president esteemed Eroglu to the UN Secretary-General. We said that we will not be responsible for the tension which will be created in case the Greek Cypriots continue their activities in spite of our efforts. Some of the so-called licensing fields of the Greek administration of south Cyprus violate Turkey's continental shelf in Eastern Mediterranean, in the area which is west of the island. Turkey cannot tolerate foreign oil companies to carry out oil or natural gas exploration and drilling activities without a license in these areas which overlap".

(I/Ts.)

[02] The occupation regime continues to distribute "TRNC citizenship"

[03] Tension in Turkish-Iranian relations because of Syria

Ankara is following the Western lead in the region, along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and is responsible for the bloodshed in the Arab republic, Firuzabadi said.

"If these countries continue with their existent approach to Syria, they should know that Turkey and the others will be next in line," Firuzabadi said.

Kazem Jalali, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, had previously said that "Turkey and those who support and arm terrorists [in Syria]" were responsible for the safety of Iranians kidnapped in Syria.

In addition, Ankara Anatolia news agency (07.08.12) reports that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the remarks of the Iranian Chief of Staff. The statement of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is as follows:

"We strongly condemn both the statement issued by Iranian Chief of the General Staff Firuzabadi that was posted in the Internet site of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and the other unfounded accusations and extremely inappropriate statements issued by certain Iranian officials in connection with our country.

A country with a great state tradition, Turkey pursues a foreign policy in line with its own goals and principles. The officials of Iran, with which we have conducted neighbourly relations for centuries, should be the first to know and understand that. In fact, our principled stand that was displayed at the United Nations Security Council vote on Iran's nuclear program is known to all. It is an unacceptable irresponsibility on the part of certain Iranian officials that hold various posts, to continue to target our country with their statements when everyone is aware of the principled Turkish foreign policy.

Meanwhile, everybody knows who -inside and outside- Syria are responsible for the human drama caused by the regime in Syria and who is responsible for the murder of hundreds of innocent people in that country every day. Those responsible will surely account for their deeds before history and the world's conscience. [?]

We call on the Iranian officials to stop making unfounded allegations in connection with our country and to act in line with a spirit of neighbourly relations."

[04] Afrika criticizes Turkish Cypriot parties for not condemning Isaak and Solomou murders in August 1996

"You may have realized it as well. During the days that are regarded as our 'national days', only our parties and organizations which are known as nationalist issue announcements. Nothing is said by the left wing circles on 20 July, on 1 August, on 15 November. The nationalists send a lot of announcements to the media. The others keep quiet. Why? Do they have absolutely nothing to say on such days? Is it not on these days that they should actually talk? While the others issue nationalistic announcements, could they not tell the realities to the people?

The Greek Cypriot side has commemorated Solomou and Isaak for three days. It carried out demonstrations in Deryneia. It organized marches. Who is Solomou? The Greek Cypriot, who was shot and killed in 1996 while climbing on the mast to bring down the Turkish flag in Deryneia. This incident was broadcast then on all the televisions of the world and influenced everybody very much. Who is Tassos Isaak? A Greek Cypriot young person, who was lynched and his head was crushed with iron sticks by nationalist [grey wolves] groups in Deryneia again at the same time. You can see it closely in those huge pictures at the Greek Cypriot barricade at Ledra Palace. A group of raving Turkish murderers, who trampled Isaak, exhibited one of the most evident examples of barbarity there. They killed Isaak by beating him up. That day Rauf Denktas was also going around there holding his photo machine. Those, who were dealing these deadly blows on Isaak's head that day, did not think what kind of seeds of hatred and disunion they sowed between the two communities. The Greek Cypriots reply mostly with these pictures to the question 'what does Turk mean': A complete savagery!

You have nothing to say huh. No one in our community came up to condemn this brutality which happened 16 years ago in Deryneia. No one here referred to the hatred caused by these murders, no one shared the pain of the Greek Cypriot community. In any case, it is in vain to expect this from those who were infected by the syndrome of 'we said yes and they said no'. Those who have declared themselves as supporters of the solution and the Greek Cypriot side as supporter of the non-solution did not apologize yet even for these dreadful crimes. They did not express regret.

As newspaper we sincerely share the pain of the families of Solomou and Isaak, whose murderers have not been punished yet as they deserve. These are the latest barbaric murders in our recent past. Those, who complain that the Greek Cypriot nationalism escalates in the south, should look at their own situation as well".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Former self-styled foreign minister wrote a book about the separation in Cyprus

This is the second edition of the book which was printed for the first time nine years ago.

[06] Number of students in jail hits 2,824 in Turkey

According to Ergin, 2,824 students have been arrested since Jan. 31, 2012.

The paper writes that 1,778 of these students were arrested, while the remaining 1,046 were charged but not arrested. Out of those arrested, 609 were arrested for "being a member of an armed terrorist organization," while 178 students were charged without arrest for the same crime.

CHP deputy Ozel said the number of arrested and convicted students was "terrifying."

"It is above our estimations. Even the students unfurling banners about free education are charged with [crimes related to] the armed terrorist organizations. The prosecutors trying to create criminals seemed to have achieved that," Ozel said.

[07] CHP leader claims that he has been wiretapped

Tarhan, who submitted a written motion to the Parliament on August 5 asking whether the prime minister had given instructions for wiretapping to the MIT, said the CHP's concerns are not based on speculation.

"I took action and submitted the written question because it was information we obtained from [a source] inside the MIT. This is a very crucial issue, we still expect an explanation from the government," Tarhan told the Hurriyet Daily News. According to Tarhan the CHP has received information that the illegal records would be used by the government to alter the nation's political agenda when needed.

"I noticed that my phone calls and meetings are being eavesdropped on. Either one of my statements is being conveyed indirectly to me or a news report about that statement appears somewhere. We are also being informed on this issue by someone, we have concrete data. The MIT is wiretapping and eavesdropping on us," Kilicdaroglu said.

According to Tarhan, the CHP received information that Kilicdaroglu and three other senior CHP officials are being wiretapped with both their offices and residences being monitored with mobile vehicles.

"Politics has been designed via illegal records in recent years; all of us have witnessed it. The government said they are not behind these illegal records, but they have used it for political gain during election campaign rallies. However, official institutions are being used for eavesdropping at the moment and this is unacceptable," Tarhan said.

Tarhan said she is not expecting an answer to her written motion but that the CHP would file a criminal complaint against the prime minister over eavesdropping allegations.

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