Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-08-20

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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] Eroglu issues a message for Ramadan Feast

[02] Mosques overflowed yesterday in the occupied area of Cyprus

[03] Brits are reportedly abandoning the occupied area of Cyprus

[04] Akca stated that the occupation regime's economy sees small recovery

[05] Electronic counters funded by the EU are reportedly thrown away

[06] Data on the number of tourists who spend the night in occupied Cyprus

[07] Assassins from Turkey have reportedly been sent to kill Cafer Gurcafer

[08] A suspect wanted all over Europe goes around freely in the occupied area of Cyprus

[09] Illegal GAU to participate to the European Architecture Summer School in Italy

[10] Report reveals a high level Israeli delegation's secret visit to Turkey; efforts to ease tension

[11] Poll reveals that Turks' support to EU membership dropped drastically in one year; only 17% believe Turkey will become an EU member

[12] Turkish Deputy: "Halki's reopening 'not on the agenda'"

[13] The Turkish defence industry exports to 60 countries

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu issues a message for Ramadan Feast

Eroglu claimed that international organizations and mainly the UN accept now that the Turkish Cypriots want "a real peace and solution in Cyprus".

Pointing out to the importance of the religious feasts, Eroglu argued that these feasts are the most important integral parts that keep the community together and added that they should protect their unity and solidarity and never give permission to those who want to seed faction among them.

Meanwhile, Kibris (20.08.12) reports that Eroglu and his spouse Meral received yesterday the wishes of the public and various "officials" at the so-called presidential palace on the occasion of the beginning of Ramadan Feast. The paper argues that the debates which are being carried out before the congress of the National Unity Party (UBP) influenced the reception, as self-styled prime minister Kucuk's spouse Gulin and four out of the five heads of the "districts" who are UBP members did not attend the ceremony.

In statements before the reception, Eroglu argued that efforts are exerted for years to reach a solution, which is what is missing from Cyprus, and gave messages of hope to the "people". He pointed out that those who "govern" should act according to the problems and the needs of the "people" and reiterated the allegation that the Turkish Cypriots are living today in tranquillity and security under the roof of their own "state" and that there is no need for pessimism.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Mosques overflowed yesterday in the occupied area of Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (20.08.12) reports that the believers, who went to mosques yesterday to pray for the Ramadan Feast, were almost the half number of those who went to pray last year. The paper argues that this "evident decrease" derives from the fact that many workers from Turkey returned back to their country.

The paper writes that those who prayed last year at Murettin Ersin Pasa mosque in occupied Kerynia had filled up not only the mosque, but its garden, its bowers and its parking place as well. Yesterday, notes Kibris, the crowd filled up only the mosque and the garden crowed and was not as big as last year. According to Kibris, this is an indicator of a "serious reduction" in the number of the workers from Turkey in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Brits are reportedly abandoning the occupied area of Cyprus

According to Kibris, houses especially in the occupied area of Kerynia have been put up for sale.

Caner Sakallilar, inhabitant of occupied Klepini village, told Kibris that many Brits put up for sale the houses they had purchased in occupied Kerynia and the villages of Kazafani, Agios Epiktitos, Klepini, Lapithos, Karavas, Vasilia, Agios Amvrosios and Akanthou. He said the Brits were tired of not being able to get a "title deed" because of the bureaucracy and of the very expensive electricity.

The head of occupied Klepini village, Ali Tufekci referred also to the reasons of the Brits abandoning the occupied area of Cyprus and accused the "citizens" of behaving badly to the Brits. He said some broke into pieces the wheels of the vehicle of a British citizen, who had got angry with them because their animals destroyed his garden.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Akca stated that the occupation regime's economy sees small recovery

Halil Ibrahim Akca, so-called Turkey's envoy to occupied Lefkosia, said in a report on the Turkish aid to the island in 2011, that the Europe-based economic crisis and the political problems in the eastern Mediterranean were negatively affecting the "TRNC".

"The fluctuations in the euro because of the economic problems in Europe and oil prices due to the political developments in the Middle East, the economic problems in Greek Cyprus and the economic growth in Turkey were the external elements that affected the Turkish Cypriot economy," Akca said in the prologue of the study.

The study, which is gradually becoming an economic outlook report, comes in the second year of a three-year economic plan.

[05] Electronic counters funded by the EU are reportedly thrown away

According to the paper, multi-purpose and remote controlled electronic counters, which have been placed in the residences of 20.880 subscribers of "KIB-TEK", will be dismantled and substituted by other counters the cost of which is expected to reach nine million euros.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Data on the number of tourists who spend the night in occupied Cyprus

According to the paper, during 2008 only 337 tourists from the Netherlands visited the occupied area of Cyprus, whereas this number has been increased to 10.672 during 2011. Moreover, during the same period, a remarkable increase has been observed to the number of tourists from Iran. While the number of Iranians who visited the occupation regime in 2008 was 1.037, in 2011 it has reached to 10.178; also, in 2008 the number of Italians was 1.163 and in 2011 it has reached to 8.223. As regards the German tourists, in 2008 the number of Germans who visited occupied Cyprus was 11.977 and in 2011 was 20.774, an increase of 20%.

Commenting on the issue, the "general secretary" of the Turkish Cypriot Tourism and Travel Agencies Union (KITSAB) Ozbek Dedekorkut said that this development is related to the incentive packages which are offered to tourists by travel agencies.

AK

[07] Assassins from Turkey have reportedly been sent to kill Cafer Gurcafer

The paper recalls that recently Gurcafer had filed a lawsuit against Turkey in a court of the Republic of Cyprus regarding a hotel (Mimoza Hotel) in the occupied area of Cyprus. Gurcafer, who accused Turkey of "selling him a stolen property" [Translator's note: as he described the Mimoza Hotel], received various threats because of this lawsuit, notes Afrika.

The paper wonders whether the assassins from Turkey came to Cyprus carrying their weapons or they have secured them in the occupied area of the island.

The paper argues that the "police" should take "serious measures" to prevent a tragedy from happening.

(I/Ts.)

[08] A suspect wanted all over Europe goes around freely in the occupied area of Cyprus

(I/Ts.)

[09] Illegal GAU to participate to the European Architecture Summer School in Italy

According to the paper, the illegal GAU is to participate to the European Architecture Summer School under the status of founding and executive member together with Westminster University of the UK and the London College University. The Summer School is to be hosted by the Vice President of the EU Parliament, Luisa Morgantini and the mayor of Supino city in Italy, Alessandro Foglietta.

The paper adds that the illegal GAU's delegation will explain the culture heritage of the occupied city of Keryneia. The paper also writes that one of the goals of the delegation is to explain the University system of the occupation regime and to exert efforts so that the 2013 Summer School to be organized in the occupied area of Cyprus.

AK

[10] Report reveals a high level Israeli delegation's secret visit to Turkey; efforts to ease tension

The report said a delegation of Knesset members led by Israeli Deputy Finance Minister Yitzhak Cohen met with officials including those from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) last week and discussed ways to ease tensions between the two countries.

"The visit received the go ahead ? including an okay from the [Israeli] Prime Minister's Office in spite of the fact that the Foreign Ministry expressed its reservations over the trip," Ynet reported.

According to the report, the Israeli delegation was invited to Turkey by local interfaith organizations. "The Israeli Embassy in Ankara and the Consulate in Istanbul accompanied Deputy Minister Cohen and even advised him that he should not attend some of the meetings. The delegation met with parliament members from various political parties in hotels in Ankara and Istanbul," the report said.

Relations between Turkey and Israel, two close US allies in the region, have soured since Israeli forces boarded the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara aid ship in May 2010. Ankara downgraded ties and vowed to boost naval patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean in the escalating row. Ankara wants an official apology from Israel for the raid and has called for an end to the Gaza blockade, but both demands have thus far been rejected by the Israeli government. With the increased tensions, Turkey expelled the Israeli Ambassador and suspended all military agreements it had with the country.

[11] Poll reveals that Turks' support to EU membership dropped drastically in one year; Only 17% believe Turkey will become an EU member

According to a poll conducted by the German-Turkish Foundation for Education and Scientific Research (TAVAK), the percentage of people who say "Turkey will become an EU member" decreased from 34.8 % to 17 % in just a year.

When asked whether they believed Turkey would become an EU member or not, only 17 % of respondents said "yes," while 78 % said "no." Asked whether the country might finally become a member after a decade's time, even fewer ? 15% ? said "yes," while 76% replied negatively.

The project's adviser, Faruk Sen, linked the sharp decrease to negative developments in the 27-nation bloc, particularly the economic crisis. "Turkey's growth numbers in recent years reduced the belief of the Turkish people in full membership," said Sen, who is also the head of TAVAK. "The trend is not likely reverse due to the stances of France and Germany, which have been vocal in their opposition to Turkish membership", Sen said.

According to respondents, France is the most likely country to place obstacles on Turkey's path to the EU; the next most likely countries to hinder Ankara's progress are Germany, Greece and "Greek Cyprus", as the Republic of Cyprus is called.

"The Turkish government should pursue a more aggressive policy to alter this trend", Sen said. "The Turkish government should explain more about the benefits of membership, like freedom of movement or the benefits that come from [having access to EU] funds", he added.

Daily Haberturk website reported that the poll was conducted among 1,110 persons between June 20 and 30 in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, Kayseri, Gaziantep, Artvin and Trabzon.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (20.08.12), 28% of the respondents in the survey said that Turkey should further cooperate with Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) as the hope for full accession into the EU is exhausted.

(I/Ts)

[12] Turkish Deputy: "Halki's reopening 'not on the agenda'"

Bozdag visited Turks in the Iskece region [Trans. note: Xanthi] of Western Thrace during the Ramadan Bayram holiday. Bozdag first visited the mufti of Iskece, Ahmet Mete, and met with religious scholars in the region. Following the visit, during his press statement to Turkish and Greek journalists, Bozdag said the European Union had a "double standard." The Minister said that minorities in the Western Thrace region of the Greece ? which is an EU country ? were having a series of problems regarding the issue of belief, but the EU was neglecting this issue. "There are many issues that the EU should be aware of in Western Thrace, and one of them is the issue of having a mufti directorate. The EU has a double standard in its perspective on this region. If they deny this, then there must be a certain problem with their eyes," Bozdag said.

Bozdag said that the EU values are the values that Turkey also embraces, accepts and would like to adopt. "However in most EU countries there are implications which do not comply with these values," Bozdag added. "While we are trying to realize these values, it is already a duty of the EU to make an effort in its own member countries. EU values should be enacted by everyone," he noted.

[13] The Turkish defence industry exports to 60 countries

The defence industry exported its products worth 1 billion USD to nearly 60 countries in 2012.

Otokar, one of Turkey's leading design and production centres for armoured vehicles, exports tactical wheeled vehicles to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bangladesh, FYROM, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Romania, Turkmenistan, Algeria, Iraq, Britain and the United States. http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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