Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-09-06

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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 wants Fenerbahce to play football in the occupied area of Cyprus

[02] A delegation of Abkhazian Chamber of Commerce met with Talat

[03] Bagis and Avci continue to politicize AEL-Fenerbahce game

[04] Turkey's Cicek stated that terrorism is in reality Turkey's national issue, like Cyprus; Turkish jets "hit PKK targets"

[05] Blast at a Turkish military depot killed 25 persons in Afyonkarahisar; Turkey's energy minister spoke of an accident

[06] Five thousand persons who illegally bought estates in the occupied area are selling the houses because they did not receive title deeds

[07] Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry: Turkey's annual report for occupied Cyprus contains inadequate and false information

[08] Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce warns of poison in vegetables sent to the government-controlled area

[09] The occupation regime participate to a tourism festival in Germany

[10] Former FIFA general secretary Champagne to introduce football of the occupation regime to the world

[11] Erdogan stated that Syria has become a "terrorist state"; he commented on the USA' stance on Syria

[12] Erdogan signals end to immunity of BDP Deputies

[13] Dutch FM due in Turkey for contacts

[14] Teacher sentenced to prison for likening Erdogan to Hitler

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu wants Fenerbahce to play football in the occupied area of Cyprus

Addressing a ceremony yesterday on the occasion of the anniversary of the occupation of Limnitis area by the Turkish army, Eroglu claimed: "At least sharing with the world why no agreement is reached and what the Greek Cypriots do at the table, is a duty which the UN should undertake for peace and tranquility in Eastern Mediterranean".

Eroglu argued also that the Turkish Cypriots should get rid of what he described as "embargoes" and added that they were expecting from Yildirim Demiroren, chairman of Turkey's Football Federation, to make a new move and support them. He said that if Fenerbahce football team goes to the occupied area of Cyprus and plays there, this would be "very meaningful" from the point of view of drawing the attention of the world to the "embargoes" allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots.

Referring to President Christofias' statement that they could watch the game between AEL and Fenerbahce at GSP stadium together with Eroglu as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, Eroglu alleged: "The Greek Cypriot leader invites me to the match as 'citizen' Dervis Eroglu. How many times I have said it to him? I am saying it today as well: I am President of the TRNC. I represent the democratic will of the sovereign Turkish Cypriot people".

In his speech Eroglu commemorated everybody who had contributed to the occupation of Limnitis and especially referred to late Bulent Ecevit and Necmettin Erbakan, who had been Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in Turkey during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Referring to the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, Eroglu said that Fenerbahce football club cannot play even a friendly game with any Turkish Cypriot team, but "it will be forced to play a game with a team of the Greek Cypriot side which is not recognized by Turkey and treat Turkey as an enemy in every field".

(I/Ts.)

[02] A delegation of Abkhazian Chamber of Commerce met with Talat

Speaking during the meeting, Talat stated that the status of Abkhazia and of the breakaway regime is similar and that there is a common destiny between them.

On his part, the President of the Abkhazian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gennadi Gagulya stated that the basis for the economic and social relations between Abkhazia and the breakaway regime were put during Talat's "administration", and added that the visit of Talat's wife Oya to Abkhazian during that period, contributed positively in the relations between them.

[03] Bagis and Avci continue to politicize AEL-Fenerbahce game

In statements to Hurriyet, Bagis argued that at the first stage the idea of eating fish at Bosporus had been put forward by President Christofias and wondered why recalling this now was unusual and not serious.

Bagis alleged that the Greek Cypriot side always plays football outside the rules in the Cyprus problem and added: "The Greek Cypriot side has tried to do something sometimes by playing with 12-13 persons instead of 11, by playing with a narrower goalpost, by playing with the hands. We want a legitimate, in line with the rules and smooth football-diplomacy and solution on the Cyprus issue. The period during which the Greek Cypriot side has been scoring goals from an offsite position in the Cyprus issue, has remained in the past".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (06.09.12) reports that Turgay Avci, leader of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) has also referred to AEL-Fenerbahce football game and reacted to the statements made by Greek Cypriot officials, especially President Christofias and Foreign Minister Marcoullis. Under the title "It will be turned into a nightmare", the paper writes that in a written statement issued yesterday, Avci alleged that the Greek Cypriot officials "live in a dream world". He argued that this is proved by the invitation to Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu to watch the game as citizen of the Republic of Cyprus. He said that as ORP they advice President Christofias "to wake up from this dream, see the realities and stop hoping for the impossible".

Avci described as "shabby" statements made by Foreign Minister Marcoullis, who as he said, sees Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bagis as her interlocutor, and added that Minister Marcoullis makes statements which insult the Turkish Cypriots. He alleged that Bagis' statement that he is not interlocutor of Minister Marcoullis and that her interlocutor is the self-styled foreign minister of the regime was correct. He concluded by congratulating Bagis for this statement.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkey's Cicek stated that terrorism is in reality Turkey's national issue, like Cyprus; Turkish jets "hit PKK targets"

"This country came across with all varieties of terror, [thus] we have to know terror inside and out. Terror is a problem of the state. The Turkish Republic State has a terror problem. This should be well understood. It is not a government matter," Cicek was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency, while underlining that he was not saying this "to find an excuse for any government."

Cicek's remarks came as he delivered a speech at an award ceremony late on September 4 in the central Anatolian province of Sivas. Terror has never fallen from the agenda of the country Cicek said, while recalling that terror activities launched by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are almost three-decades old. The activities of the PKK and other forms of "terrorist attacks" should be taken into consideration, Cicek said, adding that all governments ? either coalition or signal party, either leftist or rightist or centrist ? have had to deal with terrorist activities. "Terror is a national issue. Exactly like the Cyprus issue," Cicek stated.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (06.09.12) reports that a security source has said that Turkish fighter planes and attack helicopters pounded suspected PKK militant targets near the south-eastern border with Syria and Iraq, late on Wednesday in a major air-and-ground operation.

"Around 2,000 soldiers are involved in the operation. Cobra helicopters ... are bombing targets on the Kato Mountain," a security source told Reuters, referring to a location in Turkey's south-eastern Sirnak province.

"Around 10 F-16 fighter planes had been sent to support the operation", the source said.

The assault comes days after fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) killed 10 members of the security services in simultaneous attacks on four state and security installations in the province.

More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict between the PKK and Turkish forces since the militants launched their attacks 28 years ago with the aim of carving out a separate state in the mainly Kurdish southeast.

(?)

[05] Blast at a Turkish military depot killed 25 persons in Afyonkarahisar; Turkey's energy minister spoke of an accident

Officials have sent the soldiers' remains to Ankara for DNA testing due to the fact that the force of the explosions made an initial identification of the bodies, impossible.

The blast took place in at 9:15 p.m., setting the facility ablaze, reports said, adding that many ambulances and fire-fighters were sent to the scene.

"Blasts erupted in a grenade depot in the area belonging to the Turkish Air Forces," Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burhanettin Coban said.

Witnesses and officials said dozens of ambulances, fire-fighters and search and rescue teams were dispatched to the area of the explosion but were prevented from accessing much of the area due to safety fears.

Meanwhile, according to Ankara Anatolia news agency (06.09.12) the Turkish Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu said the explosion was an accident.

"I am satisfied that it is completely an accident. It has nothing to do with terrorism or sabotage from outside," Eroglu said.

The General Staff said earlier that the cause of the incident was not immediately known.

[06] Five thousand persons who illegally bought estates in the occupied area are selling the houses because they did not receive title deeds

According to the paper, among them are many British who are selling the houses and they are getting away. The paper who notes that the breakaway regime is described as "a dangerous region" for persuading of estate in some internet sites, writes that among the "victims" are many Turkish Cypriots who live abroad.

The paper further writes that foreigners are leaving the occupation regime not only due to the problems exist regarding the title deeds, but also because the decisions taken on the issue by the "state" are postponed and because of the bureaucracy. The paper also writes that more than two thousand foreigners are facing financial issues and problems with the building contractors.

[07] Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry: Turkey's annual report for occupied Cyprus contains inadequate and false information

According to TCCI, the report contains inadequate and false information. The Chamber stated that the occupation regime must gather its own information and issue its own annual report.

[08] Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce warns of poison in vegetables sent to the government-controlled area

In statements to Kibris, Gunay Cerkez, chairman of the Chamber, said that he informed Irsen Kucuk on the issue with a letter sent on 16 August, noting that this situation constitutes serious danger to human health. He said that he received no reply from Kucuk until now.

(I/Ts.)

[09] The occupation regime participate to a tourism festival in Germany

According to the information released by the so-called ministry of tourism, environment and culture, the "TRNC" was represented at the fair for the first time with its own stand.

A variety of photos displaying the "TRNC tourism products", and promotional brochures were on show and the "north Cyprus tourist maps" were handed out during the fair.

Films promoting the tourism locations in the "TRNC" were also screened during the event.

[10] Former FIFA general secretary Champagne to introduce football of the occupation regime to the world

According to the paper Champagne, whose duties in FIFA included responsibilities for international affairs, will start initiatives in order to introduce KTFF to the international arena and to safeguard that opportunities for foreign contacts will be created.

Speaking to the paper, representative of KTFF Orcun Kamali stated that Champagne has started taking initiatives even before September 1. He also said that he will visit the occupation regime soon and will discuss with the so-called football federation about the steps taken and the road that will be followed.

[11] Erdogan stated that Syria has become a "terrorist state"; he commented on the USA' stance on Syria

Speaking during a meeting of his ruling AKP party in Ankara, he said that the regime in Syria has become a terrorist state. Erdogan added also the following: "Syria is not an ordinary country to us. We do not have the luxury to remain indifferent to what's happening there".

Erdogan once again accused Damascus of committing "mass murders" against its own people and described Assad as "up to his neck in blood"."He also chided the international community for remaining indifferent to the murder of Muslims by the Syrian regime", Erdogan added.

Regardless of their ethnic origin or race, said Erdogan, Turkey will continue to embrace refugees fleeing the unrest just as it welcomed half a million Iraqi Kurds who fled after the 1991 Gulf War.

(?)

Meanwhile, according to Turkish daily Today's Zaman (05.09.12), Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the United States is "lacking initiative" on the Syrian crisis, likely due to the upcoming US elections.

In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in Istanbul, Erdogan commented on the 18-month crisis in Syria as well as Iran's suspected nuclear program. "Right now, there are certain things being expected from the United States. The United States has not yet catered to those expectations," Erdogan said in response to a question on whether he was surprised from the fact that the United States is not offering anything but "nonlethal support" to the Syrian opposition.

"Maybe it's because of the elections -- maybe it's because of the pre-election situation in the States. This might be the root cause of the lack of initiative. Nobody has spoken to us about their reasons, and they are not obliged to state anything. We are very thankful and pleased they have stated that they're against this regime," he said through a translator.

[12] Erdogan signals end to immunity of BDP Deputies

"If they [the BDP lawmakers] are looking for a more comfortable place, I will give them an address: They can go to Kandil [Mountain, where the PKK is based]. But if they want to work within this Parliament, they must act within the framework of the Constitution and the law. Otherwise, we've already told the judiciary what is necessary; the judiciary is doing what is necessary. We will also do what is necessary in Parliament," Erdogan said, as part of a lengthy speech delivered at an extended group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) at the party's headquarters.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has suggested limiting the immunity of some BDP lawmakers who were photographed hugging PKK members while coming from a party meeting near Semdinli last month.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said on September 3 that MHP's proposal could create legal loop holes. "[If adopted], MHP's proposal for limiting the immunity regarding terror crimes, directly releases the deputies currently under arrest", Bozdag elaborated.

Erdogan also slammed BDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, who had earlier said the PKK controls an approximately 400 kilometre-square region in south-eastern Anatolia, saying that the BDP Deputies are on a par with terrorists. Describing Demirtas as "co-chair of an extension of the divisive terrorist organization," Erdogan said: "If he was not barefaced, he would go to Kandil Mountain. You're not a representative of this nation; how could you have taken oath in this Parliament?"

Erdogan also accused the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) of supporting terrorism. "The opposition parties have assisted terrorism, either on purpose or inadvertently. Some opposition parties act with the mentality that 'my enemy's enemy is my friend.'" Erdogan said.

(?)

[13] Dutch FM due in Turkey for contacts

According to a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, Uri Rosenthal, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, will pay a visit to Turkey on September 6-7 upon an invitation of his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.

As part of the visit, Rosenthal is scheduled to visit a shelter where the Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey currently stay and hold talks with Davutoglu in Istanbul.

During the talks, regional and international issues and bilateral relations between Turkey and Netherlands will be discussed.

"It is expected that the visit of Mr. Rosenthal will sustain the momentum achieved by reciprocal high level visits in 2012, at a time of celebrations on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, will further deepen the already existing deep-rooted friendship and cooperation between our countries and constitute an opportunity for a detailed exchange of views between Turkey and the Netherlands on current regional and international issues," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

[14] Teacher sentenced to prison for likening Erdogan to Hitler

The court found Oktay Zaif, who allegedly showed footage of speeches by Hitler and Erdogan during class hours, guilty of "politically aiming to distance military students from Prime Minister Erdogan and his party."

The court further stated that the "political aim" behind the move was "constant."

Zaif, however, claimed he was unaware of the content of the video, and turned it off when he heard the Prime Minister's voice. "I downloaded the video from the Internet because it was related to the World War II," Zaif said, adding: "I discovered the content on the Prime Minister after it began playing. I turned it off then."

The sentence, originally set at one year and three months, was reduced to one year and 15 days when the suspect showed remorse in the courtroom, Anatolia news agency reported. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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