Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-09-07

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ertuglul Gunay met with Eroglu; He cut off his illegal contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus due to the explosion in Afyonkarahisar; Eroglu postponed his trip to Turkey as well

[02] Turkey's Culture Minister met with Bozer and Kucuk

[03] Afrika: Turkish Minister of Tourism's visit was about UBP's congress and the illegal Tympou airport tenders and not about tourism

[04] 61 illegal immigrants drown to death as boat sinks in the Aegean Sea

[05] Talat: Cyprus problem should not become dirt swept under the carpet; AEL-Fenerbahce match expresses the reality in Cyprus

[06] The occupation regime granted the "TRNC citizenship" to eleven more persons

[07] Delegation of FYROM municipality to participate in the carob festival of occupied Akanthou

[08] Reactions to finding poison in vegetables sent to the government-controlled area continue

[09] Davutoglu discussed with Ashton the issue of Syria and Syria refugees

[10] 2013 to be celebrated in China as the "Year of Turkey"

[11] Turkey plans to build its own satellite launch base for peaceful purposes

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ertuglul Gunay met with Eroglu; He cut off his illegal contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus due to the explosion in Afyonkarahisar; Eroglu postponed his trip to Turkey as well

Prior, Gunay met with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu.

Speaking during the meeting, Eroglu noted that cooperation between the two "countries" would continue.

Touching upon the Cyprus problem, the Turkish Cypriot leader criticized the Greek Cypriot side's "intransigent stance", adding that the "TRNC" continued to develop despite the "inhuman embargoes" imposed on it.

Also, Ankara Anatolia news agency (06.09.12) reported that the Dervis Eroglu, speaking to reporters during his meeting with Gunay said that thanks to Turkey's support the Turkish Cypriot tourism sector had seen a vibrant season despite "international embargoes".

Gunay, on his part, said that he closely monitored projects and developments in the "TRNC" adding that Turkey was trying to help the "TRNC" in every field especially in overcoming problems regarding the country's infrastructure. "Achievements in the TRNC, has made the tourism sector deserve the highest praise. The improvement is much better than the world average and it is even better than Turkey," Gunay said.

Meanwhile, illegal Bayrak television (06.09.12) broadcast that Eroglu has cancelled his planned visit to the Turkish province of Hatay due to the blast.

Eroglu telephoned the Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces General Nejdet Ozel and extended his condolences.

The so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk also sent a letter of condolences to the Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

[02] Turkey's Culture Minister met with Bozer and Kucuk

Bozer said in the meeting that important work has been achieved in the tourism sector between Turkey and the "TRNC".

Gunay said that Turkey wanted to be a partner of resolution in Cyprus that would contribute to world peace. "Despite injustice against the TRNC, there has been a great progress in the tourism sector", he said, adding that there has been an increase in the number of countries holding flights to "TRNC".

Kucuk said in his part that that there were brotherly relations between Turkey and the "TRNC" adding that the "TRNC" also benefited from Turkey's achievements in the areas of economy, industry and tourism.

In his part, Gunay said that stability in the "TRNC" should be continued, adding that Turkey has been working to assist the "TRNC" in all fields.

[03] Afrika: Turkish Minister of Tourism's visit was about UBP's congress and the illegal Tympou airport tenders and not about tourism

The paper publishes statements of Sami Gudenoglu, "a well known person in the tourism industry" in the occupied area of Cyprus and owner of the Zumrut Tourism", who said that the Turkish Minister did not hold any meetings with persons who works in the tourist industry and that they have no information about his contacts. "Gunay's visit was only related with the UBP congress", he stated. He also said that during the Turkish Minister's, a decision will be taken as regards the tenders for the illegal Tymbou airport.

[04] 61 illegal immigrants drown to death as boat sinks in the Aegean Sea

Among the dead were 18 women, 29 children and two babies, while 46 people were rescued alive, including two Turkish crew members - the captain and his mate, who were both detained for crimes of human-trafficking. The 15-meter fishing boat went down after hitting rocks at around 5:30 a.m. local time close to the shore near the village of Ahmetbeyli in the province of Izmir.

Many of the migrants were able to swim to the shore that was 50 meters away from where the boat went down. The toll was so high because most of the migrants, including children and babies, were locked below decks, Anatolia news agency reported.

Boat's captain, Burhan Y?lmaz, said in his testimony that he had taken the group for a "blue voyage" (a recreational cruise along the Turkish coast).

The survivors, who were Iraqi, Palestinian and Syrian citizens, were interrogated with the help of Kurdish-speaking security personnel. They said they stayed in hotels in Izmir's Basmane district for a while and then contacted human traffickers to go to the United Kingdom. The traffickers then leased the boat from Istanbul and sailed to Izmir.

Menderes District Governor Tahsin Kurtbeyoglu said, "We have determined that the boat sank after sailing at 5:20 a.m. this morning. There are occasional illegal immigrants in this region. But we did not have a tip off about this incident. The investigation is ongoing."

The Izmir-based Immigrant Solidarity Association President, Taner K?l?c, told CNNTurk that the attempts of Syrian immigrants to pass to Greek islands had increased in the past two months. The camps that were set up in Turkey's border regions in 2011 for Syrian immigrants were in good condition compared to other camps but still inadequate, K?l?c said, adding, "People are staying in those camps for one year. We can't just say the circumstances are good compared to other camps because they cannot have any education; they cannot be involved in social life."

Migrants from Asia and Africa have long sought to reach Europe by passing through Turkey, and their desperate efforts have occasionally ended in disaster. Each year, thousands try to sail to Greek islands from Turkish soil in rickety boats.

Turkey is now hosting 80,000 Syrians who have fled the civil war in their country and are staying in camps just across the border, and some countries are concerned that larger numbers of Syrians could try to reach Europe illegally.

[05] Talat: Cyprus problem should not become dirt swept under the carpet; AEL-Fenerbahce match expresses the reality in Cyprus

Talat referred also to the current regional problems which Turkey is facing and argued that Turkey is the country, which is harmed the most from the events in Syria. Talat said that Turkey should also get rid of the PKK issue, which he described as "terror". He noted that it is normal for Turkey's interest to be drawn away from the Cyprus problem within these "extremely intensive problems" and added: "However, it must not be forgotten that the Cyprus problem is a bleeding wound. This problem must not become dirt swept under the carpet".

Talat said that this dirt under the carpet will start smelling badly when years pass and expressed the belief that this is the reason why Turkey wants a solution in Cyprus. He alleged that Turkey has been offering great support to the solution in Cyprus since 2003 and that many taboos have collapsed during this period.

Talat went on and referred to two Greek Cypriot politicians: the former Foreign Minister and candidate in the 2013 presidential elections, George Lillikas and the former President of the Republic, Glafkos Clerides. He claimed that no one could have predicted that Lillikas could become such a "big racist" and alleged that President Clerides had been a "hawk" during his first term in the presidency and a "dove" in the second.

Referring to the politics in the occupied area of Cyprus, Talat argued that 2013 could become a year of early "elections" and that the problems in the National Unity Party (UBP) could be intensified.

Talat said that there is no real "government" now in the occupied area of Cyprus and that they try to implement immediately whatever officials from Turkey tell them without producing any ideas. He argued that the "government" should discuss with Turkey its economic issues and create resources. "Turkey is not our enemy", he added alleging that "no other country outside Turkey will give us financial resources".

Referring to the football game between the teams of AEL and Fenerbahce, Talat noted that many things have been said regarding the political meaning of this match and added: "These could be debated, but Fenerbahce ? AEL match expresses the most concrete reality of Cyprus. We have to dedicate this match to those who say that we are not without alternatives in the Cyprus issue. However, there is another reality. Let us continue to discuss the issue of whether Turkish Cypriots' supporting AEL could be regarded as strange. We should not forget the reality that if Cetinkaya [Translator's note: a Turkish Cypriot football team] plays a match with Fenerbahce, many Turkish Cypriots will support Fenerbahce".

Talat argued that this situation shows a crisis of identity and expressed the view that this crisis will be deepened as long as the non-solution of the Cyprus problem continues.

(I/Ts.)

[06] The occupation regime granted the "TRNC citizenship" to eleven more persons

The paper, which notes that the every time the self-styled council of ministries convey, grants the "TRNC citizenship" to at least 5-10 persons, writes that the report about the latest decision for the distribution of eleven more "citizenships" was published at the "official gazette" on August 28.

According to Yeni Duzen, the "government" of the National Unity Party (UBP) has granted the "TRNC citizenship" to 91 persons since March 2012 and adds that since 2009 the "government" granted around 500 "citizenships" to various persons.

The list of the new "TRNV citizens" is as follows:

Eser Aciman-Istanbul

NilcanKaraca-Adana

Yilmaz Balci- Findikli

Ismail Beyaz- Almanya

Ahmet Ulubay- Ciftlik

Umut Oztekin- Seyhan

Ibrahim Avci- Reyhan

[07] Delegation of FYROM municipality to participate in the carob festival of occupied Akanthou

Eroglu met with the mayor of Tarsus Municipality Burhanettin Kocaman, the Mayor of Erzurum- Aziziye municipality Fatih Cengiz and the deputy mayor of Cair municipality of FYROM, Saip Zeynel. Eroglu stated during the meeting that he is very please that occupied Akanthou "municipality" will become sister town with the Cair municipality of FYROM.

[08] Reactions to finding poison in vegetables sent to the government-controlled area continue

In a statement issued yesterday, Dr. Hudaoglu pointed out that excessive quantity of pesticides causes a great damage to health, such as cancer. He said the fact that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce has warned the self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime that some pesticides were found in vegetables is "pleasing" and noted that they were expecting sensitivity by the "government" so that these vegetables are not sold in the internal market.

Commenting on the same issue, Ozkan Yorgancioglu, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said that the "government" launched no initiative on this issue and argued that a crime is being committed against the "people" who is convicted to dying from cancer. Describing the stance of the "government" as "impassiveness", Yorgancioglu said that "prime minister" Kucuk became a play in the hands of the Greek Cypriots, who are getting ready to complain to the EU. He accused Kucuk of "knowingly preventing" the Turkish Cypriots from selling their products through the Green Line.

Moreover, Kibris reports also that the "government" of the regime continues saying nothing on the issue of finding a quantity of pesticides 300%-600% higher than it should be in the analysis of Turkish Cypriot products in the government-controlled area of Cyprus. The paper writes also that Turkish Cypriot producers attributed the results of the analysis of the Turkish Cypriot vegetables to political reasons.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Davutoglu discussed with Ashton the issue of Syria and Syria refugees

Ashton called Davutoglu to exchange views on the latest developments in Syria.

Davutoglu also briefed the high representative on the Syrian refugees.

[10] 2013 to be celebrated in China as the "Year of Turkey"

Speaking at a meeting in Ankara to introduce a documentary to be shot under the heading "The secret of traces from the past to the future", Dr. Arici said that Turkey and China resembled each other in many ways. "We need to further develop our existing relations with China", Arici stressed.

The documentary will be shot with the support of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkish Prime Ministry Promotion Fund and China's state-run TV channel CCTV and will focus on common values between the two countries.

The documentary will cost around 1.2 million Turkish liras (TL) and will be broadcast first on Turkey's national TV channel TRT.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (07.09.12) reports that the "Islamic culture and artworks in China" event, organized in Istanbul as part of the "Year of China in Turkey" activities, ended on Thursday.

The event was held at the Ali Emiri Efendi Culture Center in Fatih district of Istanbul, under the co-sponsorship of the Turkish Department of Religious Affairs and the Chinese Department of Religious Affairs Administration.

Delivering the closing remarks of the event, the Chairman of the Turkish Department of Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Gormez underlined that "when a bridge of love gets established between the Muslims of China and of Turkey, this peace and brotherhood between the two countries could become a model to the whole world".

Also speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the Chinese Islamic Society, Hilalunddin Chen Guangyan stated that the event in Istanbul had as its main theme "peace, friendship, and co-existence". "Everyone is aware of how Islam attaches importance to tolerance for different cultures and co-existence," Guangyan noted.

China has some 20 million Muslims.

[11] Turkey plans to build its own satellite launch base for peaceful purposes

The decision was made at the latest meeting of the Defense Industry Implementation Committee (SSIK) attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Chief of General Staff Necdet Ozel. Sources close to the Defense Ministry say the plan also paves the way for joint investment projects.

It has been reported that Turkey's facilities, including military, industrial and agricultural, are being watched by other countries via spy satellites. The country's security officials and senior bureaucrats of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have recently attended a meeting in the capital, Ankara, to discuss the issue. The meeting resulted in a call for related authorities to invest more in satellite technology as a counter-attack.

At the meeting, participants discussed the intelligence threats that Turkey faces due to satellite technology. They highlighted the fact that some countries are able with their satellites to count the number of people walking on Istanbul's Istiklal Street, take photographs of Turkey's military facilities and even estimate the wheat crop harvest in the country.

Another topic of the meeting was the Surveillance Satellite System Gokturk-2, the first Turkish intelligence and surveillance satellite that will be capable of detecting the movements of objects smaller than one square meter. Gokturk-2 is expected to be launched in December after a one-year delay. Since Turkey does not have the technology to launch satellites, China is going to send it to the space in exchange of $20 million. Another satellite project, called Goktuurk-1, is still underway. Constructed by Italian firm Telespazio, Gokturk-1 will have more sophisticated technology than Gokturk-2.

Countries such as the US, England, Russia, China, France and Israel use these state-of-the-art intelligence satellites, while Turkey is lagging behind.

In remarks to Today's Zaman, a high-level official said that once Gokturk-1 and Gokturk-2 satellites are launched, Turkey will be able to take pictures from space. "It is now inevitable to increase the budget allocated for satellite technologies to meet the deficit," the source adds.

After launching the satellites, Turkey will be able to sell images to other countries. The satellites will also be helpful in preventing terrorism in Turkey. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article