Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-09-27

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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] Interview by Eroglu to Reuters; Eroglu: "I will submit a new gas exploration plan to Ban"

[02] Kucuk to participate in AKP's congress and meet with Erdogan; He said that Turkey carried out 90% of overall investments in the breakaway regime

[03] Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Atalay is paying an illegal visit in the breakaway regime

[04] Atun called on the Republic of Cyprus to abolish all the trade boarders in the island and cooperate on the mutual exchange of goods and services

[05] The "Turkish Cypriot chamber of Industry" signed a cooperation protocol with the Chamber of Trade of Kirkuk; the visiting chamber members met Bozer and Kucuk

[06] Two persons were arrested on the case of the fake documents signed by Kucuk

[07] The "national team of parachute" to participate to a championship in Kazakhstan

[08] Davutoglu discussed with Clinton ways to strengthen Syrian opposition

[09] Member of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee Duff: Turkey should be strategic partner, not member

[10] Turkey to team up with Brazil, Sweden in anti-defamation bid

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Interview by Eroglu to Reuters; Eroglu: "I will submit a new gas exploration plan to Ban"

According to the paper, Eroglu said that during his meeting with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday, September 29, he would present to the UN Secretary-General a new plan for gas explorations in the waters surrounding Cyprus.

"I am planning to present a plan to the Secretary-General, a proposal, a new one on the gas exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves," Eroglu said, however, he did not expand on the details of the plan.

Referring to the drillings which are taking place in occupied Syngrasi by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), Eroglu said that TPAO is also expected to start drilling offshore to the sea within the next 5-6 months.

Reminding of the fact that he warned the "leader" of the Greek Cypriot administration", as he called President Demetris Christofias, in the past, that "if you start your drilling activities, we will engage in our own drilling activities in the waters around Cyprus", Eroglu alleged that his intention to bring a gas exploration plan to Ban, is aimed at reviving negotiations.

According to the news report, Eroglu has proposed in the past, the using of the revenues (whatever is earned from any gas or oil) to finance the solution. "Under the Secretary-General's direction, there should be an escrow fund for collecting this revenue so that it could be used for financing the solution," Eroglu said.

(AK)

[02] Kucuk to participate in AKP's congress and meet with Erdogan; He said that Turkey carried out 90% of overall investments in the breakaway regime

According to Kucuk, the Turkish Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan sent him a written invitation and also called him personally to invite him in the convention. Kucuk will hold a separate meeting with Erdogan in the framework of the congress.

In addition, Kucuk made statements on the two-year economic program for 2013-2015 prepared by Turkey for the breakaway regime and stated that "90% of overall investments in the TRNC are carried out by Turkey".

He also stated that improvement in Turkey's economy had positive impacts on the "economy of the breakaway regime" and added that the new investment program would be given its final shape after consultations with Turkey, which he said carried out.

He also alleged that "Turkish Cypriot economy" has been growing since 2010, and that the "Turkish Cypriot state planning board" estimated a 3% growth rate for 2012. He also alleged that the austerity program adopted by his "government" begun yielding results with an increase of 3-4%in budgetary revenues which reached over 2 billion Turkish liras.

Kucuk said the economic program also included more investments in infrastructure, adding that the prospective Turkish supply of water and electricity in March 2014 promised to make major contributions to the "Turkish Cypriot economy".

Referring to the investment that will take place in illegal Tympou airport, he stated that this is one of the projects followed, aim to make the breakaway regime, a favourable destination.

[03] Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Atalay is paying an illegal visit in the breakaway regime

He will also present the first lesson of the year to the illegal University.

In addition, Atalay will hold meetings today with the self-styled speaker of the "assembly" hasan Bozer and the "prime minister" Irsen Kucuk.

He will depart from the breakaway regime today.

[04] Atun called on the Republic of Cyprus to abolish all the trade boarders in the island and cooperate on the mutual exchange of goods and services

In his speech at the summit, so-called minister Atun reiterated his known proposal and made a calling to the "Greek Cypriot administration", as he called the Republic of Cyprus, which is in a difficult economic situation, to lift all the trade boarders in the island and the proposal for a mutual exchange of goods and services to take place between the two sides in the island, regardless of where the products are produced.

"In case that this will take place, then the economy of south Cyprus could be benefited with 4-5 billion Euro", Atun said.

He went on and stated that Turkey could become a bridge after the abolition of the trade boarders.

Referring to the so-called embargoes, Atun pointed out that "motherland Turkey", as he called Turkey, with its economic and political power, has always supported the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot to achieve the lifting of the 38 years "embargoes".

(AK)

[05] The "Turkish Cypriot chamber of Industry" signed a cooperation protocol with the Chamber of Trade of Kirkuk; the visiting chamber members met Bozer and Kucuk

The cooperation protocol which was signed by the chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot chamber of industry", Ali Cirali and the chairman of the Chamber of Trade of Kirkuk, Sabahaldain Al-Salihi envisages the development of the trade cooperation possibilities between the occupation regime and Kirkuk of Northern Iraq. The protocol envisages further the development of ties between Kirkuk and the occupation regime with the mutual exchange of visits to "universities and hospitals", the cooperation between the businessmen of the two "countries" and other.

Meanwhile, in his statements, Ali Cirali said that during the recent years a great progress has been achieved on the trade ties between the two "countries". He also said that the Kirkuk Trade Chamber has also invited them to visit Iraq. C?ral? said that the

"TRNC" exported poultry, citrus and nuts to Northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, according to illegal Bayrak television (26.09.12) the board members of the Kirkuk Chamber of Commerce met also yesterday with the "speaker" of the "assembly" Hasan Bozer and "prime minister" Irsen Kucuk.

Making a short statement during the meeting, Kucuk said for his part that the "TRNC's developing industry" needed cooperation with other countries. He said that the "government" will continue to support trade with Northern Iraq.

Also speaking during the meeting, Bozer said that Turkish Cypriots and people of Northern Iraq will first meet in social and cultural fields and then in commerce.

Pointing out that the "TRNC" has been importing products from Europe but it is not able to export, Bozer said that the "TRNC" and Northern Iraq should join forces in various sectors, especially in politics and commerce.

He also expressed the belief that the cooperation protocol will contribute to the relations between the "Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry" and the Kirkuk Chamber of Commerce.

Also speaking, the President of the Kirkuk Chamber of Commerce Sabahaldin Al-Salihi said that the aim of their visit was to receive information and hold on-the-spot inspections on prospects for conducting trade with the "TRNC". He also expressed the hope for the improvement of relations between the two "countries".

(AK)

[06] Two persons were arrested on the case of the fake documents signed by Kucuk

The papers which had Kucuk's signature were addressed to various UBP members asking for their support for the forthcoming UBP leadership congress, in exchange of various benefits.

The two men admitted that they are responsible for the crime accused and were held under three-day arrest. They were expected to be brought in front of a "court" today.

Afrika (27.09.12) reporting on the issue writes that this is a great success for the paper and publishes statements of Kucuk who expressed his sorrow for the issue since they two men, who appear to commit the crime, are his friends.

[07] The "national team of parachute" to participate to a championship in Kazakhstan

According to the paper, teams from Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Azerbaijan and Turkey will also participate.

(Translator's note: The paper does not give any details on the date of the championship).

(AK)

[08] Davutoglu discussed with Clinton ways to strengthen Syrian opposition

Diplomatic officials said that Davutoglu and Clinton took up Syria, an anti-Islam movie insulting Holy Prophet Muhammad, NATO, Iraq and Turkish-Israeli relations.

Foreign Minister Davutoglu informed Clinton on the situation of Syrians who fled clashes in their country and who were staying in Turkey.

Davutoglu and Clinton agreed that the international community should be more active on the matter, diplomatic officials said.

They also underlined the importance of meetings held by joint working group between Turkey and the United States and reiterated that Assad regime must end its "merciless" campaign against its people.

Clinton reiterated views of the United States regarding normalization of Turkish-Israeli relations. Davutoglu said Turkey's expectations the issue were already known.

In regard to anti-Islam movie, US secretary of state thanked Davutoglu for the government's statements regarding attacks on US diplomatic missions in the region, saying that Turkey has assumed a clear stance on it from the very beginning.

Davutoglu said that Turkey would conduct some works on the matter.

[09] Member of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee Duff: Turkey should be strategic partner, not member

Duff was delivering a speech at a fringe meeting organized by the Liberal Democrat Friends of Turkey at the annual conference of the Liberal Democrats in Brighton (UK), the smaller partner in the current UK coalition government, around the theme of "How Europe and Turkey can contribute to the transformation of the Middle East and North Africa region."

Duff said, accepting Turkey as a full member of Europe's supranational body may be impossible at present, and that granting Turkey partnership status would be more suitable, adding that this should be more thoroughly discussed as an option in Turkey.

Duff began his address by remarking that "Turkey has been going through tough times in the last 12 months," which, he said, had forced Turkey to give up on the resolution of its Kurdish and Cyprus problem He also mentioned his last trip to Syria, during which he saw Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) flags in many places, an indication of Syrian and Iranian efforts to spur "terrorism" to the detriment of Turkey's internal peace. Therefore, the Liberal politician concluded, there is currently nothing positive to be said about Turkey, which he believes makes it more sensible to offer partnership status to the country rather than full membership.

Duff, who used to be seen as one of the most supportive members of the European Parliament for Turkey's membership to the EU, insisted that it would be more appropriate to give the strategic partner Turkey a 2nd class membership, instead of scrapping membership entirely. This option was put forward by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy as a tool to impede the EU negotiation process with Turkey. Turkey has categorically rejected any offer that would contradict the premises laid out in the 1963 Ankara Agreement that kicked off the EU's accession talks with Turkey.

Duff also shared his thoughts on the Ergenekon trial, which includes among the accused former and current army officers, politicians, academicians and journalists on charges of establishing a shady organization to seek to topple the elected government through anarchy, and the recent court verdict against the plotters of the Sledgehammer coup plan back in 2003. Duff said he thought the sentences were not justified and that innocent people with anti-Islamic backgrounds were being punished. Judges handed down sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment for 325 of the 365 suspects in Sledgehammer, concluding the trial, which began in 2010. The court also handed down 20-year prison sentences to three retired generals who were key suspects in the case.

Also present at the panel discussion, which was moderated by the President of the Liberal Democratic Friends of Turkey Dr. Turhan Ozen, were the Turkish Ambassador to the United Kingdom Unal Cevikoz and European Council of the Middle East and North Africa Relations Director Daniel Levy.

In response to Duff's statement on Turkey-EU relations, Ambassador Cevikoz commented that as a country that had signed the Ankara Agreement towards full membership, anything less than the eventual prospect of membership would not be considered by Turkey. Having developed a very active foreign policy, particularly after 2008, instability and sudden developments in the region have brought difficulties to Turkey, but despite the hardships Turkey has carried on its active and positive role regarding the transformation of the region, Cevikoz added.

[10] Turkey to team up with Brazil, Sweden in anti-defamation bid

Touching upon an anti-Islam film called the "Innocence of Muslims," "which insults Prophet Muhammad" Davutoglu said that such an initiative was launched in order to prevent further assaults against sacred values.

Speaking to the Turkish press on Wednesday in New York, the foreign minister underlined that in the presence of the UN, all three countries have started working on the documents for the initiative. Davutoglu said that the three countries will use their influence to raise the issue of insulting sacred values on the sidelines of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) meeting.

Davutoglu added that all three countries would also work on increasing security for diplomats in order to take more precautions against the terrorist threats faced by them.

Davutoglu, who had a number of private talks with his international counterparts within the scope of the UN meeting, met with his Swedish and Brazilian counterparts, Carl Bildt and Antonio de Aguiar Patriota respectively, in a tripartite summit on Monday. The importance of advancing relations between the countries was discussed during the meeting.

According to diplomatic sources, during Davutoglu's meetings, the most important agenda topic was the Syrian issue. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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