Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-10-03

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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] The occupation regime continued its show: The three arrested policemen were freed, but their equipment was confiscated

[02] AKP's vision on Cyprus

[03] TPAO dismantles its platform at occupied Syngrasi village

[04] Self-styled finance minister Tatar: We left Annan Plan behind

[05] Self-styled minister will make a presentation at an International Energy Congress

[06] The breakaway regime to participate in the CEBIT Information Eurasia Works Summit

[07] "Turkish Cypriot pharmacists union" to participate in the International Pharmacists Union congress

[08] Turkish Cypriot Pediatric foundation" participated in the congress of the Union of Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies

[09] British deputy premier to visit Turkey to improve trade ties

[10] CHP submits censure motion against Davutoglu

[11] Former Turkish PM Ciller says her party targeted by military in February 28 intervention

[12] Former president Ozal's exhumed body transferred to Forensic Medicine Institute

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The occupation regime continued its show: The three arrested policemen were freed, but their equipment was confiscated

Both "courts" decided to impose a fine to the three policemen and set them free. The military "court" imposed a pecuniary punishment of 10 thousand Turkish liras (TL) to each of the policemen for violating a forbidden military zone of first degree and entering into the occupied area of Cyprus without securing the permission of the regime. Occupied Lefkosia district "court" punished two of them with a fine of six thousand TL for carrying and possessing a firearm and explosives, and decided that all of them should sign a bail of five thousand TL each that they would "preserve peace and tranquillity" for a period of two years.

The paper writes that the three policemen were freed and returned to the government-controlled area of Cyprus through the barricade near Ledra Palace hotel, after undergoing a health control by UN officials. According to the paper, the three policemen were welcome as heroes at the barricade by a group of people gathered there.

Referring to the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (03.10.12) reports that the policemen were set free but the "court" confiscated all the exhibits, including their motorcycle, their car and their guns.

Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (03.10.12) refers to the issue under the title "From the one court to the other for the Greek Cypriot policemen!"

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (03.10.12) covers the topic under the title "Turmoil for 42 thousand TL", while daily Star Kibris argues that the policemen "got off cheap".

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (03.10.12) reports that "the behaviour of the Turkish side that do not serve peace escalate new tensions on the island". Noting that the arrest of the three policemen caused indignation in the government-controlled area of the island, the paper argues that the price of this will be paid by Turkish Cypriot citizens, who cross over to the "south", as the paper calls the government-controlled are of Cyprus. The paper claims that this incident has become "a new source of concern" for the forthcoming football game between the teams of AEL Limassol and Fenerbahce in Lefkosia.

Afrika reports also that a group of Greek Cypriots closed yesterday the crossing point at Agios Dhometios area, protesting for the arrest of the three policemen and expressing support to their release. The paper writes that the crossing point remained closed for 1.5 hours and that former member of the European Parliament (EP), Marios Matsakis was among the protesters and tried to cross over to the occupied area of the island, but he was prevented by UN officials. According to the paper, the voices of those who want the barricades to be closed down are getting stronger in the government-controlled area of Cyprus. Afrika notes that one of the candidates in the presidential elections, George Lillikas has asked for the closure of the barricades for a certain period of time.

(I/Ts.)

[02] AKP's vision on Cyprus

Following is AKP's position on Cyprus, as it was posted on the site:

"Our policy on Cyprus has been clear all along. Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have done their part to bring peace and stability to the island. They have supported and voted for the UN Annan Plan in 2004. But the UN and the EU have failed to fulfil their responsibilities and abandoned Turkish Cypriots. The Greek Cypriots have been rewarded despite their rejection of the UN plan.

We call for a fair solution that will be acceptable to all sides. Our conditions for negotiations are well-known. We will continue to stand by them.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is in the process of establishing a strong political system as a sovereign state."

[03] TPAO dismantles its platform at occupied Syngrasi village

Havadis writes that the equipment is being loaded up in tracks and carried to Turkey. It is noted that the work has been completed, they drilled up to a depth of 4.250 meters at "Turkyurdu" [Translator's note: Turkish homeland] well and all data have been gathered.

According to Havadis, the necessary announcements will be made later by the breakaway regime's energy ministry and Turkey's Energy Ministry.

On the same issue Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (03.10.12) reports that some citizens, who saw the dismantling of the platform, recalled of the statements made by self-styled energy minister Sunat Atun and the Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, who had referred to "some positive findings". The citizens wondered where the positive findings are and why the works of the platform ended and the platform was dismantled, if there were really some positive findings.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Self-styled finance minister Tatar: We left Annan Plan behind

Speaking to reporters while visiting the Governor of south-eastern province of Malatya, Tatar said that they were now involved in crucial projects with the Republic of Turkey and concerned with how the breakaway regime could be further developed.

"TRNC was established by making great sacrifices. The Republic of Turkey has made highly valuable and crucial contributions to the TRNC which made it possible to reach the point where we are today," Tatar alleged.

"Turkey's contributions do continue. What is important is to help the TRNC survive in reaching an atmosphere of stability in Eastern Mediterranean," he claimed and added that they are thankful to the Turkish government for its active support towards the Turkish Cypriots.

"The Republic of Turkey's stability in recent years, their becoming a regional political and economic power have all led to a rise in our self-confidence," Tatar also alleged.

Governor Vasip Sahin, in his part, said that Cyprus as an island had a special place in the hearts of the Turkish nation. "The Turkish Cypriots are an important community with ancestral ties to the Turks. We look at Cyprus as an island of education, an island of brotherhood and an island of relaxation," Sahin stated.

"Malatya is the second home of the Turkish Cypriots. This is how we feel about the Turkish Cypriots in your presence," Sahin added.

[05] Self-styled minister will make a presentation at an International Energy Congress

The Turkish Energy Minister, Taner Yildiz will open the congress during which issues such as "Energy, Foreign Policy and Turkey's Role in the Area", "Financing Renewable Energy Investments", "Turkey's Investments in Oil and Natural Gas Inside and Outside the Country" and "Investments in the Research and Production of Oil and Natural Gas in Iraq".

(I/Ts.)

[06] The breakaway regime to participate in the CEBIT Information Eurasia Works Summit

According to the paper, the breakaway regime will participate using its "flag" in the summit.

Speaking during a press conference on the issue, the self-styled transportation and public works minister Ersan Saner stated that despite the fact that the breakaway regime is a non recognized country, is able to participate in a summit as a partner country. "This is very important", he stated.

In addition, reporting on the same issue, Turkish midweek Cyprus Today (03.10.12) writes that CEBIT works with 20 partner countries to put in its annual fair which attracts more than 150 thousand visitors. "With more than 1000 firms from across the globe, the fair is issued by many to make vital contacts or promote their products and services" writes the paper.

[07] "Turkish Cypriot pharmacists union" to participate in the International Pharmacists Union congress

According to the paper, the "Turkish Cypriot pharmacists union" has been a member of the International Pharmacists Union since 1986.

[08] Turkish Cypriot Paediatric foundation" participated in the congress of the Union of Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean Paediatric Societies

The meeting took place in Beirut between 27-29 of September.

[09] British deputy premier to visit Turkey to improve trade ties

"He will today announce a number of lucrative deals for British businesses, including new jobs in Cardiff, as he begins a trade and diplomatic visit to Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey," the statement said.

The statement said the deputy prime minister would be joined by British Business Minister Michael Fallon and a business delegation of 18 CEOs and senior executives from companies including Arup, Mott McDonald, AECOM, Lloyds of London and Cella Energy.

"Together they will discuss possible new deals and business ventures with their Turkish counterparts potentially worth up to half a billion pounds," the statement said.

Clegg will also hold a series of high level bilateral meetings with Turkish leaders including President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, the statement added.

[10] CHP submits censure motion against Davutoglu

According to the Anatolia news agency, in the preamble of the censure motion, it was noted that a delegation of CHP members and deputies, after receiving permission on Aug. 25 from the Prime Ministry's Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) to visit the camp sites where Syrians were temporarily being accommodated in the Hatay province, wanted to visit one of the camps but was denied entry.

Attention was also drawn to the fact that some claims which were formerly made about Turkish foreign policy turned out to be true. It was claimed that the particular camp served as the headquarters of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), which aims to overthrow the Syrian regime and were carrying out, to this end, massacres from time to time. The commanders of the FSA claimed to have been accommodated in this camp.

"The names of the commanders of the FSA are enumerated in publications and some foreign journalists, by infiltrating the camp, managed to conduct interviews with the commanders of the FSA. That even deputies are denied entry into a camp where former Syrian army officers - who are now civilians were said to be living with their families, proves that the claims are correct," it was noted in the motion.

The CHP also maintained that the fact that foreigners in military uniform were freely wandering around in Hatay, that stories of these people were published in the foreign press and that the border gates between Turkey and Syria were left uncontrolled were proof enough that Turkey was clearly supporting an armed struggle in Syria. Liberated areas formed by armed groups within Syria disrupt the integrity of the Syrian territory while at the same time putting Turkey's national integrity and security in danger, the motion claimed.

Turkey's foreign policy towards Armenia was another reason for the submission of the censure motion against Davutoglu. Some protocols had been signed with Armenia but on account of insufficient preliminary work, troubles in Turkey's relations with Azerbaijan erupted and the protocols did not go into effect, it was noted in the motion.

The last item in the censure motion was the disruption of relations with Israel. Following the killing of nine Turkish citizens by Israeli soldiers on the Mavi Marmara aid flotilla, diplomatic and military relations with Israel have come to a standstill and Turkey has lost the capacity for communicating with all parties in the Arab-Israeli conflict, it was stated.

The CHP also claimed that Turkey, while laying down, in a loud tone, some conditions for the improvement of relations with Israel, has given in to other demands, as was in the case of an early warning radar which was set up in the province of Malatya, that would put its own national security at risk for the sake of Israel's defence needs. The risky foreign policy, seeking a sphere of influence in the Middle East while moving away from the EU, has finally come to a stage where Turkey's national security itself is under threat, it was noted in the motion.

[11] Former Turkish PM Ciller says her party targeted by military in February 28 intervention

Ankara Public Prosecutor Mustafa Bilgili earlier sent a notification to Ciller, inviting her to the Ankara Courthouse to testify in the case as a "victim."

Ciller flew to Ankara on Tuesday afternoon and gave her testimony shortly after her arrival.

Ciller told reporters that then her party, True Path Party (DYP), was the main target in the Feb. 28 process that toppled the democratically elected government in 1997. The DYP was part of the coalition government led by the conservative Welfare Party (RP) at that time.

Ciller, however, said she hadn't filed additional charges against any individuals or agencies. "Our nation was the victim of this coup," Ciller said, without further elaborating.

On the military coup, she told the prosecutor that she and then Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan had discussed possibility of dismissing the Chief of General Staff and other top military brass, commanders of forces, in that period, the news portal ntvmsnbc.com reported. Their attempt halted when Erbakan told Ciller that then President Suleyman Demirel would highly unlikely approve their move, former PM said in her testimony to the prosecutor, the same news portal added.

Ciller was expected to tell the prosecutor her recollections of the Feb. 28, 1997 unarmed military coup, which is often referred to as a "postmodern" coup. She was chairwoman of the DYP at the time.

She mainly accused the West Study Group (BCG) of engaging in illegal activities to destroy the DYP.

The BCG was formed within the TSK in order to contribute to the staging of the Feb. 28 coup. The group reportedly categorized politicians, intellectuals, soldiers and bureaucrats in accordance with their religious and ideological backgrounds before and after the coup. The actions of the BCG are reputed to be at the center of the Feb. 28 investigation.

The military overthrew a coalition government -- the Welfare Party (RP)-DYP government -- on Feb. 28, 1997, citing allegedly increasing fundamentalist activities in the country as the reason. Dozens of people have been arrested as part of the Feb. 28 investigation. Those sent to jail include Gen. Cevik Bir, who is known to have played a major role in the 1997 coup, and retired Gen. Erol Ozkasnak, who was the secretary-general of the General Staff at the time.

[12] Former president Ozal's exhumed body transferred to Forensic Medicine Institute

Ozal's body was exhumed from his mausoleum in Topkapi district of Istanbul within the scope of the investigation carried out by Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the claims about his death.

Ozal's body was exhumed after 7.5 hours of efforts.

Turgut Ozal died on April 17, 1993 in his office in Ankara of what doctors said was a heart attack. No autopsy was performed on Turgut Ozal's body then.

Samples will be taken from late President Ozal's body, where he was laid to rest, and around 50 centimetres below from where he was resting.

A comprehensive analysis will be made at the Forensic Medicine Institute. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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