Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-11-01

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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] Erdogan expresses his separatist views on Cyprus in front of the German Chancellor

[02] KTOS: Erdogan forgot his country's responsibilities against the Republic of Cyprus

[03] "Cabinet" approves breakaway regime's budget for 2013

[04] Bryza: A grand bargain in which Turkey could lift its claim on Cyprus is necessary for transferring Cypriot gas to Europe via Turkey

[05] Erdogan alleges that hunger strikes in Turkey are "just a show"

[06] "10 years demanded for BDP deputies"

[07] Reference to Asil Nadir's ongoing trial at Old Baily Criminal Court

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan expresses his separatist views on Cyprus in front of the German Chancellor

"There is no country named Cyprus in the world", he alleged and described as "meaningful" the accession of Cyprus into the EU.

Erdogan went on and claimed:

"We are in south Cyprus' term presidency now and there is no meeting held between us and south Cyprus on these issues. The acceptance of south Cyprus into the EU is very meaningful. It is accepted as Cyprus, but there is no country, state named Cyprus in the world. Why there is not? Because, could an island, where a green line exists between the south and the north, be accepted as Cyprus? There is a North Cyprus and there is a South Cyprus.

We accept North Cyprus as a state. Others might not accept it. However, those who accept now south Cyprus say 'as a matter of fact we have committed a mistake by taking south Cyprus into the EU' and Mrs Merkel has also made a statement on this issue in the past.

We wished that such things never happened. Turkey's process as regards the EU is a 50 year long process. Let us bring this process to an end anymore, because no one has behaved in such a manner to any country. We have to overcome this anymore".

(I/Ts.)

[02] KTOS: Erdogan forgot his country's responsibilities against the Republic of Cyprus

"Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who forgot the international agreements signed on behalf of the Republic of Turkey and its responsibilities against the Republic of Cyprus, has exhibited his real views on the Cyprus issue with this statement", said Elcil in a written statement issued yesterday.

Elcil asked the following questions addressing to Erdogan: "?f Cyprus does not exist, what business do you have in our country? Why do you continue to carry population to a country that does not exist and to keep our island divided? Why do you play official sport games with the sport teams of a country that does not exist? Why do you give away to your supporters the lands and the public sphere of a country that does not exist? [?] And the most important, do you refer to your conventional rights and interests showing as pretext your guarantees in a country that does not exist? [?] you cannot make peace by provoking for war and by insulting the Cypriots".

(I/Ts.)

[03] "Cabinet" approves breakaway regime's budget for 2013

According to the "ministry" of finance, an increase of 9.23% is provided in the "budget" of 2013 in comparison to the "budget" of 2012. The financing item of the "budget" increased by 10.22% and reached three billion 153 million TL. Turkey's aid in this item is 447 million TL, 21.37% higher than it was last year. Turkey's credits increased by 16.25% and reached 465 million TL.

The self-styled minister of finance, Ersin Tatar said that an increase of 5% is observed in the incomes of the "budget" and argued that this shows that stability has been achieved. He noted that the budget deficit has been decreased.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Bryza: A grand bargain in which Turkey could lift its claim on Cyprus is necessary for transferring Cypriot gas to Europe via Turkey

"Transferring Greek Cypriot gas to Europe via Turkey makes sense economically yet striking a deal remains inconceivable in light of Turkey's strained relations with Greek Cyprus and Israel, according to a former U.S. diplomat.

It is economically ridiculous to run a pipeline from Cyprus to Greece via the Greek island of Crete, said former U.S. envoy to Baku and director of the International Centre for Defense Studies in Tallinn, Matthew Bryza, while discussing the newly discovered gas fields in the Mediterranean off the coast of Cyprus.

Transferring gas from Greek Cyprus to Turkey is much more economically advantageous, he said. 'It'll be a shame if politics gets in the way,' he said at a roundtable organized by Turkish Policy Quarterly. 'But politics will have to lead.' He added that Turkey's relations with Israel also make it impossible to strike a deal.

Turkey can build a pipeline to Turkish Cyprus and extend it to Greek Cyprus, Bryza said, adding that over time, gas produced in the eastern Mediterranean could be sent to Turkey.

However, to convince Greek Cyprus to put its economic future in the hands of Turkey is to ask too much of Greek Cyprus. A grand bargain, in which Turkey could lift its claim on Cyprus, is necessary, according to Bryza, but the deadlock between Turkey and Israel makes these types of projections difficult to pursue".

[05] Erdogan alleges that hunger strikes in Turkey are "just a show"

"The ongoing hunger strikes are just a show, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Oct. 31.

'There are no hunger strikes', Erdogan said. 'My minister went over there and observed them. It's a complete show. Half of them already gave up. All our health personnel are there [now] to help the rest.' 'You cannot destroy law anywhere in the world with such shows,' Erdogan said.

At the same press conference Erdogan expressed his gratitude for Germany's continued support against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

'Germany promised to increase their support for our struggle against the PKK,' Erdogan told members of the press. 'We thank them. We demand criminals be given back according to agreements signed with the EU.'

Chancellor Merkel also repeated Germany's commitment to Turkey's fight against the PKK.

Merkel then spoke about Turkey's bid for EU membership during the conference, describing the European Union as an 'honest partner'.

'The progression report has been written. There are many important points on that', Merkel said".

[06] "10 years demanded for BDP deputies"

"The Van Prosecutors' Office presented a 15-page summary of proceedings to Parliament on Oct. 31 concerning the 10 pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies who met with PKK militants in the eastern province of Hakkari.

The Office seeks to annul the deputies' parliamentary immunity and sentence them to five to 10 years in jail.

The BDP lawmakers, including co-chair Gultan Kisanak, were seen embracing and warmly chatting with PKK militants near Semdinli in Hakkari province on Aug. 17.

The summary of proceedings was prepared following a two month-long examination of the deputy chief prosecutor. The deputies' interaction with PKK militants was considered a 'meeting' in the summary.

The prosecution asked for permission to open a probe against BDP deputies Adil Kurt, Sebahat Tuncel, Nazmi Gur, Husamettin Zenderlioglu, Halil Aksoy, Ertugrul Kurkcu, Esat Canan, 0
dris Baluken and an independent deputy from Van Aysel Tugluk, on charges of  providing help to the PKK and KCK armed terror organizations'.

The government and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have already declared that they will vote to lift the immunity of the 10 deputies if a summary of proceedings is introduced to Parliament.

'The ordinary procedure run for the other summaries of proceedings will be implemented for this summary of proceeding as well', Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin has said, adding that the summary would first be sent to the Prime Minister's office and then to Parliament, in line with ordinary procedures".

[07] Reference to Asil Nadir's ongoing trial at Old Baily Criminal Court

The Court heard yesterday the testimony of businessman Hamit Cankut Bagana, who said that he had paid more than four million pounds sterling for Nadir's journey to London, his accommodation in a house with a monthly rent of 23 thousand pounds and his court expenses. He said that he knew Nadir for 20-25 years, that they were very good friends and that he helped him because he wanted him to live in the best area of London during his trial, just like he used to live during his good old days. Asked whether he got or he expected anything in return, Bagana replied that Nadir gave him "nothing else but his friendship" and added that Nadir was "the hero of his generation". Bagana said that he paid for Nadir during his trial, because Nadir's sister, Bilge Nevzat, had asked him to do so.

According to the paper, Bilge Nevzat also testified at the court yesterday and argued that Nadir had no money and that in Cyprus he lived with money given to him by his mother.

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (01.11.12) refers to Bagana's statements under the title "Confusing feeling of appreciation".

(I/Ts.) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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