Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-11-27

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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] Eroglu reiterated his position that negotiations should not be open-ended

[02] A statement by Kucuk causes tension

[03] Occupied Lefkosia municipality to receive TL 90 million aid package from Turkish Ziraat Bankas1

[04] The breakaway regime is being represented at the PACE meeting

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry participates in a fair in Iraq

[06] Turkish Cypriot "national team" participated in a wrestling tournament in Kosovo

[07] Cypriot orange juice served on flights of Turkish Airlines causes reactions; Is this the mentality that wants a solution in Cyprus?

[08] Erdogan due to Spain; statements prior to his departure

[09] Date of Putin's visit to Turkey finalized

[10] A Patriot Missile Technical team arrived in Turkey - Air defense frigates to be integrated with Patriots

[11] Erdogan says immunity of 'some' BDP deputies to be lifted

[12] Turkey-US economic partnership commission meeting to be held in Washington

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu reiterated his position that negotiations should not be open-ended

Responding to questions during a visit paid to him, Eroglu said that Downer had hinted during the meeting they had last week that the United Nations was considering on proposing a timetable as and when the talks continue after the Presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus.

Eroglu said that the Cyprus talks have been going on for over 40 years, and claimed that the negotiations could drag on for another 40 if the talks continued open ended "in spite of the Greek Cypriot's rejection of all proposals brought to the table", as he alleged.

"If Mr. Downer is sincere about introducing a time limit, then this could motivate the Greek Cypriot side to work towards a settlement at the negotiating table" he claimed.

Alleging that the Greek Cypriot side will never be willing enough for a solution if the process remains open-ended, Eroglu claimed the following: "The Greek Cypriot's willingness for a settlement will be clearer if a time limit is introduced and the embargoes are lifted".

[02] A statement by Kucuk causes tension

In statements after the meeting of the "cabinet" yesterday, Kucuk said that the employees, who are on strike as a result of pressures exerted by their trade union (BES), commit a crime which might require measures to be taken, including their being fired. Noting that 30 days passed since the decision [by the self-styled cabinet] regarding the postponement of the strike, Kucuk warned that the possibility of the workers losing their job is high and that the "municipality" should launch an investigation against the employees. He said that it is not possible for the "state" or the "municipality" to pay the employees who are on strike and added that this should be done by the trade union.

In the evening, after these statements, employees of the "municipality" gathered in front of Kucuk's office and protested throwing garbage. The "police" took extensive security measures around the building, warned the protesters twice that they were holding an activity without securing a permit and said that if they did not end the protest there would use force and make arrests. The "police" was supported by a mobile unit.

With the aim of decreasing the tension, the chairman of BES, Savas Bozat told the protesters to leave that place and gather in front of the "municipality". He said they would go to the "municipality" and stay there until morning.

Meanwhile, in a written statement Bozat noted that in order for the employees to return to their work, their salaries for October and November as well as the social security and providence fund payments should be paid until 30 November the latest. The strike of the employees started on 15 October.

The issue is covered on the front page of all Turkish Cypriot newspapers today.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Occupied Lefkosia municipality to receive TL 90 million aid package from Turkish Ziraat Bankas1

The dispute comes amid rising debts and a year-long strike by "city workers" that largely halted "public services" and led the local press to complain that the occupied part of Lefkosia is turned into a "trash city." The agreement was reached over the weekend after a meeting between Ziraat Bankas1
General Manager H?seyin Ayd1
n and the self-styled finance minister of the breakaway regime Ersin Tatar in Ankara.

The TL 90 million loan is an adjustment to a previous agreement between the bank and the occupied "Lefkosia municipality" for a TL 50 million loan. The original number would "only pay the city's outstanding debts," Tatar said before the weekend meeting. "The loan we're going to receive is our last chance," he was quoted as saying by one Turkish daily. Tatar also told members of the press on Sunday that he hoped the new package -- to be closely audited by Ziraat -- would help the breakaway regime resume "municipal services" and pay salaries that have been in arrears for the last year.

[04] The breakaway regime is being represented at the PACE meeting

National Unity Party's occupied Famagusta "MP" Ahmet Eti and the main opposition Republican Turkish Party's occupied Morfou "MP" Mehmet ?a
lar are representing the occupation regime at the 4 day meeting.

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry participates in a fair in Iraq

The Chamber has reportedly secured their participation under the name of "North Cyprus".

Mesut Barzani, leader of the Kurdish regional administration visited the fair yesterday.

According to the paper, 350 firms from 26 countries are participating in the fair.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Turkish Cypriot "national team" participated in a wrestling tournament in Kosovo

(I/Ts.)

[07] Cypriot orange juice served on flights of Turkish Airlines causes reactions; Is this the mentality that wants a solution in Cyprus?

(I/Ts.)

[08] Erdogan due to Spain; statements prior to his departure

Pointing out the importance of Spain's support towards Turkey's EU bid, Erdogan said that it is very well known that at this moment they ostracised their ties with "south Cyprus", as he called the Republic of Cyprus, and added that since we are passing to Ireland's term Presidency on 2013, they would like to make a preliminary meeting with Spain in order to discuss different steps to be taken.

(AK)

[09] Date of Putin's visit to Turkey finalized

During his visit to Turkey, Putin will hold meetings with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and will discuss, among other, the latest developments in the Middle East. Putin will also meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

[10] A Patriot Missile Technical team arrived in Turkey - Air defense frigates to be integrated with Patriots

The technical delegation would inform NATO on sites for the possible deployment of the Patriot and the number of the systems to be installed.

Replying to a question, Arinc said, "Turkey is a member of NATO and we think that these missiles needed to be installed only for defense purposes."

Answering a question on tension between Baghdad and the regional administration in the north of Iraq, he said that there were conflicts between them and 10-15 people were killed in clashes. "We consider that these problems should be solved through diplomacy not by armed clashes," he said.

Upon a question on the ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, Arinc said that the ceasefire process was a challenging one, stating that everyone knew that Turkey made great contributions to it. Turkey played a very important and constructive role during this process, he said, adding that they were pleased that bloodshed ended there.

In addition, Turkish daily Today's Zaman newspaper (26.11.12) reports that four frigates will be built as part of a project to strengthen Turkey's air-defense system and then integrated with the Patriot missiles that Turkey recently formally asked NATO to deploy on its border with Syria.

The project had been suspended until lately due to financial difficulties; however, it has now been re-launched, with a plan to build four frigates costing $4 billion in total. The frigates, in which phased-array radars will also be installed, are to be integrated with the missile defense elements Turkey requested from NATO. Images radars obtain will be conveyed to the control centers of the missile defense system. In this way, missile attacks from neighboring countries will be detected at once.

The phased-array radars to be installed on the warships are to be purchased from the US.

The Naval Forces Command has sent a top secret document -- containing information about the features and sizes of the frigates the command requests -- to the Undersecretariat for the Defense industry (SSM). Feasibility studies have already begun. The project will be presented to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan next month for his approval. The goal is to have the first warship launched by 2016.

The Naval Forces Command is requesting a warship of 6,000 tons as part of the project. A high-ranking official, speaking to Today's Zaman on the issue, has said that one of the frigates will be deployed in the Mediterranean Sea. "If a missile is fired from Iran, Syria, Iraq or Israel, the radar installed in the frigate will see that and notify the air defense system control center at once. The frigate that will be deployed in the Mediterranean Sea might carry Patriots or long-range missiles that Turkey purchased from the US, Russia, China or Europe. The aim here is to ensure safety in the sky. Being provided with such systems is of vital importance for Turkey if it wants to become a regional power."

NATO member states have agreed to supply Turkey with an advanced Patriot missile system to defend against Syrian attacks, and talks on its deployment are in the final stage, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Nov. 20. Turkey has been talking to NATO allies about how to shore up security on its 900-kilometer (560-mile) frontier with Syria after mortar rounds landed inside its territory, increasing concerns about the civil war spilling into neighboring counties.

There are currently German and American build frigates in the Turkish navy. Some of these were purchased and some have been donated to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

[11] Erdogan says immunity of 'some' BDP deputies to be lifted

Prior to his departure for Spain, Erdogan replied to questions of reporters.

Answering a question on a BDP deputy's manner against security forces, Erdogan said that they would make a decision on lifting of parliamentary immunity of some BDP deputies. After that the judiciary would do what is required on the matter, he said.

[12] Turkey-US economic partnership commission meeting to be held in Washington

A statement by the Foreign Ministry of Turkey said on Monday that the meeting would be held under the co-chairmanship of Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Ambassador Mehmet Gucuk and Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Jose Fernandez.

"Mutual development of economic, commercial and investment relations between Turkey and the United States and cooperation opportunities in third countries will be on the agenda of the meeting," the statement said.

"The 9th meeting of the Economic Partnership Commission is also expected to contribute to the future work of the Framework for Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation (FSECC) which was established in 2009 with a view to developing economic and commercial relations between Turkey and the United States," the statement added. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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