Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-12-04

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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] More on Putin's visit to Turkey; The Syria crisis, the issue of Patriots and energy and trade issues were dominated Putin's agenda in Turkey

[02] Pakistani Senate Committee carried out an illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus; they met with Eroglu, Kucuk and Bozer; the delegation expressed Pakistan's full and unconditional support to the occupation regime's efforts for recognition

[03] Kucuk travels to Ankara with four self-styled ministers for signing the three-year "economic program"

[04] Illegal Turkish settlers are still a major issue for the occupied area of Cyprus

[05] USA Ambassador to Lefkosia visits CTP and TDP

[06] Number of Syrian refugees in Turkey reaches 132,920

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] More on Putin's visit to Turkey; The Syria crisis, the issue of Patriots and energy and trade issues were dominated Putin's agenda in Turkey

At a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke at length about Turkish-Russian economic cooperation before praising the Russian policies on the Palestinian conflict.

He said the Foreign Ministers of the two countries -- who had separate talks earlier in the day on Syria -- will work together "more intensively" over Syria.

Putin said both Russia and Turkey share the same goals for the future of Syria but differ on methods on how to reach these goals. "The positions of the Russian Federation and Turkey completely correspond regarding what has to be attained (in Syria), but as of yet no shared approach regarding methods of how to attain it, has been reached," Putin said.

Russian President, one of Syria's few remaining allies, said that he understood Turkish concerns about its border security after Syrian shells hit Turkish territory in recent months.

In an apparent reference to a Turkish request for deployment of NATO Patriot missiles, Putin said it was normal for any country to take measures in response to violations of its borders but warned that such a deployment could escalate fears of a wider conflict. "We share Turkey's concern about the developments on the border," said Putin. "But we are calling for restraint because increasing (military) potential will not settle the situation but create the opposite effect."

Hailing blossoming economic ties, he said the two countries aim to increase their trade volume, which stood at $32 billion last year, to $100 billion in the next few years.

Erdogan said the two countries wanted to increase their trade volume to $35 billion by the end of 2012.

Asked if Russia could offer guarantees that Syria will not use chemical weapons, he said he cannot offer any such guarantee although he did not expect Syria to attack any of its neighbors with such weapons.

He also said Russia was not an "advocate of the Syrian regime" but did not want mistakes made in the past, similar to the one in Libya, which he said had led to the killing of the US ambassador there, to be repeated in Syria.

Despite differences over Syria, Turkey and Russia have enjoyed solid business and energy ties. Turkey is a top consumer of Russian natural gas, while Russia is a major market for Turkish construction companies. Russia is also building Turkey's first nuclear power plant in a $20 billion project and Turkey is a top travel destination for Russians, with more than 3.5 million Russian tourists visiting last year.

Putin, accompanied by Russian ministers and businessmen, visited Turkey for the third meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council. He met with Prime Minister Erdogan for two-and-a-half hours before the council's meeting. The two countries signed 11 cooperation agreements following the talks.

(?)Russia and Turkey have been at loggerheads over Syria but both countries have acted carefully in order to keep their ties from being affected by the dispute.

Ankara is the main backer of the Syrian opposition seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad, while Russia insists any regime change in Syria should be decided on by the Syrians. Moscow has blocked attempts at the UN Security Council to condemn the Assad regime and continued arms trade with Syria.

Turkey says Russia has a key role in international efforts to end the 20-month-old Syrian crisis and Prime Minister Erdogan pressed Putin to revise his country's policy on Monday.

(?)

Russia is also opposed to the planned deployment of NATO Patriot missiles near Turkey's border with Syria, but Russian officials have again treaded carefully to avoid direct criticism of Turkey. Peskov said Russia is opposed to such deployment and has conveyed its position to the Turkish side.

But Peskov also said disagreements between Russia and Turkey over Syria will not jeopardize their strong economic ties. "Our bilateral ties are quite diverse, with a broad agenda and a range of specific projects both for today and for the future," Peskov was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "At the same time, there are many serious disagreements regarding international issues. They don't affect bilateral ties, but differences on regional issues are substantial."

Putin's visit, which took place under high security measures, also sparked protests. Three demonstrators, members of a group called the Circassian Rights Initiative, were detained after a protest in front of Erdogan's office in the Dolmabahce Palace against Putin's talks in Istanbul.

Protesters said in a press statement that they demand Russia apologize for the acts of "genocide and deportation" against the Circassian people.

Another group, comprising representatives from the rights group the Freedom Association (Ozgur-Der), protested Putin in front of the Russian Consulate in Istanbul, calling him "the protector of Assad, the murderer of the Caucasus."

[02] Pakistani Senate Committee carried out an illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus; they met with Eroglu, Kucuk and Bozer; the delegation expressed Pakistan's full and unconditional support to the occupation regime's efforts for recognition

The delegation was firstly met with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu.

Speaking during the meeting, Eroglu expressed his happiness Pakistani's delegation visit and pointed out that Pakistan always supported the "just cause" of the Turkish Cypriot "people".

Reminding that the Pakistani government had given a positive response to the opening of a "representation office" in Pakistan during his term in office as "Prime Minister", Eroglu said that the "TRNC" was extremely pleased with the privileged status given to the "representation office" by the Pakistani government.

Pointing out that Pakistan and the "TRNC" are two "sister countries", as he described them; Eroglu said: "we are happy and proud of the friendship that exists between the two countries". He also expressed his belief that their interest towards the "country" will grow once they see that the "TRNC" is a "real state".

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Pakistan Standing Senate Foreign Relations Committee Haji Muhammed Adeel said that his country has always supported and will continue to support Turkey's position on the Cyprus problem.

He also said that Pakistan was always by the side of the Turkish Cypriots and their cause irrelevant on the United Nations "recognition" of the "TRNC".

The Members of the Pakistani delegation and the senators met also with the "speaker" of the so-called assembly, Hasan Bozer and the so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk.

Speaking during the visit, Bozer told the Pakistani delegation that the Turkish Cypriots were determined to continue their struggle to win back their "equal rights" with the Greek Cypriots.

Expressing also the Turkish Cypriot's outrage against the "unjust embargoes" imposed on the "TRNC", Bozer added: "It is a disgrace to see that embargoes are being imposed on the Cyprus Turks while Greek Cypriot Administration continues to be recognized by the world".

Touching on the Cyprus problem, Bozer alleged that despite the fact the negotiations continued, the Greek Cypriot side had no intention of reaching a solution to the Cyprus Problem. "We are therefore waiting for support in further developing relations between Muslim countries" he added.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (04.12.12) speaking during the meeting, the Chairman of the Pakistan Standing Senate Foreign Relations Committee Haji Muhammed Adeel, referred to the Cyprus problem and said that his country will continue to provide unconditional support to the Turkish side's stance on the Cyprus problem and also asked their support on the issue of Kesmir.

Referring to the Pakistani population in Cyprus, Adeel said that there are totally 4000 students in the occupation regime who also work there. Adeel further said that entrepreneurs not only from Turkey but also from the "TRNC" could make investments in his country.

Also, during the meeting with the Pakistani delegation, Irsen Kucuk said that two "countries" had a long history of good relations, one that continued to grow and develop.

Expressing his gratitude over Pakistan's efforts towards the "recognition" of the "TRNC", Kucuk said that they were ready to work together with Pakistan on economic cooperation. "We are always happy to see our Pakistani brothers with us. There is a strong bond between the two countries" he added.

Also speaking during the meeting, Adeel expressed his country's support to the "TRNC" at every platform.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (04.12.12), Adeel expressed his country's willingness to establish trade ties with the "occupation regime" and invited the so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk to visit Pakistan.

(AK)

[03] Kucuk travels to Ankara with four self-styled ministers for signing the three-year "economic program"

(I/Ts.)

[04] Illegal Turkish settlers are still a major issue for the occupied area of Cyprus

The paper reports that it is said that seventy thousand persons have returned back to Turkey during the past one year. Citing some allegations, the paper writes that the number of those who enter into the occupied area of Cyprus with a "tourist visa" has increased, and adds that it is said that many thousands persons, who worked especially in the constructions sector and in restaurants returned back to Turkey, because of the existing crisis in all sectors of the breakaway regime's economy, the decrease of property sales and the increase of the prices of food, which are higher than the ones in Turkey.

Commenting on the issue, the paper's editor-in-chief, Resat Akar refers to the statement made by the vice president of Turkey's Republican People's Party (CHP), Gursel Tekin, who during his recent visit to the occupied area of Cyprus said that his party would open offices there. Akar notes the following: "Why? Because there is a considerable population [Translator's note: of Turkish settlers] here. If there was a population of three or five thousands, there would be no need to open an office?"

Akar recalls the statements made recently on the issue of the Turkish settlers by the self-styled minister of finance, Ersin Tatar and the chairman of the association of the Turkish settlers from Alexandretta, Bertan Zaroglu. Tatar had stated that more than 20 thousand Turkish settlers from the Black Sea area live in the occupied area of Cyprus and Zaroglu noted that thirty thousand persons from their region live in the occupied area of Cyprus. "That is, the people from the Black Sea and Alexandretta exceed 50 thousands. There are some who allege that this number was around 110 thousands one year ago", writes Akar and points out that "undoubtedly those who are not registered, those who did not go to the relevant associations remained outside these numbers".

"Very well, what about the people from Mardin, Urfa, Konya, Adana, Mersin, Tarsus, Gaziantep", wonders Akar and notes that we cannot say the exact number, but there are many tens of thousands of people in the occupied area of Cyprus who have "double citizenship" and could vote not only in the "elections" in the occupied area of Cyprus but in the elections in Turkey as well. He argues that in these circumstances, it would not be a surprise if after the CHP, Turkish parties such as the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and others soon opened offices in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Referring to the same issue, Sami Ozuslu reports in his column in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (04.12.12) that the results of the population census held twelve months ago in the occupied area of Cyprus have not been announced yet, except for a general number. Under the title "I wonder how much our population is", he notes that important details such as the place of birth of the inhabitants of the occupied area of Cyprus have not been announced.

Ozuslu writes that the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Physicians Association, Dr. Erol Seherlioglu had told Kanal SIM that more than 1400 persons have visited the polyclinics in one year in order to acquire a "health certificate" for applying for the "citizenship" of the breakaway regime. He noted that there was an increase in the monthly numbers of these persons in 2012 and added that they examine more persons who want to take the "citizenship" than "normal patients".

(I/Ts.)

[05] USA Ambassador to Lefkosia visits CTP and TDP

According to a statement issued by the CTP, views were exchanged on the Cyprus problem and on internal affairs during the meeting. They also discussed what could be done in the direction of the lifting of the so-called isolations of the Turkish Cypriots. Moreover, they expressed views on how the Cyprus negotiations could be revived next year and what should be done for the natural gas resources of the island to positively influence the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Meanwhile, the USA Ambassador visited also the Social Democracy Party (TDP) and met with its chairman Mehmet Cakici. According to a statement issued by the TDP, they evaluated the Cyprus problem and other issues which are on the agenda. TDP's general secretary, Cemal Ozyigit, foreign relations secretary Sami Dayioglu and the chairman of the party's organization in Lefkosia, Memduh Ceto participated in the meeting.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Number of Syrian refugees in Turkey reaches 132,920

In a written statement released on Monday, AFAD noted that the total number of refugee camps in Turkey is 13: five tent cities in Hatay province (Alexandretta), three in Gaziantep, two in Sanl?urfa and one each in Kahramanmaras, Osmaniye and Ad?yaman. There is also a container city with the capacity to shelter 12,000 Syrians in the southern Kilis province.

The statement also said that Syrian citizens taking shelter in Turkey have been provided with lodging, food and security as well as access to social activities, education and religious, translation and telecommunication services.

Syrian refugees at the camps are provided with three meals a day, the statement added.

According to the statement, the total number of Syrians to enter Turkey since the start of the uprising has reached 187,017 -- 54,097 of whom have returned to Syria. There are 12,687 Syrian refugees living in Hatay; 23,838 in Gaziantep; 13,746 in Kilis; 52,015 in Sanl?urfa; 15,549 in Kahramanmaras; 7,914 in Osmaniye; and 6,517 in Ad?yaman. There are also 654 Syrians in Turkish hospitals: 552 as patients and 102 who are accompanying the sick. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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