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

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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 briefed the "People's council" on the Cyprus problem

[02] Ozgurgun: "Recognize us and we will help you"

[03] Cakici: "Turkish businessmen and artists line up for the TRNC citizenship"

[04] Member of AKP's central executive committee describes Cyprus people's economic problems as "justice from God"

[05] Self-styled member of Lefkosia "municipality council" said that the population of the breakaway regime must be increased

[06] BKP accuses the AKP of changing the demographic structure of the Turkish Cypriots

[07] The crisis in the UBP is growing; Kucuk threatens with early "elections"

[08] A journalist was threated to be put under arrest upon a photograph of the self-styled Turkish ambassador of Turkey

[09] The UN Secretary-General Ban carried out contacts in Turkey; the Cyprus problem among the matters being discussed

[10] 80 more people were detained as part of anti-KCK operation; Demirtas accuses the ruling AKP government

[11] Budget debates kicks off today in the TBMM

[12] Worries by Ozal's son that the deep state of Turkey may cover up poison facts on his father's death

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu briefed the "People's council" on the Cyprus problem

The meeting took place at the "court of auditor's building" this morning (on Saturday).

Speaking during the meeting, Eroglu said they are dwelling upon a scheduled give and take process because he is in favour of a progress and a conclusion in the negotiations process.

Expressing the need for the United Nations to urge the "Greek Cypriot Administration" as he called the Republic of Cyprus to engage in the give and take process, Eroglu said that it will become clear whether there will be a progress or not after the Presidential elections in "south Cyprus" as he called the Republic of Cyprus.

Stating that it is necessary to reach a compromise in main issues despite difference of opinion on some domestic issues, he said that the Turkish Cypriot side's hand will be more powerful at the negotiations table if they are strong on domestic issues.

During the meeting, Eroglu exchanged also views with participants and answered their questions on the Cyprus Problem and the negotiations process.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (10.12.12), speaking during the meeting with HAK, Eroglu referred to the elections which are to take place in February in the Republic of Cyprus and said that what is important is not the person who is to be elected but the policy to be implemented.

Stating that the open-ended talks which are continuing for 44 years did not reach to a result, Eroglu said that in order for the talks to reach a result, it is essential for a timetable to be set up, to pass to substantive talks and at the end of this talks the guarantor powers to participate to the process (?).

Saying that Mr. Anastasiades's statements in the past were showing that he was positive on the issue of a quarter or a quintet meeting to take place on the Cyprus problem, Eroglu expressed hopes that in case he would be elected he would not chance his stance towards this issue.

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(AK)

[02] Ozgurgun: "Recognize us and we will help you"

Ozgurgun blamed "Greek Cypriot 'fanaticism" for the country's financial catastrophe.

"They continuously ignored the benefits of reaching agreements between the two parts of the island," Ozgurgun alleged.

[03] Cakici: "Turkish businessmen and artists line up for the TRNC citizenship"

Cakici, said that there are businessmen who despite never lived in the breakaway regime, were granted the "TRNC citizenship" and added that new request for granting "citizenships" are conveyed to politicians. He also said that in case he will come to "power", he will cancel the all the "citizenships" which were given illegitimated. He also commented on the "citizenships" given to the famous actors Polat Alemdar and Necati Sasmaz and stated that he would even take the "TRNC citizenship" from them, if he will come to "power".

[04] Member of AKP's central executive committee describes Cyprus people's economic problems as "justice from God"

In an interview with Haberdar, Ermis was asked to comment on the fact that Cyprus is holding the EU term presidency but it also faces economic problems. She replied: "As it is known, Christofias, who has said that they had been searching for around 17 billion Euros that are needed in order for them to get out of the crisis but could not find them, noted that they have been forced to apply to the European Union's support mechanism and agreed with Troika on the issue of taking a loan of 11.5 billion Euros. When it is considered that the size of south Cyprus' economy is 17.5 billion dollars, it is seen how bad the situation of the country is. EU term presidency is a kind of God's justice for the south Cyprus administration, which cannot administrate its economy and says it is on the verge of bankruptcy".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Self-styled member of Lefkosia "municipality council" said that the population of the breakaway regime must be increased

Erukcu, who was speaking to Yeni Duzen, said that the economic crisis is related to the number of the population and said that it must be increase following a planned and deliberative way. He said that the breakaway regime covers an area of 3455 square km and that 300 thousand persons live in it; that is 87 persons in every square km while in Istanbul 2500 persons live in every square km. "Economy works this way", he stated.

[06] BKP accuses the AKP of changing the demographic structure of the Turkish Cypriots

In a written statement issued yesterday, Korkmazhan accused the "government" and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) of systematically transferring population from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus and of changing the demographic structure of the Turkish Cypriots.

Criticizing the economic package, Korkmazhan said: "BKP will continue opposing to this annihilation policy, defending our organizations which are property of our community and struggle for communal existence and an early solution".

(I/Ts.)

[07] The crisis in the UBP is growing; Kucuk threatens with early "elections"

Self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk reportedly got very angry and called all the "ministers" and the "mayors' of the party for an extraordinary meeting, which decided for the executive committee and the council of the party to meet on Saturday.

According to the paper, Kucuk seemed very angry and for the first time referred to the possibility of holding early "elections". "Not participating in the works of the assembly for thin excuses cannot be accepted. Until Monday we will discuss every kind of possibilities at our organs, including the early elections", he said.

The paper recalls that the so-called court of appeal will examine on 20 December Irsen Kucuk's appeal against the "court" order providing for suspending Kucuk's authorities as chairman of the UBP, as a result of Kasif's appeal after the congress of the party on 21 October.

Meanwhile, Halkin Sesi (09.12.12) reported that, instead of a meeting of the executive committee and the council of the party, various meetings had been held all day long on Saturday at Kucuk's office. Kucuk held meetings with members of the council of the party, chairmen of local organizations and "mayors", who have reportedly suggested to him not to take a decision for holding early "elections". According to the paper, the members of the party are not positive to the possibility of holding early "elections".

Finally, Halkin Sesi reports today (10.12.12) that the central administrative council of the UBP met yesterday having on its agenda the issue of the "MPs" who oppose to Kucuk and the "early elections". The issue of the three "MPs" will be further discussed at the organs of the party, which reportedly still has on its agenda the issue of the early "elections" as well.

However, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (10.12.12) UBP administration and Irsen Kucuk "played the card" of the early "elections" in an effort to guarantee that the discussions of the "budget" would continue and have send the message to Kasif and his supporters that "either you participate in the discussions of the budget and no quorum problem is experienced any more, or we will go for early elections". Kasif, on the other hand, has secured the support of Dervis Eroglu and launched a movement within the party against the early "elections". It is said that after this "crisis" Kasif and his supporters will participate in the discussions of the "budget".

(I/Ts.)

[08] A journalist was threated to be put under arrest upon a photograph of the self-styled Turkish ambassador of Turkey

Sarro took a photograph of Akca who was dining together with the self-styled minister of economy Erson Tatar, some Turkish Cypriot bureaucrats and Turkish MPs. The "officials" told Sarro that she should either delete the photograph or she would be put under arrest.

Kibrisli (10.12.12) writes that the Turkish Cypriot Journalism Union condemned the incident and notes that the work of journalist must be respected. In addition, various other organizations condemned the incident and expressed their support to the journalist.

[09] The UN Secretary-General Ban carried out contacts in Turkey; the Cyprus problem among the matters being discussed

Ban arrived in Turkey on Friday, as part of his regional tour regarding the Syrian crisis. The UN chief was accepted by President Abdullah Gul on Saturday. On Friday, Ban travelled to 0
slahiye, a district of Gaziantep province, where he visited Syrian refugees. Later, Ban held a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu after a private talk with the Minister on the Syrian crisis, as well as other regional issues such as Palestine, Somalia and Cyprus.

In statements during a joint press conference with Davutoglu, Ban said: "I may say in the name of all the people who are on the side of democracy and freedom, we are fed up with this violence [in Syria] and the impotency of the international community in bringing peace to the Syrian people. Now is the time for the international community, in particular UN Security Council members, to show unity and more effort [with regard to the resolution of the Syrian crisis]," Ban said, adding that such unity will force Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to seek an agreement to end the violence.

"Since the UN has unfortunately failed to display a decisive stance on Syria, since a united position has not emerged at the UN Security Council, it has not been possible to prevent the Syrian crisis from deepening," Davutoglu said.

Gul, for his part, called on the international community to increase their efforts to help the Syrians fleeing violence in their country and said the UN should play an "effective and leading role" in efforts to end the Syrian crisis.

Ban paid also a visit to Gaziantep and met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

[10] 80 more people were detained as part of anti-KCK operation; Demirtas accuses the ruling AKP government

Sadak was among approximately 80 people detained in simultaneous operations in three south-eastern cities, police said. The operations were ordered by the Diyarbakir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to take place in Batman, Mardin and Siirt. Many of the detainees are reportedly local officials from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).

The detainees were taken to local police departments for questioning. The BDP noted in a statement on Saturday that the police operations were ongoing.

BDP Deputy Gultan K1
sanak criticized the latest wave of KCK operations at a provincial meeting on Sunday, saying everyone in the three cities the operations took place in that give their support to democracy and peace are taken into custody. Referring to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, K1
sanak said one cannot win any election without winning people's hearts first. "You can decrease the number of protests in streets by exerting force, but you will make the rage in people grow further this way. People are realizing your real face with each coming day," an angry Kisanak said.

The party's chairman, Selahattin Demirtas, in the meantime, said he condemns the most recent operation against the KCK, which he says is the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) investment in the next elections. He also said, police forces, intelligence forces, AK Party administration and prosecutors will be tried for these operations one day.

The KCK investigation started in December 2009 and a large number of suspects, including several mayors from the BDP, have been detained in the case. The suspects are accused of various crimes, including membership in a terrorist organization, aiding and abetting a terrorist organization and attempting to destroy the country's unity and integrity.

The BDP says the raids are politically motivated and designed to stifle the Kurdish movement, but the prosecution and terrorism experts maintain that the KCK is a criminal organization whose purpose is to create an alternative state mechanism.

The latest raids coincide with efforts in Ankara to lift the parliamentary immunity of 10 lawmakers, nine of them from the BDP. This would pave the way to prosecute the Deputies, a move that would weaken Kurdish representation in Parliament and could fuel tension in the south-east.

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[11] Budget debates kicks off today in the TBMM

According to today's schedule, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek will first introduce the 2013 budget.

The floor will then be opened to Deputy Parliamentary group chairs of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP); main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K1
l1
cdaroglu; Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli; and Peace and Democracy Party co-chair Gulten K1
sanak.

Following these speeches, on behalf of the Government, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will deliver a speech in which he will respond to criticism by the opposition parties.

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In his speech, Erdogan is expected to focus on Turkey's economic boom, a success story that defies the commercial gloom across much of Europe.

In response, the opposition is likely to highlight the discrepancy among different segments of the society which exists despite the country's fast economic growth.

In 2011, when Turkey was the fastest growing economy in Europe, enjoying an expansion of 8.5%, the richest 20% of Turkey's 74 million population accounted for almost half the national income. The poorest 20 % had just 6%.

Turkey ranks as the third highest economy among 34 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on a scale of income inequality.

The government, led since 2002 by the AKP, defends its record. It points to the fact that the unemployment rate is down from a peak of 14 % in 2009, at the height of the global financial crisis.

Meanwhile, members of Parliament will continue work on the budget until December 20, including official holidays. Along this period of time, in a bid to raise efficiency of work by the lawmakers, visitors will not be allowed to Parliament.

[12] Worries by Ozal's son that the deep state of Turkey may cover up poison facts on his father's death

"They are trying to play down the discovery [of poison in Turgut Ozal's remains]. Who is doing this? Apparently the deep state. Even if they distort the facts, not a single man will believe that Turgut Ozal was not poisoned [to death]," Ahmet Ozal stated, speaking to reporters on Saturday in the wake of claims that a report to be prepared about his father's autopsy by the Council of Forensic Medicine (ATK) will state that poisonous substances were discovered in the late president's remains, but the discovery does not mean that he had been poisoned.

In late November, sources from the ATK said findings of forensic tests conducted on the remains of Ozal, whose death 19 years ago is now the subject of a new investigation, had detected four different types of poisonous substances in the late President's remains. The ATK has not finalized a report about its findings and a report is scheduled to be released at the end of this month.

An investigation into Ozal's suspicious death began earlier this year after a number of witnesses spoke of unusual circumstances on the day of the death of the former President, who was reported to have suffered a heart attack. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office recently issued a warrant to exhume the remains of the President for toxicological testing.

Ozal, the eighth President of the Turkish Republic, died of heart failure in April 1993 at an Ankara hospital at the age of 65 while serving in office.

Among the poisonous substances found in ?zal's remains were dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which is commonly used as an insecticide and was banned in Turkey in 1980, and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), which causes heavy damage to the liver after being absorbed by the body.

However, a report published by the Sabah daily on Saturday stated that the ATK is planning to note in its report that poisonous substances were discovered in Ozal's remains but the council did not conclude that the late President had been poisoned to death.

The report drew the ire of Ozal's family. Ahmet Ozal said some people were trying to "play down the ATK examination" on his father's remains. "I had previously said that they would try to water down the examination. And what I said is coming true now. They now say poisonous substances were found in Turgut Ozal's remains but that he had not been poisoned. I understand that the deep state is in action," he stated.

Ahmet ?zal also said that the deep state may be placing pressure on the government and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the truth to be hidden in the ATK report. "I phoned Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin to talk about the issue. He said the report has not been prepared yet. I suppose Erdogan is being dragged into a trap," he noted, and added that his father was very healthy when he underwent a check-up in the US before his death.

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