Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-02-04

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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] Eroglu to participate in the 12th OIC meeting in Cairo

[02] "Erdogan: After 50 years of waiting, Turkey looking for alternatives to EU"

[03] Cyprus problem on the agenda of Erdogan's contacts to Czech Republic Hungary and Slovakia

[04] Turkish Parliament considering bid to turn Hagia Sophia into mosque

[05] Trade union reacts to the restoration of Apostolos Andreas Monastery

[06] Ship under Hong Kong's flag carries water pipes to occupied Famagusta port

[07] Second round for UBP voting to be held on February 24

[08] Freedom and Reform officially closing down

[09] The IDSB meeting which took place in the occupied area of Cyprus come to an end

[10] Ali Osmen Safa speaks about the construction of a five-star hotel in occupied Lapythos

[11] Trade Union Platform to carry contacts in London

[12] The occupation regimes participates in a fair in London

[13] An event for promoting tourism of the breakaway regime was organized in Berlin

[14] Photo fair about Cyprus has opened in Azerbaijan

[15] International university congress to be held in occupied Cyprus in April

[16] Sixty thousand illegal Turkish settlers have reportedly left occupied Cyprus during the past two years

[17] Hurriyet Daily News and FRANCE 24 to cooperate by exchanging English-language content on their websites

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu to participate in the 12th OIC meeting in Cairo

Eroglu is travelling to Cairo tomorrow. The summit is starting on Wednesday. According to Bayrak Eroglu will also hold contacts in the sidelines of the meeting. He will return to Cyprus on February 8. He will be escorted by his special advisor Osman Ertug.

[02] "Erdogan: After 50 years of waiting, Turkey looking for alternatives to EU"

Speaking to reporters in Ankara before flying to Prague for a visit, Erdogan stated:

"I ask this question concerning the EU: Doesn't a country need to make a decision after it has been kept waiting for 50 years [for membership]?" Erdogan said, announcing that he will convey the message openly to EU leaders when he visits Brussels soon. "If you are going to do it [let Turkey join], do it, if you are not, say it openly that you are not. ?

If you insist that we should be the ones to say it out loud, we can consider that, too."

"We will search for alternatives," said Erdogan. He also stated that Germany was in a panic after British Prime Minister David Cameron recently called for a referendum on a redefined relationship with the EU by 2018.

On Sunday, Erdogan claimed that the EU and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are not mutually exclusive alternatives, even though a country may well join one and quit the other if it wants to. He also said even though it was primarily established to focus on border security, the SCO has now become an organization promoting economic cooperation among its members.

And in response to criticism that Turkey's human rights record would deteriorate if it drops its EU bid, Erdogan said: "They say there is no democracy in the Shanghai countries. Democracy did not come to the EU overnight. And don't forget [what EU nations did in] Rwanda and Algeria. Why did they deport Roma people? Does Islamophobia fit into human rights? I believe the Shanghai countries will further intensify their democratization process."

[03] Cyprus problem on the agenda of Erdogan's contacts to Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia

Erdogan said that he would hold meetings in Czech Republic on Monday (today), and then he would proceed to Slovakia, and then to Hungary on Wednesday.

"We will take steps to help these countries investing in our country in the future", added Erdogan who spoke to reporters before he left for Czech Republic on Sunday.

EU Minister Egemen Bagis, Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz and Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu, along with 80 businessmen will accompany Erdogan during his visits.

[04] Turkish Parliament considering bid to turn Hagia Sophia into mosque

According to the paper, three citizens living in the northwestern province of Kocaeli appealed to the commission with a request to change the status of Hagia Sophia. A survey conducted with 401 people was attached to the application, in which more than 97% of interviewees requested the transformation of the ancient building into a mosque and afterwards for it to be reopened for Muslim worship.

The application has been taken under consideration by the Parliament's Petition Commission, Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday, adding that the commission would be asking for the opinions of the related institutions on the issue.

As well as the application received from the Kocaeli citizens, the commission received 15 separate petitions within five days in the form of electronic mails, all asking for "opening of the Hagia Sophia to worship."

[05] Trade union reacts to the restoration of Apostolos Andreas Monastery

In a statement issued yesterday by Hizmet-Sen's chairman, Mehmet Bahadir Kurumanastirli, the organization says that it will not allow the destruction of what it called the tomb of a Moslem martyr which is there and will allegedly be destroyed during the implementation of the restoration plan.

Kurumanastirli said that if needed, they will prevent the restoration by occupying the tomb. He congratulated the Turkish Cypriot leader, Eroglu for his statement that the breakaway regime would pay the money needed for the restoration of the monastery, arguing that with this statement Eroglu "spoiled the game of Greek Cypriots and Greeks".

Moreover, he criticized the officials of Evkaf foundation, whom he accused of shadowing what he called "diplomatic successes" of Eroglu and of not responding to Hizmet-Sen's demand for separately restoring the above-mentioned tomb and opening it for religious service.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ship under Hong Kong's flag carries water pipes to occupied Famagusta port

"YI CHUN 15", which arrived at the occupied port of Famagusta in the morning, is the biggest ship that entered into the occupied ports of the Republic of Cyprus, notes the paper, adding that 1.430 pipes made of polyurethane were carried for being furnished from the sea to the shore. According to the paper, the total weight of the pipes is 3.256 tons.

The ship was received at the occupied port by the self-styled ministers of public works and agriculture, Hamza Ersan Saner and Ali Cetin Amcaoglu respectively, as well as by the so-called director of the "ports' department", Serdar Canaltay.

Saner said that the second step was taken, after the beginning of the construction of the dam and argued that the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, will continue to be strengthened.

Amcaoglu, on his part, said that the dam in the area of occupied Panagra village will be completed on 31 October. He noted that some parts of the pipes to be used in the project, are made in China and some materials are produced in Turkey. Asked whether oil could be carried with these pipes, Amcaoglu responded "I do not think so".

(I/Ts.)

[07] Second round for UBP voting to be held on February 24

Announcing the decision, the UBP Secretary General Fuat Namsoy said that the decision which was also agreed by the leadership candidates was approved by the party assembly.

Responding to a question, Namsoy said that delegates who newly joined the National Unity Party will also be able to cast their votes in the general congress.

[08] Freedom and Reform officially closing down

During the congress the merging of ORP with the National Unity Party was finalized as well.

The party was established in 2006 and in the "parliamentary elections" of 2009 elected two "MPs"

[09] The IDSB meeting which took place in the occupied area of Cyprus come to an end

According to a written statement issued by the Union of NGO's of the Islamic World (IDSB), more than 200 representatives of NGO's from 40 countries participated to the meeting.

Speaking during the meeting, the general coordinator of the Union of NGO's of the Islamic World (IDSB), Cihangor Isbilir stated that the hot hospitality showed by the "TRNC" and the Turkish Cypriots who hosted the meeting, has increased the recognition of Cyprus.

Also, speaking during the event, Zaid Ezem, chairman of the Kubab Vakif of Pakistan, stressed the importance of organizing the IDSB's meeting in the "TRNC" and said that this meeting was not important only for Cyprus but for the whole world. He added that this meeting, which was a meeting for the peace and prosperity, will send important messages to Syria, Iraq, Palestine and Libya, that peace is necessary.

(AK)

[10] Ali Osmen Safa speaks about the construction of a five-star hotel in occupied Lapythos

In statements to the paper, Safa has said that in 2007 his company undertaken the project to built a five-star hotel in Lapythos. The hotel would have the capacity of 252 rooms. However, according to Safa, after a decision of the "government" during 2008, it has been decided for the bed capacity of the hotels to be increased to 500 rooms. Indeed, a new decision by a "court" has abolished the increase of the bed capacity of the hotels and later on, the "ministerial council" has given permission for the operation of a casino at the hotel, before even this to be constructed.

Ali Osmen Safa in his statements speaks for luck of rules of law and expresses his disappointment of the situation in the occupied area of Cyprus.

AK

[11] Trade Union Platform to carry contacts in London

In a written statement on the issue, the general secretary of KTOS trade union, Sener Elcil said that a two-persons delegation of the Trade Union Platform will carry out contacts in the UK and meet with officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and of the parliament of the UK, as well as with British and international media representatives.

Elcil stated that in the framework of the Trade Union Platform's decision to take action against the assimilation-integration policy which is followed in the "TRNC" by the Turkish governments, as well as their decision to oppose to the imposed economic package, the Trade Union Platform has decided with determination, to transfer these issues to the international arena. Elcil added: "During the meetings, we will share our views regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem which should be based on the decisions and the parameters of the UN and should aimed to the United Federal Cyprus. We should also discuss about the realities under which the Turkish Cypriot community lives".

The Trade Union Platform, will organize a press conference when it will return from London, in order to inform the community about their contacts, writes the paper.

AK

[12] The occupation regimes participates in a fair in London

As the paper writes, the occupation regime participated to the fair with its own 32 square meters stand. The Direct Traveller Company, as well as the New President and the Cyprus Paradise companies participated at the stand of the occupation regime, where several products of the occupation regime were promoted.

In statements about the fair, Caglar Guclusoy from the "department of promoting and marketing of the 'ministry'", said that "TRNC's stand" has attracted the interest of a lot of visitors and added that their aim is to promote the "TRNC" in the best way.

The fair will last four days, writes the paper, without however, to give details on the date the fair opened.

AK

[13] An event for promoting tourism of the breakaway regime was organized in Berlin

The event, which took place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel which is linked with Hilton chain hotels, was organized by the Akmina Travel agency which is organizing the conduction of charter flights from various European countries to the breakaway regime.

Self-styled representative of the breakaway regime in Berlin Kemal Gokeri, the official from the Turkish Embassy to Berlin Deniz Kalyoncu and representatives of the "ministry" of tourism participated in the event.

[14] Photo fair about Cyprus has opened in Azerbaijan

The fair is organized by the "Friendship Union of Azerbaijan-Cyprus".

The same fair will be exhibited in several other places writes the paper, like in Belgium on May 28, in Moscow and St. Petersburg in June and in France on July.

AK

[15] International university congress to be held in occupied Cyprus in April

According to Bayrak, during a meeting the delegation held with the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu the Rector of the Kadir Has University Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ayd1
n said that they arrived in the breakaway regime with the aim of discussing opportunities for cooperation with the illegal universities and to hold contacts about the congress that they are planning to organize in the breakaway regime in April.

He said that within the framework of the congress, they are aiming to bring a large number of academicians to the breakaway regime and added that they want the academicians to see the "realities" in Cyprus.

[16] Sixty thousand illegal Turkish settlers have reportedly left occupied Cyprus during the past two years

"Soon no people will remain in the streets", said Dincoglu in statements to Star Kibris, showing the stagnation in the building sector as the reason for which the population from Turkey leaves from the occupied part of the island.

Dincoglu argued that the decrease of the population leads the small shopkeepers to disaster and the medium-sized businesses have come to the point of bankruptcy. "I am also thinking of going away soon. Life is unbearable here", he said.

Dincoglu went on and said: "Let those who say that the population has not decreased, look at the schools. In 2011, the children of 370 refugee (settlers) families were going to Democrasi High School. This number decreased to 270 in 2012 and 180 now".

Dincoglu argued that 10.000 persons of those who left were "citizens" of the breakaway regime, but preferred to leave because the conditions in Turkey are continuously improving. Referring to the unemployment in the occupied area of Cyprus, he said that local people are not employed in the hotels and argued that 90% of those working in there are foreigners.

(I/Ts.)

[17] Hurriyet Daily News and FRANCE 24 to cooperate by exchanging English-language content on their websites

Pursuant to this agreement www.france24.com and www.hurriyetdailynews.com will begin sharing news items, feature videos, columns and photos produced and published by their partners.

"This partnership aims to reach a broader audience with reliable current event coverage and rich news content", writes the paper.

EI/

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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