Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-06-11

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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 blamed 'interest rate lobbies' for aiming to destroy Turkey; He warned the protestors to end violence

[02] Arinc announced that Erdogan is to meet with representatives of Gezi protests

[03] Bagis: "Protests in Turkey target Premier Erdogan"; he accused foreign media for hypocrisy

[04] Gulen calls for peaceful coexistence, warns about deceit and oppression

[05] Demonstrations in Turkey continues-Police forces entered Taksim Square in the morning to remove the placards from the square

[06] Moody's warns Turkey that protests may impact negatively on foreign investments

[07] AKP government to implement restrictions on the use of social media through legal regulations

[08] Gul approves alcohol regulation law

[09] Thousands of February 28 coup documents destroyed in 2010

[10] Eroglu: the territory issue is the actual power of the Turkish Cypriot side at the Cyprus talks

[11] Kucuk is visiting Ankara today

[12] The three political parties proposed Dr. Sibel Siber to be assigned as the new "prime minister" of the occupation regime; Eroglu's response is expected

[13] Reference by Evkaf's new director to the Armenian Church in Lefkosia

[14] The newly appointed director of Evkaf replaces picture of Dr Fazil Kucuk with Sultan Selim II

[15] "Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli Search and Rescue Exercise" kicked off in the occupation regime

[16] Turkey tries to upgrade the position of the breakaway regime in T?RKPA summit

[17] Memur-Sen Trade Union to participate in an education meeting in FYROM; it will inform about the Cyprus problem

[18] Turkey to build a new $5 billion thermal power plant

[19] Lithuanian envoy expressed support for Turkey's EU membership

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan blamed 'interest rate lobbies' for aiming to destroy Turkey; He warned the protestors to end violence

"People who do not respect the government will pay the price. I appeal to my friends who are being played in (Ankara's) Kizilay, Kugulupark and here and there, please stop the protests," Erdogan told his supporters on Sunday who gathered to welcome him in Turkey's capital Ankara upon his return from Istanbul.

Erdogan said some groups inside and outside the country were troubled because of Turkey's "powerful steps", adding: "Can the international media dream be positive about Turkey? Now, the media attacks our government. And they cooperate with the interest rate lobbies, domestic and foreign."

Erdogan blamed "interest rate lobbies" for causing volatility in financial markets and vowed to stop them, adding: "Those who attempt to sink the bourse themselves will be trapped under the debris."

"We had a $23,5 billion debt to IMF. Now we have closed the IMF chapter but they feel uncomfortable about this. The central bank used to have $27.5 billion in its foreign currency reserves and now they have $130 billion. It is not about the Taksim Gezi Park. It is not an issue to root out 15 trees and carry them to another place. Believe me, 95% of the population did not know the name of the Gezi Park until now," he said.

"Interest rate lobbies have made fortunes in this country. You had to stop them. We were very patient until now but when the interest rates fell, these lobbies felt uncomfortable and they do not want a strong Turkey."

Erdogan also accused protesters of vandalism saying: "they burned down public buildings, vehicles, public buses, cars and injured about 600 police officers. And they are responsible for the death of one of our police officers."

"If you do not stop the protests and continue this war we will speak in the language you understand. My patience has its limit. You cannot show this country as a country where terror prevails."

"The interest rate lobbies who continue to battle us, market speculators, who continue to support these groups, those who use universities and students for your games, you will all fail. If you believe in democracy, if you believe in freedom, the way of democracy passes through the ballot box", Erdogan said.

Erdogan also invited people to join rallies of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party to be held next weekend in capital Ankara on Saturday and Istanbul on Sunday.

[02] Arinc announced that Erdogan is to meet with representatives of Gezi protests

Ar1
nc told reporters that after he met with the Taksim Solidarity Platform, another group asked for a meeting with the Prime Minister. Ar1
nc said that Erdogan agreed to meet with some of the organizers of the Gezi protests. He however, declined to elaborate about the names that will be included in the delegation to meet with Erdogan.

Speaking on the ongoing nation-wide anti-government protests, Arinc said the government is determined to not let illegal rallies take place.

He argued that some of the extreme and fringe groups hijacked the protests and engage in clashes with police and security forces.

Ar1
nc said some demands voiced by protesters are unacceptable. "Some are talking about release of those who are in detention over charges of damaging public property and attacking police officers. Should we release those who killed a police officer?" Arinc said.

He also stated that calls for resignation of the government are irrelevant, citing that Turkey is a state where rule of law prevails. "They can't just demand from us to 'remove him or that public official' as some rebels did in the Patrona Halil revolt (which took place in 1730 in Ottoman era and ended with toppling of the sultan and hanging of the Grand Vizier)."

The Deputy Prime Minister said also that the government has concrete evidence over the foreign meddling in the protests, adding that the legal process is still unfolding. Therefore, Ar1
nc said, he can't elaborate on details of the process and what kind of evidence government has at the moment.

(& )

[03] Bagis: "Protests in Turkey target Premier Erdogan"; he accused foreign media for hypocrisy

In a written statement, Bagis said that Turkey was taking "the biggest strides to become a global power" but there were some circles "disturbed by Turkey's growth."

"Some feel humiliated as Turkey grows. Some have realized that they have been silenced as the society raised their voices. Some have lost sleep when we talked about justice and development [...] Today is the day for unity. Today is the day when resentments should be forgotten and left aside," Bagis said.

Bagis said protests initially started with environmental concerns but then they were exploited, adding: "those who cannot defeat us with their own efforts have begun exploiting the protests deceiving our children. But this society has not given any credit to those provocations in the past ten years and it will not after these ten days, since the protests broke out."

Bagis said western media had made a mistake and revealed "hypocrisy by showing their feelings towards Turkey."

"Western media have made a mistake. They thought the protests in Turkey were similar to the ones in Egypt's Tahrir Square. They are not aware of the fact that Turkish nation had its liberation struggle in 2002 that is when the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party came into power [...] They had better not call these protests as a civil resistance. These protests have given a great deal of damage to Turkey," said Bagis.

[04] Gulen calls for peaceful coexistence, warns about deceit and oppression

"For the love of God, let's live for a while in a [spirit] of brotherhood," G?len said, borrowing a theme from a popular song sung by children participating in the Turkish Olympiad.

"As they said in the Turkish Olympiad, 'A new world, a new world, together a new world,'" Gulen stated and rejected totalitarian, oppressive, dictatorial and authoritarian systems.

While meeting with a group of Turkish Olympiad participants at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, President Gul praised the event as contributing to peace, brotherhood and friendship, stating the following: "For peace to exist in the world, different languages, religions, beliefs and cultures need to respect each other, recognize one another and live in serenity and peace with each other. If that does not happen, then efforts to oppress one another become the source of much suffering and conflict".

In earlier remarks, Gulen criticized the police handling of recent protests, saying that the initial protesters who gathered in Taksim's Gezi Park for a sit-in to prevent construction workers from destroying trees could be seen as rightfully demanding the preservation of the ecosystem and green spaces. He called their initial demands "logical" but condemned the subsequent violence of extremist groups.

Gulen also noted that indifference and the inability to comprehend events could cause another problem on the other side and urged the government not to underestimate the protests.

In remarks posted on the herkul.org website, Gulen also warned on Sunday of a sinister campaign by hypocrites targeting Muslims, saying that hypocrites are more dangerous than unbelievers.

"It is difficult to deal with a hypocrite," he said, stressing that a hypocrite pretends to be a believer when in fact s/he is in disbelief. He said taqiyye (hiding one's true intentions) is commonly used by hypocrites to shield their dangerous campaigns to destroy Islam.

He said taqiyye has no place in Islam, despite the fact that some have tried to make it one of the essentials of the Muslim religion. The Shiite ideology propagated by Iranian clerics sees taqiyye as a lawful practice but the Sunni jurisprudence dismisses it as baseless.

Recalling Prophet Muhammad's reported words, "Whoever cheats us is not one of us," Gulen underlined that Islam does not condone any deceit or cheating. He asked that Muslims should be vigilant for people who use deceit to hide their evil intentions.

[05] Demonstrations in Turkey continues-Police forces entered Taksim Square in the morning to remove the placards from the square

Eleven buses carrying Riot Squad forces gathered in front of Inonu Stadium in the early hours of the morning.

The police announced on loudspeakers that the purpose of the intervention was to maintain law and order in front of the AKM [Ataturk Cultural Center] and the monument [in the middle of the square]. They added that groups on the square should withdraw to Gezi Park and that there will be no intervention in the park.

In the meantime, it has been alleged that the intervention may not be aimed at only the barricades and that thousands of police officers are present around Taksim.

The web side brodacast that Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu said in a statement:

"The demonstrations of Gezi Park started with motivations of protecting the environment. However, the proportions they have assumed subsequently have caused our nation deep concern and distress. "There is no question of preventing or restricting the continuation of the current situation with democratic conduct and behavior. However, the placards, signs, banners, flags, and pictures covering the Ataturk Monument and the AKM have generated public indignation, serious criticism, and sentiments that strain the limits of tolerance. [?]

"For this reason, it has been decided to put an end to these scenes, which have had a negative impact on the image of our country in the world, which have generated public indignation at home, and which, in truth, are incompatible with and even contradict the message and objective of the persons in Gezi Park.

"Consequently, starting at 8:00 am today, our security forces will conduct an activity that will only be aimed at removing these placards, signs, and pictures. This activity will have no component aimed at Gezi Park or Taksim. There will be no activity against any person or group in Gezi Park or Taksim.

"It is important that assistance be given to our security forces in their activity, which will be restricted to this scope, and that no credence be given to any propaganda that may lead to any misunderstandings or misinterpretations. "The public is respectfully informed.", he stated.

In addition, Hurriyet (11.06.13) reported on the demonstration and wrote that Istanbul's working-class and predominantly Alevi neighborhood of Gazi continues to see heavy clashes with police. The clashes come long after security forces withdrew from Taksim Square, leaving Gezi Park and the square to the protesters' occupation. Every night since the unrest began, more than 15,000 people have gathered at 9 p.m. in the district of Sultanbeyli's Gazi neighborhood center, according to daily Radikal's report published on June 10.

The protesters use the same method as the Taksim occupiers, blocking the neighborhood's entrance with barricades and clashing with police to prevent an intervention in the protest.

Police officers used TOMA, a vehicle used to intervene in public incidents, water cannon, and tear gas to disperse the group.

Veli Gulsoy, the head of Gazi Cemevi (Alevi house of worship) said what was happening in the Gazi neighborhood was a reaction to the government by ordinary people, daily Radikal reported. The neighborhood, predominantly populated by Alevis, witnessed mass demonstrations in 1995 after 23 people were killed in four days of unrest, 17 of them by police bullets, according to forensics reports.

[06] Moody's warns Turkey that protests may impact negatively on foreign investments

Turkish markets have indeed been rattled by the two-week protest movement, namely dipping on comments made by the country's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has dismissed the protesters as vandals and pledged to go ahead with a park demolition project that sparked the initial protests.

(?)

In a statement released on Monday, Moody's said foreign investments in Turkey may be negatively affected by the anti-government protests which may also pose a serious risk for the country's balance of payments.

On Friday, Fitch, another leading global credit rating agency, said in a statement that the anti-government protests in Turkey are not a threat to its sovereign BBB- rating at present. "Nonetheless, much will depend on how the authorities respond to the protests. Poorly handled, the situation could escalate, with adverse consequences for the economy," the credit ratings agency warned in the statement.

[07] AKP government to implement restrictions on the use of social media through legal regulations

After Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Twitter a "plague," the government has moved to bring certain legal regulations to the use of social media. Following the snowballing impact it engendered in organizing the Gezi Park protests, Erdogan is reportedly considering precautions to take, as discussed during an emergency meeting of the Central Decision and Executive Council (MKYK) of the AKP on June 8.

The AKP's vice chairman of media and public relations responsible for social media, Ali Sahin, hinted at a "legal regulation" to "set social media in order." "Social media must be brought under order and regularity ... A legal regulation could be made. People must be held responsible for the content they write. If as a result of a tweet they write, people loot shops and burn vehicles, the one who wrote it must bear its costs," Sahin told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday.

Sahin said people's personal rights, legal personalities of companies and public institutions were being attacked while commercial activities were harmed due to news spreading on social media. "The elected government is being conspired against, there is an intention to topple the government through social media and people are being sworn at. All these things should have a cost, a sanction. Cursing at people is not freedom. As someone responsible for social media, I am in preparations in this sense. Social media must be brought under order and regularity. Such a draft law can be considered," Sahin added.

Yalc1
n Akdogan, an AKP Deputy and a Senior Adviser to Erdogan has said that there is a conspiracy behind the Gezi Park unrest directly aiming at the government.

"We will not sacrifice the prime minister," Akdogan said, portraying the government's resistance to calls coming from the Gezi Park as a matter of life and death. "A tweet containing lies and slander is much more dangerous that a vehicle loaded with a bomb. The explosion of a vehicle loaded with a bomb would be limited, but a tweet filled with lies and slander can lead to a climate of conflict. If the situation is serious, necessary precautions must be taken," Sahin said.

"If we are really to use social media, it should not be used to chafe someone, to produce false campaigns, to conspire or to topple a government."

According to a decision made at the June 8 MKYK meeting, the AKP intends to "synchronize" its local elections campaign with its maneuvers concerning the Gezi Park unrest. The local elections, the first of a series of looming elections, are scheduled to be held on March 30, 2014.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ar1
nc and AKP Deputy Chair Huseyin Celik will seek to get in touch with protesters at Gezi Park. Interior Minister Muammer Guler is expected to meet with sociologists to draft "a process analysis" to introduce to Erdogan.

[08] Gul approves alcohol regulation law

The new law approved by Turkish President restricts the consumption and advertising of alcohol.

It bans companies producing alcoholic beverages from sponsoring events and sales of alcohol between 10 p.m. and 6:00 a.m..

It also introduces stricter penalties on drunk driving.

[09] Thousands of February 28 coup documents destroyed in 2010

The General Staff recently responded to a query from the Ankara 13th High Criminal Court regarding documented actions of the suspects from the coup era, sending reports of classified documents from 2007 that had been destroyed. The documents were destroyed in 2010, according to the General Staff's response. The reports are included in the indictment.

(?)

[10] Eroglu: the territory issue is the actual power of the Turkish Cypriot side at the Cyprus talks

"It seems that only in October we will start the negotiations", he said adding that the territory issue is the actual power of the Turkish Cypriot side at the negotiations.

He argued: "The biggest problem at the negotiating table today is, perhaps, the territory issue. The Greek Cypriots say: 'the territory is indispensable condition for us'. Therefore, the more territory we possess, this will be our power".

Eroglu said that he would consult with the "government" which will be established after the "elections" in the occupied area of Cyprus on the issue of creating packages for granting land to [Turkish Cypriot] "point holders" that abandoned property in the government-controlled area of Cyprus. He noted that the breakaway regime possesses land to distribute and wished for the issue of the point holders to end after the "elections".

Eroglu claimed that the Greek Cypriots do not invest in areas where Turkish Cypriot properties exist in the government-controlled area of Cyprus. He said that this is done deliberately in order for not increasing the value of these properties. He argued that during the discussion of the territory issue at the negotiations, a "settling of accounts will be made by taking into consideration the improvement of the Turkish Cypriot properties".

(I/Ts.)

[11] Kucuk is visiting Ankara today

Referring to the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (11.06.13) reports that the decision for Kucuk's flying to Ankara has been taken suddenly. The paper writes that according to sources, Kucuk is expected to brief justice and Development party (AKP) officials on the latest developments in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[12] The three political parties proposed Dr. Sibel Siber to be assigned as the new "prime minister" of the occupation regime; Eroglu's response is expected

The three parties gathered today to designate the name of "prime minister", as well as the names of those who will participate to the "new cabinet" to be formed until the "early election" that will take place in the occupied area of Cyprus on July 28.

According to Kibris postasi, Ozkan Yorgancioglu, chairman of CTP-BG has stated after their meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, that Dr. Siber Siber, "deputy woman" at the "parliament", is the name they had submitted to Eroglu to be assigned as "prime minister".

Yorgancioglu went on and said that from now on, the duty belongs to Eroglu, adding that they are waiting from Eroglu whether he will approve Siber Siber or not. The "new cabinet" will be also announced today to the public after it will be approved first by the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

Meanwhile, the three parties agreed yesterday in the principles of the establishment of an interim government.

Also, making a statement after the completion of today's meeting of political parties, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party United Forces Ozkan Yorganc1
oglu said that they discussed during the meeting the principles related to the "prime minister" and added that they had also agreed that "experts" will be taking place in the "interim government", as he said.

Also, the leader of the Democrat Party- National Forces Serdar Denktas said that they are exerting efforts for an "interim government" to be formed, adding that they had already agreed on the name of the "prime minister".

Finally, the leader of the Social Democratic Party Mehmet Cak1
c1
pointed out to the difficult days that the "country" is going through, and said that the three political parties took the responsibility to finalize this procedure. He went on and said that they had reached to an agreement after they exchange views and added that they will announce the new "technocrat cabinet" to the public after they will submit it to the "president".

Also, predictions say that CTP will be represented at the so-called cabinet with 4 "deputies", while DP-UG and TDP with 3 "deputies".

The National Unity Party (UBP) did not participate in the meeting.

AK

[13] Reference by Evkaf's new director to the Armenian Church in Lefkosia

The paper notes that in spite of the fact that no meeting has been held between the interlocutors on the issue, who are the Evkaf, US Agency for International Development (USAID), the UN Development Program- Action for Cooperation and Trust in Cyprus (UNDP-ACT) and the Armenians living in Cyprus, the Armenian community wants to use the church for carrying out their religious duties.

Benter told Kibris that he personally sees "no drawback" in the use of the church by the Armenians for carrying out their religious duties, and recalled that the Turkish Cypriots also visit Hala Sultan in the government-controlled area of Cyprus and pray. He said that he will examine the file of the case and brief the people as regards what will happen. He noted that if there is an agreement on the historical church, they will act accordingly, but expressed his objection to views expressed in the past, such as turning the building into a Department of Turkology.

According to the paper, the project manager of UNDP-ACT, Christopher Louise has said that a "gentlemen's agreement" had been reached between the sides for turning the buildings outside the church into a multicultural center and for using the church in a manner approved by the Armenian community. He noted that they want to settle the issue before the completion of UNDP-ACT's term of duty in the end of this year.

In statements to Kibris, Peter Weiderud, who is holding the dialogue at the peace process in Cyprus between the religious leaders under the auspices of the Swedish Embassy, said that the Turkish Cypriots should give the Armenian Cypriots the right to pray in their church whenever they want. On the other hand, he claimed, the Armenians should understand that they should get into direct contact with Turkish Cypriot "officials" on this issue. He said that last January they secured a meeting between the Armenian Archbishop Varoujan Herkelian and the head of the "Religious Affairs Department", Talip Atalay. He added that this meeting had been very positive and that they are ready to arrange similar meetings in the future.

(I/Ts.)

[14] The newly appointed director of Evkaf replaces picture of Dr Fazil Kucuk with Sultan Selim II

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (11.06.13) refers to the issue under the title "Great disrespect" and reports that the administrative council of Evkaf convened urgently yesterday and harsh debates were experienced.

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (11.06.13) reports that Benter expressed his sorrow about these "allegations" and added that he did not removed Kucuk's picture from his office, but only changed its place. Explaining why he had put the picture of Sultan Selim II in his office, he noted that this was the Ottoman Sultan who had conquered Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[15] "Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli Search and Rescue Exercise" kicked off in the occupation regime

The exercise will take place off the coast of Gazimagusa [occupied Famagusta] in the Eastern Mediterranean within the "TRNC territories and territorial waters".

The land phase of the exercises will begin tomorrow and the sea phase of the exercise will begin on Wednesday.

According to the information issued by the "Press Office of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Command" the exercise will be conducted with the participation of civilian and military units from Turkey and the "TRNC".

[16] Turkey tries to upgrade the position of the breakaway regime in TURKPA summit

The visiting parliamentary speakers with their national delegations and the Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Cicek, held the fourth summit of TURKPA, a regional council established by Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in 2008 in order to promote relations and cooperation among the people of the Turkic world.

During the summit, Kyrgyzstan officially passed the chairmanship of TURKPA to Turkey. In the meeting's keynote speech, Cicek deemed the organization a "group of friends," rather than a typical political organization. He also said, "As long as we are united, we can make the voice of the Turkic world heard globally and we can take the position we deserve in the international arena," He also called on the breakaway regime and Uzbekistan "to also take their places in the organization", according to the paper.

Cicek also mentioned Turkey's bid for non-permanent membership status on the UN Security Council for the 2015-2016 term, as well as a bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games in 0
stanbul and the EXPO 2015 business fair in 0
zmir and asked for the support of Turkic countries in those efforts.

[17] Memur-Sen Trade Union to participate in an education meeting in FYROM; it will inform about the Cyprus problem

The meeting is taking place in Skopje, FYROM.

The delegation of Memur-Sen consisted of its chairman Sener Ozburak and its general secretary Kaan Mindikoglu will represent the trade union in the meeting and will also hold contacts with FUROM President and with the Minister of Education, according to the paper. Memur-Sen will also inform the participants in the meeting about the Cyprus problem.

Participants from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kosovo and Turkey will also attend the meeting.

[18] Turkey to build a new $5 billion thermal power plant

Taner Y1
ld1
z said that the exploration by the Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) in the Dinar district of Afyon, which has been continuing for five years, had now been completed and that they had discovered lignite reserves in the area, totaling around 950 million tons.

"We aim to build a thermal power plant, worth $5 billion, that will have 3,500 MW of power. It means employment for 6,000 or 7,000 in the plant's construction and the mining field," he said.

Yildiz recalled that Turkey's goal was to generate one-third of its electricity via coal by 2023. "We aim to raise the local coal-fired power plant's capacity to 30,000 MW in the next 10 years", Yildiz said, adding that coal power plants would be built using resources from the Turkish Coal Enterprises' (TK0
) coal mining fields in Afsin-Elbistan, Karapinar-Konya, Dinar-Afyon and Alpu-Eskisehir.

Y1
ld1
z also said that a coal field in the Karl1
ova district of Bitlis had been transferred to the private sector under the condition that a coal power plant be constructed. "The private sector will build a thermal power plant that will have 240 MW of power and which will be worth $700 million", he added.

On average 1 MW of power can supply electricity to as many as 300 U.S. households per year. According to TU0
K figures, the average person in Turkey consumes 540 kW of electricity in one year.

The Minister said that they aimed to end Turkey's dependence on $12 billion worth of natural gas imports with power plants fired by domestic coal. Turkey produces around half of its electricity from natural gas, a source for which it is largely dependent on Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan.

Turkey has recently been encouraging the construction of coal-burning plants in an effort to break its large dependence on natural gas. Y1
ld1
z said the investment in high-calorie local coal would be profitable for both Afyon and Turkey. The scope of state incentives for coal-mining investments was expanded with a decision by the Cabinet declared on May 31. The recent incentive system, which came into force on June 20, 2012, had allocated incentives to only low-calorie coal (low C class), but the recent decision will allow for incentives to be given also to high-calorie coal.

However, Y1
ld1
z said they had also made investments worth $1.2 billion in the last 10 years for clean coal technologies and the environment, adding that they would invest more than $1 billion in advance.

[19] Lithuanian envoy expressed support for Turkey's EU membership

Speaking at a press conference during a visit to Turkey's northwest province of Bursa Monday, Kudzmanas said that Lithuania would assume European Union's term presidency on July 2013 and they would do their best to support Turkey's EU membership.

Kudzmanas said Lithuania exerted great efforts to develop the trade volume between Europe and Turkey by presenting the "Viking Project".

"The Viking Project is a project which will help some of the shipping on the silk route be made by sea and some by railway. The project is based on container shipping. In order to ship a container nearly ? 1400 is needed. If this project is achieved shipping a container will cost ? 300 in 52 hours. Lithuania has good experiences in trade. We can share these experiences with Turkey. We are ready to cooperate in every field particularly in technology," said Kudzmanas.

Kudzmanas also touched upon Taksim Gezi Park protests and said the incidents in Taksim should be solved through democracy.

"Officials should communicate with the demonstrators in a constructive way," he said. YH/ http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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