Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-08-07

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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] Siber: Turkish Cypriots could apply to the "Immovable Property Commission" for getting occupied Greek Cypriot property

[02] Akca's statements cause eactions

[03] UBP boils again; Kucuk insists on staying until 26 October

[04] Serdar gives signs of a possible "coalition" between CTP-DP

[05] Turkish columnist on the Court Ruling in Ergenekon Case

[06] Turkish Military Calls for calm over Ergenekon verdict

[07] Erdogan held a telephone conversation with his British counterpart on Syria

[08] Eighteen Turkish soldiers injured after fire was opened on army troops in village bordering Syria

[09] Controversial mosque project kicks off in Istanbul

[10] Turkey halts Iranian spy's extradition to Germany

[11] Pre-qualification tender for Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline announced

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Siber: Turkish Cypriots could apply to the "Immovable Property Commission" for getting occupied Greek Cypriot property

In statements yesterday before the meeting of the "council of ministers", Siber referred to the application submitted to the above-mentioned "committee" and recalled that last year Acapulco Hotel's land had been purchased after compensation was paid to its "pre-1974 owner, as she described the hotel's Greek Cypriot owner. She added: "I want to share the information with our people that natural or legal persons, who want to benefit from similar situations by following the same method and way after they reach an agreement with the pre-1974 owner of the property which they are using in the north, the Immovable Property Commission could approve this [agreement]".

Siber alleged that in this manner they could prevent the congestion at the "Commission", support bi-zonality on the island, prevent the sale of Turkish Cypriot properties in the government-controlled area at prices lower than their value, and increase the value of the property which will be turned into "original Turkish property" [in the occupied area of the island], something which will have "great contribution" to the economy of the regime.

Siber said that 5.188 applications have been submitted to the Commission until today, that 544 of these applications have been concluded and that 133 million pound sterling is paid. She noted that an area of 8.843 square meters of land was turned into property with "original Turkish title-deed". Siber alleged that exchanges of property such as the one happened in the case of Acapulco Hotel are the solution of some problems which the regime is facing thought-out the world.

Siber claimed that as a result of Greek Cypriot propaganda some internet sites, such as www.booking.com, do not accept the inclusion of occupied Cypriot hotels in their lists because they are stolen properties. She alleged that if they could prevent such problems through exchange or compensation of property, they will positively contribute to their tourism. Siber said that she had held contacts on this issue with the property law unit at Turkish Cypriot leader's office and found out that everyone who wishes could apply to the Commission regarding occupied Greek Cypriot properties.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Akca's statements cause eactions

Commenting on the same issue, Ahmet Kaptan, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot "Civil Servants'" Trade Union (KTAMS) also criticized Akca's statement noting that this statement "ignored the will of the Turkish Cypriot community". He said that their trade union does not accept imposition of economic packages which the people do not want. He argued that the "so-called package of measures" prepared for improving the economic situation in the occupied part of Cyprus caused poverty, unemployment migration and bankruptcy.

Moreover, Guven Varoglu, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers' trade Union (KTOS), criticized Akca's statements noting that these statements, made during a period when preparations for establishing a new "government" are made, showed where the regime is heading to.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (07.08.13) publishes Varoglu's reaction under the title "We want neither Akca nor his money". According to the paper, he said that Akca's statements continued to confirm, without leaving any doubt, that the northern part of Cyprus is Turkey's "subordinate administration".

Afrika reports also that Caglayan Cesurer, chairman of the employees in the "electricity authority" (El-Sen) commented on Akca's statements and said that Akca seemed determined to continue his habit of interfering in the internal affairs of the "country" in a direct and reckless manner. He said that during the recent "elections", 74% of the people voted for parties which oppose to privatizations and added that the way out in the electricity sector is autonomy. (I/Ts.)

[03] UBP boils again; Kucuk insists on staying until 26 October

Yesterday a group of UBP members organized a meeting against its chairman, Irsen kucuk in front of UBP's headquarters in the occupied part of Nicosia. Addressing the meeting, Atun recalled that Kucuk has not even been elected as "MP" and added that Kucuk must resign. Noting that Kucuk has lost the competence of being chairman of the party, Atun gave Kucuk one week to think about the issue.

Meanwhile, it was decided that Kucuk should stay at his post until the party's extraordinary congress, which is planned for 26 October, 2013. According to Kibris, Kucuk made a very hard statement about the protest held against him yesterday. He described it as "so-called protest" and argued that this activity was an insult against him personally, the post of UBP president and the competent organs of the party. He said he could not accept or digest insults against him or his post by some "friends" whom he had appointed to their places. He noted that he will continue until the congress and that he would take the "strongest measures" against those who held and planned the protest.

According to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (07.08.13), Sucuoglu stated said that Kucuk tried all ways in order for not resigning and added that in case Kucuk does not resign, their protests will get bigger in all areas as of Monday.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Serdar gives signs of a possible "coalition" between CTP-DP

Denktas who said that they received the message of the "voters" that no quarrels are needed stated that DP-CTP are "sentenced to be together". He went on and stated that time should not be wasted and the parties must get together the sooner possible and to decide for the establishment of a new "government".

[05] Turkish columnist on the Court Ruling in Ergenekon Case

"The first waves of the Ergenekon investigation began with the uncovering of large quantities of explosives in Istanbul and Eskisehir during the summer months of 2007.

It later became understood that these police operations were the first step in the great political case that occupied the agenda of the country through the succeeding six years.

The basis of justification for the investigation was not much questioned during the initial period. The 11 kilograms of C-3 explosive found in the mother of a retired Special Operations Major, for instance, hardly indicated an innocent hobby activity like stamp collecting.

Likewise, the fact that the investigation, in the first waves, was directed at individuals connected with the deep state structure kept the basis for support within the public for the Ergenekon file strong.

It can be said that the investigation, as of its initial stage, served a useful function from the standpoint of keeping democratic stability in Turkey away from explosives. During those days, a good many people saw the legal process that was beginning as a historic opportunity from the standpoint of settling accounts with Turkey's deep state. Likewise, seeking an accounting for coup attempts was in a sense also an important legal process from the standpoint of creating an effective deterrence.

But then as the Ergenekon waves broadened, a dimension that tended to silence circles opposed to the government, and to cut off the influence of these circles over the public, also began to become evident.

For instance, the fact that even Professor Turkan Saylan, a cancer patient being treated in her home, was included in a terrorist organization investigation, and that a raid was carried out against her residence, was one of the most important breaking points that wounded people's consciences and showed that the process was taking on a political character.

Additionally, as new waves came, the violations of rights in the investigation began to increase. There were no limits in terms of the violations. Although some suspects investigated were in the end not even made defendants, all their telephone conversations were dumped into the supplements to the indictments and their private lives exposed to the public, which were illegal implementations such as could be encountered only in Third World regimes.

The investigation turned into a process that was taken hostage by other efforts to settle accounts as well. The revelation that journalist Ahmet Sik, a journalist arrested in 2011 on charges of having aided the Ergenekon terrorist organization, had in fact written a book totaling 1,116 pages entitled Ergenekon'da Kim Kimdir ["Who's Who in Ergenekon"] was evidently yet another important point of fracture in terms of the case in the eyes of the public.

The problem did not just consist of the expansion of the various Ergenekon waves. Other investigations conducted by the specially authorized courts, and the cases opened, were also added to this case file, and in the end, a very motley legal riddle in which 23 cases were joined together was born.

The inclusion of the "Internet Memorandum" case as well in Ergenekon was the most significant step within this framework. For the former General Staff Chief, General Ilker Basbug, to be made an Ergenekon suspect as a "terrorist organization leader" dealt a heavy blow to the credibility of the case. Included among those who reacted against it was Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said: "I do not consider the imputations regarding our General Basbug to be proper at all. I find the approach of treating him as if he were an illegal organization member to be very ugly. I consider the use of this comparison for someone who has come to the General Staff Chairmanship of the TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] to be unfair."

As a result of the forms of behavior and judicial practices that prevailed in the specially authorized courts, these courts were eliminated due to a law that the government passed in 2012. But they would remain at work until the cases they had begun to try were over.

Looked at from this aspect, the guilty verdicts handed down yesterday were the work of a court the government had decided to close down, because its practices had been seen as problematic.

The Ergenekon trial in this way has come before society as a virtually insoluble legal conundrum in which rights and wrongs have been mixed together, and in which the legal errors and injustices committed cast a serious shadow over the concept of justice.

The decisions announced yesterday contain within them, in this context, serious dilemmas and contradictions. No matter how much the initial period of the investigation was based on just and legitimate reasons, there are sufficient reasons to think that there are a good many defendants who have suffered injustice as a result of these verdicts.

And with yesterday's decisions, only the first phase of the Ergenekon judicial process has been concluded. Ahead of us are three separate appeal stages: the Supreme Court of Appeals, the individual application to the Constitutional Court, and the European Court of Human Rights. This being the case, we are going to debate Ergenekon, and to live with this case, for long years to come.

The truth will emerge before us at the end of this process."

[06] Turkish Military calls for calm over Ergenekon verdict

Although the TSK follows closely investigations regarding its personnel it avoids misunderstandings by acting with patience, calm and restraint.

The TSK believes that the case will end up with a fair final judgment within the scope of a fair trial, as it is required by the rule of law.

The statement added that "the Army shared the pain of their colleagues and their families".

[07] Erdogan held a telephone conversation with his British counterpart on Syria

Erdogan and Cameron exchanged views on the latest developments in Egypt and Syria and in the wider region.

Erdogan stressed that the international community and United Nations (UN) Security Council must take concrete steps for a solution in Syrian civil war.

He also called for an urgent return to democracy in Egypt with the participation of all segments of the Egyptian society. The Turkish Prime Minister urged the release of Mohamed Morsi, the first democratically elected President of Egypt, who has been kept in an undisclosed place by the Egyptian army, along with other detained politicians, since his ouster by the military on July 3.

[08] Eighteen Turkish soldiers injured after fire was opened on army troops in village bordering Syria

The incident came only hours after a confrontation between the army troops deployed along the frontier and smugglers trying to enter Turkey. "Our personnel tasked at the border located a group of 2,500-3,000 smugglers in the zone between the border posts at 2 a.m. [Aug. 6]," the Armed Forces said in a written statement.

The soldiers used to tear gas when the group did not disperse following warnings in Turkish and Arabic. A second clash ensued a few hours later around 5:30 a.m. as a group of 300 soldiers were sent to the border village of Kusakl?, in the Reyhanl? district, to conduct searches.

"The residents burned fuel cans and threw stones to prevent our unit from entering the village. Molotov cocktails were thrown at our armored vehicles with the intention of setting them on fire; around 7 a.m. fire was opened against our troops from some houses in the village," the army said in the statement. "Following the fire, 18 of our soldiers were wounded in their arms or legs and around their faces and necks," the statement also said, adding that the soldiers had been transported to the hospital and none of them were in serious condition. Clashes between soldiers and smugglers in Hatay province have increased recently, prompting the Turkish Armed Forces to return fire in some cases, killing some attackers.

[09] Controversial mosque project kicks off in Istanbul

Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdogan Bayraktar and other top state figures attended the ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction of the mosque.

The project is the latest of a series of rows between government and its opponents, including conservative figures, over lack of enough deliberation and consultation with people over mega public projects concerning the wide segments of the society and people of Istanbul.

The Caml?ca Mosque project has led to fierce divisions and debates in the public over the site of the project with many people expressing their distaste and disapproval of the plan, citing the reason that the mosque could harm Istanbul's silhouette.

Speaking to the audience at the ceremony, Minister Bayraktar said that "the government will leave its mark on history with finalizing the project".

With completion of the project, he said, the mosque will be a symbol across the Islamic world. Bayraktar also stated that government will launch a large campaign to green the hill through planting thousands of trees.

The mosque, which will occupy a nearly 15,000-square-meter plot and will hold approximately 30,000 people, has been designed to be visible from every corner of Istanbul and plans include cultural and social facilities in its vicinity. Additional facilities will be constructed in a total area of 57,511 square meters, including the mosque, a tourist area with cafes and restaurants, a recreation area, a children's park and facilities where courses on Ottoman calligraphy, gilding and ebru (paper marbling) will be offered.

[10] Turkey halts Iranian spy's extradition to Germany

Turkey filed charges against Tanideh for customs violation and forgery of documents in order to halt the Iranian spy's extradition to Germany, according to the Taraf daily.

Turkey's reasons for not declining to send Tanideh to Germany are not stated in the report.

Revealing details of the spy crisis on Tuesday, Taraf stated that by request of National Intelligence Organization (MIT) head Hakan Fidan, MIT officials held "a secret meeting" with officials from the Ministry of Justice's International Law and Foreign Affairs Directorate at the Foreign Ministry on March 6, 2013. The MIT officials proposed a plan enabling Tanideh to stay in Turkey. According to the plan, a case would be opened against the Iranian spy, and Tanideh would be released pending trial. The idea was approved and officials agreed to enact it.

After the meeting, as demanded by the Ministry of Justice, a case was opened at Istanbul's Kucukcekmece court on charges of customs violation and forgery of documents. Tanideh could not be extradited to Germany until the case is concluded, at which point Tanideh's departure from Turkey would be possible.

The daily said that Turkey's refusal to extradite a criminal, thus enabling his escape to Iran, would create a political crisis between Germany and Turkey. Within the scope of the European Convention on Extradition, Turkey will be placed in a compromising position concerning terror charges in the international arena. Turkey has signed the treaty, which was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1957.

Tanideh's extradition process was started in March; however, Turkey changed its mind and decided not to extradite Tanideh, who has been working for Iranian intelligence and Iran's Revolutionary Guards to aid Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

German prosecutors determined that materials with nuclear applications obtained in Germany and India were transported to Iran through Turkey and opened an investigation into the issue in 2012. Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office issued an arrest warrant on Aug. 6, 2012, by means of an Interpol Red Notice, for Tanideh due to alleged violations of the Foreign Trade Act and Control of Weapons Act.

Launching an extensive probe into Tanideh's business dealings, Interpol Ankara found that the last time Tanideh entered Turkey was through Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul on June 18, 2012. Tanideh's location was uncovered in a joint operation between Turkey's Interpol office and the Istanbul Police Department's organized crime unit. He was taken into custody on Jan. 19, 2013, after which the extradition process was initiated by Interpol officials.

[11] Pre-qualification tender for Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline announced

The TANAP project intends to enable transportation of the gas of the Shah Deniz 2 field and other fields in Azerbaijan through Turkey to Europe.

The tender notices for the pre-qualification stage of the onshore pipeline and block valve and pigging stations construction of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) were announced this week. The invitations to bid will be made in the first quarter of 2014 and contracts are expected to be awarded in the third quarter of 2014, according to the notice. The construction period is expected to start at the end of 2014.

The TANAP, a natural gas pipeline system running from the Georgia-Turkey border to the Turkey-Greece border, will mainly consist of steel pipe with a diameter of 56" (alternatively 48"), including a short offshore section and interconnecting lines that may have reduced diameters, block valve stations, pigging stations, metering stations, pressure reduction stations, compressor stations and related SCADA and telecommunication facilities, according to the notice.

The onshore pipeline can be split into different construction contracts of as yet unspecified lengths, the notice said. Entities interested in being pre-qualified are requested to submit a scanned copy of expression of interest letter to the authorities on Aug. 15, 2013. The pre-qualification package will be distributed to all interested applicants on Aug. 16, 2013, and the receipt of applications is scheduled for Sept. 27.

The TANAP project intends to enable the transportation of the gas of the Shah Deniz 2 field and other fields of Azerbaijan (and other possible neighboring countries) through Turkey to Europe. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the governments of Turkey and Azerbaijan on December 2011 in the Turkish capital Ankara. SOCAR owned 80 percent and Turkey 20 percent share in the TANAP project at the beginning, but SOCAR sold later 29 percent of its share to BP, Statoil and Total, all of which have shares in the Shah Deniz 2 Consortium. The Shah Deniz field is expected to cost around $40 billion with the accompanying pipelines, TANAP and Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP).

The operators of the Shah Deniz 2 field ? BP, Statoil, Azeri state energy firm SOCAR, Total, and others ? officially announced June 28 in Baku that they had chosen the Trans-Adriatic-Pipeline (TAP) to carry Azeri gas to Europe across Greece, Albania and Turkey.

The TANAP is planned to be completed in 2018 and will be connected to the TAP. First 16 billion cubic meters [bcm] of gas is expected in the initial stage in 2019, gradually hitting 23 bcm in 2020 and 31 bcm in 2026. During the first period, 10 bcm of Azeri gas will be sold to Europe and 6 bcm to Turkey.

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