Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-08-20

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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] Famagusta Initiative says Turkey keeps fenced Varosha and the future of Famagusta's inhabitants as hostage since 1974

[02] CTP gives priority to establishing a "government" with the DP-UG

[03] Gulten Plumer Kucuk denies information published by a Greek Cypriot newspaper on the missing persons

[04] Fire in occupied Limnitis burned 452 hectares of land; UN rejects Eroglu's accusations

[05] Turkey makes money from occupied Cyprus's historical sites

[06] Ankara in intense work over Egypt

[07] OIC head rebuffs criticisms of Turkish officials

[08] Newly founded pro-Kurdish party holds first congress

[09] Turkish defence company Aselsan to develop strategic naval radar

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Famagusta Initiative says Turkey keeps fenced Varosha and the future of Famagusta's inhabitants as hostage since 1974

Atai noted that the politicians who say that "Varosha is part of the comprehensive solution" in Cyprus and those who allege that Varosha is Evkaf religious foundation's property, "have absolutely no relation with the realities of the city of Famagusta". He said that these politicians do not represent the view of the people of Famagusta. Atai expressed the view that these politicians give wrong messages to both the internal public and the world and added that the above-mentioned politicians and associations see Varosha as "a cow to be milked" and pursue unilateral gains. He noted that these persons and associations are deprived of the universal thinking having people as its centre and inter-communal peace and reconciliation as its axis.

Atai said that soon they will share with the public the results of a survey they have conducted among the inhabitants of occupied Famagusta and clearly shows the expectations of these people.

Addressing the MPs from Azerbaijan, who are invited to the occupied area of Cyprus, Atai urged them to look at Varosha and not believe what they are told by the representatives of the occupation regime. He argued: "You will witness that Varosha shares the same fate with Agdam, which Armenia has turned into ghost city in Nagorno Karabah the past 20 years. Because there is absolutely no difference between Varosha, which Turkey keeps as hostage and Agdam which Armenia keeps as hostage".

Atai said that another unacceptable practice in the occupied area of Cyprus after 1974 is the change of the names of the places that existed for thousands of years. He pointed out that by changing these names at once the regime tried to extinguish the traces of the cultural identities which exist there.

The paper writes that during their interview, Atai was wearing a t-shirt having on it the picture of a bird with a broken wing and the number 39. He said that the bird symbolized Famagusta which is divided. He added that because one of its wings is broken, that is because Varosha is closed, the bird cannot fly for 39 years. "39 symbolizes the ongoing since 1974 suffering of the city of Famagusta, the future of which is kept hostage because of Varosha", he explained.

(I/Ts.)

[02] CTP gives priority to establishing a "government" with the DP-UG

In statements after the meeting, CTP's chairman Ozkan Yorgancioglu said that the council of the CTP will evaluate on 22 August the positive or negative results of the meetings with the DP-UG. Asked whether the council of the party had some "red lines", he said that they had "red lines", just like the other side, that is the DP has. He noted that the most important issue on which they could not "go back" is the Cyprus problem. He said that discussions might start within the forthcoming days on the Cyprus problem, which is the most important issue for his party since CTP's establishment.

Arguing that they had held no bargaining for distribution of "ministries" until today, Yorgancioglu said that they have different approaches on some issues, but "in general there is a consensus".

Asked what will happen if they could not reach an agreement with the DP, Yorgancioglu said that the proposals will be submitted to the council of the party, which will decide the course of the discussions.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Gulten Plumer Kucuk denies information published by a Greek Cypriot newspaper on the missing persons

"We will continue taking permission for holding excavations in military zones. The military authorities have never refrained from cooperating with us", she argued noting that they do not possess the information published in the Greek Cypriot paper.

She said that the Committee works based on the principle of secrecy and that it keeps secret the names of the persons who give information. "This kind of speculative news, deals a blow to the efforts and is wrong", she argued.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Fire in occupied Limnitis burned 452 hectares of land; UN rejects Eroglu's accusations

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (20.08.13) reports that an official of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has been asked by the paper to comment on Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu's accusation against the UN that the UN teams in occupied Limnitis area had not helped the regime in extinguishing the fire. The official said that he could not accept that they did not help the Turkish side and noted that the UN "always keeps equal distance between the two sides".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkey makes money from occupied Cyprus' historical sites

According to the paper, the fact this Turkey's "Muzekart" is valid in the occupied area of Cyprus caused some citizens' reactions. A reader, who asked to remain unknown, called Kibris and said that when he was on vacation in Turkey he wanted to visit St. Mary's Monastery with his spouse and added that the officials at entrance of the monastery suggested to him to buy the card that could be used in Cyprus as well. The reader wondered how Turkey could obtain income from occupied Cyprus' museums and historical sites. "That is, you pay 20 TL more and you tour free of charge the museums and the historical sites in the TRNC, but the money remain there", he said.

The paper reports that this practice started because of a "protocol' signed last year between Turkey's Minister of Tourism and Culture, Ertugrul Gunay and the regime's former self-styled minister of tourism, environment and culture, Unal Ustel. The self-styled minister of tourism, environment and culture, Mehmet Harmanci told Kibris that only the citizens of Turkey and the breakaway regime could benefit from "Muzekart". He said that according to the "protocol", the regime does not get any financial income from this practice.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ankara in intense work over Egypt

President Abdullah G?l and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo
an will hold a summit on Egypt on Aug. 20, a day before the country's top security board is set to convene to discuss all regional developments, with particular emphasis on Egypt and Syria. The two were scheduled to meet Aug. 18 but the meeting was cancelled at the last minute.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto
lu is also expected to join the President and the Prime Minister.

Before the Aug. 20 meeting, G?l was briefed by Turkish Ambassador to Egypt H?seyin Avni Botsal1
, who was called back to Ankara for consultations following the Egyptian security forces' brutal intervention against protestors. "I was briefed by our most knowledgeable person about the developments. We talked about how we can help Egypt overcome this chaos," G?l told reporters Aug. 19. When asked when Botsal1
would return to Cairo, G?l underlined that he had been recalled for consultations, meaning the ambassador could be resent to Egypt in the near future.

In parallel to these talks, the Turkish government has intensified its diplomatic efforts to push the international community to stand against the coup in Egypt, while further raising its voice against the interim government.

Botsal1
joined the weekly cabinet meeting in order to brief ministers concerning the latest developments in Egypt. He earlier separately briefed President Abdullah G?l and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto
lu about the course of developments in a country where he has been serving since 2009. Although Botsal1
's mandate expired in Egypt on June 30, days before the coup took place, his term in Cairo was extended in light of his expertise on the political situation in the north African country.

According to sources, the Cabinet has reviewed the crisis in Egypt and its potential consequences on both bilateral relations and in the Middle Eastern region. Economic relations have already been negatively affected of the turmoil in Egypt, following leading Turkish companies' recent decision to suspend operations in the country. Despite problems, however, Economy Minister Zafer ?a
layan has said Turkey is not considering suspending its economic relations with Egypt.

While trying to mobilize international bodies such as the U.N. and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to speak out and be more critical against the interim government, the Turkish government has also repeatedly called on Cairo to release Mohamed Morsi and announce elections as soon as possible.

An overall assessment will be made during the National Security Council (MGK) meeting on Wednesday, with the participation of top military officials including Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet ?zel. Ambassador Botsal1
is also expected to join the meeting and brief the members of the MGK.

[07] OIC head rebuffs criticisms of Turkish officials

"What is happening in Egypt is savagery. Born and raised in Egypt, my feelings are beyond an average Turk toward Egypt," Prof. Ekmeleddin 0
hsano
lu wrote on his Twitter account. "Yesterday the U.N. Security Council convened upon the request of France, United Kingdom and Australia. Our statement made a day after the incident is not [short of] the U.N.'s. Some of our citizens and friends seek statements beyond this statement," he wrote.

Referring to the heavy crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood protesters on Aug. 14, 0
hsano
lu called on all parties to exercise restraint and to return to dialogue in order to forge national consensus and bring about social peace.

Responding to criticisms, he continued: "I need to wait for the consensus of states and mobilization of relevant mechanisms to make a statement unless there is a joint decision from the states. ? Until now, no state has made an application for action. When we convene upon a request, we will not be incapable of making statements."

The Secretary-General said that what was happening in Egypt was disproportionate force and a violation of human rights. "I demanded the release of Mr. [Mohamed] Morsi a day after his ouster on July 3 and offered mediation but they chose the European Union & I'm astonished how they criticize and sentence us easily by not taking into account those statements and incidents," 0
hsano
lu wrote.

[08] Newly founded pro-Kurdish party holds first congress

BDP deputy Ertu
rul K?rk?? has been asked to act as a co-chair in the party. He said: "There are no problems about the BDP's self-sufficiency. Every group that has come together to form the HDP is self-sufficient. The BDP is a component of both the People's Democratic Congress [HDK] and the HDP. The main purpose of this step [the new party] is to establish a party at a national level. Our goal is to establish a common ground for the oppressed against the Justice and Development Party [AK Party] and the Republican People's Party [CHP], which are dividing the nation." He said he hasn't yet discussed the issue of co-chairmanship at length, but confirmed that he has been proposed the post.

BDP Mardin deputy Erol Dora was one of the speakers who took the floor during the first party congress of the HDP on Sunday. Greeting the participants in three languages -- Kurdish, Syriac and Turkish -- Dora said that the HDP was seeking to unite the peoples of Kurdistan, Mesopotamia and Anatolia, who have been oppressed over the past 90 years ago and been subject to policies of annihilation due to their ethnic or religious structures. "We are heading out with the goal of building a democratic nation and not a structure based on a single-nation," he said, adding that it was important for the HDP that the current definition of Turkish citizenship in the constitution is revised. Education in one's mother-tongue is another priority area for the party, Dora explained. He also said the party believed that ?calan has an important role to play in the settlement of Turkey's Kurdish issue, demanding that the government improve his prison conditions.

BDP Adana deputy Murat Bozlak told the Taraf daily, that the HDP was not a new organization created to replace the BDP. He said the party was born out of the need to act together with revolutionary and democratic movements in Turkey. "Now that we are in a peace process we can be more flexible. We have always had this project but now we want to place it on a tougher foundation." He said the HDP was in no way a movement seeking to eliminate or end the BDP.

[09] Turkish defence company Aselsan to develop strategic naval radar

The contract for the multi-mission phased array radar, known by its Turkish acronym CAFRAD Faz-1, was signed in early August between Aselsan and the country's defence procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM).

The CAFRAD radar will be similar to the ALPHA multi-mission M-2258 advanced lightweight phased array naval radar developed by Israel's IAI and Elta for blue water and littoral warfare support. The radar was selected by the Israeli Navy for the upgrade of existing vessels, as well as for its new combatants.

Radar test for Turkey

Analysts said Aselsan's venture was the first time that Turkey's local capabilities in radar technologies were being tested. "No doubt, this is a challenge for Aselsan," said one London-based Turkey specialist. "If the Turks succeed in this program, they will certainly have passed a critical threshold in radar technology."

A senior Aselsan official was "realistically optimistic" about success. "We are perfectly aware of the technological challenges our engineers will be facing. And we are definitely confident that Aselsan has the capabilities to develop this radar in line with the specified timetable."

In a written statement, Aselsan said deliveries under the program would be completed between 2014 and 2018. The company will cooperate with the state scientific research institute, T?B0
TAK, for CAFRAD.

Under the plan, a first phase will contain the development of illumination radar and a non-rotating identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system. The second phase will involve the development of long-range surveillance and multifunctional radars.

The Aselsan official said the CAFRAD demonstrator will define the primary antenna mast architecture for the TF-2000, an air defence frigate Turkey has been developing, and for the vessel's combat management and area air defence missile systems. He said the work would focus on more sophisticated tests and development after 2014.

Moreover, Aselsan's market value was worth $1 billion in 2011, according to independent auditors. It has a backlog of orders worth $4.3 billion until 2018. Aselsan reported Aug. 11 that its 2012 net profit went up by 82 percent to $148 million. Its 2012 net sales, meanwhile, totalled $860 million and its exports $152 million. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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