Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-12-10

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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] Nami holds contacts in Guinea

[02] The breakaway regime is represented at another institution of OIC

[03] Bagis: Solution in Cyprus will open Turkey's way towards the EU

[04] Swoboda will try to get all Cypriot citizens represented in the EP

[05] Yorgancioglu's "opponents" are reportedly the majority at CTP's newly elected council

[06] The occupation regime builds hydraulic road barriers at the crossing points

[07] The 2nd section of pipe in water supply project is placed

[08] Deputy and journalist Balbay released after 4 years, 277 days in jail

[09] Readmission agreement with EU raises concerns

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Nami holds contacts in Guinea

According to a statement issued by his "ministry", Nami held a short meeting with the General Secretary of OIC, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and afterwards met with Ihsanoglu's successor to the post, former Saudi Arabian Minister, Dr. Iyad Medeni. The meeting has reportedly taken place upon Medini's request. Medeni asked Nami to inform him on what the Turkish Cypriots want from OIC's member-states and on the "difficulties experienced by the TRNC".

According to the self-styled ministry's statement, Medeni said that that he would continue the way opened by Ihsanoglu and do whatever he can. He noted that they support the initiatives for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and appreciate the "active efforts" allegedly exerted by the Turkish Cypriots in the direction of finding a solution.

Meanwhile, Nami met also with Iran's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Abdolla Hian, who asked Nami about his impressions from his recent visit to Tehran. Nami thanked him once more for their hospitality and expressed the wish to meet again with him during their stay in Guinea.

Finally, Nami met also with the Turkish Minister of Development, Cevdet Yilmaz.

(I/Ts.)

[02] The breakaway regime is represented at another institution of OIC

According to a statement issued by the "ministry", the application of the regime was accepted at SMIIC's 7th Directors' Council Meeting in Istanbul. The regime was represented at the meeting by the "Department of Trade's' director, Nalan Nazli.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Bagis: Solution in Cyprus will open Turkey's way towards the EU

(I/Ts.)

[04] Swoboda will try to get all Cypriot citizens represented in the EP

Replying to the questions of Kibris journalist Osman Kalfaoglu through his political advisor and spokesperson Celine Bayer, Swoboda said that he pressed the issue with Schulz to find a workable agreement, adding that Schulz exerted efforts so that Cyprus Parliamentary Speaker Yiannakis Omirou, who is his Cyprus interlocutor, takes action.

The paper reports that Swoboda called on Schulz last April to start negotiations with the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus to find a sustainable solution that would allow Turkish Cypriot politicians to participate in the work of the European Parliament.

"It is no longer acceptable that a group of European citizens is not represented in the European Parliament," Swoboda said and asked from the Cyprus government to propose viable and practical solutions on how the representation of the Turkish Cypriots could be addressed at the next European Parliament elections.

Swoboda noted that the right of representation of all EU citizens is a necessity. He also said that although only six months are left until the European Parliament elections in May 2014, the Social Democrat Group will try to secure the representation of all citizens in Cyprus by utilizing every possible means with other groups.

[05] Yorgancioglu's "opponents" are reportedly the majority at CTP's newly elected council

The second place was taken by Alev Sensoy and the third by former so-called MP, Ergin ilktac. Persons known as Yorgancioglu's "opponents", such as Ilke Sabit Soyer and Sonay Adem are also on the top places of the list of those who secured the most votes.

The Council is now expected to elect the general secretary and the administrative committee of the party.

(I/Ts.)

[06] The occupation regime builds hydraulic road barriers at the crossing points

The paper stresses that it is one more step in reinforcing bi-zonality and division. It is unknown whether this decision has been taken by the self-styled government or the occupation army, the paper notes, adding that the Turkish Cypriots expect an announcement by the "government".

The paper publishes photos of the Ledra Palace crossing point, where work to install the hydraulic road barrier has already started.

[07] The 2nd section of pipe in water supply project is placed

Three kilometres of pipe in total will be laid under the water by the end of this year, said Hakan Ugur, the project manager of Detek Deniz Teknolojileri, the firm that is laying and fixing the pipe in place for the project, on Monday.

The water will be transported to the Panagra dam near occupied Kyrenia. The project, which is envisaged to be completed by March of next year, will be funded by Turkey. Stressing that so far a 500-meter-long second pipe has been laid and the construction of the water pipeline has been carried out by an expert team including divers, Ugur said they are planning to finish the three-kilometre-long stage by the end of the year.

The $4 billion economy of the breakaway regime relies on some $600 million of financial aid Ankara provides annually. Ankara wants the breakaway regime, currently recognized only by Turkey, "to cut its budget deficit and rein in public finances, reducing the vast public sector, slashing salaries and selling loss-making state companies".

[08] Deputy and journalist Balbay released after 4 years, 277 days in jail

"I sincerely hope that this process will be a fresh start," the journalist and Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Balbay said immediately after leaving Ankara's Sincan Prison.

Balbay, 53, who was elected to Parliament in the 2011 general elections for the CHP, said he would probably take his parliamentary oath Dec. 10, but wanted more than anything else to take the pledge in front of the public.

Vowing to fight against every kind of unlawfulness and injustice, Balbay particularly asserted that he would take on the duty of supporting the freedom of prisoners subject to unjust treatment and lengthy detentions.

"I feel responsible for the tens, even hundreds of detainees seeking justice, as I am the one who have now closed the doors on them," he said. "Even though it isn't forgettable, this is not the time to bear grudges," Balbay said, ending his remarks by declaring "hello to freedom and hello to Turkey."

At present six jailed lawmakers, several mayors, and tens of Gezi Park protesters, journalists, lawyers and soldiers are in prison, Balbay recalled, adding that he hopes his release "will be a fresh start to remove such rights violations."

The prosecutor in the Ergenekon coup plot case, in which he was sentenced to 34 years and eight months in prison pending appeal, demanded the court release him in the wake of the top court ruling.

There are currently six lawmakers in jail apart from Balbay; five from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and one from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The BDP deputies are detained under arrest, while the MHP deputy has been convicted.

[09] Readmission agreement with EU raises concerns

Speaking on the NTV channel, Bagis tried to soothe concerns over the readmission agreement, saying that Turkey has started visa liberalization talks with the EU "on its own terms," and that both the visa exemption and the readmission agreement will be implemented in about three years' time.

Though the deal is being presented "like it's a big victory," main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Faruk Logoglu said on Monday, "Turkey seems to have made many serious compromises with the EU for visa exemption, which was hoped to be implemented in 3 to 3.5 years."

Logoglu said that the visa exemption may not even come through in the end, while Turkey will have to shoulder the many burdens that come with the readmission agreement. Turkey has to increase security along its border, which will be expensive, he said. According to Bagis, however, funding from the EU will offset the cost of the security upgrades.

"I don't see why it's alright to sign the readmission agreement now. I don't think anything changed regarding Turkey's concerns," Ankara Strategy Institute President Mehmet Ozcan told Today's Zaman on Monday.

An expert on EU law, Ozcan stressed that the visa exemption agreement is an international agreement and needs to be ratified in each member country's parliament. "You have an agreement both with the EU and the member countries. What will happen when the government of Cyprus or Germany says no in the end?" Ozcan said.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Gumrukcu told Today's Zaman that the readmission agreement has many benefits for Turkey when compared with similar deals other countries have signed with the EU. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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