Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-10-12

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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] Ninety five persons killed in deadliest act of terrorism in Turkey's history

[02] Opposition criticizes AK Party government after Ankara blasts

[03] EU Affairs Minister: Bomb attacks designed to cause political uncertainty' ahead of general election

[04] PKK says that it halts attacks in Turkey

[05] Turkish columnists on Ankara bomb attack

[06] Reactions in the occupied area of Cyprus to the bomb attack in Ankara

[07] Turkish Cypriot columnists assess the bomb attack in Ankara

[08] Akinci criticized Greek Cypriot media reports on the Cyprus talks

[09] Hammond discussed with Akinci the latest developments on the Cyprus talks

[10] Talat: "A referendum on the Cyprus problem is possible to take place before May"

[11] BKP: "We are opposed to the 1960's system of guarantees"

[12] Water from Turkey arrived in the breakaway regime

[13] Talat evaluated the issue of the water management and the Cyprus problem

[14] The "KTSO" concluded its contacts in London; Statements by Cirali

[15] EU programme Support Office visited Ertugruloglu

[16] Eroglu expressed his worries over the developments in UBP

[17] Self-styled ministry of tourism took part in the TTG Rimini 2015 Tourism fair

[18] The Syrian Ambassador to Tanzania paid an illegal visit to "DAU" rector Prof. Dr Necdet Osam

[19] Turkish Energy Minister says no problem with Akkuyu nuclear power project

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ninety five persons killed in deadliest act of terrorism in Turkey's history

Speaking at a press conference along with the Interior and Justice Ministers, Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu had earlier said the death toll was 86 and that 186 people were also injured in the attack, 28 of whom are in critical condition. A total of 62 people died at the scene of the attack while 24 died at hospitals, according to the Health Minister.

Interior Minister Selami Altinok dismissed suggestions that the authorities failed to take sufficient security measures to prevent the attack, when responding to a question if he was planning to resign over alleged negligence on the part of the state.

The attack targeting the peace rally in downtown Ankara came weeks before a parliamentary election slated for Nov. 1 and is set to significantly heighten political tensions in the country.

[02] Opposition criticizes AK Party government after Ankara blasts

Main opposition Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu condemned the attack in Ankara. Saying that he sent a delegation from the CHP to make first-hand observations at the scene, Kilicdaroglu said the number of known casualties reported in the media from the blast are heart-wrenching.

Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), lambasted the government after the attack, saying it was an "attack by the state on the people," and saying that world leaders should not send messages of condolences to the President or the Prime Minister for the deaths. "We are faced with a very large massacre, a vicious, barbarous attack," he told reporters.

Calling the blasts as "provocations," pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara Deputy Sirri Sureyya Onder said: "Those who cannot tolerate peace have done something extremely provocative with this attack. What we will say now will just be speculations. The explosions took place at the location where the HDP group was standing in the rally area."

HDP Agri Mayor Sirri Sakik, speaking to the Cihan news agency on Saturday, claimed that the AK Party government does not "want the guns to be silenced" in Turkey, further alleging that those who are behind the massacres can no longer administer the country.

[03] EU Affairs Minister: Bomb attacks designed to cause political uncertainty' ahead of general election

"The main message is to create an insecure atmosphere by targeting so many people because you don't know the perpetrator," she said in a live TV interview on CNN Turk. She added: "In the present circumstances, the first thing that we need to do is be calm."

Dedeoglu said the attack was also targeted to cause "public indignation". She claimed those behind the blasts were attempting to "direct Turkish policy by way of the PKK" and take Turkey "out of the picture, especially over Syria."

In addition, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (10.10.15) reported that responding to questions from press members in the Aegean city of Afyonkarahisar on Saturday, Forestry and Water Affairs Minister Veysel Eroglu spoke of the HDP's alleged role behind the deadly blasts and said: "You know that a provocative attack had previously been carried out in Diyarbakir province in the run-up to the [June 7] election in order to portray them [HDP] as victims and to help them pass the election threshold. We saw the same in Diyarbakir and elsewhere. I hope the perpetrators will be caught and punished as soon as possible."

[04] PKK says that it halts attacks in Turkey

Firat news agency reported the head of the PKK umbrella group as saying the decision was taken in response to calls from within and outside Turkey and that it would avoid acts which could prevent a "fair and just election" being held on Nov. 1. The announcement came hours after at least thirty people were killed when twin explosions hit a rally of hundreds of pro-Kurdish and leftist activists outside Ankara's main train station in what the government said was a terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, Hurriyet Daily News (11.10.15) reported that the Turkish military said that it carried out air strikes on PKK targets in south-eastern Turkey and northern Iraq, a day after the PKK called on its militants to halt activities in Turkey unless facing an attack.

PKK shelters and gun positions were destroyed during air strikes in the Metina and Zap areas of northern Iraq, while 14 PKK militants were killed in strikes in the Lice area of southeast Turkey on Oct. 10, the military statement said.

[05] Turkish columnists on Ankara bomb attack

Under the title: "Train Station", Soli Ozel writes the following in HaberTurk (11.10.15):

"After the news came in from Ankara yesterday morning it would not have been possible for anyone who calls himself a "human being" not to be shaken to their core. [?]

As we live in Turkey we all know that a proper investigation is not going to be made, that the culprits in the background are going to remain unknown and that none of those responsible will be brought to account. The fact that the connections between these acts of terrorism, which all have trigger men, has never been presented with credible evidence only makes our skepticism much deeper. [?]

It is going to be necessary to ask why a peace rally that started out so enthusiastically ended in such slaughter, why these kinds of massacres always take place during rallies along similar political lines, and where the police were because they do not normally allow people to breathe during even the simplest of demonstrations. Even if we know that those answers are not coming.

Even if the people who carried out this incident are found, we are still going to wonder who orchestrated it and which connection were behind this awful act of terrorism. We are going to want to understand why the state's authorities and people in charge were not as thorough as they would have been for a ruling party or president's rally when the most basic of democratic rights, the right to march in protest, was being used. [?] Now that words have failed us, we no longer know how the vast and hate-filled polarity in this country can be softened. The only thing we do know is that elections must be held.

[?]

Going to the ballot box on 1 November and starting a new political period with the results that emerge are perhaps the first step we can take to honor the memory of those citizens who were slaughtered yesterday."

Under the title "The government did not do it, but?", Ahmet Hakan writes the following in Hurriyet Daily News:

"Of course the government did not organize the bloody attack in Ankara. [?] But the issue does not end there. There is a "but" in the matter. This "but" is what we should not skip. [?] The government, with its foreign policy it has carried out for the past three years, has left not even one country that could be called a friend. Not only this, it has also brought Turkey to the brink of war with at least eight countries. Thus, Turkey became the training ground of terror organizations. From this point of view, the government is guilty of its thin mustaches.

[?]

The government, with its policy of "polarize, demonize, consolidate the votes and hold this much of a percent at hand," it has been implementing for the past five years, has made this country a country of those who hate each other. Thus, Turkey has become the perfect application field for all kinds of provocations. From this point of view, the government is guilty of its tacky hair.

Yes, the government did not organize the attack but? [?]"

[06] Reactions in the occupied area of Cyprus to the bomb attack in Ankara

A group of around three thousand persons gathered at Kuyulu Park in the occupied part of the divided Cypriot capital and marched towards the Turkish so-called embassy shouting slogans such as "Fascist Erdogan" and "Murderer Erdogan". The "police" created two cordons in order to prevent the crowd from approaching the "embassy". The participants in the activity read out the names of the victims during the bomb attack in Ankara and a statement regarding the incident.

The statement was issued by the Peace Platform, which is established by political parties such as the Social Democracy Party (TDP), the United Cyprus Party (BKP), the New Cyprus Party (YKP) and the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP) as well as by trade unions such as Dev-Is, KTOS, KTOEOS, Cag-Sen, BES, Tip-is, Basin-Sen etc.

The statement said that efforts were exerted to carry more than a 100 [wounded] persons to the hospital with the peace banners, but the police threw tear gas while these efforts were exerted, "in spite of the committed crime". The statement expresses the following views:

"Just like the co-chairman of the [Peoples' Democracy Party] HDP [Selahattin] Demirtas said, this slaughter was materialized not by dark forces, but by forces that are not secret. The state is the one responsible for this slaughter. This is a slaughter directed against the peoples of Turkey. While during the state's own rallies the day before yesterday even a bird was not permitted to fly, why this weakness of [providing] security exists within the pro-peace people? While great security measures are taken for those who want war, why those who want peace cannot be protected and their security cannot be provided?

Explosions like the ones in Diyarbakir and Suruc were seen in Ankara. This means the following: Wanting peace in this country is tantamount to wanting to die. It is tantamount to walking to death for the sake of peace [?] We give our word to the victims for peace: We will carry the flag for peace until peace is reached".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.10.15) refers to the issue and describes the security measures taken by the "police" as "very strict" noting that the park and the surrounding area was searched for bombs. The paper writes that among those who participated in the protest against "terrorism" were Dogus Derya, self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the former "mayor" of the occupied part of Nicosia, Kadri Fellahoglu.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci said yesterday that the attacks in Ankara have deeply saddened everyone, adding that "if Ankara cries, Nicosia cannot laugh, we share Turkey's pain, we strongly condemn those who carried out this terrorist act". Akinci made this statement during a festival at occupied Komi Kepir village.

According to Kibris, the attack was condemned by many Turkish Cypriot "officials", such as the self-styled prime minister and the "foreign minister" of the breakaway regime Omer Kalyoncu and Emine Colak respectively, the former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, political parties and organizations.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (11.10.15) reports that the breakaway regime declared a three-day mourning in the occupied area of Cyprus as of yesterday. A letter of condolences has been sent by Kalyoncu to Prime Minister Davutoglu and by Akinci to President Erdogan.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Turkish Cypriot columnists assess the bomb attack in Ankara

"[?] Those killed belong always to the same section [of the society]. They are secular, intellectual, revolutionary Kurds and Turks. Actually these are those whom the religious murderers in the Middle East are afraid the most, because they are the alternative of the empire of fear based on Koran which they want to establish. [?] Therefore they should be murdered, terrorized, intimidated, so that the way for the religious reactionizm is paved.

The terrible atrocity in Ankara showed us that a big weakness of security exists in Turkey. Moreover, a mentality exists that has been so humiliated that throws pepper spray to the people who were wounded in the attack and those who were trying to help them. This mentality is so impudent that ties on TOMA vehicles [Translator's note: A vehicle used by the police in facing demonstrations] the killed people and drags them. [?]"

Wondering whether the situation in Turkey will be transferred in the occupied area of Cyprus, Duzgun notes that the assassinated persons in Ankara had a way of life similar to the one of the Turkish Cypriots and "from this point of view the Turkish Cypriots may turn into a target".

Finally, writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (11.10.15), the paper's director Sener Levent reports that he does not want this Turkey in Cyprus, because Turkey means "blood, torture, barbarity and death". "Are you not ashamed to ask from a barbarian to become your guarantor", he wonders and points out that "when I see what they do to their own people, I can imagine what they did to the Greek Cypriots in 1974".

"If there is a Greek Cypriot who will accept Turkey's guarantees again, it means that he has a loose screw", he argues and expresses the hope that the Greek Cypriot leadership is so wise as not to accept Turkey's guarantees. He further asks those who talk about "terrorism" whether they do not realize that "the [Turkish] state itself is the terrorist".

(I/Ts.)

[08] Akinci criticized Greek Cypriot media reports on the Cyprus talks

Speaking at the 17th Eco-Day, which was held yesterday at the occupied village of Komi Kepir, Akinci evaluated the Cyprus talks. Akinci said that it is his duty to establish a bi-zonal and bi-communal structure under the federation structure. He added: "We are working with sincerity to establish a structure which will be accepted mutually by the two sides and which will be voted at a referendum".

Criticizing Greek Cypriot media reports and statements made by various circles in South Cyprus (translator's noted: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus), Akinci said: "Especially these days, some circles in the South and the Greek Cypriot media are trying to manipulate the negotiations. They are trying to determine what issues should be discussed or not at the table and what the elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community should or should not say. They should give this up as soon as possible. This approach is not right."

Noting that they will abide by the EU principles on their efforts for finding a solution, Akinci said that there are the UN parameters dating back to the beginning of the 90's and which referred to a bi-zonal, bi-communal structure and which are also included in the 11th of February 2014 Joint Declaration. Akinci further said: "We are not seeking a solution at all costs. In this regard, of course, EU principles are important but the lessons we should learn from the past are also important. It is important not to live again the same experiences of the past. It is important to establish a good future by deriving lessons from the past. I want also to stress that the people should pay attention to the message given by us (the leaders) to them and not to the speculations and statements coming from the Greek Cypriot media".

(DPs)

[09] Hammond discussed with Akinci the latest developments on the Cyprus talks

According to a press statement by the "presidency", the meeting between Akinci and Hammond did not happen due to the intense programme of the meetings at the UN General Assembly in New York. Hammond called yesterday morning Akinci and obtained information on the latest situation reached on the on-going Cyprus talks.

Akinci informed Hammond on the sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriot community. Hammond, in addition, conveyed to Akinci that he desires to visit again the island in the near future and to meet with him.

(DPs)

[10] Talat: "A referendum on the Cyprus problem is possible to take place before May"

Explaining to the participants at the event the advantages of a possible solution on the Cyprus problem, Talat pointed out that there are disagreements between the two sides at the negotiating table not on the property issue but on the issue of "Governance and Power sharing. Arguing that the majority of the chapters on the Cyprus problem are about to be completed soon, he expressed the belief that all problems will be overcome after the determination of the criteria on the property issue and that he expects for a referendum to take place before May.

Supporting that the Cyprus problem has gained a different dimension during the current stage of the Cyprus negotiation talks, Talat alleged that for the first time the Greek Cypriot side verges on the direction of the solution.

As regards the stance of the Turkish Cypriot side, Talat said that after the completion of Eroglu's term in office, the Turkish Cypriot side has undertaken again an important role on the Cyprus negotiation process and it is the side which is in favor of the solution.

Supporting that except from the property issue the other issues were in a great extent completed, Talat referred to the issue of the EU primary law, the issue of the rotating presidency and the cross-voting and supported that all these are issues that could be solved.

As regards the guarantees issue, Talat proposed for the issue of security and guarantees to be discussed in a conference with the guarantor ship countries in the last stage of the talks.

(AK)

[11] BKP: "We are opposed to the 1960's system of guarantees"

Izcan underlined in the statement that in spite of the fact that the "Treaty of Guarantees and Alliance" which was signed in 1960 between Turkey, Greece and the UK, envisages the independence of the Republic of Cyprus and guarantees the territorial sovereignty, the security and the constitutional status of the Cyprus Republic", is nothing else but the contrary.

Izcan added that the "Treaty of Alliance and Guarantees" is nothing else but an imposition by the imperialist powers and NATO which want to keep Cyprus as a hostage. "The guarantees system secures the interests of NATO and the imperialist powers and not the interests and the security of the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots in Cyprus", Izcan said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (12.10.15) reports that the general secretary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Abdullah Korkmazhan, in a written statement, stressed the need for the agreement to be reached on the Cyprus problem, to respect the rights of all Cypriots on property, the basic human rights and their freedoms and added that they are against the establishment of a "forbidden regime" with viable derogations.

"Viable derogations will not become accepted by the EU and will be returned back by the international courts", Korkmazhan said.

"If we want a solution, we are obliged to act according to the EU acquis, the international law and justice on property issue and other issues", Kormazhan added.

(AK)

[12] Water from Turkey arrived in the breakaway regime

The water came from the Turkish province of Mersin through the "Northern Cyprus Water Supply project", the Turkish Minister said in a statement. Eroglu said that Turkey has started to provide water to the 80-kilometer long pipeline which runs 250 meters (820 feet) under the Mediterranean Sea. According to Eroglu, the project to supply water to the island cost about 1.25 billion Turkish liras ($431 million).

With the project, around 75 million cubic meters of water may be sent to the breakaway regime from the Alakopru Dam on the Dragos River in Mersin- in southern Turkey.

[13] Talat evaluated the issue of the water management and the Cyprus problem

Speaking in a breakfast meeting with a group of journalists in the occupied area of Cyprus, Talat warned that if Turkey continues to insist on the issue of the privatization of the water management, a crisis may occur as he said. "A possible crisis about the water management may occur and it is unknown what will be the reflection of this to the government", said Talat.

Stressing the need for the autonomous company BESKI which was established by the "municipalities" to be given the authority of the management of the water from Turkey until the water is stored, Talat said that the "municipalities" have legally the right to be responsible for the distribution of the water.

Supporting that in the "government program" it is clearly written that the management of the water will be undertaken by the "autonomous water authority", Talat said that they have prepared a draft of the "inter-governmental agreement" towards this issue. Stating that this draft should become "legal" in the process to follow, Talat added that during the negotiation to follow with Turkey, the price and who will be responsible for the management will be determined.

Evaluating the Cyprus problem, Talat said that five years were lost since no progress has been achieved on the Cyprus problem. He then expressed the belief that with the new process on the Cyprus negotiation talks, solution is possible to be reached within months.

(?)

(AK)

[14] The "KTSO" concluded its contacts in London; Statements by Cirali

Issuing a written statement, the "chamber" announced that they held contacts with officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK, with MPs, representatives of several Turkish Cypriot organizations in London and with businessmen. The "chamber" said that they exchanged views about the role of the "industrial sector" after the solution of the Cyprus problem, about the economy and the issue of halloumi/hellim.

Speaking about their contacts in London, Cirali said that they briefed the Turkish Cypriots living abroad about the latest developments on the hellim/halloumi issue. He added that they found the opportunity to convey to British officials the "worries" of the Turkish Cypriots towards this issue.

Referring to the serious problem the sector of the industry will confront after a possible solution on the Cyprus problem, Cirali said that they briefed the British officials about the preparatory work they carry out in the field of the economy so that the economy of "north Cyprus" to become compatible with that of the "south".

Cirali stated further that they met with Turkish Cypriot businessmen, experts and bureaucrats with whom they discussed the possible investment opportunities after the solution.

Cirali and his accompanied delegation met during their last day of stay in London with Jeffrey Donaldson, a Democratic Unionist MP with whom they discussed the latest developments on the Cyprus problem as well as the issue of the geographical registration of the hellim in the EU.

(AK)

[15] EU programme Support Office visited Ertugruloglu

During the meeting, they evaluated the stage reached on the project of the new generation telecommunication network, as well as the road and traffic projects, which are being carried out jointly by the "ministry" and the European Commission. The self-styled undersecretary of the ministry of transport Suat Yeldener and the "director" of the information and communication board (BTHK) Kadri Buruncuk were also present at the meeting.

(DPs)

[16] Eroglu expressed his worries over the developments in UBP

Eroglu stated that the process as regards the election congress in not healthy and also called on the party's chairman to pay attention to the voices that rose from the party's base. He also stated that the mission of the party, which is to continue protecting the existence, the sovereignty and the freedom of the Turkish Cypriots must continue.

(CS)

[17] Self-styled ministry of tourism took part in the TTG Rimini 2015 Tourism fair

According to a press release by the "ministry", the tourism fair was held between 8-10 of October. The "tourism under-secretary" Sahap Asikoglu and "tourism promotion and marketing department officer" Ozan Kirmizi are in the Italian city for the fair.

[18] The Syrian Ambassador to Tanzania paid an illegal visit to "DAU" rector Prof. Dr Necdet Osam

Noting that he is visiting "DAU" because of his two daughters, who chose to pursue their higher education in "DAU", Annan claimed that he heard the good reputation of "DAU" from African and Syrian families. Annan also thanked Prof. Dr Osam for the interest that "DAU" demonstrates towards Syrian students. Osam thanked Annan for preferring "DAU" for his daughters' higher education. "Deputy rector" for academic affairs Prof. Dr Ahmet Sozen and "vice rector" for promotion affairs Prof. Dr Hasan Amca were also present in the meeting with the Syrian Ambassador.

(DPs)

[19] Turkish Energy Minister says no problem with Akkuyu nuclear power project

"The project has been undertaken in line with how it had been planned earlier. There is not any problem between Turkey and Russia about the project. Our Ministry has been working in harmony with Akkuyu NGS, the company which was established to build the power plant by Russia's Rosatom," said the Minister, Ali Riza Alaboyun, in a written statement Oct. 10. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(CS/ AM)

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