Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-08-27

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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] Human trafficking for 3.500 Turkish liras

[02] Reactions on Asil Nadir case continue

[03] Yildiz said they cannot carry our explorations for oil in Hakkari because of the Kurds

[04] CTP comments on Akca's and Ozgurgun's statements

[05] Eroglu: It is not normal for a "prime minister" to ask the support of Turkey for his party's congress

[06] Increase of the exports of the regime to Middle East

[07] The breakaway regime destroys occupied Pentadaktylos mountains

[08] Ozbilenler says he will continue selling potatoes to the government-controlled area of the island

[09] "Tensions fuel debate over Syrian refugees"

[10] "Syrian camps in Hatay may be relocated"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Human trafficking for 3.500 Turkish liras

Under the title "Trafficking for 3 thousand 500 Turkish liras", Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (27.08.12) reports that the "police" have arrested four persons and during the interrogations it was established that the arrested persons have been carrying out human trafficking since June. According to the paper, a person named A.T (40) with the encouragement of other persons named N.K (24), Z.S (41) and Y.G (31) carried one unknown couple (woman and man) from Cyprus Pearl vacation village in occupied Yialousa to Turkey for 3.500 Turkish liras (TL). The same person carried in August another five persons from occupied Platanissos village to the coast of Silifke in Turkey for six thousand US dollars. On 22 August he also departed from Platanissos went to Silifke and brought to occupied Platanissos five men for seven thousand US dollars.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Reactions on Asil Nadir case continue

Talat argued that "the investment by an international giant in a state that had been almost anathematized and declared illegal by the UN Security Council which asked for its non-recognition", was "unbelievable and unacceptable for the world". This giant which did not pay attention to the warnings should be lead to collapse, he alleged expressing the view that the 150 million pounds which Nadir had stolen were not enough to lead PPI to collapse. "It is true of course that the Greek Cypriot side had also a very serious role in the process, but the main force was capitalist West", he argued.

Noting that Nadir had been supporting the National Unity Party and Rauf Denktas and was his opponent, Talat added that in 2002 during the Annan Plan process they came closer with Nadir. "Asil Nadir might not love me. Of course, I do not have to love him too, but it is not possible to forget his contributions in the process that started in 2002", said Talat arguing that Nadir's support in the change of the image of the Turkish Cypriots in the world and the "history" that had been written, was very important.

Talat wished for the situation to change after the appeal which Nadir will file.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.08.12) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu commented also on the Asil Nadir case and alleged that the statements made by Greek Cypriot officials after Nadir's conviction "are an important sign that they are not meaning well". In statements during a visit to Asil Nadir's Kibris newspaper, Eroglu argued that Foreign Minister Markoulli's statement that the sentence was "ridiculous" was thought provoking.

Eroglu alleged that asking Nadir to be handed over to the Republic of Cyprus is a sign of "sly plans" and argued that these have a negative influence on the negotiations. Eroglu expressed the hope that Nadir is acquitted after the appeal he will file and referred to the contribution of Nadir to the economy of the breakaway regime.

In his statements during the meeting with Eroglu, Resat Akar, editor-in-chief of Kibris and general director of KIBRIS Media Group, argued that the statements asking for handing over Nadir to the Republic of Cyprus aimed at causing tension on the island and set aside the negotiations.

Meanwhile, according to Kibris (26.08.12), self-styled minister of finance, Ersin Tatar argued that Asil Nadir's imprisonment in Britain was an embargo imposed on the Turkish Cypriots. Tatar made these statements in Konya, expressing his gratitude to Turkey which, he said, is the only way out for the Turkish Cypriots.

On Saturday (25.08.12), Kibris also publishes statements by Eroglu, the leaders of Democratic Party, Freedom and Reform Party and Democracy and Trust Party, Serdar Denktas, Turgay Avci and Tahsin Ertugruloglu respectively as well as by self-styled minister of economy Sunat Atun, several organizations and lawyer Ali Riza Gorgun.

Everybody expressed their support to Nadir and refer to his contribution to the economy of the breakaway regime. Gorgun said that if Nadir is not given the opportunity to file an appeal, he would go to the European Court of Human Rights and be acquitted. Serdar Denktas noted that everybody expressed their regret for Nadir's imprisonment. He said that being sorry was not enough and added that everybody should carry out a campaign putting forward their so-called state and launch initiatives which will eliminate the influence of the Greek Cypriot so-called propaganda.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Yildiz said they cannot carry our explorations for oil in Hakkari because of the Kurds

In statements during visiting a drilling platform for natural gas in the open sea of Akcakoca, Yildiz argued that "both private sector and the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) could not launch drilling because of the terror".

He said they have increased by 13 times the resources they spend for drilling and explorations for oil and added they are carrying out drillings which extend in an area of 1700 kilometres from Edirne to Kars. He noted that next year they will start drilling for natural gas in Diyarbakir with a world leading company.

(I/Ts.)

[04] CTP comments on Akca's and Ozgurgun's statements

Akansoy argued that the relations between the "TRNC" and Turkey should be placed into a "normal framework" and expressed the view that tension will continue if this does not happen. He said that the Turkish Cypriots should establish the political, social and economic structure to administrate themselves.

Akansoy commented also on a statement made by the self-styled minister of foreign affairs, Huseyin Ozgurgun, who had argued that believing that a solution will be reached in Cyprus is tantamount to daydreaming. Akansoy said that such statements should not be made and added that something should be done for Cyprus which has no other choice than finding a solution. Noting that the situation in both communities of the island cannot continue, Akansoy argued that Cyprus has become a regional problem which should be solved. He added: "Everyone knows very well how the solution will be. It will be a bi-communal, bi-zonal system composed of two constituent states based on political equality. We have no chance of acting outside the UN's binding resolutions. This is the only condition of our becoming united with the world".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Eroglu: It is not normal for a "prime minister" to ask the support of Turkey for his party's congress

Arguing that it is normal for a "prime minister" to hold meetings with Turkey, Eroglu said that it is not normal, however, for a "prime minister" to ask the support of Turkey for his party's congress.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Increase of the exports of the regime to Middle East

According to the paper, vehicles are in the first place of the imports and citrus fruits in the first place of the exports. Increase is observed in the exports of citrus fruits and scrap during 2011. Halkin Sesi notes that the exports of citrus fruits to Iran have played an important role in the increase of the exports of the regime to the Middle East countries.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The breakaway regime destroys occupied Pentadaktylos mountains

(I/Ts.)

[08] Ozbilenler says he will continue selling potatoes to the government-controlled area of the island

Noting that the markets in the government-controlled area realized this situation and started asking for Turkish Cypriot potatoes, Ozbilenler noted that his potatoes have been examined by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus and proved to be clean. He noted that within the few next weeks, he will start again to sell potatoes to the government controlled area of the Republic.

(I/Ts.)

[09] "Tensions fuel debate over Syrian refugees"

While a member of the main Syrian opposition group blames the diversity of Syrian refugees for recent incidents, some locals in the southern city of Hatay say they are fed up.

'Two of the rebels climbed to the balcony of our house and started to observe the house,' a local from Dikmece village, located 10 kilometers away from the city center, was quoted as saying in daily Hurriyet yesterday. 'We complain to the authorities but nothing happens.'

Adding to the already tense situation was the refusal of main opposition deputies' to visit a refugee camp.

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu slammed the government yesterday, after a party delegation was not allowed to visit the Apayd?n refugee camp near Hatay, which hosts defected Syrian soldiers.

'I sent our deputies to check out the camp, which was said to be full of agents and spies,' K?l?cdaroglu said while in the central Anatolian province of Afyonkarahisar. 'But the authorities said you cannot enter this camp. Now I expect an answer from the government: 'What is in that camp? Who are you training in that camp? Are you raising men to spill Muslims' blood?'

Kocaeli deputy Hursit Gunes said they couldn't get the required authorization from the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD). 'There are claims over this camp that defected soldiers are being trained and given weapons and sent back to Syria,' Gunes said, adding that he will follow up the issue when he returns to Ankara.

Turkey is currently home to nearly 80,000 Syrians who have fled violence in their country since March 2011. Turkeys representative of the Syrian National Council (SNC) said that the number of Syrian pro-government militiamen who fled to Turkey during the heavy clashes in Aleppo, have increased rapidly in the last 10 days.

Regarding the recent news reports that locals of the southern city of Hatay were causing disturbance in the city, Khaled Khoja said there were some skirmishes between local villagers and Syrian refugees here and there, but that it would be a mistake to reflect these incidents as a "general fact.'

'Especially after the heavy clashes in Aleppo; many pro-al-Assad militiamen have also fled to Turkey. The Turkish government would not be able to know who was pro-government or who was anti. They accept all the refugees who said they escaped from the violence. And right now there are many Shabbihas staying in these refugee camps in the southern cities of Hatay and Kilis,' Khoja told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday.

Khoja said besides pro-Assad forces, there are all kinds of ethnic groups staying in the refugee camps in Turkey. 'There might sometimes be skirmishes and disturbances because of this mixed social structure in these camps, however this must not be generalized,' he said".

[10] "Syrian camps in Hatay may be relocated"

"Syrians fleeing violence in their country being housed in camps in the province of Hatay may soon be transferred to other cities, due to tensions that have allegedly arisen between them and some Turks in the province.

Gazi M?s?rl?, a Syrian who acts as a consultant to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reportedly visited Hatay on Sunday to try to persuade the representatives of Syrians settled in camps there, to move from the province.

In recent weeks, recurrent conflicts between residents of Hatay and the Syrians have been reported, including Syrians allegedly refusing to pay bills at restaurants, bus fare or rent for properties, although they are required to do so.

Locals have complained that the Syrians are rude in their conduct and do not obey rules.

Some Syrians who are claimed to have entered Turkey illegally have rented apartments in Hatay with the help of relatives here. In some cases, 20 people are living in the same apartment. Some are said to have declined to pay rent due on the properties. People in Hatay are fearful that these Syrians may have been prisoners in their home country who were released during the uprising. Turkish residents of Hatay report feeling afraid to leave their houses at night, and in certain districts prefer to keep their children at home, even during the day.

Hasan Akgol, a Hatay deputy from the Republican People's Party (CHP), has confirmed the tensions in Hatay. But he stresses that people in Hatay have no difficulties with Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war and now living in camps; rather, it is the Syrians who have rented apartments in Hatay that people are concerned about. "People in Hatay don't know if these people are really from Syria. With their identity being unknown in most cases, they may also be from Libya, or from some other Arab country," he told Today's Zaman.

Akgol does not believe that moving the camps to different cities would solve the problem, as he suspects similar problems would arise at new campsites. He particularly emphasizes that the camp in the village of Apayd?nl? in Hatay -- to which two CHP deputies, Hursit Gunes and Suleyman Celebi, were denied entry on Saturday, and where officers who have deserted the Syrian Armed Forces are said to stay -- should be closed down. Making reference to claims published in the European media regarding the camp, Gunes said, standing at the entrance to the camp, "It's claimed that the dissident soldiers deserting the Syrian army who live in this camp are being sent back to Syria after being provided with arms."

According to Idris Bal, a deputy from Justice and Development Party (AK Party), refugee camps near the border area may also present security problems for Turkey, as some individuals could be connected to Syrian intelligence or members of terrorist organizations infiltrating the camps in a bid to sow conflict in Turkey. "Should there be serious tension, it would be good for the camps to be removed to some other city as an emergency measure, but a lasting solution for this problem would be a buffer zone on Syrian territory," Bal remarked to Today's Zaman.

There are also claims that Syrians represent a threat to Alevi citizens, who are disturbed by the presence of unfamiliar, intimidating faces in Hatay, bearing the message, "Your turn will also come." In return, Alevi citizens in Hatay are thought to harbor negative attitudes towards Syrian refugees, and would prefer that they did not live in Hatay.

According to data provided by the Turkish Prime Ministry's Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate, 11,062 Syrian refugees live in five camps in Hatay. Syrians who arrived in Hatay illegally are not included in this figure". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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