Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-09-10

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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] Eroglu: Turkish side's stance regarding occupied fenced city of Varosha has not changed

[02] Izcan: Those rejecting the simultaneous opening of Varosha and Famagusta port serve the status quo and implement embargo on the Turkish Cypriots

[03] "National Existence Council" says it will struggle against the return of the occupied fenced city of Varosha to its legal owners

[04] Ozgurgun: relations with Turkey are deemphasized in "government's" program; UBP will support "police" to be bound to civilian "authority"

[05] Cakici: the views on the Cyprus problem are not clear in "government's" program

[06] Angolemli criticizes CTP-DP "government's" program on the Cyprus problem and the issue of occupied Varosha

[07] Tore criticized "government's" program on the Cyprus issue

[08] The breakaway regime will participate in Frankfurt Book Fair

[09] Erdogan says Turkey undecided over type of support for possible intervention

[10] Davutoglu: More massacres to come if al-Assad gains time

[11] PKK halts withdrawal from Turkey, maintains cease-fire

[12] CHP renews democracy vision

[13] 22-year-old protester dies in Turkey protests

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: Turkish side's stance regarding occupied fenced city of Varosha has not changed

Eroglu sent a written statement to Afrika arguing that the paper's information "has absolutely no relation with the reality". Eroglu said, inter alia, the following: "?The stance of the Turkish side as regards Varosha has not changed. Our expectation is for Greek Cypriot leader Mr Anastasiades to come to the table to continue the negotiations from the point we remained with Mr Christofias. We are ready for sitting at the table with good will for an overall solution in Cyprus and for a solution on the basis of the existing realities in Cyprus. If the Greek Cypriot side has the same will, there is absolutely no reason for not reaching a solution in 2014?"

(I/Ts.)

[02] Izcan: Those rejecting the simultaneous opening of Varosha and Famagusta port serve the status quo and implement embargo on the Turkish Cypriots

Izcan expressed the view that the simultaneous opening of Varosha and the port of Famagusta will gain acceleration to the solution process and contribute in the cooperation between the two communities. He said that with the return of Varosha to its legal owners and the opening of the port of Famagusta, the Turkish Cypriots will have the possibility of carrying out direct trade, the so-called embargoes will end and the economic crisis experienced in both sides will cease to exist.

"Those who reject the return of Varosha and the opening of the port of Famagusta are those who implement embargo on the Turkish Cypriot community", he noted.

Izcan said that it is absolutely necessary for the negotiations, which will start in October, to start from the point they were left and to show respect to the agreements reached until today and to the federal basis of the solution.

(I/Ts.)

[03] "National Existence Council" says it will struggle against the return of the occupied fenced city of Varosha to its legal owners

The statement says that the aim of the conference will be to inform the "people" and raise their awareness and alleges that efforts are exerted to "unjustly and unnecessarily steal Varosha from the Turkish Cypriots people". "Such a game is played by the Greek Cypriots and the imperialistic powers the backing of which they have secured", claims the statement alleging that Varosha is a property of the Evkaf religious foundations, something which had been decided by the so-called court of occupied Famagusta in 2002.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ozgurgun: relations with Turkey are deemphasized in "government's" program; UBP will support "police" to be bound to civilian "authority"

Addressing yesterday the "assembly" of the regime, Ozgurgun criticized the fact that no reference is made to "motherland Turkey" in the program of the "government". Ozgurgun argued that the "government" tries to "deemphasize" their relations with Turkey and asked for the strengthening of these relations. He recalled that addressing the Council of Europe the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat had also underlined Turkey's importance for their "country". According to Ozgurgun, Talat said the following in his speech: "If there had not been for Turkey I would not have been here, we would not be able to even speak on the phone". Ozgurgun alleged that Turkey is the biggest guarantee for continuing to live in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Referring to the views included in the program as regards the Cyprus problem, Ozgurgun said they would support the efforts for an agreement in which bi-zonality, two "peoples" and two "states" exist within the framework of the UN parameters and which will include Turkey's active and effective guarantees. Ozgurgun noted that they will not support any agreement outside this and added that the Greek Cypriot side should be studied very well. He alleged that the Greek Cypriots do not want an agreement and described as "dangerous approach" what he called as campaign of the Greek Cypriot side as regards the return of occupied fenced city of Varosha to its legal owners.

Ozgurgun expressed the view that the Turkish Cypriot side should develop a policy on this issue and put forward its indispensable conditions. He argued that the "government" has not shown a good image until now and added that this should be corrected.

Referring to the amendments of the "constitution", Ozgurgun said that the political parties want the "police" to be bound to civilian authority" and added that this could be done by "law". He noted that the "government" could bring to the "parliament" a "law" on this issue and the UBP will support it.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Cakici: the views on the Cyprus problem are not clear in "government's" program

Referring to the views included in the program on the issue of granting the "citizenship" of the regime, Cakici said that problems existed in the past because those who lived for five years in the occupied area of Cyprus had the right to apply for the "citizenship" and added that the fact that the same system continues in this program is not correct.

Cakici noted also that "no clear and concrete expressions" were used in the program as regards the economic "protocol" signed with Turkey. He recalled that the "coalition partners" had been saying that they want to revise this "protocol", but no reference was made to this in the program.

Describing the program as "ambitious", Cakici said he does not find right the wish to amend "article 162" of the "constitution", which gives the right of referendum to the Turkish Cypriot "people".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Angolemli criticizes CTP-DP "government's" program on the Cyprus problem and the issue of occupied Varosha

Noting that the program said that "the negotiations on the Cyprus issue could not continue forever and that other measures will be taken", Angolemli argued that the "government" should be active on the Cyprus problem and added that the "assembly" should also be active because the representatives of the "people" are there.

Angolemli noted that the issue of the occupied fenced city of Varosha is not included in the program and added that the "government" must say what it thinks on this issue.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Tore criticized "government's" program on the Cyprus issue

Tore criticized harshly the fact that world of "TRNC" is not included at the UN Security Council resolutions, which are included at the program of the "government", adding that he is against of some chapters of the program, which will prevent the prosperity and the freedom of the "country".

Tore explained that he cannot accept the expressions in the UN resolutions, which see only the Republic of Cyprus as legitimate state and asks the withdrawal of Turkey from the island. He also said that he cannot support such decision, adding that he took an oath, as "deputy", to protect the existence of the "state". He criticized the UN resolutions asking the withdrawal of the Turkish army from the island, adding that no previous "government" has ever accepted these resolutions.

However, Tore said that he supports the Cyprus talks under the auspices of the UN.

[08] The breakaway regime will participate in Frankfurt Book Fair

(I/Ts.)

[09] Erdogan says Turkey undecided over type of support for possible intervention

Speaking to reporters at the airport upon returning from Buenos Aires late on Sunday, Erdogan said the circumstances of a possible military strike will determine the role Turkey will play.

"Whether it would be as an opposing force or supplying forces to provide logistical support, all this would be determined by circumstances. No decision has been made at the moment," Erdogan said. He had previously said Turkey was ready to join any coalition against Syria.

[10] Davutoglu: More massacres to come if al-Assad gains time

Davutoglu stressed once again that the government had "no doubt" that a chemical attack was carried out by the regime, after long evaluations with experts on the matter.

"Such an attack can only be performed with missiles by experienced experts, that kind who are only held by the Syrian regime," he stated regarding the chemical attacks in Homs and Damascus.

Davutoglu added that if the al-Assad regime gained time with a months-long inventory taking of weapons, this would amount to a "green light" for more massacres, Anadolu Agency has reported.

The attack was conducted to punish the civilian people and stop them supporting the opposition, Davutoglu said.

Asked about possible threats that Turkey might face in the event of an attack against Syria, Davutoglu said the presence of a regime that could use chemical weapons did constitute a threat, but refrained from giving a timetable for an operation.

"Despite harsh criticisms during the installation of Patriot missiles in Turkey, we have taken all necessary measures to protect our people," Davutoglu said, adding that the refugee situation in the country was also being handled well.

"Turkey has managed the refugee crisis quite well, in a way that other countries admire," he said. The official number of Syrian refugees in Turkey recently surpassed 200,000, but the total number is estimated to be in excess of 400,000.

Davutoglu also said the Turkish government had made efforts to mediate between the al-Assad regime and the opposition for about 10 months, while rejecting that the government had become excessively involved with the opposition. "We have never provided any kind of support to the al-Nusra front in Syria," he said, while reiterating the government's support for the "moderate" and civil opposition, the Syria National Coalition (SNC).

[11] PKK halts withdrawal from Turkey, maintains cease-fire

"While the withdrawal of guerrillas has been halted, cease-fire will be kept," said the KCK in a statement published on Monday by a news agency affiliated with PKK. "The reason why the cease-fire is being respected is to offer the AKP [ruling Justice and Development Party or AKP] the opportunity to take steps in line with the project of Apo [Abdullah Ocalan]," the statement read.

The move by the KCK is an attempt to force the government to make public the democracy package it has prepared in line with the settlement process. "The organization is pressuring the government to take a step," Mehmet Ozcan, chairman of the Ankara Strategy Institute, told Today's Zaman, noting that the role the PKK leader will play from now on will be important, as it's widely accepted that neither the BDP nor the PKK would act against Ocalan's instructions.

The BDP has signalled that the settlement process will continue if the government agrees to take concrete steps towards settling the Kurdish issue. "Halt of withdrawal can easily be stopped. If the government takes concrete steps, then the problem is resolved," Gulten K1

anak, co-chair of the BDP said on Monday. Noting that they continually warned, in past months, the government against not doing its part in the process, "We desire the process to move ahead without any interruption. The announcement that the withdrawal has been stopped may block the settlement process," K1

anak said at a meeting in Istanbul.

The KCK statement has put the blame on the government for the PKK's latest move, accusing the government of trying to buy time till the elections -- local (end of March) and presidential (summer) -- which are to take place next year. "? The AKP government, which has been tackling the issue [of settlement] in such a way as to ensure that [the country] enters the period of local elections with the cease-fire [still] in force, is responsible for this state of affairs," the KCK announcement said.

[12] CHP renews democracy vision

The party issued a 33-article manifesto on Sunday, outlining its vision for the future of Turkey. Apart from some basic pillars of democracy, human rights and rule of law, the vision also renews the party's policies on many areas from freedom of religion to education.

Here are some aspects of the CHP's "new democracy" vision:

- Universities will run themselves autonomously and the Supreme Education Board (YOK) will be abolished. Education policy will be overhauled in accordance with contemporary Turkey's needs and targets.

- Lifestyle is the choice of individuals and the state cannot impose lifestyle on its citizens. The press is free and cannot be censored. We will free the press from the political party's pressure. The right to free assembly is complimentary to the freedom of expression.

- Secularism is the guarantee of freedom of religion and faith. Freedom of religion will be protected against political interventions.

- We will re-install Turkey as a country which has a weight in regional and global issues through a respectful, serious and stable foreign policy prioritizing national interest, reconciled with the principles of the Republic of Turkey, and coherent with the principle of 'Peace at home, peace in the world.' We will make Turkey a full member of the European Union and we will have good relations with all our neighbours.

- Pluralism and participation will be the main pillars of our political life.

- We will continue to produce a collective mind with all segments of society for the solution of the Kurdish question. We will insist that a solution must be endorsed by Parliament and should be provided through dialogue and social conciliation, on the basis of maintaining our national unity.

- We will reduce the election threshold for a healthier reflection of the people's will at Parliament. We will empower the parliamentary system. We will limit the immunity of lawmakers.

- Science will be supported as a value and will be put at the centre of our industry and development policies. Research and development will be supported and science and scientists will be provided with an autonomous environment. Arts and culture will be given support.

[13] 22-year-old protester dies in Turkey protests

Ahmet Atakan passed away at around 2 a.m. on Sept. 10 in Antakya's flashpoint neighbourhood of Armutlu after taking part in a march that was called to show solidarity with students and locals in Ankara resisting against the construction of a road through Middle Eastern Technical University (ODTU), as well as to commemorate Abdullah Comert, another Armutlu local that was killed by police in early June at the beginning of the Gezi protests.

Atakan was allegedly hit by a gas canister in the head by the police.

State-run Anadolu Agency, however, claimed that it had footage showing Atakan falling and rolling on the ground, as well as footage of stones and a water tank being thrown on police vehicles from the roofs.

Atakan is the sixth protester killed in anti-government protests in Turkey this summer. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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