Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-10-12

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Politician was sent to prison for saying "good-day" in Kurdish

[02] Erdogan declares that the EU negotiation process is strengthening the Turkish economy and Turkey's global actor role

[03] The Turkish Prime Minister repeats that Turkey will abide by its obligations towards the EU only if the faits accomplis of the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus are legitimized

[04] The Turkish Foreign Minister declares that the opening of the Halki School of Theology is out of Turkey's agenda now

[05] The National Unity Party celebrates its 30th anniversary

[06] Twelve more illegal immigrants were arrested in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus

[07] The Protocol of Cooperation in the Education field between Turkey and the occupation regime was published in the official gazette of Turkey

[08] EU progress report on Turkey to be released on November 9

[09] Foreigners continue to be mislead in buying properties the Greek Cypriots were forced to abandon and be cheated by the developers

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] AFRIKA: "Letter from Oncology Centre"

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Politician was sent to prison for saying "good-day" in Kurdish

"A court sentenced Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) Sanliurfa deputy leader Resit Yardimci to six months imprisonment and a fine of YTL 1,640 on Monday for beginning a speech at a local party convention by saying "good-day" in Kurdish.

Yardimci, speaking at the DEHAP Sanliurfa convention on June 11, 2003, started his speech by saying "Good-day, dear board" in Kurdish. He wanted to continue his speech in Kurdish but was asked to vacate the podium after police warnings.

He was charged with using a language other than Turkish for public political purposes in violation of the Political Parties Law.

Yardimci said he was very surprised with the court's decision. "I believe this is a very unfortunate decision for Turkey. It is especially regrettable when one considers the start of Turkey's European Union membership negotiations and its aim to protect human rights," he said."

[02] Erdogan declares that the EU negotiation process is strengthening the Turkish economy and Turkey's global actor role

Referring to Turkey's EU bid, Erdogan said that Turkey recorded great progress in becoming a global actor.

"The negotiation process with the EU will strengthen Turkey in all fields and its investments will double. We are not just a market (for Europe) anymore, but we will be the partner of Europe/EU, and all the world knows that and watches this process," Erdogan said.

Erdogan noted that there were some circles in Turkey who were afraid of Turkey's integration with the world, so they try to make Turkey follow policies of isolation. Erdogan said that this was out of the question.

"In addition to our political system, all of our academic personnel, intellectuals and scholars should also be ready for this period in Turkey which has started on October 3rd. Turkey which was on the top of world's agenda with all of its dynamics before October 3rd, had an impact on domestic policies of European countries," said Erdogan.

"There has never been a deviation in the basic preferences of Turkey in the 150-year historical process of Turkey. This preference is also the sign of Turkey's confidence in itself. Turkey will never lose its self-confidence," said Erdogan.

Referring to the economic benefits of Turkey's EU process, Erdogan said that 90 percent of EU acquis were directly related to economy.

"Even now the international investments started to flow into Turkey," said Erdogan, noting that Turkey would be very appealing for foreign investment in the coming period. Erdogan said that the government aimed to grow both the economy and to reduce the interregional development differences with this foreign investment.

"Improvements we recorded in inflation and interest rates, budget deficit and debt stock in the last three years will continue," said Erdogan.

Erdogan stressed that the ratio of budget deficit to Gross National Product (GNP) which was 16.5 percent in 2001 was reduced to 7.1 percent in 2004. The government aimed to further lower it to 3 percent soon in order to comply with Maastricht criteria, he said.

"Maybe we should only remind people of the 2.5 quadrillion TL economic gain we had on October 3rd night to show our nationalism and our productive policies," said Erdogan.

"Nobody has the right to overshadow the success of this nation and the progress we recorded so far," added Erdogan."

[03] The Turkish Prime Minister repeats that Turkey will abide by its obligations towards the EU only if the faits accomplis of the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus are legitimized

Speaking at a fast-breaking meal held by his party's Ankara Province organization, Erdogan commented on the subject of the EU. Pointing out that he views the EU as integrity of political values, Erdogan said that the steps taken will allow Turkey to jump forward. The prime minister also stated that the alliance of civilizations has come about.

He said: "This happened despite all the obstructions and despite the fact that they directed against us insults that we do not deserve."

Let no one expect us to make concessions over the sovereignty rights of the 'TRNC', Erdogan said, adding that the ports and the airports can be opened for Greek Cypriot use only after the embargoes have been lifted.

"First you lift all the embargoes imposed on north Cyprus, then you come and get the ports and the airports that you want. But, first you must lift the isolation," said Erdogan.

Rejecting the opposition's criticism with regard to privatization efforts, the prime minister reacted as follows: against press reports published under the banner "Nocturnal Ramadan service for $5 billion.":

"Jewish capital arrives in the country; you complain that it is Jewish. Arab capital arrives; you complain that it is Arab. Western capital arrives; you question why. So, I say to you, what do you expect to come from where?"

[04] The Turkish Foreign Minister declares that the opening of the Halki School of Theology is out on Turkey's agenda now

"So there is no such urgent issue (about additional protocol) on our agenda," said Gul responding to questions of journalists on board (while going to Kosovo).

Gul said that Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator (for EU accession talks) Ali Babacan and he informed Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer about the EU process yesterday and that Babacan would announce the name of Turkey's new Secretary General for the EU Affairs on Wednesday.

Gul said he discussed the chapter on science and technology --to be taken up in EU accession talks--with Erdogan Tezic, the Chairman of Turkey's Higher Board of Education (YOK) yesterday.

When reminded about the comments claiming that Turkey could be urged to make a choice between Cyprus and EU, Gul said: "The EU process of Turkey could be easier, but the things that needed to be done in the past were fulfilled in the last three years. As to the Cyprus issue, I believe that either a lasting solution under the supervision of UN is found or 'TRNC' will go on its own way."

Upon a question about opening of Heybeliada (Halki) seminary, Gul said: "It is not on our agenda at the moment, this is one of the medium-term issues of Turkey."

Referring to his visit to Kosovo, Gul said that the timing of his visit was crucial as the UN Security Council would take up the Kosovo report of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on October 24th.

Gul said that there were more people from Kosovo living in Turkey than the people living in Kosovo itself, adding: "All the Balkans are our relatives."

"I hope all this geography will be within the EU and NATO in the future and the clashes would be buried in history," he added."

[05] The National Unity Party celebrates its 30th anniversary

In his message Mr Eroglu said that his party took the Turkish Cypriots, who had nothing from the economic and the social point of view, and led them to the situation they are today. Mr Eroglu argued that his party led the Turkish Cypriots from the status of the "community" to the status of the "people who have their own state".

"If today the Turkish Cypriots have a state which represents their rights, if their per capita income increased from 300-400 dollars to 8-9 thousand dollars, if they have significant deposit accounts in the banks, houses which they can call 'my property', fields, land plots, industrial areas that get larger every day, six universities, a youth among which the number of the university graduates is very high and a modern communication and road network, the UBP and Motherland Turkey have undoubtedly the greatest contribution in all these", noted Mr Eroglu.

He argued that his party may have committed mistakes on some issues, but not on the Cyprus problem. "It did not make concessions that would make the Turkish Cypriot people a patch to the Greek Cypriot state", added Mr Eroglu noting that "unfortunately our country and state are not in a good point today". He claimed that they are dragged into days when their rights will be taken away from them, "just like in Eastern Germany which dissolved itself and acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany".

Mr Eroglu said he was calling for unity before the general assembly of the party, which will take place on 24 December 2005.

I/Ts.

[06] Twelve more illegal immigrants were arrested in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus

According to the paper, the illegal immigrants are of Syrian origin and they were aboard a ship that sailed from Mersin, in Turkey. The detainees will appear before the self-styled Famagusta District Court today.

(DP)

[07] The Protocol of Cooperation in the Education field between Turkey and the occupation regime was published in the official gazette of Turkey

As the paper writes the Protocol was signed between Turkish Minister of National Education and the self-styled minister of education and covers the fields of education, science and technology.

C/S

[08] EU progress report on Turkey to be released on November 9

"Representatives of the European Commission met with Turkish Foreign Ministry officials Tuesday to brief them on the soon to be released report on Turkey's progress in meeting European Union membership requirements.

The report is to refer to the court case against prominent Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, charged with insulting Turkish identity; the six-month jail sentence handed down to journalist Hrant Dink on similar charges; and the closure of Egitim-Sen trade union, which represented workers in the education sector as negative developments.

Another incident the report will be making reference to is the violence used against protestors at a Women's Day rally in Istanbul earlier this year. The report is also expected to be critical of the attempted lynch in Trabzon of political activists, the furore that arose from the setting fire to a Turkish flag in Mersin, fining cartoonists for drawing cartoons critical of the Prime Minister, inefficiencies in laws concerning foundations and inhuman therapies applied to patients in mental institutions.

On the bright side for Ankara, the report praised the efforts to implement the Copenhagen political criteria and the free market economy in Turkey."

[09] Foreigners continue to be mislead in buying properties the Greek Cypriots were forced to abandon and be cheated by the developers

Mr. Dery Craig also speaks to Ali Yaliman about the Homebuyers's Pressure Group set up by buyers of properties who were cheated.

Following are two of the questions and Mr. Craig's replies:

Question: I know you tried hard to write a lot of letters almost to every one in the country saying 'please save our olive trees'.

Answer: Yes I did and still am. I am stressing their importance. We have inherited those olive trees from our ancestors but they do not belong to us. We have only barrowed them for our grand children.

Olive tree is the symbol of peace. Olive oil is a must for healthy eating. Think of their environmental and the historical values. Some are 300-400 years old. We must pay maximum attention to keep them alive. Thousands of them were destroyed when builders were erecting new villas.

You must write more about the nature and the environment in the Cyprus Times.

Question: Thank you for sharing your views with the Cyprus Times Derek Craig and how about your 'property dispute', any news?

Answer: Well, I do not know how they are going to sort it out. We have a 'Pressure Group' dealing with it for and on behalf of us. We will meet again on Tuesday. We are following the latest situation from 'The Homebuyers Pressure Group's website www.homebuyerspressuregroup.com <http://www.homebuyerspressure.group.com/>

The dispute between the homebuyers and the builders together with some estate agents and lawyers is a very important issue. We understand that not much attention is paid to take the mater in hand. Every body seems doing something. Our aim is not to keep the ball rolling but score the goal.

We do love this country and that's why we bought or we thought we have bought. We have invested in this beautiful country. We hope somebody will understand and solve our problem in a very near future. Reliability and dependability in property business in a country is the honor of that country.

We hope that someone will find a way to sort the hundreds of property disputes in this country, and the image of 'TRNC' (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) will not be spoilt in the international property market.

On behalf of all our 'property victim friends' I want to thank the Cyprus Times for widely opening its pages to the property dispute.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] AFRIKA: "Letter from Oncology Centre"

Ozgur says:

"Dear Sener

Today at the Oncology Centre my wife read to me the "Letter from AFRIKA" column. You are right. I too supported the Annan Plan. You know the proverb-'A desperate man at sea clutches at a serpent'. As all the community did with the hope that the present uncertainty will come to an end we too clutched to the Annan Plan. As you remember, in my articles in AFRIKA, at that time, I wrote that, the Annan Plan is prepared not for settling the Cyprus problem but to pave Turkey's EU path.

You will recall..AKEL as well was inclined to say 'yes' to the Annan Plan. It has asked from the UN Security Council a guarantee that it will be implemented. Turkey had asked Russia to exercise its veto so that the UN Security Council not to give such a guarantee. Russian President Putin, personally announced this. We cannot get angry of the Turkish Cypriot community, because it said 'yes'. And we cannot get angry as well of the Greek Cypriot community because it said 'no'.

What I am angry of is that they are attempting to demonstrate that the whole Greek Cypriot community does not want solution. Best regards to all our comrades."

MHY

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