Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-11-29

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] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The regime's new "economic program" will be signed in Ankara on 4 December

[02] Erdogan made statements ahead Putin's visit to Turkey: Russia holding key to Syria crisis

[03] Turkey works to produce its own missiles, says Turkish science minister

[04] Final verdict approaching in the Ergenekon trial

[05] New US sanctions may target Turkey and United Arab Emirates for gold sales to Iran

[06] "Show of strength" by Grey Wolves in occupied Lefkosia

[07] Famous Turkish actor was granted the "citizenship" of the regime within half a day

[08] Members of BES trade Union were prosecuted with the charge of shouting loudly at a protest organized in the occupied area of Cyprus; statements by Bozat and Kucuk

[09] KTAMS trade union is participating to PSI's annual meeting in South Afrika

[10] Hotel's occupancy in the occupied area of Cyprus for November has reached to 50%

[11] Turkish Cypriot paediatricians to host an international congress

[12] The 7th International Symposium of Engineering and Architecture to be held at illegal LAU

[13] Sener Elcil has been re-elected as the representative of the whole of Cyprus to ETUCE

[14] "Number of soldiers who committed suicide exceeds those killed in combat in Turkey"

[15] Reactions to Erdogan's insistent for the building of two giant mosques in Istanbul

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The regime's new "economic program" will be signed in Ankara on 4 December

In statements before entering into the meeting of the "council of ministers", Kucuk said that a delegation, which would consist of the self-styled ministers of finance and economy, Ersin Tatar and Sunat Atun, the "undersecretary" of the so-called state planning organization and other bureaucrats, would go to Ankara and give the final shape to the "protocol". He noted that the self-styled ministry of economy and energy had held the necessary contacts with the organizations concerned with the issue.

Responding to a question, Kucuk said that they might give more detailed information regarding the economic program before departing for Ankara.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Erdogan made statements ahead Putin's visit to Turkey: Russia holding key to Syria crisis

He made these statements ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's planned visit to Turkey next week.

"Putin is coming to Turkey on December 3, and we will discuss the Syrian crisis. At the moment, Russia is holding the key. Iran is not in a position to hold the key anymore. Russia's attitude is very crucial," Erdogan told reporters on a plane en route to Ankara from Madrid, adding that Russia's positive stance in the United Nations Security Council would push Iran to review its stance.

When asked if the Obama administration had changed its stance after the November 6 elections, the Prime Minister said they should wait until January, when President Barack Obama will be inaugurated for a second term. "The U.S. has not shown a satisfactory attitude so far. Some expressions used were, 'wait for the elections, after the elections the situation may change.' The elections are over and they say 'a new Cabinet will be established. After the new Cabinet we can talk.'"

Touching on Russia, Iran and China's stance on the Syria crisis, Erdogan said he attached importance to their views. "A change in their stance will affect the region." Separately, the Prime Minister criticized Tehran for not effectively combating the Iranian wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), PJAK.

In addition, reporting on Putin's visit to Turkey Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.11.12) reports that Putin will pay a formal visit in Turkey in December to participate in a meeting of the Turkey-Russia High Level Cooperation Council in Istanbul.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Putin will co-chair the December 3 meeting of the council which is set to discuss ways to boost economic and trade ties and as review bilateral relations and international developments as well, Erdogan's press office said Wednesday.

Putin's press office also released a statement over the visit, saying that the council meeting will seek cooperation opportunities especially in energy and banking sectors.

The statement said Putin and Erdogan will hold separate meetings with Turkish and Russian businesspeople, adding that the two countries will also sign several agreements during the visit.

[03] Turkey works to produce its own missiles, says Turkish science minister

Answering a question on whether Turkey would produce Patriots, Ergun said defense missile projects and other missile projects were under way, but the name would not be "Patriot".

Ergun said, that all the tests on a defense missile system that Turkey produced with a range of 250 km and named SOM, was ready for mass production, adding that studies aiming to double the range had been undertaken. He said defense missiles were also getting developed.

Ergun underlined that in the coming 10 years Turkey would mobilize all its qualifications and meet the needs with domestic facilitation.

In addition, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.11.12) reports that Turkey has chosen an ambitious project to follow: the building of eight corvettes; this time the production of four fair defense frigates worth around $4 billion dollars, the largest ships in the inventory of the country's Navy.

A statement on the website of the Under secretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) on Nov. 22, cited the need to procure air defense frigates for the Navy that would provide defense against the classical and modern munitions fired by aircraft and other platforms, command and control, early warning, reconnaissance, surface warfare, underwater warfare and electronic warfare and air defense warfare.

It said the feasibility studies of the frigates had been completed and a "project model" would now be devised for the frigates to be procured. The model is expected to be a manufacture model by a private naval shipyard, but the complexity of the frigate would probably need the contributions of a foreign company.

The TF2000 project, as the name implies, was designed before 2000, but was delayed due to financial limitations at the time. Procurement officials now say that especially after the completion of the Milgem project - the first naval project for the building of eight corvettes - the time is ripe for the design of the first Turkish frigate.

Corvettes are the smallest of warships, and Turkey, which does not have coasts on oceans, has plenty of corvettes and frigates, but no larger warships, like destroyers or cruisers.

[04] Final verdict approaching in the Ergenekon trial

Ergenekon refers to a clandestine gang charged with plotting to overthrow the government.

There are 275 defendants in the Ergenekon trial, most of whom are retired or active duty military officers. Sixty-seven of the defendants are in custody, while the rest remain out on bail pending the conclusion of the trial.

Most recently, the court asked the prosecution to state its final opinion -- the penultimate step in a criminal trial. After the prosecution has done so, the defendants and their lawyers will deliver their final statements, which is likely to take three to four months. However, it can confidently be said that the Ergenekon trial will end in 2013 and those who "committed atrocities and murders to create chaos to trigger a military takeover" -- the main accusation of the prosecution -- will have answered to justice.

Several other indictments and court cases have come out during the course of the trial. Currently, four separate courts are hearing Ergenekon-related trials. The main one, with 275 defendants, is being heard at a court in Silivri, the district of 0
stanbul that also hosts the prison at which a majority of those in jail in the trial are being held. In addition to the main trial, there are cases on the discovery of weapons hidden underground in 0
stanbul's Poyrazk?y district in 2009, the alleged activities of the OdaTV news portal in assisting the coup plotters by using the media and the role of the Oyak security company in the 2006 Council of State shooting that cost a judge his life.

The first hearing of the main Ergenekon trial was heard on Oct. 20, 2008. A total of 269 hearings have been held during this trial, but many other separate cases have also been merged with this main trial. If you include the number of hearings held in those trials prior to the mergers, the total number of hearings regarding the alleged crimes, exceeds 400.

Retired General Hilmi ?zk?k, a former chief of General Staff, was the most important witness in the trial. ?zk?k, known for his pro-democracy stance and opposition to plots to topple the government, confirmed in court that he had heard that coup plans named "Blond Girl," "Moonlight" and "Sea Sparkle" were in the making at the time when he was chief of the military.

The prosecution now has two weeks to prepare its final opinion. Although the current prosecutors, Mehmet Ali Pekg?zel and Nihat Ta
k1
n, were assigned to the trial after its launch by prosecutor Zekeriya ?z, they have been on it for a long time and have good knowledge of the files related to the case, meaning they should not take too long in stating their final opinion. The prosecutors will demand acquittals or convictions and sentences for each defendant in the case individually.

In addition to military and ex-military personnel, the defendants in the case include a wide range of professional groups from journalists to doctors to academics.

[05] New US sanctions may target Turkey and United Arab Emirates for gold sales to Iran

However, officials from both Turkey and the UAE have tried to downplay the significance of gold exports to Iran, saying that Iran is free to purchase gold in its trade with either country.

Zafer ?a
layan, the Turkish economy minister, told reporters in Istanbul, that there is no need to dwell on issues like selling gold to Iran as part of payment for Turkish gas purchases from Iran. "We are doing [these sales] as part of exports [to Iran]," he said, stressing that Turkish gold is being sold to a country that has a demand for gold.

?a
layan said Turkey exports some 20,000 kinds of goods and that there is no need to focus analysis on a single commodity.

On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) top central banker has said the government does not impose any restrictions on the gold market in his country, allowing Iranians, among others, to freely conduct business transactions using gold as legal tender.

The new sanctions aiming at reducing global trade with Iran in the energy, shipping and metals sectors, may soon be considered by the US Senate as part of an annual defense policy bill, senators and aides said on Tuesday, according to a Reuters report.

As gold is considered a precious metal, the new US ban may limit Iran from conducting transactions using gold purchased from Turkey either directly or via Dubai's re-export hub.

According to data from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat), in the first seven months of this year, Turkey's gold exports to Iran skyrocketed to $6 billion, making up 75 percent of the total value of Turkey's exports to this country in the given period. When the news attracted a lot of national and global media attention, Iran switched to front companies set up in the UAE to procure gold from Turkey. Only in the paperwork did the UAE replace Iran as a destination for Turkish gold exports, as many believe they were re-exported to Iran from Dubai. Trade figures for September indicated that precious stones and metals (mainly gold) were by far Turkey's biggest exports for the month, at $1.6 billion in sales. For the second consecutive month, the UAE accounted for the highest amount of export sales that Turkey posted, at $1.4 billion. The UAE's tally represented a 450 percent increase compared with the same month a year ago, and was fuelled by $1.14 billion in gold sales.

[06] "Show of strength" by Grey Wolves in occupied Lefkosia

The paper writes that a 20-30 car convoy of Grey Wolves toured in the streets of occupied Lefkosia carrying flags of Turkey and the "Hearths of the Ideal" and shouting slogans, such as "Happy is who says 'I am a Turk'", and "The hearths of ideal movement cannot be prevented".

(I/Ts.)

[07] Famous Turkish actor was granted the "citizenship" of the regime within half a day

Sasmaz, who visited the occupied part of Lefkosia yesterday, had been given the title of "cultural attach? of the TRNC", as the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus calls itself.

Kibris points out that in order to complete the necessary health controls and bureaucratic procedures, Sasmaz used the private car of the self-styled minister of tourism, environment and culture, Unal Ustel, who hosted a dinner for Sasmaz last night at Cratos Hotel.

According to Kibris, now Sasmaz will be able to carry out promotion activities for the breakaway regime all over the world. The paper reports that the "officials" of the regime exerted "an outstanding effort" to end the procedure for Sasmaz in half a day, because he had to return to Turkey to continue the filming of the serial.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Members of BES trade Union were prosecuted with the charge of shouting loudly at a protest organized in the occupied area of Cyprus; statements by Bozat and Kucuk

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (29.11.12), the chairman of the "Municipality workers union" (BES), issuing a written statement yesterday, accused the so-called prime minister, Irsen Kucuk that instead of trying to find solutions to their problems, since they do not take their salaries, he gave instructions for the prosecution of the participants at the protest.

Also, in statements on the issue after the meeting of the so-called council of minister, "prime minister" Irsen Kucuk said that the duty for the solution of the problems experienced to the "municipality of Lefkosia" belongs to the "mayor", the "members of the council" and the workers. He also called them to cooperate with the "government" in order to overpass their problems taking advantage from the new loan the

"government" achieved to take.

AK

[09] KTAMS trade union is participating to PSI's annual meeting in South Afrika

In statements on the issue, the general secretary of the KTAMS, Guven Bengihan said that in the framework of its works at the annual meeting, KTAMS delegation will carry out meetings with trade unionist of other countries. The delegation with meet with Rosa Pavenelli from the CGIL trade union of Italy, with whom they will discuss the economic and social difficulties existed in the occupation regime.

AK

[10] Hotel's occupancy in the occupied area of Cyprus for November has reached to 50%

Meanwhile, the occupancy at the small hotels has been increase by 17% and reached to 34%.

According to a statement made by KITOB, the average of the occupancy of the hotels which are members of KITOB for November 2012, is 50% with an increase of 22%.

AK

[11] Turkish Cypriot paediatricians to host an international congress

(I/Ts.)

[12] The 7th International Symposium of Engineering and Architecture to be held at illegal LAU

(I/Ts.)

[13] Sener Elcil has been re-elected as the representative of the whole of Cyprus to ETUCE

As the paper writes, Elcil was elected as the representative of Cyprus to ETUCE during the previous congress having as a competitor a Greek Cypriot candidate.

AK

[14] "Number of soldiers who committed suicide exceeds those killed in combat in Turkey "

Ayhan Sefer ?st?n, the head of the commission, released statistics on the deaths of soldiers during a commission meeting in Parliament. He said 175 privates committed suicide over the past two-and-a-half years. This number is 934 over the past 10 years. ?st?n said 818 soldiers were killed on the battlefield over the past 10 years. Noting that this is unacceptable, he said the situation must be investigated thoroughly in order to reveal the causes of the suicides within the military.

The commission convened with a special agenda on abuses and mistreatment in the military. Assistant Professor Tolga 0
slam, the editor of the website Asker Haklar1
(Soldiers' Rights), which fights for the rights of military personnel and the improvement of conditions for those serving in the army, made a presentation on behalf of his organization and said he was outraged after witnessing abuses within the army during his service and decided to do something about it.

"We have a simple issue: If the form of compulsory military service remains in place, it must be made sure that those private do not face any mistreatment. We want to help those 20-year-old soldiers who do not know how to defend their rights," he said.

0
slam, who established the website in April of last year, said his organization had received 432 applications within one year. The complaints came from every province.

He said the maltreatment could even lead to suicide, physical disabilities and mental traumas.

"Until a step is taken on the issue of suicide, we are all responsible [for the deaths]. Just yesterday two suicide cases were reported. There were 43 reports in 2012 alone. This is the official account, so we assume that the real figure is larger than that," the activist told the commission.

Noting that three soldiers committed suicide over the past six months in 0
slahiye, a district of the southern province of Hatay, 0
slam said Parliament must show determination on the issue. He argued that individuals lack courage to seek justice and pursue their legal rights, adding that fear must be overcome. ?st?n pointed to Parliament as the place to achieve this.

Experts on the commission briefed its members during the meeting about the types of applications and work in progress to end the abuse of rights in the military.

[15] Reactions to Erdogan's insistent for the building of two giant mosques in Istanbul

Academic and Islamic circles have reacted to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's insistence on building a mosque on Istanbul's ?aml1
ca Hill in a controversial project.

Erdogan has forged ahead with plans for two controversial mosque projects in Istanbul, one on ?aml1
ca Hill and the other to be built in Taksim Square.

The Prime Minister first proposed the idea of building a mosque on the top of Istanbul's ?aml1
ca Hill May 29. "This giant mosque in ?aml1
ca was designed so as to be visible from all parts of Istanbul," Erdogan said at the time. However, his idea has continued to draw reactions from academic and politic circles, creating debate around the issue.

Professor Afife Batur from Istanbul Technical University, who specializes in the architecture of the late-Ottoman and Republican periods, said the process was illegal from the get go. "We said it was an archeological site, they removed the article regarding that area. We said at least do a proper project. They launched a project competition in an illegal way that we never witnesses in Turkish history. " Batur told the H?rriyet Daily News yesterday in a phone interview.

?sk?dar Municipality and a mosque-building association opened a design project immediately after Erdogan's announcement, setting a grand prize of 300,000 Turkish Liras for the winning design.

The competition drew 62 projects but ended without a first-place winner being announced. Two projects were given second and third places, with one of them being declared "applicable."

According to the winning project, the mosque will occupy a nearly 15,000-square-meter plot and have the capacity to hold approximately 30,000 people.

0
hsan Elia?1
k, a religious author known for his critiques of capitalism, said the project reflects Erdogan's desire to build a "Sultan mosque" in Istanbul just like S?leyman the Magnificent and Fatih Sultan Mehmet did. "Turkey is not in need of even one small mosque since 110,000 nationwide mosques are [now] empty," Elia?1
k said.

"Social justice should come first. There are only seven or eight poorhouses in 17 million populated Istanbul."

Yet the Prime Minister has claimed many of the criticisms were groundless.

"They say the green area will be ruined. There is no green area there already," Erdogan also said." Erdogan said. Erdogan also said a mosque will be built in Taksim.

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

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