Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-09-03

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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] YKP: Occupation army's demand for an "alternative road" for the opening of Deryneia crossing point shows that Varosha will not open

[02] "A court for properties is being established"

[03] Toros tries to ease worries in the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the property issue

[04] The loaded with weapons cargo vessel seized in Greece passed through the occupied port of Famagusta

[05] "Turkey to become most advantageous route for Israeli natural gas"

[06] Claims that $7 billion belonging to Koza Ipek were illegally transferred to bank accounts in Malta, Bahrain and the occupation regime

[07] Turkey's MGK reiterates determination in fight against terrorism8. Demirtas: "No suitable conditions for polls in Turkey's east"

[09] Turkey moves arrested British journalists to a distant prison

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] YKP: Occupation army's demand for an "alternative road" for the opening of Deryneia crossing point shows that Varosha will not open

Kanatli added: "In times during which it is alleged that we are full speed heading towards the solution, we find out that there are still strategic areas for the army to be used in war and we are witnessing that the community leader succumbs to these and brings the new proposals to the table. In the latest situation on Deryneia issue, from YKP's point of view we are searching for a person who will say to the general 'you exceeded your authority'. Our demand is for the new crossing points to quickly open and real confidence building measures, that is, steps such as withdrawal of army, return of Varosha to those living there prior to 1974 to be implemented rapidly. This kind of steps will be real indications of the progress in the solution process".

(I/Ts.)

[02] "A court for properties is being established"

(I/Ts.)

[03] Toros tries to ease worries in the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the property issue

Toros alleged that those who bought Greek Cypriot properties and have documents in their hands should not be afraid. He also stated that criteria will be created for the settlers who came from Turkey and received unrequited property.

He went on and claimed that those who paid for the property they now own should not worry. "According to the international law is yours. Everything you paid for belongs to you. There is nothing to worry about. You are the owners if you paid money for it", he stated and alleged that those who invested in Greek Cypriot properties should not worry as well, because the investment they made belongs to them.

(CS)

[04] The loaded with weapons cargo vessel seized in Greece passed through the occupied port of Famagusta

Citing reliable sources the paper writes that the vessel which went to the Turkish port of Iskenderun from Egypt cast anchor in the occupied Famagusta port between 18-24 of August. After leaving the occupied ports the vessel went back to Iskenderun and continued its trip.

(CS)

[05] "Turkey to become most advantageous route for Israeli natural gas"

Yet another factor concerning Israel is the recent discovery of one of the world's largest gas reserves in Egyptian waters. Sources from Tel Aviv said Israel's plan to export its gas directly to Egypt changed after the country's discovery of its own gas reserves.

Israeli authorities also said they are debating the construction of a gas power plant in southern Cyprus' Vasilikos. Planners fear that constructing a pipeline connecting the Leviathan gas field with the Aphrodite gas field would be costly.

Israel also stated they are unwilling to construct a floating gas power plant due to security concerns. Moreover, it would be an unprecedented, risky and enormous project -- equal to the size of four football fields.

It is said that carrying Israeli gas to Europe through Turkey would be advantageous both for domestic and international use, the latter of which would entail sending it to Europe through other lines such as the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) and Turkish Stream projects. However, Israel is worried about realizing the project without first achieving normalization. Israeli authorities said they have a lot to lose, and they have to wait for now.

According to sources, private energy companies are looking at the Turkey alternative; however, they do not know how to progress without reconciliation between northern Cyprus and southern Cyprus. Giant energy companies think that a pipeline passing from Turkey is the cheapest and best way to transport Israeli gas".

[06] Claims that $7 billion belonging to Koza Ipek were illegally transferred to bank accounts in Malta, Bahrain and the occupation regime

A special team from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) has begun to investigate all details related to 23 companies owned by Koza Ipek Holding after police launched a probe on Tuesday into the holding company after a decision from the Ankara 7th Criminal Court of Peace. All banking transactions, money transfers and financial relations of the foundations and companies related to the Gulenist Terrorist Organization (FETO) are being investigated.

Inspectors found that the price of gold extracted from mines were shown to be 10 times higher than their real value by the holding's gold group while aid money were sent abroad. They said that if Koza Ipek Holding has a connection with members of terror organizations its assets can be confiscated in the name of national security.

In the investigation in which Ak?n Ipek, the group's chairman, is accused of being the director of the Gulenist Terror Organization, it is claimed that the sum of $7.04 billion was illegally transferred to the holding's bank accounts located in Bahrain, Malta and Cyprus. However, $4 billion out of this sum could not be documented, according to the reports prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board and Organized Crime Control Bureau. It is alleged that the non-documented balance is the money compiled for the Gulen terror organization.

The special team worked overtime at MASAK last night not to skip any detail in the operation into Koza Ipek Holding, which is alleged to be a safe box of FETO. Additionally, technical assistance was demanded from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Authority and the Capital Market Board. As a covert operation is being conducted into the foreign connections of the companies, money transfers made to members of FETO in the U.S. and other countries are being investigated. Inspectors emphasized that a cautionary judgment can be made on assets of the holding company if it is documented that the group had a high amount of tax evasions or it has connections with the "parallel structure."

Bank accounts of some individuals in FETO, which Ankara describes as a terrorist organization after including it in the Red Book, are under investigation.

(?)

According to Turkish law no: 6415, as part of the United Nations Security Council's Regulation regarding the prevention of financing terrorism, providing financial support to a terrorist organization is a crime; thus, operations can accordingly take place and assets frozen.

[07] Turkey's MGK reiterates determination in fight against terrorismTurkish daily Sabah (02.09.15-online in English) reported that Turkey's National Security Council (MGK) convened on Wednesday in efforts to discuss critical matters mainly focusing on establishing enhanced security measures in the upcoming November 1st early elections, the Syrian crisis, the PKK and ISIS terrorist organizations and the Gulen movement.

The statement said: "No threat would weaken the hundreds-of years-old fraternity bond within our nation."

The importance of close cooperation with the international community to fight terrorism was also underlined in the statement.

On the matter of fighting against the Gulen movement, both domestically and abroad, the statement expressed Turkey's determination to fight against such illegal structures and as a democratic state of law; all procedures would be carried out within the legal framework.

Security measures to ensure a peaceful and secure environment, away from any kind of oppression at the upcoming general elections dated November 1, 2015 were presented to the Council in the meeting.

Recent events and developments in Syria were thoroughly evaluated; border security measures were reviewed, and restoring peace and security in Syria were discussed while asserting that the fight against ISIS terror organization with the US-led coalition will continue full-force and with the same determination, added the statement.

The statement also expressed Turkey's concern over European countries' attitude towards the refugee crisis, which Turkey has been dealing with responsibly over the last few years.

(?)

[08] Demirtas: "No suitable conditions for polls in Turkey's east"

"Our friends coming from these regions do not bring good news. They say conducting an election campaign under these conditions is impossible. This is the objective of the [Justice and Development Party] AKP. If they would, they could provide the necessary conditions for polls even in one day", Demirtas stated.

Arguing that the presidency was aiming to increase its control of ballot boxes and polling stations during the November 1 election in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's instructions, Demirtas added: "The President already said [the November 1 election] won't be like the June 7 polls. His presidency will take the ballot boxes in hand. It seems he is in preparation to put his pressure on the ballot boxes as he seized [control of] the state."

Demirtas further claimed the AKP could even postpone the election if they anticipate their votes will decline further.

"Boycotting elections is not on our agenda. We are working and discussing [how to] provide election security. There are serious violations in various parts of the region. But western parts of the country can hear only 10% of all of them," he added.

"The HDP will compete in the election with all of its political mechanisms", Demirtas said, adding that the party's objective is to garner 20% of the votes on November 1, nearly seven more points than it had in June.

On a question about the killing of a doctor by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, the HDP co-leader harshly criticized the organization and said he cursed the incident.

(?)

[09] Turkey moves arrested British journalists to a distant prison

The two British journalists, correspondent Jake Hanrahan and cameraman Philip Pendlebury, and their Turkey-based assistant were detained last week in Diyarbak?r, the main city in Turkey's mostly Kurdish southeast, where renewed fighting has killed a number of people.

A court ordered the three formally arrested late on August 30 on charges of aiding a terror organization. All three have rejected the accusation.

Tahir Elci, head of the Diyarbak?r lawyers' association, told The Associated Press by telephone in Diyarbak?r that the three were taken to a prison in Adana, southern Turkey, on the grounds that there were English-speaking wardens and inmates there. Elci, however, said the move would hamper their defense.

Kevin Sutcliffe, Vice News' head of news programming in Europe, said the journalists were transported to a high-security prison where suspects convicted or accused of terror-related charges are kept, sometimes in isolation. "This move appears to be a blatant obstruction of the fair legal process that Turkey has repeatedly pledged to uphold," said Sutcliffe. "We call on the Turkish government to throw out these ridiculous charges and immediately release our colleagues."

(?)Their arrests have prompted strong protests from media rights advocates, the U.S. and the European Union. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK/ AM)

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