Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-07-07

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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] Greek Cypriot prisoners were reportedly buried alive in Turkey in 1974

[02] Burcu on Anastasiades' Morfou statements

[03] Ozgurgun claims that occupied Morfou area is a "TRNC district"

[04] More reactions regarding Morfou

[05] Durduran said that their biggest problem is that being controlled by Turkey is covered up

[06] HDP's Demirtas visits occupied Karpasia peninsula

[07] Turkish Cypriot columnist says that the regime prohibits religious services in occupied churches

[08] Turkey to send team to Egypt to discuss broken ties: AKP official

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Greek Cypriot prisoners were reportedly buried alive in Turkey in 1974

Under the title "They were buried alive", Levent describes the missing persons issue as "an unclosed wound in our heart", criticizes the way by which the Committee on Missing Persons deals with the issue and writes:

"Are the missing persons only in the island? No. There are also in Turkey. Those who were taken to Turkey. To Adana. To Mersin. Many of them did not come back from the places they had been taken. They were murdered there. What will happen with them? I do not know how many Greek Cypriot prisoners had been taken to Turkey and how many of them came back. I do not also know why there is no statement, no initiative on this issue by the Committee on the Missing Persons. However, if not all of them returned, as eye witnesses say, is it not necessary to look for some missing persons in Turkey in this case?

Behold a witness. He is around sixties. He comes from one of Keryneia's villages. He was around 17-18 years old in 1974. And the army assigned him with a duty in Keryneia port together with others. They were pouring concrete there for passage to the sea. And Greek Cypriot war prisoners were brought there in rows. When they looked at them while pouring concrete, the soldier guard there said to them: 'Do not look to that direction'.

In a situation exactly like this, he listened to the discussion between two soldiers. The one soldier said the following to the other by showing the Greek Cypriot prisoners:

'We will take them to Adana also and do to them what we did to the others. We took the others, tied their hands and legs and buried them alive by the river there. We wasted absolutely no bullet. Because we buried them by the water, the river will grab them over time and drag them away. They will not be able to find their traces'.

My dear friend said that he had thought a lot on whether to tell me this story. He was considering it as one of the most important secrets he knew. In the end he decided to tell it. In any case, he told it by carefully choosing the words. He was remembering what happened as if it was yesterday. [?]"

Noting that light should also be shed on other secrets, Levent refers to Kutlu Adali, journalist of the Yeni Duzen newspaper who was murdered 20 years ago [on 06 July 1996] reportedly because of the missing persons issue. According to Levent, it is said that a very big mass grave existed in the garden of occupied Saint Varnavas Monastery, in which Greek Cypriots killed in the surrounding villages had been buried.

"After the establishment of the Committee on Missing Persons in the beginning of the 1990's, Turkey wanted to extinguish the mass graves which existed in the island", he notes adding that some persons from Turkey had especially been assigned with this duty and were sent to the island. It is said that these persons had gone from door to door searching for anyone who knew where mass graves existed. Levent continues:

"It is said that Kutlu Adali knew this. This is said to be the real reason for which he insistently dealt with Saint Varnavas. Therefore, he was even threatened with death by the military command. However, not one dares to investigate this and tell the truth. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[02] Burcu on Anastasiades' Morfou statements

Burcu stated that the Greek Cypriot side cannot think on the territorial adjustment the same way as it did during the Annan Plan. He said that the Greek Cypriot side has put in the past the issue of Morfou's return in connection with the Annan Plan and that the Turkish side had replied that the Annan Plan must be seen as a whole. "You cannot adopt the Plan's positive aspects while ignoring the negative ones", Burcu said.

Burcu went on adding that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci stated then that many things have changed since the Annan Plan and that the territorial adjustment which was anticipated at that plan cannot be done in the same way anymore.

He also said that the two sides continue the intensive negotiations focusing on four chapters and that after completing the discussion on these issues, discussions on territory, which is the fifth chapter, will start as well. "The Turkish Cypriot side does not think that is right to start discussing this issue before entering this stage", he said adding that the discussion of the issue on media has no meaning and is not right.

Burcu further said that territory which is a very sensitive issue must be discussed only when the time is right and on a right basis, adding that until now it has not been brought at the negotiation table.

(CS)

[03] Ozgurgun claims that occupied Morfou area is a "TRNC district"

In a written statement, Ozgurgun alleged that the "Turkish Cypriot people know very well that the Greek Cypriot side is the only obstacle for not moving forward to a positive result on the ongoing for a half century Cyprus talks for finding a solution".

Ozgurgun further alleged that Anastasiades, like the Greek Cypriot leaders before him, does not have a political will for a Cyprus settlement and his statement that "there will not be solution without the return of Morphou", proves one more time that he does not want a solution. He also claimed that "with such mentality that only sees as a key for the solution, the withdrawal of the Turkish army from the island which is the guarantee for the peace and tranquillity in the island since 1974, the return of the citizens, who have come from Turkey and have known for years now as their homeland this land, the return of an important part of Karpasia, the whole town of Varosha, the villages of south Mesaoria and now also Morphou, a just, permanent, viable agreement under the UN parameters cannot be anything else than an illusion".

According to the statement, Ozgurgun further claimed that "both Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades and the fictional mayor should know very well that the investments in the Morphou area since 1974 have been implemented within the framework of the decisions of the "TRNC governments", adding that the investments will be increased on behalf of the prosperity, happiness and the quality of life of their people".

(DPs)

[04] More reactions regarding Morfou

Kemal Dusrust, "Morfou deputy" with the National Unity Party (UBP) said that they especially support the investment for the construction of a university in the area and added that nothing is like 12 years ago. "Therefore, the Greek Cypriots' statements must be down to earth", he alleged.

On his part, Mehmet Caglar, "Morfou deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) alleged that these kind of "sine qua non" statements are not right and added that empathy must be shown having in mind that the least of people should be victimized.

Ersin Tatar, "Lefkosia deputy" with UBP, claimed that the statement of President Anastasiades on Morfou is an indication that he does not really want peace and has no good intentions for the solution. He also said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci must give to Anastasiades a proper answer on Morfou so that no worries on the issue to exist anymore.

(CS)

[05] Durduran said that their biggest problem is that being controlled by Turkey is covered up

Asked to comment on the today's politics, Durduran said that unfortunately within years, the politics went bankrupt adding that you cannot trust politicians.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Durduran said that the Cyprus problem is an international problem. In the matter of how it should be solved, all the states and institutions from the UN to the EU have made decisions, he noted, and added that a solution conveniently to them should be found; otherwise the present situation will continue.

Replying to whether the Turkish Cypriot side is ready for a solution or not, Durduran said: "Unfortunately, the Turkish Cypriot side is not ready for this solution. The Turkish Cypriot side says that it wants solution by joining also the chorus. However, here there is not a trace of a state which thinks that there will be a solution very soon. (?) the Turkish Cypriots learned that they should look to actions and not to talks".

In the question what is the most important problem in the negotiations, Durduran said: "The most important problem in the negotiations is that Turkey will not give up from controlling here (translator's note: the occupied area in the Republic of Cyprus)."

Durduran concluded by saying that according to him the biggest problem of "TRNC" is that the "TRNC" does not govern itself, is governed by Turkey, which is covered up.

(DPs)

[06] HDP's Demirtas visits occupied Karpasia peninsula

(I/Ts.)

[07] Turkish Cypriot columnist says that the regime prohibits religious services in occupied churches

"[?] He meets, for example, with one of the four most important persons who could be described as 'permanent secretary' of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And during this meeting he complains that they cannot freely hold a service in the churches in northern Cyprus. Is it true or not what this uncle or brother priest is saying? I will not enter into this debate! Moreover, I said that I would enter into this debate, but the man is right. You have prohibited this, have you not? Because you had no other job to do. As soon as you were given authority, you had to implement the views in your head, which is covered with cobwebs! Now what the British government most simply knows at official level? It knows that a mentality which put obstacles to religious services exists in the north. Now say something like 'no, we do not put obstacles, we are not fascist, we are very democratic people'! Go and say! [?] Thanks to you, the Turkish Cypriot community is seen like you in the whole world. This is the only thing I am sorry about. 'The Turkish Cypriots are prohibiting the religious services of the people'. Let the people to come and pray. You can satisfy elsewhere your complex".

(I/Ts.)

[08] Turkey to send team to Egypt to discuss broken ties: AKP official

"Insallah [God willing] ties with Egypt will also ease," he said while speaking at an event. "Thus, inshallah we should stop the blood spilling in Syria due to the easing [of tensions] in the region," he said, adding that a team would be sent to Egypt after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

His remarks came one day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the steps taken for a possible reconciliation with Egypt would be different than the processes that saw Turkey begin to thaw relations with Russia and Israel. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said July 3 that he was ready to meet with his Egyptian counterpart to discuss political ties, adding that Egypt must take some positive steps with regard to political prisoners. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ AM)

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