Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-04-11

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Efforts by the occupation regime to limit the trafficking of human beings.

[02] More views on lifting the casus belli by the TGNA.

[03] The TGNA will discuss how Turkey plans to handle the Armenian genocide issue. Gul´s views on Incirlik.

[04] Israel supports Turkey´s membership of the UN Security Council.

[05] Kutlay Erk pleased by the interest shown by the international community towards the municipality of occupied Lefkosia.

[06] Leukemia Patient Young Turkish girl faces Turkish bureaucracy obstacle to receive bone marrow from a Greek Cypriot.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Efforts by the occupation regime to limit the trafficking of human beings

North Cyprus was shocked by a new scandal yesterday. Ten policemen and five civilians were detained for receiving money to help foreigners to either travel to or leave the `TRNC´. We have ascertained that the suspects were taken to court and remanded in custody for three days.

It has been reported that a group involved in human smuggling was uncovered during a police operation at the Ledra Palace checkpoint yesterday. Cengiz Avci was detained for helping four Syrian citizens to cross into south Cyprus. The police detained the other suspects after Avci was interrogated. It has also been reported that the amount the group received from human smuggling totalled nearly 6 trillion Turkish lira ($4 million) until now.

The police press officer has not disclosed the names of the suspects. However, AFRIKA has established that some of them are: Cengiz Avci, Sergeant Osman Savas, Sergeant Mustafa Ozcelikkan, Coskun Arslan, Mehmet Bakkaloglu, Kamil Gorcin, and Niyazi Inanc.

[02] More views on lifting the casus belli by the TGNA

In a chat with journalists yesterday, the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), Mr Bulent Arinc said that the parliament decision on regarding as casus belli any attempt by Greece to increase its Aegean territorial waters to 12 miles should be lifted.

But, replying to a reporters' question today, Foreign Minister Gul revealed that he thinks differently from Arinc.

Noting that Arinc was simply voicing his opinion on Greek-Turkish friendship and on the peaceful resolution of the Aegean problems, Gul said that they are continuing their efforts to obtain positive results from the exploratory talks.

Gul added: "There is no question of any change in Turkey's position. We maintain our desire for a settlement in line with the interests of the two countries. There is the will for this on both sides."

Asked if any positive stage has been reached in the exploratory talks, Gul said: "Such major issues cannot be solved that easily."

Noting that Turkey is making no preparations for any new initiative ahead of Greek Foreign Minister Moliviatis' visit to Ankara next week, Gul indicated that such visits and the Aegean problems are separate issues.

Ankara TRT 1 Television (10.04.05) broadcast that Mr Bulent Arinc, speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, left on an official visit to Luxembourg today. Before he left, he replied to reporters' questions on his remarks on Turkey's decision to consider casus belli any move extending Greece's territorial waters in the Aegean Sea.

Arinc stressed that foreign policy should not be a stagnant policy, and that new gestures may be needed when conditions change.

He said: I respect anyone who says that the casus belli decision is useful and should remain because it is in line with Turkey's national interests. Nevertheless, it would not hurt the country's interests to say that such a gesture would be useful if the government feels the need for a new gesture, step, or move regarding this issue.

On the same issue Istanbul MILLIYET newspaper (09.04.05) publishes the following report by Utku Cakirozer from Ankara under the title: "Diplomacy first":

Admiral Salim Dervisoglu, former Naval Forces commander, has extended support to TGNA [Turkish Grand National Assembly] Speaker Bulant Arinc who announced that Turkey's decision to view Greece's attempt to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles as casus belli (cause of war) leads to difficulties. Dervisoglu, who is known as "the commander who initiated the dialogue between the Turkish and the Greek Armies," has assessed Arinc's proposal for MILLIYET:

We have seen in the Kardak crisis that it is preferable to resolve the disputes of our age through talks, rather than war. When I became the commander of the Naval Forces, my Greek interlocutor and I began to take up certain issues by ourselves as much as we could. The General Staff also agreed to this. There has been a rapprochement in the relations in all the fields during the past six to seven years.

Casus belli should be relevant only when diplomacy ends. We are very far from this point. We are allies in NATO. Even though we are not full members, we are together within the EU. Most important, it does not seem wise for Turkey to wage a war in order to achieve its goals. Greece cannot say: "I extended my territorial waters to 12 miles." Neither can Turkey carry out the requirements of casus belli.

There is no harm in saying that you have given up something that you know is not very probable. This may even positively contribute to your position.

It is almost impossible for Greece to implement its 12 miles thesis. This is not merely a legal issue. The issue will be resolved through peaceful means by taking [the two countries'] mutual interests into consideration.

The lifting of casus belli will not affect the Turkish Naval Forces' military preparedness level in the Aegean. The stationing and the structuring of the institutions will change only if the Cyprus issue is resolved and if the two sides shake hands in the Aegean.

[03] The TGNA will discuss how Turkey plans to handle the Armenian genocide issue. Gul´s views on Incirlik

"A discussion on Turkey's action plan will take place at the Turkish parliament on Wednesday. I will make some explanations on the Armenian claims," told Gul.

Gul stressed that Turkey fell behind on the topic of so-called Armenian genocide. "Turkey could have been more active and brave in dealing with this topic."

Gul noted that something which never occurred and has no truth has become a tool of propaganda to win hearts in the West. "We must work with full force to create extraordinary efforts to illuminate the truth," commented Gul.

Asked if a United Nations committee could be formed to investigate Armenian claims, Gul expressed the view that the UN is a political organ and not one that deals with legal matters. "The UN may make mistakes in voting. Individuals raising their hands to vote may vote wrongly based on political gains and interests. History has many examples of votings that proved to be fallacious."

Minister Gul remarked that there is a strong Armenian lobby in the U.S.. "Every year, around this time, lobbies of the Armenians and Turks in the United States work hard. There has never been a period when the Turks disregarded Armenian attempts in the United States. We, as Turks, have an ethical and moral obligation to inform the world about certain allegations."

According to Gul, enlightening U.S. congress members is a task that should be done by all Turkish citizens and friends of Turks.

Upon a question about the demand of the United States to use Turkey's Incirlik Airbase for logistic purposes, Gul said: "Activities about the issue continue. A new situation is out of question to discuss the issue at Parliament."

In response to the attitude of the opposition party regarding the issue, Gul said: "If demands are carried to Parliament, then the opposition acts the way it likes."

When asked whether Turkey and the United States will sign a memorandum of understanding about the issue, Gul said: "If a political decision is taken, related officials set the framework of the issue. We have not reached that stage yet."

Regarding the visit which will be paid by Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan to the United States, Gul said: "Many changes happened at U.S. government in the second Bush term. Tuygan will go to the United States upon the invitation of Washington for meetings with the new government."

"Many issues will be discussed in technical aspect during the visit. Meetings with high-ranking officials will also be held," he added.

"When it is considered in a realistic way, there is a will to deepen expectations and relations between Turkey and the United States. We are always in contact with the United States within that scope," said Gul.

[04] Israel supports Turkey´s membership of the UN Security Council

An important step has been taken by Israel in connection with the Tel Aviv-Ankara ties that have been tense for a long time. Israel became the first country that officially announced it would back Turkey's candidacy for membership at the UN Security Council [UNSC] during the 2009-2010 period.

Turkey is seeking the support for its membership during that period from all UN member countries. The first concrete step in this regard came from Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry conveyed a letter to the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv on 7 March, announcing that it officially supports Turkey's candidacy as member of the UNSC. The letter was conveyed to Ankara before the plans were finalized for Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to Israel at the beginning of May.

No official statement has been issued yet regarding Erdogan's visit to Israel.

[05] Kutlay Erk pleased by the interest shown by the international community towards the municipality of occupied Lefkosia

Mr Erk had a meeting with a high level, seven-member delegation from Stockholm, Sweden, which paid a visit in the pseudostate between 6-9 of April.

The so-called mayor of the occupied Lefkosia municipality stated that the fact that the Turkish Cypriots said with a 65% yes to the referendum, together with the intensive diplomatic efforts made in the international arena, had a result. From now on the foreigners who in the past visited only the Greek Cypriot Lefkosia municipality, now visit the Lefkosia Turkish municipality, he said.

[06] Leukemia Patient Young Turkish girl faces Turkish bureaucracy obstacle to receive bone marrow from a Greek Cypriot

HURRIYET then explains why Emine´s getting of bone marrow transplant has stuck to bureaucratic impediment, because it reports, two years ago, another Turkish patient of Leukemia, Umut Utlu had received bone marrow from the free areas and after a successful transplanting he overcame the illness and got well.

However, Turkey´s Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant did not pay to the corresponding centre in Cyprus, which provided the bone marrow, the laboratory expenses incurred by the Centre in Cyprus.

The coordinator of the Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine Bone Marrow Bank Dr Sarper Diler, said that when health issues are in question there should be an exemption to political and diplomatic problems. He said: In similar cases, for laboratory work money is being transferred between countries.

Two years ago we have asked, for teacher Umut Utlu, from the Greek Cypriot section Laboratory work. The necessary funds were raised by the relatives of the patient. Then with a special permission we had gone to the Greek Cypriot sector, took the bone marrow and the transplanting was realized. From this transplanting and the expenses we had owed them 23 thousand dollars. Because of the bureaucratic obstacles we are unable to transfer this money to the banks in south Cyprus. And every time that we make a request they remind us of this arrears. So, the case is valid for Emine in Kayseri.

In his turn the Chairman of the Erciyes University Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant, Prof. Dr. Ali Unal said: Since it is not possible to make money transfers to the Greek Cypriot sector, it is not possible to carry out laboratory work. I will write a letter to the Departmental Head of the Health Affaire of the Social Security Organization, and inform him that the matching bone marrow has been found in the Greek Cypriot section and that transplanting is a must, and demand from him to carry out the operation in another European country.

/SK

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