TURKISH PRESS
AND OTHER MEDIA
No.33/07
15.02.07
A. NEWS ITEMS
1. Soyer announced yesterday the second part of the results of the
population census
2. Cakici described the self-styled government of the breakaway regime
as “a puppet government formed by the AK Party”
3. Efforts to increase the loans given by the banks in order to strengthen
the economy
4. VATAN accuses the Greek Cypriots of trying to prevent the products
produced in the occupied areas to be marketed in the free areas
5. Syrians were arrested for illegally entering into the occupied areas
6. Swedish municipalities to establish cooperation with “municipalities”
in occupied Cyprus
7. Chief of General Staff: “No one can dare to divide Turkey”
8. A person of Turkish origin has been appointed as a cabinet member in
Holland
A. NEWS ITEMS
1. Soyer announced yesterday the second part of the results of the
population census
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (15.02.07) reports that Ferdi Sabit
Soyer, self-styled Prime Minster, announced yesterday the second part of the
results of the population census which had been conducted last year in the
occupied areas of Cyprus. Details were announced according to the place of
birth of the population and the place of birth of the parents.
According to the results, in the de jure population the total number of the
“TRNC citizens” is 178.031. The parents of the 120.007 “TRNC citizens” who
permanently reside in the occupied areas are born in Cyprus. The mother of
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8.084 of the “TRNC citizens” is born in Cyprus, while their father is born in
another country. The father of 4.544 of the “citizens” is born in Cyprus and
their mother in another country.
The number of those whose parents are born in Turkey is 42.572 and their
percentage is 23.91 %.
Mr Soyer alleged that the Greek Cypriots use speculations regarding the
population of the occupied areas in various international platforms, distort the
numbers and exert efforts to serve their political aims. He noted that it is
useful to stress that time has come for discussion to be conducted on the
grounds created by the real numbers and not by the allegations.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (15.02.07) refers to the
issue under the title “Our population is very complicated” and reports that the
results of the second part of the census will cause debates.
The paper describes the numbers in the two tables announced as “surprising”,
adding that in the one table it is noted that the de jure population of the “TRNC
citizens” born in Cyprus is 145.443 and in the other it is noted that the number
of the de jure “TRNC citizens” is 178.031.
According to the one table, the number of those whose parents are born in
Cyprus is 120.000. In the other table the number of those whose parents are
born in Cyprus is 117.626.
The paper reports that in spite of the fact that the registered workers and the
foreign students are not “citizens” of the “TRNC”, they have been added into
the de jure population and thus this population was determined to be 265.100.
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Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that the students and the workers have been included
in the de jure population because they reside in the occupied areas for more
than one year. Mr Soyer noted that the aim of the census was neither to
establish the total number of the “TRNC citizens” nor to find out the number of
the voters in the occupied areas.
Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (15.02.07) refers
to the same issue under the title “Here are the numbers”. The paper reports
that Mr Soyer said, inter alia, the following: “These data should have been
established and announced much earlier. We are open and transparent. We
fear of nothing. What is important is the people, no matter where they have
been born”.
Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily ORTAM newspaper (15.02.07) covers the issue
under the title “Let whoever wants to believe it”. The paper reports: “The
Turkish Cypriot community has not been able to know fully its own population
for a long time. When you look at the census results the last part of which was
announced yesterday, it seems that the uncertainty regarding the population
will continue for a long time”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Cakici described the self-styled government of the breakaway regime
as “a puppet government formed by the AK Party”
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (15.02.07) reports that Mehmet
Cakici, general secretary of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH), has
reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots should become a side at the negotiating
table by using their rights in the 1960 constitution of the Republic of Cyprus
which is valid in the international law.
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In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Cakici noted that the acquisition
and use of these rights by the Turkish Cypriots might force an early solution to
be found on the basis of a federal bi-zonal and bi-communal Cyprus.
He said that the system has not changed in the occupied areas and that only
the persons changed. Mr Cakici described the self-styled government of the
breakaway regime as “a puppet government formed by the AK Party”.
He accused the Republican Turkish Party of establishing a coalition with those
who opposed the Annan Plan. Mr Cakici noted that the community is
misinformed because the civilian organizations and the media are controlled.
(I/Ts.)
3. Efforts to increase the loans given by the banks in order to strengthen
the economy
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (15.02.07) reports that the so-called
Central Bank of the breakaway regime has made an arrangement which will
pave the way for the banks operating in the occupied areas to increase their
contribution to the economy.
According to the arrangement, as of 1 April 2007 the banks should keep 15 %
of the deposits they collect from the occupied areas ready as recourses which
to be able to be turned into cash. Today this percentage is 5 %. As of 1 July
2007 it will be increased to 20 % and on 1 October it will become 25 %.
It is expected that the banks will use as credits for the internal market the
money they will be forced to have available.
In statements to KIBRIS, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, self-styled Prime Minster of the
breakaway regime said that the banks from Turkey are expected to offer more
credits in the occupied areas with this new practice.
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The percentage of the credits offered by the banks according to the deposits
they collected is the following for the 2005 fiscal year: “TRNC” Banks: Iktisat
Bankasi 75 %, Universal Bank 73.28 %, Altinbas (Creditwest) Bank 65.71 %,
Turkish Cypriot Central Cooperative Bank 65.23 %, Vakiflar Bankasi 61.95 %,
Asbank 56.61 %, Limassol Turkish Cooperative Bank 55.63%, Branch Banks:
Garanti bankasi 13.40 %, Isbanaksi 9.16 %, Ziraat Bankasi 3.55% and HSBC
2.69 %.
(I/Ts.)
4. VATAN accuses the Greek Cypriots of trying to prevent the products
produced in the occupied areas to be marketed in the free areas
Turkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper (15.02.07) reports that the Greek
Cypriots are preparing to take measures to prevent the products produced in
the occupied areas of the island to be marketed in the free areas. It alleges
that the Greek Cypriots “cannot tolerate the Turkish Cypriot products” and in
order to prevent them from entering into the free areas they put forth the
pretext that they are produced in Turkey. VATAN notes also that the Greek
Cypriots accuse the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce of not doing its
job right.
(I/Ts.)
5. Syrians were arrested for illegally entering into the occupied areas
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (15.02.07) reports that 27 Syrians
were arrested yesterday by the “police” for illegally entering into the occupied
areas of the island through Eptakomi village in Karpass peninsula. The age of
the illegal immigrants varies from 18 to 40 years. Yesterday they were taken
to “Famagusta District Court” which ordered their remand in custody for three
days.
(I/Ts.)
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6. Swedish municipalities to establish cooperation with “municipalities”
in occupied Cyprus
Illegal BAYRAK television (14.02.07) broadcast the following:
“Experts on local administration- Soren Backman and Husamettin Utkutug
were received by the ´Mayor´of Girne (occupied Kyrenia) - Sumer Aygin
today.
Acccording to the statement issued by the Girne ´Municipality´, the two
experts are in the ´TRNC´ to hold a conference on establishing cooperation
between the ´TRNC´ municipalities and municipalities in Sweden as well as
on the issues of local democracies and urban transformation as part of the
European Union adaptation process.
The conference will be held on April the 15th and 16th in Girne and is
important with its emphasis on cooperation between the ´TRNC local
administrations´ and those in the EU.
Addressing the visit, Girne ´Mayor´ Sumer Aygin said that the Girne
´Municipality´ has been establishing contacts with EU countries despite of the
ongoing international isolation of the ´TRNC´ and added that Girne
´Municipality´ is always ready for cooperation.”
7. Chief of General Staff: “No one can dare to divide Turkey”
ANKARA ANATOLIA news agency (14.02.07) reports the following from
Washington:
"As long as there are dynamic forces protecting Turkey, those with the dream
to divide Turkey will wake up with a nightmare and get their lessons from us.
No one can dare to divide Turkey. We will do what it takes to give a lesson to
those trying to divide Turkey," said General Yasar Buyukanit, Turkish Chief of
General Staff, in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.
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Buyukanit was the guest of honour at a reception hosted by the Turkish
ambassador in Washington, D.C. Nabi Sensoy last night.
Speaking to guests at the reception, General Buyukanit indicated that no one
or institution can carry Turkey to a point other than the regime determined by
the constitution.
General Buyukanit stressed that Turkey is facing some tough problems
currently. "The Turkish Republic has not faced so many risks, threats and
problems since its establishment in 1923 as it does today. We have the Iraqi
problem at our border. North of Iraq is a problem. There is the Cyprus
problem.
The Caucasus region poses a potential risk. Turkey's border with Iran is a
potential problem. Turkey has never had so many problems since its
establishment in 1923," underlined General Buyukanit.
Referring to a resolution submitted to the U.S. Congress on so-called
Armenian genocide, General Buyukanit underscored that if the resolution gets
adopted by the U.S. Congress, this would insult us Turks. "We will be
seriously disturbed by the adoption of such a resolution," told Buyukanit.
Buyukanit concluded his remarks at the reception by making a call to all
Turkish citizens living in different countries to unite and make the Turkish
Republic stronger.
General Buyukanit is scheduled to meet the U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney
and U.S. President George W. Bush's National Security Advisor Stephen
Hadley on Wednesday.”
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8. A person of Turkish origin has been appointed as a cabinet member in
Holland
Turkish daily MILLIYET newspaper (15.02.07) reports that for the first time a
Turkish origin person in Holland has been appointed as cabinet member. She
is Nebahat Albayrak. She is appointed as the State Secretary to the Justice
Ministry Responsible for Immigration and Justice Institutions.
(MHY)
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