22/2/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW




TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW


No.  38/13                                                                                                                      22/2/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS
1. Atalay says they will grant the “citizenship” of the regime to 22 thousand families of Turkish settlers  
2. Erolgu expects no change in the Greek Cypriot policy on the Cyprus problem after the presidential elections 
3. Turkish sources refer to a need of changing the negotiator in the Cyprus talks according to the circumstances  
4. Kucuk’s press conference on the “activities” of his “government”
5. The Cyprus problem has been discussed at yesterday’s session of the so-called assembly; statements by Yorgancioglu and Ozgurgun
6. Press conference on the economic program of Turkey to the breakaway regime will take place today with the participation of Kucuk and Akca
7. Turkey’s MFA confirms that Asil Nadir may return back to Turkey
8. Taekwondo world championship to be held in occupied Cyprus in Summer
9. Syria, bilateral ties  and EU the main topics on Merkel’s agenda for her forthcoming visit to Turkey
10. Turkish Justice Ministry approves BDP's delegation list of members which will visit Ocalan in Imprali on Saturday
11. The main political parties in Turkey agree to subordinate General Staff to Defense Ministry in the framework of the new Constitution
12. Another retired general was convicted for February 28 plot
13. New city construction of Istanbul to begin in six months
14. Turkey losing its ethnic tongues according a an UNESCO report
15. The breakaway regime is participating in the Free Munich Messe Tourism Fair

1. Atalay says they will grant the “citizenship” of the regime to 22 thousand families of Turkish settlers  
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Besir Atalay, has said that they will grant the citizenship of the breakaway regime to 22 thousand families. According to the paper, “the reason why the Justice and Development party (AKP) insistently wants Irsen Kucuk is coming to surface” and adds that “the citizenship is being granted to 22 thousand families”. 

The paper writes that during a meeting held at the Turkish self-styled embassy in the occupied part of Lefkosia last Monday, some insults were heard for the Cypriots and the “ministers” of the breakaway regime. Chairmen of organizations of Turkish settlers also attended the meeting. When some participants in the meeting said that they consider Turkey’s interference [in the National Unity Party’s (UBP) congress] to be “unfavorable”, Besir Atalay replied the following: “We are working for you. We will make 22 thousand families TRNC citizens”.  

According to the paper, Atalay said that both former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas and the current Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu were “unreligious” and added: “They prevented the imam schools and the Koran courses in a Moslem community. We want to work with Mr Irsen”.

Afrika writes that tension existed during the meeting and that when self-styled minister Ersan Saner said “hello, I am Ersan Saner”, in an attempt to introduce himself, his hand remained in the air. AKP’s propaganda expert in the occupied area of Cyprus, Erol Olcak did not shake Saner’s hand and told him: “pass over there, I know you”. According to the paper, Erol Olcak complained that the self-styled ministers of the regime “do not exert enough effort” in favor of Irsen Kucuk for the UBP’s congress. 

Meanwhile, in statements at a press conference yesterday, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime, Irsen Kucuk said that those [foreigners] who have worked in the occupied area of Cyprus for over than five years could apply for being granted the “citizenship” of the regime.  
(I/Ts.) 

2. Erolgu expects no change in the Greek Cypriot policy on the Cyprus problem after the presidential elections 
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has said that he expects no change in the policy of the Greek Cypriot side by the President of the Republic who will be elected on Sunday’s presidential elections in the government-controlled area of the Republic. Addressing yesterday a delegation headed by the so-called TMT fighters’ association’s newly elected administrative council, Eroglu said he is always in consultation with Turkey and that he had recently met with President Gul in Cairo for about one hour. He noted that it is important for the Turkish Cypriots to use time well and to be united.

Eroglu argued that with “a wide propaganda” they should explain to the world what he called as “the intransigent stance of the Greek Cypriot side”. He reiterated the allegation that the world should see the “reality” that “there are a people living under unjust embargoes”. He claimed: “…We are not in 1968 or 1974 anymore. We are in 2013. A long time passed since then, many things changed. The realities must be seen and accepted”.

Eroglu alleged that the “TRNC state” exists and that the world should see this reality. He claimed that an agreement made taking into consideration the existing “realities” could be lasting.

Referring to his recent contacts in Egypt, Eroglu said that he had met with many heads of states there, but the most important of his meetings was the one with the Turkish President Gul. Eroglu argued that the “TRNC state” has started to be accepted.

“Our bad neighbor has made us owners of state”, he alleged adding that in case the so-called intransigence of the Greek Cypriots continues, the world will see that the Turkish Cypriots are right and the decisions of some states could become debatable.
(I/Ts.)

3. Turkish sources refer to a need of changing the negotiator in the Cyprus talks according to the circumstances  
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.02.13) reports that high ranking officials from Turkey told Kibris Postasi newspaper, that there was a need to change the negotiator of the Turkish side in the Cyprus talks, who is the Turkish Cypriot leader, according to the circumstances.

Replying to questions on the issue, the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk said: “Such moves are definitely discussed in the modern world. Why not being discussed in northern Cyprus as well?”

Kucuk said that in all the world such negotiations are held by the ministries of foreign affairs and added that there was no obstacle in discussing the “legal grounds” of a similar change in the “TRNC”, when the conditions of the day and the changing world order is taken into consideration.

The paper argues that presidential candidate and chairman of the Democratic Rally Party (DISY), Nikos Anastasiades had stated that he would not participate in the negotiations in case he won the presidential elections and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be given this authority.
(I/Ts.) 

4. Kucuk’s press conference on the “activities” of his “government”
According to illegal Bayrak television (21.02.13) the so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk has briefed the public on the activities of the “government” at a press conference held with members of his cabinet.

The “premier” underlined the fact that economic stability and growth was a priority for the “government’s policies” and said that “motherland” Turkey’s continuous support is vital in realizing this goal.

Kucuk told the press conference that positive economic developments have taken place in the “TRNC” as a result of austerity measures taken by his “government”. “I guarantee my people that the year 2013 will be better, both in terms of economic growth and prosperity, as a result of our new initiatives and motherland Turkey’s support. All sectors of our country will benefit from the transition program for a sustainable economy and new employment opportunities will be created with investments in various sectors. Our major goal is to ensure the continuation of economic growth and stability with reforms and financial arrangements as envisaged in the 2013-2015 economic program”, Kucuk stressed.

He also pointed to the significant level of momentum gained in tourism and higher education sectors of the TRNC and noted that his “government” will maintain its supportive policies to help the further development of other sectors as well.

He went on saying that the “government” has put its signature under important projects in various fields such as road construction, road safety, e-state practices and health services. “Motherland Turkey has always provided its support for our stable economic development. A brighter future awaits us with new projects such as the transfer of water and electricity from Turkey. The TRNC has overcome the global economic crisis with slight losses, compared to other European countries such as south Cyprus and Greece. We will continue to maintain our bilateral relations with Motherland Turkey at the highest level, knowing that it is Turkey’s desire to see Turkish Cypriots maintain their existence in security and prosperity. We will take the TRNC state to a higher position, in unity with the motherland”, Kucuk also said.

Reporting on Kucuk’s press conference yesterday, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (22.02.13) writes that Kucuk commenting on the fact that Eroglu has organized a press conference under the title: “evaluation of south Cyprus’ elections”, said that he would not response to Eroglu and pointed out this was an effort by Eroglu to give directions to the UBP in the light of the congress.

Referring to the forthcoming UBP congress, Kucuk said that he is consider as the favourite at the second round of the congress and expressed his perception that he will definitely be the winner.

Stating that the “election of the president” is not included at the party’s agenda at the moment, Kucuk went on and said that after the elections at the occupied Lefkosia municipality, the “local and general elections” will take place. He added that he has no intention to make a “reshuffle of the cabinet” until the “general elections”.

As regards his ties with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, Kucuk said that he hasn’t have any personal conflict with the “president” and added that they will continue their contacts in every platform.

(…). 

5. The Cyprus problem has been discussed at yesterday’s session of the so-called assembly; statements by Yorgancioglu and Ozgurgun
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (22.02.13) reports on the meeting of the so-called assembly yesterday, which took place under the “chairmanship” of the so-called speaker of “assembly” Hasan Bozer and writes that the Cyprus problem was among the matters being discussed.

Speaking during the meeting of the “assembly”, Ozkan Yorgancioglu, chairman of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) expressed criticism accusing to the so-called government, for excluding the Cyprus problem from its agenda.

Saying that it is not possible to ignore something that exists, Yorgancioglu said that if the Turkish Cypriots are interested, developments were experienced abroad regarding the Cyprus problem.

Referring to the presidential elections to take place in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus on Sunday, Yorgancioglu said that the elections in “south Cyprus”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus, are important for the Turkish Cypriots and said: “There would be developments in the future since it will be determined who will be our interlocutor at the Cyprus problem”.

Recalling that DISY leader Nikos Anastasiades was ahead during the first round of the elections, Yorgancioglu said that Anastasiades is expected to be the winner.

Referring to the statements made from EU authorized organizations that the person to be elected as the President will need a period of 3-4 months in order to solve the internal problem experienced, Yorgancioglu pointed out that Cyprus negotiations talks are expected to be resumed after this period.

Referring to Turkish-EU accession negotiation talks, Yorgancioglu said that the Cyprus problem will be the main subject on the agenda. He added that despite of this, in “north Cyprus” they are behaving as if the Cyprus problem does not exist. He similarized this as the ostrich which put its head into the sand.

Yorgancioglu spoke also of the possibility that the Turkish Cypriots will not be able to interfere to the solution of the Cyprus problem and not be able to carry out rational policies and said that the process will be under the risk to stay out of circuit. He went on and said that if they, in this country, will not submit a solution proposal that will protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, then the developments will not be in their favour. He warned also that the international community may consider again the Turkish Cypriot side, as the side, which is not willing the solution.

Yorgancioglu accused also the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu for decelerate actions.

Replying to the criticism expressed, the so-called foreign minister, Huseyin Ozgurgun stressed the need for the Cyprus problem to be discussed at the “assembly” more excessively, Ozgurgun said that because of the elections in the “south” and their economic problems, the Cyprus problem was kept behind. He spoke of the possibility of the talks to be resumed on April.

Ozgurgun went on and alleged that due to the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, not much progress has been achieved at the Cyprus talks. He continued and said that there is a will for a solution in the “north” of Cyprus, both in the “parliament” and in the “people”, still, it is not possible as he said, to say the same for the Greek Cypriot side.

Speaking on the possibility for Anastasiades’ election, Ozgurgun said that they will see how far Anastasiades is from the solution. Ozgurgun said that if they sit at the negotiation table and accept the “equality” of the Turkish Cypriots, then the Cyprus problem will be solved, as he said, adding that the solution will bring positive developments to both sides of the island (...).
(AK)

6. Press conference on the economic program of Turkey to the breakaway regime will take place today with the participation of Kucuk and Akca
Under the title “An important press conference”, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (22.02.13) reports that a press conference will take place today in occupied Cyprus regarding the 2013-2015 economic program signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime.
According to the paper, the self-style prime minister Irsen Kucuk, the Turkish “ambassador” to occupied Lefkosia Halil Ibrahim Akca, the “economy and energy minister” Sunat Atun and other “officials” will participate in the conference.

7. Turkey’s MFA confirms that Asil Nadir may return back to Turkey
Under the title: “It confirmed Asil Nadir’s return”, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (22.02.13) reports that the spokesman of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Levent Gumrukcu commenting on the allegations saying that the Turkish Cypriot businessman Asil Nadir may return back to Turkey, has said that they were informed that the 5 million sterling pounds compensation that Asin Nadir should had to pay, have been paid and added that at the current stage they should make an evaluation with the British Ministry of Justice.

Gumrukcu went on and said that as soon as the British authorities will decide on the issue, the Turkish and British authorities will cooperate and work together on a judicial level.
(AK)

8. Taekwondo world championship to be held in occupied Cyprus in Summer
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the issue of the Taekwondo world championship to be held in occupied Cyprus on June 2013, was discussed during a meeting held between the “speaker” of the self-styled assembly Hasan Bozer and a delegation of the Turkish Wushu and Aikido federation which is visiting the breakaway regime. The chairman of the “Turkish Cypriot National Olympic Committee”, Eyup Zafer Gokbilen also participated in the meeting.

According to the paper, Gokbilen asked for Bozer’s support regarding the organization of the championship.

9. Syria, bilateral ties and EU the main topics on Merkel’s agenda for her forthcoming visit to Turkey
 Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (22.02.13) reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is going to Turkey with an agenda including Patriot missiles, Kurdish issue, Turkey’s EU accession and cultural activities.

The German Chancellor is set to pay a high-profile visit to Turkey with top German businessmen accompanying her on a tour covering three cities in two days in an attempt to further boost the strategic dialogue between the two partners.

Merkel, who last appeared in the Turkish capital in 2010, will arrive in Gaziantep on Feb. 24 before heading to Kahramanmaraş, where 300 German soldiers have been deployed along with two units of Patriot defense systems. Sparing her Feb. 24 late afternoon to cultural activities, Merkel will visit Cappadocia where she is also expected to meet Christians living in the area. Later she moved on to Ankara on Feb. 25 for official talks with President Abdullah Gül and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. She will also pay her respects to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk with a visit to his mausoleum, the Anıtkabir. Merkel will also attend the CEO Forum organized by the TUSİAD of Turkey and BID of Germany.

“Merkel’s visit comes after a series of high-level visits from Germany to Turkey, including the interior minister and his state secretary. According to German diplomatic sources, the visit shows how deep and comprehensive bilateral relations between the two nations are. Leader of the Social Democrat Party, Sigmar Gabriel will also pay a visit to Turkey next week to meet with Erdogan and Kemal Kılıçdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s Party.”, writes the paper.

10. Turkish Justice Ministry approves BDP's delegation list of members which will visit Ocalan in Imprali on Saturday
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the Turkish Justice Ministry approved a list of deputies from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), who sought permission to visit the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as part of ongoing peace talks to disarm the PKK. 

The deputies will travel to İmralı Island, where jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is serving a life sentence, on Saturday.

After a long controversy over the deputies to be included in the delegation, the BDP on Thursday announced that it had officially submitted to the Justice Ministry a list of three -- Pervin Buldan, Altan Tan and Sırrı Sureyya Onder. The delegation will meet with Ocalan as part of the talks aimed at resolving Turkey's long-standing Kurdish problem.
Last week, the party unofficially named Ahmet Turk, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and an independent deputy, BDP co-Chairperson Selahattin Demirtaş and Buldan, the BDP parliamentary group deputy chairwoman, as the politicians who will go to İmralı to meet with Ocalan.

However, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had reportedly rejected the BDP's unofficial list, and the party had been asked to prepare a new list. The BDP made a new list after a meeting on Thursday evening.

The first meeting between Ocalan and Kurdish politicians as part of the negotiations took place on Jan. 4 when Turk and BDP deputy Ayla Akat Ata visited İmralı.

In the meantime, according to a news report in the Vatan daily on Thursday, the crisis over which Kurdish politicians will go to İmralı to join the peace talks was jointly resolved by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and Ocalan.

Erdogan wanted moderate figures who will be able to ensure the continuation of the process until the end to go to İmralı. MİT met with Ocalan to overcome the crisis. Then, Ocalan's brother Mehmet visited him on İmralı. Ocalan gave the names of Buldan, Onder and Tan to his brother, saying that he thinks the government will have no objections for these names.

“If the government also says ‘no' to these names, then I will begin to think there is a bad intention behind this. If something like this happens, the [peace] process will be in serious risk,” Ocalan reportedly told his brother.

During his first meeting with Kurdish politicians Turk and Ata, Ocalan told them he expects to see BDP co-chairpersons and the DTK co-chairperson together in the next meeting but gave up insisting on the names of these politicians due to government's sensitivities.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy chairman, Semih Yalçın, directed criticism at the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, accusing it of trying to ensure Ocalan's release from jail.

Independent Diyarbakır deputy Leyla Zana also spoke about the peace talks in an interview she gave to The New York Times on Tuesday. “In Turkey today, the death tolls on both sides hurt society as a whole. The funds of this country, billions of dollars, are spent on this conflict. The necessary condition is set for the Kurdish question to be solved; this opportunity should not be wasted,” she told the daily.

11. The main political parties in Turkey agree to subordinate General Staff to Defense Ministry in the framework of the new Constitution
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the four political parties with members in the Constitutional Reconciliation Commission in Turkey, have reached an agreement to subordinate the General Staff to the Ministry of Defense in the new constitution. 

According to the existing constitution, the chief of General Staff is answerable to the prime minister; however, the General Staff is not tied to the Prime Ministry and is autonomous in the exercise of its duties and powers. According to many, the constitution is an obstacle to the government's plans to end military tutelage in Turkey.

The move to link the General Staff to the ministry has received a thumbs-up from legal experts, who say it will help normalize ties between the military and the government.

“This [subordination of the General Staff to the ministry] was an expected and required move. The fact that it has happened with the consensus of all four political parties [in Parliament] is pleasing. Some political parties had made independent attempts in the past to link the General Staff to the Defense Ministry. That it has happened through consensus is important for Turkish democracy,” stated Reşat Petek, a retired public prosecutor, in remarks to Today's Zaman.

Members of the parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation Commission from the four parties -- the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the Republican People's Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) -- are continuing to work on the new civilian constitution to replace the existing one, which was drafted under martial law after the Sept. 12, 1980 military coup.

The commission convened on Wednesday under the presidency of AK Party deputy Mustafa Şentop. News reports later in the day, said that the parties agreed to put an article in the constitution stipulating that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) shall be subordinated to the Ministry of Defense. According to the article, the TSK chief will be appointed by the president on the Cabinet's recommendation.

AK Party Deputy Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş said he has defended the idea of linking the General Staff to the Defense Ministry since 2009. “I have also stated on various occasions that the National Security Council [MGK] should not be a constitutional body,” he stated.

According to the draft constitution, the President will remain commander-in-chief of the country.

12. Another retired general was convicted for February 28 plot
Ankara Anatolia News Agency (21.02.13) reports that retired general Şukru Sarıışık, a former secretary-general of the National Security Council (MGK) was convicted on February21 after testifying in the ongoing Feb. 28 “postmodern coup” trial.

Sarıışık and Lt. Gen. Dogan Temel were sent to an Ankara court for arrest earlier in the day. Temel was released under probationary conditions.

The two former generals are also both suspects in the “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) coup-plot case. In September, Sarıışık was sentenced to 18 years for involvement in the Sledgehammer case. Some 73 retired generals are now under arrest following the latest wave of arrests in the investigation into the “postmodern coup” of Feb. 28, 1997.

Following a petition from Ankara’s chief prosecutor, the court ordered the arrest of 11 retired generals last week, while seven other retired generals were released under probationary conditions.

The “postmodern coup,” or the “Feb. 28 process,” refers to a military intervention that forced late ex-Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan to resign in 1997. Suspects who have been detained so far in relation to the Feb. 28 investigation have been sent to court on charges of “attempting to annul the government of the Republic of Turkey,” or “attempting to partially or entirely block the government from performing its duties.”

13. New city construction of Istanbul to begin in six months
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily news (22.02.13) reports that city planners in Turkey have begun drafting a master plan for a new city in Istanbul that is expected to become home to 1.5 million people with an eye to launching construction on the site within half a year, according to officials.

The Turkish government has completed the preparations for the new urban area, which will be constructed on the Black Sea.

The plans, which will be prepared by a consortium consisting of Turkey’s Dome architecture company, U.S. firm HOK and U.K. firm Buro Happold, will be completed within six months. The firms will prepare the master plan of the urban area, as well as a model project, videos and animation for presentations to relevant institutions.

The borders of the city were defined by a protocol signed Dec. 24, 2012, by the Turkish Transportation Ministry, the Environment and Urban Planning Ministry, the Housing Settlement Administration (TOKİ) and the Emlak Konut real estate investment trust (REIT), which is a subsidiary of TOKİ.

The new city will consist of four different settlements with specified urban functions.

The government has said it plans to make the city into a health and health tourism center, and health investments in terms of a biomedical scientific park, integrated health campuses with accommodation facilities and research and development centers are anticipated to elevate the brand value of the city as a global health hub.

The third Istanbul airport, which expected to be built by 2017, will be in the vicinity of the new city. An Olympic village that is part of Istanbul’s prospective effort to land the 2020 Olympic Games is also planned for the region. After the Games, the area is slated to be repurposed as university and urban service areas.

14. Turkey losing its ethnic tongues according a an UNESCO report
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (22.02.13) reports that UNESCO figures show that 18 languages are endangered in Turkey. Three of them have already extinct. A nongovernmental group blames ‘nation-state’ policies for the decline in cultural richness.

Courses are not sufficient for citizens to learn their mother tongues and families also lag behind in teaching them to kids, a civil society organization says.

As the world celebrates International Mother Language Day, an updated UNESCO report shows that 15 out of 34 ethnic languages spoken in Turkey are in danger of dying out, while three others have become extinct already.

The Anatolia Research and Culture Association (AKA-DER), a body that is active in promoting local cultures, held a demonstration in Istanbul yesterday to attract attention to this fact.

“As the people living on this soil, we have organized this rally to make our mother tongues, which are at risk of dying, live on, to say that we do exist and to call on everyone to lay a claim to their mother languages against policies to destroy them,” said Altan Acıkdilli about the event.

Acıkdilli, who is also among the pioneers of ethnic language courses, said nation-state policies were to blame for the loss of dozens of languages once spoken in the country.

“In the 1930s and 1940s we could not speak our languages due to ‘Speak in Turkish, Citizen’ campaigns backed by the state and one language-one culture policies,” he told the Hurriyet Daily News.

UNESCO ranks endangered local languages in five categories from “vulnerable” to “extinct.”

Ubykh, Masho and Cappadocian Greek have already become extinct, the body says. Hervetin is in critical danger.

Mother tongue education, a recent improvement at Turkish schools, should be secured well, Acıkdilli also said. “For mother tongue education to be successful, we should immediately withdraw from racist, monotype policies,” he said. Despite the efforts by the association, it is hard to learn mother tongues at schools, Acıkdilli said.

“A mother language is taught in the environment that a kid lives in, with lullabies and fairytales, but families do not teach mother languages to their children.”

15. The breakaway regime is participating in the Free Munich Messe Tourism Fair
Illegal Bayrak television (22.02.13) reports that the occupation regime is participating in the Free Munich Messe Fair which is taking place in Germany.
The fair is a well-known Tourism exhibition according to Bayrak. The breakaway regime will participate with a 40-square-metre pavilion. The fair will be opened until 24 of February.




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