TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
26-28.01.13
1. Self-styled minister says they need more population
for military purposes and economic investments
2. Statements by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir
Atalay that occupied Cyprus needs religious education created strong reactions
3. Columnist
says Cavutoglu’s and Atlay’s statements are the substance of Ankara’s Policy in
Cyprus
4. The occupation regime has launched the project to
revamp Apostolos Andreas monastery’s surroundings; statements by Kucuk
5. Ayios Panteleymon Monastery in occupied Myrtou
ready to collapsed
6. Tense between activists and villagers in occupied
Karpasia over the construction of a new environmental-dangerous road in the
area
7. A Belgian-scout vessel from Turkey is conducting
ground scanning in the occupied area of Cyprus
8. Turkey is looking for a formula to open the
Theological School in Halki
9. Bagis at the CELAC-EU summit in the Chile; he
discussed the Cyprus problem with his Austrian and Danish Counterpart
10. Turkey continues efforts for opening chapters in
its accession negotiations with the EU; Maneuvers by Erdogan
11. Turkey’s TPAO will reportedly explore fuel
with Shell in Black Sea
12. Erdogan seeks for a new law on the detected
army generals, after he imprisoned them
13. Staff colonel is sentenced to 16 years in prison
for Sledgehammer Case
14. CHP’s Deputies racist remark have reportedly
caused rift inside the Party; Erdogan’s reactions
15. The occupation regime was represented at two more
fairs abroad
16. Istanbul’s Pendik Municipality became a sister municipality
with occupied Trikomo
17. Yilmaz Bora the new chairman of “TMT association”
18. Turkey's population reaches 75.5 millions
1. Self-styled minister says
they need more population for military purposes and economic investments
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.01.13)
reports that Nazim Cavusoglu, self-styled minister of interior and local
administrations of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, has admitted that they grant the “citizenship” of their regime to 3-4
persons at every meeting of the “council of ministers” and added that they need
more population for military purposes and for economic investments.
In statements to Kibris TV, Cavusoglu noted: “It is
true that we grant the citizenship, but a discussion should be held on the
issue of whether this is done legally. We make 3-4 persons citizens at almost
every meeting of the council of ministers”.
He went on and said that everyone who lives in the
occupied north part of Cyprus with a work “permit” and completes five years has
the right to apply for the “citizenship” of the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the island. He noted that the “minster of interior” is the
“authority” which approves these applications and added, inter alia, the
following:
“We are on duty in order to implement this policy.
When the need of population in the TRNC is taken into consideration, there is
[such need] in the military field. With this population, we all must do
military service for ten years. Again, the population is not enough in order
for economic investments to be made. At the moment there are 35 thousand
persons with work permit. If we had enough population, the 35 thousand persons
who have come from abroad could not have found a job here. This means that
there is a need for workforce here and these people can earn their bread here…”
Noting that this policy is not his own, but he is
implementing the policy of his “government”, Cavusoglu criticized the
opposition parties and especially the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) for the
employment policy they had followed when they were in the “government”. He said
that the CTP had employed 5.700 persons, but could not win the “elections” as
it lost 50% of its power.
2. Statements by Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay that occupied Cyprus needs religious
education created strong reactions
Under the title “Do we have the need for religious
education?” Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (26.01.13) reports that
during a protocol signed in Ankara on Thursday for a construction of a
religious school in the breakaway regime, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister
Besir Atalay said it is well known by everyone that the breakaway regime needs
religious education.
Atalay stated that along with the religious school a
very big mosque will be constructed in occupied Lefkosia soon, noting that in
this way “fortunate generations will be brought up” in occupied Cyprus.
The protocol was signed by Atalay, the self-styled
minister of education Mutlu Atasayan, Chairman of the Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rifat Hisarciklioglu and the chairman of
the “Turkish Cypriot foundation”, Hikmet Kaynarca. It provides the construction
in occupied Mia Milia village, of a religious college under the name “Hala
Sultan TOBB Religious College” with a capacity of 300 male and female students.
Kibris (27.01.13) writes that the chairman of the
Republican Turkish party Ozkan Yorgancioglu, criticized Atalay’s statements noting
that are harmful and show no respect to the
Turkish Cypriots. As he said the Turkish Cypriots condemn and reject any
statements that do not respect their political will, their reach cultural past
and their identity.
Under the title “Respect please!”, Ortam (27.01.13)
writes that the chairman of the Communal Democracy Party Mehmet Cakici, stated
that Atalay’s statements are offending and noted that Turkish Cypriots have
their own social and culture structure and no-one should try to show them the road
towards this direction.
3. Columnist says Cavutoglu’s and Atlay’s
statements are the substance of Ankara’s Policy in Cyprus
Journalist Sami Ozuslu comments in his column in daily
Yeni Duzen newspaper (28.01.13) the above statements made by Cavusoglu as well
as the statement made by the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay who
argued that occupied “north Cyprus is a place which needs religious education”.
According to Ozuslu “these two statements are the substance, the summary of the
policy of the political power in Ankara and those who are in the government now
in north Cyprus”.
Ozuslu writes, inter alia, the following: “The project
of taking the Turkish Cypriots from one place and carrying them to another,
both from the religious point of view and in the sense of population, is not
something new. However, the situation now could be explained with the
expression that ‘things got out of control’. They are doing these things
without stopping, without hiding behind their fingers any more. Actually, what
they call ‘economic package’, which has social-cultural aspects as well, is not
demanded or approved by the people living in this country…”
He goes on and says that there is a great reaction and
anger against the initiatives of carrying population, distributing the
“citizenship” and “wide spreading and activating the religious elements” in the
occupied area of Cyprus. According to Ozuslu the actions taken by the regime
are contrary to the will of the community. He argues that not only the
opposition parties and organizations, but the vast majority of the people who
“vote” for the “ruling” National Unity Party (UBP) are annoyed from what is
done on the issues of population and religion.
(I/Ts.)
4. The occupation regime has launched the project to
revamp Apostolos Andreas monastery’s surroundings; statements by Kucuk
According
to illegal Bayrak television (26.01.13) the so-called prime minister Irsen
Kucuk has launched yesterday (Friday) the project which aims to revamp the
surrounding grounds of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery with the financing of
the “TRNC”.
Speaking
at the site yesterday, Kucuk said that the “TRNC government” was prepared to
take on the restoration of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery, should they receive
such a request.
Drawing
attention to the intentional damage caused to two mosques in “south Cyprus”, as
the Republic of Cyprus is called, Kucuk said that the grounds around the
Apostolos Monastery was being rearranged, adding that they expected the “Greek
Cypriot administration”, to show the same sensitivity.
Also
touching upon the ongoing work to expand the Dipkarpaz road [occupied
Karpasia], Kucuk said that great care had been shown to keep out of the Karpaz
[Kaspasia] National Park during the tender process and implementation of the
project. He said that the road work in the area was continuing in that
direction.
5. Ayios Panteleymon Monastery
in occupied Myrtou ready to collapsed
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (27.01.13)
writes about the occupied Myrtou village and notes that the church of Ayios
Panteleymon Monastery is under a great demolishing danger.
The paper, which also publishes a picture of the
church, writes that part of the monastery walls are in a complete demolished
state.
The paper also writes that other historical buildings
of the village are under danger as well.
6. Tense between activists and
villagers in occupied Karpasia over the construction of a new
environmental-dangerous road in the area
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.01.13) reports
that tense was created yesterday between a group of environmental activists who
protested in occupied Karpasia for the
construction of a road in the Karpasia peninsula and the persons living in the
area, who said that they support the new road because they have waited for this
development for years.
The paper writes that the self-styled district
governor of Trikomo Bunyamin Merhametsiz called on the villagers to react
against the protestors.
Afrika (28.01.13) reports that announcements were made
with loudspeakers from the mosques in occupied Karpasia that the protestors are
“atheists, faithless, Greek Cypriots” and notes that the activist were under lynching
due to the attacks of the villagers. One of the villagers stated to Afrika that
the protestors are “even against the religious (quran) lessons, are faithless,
traitors, giaour (non muslim) seeds”.
7. A Belgian-scout vessel from
Turkey is conducting ground scanning in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.01.13)
reports that a Belgian-flag scout vessel arrived in the breakaway regime from
Turkey, in order to conduct ground screening for the transfer of water and
electricity to occupied Cyprus.
The “Brabo”-named ship arrived in the occupied
Keryneia port yesterday and later cast anchor to occupied Vasilia shore. It has
started ground scanning since yesterday morning.
Ersoy Gorkey, the Director of the Arles Shipping Firm,
stated that the ship previously conducted research in Anamur area in Turkey adding
that it will remain in occupied Cyprus for a week during which it will conduct
its work under the supervision of foreign engineers. He also said that the ship arrived in
occupied Cyprus once before to conduct works.
8. Turkey is looking for a
formula to open the Theological School in Halki
Under the title “A formula is being searched”, Turkish
daily Hurriyet newspaper (28.01.13) reports that a special team headed by Afkan
Ala, undersecretary at the Turkish Prime Minister’s office, is looking for a
formula in order for the Theological School in Halki to be opened.
According to the paper, they elaborate on a formula
that will allow the opening of the Theological School at the level of a high
school, but the Ecumenical Patriarchate is not approaching positively the idea
of the school being bound to the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YOK) or
any other Turkish university. The issue of the Theological School being bound to
a foreign university is also discussed, according to Hurriyet, noting that
these efforts are exerted upon directions given by Prime Minister Erdogan
himself.
According to the first formula elaborated by YOK, a
Greek Orthodox citizen, who has a doctorate, will be appointed as head of the
“Orthodox Science Department of the Main Department for Comparative Religions”,
which will be established within the structure of a university. If such a Greek
orthodox citizen cannot be found, continues Hurriyet, a scientist will be
brought from abroad and will be granted the Turkish citizenship. The students
will not have to take Turkish history or Turkish language lessons, notes the
paper adding that the practical lessons will be held at Halki’s monastery.
Moreover, wearing priest clothes will be permitted.
(I/Ts.)
9. Bagis at the CELAC-EU summit in the Chile; he
discussed the Cyprus problem with his Austrian and Danish Counterpart
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (27.01.13) reported that the Turkish Minister of EU Affairs
and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis had talks on Saturday with his Austrian and
Danish counterparts on the sidelines of the Community of Latin American and
Caribbean States (CELAC)-EU summit in Chile, where the Austrian and Danish EU
affairs Ministers extended their support to the long-standing issue of visa
exemption.
Representing
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the CELAC-EU summit in the Chilean
capital of Santiago, Bagis had separate talks with Reinhold Lopatka, State
Secretary for European and International Affairs for the Austrian Foreign
Ministry, and Danish Minister of European Affairs Nicolai Wammen.
Bagis
conveyed Turkey’s expectation for increased Austrian support for Turkey’s EU
bid, mentioning that Turkey hopes for the opening of at least one chapter in
the EU acquis communautaire during the Irish term presidency of the EU. Ireland
assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, starting from January.
Bagis
also exchanged views on the Cyprus issue and the reform process on the rights
of non-Muslim Turkish citizens with the EU officials. Cooperation on
counterterrorism, Turkey’s Kurdish initiative and the Syrian conflict were
among other issues discussed at the meetings.
About
four years ago, EU countries told Turkey they were ready to grant visa
liberalization for Turkish citizens in exchange for allowing the EU to return
illegal migrants to Turkey who had reached EU countries by way of Turkey.
Turkey
has already declared it is ready to meet the EU’s demand as long as the EU
drops its visa requirements. EU countries have also taken, upon Turkey’s
persistent efforts, minor positive steps. In June of last year, the Council of
Europe authorized the European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation
bloc, to begin talks with Turkey on visa liberalization. As a gesture of
goodwill, Turkey initialled the readmission agreement, which took Turkey and
the EU four years of negotiations to put together, allowing the EU member
states to send back irregular migrants to Turkey. However, Turkey is waiting
for an action plan on visa exemption on the part of the EU countries to put its
final signature on the agreement.
Meanwhile,
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Herman van
Rompuy also extended their support for the revival of Turkey’s EU accession
talks by the opening of one chapter in the EU acquis communautaire during the
Irish presidency in their talks with Bagis.
Bagis
has had intensive bilateral talks with the top officials of many countries
during the conference. Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Romanian President Traian
Basescu, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Cuban President Raul Castro,
Luxembourgian Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Irish Deputy Prime Minister
Eamon Gilmore, Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans and Portuguese Foreign
Minister Paulo Portas were among the officials with whom Bagis had talks on
Sunday on the sidelines of the summit.
10. Turkey continues efforts
for opening chapters in its accession negotiations with the EU; Maneuvers by
Erdogan
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (28.01.13) reports that
while Ankara is waiting for France to take some steps on the issue of opening
some chapters in its accession negotiations in order for “the ice to be melted”
between Turkey and the EU, the possibility of Britain carrying out a referendum
regarding its EU membership caused concerns in Ankara. The paper writes that
Britain’s support to Turkey’s membership has become of a secondary importance,
due to Britain’s questioning its own membership. Sabah argues that Turkey could
not find the support it expected from Britain on the issue of convincing France
for opening some chapters, as London focused on its own internal problems.
The paper writes that while invitations are received
by the Prime Minister Erdogan to visit Brussels, the latter is waiting for the
opening of a chapter and the acceleration of Turkey’s relations with the EU in
order to hold contacts with the Union.
Meanwhile, according to the paper, the German
Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of the EU Council, Herman van Rompuy
promised to the Turkish EU Minister, Egemen Bagis that they would support the
opening of chapters in Turkey’s negotiations with the EU. During their meeting
in Chile, Merkel told Bagis that they attach great importance to the
continuation of Turkey’s negotiations and that they will support the opening of
chapters in Turkey’s negotiations during the Irish term presidency. She said
she would discuss this issue with French officials.
Meanwhile, writing in Turkish daily Radikal newspaper
(27.01.13), Turkish columnist Cengiz Candar reports that in statements to a
program of TV24 on Friday, Erdogan said that he had told the Russian President
Putin that if Turkey was accepted to the Shanghai Five it would forget about
its accession into the EU. Candar describes this statement as “Tayyip Erdogan’s
‘geostrategic bomb’”.
Erdogan argued, inter alia, the following: “The EU
wants to forget about us, but it hesitates. However, if it says this, we will
be relaxed... Therefore, I have said it before to Putin. ‘Take us in the
Shanghai Five and we will say goodbye to the EU, we will depart from there...”
Asked whether the Shanghai Five is an alternative to the EU, Erdogan argued
that it is better and stronger than the EU.
Moreover, according to Turkish daily Taraf newspaper
(27.01.13), Turkish Professor Dr. Mensur Akgun said that these statements would
have consequences either they are a bluff or they are serious. Professor Dr.
Eser Karakas noted that Erdogan wants to increase his bargaining power with
these statements. Taraf’s columnist and Bahcesehir University’s professor
Cengiz Aktar said that no country could be member of both the EU and the
Shanghai Five. He noted that if these statements are a message to the EU,
Erdogan should know that this “auction” will be of no use.
(I/Ts.)
11. Turkey’s TPAO will reportedly explore fuel with Shell in Black Sea
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.01.13) reports that according to sources Turkey’s
state-run oil researcher TPAO prepares to search for oil in the Black Sea with
the Anglo-Dutch Shell, after failed attempts by international energy companies.
The
Ministerial sources said that TPAO and the Holland-United Kingdom-based Shell
have been in contact for an oil exploration partnership in the Black Sea. The
contract date has been determined to be February 14, when the two companies
will reveal their search and production deal to the public, sources said.
Furthermore,
TPAO, which has carried out oil and natural gas exploration by itself, has
received a proposal from Shell to work together in the Gulf of Mersin,
alongside the other companies’ proposals, sources say. TPAO might strike a deal
with Shell or another company for a partnership in Mersin, as it had talks with
13 companies for exploring in the İskenderun [Alexandretta]-Mersin Gulf last
year.
However,
Energy Minister Taner Yıldız has stated that TPAO would make a deal with “a
giant company” in the next two or three weeks for oil exploration in the Black
Sea, but did not give company’s name. He also said in November 2012 that a
company that has not made oil explorations in the Black Sea yet applied for oil
exploration there. The world’s leading companies, such as Petrobas, Chevron and
ExxonMobil, have drilled in the Black Sea.
On
the other hand, the Shell CEO said during his meeting with Yıldız and Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in September 2012, that the company was working
on the other side of Black Sea, but they would also like to work on the Turkish
side. Moreover, Shell Turkey’s CEO recently stressed their interest in the
Black Sea.
Shell
has been conducting gas and oil exploration with TPAO in Turkey in the
south-eastern provinces of Batman and Diyarbakir, the central Anatolian
province of Sivas as well as off the Mediterranean shore.
Yıldız
stated Turkey should urgently renew its aging power stations and grids, adding
that electricity meters that have operated for ten years will be renewed and
the cost will not be reflected on consumers, Anatolia news agency reported
yesterday.
“We
cannot allow Turkey to have stations and grids used for 30 or 35 years in 2023.
Turkey should be renewed completely in the energy sector in 2023,” he said.
Meanwhile,
Yıldız stated that TPAO would continue its work in Libya despite the country’s
rising internal disorder. TPAO applied for new search fields during its visit
to Libya two weeks ago.
12. Erdogan seeks for a new law on the detected army generals, after he
imprisoned them
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.01.13) the government and the Turkish
Armed Forces are concerned about the long detention periods of soldiers as the
Prime Minister signalled a new law to correct the problems caused by recent
detentions.
Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has publicly criticized the long detention
of army generals, saying it may be having an adverse effect on the fight against
terrorism. “There are currently 400 retired officers and non-commissioned
officers. Most of them are detained. … If the evidence is indisputable, [the
court should] give a verdict. If you consider hundreds of officers and the
[former] chief of staff to be members of an [illegal] organization, this would
destroy the spirits of the armed forces. How will these people be able to fight
terrorism?” Erdogan said, responding to journalists’ questions in a live
television interview on private 24 news station on January 26. Erdogan referred
to former Chief of General Staff retired General İlker Basbug, who is being
tried under arrest in alleged Ergenekon coup plot.
“There
are detainees who have to nourish themselves with baby food,” Erdogan said,
emphasizing the poor detention conditions of some of the retired generals.
Erdogan said he told President Abdullah Gul that this problem should be solved
with a law.
Erdogan’s
remarks came after a trilateral meeting between President Abdullah Gul and
Chief of General Staff General Necdet Ozel and the Prime Minister on January
24. Ozel voiced concern about long detainment periods for the members of the
Armed Forces and how it affected the terror fight, Fikret Bila wrote in his
column in daily Milliyet yesterday.
Ozel
also complained about the lack of high-ranking officers in the Armed Forces,
particularly at the Naval Forces, due to the widespread arrests and
detainments. Ozel told Premier and President how the attempts to convince Navy
Admiral Nusret Guner not to resign had failed.
Guner’s
resignation was the latest episode bringing to light the discontentment of
senior officers. According to his wife, Guner’s resignation was a reaction to
the ongoing investigations into unfair arrests, spying and blackmailing inside
the Turkish Navy.
Speaking
of the situation in the Turkish Naval Forces, Erdogan also said they could not
even find officers to assign posts on frigates. In the Turkish Naval Command
Forces, 16 of the top 30 commanders have resigned, been arrested or been tried
as suspects in various cases, daily Aydınlık reported yesterday.
Bila
wrote that the circles in the Armed Forces were pleased with Erdogan’s remarks.
Erdogan complained that because of the long detentions, there were few officers
left in the command structure in the fight against terrorism during his
televised interview.
He
said 232 active soldiers are being asked to appear in courts where the trials
are about spying or being a member of the terror organization. The Premier also
said the chief of staff would have difficulty calling those 232 people to fight
against terror with such bad morale. A total of 250 active soldiers, including
36 generals, have been arrested in various cases, daily HaberTurk reported
yesterday.
13. Staff colonel is sentenced
to 16 years in prison for Sledgehammer Case
Under the title “He did not go, but 16 years in
prison”, Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (28.01.13) reports that staff colonel
Koray Eryasa has been sentenced to 16 years in prison within the framework of
the Sledgehammer Case. According to the action plan, which has been examined as
exhibit by the Court, Eryasa would take the persons who would have been
arrested during a coup to Imrali Island with the ship of the Turkish armed
forces named TGC Kilic, of which he was commander.
(I/Ts.)
14. CHP’s Deputies racist remark have reportedly
caused rift inside the Party; Erdogan’s reactions
According
to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (27.01.12) the outrage over Republican People’s
Party (CHP) Deputy Birgul Ayman Guler’s words that “Turks and Kurds cannot be
possibly equal,” has been growing inside the party, with CHP leader Kemal
Kılıcdaroglu summoning his party’s provincial leaders to Ankara for an
emergency meeting.
“The
Kurdish nation cannot be equal to the Turkish nation,” Guler said, addressing
lawmakers who convened last week to discuss a law to allow suspects to use
their mother tongue in court when delivering defense statements. “There is no
Kurdish conflict in Turkey,” Guler further stated. Many Deputies from the CHP
and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) were seen applauding Guler’s speech.
Many
groups, CHP branches -- particularly in the Kurdish-dominated regions of
eastern and south-eastern Turkey -- and other politicians were outraged by the
remarks. CHP Deputies, organizations and voters in the Western cities have not
offered any public criticism. The remarks have caused a serious divide inside
the party, based on comments made to Today’s Zaman from sources close to the
CHP.
The
emergency meeting will be held tomorrow, Tuesday. Bilal Dogan, who heads the
CHP Adıyaman Provincial Branch, and whose only Deputy, Salih Fırat, resigned
from the party following the inflammatory remarks, said they were going to
request disciplinary action for Guler. “We have an honest and hard-working
party leader. We also work day and night for our party. And then a Deputy comes
up and makes such a statement, washing away all our hard work. This is very
unfortunate for us”, Atila Kart, a Konya Deputy has said in a released
statement, criticizing Guler. He also accused the Deputy of discriminating
against others.
Guler
however, is not entirely alone in her thoughts and speech. CHP Eskisehir Deputy
Suheyl Batum has expressed support, saying Guler was only criticizing “crude
Kurdish nationalism.”
Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a speech on Saturday accused Guler of racism.
“Considering oneself above others is inhuman. To put it in modern terminology,
it’s racism, fascism,” Erdogan said.
Though
not quoting Guler in his speech on Saturday, Erdogan said: “Those who believe
that their race is superior should take a look at the cemeteries where [our]
martyrs rest. Cemeteries are a manifest example that demonstrates how we were
woven into a single nation.” Erdogan was speaking at the Haydarpasa campus of
Marmara University in Istanbul on the occasion of the university’s 130th
anniversary. Noting that racism is a notion that originated in Europe, the
Prime Minister said: “To maintain that a race, a nation is superior to another
is the same as betraying the essence of this land.”
Guler’s
words have drawn criticism not only from the Prime Minister but also from many
government politicians, including the newly appointed Culture and Tourism
Minister, Omer Celik. “From bottom to top this is racism,” Celik commented on
NTV on Saturday.
AK
Party deputy Galip Ensarioglu blasted Guler’s remarks as “grave,” saying he
would not expect such “fascist” thoughts from a party that describes itself as
a social democratic party on the left. Ensarioglu also said he was appalled to
see members from the CHP and MHP applauding Guler’s speech.
Mustafa
Destici, the leader of the Nationalist Grand Unity Party (BBP), also said he
cannot accept Guler’s remarks.
15. The occupation regime was represented at two more
fairs abroad
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (27.01.13) the occupation regime has been
represented for the first time at the “Alpe Adria Tourism and Leisure Show
2013”, which took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
According
to the paper, the occupation regime has been represented at the event by the so-called
ministry of tourism, environment and culture.
The
fair has opened on January 24 and lasted until January 27.
According
to information acquired by the so-called ministry, the occupation regime has
been represented by a delegation of the “department of promotion and marketing”
of the so-called ministry, headed by the “director” of the “department”, Dervis
Gezer.
The
occupation regime has been represented in the fair with its own stand and
distributed leaflets in Slovene, Italian and English languages, promoting
“country’s historical and natural beauties”.
A
total of 338 participants from 15 different countries were attending the fair,
writes the paper. Among the countries participating were Turkey,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYROM, Morocco and other.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (26.01.13) reported that the occupation regime,
represented by the so-called ministry, has participated at the 3rd
ITM Tourism Fair (International Travel Market), which took place in Warsaw,
Poland between Januray 26-26.
According
to a statement issued by the “ministry”, the occupation regime, was represented
at the fair with its own stand of 42 meters squares. They also distributed a
leaflet entitled: “50 reasons why to visit north Cyprus”. The occupation regime
is represented at the fair for the second time, writes the paper.
(AK )
16. Istanbul’s Pendik Municipality became a sister
municipality with occupied Trikomo
According
to illegal Bayrak television (25.01.12) a delegation from Istanbul’s Pendik
Municipality which is holding a series of contacts in the “TRNC” met today
(Friday) with the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and the so-called prime
minister, Irsen Kucuk respectively.
Earlier
today, the Pendik Municipality signed a cooperation protocol with the Iskele
Municipality [occupied Trikomo municipality] with which it has been carrying
out cultural cooperation during the last 15 years.
Speaking
during the meeting, Eroglu said that he was happy to see Pendik as a sister
municipality with the “İskele municipality”. He said that there was much
“municipal administrators” in the “TRNC” that could learn from their Turkish
counterparts.
Also,
in statement during the meeting, Kucuk underlined the importance of Turkish
municipalities sharing their experience and knowledge with “municipalities” in
the “TRNC”. He also reminded that the Turkish government’s support to “north
Cyprus” was steadily increasing.
Informing
the visiting delegation on ongoing joint projects with “motherland Turkey”,
Kucuk expressed the view that the successes of the “TRNC” will continue once
the water transfer project is realized. He said that the “TRNC” will experience
a “2nd peace operation” with the completion of the projects in 2014.
The
Head of the Pendik delegation Kenan Sahin for his part, informed Eroglu and
Kucuk on the history and activities of the Pendik Municipality.
17. Yilmaz Bora the new chairman of “TMT association”
According
to illegal Bayrak television (26.01.13) the “Cyprus TMT freedom fighters
society” held its first ordinary congress last week.
Yılmaz
Bora who ran against Vural Turkmen was elected as the new “president” of the
society. The outcome of the general
congress was announced with a press conference yesterday.
(…)
18. Turkey's population reaches 75.5 millions
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (28.01.13) reports that the Turkish Statistics Institution
(TurkStat) published latest figures and declared the population to be 75
millions 627 thousands 384, as of end of 2012.
Turkish
statistics authority TurkStat also declared that the population increased at
0.12%. The annual increase is 903.115.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
