TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 68/13 Date:
10/4/13
C
O N T E N T S
1. More about
Davutoglu-Kerry meeting; Davutoglu called the USA to be actively involved in
the Cyprus negotiation process; Kerry gave signals for a different policy by
the USA
2.
Eroglu alleges that Foreign Ambassadors reportedly start to see the “reality of
two states” in Cyprus
3.
Bagis: Turkey will support any solution in Cyprus based on the “political
equality”
4.
Self-styled minister of energy: The only way out of the economic crisis of the
Republic of Cyprus passes through Turkey
5.
Ankara invites Baku to join Mediterranean energy rush
6.
The Southern Gas Corridor: a project for peace and integration
7. The occupation regime has
launched a new campaign in the UK with the slogan “Just relax, there are no
euro worries in north Cyprus”
8.
Tripadvisor web site gave to Rocks Hotel casino in occupied Cyprus 2012
certificate of excellence
9.
Suspicions for mad cow disease in occupied Cyprus
10.
Parliament approves establishment of commission to address settlement process
11.
Gilmore: We expect the 22nd chapter to be opened to negotiations
officially in July
12.
Turkish airlines to buy 95 planes from Boeing
13. Kerry will visit Turkey for the 3rd
time
1.
More about Davutoglu-Kerry meeting; Davutoglu called the USA to be actively
involved in the Cyprus negotiation process; Kerry gave signals for a different
policy by the USA
Turkish daily Hurriyet (09.04.13) under
the title: “Very important message about Cyprus from Kerry”, reports that the
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu who had a face to face meeting with
his US counterpart John Kerry in Turkey the other day, discussed with him the
Cyprus problem as well as the Middle East peace process and regional issues
related to Syria, Iraq and Iran.
According to information acquired,
Davutoglu has stated that a new political era has been launched compared to the
past with the election of Anastasiades in the Greek Cypriots side and sent also
the following messages:
“We
are close to the solution
In fact, we are very close to the
solution. If the Greek Cypriot side’s leadership show the necessary political
will, Turkey, Greece, the TRNC, the Greek Cypriot side and the UN could
immediately sit to the table and negotiation talks for the solution could be
launched. With the solution of the Cyprus problem, the dispute related to the
political and energy policies which affect negatively the region will
disappear. Together with a United Cyprus State, the economic crisis experienced
by the Greek Cypriot side will become a thing of the past. And the EU which is
in a contradictory position will be discarded. This opportunity should be
evaluated. It’s being a long time that the USA is not participating to
Cyprus.
We
are ready
Washington should become more active in
Cyprus from now on, and should implement an active policy towards the solution,
especially on the Greek Cypriot side to proceed to the table. We, as the
Turkish side are ready for this. I should say it openly, that if the Greek
Cypriot side will not show the political will towards this, the problem will
become more complicated. I have sent you a letter and explained to you about
the unilateral oil exploration activities of the Greek Cypriot side and what
the Greek Cypriot side is thinking about the natural resources in Cyprus. If
the Greek Cypriot side insist on this, the process for the official division of
the two parts of the island will be intensified. In short, we are in a crucial
threshold in Cyprus.
Note
down
Kerry, who has heard Davutoglu’s words
about Cyprus and sometimes took notes said: ‘I have noted down very clearly
your message ‘we are in a crucial threshold. We have to evaluate this. We will
discuss this matter in details in Washington’, and gave the first signal that
the USA government will follow a different policy on Cyprus”.
(AK
2.
Eroglu alleges that Foreign Ambassadors reportedly start to see the “reality
of two states” in Cyprus
According to illegal Bayrak television
(09.04.13), Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, speaking during a visit on
Tuesday by a delegation from the Kesan help and solidarity society for martyrs
families and war veterans, said that whether or not a sustainable and lasting solution
to the Cyprus problem, one based on the “realities” of the island, can be
reached, will depend on the stance to be adopted by the Greek Cypriot side’s
once the Cyprus negotiations restart. He added that the efforts to reach a
lasting and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, one that will safeguard the
interests of the Turkish Cypriots and motherland Turkey, continued.
Eroglu alleged: “Unfortunately all
efforts to this date to reach a settlement have failed due to the Greek Cypriot
side’s intransigent attitude. However I can say that the world has started to
acknowledge the realities on the island. There are the reports of foreign
ambassadors which show that these countries have started to see the reality
that there are two states on the island. The international community has
started to become bored of the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent attitude.”
3.
Bagis: Turkey will support any solution in Cyprus based on the “political
equality”
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(09.04.13), Turkish Minister of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis,
speaking at the joint press conference with Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister,
Foreign and Trade Minister Eamon Gilmore on Wednesday, said that Turkey would
support and approve any solution the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots agreed
on as long as the solution was based on “political equality” in the island.
Speaking at the press conference, Bagis
said that Gilmore and he discussed Turkey’s EU negotiations process, the
chapter on “Regional Policies” expected to be opened to negotiations soon, the
chapter on “Social Policies and Employment” which he plans to discuss in a
visit to Brussels, the Cyprus problem and visas.
Thanking Gilmore for his constructive
attitude, Bagis underlined that the Irish term presidency has always been
beneficial for the EU.
“Egemen Bagis and I held a fruitful
meeting on Turkey's EU membership process and the progress that could be made
during the Irish term presidency”, Gilmore stated.
“Ireland has been a strong supporter of
Turkey’s EU membership. During our 7th EU term presidency, we have
made it our aim to revive accession talks between Turkey and the EU,” Gilmore
stressed.
“We are conducting works so
that the chapter of 'Regional Policies' gets opened to negotiations with
Turkey. I do hope that we can use this opportunity we have to make progress in
Turkey's accession talks,” Gilmore noted.
“The revival of accession talks would
benefit both the EU and Turkey”, Gilmore said.
Asked if progress could be made on the
Cyprus problem during Irish term presidency, Gilmore said that they wanted to
see the Cypriot problem solved.
According to
Ankara Anatolia (09.04.13), Gilmore stated: “We support
the Annan Plan which foresaw a federal solution based on two zones and two peoples.
I do hope that efforts to solve the Cypriot problem gain new momentum after a
new government came to power in southern Cyprus”.
Replying to the same question, Egemen
Bagis underlined that Turkey would support and approve any solution on which
the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots agreed as long as the solution was
based on “political equality”. “Let them agree and we will support them”, Bagis
noted.
In regard to a question on opportunities
for commercial cooperation between Turkey and Ireland, Egemen Bagis said that
there were opportunities present for Turkish businesspeople in Ireland and vice
versa.
“Aside from this, the investors of both
countries could cooperate in third countries,” Bagis stated.
Gilmore indicated that there was a trade
volume of 1.3 billion USD between Turkey and Ireland. “Despite the economic
crisis, the trade volume between Turkey and Ireland grew 20%”, Gilmore noted.
“Talks between Turkey and the EU in the
commercial field are part of the EU process. Ireland, as a member of the EU for
almost 40 years, is ready to share its experiences with Turkey. This way, we
could generate new opportunities in the commercial field,” Gilmore underlined.
Responding to Gilmore's comments, Bagis
said that “we could start the day with Turkish coffee and end it with Irish
coffee”.
4. Self-styled minister of energy: The only way out
of the economic crisis of the Republic of Cyprus passes through Turkey
Turkish Cypriot
daily Afrika newspaper (10.04.13) reports that the self-styled minister of economy
and energy, Sunat Atun, claimed that the only way out of the economic crisis
continue to be obtained in gas markets via Turkey.
Atun made these
statements speaking to Ankara Anatolia news agency.
He said that all
the Turkish Cypriots have as much rights as the Greek Cypriots to all the
natural resources found in the island of Cyprus. He said that the Greek
Cypriots can overcome the problems created by the economic crisis only with
cooperation with Turley and the Turkish Cypriots.
He said that he is
in favor of lifting the trade limitations between the Republic of Cyprus and
the breakaway regime and alleged that if Turkey, Cyprus and the breakaway
regime trade between them, there are potentials for annual three million euro
profit.
He alleged that
under the current conditions, the Republic of Cyprus can trade the gas that may
obtain only with its liquefaction, which make the immediate trade very
difficult and suggest that this problem can be overcome with a pipeline through
Turkey.
5.
Ankara invites Baku to join Mediterranean energy rush
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 10.04.13) with the above title reports, inter alia, the following:
“Turkey has extended an invitation to
the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to explore offshore oil and gas
reserves off the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts of Turkey, which the Azeri
oil firm is to consider and decide upon by the end of this year.
‘Azerbaijan can search for oil and
natural gas in our waters,’ Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister
Taner Yildiz said on April 8 after a one-on-one meeting with SOCAR President
Rovnag Abdullayev.
Yildiz, who is currently in Azerbaijan
to attend the World Economic Forum, said they could carry out a partnership
with SOCAR just as they had been doing with several international oil firms
which explored oil and gas in Turkish seas.
According to Turkey’s deals with
exploration companies, if the company reaches any resources the output is
shared between the firm and the Turkish state but in the event that the
searches fail to find anything, all the expenses are undertaken by the private
company. ‘For these searches Turkey hasn’t paid a penny,’ Yildiz said. Turkey
would appreciate undertaking exploration operations near the southern provinces
of Iskenderun, Mersin and Antalya with SOCAR under the same scheme, the
Minister asserted.
He added that they would also like to
carry out joint projects with Azerbaijan in third countries.
Abdullayev said the company was
evaluating the Turkish offer and that it would make a decision in approximately
six months or by the end of this year at the latest. Considering SOCAR’s
60-year-long experience in oil exploration in the Caspian Sea, it is capable of
these operations, he said.
Mediterranean Sea has been watering the
neighbouring countries’ mouth as Cyprus and Israel as well have been seeking to
obtain resources there through deals with international firms. Lately, Egypt
joined them as it has announced it will hold a tender for energy drilling in
the Mediterranean Sea.
The Chairman also commented on the two
countries’ joint project, the Azeri-Turkish trans-Anatolia Pipeline (TANAP),
and said the decision over the route that would transport the gas to Europe
would be made by June as an agreement is due to be signed by October.
The construction of TANAP, which was
actually scheduled for 2013, has been delayed to 2014, he added during the
press meeting.
TANAP will bring the gas from Azerbaijan
to the European territory of Turkey, to connect with either Nabucco -through
Bulgaria or TAP - through Greece. (…)”
6.
The Southern Gas Corridor: a project for peace and integration
Columnist Cemil Ertem, writing in
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 09.04.13), publishes the following
commentary with the above title:
“Energy continues to be an object of
potential wealth as well as of political conflict for the Middle East and
Caspian region. Oil and natural gas pipelines have become akin to chess pieces
being set up between the EU, Turkey and Russia. An energy game is being played
out, closely watched by the US.
The facts that these new energy routes
are being created with no initiative from Russia and even leave Iran out of the
energy game,
are important signs and steps for the US. For example, the realization of the
Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project between Azerbaijan and Turkey, in
spite of Russia and Iran, is not just about an energy move; this, as much as it
represents political change, is also a step towards regional integration,
starting from the Caspian region and reaching out to Austria, and marks the
start of the EU's eastern expansion. However, at the same time, all of this, in
addition to meaning the formation of new energy supply hubs in the Caspian and
Middle East regions -- aside from those of Russia and Iran -- is a development
that will disturb the traditional German-Russian alliance.
Energy security specialist John Roberts
wrote for the Caspian Strategy Institute's Caspian Forum, saying: ‘So even
though energy use looks set to shrink in Europe, gas demand looks likely not
only to hold steady, but to rise as and when there's a real economic recovery.
And this is where the Southern Gas Corridor really does come to the fore.
Russia may have plenty of gas, in terms of both reserves and actual production,
but both its ability and willingness to increase its levels of actual supply to
the European Union can be questioned. Immediate supplies are impacted by
Gazprom's continued belief in the proposition, so clearly enunciated by Vice
President Alexander Medvedev in 2011, that the oil linkage provides the best
balance for buyers of natural gas, at a time when hub pricing is becoming ever
more prominent in European gas deals. What this means is that Gazprom considers
the retention of the link to oil prices -- which in current terms means higher
prices than those offered by its competitors -- to be more important than the
pursuit of specific export volumes.’
Now this is very important because, just
as Roberts mentions, Gazprom's price adjustments not only assist an
economy-market balance, but at the same time a political balance, and this
without a doubt shows signs of political normalization. What I want to
emphasize is that more players in the energy market, the diversification of
supply routes and increased price competition describe a free market economy
that is undoubtedly good and preferable for the end consumer while at the same
time bringing greater democracy, and this means stability out of democracy is
being ensured in the Middle East and Caspian regions. We should not forget that
democracy does not just mean political parties coming to power as a result of
electoral votes, but also a regime that has fewer monopolies as well as less
nation-state market intervention. This means natural resources will be used for
the benefit of humanity. This will bring the ‘old’ energy game played in these
regions -- where the lead roles were played Germany and Russia, with Iran as
the understudy -- to an end and will mean the start of a new journey in the
region from war to peace. However, political will is needed to support and
realize such a journey.
Today, TANAP has become the most
important project of the Southern Gas Corridor. Azerbaijan and Georgia intend
to increase the capacity of the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), but Turkey and
Azerbaijan especially,
wish to complete TANAP. Here, the fact that Azerbaijan and Georgia are reaching
out to European markets via Turkey represents not only an energy move but a
vital step in Europe's eastern expansion.
Let me explain clearly what this means.
Independent of Germany and Russia and, in fact, despite these two countries, it
means the expansion of EU borders to Baku and Turkey's increased activity, both
economically and politically, in these regions. This is why the cost of
projects such as TANAP is not so important. In fact, there is no point in even
questioning the case of an initial supply surplus; Turkey alone should just
commit to buying it, because the whole world and especially the US should know
that Turkey will be behind the TANAP project and will carry it through right to
the end, no matter what the cost.
As mentioned above, Turkey does not see
this project as one of energy alone but as a project for peace, democracy and
integration.”
7.
The occupation regime has launched a new campaign in the UK with the slogan
“Just relax, there are no euro worries in north Cyprus”
Under the title: “Just relax, there are
no euro worries in north Cyprus”, Turkish daily Milliyet (10.04.13) reports
that the occupation regime which is aware of the economic crisis in the Greek
Cypriot side, has launched a “striking” advertisement campaign in the UK under
the slogan “Just relax, there are no euro worries in north Cyprus”.
According to the paper, the “TRNC”, as
the occupation regime is described, has designated a new strategy on tourism,
taking into consideration the uncertain economic picture in the Greek Cypriot
side. Within this framework, the occupation regime with several advertisements
sent the messages that the economic crisis in the Greek Cypriot side will not
affect the “TRNC” and that the “TRNC” is a separate “country”.
The paper goes on and writes that in the
past the Greek Cypriots implemented a campaign with the slogan “Don’t go to the
north, it’s under military occupation”, and now, the Turkish Cypriots, adds the
paper, come into prominence and they make advertisements about the economic
crisis of their neighbours.
The advertisement points out that the
tourists who are visiting the occupation regime can change their money to
Turkish Lira. Here are some examples of
those advertisements: “Do you now this? North Cyprus is not in the euro zone”.
“It does not use the euro”. “Just relax; there are no euro worries in north
Cyprus”. “We are the other half part of Cyprus, we are separate, we use the
Turkish Lira”.
In statements to Milliyet about the
issue, the “undersecretary” of the so-called ministry of tourism, Sahap
Asikoglu has said that they follow now a new strategy on tourism due to
economic crisis experienced in the Greek Cypriot side. He added that the
strategy they designated is based on two stages, adding that the first one is
that they have launched an initiative so that to attract the tourists who are
planning to visit the Greek Cypriot side and secondly, their efforts have as a
goal to change the perception about Cyprus. “By saying that ‘Cyprus experiences
an economic crisis’; a perception is created that it is the whole of Cyprus
under economic crisis. Thus, we have launched an initiative to change this
perception by using different slogans like “We do not use the euro; we are not
in the euro zone. North Cyprus is separate”, Asikoglu said.
Asikoglu signalled also that new flights
might be conducted to illegal Tymbou airport and said: “If openings will be
made towards Ercan in the forthcoming days, we will experience an explosion on
tourism”.
Asikoglu stated also that because of the
advertisement they make, they expect an increase around 35% on the number of
tourist during 2013. He said that 660 thousand tourists came to the occupied
area of Cyprus in 2012 and added that their goal for 2013 is for this number to
reach to 850-900 thousand, while, for 2016 he said, the aim is to reach 1.5
million.
Also, in statements to Milliyet, Orhan
Tolun, chairman of the “Turkish Cypriot Tourist and Travel Agents Union” said
that they are very lucky because they are not in the euro zone and added that
when he participates to fairs abroad, they ask him whether they use the euro
and he says “we do not use the euro. We have not affected by the crisis, we are
separated from the south”.
[Translator’s note: more information
about the occupation regime’s campaign can be found in the following address, http://welcometonorthcyprus.co.uk].
(AK)
8. Tripadvisor web site gave to Rocks Hotel casino
in occupied Cyprus 2012 certificate of excellence
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(10.04.13) reports that Tripadvisor , a web site that gives information on
travelling feedback worldwide, gave to the Rocks Hotel casino in occupied
Cyprus a “certificate of excellence” for the year 2012.
The hotel
received 4.5 points in the list for the most excellent hotels which took place
in the website.
In January 2013,
Tripadvisor, sent a letter to the so-called "Ancient shipwreck
museum", which houses the Keryneia ship, saying that the museum earned top
ratings from Tripadvisors travelers regarding its standards. (See Turkish
Cypriot and Turkish Media Review No. 12/13 on 17.01.13)
9. Suspicions for mad cow disease in occupied
Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (10.04.13) reports that there are fears for the mad cow
disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE) regarding a patient who receives
treatment for one month now at the DR Burhan Nalbantoglu hospital in occupied
Lefkosia.
The paper writes
that blood samples of the patients were sent to Turkey in order to be confirmed
that he suffers from the disease or not. “Hospital officials” stated to the
paper that for the time being there are only suspicions about the illness. The
issue created panic at the hospital, writes the paper.
10.
Parliament approves establishment of commission to address settlement
process
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 09.
04.13) with the above title reports that the Parliament accepted a proposal
submitted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for the
establishment of a commission to deal with the ongoing settlement process
seeking to solve the decades-old Kurdish conflict.
AKP parliamentary group deputy chairman
Nurettin Canikli recently announced that his party was contemplating submitting
a proposal for a new commission which would inform Parliament and society about
the ongoing settlement process.
The AKP's proposal was accepted with a
majority of the votes in the General Assembly. The gathering was boycotted by
the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the opposition
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which last week announced that they would not
take part in any parliamentary commission to be established by the ruling party
to advance the settlement process.
The opposition parties protested the
government's proposal to set up a new commission in a session and left
Parliament. MHP parliamentary group deputy chairman Oktay Vural slammed the
government in his speech. “We will leave you alone with the Kurdistan Workers'
Party [PKK] in Parliament,” Vural said in an indirect reference to cooperation
between the AK Party and the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), which
had until recently been seen as the political extension of the group.
11.
Gilmore: We expect the 22nd chapter to be opened to negotiations
officially in July
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(09.04.13), Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, speaking on Tuesday after
the meeting with Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Trade Minister
Eamon Gilmore in Ankara, said: “We are pleased to host Gilmore and his
delegation in Turkey. Trade volume between our two countries increased by 2.5
fold in the last 10 years. However, this figure could increase even further.”
“Trade volume between Turkey and Ireland
reached 1.2 billion USD in 2012. Out of this figure, Turkey’s exports to
Ireland were worth 248 million USD and Ireland’s exports to Turkey were worth
845 million USD,” Caglayan emphasized.
“Between 2002-2012, international direct
investments coming to Turkey from Ireland were worth 410 million USD. Direct
investments in Ireland from Turkey were worth 742 million USD. I do hope that
the visit made by Gilmore would lead to an increase in trade volume and our
foreign trade with Ireland would get more balanced,” Caglayan stated.
“Our two countries have good diplomatic
relations. However, there is no commercial consultation mechanism between our two
countries. We will make proposals to Gilmore on this issue. In the second half
of this year, technical delegations would meet in order to help commercial and
economic relations be placed on a mechanism,” Caglayan said.
“We will discuss cooperation between our
two countries and cooperation with third countries,” Caglayan noted.
“We will evaluate increasing the number
of mutual investments and talk on contractors, tourism, health and issues
suitable for cooperation,” Caglayan stated.
“Ireland is serving as the EU term
president for the seventh time. We hope to overcome the unfair obstacles in our
EU process during Ireland's term presidency. We have no doubt that Ireland
would handle related issues with good sense,” Caglayan noted.
“The EU has a structure violating free
trade when it comes to the free movement of goods and Turkish products are
faced with the obstacle of quotas”, Caglayan claimed.
Touching on FTA talks to begin between
the EU and US, Zafer Caglayan underlined that the EU did not include Turkey in
the talks. “Such a situation creates unfair competition for Turkey. I believe
that Ireland would eradicate this unfairness during their term presidency,”
Caglayan stressed.
Deputy Prime Minister Gilmore said that
this was his first official trip to Turkey after assuming office two years ago.
“Turkey and Ireland have important commercial relations and the trade volume
constantly rises”, Gilmore noted.
“Turkish-Irish commercial relations will
continue to develop in 2013. Irish companies made crucial investments in Turkey
in recent years and this shows the confidence Irish investors have in Turkey”,
Gilmore said.
“Ireland always supported Turkey's
accession into the EU. We believe that an expansion would increase the EU's
strength as a global actor. We think that the inclusion of Turkey and Western
Balkan countries into the EU would increase the sphere of influence of the
Union,” Gilmore said.
“As the EU term president, we consider
it as our duty to revive Turkey's entry negotiations. We expect the 22nd chapter to be
opened to negotiations officially in July,” Gilmore stated.
Touching on the FTA planned to be signed
between the EU and US, Gilmore said that this agreement would be the
continuation of a process of an advice a high level group made between the
sides.
“We are aware of Turkey's concerns. We
know that the effects of an FTA between the EU and US get debated in Turkey,”
Gilmore noted.
“The issue of a concurrent agreement
between Turkey and the US came up at the European Commission. The Commission is
ready to extend assistance to Turkey. European Commission has taken certain
steps whereby Turkey would be informed about the process (between the EU and
US),” Gilmore noted.
12.
Turkish airlines to buy 95 planes from Boeing
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 09.04.13) reports that Turkish Airlines (THY), the country’s flagship
carrier, has agreed to buy 95 planes from U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing,
signing the second major aircraft deal in a month after ordering 117 planes
from Boeing’s French rival, Airbus, in mid-March.
“Our board of directors has decided to
buy 20 planes in 2016, 20 in 2018, 15 in 2019, 30 in 2020 and 10 in 2021 from
Boeing to meet the need for narrow-body planes,” a THY statement said, adding
that 70 of the orders were guaranteed, while the remainder were options.
THY ordered 20 B737-800s, 65 B737-8 MAXs
and 10 B737-9 MAXs amounting to more than $9.3 billion based on their average
list prices for 2012.
THY will not have to pay tax on this
purchase as it will be exempted from the customs duties on its new purchases
thanks to a recent law change that will positively affect its competitive power
in the domestic market particularly against Pegasus Airlines, which has gained
a substantial market share in recent years.
In March 14, the airline said it would
buy up to 117 planes from Airbus, which are scheduled to be delivered between
2015 and 2020.
The company’s fleet size reached 202
planes last year, and this total will rise to 470 by 2021 with these new
orders.
Last October THY ordered 15 jet
airliners from Boeing, in a deal worth $4.7 billion, and 15 long-range jets
from Airbus valued at $3.5 billion.
Turkey’s largest private airline,
Pegasus Airlines, also ordered Airbus jets worth $12 billion in an agreement
reached last December, ordering a total of 100 new jets.
13. Kerry will
visit Turkey for the 3rd time
Turkish private TV channel CNNTurk
(10.04.13) broadcast that US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Turkey
for the third time within one and a half month. According to the channel,
Kerry’s visit will be for the developments in Syria.
During this visit, it has been decided
to form a “core group” that will discuss the opening of an aid human corridor
for Syria and to accelerate the leaving of Assad’s administration in Syria, the
channel broadcast.
Moreover, this “core group” consisting
of 11 countries including Turkey, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and USA, will convene in Istanbul towards the end of this
month after the 20th of April. As a result, Kerry will come to
Turkey for the third time.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
