TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 82/13 30/4/13
C O N T E N T S
1. Davutoglu urges Downer for speedy resumption of the
Cyprus talks
2. Atalay announces low-interest-loans to
tradesmen and the results of four projects during his illegal visit to occupied
Cyprus
3. Gul met with US lawmakers
4.
Eroglu: “The Greek Cypriots had stolen the Republic of Cyprus from us”
5.Kilicdaroglu to illegally visit the
breakaway regime
6. A German company is preparing for
investments in the occupied area of Cyprus
7.
Allegation for the privatization of the port and the free zone area of the
occupied Famagusta
8. Saner to participate in a Conference in Istanbul Bilgi University
9. Greek and Turkish Cypriots to celebrate May 1 together
10. Turkey and Kuwait signed 8 agreements; Cyprus was also discussed
10. Turkey and Kuwait signed 8 agreements; Cyprus was also discussed
11. Japan likely the winner for Turkey’s 2nd nuke
plant
12. Gul approved 4th judicial package
13. Former Interior Minister Mehmet Agar released on
probation
14. Conservative regulation to Turkish Airlines employees raises
questions in Turkey
15. Turkish delegation to travel to Israel for second compensation talks
15. Turkish delegation to travel to Israel for second compensation talks
1. Davutoglu urges Downer for speedy resumption of the
Cyprus talks
Under the title “FM appeals to
UN's Downer for quick restart to Cyprus talks”, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 29.04.13), reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has
emphasized Turkey’s undaunted support for Cyprus peace talks to reunify the
divided island in a meeting with Alexander Downer, the UN's envoy to Cyprus,
saying that the Turkish Cypriot side's call to restart the stalled talks should
be urgently addressed.
During a meeting behind closed
doors on Monday, Davutoglu and UN Special Envoy to Cyprus Downer exchanged
views on the political process in Cyprus and the negotiations between the Greek
Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
Downer also gave a report to the Foreign Minister on his latest discussions in
the Republic Cyprus, the “TRNC” and in Greece related to the negotiation
process.
Davutoglu reiterated Turkey’s
determination to find a solution to the Cyprus issue in talks with the UN
diplomat. The Foreign Minister and Downer discussed the letters Davutoglu sent
to demand a new solution initiative on Cyprus. Davutoglu also explained
Turkey’s clear stance over the issue of the use of gas reserves off the coast
of Cyprus. Ankara seeks to see the full rights of Turkish Cypriots respected over
the reserves.
Davutoglu’s letters on the
Cyprus problem were addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Foreign
Ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus
Germany, and Greece, another guarantor state for the Cyprus.
2. Atalay announces low-interest-loans to
tradesmen and the results of four projects during his illegal visit to occupied
Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (30.04.13) reports that Besir Atalay, Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cyprus, has argued that the breakaway
regime in the occupied area of Cyprus continues its way without facing a crisis
and announced that their aim is to provide low-interest-loans to Turkish
Cypriot tradesmen. Delegations from Turkey and the occupied area of Cyprus held
a three hour meeting yesterday at self-styled prime minister Kucuk’s office.
The
economy of the breakaway regime and the so-called stability program were
discussed during the meeting, after which Atalay and Kucuk held a joint press
conference. Before the meeting, “protocols” were signed between tradesmen
organizations and the self-styled ministry of economy and energy.
Kucuk
said that the “protocols” were signed in order for these organizations to be
able to support their members and give them the opportunity to secure loans. He
noted that during the meeting between the delegations reports that analysed
four issues were discussed and a presentation of a research was made in order
for establishing the problems of the economy of the regime and improving the
economy. He said that within the next few days measures will be implemented for
facilitating the economic life in the occupied area of Cyprus and the
development of the “people”.
Kucuk
said that the “public” sector and the higher education were examined. He noted
the number of students in their “universities” reached 55.500 in 2013 and that
their aim is to have 60.000 students. He added that the income of the regime
from these students is estimated around 1.8 billion Turkish liras (TL). He
noted that the commercial life and relevant measures to be taken were also
examined. Pointing out that the labour force market was also analysed Kucuk
said that these four main issues are “very important” for the regime.
In his
statements, Atalay said that this was the first meeting for examining the
“2013-2015 Economic Development Program” of the breakaway regime. “Our priority
is for the TRNC to obtain a healthy and sustainable economic structure”, he
argued noting that they determined the rules for implementing the second
three-year program. “We are meticulously following the implementation of the
program”, he added arguing that thanks to the first economic program the
breakaway regime has not experienced an economic crisis.
During
the press conference, the results of four projects were distributed to the
press: 1) “Analysis of the Labour Force Market” in the occupied area of Cyprus,
2) “Functional-Institutional Review Project in the “TRNC State” [Translator’s
note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus], 3) “Higher
Education Strategy and Action Plan” for the breakaway regime and 4) “Analysis
of the Flow of Trade” between the occupied and the government-controlled areas
of Cyprus and “Common Project of Policy Proposals” for the occupied area.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (30.04.13) reports that Atalay behaved
like a “governor of a colony” in the occupied area of Cyprus and did not
refrain from excluding the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu from his contacts. The
paper writes that the “protocols” signed with the organizations of the
tradesmen secure two million TL loan and one million TL grant to these organizations.
(I/Ts.)
3. Gul met with US lawmakers
According to Ankara Anatolia
news agency (29.04.13), Turkish President Abdullah Gul separately received
Monday US House of Representatives Turkey Group Co-Chairman Ed Whildfield and
US Senate Armed Services Committee member Joseph Donnelly.
The meetings at the Cankaya
Presidential Palace in capital Ankara were held closed to news media.
4.Eroglu:
“The Greek Cypriots had stolen the Republic of Cyprus from us”
Under the title: “The Greek Cypriots stole
the Republic of Cyprus from us”, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (30.04.13) reports
that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who met yesterday with a
delegation of war veterans from Turkey and Korea alleged that the Greek
Cypriots stole the Republic of Cyprus from the Turkish Cypriots.
In statements during the meeting, Eroglu
stated that due to a mistake which was done by the UN’s Security Council, the
Republic of Cyprus was left in the Greek Cypriots and alleged that the real
“occupying force” in Cyprus is the Greek Cypriots, and not Turkey as the Greek
Cypriots say. Eroglu further said that the Turkish Cypriots were excluded from
the Republic in 1963.
Eroglu continued and said that in return
to these “realities”, the Greek Cypriots became members of the EU and the UN.
He added that some countries worldwide do not see the “realities” in the island
and do not behave them in an equal manner.
Eroglu referred also to the so-called
embargoes and the difficulties the Turkish Cypriot side experiences because of
these and expressed the belief that together with the help of Turkey, they will
achieve to overpass them.
(AK)
5. Kilicdaroglu to illegally visit the breakaway regime
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (30.04.13) reports that Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which is the main opposition party in Turkey, will pay an illegal visit to the breakaway regime tomorrow.
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (30.04.13) reports that Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which is the main opposition party in Turkey, will pay an illegal visit to the breakaway regime tomorrow.
According to CHP’s deputy
chairman Faruk Logoglu who referred to the issue during a press conference,
Kilicdaroglu will visit the breakaway regime on the occasion of the 1st
of May and will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu and other
“officials”.
6.A
German company is preparing for investments in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi
(30.04.13) reports that the German company called Xpertec Firm, is preparing to
make an investment in the occupied area of Cyprus in order to solve the
different environmental problems experienced in the occupation regime, starting
as the paper writes, from the animal wastes.
According to the paper, the above
mentioned company collects the wastes which cause environmental disaster in
other countries as well such as in Germany, Spain, France and after collecting
them, it recycles them and from those wastes it produces electrical energy.
The paper writes that the project and the
plans for the installations of the company were already submitted to the
occupation regime’s “officials”, and the company is expected to start its works
on February, 2014.
In statements to the paper about the
issue, Onur Ersen, one of the Turkish partners of the company has stated that
the necessary geological and meteorological works for the installations were
already made, adding that their desire is to solve the environmental problems
in the “TRNC”.
Ersen went on and said that they will
take out a loan from a German state bank for the installations of the company
which will cost 150 million dollars. Ersen stated that the installations will
be built in 28 donums [Translator’s note: donum: a land measure of 1000 square
meters (about a quarter of an acre)] of piece of land in the occupied Filia
village and that 120 persons at least will be employed there.
(AK)
7.Allegation
for the privatization of the port and the free zone area of the occupied
Famagusta
Under the title: “Will the port also be
lost?”, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (30.04.13) reports that after the
illegal Tymvou airport which will be privatized, there are allegations now for
the transferring of the “port and the
free zone area” in occupied Famagusta to a firm called Arkas Navigation which
is based in Izmir.
The paper writes that after the so-called
minister of Energy Sunat Atun have taken personally the decision for the
transferring; four members of the “administration board” of the free port and
the free zone area in occupied Famagusta, resigned from the post.
As the paper points out, the Arkas
Navigation company is responsible for now on for all the labour services that
are provided in the port and it also have seized the “Turkish Cypriot Company
of the Port workers”, since, a proposal was already submitted to the so-called
council of ministers for the shares of the company to be sold to the Arkas
Navigation.
The paper underlines that these
activities, which are taking place behind closed doors for the privatization of
the port of occupied Famagusta, are in the framework of the efforts for the
solution of the Cyprus problem, which envisages the opening of the closed off
city of Varoshia and the Famagusta port for mutual use.
(AK)
8. Saner to participate in a Conference in
Istanbul Bilgi University
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (30.04.13) reports that Ersan Saner, the
self-styled minister of public works and transportation of the breakaway regime
will participate in the “8th International Information Technology and
Communication Conference”, which will take place between 2-3 of May in Bilgi
University in Istanbul.
According
to the paper, the Turkish Minister of Transportation and Navigation Binali Yildirim, the Afghani Minister of
Communication and Information Technology Amirzai Sangin and the Tunisian
Minister of Information Technology Mongi
Marzour will participate in the conference.
9.
Greek and Turkish Cypriots to celebrate May 1 together
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (30.04.13) reports that 39 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot organizations will celebrate today the 1st of May celebrations.
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (30.04.13) reports that 39 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot organizations will celebrate today the 1st of May celebrations.
The paper writes that representatives of PEO
and SEK will participate in the festivity and will deliver speeches on the
occasion.
10. Turkey and Kuwait signed 8 agreements; Cyprus was
also discussed
Under the title “Turkey, Kuwait
sign defence alliance deal”, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
30.04.13) reports that Turkey and Kuwait signed a total of eight agreements
regarding aviation, higher education, livestock breeding, culture and arts,
visa exemption and defence, following a meeting held at the Presidential
Residence, with the participation of the President, Abdullah Gul and Kuwaiti
Amir, Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jabir al-Sabah.
A particular agreement seeking
to strengthen the ties in the field of defence, “The Memorandum of
Understanding on Cooperation in Defence and Industry between the Government of
the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the State of Kuwait,” was signed
between the Minister of Defence, Ismet Yilmaz and the Deputy Prime Minister and
the Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Khalid al-Hamad al-Sabah, as reported by the
Anatolian news agency yesterday.
Expanding the bilateral trade
volume and taking the necessary measures to increase the amount of reciprocal
investments were discussed during the meeting, while opinions on regional and
international issues, including Syria and Cyprus, were exchanged.
11. Japan likely the winner for Turkey’s 2nd
nuke plant
Turkish daily Milliyet
(30.04.13) reports that Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that they are
about to finalize the agreement for construction of the second nuclear power
plant, adding that China and Japan are the frontrunners.
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 30.04.13) reports that Japanese-French partnership is one step
ahead of its Chinese rival in the race to build Turkey’s second nuclear power
plant, as the official announcement of the winning bid is to be made later this
week.
“The Japanese bid has the
advantage, but there are still one or two issues that we need to work on
together,” Energy Ministry sources told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday. “We
believe that we will find a common way when [Japanese Prime Minister] Shinzo
Abe comes to Turkey [May 3].” Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, the world’s
biggest builder of nuclear reactors, is expected to be chosen to build the
plant, Reuters also reported yesterday, citing unnamed Turkish government
sources.
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz,
speaking to reporters yesterday following his meeting with a group of members
of the U.S. Congress in Ankara, said that Ankara would officially announce by
the weekend who would construct the country’s second nuclear plant, a project
located in the Black Sea province of Sinop and expected to cost around $22
billion.
12. Gul approved 4th judicial package
According to Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (online, 30.04.13), Turkish President Abdullah Gul approved
Turkey’s much debated fourth judicial package, which had passed into law by
Parliament on April 11.
The package is intended to
eliminate rulings against Turkey in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
for human rights violations, especially regarding the situation of convicts
charged with membership in a terrorist organization.
13. Former Interior Minister Mehmet Agar released on
probation
Turkish daily Milliyet (30.04.13),
in its front page under the title “The state told me ‘go’, I go”, reports that
former Interior Minister Mehmet Agar, who was convicted for Susurluk incident,
was released yesterday on probation.
Speaking to press upon his
release on Monday afternoon, Agar said he saw his imprisonment as a state duty
and added that he will continue his life like any other civilian by spending
time with his family.
According to Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman (online, 29.04.13), Agar was released on one-year monitored probation
on Monday after serving a year in prison on charges of establishing a criminal
organization in a trial concerning a car accident in 1996 that exposed links
between the Turkish state, the criminal underworld and Turkish security forces.
Agar, who served as a national
police chief shortly before the incident, was standing trial for his role in an
unlikely arrangement the crash exposed between a famous mafia boss, a member of
the security forces and a politician. The prosecutor who charged him argued
that Agar had established an organization with the purpose of committing
crimes.
The Turkish court handed the
former police chief a five-year sentence in September 2011, which was later
reduced to three years, nine months. Agar was sent to Aydin prison in late
April 2012.
14. Conservative regulation to Turkish
Airlines employees raises questions in Turkey
Under the title “Step by step to a more conservative society”, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet newspaper (30.04.13) reports that the administration of the Turkish Airlines (THY) issued new regulations regarding the makeup used by female staff according to which, women employees cannot wear red-colour lipstick but can wear pink or maroon colour instead.
Under the title “Step by step to a more conservative society”, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet newspaper (30.04.13) reports that the administration of the Turkish Airlines (THY) issued new regulations regarding the makeup used by female staff according to which, women employees cannot wear red-colour lipstick but can wear pink or maroon colour instead.
According
to the new regulations, women employees must not put flashy makeup, must use
pastel colours and have their hair colour must range in natural tones. Wigs are
not allowed. In addition the personnelare not allowed to have tattoos in their
body.
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 30.04.13) reports that a Turkish delegation is planning to travel to
Israel next week to have the second leg of compensation talks as part of
normalization between the two former allies.
This is the first time a
high-level Turkish delegation is visiting Israel in two years after ties
between the two countries nosedived.
The first leg of the
compensation talks took place in Ankara last week and the sides tentatively
agreed on basic principles of a possible accord.
A senior Israeli official told
the state-run Anatolia news agency that Israel's National Security Council will
host the Turkish delegation next week. The talks will take place in Israel at
the request of the host country.
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