TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 100/13 29/5/13
1. Downer-Eroglu
meeting; statements by Downer
2.
Eroglu reacted again against the so-called embargoes; he accused the Greek
Cypriot side for delaying tactics
3.
Bozer evaluates the “election process” in the occupation regime; Changes on the
“distribution of seats” at the so-called assembly
4.
Israeli and Russian interest for investments in the breakaway regime
5.
The occupation regime aims the hotels capacity to reach 50 thousands
6.
“GAU” organizes a summer school in Italy with the cooperation of Oxford Brookes
University
7.
Teachers from Poland, Bulgaria and Latvia carry out contacts in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus
8.
Erdogan: “New alcohol law neither ban nor interference”; Disputes over the
issue continue
9.
Opposition press in Turkey expresses fear over new conservative regulations
imposed by AKP
10.
“Why kissing is bad (but rape can be just fine)”
11.
Turkey denies deadlock in Turkey-Israel compensation talks
12.
Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu quarrelled over the Reyhanlı attacked; Allegations
that MIT delayed to take action
13.
BDP Deputy condemns practices of several types of violence and torture in
Turkish prisons
14.
Raiser: “Huge projects show Turkey’s ‘attraction’”
15.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the 3rd Bosporus bridge to be held today in
Turkey
1.
Downer-Eroglu meeting; statements by Downer
According to illegal Bayrak television
(28.05.13), the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu met with the United
Nations Secretary General’s Special Advisor for Cyprus Alexander Downer at
around noon today (yesterday).
The
meeting also attended by the Eroglu’s “special representative” Osman Ertug and
members of the Cyprus Turkish side’s negotiating team, focused on the details
of the social event at which Eroglu and the “Greek Cypriot leader”, as
President Nicos Anastasiades, is called, will be coming together on Thursday,
the 30th of May.
Speaking
to reporters at the end of the meeting which lasted for almost an hour, the UN
Secretary’s Special Adviser Alexander Downer said that it was up to the
leaders’ themselves to decide what they will talk about when they come together
on Thursday.
He
said that he was looking forward to the social event to be held at the
residence of the UN Special Representative Lisa Buttenheim’s residence in the
UN buffer zone.
“While
the Greek Cypriot side has been insisting that the nature of the dinner should
be restricted to that of a social event, the Turkish Cypriot side is stating
that aspects of the negotiations process could be taken up at the dinner”,
Downer added.
2. Eroglu reacted again against the so-called
embargoes; he accused the Greek Cypriot side for delaying tactics
According
to illegal Bayrak television (28.05.13) the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis
Eroglu addressed yesterday the 11th Sports Forum which is organized every three
years by the so-called sports department of the “ministry of education, youth
and sports”.
The
so-called minister of national education, youth and sports Mutlu Atasayan
delivered also a speech at the forum.
Addressing
the forum, Eroglu touched upon the “sporting embargoes” imposed against the
Turkish Cypriot sportsmen, as well as the Cyprus issue.
Eroglu
alleged that preventing the Turkish Cypriots from playing sports at
international arenas and preventing the Turkish Cypriot youth from competing
with their fellow peers around the world, is against human rights.
On
the Cyprus problem, Eroglu supported that the Turkish Cypriot side had done
more than its share for reaching a consensus based on the “realities” of the
island.
He
also said the Turkish Cypriot side with good will and constructive approaches
is ready to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem without more
delays.
He,
however, alleged that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to gain time with its
delaying tactics, adding the following: “Since this is the situation in Cyprus,
it does not suit modern society to punish the Turkish Cypriot youth under
sporting embargoes” the President added and asked: ‘Why is the world imposing
embargoes on the Turkish Cypriot youth because we established our state as a
result of Greek Cypriot intransigence?’.”
Explaining
that the Turkish Cypriot side and “motherland Turkey”, as he described Turkey,
are determined to reach an early solution to the Cyprus problem, Eroglu noted
that “as it was also stated by high level Turkish officials, either we will
reach a solution and make Cyprus a peace island, or we will accept that we
cannot come to an agreement and announce this”.
He
also emphasized that he expects parties that are involved in the Cyprus issue
to show the necessary understanding to the Turkish Cypriot side.
3. Bozer evaluates the “election process” in the
occupation regime; Changes on the “distribution of seats” at the so-called
assembly
According
to illegal Bayrak television (28.05.13), the “speaker” of the so-called
assembly Hasan Bozer evaluated to illegal BRT the “motion of no confidence”
tabled by the opposition parties and some UBP “deputies” against the “National
Unity Party government” (UBP) and the early elections.
Bozer
announced that the date of the general meeting on the “motion of no confidence”
will be determined by the “parliament’s chairmanship council”.
He
also said that the “draft law” to hold “early elections” on the 28th of July, will
be voted on in “parliament” on Thursday and will be published in the “official
gazette” on Saturday.
Meanwhile,
with the resignation of 8 so-called deputies from the UBP, the arithmetic of
the Parliament has changed as follows:
The
National Unity Party (UBP) has 22 seats, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) 14,
the Social Democratic Party (TP) 3 and the Democrat Party (DP) has 2 seats in “parliament”.
The
8 “deputies” who resigned from the UBP are now independent “deputies”.
4. Israeli and Russian interest for investments in the breakaway regime
Turkish
Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (29.05.13) citing information, writes that
the interest of foreigners for investments in the breakaway regime has risen
recently.
The
paper writes that Israel and Russian investors held contacts with firms in
occupied Cyprus expressing interest in buying building plots and villas. The
foreigners are interested for buying property in occupied Agios Amvrosios and
its surrounded area where there are many unsold villas. The paper citing other
sources also writes that investors show interest in buying property also in
occupied Akanthou and occupied Vasileia villages.
5. The occupation regime aims
the hotels capacity to reach 50 thousands
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (29.05.13) reports that the self-styled minister of tourism Unal Ustel stated that their aim is the hotels capacity in the breakaway regime to reach 50 thousands.
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (29.05.13) reports that the self-styled minister of tourism Unal Ustel stated that their aim is the hotels capacity in the breakaway regime to reach 50 thousands.
Ustel made these
statements during a meeting he had with the Mayor of Antalya Kemer Municipality
Mustafa Gul who is holding contacts in occupied Cyprus.
Ustel said that the
breakaway regime has for the time being a 20-thousand bed capacity but it aims
to reach 50 thousands.
He also stated that
the protocols signed with the encouragement of the Turkish “embassy” in
occupied Lefkosia, charted flight from seventeen countries are conducted to the
breakaway regime adding that this safeguards the flow of tourists.
6. “GAU” organizes
a summer school in Italy with the cooperation of Oxford Brookes University
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli
(29.05.13), the illegal Girne American University (“GAU”) announced that the
second international architecture summer school “Contending Environment and
Responsible Architect: Realising and Thinking” organized by Oxford Brookes
University and Chamber of Architects of Italy cooperatively with “GAU Faculty
of Architecture, Design and Fine Arts” is to be held on 19-24 August 2013 in
the city of Supino-Italy.
The paper also reports that the workshop which
will last 7 days during the summer school, will include field study researches,
mapping techniques, design courses and presentation methods in cooperation with
the local public. As a result an exhibition is to be organized with the support
of Supino municipality and will be published via an electronic format.
7.
Teachers from Poland, Bulgaria and
Latvia carry out contacts in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan
(29.05.13), teachers from Poland, Bulgaria and Latvia, who are currently
visiting the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, accompanied by the
so-called minister of education, youth and sports Mutlu Atasayan met yesterday
with Sener Elcil, general secretary of the primary school teachers' trade union
(KTOS).
During the meeting, Atasayan said that they,
as “ministry”, give fully support to KTOS’ contacts abroad and they are also
satisfied because foreign hosts visit “TRNC”, and the NGO’s in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus meet with international organizations.
Commenting on the cooperation with foreign
teachers’ trade unions and international institutions, Elcil said that this
opening to abroad for the Turkish Cypriot community is important and they want
the progress of this cooperation. He
added that until now, 70 teachers have visited the occupied area through an
exchange programme.
8. Erdogan: “New alcohol law neither ban nor interference”; Disputes
over the issue continue
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.05.13) reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has advised members of the public upset at draconian new alcohol
laws, to enjoy their libations in the comfort of their own home, dismissing
claims that intoxicating drinks have been banned.
“For
days, there has been propaganda inside the country and abroad saying: ‘Alcohol
is banned in Turkey.’ Before everything else, whoever says, writes and reports
this, whoever spreads this inside the country and abroad is a liar, to say the
least. We have not banned anything,” Erdogan said in a speech delivered at a
meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) parliamentary group
May 28.
Erdogan
devoted a majority of his speech to the criticism levelled at his government
for the alcohol regulations, saying the harsh measures neither constituted a
ban nor an intervention into people’s lifestyles.
“Nobody
should turn alcohol into an identity issue. The regulation adopted [by the
Parliament] is not an intervention into anybody’s identity, ideology and
lifestyle. Those who perceive this as such are mistaken. Those who say this
have ulterior motives,” Erdogan said.
“If
you are going to drink [alcohol], then drink your alcohol in your house,” he
said, noting that the criteria for the consumption of alcohol in the public
sphere were set. “If you will drink, drink. We are not against this. But we are
not allowing this in certain places and at certain hours – and within 100
meters of mosques and schools,” he said.
The
media also received its share of criticism from Erdogan for its stance on the
issue, as he argued that some of the opponents were merely against the
regulation because Islam prohibited the consumption of alcohol, meaning that
they were against the dictates of Islam.
Erdogan
also thanked the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) for its support on the
alcohol regulations.
But
MHP leader Devlet Bahceli gave mixed signals on his party’s stance on the
alcohol ban, voicing somewhat ambiguous support for the ban May 28.
“As
the Nationalist Movement Party [MHP], we naturally positively approach a
regulation that will restrict the sale and use of alcohol. It should be known
that our attitude never includes support for the AKP,” Bahceli said, addressing
his party’s parliamentary group meeting.
“In
this respect, while respecting the area of personal freedom, we agree that
strengthening the spiritual, bodily and mental health of our future generations
is an essential mission,” Bahceli said, while noting that Erdogan’s remarks
about not wanting a “drunk and wasted” youth were an exaggeration.
However,
on his way back from a party rally in Adana over the weekend, Bahceli said the
clandestine sale and consumption of alcohol could rise with a ban.
“A
ban would create 1930s America,” he said, arguing that illegal underground
criminal organizations smuggling drugs and alcohol could emerge as a result of
the law.
For
his part, in response to questions from correspondents, main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu said: “I would
actually expect the AKP to entirely ban alcohol production in Turkey; why
didn’t they?”
9. Opposition press in Turkey expresses fear over new
conservative regulations imposed by AKP
Turkish
daily Cumhuriyet newspaper (29.05.13) reports
about the new alcohol regulations imposed in Turkey by the ruling Justice and
Development Party and writes that the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan,
despite arguing that the regulations are persuaded for the public interest, he
used the phrase “necessity for faith”, referring to the new law.
The
paper also writes that Turkey is moving step by step towards Seriat (muslim
canonical laws).
In
addition, Turkish daily Taraf (28.05.13) reports that following the forbids for
drinking alcohol in public, the Turkish government is now issuing limitations
regarding the selling of the emergency contraception pills without doctor’s
orders. The paper publishes statements by Turkish gynaecologists who stated
that AKP’s Victorian policy is a new attack to women’s rights in Turkey.
10. “Why kissing is bad (but rape can be just fine)”
Under
the above title, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.05.13) publishes the
following commentary by Burak Bekdil, referring to several ban regulations to
be implemented by AKP government in Turkey. Following is the commentary:
“Two
years ago, the Prime Ministry’s department for family and social research
carried out a survey of 5,765 students across Turkey only to find that half of
them did not have friends from both sexes and 60% faced domestic violence.
About the same time a city bus driver in Istanbul had violently kicked out a
young couple who had kissed during the journey. The angry driver had shouted
after them: ‘This is not a sex bus!’ Apparently, the pious Muslim driver
thought babies were born after their parents kissed each other.
To
protest against the incident, a group of maverick youths, all couples, launched
a campaign to collectively take a bus on the same route and start kissing each
other spontaneously. The ‘collective kissing protest’ on the bus sparked
another protest campaign – this time from a group of students from imam schools
who vowed that ‘they would not allow sex on the street.’
Last
week, when about 200 Turks held a mass kissing protest at an Ankara subway
station in response to a public announcement at the same station that had
requested passengers ‘to behave morally,’ conservative religious groups
attacked them with machetes, shouted religious slogans and injured some of the
protestors. The metro incident in Ankara is merely a more violent repetition of
the ‘sex bus affair’ in Istanbul. Apparently, with the newfound state/police
power they arrogantly rely on, the conservative Turks will never learn to mind
their own business.
What
are the core values conservative Muslims defend? Human dignity and morals? In a
way. In an extremely corrupted way. The same groups of ‘sensitive Muslims’ that
are always on alert to get organized, beat and perhaps even kill kissing
couples have never been seen to protest when, for instance, nearly 80,000 women
faced domestic violence in the 18 months to August 2011 alone; or when violence
against women rose 1,400% during their beloved Islamist government’s first
seven years in power. They never protested when men raped 102 women and 59
underage girls in 2011 alone.
I
shall be more specific. Where, really, were the ‘good Muslims’ and their
machetes with blood dripping for their holy cause when a prominent, 78-year-old
Islamist columnist confessed to having sex with a 14-year-old girl because ‘in
Islam having sex with girls who reached puberty was allowed?’. Where were our
Muslim guardian angels? Why did not a single conservative Muslim ‘get offended
and stand up’ after the famous “Siirt affair?” Let me refresh memories.
In
2010, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s wife, Emine Erdogan told an
audience of dignitaries: ‘In our culture and civilization, which has a great
historical background, family and motherhood are sacred.’ Naturally, there was
thundering applause. But ironically, only a few days before that speech, Turkey
had been shaken by the news of alleged serial rapes in her native Siirt,
including cases of adults raping minors and minors raping toddlers, and killing
one.
The
mayor of the same town said: ‘This is a small town and almost everyone is
related to everyone. We’ve closed the case after consultations with the
governor, the police and the prosecutor.’ And a cabinet Minister criticized the
media for reporting rapes ‘that had occurred a year ago.’
The
Siirt affair was the microcosm of conservative Muslim Turkey where, for
instance, young boys and girls dating or holding hands in public would be
‘against honor.’ So would miniskirts, tattoos, and earrings on young men,
alcohol, pork, smoking during Ramadan and even letting a female’s hair be seen
by men. But raping minors and covering it up in collaboration with government
authorities would not. Surely, reporting these incidents are also against our
noble honor codes.
Child
brides? They are fine. Buying brides? No problem. How many sheep is one
15-year-old girl worth? That will be up to the bargaining between the families.
Violence toward women? Tradition. Killing your own daughter because she had
been raped by a rascal? Family honor. Killing your own daughter because she had
fallen in love with the boy from the neighborhood? Also a matter of family
honor.
Kissing
in public? We won’t let you have sex on the street!”
11. Turkey denies deadlock in Turkey-Israel
compensation talks
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (28.05.13) reported that Ankara has denied that Turkey and
Israel are at odds over compensation to be paid to the families of people
killed during a 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound ship, the Mavi Marmara, and that the
reconciliation talks have reached a deadlock.
A
senior Turkish diplomat who spoke to Today's Zaman on condition of anonymity, denied
a report published in Haaretz newspaper, which claimed that the Israel-Turkey
reconciliation talks have hit an impasse over the scope of compensation.
According
to the report, the two countries were deadlocked over the compensation issue,
as Israel was prepared to pay $100,000 to each family, while Turkey demands
that Israel pay $1 million to each family of the nine victims.
Haaretz
quoted a senior official in Jerusalem saying despite three rounds of talks, the
divisions remain. The senior Israeli official also noted that talks between the
two states over compensation have made no progress, adding that there has been
telephone contact between the two sides but no breakthrough.
The
Turkish diplomat denied there was no progress in the talks, adding that the
meetings with the two sides were still going on in a positive manner in order
to reach a decision. “Since the very beginning of the compensation talks, there
were reports claiming that Turkey and Israel disagree over the amount to be
paid to the families of the victims. We give no attention to such negative
reports,” the diplomat said.
(…)
12. Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu quarrelled over the
Reyhanlı attacked; Allegations that MIT delayed to take action
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.05.13) the Prime Minister Erdogan and
the main opposition leader of Turkey Kemal Kilicdaroglu have hurled severe
charges against each other over their approach on Reyhanli attack.
Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan overtly accused the main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) of provoking people, while remaining vague about a game
being played with sectarianism initiated by forces outside Turkey.
CHP
leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu harshly criticized the government for the alleged
failure to act on time concerning the attacks in Reyhanlı, the town on the
Syrian border which was hit by two car bombings on May 11. This failure took
place despite intelligence, Kılıcdaroglu said, quoting the exact date of the
intelligence submitted by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT).
Speaking
at a parliamentary group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP), Erdogan argued that certain forces were attempting to play a dangerous
game in Hatay. “So much so that this game is being planned outside Turkey. With
its extensions inside Turkey, it is being attempted by deceiving the citizens
of the Republic of Turkey. Here, a political sectarianism is being created.
This is a very dangerous game,” Erdogan said.
He accused
the opposition, primarily the CHP, of provoking Hatay and Turkey before
anything was clear after the Reyhanlı incident. He noted that they knew that
“very severe and very dangerous attempts for provocation” were taking place in
the region and that they were closely monitoring it.
“Activities
at the level of treason by some dark people in disguise as journalists,
traders, and businessman have been detected in Hatay and they are being
arrested and submitted to the judiciary. Unfortunately, contacts between these
people and some deputies inside the CHP have been confirmed with evidence and
documents. For example, the Hatay representative of a newspaper close to the CHP
has been arrested with quite obvious evidence of espionage. In rallies,
demonstrations in Hatay and its towns, the effects of these structures with
roots on the outside [of Turkey] have been detected, especially in attempts of
attacks against refugees,” Erdoğan said.
For
his part, Kılıcdaroglu questioned the details about the attack. “When was the
last time that MİT warned the officials?” he asked, and continued by saying:
“Should I give the date? May 9, 2013. I am saying the date as well. I am asking
you questions you cannot overcome. When I tell you ‘You are the murderer of
those 52 people’, there are things I know.”
(…)“The
intelligence organization works to determine the vehicles, it has tracked them
since April, it announces it to the concerned authorities; and they
[government] are waiting. An explosion happens, 52 people lose their lives. Who
is responsible: the CHP,” Kılıcdaroglu said bitterly.
“MİT
is not tied to any ministry. It is directly tied to you. It is giving you
information. Now you get up [and say]. ‘There is a lack of coordination among
intelligence organizations,’” he said, adding that they knew that the
intelligence organizations had made the last warning on the phone. Kılıcdaroglu
argued that the intelligence had done its part, yet the government failed to
perform its duty”.
(…)
Meanwhile,
according to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (28.05.13), the National Intelligence
Organization (MİT), obtained tips that assailants were planning to stage a bomb
attack in Hatay's Reyhanlı district approximately one month before the attack
but passed the intelligence to the police force only a couple of hours before
the attack, thereby not giving the police the opportunity to take precautions
against the attack.
According
to a report published by the Taraf daily on Tuesday, MİT intercepted several
phone conversations between suspects believed to have been involved in the
Reyhanlı bombings, which killed 52 people and wounded more than 100 others,
long before the attacks took place. Fifty-one victims were pronounced dead
shortly after the attack and one other died on Monday in the hospital where he
was receiving treatment.
According
to Taraf, the interceptions came back in April, which means about one month
before the attack, but MİT passed the intercepted conversations to the Security
General Directorate some 18 hours before the fatal attack. MİT's delayed action
made it hard for the police to take measures to foil the attack, Taraf
reported.
(…)
13. BDP Deputy condemns practices of several types of
violence and torture in Turkish prisons
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (28.05.13) reported that the Pro-Kurdish Peace and
Democracy Party (BDP) Deputy Ertugrul Kurkcu claimed on Monday that minors
jailed in Sakran Prison in the western province of Izmir are subjected to rape,
torture and other violence.
Speaking
at a news conference in Parliament, Kurkcu said: “Unfortunately, prisons have
turned into houses of torture and rape for children. Turkey should take action
and stand up for those children.”
He
said he would submit an application to the Justice Ministry for a report
concerning the treatment received by minors aged between 13 and 17 in Sakran
Prison in the Aliaga district of Izmir.
Kurkcu
also noted that when similar incidents were discovered to have been taking
place at the Pozantı Juvenile Detention Center last year, authorities described
it as an isolated case. He added that the practices occurring in Sakran Prison,
which is more modern and well equipped than the Pozantı Juvenile Detention
Center, have turned it into a place just like Pozantı was then.
Kurkcu
said that similar practices are also being used on minors in Antalya Prison. “We
are faced with a big disaster that can no longer be hidden. Instead of watching
the abuse of children in this way, Justice Ministry officials should opt to
punish those who are responsible,” he added.
14. Raiser: “Huge projects show Turkey’s ‘attraction’”
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.05.13) Martin Raiser, country director
for Turkey of the World Bank, said in an interview with the Hurriyet Daily News
yesterday, that Turkey’s recent infrastructure projects, which will cost a
large amount of money, reflect the attractiveness of the Turkish market.
Raiser
stated that the companies, which made their bids, assumed that they could rise
the necessary funding. “This is a large amount of money. I think it is good in
many ways, because it reflects the attractiveness of the Turkish market. It is
positive that Turkey is looking to moves like private financing for
infrastructure,” he said during the interview, after the meeting where a report
titled “Turkey: Management of Labor Markets during Economic Volatility,”
prepared jointly by the Turkish Ministry of Development and the World Bank,
held in Bahcesehir University in Istanbul.
Regarding
the third airport project, for which a Turkish consortium won the tender with
an offer to pay the state 22.1 billion euro (plus taxes) over 25 years starting
from 2017, he said: “We have five Turkish companies. They will need to raise a
lot of equity. That will be a challenge. But they have bid and we hope they
will be successful”, he said.
Raiser
also noted that it was important for Turkey that these high profile international
transactions be concluded successfully.
(…)
15. A groundbreaking ceremony for the 3rd Bosporus bridge to be held
today in Turkey
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.05.130 a groundbreaking ceremony for
Istanbul’s controversial third bridge, is set to be held today, on the 560th
anniversary of Istanbul’s conquest by the Ottomans, with the expected
attendance of Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan.
The
construction of Istanbul’s third bridge on the Bosporus, was tendered for last
year, as part of the north Marmara motorway project’s Odayeri-Pasakoy section.
The tender was then awarded to a consortium consisting of the Turkish IC İctas
and the Italian Astaldi that submitted the bid with the shortest term of
construction and operation.
The
bridge is to be constructed under a build-operate-transfer model, in which
private companies build the bridge and will have the right to collect tolls
from vehicles using the bridge for a period of time before handing the bridge
over to the state.
The
consortium is expected to complete the construction of the bridge in 36 months,
at a total cost of about $4.5 billion, after the contract is signed. “The bridge
should be ready for use by the end of 2015,” Turkish Transportation Minister
Binali Yıldırım had said earlier.
According
to the Turkish Transport Ministry, the new six-lane bridge, which is expected
to be about 1.3 km in length, will be built to the north of the two existing
ones, between the Garipce district on the European side and the Poyrazkoy
district on the Asian side. Unlike the two existing bridges, which only carry
road vehicles, the new bridge will also include rail tracks.
Seven
Turkish banks had agreed on supplying a total of $2.4 billion for 10 years of
funding, İbrahim Cecen, chairman of the IC İctas company that was part of the
winning consortium, announced on May 2013.
(…)
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