TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No.
104/13
4/6/13
C
O N T E N T S
1.
Erdogan claims that there are “foreign links” to Taksim protests
2.
Turkish PM gets into row with Reuters reporter over Taksim protests
3.
Gul: “Messages of protesters received”
4.
Clash between Gul and Erdogan opinion over the protests
5.
Kilicdaroglu calls Erdogan to apologize over protests
6.
First official death recorded in Gezi Park protests-1480 wounded
7.
USA and Germany warn their citizens about potential violence in
Turkey
8.
How the Turkish Cypriot press covers continuing violence in Turkey
9.
Fethullah Gulen: Today we need kindness and balance
10.
NTV pays the price of the censor; its staff quits
11.
PKK terrorists clashed with Turkish army during withdrawal
12.
Serdar Denktas: violence used by police in Turkey is unacceptable
13.
Turkish Cypriots say Varosha is part of a comprehensive solution
14.
YKP accuses AKP of interfering in their domestic affairs
15.
Eroglu: “The new negotiation process will be the last change to
reach a solution”
16.
The “2013 Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli Search and Rescue
exercise” to be held in occupied area of Cyprus
17.
Preparations for “early elections” continue
18.
Kucuk accuses of Eroglu’s actions as port-modern coup d'état
19.
The breakaway regime participated in Festival D’Anatolie in Paris
20.
Opera Days of TURKSOY to take place in the occupied Keryneia;
1.
Erdogan
claims that there are “foreign links” to Taksim protests
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.13) reports that Turkish
intelligence is looking into possible links between the incidents in
Taksim Square and foreign powers, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan said at a press conference before leaving for Morocco,
accusing internal and foreign actors of supporting the Gezi Park
protests.
“Our
intelligence work is ongoing [to determine the foreign actors behind
the protests]. It is not possible to reveal their names. But we will
have meetings with their heads,” said Erdoğan.
“Those
who advise us to be moderate must themselves first come to
moderation,” he said, referring to the international reactions to
the use of force against protests that have erupted in all corners of
the country. Erdoğan claimed 160 police officers and 60 citizens
were injured yesterday, saying the high number of injured police
officers was a proof that it was acting moderately.
“There
is 50 percent of [the country who voted for the ruling Justice and
Development Party - AKP], and we can barely keep them at home [and
prevent them from coming onto the streets for counter-protests]. But
we have called on them to calm down,” the prime minister also said.
“If
necessary we will square accounts with them. We are determined in
this and there are some visible evidences,” said Erdoğan.
The
country is already experiencing a “Turkish Spring” and will not
give way to those who want to turn it into a winter, Erdoğan said,
referring to the economic development that has benefited some during
his rule.
Per
capita income has reached $10,500 during the ruling party’s tenure,
he said, adding that this had made some “jealous.”
2.
Turkish
PM gets into row with Reuters reporter over Taksim protests
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.13) reports that Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan argued today with Reuters reporter
Birsen Altaylı about the seven-day long Taksim Gezi Park protests,
accusing her of misinforming her agency about the situation in the
country.
“Don’t
tell me that all of society [is supporting the protests], I will not
believe it,” Erdoğan told the reporter. “There might be
extensions of ideological structures [behind the protests]. This
might have gotten them to revolt. You have to see that. What haven’t
we done in this country that [led the protesters to] take such a
step?” said Erdoğan.
Altaylı
also asked the prime minister whether more protesters were coming out
onto the streets because he had underestimated their strength.
Erdoğan replied, asking what he could do to moderate the protests.
“If you can tell me [what to do], I’ll do it,” he said.
“There
is 50 percent of [the country who voted for the ruling Justice and
Development Party - AKP], and we can barely keep them at home [and
prevent them from coming onto the streets for counter-protests]. But
we have called on them to calm down,” the prime minister said after
Altaylı said the people on the ground did not represent any single
party and that they included students and housewives, unlike
Erdogan’s claims.
After
the Reuters reporters said the people on the ground had demands about
education and recent alcohol restrictions, Erdoğan said he had seen
no demands about education and accused Altaylı of misinforming her
agency about the situation.
Before
Altayli’s question session with the Prime Minister, she had 195
followers on Twitter, but the number exploded to more than 54,000
shortly after the argument.
The
protests were triggered last week when a group of people were exposed
to gas and water cannon as they attempted to prevent the construction
of a shopping mall in a park on Taksim Square.
3.
Gul:
“Messages of protesters received”
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (03.06.13) reports that the Turkish
President Abdullah Gul stated that democracy is not only about
holding regular elections, and this message has been taken from the
demonstrations. He was commenting over the protests taking place all
over Turkey for the last six days.
“Democracy
is not just about voting [someone into power]; the message [the
protesters want to convey] has been received. What is necessary will
be done,” Gul said on Monday, speaking to a group of reporters in
Ankara during a reception for a delegation from the İzmir Chamber of
Commerce.
“These
demonstrations have also tested Turkey's democracy. You can see in
those countries where there is no democracy or supremacy of law, when
we look at Middle Eastern countries, you can see the cost of them.
Thankfully these were ended in Turkey before any irreparable pain was
experienced,” he added.
The
Turkish President also warned that illegal organizations and
manipulative agitators might step in “after this point.” He said:
“Turkey is a country that believes in democracy, and where rules
work and the supremacy of law and court rulings work. It's at Western
standards.” He also said different beliefs should be respected.
“Everyone should feel free,” the president said.
4.
Clash
between Gul and Erdogan opinion over the protests
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (04.06.13) reports that there is a difference
of opinion between the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and the Turkish
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, over the protests taking place all
over Turkey during the last six days.
Speaking
to reporters along with his Moroccan counterpart at a joint press
conference, Prime Minister Erdoğan was asked about Gul's comments in
which he said the message has been taken from the demonstrations.
Erdoğan said he didn't make any sense of the president's remarks,
declined to further comment on the issue.
News
reports said Gul will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc,
who is leading the office of Prime Ministry in absence of Erdoğan,
at the Çankaya Presidential Palace on Tuesday to exchange views over
the continuing protests across the country.
In
addition, under the title “Erdoğan fails to get the point, Gul
does”, Murat Yetkin publishes the following commentary in Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.13):
“Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdoğan looked tense and tired during his Istanbul
press conference before departing for Morocco on June 3. He got into
row with reporters asking questions to him about the Taksim protest
that has now spread across the country. They not only involve young
protestors in street clashes with the police, but also drivers
honking and flashing continuously, housewives inside and in front of
their houses with a cacophonic band of pots and pans, and turning the
lights of their houses on and off when the sun goes down.
In
his four-day North Africa trip, Erdoğan is going to talk about the
merits of democracy in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia […] Perhaps he
will have to answer some questions about the state of democratic
rights in Turkey. […]
Almost
half an hour after Erdogan’s departure, President Abdullah Gul made
a statement, which was his second intervention in the incidents in 48
hours. The first was on June 1, when everybody started to have fears
of bloodshed after another statement from Erdoğan. Gul’s statement
said he had held a telephone conversation with the prime minister,
after which the police were withdrawn. In his second intervention, in
contrast to what Erdoğan had said, Gul underlined the need for
different lifestyles living alongside each other, and asked for the
“moderation of all parties,” which in theory included the prime
minister himself. Gul also pointed out that the ballot box alone was
not enough for a proper democracy. He also gave an appointment to
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP), who had requested to talk with him about the
issue.
The
picture is becoming clearer with almost every hour. Erdoğan fails to
get the point, but Gul does. Gul sees that the protests have no
precedent in Turkish history, and are no more about claiming back a
park in Istanbul’s Taksim Square. They are about to turn into a
fight for the lifestyles of a section of Turkish society that has
tasted the secular and modern way of life and doesn’t want to lose
it.
Erdogan’s
insistence on getting his own plans implemented at all costs has
turned a modest protest for a park into a nationwide social movement.
The further toughening of his style will further politicize a social
movement; that is what Gul is trying to avoid.”
5.
Kilicdaroglu
calls Erdogan to apologize over protests
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.13) reports that the main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader said Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan must apologize over government's handling of the
Taksim protests to defuse the worsening social unrest and crisis.
Speaking
to reporters after meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul for
exchange of views, Kemal Kilicdaroglu called on Erdogan to apologize
to people to end the protests.
Calling
Erdogan an irresponsible leader, Kilicdaroglu stated that if police
didn't use such excessive force, Turkey might not have come to the
point where nationwide protests threaten social peace and stability
in the country.
He
also said his party is against resorting to violence by protesters.
6.
First
official death recorded in Gezi Park protests-1480 wounded
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.13) reports that a Socialist
Solidarity Platform (SODAP) member has been hit and killed after a
car driver ignored warnings to stop for protesters organizing a Gezi
Park solidarity demonstration in Umraniye’s 1 Mayis neighborhood,
the Turkish Doctors’ Union (TTB) said.
The
victim, 20-year-old Mehmet Ayvalitas, is the first confirmed death in
protests that have engulfed the entire country.
A
statement released by TTB accused the government of conducting a
provocative agenda, citing several remarks of Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan which claimed he was “barely holding back the 50
percent” of the country that voted for him from coming onto the
street.
A
car drove into the crowds, despite warnings, according to the
statement, and subsequently caused Ayvalıtaş’s death.
The
hacker group RedHack also released a statement, saying Ayvalitas was
a member, while implying that the killing was the intentional work of
a fascist.
Republican
People’s Party (CHP) Sabahat Akkiraz extended her condolences on
the Ayvalitas while describing him as a “martyr.”
The
TTB called on government to pull back all police forces, and release
all those detained throughout the protests.
Over
1,480 people have so far been wounded in Istanbul, with five people
in intensive care and two more in critical condition, the TTB said,
adding that around 414 injuries have so far been recorded by Ankara’s
Doctors’ Union, with 420 more in İzmir.
7.
USA and Germany warn their citizens about potential violence in
Turkey
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (03.06.13) the U.S. Embassy to
Turkey has issued a warning to its citizens in Turkey about potential
violence.
The
embassy issued a warning letter for the attention of American
citizens, reminding of the tension in the country that has been
ongoing since last week.
The
Daily News has also learned that U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis
Ricciardone has cancelled a trip to the U.S. due to the ongoing
unrest in Turkey. He had been due to attend an American-Turkish
Council meeting.
Meanwhile,
the German Foreign Ministry has urged German citizens to stay away
from demonstrations, according to German Embassy spokesman Peter
Kettner.
Germany
also called on Monday for calm and for dialogue in Turkey after days
of clashes between anti-government protesters and police.
8.
How
the Turkish Cypriot press covers continuing violence in Turkey
Under
the title “Tension is not decreasing”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris
newspaper
(04.06.13) reports that the protests as regards Gezi Park at Taksim
Square continued yesterday in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. The police
interfered again with pressurized water and pepper gas against the
activists. Noting that it was the 7th
day of tension yesterday in Turkey, the paper writes that
“university” students in occupied Lefkosia, Famagusta, Keryneia
and Morfou organized actions supporting the people who resist in
Turkey. Some Turkish Cypriots also supported the actions of the
students, according to Kibris.
Under
the title “Actions which entered into their 7th
day in Turkey are dangerously escalating”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Vatan
newspaper (04.06.13) reports that the activities of resistance in
Turkey which have been launched against the destruction of Gezi Park
in Istanbul have been turned into actions for “democracy and
freedom” with the participation of hundreds of thousands of people
in many Turkish cities, such as Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Antalya, Adana
and Hatay. According to the paper, the masses have become angrier by
Prime Minister Erdogan’s “stubborn stance” and words such as
“plunderers and marginal groups” and “drunkard” which Erdogan
used for the protestors and those who drink alcohol respectively.
Vatan writes that “political observers” underline that, in front
of the insufficiency of the opposition, this issue “is escalating
towards being a struggle for overthrowing the AKP and the mentality
it represents”.
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis
newspaper
(04.06.13) reports that the incidents at Gezi Park dealt a blow to
the Turkish economy as well. The stock market declined by 10% in
Istanbul, the price of dollar increased to 1.89 [Turkish liras] and
interest rates exceeded 6%. Those involved in tourism are afraid of
cancellations of reservations, writes the paper adding that last
night a 22-year-old man lost his life in hospital after being injured
during the protests on the first day of the incidents.
Moreover,
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika
newspaper
(04.06.13) reports that Turkish Taraf newspaper’s police
correspondent, Emre Uslu reported that Prime Minister “Erdogan is
giving the orders to the police” to act. Describing this statement
as “shocking”, the paper writes that the chief of Erdogan’s
security has even ordered [the police] to shoot in case the activists
approached the prime minister’s office. Asked to reveal the source
of this information, Uslu replied that he did not make up this
information and added that after that order, gendarmerie arrived to
the area.
The
paper reports that AKP’s spiritual leader, Fethullah Gulen, who
lives in America, warned Erdogan by saying “today we need kindness
and stability”.
Under
the title “Abdullah Gul’s difference”, Afrika reports that
while police violence escalated again yesterday at Gezi Park, a
conflict between President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan
came to light. Gul said that “the necessary message from the
incidents has been received” and approached the issue with a milder
manner, says Afrika adding that Erdogan, on the other hand, wondered
“which message has been received” and “scolded” Gul.
According
to the paper, Gul stated that democracy does not mean only elections
and added: “Except elections, if different views, different
situations and objections exist, there could be nothing more natural
than expressing these things in various ways”. Erdogan said he
could not know which message Gul has received and added: “However,
questions have been addressed to me regarding this issue and I said
to the friends: ‘which message have you taken?’ They did not
reply”.
(I/Ts.)
9.
Fethullah
Gulen: Today we need kindness and balance
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (04.06.13) reports that Fethullah
Gulen [Translator’s note: Gulen is considered as Justice and
Development party’s spiritual leader and lives in the USA] has
warned Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan as regards the incidents that
occurred allover Turkey as a result of the protest against the plans
for destroying Gezi Park in Istanbul.
According
to the paper, Gulen said: “Such a period came that a virus of
aggression has almost been spread all over and contaminated the
believers…” Noting that believer Muslims are attacking other
believer Muslims now, Gulen added: “However, even during such
periods it is very important to walk in a balanced manner, to be able
to preserve human attitude, to carry the spirit of dervishes and not
raise hand against those who raise their hand [against you], to keep
your mouth clean against those who contaminate their mouth with dirty
things, not to bear teeth to those who bear teeth to you and be able
to behave with kindness always”.
Noting
that when you respond to one bad thing with another bad thing, you
could cause much worse incidents, Gulen said that the response to
harm should not be harm and that “we need kindness, balance and
harmony”.
(I/Ts.)
10.
NTV
pays the price of the censor; its staff quits
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (04.06.13), the Turkish private TV
channel NTV continues to pay the price of censoring the boycott of
Gezi Park.
The
channel, which elicited strong public reaction for refusing to cover
the protest in the in the first days, was rocked with the resignation
of his news chief Omer Faruk Aykar. The photographer Mehmet Turgut
also quit making the programme for the channel. Dilara Eldas, who
also worked at the news office, resigned. It is claimed that in case
the channel does not change its broadcasting policy, then the
resignations will continue, the paper reports.
The
famous photographer Mehmet Turgut, who had a programme at NTV “Such
and Such” (Falan Filan), cancelled his programme as a reaction.
On
the same issue, Afrika reports that the workers at NTV came out of
the building and participated in the demonstrations. Meanwhile, no
employees remained at the news centre of the NTV channel.
While
the demonstrations were continuing, the channel employees called the
NTV managers to broadcast live their protest. Upon an intensive
request, the management accept to broadcast the protest.
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (03.06.13) reported that in Istanbul, thousands
gathered outside the NTV news station's office in Maslak. NTV, like
many other major outlets, refused to cover the protests in the first
two days. When clashes were at their height in Taksim Thursday night,
NTV was showing an unrelated documentary. The station also reported
on the story, saying: “There are protests against the media. There
are also protests against us.” The crowd outside the office
dispersed after NTV's live coverage ended.
11.
PKK terrorists clashed with Turkish army during withdrawal
According
to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (03.06.13) the Turkish military said
that Kurdish militants opened fire on Turkish troops in south-east
Turkey near the border with Iraq on Monday, wounding one soldier.
This is the first such incident since the terrorists began
withdrawing from Turkey under a peace process.
The
Turkish military said in a statement that there were two bursts of
gunfire in Uludere in Sırnak province just after noon (0900 GMT) and
a Turkish Cobra attack helicopter was subsequently sent to the area.
The
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants began leaving Turkish
territory in small groups nearly a month ago in a bid to end a
conflict which has killed more than 40,000 people in almost 30 years
of fighting.
They
are withdrawing to Iraqi Kurdistan, where several thousands of their
fighters are based, under a plan agreed by jailed PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan and Turkish officials.
"A
group of terrorists opened fire and, as a result of the shooting, one
gendarmerie sergeant was slightly wounded by the one of the stones
ricocheting off the ground," the army said.
A
spokesman for the PKK, deemed a “terrorist group” by the United
States, the European Union and Turkey, said he had no details of the
incident, but warned the army to refrain from "provocative
actions".
"I
do not believe it will affect the withdrawal," Roj Welat said,
adding that in recent days, Turkey had flown drones and warplanes
over PKK positions.
(…)
12.
Serdar
Denktas: violence used by police in Turkey is unacceptable
Turkish
Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (04.06.13) reports that Serdar Denktas,
leader of the Democratic Party (DP), has assessed the protests as
regards the Gezi Park at Taksim Square in Turkey and said that he
finds it difficult to understand the reaction showed against the
incidents by those who “have been showing great respect for the
Justice and Development Party even until yesterday”.
In
statements made to the paper Denktas said: “There are those who
criticize me because I remained silent and those who say that I am
afraid, because I did not speak. First of all, the issue is Turkey’s
internal matter and I wish for its solution the soonest peacefully.
Of course, I do not remain unresponsive to the incidents in Turkey. I
am saddened, but I do not want to make judgments from afar”.
Denktas
went on and described as “unacceptable” the violence implemented
by the police against the people and added that “the voice of the
people must be heard, because being opposed to the people causes
negative results”.
He
noted: “My party and I are watching the incidents with great
sorrow. The Democratic Party is against every kind of violence and it
will not change this attitude from now on. The AKP government must
listen to the voice of the people. A way of reconciliation should be
found”.
Referring
to some statements accusing his party of being afraid to criticize
the incidents in Turkey, Denktas described them as “ridiculous”
and added that DP has never been a party that implements censorship,
noting that their paper [Translator’s note: DP’s newspaper is
Bakis] publishes the incidents. He argued that those who should be
ashamed are the CTP and its media because the party’s spiritual
leader was going around all television stations until yesterday
stating that the AKP is the best and that he would vote for the AKP
if he were in Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
13.
Turkish
Cypriots say Varosha is part of a comprehensive solution
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.06.13) reports that the
self-styled presidency of the breakaway regime in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus, has described as “lie and intentional”
what he described as allegation that EU’s Commissioner for the
Enlargement, Stefan Fule has undertaken an initiative for the opening
of illegal Tymvou airport to international flights as a response to
the return of the occupied fenced city of Varosha to its legal Greek
Cypriot owners. In statements to Kibris, Osman Ertug, Turkish
Cypriot leader Eroglu’s spokesman, alleged that the Greek Cypriots
are trying to create an “artificial agenda” in a period during
which the issue of the commencement of the negotiations is on the
agenda.
Ertug
claimed: “Varosha has for a long period now been a part of the
comprehensive solution. This news is a lie and was brought up
deliberately. The aim is for drawing the attention to other
directions”. He alleged that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to
make everybody to forget that it is allegedly not sitting at the
negotiating table. He claimed that it is not Fule’s duty to mediate
on this issue and argued that the effort to involve the EU
Commissioner in this issue is thought provoking.
Meanwhile,
the president of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Ozkan
Yorgancioglu has said that officially they received no information
saying that Fule is undertaking such initiative. “We are seeing
this issue as part of the comprehensive solution”, he noted adding
that the negotiations will start within a couple of months and that
the important thing is to carry out negotiations that will lead
Cypriots to a result on this issue.
Moreover,
the leader of the Democratic Party (DP), Serdar Denktas has said that
a few months ago his party had submitted a proposal regarding the
discussion of the issue of Varosha separately and the opening of the
city for settlement under the administration of the breakaway regime.
He alleged that the issue of illegal Tymvou airport should be
assessed within the scope of the customs union and be discussed
together with the “Direct Trade Regulation” and the so-called
deficiencies of the “Green Line Regulation” of the EU. He alleged
that the return for Varosha is not only illegal Tymvou and the direct
flights.
Finally,
Kibris publishes also a statement made to the paper by George
Makropouliotis, EU Commission’s representative in Cyprus, who said
that the return of Varosha is a part of the negotiations held between
the two communities with the aim of finding a solution to the Cyprus
problem under the auspices of the UN. Reiterating the support of the
Commission to the UN-led process, he noted that the EU is ready to
upgrade the level of this support and strengthen it, if the sides ask
for this. He noted that during his recent address to the European
Parliament, Mr Fule had expressed his views regarding confidence
building measures and the necessary concessions for carrying the
solution process forward and for the advantages which the
reunification will bring to the two communities.
(I/Ts.)
14.
YKP
accuses AKP of interfering in their domestic affairs
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibrisli (04.06.13) reports that the New Cyprus Party
(YKP), in a written announcement, evaluated the latest developments
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
According
to the announcement, it is claimed that the occupied airport of
Tymbou (“Ercan”) was given as an offer to a businessman from the
Black Sea with Erdogan’s instructions. It also writes that the
discussion about the privatization of the occupied port of Famagusta
should be interpreted within this framework.
YKP
also criticized the fact that a “TRNC citizenship” was granted to
Ertugrul Gunay, MP with the ruling in Turkey Justice and Development
Party (AKP), adding that they are doing favours for AKP.
Finally,
YKP said that the solution of their problems goes through the
solution of Cyprus problem.
15.
Eroglu: “The new negotiation process will be the last change to
reach a solution”
According
to illegal Bayrak television (03.06.13) the Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu has warned that the new negotiating process will be the
last chance to reach a solution to the Cyprus Problem.
Speaking
during his meeting with the newly elected “board of directors” of
the “Black sea Culture Society” today (yesterday), he said that
reaching a just solution to the Cyprus problem, was his primary duty,
adding that the delay in the re-launch of the Cyprus negotiations
process was causing people to lose hope towards a settlement.
Eroglu
stated also that the “TRNC people” were giving him the support he
needed at the negotiating table.
Stating
that the Turkish Cypriots’ determination strengthened his hand at
the negotiating table, he expressed the view that the new process
will be a ‘last chance’ and that the delay in the re-launch of
the talks were causing people to lose hope towards a settlement. “If
we use this opportunity well, the settlement to be reached could be
lasting. We need a strong settlement, one that will safeguard
Turkey’s interests, if this is to happen” he added.
For
his part, the “chairman” of the “Black Sea Culture Society”
Turan Buyukyılmaz extended his organization’s full support to
Eroglu.
16.
The “2013 Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli Search and Rescue
exercise” to be held in occupied area of Cyprus
According
to illegal Bayrak television (03.06.13) the “Cyprus Turkish
Security Forces Command” has announced in a written statement that
the annual “2013 Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli Search and Rescue
exercise” will be held between the 10th and 13th of June.
The
exercise will be conducted with the participation of “civilian and
military units” from Turkey and the “TRNC” and will take place
off the coast of occupied Famagusta in the eastern Mediterranean
within the occupation regime’s “territories and territorial
waters”.
A
part of the exercises will be open to the press.
17.
Preparations for “early elections” continue
According
to illegal Bayrak television (03.06.13) the timetable for “early
parliamentary elections” which were set to take place on the 28th
of July, was launched by the “high electoral council” today.
According
to the schedule, the “TRNC high electoral council” announced
today the number of “deputies” from each of the 5 districts. The
distribution of “deputies” according to the districts is as
follows.
Occupied
Lefkosia 16, occupied Famagusta 13, occupied Keryneia 10, occupied
Morfou 6 and occupied Trikomo 5.
While
the deadline for political parties to nominate their candidates is
the 18th of June, all candidates will submit their applications on
the 21st of June.
Voters
will head to the “ballots” on Sunday, the 28th of July to elect
members of the 50 seats at the so-called Parliament.
18.
Kucuk
accuses of Eroglu’s actions as port-modern coup d'état
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberdar (04.06.13), in its front page under the banner
headline “Coup d’état”, reports that the self-styled prime
minister Irsen Kucuk, speaking yesterday in the “assembly”
regarding the “motion of non-confidence” against the ruling
National Unity Party (UBP) “government”, accused Eroglu of making
a post-modern coup d’état dragging the “country” to “early
elections”, adding that the “Turkish Cypriots do not accept this
blow”.
Recalling
that Eroglu is the “president” of all the people and the most
essential principle of the “president” is the neutrality, Kucuk
said that the Turkish Cypriots will not turn a blind eye to this
postmodern coup d’état and will not show any tolerance.
19.
The
breakaway regime participated in Festival D’Anatolie in Paris
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (04.06.13), the self-styled
ministry of tourism, environment and culture participate in the
Festival D’Anatolie, which was held in Paris between 31 May – 02
June. The festival is organized for the Turks, who live in France, as
well as for the French people.
According
to a press release by the self-styled ministry, the so-called
director of the department promotion and bargaining Dervis Gezer
attended the festival and carried out contacts. The breakaway regime
had its own kiosk in the festival.
20.
Opera Days of TURKSOY to take place in the occupied Keryneia;
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (03.06.13) the 16th Opera Days
of TURKSOY (International Organization of Turkic Culture). ,
organized to preserve the historical and cultural traditions of
Turkic peoples through the strengthening of interaction between
culture and art, will be organized between June 5 and 14 in various
Turkish provinces.
Thirteen
soloists from nine countries will perform works, including famous
classical operas, along with operas from their own countries of
origin. Among the soloists will be Azerbaijan’s Sabina Vahabzade;
Kazakhstan’s Aslima Maktagulova, Halid Nuraliyev and Elana
Filinkova; Kyrgyzstan’s Kunduz Karıppayeva; Uzbekistan’s Rahim
Mirzakamalov, Turkey’s BarıS YanC and Nona Tsutskırıdze;
“northern Cyprus” Tugrul Enver Tore; Tatarstan’s Rigina Valieva
and others.
The
concerts will take place in the Black Sea provinces of Samsun, Ordu,
Giresun, Trabzon in Ankara, Istanbul and Kyrenia.
The
16th Opera Days of TURKSOY will be dedicated to famous Kazakh
composer Mukan Tolebayev within the framework of “2013 - the Year
of Mukan Tolebayev.” Throughout the 16th Opera Days, a photography
exhibition featuring TURKSOY’s activities will also be open.
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