5/6/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW



TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

No. 105/13                                                                                                            5/6/13

1. Turkish Cypriot columnist says solution process in Cyprus is starting
2. Turkish Deputy PM Arinc  apologizes for excessive force used against peaceful protesters
3. Gul: “Gezi Park protests no 'Turkish Spring'”; Gul said he would examine the alcohol draft law
4. Tensions decrease in Istanbul, continues in other major cities
5. Turkish interior Minister: Total damage caused by Taksim Gezi Park protests over 70 million Turkish Lira
6. Arinc to meet with Taksim Gezi Park Platform today
7. Strong criticism by opposition party leaders in Turkey against Erdogan
8. Pro-Kurdish BDP deputy: Protests should now turn into festival
9. Swoboda criticized Erdogan's way of handling Taksim events; He says European right wing wants to end accession talks
10. Turkish police arrest suspected Iranian agent in Ankara protests-twenty-five persons were arrested for provoking protest via social media
11. Protests hit tourism in Turkey
12. “Taksim protest to change Ankara balances”
13. “It is all about Erdogan”
14. Turkish PM Erdogan did not meet King Mohammad VI during Morocco visit
15. Demirtas denies that there was a clash between PKK and Turkish armed forces
16. Eroglu reiterated that if no solution is found to the Cyprus problem, the occupation regime will continue with its own way
17. The “Famagusta Initiative” stated that the opening of illegal Tymbou airport and occupied Varoshia will contribute to the solution

18. The occupation regime continues the illegal granting of “citizenships” and the distribution of plots of land
19. The Slovakian Ambassador met with Kucuk
20. Motion of census approved: Kucuk’s “government” was overthrown

1.  Turkish Cypriot columnist says solution process in Cyprus is starting
Writing in his column in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.06.13), columnist Ata Atun publishes the following allegations, under the title “The solution process in Cyprus is starting (2)”:
“As soon as Turkey saw the focus point in the process to which the issue of Exclusive Economic Zone in Eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus issue have come, she opened the door part away for George Soros’ interfering in the events. Because George Soros, who met with Prime Minister Erdogan at Davos in 2009, suggested to him to make a three-party agreement with Greece, Israel and the Greek Cypriot Administration in order for being able to claim rights over the hydrocarbon reserves in Eastern Mediterranean and participate in the game, his first job was to put him in the game. The first thing       that Soros did after getting into action was to secure a meeting far from publicity and the press between Prime Minister Erdogan, Papandreou and Merkel. When Merkel and Papandreou approved all the views of Soros, in a next meeting of the three leaders away from publicity, the then President of DISY, Nikos Anastasiades was invited, as he was considered the ideal candidate for the Greek Cypriot Presidency of the Republic in the place of Christofias, who was following the way of Libermann. During the meeting which the leaders held away from publicity, it was decided that Germany would behave in a manner that would not leave Greece to go bankrupt and if necessary Turkey would also help Greece, and that the Greek Cypriot economy would be lead to bankruptcy with the necessary sanctions and initiatives, because of the negative stance of Christofias on the issue of the Exclusive Economic Zone and because he did not do what he was told, and with the aim of Anastasiades winning the elections.
George Soros secured the economic collapse of the Greek Cypriot side by preventing any investment to be made in the Greek Cypriot side and by influencing International Rating Organizations such as Moody’s and Fitch.
Anastasiades would increase his opposition against Christofias, win the elections by destroying the initiative he would undertake for fixing the economy and create such a psychological climate and environment within the Greek Cypriot people that the Greek Cypriots would think of accepting the practice or the plan which would be put in front of them after some time.        
In December 2012 Soros, Prime Minister Erdogan, Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Samaras held a meeting in Berlin and accepted a plan that would reach a result. To secure the collapse of the Greek Cypriot economy with a planned manner and the election of Anastasiades no matter what it take, securing the acceptance of very tough measures without giving the opportunity for a riot of the Greek Cypriot people similar to the Arab Spring. To secure the signing of a suffocative agreement with Troika by announcing such a bad financial situation that would cause fear and doubts for the future within the Greek Cypriot people. To launch negotiations for reaching a solution to the Cyprus issue the soonest and to find an agreement by which Turkey and Greece would indirectly have a say. Within this context, to make a new arrangement on the property issue and to pay compensations and establish a federal state which will be bi-communal and bi-zonal and will have a weak central government and its sovereignty will derive from the EU. The Turkish and Greek troops to go away from the island, the Greek Cypriot National Guard to be abolished and a European unit to be established in which Turkish, Greek and EU forces will be participating.
After the signing of the solution agreement and Turkey’s accession in the EU, Turkey, Greece and Federal Cyprus will sign a “Friendship Agreement” and will share the natural and mineral wealth to be obtained from the Exclusive Economic Zone by Turkey taking 40%, Greece 30%, Cyprus 20% and EU 10%.
After these agreements are approved by the international community, Turkey, as a step of good will, will pay 50% of the financial debt of the Greek Cypriot Administration and the other 50% will be paid by the EU as aid to the new federal state.
Lastly, Turkey, Federal Cyprus, Greece and the EU will share the cost of the pipeline which will be built over Turkey in order for carrying to Europe the oil and natural gas which will be taken out from the area.
It is for this reason that the EU Commissioner Responsible for the Enlargement, Stefan Fule has launched an initiative for the opening of Ercan airport to international flights as a respond to the return of Varosha to its former owners, and established a committee on this issue. Opening Ercan to international flights is tantamount to Turkey’s opening its ports and airspace to the ships and airplanes under Greek Cypriot flag. And this means that would bring along the opening of the chapters which are frozen by the Greek Cypriot side in Turkey’s Accession negotiations and the acceptance of Turkey into the EU.
This information’s source is a diplomat friend of mine in Brussels who is in the boiling cauldron on the Cyprus issue. There is no responsibility for the Ambassador”.   
(I/Ts.)          

2. Turkish Deputy PM Arinc  apologizes for excessive force used against peaceful protesters
Turkish daily Zaman newspaper (05.06.13) reports that the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc has apologized for the undue and disproportionate force used by police against the protesters in Taksim's Gezi Park in recent days. 

Arınc held a press conference as the acting prime minister of the country on Tuesday during which he apologized to peaceful protestors who were exposed to excessive force applied by police. Arınc made a distinction between the peaceful demonstrations held by environmentalists and the ensuing violent protests.

Arınc also said that he would meet with some of the original organizers of the protest and raised the possibility of a referendum on the Taksim project. He said he wanted environmentalists and animal rights activists to know that the government was ready to listen to them.

"There is a need to communicate clearly, to remove the confusion in people's minds. In line with this, today we will meet with the associations and representatives of those who initiated the lawsuit ... to learn their views," the deputy prime minister told the press.

He further stated that the government will inform the public in detail when drafting future legislation, including plans related to Taksim Square, and will pay heed to people's opinions.

Gul met on Tuesday with Arınc to discuss nation-wide protests which began last week in İstanbul against policies of the government. Arınc is acting prime minister while Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on an official visit to Morocco. The two met for 45 minutes and discussed the recent protests in a meeting that was closed to the press.

3. Gul: “Gezi Park protests no 'Turkish Spring'”; Gul said he would examine the alcohol draft law
Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.06.13) reported that the Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that Gezi Park protests against a development project at Gezi Park of Taksim Square in Istanbul were different from the protests that broke out in the Middle East.

"Gezi Park protests are not a Turkish Spring. Turkey's Gezi Park incidents are far more different than the incidents in the Middle East. You can see in the Middle Eastern countries that there are debates related to fundamental rights and freedoms. In these countries there are no free elections, public will is not reflected and the courts are not in the standard of the Western countries," Gul said in a statement posted on his official website.

Pointing out that Turkey was a country in the process of negotiations with the European Union (EU), Gul said that the country would never regress from its present situation, adding: "Turkey is a country that believes in democracy, and the rule of law and court rulings work. There can be environmental concerns. There can be people who stand for environmental protection or for the rights of animals. Different beliefs should be respected. All of these issues are common problems seen in developed countries. Cars were torched, shops were plundered and people were injured because of similar the problems in London two years ago. Different beliefs should be respected. No one should have doubts over Turkey's future."

The Gezi Park protests which started in reaction to a construction project in Taksim's Gezi Park in Istanbul turned into nation-wide demonstrations against the government. One person was killed, dozens more were wounded during clashes with police, while hundreds were arrested.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (05.06.13) under the title: “I will examine the alcohol law”, reports that Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul after he stated that he had “received messages” from the Gezi Park protests, he stated that he will examine together with lawmakers the alcohol draft law, before this to be approved, as he said. 
(AK)

4. Tensions decrease in Istanbul, continues in other major cities
Turkish daily Hurriyet (05.06.13) reports that tension seemed to diminish on June 4, as the protests over the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park entered their second week, after spreading to nearly every province in Turkey.

The heart of the protests in Istanbul's Gezi Park continued in a more festive mood, a stark contrast to last week's brutal police raids on the area. The protesters who took back the park on June 1, were more organized as medical and legal assistance teams were set up in the square and park.

However, tension was still palpable a few hundred meters further away in the Beşiktaş district, where violent clashes had also broken out over the weekend. Small scuffles took place between protesters and police near the road leading to Taksim.

Ankara, another hot spot of the protests where police had led a brutal crackdown against protesters over the weekend, also saw fewer incidents. Police forces, who had been instructed not to use tear gas unless they were attacked, held back from intervening, while protesters offered them cloves and took pictures in front of police tanks. However, some clashes were reported near the central Kızılay district around midnight.

Meanwhile, violent clashes took place in the eastern town of Tunceli. Protesters threw stones at police stations, with police responding by firing tear gas and water cannons. Many patients in a nearby hospital were affected by the tear gas fired by the police, Doğan News Agency reported.

Tunceli is home to a large number of Alevis, who were highly disturbed that Istanbul's third bridge over the Bosphorus was officially named "Yavuz Sultan Selim" last week. Known in English as "Selim the Grim," Selim was an Ottoman sultan historically known for slaughtering Alevis.

5. Turkish interior Minister: Total damage caused by Taksim Gezi Park protests over 70 million Turkish Lira
Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.06.13) reports that Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler said that four civil and police inspectors would examine "every single detail" related to Taksim Gezi Park incidents.

"280 workplaces, 6 public buildings, 103 police vehicles, 207 private cars, a police station and 11 service buildings of the (ruling) Justice and Development Party were damaged due to the protests" Guler told lawmakers. Guler said the damage caused by Taksim Gezi Park protests was over 70 million Turkish liras.

6. Arinc to meet with Taksim Gezi Park Platform today
Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (05.06.13) reports that Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc is set to meet today representatives from the Taksim Gezi Park Platform, which was established after the latest incidents in Gezi Part, in order to exchange views over the recent incidents.

Daily Milliyet covers the issue under the title: “Taksim Platform’s demand is the establishment of a new model” and reports on statements by Korkhan Gumus, representative of the Platform who has said that the platform will demand during its meeting with Arinc for a new model to be establish so that a cooperation to be made between the state and the civil society in order for similar incidents not to be occurred again in the past.

7. Strong criticism by opposition party leaders in Turkey against Erdogan
Under the front page title: “The country cannot be administrated obstinately”, Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (05.06.13) reports on statements by the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Turkey, Kemal Kilicdaroglu who in a speech at the Turkish National Assembly yesterday, expressed strong criticism to the AKP ruling government in Turkey, saying the following: “The Prime Minister must know what is democracy. It is not possible to administrate the country with impositions and obstinacy. No close regime can remain standing and no any politician can humiliate the society. And no one can use expressions such as plunderers and drunkards (…). Youth wants democracy and freedom and you must offer these to them”, Kilicdaroglu said.

Also, delivering a speech at the meeting of the Turkish National Assembly, the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli commented on the latest incidents at Gezi Part and pointed out that his party did not participated to any of the protests which were launched in the country for Gezi Park.

Expressing strong criticism to Erdogan for his stance over the latest developments, Bahceli said: “The truth is that the Prime Minister slides to dictatorship. It is also true that the resort to the police to use disproportionate violence.  It is true that the AKP uses gaz like the Nazi did. Still, the remedy is the democracy (…)” Bahceli said.
AK

8. Pro-Kurdish BDP deputy: Protests should now turn into festival
Turkish Zaman newspaper 905.06.13) reports that a senior pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy said on Tuesday that the protests will leave a mark in Turkish political history, adding that the protests should now turn to a festival.

Speaking to the press after meeting with President Abdull Gul, BDP Deputy Sırrı Sureyya Onder said police’s brutal response and use of excessive force turned a small sit-in protest to nationwide protests across the country.

According to Onder, the protests reflect a growing feeling of disenfranchisement in some segments of society as the government excludes people from decision-making process in run-up to some critical public projects. He said protests came as a response to the top-down, one-sided policymaking of the government, which remains indifferent to criticism of others.

Onder said he has noticed a change in government and state’s approach regarding handling the protests, adding that a democratic procedure is now taking place.

Onder, who also took part in the protests, said he shared his observations over the government’s mistakes with the president during the meeting in Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara on Tuesday.

9. Swoboda criticized Erdogan's way of handling Taksim events; He says European right wing wants to end accession talks
Turkish Zaman newspaper (05.06.13) reports that Hannes Swoboda, the leader of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, who has strongly criticized Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's way of handling Taksim events, announced on Tuesday that European right and extreme right-wing parties want to end EU accession talks with Ankara citing the “recent events” across the country. 

Swoboda, told Zaman that the European right and far-right want to end EU accession talks with Turkey, adding that his political group is strongly against it.

Stressing that he confronted some members of the European Parliament who openly started to advocate the idea of stopping accession talks with Turkey using “recent events” as an excuse, the Socialist leader said, “I am totally and absolutely against it. That is why I tweeted about it and wanted my position and my group's position to be known.”

He said he appreciates President Abdullah Gul for his reconciliatory remarks on the Taksim incidents, but also called on him to convene an emergency meeting with all political actors to end the disturbances.

10. Turkish police arrest suspected Iranian agent in Ankara protests-twenty-five persons were arrested for provoking protest via social media
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (05.06.13) reports that the Turkish police have arrested, among others, an Iranian national named Shayan Shamloo in connection with violent demonstrations in Ankara  that followed the protest at Gezi Park in Istanbul.

According to a source in the government who wanted to remain anonymous because of the pending investigation into violent events held in a couple of locations in Ankara, the Iranian national was suspected to have played a provocateur role. The same source also told Today's Zaman that authorities suspect Shamloo has connections with the Iranian intelligence. Police have reportedly arrested some 15 foreign nationals across the country in connection with events and most of them have turned out to be Iranian nationals.

The pro-government Star daily reported on Tuesday that another Iranian national named Ramin Sarabi (AKA Rıza) was arrested in Erzurum on charges of leading a plot to attack a delegation of the wise man group, which has been tasked with canvassing the province of Erzurum province to feel the pulse of the people regarding the resolution process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

In addition Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.06.13) reports that twenty five persons were arrested accused of provoking protest via social media.

11. Protests hit tourism in Turkey
Turkish daily Hurriyet (05.06.13) reports that Turkey’s tourism has started to face blows by the protests and the harsh police response. There are many trip cancellations in Istanbul, but not yet in other cities. In the meantime, a new type of tourist has also arrived: Security tourists, or in other words - police forces.

More than 40 percent of hotel reservations have been postponed or cancelled amid the latest social unrest and police reactions, mainly in Istanbul, according to sector representatives.

There are no cancellations in other cities, which have even seen the arrival of a new kind of tourist: Security tourists, namely police forces. “We have not seen any negative effects of the latest protests on the tourism sector in Anatolia, including the coastline cities, such as Antalya. We are even seeing an extra fullness at the hotels in Turkey’s capital city Ankara, due to the on-duty police forces, which have moved into Ankara from other cities for the protests,” Seçim Aydın, president of the Anatolia Tourism Operators Association (ATİD) told the Daily News.

12. “Taksim protest to change Ankara balances”
Under the above title, Turkish daily Hurriyet daily News (06.05.13) publishes the following article by Murat Yetkin:

“There are two aspects of possible changes in the political balances that are likely to be triggered by the Taksim wave of protests: The administration front and the opposition front.

There are three main actors on the administration front: President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, and his deputy, Bulent Arınc. Arınc is on the stage because Erdogan left him as acting prime minister for the duration of his ongoing North Africa tour. However, he is not just a “supporting role” actor, as he is among the triumvirate who laid the foundations of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) back in 2001, together with Gul and Erdogan.

Gul intervened in the Taksim protests at two critical points - on June 1 and June 3 - when many people were afraid that an escalation could result in more bloodshed. Gul’s sensitive interventions versus Erdogan’s uncompromising line toned down the police’s roughness against demonstrators. In both cases, Gul made clear that his position was different, quite moderate and less emphatic than Erdogan’s.

As Erdogan left for Morocco on June 3, Gul made his second statement and immediately invited Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to the Presidential Palace on top of the Cankaya Hill in Ankara. Such a meeting would have been almost impossible given the current tension between Kılıcdaroglu and Erdogan; one calling the other a “dictator,” and the other calling the opposition leader “subversive.” On June 4, Gul invited Arınc to Cankaya, after which Arınc made a statement to calm the atmosphere, with self-criticism that it was the “excessive use of force” and “gas” used by the police that had caused everything to “go crazy” on the first day of the protest.

Arınc had also arranged a meeting with Sırrı Sureyya Onder, the leftist Turkish-origin deputy for the Kurdish problem focused Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), who after meeting with Arınc went up to Cankaya Hill to meet with Gul.

Onder is a key figure here, as a three span bridge between the administration, the opposition and the street. He was there on the first day of the protests (Taksim is his constituency), preventing an excavator uprooting a tree. He is also a messenger between the BDP, the government and Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as a part of Erdogan’s efforts to find a political solution to the Kurdish problem.

All the efforts carried out by Gul have caused his star to become brighter, as Turkey approaches the presidential elections in August 2014. Gul has the right to be a candidate again, but Erdogan wants Cankaya too, but with more powers and less checks-and-balances. Gul is openly against increased powers for the presidency, emphasizing that many in the country have fears that it could lead to one-man-rule through the ballot box. That’s why he underlined in his second intervention in the Taksim protests that although elections are a must in democracies, they are not the whole story. Gul might find more support within the AK Parti following the Taksim theatre.

On the opposition side, besides the very personal role of Onder from the BDP, is the CHP head Kılıcdaroglu.

Most of the masses who took the streets across the country are actually the natural potential of the CHP, especially the modernist and secular women who think their lifestyle is threatened by the conservative AK Parti. However, very few of them are actually led by or organized under the CHP.

There is actually a chance for Kılıcdaroglu to turn that potential into kinetic energy for his party, but given the current fragmented structure of the CHP – which is more under the influence of the nationalist wing in the party echelons, despite the majority social democratic grassroots - Kılıcdaroglu has his own problems to deal with. Whatever happens, the Taksim wave of protests is likely to move and shake the political balances in the Turkish capital, both on the government and the opposition fronts.”

13. “It is all about Erdogan”
Under the above title, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (05.06.13) publishes the following article by Mustafa Akyol:

“Last Sunday, while Istanbul was being shaken by clashes between unarmed protestors and tear-gas-trigger-happy police, I had to join a pre-planned dinner which included a senior politician from the governing AKP. When I asked him about what he thought about the turmoil in the city, he shrugged his shoulders and said: “Well, even my daughters wanted to join the initial protests against the uprooting of trees in Gezi Park; I had to convince them not to go.”

“We should have understood the reaction better,” he added, “and have responded to it in a more calming manner.”

Then I asked him why this “calming manner” did not take place. He reminded that Bulent Arınc, the second man of the AKP after Erdogan, had indeed tried to do that by his remarks on the second day. “But you know,” he said, “the style of our prime minister is a little different.”

This reticent confession by the AKP politician was the summary of the problem; lots of people in the governing party see that they have made a grave mistake by imposing a controversial reconstruction plan on Taksim Square, the heart of Istanbul, and unleashing police violence against peaceful protestors. The statements from Istanbul mayor Kadir Topbaş or even some close advisors to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan prove that. Meanwhile President Gul, as usual, acts as the voice of reason and reconciliation.

However Erdogan himself, the person who is the target of all the anger in the streets, remains defiant, provocative and insensitive. When he was asked by a Turkish journalist on his way to North Africa whether he could not use “a softer tone” against the protestors, he replied: “I don’t know what a softer tone is.” Yes, he really doesn’t.

That is really the core of the problem: Erdogan’s intimidating style. In fact, he has done great things for Turkey in the past decade, and had accomplishments that I have enthusiastically supported. But the way he understands democracy (“I win the ballots, I call all the shots”), and the way he degrades his opponents, has been breeding a widespread tension in the country, which exploded in a way that he could not ever foresee. People say that had Erdogan showed up in front of the cameras the first night, apologized for police violence and promised dialogue with opposition and civil society on his Taksim Square plans, things would have calmed down. I think so too.

Some people will tell you this is all about the “Islamism,” or outright Islam, of Erdogan. Not really. Gul is just as Islamic in his worldview, but he is way more moderate and liberal. It is really the combination of an overbearing personality and a political culture which venerates such personalities.

Where we go from here really depends of the course of action Erdogan will take. He has proven in the past decade that he can well be pragmatic when he wants. If he tries, he can change his tone and style, and take a new route which will calm down the fears and frustrations of the discontented groups. He can win the next elections and continue his successful political career. Otherwise, these protests will reemerge and deepen the political crisis in Turkey.

The good scenario is possible: Bulent Arınc made a very good speech yesterday, after his meeting with Gul, promising restraint on police, “self-criticism,” and dialogue. I am just hoping, and praying, that on his return back to Turkey, Erdogan will not turn this better mood upside down.”
14. Turkish PM Erdogan did not meet King Mohammad VI during Morocco visit
Turkish daily Hurriyet (05.06.13) reports that Moroccan King Mohammad VI did not receive Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who faces intense pressure due to popular protests across Turkey, during the latter's official visit to Morocco, the country's media reported June 4.

The "cold" welcome for Erdogan may be due to the fact that Erdogan dismissed Morocco during his visit to "Arab Spring countries" in 2011, according to Moroccan radio station Yabiladi.

Sources from the Prime Ministry have confirmed that Erdogan did not meet with the Moroccan monarch during his visit to Rabat. However, they claimed that the meeting did not take place because of the fact that King Mohammad VI had been out of his country for 20 days.

15. Demirtas denies that there was a clash between PKK and Turkish armed forces
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (05.06.13) reports the following:
“Despite downplaying the gravity of a skirmish between the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-leader Selahattin Demirtas still described the skirmish as a “scary case,” which he hopes will not be repeated.

“An incident like a clash did not take place. Brief tension was experienced between groups crossing [the border] and the military base,” Demirtas said, in response to reporters’ questions on June 4.

He said a written statement about the incident, released by the TSK on June 3, did not suggest that the incident could negatively affect the ongoing withdrawal of PKK militants from Turkish territory. The withdrawal is a critical stage of a resolution process aimed at ending the three-decade long conflict between the Turkish security forces and the PKK.
A group of PKK militants fired at the Turkish Karacalı military base on June 3, between 12:05 and 12:30 a.m., in the southeastern province of Sırnak near the Turkish-Iraqi border, the TSK had announced. A gendarmerie specialist sergeant was slightly injured, after fire ricocheted off stones on the ground. The statement added that air reconnaissance operations had been conducted in the area in self-defense.

Demirtas said it was understood that the PKK militants did not aim to give harm to the withdrawal process.”

16. Eroglu reiterated that if no solution is found to the Cyprus problem, the occupation regime will continue with its own way
Under the title: “We are sincere towards the solution of the Cyprus problem”, Turkish daily Gunes newspaper (05.06.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in statements yesterday while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of a workshop in occupied Famagusta, referred to the Cyprus problem and reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side is sincere towards the solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that if the Greek Cypriot side shows the same sincerity, the Cyprus problem will be solved in a very short period of time, as he said.

Eroglu said also that if no solution is found to the Cyprus problem, then the “TRNC”, as he called the occupation regime, will continue with his own way.

Stating that turning the island of Cyprus to be an island of peace, Eroglu supported that this would be for the benefit of the “TRNC”, of the Greek Cypriot side, of Turkey and Greece, as well.  “If we cannot reach to an agreement, we will continue our efforts, our activities and investments under the umbrella of the TRNC”.
(AK)

17. The “Famagusta Initiative” stated that the opening of illegal Tymbou airport and occupied Varoshia will contribute to the solution
Under the title: “The opening will contribute to the solution”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (06.05.13) reports that the organization “Famagusta Initiative” in the occupied area of Cyprus, in a written statement yesterday expressed the belief that the opening of Maras [Translator’s note:  fenced off city of Varoshia] for settling down to its legal owner, as well as the opening of the illegal Tymbou airport to international traffic, will contribute to the solution. 

In statements on the issue, the spokesman of the “Famagusta Initiative” organization Okan Dagli said that if no importance is given to the issue of confidence building measures, they believe as “Famagusta Initiative”, that this, will not contribute to the solution. He went on and said that the solution process can be concluded only with negotiations between the two leaders and added: “Except from the negotiations, we pay importance to the preparation of the people for the process. For this reason, besides the negotiations between the leaders, it is our duty to point out once more our persistence to the need for efforts to be exerted simultaneously for the establishment of an intercommunal dialogue and the development of cooperation between the communities, as well as the need for the confidence building measures”.
(…)

18. The occupation regime continues the illegal granting of “citizenships” and the distribution of plots of land
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (05.06.13) reports that the so-called council of ministers has granted 51 “citizenship” before the 1st of June, which was the date that the “election restrictions” were set into force.

Also the paper adds that according to information acquired by the opposition, the so-called government which has intensified the works for “granting” the occupation regime’s citizenship right after the announcement of the “early elections”, has granted 600 more “citizenships” in a period of two weeks.

Referring to a news report published by Yeni Duzen on May 31, under the title: “26 citizenships in two days”, the paper points out that together with the 51 “citizenships” that the so-called government has granted four days after the publishing of the report, the number of “citizenships” that were granted in one week has reached to 77.
 
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Havadis newspaper (05.06.13) reports on the issue of the illegal granting of “citizenships” by the occupation regime and writes that the so-called UBP government has granted until today approximately 7000 “citizenship”.

Referring to official figures, the paper writes that in 2012, 2520 “citizenships” were granted while in 2011, 1140, in 2010, 650, in 2009, 650 and during the last five months, 250 “citizenships”.

Also, the paper writes that the occupation regimes besides the illegal granting of “citizenships”, continues also the distribution of plots of land. The paper refers particularly to a person which has taken two “state plots of land” within the framework of “equal value” in the areas of occupied Engomi and occupied Vasilia.

The paper reports also that the “government” has granted plots of land to four other persons whose names  did not published to the “official gazette”, in occupied Tuzla, Agios Epiktitos, Trikomo and Vasilia.

Meanwhile, several representatives of trade unions and political parties in the occupation regime continue with statements their criticism over the issue of the illegal distribution of plots of land and “citizenship”.
(AK)

19. The Slovakian Ambassador met with Kucuk
Illegal Bayrak Television (05.06.13)   broadcast that the new Slovakian Ambassador to Lefkosia, Oksana Tomova is continuing to visit political parties in the breakaway regime.
Tomova met with the leader of the National Unity Party, Irsen Kucuk . The head of the “EU Coordination Centre Erhan Ercin” was also present at the meeting which was held at the UBP Headquarters . No statement was issued before or after the meeting.

20. Motion of census approved: Kucuk’s “government” was overthrown
Turkish Cypriot Kibris Postasi website (05.06.13) reports that during a meeting held by the so-called assembly today, the census of motion against the “government” of Irsen Kucuk was approved and the “government” was overthrown.

The “assembly” conveyed especially in order to vote for the motion of census against the National Unity Party’s  (UBP) government.

A total of 27 votes, which included the “MPs: of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Democratic party (DP) and the Communal Democracy Party (TDP)  voted in favor of the motion while 21 “MPs” with UBP voted against it. One person chose not to participate in the voting and another one was not presented.

Kucuk is expected to submit his resignation to the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu tomorrow.


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/EI