TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.163/13 29/08/2013
1. Summit in Turkey over the
Syria crisis
2. Turkey rotates missiles
towards Syrian borders; Davutoglu and Erdogan intensify diplomacy on Syria
3. OIC’s Ihsanoglu calls
UNSC for decisive action against Syria
4. Turkey has reportedly
deployed Patriot missile batteries in southern-Turkey; German Defense Minister
clarifies that Patriot missiles in Turkey will not be used against Syria
5. “Possible Syria
intervention poses serious pitfalls to Turkey”, experts say; Columnist shares
the same view
6. Turkish Lira hits
historic low amid the possible intervention against Syria
7. More statements by
Turkish Cypriot political parties on a possible attack against Syria
8. CTP and DP agree to
establish a “coalition government”
9. UBP’s extraordinary
congress to be held on Saturday; Ozgurgun’s first comment on the establishment
of a CTP-DP “coalition government”
10. Eroglu complains that
his letter to President Anastasiades was leaked to the press and says that give
and take should start in the negotiations
11. Occupied Keryneia
“municipality” becomes member of the ‘Global Design Cities’ Organization
12. A joint project to
purchase a firefighting helicopter for the buffer zone in Nicosia
13. Twitter ban at the
Assembly
1. Summit in Turkey over
the Syria crisis
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (29.08.13) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan will convene some Ministers and Turkish Intelligence Chief Hakan
Fidan over the recent developments in Syria, on Thursday.
The leaders
will discuss possible steps in Syria crisis in the coming days. Erdogan will
meet with President Abdullah Gul before the summit.
2.
Turkey rotates missiles towards Syrian borders; Davutoglu and Erdogan
intensify diplomacy on Syria
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (29.08.13) reports that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu has said that the Turkish army was ordered to retaliate against any
threats coming from the Syrian side as allies are considering to take punitive
military strikes against Syrian targets as a response to chemical attacks
believed to be carried out by the Syrian regime near a Damascus suburb last
week.
Ahmet
Davutoglu told reporters on Wednesday that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan earlier authorized army to change its engagement rules and take
decisive military action against any threats coming from Syria.
Davutoglu’s
remarks came amid reports that Turkey has rotated its ground-to-ground missiles
towards Syria in the southern province of Hatay.
Turkey,
which has a 900-kilometer border with Syria, hosts half a million refugees from
the two-and-a-half year conflict and is braced for a new influx should Western
powers strike.
As
Turkey is readying itself for a possible military operation against Syria, the
Turkish army has deployed a number of missiles in Hatay's Kırıkhan district.
The army has rotated Stinger and I-Hawk missiles towards Syria.
(…)
Davutoglu
spoke about the necessity to take an action for “our brothers” killed in Syria,
including by chemical weapons and that all options remain on the table. He
added that he hopes to see United Nations Security Council to come up with a
decision that will end the bloodshed in Syria but the response is required if
the Security Council fails to act.
Davutoglu
noted that Turkey has taken all necessary military measures in the most
effective way against threats coming from Syria and that Turkish army has
successfully realized punitive actions against Syrian targets as a response to
even a single bullet that hit Turkey.
The
Foreign Minister said no one should doubt Turkey’s power and the capabilities
of Turkish army when it comes to defending itself.
Meanwhile,
according to Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.08.13) Davutoglu met with Saudi
Arabian counterpart Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Wednesday in
Jeddah.
Speaking
to AA following the meeting as part of his official visit, Davutoglu said that
Turkey has put its armed forces on alert to guard against threats from Syria as
Western allies weigh possible military action against President Bashar al-Assad
adding: "We are now at a more alert
position ... Turkey will take whatever measures necessary within the framework
of its own strategic interests," Davutoglu said, pointing out that
"all options" remained open on the possible international action.
Davutoglu
stated that they had addressed regional issues, primarily Syria and added:
"We have a common perspective on the chemical attack and other
developments in Syria. We have decided to join our efforts on the barbarian
attacks which caused a humanity tragedy and to share our joint perspective with
the international community."
He
pointed out that the two countries would raise the level of their consultations
about Syria.
Davutoglu
also said that Egypt was also among the issues on the table. "Although we
differ on some ideas about the developments in Egypt, we saw that differences
were not an obstacle before making a joint contribution for a solution,"
said Davutoglu.
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (29.08.13) reports also that Davutoglu spoke on Wednesday
to his British and American counterparts, William Hague and John Kerry
respectively, over the phone.
Diplomatic
sources said that the leaders handled the latest developments in Syria as well
the steps to be taken over the upcoming days.
Last
week's alleged chemical attack by Bashar Assad's regime in Syria was a crime
against humanity, said the ministers while pointing out that the Syrian crisis
was a clear threat to international peace and security.
Hague
also informed the Turkish Minister on the resolution which the UK drafted
condemning the chemical weapons attack in Syria and authorizing the necessary
measures to protect civilians in the country.
Davutoglu
voiced Turkey's demand for a consensus on the matter and called on the
international community for immediate steps to prevent deaths in Syria.
Meanwhile,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the latest developments in Syria
with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Erdogan
said the international community should not remain silent on the usage of
chemical weapons by the Bashar al-Assad regime but should instead take concrete
steps.
3.
OIC’s Ihsanoglu calls UNSC for decisive action against Syria
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (29.08.13) reports that the Secretariat General of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday reiterated its
condemnation of the dreadful attack on the suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus
with internationally-banned chemical weapons and called on the United Nations
(UN) Security Council to take action against Syria.
OIC
Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stressed the need to hold the Syrian
government legally and morally accountable for this heinous crime and to bring
its perpetrators to justice. He called on the Security Council to discharge its
duty of preserving international security and stability, take a unified
position against this monstrous crime and its perpetrators, and put an end to
such violations.
Indicating
that this attack was a blatant affront to all religious and moral values and a
deliberate disregard of international laws and norms, which requires a decisive
action, Ihsanoglu called for all forms of support to be extended to the Syrian
people to defend themselves and for promoting international efforts to help
them face these critical circumstances.
4.
Turkey has reportedly deployed Patriot missile batteries in southern-Turkey;
German Defense Minister clarifies that Patriot missiles in Turkey will not be
used against Syria
Under
the title: “Turkey relies on Patriots for protection from Syrian missile
attacks” Turkish daily Today's Zaman (28.08.13) reported that Turkey, which has
signalled its readiness to take part in an international coalition to intervene
in Syria, is unlikely to offer combat forces, according to military sources who
say that Ankara's support will probably be limited to logistical assistance.
A
US air base in İncirlik in southern Turkey will likely be used as a logistics
base in the event of a military intervention targeting the Syrian regime. The
United States is expected to lead the widely anticipated intervention, which is
reportedly set to begin this week, while France and Britain are also likely to
take part.
Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said earlier this week that Turkey would take part in
an international coalition against Syria if the UN Security Council, deeply
divided due to Chinese and Russian backing for the Assad regime, remains unable
to act even after what the Syrian opposition says was a chemical attack by the
regime last week in Damascus.
(…)
In preparation for an imminent military intervention against Syria, the Turkish
military has deployed Stinger and I-Hawk missiles along the Syrian border.
Reporting from the Kırıkhan district of the border province of Hatay, private
İhlas news agency said that the military has rotated its Stinger and I-Hawk
missiles toward Syria.
But
these old-technology missiles are not fully effective against ballistic
missiles and thus cannot by themselves be relied on to defend Turkish airspace.
Ankara doesn't have its own long-range air defense system; a $4-billion tender
for such a system has not yet been finalized.
That
leaves six Patriot batteries, sent to Turkey by the US, the Netherlands and
Germany as part of a NATO decision to boost Turkey's air defenses, as the most
effective bulwark against a Syrian missile attack. The batteries, deployed in the
southern provinces of Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras and Adana, have been operational
for the past seven months.
Military
sources say a Syrian attack on Turkey is a remote possibility because it would
trigger a collective NATO retaliation against Syria under Article 5 of the
alliance's charter, known as the collective defense clause. "NATO Allies
will continue to consult, keep situation in Syria under close review and
continue to assist Turkey," NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
tweeted on Wednesday.
Meanwhile,
according to Turkish website Worldbulletin.com (29.08.13) Germany’s Defense
Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Wednesday that Patriot missiles, which
Germany sent to southern Turkey as part of a NATO mission to deter cross-border
air strikes, would not be used in case of a possible military intervention in
Syria.
The
patriot missiles in Turkey are totally for defense purposes, said Maiziere
during his visit of a marine training centre in Neustadt, northern Germany.
Chairman
of Die Linke Parliamentary Group Gregor Gysi, on the other hand, wanted the
German patriot missiles to be withdrawn as he said they would risk German army
in a possible military intervention in Syria. He also opposed to the idea of
military intervention in the country.
(…)
5.
“Possible Syria intervention poses serious pitfalls to Turkey”, experts say;
Columnist shares the same view
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (28.08.13) reported that a possible intervention in Syria
poses disquieting risks to Turkey, which is likely to join the international
coalition that will possibly intervene in the Syrian civil war, jeopardizing
the stability of Turkey in several respects.
If
it takes part in such a coalition, Turkey will become an open target of the
embattled Syrian regime and its key allies, including Iran, Lebanon's Shiite
group Hezbollah and Russia, say experts, who warn that Syria's allies may
unleash attacks against Turkey in order to punish Ankara for its decision.
(…)
Turkey,
which is one of the countries that is greatly affected by the incidents in
Syria, said it could join an international coalition to take action against the
Syrian regime or any other option that will be decided by an international
coalition to punish the Syrian regime for the latest chemical attack.
Although
it is still not clear what kind of a role Turkey would play in such an
intervention, experts warn that following a possible intervention in Syria,
Ankara would be in jeopardy against proxies of Syria and its allies, which may
do their utmost to destabilize Turkey.
Sedat
Laciner, the rector of Canakkale 18 Mart University, stated that the Syrian
regime, Iran, Hezbollah and Russia may support the terrorist attacks against
Turkey by throwing their support behind the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Agreeing
with Laciner, Hasan Kanbolat, the director of Centre for Middle Eastern
Strategic Studies (ORSAM), added that they may also strive to sabotage the
settlement process that the Turkish government launched at the end of last year
to settle the country's Kurdish problem.
Experts
agree that Turkey should brace itself against the possible attacks to occur
after an intervention in Syria. Kanbolat says that terror incidents reminiscent
of the Reyhanlı bombing in which 50 people were killed and as many as 100 were
injured in May, may occur. Reyhanlı, the southern Turkish province of Hatay,
was not the only threat that came from Syria.
Turkey
has experienced a few small-scale terrorist attacks since the beginning of the
Syrian civil war in mid-2011. “There is the risk of an occurrence of terrorist
operations against Turkish citizens and also the escalating of smuggling
activities along the border with Syria,” Kanbolat told Today's Zaman.
On
Wednesday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem also threatened Ankara by
claiming that the balances in Turkey, which he said were already shaken by
developments in Egypt, could be “deeply” upset by a military action against
Syria.
Experts
also stated that Syria and its allies would aim to turn Turkey into a center of
sectarian conflicts. “Besides the PKK, the other card that may be played
against Turkey would be sectarian groups. They may strive to escalate the
sectarian tension in Turkey,” Laciner told Today's Zaman.
Groups
affiliated with Iran, the mastermind of the proxy wars in the Middle East, have
reportedly conducted activities in the southern province of Hatay on Syria's
border, recruiting Alawite youths into its ranks in order to create tension in
Turkey's border provinces, as well as provide manpower to Assad's army.
The
Iranian Foreign Ministry has also warned Turkey and other countries in the
region against taking part in a possible intervention in Syria, asking the
countries of the region and their “Turkish friends” to be “careful” about
developments in Syria.
(…)
Meanwhile,
senior military officials from Turkey, the US and other Western countries met
in Jordan to discuss possible ways to respond to allegations of chemical
weapons use in a Damascus suburb. Meanwhile, senior diplomats of those
countries met in İstanbul over the scope of a possible intervention.
It
is reported that diplomats have told Syrian opposition in the meeting in
İstanbul to expect a military response as punishment for Assad. There are also
comments that Washington was not intent on a "regime change,"
signaling that any military strikes would be limited and not meant to topple
Assad.
“It
is still a question how much the US and its allies are sincere over the
intervention. If the aim is not to topple Assad, then there is a great risk
that Assad may emerge more powerful following the intervention. This would
definitely be a problem for Turkey,” said Laciner.
(…)
Laciner
noted further that the intervention would also give advantages to Turkey, which
has found itself alone in Syrian war. “Taking part in an international
coalition would play into hands of Turkey, which faces the claims that it has
been alienated due to its foreign policy,” he added.
Also,
in commentary in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.08.13) under the title:
"Turkey: Willing for the coalition", columnist Nihat Ali Ozcan
speculates on additional problems the limited possible intervention in Syria
might cause for Turkey.
“(…)
First of all, although the Turkish government successfully managed and
regionally contained the problem caused by around 500,000 refugees and thereby
encouraged more Syrians to become refugees, it is undeniable that the related
economic, social and political problems are reaching intolerable levels.
Secondly,
the Syrian situation has complicated the Kurdish problem. The government
continues to negotiate with Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK), while the PKK amasses power in Syria.
Another
potential complication that could trouble the government concerns border
security. According to the Turkish General Staff, more than 3,000 smugglers are
regularly trying to cross the Turkish border at night. Such economically
motivated attempts can easily transform into activities involving the drug
trade, human trafficking, terrorism, and even transporting weapons of mass
destruction.
Fourthly,
al-Qaida-affiliated jihadists have settled on the other side of the border.
They have effective networks inside Turkey, making it prone to future terrorist
attacks and compromising the relations with the West based on ‘trust’.
Fifthly,
as the bitter experience of the Reyhanli attack shows, Turkey remains an open
target of al-Assad’s intelligence forces and their affiliates.
Finally,
the perception that Turkish foreign policy has taken a “sectarian” turn has
spread.
(…)
An operation might even trigger new waves of refugees, provoke terrorism, and
make Turkey a military target. The only hope is that a missile will go astray
and finish off al-Assad”.
6.
Turkish Lira hits historic low amid the possible intervention against Syria
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News Online in English (28.08.13) reported that the
Turkish Lira's historic fall against the dollar continued this morning, as it
weakened to another record low due the heightened possibility of a strike
against Syria.
The
lira stood at 2.0521 against the dollar, after hitting a record low of 2.07
earlier this morning. Late yesterday it had been at 2.037.
The
Istanbul stock market also opened the day will losses surpassing 2%. The main
BIST 100 index was at 64,326 points.
Analysts
say the markets have taken account of concerns over the implications of a
possible U.S.-led military strike on Syria, instead of the confident and calm
remarks from Central Bank Governor Erdem Bascı.
Bascı
struck a tone mixing defiance with reassurance, saying the foreign exchange
reserves would "never" be exhausted, that interest rates would be
contained, and that the pressures were a temporary squall.
Due
to growing worries that foreign investors would continue to sell out of a
country facing stiff economic challenges and volatile global markets, the
dollar has gaining value against most emerging market currencies, with the
Indian rupee at the top.
The
Syria worries pushed oil prices and safe-haven gold to multi-month highs as
well.
Brent
crude prices advanced 2.4% to a six-month high of $117.14 a barrel, extending
yesterday's 3.3% surge - the biggest one-day percentage gain in nearly 10
months.
Gold
climbed 0.8% to a more than three-month high after also gaining 0.8% yesterday.
7. More
statements by Turkish Cypriot political parties on a possible attack against
Syria
Under the title “No to war and the use of the bases”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.08.13) reports that the Social Democracy
Party (TDP), the New Cyprus Party (YKP), the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP) and
Baraka Cultural Centre have stated that they are against a possible military
operation against Syria and the use of the British military bases in Cyprus
during this operation.
Noting that the TDP strongly opposes to the use of the
British bases in Cyprus during a possible war and to throwing the whole of
Cyprus into the war zone, TDP’s general secretary, Cemal Ozyigit called on all
“peace forces” in Cyprus to raise their voice against the “imperialistic war”
and the use of the British bases in it. Ozyigit argued that the USA is
advancing its Great Middle East Project and expressed the view that the USA is
determined to reshape the map of the Middle East and control the oil, natural
gas and energy transportation lines. He said that the USA is trying in every
way to achieve this.
“As TDP we oppose to imperialistic wars regardless of
where they happen in the world and we support the solution of problems through
discussion on a democratic basis under any conditions”, he said.
On the same issue, the executive committee of the YKP
issued a written statement saying that the party opposes to a possible military
operation against Syria. The party expressed the view that a democratic
transition should be supported in Syria and solidarity should be shown to this
country. Noting that the use of chemical weapons is shown as pretext for the
attack, the YKP says that this raises many questions and adds that both the
government and the opposition in Syria possess chemical weapons.
Mehmet Birinci, general secretary of KSP said that the
“imperialist forces” are getting ready to start an “unjust war” and called on
all the political parties and everybody else to oppose to the use of the territory
of Cyprus for attacking a neighboring country.
Baraka Cultural Centre issued a statement criticizing
the self-styled “foreign ministry’s” statement which said that the intervention
against the Assad regime should be held under the umbrella of the United
Nations. Baraka noted that such statement “legitimates” the military operation
against Syria and the war.
(I/Ts.)
8. CTP
and DP agree to establish a “coalition government”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.08.13)
reports that the Republican Turkish Party - United Forces (CTP-BG) and the
Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG) agreed last night on establishing a
“coalition government” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, after
experiencing “rough debates and bargaining” both between and within the
parties. Today CTP-BG’s chairman, Ozkan Yorgancioglu and DP-UG’s chairman
Serdar Denktas are expected to submit the new “government” to Turkish Cypriot
leader Eroglu.
This is the third time in 20 years that the two
parties decided to cooperate. A DP-CTP “coalition government” was established
in 1994 headed by DP’s chairman Hakki Atun. In 2004 a CTP-DP “coalition” was
formed headed by the CTP’s chairman, Mehmet Ali Talat who was succeeded by
Ferdi Sabit Soyer, after his “election” to the “presidency” of the occupation
regime.
According to Kibris, “serious debates” were
experienced last night when the two parties were deciding to cooperate once
more. As it is reported, some members of the CTP-BG’s council wanted a
“coalition government” with the National Unity Party (UBP).
In statements after the meeting of the council of his
party, Serdar Denktas said that their discussions with the CTP-BG were
concluded and added that after carrying out debates on the “coalition protocol”
and the issue of “administrative settlement”, the council of his party approved
the establishment of a “coalition government”. He said that there were only
some abstentions in the voting at the DP-UG’s council, but no one voted against
the “coalition”.
According to the paper, CTP-BG’s four-hour meeting was
interrupted for 40 minutes during which Yorgancioglu held a separate meeting
with Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Ahmet Kalyoncu, members of the CTP-BG’s council. An
“MP” told Kibris that the interruption of the meeting was “unexpected”.
Yorgancioglu said that some corrections on technical issues regarding the
“protocol” were made and the problem was overcome.
In statements after the completion of the meetings,
Yorgancioglu noted that the CTP-BG decided to establish a “government” with the
DP-UG and that they should submit the list with the names of the “ministers” to
Eroglu the latest until Friday.
Yorgancioglu said that the distribution of the
“ministries” in the “government” will be the following: “prime ministry” – CTP-BG,
“deputy prime minister” and “minister” of tourism and economy – DP-UG,
“ministry of interior” CTP-BG, “ministry of foreign affairs” CTP-BG, “ministry
of finance” CTP-BG, “ministry of public works and transport” DP-UG, “ministry
of education, youth and sports” DP-UG, “ministry of food, agriculture and
energy” CTP-BG, “ministry of labor and social insurance” CTP-BG, “ministry of
environment and natural resources” DP-UG, and “ministry of health” CTP-BG.
In a written statement issued on the establishment of
a “coalition government” with the DP-UG, Yorgancioglu said that this
“government” will contribute with a “positive and promoter approach” to
“reaching a bi-communal, bi-zonal solution based on political equality in
Cyprus”. He noted that the “government’ will also secure the change of
“articles” that will facilitate the amendment of the “constitution” and submit
it to a referendum in June 2014 at the same time with the “local elections”. He
said that they will also amend the “law on elections and referendum” and the
“political parties’ law”.
Referring to the meeting between Yorgancioglu, Soyer
and Kalyoncu, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (29.08.13) reports that
according to what it is said, Soyer and Yorgancioglu were heading the group
within the party which supported that the CTP-BG should establish a “coalition
government” with the UBP, just like former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat had
repeatedly stated. It is said that this group tried to persuade the members of
the CTP-BG that the UBP has changed and that it was not the same old UBP.
Afrika argues that this view was wrong because the UBP is under Eroglu’s
control now, as the situation changed after the “elections”.
(I/Ts.)
9. UBP’s extraordinary congress to be held on
Saturday; Ozgurgun’s first comment on the establishment of a CTP-DP “coalition
government”
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (29.08.13)
reports that the National Unity Party (UBP) will hold its extraordinary
congress on Saturday 31 August, 2013. UBP’s “MP” in occupied Nicosia, Huseyin
Ozgurgun will be the only candidate for the position of the president of the
party after Irsen Kucuk’s resignation. The election of the president of the
party will be the only issue on the agenda of the congress. Ozgurgun will be
the only candidate after a consensus reached among the 14 members of the UBP’s
“parliamentary group”.
Meanwhile, in statements to illegal TAK news agency,
Ozgurgun said that the meeting which the UBP held yesterday with the Republican
Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) was positive, but they carried out no
bargaining on the issue of establishing a “coalition” government”. “It remained
only a preparatory meeting”, he said wishing good luck to CTP-BG-Democratic
Party – National Forces (DP-UG) “coalition government”. He noted that UBP will
carry out in the best manner its duty of being in the “opposition”.
(I/Ts.)
10. Eroglu
complains that his letter to President Anastasiades was leaked to the press and
says that give and take should start in the negotiations
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.08.13)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has said that many
things were discussed during the negotiations for finding a solution to the
Cyprus problem, which are held for years, and therefore they continue to think
that reaching an agreement is possible if the sides sit at the table having
good will.
In statements yesterday during a meeting with a
delegation of the “fighter commanders’ association”, Eroglu said that during
the dinner organized by the UN on 30 May, 2013, an agreement was reached that
the negotiations will resume in October and argued that the important thing is
whether good will exists at the table.
Eroglu said he believes that some things should remain
between the sides, but the Greek Cypriot side has allegedly the “habit to
continuously leak information to the press”. Eroglu said he hopes that a
positive answer will be given to the letter he has recently sent to President
Anastasiades [Translator’s note: as regards the document submitted by UN
Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer].
Eroglu alleged that after the commencement of the
negotiations a give and take process should start. He argued that the
negotiations which have been continuing for 45 years could not continue for
another 45 years and argued that the Greek Cypriot side, the EU and the UN
should understand this.
The “fighters” expressed their support to Eroglu in
the negotiations, which are expected to start soon, and argued that they are in
favor of a bi-communal, bi-zonal agreement by which the Turkish Cypriot
community will reach prosperity.
(I/Ts.)
11. Occupied
Keryneia “municipality” becomes member of the Global Design Cities’
Organization
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.08.13)
reports that the so-called municipality of occupied Keryneia has become member
of the Global Design Cities’ Organization (GDCO) during the 2nd
General Assembly of the organization in Ankara.
A delegation headed by occupied Keryneia’s “mayor”,
Sumer Aygin participated in the 2nd General Assembly of GDCO upon an
invitation by the mayor of Ankara, Melih Gokcek. According to the paper, Aygin
met with participants in the assembly from all over the world and discussed
with them current and municipal issues.
During the meeting, the capitals of Bulgaria,
Ethiopia, Malaysia and Tataristan, that is Sofia, Addis Ababa, Kuala Lumpur and
Kazan respectively were also accepted as members of the organization.
(I/Ts.)
12. A
joint project to purchase a firefighting helicopter for the buffer zone in
Nicosia
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.08.13)
reports that the mayor of Nicosia, Constandinos Yorgadjis and the mayor of the
occupied part of Nicosia, Kadri Fellahoglu have submitted to United Nations
(UN) officials a joint project on the issue of purchasing a firefighting
helicopter for being used by both sides and in fires in the buffer zone.
According to a statement issued by Fellahoglu, the Committee on Emergency
Situations established within the framework of the negotiations held by the two
community leaders will also be informed about the issue.
Yorgadjis and Fellahoglu headed the two delegations
which met the day before yesterday for lunch with a UN delegation headed by
Lisa Buttenheim, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, at
Chateau Status restaurant in the buffer zone. During the lunch they discussed
the joint projects carried out by their municipalities and exchanged views for
new projects. They discussed the issue of protecting, improving and
rehabilitating the within the walls area of Nicosia and the buildings in the
buffer zone, and decided to visit the area. Upon an invitation by the UN,
Yorgadjis and Fellahoglu decided to participate in the barbecue party which the
UN will organize on 24 October, the UN Day.
(I/Ts.)
13. Twitter ban at the Assembly
Under the above title, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet
(29.08.13) reports that the Turkish National Assembly’s administration has warned
all party and Deputies “not to publish or make statements on confidential
information related to their duties”.
As the paper writes, according to a letter sent to the
personnel staff at the Turkish National Assembly, signed by the chairman of the
Human Resources department, Liman Peker, a ban related to “declarations”,
“social media” and “documents” is imposed also to all the Secretaries and
Deputies at the Assembly.
The ban envisages that all persons who are employed in
the “assembly” are prohibited to make any statements, give any information or
documents to the public or media, or publish any information to books,
magazines or leaflets, without having the written permission of the general
secretariat authorities.
The ban envisages that all of the above actions are
also forbidden to be used at electronic and social media like for example at
the Facebook or Twitter.
AK
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
