TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
119/15 27-29.06.2015
1. Akinci to meet with Schultz in Brussels; He will
call the EU to support the Cyprus negotiation process
2. Burcu: “Work on linking cell phone networks
progressing”
3.Candan: The EU will accept a solution reached
between the Cypriots
4.Turkey’s “financial aid” to the breakaway regime
almost reached nine billion Turkish liras in the period 2002 - 2014
5. Kilicdaroglu
discussed the Cyprus problem with the UK Ambassador to Turkey
6. Five
thousand students to take summer Quran lesson in the breakaway regime
7. The British High Commissioner visited Harmanci
8.Data on imports and exports of the breakaway regime
for 2014 were announced
9. Illegal Keryneia university” signed a protocol of
cooperation with the “Gagavuzia government”
10. Erdogan: “We will never allow the establishment of
a Kurdish state in northern Syria”
11.Four candidates to run for Parliament Speaker’s
post; AKP announced Ismet Yilmaz as its candidate
12. Turkish police crackdown on LGBTI Pride Parade in
Istanbul
1.Akinci to meet with Schultz in Brussels; He will
call the EU to support the Cyprus negotiation process
According to illegal Bayrak television (27.06.15) the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı
will be travelling to Brussels on Monday for a series of high level contacts
with EU officials.
Akinci
will be departing for the EU capital following his meeting with the Greek
Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades on Monday morning.
Amongst
other top ranking EU officials, Akıncı is scheduled to meet with the President
of the EU Parliament Martın Shultz.
Akinci is expected to return to the island on Friday.
Meanwhile, Turkish
daily Milliyet newspaper (29.06.15-online in Turkish) reported that Akinci, in
statements to the paper’s correspondent in the occupied area of Cyprus, Sefa
Karahasan, referred to the contacts he will hold with high ranking officials in
Brussels and stated that he will sent the message that “The time has come for
the solution. We should not lose time”.
Also, according to the paper, during his contacts in
Brussels, Akinci will call the EU to
prepare the Turkish Cypriots for the solution.
Speaking to Milliyet, Akinci stated the following: “The EU should contribute to the
negotiation process in Cyprus. However, the negotiations will continue and they
will be a UN’s process”.
Stating
that since the federal state to be formed after the solution will be in the EU,
Akinci said that it is for this reason that the EU should have close ties with
the Turkish Cypriots. “The Turkish Cypriots will be an equal part of the
federal state to be. The EU should establish warm ties with the Turkish Cypriot
side prior to the solution. The Turkish Cypriots and their institutions should
be prepared and be harmonized with the EU standards”, Akinci said.
(AK)
2.Burcu: “Work on linking cell phone networks
progressing”
According to illegal Bayrak television (27.06.15) the so-called “presidential spokesman”
Barıs Burcu has said that the three phased work being carried out to link
mobile phone networks between the two sides on the island is steadily
progressing.
Speaking via telephone on a live program of BRT, Burcu said that the political message to
be given by the two leaders will be crucial in determining whether or not the
mobile operators on both sides of the island will have an equal right and share
of the earnings.
The two leaders had agreed earlier this month, amongst
other confidence building measures to link up the island’s electricity grid as
well as mobile networks.
Earlier in the week, the “chairman” of the Turkish
Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) Fikri Toros had announced that the two sides
were very close to finalizing work on linking the mobile networks and were
ironing out the last details.
(…)
3.Candan: The EU will accept a solution reached
between the Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibrisli newspaper (29.06.15) reports that Armagan Candan, self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party
(CTP) has argued that the European Union will accept a solution to the Cyprus
problem reached between the Cypriots. In statements to Kibrisli, Candan
said that many European officials have committed themselves on this issue and
added that taking two ‘yes’ votes in a possible referendum will become easier
when a comprehensive solution comes up and the sides trust more each other.
“Our compass and aim is that there must be two yes votes. What is expected is a
mutually acceptable federal solution based on political equality”, he
said.
Candan has represented the CTP in a delegation of the
“assembly” of the regime to the European Parliament (EP). He said that they explained to their interlocutors
their positions in the negotiations and what is happening during the process. He argued that there is much higher
interest now in Europe for the Cyprus problem in comparison to 1-2 years ago
and added that they have observed that the European interest increased after
the positive climate that started in the negotiations with the “election” of
Mustafa Akinci as Turkish Cypriot leader. He noted that all political
groups in the EP think that the problem should be solved and added that the
Turkish Cypriots recall to their interlocutors that the problem is a European
one.
Candan said that he had a short conversation with the
President of the EP, Martin Schulz who told him that he actively supports the
negotiations process, he
holds contacts with all the sides and that the EU and the EP provide the
necessary support for the successful conclusion of the process.
(I/Ts.)
4.Turkey’s “financial aid” to the breakaway regime
almost reached nine billion Turkish liras in the period 2002 - 2014
Turkish daily
Milliyet newspaper (27.06.15, online) reports that according to data of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey’s
financial aid to the breakaway regime for the period 2002-2014 reached eight
billion and 920 million Turkish liras.
The fundamental
aim of the aid has been announced to be “to bring the public finances into a
healthy, self-sufficient situation, to strengthen the infrastructure which is
necessary for the economy, to develop the real sector and to bring the TRNC
economy into a competitive level”.
The statement
says that around 300 “civil servants” have been appointed from Turkey to the
occupied area of Cyprus, adding that Turkey’s aid to the breakaway regime
continues within the framework of their “economic and financial cooperation
protocols”.
Within this
scope, it is noted, a “program for transition to sustainable economy” for the
period 2013-2015 has been prepared.
(I/Ts.)
5. Kilicdaroglu
discussed the Cyprus problem with the UK Ambassador to Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.06.15) reports
that the chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP)Kemal Kilicdaroglu held
a meeting with the UK Ambassador to Turkey Richard Moore.
According to the paper, developments in Syria, the
Cyprus problem and the European Union were the main issue of the meeting.
Commenting on Cyprus, Kilicdaroglu emphasized to a policy that will protect the
rights of the Turkish Cypriots and where positive steps towards the European
Union will take place.
(CS)
6. Five
thousand students to take summer Quran lesson in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (28.06.15)
reports that following the end of the school year, the teaching of Quran
lessons has started in the breakaway regime, causing the reaction of the
teachers unionswhich argue that the lessons are creating fanaticism among the
students and are against the law.
Turkish Cypriot primary teacher’s school union (KTOS)
general secretary Senerl Elcil also reacted against the use of school
facilities for the Quran lessons and said that the schools were transformed
from places of knowledge to places of religion. On its part, the “ministry of
education” stated that these are religious lessons offered to students and this
is the reason that schools facilities are offered for the teaching.
The lessons are offered by the “religious employees’
trade union” and are taught in schools or mosques. In a statement on the issue,
the “religious employees union” argued that the students interest of taking the
lessons has increased compared to last year. In 2014, 4,500 participated in the
lesson while this year more than 5,000 students were enlisted.
(CS)
7.The British High Commissioner visited Harmanci
According to illegal Bayrak television (27.06.15) the British High Commissioner to Cyprus
Damian Roderick Todd visited the occupied Lefkosia municipality and met with
the mayor of the occupied part of Lefkosia Mehmet Harmancı.
Todd
expressed support to the cooperation between the two municipalities in Lefkosia.
The
Cyprus problem was also discussed during the meeting.
According to a statement released by the municipality,
Harmancı expressed his desire to
increase the technical and social cooperation with the Municipality of Lefkosia
and added that they had started to take concrete steps in this direction with
his Greek Cypriot counterpart.
Pointing
out that the two leaders have been taking important steps on the Cyprus
problem, Harmancı said that in line with this perspective he is quite
optimistic about the future.
The
statement said that Todd for his part praised the positive atmosphere that is
prevailing on the island and stated that they are prepared to do all they can
to support joint projects between the two municipalities.
8.Data on imports and exports of the breakaway
regime for 2014 were announced
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (29.06.15) reports that the imports of the breakaway regime in 2014 reached one billion 728
million 268 thousand and 243 dollars. According to a statement issued by
the so-called trade department, imports
in 2014 increased by 4,99% in comparison to the previous year.
The exports of the regime increased by 3,8% comparing
to 2013 and reached 120 million 681 thousand and 239 dollars.
The foreign trade deficit increased by 4,58% in
2014raising to one billion 650 million 283 thousand and 153 dollars from one billion 578 million 745 thousand and 192
dollars in 2013.
The most
imported product in 2014 was fuel for which 177 million 421 thousand and 179
dollars were spent. The dairy products top the list of the most exported
products with 49 million 695 thousand and 473 dollars.
The imports from Turkey reached one billion 185
million 695 thousand and 340 dollars and imports from other countries 598 million 572
thousand and 903 dollars.
The breakaway regime’s exports to Turkey reached 78
million 446 thousand 382 dollars and to other countries 55 million 538 thousand and 708 dollars.
(I/Ts.)
9. Illegal Keryneia university” signed a protocol
of cooperation with the “Gagavuzia government”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.06.15) reports
that the illegal Keryneia university” signed a protocol of cooperation with the
“Gagavuzia government”, in the fields of aviation and navigation.
According to the paper, the cooperation is also
extended to the fields of education, culture and health.
(CS)
10.Erdogan: “We will never allow the establishment
of a Kurdish state in northern Syria”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (27.06.15) reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed
to prevent the establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Syria, while Iran
warned Turkey over military intervention into its neighbor.
"I
am addressing the whole world: We will never allow a state to be formed in
northern Syria, south of our border", Erdogan said during a Ramadan event organized by the Turkish Red
Crescent in Istanbul on Friday.
"We
will keep up with our struggle whatever the cost is. They are trying to
complete an operation to change the demographics of the region. We will not
condone,"Erdogan added.
11.Four candidates to run for Parliament Speaker’s
post; AKP announced Ismet Yilmaz as its candidate
Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.06.15) reported that
the five-day application process for the Turkish Parliament’s Speaker post came
to an end on Saturday night.
Four
candidates will run for the post, including Ismet Yilmaz, 53, from the Justice
and Development (AK) Party, Deniz Baykal, 76, from the Republican People's
Party (CHP), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, 71, from the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) and Dengir Mir Mehmet Fırat, 71, from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic
Party (HDP).
On
Friday, the AK Party announced that Yilmaz, who was a parliamentarian from the
central province of Sivas, would be its candidate for the post.
The
AK party came first in Turkey’s general election held on June 7, winning 258
seats in the 550-strong Parliament, but it cannot govern alone or elect the
Parliament Speaker without the support of at least one other party.
The CHP, which
came second in the elections, winning 132 seats in Parliament, announced on
Wednesday that its former leader Baykal - who, as the oldest Member of
Parliament, currently serves as interim speaker until the election next week -
was also a candidate.
Ekmelletin
Ihsanoglu, MHP Member of Parliament and former 2014 Presidential candidate,
also submitted his application to run on June 24 while Firat, HDP's Mersin
Deputy, announced his candidacy on June 22.
The MHP and pro-Kurdish HDP each won 80 seats in the
Turkish parliament.
Candidates were required to submit their applications
by June 28.
According to the Turkish Constitution, the election of
the Speaker shall be conducted via secret ballot.
The election on June 30 requires a two-thirds majority
among Parliamentarians. Should this majority not be reached after two attempts,
a third requiring an absolute majority will be held on July 1.
If this cannot be obtained, a fourth vote shall be
held on the same day in a runoff between the two candidates who received the
highest number of votes in the third.
12.Turkish police crackdown on LGBTI Pride Parade
in Istanbul
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.06.15) reported
that Istanbul police dispersed LGBTI
Pride Parade participants with tear gas and water cannon on June 28 before a
much-anticipated march even started, as celebrants were ready with
rainbow-colored flags and placards to march along Istanbul’s central İstiklal
Avenue.
As crowds gathered to start the 13th Istanbul LGBTI
Pride Parade from Istanbul’s central Taksim Square to the neighborhood of Tunel,
police fired tear gas and water to disperse the crowd.
The
Istanbul LGBTI Pride Week Committee, a group that organized the series of
events during the 23rd Pride Week, said that the 13rd Istanbul LGBTI Pride
Parade, which was scheduled to start Taksim Square, had “suddenly been banned
by the Istanbul Governor’s Office using the month of Ramadan as the reason
without any announcement.”
Police
attacked people with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon, the committee
said in a press briefing, adding that all entries to and exits from the Taksim
Square and İstiklal Avenue had been shut down.
The
first LGBTI Pride Parade in Turkey was held in 2003 with only 30 people attending
the event. This number increased to around 5,000 attendants in 2010 and rose to
more than 10,000 in 2011. The
participants of the parade then rose to 20,000 in 2012 a year before about
50,000 people attended the parade in 2013.
(…)
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