TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
171/15 09.09.2015
1. Akıncı stated that they are
trying to reach to an agreement model acceptable by the Turkish Cypriots
2. Atun met with the KTSO
3. The “Famagusta Initiative” calls for the opening of
Deryneia crossing point
4.
Social Democracy Party congress to take place on December 6
5.
Mimoza Hotel has been sold to the illegal Near East University for ten million
6.
Grey wolfs organized a protest in the occupied area of Cyprus to condemn PKK
attacks in Turkey
7.
The number of vehicles in the breakaway regime
8. Qatar
team which will participate in the Cyprus Rally will arrive to Cyprus through
the occupied Keryneia port
9. Erdogan: “PKK laying down arms is the only solution
Turkey can accept”; He accused PKK for ending the peace process
10. UK’ Ambassador to Turkey calls for ending of
violence
11. Hurriyet’s Istanbul and Ankara offices attacked
for a second time within a week
12.AK Party to hold its 5th ordinary congress on
Saturday
13. Turkish officials ban religious symbols at yoga
centers
1.Akıncı
stated that they are trying to reach to an agreement model acceptable by the
Turkish Cypriots
According
to illegal Bayrak television (08.09.15) the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akıncı said that they are working towards achieving a settlement which both
communities will willingly approve and accept, adding at the same time that the solution will not be one sided.
In statements during a
meeting with a delegation from the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University
(DAU), Akinci referred to the Cyprus problem and stated that they are currently
involved in an intensive negotiations process aimed at achieving a settlement.
Stating
that the solution is not something which is easy to achieve, Akinci said that
both sides over the years had been entrenched in their positions.
He
added that achieving convergences between the differing positions requires great
effort, good will and mutual understanding. “We are trying with all our
strength to achieve this”, Akıncı stated, expressing the hope that they can
reach to an agreement model which the Turkish Cypriot “people” will be willing
to approve.
Pointing out that a solution
will not be one sided, Akıncı said that it will be impossible to achieve the
goal of a federated settlement if one of the two sides do not approve of the
agreement reached.
Underlining that the
conditions since 2004 may have changed which way the Turkish Cypriot people
will vote, Akıncı said that the important thing is to achieve a common ground. “As
you would agree, this is not an easy thing to achieve but this is our intention
and we hope that we shall succeed in doing this” he added.
2.Atun met with the KTSO
According to illegal Bayrak television (08.09.15) the so-called minister of economy, industry
and commerce Sunat Atun met with a delegation from the Turkish Cypriot Chamber
of Commerce (KTSO), headed by its chairman Fikri Toros.
Speaking prior the meeting, Atun highlighted the need to improve the “country’s” climate for
investment and to encourage the use of the Turkish Lira against the rise in the
foreign exchange rate.
Also speaking, Toros said they would be discussing
with Atun urgent measures needed to be taken in the country.
Pointing
out that the “country” is heading towards a new period, Toros stated that they
will discuss with Atun the “Turkey-TRNC economic program”, the negotiations
process and the EU harmonization process which is expected to start soon.
Stating
that they would also be presenting Atun “the north Cyprus project in the peace
process” which was prepared by the chamber, Toros explained that the project
includes issues like how competitiveness with “south Cyprus”, as the Republic
of Cyprus is called, could be achieved, how the economic growth in the country
can be achieved and how this will prosper the people once a solution is
reached.
For his part, Atun stated further that they are
working hard to improve the climate of investments in the “country.”
Explaining that the “Turkey-TRNC investment council”
was established with the aim of attracting investors, he said that the common
goal is to make the economy more productive.
“What is important is to have a sustainable road map.
The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce is our most important partner in this
process” Atun added.
Noting that an economic recession was recently being
experienced in the country due to several negative factors, he said that
untimely statements on the property issue and the rise in the foreign exchange
rate were the major reasons for this downward trend.
3. The “Famagusta Initiative” calls for the opening
of Deryneia crossing point
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (09.09.15)
under the title: “The eyes are turned to
the barricades”, reports on statements by Mertkan Hamit, activist and member of
the “Famagusta Initiative”, who in an interview to the paper, stressed the need
for the opening of the Deryneia crossing point, in order as he said for the
occupied Famagusta to get out of the economic bottleneck.
Stating that the opening of the Deryneia crossing point will benefit
economically both sides in the island, Hamit explained that NGO’s in both sides
of the island work together and develop projects that will bring economic
prosperity to the region.
Hamit explained that they are working towards a project named: “Renewal”
which is supported by the UNDP-AC and added that the implementation of the
above project will turn occupied Famagusta into a touristic center.
(AK)
4.
Social Democracy Party congress to take
place on December 6
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (09.09.15)
reports that the general assembly of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) will take
place on December 6. The paper writes that the district and youth congress of
the party will take place on October and November.
The current chairman of TDP Cemal Ozyigit stated that
he will run again for the party’s leadership.
(CS)
5.
Mimoza Hotel has been sold to the illegal Near East University for ten million
Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (09.09.15)
reports that the Mimoza Hotel has been sold to the illegal Near East University
(YDU).
According to the paper, tenders for the renting or
selling the hotel were opened on June 3 and closed on July 15.
According to the paper, YDU Ltd was the only firm
which made an offer and was granted the tender for the amount of 10,010,000
sterling pounds.
Providing information about the hotel, the paper
writes that it was firstly rented in 1995 by the Gossip LTD for 1,260.000 but
was claimed by the “state” because the
firm was not able to sell its debts. Since 2011 tenders for the hotel were
opened six times, the last one being that lead to the selling to YDU Ltd.
(CS)
6.
Grey wolfs organized a protest in the occupied area of Cyprus to condemn PKK
attacks in Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (09.09.15)
reports that a protest took place yesterday in occupied Famagusta “condemning
the attacks of PKK against the Turkish army” taking place in Turkey during the
last few days.
According to the paper, the Famagusta Grey Wolfs
organization organized the protest and the “TRNC Grey Wolfs organization” and
the “Fighters Association” were among the organizations participating in it.
(CS)
7.
The number of vehicles in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (09.09.15)
reports about the number of vehicles in the breakaway regime and writes that
there are 173,738 registered vehicles in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus.
The paper writes that only 619 vehicles existed in
“north Cyprus” in 1974 and this number increased to 7,972 in 1976. According to
the paper the majority of vehicles (112,237) are saloon cars, while 13,108 are
trucks, 10,215 are bikes and 7,000 are double cabin trucks.
(CS)
8. Qatar
team which will participate in the Cyprus Rally will arrive to Cyprus through
the occupied Keryneia port
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (09.09.15)
reports that the Qatar team consisting of the pilot and technical support team
that will participate in the Cyprus Rally will arrive to Cyprus through the
occupied Keryneia port.
The paper wonders if the same approach will be
followed as regards the Turkish team that will participate in the rally.
(CS)
9.Erdogan: “PKK laying down arms is the only
solution Turkey can accept”; He accused PKK for ending the peace process
Turkish daily Sabah (08.09.15-online in English) reported that President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan highlighted on Tuesday that the PKK organization has to lay down its
weapons before anything else can be discussed or negotiated with them.
The announcement came after another surge in the
group's terrorist attacks, which killed 16 soldiers on Monday and 14 police
officers on Tuesday.
"At
this point the only solution is for the PKK to lay down its arms; nothing else
can be discussed," Erdogan said, and vowed that Turkey will not be
abandoned to terrorists.
Erdogan
said that the state mechanisms may move slowly, but no power can halt them once
they take off, and noted that the PKK and its structure has been seriously
damaged, and work will continue until the organization is completely destroyed.
"No
power, gang, organization or perception management operations can block the
power of the state," Erdogan said and added that the recent surge in
attacks were mostly due to the fact that the terrorists are in a state of panic
because of the blow they received from the Turkish forces within and outside of
Turkey.
Erdogan harshly criticized anyone who refrains from
sincerely condemning the terrorist attacks, and he underscored that unity and
solidarity are essential to preserve the country at such a critical period. He reiterated once again that it was the
PKK that ended the reconciliation process and sabotaged peace.
"As
much as Turkey needs a ruling party, it also needs opposition parties" Erdogan
said, noting that the actions of politicians and media outlets explicitly and
implicitly supporting the terrorist organization through their statements
cannot be tolerated.
He
accused those who blame the recent surge of terrorist attacks on the government
for treason, and said: "The place to look for the culprits is the Qandil
Mountains, where many PKK terrorists are located, not Ankara."
(…)
10.UK’ Ambassador to Turkey calls for ending of
violence
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (09.09.15) reports
that Richard Moore, the United Kingdom’s
Ambassador to Turkey, has called for an end to what he called “meaningless
violence” and extended his sympathy to the families of soldiers and police
officers killed in recent clashes with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK).
“Following
the casualties on the weekend, hearing about the killing of policemen in
[eastern] Igdır [province] deplored me. This meaningless violence should stop,”
Moore said in Turkish through his Twitter account.
He extended his sympathies to the families of the
fallen security personnel and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.
Moore earlier tweeted on the killing of 16 troops in
Dağlıca in southeastern Hakkari province on September 6, in which he strongly
condemned the attacks on the Turkish soldiers in Daglıca and two Turkish
policemen in southeastern Diyarbakır province.
“We
as the United Kingdom will continue our close cooperation with our Turkish
partners in the fight against all sorts of terrorism,” Moore said.
11.Hurriyet’s Istanbul and Ankara offices attacked
for a second time within a week
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (09.09.15) reports
that Daily Hürriyet’s Istanbul
headquarters and Ankara offices were pelted with stones by 100 club-swinging
protesters on September 8, less than 48 hours after a similar attack by Justice
and Development Party (AKP) supporters.
Condemning
the attack, Hurriyet editor-in-chief Sedat Ergin said during a live broadcast
on CNNTürk the following: "If they had entered the building, I don't know
if I could be here now. I am not able to believe that I am working as a
journalist in a democracy because fear and democracy cannot live side by side”.
Ergin stressed also that the police failed to protect the newspaper despite a
similar raid on September 6.
"The
government should provide security in a democracy," Ergin added, noting
that senior AKP figures had failed to condemn the first physical attack
targeting daily Hürriyet. "I am not sure if I will be able to feel secure
when I enter this building tomorrow as Hürriyet's editor-in-chief."
Soon
after the attack in Istanbul's, Hürriyet's Ankara office, where it’s printing
center is located, had also been assaulted.
(…)
Meanwhile,
according to another report by Hurriyet Daily News (08.09.15), the Republican
People’s Party (CHP) has filed a parliamentary question regarding an attack on
daily Hürriyet’s headquarters in Istanbul by a crowd of stone-throwing Justice
and Development Party (AKP) supporters angered by its reporting on a comment by
the Turkish President.
Eren
Erdem, a CHP Istanbul Deputy and a member of the CHP’s commission on the media,
issued a parliamentary question to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu about the
pro-government protesters’ attack on the Hürriyet building, asking why no one had
been detained”.
“Is it true that the attackers used the police
megaphone to organize the protest? Would the police’s attitude be the same if a
protest attempt had been staged on pro-government media outlets?” asked Erdem.
According
to the paper, the US Embassy in Ankara and the EU Commission issued separate
statements condemning the September 6 attack on Hurriyet.
(…)
12.AK Party to hold its 5th ordinary congress on
Saturday
Turkish daily Sabah (08.09.15-online in English) reported that the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AK Party) will finalize preparations with two workshops
starting on Thursday before it holds its fifth ordinary congress on Saturday,
September 12.
The
current AK Party chairman and interim Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, is
expected to run as the sole candidate for chairman in the congress. Moreover, new members of the Central Decision and
Administrative Board (MKYK), which is the main body of the party with 50 persons,
will also be elected in the congress. Well-known
AK Party figures such Ali Babacan, Binali Yıldırım, Omer Celik and Taner Yıldız
who did not run in the June 7 elections due to AK Party's three consecutive
terms rule, are expected to be on the MKYK as wells as on the Deputy candidate
list for the November 1 election.
The
new election slogan is also expected to be announced at the congress.AK Party
sources have indicated that the election campaign will focus on the importance
of stability and the main slogan of the party will be: "Vote AK Party for
stability."
A total of 3,656 people have applied to be AK Party Deputy
candidates for the November 1 general election. (…)
The final list of AK Party Deputy candidates will be
presented to the Supreme Election Board (YSK) on Sept. 18 and the party is
expected to announce its candidate list and election manifesto on September 22.
13.Turkish officials ban religious symbols at yoga
centers
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (09.09.15) reports
that according to a directive released
by the Sports for Everyone Federation of Turkey (HİS),having religious symbols
and playing music specific to various religions at yoga centers has been banned.
Officials argue that with this directive, they aimed to take measures against
missionary activities.
Consequently,
having Buddha sculptures and mantra symbols as well as the playing of religious
music and burning of incense can be considered violations which lead to the
closure of these centers.
Yoga
trainers have reacted against the instruction, which included the phrase
“different religions,” underlining that yoga cannot be considered a religion
and the use of symbols was natural.
According
to HİS Technical Board head Suleyman Gonulates, the instruction is a routine
arrangement and religion should not be a part of sports. The instruction bans all kinds of religious symbols,
including Islamic symbols, Gonulates added.
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