TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
201/15 23.10.2015
1.Akinci: We will facilitate
solution by creating more powerful structures
2.
Akinci met with the US Ambassador to Cyprus
3.
Colak met with representatives of French media and think-tank organizations
4. Talat says that the “common points” are
continuously increasing
5. Samani: “A federal laws working group is
established”
6. “Huge project in the surrounding area of Panagra
dam”
7. The breakaway regime will implement a “general
health insurance” project within six months
8. “DPO” announced that the “economy” of the
occupation regime is expected to show a 3.5% growth annually
9. Erdogan: “ISIL, PKK and Syria intelligence behind
Ankara terrorist act”
10. Davutoglu declares October 30 as administrative
holiday to avoid possible voter absence
1. Akinci: We will facilitate solution by
creating more powerful structures
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibrisli (23.10.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci stressed that creating
powerful structures in the “country” (translator’s note: in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus) is
important for the post-solution period, adding: “Guiding all of our domestic
issues continually to the solution of the Cyprus problem and waiting only for
that exact day, do not take us close to the settlement on the contrary it moves
us away”.
According
to a press release by the “presidency”, Akinci met yesterday with a delegation
of the “Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Artisans and Craftsmen” (“KTEZO”) headed by
their chairman Mahmut Kanber.
During
the meeting, Kanber said: “We should not be afraid of fighting for the solution
of the Cyprus problem, adding that they follow the progress on the Cyprus talks
and expressed their desire to contribute to the solution. Kanber also shared
“KTEZO’s” activities with Akinci.
Referring
to the importance of the contribution of organizations to the settlement,
Kanbel said that the “Turkish Cypriot municipality” in the occupied part of
Nicosia and the Nicosia Municipality are trying to organise a joint festival at
Ledra Street.
Akinci, for his part, said:
“We will facilitate solution by creating more powerful structures”, adding that
the dimensional efforts of the Chamber in the “North”, in the “South”, in
Turkey and in the international area are important.
Noting
that there has been serious progress on the Cyprus issue, Akinci said, however,
there are still thorny issues at the negotiations. He stressed the importance
of political determination and will and added that as of November they will
enter an intensive negotiation process.
Akinci further said: “Our hope is to reach a solution as soon as
possible even though we have not referred to a specific date” and concluded by
saying that they will continue to do the best they can to reach a Cyprus
settlement and the conjuncture is available.
(DPs)
2.
Akinci met with the US Ambassador to Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibrisli (23.10.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci met yesterday with the US Ambassador to Cyprus Kathleen Ann Doherty at
Akinci’s office. No statement was issued prior of after the meeting.
(DPs)
3.
Colak met with representatives of French media and think-tank organizations
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibrisli (23.10.15) reports that self-styled foreign minister
Emine Colak within the framework of her contacts in Paris met with the
representatives of French media and French think-tank organizations.
According
to a press release by the “information office”, Colak attended the round table
meeting, which was organized by the French think-tank IPSE and moderated by the
Chairman of the organization Emmanuel Dupuy in which ex-minister of Sarkozy
government Senator Jean Marie Bockel also participated.
After
the meeting, Colak met with Bockel, who is also a member of the French Foreign
Affairs Committee and member of the French Permanent Delegation to NATO. During
the meeting, Colak underlined that developing the relations of the Turkish
Cypriots with France will make positive contributions to the solution process
and argued that this is the most natural right of the Turkish Cypriots in order
to express themselves.
Colak
also met with the head of the ‘Institut Français des Relations Internationales’
think tank organization’s Turkey Program, Dorothée Schmid. The Cyprus issue,
the expectation of the Turkish Cypriots and the perspective of Turkey to the
Cyprus problem were evaluated at the meeting. Noting that there is no need to
question the willingness of the Turkish Cypriots for a solution, Colak claimed
that Turkey sincerely continues to support the solution.
(DPs)
4. Talat says that the “common points” are
continuously increasing
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.10.15)
reports that Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of
the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), has said that a new period is being
experienced in Cyprus, that very big
masses have realized that the solution of the Cyprus problem will be for the
benefit of both communities and that the “common points” are continuously
increasing.
According to a written statement issued by CTP’s press
office, Talat addressed a conference in Brussels hosted by the United European
Left Group at the European Parliament and organized by AKEL left-wing party’s
delegation.
Talat
underlined the importance of the agreement reached on the property issue during
the ongoing negotiating process, according to which the property problem will be solved by a committee
based on some criteria that will be determined. “The progress to be obtained on
this issue will, of course, be developed in parallel to the determination of
the criteria”, he said adding that except
for the chapters of Governance and Power Sharing, Economy and the Relations
with the EU, the convergences between the sides increased on the Property as
well.
(I/Ts.)
5.Samani: “A federal laws working group is
established”
According to illegal Bayrak television (22.10.15) the “president’s political adviser and
general coordinator for the technical committees” Meltem Onurkan Samani, in
statements to BRT yesterday,announced
the establishment of a working group to prepare federal laws for the future
partnership state.
Explaining that the two sides were still working on
the schedule for the negotiations, Samani said that the initial plan is for the
two leaders to meet 6 times next month if their programs permitted.
She added that the various working groups and
technical committees had also stepped up their work.
“A
working group on federal laws has been established on both sides. The two sides of the working group will most likely
come together on Monday next week and commence work. The main purpose of this working group as it can be understood from its
name will be to prepare laws for the federal structure. The working group is
made up of legal experts, mostly who are already working at the presidential palace
but also laws from the Bar Association and several universities. Naturally the
federal laws will have to be prepared in line with the EU aquis communitaire
which is why a legal expert from the EU Coordination Office will also be taking
part in the working group meetings”, Samani added.
Samani reminded that in addition to the various working
groups, there are currently 12 bi-communal technical committees who are
focusing on confidence building measures.
Samani
also explained the current situation on work to connect mobile networks on both
sides of the divide.
“Work
carried out with the mobile GSM operators is actually completed. However, there
is a problem with the regulating authority. The authority has raised legal
obstacles. We’re currently working on various formulas and proposals to
overcome these legal obstacles. This is why we experienced a serious
disappointment on the issue. After all the technical work has been completed”,
she said.
Commenting
on reports that there was a divergence in views between the Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akıncı and his negotiator Ozdil Nami, Samani said: “It’s only natural that there might be
differences in opinion from time to time but let everyone be assured that
everything is being conducted under a certain discipline. There is no conflict
of views or divergences between Mr. Akıncı and Mr. Nami at this point in time”.
6. “Huge project in the surrounding area of Panagra
dam”
Under the above title Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen
newspaper (23.10.15) reports that Kutlu
Evren, self-styled minister of transportation, environment and culture of
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the “Recreation Field Project”
that has been launched in the surrounding area of the dam in occupied Panagra
village will be a “big gain for the people’s social life and the nature”.
Evren noted that they are carrying out the project
together with Turkey’s Forestry General Directorate, in addition to the water
supply project. He said that the project
has four legs: the recreation spots, the nature protection area, the wild life
area and the new afforestation area.
The
recreation spots will cover an area of 220 hectares including walking footpaths, playing grounds for
children, restaurants, wild life observation towers etc.
Evren said that they are considering of creating a nature protection area covering 70
hectares south of the dam.
He added that in the same area they will create a
field which could be used by schools, universities and scientists to carry out
scientific researches.
Evren said that the wild life area will be fenced and
they are considering of especially bringing moufflons, an endemic animal of
Cyprus.
Evren further noted that they are planning to plant 15.000 pine nut plants in the area between
the dam and the village. The project will be completed by 2018.
(I/Ts.)
7. The breakaway regime will implement a “general
health insurance” project within six
months
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (23.10.15)
reports that Omer Kalyoncu, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime
in the occupied area of Cyprus, and Salih Izbul, self-styled health minister,
have stated that the efforts for
reforming the health system of the breakaway regime are continuing and that the
“general health insurance” will be implemented within six months. They said
that a “current capital and performance system” will be simultaneously
implemented.
Izbul said that with the reforms they will save money
in the health sector and this will be positively reflected in the salaries and
the allowances of the employees.
Kalyoncu noted that with the new system the health
sector will be working on a full day basis and thus more patients will be
receiving service.
(I/Ts.)
8. “DPO” announced that the
“economy” of the occupation regime is expected to show a 3.5% growth annually
According to illegal Bayrak television (22.10.15) the “state planning organization” (DPO) has
announced in a statement that the “TRNC economy” is expected to experience an
annual 3.5% growth over the next three years in line with the new economic
program.
Employment
which currently stands at 105 thousands is also expected to reach 114 thousands
by the end of 2018,
according to the program.
The 2016-2018
economic program also envisages lowering unemployment to 2.6%, raising tourism
revenues from 679.4 million dollars to 788.5 million dollars and closing the
current accounts deficit.
Inflation
is predicted to remain around 4.5% during the duration of the program.
9.Erdogan: “ISIL, PKK and Syria intelligence behind
Ankara terrorist act”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (23.10.15) reports
that Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has reiterated Turkey’s belief that the 10 October Ankara Massacre was
committed by a medley of mutually antagonistic entities, including extreme
jihadists and Kurdish militants.
“[The
Ankara bombing] totally is a collective terrorist act, in which Daesh [Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant - ISIL], the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party], the
Mukhabarat [Syria’s military intelligence] and the PYD [Democratic Union Party]
in northern Syria each played a role,” Erdogan claimed on October 22 at a gathering of the Confederation of
Righteous Trade Unions (HAK-İŞ), a right-wing trade union.
Erdogan said that the Ankara bombing had shown how
terrorist acts were committed collectively and slammed those who said ISIL was
behind the deadly blasts, which sent shockwaves through the country after
killing at least 102 civilians and wounding hundreds of others ahead of a peace
rally in downtown Ankara on Oct. 10.
(…)
Erdogan’s remarks came less than a week after one of
the suicide bombers in the Ankara twin blasts was identified as Yunus Emre
Alagöz, an ISIL militant, according to a written statement released by the
Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is heading the investigation
into the deadly blasts.
(…)
10.Davutoglu declares October 30 as administrative
holiday to avoid possible voter absence
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (23.10.15) reports
that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in statements during an election rally on
October 22, declared the October 30, as an administrative holiday in the run-up
to the November 1 snap elections.
The top Election authority set Nov. 1 as the date for
Turkey’s early elections, with its head stating that it took “seasonal
conditions” into consideration while making its decision.
When November 1 was selected as poll day, speculation
mounted over the possible impact of an election on November 1, as there is an
official holiday in the preceding days. It was thought that some civil servants
may plan to extend their one-day official Republic Day holiday on October 29,
negatively impacting voter turnout.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/ AM)
