12/1/16

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW



TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S


No. 06/16                                                                                           12.01.2016
1. Cavusoglu alleges that Turkey fulfilled its obligations for reaching a solution in Cyprus within this year 
2. Akansoy: “White ID cards” will be granted this week”
3. Extension for the “applications” to the “immovable property commission”
4. BKP and TDP expressed support to Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association’s hunger strike against the incidents in south-eastern Turkey
5. The UBP will discuss its relations with its “coalition partner” next week   
6. The “representative” of the breakaway regime in Budapest has retired
7. The number of Greek Cypriot builder’s labor in the “TRNC” has been increased
8. Cavusoglu: Turkey ready to intermediate in Iran-Saudi crisis
9. Turkish officials identify 13 ISIL members planning attacks on Europe
10. TV host caller under investigation over spreading “terrorist propaganda”
11. The Turkish government revises growth forecast, pledges reforms to cut inflation rate
12. CHP’s ordinary congress to take place in the week-end

1. Cavusoglu alleges that Turkey fulfilled its obligations for reaching a solution in Cyprus within this year 
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.01.16) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu has alleged that Turkey has fulfilled its obligations for reaching a solution in Cyprus within this year. Addressing the opening ceremony of the 8th [Turkish] Ambassadors’ Conference, Cavusoglu said: “Hopefully, we will not have to wait more for the solution of the Cyprus issue”.
According to Anatolia News Agency, Cavusoglu noted that Turkey is “in close cooperation” with the Turkish Cypriot side during the negotiating process in Cyprus and added: “We believe that a just and lasting solution will have positive repercussions not only for the two sides on the island, but also for a broaden geographic area and mainly the Eastern Mediterranean”.
Referring to the project of transferring water from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus, Cavusoglu claimed that “with the water of peace we will contribute in peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean basin”.
Cavusoglu said that their kin and relative communities living abroad constitute the priority of Turkey’s foreign policy and added that recently they have deepened their relations in various fields with countries of the area such as Azerbaijan and Georgia. 
(I/Ts.) 

2. Akansoy: “White ID cards” will be granted this week”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (12.01.16) reports that the self-styled minister of interior and labour Asim Akansoy announced they will start granting the “white ID card” this week and the fee for the “ cards” will be 2,000 TL.
Speaking to the illegal Bayrak television, Akansoy said that there are 28 thousand people, who live in the occupied area of the island with “working permits” and 8 thousands of them are in a position to be able to receive the “white card”.
Akansoy explained that they will grant the “white card” to the persons, who have a “working permission” for six consecutive years and have the right to go abroad every year for more than 40 days.
(DPs)

3. Extension for the “applications” to the “immovable property commission”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (12.01.16) reports that an amendment of the “immovable property law for compensation, restitution and exchange” was published in the “official gazette” on January 7, 2016.
The paper reports that the first paragraph of the fourth article of the “law” has changed. According to this, “the natural and legal persons, who have claims on the immovable property and complying with the law, will be able to apply in person or through a representative to the immovable property commission until December 21, 2017, for being able to claim compensation, exchange or restitution for their properties”.
(DPs)
4. BKP and TDP expressed support to Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association’s hunger strike against the incidents in south-eastern Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (12.01.16) reports that a delegation of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) headed by the party’s chairman Izzet Izcan, announced that it will launch a hunger strike as of today as a gesture to support the Cyprus Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association.
The Cyprus Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association has also launched a hunger strike some days ago in order to protest on the incidents taking place in south-eastern Turkey.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (12.01.16) reports that a delegation of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) headed by the general secretary of the party Asim Idris, visited yesterday the officials of the Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association and expressed their support to their struggle for peace and democracy in Turkey.
Issuing a statement on the issue, Idris, inter alia, said that TDP supports and confronts with respect the association’s decision to hold a hunger strike for the tension and the killings taking place in south-eastern Turkey. He expressed his regret over the incidents in Turkey and stressed the need to bring back freedom, peace and democracy.
(AK)

5. The UBP will discuss its relations with its “coalition partner” next week   
Under the title “UBP’s patience is exhausted”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (12.01.16) reports that the National Unity Party’s (UBP) “parliamentary group” has decided for the party’s assembly to convene next week to discuss the issue of the water brought from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus and UBP’s relations with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), its “coalition partner” in the self-styled government, after the latter’s decision on the water issue.
In a meeting yesterday, UBP’s “parliamentary group” reacted to the rejection by the CTP of the “government’s” decision on the water issue and decided to evaluate the future of the “coalition government”. The “deputies” and “ministers” of the UBP have reportedly expressed the view that if necessary the “government” should end. After this “decisive stance” of the party’s “parliamentary group”, Huseyin Ozgurgun, chairman of the UBP, asked for some time by the end of the week. 
In case no agreement is reached on the water issue by the end of the week, the UBP’s “parliamentary group” will carry the issue to the assembly of the party. The UBP insists on the “build-operate-transfer” model as regards the administration of the water.
Dursun Oguz, general secretary of the party, stated the following: “The system has come to a deadlock on the water issue. Both Mr Talat and the government are not taking any steps. If the CTP party assembly will be taking the decisions, what is the need for the UBP?Our chairman will hold contacts during the week. In case it is needed, the party assembly is ready to take any kind of decision […] We have promised reforms to the people with the CTP. We must overcome the water issue this weekend be directed towards the reforms. This is the people’s expectations. We are expecting the CTP to behave more responsibly”. 
(I/Ts.)

6. The “representative” of the breakaway regime in Budapest has retired
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.01.16) reports that the “representative” of the breakaway regime in Budapest “ambassador” Arif Altay has retired.

According to the paper, a reception for his retirement was organized in the “representation office” in Budapest which the Counselor of the Turkish Embassy to Hungary, Alattin Temur along with other diplomats, businessmen and Hungarian citizens  attended.
(CS)

7. The number of Greek Cypriot builder’s labor in the “TRNC” has been increased
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli (12.01.16) under the title: “Greek Cypriot worker’s explosion in the construction sector”, reports that due to the stagnation experienced in the construction sector in the Greek Cypriot side as a result of the economic crisis and together with the fact that a lot of Turkish workers in the “TRNC” have returned back in Turkey, the number of the Greek Cypriot builder’s labor in the occupied area of Cyprus has been increased.
According to the paper, the global economic crisis and the stagnation experienced in some sectors has changed the balance in Cyprus. Five years ago, it were the Turkish Cypriots those who were going to the “south” to work but now it happens exactly the opposite, writes the paper, adding that the Greek Cypriot workers who are very happy with their employers in the “north” receive 30 euro per day as a salary.
Commenting on the issue, Hulusi Harper, “chairman” of the “construction and developer’s association”, confirmed that the “TRNC” experiences problems and difficulties with the “workers” in several sectorsand said that due to the fact that the construction sector in the “south” went bankrupt, a huge number of “building workers” have turned to the “north”.
Harper added also that the “working labor” in the “TRNC” today is composed by workers coming from third countries such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, Cuba and Colombia.
(AK) 

8. Cavusoglu: Turkey ready to intermediate in Iran-Saudi crisis
Ankara Anatolia news agency (12.01.16) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that Turkey is ready to try to resolve the differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Turkey was “ready to make every effort to remedy the problems between the two countries” in the face of tensions that have the “potential to deepen the existing problems in our region,” Cavusoglu told a conference of ambassadors in Ankara. He added: “The region needs reconciliation and cooperation, not new conflicts.” He further said Turkey was working to improve relations with Iran but noted that Ankara and Tehran viewed regional issues from different perspectives.

9. Turkish officials identify 13 ISIL members planning attacks on Europe
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (12.01.16) reports that the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has identified 13 ISIL members who are planning to carry out terrorist attacks in European countries.

 All the suspects, nine of them women, are reportedly still in Syria and are planning to enter Europe through Turkey. After receiving the intelligence report, the MİT informed European countries and shared the details of the ISIL suspects, all of whom are between the ages of 16 and 30.

Meanwhile, security forces on Sunday detained 17 suspects linked to raids in Istanbul and Eastern Turkey. The operations are part of Turkey's efforts to stamp out the group that seeks to recruit foreigners for their activities in Iraq and Syria. In another police operation in the eastern city of Elazig, seven suspected members of ISIL were detained.

In addition, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (12.01.16) reports that Turkey has placed an entry ban on more than 35,000 people from more than 120 countries over suspected links with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to date, Interior Minister Efkan Ala has said. “We captured and deported 2,896 people from 92 countries,” he added.

10. TV host caller under investigation over spreading “terrorist propaganda”
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (12.01.16) reports that the Bakirkoy Chief Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into “Beyaz Show” host Beyazit Ozturk, the program's producer and a caller for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda during the show's airing last Friday.

A woman called Ayse Celik, after introducing herself to the host of the talk show as a teacher, expressed her frustrations last Friday, saying the media is not accurately portraying the conflict in South-eastern Turkey and that children are dying due to clashes between security forces and the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In a statement released on Monday, the Bakirkoy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said the investigation was launched on Jan. 9 against the three individuals over allegations that terrorist propaganda was disseminated during the show's live broadcast on Jan. 8.

Even though both Kanal D, which broadcasts the program, and host Ozturk apologized for what Celik said on the program, the Bakirkoy Chief Prosecutor's Office is reportedly investigating both Ozturk and the program's producer, claiming they disseminated the terrorist organization's ideas.

11. The Turkish government revises growth forecast, pledges reforms to cut inflation rate
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (12.01.16) reports that Turkey’s government has revised its economic growth forecast upward and vowed reforms to cut stubbornly high inflation, which has been defined as “one of the most challenging problems in the economy now,” and to raise productivity.

The country has raised its 2015 gross domestic product forecast to 4%, from the previous forecast of 3%, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said at a press conference, unveiling the government’s updated medium-term economic program. Simsek said the latest medium-term program aimed to boost stable and comprehensive growth.

The Turkish government raised the GDP forecast for 2016 to 4.5 % from 4%, adding that annual GDP expansion will reach 5% in both 2017 and 2018.  The government has however revised its inflation rate expectations, citing measures to decrease the inflation rate.

“We’ll focus on a number of structural measures that will slash the inflation rate, while raising the productivity rate,” Simsek added, noting the government had made a considerable effort to decrease the inflation rate to the targeted 5%. The governmentalso aims to reduce the unemployment rate by 0.6 points by 2018, said Simsek.

12. CHP’s ordinary congress to take place in the week-end
Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (12.01.16) reports that the Republican People’s Party (CHP) 35th ordinary congress will take place on January 16-17 in Ankara.
According to the paper, the party’s chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Mustafa Balbay, Deputy in Izmir will run for the party’s leadership.
Also, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (12.01.16) reports that Muharrem Ince, Deputy in Yalova and Umut Oran, former Deputy with CHP who announced that they will be candidates for the party’s leadership, withdrew their candidacies.
 (AK)

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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS / AM)