22/1/16

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW



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


No. 14/16                                                                                           22.01.2016
1. Davutoglu expressed optimism for the reunification of Cyprus after meeting with Akinci in Davos
2. Davutoglu met UNSG at Davos: “We expect a roughly outlined road map for the solution to come up”
3. Akinci met with Biden at Davos
4. Eide evaluated the Davos meeting to Kibris newspaper
5. Elcil criticised the statements of Turkey’s Minister for Forestry and Waterworks on the water issue
6. Afrika: “Looting in the northern part of Cyprus has no limits”
7. Pegasus Airlines has transferred to illegal Tymbou airport 1,5 million passengers in 2015
8. Russian Deputy FM cancels the first high-level visit to Turkey after the jet crisis
9. HDP’s Deputy called for end to jailed PKK leader’s isolation
10.Leading Turkish businessman Koc passed away

1.Davutoglu expressed optimism for the reunification of Cyprus after meeting with Akinci in Davos
Turkish daily Sabah (21.01.16) reported that Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,in statements after meeting with the Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı in Davos on Thursday, said that he is hopeful that the ongoing reunification talks in the island will now enter a phase where guarantor countries, Turkey and the U.K., join the talks.

Davutoglu expressed his happiness with Akıncı arriving at a high-level diplomatic platform like Davos and said the two sides will "hopefully" achieve success at the talks in the upcoming months.

He also said that he had the opportunity to discuss the issue with British Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to London earlier this week and that he also discussed the issue with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday.
 (…)


2. Davutoglu met UNSG at Davos: “We expect a roughly outlined road map for the solution to come up”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.01.16) reports that Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu has said that their expectation in Davos is for a roughly outlined road map for the solution in Cyprus to come up. In statements after meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon in Davos at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Davutoglu said that they discussed the Cyprus problem and other regional issueswith the UNSG.
Asked whether he was expecting a referendum in Cyprus within the forthcoming period, Davutoglu replied:
The negotiations regarding the Cyprus problem are advancing positively. Before coming here, we had the opportunity to discuss these issues in Britain as a guarantor power. We had our first meeting as soon as we came here with Mr Akinci. For the first time the TRNC is at a platform like Davos, the TRNC president Akinci and the Greek Cypriot leader have been here as equals and addressed the guests. This is an important indicator. Mr Espen Barth Eide, who is carrying out the negotiations on behalf of the UN, is also here. During the meeting I had with Mr Ban Ki-moon, I told him that we should slowly-slowly pass into the stage during which the guarantor states are also participating in the process, because there is a tendency towards a certain consensus on the basic issues. We hope that more constant steps are taken on these issues. The meeting held here in Davos with Kofi Annan in 2004 had paved the way for Annan making the process to be his own.We hope that a similar process happens now and within the forthcoming months the sides to come together and find the opportunity to create a common ground in the direction of reaching a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem”.
(I/Ts.) 

3. Akinci met with Biden at Davos
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (22.01.16) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met with US Vice-president Joe Biden at Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

The meeting which lasted 30 minutes was held behind closed doors.

According to information obtained by Akinci’s office, “during the fruitful meeting the two men exchanged views on the Cyprus problem”.

In addition, Illegal Bayrak broadcast that Akinci met also with the Bristish Prime Minister David Cameron and briefed him on the current phase of Cyprus negotiations.
(CS)

4. Eide evaluated the Davos meeting to Kibris newspaper
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.01.16) writes that Espen Barth Eide, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Cyprus, evaluated to the paper the three-party-meeting held in Davos and stressed that it was really important and drew a lot of attention.

“The meeting was the first of its kind. And the fact that it took place having the eyes of the whole world on it, is very important”, he stated.

He went on and added that the interest shown at Davos would be very beneficial for the parties involved in Cyprus. He also stated that it was a good chance for the economic dimension of the problem’s solution that the meeting was held at Davos.

Finally, Eide stated that the two leaders sent the messages from Davos that “2016 will be solution year for Cyprus” and also that the solution of the Cyprus problem is extremely important for the two sides in Cyprus.
(CS)

5. Elcil criticised the statements of Turkey’s Minister for Forestry and Waterworks on the water issue
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (22.01.16) reports that Sener Elcil, the General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS) criticised the statements of Turkey’s Minister for Forestry and Waterworks, Veysel Eroglu on the water transfer issue.
Eroglu stated that they had been unable to reach a result on the management and administration of the water because the “TRNC authorities” have yet to decide on Turkey’s offer to temporarily manage and administer the water.
Elcil stated that Turkey attacks immediately when it feels that its interests are in danger. “But the Turkish Cypriot society is not unprotected. We will not back off from struggling for our own interests”, Elcil stated.

He went on and added that statements made by Turkish officials regarding the relations between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, about “brotherhood”, or “motherland-daughter land” are proved fake when the real intentions come to the surface. “Just let us know Mr Eroglu how much you will sell the water to us”, Elcil noted.
(CS)

6. Afrika: “Looting in the northern part of Cyprus has no limits”
Under the title “They swallowed the sea too”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.01.16) reports that the looting in the occupied area of Cyprus has no limits. After the land and the mountains, the turn of the sea came notes the paper and writes:
Merit Park Hotel, which is at Kervansaray area in Keryneia, has spread its area into the sea. Behold the most evident proof of how the moneybags swallow our country. Who gave the permit for this construction and who approved it?  An official to give account for this is wanted. The Net Holding, which owns five five-star hotels with casinos in our country and it moreover squanders Mare Monte Hotel by leasing it for 49 years, is constructing two new hotels in Lapithos. The director of the company, Besim Tibuk is at the same time owner of a daily newspaper and a TV channel [Translator’s note: The Diyalog newspaper and Diyalog TV]. Is it not better understood now why he does not want a [Cyprus] solution? We are waiting for answers gentlemen”.
(I/Ts.)

7.Pegasus Airlines has transferred to illegal Tymbou airport 1,5 million passengers in 2015
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.01.16) reports on statements by Ali Sabanci, “chairman” of the “board of directors” of the Pegasus Airlines, stated to the paper that in a possible solution of the Cyprus problem, Cyprus will change dramatically and direct flights will be launched.
In an exclusive interview to the paper on the occasion of the 10th anniversary from the launching of flights from Pegasus to the occupied area of Cyprus, Sabanci said that if the Cyprus problem is solved, Pegasus will launch flights to new destinations such as Turkey, Israel, Lebanon and Russia.
Stating that Pegasus Airlines transfers the 50% of the tourists who are visiting the “TRNC”, Sabanci asked for the taxes at the illegal Tymbou airport to be reduced in order for this number to be increased, as he said.
Pointing out that their aim for 2016 is to transfer to Cyprus 15% more passengers comparing with last year, Sabanci said that in 2015 the company has transferred to illegal Tymbou airport 1,5 million passengers.
(…)
(AK)

8.Russian Deputy FM cancels the first high-level visit to Turkey after the jet crisis
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (21.01.16) reported that the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vassily Nebenzia, who was scheduled to pay a visit to Istanbul on January 22, the the first high-level visit from Russia to Turkey since Ankara downed a Russian jet two months ago, has canceled his trip.

The Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Permanent International Secretariat said on January 21 that Nebenzia had canceled his trip due to health reasons.

Nebenzia was scheduled to visit the headquarters of the BSEC in Istanbul on Jan. 22 to present the priorities of the Russian Chairmanship-in-Office of BSEC.

9.HDP’s Deputy called for end to jailed PKK leader’s isolation
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (21.01.16) reported that Dilek Ocalan, Deputy with the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has called for an end to the isolation of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and continuation of the long-stalled Kurdish peace talks.

“We demand substantial steps be immediately taken toward the freedom of Ocalan,” the state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Deputy Ocalan as saying. “We do not accept arbitrary violations of rights secured by law,” said Ocalan, who is a niece of Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving an aggravated life sentence on the island prison of İmralı on the Marmara Sea.


10.Leading Turkish businessman Koc passed away
Turkish daily Sabah (21.01.16) reported that Mustafa Koc, the 55-year-old chairman of Turkish conglomerate Koc Holding and one of the country's most prominent businessmen, died on Thursday after a heart attack.

The pre-eminent dynasty of Turkey's secular business elite, Koc has had, at times, an uneasy relationship with the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AK Party) founded by President Recep Tayyip Erdocan.

Its businesses, which range from energy and automobiles to banking, account for close to 10% of Turkey's national output and include five of its 10 largest companies.






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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK / AM)