TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
55/16 23.03.2016
1.
Organizations protested against Akinci’s participation in Nevruz
celebrations; Akinci: “I cannot see the entire Kurdish people as
PKK
2.
The Belgian Ambassador met with Akinci
3.
Bozkir: Total fight against terrorism is necessary
4.
Kalyoncu: Issues regarding the judiciary and electricity are
discussed within the debates for the “economic protocol” to be
signed with Turkey
5.
The 2016 budget of the “Bayrak radio television corporation” is
59 million TL
6.
Atun made a call to the Greek Cypriot side to set free the
circulation of goods and services throughout the island
7.
Sucuoglu on the occupation regime’s tourism
8.
A cooperation protocol between the Research Centres of Yale, Marmara
University and “YDU”
9.
Erdogan expressed condolences to the Republic of Cyprus over the
FlyDubai jet crashed
10.
Davutoglu calls on CHP to take clear stance against terror, thanks
MHP for its support
11.
Turkey’s Energy Minister visits China to improve ties in energy
sector
1.
Organizations
protested against Akinci’s participation in Nevruz celebrations;
Akinci: “I cannot see the entire Kurdish people as PKK” Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (23.03.16) reports that 25
civilian organizations have described as “big misfortune” the
fact that Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, self-styled prime
minister Omer Kalyoncu and some so-called ministers had participated
in Nevruz celebrations held last Sunday in occupied Trikomo area.
Holding
Turkey’s and the “TRNC’s” flags [Translator’s note: The
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus], the
organizations protested yesterday in front of Akinci’s office. A
statement was read out by Tuncay Ozkarasahin, chairman of the Turkish
Cypriot Youth Initiative.
Afterwards
they met with Akinci, who told them that “we are all against
terrorism either this is the PKK or the Islamic State”, adding that
he thinks that people should peacefully live together regardless of
their origin. “Excuse me, but I cannot see the entire Kurdish
people as PKK. I participated in this activity last year as
presidential candidate and this year as president. There is nothing
wrong in this. […]”
Akinci
said that he chatted with the people in the celebrations for the
coming of spring and the wakening up of the nature and danced for a
couple of minutes. He added: “There
was absolutely no flag and slogan when we were there.
After we left, it is said that a group of young people with flags and
slogans came. We did not see anyone. If
some slogans were shouted after we left and these are contrary to the
law, the justice and the legislation, the state has organs which will
prosecute this. They will do whatever is necessary”.
Recalling
the terror attack in Brussels, Akinci said that terrorism has no
nation, religion and language and can be everywhere, adding that
terror is an enemy of peace and humanity, but we cannot identify it
with communities. “There
were people at the place I went. I did not go to the PKK”, he
noted.
Speaking
during the meeting, Ozkarasahin said he was also there at the
celebrations and saw “state officials” in a cortege identified by
PKK’s symbols and flags something which saddened him. “When
you were dancing yellow, green and red colours were there around
you”, he told Akinci noting that these are the colours of the PKK.
Upon
this remark, Akinci replied: “What
shall we do? Shall we prohibit the colours as well? Where have
colours been prohibited until now?”
(I/Ts.)
2.
The Belgian Ambassador met with Akinci
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli (23.03.16) reports that the
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in Greece and Cyprus Luc Liebaut
visited yesterday afternoon the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci.
The
meeting took place following the terrorist attacks in Brussels.
The Belgian Ambassador replied to reporters’ questions about the
attacks after meeting with Akinci.
Akinci
in his turn expressed his condolences to Liebaut and to the families
of the victims.
(AK)
3.
Bozkir:
Total fight against terrorism is necessary
According
to Turkish daily Sabah (online, 23.03.16), Turkey's European Union
Minister Volkan Bozkır said that a total fight against terrorism is
necessary in the wake of the attacks that targeted the airport and
subway in Brussels, where most EU institutions are located.
Speaking
in a live interview at the Turkish broadcaster A Haber, Bozkır said
that the attacks may have been carried out by the Daesh terrorist
organization in a retaliatory manner following the recent operations
that targeted Daesh linked figures in Brussels, including the Paris
attacks perpetrator Salah Abdeslam. "We offer our condolences
to the families of the deceased and wish quick recovery to the
wounded," he said.
Underlining
that the militants constitute the core of the Daesh terror
organization, Bozkir
claimed that if Turkey's accession process was not slowed down,
neither terror nor illegal migration would have increased to such
dimensions, and now the EU understands this fact.
Stating
that all terror organizations feed from the same sources, Bozkir said
that now it is time for all countries to adopt a common stance
against terrorism.
Bozkir
said that Turkey has long warned the EU regarding the economic
crisis, refugee issue and terror; in exchange that EU fought terror
organizations that may harm itself but overlooked other terror
groups.
"When
[Revolutionary People's Liberation Party–Front] DHKP-C's leader was
out in the open in Belgium for years, no precautions were taken
despite our warnings," Bozkır said, claiming that there is no
difference between PKK, Daesh or DHKP-C.
"Waving
of PKK flags in Brussels when tens of funerals were being held in
Turkey following a terror attack upset us but this struggle really
has to be carried out totally. Brussels is a multicultural city. And
it proves once again that international solidarity is essential,"
he added.
4.
Kalyoncu:
Issues regarding the judiciary and electricity are discussed within
the debates for the “economic protocol” to be signed with Turkey
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (23.03.16) reports that
self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, Omer
Kalyoncu has said that the “economic protocol” between the regime
and Turkey will be signed
in one way or the other adding
that now they are discussing issues related to electricity and
judiciary.
Replying
to questions yesterday after meeting with Emine Dizdarli, the
regime’s so-called ombudsperson, Kalyoncu noted that the sides’
preparations regarding these issues have been completed and their
views will be submitted to “the places concerned”.
Pointing
out that they are expecting Turkey’s views, Kalyoncu said that they
have submitted their own views and the discussions will be concluded
soon.
Referring
to the issue of the connection between Turkey and the occupied area
of Cyprus with electricity cables, Kalyoncu noted that the world is
exerting efforts for entering into an interconnected system with the
aim of achieving security of supply and pointed out that this process
could be developed in the “country” as long as they are
reasonable on this issue.
Arguing
that the important thing is the cost of electricity, Kalyoncu said:
“It
can come from Israel to us and from us it can easily go to Turkey.
There is such a development”.
(I/Ts.)
5.
The
2016 budget of the “Bayrak radio television corporation” is 59
million TL
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 22.03.16), the 2016 “Fiscal
Year Budget” of the “Bayrak Radio Television Corporation”
(BRTK) was approved at the general assembly of the so-called
parliament on Monday.
The
“parliament” in a majority vote approved “BRTK’s” 58
million 950 thousand Turkish Lira 2016 Budget.
With
its approval, the 2016 “Budget” came into force as of 1st of
January 2016.
6.
Atun
made a call to the Greek Cypriot side to set free the circulation of
goods and services throughout the island
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes (23.03.16) reports that self-styled minister of
economy, industry and commerce Sunat Atun
argued that a free circulation of goods throughout Cyprus should be
done with the Greek Cypriot side prior the Cyprus settlement. He made
a call to the Greek Cypriot side to liberate mutually the trade. Atun
explained that in order to make easier the negotiation process, they
should set free mutually the movement of services and goods in the
island, adding that they should revive the economy of the island.
Atun
also said that the Greek Cypriot economy needs a solution as bad as
the Turkish Cypriot economy.
Atun
made the statement during a meeting with members of the Board of
Directors of the All Bureaucrats and Businesspeople Social Solidarity
Association (TUMBIAD), who are currently in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus for a series of contacts.
Speaking
during the meeting, the
President of TUMBIAD Ufuk Bilgetekin said that the aim of their visit
is to evaluate and look into investment opportunities in the “TRNC”.
(DPs)
7.
Sucuoglu on the occupation regime’s tourism
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.03.16) reports
that so-called minister of tourism Faiz Sucuoglu, in exclusive
statements to the paper, condemned strongly some social media sites
in the occupied area of Cyprus for publishing unbiased reports aiming
to cause panic in the “country” about bomb threats, especially
right after the bomb attacks in Turkey and some other countries.
Sucuoglu
called the social media to stop the publication of these unbiased
reports and warned that these might affect negatively the tourists
visiting the occupation regime, while, at the same time, as he said,
they cause panic and discomfort to the people.
Pointing
out that Cyprus is a safe place, Sucuoglu referred also to the
occupation regime’s tourism and said that the charter flights in
the “TRNC” goes well. He added that 5,000 tourists have arrived
in the “TRNC” last week with charter flights.
Referring
to their ties with Turkey, Sucuoglu explained that they continue
having contacts with Turkish officials and tourist operators. He
went on and said that he held a phone conversation last week with
Turkey’s Minister of Tourism Mahir Unal and added that the latter
expressed his intention to visit the “TRNC” very soon.
Sucuoglu
also explained that tourist’ operators and hoteliers from Turkey
and especially from Antalya will be visiting the “TRNC” the next
days in order to discuss ways on how to persuade the tourists who
postponed their trips to Antalya, to visit the “TRNC”.
(AK)
8.
A
cooperation protocol between the Research Centres of Yale, Marmara
University and “YDU”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes (23.03.16) reports that a cooperation protocol
was signed among the member of the Yale University, Yale Genome
Centre, Dr Kaya Bilguvar, the member of the Medical Biology
Department of the Marmara University Dr Can Erzik and Dr Nedim
Serakinci, “president of the genetic and cancer research centre”
of the illegal Near East university in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus for a mutual exchange of information and academic
publishing programs.
(DPs)
9.
Erdogan
expressed condolences to the Republic of Cyprus over the FlyDubai jet
crashed
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.03.16) under the title: “He
expressed his condolences to the Greek Cypriot administration”,
reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a written
statement issued by the Press Office of the Turkish Presidency,
expressed his condolences to the Russian people over the FlyDubai jet
crashed last week.
In
his message, Erdogan
sent also his condolences to all the countries that had victims,
including the “Greek Cypriot administration”, as the Republic of
Cyprus is called, writes the paper.
(AK)
10.
Davutoglu
calls on CHP to take clear stance against terror, thanks MHP for its
support
According
to Turkish daily Sabah (online, 23.03.16), Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called on the main opposition CHP to keep 'a
clear attitude' in fighting terror instead of clinging to 'baseless
remarks' about the government prior to thanking the MHP for its
support
Ahmet
Davutoglu said Tuesday that "terrorism is not just a problem for
the government but a problem for Turkey and the opposition must act
in a certain manner in sharing this burden".
Speaking
at the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentary group
meeting, the Prime Minister said that Turkey is a country that has
fought terrorism for 40 years and called on the opposition to be
transparent in their attitude against terrorism.
Davutoglu
criticized the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP)
Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu’s remarks that targeted the government
and his party, saying that "Kilicdaroglu has a very typical and
predictable attitude towards terror attacks. We have yet to get a
clear picture from him regarding his attitude towards the terror
issue. What we hear in the wake of terror attacks is just baseless,
AK Party criticism". He
said that the CHP, along with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic
Party (HDP), serve the aims of terrorists with the statements they
make. Davutoglu also claimed that the CHP's statements have only
caused people to panic instead of evoking confident, inspiring words.
He
also indicated that the CHP goes hand-in-hand with the Gulen Movement
whenever an operation is launched against the movement. The
Prime Minister also thanked the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
Chairman Devlet Bahceli for his support against terrorism.
Davutoglu
concluded: “They [the MHP] have set a good example for what kind of
an attitude must be adopted during such times. I took a break during
the Cabinet meeting and they said: ‘We have come to declare our
support. You should not further postpone the meeting, our support is
with you’. This is what we want to see from the opposition.”
11.
Turkey’s
Energy Minister visits China to improve ties in energy sector
Turkish
daily Sabah (online, 23.03.16) reports that Turkey’s Energy
Ministry is looking for alternative sources to cover the country's
energy demands. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak
begins a four-day visit to China to meet with investors in the fields
of renewable and nuclear energy.
An
important agenda topic for the China visit is nuclear power. Albayrak
will visit the city of Weihai and examine the Chinese national State
Nuclear Power Technology Corporation's CAP-100 Nuclear Plant (a
so-called "third-generation" Nuclear Plant).
Albayrak
said that the Chinese energy sector has a broad technological
infrastructure for nuclear energy, coal-based thermal power plants as
well as solar and wind energy and that Turkey
will hold strategic talks with the Chinese authorities to cooperate
on Turkey's third nuclear power plant, a coal-based thermal power
plant and the production of solar and wind energy.
Explaining
that energy in Turkey's coal fields varies between 1,300 and 2,000
calories, Albayrak said that current technology enables the
production of electricity by transforming low-calorie coal. "We
will view China's super thermal technology from this perspective,"
he said.
Citing
Turkey's growth rate as progressing at 3% to 4%, he said: "The
increase in our electricity production is moving at this level.
However, Turkey needs more installed power. Within the next 10 years
we need to produce new capacity of 50,000 megawatts. During this
period $100 billion worth of investments will be on the table."
He also said that despite the troubled and difficult atmosphere in
the area, Turkey's appetite for new investors is still ongoing.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/AM)
