23/3/16

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

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)