TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
72/16
19.04.2016
1.
New “elections law” was unanimously adopted by the “assembly”
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus
2.
Water problems in the occupied area of Cyprus
3.
Isik called the Greek Cypriots to recognize the “TRNC” as
exchange of usurping the Republic of Cyprus
4.
“KIB-TEK’s” chairman criticizes those who argue that the
“electricity authority” should be privatized
5.
Officials from the Local and Regional Authorities of CoE will carry
out contacts in Cyprus
6.
Sertoglu: “My dear friend (Koutsokoumnis) made a mistake”
7.
Davutoglu and Cavusoglu called on EU to keep the promises it gave to
Turkey
8.
The Turkish army has no weapons of mass destruction, claims Defence
Minister
9.
YDU participated in the “13th
International Congress on Human Genetics” in Japan
1.
New
“elections law” was unanimously adopted by the “assembly” of
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (19.04.16) reports that the
“assembly” of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus unanimously adopted yesterday the “elections and
referendum (amendment) draft-law”,
which is allegedly expected to improve the political culture in the
occupied area of the island.
When
the “law” is signed by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and
published in the “official gazette” of the occupation regime, the
entire occupied area of the island will be turned into a “single
election zone”,
instead of five, which existed until now. The
“candidates” will be included in a single list and the “voters”
will be able to “vote” for “deputies” in the entire occupied
area and not only in the area in which they live.
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (19.04.16) reports that the
number of the “deputies” will remain the same (50) and they will
be distributed according to the population of the existing occupied
districts:
E.g. Nicosia 16, Famagusta 13, Keryneia 10, Morfou 6 and Trikomo 5.
A
“voter” which votes for one party will be able to express
preference to mostly half of the “candidates” of his/her party in
every district.
The
“voter” who will chose the “combine vote” will be able to
express preference to mostly half of the “candidates” of a party
or the independent candidates in a district. The
“voters” will be able to choose among at least 24 and mostly 50
“candidates”.
Kibris
(19.04.16) reports that in
order for running for “candidate” one should permanently live in
an area for at least two years.
If a person has changed his/her permanent residence during the past
two years and has not permanently lived in an area for two continuous
years, he/she will be able to run in the “elections” in the area
in which she/he had lived the longest period.
Explaining
the provisions of the “law” at the “assembly”, Turfan
Erhurman, “deputy” with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said
all 50 “candidates” of a party will be in one list, the area from
which each “candidate” will run will be taking place in the list
and every “vote” to any “deputy” of any party will include
the “candidates” in all districts.
Referring
to the same issue, Mustafa
Arabacioglu, “deputy” with the Democratic Party (DP) argued that
the “law” should be well explained to the “citizens” and that
the regionalism will be abolished but the quotas will remain.
Nazim
Cavusoglu, “deputy” with the National Unity Party (UBP) and
self-styled minister for agriculture and natural resources, noted
that the “people’s preferences” will show the extent of the
change brought by the “law”.
Hakan
Dincyurek, “independent deputy”, said that even those who made
the “law” ask questions on how the “voting” will take place
and how the calculations will be made. He added that the
uncertainties regarding the “law” should be overcome.
Hasan
Tacoy,
also “independent deputy”, said
that some problems might be solved with the single list.
Meanwhile,
the
People’s Party (HP)
issued a written statement arguing that the
new “law” includes undemocratic elements, that the use of
“combined vote” will become extremely complicated and that it
interferes in the choice of the “people” using their free will.
Finally,
the
so-called cultural association of the settlers coming from Turkey’s
Black Sea area argued that the “law” will create a more
complicated and more unjust “election system” and added that they
might apply to the “constitutional court” for the annulment of
the “law”.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Water
problems in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (19.04.16) reports on the water
problems in the occupied area of Morfou and writes that the
inhabitants of the area are facing new issues, on top of the tones of
water that was transferred from Turkey that is wasted in the sea, due
to the problems faced regarding the implementation of the agreement
between Turkey and the breakaway regime.
According
to the paper, the wells in Morfou have been salted and not enough
financial sources are available; therefore the inhabitants are facing
many problems regarding the water distribution.
The
so-called mayor of occupied Famagusta, Ismail Arter, said that
Famagusta receives 4,000 tons of water daily from Morfou but due to
the pumps that are broken they have not received water for the last
11 days. He said that the people’s water needs are not met at all
despite that they receive 6.500 tons of water daily through the
method of water purification from the sea. As he said, some areas
receive water every 4-5 days.
(CS)
3.
Isik
called the Greek Cypriots to recognize the “TRNC” as exchange of
usurping the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli newspaper (19.04.16) reports that the
chairman of the human rights association Hasan Yilmaz Isik argued
that “the Greek Cypriots can pay the price of usurping the Republic
of Cyprus for 54 years with the recognition of the TRNC”.
In a
written statement, Isik called “the Greek Cypriots to recognize the
independence of the Turkish Cypriots as well as their state for the
peace, stability and tranquillity of the East Mediterranean and for
the interests of the two motherlands”. He argued that the essence
of an agreement in Cyprus is not the population but the political
equality.
(DPs)
4.
“KIB-TEK’s”
chairman criticizes those who argue that the “electricity
authority” should be privatized
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (19.04.16) reports that Ismet
Akim,
chairman
of the administrative council of the so-called electricity authority
(“KIB-TEK”) of the breakaway regime,
has
said that
“KIB-TEK”
has for a long time been in the agenda of the “economic protocol’
to be signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime for the period
2016-18.
Referring
to Turkey’s demand regarding the privatization of the authority”,
Akim noted: “Those
who say ‘you have to privatize KIB-TEK, you cannot collect
revenues’, could not exceed 70% in the revenue collection in spite
of the fact that electricity is in the hands of the private sector in
their country today. Our revenue collection percentage is 96,6%”.
Speaking
at a press conference yesterday, he explained the actions of his
“administrative council” during the past couple of years. He said
that during the first month after his appointment to the post, they
did not have money even to buy fuel, adding that now they are buying
fuel paying in advance. He
noted that they managed to decrease their debt from 351 million 166
thousand 316 Turkish liras (TL) to 214 million 815 thousand 614 TL.
Asim
said that “KIB-TEK”
suffered loses reaching 53 million 355 thousand 209 TL in 2011, 3
million 741 thousand 648 TL in 2012 and 83 million 782 thousand 922
TL in 2013.
He
added that in 2014 they managed to have a profit of 5 million 896
thousand 38 TL and in 2015 a profit of 54 million 872 thousand 185
TL.
Referring
to the cost of the projects during his term, Asim said that this
reached 127 million 140 TL of which the sum of 93 million 633
thousand TL has been paid.
(I/Ts.)
5.
Officials
from the Local and Regional Authorities of CoE will carry out
contacts in Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (19.04.16) reports that Ahmet Yalcin
Benli, self-styled mayor of the occupied village Geunyeli and
“chairman of the Turkish Cypriot municipalities association”
announced that Jean-Philippe Bozouls, Executive Secretary of the
Congress Chamber of Local and Regional Authorities, and Anders Knape,
President of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress, will
visit Cyprus.
Benli
said that this visit is extremely important for them and their
“country”, adding that their representation which had contacts at
the Council of Europe produced this result. Benli further said that
they will meet them today in “Geunyeli municipality” and added:
“We believe in the European criteria for the development of the
local democracy. We are determined to act with all our municipalities
for the provision of autonomy of the local authorities. In this kind
of process, it will give us pleasure to host in our country our
European high official friends”.
(DPs)
6.
Sertoglu:
“My dear friend (Koutsokoumnis) made a mistake”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (19.04.16) reports that Hasan
Sertoglu, the chairman of the “Turkish Cypriot Football
federation”, (TCFD) Hasan Sertoglu, commented on the visit of the
chairman of the Cyprus Football Federation (KOP) to Istanbul and
stated that Costas Koutsokoumnis did the right thing for travelling
to Turkey.
“The
chairman of KOP went to Turkey and acted the way all the other guests
acted. However, what he said and how he acted following his return
and the reactions he caused, were wrong. My dear friend acted in the
wrong way”, Sertoglu stated.
Referring
to the process regarding the agreement between KOP and the “TCFD”,
Sertoglu stated that no-one can do what KOP is asking and added that
a new initiative is planned soon on the issue of the agreement.
(CS)
7.
Davutoglu
and Cavusoglu called on EU to keep the promises it gave to Turkey
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (19.04.16) reports that Turkish Prime Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu warned Monday that Turkey could not be expected to
stick to its commitments if it was not granted visa-free travel in
the EU by June.
Under
a deal with the EU late last year, Turkey agreed to take back
refugees from Greece while Turkish nationals were promised a
relaxation of the visa regime in Europe.
Addressing
journalists at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport before his departure to
Strasbourg, France, Davutoglu said he expected the visa arrangements
to be finalized by June. “If it is not carried out, no-one would
expect Turkey to adhere to its commitments,” he said in reference
to the deal, which also promised a financial package for Turkey to
support refugees and fast-tracked EU accession.
In
addition, Turkish daily Sabah (19.04.16) reports that Turkish Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey will cancel its agreements
with the European Union on migrants if the EU doesn't keep its word
on the deal.
Cavusoglu
made the comment in parliament in response to opposition criticism
over the government's Syria policies, which include the deal with the
EU last month designed to stem the influx of Syrian migrants to
Europe.
"The
deal we struck with the EU is very clear. We want this human tragedy
to end, our citizens to travel visa free, and the customs union to be
updated," he said in his speech. "If the EU doesn't keep
its word, including the migrants deal we will cancel all agreements”,
he stated.
8.
The
Turkish army has no weapons of mass destruction, claims Defence
Minister
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (19.04.16) reports that the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK) does not possess any weapons of mass destruction (WMDs),
Turkish Defence Minister İsmet Yilmaz has claimed.
“There
are no chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons in the
inventory of the TSK,” Yilmaz said in response to a motion filed by
a Deputy of the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party
(HDP).
In
his motion, HDP Tunceli Deputy Alican Unlu said four militants of the
outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were killed while around a
10-hectares of land were burned during a military operation at
Tunceli’s Ovacik district during a shelling on Sept., 16, 2015,
asking whether banned weapons were used in the operation.
“During
the TSK shelling which went on for two days, four PKK members lost
their lives and around 10 hectares of land was burned. Families who
went to the Forensic Medicine Institute for identification have said
bodies were completely burned beyond recognition, voicing concern
that banned weapons may have been used,” Unlu said at the time.
In
his response, Yilmaz argued that Turkey was party to various treaties
and conventions concerning the proliferation of WMDs, as well as to
the related export control regime.
9.
YDU
participated in the “13th
International Congress on Human Genetics” in Japan
Turkish
Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (16.04.16) reports that the illegal
Near East University (YDU) participated in the “13th
International Congress on Human Genetics”, which took place between
7-8 of April in Tokyo, Japan.
According
to the paper, YDU participated in the congress with two
dissertations.
(CS)
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