14/6/16

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

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


No. 110/16                                                                                        14.06.2016
1. Akinci asked from UN and EU officials to accelerate the opening of Deryneia and Apliki crossing points; Akinci and Anastasiades agree on the issue
2. The breakaway regime’s “assembly” adopts the “agreement” for Turkey establishing a “youth and sports coordination office”
3. Akinci met with the US Ambassador to Cyprus
4. Applications towards the “compensation committee” have been reduced
5. Izcan: Erdogan is trying to establish a dictatorship regime through the presidential system
6. Occupied Keryneia is one of the four candidate towns to host the International Masters Games Association 2019
7. 187.767 sterling for the promotion of “TRNC” in Britain



1. Akinci asked from UN and EU officials to accelerate the opening of Deryneia and Apliki crossing points; Akinci and Anastasiades agree on the issue
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.06.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci called President Nicos Anastasiades and discussed the issue of accelerating the opening process of the crossing points of Deryneia and Apliki.

According to a press release by Akinci’s office, prior to the phone conversation with Anastasiades, Akinci had a meeting yesterday morning at his office upon his request with officials from UNDP-PFF, EU support office and UNFICYP.

In the meeting, “officials” from the “presidency”, the self-styled undersecretary of the foreign ministry and co-chairman of the technical committee for crossing points Mustafa Lakadamyali, UNDP-PFF Director Tiziana Zennaro, UNFICYP’s senior advisor Lynn Hastings and the head of the EU support office, Alessandro Bianciardi, were also present.

During the meeting, the issue of accelerating the process of the road construction tender by the UNDP in order to enable the opening of Deryneia and Apliki crossing points was discussed. Akinci, at the meeting asked from the UN and EU officials to take immediately the necessary steps in order to launch without any further delay the road tender carried out by the UNDP, which is the final step before the opening of both crossing points.

At the phone conversation, Akinci and Anastasiades affirmed their consent on accelerating the process for opening the crossing points of Deryneia and Apliki.
(DPs)

2. The breakaway regime’s “assembly” adopts the “agreement” for Turkey establishing a “youth and sports coordination office”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.06.16) reports that after discussions that lasted for 16 hours, the breakaway regime’s “assembly” approved the “draft-law” as regards the “agreement” providing for the establishment of a “youth and sports coordination office abroad” by Turkey in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. The “draft law” passed with the votes of the “deputies” coming from the two “coalition partners”, the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Democratic Party (DP) and the four “independent deputies”.
The “We Reject It Platform” held protest activities inside and outside the “assembly” and tension was experienced. Some young persons continued their protest outside the building under strict “police” measures.
Zeki Celer, “deputy” with the Social Democracy Party (TDP) addressed the “assembly” speaking for continuous eight hours and after his speech talked with the young protesters outside the building.
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has made a call for postponing the voting on the “draft law”, but his call was not accepted.
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (14.06.16) reports that Akinci invited the leaders of the political parties for discussing the issue at his office today at 11.00 in the morning.
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (14.06.16) reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the “draft law” has already passed from the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) and argued that the Turkish Cypriots are also adopting it as a sign of a “serious state”. If problems exist, we will fix them, he argued.
Turfan Erhurman, general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) said that the “draft law” leads the Turkish Cypriots to take a decision which will annihilate them and transfer to others all their “powers” regarding youth and sports. This issue has no relation with Turkey’s support, he noted.
Dogus Derya, also “deputy” with the CTP, said that “they see the assembly as an annotator” and described the development as a “present and assimilation”.
Mehmet Cakici, “deputy” with the TDP, said that the issue of “who administrates this country” and who determines the tendencies on the politics and religion should be discussed. Noting that the transfer of all strategic points of the “country” to private companies from Turkey is wanted, Cakici argued that this goes beyond even the monopoly and wild capitalism. 
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (14.06.16) covers the issue under the title “Big reaction” and recalls that the “agreement” provides the following:
- The cooperation program developed within the framework of the “agreement” will be coordinated by Turkey’s Youth and Sports Ministry and the breakaway regime’s “ministry” for youth and sports.
- The project materialized by Turkey’s Youth and Sports Ministry will be implemented if they are considered to be appropriate by the “TRNC officials”.
- The development of shelter and scholarship opportunities for students and securing help to the breakaway regime’s “government” in this sense are also provided for.
- Turkey will provide help to the breakaway regime for the establishment of youth camps and sports installations and the participation of young people in cultural and sports activities.
-  The youth camps and the sports installations to be established will be operated by the “coordination office”.
- Turkey will select and employ all personnel, which will be employed at the sports installations, the youth camps and the cultural installations, including local staff.
- The personnel, which will come from Turkey for the construction of the installations, will be granted all the facilities secured to the “citizens of privileged countries”. Facilities will also be granted to the personnel at the “passport” control points as well.
- The officials of the “coordination office” will be granted all immunities secured to the “institutions” responsible of youth and sports and the higher education “institutions” in the occupied area of Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)

3. Akinci met with the US Ambassador to Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (14.06.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met yesterday with the US Ambassador to Cyprus Kathleen Ann Doherty at Akinci's office. No statement was issued prior or after the meeting.
(DPs)

4. Applications towards the “compensation committee” have been reduced
Under the title “Hopes lay only to solution” Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (14.06.16) reports that the cases in front of the “Compensation committee” have been reduced or they have been postponed without setting a new date.

The paper notes that in January 2015 13 applications were made to the “Committee” while this number has been reduced to only 7 in the same period in 2016.

In addition, the “Commission” has accepted 6,289 applications until June 13, 2016 from which 762 were solved via a friendly settlement while 22 were solved in “court”.
(CS)

5. Izcan: Erdogan is trying to establish a dictatorship regime through the presidential system
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (14.06.16) reports that the leader of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan, in a meeting with a delegation from Turkey’s Communist Party (TKP), said that as a leftist party believing in the people’s fraternity they support and cooperate with all the organizations which fight for the peace, democracy and freedom. He added that it is a pity that Turkey is dragged into civil war. Izcan also stressed that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to establish a dictatorship regime under the name of presidential system.

Finally, Izcan said that they aim to develop their relations with the TKP by increasing their cooperation and solidarity.
(DPs)

6. Occupied Keryneia is one of the four candidate towns to host the International Masters Games Association 2019
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.06.16) reports that occupied Keryneia is one of the four candidate towns to host the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) for 2019.

According to the paper, the other four towns are Pesaro (Italy), Tampere (Finland) and Torino (Italy).

Srhad Deniz, the chairman of the “Mediterranean sport union” which submitted occupied Keryneia’s candidacy thanked Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and “prime minister” Huseyin Ozgurgun for the assistance offered to them towards this effort and stated that all the “people of the country” must work so that occupied Keryneia to be granted the organization of the Games.
(CS)

7. 187.767 sterling for the promotion of “TRNC” in Britain
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.06.16) reports that according to the “official gazette” of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus the “council of ministers” decided that 187.767 sterling will be paid from the budget of “tourism and environment ministry” to Accord Group Ltd in order to promote “TRNC” in Britain aiming to the increase of tourists.
(DPs)



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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)