TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
190/16
04.10.2016
1.
Akinci alleges that the Greek Cypriot side ignores the “serious move” made by
the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey on the security
2.
Eide says that the leaders have achieved more progress than ever in the Cyprus
negotiations
3.
Akinci will brief the “parliament” on the Cyprus
problem
4.
Ozgurgun says that the Cyprus problem will again be the most important topic in
the “parliament’s” agenda this year
5.
Denktas alleges that they will grant “citizenship” to all settlers who have the
“right” to take it
6.
The so-called assembly launched works; statements by Sibel on the Cyprus
problem; Turkish Cypriot political parties condemned the July 15th
coup attempt in Turkey
7.
The daughter of the chairman of the “Cyprus Central Bank” was arrested for
connections with the Gulen organization
8.
Erdogan blasts UN, US and the EU
9.
Turkey extends state of emergency for 3 months
10.
Yildirim: “There is no Kurdish problem, just a PKK terror
problem”
11.
Erdogan and Yildirim slam Moody’s
12.
Turkey lifted the ban for German lawmakers to visit Incirlik and expects AWACS
approval by Germany after lifting İncirlik veto
13.
“Why is Erdogan hitting at Turkey’s founding
generation?”
14.
Meeting of the Association of Press Council to be held in the breakaway regime
15.
Berova to participate in the 3rd meeting of Youth and Sport Ministers
of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
16.
The breakaway regime is organizing a tourist roadshow fair in
Iran
17.
More about the “renting of a plot of land” in occupied
Keryneia
18.
Turks ‘most active Facebook users’
1.
Akinci alleges that the Greek Cypriot side ignores the “serious move” made by
the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey on the security
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (04.10.16) reports that
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has alleged that the Turkish
Cypriot side and Turkey have made a “serious move” on the issue of security,
that the position that the 1960 system of guarantees cannot be touched was
changed and that the Greek Cypriots ignored this move.
Giving
the first lecture of the 2016-17 academic year at the “International university
of Cyprus” (“UKU), Akinci said that he is trying to explain to all his
interlocutors the dangers which exist if the solution of the Cyprus problem is
extended in 2017 and reiterated the view that if a “common political
understanding” is not reached by the end of the year, their job will become more
difficult in 2017.
Akinci
called on President Anastasiades to think of the next generations and not the
next elections and reiterated the position that they want a solution to be
reached in three stages during the forthcoming process. He argued that if the
existing opportunity is missed the problem will become more difficult given the
potential dangers and division will be strengthened.
Akinci
further said that there are only “semicolons and commas” in diplomacy and no
“full stops”, but expressed the belief that the Cyprus problem has come to its
“saturation point”,
because “the solution today is more difficult than it had been 12 years ago
and it will be even more difficult tomorrow”.
Referring
to the hydrocarbon issue, Akinci argued that they see a field of cooperation,
but it could be turned into a field of tension and blow the negotiating process
up. He went on and reiterated the position that there are a lot of reasons
for hurrying up to achieve a political solution by the end of 2016.
Akinci
said that the solution to be reached will be a bi-zonal, bi-communal state and
that it is absolutely necessary that everyone lives without dominating over each
other, in equality, participating in the decisions and having rotating
presidency.
Referring
to the stage of the negotiations which will start today, Akinci said that they
will focus on four chapters and that in the second stage there will be a camping
type series of meetings upon an invitation by the UNSG during which they will
discuss the territory issue.
He added that right afterwards they want to hold a five-party conference with
the participation of the guarantor powers to discuss the security and the
guarantees.
He
reiterated: “Let us finish now the basic principles of an agreement by the end
of the year in such a format, let us put them on paper. The technical issues
could remain for 2017. What I want is for us to see whether we can reach an
agreement in 2016. If we start building the framework, we will fill it up”.
Akinci
alleged that before going to New York they agreed with President Anastasiades to
say to the UNSG that “we will return to Cyprus and work for minimizing the
points of disagreement, but afterwards to go to a five-party meeting within a
framework in which we will discuss the security and the guarantees as
well”.
He claimed that President Anastasiades was afraid of the “uproar” of what
Akinci called as “the rejectionist front” and behaved as if these things had
never happened. Akinci argued that preparation is needed for the five-party
conference and that the UNSG cannot invite the guarantor powers two days before
the meeting.
Referring
to the political situation in the government-controlled area of the Republic of
Cyprus, Akinci said that AKEL and DISY parties could never have a joint
candidate in the elections and therefore their eye is turned onto the votes of
the “rejectionist front”. “I wish for Anastasiades to think of the future
generations and not the future elections”, he claimed.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Eide says that the leaders have achieved more progress than ever in the Cyprus
negotiations
Turkish
Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (04.10.16) reports that Espen
Bath Eide, UNSG’s special adviser on Cyprus, has said that President
Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci have achieved more progress than
ever in the Cyprus negotiations and that the negotiations have never been
in a more advanced point than today.
In
statements after meeting yesterday with Akinci, Eide noted that they evaluated
the meeting to be held today within the framework of the Cyprus talks. He said
that the agreement text to be prepared by the two sides is a text written and
agreed by the Cypriots. Every word of it has been written by Cypriots, he
noted adding that the UN was only trying to help and is not at the stage
on the issue of writing the agreement.
Eide
expressed the view that it would be “extremely tragic” if the existing
opportunity for finding a solution is not used, that there are two
community leaders who are committed to solve the problem and that the
international community also wants a solution. He said that the meeting today
will be focused on an agreement as regards how the forthcoming days will be
used and added that the two leaders agree on what they achieved during their
recent visit to New York and what they have in their hands.
Eide
argued also that the sides agree on what should be done and have the same target
as regards the point they want to reach.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Akinci will brief the “parliament” on the Cyprus
problem
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.10.16) reports that the
self-styled parliament of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus decided yesterday that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci will brief the “deputies” on the latest developments on the Cyprus
problem on Thursday, 6 October.
The
“extraordinary session” will start at 10.00 o’ clock in the
morning.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Ozgurgun says that the Cyprus problem will again be the most important topic in
the “parliament’s” agenda this year
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (04.10.16) 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 Cyprus problem will again
be the most important topic on the agenda of the “parliament”. Addressing
yesterday the opening ceremony of the new “legislative year”, Ozgurgun said
that Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci will brief the “parliament” on Thursday
regarding the developments on the Cyprus problem and described the briefing as
important from the point of view of holding the process in a “relaxed manner”.
Ozgurgun
alleged that their target is to find a solution to the Cyprus problem and that
they observed that the Greek Cypriot side does not have a will for reaching an
agreement. He further claimed that the presidential elections in the
government-controlled area of the island might cause halt and difficulties in
the negotiations.
(I/Ts.)
5.
Denktas alleges that they will grant “citizenship” to all settlers who have the
“right” to take it
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (04.10.16) reports that
Serdar Denktas, self-styled deputy prime minister of the breakaway regime
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged that every person
who has the “right” to take the “citizenship” of the regime will be granted the
“citizenship”.
In
statements to a television station, Denktas claimed:
“Will
they be five thousands by the end of the year? I do not know whether they
will be five thousands or fifteen thousands. Everyone who has not been treated
in a humane manner, everyone who has been condemned living imprisoned until
today, will take it. […] It is so simple. They say that the number will
increase to 230 thousands. It will be increased from 600 thousands to 800
thousands and I will say nothing, but the number of 220 thousands was given and
it had not even been discussed whether this was right or wrong and I will remain
committed to it. No, I will continue […]”
Replying
to a question, Denktas claimed that this move will not weaken Turkish Cypriot
leader Akinci at the negotiating table.
Asked
whether President Erdogan told them to stop granting “citizenships”, Denktas
replied negatively and added that no one urged him to give or not give
“citizenships”. He claimed that no one from Turkey did
this.
(I/Ts.)
6.
The so-called assembly launched works; statements by Sibel on the Cyprus
problem; Turkish Cypriot political parties condemned the July 15th
coup attempt in Turkey
According
to illegal Bayrak television (03.10.16) the so-called assembly reopened today
following a 3 month summer recess.
A
joint declaration by the political parties with “seats in the parliament” was
read out by the “parliamentary speaker” Sibel Siber during the
session.
All
political parties condemned the July 15 coup attempt of the Gülen terrorist
group (FETÖ) made on July 15. "We declare that we condemn the coup attempt
against the constitutional order, rule of law and democratic will made on July
15, 2016 in Turkey and we condemn the heinous attack against the Turkish
parliament as the TRNC parliament presidency and all political parties
represented at the parliament and we are always on the democratic will's side
under all conditions", said the declaration.
The
statement added that the resistance by the Turkish people, who risked their own
lives against the coup attempt in July, would not be
forgotten.
Also,
in her opening speech, Siber touched upon the Cyprus issue and argued that that
unlike the internal problems, the Cyprus problem is not something that could
only be solved by the one side. “It is our hope that a just and permanent
solution is found to the Cyprus problem, one that will bring peace to the two
peoples on the island” Siber said and added that the “two peoples” on the island
needed to feel secure.
On
the issue of administration and power sharing, Siber said that it should not be
based on numerical majority but political equality and reiterated that the
Turkish Cypriot “people” supported a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution based on
political equality.
“A
solution is different, peace is different, therefore the solution that will be
found should not lead to renewed fighting but embrace peace and be viable” added
Sibel.
Meanwhile,
so-called prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun and political party representatives
delivered speeches during the “session”.
7.
The daughter of the chairman of the “Cyprus Central Bank” was arrested for
connections with the Gulen organization
Turkish
daily Sabah newspaper (04.10.16) reports that the daughter of the “chairman” of
the “Cyprus Central Bank”, Bilal San, was arrested in Turkey for connections
with the Gulen organization.
According
to the paper, the woman was arrested in the framework of the “ByLock program”,
which is a mobile phone application adopted by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, aiming to detect persons who have connections with Gulen.
(CS)
8.
Erdogan blasts UN, US and the EU
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (03.10.16) reported that President Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan in statements during the Science and Technology Conference on October 3
in Ankara, alleged that the United Nations is “a burden on humanity” due to its
“unfair structure” and decision-making power. “The U.N. Security Council was
established to guarantee human rights and eliminate injustice but today it fails
to carry out these duties”, Erdogan argued.
Noting
that “there are no Muslim member-states in the U.N. Security Council,” he argued
that the Permanent membership of the UNSC should be increased from 10 to 20, 10
of which rotate every two years, so that all 193 countries take an equal
turn.
Erdogan
also slammed the U.S. for dragging its heels on extraditing Pennsylvania-based
Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, who he said has “lived in luxury on 400,000
square meters of land for 17 years.”
“We
don’t look for a court ruling whenever the U.S. asks us for [the extradition of]
a terrorist. But we have not seen the same from our partner,” he said, referring
to Washington’s stance on Gülen, who is accused of being behind Turkey’s failed
military coup attempt of July 15.
Erdogan
also stated that “obstacles from the U.S. and Israel” ironically paved the way
for Turkey to produce its own drones. He said that whenever Ankara has asked
Washington to purchase drones, obstacles are thrown up in the U.S. Congress. “We
are strategic partners, are we not?” he said.
(…)
Erdogan
also blasted the European Union for “failing to keep its promise” on
humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees hosted in Turkey, saying that out of the 3
billion euros promised by Brussels, only 179 million euros have received so
far.
Although
the issue of refugees was brought up at the recent session of the U.N. General
Assembly in New York, nobody properly embraces them, he said, while vowing that
Turkey will continue to fulfill its humanitarian duties “regardless of whether
the EU keeps its promise or not.”
9.
Turkey extends state of emergency for 3 months
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (03.10.16) reported that Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister
Numan Kurtulmus announced on Monday that Turkey's state of emergency, initially
declared after the July 15 defeated coup, will be extended for 3 more
months.
Speaking
to reporters after the Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, Kurtulmus said
that the assembled Ministers decided that the state of emergency would be
extended as of October 19 for 90 more days, with Parliament’s
approval.
“Turkey
will determinately fight against all terror organizations,” Kurtulmus
said.
The
National Security Council last week had advised extending the state of
emergency.
According
to the Turkish Constitution, a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum
period of six months, but can also be extended if needed.
Parliament
must ratify states of emergency, and the ruling Justice and Development (AK)
Party has a comfortable majority for doing so.
To
enact the state of emergency, the government must see serious indications of
widespread violence which could interfere with Turkey's democratic environment
or its citizens' basic rights and freedoms as established by the
Constitution.
10.
Yildirim: “There is no Kurdish problem, just a PKK terror
problem”
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (03.10.16) reported that Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım
has denied that Turkey has a “Kurdish problem,” saying there is instead only an
outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) “terror problem” that hinders
development in the country’s eastern and southeastern
provinces.
In
statements during a meeting with the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and
Craftsmen (TESK) in Ankara, Yıldırım said that terrorism was holding back
development and investment in Turkey, especially for citizens living in the east
and southeast. “We have been suffering from terrorism for many years. In
reality there is no Kurdish problem in Turkey. Kurds have a terror problem with
the PKK. This problem holds us back in all areas. Works in the region are
delayed, investments are delayed. Who is suffering? Our citizens living there
are suffering,” he added.
Yıldırım
recalled that six soldiers who were taking security measures were recently
killed in an attack during construction of a road between the southeastern
province of Şırnak and the eastern province of Van.
“Now
let my citizens see, let my Kurdish citizens living there see. This terror
organization, these vile people are doing whatever they can to hinder the
development of the region. Let our children not fall into this trap,” he said.
His
remarks on the fragile situation in Turkey’s east and southeast came after he
said the state is responsible for “regulation” to make sure there is no unfair
competition. “The state’s duty cannot be trade. The state’s duty is to
provide security, justice, education, and health. Otherwise we should leave
everyone to do their own job,” said Yıldırım.
“We
should provide everybody with the same opportunities and whoever is then
powerful should move ahead,” he added.
11.
Erdogan and Yildirim slam Moody’s
Turkish
daily Sabah (03.10.16) reported that President Recep Erdogan in statements
during a gathering of local officials in Ankara, claimed that far from being in
decline, Turkey's economy has been growing for the last 27
quarters.
"Turkey
continues to grow and develop. The credit agencies make evaluations under
someone's orders.
These agencies give a 'stable' outlook to a country like Turkey, which is
standing on its own two feet. This time they even reduced it," Erdogan said.
Erdogan's
comments follow the decision last week by ratings agency Moody's to lower
Turkey's credit rating from Baa3 to Ba1.
"Put
some coins into their [credit agencies'] pockets and get the rating that you
want. We know where they take their orders from," Erdogan said,
adding:
"Cut the rating as much as you want. Turkey will continue to
develop.
"We
will open the Eurasia Tunnel on December 20. Let them come and go through the
tunnel," he said, referring to a $1.25 billion project underneath the Bosporus,
due to cut the 100-minute cross-strait journey time to just 15 minutes.
According
to Erdogan, no one took Moody's decision seriously, as it was guided by
political motives, not economic indicators.
Meanwhile,
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (03.10.16) reported that Prime Minister
Binali Yıldırım has slammed the Moody’s decision to downgrade Turkey’s credit
rating at a moment when the Turkish economy is growing.
“It
is not the place of a credit rating company to decide on Turkey’s note.
Tradesmen, businessmen and the people are the ones who get to decide. We are
responsible to them, not to the credit institutions,” Yıldırım
said
on Oct. 3 in a speech delivered to the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and
Craftsmen (TESK) in Ankara.
Blasting
the Moody’s decision, Yıldırım emphasized increases in Turkey’s national income
and economic growth, saying that “confidence in the economy rose by 21% in
August.”
“When
the people are expressing their trust, what credit rating institutions say is
not important,” he also said.
“We
have achieved economic growth while fighting against [the Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant] ISIL, [the Kurdistan Workers’ Party] PKK, and [the Fethullah
Terror Organization] FETÖ. Today, the economic indicators of Turkey are better
than many others in the world,” Yıldırım alleged.
12.
Turkey lifted the ban for German lawmakers to visit Incirlik and expects AWACS
approval by Germany after lifting İncirlik veto
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.010.16) reports that Turkey is expecting
Germany’s Parliament to approve the deployment of surveillance aircraft to
support an international coalition’s fight against jihadists in Syria, following
the resolution of a months-long crisis between Ankara and Berlin over the
latter’s request to let its lawmakers visit German troops at İncirlik Air
Base.
A
team consisting of six members of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee will pay a
two-day visit to Turkey and hold talks with their counterparts at the Turkish
Parliament’s Defense Committee on Oct. 4 before flying to İncirlik, which
currently hosts 300 German soldiers, six Tornado surveillance aircraft and one
tanker aircraft.
“The
visit of German authorities to İncirlik is within the framework of inspecting
German troops stationed at the base,” Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş told
reporters following a cabinet meeting on October 3.
“The
decision for their visit was made in line with our bilateral agreements with
Germany,” Kurtulmuş said.
(…)
However,
having lifted its blockage on German lawmakers’ visit to İncirlik, Turkey
expects two key decisions from the Bundestag. The first one is the extension of
the mandate of German surveillance jets and its troops in İncirlik. It’s
believed that Germany will issue a 14-month-long extension to the mandate which
will also include the construction of military facilities for German troops that
will cost 58 million euros.
The
second approval expected from Germany’s Parliament is the deployment of NATO’s
Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveillance aircraft to Turkey
under a NATO decision to support the United States-led international coalition
fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq.
AWACS
aircraft will be provided to Turkey by Germany, although the deployment requires
clearance from the German Parliament. NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander
Vershbow said last week that he hoped the AWACS operation would begin before a
NATO defense ministers’ meeting in late October.
“We
hope the necessary approval will be given by the German Parliament before this
meeting. The ball is in Germany’s court,” a Turkish diplomatic source told the
Hürriyet Daily News.
13.
“Why is Erdogan hitting at Turkey’s founding
generation?”
In
a commentary in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.10.16) under the above
title, columnist Semih Idiz writes the following:
“Turkey
today is in desperate need of unity and calm. The failed coup attempt on July 15
came at a time when political tension was already high. There was a moment of
hope after the coup was foiled that wisdom would prevail, especially since the
Parliament stood against the coup in a unified manner.
This
is why it is intriguing that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has chosen to return
to the path of division and tension. As a statement from the main opposition
Republican Peoples Party (CHP) said last week, Erdogan has returned to the
‘default settings’ as far as his abrasive and vindictive manner is
concerned.
That
statement was issued after Erdogan came out trashing the Treaty of Lausanne
signed with world powers in 1923, following Turkey’s successful War of
Liberation against Greece after World War I. Lausanne is considered today to be
the founding document of the Turkish Republic.
By
arguing that this treaty was a failure – and not the success that it has been
seen as for decades because it gave the Aegean Islands ‘only a shout away’ from
Turkey away – Erdogan was effectively questioning the founding document of
modern Turkey.
It
is also noteworthy that it was the same Erdogan who only in July, on the 93rd
anniversary of the signing of Lausanne, issued a statement lauding the treaty
and referring to it as the ‘title deed of the Republic’.
The
fact that Erdogan contradicted this statement just two months later, by grossly
misrepresenting the circumstances surrounding the Lausanne negotiations, did not
bother even those more informed elements among supporters of the Islamist
Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Not
one of them felt the need to underline that the Dodecanese Islands, which are
indeed a shout away from Turkey, were passed to the Italians in 1913, a decade
before the Republic was founded, after the Ottomans lost a war against
Italy.
The
false impression among most AKP supporters is that these islands were handed to
Greece on a silver platter by the Turkish negotiators at Lausanne, starting with
İsmet İnönü, one of the main heroes of the War of Liberation and the second
President of the Republic after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
They
argue that the successful war against invading Greek forces should have been
carried on to the islands, clearly unaware that this would have entailed war
with Italy. Neither are they aware that Italy was indirectly facilitating
Turkey’s War of Liberation at that stage because it was not given regions of the
Aegean it coveted after World War I.
The
history is too complex to go into here, and clearly far too complex for the
average AKP supporter to comprehend. All that matters for them is that İnönü is
their object of hate for his staunch secularism, and has become their scapegoat
twice over because they cannot hit at Atatürk. It does not take much imagination
to figure out who the real target is when İnönü is attacked and Lausanne is
trashed.
Erdoğan
also appears unaware or uncaring of the diplomatic fallout from some of his
statements. It did not take long for his remark about Lausanne to be picked up
in Greece as a sign that Turkey still covets the islands and for the expected
official protest from Athens to come.
Greece,
however, did not pursue the matter, obviously aware that Erdogan’s ultimately
meaningless words were aimed at a domestic audience. His remark was no doubt
noted, however, by diplomats as an example of how he can blurt out statements to
serve his political ends at home without considering the international
ramifications of his words.
Erdogan
and his supporters are clearly more concerned with getting even with their
secularist enemies and are now choosing to hit at them by attacking the founding
generation of the secular Republic. They are not too concerned about ‘bending
history’ as long as doing so serves their ends.
As
to what this is doing to inner peace and stability in Turkey; that is obviously
of secondary importance for them, if it is a consideration at all”.
14.
Meeting of the Association of Press Council to be held in the breakaway
regime
Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (04.10.16) reports that the World
Association of Press Council is holding its 17th executive council
meeting in the breakaway regime between 2-6 of October.
According
to a statement issued by the Turkish Cypriot Press Council, journalists from
Turkey and other countries will participate in the meeting.
Turkish
Cypriot politicians and “officials” will briefly address the council. Among them
are “prime minister” Huseyin Oozgurgun, “speaker of the assembly”, Sibel Siber
and “deputy prime minister and minister of finance” Serdar
Denktas.
A
delegation of the Association held a meeting with Ozgurgun yesterday headed by
its chairman Kajubi Makajanka.
The
paper notes that the World Association of Press Council held meetings in the
breakaway regime in 2000 and 2009..
(CS)
15.
Berova to participate in the 3rd meeting of Youth and Sport
Ministers of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation
Turkish
Cypriot daily Democrat Bakis newspaper (04.10.16) reports that self-styled
minister of education and culture Ozdemir Berova is going to Istanbul today in
order to participate in the 3rd meeting of Youth and Sport Ministers
of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The council will be held between 5-7
of October.
According
to the paper, Berova will deliver a speech during the
meeting.
(CS)
16.
The breakaway regime is organizing a tourist roadshow fair in
Iran
Turkish
Cypriot daily Democrat Bakis newspaper (04.10.16) reports that self-styled
ministry of tourism and environment in cooperation with the Turkish airlines is
organizing a tourist roadshow fair in Tehran and Tebriz, Iran.
The
paper writes that self-styled minister of tourism and environment Fikri Ataoglu
went to Tehran in order to have contacts aiming to increase flights towards the
breakaway regime.
He
went on and added that they will also start advertising in Azerbaijan,Moscow and
UK to attract more tourists.
(CS
17.
More about the “renting of a plot of land” in occupied
Keryneia
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (04.10.16) reports again on the “decision”
taken by the so-called council of ministers in the breakaway regime on September
29, regarding the renting of a 20 thousand squares meters plot of land belonging
to the “state” to the “founding rector” of the illegal “Near East university”
Suat Gursel for a period of 49 years. The “land” was rented to Gursel in order
to be used by the “maritime faculty” of the illegal university.
The
paper writes that everybody remains silent on this matter, since no statement
was made yet by any political party, organization or trade
union.
According
to the paper, the plot of land is located near the sea in occupied Keryneia
area and it is considered as one of the most beautiful areas in the “country”.
Its value is estimated as 1 million Sterling per acre, writes the paper and
underlined that it was made known that in the same location, another plot of
land “belonging” to Peanuts restaurant, of about 2,5 thousand square meters was
sold for 2,5 million Sterling to a businessman called Mehmet Ezic.
On
the same issue and under the front-page title: “They gave to Gursel a protected
area”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (04.10.16) reports that the
“solidarity movement” in a new statement yesterday revealed that the above
mentioned plot of land which was handed over to a “university”, is considered
as an “archeological protected area”.
The
“solidarity movement” condemned the procedures followed by the so-called
government and called it to withdrawn from “giving as bribe” the “land of this
country” to specific groups which serve the big capital.
The
“solidarity movement” supports that illegal procedures were followed since no
tender has been opened first and underlines the fact that the “ministerial
council decision” was not even published in the “official gazette” of the
breakaway regime.
(AK)
18.
Turks ‘most active Facebook users’
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (03.10.16) reported that the head of Facebook Turkey
has announced that half of the world’s internet users connect to Facebook, but
this figure is a whopping 97% in Turkey, making the country’s internet users
“the most active Facebook users”.
Around
half of all 3.4 billion internet users are also Facebook users, yet this figure
hits almost 97% in Turkey, said Facebook Turkey Country Director Derya Matraş.
“There
are 43 million Facebook users in Turkey; around 30 million of them connect to
the social network on a daily basis. This is an incredible rate,” Matras said in
an interview with daily Hürriyet.
She
added that some 39 million internet users in Turkey are also active in mobile
technologies.
“Due
to these tremendous figures, Facebook’s Turkish team has been growing. We are
now a part of the Middle East and Africa region, headquartered in Dubai,
although the Turkey team works from London. We are developing our organizational
structure so as to work with our business partners in a closer manner,” she
added.
(…)
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/AM)
