1/9/15

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW



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


No. 165/15                                                                                        01.09.2015
1.Burcu: The “TRNC citizens” will become citizens of the newly established Republic
2. Reconstruction works at the Saint Georgios Church in occupied Kormakitis were forced to stop by the occupation regime
3. “Turkish Cypriot Basketball Federation” met with the Basketball Federation of the Republic of Cyprus
4. Women’s basketball team of the illegal Near East University will participate in the Turkey’s Women Super League
5. Ersan Saner the fifth candidate for the UBP leadership
6. So-called government announced economic measures
7. Turkey's Parliament to vote on the extension of Syria mandate 
8. A Turkish pollster claims that if there were elections in Turkey today the AKP would receive 43-44%
9. Erdogan filed a lawsuit against Bahceli
10. A Turkish delegation in Israel for contacts after a 5 year break

1. Burcu: The “TRNC citizens” will become citizens of the newly established Republic
Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (01.09.15) reports that Baris Burcu, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader, has said that the “TRNC citizens” will become citizens of the newly established Republic after the solution of the Cyprus problem. In statements to Detay, Burcu replied to “allegations” regarding the future of the illegal Turkish settlers in the occupied area of Cyprus in case a solution to the Cyprus problem is reached. Burcu argued that efforts are exerted for the issue of citizenship to “be abused”.
Under the title “EU citizenship to the people of Turkish Republic origin”, the paper writes that Burcu called on the “people of Turkish Republic origin” to “feel comfortable”.
Burcu said: “Some groundless news is spread in the direction that our citizens from Turkey will not become citizens of the Federal Cyprus which will be established and that they will suffer discrimination. We have said it many times and I will stress it once more on this occasion. There will be absolutely no discrimination among all of our citizens”.
Burcu argued that all the “TRNC citizens” will become part of the solution to be reached and added: “The TRNC citizens will become citizens of the newly established Republic. Let no one doubt about this”.
Burcu said that they are working for all their “citizens” to be able to become citizens of the federal state after the solution and “it is out of the question for us to think and implement anything else”. “This is our position at the negotiating table”, he noted.
(I/Ts.)

2. Reconstruction works at the  Saint Georgios Church in  occupied Kormakitis were forced to stop by the occupation regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (01.09.15) reports that the reconstruction works at the  Saint Georgios Church in the occupied Kormakitis village were forced to stop by the occupation regime on the ground that no “permission” was taken by the “authorities”.

According to the paper, the works will continue until permission will be obtained by the “Keryneia district officer”.
(CS)

3. “Turkish Cypriot Basketball Federation” met with the Basketball Federation of the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.09.15) reports that a delegation of the “Turkish Cypriot Basketball Federation” (KOK) held a meeting with the Basketball Federation of the Republic of Cyprus. The meeting was held at the Basketball Federation of the Republic of Cyprus’ headquarters.
The two “federations” discussed their activities and exchanged views about their works. They also talked about actions that they can do together.
(CS)

4. Women’s basketball team of the illegal Near East University will participate in the Turkey’s Women Super League
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.09.15) reports that the women’s basketball team of the illegal Near East University (YDU) will participate in Turkey’s women Super League. This was announced yesterday during a press conference organized by the Turkish Basketball Federation.

The home matches of the team will take place in Ankara.

(TR. Note: FIFA ruled some months ago that the team cannot conduct its home matches in the breakaway regime).
(CS)

5.Ersan Saner the fifth candidate for the UBP leadership
According to illegal BRT (31.08.15) the National Unity Party (UBP) “deputy” in occupied Famagusta Hamza Ersan Saner has announced that he will be running for the post of party leadership at the upcoming party congress to be held on the 31st of October.
With Saner’s candidacy, the number of contestants running for the UBP’s leadership has reached five.
Saner announced his candidacy at a press conference held yesterday. Speaking during the press conference, Saner said that he was running for the leadership to bring real change to the “country” by carrying out politics with principles.
Pointing out that the “country” is experiencing economic recession and political deadlock, Saner said that it is important to make the right political choices at the right time. “Whether it is on the Cyprus issue or other economic, social and political issues, we as a country are on the verge of serious change. It is important that we act in unity and solidarity both as a party and as a country during this sensitive period”, Saner said.
Saner also vowed, if elected, to work towards bringing an end to temporary or short term political measures and populist approaches towards solving the country’s problems. “I am running to become the UBP’s leader to bring true change. The key to change is to uphold a modern political understanding which is bold, decisive, honest, and sensitive and which attaches utmost importance to individual rights and freedoms” he said.
The other candidates contesting for the party’s leadership are: the UBP chairman Huseyin Ozgurgun, the “deputy” in occupied Lefkosia, Ersin Tatar, the “deputy” in occupied Trikomo Nazım Cavusoglu and the “deputy” in occupied KeryneiaUnal Ustel.

6. So-called governmentannounced economic measures
According to illegal Bayrak (31.08.15) the so-called government has announced after the “council of ministers meeting”, its decision to fixed foreign exchange rates for “customs duties, taxes and import fees” for a period of 90 days.
The “council of ministers” took the decision at an extraordinary meeting on Monday afternoon.
Announcing the decision, so-called prime minister Omer Kalyoncu said that the fixed exchange rates were determined according to the average effective selling rates between March and August as provided by the “central bank”.
The new fixed rates are as follows:
• USD= 2.70 TL
• British Pound Sterling= 4.14TL
• Euro= 2.97 TL
The “council of ministers” also lowered withholding tax rates for rent contracts in Turkish Liras from 10% to 7% and raised withholding rent contracts in foreign currency from 10% to 13%.

7.Turkey's Parliament to vote on the extension of Syria mandate 
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (01.09.15) reports that Turkey’s Parliament will convene for an extraordinary session on September 3 to vote on a motion to extend the mandate of the Turkish Armed Forces to take military action in Iraq and Syria.
The motion submitted by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) on August 21st, said there was an increased risk regarding national security.
The motion, which is for the extension of a motion adopted on October 2, 2014, and which authorized the launch of military incursions into Syria and Iraq for possible operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), was opened for signatures during the latest cabinet meeting.
The motion is particularly important for the government amid the nearly month-long campaign of air strikes against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in southeastern Anatolia and northern Iraq, as the motion originally also includes terrorist threats from Iraqi territory.

8. A Turkish pollster claims that if there were elections in Turkey today the AKP would receive 43-44%
Turkish daily Sabah (01.09.15-online in English) reports that the President of the Istanbul-based A&G research company Adil Gur said that if the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) analyzed thoroughly previously made mistakes then it can achieve success and become the single ruling party.
Gur underlined that the AK Party needs to come up with a new story and that it needs to thoroughly analyze its mistakes. "The political parties that will assess the June 7 results will be the ones to succeed in the upcoming elections. A special campaigning must be made," Gur added. In this regard, he said that the AK Party must focus on provinces where it lost votes with small percentages while not disregarding the ones it won in.
Gur further alleged that if there were an election tomorrow the AK Party would receive 43-44% of vote, the CHP 26-27%, the MHP 13-14% and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) 12-13%.
The AK Party is also leading the polls with 43.7%according to a recent survey by the Objective Research Center (ORC).
The ORC conducted personal interviews with 2,450 people in 34 cities between August 22-25. Responding to the question of who they will vote for in the elections, 43.7% of interviewees said they would vote for the AK Party while 27.5% said they would vote for the CHP. The MHP took third place with 14.3% of interviewees indicating they will vote for them and the pro-Kurdish HDP will pass the threshold again, as 11.2% of interviewees indicated they would vote for them.
(…)

9. Erdogan filed a lawsuit against Bahceli
Turkish daily Cumhuriyet newspaper (01.09.15) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan filed a lawsuit against Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli who accused Erdogan of treason over the government's recent efforts to settle the Kurdish question.
According to the paper, Erdogan asks for a 100,000 Turkish Lira compensation.
(CS)

10.A Turkish delegation in Israel for contacts after a 5 yearbreak
Turkish daily Sabah (01.09.15-online in English) reports that a Turkish delegation arrived on Monday in Israel to discuss investment in a Palestinian business project that would allow for export of goods duty free to the U.S.
The official visit of a Turkish delegation was a first in five years, after the 'Mavi Marmara' flotilla crisis, in which nine Turkish citizens were killed by Israeli commanders in May 2010.
According to Israeli media reports the delegation, led by Professor Jovan Sak, the managing director of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), an economic policy think tank based in Ankara, is set to meet in Israel with the Israeli Deputy Minister of Regional Cooperation Ayoub Kara.
The Turkish business leaders are reportedly planning to discuss development of an industrial zone near the Palestinian city of Jenin in the northern West Bank. The Turkish businessmen are reportedly planning to invest $100 million in the area, turning it into an industrial zone.
The proposed zone will initially cover an area of 1,300 acres initially, but will likely expand later on, according to the reports.
The Turkish businessmen purchased the plot of land from the Palestinians at a cost of $10 million, but the final cost of the project is expected to reach $100 million.
The project, backed by Israel, the U.S., and the European Union would allow for the export of goods duty free to the U.S.
The officials believe that Monday's visit marks a new era in Israel and Turkey's relationship in terms of re-establishing their relationship.
(…)




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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/ AM)