Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-08-22

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Irsen Kucuk announced illegal visits of Turkish officials to the occupied area of Cyprus

[02] Turkish Cypriot parties' reaction on the population census announced for 27 members

[03] Ozersay met with the Israeli ambassador

[04] Threats by Avci on the issue of the exploration for oil and natural gas

[05] Statements by Yorgancioglu on the Cyprus problem and the oil exploration

[06] Statements by Atun on the issues of electricity and the exploration for oil and natural gas

[07] YKP: Returning Varosha to its legal owners will seriously contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem

[08] Akca on the 2010 Annual Report of the Turkey's "Aid Committee"; He slams Turkish Cypriots for spending

[09] A visit at Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca

[10] Turkey and South Africa to facilitate visa liberalization

[11] Escalating PKK tensions in Turkish borders continues

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

Main issues in the Turkish newspapers during the weekend were Turkish Premier Erdogan's visit to Somalia and his statement that assistance would continue to hunger-hit Somalia without intervals, statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu that, if Israel did not apologize for the killing of nine Turks on an aid ship on May 31, 2010, relations between Turkey and Israel would further deteriorate, as well as reports that Turkey and South Africa agreed to facilitate visa liberalization. Moreover, reports that the Turkish private sector's foreign debt increased by 40 percent between January and June 2011 when compared to the same period last year, the increase of the number of financial investors by 230,000 in one year in Turkey, and other internal issues were also covered by the press.

[01] Irsen Kucuk announced illegal visits of Turkish officials to the occupied area of Cyprus

Speaking during a fast breaking dinner organized by the National Unity Party (UBP) in occupied Keryneia last night, Kucuk referred to the visit that will be paid by Cemil Cicek and Besir Atalay and pointed to the cooperation that has been carried out between "motherland Turkey" and the UBP "government". "Our good relationship between Motherland Turkey has started to bare its fruits", Kucuk said.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (22.08.11), "prime minister" Irsen Kucuk also announced that the salaries of the civil servants will be paid before the Bayram holiday begins. According to the paper, Irsen Kucuk stated after a telephone conversation he held with Ankara that "motherland Turkey" expressed its support and promised that it will help the regime to pay all the salaries before the Bayram holidays.

(AK)

[02] Turkish Cypriot parties' reaction on the population census announced for 27 members

The United Cyprus Party (BKP) has stated that the population census should be carried out by the United Nations (UN) in order for being "correct and reliable". In a statement issued on Friday, Salih Efendi, member of BKP's executive committee, said that the data given by the so-called State Planning Organization are not correct. He noted that population is transferred from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus contrary to all international agreements and the Geneva Convention. Efendi said that the Turkish Cypriots have been turned into minority in their own country and that the population is not known. "We do not trust the population census to be held by the UBP government", he added.

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CHP), Ozkan Yorgancioglu, stated that the population census must be held under the control of the "TRNC". However, he argued the political parties must also have their own observers in the census.

On his part, the leader of the Democratic Party (DP), Serdar Denktas, said that the views of the political parties on the census must be taken. He said that they should trust themselves more than the UN.

Mehmet Cakici, leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that the census must be held under the supervision of the UN. Observers from international organizations and the EU must also be presented at the census, he added.

[03] Ozersay met with the Israeli ambassador

In a statement to illegal TAK news agency regarding the meeting, Ozersay said that the meeting was very fruitful and that they discussed and exchanged views regarding issues that were currently on the agenda.

Ozersay, however, shied away from actually revealing the content of the issues discussed during the working dinner.

[04] Threats by Avci on the issue of the exploration for oil and natural gas

In a written statement issued yesterday, Avci called on the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to abandon its "dangerous" approach and concentrate on the negotiations "held by the Turkish Cypriot side with good will'. He alleged that the Republic of Cyprus has no right and authority to sign agreements on energy resources that belong to the entire island.

He argued: "The Greek Cypriot administration which did not take into consideration the statements made both by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Motherland Turkey and the TRNC officials might be forced to pay a very heavy price for this adventurism".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Statements by Yorgancioglu on the Cyprus problem and the oil exploration

He also argued that the developments that happened in the government-controlled area of Cyprus after the explosion on 11 July create conditions that boost distrust toward the Cyprus Government and alleged there are doubts among the public about the political power of President Christofias in the negotiations.

Yorgancioglu claimed that it is clear that the recent statements by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Erato Kozakou Marcoullis against Turkey do not help in the efforts of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. He accused the Cyprus Government of directing its efforts to the search for oil and natural gas instead of trying to find a Cyprus settlement, acting more courageously and preparing its people for a "United Federal solution". Yorgancioglu alleged that the Cyprus Government assigns more importance to this issue (oil exploration) than to the solution of the Cyprus problem. He described this as a behaviour that increases the tension in the area.

Noting that the UN Secretary-General has called on both sides to avoid making statements which raise tension, Yorgancioglu said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu makes statements on possible scenarios in case that the negotiations collapse instead of contributing to a positive outcome of the negotiations. Yorgancioglu argued that all these approaches by both sides do nothing else than to undermine the negotiation process.

[06] Statements by Atun on the issues of electricity and the exploration for oil and natural gas

In statements yesterday, Atun commented on news published in the Greek Cypriot press that no agreement was reached between the sides on this issue and noted that the agreement on electricity was extended for another six months during a meeting they held with Greek Cypriot officials last week.

Referring to the issue of explorations for natural gas and oil in the Mediterranean Sea, Atun said they expect the Greek Cypriot side to show the same good will on this issue as the cooperation which exists on the issue of electricity. He noted that this is necessary for the protection of the stability in the area.

Referring to the electricity demand in the occupied area of Cyprus, Atun said that the energy consumption reaches 270 megawatt at its highest level and that their production capacity is around 310 megawatt. He said that in September they will invite tenders for two new power plants and for acquiring around 20 megawatt of energy from wind power.

(I/Ts.)

[07] YKP: Returning Varosha to its legal owners will seriously contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem

In a statement during the demonstration, Murat Kanatli, member of YKP's executive committee, said that turning Varosha into ruins is a violation of the international law. He noted that the opening of Varosha and the return of the "old inhabitants of Famagusta" to their lands will seriously contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem. He, inter alia, pointed out the following: "Together with giving the possibility to the inhabitants of Famagusta to return by demilitarizing the area in the process leading to the solution, the Cypriots will be able to secure economic profit by establishing joint businesses with the reconstruction of Varosha. If it is considered that the population of Varosha before 1974 was 40 thousands, a serious number of displaced Cypriots will be able to return to their old property. Even this alone is something that will strongly motivate the belief of the Cypriots in the reunification".

(I/Ts.)

[08] Akca on the 2010 Annual Report of the Turkey's "Aid Committee"; He slams Turkish Cypriots for spending

Commenting on the 2010 Annual Report on the "public" finances of the breakaway regime prepared by Turkey's "Aid Committee", Halil Ibrahim Akca said that Turkish Cypriots are not investing for future generations but rather sparing 82.2 percent of their budget for salary payments and similar expenses. "Residents of Turkish Cyprus are not making the necessary investments for future generations. On the contrary, they are indebting the latter for the sake of their current expenditures," Akca said.

The paper continues and writes: "Turkey created 1.1 billion Turkish Liras of resources for North Cyprus in 2010, of which 851 million went to the latter's budget whereas the remaining 249 million went to direct payments to people employed in the public sector, without the money being included in the Treasury.

Of the 851 million liras Turkey contributed to Turkish Cypriots' budget last year, 475 million liras were used to close the budget deficit and the remaining 376 million liras for investment, defence and support for the real sector. This amount counted for 32.2 percent of Turkish Cyprus' total budget.

Turkey cut its contributions to the northern part of the divided island by 8.7 percent in 2010, mostly because of the sharp increases in the latter's budget deficit in 2008 and 2009.

The positive environment created in Turkish Cyprus in 2004 due to political developments started to decrease in 2007 and became much worse after 2008's global economic crisis, according to the report.

Unlike the majority of countries around the globe that took measures to face the 2008 crisis, Turkish Cypriots failed to take any measures to provide fiscal discipline. On the contrary, fiscal arrangements that damaged fiscal discipline were made, as the country moved toward the general elections.

The growing 2008 budget deficit kept worsening in 2009 as well, as the newly appointed government that started its mandate 2009 went for another "general election" in the following year, the report reads.

The report also said tax rates on alcohol drinks, personal cars, cigarettes, fuel oil, gambling and casinos, and employees' income were increased in the second half of 2010 within the framework of fiscal measures. The withholding tax rate on deposit savings and gambling games was also raised, according to the report.

Meanwhile, value-added tax rates were reviewed and the rate was cut from 7 to 5 percent. The tax application on super pensions of retired persons, on the other hand, halted following a cancellation by the Constitutional Court in January. Such a decision gave way to a large fall in tax revenue, which was estimated to reach some 250 million liras.

Subtitle: Fight against informality

The measures aiming to increase public revenues were also accompanied by measures focused on the development of monitoring mechanisms to fight against transactions in the informal economy, the report said.

It was found that recordings of purchases with credit cards did not match tax statements by companies, which showed that the black market in the 'TRNC' was larger than thought to be.

Regarding the expenditures side of the budget, staff recruitment remained within limits. Meanwhile, support for agriculture remained as part of the budget and a part of debts from previous years were also paid back in 2010.

Measures regarding working hours remained ambiguous and even insufficient as an increase in working hours per week to 39 by law was cut to 36.5 hours per week in practice, after accounting for administrative permissions, the report said".

[09] A visit at Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca

According to the announcement, there will be busses in the occupied areas of Famagusta, Morphou, Keryneia and Trikomo to carry the believers to the occupied part of Lefkosia and from there they will together visit Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca. Packages for the iftar (breaking the Ramadan Fast dinner) will be also distributed during the visit.

[10] Turkey and South Africa to facilitate visa liberalization

Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference after meeting South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Davutoglu said that mutual visits will take place to boost bilateral relations and that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would pay a visit to South Africa in upcoming months.

We discussed the steps to be taken for a free trade agreement with South Africa, Davutoglu said adding that they had a chance to talk on regional matters, including Libya and Syria.

Touching on the situation in Somalia, Davutoglu said that a tragedy was taking place there and that Turkey would do everything possible to help Somalia.

Davutoglu also met on Saturday with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa. No statement has been released after the meeting.

[11] Escalating PKK tensions in Turkish borders continues

Strikes against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, have been continuing since Wednesday night and Ankara vowed Sunday to continue the cross-border operations until the Kurdish militants are eliminated. PKK attacks have killed more than 30 soldiers in the last month.

Turkey's operation in northern Iraq is still continuing but the Kurdish Regional Administration says the issue can only be solved through dialogue as it condemns the military attacks. "It is no longer the time for violence or war. It is the time for peace and dialogue," the administration says in expressing its discomfort.

A group fronted by the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party wanted to gather in the city's central Taksim Square on Sunday to protest strikes against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, but was prevented by the police.

Turkey vowed Sunday to continue cross-border military operations until Kurdish militants in northern Iraq are totally eliminated, but the bombardment has been slammed by Iraqi Kurds, who have demanded that Baghdad and world leaders act to end the attacks.

"The fight against terror will continue until it is destroyed to its roots. As you have been seeing, air and land operations to the dens of terror have taken place, and they will continue without hesitation when necessary," Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters Sunday during a visit to the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat.

According to a statement by the Turkish General Staff, 20 air attacks and 85 artillery units hit their targets on Saturday, the third day of the raids. The air attacks targeted the Kandil Mountains, as well as the Sinaht-Haftanin, Hakurk and Gara regions using advanced night vision and navigation technologies, while the 85 artillery targets including the Zap, Avasin-Basyan and Hakurk regions. Meanwhile, a large group of PKK members attempted to attack on the Karakoc Gendarmerie Station in the eastern province of Tunceli early Saturday morning. One PKK member was killed. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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