Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-10-19

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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] Avci expresses gratitude to Erdogan for upgrading regime's status at ECO

[02] Cerkez argues that approval of EU's "Direct Trade Regulation" will close the economic difference between the two communities

[03] The process for the privatization of illegal Tymvou airport has been launched

[04] Ertugrul Hasipoglu on the occupation regime's health sector

[05] Trash dumps again in occupied Lefkosia; Panic for epidemic diseases

[06] Belgian Minister: EU to initiate visa exemption if Turkey signs readmission deal

[07] Turkish columnist writes that Turkey must find another scapegoat to blame after the end of Cyprus EU term Presidency

[08] Famous Turkish Composer in court for "insulting Islam"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Avci expresses gratitude to Erdogan for upgrading regime's status at ECO

In a statement issued yesterday, Avci expressed his gratitude to the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for securing this development.

Avci expressed his sorrow for seeing during the past few days that some political parties and "marginal groups", as he called them, are "annoyed" from "TRNC's" close relations with "motherland" Turkey and from the support granted by the "motherland" to the Turkish Cypriots during their difficult days.

Avci condemned the "unjust and unfair" criticism of some party representatives and "marginal groups" against the Turkish EU Minister, Egemen Bagis, who has recently visited the occupied area of Cyprus and "expressed his endless support to the Turkish Cypriots". Avci argued that these circles, who are disturbed from Turkey's aid to the Turkish Cypriots, are a minority and their views are not supported by the "people".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cerkez argues that approval of EU's "Direct Trade Regulation" will close the economic difference between the two communities

According to a statement issued by the Chamber, during their meetings, Cerkez argued that in case European Union's (EU) "Direct Trade Regulation" with the Turkish Cypriots was approved, it would help in "closing the differences between the two economies" and "reduce the cost of a possible solution that will be reached on the island". He claimed that the approval of this regulation is prevented for political reasons and argued that the EU should find alternative ways to close the economic difference between the occupied north and the government-controlled south area of the island, before the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Cerkez reiterated the Turkish allegation that the EU did not keep its promises to the Turkish Cypriots and noted that according to the results of the EuroBarometre, the trust of the Turkish Cypriots in the EU was decreased.

Cerkez wished success to both Ambassadors and briefed them in detail on the Chamber. He also wished for the trade [of the Turkish Cypriots] with the two countries, to be increased.

(I/Ts.)

[03] The process for the privatization of illegal Tymvou airport has been launched

Also, according to the paper, after the letting of contracts is signed, a handover commission will be established. The transferring of illegal Tymvou airport to the company called Tasyapi Terminal Company Ltd, should be completed in a period of one month.

According to the contract, the company which won the tender should extend and modernize the illegal Tymvou airport with an investment which costs 350 million Euro.

(AK)

[04] Ertugrul Hasipoglu on the occupation regime's health sector

Stating that the amount of 11.5 million TL has been allocated to the budget as a fund for treatments in the "country" and abroad, Hasipoglu said that this fund could not even cover their debts to Turkey. He added that they also have another debt to the "Near East Hospital".

Pointing out that only 6% of the "budget" goes to the health sector, Hasipoglu said that it is not possible with this allocation to offer successful services in the health sector. He also stressed that their goal for this year is to reach the international standards in the health assistance.

(AK)

[05] Trash dumps again in occupied Lefkosia; Panic for epidemic diseases

In statements to Kibris, Savas Bozat, chairman of the trade union of the employees in the "municipality" (BES), said that the employees are living in very difficult conditions and they have lost their faith to the "state". He added: "We will continue our action. We have not received the decision of the council of ministers in writing".

He also said that their actions will be harder than the existing one and "shocking".

Meanwhile, BES stated that it would not allow to the so-called district office of occupied Lefkosia to hire a private company for collecting the garbage because this would be tantamount to "breaking the strike".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Belgian Minister: EU to initiate visa exemption if Turkey signs readmission deal

Reynders said he was set to discuss the issue with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, expressing hope that progress would be made soon on the readmission agreement.

Last June, the EU authorized the European Commission to conduct visa exemption talks with Turkey, as Turkey and the Union later initialled the readmission agreement in Brussels.

[07] Turkish columnist writes that Turkey must find another scapegoat to blame after the end of Cyprus EU term Presidency

"[?] In Ankara, the EU is increasingly "passe" as evinced by a quiet competition among Mr Erdogan's men on how best to humiliate the Europeans. EU Minister Egemen Bagis was a frontrunner in two categories: disgracing disgraceful Europeans and local humour. [?]

Too bad, there is no longer a Nikolas Sarkozy around for the Turks to put all the blame on for failing to qualify for membership. Instead, the new scapegoat is 'that so-called mini state which in a so-called way happens to be the so-called term president of the [so-called?] EU.'

But time is running out, and Turkish diplomats must use their creative skills to find a new culprit, as the Irish are soon taking over from the Cypriots. Ah, with the notorious drunkards how could we have made any progress? Alternative explanations could include global warming (because it slowed down EU diplomats' comprehension of Turkish reforms), North Korean nuclear weapons (because they threatened EU's expansion) and the Greek neo-Nazi Golden Dawn Party (just because they are anti-Turkish). [?]"

This column had (half) joked a year and a half ago, predicting the repercussions on EU accession of an easily-predictable election victory for the AKP in the June 2011 general elections:

'?the EU diplomats dealing with Turkey may have to find new jobs after elections in June. There is every reason to predict that the size of the European Commission representation in Ankara may gradually decline from its present 140 to half a dozen by the end of 2012. Parallel to that, the Secretariat-General for EU in Ankara may gradually metamorphose into the Secretariat-General for Middle Eastern Coal and Steel Affairs ('Turkey's EU-premise is Middle East Coal and Steel Community,' this column, March 2, 2011).'"

[08] Famous Turkish Composer in court for "insulting Islam"

Say faces charges of allegedly "publicly insulting people's religious beliefs" by sharing an Omar Khayyam quote through his Twitter account.

In his defence, Say said his Twitter account was not open to the public and only those requesting to follow him could see his Twitter posts. "Therefore I could not be accused of publicly insulting people's religious beliefs because I was expressing myself in my personal space. Those offended by my Twitter posts can do nothing but unfollow me," Say said.

Before adjourning, the court ruled the plaintiffs needed to prove they were personally following Say on Twitter the day he tweeted the controversial remarks. The court also freed the renowned composer from the obligation of attending upcoming hearings due to his heavy concert schedule.

The plaintiffs called for Say's sentence to be increased from nine months to 15 months based on Articles 216 and 218 in the Turkish Criminal Code.

The hearing began amid protests of support from fans, politicians and Say's artistic friends, including famed Turkish sculptor Mehmet Aksoy, whose "Statue of Humanity" was erected in the eastern province of Kars to promote peace and reconciliation between the Turks and Armenians and infamously demolished after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his distaste for it.

According to Dogan news agency, the court allowed only a limited number of accredited journalists into the building on the grounds there was a lack of space in the courtroom, resulting in a large crowd forming outside the courtroom. Omer Kavili, who chairs the Attorney Rights' Center of the Istanbul Bar Association, said the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor was responsible for assigning the case to such a small courtroom. "The purpose is clear. They want to slip the case off the public radar on the grounds there is not enough space to host people who want to see the trial. This is openly an irregularity of services on the part of Justice Ministry."

Say raised a storm on social media when he tweeted a couplet from Khayyam. "You say its rivers will flow in wine. Is the Garden of Eden a drinking house? You say you will give two hours to each Muslim. Is the Garden of Eden a whorehouse?" Say tweeted.

He also tweeted, "I don't know whether you have noticed or not but wherever there is a stupid person or a thief, they are believers in God. Is this a paradox?"

In its most recent 2012 progress report, the European Union, which Turkey aims to join, said it had "serious concerns" about Ankara's approach to freedom of expression, noting that Turkey's "reforms fall short of a significant improvement regarding freedom of expression." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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