Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-10-22

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Kucuk re-elected leader of the National Unity Party - Kasif questions his victory

[02] Ankara openly involved in favor of Kucuk election ?AKP members secretly arrived in occupied Cyprus to influence voters

[03] Turkey's Atalay and other politicians participated to the UBP's congress; Atalay stated that Turkey's goal is a "Great Cyprus"

[04] Ertug announced the cancellation of annual Toros military exercise

[05] A cruise ship with 60 American passengers visited occupied Cyprus

[06] Fenerbahce denied reported ban on flags on October 25th game

[07] The occupation regime has launched a disinfection of uncollected garbage in occupied Lefkosia; Reactions by Turkish Cypriots inhabitants in occupied Lefkosia increased

[08] Music festival in occupied Cyprus to bring around 50-80 thousand people from foreign countries

[09] Turkey's TSK vowed to respond to security threats from Syria

[10] Turkey's Yildiz gave information on Turkey's 3rd nuke plant bid

[11] Akkuyu's first power unit to be completed in 2019

[12] New project in Turkey for the replenishment of Golden Horn water by piping water from Bosporus

[13] Turkish columnist comments on CPJ' report on the freedom of press in Turkey; the report reveals that 76 journalists are imprisoned in Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Kucuk re-elected leader of the National Unity Party - Kasif questions his victory The Turkish press reports today (22.10.12) about the election congress of the National Unity Party (UBP) and writes that the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk was re-elected leader of UBP receiving only 14 votes more than his main opponent Ahmet Kasif.

Reporting on the issue Kibris writes that the close vote difference between the two opponents paved the way for many discussions since Kasif stated that according to UBP's regulations, a person must receive 50% plus 1 vote out of 1427 persons who are the registered UBP members who have the right to vote, in order to be elected chairman. However, the congress presidency committee headed by "foreign minister" Huseyin Ozgurgun declared Kucuk as the new UBP chairman, on the basis that he received the most votes, creating many reactions on behalf of Kasif supporters who questioned his decision.

Speaking after this development, Kasif stated that "democracy has been slaughter" and added that he is curious on how the UBP regulation will continue to be applied in the future. In addition, lawyer Yunsal Ilhan, member of Kasif's supporting group stated to Kibris that the decision taken by the congress "presidency committee" is against UBP regulation and that they will apply this morning to a "court" against it. On his part, after he was declared again UBP chairman, Kucuk thanked those who voted for him and stated that they will continue their struggle under UBP's roof.

In addition, Haberdar writes that speaking on the launching of the congress, Kucuk praised Turkey's aid towards the breakaway regime: "We must think a lot, we must plan a lot and we must work a lot. Our guide is motherland Turkey and our love to TRNC", he stated and added that Turkey is always next to them.

On the contrary, Ahmet Kasif criticized Turkey's involvement to UBP's congress and the direct support towards Kucuk's candidacy. "Motherland is not mister Irsen's (Kucuk) motherland; it is the Turkish Cypriots' motherland. The aid from Turkey does not come for the aid of Mister Irsen; it comes for the aid of Turkish Cypriots", he noted. Kasif further criticized strongly Kucuk both for the problems faced inside UBP and the breakaway regime and said: "Democracy is not possible this way; elections are not possible this way".

Volkan reports on the issue under the title "The elections on the court" and writes that Kasif will apply to a "court" since he does not accept the congress presidency committee and questions its legitimacy.

Under the title "Kucuk 704-Kasif 690: No winner", Afrika writes that the election results created a lot of discussion in the breakaway regime and notes that Kasif supporters stated that a second round should be declared after this development.

[02] Ankara openly involved in favor of Kucuk election ?AKP members secretly arrived in occupied Cyprus to influence voters

The paper writes that high AKP officials, among them Besir Atalay, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cyprus Affairs, Suleyman Soylu, one of AKP deputy chairman and MPs with AKP, Sadullah Ergin and Salih Karpuz, arrived in the breakaway regime secretly and without following any protocol, just hours prior to UBP congress and held a meeting in occupied Karavostasi in which Halil Ibrahim Akca, the "Turkish ambassador" to occupied Lefkosia and UBP members who supported Kucuk, also participated.

Yeni Duzen, citing information, writes that the aim of the meeting was to persuade the self-styled minister of education Kemal Durust, who had under his influence 87 UBP voters to stop supporting Ahmet kasif and to start support Kucuk. They also held face-to-face meeting with other UBP members, trying to persuade them too to vote for Kucuk. The paper writes that Durust did not stop supporting Kasif even after the pressures he was put towards him.

In addition, Afrika (21.10.12) reports on the same issue and writes that the AKP officials travelled to occupied Morfou and also to occupied Lefka in order to work in favour of Kucuk's candidacy. According to Afrika, Atalay and his delegation visited even the sheikh of Lefka asking his benediction for Kucuk's election. Afrika writes that the AKP officials tried to persuade Durust to vote for Kucuk but they were not able to reach him.

[03] Turkey's Atalay and other politicians participated to the UBP's congress; Atalay stated that Turkey's goal is a "Great Cyprus"

In statements yesterday to illegal TAK, BRT, Ankara Anatolia and TRT, during his participation to the National Unity Party (UBP)'s general congress, Atalay pointed out to the importance of the fact that the occupation regime has gained an observer status during the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) meeting which took place recently in Baku, Azerbaijan and stated that this is an important development since they gained a new political platform, as he said.

Atalay went on and said that after this development, there will be an increase on the number of students and tourism from the ECO member countries to the "TRNC".

Stating that he participates to the UBP congress upon an invitation he received from the so-called prime minister and UBP chairman Irsen Kucuk, Atalay expressed his pleasure for attending the congress and wished for the UBP to become stronger after the congress, in order, as he said to serve its best for Cyprus.

Referring to the water project for the transferring of water from Turkey to the "TRNC", Atalay said that all works and preparations go on well.

Asked to comment on the recent quarrel in the "TRNC" related to the interventions by Turkey to the UBP congress, Atalay said: "I did not wanted to comment to this issue; however, I want to point out that Turkey's goal is a Great Cyprus and that Turkey is bound up with the future of Cyprus".

Pointing to the importance of the "unity and integrity and the continuation of stability" in Cyprus, Atalay referred to the participation of several party leaders in the congress of AKP in the past and added that that it was also their duty to participate to the UBP congress.

Stating that the strengthening and the development of the "TRNC" is always on Turkey's agenda, Atalay reassured that they will continue taking steps towards this direction.

Also, in statements during the congress, Suleyman Soylu, Deputy Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), stated that no one will be looser after the ending of the congress.

Expressing his gratitude to the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu for his successful stance during the ongoing negotiation talks in Cyprus, Soylu said that it is impossible for the talks to be open-ended.

Soylu went on and said that what is important for them is for the "TRNC" to be able to stand on its own feeds.

Soylu further said that he is the one out of the three Turkish Cypriot "MP's" who represent the occupation regime at the Turkish National Assembly (TBMM), stating that the others are Ulker Guzel, MP with the AKP and Tugrul Turkes, vice-chairman of the MHP (National Movement Party).

Finally, Tugrul Turkes who was also present at the UBP's congress recalled the bad days the Turkish Cypriots experienced and stated that Turkey stands always by their side.

(AK)

[04] Ertug announced the cancellation of annual Toros military exercise

The written statement on the cancellation of the exercise, said that the decision was in line with a call made by the UN Secretary -General to the two sides in Cyprus to build confidence and trust.

"We have decided following consultations with our guarantor power Turkey not to carry out the exercise this year. This decision is in accordance with a call made by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to the two sides in Cyprus to work towards building confidence and trust", Ertug said.

This is not the first time the exercise will not be carried out.

Over the past few years, the Turkish Cypriot side has been cancelled such exercises as a gesture of good will.

[05] A cruise ship with 60 American passengers visited occupied Cyprus

The paper writes that the self-styled minister of public works and transportation Ersan Saner, along with the "TRNC ports chairman" Ahmet Dokmecioglu visited the ship and the crew members. In statements Saner said that this is the first time such a big ship visited occupied Cyprus and added that this is an answer to the call to the international community to visit the breakaway regime.

[06] Fenerbahce denied reported ban on flags on October 25th game

While reports claimed yesterday that the club had forced its fans to sign a waiver agreeing to not unfurl Turkish or Turkish Cypriot flags for fear of provoking an incident, Fenerbahce denied it and said fans and the team were obliged to obey UEFA fair-play rules.

The move for the match was reportedly carried out in order to avoid possible unwanted incidents that could result in a subsequent match between the two clubs in Istanbul being played behind closed doors.

The game, which will be played October 25, has been placed in the risky matches category, said a statement released by Fenerbahce on its website.

AEL Limassol, meanwhile, is not banning its supporters from bringing Greek or Greek Cypriot flags into the match.

Some 300 police officers will reportedly be deployed at the stadium during the match as part of security measures.

Meanwhile, reporting on the issue, Turkish Daily Hurriyet (22.10.12-online version) refers to statements by Ali Cansu, deputy chairman of Fenerbahce Association in Cyprus who has said that in spite of the ban, the Turks -fans of Fenerbahce will bring flags to the stadium and added that if they consider it necessary they will open them. "If the Greek and Cyprus flags are unfurled, we will also unfurl ours". Cansu went on and said that the pay attention to the fact of avoiding provocation explaining that they are thinking of Fenerbahce's goodness.

[07] The occupation regime has launched a disinfection of uncollected garbage in occupied Lefkosia; Reactions by Turkish Cypriots inhabitants in occupied Lefkosia increased

Disinfection works will continue until Sunday as occupied Lefkosia municipal workers continue their protest actions against the financial deadlock at the "Lefkosia Turkish Municipality".

Kemal Deniz Dana said that plans are also being prepared to remove uncollected garbage.

He called on the people of Lefkosia to keep their trash in black and large trash bags so that they can help disinfection teams.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (21.10.12) under the title: "We get to the point of not being able to go out to the street", reports on statements by several inhabitants in occupied Lefkosia who complain about the situation and the uncollected garbage in the streets.

Speaking to the paper, the inhabitants call the "responsible authorities" to cooperate and find a solution as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, as the paper writes, the Greek Cypriot side, in order to prevent the mousses from crossing to the "south" because of the dirtiness, has taken a strange measure and placed traps to the buffer zone.

(AK)

[08] Music festival in occupied Cyprus to bring around 50-80 thousand people from foreign countries

The Silk Route Festival, being lined up for next September, will be the biggest music event yet to hit the island, and organizers say it will put the Karpaz peninsula and the TRNC firmly on the international map.

Veteran music agent and manager Peter Jenner, the man who discovered Pink Floyd and organized the historic Hyde Park free concerts in the late 1960s, has teamed up with Norwegian lawyer Stein Fossner to mastermind the festival, which is expected to bring between 50,000 and 80,000 people from across the region, Scandinavia, the UK and Eastern Europe.

Sophia Kristensson, the Swedish coordinator of TRNC-registered organizing company Silk Route Entertainments, said a protocol for the event had been signed by the Tourism Minister.

'We are really excited, and anticipate 60 % of the audience will be from Cyprus and the surrounding region', she said.

'The remaining 40 % will come from Europe.

The festival is set to run from Friday, September 27, 2013, until Sunday.

September 29, and ticket prices are already quoted from ?999 for the full event, including flights, transfers and camping, to ?220 for local tickets with camping, or ?85 for a single day's attendance.

A 3km stretch of sand dunes between the Big Sand Beach Restaurant and Burhan's Golden Beach has been earmarked for the festival.

No infrastructure is to be set up on the beach itself, but four stages on wooden decking ? Main, Urban, Beach and Dance ? are planned, along with bars and DJs to the left of the narrow road 20km beyond Dipkarpaz.

The festival line-up has yet to be decided but will feature top international musicians "to appeal to several generations", and offer Western and Eastern pop music in the spirit of the Silk Route, a trade route which linked the East and the West.

Local and regional bands will also be welcomed, in a bid to 'develop the musical environment of the island and its surrounding region', and can apply by e-mail to band@silkroute-festival.com".

[09] Turkey's TSK vowed to respond to security threats from Syria

Following a monthly meeting on Friday, Turkey's National Security Council said it discussed latest developments in Syria and reviewed measures along the Turkish-Syrian border.

"Our commitment has been reiterated to take and implement all necessary measures for the effective protection of our people and our national security on the basis of international law," the council said in a written statement.

The statement said the council also discussed terror attacks in Turkey, latest developments in Iraq and relations between the two countries as well as the ongoing political transformation in Libya and Egypt.

[10] Turkey's Yildiz gave information on Turkey's 3rd nuke plant bid

"The negotiations for Turkey's second nuclear power plant are a precursor to negotiations for the third nuclear power plant. For the second plant, we will choose one of four competing countries," Y?ld?z said on Saturday at Turkey's Nuclear Energy Production Forum.

"We have told the bidders that those who are not chosen for the second plant still have a chance for the third plant. Furthermore, there could be interest from countries which have thus far not shown interest in the first two plants," said Y?ld?z.

France provides 74 % of its own energy from nuclear power and is very experienced in this field but could not bid for Turkey's first two plants due to political reasons. The U.S. could follow the Russian model of bidding for contracts with a strategic partner, the newspaper said.

Russia's state-run Rosatom is building Turkey's first nuclear facility in the southern province of Mersin. Japanese, South Korean, Chinese and Canadian firms are shortlisted for the second plant in the northern province of Sinop.

No decision has yet been made over the exact location of a third plant, but sources have speculated that it will be built in the Black Sea town of Igneada by the Bulgarian border.

Deputy Energy Minister Murat Mercan, who also spoke at the forum, said renewable and sustainable energy was key to the country's development.

"Global energy consumption is going to increase by 50 % by 2020, and developing countries will account for most of this demand. It does not seem possible to provide global clean energy without nuclear power," he said, adding that "our country needs nuclear energy since it is so dependent on foreign energy sources."

(?)

[11] Akkuyu's first power unit to be completed in 2019

Akkuyu NGS Corp.'s Deputy Director General Rauf Kasumov told AA on Saturday that energy need was increasing in Turkey as the population was increasing each day and as Turkey was one of the most developing countries of the world.

"Turkey's electricity consumption was doubling in every ten years", said Kasumov, adding that Turkey's own energy resources were limited, and the cheapest and less harmful energy production way was nuclear energy.

Kasumov said that 3,500 people would work in the power plant, adding that the power plant would contribute to development of the region. "The nuclear power plant in Akkuyu would cost 20 billion USD", he added.

[12] New project in Turkey for the replenishment of Golden Horn water by piping water from Bosporus

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan launch the project, which will transport water from Cay?rbas? in Sar?yer to Ayazaga five kilometers away; from Ayazaga, which is 23 meters above sea level, the water will enter the Kag?thane Creek and flow another nine kilometers to the Golden Horn. Ultimately, the project aims to transport 260,000 cubic meters of water a day.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Erdogan said that the Golden Horn project, which begun in 1995 while he was the Istanbul metropolitan mayor, had increased the biological diversity in the Golden Horn. "The number of fish species living in the Golden Horn is now 48 after we cleaned the sea floor. This project we are launching today is to prevent any future contamination of the Golden Horn by enabling water circulation so that we ensure the Golden Horn waters keep circulating throughout the year even when there is no rainfall," he said.

The pipes pumped out 5 million cubic meters of mud and filled the stone quarry pits, which were then turned into a 180,000-square-meter park. The project increased biological diversity and netted the city an award from the World Municipalities Union. The total cost of the present project has been announced as 44 million Turkish Liras, while the total amount spent on cleaning the Golden Horn so far has reached $758 million.

The final step of the project is the Golden Horn Environmental Protection, which is expected to cost 434 million Liras. When the rehabilitation studies were started, the water depth in the Golden Horn had fallen to 50 centimeters, meaning boats were unable to navigate the waterway. The Golden Horn (Halic) is an inlet of the Bosporus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor that has sheltered many for thousands of years. It is a horn-shaped inlet joins the Bosporus just at the point where that strait enters the Sea of Marmara.

[13] Turkish columnist comments on CPJ' report on the freedom of press in Turkey; the report reveals that 76 journalists are imprisoned in Turkey

"The detailed report on the state of freedom of the media and free speech in general in Turkey, is in many aspects more depressing reading than the latest progress report by the EU.

Titled 'Turkey's Press Freedom Crisis -- The Dark Days of Jailing Journalists and Criminalizing Dissent,' the report by Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) staff, the result of months of inquiries, reflects a gloomy picture for a country that is in the midst of democratic transition, in negotiations with the EU and very keen on being regarded as a primary source of inspiration in the wake of the Arab Awakening.

When I met the delegation from the CPJ early this summer, I pointed out the very core of the ongoing problems we, in journalism and publishing have been facing, based on three major points:

First, the vastly spread intolerance; a culture deeply ingrained in the political class and in Parliament. In many cases, as I pointed out, both the government?? and the opposition (the Republican People's Party [CHP] and the Nationalist Movement Party [MHP], to be specific) have remained responsible for tightening the screws on free speech -- for example, by cooperating or even competing with each other to impose primitive bans and restrictions that exist in the Internet Law, the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the Counterterrorism Law (TMK), etc.

At the moment, there is no opposition in Turkey with a pro-freedom agenda.

Second, I told the CPJ that the matter of 'jailed journalists' is almost exclusively a case that concerns Kurdish journalists and publishers who to a high degree are also activists. I pleaded with the CPJ to look at the case in the context of the Kurdish conflict.

Third, I drew their attention to the greatest source of censorship and increasing self-censorship today; namely, the 'unholy alliance' between the proprietors of big media groups and the powers in Ankara -- a deal that connects mutual greed in terms of money and propaganda. This, I argued, would continue to pollute the climate of good journalism, and even if the government resolved the issue of 'jailed journalists' it would leave journalism under huge pressure.

In other words, I tried to make the point that when making a quantitative analysis (jail and legal probes), qualitative considerations are also necessary to identify the fundamental structural problems that will endure no matter which government comes to power. Turkey's media, vibrant, diverse, still bold, keen on struggling for its independence, will remain easy prey for those with money and political power.

The CPJ's report fairly but critically covers most of this, except the third aspect. But those who are interested in that part can see a comprehensive interview I did with Nina Ognianova of the CPJ on its website (cpj.org).

The report says that 76 journalists were imprisoned as of Aug. 1. 'Sixty-one of these journalists were being held in direct relation to their published work or newsgathering activities. The evidence was less clear in the cases of the 15 other journalists being held,' it adds.

We also learn from the report that around three-quarters of those in jail is 'Kurdish journalists charged with aiding terrorism by covering the views and activities of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and the Union of Communities in Kurdistan, or KCK. Staff members for the Dicle News Agency and the Turkish-language newspaper Ozgur Gundem in particular have been targeted, as have journalists with Azadiya Welat, Turkey's sole Kurdish-language daily.'

We are also reminded that "other penal code articles prohibit journalists from 'breaching the confidentiality of an investigation' or 'influencing a fair trial,' effectively criminalizing independent, in-depth coverage of police and court activities. Although these articles rarely lead to imprisonment, they serve to intimidate journalists into self-censorship.'

It is hard to disagree with the CPJ's findings. The dark shadow of power over the press is a bitter fact. Media owners completely ignore the duty of defense of freedom, and the unwillingness to amend the TMK makes it virtually impossible for those of us within the media to debate the lines between free speech and "glorification of violent acts and terrorism." We feel helpless.

What the CPJ in a nutshell concludes is that Turkey, a key country in today's troubled world, is shooting itself in the foot, and I agree with it entirely.

'The government's efforts to subvert the media's watchdog function and suppress dissident views make it difficult for Turkey to achieve long-term strategic goals. The country's economic future remains linked to European integration, but its press freedom crisis is a key concern among European policymakers. European Union accession is unlikely unless the problems are corrected. ? Turkey's close relationship with the United States -- built in part on Ankara's image as a regional model for democracy -- is also at risk' it reads.

'How can we look at you as an inspiration when your government presses its fingers on your press?' a female Egyptian blogger asked me last weekend in Cairo.

She was spot on". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article