Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-02-12

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] "Erdogan: Turkey never abandoned its goal of EU membership"

[02] Explosion at Turkish-Syrian border gate kills 13, police search two suspects

[03] TPAO and Shell to sign a $350 million agreement

[04] Y1
ld1
z expressed Turkey's determination to Northern Iraq energy market

[05] Turkish Cypriot businessmen visit northern Iraq

[06] Coal-generating company in Turkey to set power plant with Chinese firm

[07] Elcil's impressions from his visit to London on the Cyprus problem

[08] Amcaoglu on water transfer from Turkey

[09] 1st plenary meeting of Parliamentary Assembly of Economic Cooperation Organization

[10] Tatar says Net Holding Group's investments reached 1.5 billion TL

[11] Turkey's EU minister departs for London

[12] Turkish economy minister is paying a visit to Libya today

[13] German investors in negotiation with the breakaway regime for the construction of a new waste facility

[14] Developments in Turkish airlines signing Turkey's conservative turn

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] "Erdogan: Turkey never abandoned its goal of EU membership"

Erdogan, who recently hinted that Ankara is seriously pondering joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), he added that while Turkey renews its commitment to the negotiation process, it also expects substantial moves from the EU side, such as the opening of new chapters.

Erdogan said that not a single chapter was opened for negotiations over the past two-and-a-half years. This, he stated, constitutes a first of its kind in the history of EU enlargement deeming the fact a sign of disrespect towards Turkey, which witnessed significant progress in a number of areas over the past 10 years. He said the situation is "unacceptable".

Erdogan claimed that Turkey's membership in the EU will present a good example and bulwark against racism, as well as the theory of a clash of civilizations between the Western and Muslim worlds.

[02] Explosion at Turkish-Syrian border gate kills 13, police search two suspects

Turkish police are searching for two people who parked two separate cars before the explosion took place, CNN T?rk has reported.

According to recorded CCTV footage, the two suspects left their vehicles just minutes before the explosion. The broadcaster added that the police sketches of the two people had been prepared and that a search was under way.

CNN T?rk also said there could be more deaths, but that some of those killed could have been taken over to the Syrian side of the border.

[03] TPAO and Shell to sign a $350 million agreement

Speaking on Kanal 24 TV channel on Monday, Taner Yildiz replied questions regarding the search of petroleum and he reminded that there would be new projects to be developed in the Black Sea.

Yildiz noted that they came across natural gas in Black Sea and they would hold works in the close region.

"From the natural gas and petrol sources' point of view, we are not like Saudi Arabia. However, all countries have to calculate their own advantage and disadvantages, then act accordingly," suggested Minister Yildiz.

[04] Y1
ld1
z expressed Turkey's determination to Northern Iraq energy market

"What is more natural than us looking after our interests in energy cooperation with the local government in Iraq's north? & Some countries may not approve of this but we are not considering a halt in investments in this regard," Y1
ld1
z told a private TV channel in 0
stanbul.

Underlining that Turkey has investments in the energy markets of Venezuela and Colombia, Y1
ld1
z said "it will be strange to turn a blind eye to a market sitting next to us."

Turkey has recently ramped up its energy cooperation with the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq's north. The broad energy partnership between the two ranges from exploration to exports and the landlocked KRG has little option but to export the region's oil and gas reserves to world markets.

[05] Turkish Cypriot businessmen visit northern Iraq

Under the title "40 businessmen participated", the paper the paper publishes statements by Ilker Zugurt, chairman of the administrative council of Cyprus TIAK, who said that their aim was to see in which fields they could cooperate with northern Iraq, "the star of which is shining in the area and is considered as the Dubai of the future". He noted also that they aimed at developing their trade cooperation and at inviting northern Iraqi entrepreneurs to invest in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Coal-generating company in Turkey to set power plant with Chinese firm

The company holds a license to extract coal in Amasra province in the Black Sea region, and it plans to establish a coal-fired thermal power plant there with a 1,320-megawatt (MW) capacity.

"We are in talks with one Chinese and one South Korean firm. We negotiate with the Chinese one more frequently, but the South Korean firm is a giant one and they are very eager about the deal too. I think we will sign a deal by June," 0
pek Hattat, a board member of Hattat Holding, said.

She did not give the names of the companies, but she said the company would invest more than $1 billion in the power plant. The investor company will select the engineering and construction firms that will take part in the power plant's construction. Hattat said the discussions with these firms were continuing.

[07] Elcil's impressions from his visit to London on the Cyprus problem

Elcil argued that the British government wants the chairman of Democratic Rally Party (DISY), Nikos Anastasiades to win the forthcoming presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus and officially supports the "strategy of a solution plan focused on the oil and natural gas" in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He said that the British plan is the resumption of the Cyprus talks after May or June and to shape a solution which will have as its center the oil and natural gas.

Elcil claimed that the Turkish Cypriots will lose the struggle for their existence if they are not united, and added that Turkey ignores the Turkish Cypriots. He argued: "The interests of Turkey, Britain, the Greek Cypriots and the USA on the island will be secured, but we, the Turkish Cypriots, will not exist on this stage and we will lose. Turkey will decide for us. Therefore, we must be on the stage".

Elcil noted that responding to one of his questions, the former British Foreign Minister, Jack Straw told him that during the period of the Annan Plan they bargained for Britain to take the sovereignty in a field in the sea. He said that Britain will not abandon its sovereign military bases, which have become more valuable. He noted that they were told that NATO has the right to use these bases and it can use them whenever it wants.

Noting that they told their interlocutors that Turkey does not support the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, Elcil added: "They are not aware of our existence. The AKP says to them that 'they [the Turkish Cypriots] do not have a say, discuss with me, I will decide for them'. Therefore, we attached great importance to this meeting".

(I/Ts.)

[08] Amcaoglu on water transfer from Turkey

Speaking on Bayrak Haber, Amcaoglu said that the construction of the Dam in occupied Panagra village will be completed by the end of October, 5 months earlier than expected, and that works for the placement of supply pipes have started.

He said that the construction of the line for the transmission of water from Turkey will be launched within this week and that placement of underwater pipelines will start in summer. As he said, the water to be transferred will be used for potable and irrigation purposes.

Furthermore, in an interview to the Anatolian News Agency, (12.02.13) Amcaoglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to consider sharing its water resources with the Republic of Cyprus if such a request comes.

Also, referring to the upcoming presidential elections, he alleged that "the election of a new leader isn't very important, as the Greek Cypriot side is certain to maintain its intransigence on the Cyprus problem".

[09] 1st plenary meeting of Parliamentary Assembly of Economic Cooperation Organization

Parliament speakers of Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan are attending the meeting in Islamabad.

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are being represented by deputies in Islamabad.

Speaking at the meeting, Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek stressed that the ECO was a community with 400 million people. "We need to be in solidarity so that the ECO is respected and strong," Cicek underlined.

ECO was established by Turkey, Iran and Pakistan in 1985. Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan joined the ECO in 1992.

[10] Tatar says Net Holding Group's investments reached 1.5 billion TL

"I congratulate Besim Tibuk, who offered great services to the TRNC and made big investments in tourism", he said during the visit, noting that Merit Royal Hotel which will open soon, will "bring a new vision to the TRNC". Tatar went on and added that such investments promote the breakaway regime in the world.

(I/Ts.)

[11] Turkey's EU minister departs for London

Speaking to the press prior to his departure from the Ataturk International Airport, Bagis said that he would meet with Lord William Wallace, the Spokesperson for the House of Lords for foreign relations and defense, and then gather with the members of the Parliamentary EU Enlargement Group.

Giving information on his planned talks in the United Kingdom, Bagis said that they would send several messages through the British media.

"United Kingdom is among the countries which extend support to Turkey's EU process," Bagis underlined.

"The UK has made different outbursts on the EU and the upcoming term. UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced that they would carry their membership in the EU to a referendum if they won the elections in 2015. There are actually two attention-grabbing leaders in the EU in recent times. One of them is the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the other is David Cameron. They make statements warning Europe. They are conveying their sensitivities, so no one could say in the future that they did not warn. I do hope that the EU public opinion receive the warning messages from these two leaders," Bagis underlined.

[12] Turkish economy minister is paying a visit to Libya today

Caglayan will be accompanied Turkish businesspeople, exporters and representatives from Turkish construction firms and he will meet with Libyan President Mohamed Yousef El-Magariaf and Prime Minister Ali Zeidan.

Caglayan will also meet separately with his Libyan counterpart Mustafa Abu Fannas, Housing Minister Ali Hussein Al-Sharif, Finance Minister Alkilani Al-Jazi, Transport Minister Mohamed Al-Ayib.

The Turkish minister will participate in a meeting of the Turkish-Libyan Business Forum and address the Turkish and Libyan businesspeople.

Caglayan's meetings in Libya will discuss Libyan government's late due debt payments to Turkish contractors, agreements to set up a free-trade zone and to prevent double taxation as well as relations in trade, industry and tourism.

[13] German investors in negotiation with the breakaway regime for the construction of a new waste facility

Ustel, who was participating in a television program, also said that talks are being maintained between the breakaway regime and the Republic of Cyprus for the temporary transfer of whey waste from occupied areas to a facility in the free areas.

[14] Developments in Turkish airlines signing Turkey's conservative turn

The most-criticized parts of the uniforms are the hats. Some have claimed the hats along with the whole outfit are reminiscent of costumes in the Ottoman-era TV serial "The Magnificent Century" (Muhte
em Y?zy1
l).

THY representatives have responded to the Twitter reactions, saying the uniform designs have not been finalized yet.

In addition, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.02.13) also reports that Turkish Airlines will stop serving alcoholic beverages in business class during domestic flights except when flying to six specific destination points, claiming the demand was too low.

After surveying the preferences of passengers over the last year, Turkish Airlines has decided to remove alcoholic drinks from the service menu except during flights to 0
stanbul, 0
zmir, Bodrum, Dalaman, Antalya and Ankara.

Alcoholic beverages used to be served to business class passengers aboard domestic flights up until last week. Planes flying domestic routes will now not stock alcoholic beverages on board as part of austerity measures regarding service goods.

Recently, THY aroused public criticism with several passengers having reported that when they asked for alcoholic drinks the cabin crew denied their requests, saying that alcohol had been forgotten to be loaded with the plane's cargo.

Turkish Airlines currently offers alcoholic drinks to both economic and business class passengers on international flights except en route to Iran and some Arab countries as demand is low. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

/EI

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