Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-05-30

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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] "Early elections" on 28th of July; Discussion on the "motion of no confidence" on the 3rd of June

[02] Scenarios on the day after the approval of the "motion of no confidence"

[03] Kucuk evaluated the latest political developments in the occupied area of Cyprus

[04] Solomou murderer Akin to participate in the "election" with DP

[05] Eroglu met with Mathew Kidd; the Cyprus problem and hydrocarbon explorations were discussed

[06] Ozersay conveyed Downer his views for finding an exit for the deadlock of the Cyprus talks

[07] Turkey's Yildiz stated that Turkey has signed trade engagement with north Iraq

[08] Arrests in first degree military zone by persons who tried to pass to the occupied area

[09] Third Bosporus bridge to be called 'Yavuz Sultan Selim'; the groundbreaking ceremony took place yesterday

[10] Turkey to manufacture its own LSD

[11] Turkish PM due to North Africa

[12] Turkey's Parliament debated the LGBT's rights after CHP's initiative; AKP ruling party calls it 'immoral'

[13] Turkey to establish first Kurdish-language University in Diyarbakir

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] "Early elections" on 28th of July; Discussion on the "motion of no confidence" on the 3rd of June

Moreover, illegal BRT (29.05.13) broadcast that the self-styled assembly's advisory committee convened on Wednesday morning under the chairmanship of the so-called assembly speaker Hasan Bozer. In line with the "bylaw", National Unity Party (UBP) leader- self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk and the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Ozkan Yorgancioglu were also present at the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Bozer announced that the committee approved with a majority of votes to hold the general discussions on the "motion of no confidence" filed against the UBP "government", on Monday, the 3rd of June.

[02] Scenarios on the day after the approval of the "motion of no confidence"

Afrika publishes a statement by former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat saying that "the coalition between CTP-UBP may be difficult but not impossible".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (30.05.13), in its front page under the title "what would happen when the government falls", wonders what would happen if on Monday the "motion of no confidence" filed against the UBP "government" approved.

The paper reports that according to the "constitution", when the "motion of no confidence" is approved, then the "prime minister" should submit his/her resignation to the "president". However, there is no article in the "constitution" in case the "prime minister" doesn't resign.

After the resignation, the "president", the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, should assign to any "deputy" that he wants the duty of form a new "government", which will be able to obtain a vote of confidence. Later, the "president" will assign the duty to a "deputy" to establish the "council of ministers". The "deputy" has to complete the task within in 15 days whether he/she succeeds or not and then return to his/her duties.

According to paragraph 6 of the Article 106 of the "constitution", in case the "new government", which is approved by the "president" but doesn't obtain "vote of confidence" by the "assembly", will continue its duties despite the will of the "assembly". It would be the "government" of the "presidency" and not of the "assembly".

Meanwhile, the "prime minister" should remain in the position until the new "government" is established.

[03] Kucuk evaluated the latest political developments in the occupied area of Cyprus

Kucuk called on both the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and the "deputies" in the "assembly" to exercise restraint and to act more responsibly.

Kucuk said that the 8 "deputies" expelled from the "UBP" and the opposition DP and TDP parties, were trying to postpone the date for the "early elections" because they knew they were going to lose to the election. "The 8 deputies who left us and the Democrat and Social Democratic Party are trying to push back the early election date. They know they will suffer a crushing defeat", he said.

He said that postponing the date for the "early elections" will only serve to drag the country into further chaos, adding that it will not be the UBP but the Democrat Party (DP), the Social Democratic Party (TDP) and 8 "deputies" who will be responsible for the disruption of life in the "country".

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[04] Solomou murderer Akin to participate in the "election" with DP

In addition, the party assembly approved the participation of Kenan Akin under DP in the "election". Akin's participation, who according to the paper stayed in the political shadow over the last few years, will be approved by DP congress which will be held on June 5.

(TR. Note: Kenan Akin is wanted by Interpol with Red Bulletin accused for murdering Solomos Solomou in the incidents occurred in 1996 in Deryneia)

[05] Eroglu met with Mathew Kidd; the Cyprus problem and hydrocarbon explorations were discussed

The meeting took place at the "presidential palace" and the latest developments on the Cyprus problem as well as the issue of hydrocarbon explorations, were discussed.

Eroglu's "special representative" Osman Ertug, his "undersecretary" Hasan Gungor and members of the Turkish Cypriot sides negotiating team, were also present at the meeting.

No statement was issued to the press before or after the meeting.

[06] Ozersay conveyed Downer his views for finding an exit for the deadlock of the Cyprus talks

According to the press release, Ozersay conveyed to Downer his views in order to be able to find a way out and a result to the negotiations. He said that he believes that it is possible and necessary that the two communities in the island as well as other players in the East Mediterranean area to develop cooperation models in a creative way without getting stuck to discussions of recognition and status. He explained that if they could carry out step by step cooperation models that would create interdependency among the two sides in time on issues like economy, transportation, tourism and energy, then the risk of conflict and instability would be reduced or even removed.

[07] Turkey's Yildiz stated that Turkey has signed trade engagement with north Iraq

Speaking in the Turkish parliament during the hearing of Turkish Petrol Draft Law, Yildiz stated that Turkey has signed a trade engagement with north Iraq, emphasizing that further trade agreements with north Iraq and deals made with central government would provide profit both in medium and long term.

"We believe that Iraq's petrol and natural gas administration is not done correctly. Engagements and agreements are different objects. There are both agreements and trade engagements, Republic of Turkey signed with central government of Iraq. Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) won 4 tenders in Iraq, each one worth $25 billion. Our share within the consortium is $5.5 billion," Yildiz said. "There are also trade engagements. Both public and private companies, which are subjected to the provisions of private law, are able to sign trade engagements. Turkey will get profit from these agreements with north Iraq and deals made with central government [...] Isn't it for Turkey's benefit to let the petrol and natural gas transferred through itself? Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline will have an income of $800 million when it starts to work with its full capacity", he added.

Reminding world known companies such as BP, Shell and Exxon, Yildiz emphasized that none of them were public companies, saying that 41 of integrated companies are private. "There are companies, owned half by the public and half by the private sector", Yildiz said, noting that they would try to bring TPAO to work flexible in international area.

Turkish parliamentarian of Republican People's Party (CHP) Durdu Ozbolat recovered the issue, saying that agreements on searching and producing petrol were quite normal; however it was not natural to do it without taking into consideration the interests of the country. "Government does not consider how searching and producing activities could be more productive. It is in pursuit of making the international capital happy. It lets the initiative to the market in the most strategic area," he said.

Turkish parliamentarian of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Alim Isik stated that the draft was not fine for decreasing dependency in petrol and other natural resources, saying that a possibility of TPAO's privatization was at the door.

[08] Arrests in first degree military zone by persons who tried to pass to the occupied area

The paper writes that the persons are mostly holders of Syrian passports; however among them are holders of Iranian, Pakistani, Lebanon and Cypriot passports.

[09] Third Bosporus bridge to be called 'Yavuz Sultan Selim'; the ground-breaking ceremony took place yesterday

The Sultan, known as Selim the Grim in English, was famous for his conquests in the eastern world, and Turkey's contemporary border with what is now Iran was determined following the 1514 Battle of Cald?ran against Sah Ismail of the Safavids.

The 59-meter-wide bridge ? the widest in the world ? will be the third one to connect the Asian and European sides of Istanbul.

The name of the second bridge over the Bosporus is named after another sultan, Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmed the Conqueror), who conquered the city from the Byzantines on May 29, 1453. Sultan Yavuz was Mehmed's grandson. The second bridge was built in 1988.

Yavuz Sultan Selim is beloved by some for expanding the Ottoman Empire's boundaries in the 16th century, but is especially reviled by Alevis, who remember him as the murderer of thousands of their ancestors.

Many have expressed worries that the construction of the third bridge will lead to the destruction of Istanbul's remaining green areas near the Black Sea coast while creating new traffic headaches.

A ground-breaking ceremony for the controversial bridge was held today (yesterday), on the 560th anniversary of Istanbul's conquest by the Ottomans, with the attendance of Turkey's President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

[10] Turkey to manufacture its own LSD

Defining the manufacturing and delivery of the first national ship within the scope of project MILGEM (National Ship) by the Directorate of the Defense Industry in 2011 as a "turning point", Koseoglu added: "The first national ship has become one that does not miss any target."

Announcing that they will produce a national LSD shortly, Koseoglu also declared that they started working on the production of the remaining 6 national ships, and plan a new project called "genuine helicopters".

[11] Turkish PM due to North Africa

Erdogan will cover the political, economic and cultural relations, as well as regional and international developments during his tour of these three North African countries.

According to a statement released from the Prime Ministry's press centre on Wednesday, Erdogan will have tete-a-tete meetings with the Presidents and Prime Ministers of those countries and attend the first meeting of Turkey-Tunisia High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

During his visits, business forums will be held in all three countries as well.

[12] Turkey's Parliament debated the LGBT's rights after CHP's initiative; AKP ruling party calls it 'immoral'

The initiative came from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), which submitted an inquiry proposal regarding the problems of the LGBT community in Turkey that was signed by 59 Deputies.

The general assembly debates were once again heated as one ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy accused the signatory MPs of "defending immorality" while Binnaz Toprak, the sponsor of the initiative for the CHP, stressed that homosexuality was neither "a choice, nor a disease."

"The LGBT individuals face serious prejudices. Politicians have not done what was needed to this date. They are harassed by the police. Their families ostracize them. They are forced to commit suicide. Courts reduce the sentences of the murderers. They can't find work, or are subjected to mobbing in their professional lives," Toprak said, emphasizing that all these problems affected every aspect of the basic daily lives of any lesbian or gay individual. LGBT people were oppressed in political, economic, social and psychological terms, she said.

"This picture is unacceptable. As the Parliament, we have to change it. We cannot ignore these rights in a country that we claim is an advanced democracy."

Toprak, who recently won the "Outspoken Award" from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in the USA, demanded legal guarantee for sexual orientation and identity.

Aykan Erdemir, also from the CHP, criticized the negligence in terms of legislation on hate speech and hate crimes, especially when directed towards LGBT individuals. "We say that you cannot move forward with anger and hate. We demand a legal arrangement [on hate speech]," Erdemir said while recalling that the former Women and Family Minister Aliye Kavaf's description of homosexuality as a "disease" had sparked huge criticism three years ago.

Meanwhile, the AKP rejected the opposition's initiative, arguing that it would encourage "behavior that people do not approve of."

"As a doctor, I consider the condition defined as LGBT as an abnormal behavior," the AKP's Turkan Dagoglu said, adding that western countries could not be seen as a role model on the issue. "Marriage of a woman with a woman and of a man with a man is not a right; on the contrary it is a practice that paves the way for a social subversion by showing as an accomplishment the reversal of sexual orientation," she said.

Dagoglu denied that the AKP was lenient on attacks and abuses on LGBT individuals. Instead of new legislation, she proposed a joint work with non-governmental organizations to introduce "pre-emptive measures" that would prevent "arbitrary" decisions in the courts.

LGBT rights remain a sensitive topic in Turkey, as lesbians, gays and transsexuals routinely suffer abuses such as discrimination, harassment, mobbing and stigmatization. During many years, LGBT associations were under constant threat of being banned and frequently prosecuted for pursuing activities "against morality." However, associations such as Kaos GL helped raise awareness, especially among human rights activists.

One of the current debates centres on the protection of sexual orientation and sexual identity under the new Constitution being drafted by the Turkish Parliament. The AKP has recently declined a proposal demanding the inclusion of the term "sexual orientation and sexual identity" in the Constitution Conciliation Committee, which was backed by the CHP and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).

[13] Turkey to establish first Kurdish-language University in Diyarbakir

Founders of the University include Kurdish artist Sivan Perwer, human rights activists, academics and businessmen.

The University to be founded in Diyarbakir, a Kurdish populated province in eastern Turkey, will also provide education in the English, Armenian and Assyrian languages in the future.

Head of Board of Trustees of Mesopotamia Foundation Selim Olcer said, most probably the University will be named as "Amed"- name given to Diyarbakir in Kurdish, and added: "We aim contributing in Kurdish language and give education in mother tongue." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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