Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-06-25

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[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] EU agrees to open new chapter with Turkey, talks to start in October

[02] Siber's "government" secures "vote of confidence"; Aslanbaba alleges that he was bribed to vote in favor of Siber's "government"

[03] Ozersay calls on Turkish Cypriots not to vote in the "elections"; Other reactions to the developments

[04] Five political parties and seven independent "candidates" will run in the early "elections" of 28 July

[05] Akca demands from Siber the implementation of 2013-15 "economic program"; Erdogan congratulates Siber

[06] Self-styled interior minister says they granted "citizenship" to 4239 persons in four years

[07] Data on the decisions of the "Property Compensation Commission"

[08] Izzet Izcan was elected president of BKP during the party's 3rd Congress

[09] The 6th "International Service Management Conference" was held in occupied Cyprus

[10] Turkish Energy Minister comments on oil agreement with Baghdad

[11] Erdogan Calls Protestors 'Occupation Forces' at AKP Rally in Erzurum

[12] More on Gezi Park Protests: Interior Ministry Issues 'Balance Sheet' - Education Ministry Tracking down teachers who participated in Protests

[13] Turkish authorities launch cyber security agency

[14] Council of Europe Secretary General to visit Turkey today

[15] More developments on Kurdish issue: PKK withdrawal process reportedly delayed-New phase of peace talks begin

[16] US Envoy to Turkey visits Hakkari

[17] Turkish parliament speaker Cicek says that he will not return to the post

[18] Turkey kicks off plans for local laser weapon

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] EU agrees to open new chapter with Turkey, talks to start in October

The proposal was submitted by Germany, which suggested postponing the new round of EU membership talks with Turkey by about four months to signal the bloc's displeasure at the crackdown on anti-government protests.

During the GAC the bloc will confirm the common position of the council on the opening of Chapter 22 and determine the date for the Accession Conference.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto
lu praised the decision and said there would be no delay under any circumstances. "We agreed with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on a text that declared the opening of Chapter 22 on regional policies," Davuto
lu told reporters, adding that further procedures and technical meetings would be announced in the coming days.

The top diplomat had conducted intense telephone diplomacy before the decision of the minister. He held phone conversations with his German, Swedish and Dutch counterparts as well as EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and EU Commissioner Stefan F?le.

F?le and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt welcomed the agreement. Bildt said the decision was important for the EU. "[It is] important that the EU now takes the key decision to open Chapter 22 in Turkey accession talks. Exact timing was never key issue in this regard," he wrote on his Twitter account.

[02] Siber's "government" secures "vote of confidence"; Aslanbaba alleges that he was bribed to vote in favor of Siber's "government"

Under the title "Day of tension at the assembly", Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.06.13) reports that the self-styled "MP" in occupied Trikomo area, Ejder Aslanbaba, who had resigned from the National Unity Party (UBP) with seven other colleagues and joined the Democratic Party ? National Forces (DP-UG), has resigned from the DP-UG before the Sibel Siber-led coalition "government" to secure a "vote" of confidence" in the "assembly".

Aslanbaba accused the chairman of the DP-UG, Serdar Denktas and the considered as leader of the "group of eight" former UBP "MPs", Ahmet Kasif of attempting to bribe him. He alleged that they had given him 7700 US dollars in order to vote positively during the "vote of confidence" and to resign from the post of the "MP". He also claimed that they promised to give him a salary and support him for the post of the so-called mayor of occupied Trikomo.

Showing the money during his address at the "assembly", Aslanbaba said that he possesses the tape recording that would prove his allegations. He said that he would donate the money to the primary school of occupied Rizokarpaso village, but he used 100 dollars for buying whisky, cigars, nuts and ice.

Ahmet Kasif and Serdar Denktas denied the allegations and argued that the UBP was behind this issue. Noting that he had taken a loan from a friend and lent it to Aslanbaba, Kasif wondered "what had Irsen Kucuk given to Aslanbaba to do this show".

Serdar Denktas described as "shameful" this allegation and added that Aslanbaba should prove this at "court". Denktas noted that Aslanbaba asked for a loan in order to pay his debt to the "electricity authority" and added: "He had prepared such a plot that he would not be able to find a hole to hide from now on. He will not be able to exit the country".

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (24.06.13) reports that Ozkan Yorgancioglu, chairman of CTP-BG, said that the "police" should take into consideration the allegation and confession made by this "MP" at the "assembly" and prevent him from traveling abroad.

Under the title "We have been disgraced", Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (25.06.13) reports that the self-styled speaker of the "assembly", Hasan Bozer has stated that he was very angry because of the developments and said that yesterday he applied to the "attorney general" regarding Aslanbaba's allegations. He called on the people to be careful when they chose persons to send to the "assembly".

Referring to the statement by Kasif that he had taken loan from a friend and lent the money to Aslanbaba, Havadis reports that according to information which "fell like a bomb" yesterday at the political backstage, this friend was businessman Ali Ozmen Safa, who, however, denied the information saying that Aslanbaba was a friend of his from Britain, that he would have given Aslanbaba money if he had asked and that he had nothing to do with the incident.

The paper writes that the money and the CDs left by Aslanbaba at the "assembly" are kept in a "special room" and will be handed over to the "police".

Havadis reports also that the self-styled prime minister's office announced yesterday that the "attorney general's" office decided that Aslanbaba's travelling abroad is forbidden until Thursday.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.06.13) reports that the UBP issued a statement yesterday and argued that the "political dirtiness" created with the Aslanbaba incident "shadowed the dignity" of the so-called assembly. The party said that those, whose name was involved in the incident and the things which have been said, had no relation with the UBP, and confirm that some plots existed since the UBP's congress with the aim of corroding the party.

Moreover, Kibris (25.06.13) reports that Serdar Denktas, DP-UG's chairman, stated that the allegations of Aslanbaba were a plot and that he filed charges against Aslanbaba and a journalist of Kanal T television named Nazmi Pinar at occupied Lefkosia's district "court". Denktas said that Aslanbaba had a contact with UBP's chairman Irsen Kucuk prior to the incident, something which, he added, Kucuk had confessed in statement to a television station.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ozersay calls on Turkish Cypriots not to vote in the "elections"; Other reactions to the developments

Ozersay referred to examples of bribery happened during the past ten years in the occupied area of Cyprus and called on the people to "react against this worthlessness", which is "common for all political parties for a long period of time". Ozersay said that he remembers that when he was a child, people were visiting his village with cars on Saturday nights before the "elections" and distributed money. "Did you forget those who distributed money to your area", he asked the people.

Furthermore, Kibris (25.06.13) reports that Mehmet Ozkardas, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot "civil servants'" trade union (KAMU-SEN) has commented also on the allegations of bribery and said that "change is absolutely necessary". Arguing that the allegations of Ejder Aslanbaba showed that the political structure in the occupied area of Cyprus was corrupted, Ozkardas called on the "voters" to prefer "young candidates".

Moreover, Tahir Gokcebel, chairman of the of the Turkish Cypriot secondary school teachers' trade union (KTOEOS), has said that the dirtiness in politics should end, adding that "a democracy for the show" has been established in the occupied area of Cyprus by exploiting the flag, the nation and the religion, and by looting and plundering.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Five political parties and seven independent "candidates" will run in the early "elections" of 28 July

The parties which will participate in the "elections" are the following: Republican Turkish Party - United Forces (CTP-BG), Democratic Party ? National Forces (DP-UG), Social Democracy Party (TDP), National Unity Party (UBP) and United Cyprus Party ? Communal Existence Forces (BKP).

(I/Ts.)

[05] Akca demands from Siber the implementation of 2013-15 "economic program"; Erdogan congratulates Siber

Noting that Siber's "government" was an "interim government" until the "elections", Akca demanded the "meticulous implementation" of the "2013-15 economic program" during the period until the "elections". Akca said that he conveyed to Siber a congratulating message sent by Prime Minister Erdogan, on the occasion of self-styled governments securing a "vote of confidence" at the "assembly".

In her statements Siber said that they will be holding mutual consultations in order to achieve the best results for Turkey and the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Self-styled interior minister says they granted "citizenship" to 4239 persons in four years

She said that during the past two months, 710 persons were granted the citizenship with a decision of the "ministry" and 123 persons with a decision of the "council of ministers". She added that the files of 269 persons who have been granted "identity card" with a decision of the "council of ministers" will be examined and if their addresses are not correct they will not be able to "vote" in the "elections".

She noted that according to the "law", there are three kinds of "citizens": those who have acquired the "citizenship" as a result of marriage and those who have been granted the "citizenship" by the "ministry of interior" or the "council of ministers".

(I/Ts.)

[07] Data on the decisions of the "Property Compensation Commission"

According to the paper, 380 of these applications have been settled with an "amicable agreement" and ten at "court". Except the compensations paid until now, the "commission" decided the return of property in one case, exchange and compensation in two cases and return and compensation in five cases. Return of property after the solution of the Cyprus problem was decided for one case and partial return of property for another case.

The "commission" is expected to interrupt its work in the end of June and recommence in September. According to the paper, a lot of cases are expected to be concluded by the end of 2013.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Izzet Izcan was elected president of BKP during the party's 3rd Congress

Izzet Izcan who was the only candidate for the post, was elected as president of BKP.

Speaking during the congress, Izcan stated that they abandoned the general secretary for the democratic development of the party. He also said that the aim of the party is to work with courage and determination for the benefits of Cyprus and the Cypriot people, to rescued Cyprus for the current status quo and to work for the reunification of our island in the framework of a bi-communal, bi-zonally federation.

The Slovakian ambassador to Lefkosia Oksana Tomova and the MP with the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Movement Ibrahim Birinci were among the congress' attendance.

[09] The 6th "International Service Management Conference" was held in occupied Cyprus

The conference is being attended by more than a hundred and fifty scientists from thirty countries and many academicians from illegal universities of the breakaway regime, according to Bayrak.

The conference which is being chaired by the Oxford Brookes University's Faculty of Business Lecturer Prof Dr. Levent Alt1
nay who is also a Turkish Cypriot will address cultural and socio-economic complexities of the growth of service organizations and tourism destinations and their responsibilities to different stakeholder groups.

[10] Turkish Energy Minister comments on oil agreement with Baghdad

Yildiz also said that Turkey would meet its oil need from its neighbor next to Turkey, saying, "Turkey makes the most contribution for normalization process in Iraq." He also underlined that a topic for the benefit of Turkey has not been disadvantageous to Iraq.

Yildiz also gave information about new oil lines between Turkey and Iraq, saying, "The new oil line between Turkey and Iraq was not beside the point, because the current oil line between the two countries could not be used with full capacity."

Yildiz also talked about the current developments in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, saying, "If the tension between Turkey and Israel would decrease, the way for the energy projects would be clear." "The oil lines over Turkey would be beneficial for both Turkey, Israel and Greek Cypriot administration. We are saying that the incomes of Iraq are for all Iraq, which is also prevalent for Cyprus, provided that our conditions should be fulfilled," said Yildiz.

[11] Erdogan Calls Protestors 'Occupation Forces' at AKP Rally in Erzurum

"People have brought us to power and only people can take us down. We do not recognize any force other than God and the will of the people," he told thousands of his supporters in a rally of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in the eastern province of Erzurum.

Erdogan also criticized use of social networks utilized by protester during demonstrations, saying "Let them attack via Twitter and Facebook. The people in Erzurum represent the national will." He said protesters "entered mosques in their shoes and drank alcohol inside" during Taksim Gezi Park protests.

"Those who claim to be socialists are now relaxing in their yachts in Istanbul. If you are looking for social justice, you can find it in AK Party," he said.

Labeling Taksim protesters as "occupation forces," he said: "I gave the instructions to the police to clear the demonstrators and to clear Taksim Square," in defiance of criticisms that police have used "excessive and disproportionate force" against protesters.

"If you have the courage, if you are sincere, if you have any faith in democracy and in the popular will, ballot boxes are in eight months time," he said. He labeled demonstrators banging pots and pans to protest his government "are noise polluters."

The "Respect to National Will" rallies continue to take place under the theme "Let's spoil the big game and write history." First rally was held in Turkish capital Ankara on June 15, followed by Istanbul on June 16, by Kayseri on June 21, by Samsun on June 22.

In addition, Hurriyet Daily News (24.06.13) reports that Erdogan stated that the Turkish police have written a heroic story during the Gezi Park interventions. He was addressing a Police Academy graduation ceremony in Ankara.

"It is something that only our police could succeed at, continuing their work for 48 hours without eating or drinking anything," Erdogan said.

Ruling out claims that the Turkish police had used excessive force during the unrest in the country since May 31, which has resulted in the deaths of three protesters and one police officer and the injury of nearly 5,000 people, Erdogan said, "The Turkish police have been quite tolerant of the protests since the very beginning."

"No sabotage and no provocation can return Turkey to those days when security-based polices dominated the country," Erdogan said.

"We have to keep a fragile balance: assure security and stay within the rule of law," Erdogan added.

[12] More on Gezi Park Protests: Interior Ministry Issues 'Balance Sheet' - Education Ministry Tracking down teachers who participated in Protests

According to the report, 2.5 million people participated in the demonstrations, 4,900 individuals were detained, and close to 4,000 were injured. No protest demonstrations were held in Bingol and Bayburt.

It was also determined that an average of 50 persons a day "individually" joined the "standing man" protests initiated by performance artist Erdem Gunduz in Taksim. The overall number of "standing men" protesters could not be determined. While some of those protesters were detained, the number of individuals who became the "standing man" the day before last was 40 in Taksim, 11 in Caglayan, and five in Kadikoy. In Ankara, there were 30 "standing men" in Kugulu Park, and 15 in Kizilay Guvenpark.

According to the damage assessment report based on information given by governors' offices, 58 public buildings, 68 city surveillance cameras, and 337 workplaces were destroyed, and 90 municipality buses, 214 private vehicles, 240 police vehicles, and 45 ambulances became inoperable. It was determined that during the protests, 14 buildings of political parties among them the CHP [Republican People's Party] building, were damaged, and that the total damage stood at 140 million Turkish Liras. It was further stated that approximately 90 percent of that damage took place during incidents in Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Izmir, Antalya, Artvin, Bursa, Edirne, Eskisehir, Hatay, Kocaeli, Mersin, Samsun, Kayseri, Manisa, and Tunceli.

In addition, Turkish daily Taraf (22.06.13) reports that the Ministry of National Education has reportedly requested from province national education directorates lists of the names of school administrators and educators who participated in the Gezi Park protests. The letters of request say: "We request that you report the names of any teachers or personnel from your school or institution who participated in the protests." Speaking to Taraf on the issue, Egitim-Is [Union of Education and Science Workers] General Chairman Veli Demir said that a witch hunt for democratic people has started. Another statement from Egitim-Is says that the National Education Director of Cankaya District held a meeting with all school principals in the district on Thursday and requested a list of all the district teachers and administrators who participated in the protests by noon on Friday.

[13] Turkish authorities launch cyber security agency

Speaking at a meeting on cyber security, Y1
ld1
r1
m said that the meeting would cover the decisions made earlier on forming public security network including forming internet exchange points and the foundation of the "Centre for Response to National Cyber Threats," (or USOM).

Y1
ld1
r1
m said there were cyber attacks during the Taksim Gezi Park protests of the past three weeks but necessary measures were taken and problems were solved with the foundation of the USOM which had been in service since May 15.

[14] Council of Europe Secretary General to visit Turkey today

Jagland will pay an official visit to Turkey, which is a member of Council of Europe and takes care on having positive dialogue with all officials, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry's written statement.

Reporting on the same issue, Today's Zaman (25.06.13) writes that Jagland has come to Ankara for high-level talks on the Gezi Park protests and discuss issues such as the excessive use of force by police towards the protesters and the principles of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of the media in relation to the events.

[15] More developments on Kurdish issue: PKK withdrawal process reportedly delayed-New phase of peace talks begin

As the solution process continues, the PKK, according to information obtained from security forces, has been unable to adhere to the withdrawal schedule that had been anticipated to be completed by 1 July. Various technical problems encountered in the withdrawal, route precautions taken to avoid any clashes occurring, and the efforts of the BDP [Peace and Democracy Party] to ascertain how the government will respond to its demands, have had a role in the delay in the schedule. It has been learned that the PKK has asked for a period of until 1 September for the withdrawal. On 1 September, the PKK will have entirely departed Turkey.

Meanwhile, it is stated that the 25-point package of provisions that Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay has been working on will be assessed in the Council of Ministers soon.

In addition, Hurriyet Daily News (22.06.13) reports that the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), which takes an active role in recent efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem, announced that it had the first talks of the second round of the process with the government.

The first phase was described as the withdrawal of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants from Turkish soil as the second phase was to consist of steps to be taken by the government.

[16] US Envoy to Turkey visits Hakkari

Ricciardone, paying a visit to southeast of Turkey with his spouse Marie Ricciardone, passed to Hakkari after completing his meetings in Van.

During his meeting with Hakkari Governor Orhan Alimoglu, Ricciardone reminded his visit to the province 33 years ago. "We support the solution process 100 percent. Hopefully the result will come out at soonest and in the most positive way. As your ally, your success is also very important for us.", he said.

[17] Turkish parliament speaker Cicek says that he will not return to the post

"Lately, in the news written on the office of parliament speaker office and in the comments, I have been shown as among the candidates. I am not running for the post of Parliament Speaker. I had made no such attempt either," SeceK told Anatolia news agency yesterday regarding his potential candidacy for the "number two" post according to Turkey's protocol.

The process to elect the parliament speaker, the number two post in the protocol, commenced as of June 24, and the deadline for candidate nominations will last until midnight of June 28.

The candidates are expected to be submitted to the Parliament's general secretary office, upon which the elections will take place on July 2, during the parliament's general assembly. A simple majority suffices for any candidate to hold the office, where the four parties represented in the parliament are expected to nominate their candidates.

The Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) Faruk Bal became the first official candidate running for the office of parliament speaker to replace Cemil ?i?ek, whose current office period will terminate on July 4.

[18] Turkey kicks off plans for local laser weapon

"This kind of projects will be completed within five years," Science and Industry Minister Nihat Erg?n said yesterday speaking to press after an event.

Russia, China, Israel and Germany are reportedly undertaking studies to develop technology similar to the LaWS introduced by the U.S. Navy. Erg?n said Turkey had kicked off attempts for research and development of the weapon as T?B0
TAK announced it would back high-cost defense industry projects. The serial production of the system may be determined depending on the needs of the Turkish Army at that time, he said. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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