Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-08-22

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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] AKP ruling party nominates Davutoglu as AKP leader and new Prime Minister

[02] "Diplomats International" invites Eroglu to Germany; Meinel: We want to attract German investors to the occupied area of Cyprus

[03] Casino operators want the establishment of a central gambling administration

[04] Ozgurgun expresses support to illegal YDU hospital which is accused of human organ trafficking

[05] Talat most probably CTP-BG's candidate

[06] TDP to support Akkinci in next year's "presidential elections" in the occupied area of Cyprus

[07] Eroglu to carry out contacts in Trabzon

[08] Turkey's Minister of Health to visit illegally the occupied area of Cyprus; The Oncology Centre foundation laying ceremony to take place today

[09] The Montessori Schools in occupied Keryneia and Lefkosia became members of the European Montessori Union

[10] Turkey purchased 10% of Total's share in Shah Deniz gas field

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] AKP ruling party nominates Davutoglu as AKP leader and new Prime Minister

The AKP's Central Executive Board (MYK), which was convened under Erdogan's leadership, decided to propose Davutoglu's name for the chairmanship of the party, which will be elected during the AKP's extraordinary congress in Ankara on August 27.

The decision was announced by Erdogan after a three-hour meeting at the party headquarters yesterday.

"Our nominee is our Foreign Minister, our Konya deputy, our brother Ahmet Davutoglu," Erdogan told the crowd, which included government Ministers and journalists.

Erdogan said that Davutoglu was chosen following "very delicate deliberations" and due to his "determination to fight the 'parallel state.'"

"We had consultations with everybody from the people on the street to the highest bodies of our party," Erdogan added regarding the selection of Davutoglu. "We have come to a certain point in peace and brotherhood; the unity of this movement comes above everything. Many people hope for cracks within our party, but we have survived such operations."

Davutoglu took the stage after Erdogan, addressing him as "Mr. President", and stated: " (?)The great restoration movement that has been realized over the past 12 years will continue without interruption. The country that was regarded as a sick man 12 years ago is now on its feet, has remembered its historic mission, and started a blessed march," Davutoglu added, vowing that neither the "parallel state" nor any other force could stop this march.

Davutoglu is expected to be given the mandate to form the next government by Erdogan on August 29, a day after the official Presidential handover. He will become Turkey's 26th Prime Minister following a procedural confidence vote at Parliament in early September.

Who is Davutoglu?

A former academic, Ahmet Davutoglu has served the Justice and Development Party faithfully since 2002, as an adviser to Prime Ministers Abdullah Gul and Recep Tayyip Erdogan and, for the past five years, as Foreign Minister.

It was in this role that he emerged as one of the party's leading figures, steering Turkey to a more central position on the regional and global stage.

As Foreign Minister of the country bridging Europe and Asia, Davutoglu wanted to "transform Turkey into not only a regional power but also a global power."

Born in the central Anatolian province of Konya in 1959, Davutoglu suffered the loss of his mother aged four but has emerged as a world-renowned diplomatic figure over the past decade.

Even before his promotion to the Foreign Ministry, he was a prolific writer on foreign policy issues with books published in Turkish, English, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Persian and Albanian.

This culminated in him being placed seventh in Foreign Policy magazine's 2010 list of top 100 global thinkers, citing his role as "the brains behind Turkey's global reawakening."

During his political life he has been centrally involved in the 40-year-old Cyprus issue; the dispute between Turkey and Armenia; as well as the seemingly intractable feud between Palestinians and Israel.

In Cyprus, he supported Kofi Annan's 2004 peace plan which saw Turkish Cypriots agree to a federal system, only for Greek Cypriots to vote overwhelmingly against the proposal.

In another diplomatic hurdle close to Turkish hearts, Davutoglu was involved in negotiations on establishing ties between Ankara and Yerevan in 2007.

Since 2002, Turkey has played a key role as a mediator in the Israel-Palestine conflict with Davutoglu, bringing the two sides together for a peace conference in Ankara.

He also played a role at the heart of Turkey's efforts to resolve sectarian violence in the Muslim world between Sunni and Shiite factions, particularly in neighboring Iraq and Syria, as well as wielding influence in Serbia's disputes with Bosnia and Kosovo and over cross-border tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

During Davutoglu's period near the top of government, Turkey's representation overseas has grown significantly, with the number of diplomatic missions rising from 163 to 221 over the last 12 years.

Furthermore, Turkey has developed its Africa policy, extending an open hand to the continent to secure valuable commercial contracts. The number of Turkish embassies in Africa has nearly trebled while 28 African nations are now represented in Ankara.

Perhaps more than any other foreign policy issue, European Union accession has dominated Davutoglu's time in power. Turkey began negotiating in 2005 and has been working hard to secure membership. At the end of last year, Turkey signed an agreement to allow visa-free travel in the EU for Turkish citizens.

However, Davutoglu's pet project has always been humanitarian diplomacy, in particular the human suffering unleashed by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and the Arab Spring.

Accordingly, the Global Humanitarian Aid Report ranks Turkey as fourth in a table of contributor countries to its emergency humanitarian fund and Turkey spent more than $1 billion on relief projects, mainly aimed at Syrian refugees, in 2012.

[02] "Diplomats International" invites Eroglu to Germany; Meinel: We want to attract German investors to the occupied area of Cyprus

In statements before their meeting with Eroglu, the chairman of "Diplomats International", Gunter Meinel said that efforts should be exerted for reaching a solution in Cyprus and the unification of the island on the basis of equality.

Meinel noted that they want to attract investors from the industrial sector in Germany to the occupied area of Cyprus and added that they are expecting for more support on this issue from the USA and the UN.

He alleged that the voice of the Turkish Cypriots should be heard in order for the Cyprus problem being explained in a better way and added that therefore they plan to invite Eroglu to Germany. Meinel submitted to Eroglu an invitation to visit Germany. He noted that they could mediate for Eroglu having contacts in Germany and added that during these meetings Eroglu will find the opportunity to put some problems onto the table.

Meinel alleged that since their last meeting with Eroglu, he became an "official adviser" of the UN and his working tempo is more intensive and tiring now.

He noted that they are working together with the illegal "GAU's" rector Serhat Akpinar and that they want to attract students from Europe and open a school of diplomacy in the occupied area of Cyprus. Meinel said that diplomats are educated in Europe as well, but their target is to draw more attention to what happens in Cyprus and turn Nicosia into a main center of diplomatic education. He noted that they will bring the four best teachers in Europe to this school and offer an education at European standards.

In his statements, "GAU's" rector Serhat Akpinar also said that they want to open a school of diplomacy in Nicosia and that they will make Eroglu as their "honorary president".

On his part, Eroglu expressed his satisfaction with the fact that Meinel is interested in the occupied area of Cyprus and added that the opening of a diplomatic academy in the occupied part of Nicosia and the efforts to attract German investors to the occupied area of Cyprus makes them happy. Eroglu said that he will respond positively to Meinel's invitation as soon as possible.

The "Diplomats International" delegation met also with the self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorganciolgu, the self-styled deputy prime minister, Serdar Denktas and the so-called minister of education, Mustafa Arabacioglu.

Meile told Yorganciolglu that he had come to Cyprus three years ago, saw the "injustice" and wants to help. He argued that their aim is to "unify the two sides at the same level" and expressed the belief that they will succeed.

Yorgancioglu described as "a very important development" the opening of a school of diplomats in the occupied area of Cyprus, pointing out that diplomacy is an important means "in promoting the country and its people to the world".

Denktas briefed the foreign delegation on the problems they face in exporting goods even to Turkey. He noted that the most important problem is the lack of a laboratory for granting certifications and carrying out controls. He said that they plan on solving this problem with the establishment of a "Turkish Cypriot Standards Institute". Denktas pointed out that the most important problem they face in the field of education is the fact that they cannot be included in Erasmus Program.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Casino operators want the establishment of a central gambling administration

Saricicek pointed out that the issue which interests the casino operators in the occupied area of Cyprus is the establishment of a central gambling administration which the operators in the occupied area of Cyprus will also be able to join. He expressed the view that in case of a solution, the casinos should be bound to the component states and not the central government.

Eroglu said that the economy chapter was discussed in the negotiations but this issue was never put onto the table. He noted that the issue could be discussed only after an agreement is reached and during the preparation of the laws. Eroglu further claimed that two separate founding states will exist in the agreement and each of these states will make its own laws.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ozgurgun expresses support to illegal YDU hospital which is accused of human organ trafficking

Ozgurgun argued that a "government" which is trying to wear out its own "institutions" and harms the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has lost its so-called legitimacy. He said that he could not understand the "government's" wish to wear out an "institution" which they developed to offer quality services to their "people" in their own country and instead is forcing them to be treated "in the south", as he called the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus, and abroad.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Talat most probably CTP-BG's candidate

According to the paper, the "party assembly" will meet again on August 28 in order to finalize and announce its decision regarding the name of their candidate.

The paper writes that according to reliable sources, before the CTP-BG Party assembly meeting, several names were mentioned as possible candidates for the party. Among the names that were mentioned were that of former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and the current "speaker" of the so-called assembly, Sibel Siber.

AK

[06] TDP to support Akkinci in next year's "presidential elections" in the occupied area of Cyprus

Stating that they consider Akkinci to be the appropriate person to support, Ozyigit said that Akkinci was among the founders of their party and a person who is admired by the "people".

AK

[07] Eroglu to carry out contacts in Trabzon

Eroglu's visit will take place today afternoon. Eroglu is going to give a conference on the subject: "The yesterday, today and tomorrow of the Cyprus Problem," at the Karadeniz Technical University.

On Saturday, Eroglu will hold various contacts and visits in Trabzon.

He is expected to return in the occupied area of Cyprus on Sunday.

[08] Turkey's Minister of Health to visit illegally the occupied area of Cyprus; The Oncology Centre foundation laying ceremony to take place today

According to the paper, the Oncology Centre will operate as part of the so-called Dr Burhan Nalbantoglu state hospital and its construction is considered as one of the most important steps against the fight for cancer, writes the paper.

The so-called health ministry, in a written statement said that the Oncology Centre to be constructed will offer radiotherapy and chemotherapy services for cancer patients.

The "ministry" statement said further that the construction of the Oncology Centre is expected to be concluded on July 2015.

Meanwhile, as the paper points out, in the framework of his visit to the occupied area of Cyprus, Minister Muezzinoglu and his accompanied delegation will carry out a series of contacts.

Muezzinoglu will meet today with the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, the "speaker" of the so-called assembly Siber Siber and the so-called prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu.

Meanwhile, Turkey's Health Minister will signed today with the so-called minister of health, Ahmet Gulle an additional protocol which envisages the strengthening of the cooperation between the "two ministries" in the field of health, writes the paper.

The additional protocol to be signed, also envisages that the so-called Burhan Nalbantoglu hospital will cooperate and become "sister hospital" with the Antalya Education and Research Hospital.

AK

[09] The Montessori Schools in occupied Keryneia and Lefkosia became members of the European Montessori Union

According to the paper, during the recent annual meeting of the "Montessori Europe Schools Union" which took place in Hungary, Budapest the Union evaluated the application of membership of the two schools in the occupied area of Cyprus and decided unanimously to accept them.

AK

[10] Turkey purchased 10% of Total's share in Shah Deniz gas field

TPAO announced that a seven-year loan from state-owned Vakifbank and Turkiye Is Bankasi was signed.

In statement in a ceremony in Ankara, Taner Y?ld?z said: "TPAO will contribute $500 million to finance the project. Totally $45 billion will be spent for the projects including Trans Anatolian Pipeline Project (TANAP) and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), in the next 4 years".

"We are aiming to double our shares in the projects following years" Yildiz added. "Money is important but not more than owning the petroleum"

The purchase increases TPAO's share from 9 to 19% in Shah Deniz and the South Caucasus Pipeline and makes Turkey the second biggest shareholder after British Petroleum (BP), which has 28.8% and operates the gas field.

Turkish energy officials said that the cost of the 10% share is quoted as $1.45 billion,

The South Caucasus Pipeline was built to export Shah Deniz gas from Azerbaijan to Georgia and Turkey.

Shah Deniz is among the largest gas fields in the world with nearly 1.4 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. Apart from Azerbaijan, gas extracted from Shah Deniz field is exported to Georgia and Turkey.

The 692 kilometres (430 mile) South Caucasus Pipeline, which began operation at the end of 2006, transports gas from the Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to Turkey, through Georgia.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) announced on Thursday that Turkey's imports of natural gas fell slightly in 2013.

Compared to the previous year, gas imports fell by 1.42% to 45.2 billion cubic meters. Nearly 60% of the natural gas came from Russia, with 9 billion cubic meters from Iran and 4.3 billion cubic meters from Azerbaijan.

In addition, Turkey imported 6.1 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas last year ? 13% of Turkey's total natural gas imports.

The report also revealed that Turkey's natural gas production dropped by 15% in 2013, totaling 537 million cubic meters. More than half of Turkey's natural gas production took place in the north-western province Tekirdag.

Natural gas production in Turkey has been decreasing since 2008 as reserves run out. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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