Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-06-29

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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] Akinci to meet with Schultz in Brussels; He will call the EU to support the Cyprus negotiation process

[02] Burcu: "Work on linking cell phone networks progressing"

[03] Candan: The EU will accept a solution reached between the Cypriots

[04] Turkey's "financial aid" to the breakaway regime almost reached nine billion Turkish liras in the period 2002 - 2014

[05] Kilicdaroglu discussed the Cyprus problem with the UK Ambassador to Turkey

[06] Five thousand students to take summer Quran lesson in the breakaway regime

[07] The British High Commissioner visited Harmanci

[08] Data on imports and exports of the breakaway regime for 2014 were announced

[09] Illegal Keryneia university" signed a protocol of cooperation with the "Gagavuzia government"

[10] Erdogan: "We will never allow the establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Syria"

[11] Four candidates to run for Parliament Speaker's post; AKP announced Ismet Yilmaz as its candidate

[12] Turkish police crackdown on LGBTI Pride Parade in Istanbul

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci to meet with Schultz in Brussels; He will call the EU to support the Cyprus negotiation process

Akinci will be departing for the EU capital following his meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades on Monday morning.

Amongst other top ranking EU officials, Ak?nc? is scheduled to meet with the President of the EU Parliament Mart?n Shultz.

Akinci is expected to return to the island on Friday.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (29.06.15-online in Turkish) reported that Akinci, in statements to the paper's correspondent in the occupied area of Cyprus, Sefa Karahasan, referred to the contacts he will hold with high ranking officials in Brussels and stated that he will sent the message that "The time has come for the solution. We should not lose time".

Also, according to the paper, during his contacts in Brussels, Akinci will call the EU to prepare the Turkish Cypriots for the solution.

Speaking to Milliyet, Akinci stated the following: "The EU should contribute to the negotiation process in Cyprus. However, the negotiations will continue and they will be a UN's process".

Stating that since the federal state to be formed after the solution will be in the EU, Akinci said that it is for this reason that the EU should have close ties with the Turkish Cypriots. "The Turkish Cypriots will be an equal part of the federal state to be. The EU should establish warm ties with the Turkish Cypriot side prior to the solution. The Turkish Cypriots and their institutions should be prepared and be harmonized with the EU standards", Akinci said.

(AK)

[02] Burcu: "Work on linking cell phone networks progressing"

Speaking via telephone on a live program of BRT, Burcu said that the political message to be given by the two leaders will be crucial in determining whether or not the mobile operators on both sides of the island will have an equal right and share of the earnings.

The two leaders had agreed earlier this month, amongst other confidence building measures to link up the island's electricity grid as well as mobile networks.

Earlier in the week, the "chairman" of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) Fikri Toros had announced that the two sides were very close to finalizing work on linking the mobile networks and were ironing out the last details.

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[03] Candan: The EU will accept a solution reached between the Cypriots

Candan has represented the CTP in a delegation of the "assembly" of the regime to the European Parliament (EP). He said that they explained to their interlocutors their positions in the negotiations and what is happening during the process. He argued that there is much higher interest now in Europe for the Cyprus problem in comparison to 1-2 years ago and added that they have observed that the European interest increased after the positive climate that started in the negotiations with the "election" of Mustafa Akinci as Turkish Cypriot leader. He noted that all political groups in the EP think that the problem should be solved and added that the Turkish Cypriots recall to their interlocutors that the problem is a European one.

Candan said that he had a short conversation with the President of the EP, Martin Schulz who told him that he actively supports the negotiations process, he holds contacts with all the sides and that the EU and the EP provide the necessary support for the successful conclusion of the process.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkey's "financial aid" to the breakaway regime almost reached nine billion Turkish liras in the period 2002 - 2014

The fundamental aim of the aid has been announced to be "to bring the public finances into a healthy, self-sufficient situation, to strengthen the infrastructure which is necessary for the economy, to develop the real sector and to bring the TRNC economy into a competitive level".

The statement says that around 300 "civil servants" have been appointed from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus, adding that Turkey's aid to the breakaway regime continues within the framework of their "economic and financial cooperation protocols".

Within this scope, it is noted, a "program for transition to sustainable economy" for the period 2013-2015 has been prepared.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Kilicdaroglu discussed the Cyprus problem with the UK Ambassador to Turkey

According to the paper, developments in Syria, the Cyprus problem and the European Union were the main issue of the meeting. Commenting on Cyprus, Kilicdaroglu emphasized to a policy that will protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and where positive steps towards the European Union will take place.

(CS)

[06] Five thousand students to take summer Quran lesson in the breakaway regime

Turkish Cypriot primary teacher's school union (KTOS) general secretary Senerl Elcil also reacted against the use of school facilities for the Quran lessons and said that the schools were transformed from places of knowledge to places of religion. On its part, the "ministry of education" stated that these are religious lessons offered to students and this is the reason that schools facilities are offered for the teaching.

The lessons are offered by the "religious employees' trade union" and are taught in schools or mosques. In a statement on the issue, the "religious employees union" argued that the students interest of taking the lessons has increased compared to last year. In 2014, 4,500 participated in the lesson while this year more than 5,000 students were enlisted.

(CS)

[07] The British High Commissioner visited Harmanci

Todd expressed support to the cooperation between the two municipalities in Lefkosia.

The Cyprus problem was also discussed during the meeting.

According to a statement released by the municipality, Harmanc? expressed his desire to increase the technical and social cooperation with the Municipality of Lefkosia and added that they had started to take concrete steps in this direction with his Greek Cypriot counterpart.

Pointing out that the two leaders have been taking important steps on the Cyprus problem, Harmanc? said that in line with this perspective he is quite optimistic about the future.

The statement said that Todd for his part praised the positive atmosphere that is prevailing on the island and stated that they are prepared to do all they can to support joint projects between the two municipalities.

[08] Data on imports and exports of the breakaway regime for 2014 were announced

The exports of the regime increased by 3,8% comparing to 2013 and reached 120 million 681 thousand and 239 dollars.

The foreign trade deficit increased by 4,58% in 2014 raising to one billion 650 million 283 thousand and 153 dollars from one billion 578 million 745 thousand and 192 dollars in 2013.

The most imported product in 2014 was fuel for which 177 million 421 thousand and 179 dollars were spent. The dairy products top the list of the most exported products with 49 million 695 thousand and 473 dollars.

The imports from Turkey reached one billion 185 million 695 thousand and 340 dollars and imports from other countries 598 million 572 thousand and 903 dollars.

The breakaway regime's exports to Turkey reached 78 million 446 thousand 382 dollars and to other countries 55 million 538 thousand and 708 dollars.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Illegal Keryneia university" signed a protocol of cooperation with the "Gagavuzia government"

According to the paper, the cooperation is also extended to the fields of education, culture and health.

(CS)

[10] Erdogan: "We will never allow the establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Syria"

"I am addressing the whole world: We will never allow a state to be formed in northern Syria, south of our border", Erdogan said during a Ramadan event organized by the Turkish Red Crescent in Istanbul on Friday.

"We will keep up with our struggle whatever the cost is. They are trying to complete an operation to change the demographics of the region. We will not condone," Erdogan added.

[11] Four candidates to run for Parliament Speaker's post; AKP announced Ismet Yilmaz as its candidate

Four candidates will run for the post, including Ismet Yilmaz, 53, from the Justice and Development (AK) Party, Deniz Baykal, 76, from the Republican People's Party (CHP), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, 71, from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Dengir Mir Mehmet F?rat, 71, from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

On Friday, the AK Party announced that Yilmaz, who was a parliamentarian from the central province of Sivas, would be its candidate for the post.

The AK party came first in Turkey's general election held on June 7, winning 258 seats in the 550-strong Parliament, but it cannot govern alone or elect the Parliament Speaker without the support of at least one other party.

The CHP, which came second in the elections, winning 132 seats in Parliament, announced on Wednesday that its former leader Baykal - who, as the oldest Member of Parliament, currently serves as interim speaker until the election next week - was also a candidate.

Ekmelletin Ihsanoglu, MHP Member of Parliament and former 2014 Presidential candidate, also submitted his application to run on June 24 while Firat, HDP's Mersin Deputy, announced his candidacy on June 22.

The MHP and pro-Kurdish HDP each won 80 seats in the Turkish parliament.

Candidates were required to submit their applications by June 28.

According to the Turkish Constitution, the election of the Speaker shall be conducted via secret ballot.

The election on June 30 requires a two-thirds majority among Parliamentarians. Should this majority not be reached after two attempts, a third requiring an absolute majority will be held on July 1.

If this cannot be obtained, a fourth vote shall be held on the same day in a runoff between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes in the third.

[12] Turkish police crackdown on LGBTI Pride Parade in Istanbul

As crowds gathered to start the 13th Istanbul LGBTI Pride Parade from Istanbul's central Taksim Square to the neighborhood of Tunel, police fired tear gas and water to disperse the crowd.

The Istanbul LGBTI Pride Week Committee, a group that organized the series of events during the 23rd Pride Week, said that the 13rd Istanbul LGBTI Pride Parade, which was scheduled to start Taksim Square, had "suddenly been banned by the Istanbul Governor's Office using the month of Ramadan as the reason without any announcement."

Police attacked people with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon, the committee said in a press briefing, adding that all entries to and exits from the Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue had been shut down.

The first LGBTI Pride Parade in Turkey was held in 2003 with only 30 people attending the event. This number increased to around 5,000 attendants in 2010 and rose to more than 10,000 in 2011. The participants of the parade then rose to 20,000 in 2012 a year before about 50,000 people attended the parade in 2013.

(?) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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