Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-04-19

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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] New "elections law" was unanimously adopted by the "assembly" of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus

[02] Water problems in the occupied area of Cyprus

[03] Isik called the Greek Cypriots to recognize the "TRNC" as exchange of usurping the Republic of Cyprus

[04] "KIB-TEK's" chairman criticizes those who argue that the "electricity authority" should be privatized

[05] Officials from the Local and Regional Authorities of CoE will carry out contacts in Cyprus

[06] Sertoglu: "My dear friend (Koutsokoumnis) made a mistake"

[07] Davutoglu and Cavusoglu called on EU to keep the promises it gave to Turkey

[08] The Turkish army has no weapons of mass destruction, claims Defence Minister

[09] YDU participated in the "13th International Congress on Human Genetics" in Japan

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] New "elections law" was unanimously adopted by the "assembly" of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus

When the "law" is signed by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and published in the "official gazette" of the occupation regime, the entire occupied area of the island will be turned into a "single election zone", instead of five, which existed until now. The "candidates" will be included in a single list and the "voters" will be able to "vote" for "deputies" in the entire occupied area and not only in the area in which they live.

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (19.04.16) reports that the number of the "deputies" will remain the same (50) and they will be distributed according to the population of the existing occupied districts: E.g. Nicosia 16, Famagusta 13, Keryneia 10, Morfou 6 and Trikomo 5. A "voter" which votes for one party will be able to express preference to mostly half of the "candidates" of his/her party in every district. The "voter" who will chose the "combine vote" will be able to express preference to mostly half of the "candidates" of a party or the independent candidates in a district. The "voters" will be able to choose among at least 24 and mostly 50 "candidates".

Kibris (19.04.16) reports that in order for running for "candidate" one should permanently live in an area for at least two years. If a person has changed his/her permanent residence during the past two years and has not permanently lived in an area for two continuous years, he/she will be able to run in the "elections" in the area in which she/he had lived the longest period.

Explaining the provisions of the "law" at the "assembly", Turfan Erhurman, "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said all 50 "candidates" of a party will be in one list, the area from which each "candidate" will run will be taking place in the list and every "vote" to any "deputy" of any party will include the "candidates" in all districts.

Referring to the same issue, Mustafa Arabacioglu, "deputy" with the Democratic Party (DP) argued that the "law" should be well explained to the "citizens" and that the regionalism will be abolished but the quotas will remain.

Nazim Cavusoglu, "deputy" with the National Unity Party (UBP) and self-styled minister for agriculture and natural resources, noted that the "people's preferences" will show the extent of the change brought by the "law".

Hakan Dincyurek, "independent deputy", said that even those who made the "law" ask questions on how the "voting" will take place and how the calculations will be made. He added that the uncertainties regarding the "law" should be overcome.

Hasan Tacoy, also "independent deputy", said that some problems might be solved with the single list.

Meanwhile, the People's Party (HP) issued a written statement arguing that the new "law" includes undemocratic elements, that the use of "combined vote" will become extremely complicated and that it interferes in the choice of the "people" using their free will.

Finally, the so-called cultural association of the settlers coming from Turkey's Black Sea area argued that the "law" will create a more complicated and more unjust "election system" and added that they might apply to the "constitutional court" for the annulment of the "law".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Water problems in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the paper, the wells in Morfou have been salted and not enough financial sources are available; therefore the inhabitants are facing many problems regarding the water distribution.

The so-called mayor of occupied Famagusta, Ismail Arter, said that Famagusta receives 4,000 tons of water daily from Morfou but due to the pumps that are broken they have not received water for the last 11 days. He said that the people's water needs are not met at all despite that they receive 6.500 tons of water daily through the method of water purification from the sea. As he said, some areas receive water every 4-5 days.

(CS)

[03] Isik called the Greek Cypriots to recognize the "TRNC" as exchange of usurping the Republic of Cyprus

In a written statement, Isik called "the Greek Cypriots to recognize the independence of the Turkish Cypriots as well as their state for the peace, stability and tranquillity of the East Mediterranean and for the interests of the two motherlands". He argued that the essence of an agreement in Cyprus is not the population but the political equality.

(DPs)

[04] "KIB-TEK's" chairman criticizes those who argue that the "electricity authority" should be privatized

Referring to Turkey's demand regarding the privatization of the authority", Akim noted: "Those who say 'you have to privatize KIB-TEK, you cannot collect revenues', could not exceed 70% in the revenue collection in spite of the fact that electricity is in the hands of the private sector in their country today. Our revenue collection percentage is 96,6%".

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, he explained the actions of his "administrative council" during the past couple of years. He said that during the first month after his appointment to the post, they did not have money even to buy fuel, adding that now they are buying fuel paying in advance. He noted that they managed to decrease their debt from 351 million 166 thousand 316 Turkish liras (TL) to 214 million 815 thousand 614 TL.

Asim said that "KIB-TEK" suffered loses reaching 53 million 355 thousand 209 TL in 2011, 3 million 741 thousand 648 TL in 2012 and 83 million 782 thousand 922 TL in 2013. He added that in 2014 they managed to have a profit of 5 million 896 thousand 38 TL and in 2015 a profit of 54 million 872 thousand 185 TL.

Referring to the cost of the projects during his term, Asim said that this reached 127 million 140 TL of which the sum of 93 million 633 thousand TL has been paid.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Officials from the Local and Regional Authorities of CoE will carry out contacts in Cyprus

Benli said that this visit is extremely important for them and their "country", adding that their representation which had contacts at the Council of Europe produced this result. Benli further said that they will meet them today in "Geunyeli municipality" and added: "We believe in the European criteria for the development of the local democracy. We are determined to act with all our municipalities for the provision of autonomy of the local authorities. In this kind of process, it will give us pleasure to host in our country our European high official friends".

(DPs)

[06] Sertoglu: "My dear friend (Koutsokoumnis) made a mistake"

"The chairman of KOP went to Turkey and acted the way all the other guests acted. However, what he said and how he acted following his return and the reactions he caused, were wrong. My dear friend acted in the wrong way", Sertoglu stated.

Referring to the process regarding the agreement between KOP and the "TCFD", Sertoglu stated that no-one can do what KOP is asking and added that a new initiative is planned soon on the issue of the agreement.

(CS)

[07] Davutoglu and Cavusoglu called on EU to keep the promises it gave to Turkey

Under a deal with the EU late last year, Turkey agreed to take back refugees from Greece while Turkish nationals were promised a relaxation of the visa regime in Europe.

Addressing journalists at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before his departure to Strasbourg, France, Davutoglu said he expected the visa arrangements to be finalized by June. "If it is not carried out, no-one would expect Turkey to adhere to its commitments," he said in reference to the deal, which also promised a financial package for Turkey to support refugees and fast-tracked EU accession.

In addition, Turkish daily Sabah (19.04.16) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey will cancel its agreements with the European Union on migrants if the EU doesn't keep its word on the deal.

Cavusoglu made the comment in parliament in response to opposition criticism over the government's Syria policies, which include the deal with the EU last month designed to stem the influx of Syrian migrants to Europe.

"The deal we struck with the EU is very clear. We want this human tragedy to end, our citizens to travel visa free, and the customs union to be updated," he said in his speech. "If the EU doesn't keep its word, including the migrants deal we will cancel all agreements", he stated.

[08] The Turkish army has no weapons of mass destruction, claims Defence Minister

"There are no chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons in the inventory of the TSK," Yilmaz said in response to a motion filed by a Deputy of the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

In his motion, HDP Tunceli Deputy Alican Unlu said four militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed while around a 10-hectares of land were burned during a military operation at Tunceli's Ovacik district during a shelling on Sept., 16, 2015, asking whether banned weapons were used in the operation.

"During the TSK shelling which went on for two days, four PKK members lost their lives and around 10 hectares of land was burned. Families who went to the Forensic Medicine Institute for identification have said bodies were completely burned beyond recognition, voicing concern that banned weapons may have been used," Unlu said at the time.

In his response, Yilmaz argued that Turkey was party to various treaties and conventions concerning the proliferation of WMDs, as well as to the related export control regime.

[09] YDU participated in the "13th International Congress on Human Genetics" in Japan

According to the paper, YDU participated in the congress with two dissertations.

(CS) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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