Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-06-07

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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 had a phone conversation with Hammond

[02] Ozgurgun supports the "Youth coordination office"

[03] Reaction by CTP on the establishment of the "coordination office"

[04] Turkish Cypriot trade unions: The AKP deceives the world by saying it wants solution and peace in Cyprus

[05] Information about the population of the breakaway regime

[06] "Caner Gonyeli Search and Rescue exercise" in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[07] The illegal DAU "university" signed academic agreements with 24 universities since 2014

[08] A new "association" was established in the occupied area of Cyprus

[09] Erdogan expected to approve immunity bill today

[10] Erdogan sparks outrage again after declaring childless women to be "deficient"

[11] Eleven killed, 36 wounded in car bomb attack on police vehicle in Istanbul

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci had a phone conversation with Hammond

According to information by Akinci's office, Hammond called Akinci. During the conversation, Hammond reiterated Britain's support for the negotiation process and Akinci stressed the importance of Britain's constructive approach to the negotiation process.

(DPs)

[02] Ozgurgun supports the "Youth coordination office"

Ozgurgun said that the "office" will mainly support sports and will make big investments in the sport field in the breakaway regime.

He went on and added that the "office" is the result of an agreement signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime and this has to be approved by the "assembly". He went on and said that the issue will be presented before the related "assembly committee" and called on the "attorney general" to participate in the "assembly's" meeting and comment on the issue.

The paper further reports that the chairman of the "Keryneia American university- Cetinkaya" Asim Vehbi also expressed his support towards the "Youth coordination office" claiming that it will be very beneficial for the "Turkish Cypriot youth".

(CS)

[03] Reaction by CTP on the establishment of the "coordination office"

Akansoy explained that the establishment of such an office would mean mediation to all aspects of life in the "TRNC" and argued that all policies of Turkey would have a direct reflection on the "TRNC".

Akansoy added that the signing of the "protocol regarding the "coordination office" took place in 2014 but it has not came into force since then. He explained that the "protocol" which is composed by 7 articles, envisages the transferring of "responsibilities and authorities" belonging to the "ministry of youth and sports" to another state [Translator's note: meaning Turkey] and this is contrary to the "constitution". He also added that the "protocol" is not related only with the fields of sports and education but its real aim is to bring the model of life in Turkey to the "TRNC".

"The signing of a protocol between a strong state, Turkey, and a weak and poor state, the TRNC, is a sensitive issue. It is very important to preserve the balances here so that the existence in Cyprus, the social identity and the organizational structure not to be harmed but to be developed and safeguarded. (...). If no attention is paid to all these, all kind of Turkey's policies will reflect directly the TRNC and this is unacceptable".

Supporting also that the "protocol" includes "insufficient articles", Akansoy stressed the need to be very careful, taking into account the policy that Turkey follows on youth and culture. "The characteristic of this protocol is that it is a different model proposed. Turkey supports that it implement this model to different countries. The proposed model is unacceptable for us and it is impossible to be implemented not only from the political point of view but also socially and legally", Akansoy further argued.

Expressing his strong dissatisfaction over the implementation of the "protocol", he stressed the need for discussing the issue again in the "committee of the assembly" and called all political parties in the "TRNC" to show the necessary seriousness and sensitivity towards this matter.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (07.06.16) reports that the general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhuman, in a striking statement, argued that the problem with the "agreement" is not about the rejections of aids that Turkey may provide to the education, culture, youth and sports sectors through the "coordination office", but rather to the provisions and the transfer of authority, which is incompatible to the "TRNC constitution".

In statements regarding the establishment and the activities of the "foreign coordination office" of the "youth and sports ministry" between Turkey and the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Erhurman stressed that it is a mistake that the authority of projects and programs that will be carried out by the "prime ministry" or "ministry" of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus to be transferred to this "foreign coordination office".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (07.06.16), on its front page under the title "Members of the embassy make propaganda", reports that former "finance minister" and self-styled deputy with CTP Birikim Ozgur argued that members of the illegal Turkish embassy in the occupied part of Nicosia are making propaganda regarding the establishment of the "youth coordination office Turkey-TRNC", adding that this is an interference to democracy.

Ozgur, who was guest at the televised program of Sami Ozuslu at the private channel Kanal T, claimed that Turkey is next to them in the sense of auditing the budget discipline and prevent the thieves. However, Ozgur added that Turkey should abstain from interfering to their domestic policy and democracy.

Ozgur further said: "If we are pleased with the dissolution of the 'aid committee', but Ankara will still decide for our projects, then we are damned. If the government sends a draft bill to the assembly, it is not the business of Turkey's officers to wander around and make propaganda on the issue?"

(AK / DPs)

[04] Turkish Cypriot trade unions: The AKP deceives the world by saying it wants solution and peace in Cyprus

According to Kaptan, the National Unity Party (UBP) ? Democratic Party (DP) self-styled government was established by the AKP and does not care what the "people" want. "The important thing for them is to literally implement the instructions", he said adding that KTAMS and other organizations and political parties will oppose to these impositions.

He noted that the price of the water was first imposed without the "people" knowing how much they will pay for this water and then it was said that electricity will be brought from Turkey with the signing of the "economic protocol". Kaptan wondered what will happen with the employees in the "electricity authority" and the "telecommunication authority" and what will be the price of the services that the "people" will be getting. He also said that the illegal Tymbou airport was given away and they did not learn their lesson. "With the liberalization of the ports, the connection of the people with the world will be cut off", he noted.

Meanwhile, Ortam (07.06.16) refers also to statements made by Tahir Gokcebel, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot secondary school teachers' trade union (KTOEOS), who said that the image that the AKP wants a solution in Cyprus is false. Gokcebel said that the fact that this image is false has more clearly come to light with the steps taken regarding the water, the "economic package" and the "coordination office".

Gokcebel argued that the content of agreement for establishing a "coordination office" [by Turkey in the occupied area of Cyprus] "bears the signs of a mistrust" which ignores the work carried out for years in the field of youth, culture and sports.

"What is the aim of forming alternative youth centers and administrations with employees from Turkey", he wondered and pointed out that the policies followed for so many years have turned the occupied area of Cyprus into a centre of money laundering and a paradise of gambling, casinos, cathouses, mafia and narcotics. He argued that today the "universities", the hotels and other companies have started importing crime and not development.

He added: "It has been understood now that these policies are an attack against the existence of the Turkish Cypriot community. Supporting these policies is tantamount to treason". He said that approving the "youth and sports ministry's coordination office abroad" is a treason against the Turkish Cypriot community.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Information about the population of the breakaway regime

According to the results of the survey, the number of unemployed people is 9,043 (7,4%). This percentage is up to 8,9% among women and 6,5% among men. Unemployment among young people between 15-24 years old is 19,6%. There are 112,811 who currently work in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(CS)

[06] "Caner Gonyeli Search and Rescue exercise" in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

A press briefing for the annual search and rescue exercise which will be completed on Thursday, the 9th of June will be held at the "Bogaz military headquarters" of the Turkish occupation forces on Tuesday, the 7th of June.

The sea phase of the exercise will be conducted off the occupied coast of Famagusta at 10am on Wednesday, the 8th of June.

According to a press release by the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus, the "Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli 2016 Search and Rescue exercise" will be conducted with the participation of civilian and military units from Turkey and the "TRNC".

The exercise will be conducted in the occupied Saint Hilarion area, in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Famagusta, on land and territorial waters of the "TRNC" as well as Turkey's search and rescue area.

[07] The illegal DAU "university" signed academic agreements with 24 universities since 2014

According to the paper, among those universities are the Arizona State University, the State University of New York at Fredonia, the Southern Denmark University, the University of Bologna, the School of Law and High School of Legal Studies of the "Alma Mater Studiourum", the Sapienza University of Rome, the Polytechnic University of Tiran, the Sharif University of Technology-International Campus-Kish Island from Iran, the Tehran University of Medical Science and the Lebanese University.

(AK)

[08] A new "association" was established in the occupied area of Cyprus

In a press conference organized yesterday, the "chairman" of the "association" Erdil Nami presented the goals and the aim of their association.

Nami explained that among their goals are the prosperity and the increase of production of the Turkish Cypriot community. He also stressed the need for making openings in the private and business sectors.

Nami stated further that their aim is to give incentives to both employees and employers in the private sector and also to prepare the private "companies" to become harmonized with the EU standards.

(AK)

[09] Erdogan expected to approve immunity bill today

After President Erdogan's approval, the decision will be published in the official Gazette and will come into effect immediately. Within the 15 days following the announcement, the dossiers situated in Parliament, the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Justice will be sent to the assigned prosecution offices.

Thus, many Deputies including HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas and CHP leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu will be interrogated and put on trial just like ordinary citizens.

As of May 15, the number of dossiers for the lifting of immunity reached 667 and 138 parliamentary Deputies has dossiers drafted against them. A total of 51 dossiers were drafted on CHP Deputies, 50 on HDP Deputies, 27 on the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), nine on the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and one for the independent deputy Aylin Nazl?aka. A total of 405 dossiers were drafted against Deputies from the HDP, 192 from the CHP, 46 from the AK Party, 20 from the MHP and five dossiers against the independent deputy Nazl?aka.

A total of 216 of the dossiers were filed concerning terror crimes, in addition to 201 dossiers on libel offenses. Additionally, 11 dossiers for bodily injury, 38 for work crime, and six for forgery and 18 for making threats. Eleven more dossiers were filed for violation of confidentiality, 55 for praising crime and/or criminals, 54 for goading the public to hostility and 119 dossiers for opposing the law on meetings and demonstrations. In the final vote on the bill, 376 deputies out of the chamber's 550 seats approved the bill, 140 were against, five abstained, seven were declared invalid and three were empty. The first clause of the bill to remove Deputies' immunities passed with 373 votes, and the second clause saw 374 Deputies voting in favour. The bill was presented to President Erdogan for his final approval without holding a referendum, as the 367-vote threshold was passed on May 20.

[10] Erdogan sparks outrage again after declaring childless women to be "deficient"

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ankara Deputy Gulsun Bilgehan addressed three questions to the new Minister of Family and Social Planning, asking whether the Ministry has any plans to prevent discrimination against women with no children following the President's words.

"Doesn't it contradict social gender equality, which is central to many projects led by your Ministry, to describe women as 'deficient' or 'lacking' due to their gender or personal choices?" Bilgehan said, adding that the statement was also troubling as there are thousands of women who are physically unable to bare children.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Figen Yuksekdag also slammed Erdogan's controversial remarks as the product of a "deficient mentality" that cannot accept women's increasing role in society and politics. "A society is deficient so long as its women are not a part of life, not on the streets but locked up in homes. We, as women, have never obeyed Tayyip Erdogan's mentality and we never will", Yuksekdag added.

"Women will not surrender to this rhetoric; they will respond through legal means and demonstrations", said Dr Gulsum Kav, the general representative of the We Will Stop Femicides Platform, which is set to hold a protest in Istanbul on June 6 against the President's statements.

The coordinator of Istanbul Women and Women's Establishments Association (IKAD-DER), lawyer Nazan Moroglu, called on the President to read the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which Turkey ratified in December 1985.

The secretary general of Turkey's Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DISK), Arzu Cerkezoglu, also reacted to the President's remarks, saying Erdogan was extending an "invitation to fight" the women.

It was the second time in a week that Erdogan had sparked outrage with socially conservative remarks, having previously railed against the use of birth control by Muslim families.

[11] Eleven killed, 36 wounded in car bomb attack on police vehicle in Istanbul

On the same issue, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 07.06.16) reports that Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said that seven police officers and four civilians were killed in what appears to be a car bombing terror attack. Sahin added that 36 others were also injured in the blast, including three in critical condition.

A number of gunshots were reportedly heard after the explosion but it has not been confirmed whether there was a clash or not. Meanwhile, police evacuated the area and the exams at the nearby Istanbul University campus were postponed. The strong blast also caused material damages to the nearby buildings and vehicles.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs / AM)

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