Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-06-22

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey has reportedly decided not to send help for the fire on Troodos Mountains

[02] The Turkish Cypriot press continues covering the fire on Troodos Mountains; Positive reactions to the Republic of Cyprus' accepting Turkey's help

[03] Akinci and political parties conveyed their condolences to the families of the two fire-fighters who lost their lives

[04] Turkish Tourism Minister will pay an illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus

[05] The minimum wage in the occupied area of Cyprus is determined at 1.834 TL

[06] Turkish Cypriot scuba driver will try to break his record in the Guinness World Records

[07] Erdogan to attend the NATO summit in Poland

[08] Yildirim: "Anti-PKK operations over, time for reconstruction"

[09] Demirtas calls on people to stand up for their municipalities

[10] Kilicdaroglu: "AKP's failed policies hit tourism"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey has reportedly decided not to send help for the fire on Troodos Mountains

Noting that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci conveyed to Turkish officials the conditioned acceptance of their offer by the Greek Cypriots, the website claims the following:

"Ankara evaluated the conditioned proposal of the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish diplomats reacted by saying: 'This is a natural disaster. We are offering help and we are getting ready. And the Greek Cypriots put as a condition about the route. The pilots are those who decide the route of the flight and where the water will be poured'. After the conditions to offering help, Turkey decided not to send the two helicopters and the one airplane which are waiting in Silifke and Antalya".

(I/Ts.)

[02] The Turkish Cypriot press continues covering the fire on Troodos Mountains; Positive reactions to the Republic of Cyprus' accepting Turkey's help

Under the title "Conditioned Yes", daily Afrika newspaper reports that the Tweet of President Anastasiades that the Republic of Cyprus accepts the help offered by Turkey in the efforts of extinguishing the fire on the condition that the Pafos and Larnaka airports are used and the water is taken from the Republic of Cyprus' territorial waters fell "like a bomb" yesterday on the agenda. The paper writes that following instructions by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim two firefighting helicopters and one airplane are waiting ready to help in the efforts of extinguishing the fire on Troodos. The Turkish Forests and Water Affairs' Minister, Veysel Eroglu stated yesterday that if "south Cyprus", as he described the Republic of Cyprus, asked for help, "we will not refrain from extending our hand to help".

Under the title "Let peace be born from the ashes", daily Yeni Duzen cites sources from Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci's office, according to which the "official contacts" as regards this development were taking place all night long yesterday. The "officials" said that Turkey's aid in extinguishing the fire will the earliest start today in the morning.

Daily Kibris Postasi refers to the issue under the title "Akinci-Anastasiades talked three times, the Greek Cypriots accepted Turkey's offer for help in the end"! The paper also cites sources close to Akinci and writes that Akinci called three times yesterday to President Anastasiades to offer him help and told him that "you can take water from Morfou Bay whenever you want". According to the paper, the third conversation between Akinci and President Anastasiades took place after Veysel Eroglu's statement that Turkey was ready to offer help. Akinci has reportedly conveyed the conditions of the Republic of Cyprus to Turkey and received a positive reply.

Daily Ortam refers to a "correct decision" by the Republic of Cyprus and reports that "logic prevailed". Noting that the decision "broke down an important taboo", the paper writes that the Greek Cypriots did not commit the mistake made by the Turkish Cypriots, who had not accepted the Greek Cypriot help in 1995 when occupied Pentadaktylos Mountain was burning.

Other papers cover the issue under the following front page titles:

Kibris: "South Cyprus accepted Turkey's demand for help"

Havadis: "Important cooperation"

Kibrisli: "They conditionally accepted Turkey's help"

Halkin Sesi: "Historic cooperation"

Vatan: "Turkey is coming"

Star Kibris: "Historic decision by the Greek Administration of South Cyprus"

Detay: "Our lung burned"

Gunes: "The Greek Cypriots accepted"

Diyalog: "Yes under conditions by the Greek Cypriots"

Yeni Bakis: "Together in the intervention in the tragedy"

(I/Ts.)

[03] Akinci and political parties conveyed their condolences to the families of the two fire-fighters who lost their lives

According to a statement issued by Akinci's office, the statement read: "It is with great sadness that I have been following from the very beginning the destruction and devastation caused by the fires in Troodos. I have also learned about the tragic loss of the two fire fighters. On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot community and myself, I would like to convey heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones, while sharing the grief of the Greek Cypriot community".

On the same issue, the paper reports that the leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit, in a written statement, called all the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties that will meet today at Ledra Palace hotel under the auspice? of the Slovakian Embasy to have a "fire agenda". He added that although the agenda is determined from before, the fire issue is an emergency and they should discuss what and how the political parties can do in such situation.

Ozyigit further said: "While our common land is being burned furiously, the operations should be done jointly", adding that the fire at the Troodos mountains tears their heart out. He also conveyed his condolences to the families of the two Greek Cypriot fire fighters who lost their lives.

Furthermore, the paper reports that Kemal Gulercan, member of the party committee of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), said that they suffer watching this tragedy which started at the Troodos mountain and still continues. He reminded the big fire on Pentadaxtylos mountain range on June 26. 1996, which was the cause to lose the 9% of their forest. He noted that ecology is the biggest wealth for the humanity and made a call to the leaders to make a step together in order to develop the cooperation and trust to the communities.

The Famagusta Initiative called Akinci and Anastasiades to take the lead, to be the carriers of a joint work in order to reform and rehabilitate the burning area at Troodos mountain.

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (22.06.16) reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), in a message, expressed its sadness for the fire and the loss of the two firefighters. It added that the pain is huge to see the island to be burned and conveyed its condolences to the families of the fire fighters.

(DPs)

[04] Turkish Tourism Minister will pay an illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus

According to a statement issued by the "ministry", Avc? and his accompanying delegation will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, the "speaker" of the so-called assembly Sibel Siber, the so-called prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun and the so-called minister of "national education and culture", Ozdemir Berova.

Avci will also attend a meeting of "delegates" of the two "countries" at the "ministry of tourism and environment".

Avci and his accompanying delegation will depart from the occupied area of Cyprus tomorrow evening.

[05] The minimum wage in the occupied area of Cyprus is determined at 1.834 TL

The paper writes that the employers wanted the minimum wage to be 1.762 TL and the employees 2.450. The employees' side reacted to the decision and abandoned the meeting. Representatives of KTAMS, Dev-Is and Hur-Is trade unions told Kibris that with the increase of 104 TL to the minimum wage the employees are "mocked".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Turkish Cypriot scuba driver will try to break his record in the Guinness World Records

Karabay said that he was honoured when the Guinness World Records website entered his record as "TRNC" (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus).

(DPs)

[07] Erdogan to attend the NATO summit in Poland

The summit, which will be the last attended by U.S. President Barack Obama, will mainly focus on strengthening the organization's Eastern Europe borders, Russia's activities in the region, the crises in Syria and Iraq, as well as DAESH's activities.

Apart from the official agenda of the summit, Erdogan is expected to raise Ankara's concerns at bilateral meetings regarding the Syrian crisis, which has led to instability in the region and created a huge wave of refugees.

Erdogan is also expected to express his frustration over the Syrian PKK-affiliate, the Democratic Union Party's (PYD) armed wing and the People's Protection Units (YPG).

(?)Turkey's plan for a safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border will be reiterated at the bilateral meetings, according to sources in Ankara. Other topics to be discussed at the summit will reportedly be cyber-security and security of natural energy resources.

[08] Yildirim: "Anti-PKK operations over, time for reconstruction"

Speaking during his parliamentary address to ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmakers on July 21, Yildirm said: "Now the operations are over, there will be physical and social renovation. We are replacing destroyed buildings with more beautiful ones. Work is underway".

"Ankara also plans to take legal action against municipalities and mayors from the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) who is alleged to have transferred state resources to the PKK", Yildirim added.

"As we have ended our operations, there are now some other steps we should take. It's time to settle accounts with the municipalities supporting terrorism. You transfer the money allocated to you for public services to the terror organization. But we won't allow this," Y?ld?r?m said.

"As soon as possible, we'll ask these local governors to pay the price for not using the state means given to them for the people," he added.

The alleged financial and logistical support of HDP municipalities to the PKK was brought to the agenda of the cabinet meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Prime Minister Y?ld?r?m said also the government would soon be introducing a bill to prevent this support from municipalities and mayors to the PKK, slamming local officials for having a "direct relationship with terrorists."

Y?ld?r?m also accused the HDP and PKK of "trying to prevent the government from serving the people of the region."

"Following the end of operations, the government will take measures for economic and social development of the region by building factories to generate jobs in the region", Y?ld?r?m said.

"We'll build factories [as the state] but they will be run by the private sector. We will purchase their products for a certain period of time. We will introduce a much better future to all our people, all our youngsters, by providing jobs. That's how we'll be able to save our region's people and youngsters from the exploitation of the terror organization," Yildirim also said.

[09] Demirtas calls on people to stand up for their municipalities

"Inspectors who are conducting investigations in our municipalities would disclose if they had a conscience. They have been investigating for years; there is no single [piece of] evidence," Demirtas said on June 21 at a parliamentary group meeting of his party.

"They go to [the eastern province of] Van and say: "we gave you 400 trillion [Turkish] Liras, what are you doing with that money?' 400 trillion liras is your palace's water bill money for two years," Demirtas said, referring to remarks delivered by Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m during a visit to Van.

"They think they can do all kind of unlawfulness after turning to the west of Turkey and saying, 'They are aiding terror,'" Demirtas said.

"People who have chosen their municipalities, you have to stand up for your municipalities at all costs. It is about your willpower, not the municipalities", Demirtas also said.

Numerous mayors from the HDP and the DBP have been suspended and detained, while many municipalities under the DBP have been subject to investigations on charges related to "supporting autonomy," "maintaining a co-chair structure," and "terrorism."

The AKP has long been working on a new legal arrangement paving the way for the transfer of authorities from local mayors to "trustees" if crimes related to terrorism are committed by the former.

Demirtas also castigated Turkey's administration for the arrests of three prominent campaigners for press freedom, Erol Onderoglu, Ahmet Nesin and Sebnem Korur Fincanc?.

The three were arrested on June 20 because of their participation in a solidarity campaign in support of daily Ozgur Gundem, a pro-Kurdish publication. The campaign involved participants acting as editors-in-chief for a day.

[10] Kilicdaroglu: "AKP's failed policies hit tourism"

Speaking during a parliamentary group meeting on June 21, K?l?cdaroglu said that he held a meeting with stakeholders in the country's tourism sector over the weekend and listened to the gloomy picture painted by sector professionals.

He claimed the only party with the political will to resolve the ongoing crisis was the CHP, adding the right way to start coping with the issue was to ask why tourists no longer preferred Turkey. "The fundamental reason why tourists no longer come to Turkey is Turkey's damaged international image," K?l?cdaroglu told his party's members.

"Turkey does not look like a modern country. There is no democracy [or] rule of law in Turkey; there is a dictatorial regime in Turkey," he added, pointing out that news about Turkey in any given foreign country mentions human rights violations.

Kilicdaroglu dismissed the argument that the only reason for the decline was the country's strained relations with Russia, after Turkey downed a Russian fighter jet.

"When we set out from these facts, okay, we had a fight with Russia. But we did not have a fight with Germany, with France, with England, why don't they come?" K?l?cdaroglu inquired, citing Turkey's damaged international reputation as the reason.

He also said that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) continued to not refrain from inflicting further harm on the country's image, as three prominent activists were arrested on June 20 on charges of making terror propaganda.

(?) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK/ AM)

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