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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-12-13Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 239/16 13.12.2016[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS
[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS[01] Akinci invited political parties to GenevaAccording to illegal Bayrak television (online, 13.12.16), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci officially invited today political parties with seats in the "TRNC parliament" to accompany him during talks in Geneva next month.Akinci sent a written invitation to the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) ? self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, the leader of the Democrat Party (DP) ?self-styled deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas, the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhurman and the leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit inviting them to Switzerland. Akinci highlighted the importance of the conference on Cyprus set to take place in Geneva next month for the future of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot "people". Drawing attention to the critical phase reached in the talks, Akinci underlined the importance of the widest possible participation of the political spectrum of the Turkish Cypriot community during the talks in Geneva and added: "I believe that it will be extremely important and valuable for the leaders of the political parties to be in Geneva with me". [02] Akinci expresses condolences to Turkey over the attackTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustada Akinci sent a letter of condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which he condemned the recent terrorist attack in Istanbul which killed 44 people and wounded 136 others."I believe that those who planned and executed this bloody attack will not achieve their goals and Turkey will heal all its wounds to further proceed on the path of civilization; on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people, I express my solidarity. May those who lost their lives rest in peace and may those injured have a speedy recovery! I express my condolences to you and to the whole of Turkey", Akinci stated. Meanwhile, the self-styled assembly also condemned the attack. The "speaker of parliament" Sibel Siber said that the "TRNC shared the pain of the Turkish nation". "Deputy prime minister" Serdar Denktas also sent a letter of condolences as well as other organizations and trade unions. Reporting on the attack, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (13.12.16) writes that Turkish Minister of Environment and City Planning Mehmet Ozhaseki, visited various police units in Turkey and advised them to become martyrs. According to the paper, the Turkish Minister stated that they should never give up trying to react against terrorism and if needed they should become martyrs over this issue. "If it is God's will I will become a martyr as well, insallah (God willing) you will become martyrs as well", he stated. In addition, Star Kibris (13.12.16) writes that the "TRNC initiative" organized a small ceremony in the "martyrs' monuments" in the occupied part of Lefkosia expressing its solidarity towards the victims of the attack and their families. [03] Ozersay replied to Tsipras' statementsTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (13.12.16) reports that the chairman of the People's Party (HP) Kudret Ozersay, commenting to social media the recent statements made by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who has stated that the "existence of foreign forces and guarantees in Cyprus is contrary to the EU norms", reacted over these statements and claimed that the "existence of foreign forces and guarantees is not contrary to the EU norms".Ozersay provided as examples the existence of American forces and bases on German soil and also the existence of UK's bases and forces in Cyprus, and wondered: "Are these foreign forces not considered as such? Or maybe when we refer to British forces, they are not considered as foreign forces [?]", Ozersay said. (AK) [04] Izcan criticized the so-called governmentTurkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (13.12.16) reports that the chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan, in a written statement, criticized the so-called government for the chaos existing in the "country", accusing it of being unable to implement an appropriate economic policy based on the economic criteria of a "fair, sustainable and social state, governed by the rule of law".Referring to the insistence of the so-called government not to implement the daylight saving, Izcan warned that this issue which created chaos not only at schools but in the society in general, may pave the way for more serious problems. (AK) [05] Political crisis in the Socialist Democracy Party continues with the resignation of 102 membersTurkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (13.12.16) reports that 102 persons resigned from the Socialist Democracy Party (TDP) and joined the newly established Communal Liberation Party (TKP).According to a written statement by Mehmet Cakici, former member of TDP and one of the founders of TKP, the establishing conference of the new party will be held on February 17, 2017. (CS) [06] A warrant was issued for Bulut Constructions' managerTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.12.16) reports that a warrant was issued against the manager of "Bulut Insaat" (Bulut Constructions) , Temel Bulut who is accused of victimizing thousands of property buyers both in the breakaway regime and Turkey.According to the paper, Bulut, who has disappeared and no one knows where he is now, is accused of not issuing title deeds for 400 persons for property they bought in the breakaway regime. In addition, he received money from 150 persons for residences which were either not completed or their construction has not started yet. The paper also writes that "Bulut Insaat" also undertook the construct?on of a trefoil junction at occup?ed Lefkosia-Keryneia road in order to facilitate the people living in the Evviva Lavinium house complex which is also not completed. (CS) [07] 16 citizenships were granted and 7 were annulledTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.12.16) reports that the so-called council of ministers granted the "TRNC citizenship" to 16 persons and annulled the "citizenships" of seven other persons. The "decisions" of the so-called council of ministers were published in the "official gazette".A part of the "citizenships", which were annulled, were granted with a decision of the "council of ministers" on July 21 2016 and the other part with a decision of the "council of ministers" on August 18, 2016. The newspaper publishes also the names of those who were granted "citizenship" and those whose "citizenship" is annulled. (DPs) [08] Figures on unemployment in the occupied area of CyprusTurkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (13.12.16) under the front-page title: "The number of unemployment in youth is a serious problem", reports on figures given by the "state planning department" and writes that according to these, the number of the unemployed persons in the "TRNC" has exceeded the 12.000, a number equivalent to 7-8% of the total population of the "country".According to the figures, the unemployment rate in youth between the ages of 18-35 has reached to 10% and it is considered as a serious problem. In statements on the issue, so-called minister of labour and social insurance Ersan Saner, claimed that the unemployment rate is not very high if compared to the total population number of the "TRNC". Saner further said that unemployment becomes widespread mostly in the sectors of real estate, agriculture and tourism. (?) (AK) [09] Two HDP lawmakers held in terror probeAccording to Ankara Anatolia news agency (13.12.16), Ankara police detained two lawmakers from Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) as part of a terror probe Monday night, according to a police source.Opposition MPs Caglar Demirel -- HDP parliament leader -- and Besime Konca were detained in relation to a counter-terrorism investigation in the south-eastern provinces of Diyarbakir and Batman, the source said on condition of anonymity due to restriction on speaking to the media. The arrests come two days after Saturday evening's deadly blasts in Istanbul left 44 dead and dozens of others wounded. The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year. The government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU. [10] Turkish Ambassador to Israel Kemal Okem submits credentials to President RivlinTurkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 12.12.16) reports that Turkey's Ambassador to Israel submitted his credentials to Israel's President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem on Monday as part of reconciliation efforts following a five-year diplomatic spat.Rivlin said he hoped the exchange of Ambassadors "will open a new and promising page" in the relationship between the two countries. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received new Israeli Ambassador Eitan Naeh last week. Okem is his country's first envoy since Israeli commandos raided a Gaza-bound ship of activists in 2010, sparking an unprecedented feud between the two allies. At the Monday ceremony, Okem said he hoped Israeli-Turkish "cooperation will also work for the benefit of other nations, particularly to the Palestinian Authority". Okem, previously the chief foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m, also worked as an adviser to former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. He worked for the Foreign Ministry's Middle East directorate and was previously posted overseas in Turkey's London and Riyadh Embassies, according to the Foreign Ministry. He also spent time working as the permanent representative to NATO. Born in Ankara in 1967, Okem graduated from the Middle East Technical University and completed a master's and doctorate at the Ankara-based University. He also has a master's degree from Oxford University. [11] TANAP's construction accelerates, costs decreaseAccording to Ankara Anatolia news agency (12.12.16), the construction of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project which plans to carry Azeri gas to Europe, is ahead of schedule and under budget by $3.2 billion, TANAP General Manager has said.The TANAP project aims to bring natural gas, produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz-2 gas field and other areas of the Caspian Sea, primarily to Turkey, but also on to Europe via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). "More than half of the project, or 55%, of its construction was completed at the end of November and we are ahead of schedule," Saltuk Duzyol, TANAP's general manager told journalists at the project's construction field trip on Thursday. He added that so far, the pipeline with 1,200 km in length and with 56 inches in diameter, has been welded. In addition, a 1,570-kilometer-long area has been cleared and prepared for laying the pipeline. "We will supply 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas by the end of June 2018 out of a total of 6 bcm to Turkey via TANAP. We will send another 2 bcm the next year followed by 2 more in 2020 as per Turkey's demand," Duzyol explained. The TANAP starts on the Georgia-Turkey border at Ardahan city of Turkey from where it connects to the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) and ends at the Turkey-Greece border in the city of Edirne, where it feeds into the TAP Pipeline. From June 2019, TANAP will deliver natural gas to Europe from the border of Turkey-Greece, Duzyol added. The TANAP project is planned to be operational in 2018 with an initial capacity to carry 16 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Azeri gas through Georgia to Turkey. While 6 bcm will be for Turkey's domestic gas consumption, the rest is destined for transfer to Greece, Albania, and Italy and further into Europe. Azeri energy giant State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) holds a 58% interest in TANAP, Turkey's BOTAS has a 30% share while BP owns a 12% stake. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.pio.gov.cy (DPs/ICh) Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |