Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-05-23

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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 evaluated with Cavusoglu and the leaders of the political parties the Cyprus talks

[02] The foundations of a "science and technology valley" were laid at Akinci's presence

[03] YKP commented on the "labor force agreement"

[04] Arikli condemned the so-called coalition government for failing to "implement the economic protocol"

[05] Investigation for connection of one of the biggest FETO financers with the breakaway regime

[06] Turkey, Russia sign deal to remove trade barriers

[07] The Turkish Foreign Ministry sends diplomatic note to US envoy over violence outside Turkish mission

[08] Turkish hoteliers flock to courtroom to voice opposition to Booking.com ban

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci evaluated with Cavusoglu and the leaders of the political parties the Cyprus talks

The paper also reports that according to information from Akinci's office, Akinci has spoken separately over the phone with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and the leaders of all the political parties represented in the so-called assembly of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus where they evaluated the latest developments of the Cyprus talks.

(DPs)

[02] The foundations of a "science and technology valley" were laid at Akinci's presence

Addressing the ceremony, Akinci argued that they witnessed a very important event which would significantly contribute to the community and the "country" and added that science and technology knows no boundaries, just like culture and art. He alleged:

"Let us not wait for anyone to lift the embargoes from us. No one is going to do us a favor. They will not say to us 'we have lifted this and that for you'. However, with such projects we can lift everything we call embargo and we are able to do this. Which power can prevent the use elsewhere in the world of very important software which could be developed here? The world will definitely want to obtain everything which is useful for it regardless of its origin. Actually this could be valid in other fields as well but it is more difficult. […]"

Arguing that the fact that the emblem of the project is an olive tree is important, Akinci said that the olive tree evokes Cyprus and the Mediterranean as well as productivity and fertility. "It also evokes being rooted, existing forever on these lands", he argued adding that "we have to be developed in order to take roots like the olive tree on these lands and exist forever".

In his address at the ceremony, Kanbay alleged that a big step has been taken in the direction of the realization of a target which he had been dreaming about since he came to the island. He claimed that this project will open the door of a new period which would influence the occupied area of Cyprus' economic future and its social and political development.

(I/Ts.)

[03] YKP commented on the "labor force agreement"

The "agreement" envisages that the employers could directly apply to the Labor Office of another country or to private offices for securing labor force.

The YKP said in the statement, that if the "agreement" is set into force, the unfair competitiveness will be increased since the employers will be able to "apply to Turkey" to secure cheap working labor. The statement underlined further that this "agreement" will not solve also the problem with the foreign workers who are coming in the "country" and are registered as "university students", but rather increase them.

YKP called also all "deputies" in the so-called assembly to explain why they have "approved" the above "agreement" before the "parliamentary committee" to discuss it.

(AK)

[04] Arikli condemned the so-called coalition government for failing to "implement the economic protocol"

Warning of the risk that the "country's domestic debts" will be increased, Arikli accused the so-called government for bad-administration, adding that every month it "knocks the doors of the banks" in order to pay the salaries of the workers.

Commenting also on the recent AKP congress, Arikli said that AKP in Turkey get bored of the "hypocrisy and the awkwardness of the ruling parties in the TRNC" and for this reason and in order to send them a "message" it has not invited them to the party's congress. "Sooner or later this government will leave, but the damage will cause will be permanent", Arikli further said.

(AK)

[05] Investigation for connection of one of the biggest FETO financers with the breakaway regime

The paper reports that examination is under way for the Bank's actions in the framework of a decision taken by the Turkish government which investigates connections of various organizations and institutions with FETO.

According to Volkan money of the Asia Bank were also transferred to Mozambique, UK and USA.

(CS)

[06] Turkey, Russia sign deal to remove trade barriers

The document was signed by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia and Turkey, Arkady Dvorkovich and Mehmet Simsek respectively, on the sidelines of the 25th anniversary summit of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m and his Russian counterpart Dimitry Medvedev witnessed the signing of the declaration, which aims to normalize and develop economic ties, and enhance the bilateral trade volume between Russia and Turkey.

Moscow agreed to lift all sanctions imposed on imported items from Turkey except tomatoes on May 3, when the leaders of the two countries met in Sochi. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow's embargo on the import of tomatoes from Turkey and its visa restrictions on Turkish nationals will remain in place for the time being.

[07] The Turkish Foreign Ministry sends diplomatic note to US envoy over violence outside Turkish mission

A verbal and written protest has been given to the Ambassador, according to a written statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.

The move comes over the detention by U.S. police of two security guards of Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the scene of the incident, despite the fact that the personnel have diplomatic immunity, the Hurriyet Daily News has learned.

"The Ambassador of the Unites States of America in Ankara was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and a written and verbal protest was delivered due to the aggressive and unprofessional [sic] actions taken, contrary to diplomatic rules and practices, by US security personnel towards the close protection team of H.E Mevlut Cavusoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, in front of the Turkish Embassy Chancery in Washington DC during the visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week," read a written statement by the Ministry on May 22.

The Foreign Ministry formally requested that the U.S. authorities conduct a "full investigation" into the incident and "provide the necessary explanation."

Turkey also accused the U.S. of not taking sufficient precautions for the official program of President Erdogan.

"During the meeting with the Ambassador, it was emphasized that the lapses of security experienced during our President's stay in Washington, which were caused by the inability of US authorities to take sufficient precautions at every stage of the official program, will not overshadow what in every other aspect was a very successful and important visit," read the statement.

On May 17, the U.S. State Department summoned Turkish Ambassador in Washington Serdar K?l?c over the incident between protesters and Turkish security personnel during Erdogan's visit.

[08] Turkish hoteliers flock to courtroom to voice opposition to Booking.com ban

Representatives from a top brand city hotel said their losses exceeded 85,000 euro, while a boutique hotel owner said they had lost around 16,000 euro.

An Istanbul court on March 29 ordered the suspension of the activities of Booking.com in Turkey, citing accusations of unfair competition, following a lawsuit filed by the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB). The website, which had around 13,000 hotel members from Turkey, halted selling rooms in Turkey to Turkish users on March 30, one day after the court decided to block the website in the country. The website can still be used from foreign countries to make reservations for Turkish hotels.

In a compliant hearing at the Istanbul's 5th First Instance Court of Commerce, nine tour operators, nine hotels and a tourism company, three real persons and two sector associations, the Hotel Association of Turkey (TUROB) and the Bodrum Touristic Hoteliers Association, voiced complaints against the court decision.

Representatives from the Ramada Old City Hotel, which is close to Istanbul's historic touristic peninsula, said their hotel posted an 85,000-euro loss in April following the Booking.com ban.

As many customers are opting to visit neighboring countries instead of Turkey, their losses keep growing, they added.

One representative from a four-star hotel in Istanbul's Beyoglu, where the popular Istiklal Avenue is located, said almost half of their reservations used to be made through Booking.com and they had suffered a loss of around 16,000 euros since the ban was imposed.

A lawyer from Izmir also voiced his complaints, saying he used to make reservations via Booking.com for his business travels across the country but the recent ban has hit his budget due to a rise in his hotel and other reservation costs. TURSAB lawyers justified their lawsuit by stressing that what Booking.com earns in Turkey must be taxed in Turkey.

Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci has also stated that officials are in talks with the website in order to act in compliance with the law in Turkey and become fully operational again. "I had a meeting and now our friends are having a meeting. We have to deal with [the situation] in such a way that their expectations are met and laws are not broken," Zeybekci told state-run Anadolu Agency.

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