Akinci carried out a similar visit to the Apliki crossing point last week on the 10th of March. He had expressed his unhappiness over the constant delays regarding the opening of the crossing point and had called on the "Greek Cypriot administration" to approach the issue more seriously. He had also called on the "authorities in the south" to speed up the work on completing the Apliki road project.

[05] All trade unions in the occupied area of Cyprus express their reaction over the "minimum wage"

According to the paper, the "chairman" of the "Turkish Cypriot worker's trade union" (TURK-SEN) said that the new minimum wage is not enough for a "four-members family to live in dignity", adding that they will raise their objection and file an appeal on the issue.

Also, the "chairman" of Hur-Is trade union, Ali Yeltekin, expressed disappointment over the determination of the "minimum wage" and called on the "minister of labour and social insurance", Zeki Celer to resign from his pos. "Before his party was stating that the minimum wage should be 3,500 TL. Celer should immediately submit his resignation since he failed to achieve an annual increase of 350 TL to the minimum wage", Yeltekin said.

Dissatisfaction on the "minimum wage" were expressed also by DEV-IS and BASIN-SEN. The "chairman" of Basin-sen, Ali Kismir called on the "government" to "implement measures in order to reduce the cost of living" and also to change as soon as possible "the structure of the minimum wage determining committee", condemning the fact that the workers are not part of the "committee".

Moreover, in statements on the issue, so-called minister Celer pointed out that the "way the minimum wage determining committee" works is wrong and added that steps will be taken so that the workers to attend the committee. Celer further said that "as ministry" they will undertake steps in order to change the way of determining the minimum wage.

(AK)

[06] Erdogan to European Parliament: "Turkey won't leave Afrin until the job is done"

"Hey, European Parliament, what are you doing? You should be honest … There is nothing the European Parliament can tell us on this. Your statement will go in one ear and out the other. What burden have you shared with us in hosting 3.5 million Syrians so that you can tell us this?" he added.

The European Parliament approved the motion on March 15. The motion stated that the Parliament is "seriously worried about the escalating situation in Afrin".

On the same issue, Turkey's EU Minister Omer Celik also criticized the European Parliament's Resolution, describing it as "non-visionary" and "ignorant". "This Resolution shows how far away the European Parliament is from seeing the developments in the field and from assessing what's going on in Syria", Celik told reporters.

"The Resolution also cites 'Kurdish forces,' which is simply using the language of terrorists. We condemn this expression of the European Parliament," he added.

"In our eyes, calling on Turkey to pull back its troops means open support for terrorism. It means simply abandoning Turkey's security concerns," Celik said.

Furthermore, Ankara Anatolia news agency (16.03.18) reports that Turkey on Friday criticized a European Parliament motion urging Turkey to stop its ongoing Afrin operation as "one-sided". In a written statement, the Foreign Ministry said that with the motion, the European Parliament once again showed its one-sided views. The statement said that it is not possible for Turkey to accept the decision of the EP, which the Ministry said is known for its tolerance for terrorist groups.

The Ministry stressed that Operation Olive Branch in Afrin is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council Resolutions, its self-defence rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity.

"These accusations directed against Turkey -- which is taking all kinds of measures during the operation to avoid harming civilians in the area -- are unfair and baseless," the statement added.

[07] Erdogan wonders about the 20 U.S. bases in the region

(DPs)

[08] Ottoman Turkish should be taught in schools, Erdogan says

"It is one of the biggest problems in recent history that our language has become a subject of political discussions. In the name of 'language revolution,' our Turkish was attacked by unpleasant, dull and soulless words.

The bond between our nation and its old civilization was tried to be weakened," Erdogan said on March 15 at the award ceremony of a high school's composition contest at the presidential complex in Ankara.

Erdogan has long criticized the changes, saying it made Turkey lose touch with its history. "Our bond with our history was cut," he said.

"If you cut the vein of one nation from its language, then you cut their ties with their grandfathers," he added.

"I believe the period that destroyed the richness of our language is long gone. But I believe the destruction continues. For this reason, I think it would be good that Ottoman Turkish gets taught in schools," he said.

Erdogan also criticized the influence of the internet over language, urging Turkey's citizens to be careful not to use foreign words. He called on shopkeepers to change the names of their shops if they were not in Turkish.

[09] Turkish, Iranian, Russian Foreign Ministers discuss Syria in Astana

"I talked with my two counterparts to make the situation better in eastern Ghouta, which was caused by the [Bashar al-Assad] regime. We underlined the need to differ terrorists from civilians," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a joint press conference after the meeting.

The situation in Syria's eastern Ghouta is heading towards disaster and clashes must end, Cavusoglu said on Friday, calling for a ceasefire in the region.

The three Foreign Ministers also issued a joint statement, which stressed the continuity of joint efforts to decrease violence in the field. The statement put a strong emphasis on the territorial integrity of Syria and added that the next meeting in Astana would be held in mid-May.

The meeting was also a preparation for the leaders' summit on Syria in Istanbul on April 4.

[10] Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran agree to create new trade corridors to connect Asia, Europe

"We have agreed to form a new transportation corridor from the south towards the west," Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at the joint press conference held after the Quartet Cooperation Mechanism Roadmap signing ceremony.

According to his remarks, the Rasht-Astara Railway, which is being built by the Iranian government in cooperation with Azerbaijan, will be connected with the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, which was built by Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan and became operational on Oct. 30, 2017.

A transit land corridor will also be built, starting from the Iranian ports of Chabahar and Bandar Abbas and extending to European countries.

"Our cooperation supports regional peace, stability and prosperity … We should fulfil the transit potential of our geographical positions," said Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze.

"Connecting the Persian Gulf with the Black Sea and the Mediterranean is now a reality. It will take a shorter time to transport cargo from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and to Europe," Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said.

Mammadyarov, Janelidze, Zarif and Cavusoglu also signed documents to develop cooperation and investments in several areas such as energy, banking, telecommunication, industry, agriculture and tourism. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs/ AM)

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