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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-11-12Cyprus 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. 219/12 10-12.11.12[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS
[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS[01] Eroglu: "Varosha is TRNC soil"Illegal Bayrak television (11.11.12) broadcast that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu alleged that an agreement would be possible in Cyprus in the event "the equal status of the two peoples on the island was taken into consideration".Eroglu made these statements during a meeting he held with the "Gazimagusa Maras Unity and Solidarity Association". Eroglu alleged that the settlers who were transferred to the breakaway regime after 1974 "have waged serious struggles" and said that he had made it clear at the negotiating table that "it is out of the question for the issue of territory to be open to bargaining". Eroglu said that it is impossible to solve the Cyprus issue through open ended negotiations and alleged: "The two states reality should be accepted, one is recognized by Turkey and the other is recognized by the whole world". He also said that the Cyprus problem could not continue forever and added that during consultations with Turkish officials they have planned possible steps for the future. In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (12.11.12) reports that Eroglu alleged that the fence city of Varosha "is a TRNC soil" and added that "Varosha will not be given to the Greek Cypriot side as a concession". [02] This week is considered as "crucial" for the occupied area of CyprusTurkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (12.11.12) reports that the occupied area of Cyprus is entering into a "crucial week" in the "foulness" of occupied Nicosia and of the politics. The paper writes that the support of the various parts of the society and organizations to the protest activities held by the employees at occupied Nicosia's "municipality" is growing like an avalanche. Within this framework, a rally will be organized by the "Trade Union of Municipal Employees" (BES) on 14 November at 18.00 o' clock in Sarayonu square in the occupied part of Nicosia, with the participation of 28 trade unions, parties and organizations. The participants in the rally will demand their "constitutional" rights and the resignation of "mayor" Cemal Bulutoglulari.Meanwhile, self-styled prime minister, Irsen Kucuk has called on BES to return to work today and noted that his "government" had the ability to take any kind of measures. BES, on the other hand, issued a statement reiterating their determination to continue their strike. According to the paper, everybody's attention now is concentrated on the measures which Kucuk will take. Another crucial issue for this week, writes Yeni Duzen, is the decision of the "court" regarding the results of the National Unity Party's (UBP) congress. On 14 November at 11.00 o' clock in the morning, the "court" is expected to announce its decision on the "lawsuit" filed by Ahmet Kasif, candidate in the congress for the post of UBP's president. This decision will include an "interim order" and not a view as to whether the UBP's congress was held contrary to the regulations of the party. Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (12.11.12) refers to the situation at the occupied Nicosia "municipality" and reports that the 12 members of the "municipal council" who had been "elected" with the UBP have prepared a package of ten proposals aiming at solving the problems of the "municipality". The UBP members called on the employees to return to work and on the resigned members of the "municipal council" coming from the opposition parties to return to their duties. The UBP members said that they would also resign if they did not do whatever they could to solve the problems by 15 December. The proposals include the transfer of 194 "municipal employees" to the "state", i.e. the "public service", and the restructuring of the debts of the "municipality". (I/Ts.) [03] The discussion of the regime's budget begins todayTurkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (12.11.12) reports that the discussion of the "budget" of the breakaway regime for year 2013 is beginning today at the so-called assembly's economy, finance, budget and plan committee. According to the paper, the "budget" is expected to reach three billion 421 million 632 thousand and 28 Turkish liras (TL). The so-called ministry of finance has the biggest share in the "budget" with one billion 446 million 771 thousand and 260 TL, followed by the "ministry" of education, youth and sports with 484 million 94 thousand and 215 TL and the "ministry" of health with 222 million 432 thousand and 150 TL.(I/Ts.) [04] Allegations that occupied land is distributed to some party membersTurkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (11.11.12) reports that livestock breeders and farmers in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus have argued that land, which allegedly belongs to the "state", had been taken away from them by some politicians and was given to "supporters" of these politicians. The farmers accused the "ministry" of remaining "spectator" to this situation.Mustafa Naimogullari, chairman of the livestock breeders' union, said that "public" land is given away to party supporters and added that they would show a greater reaction in case this continued. Moreover, Alican Kabakci, chairman of the farmers' union, claimed that the producers have priority in renting "public" land and argued that renting "public" land to persons who have no relation with farming was "illegal". (I/Ts.) [05] An Atlasjet aircraft was not given permission to take off from Stansted Airport due to debts of the bankrupted Turkish Cypriot airlinesTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris (10.11.12) reported in its front page that an aircraft of Atlasjet, an airline which carries out illegal flights from the Stansted Airport of the UK to the illegal Tymvou airport via Istanbul, was not given permission yesterday (Friday 9/11/12) by the Civil Aviation Authorities of the UK to take off , providing as an excuse the money not paid to the passengers of the Turkish Cypriot airlines, who bought tickets from the company which went bankrupted.As the paper writes, the British Court which hold the blame not only to the Turkish Cypriot airlines but also to the Atlasjet, ordered also the company to pay the amount of 800 thousand sterling to 669 passengers giving as a deadline a period of 14 days. The paper continues and writes that a total of 150 passengers who were to travel with the flight KK 912 of Atlasjet were stuck in the airport for three hours. Among them was also the "undersecretary" of the so-called ministry of tourism, Sahap Asikoglu. Passengers writes the paper were not informed about the real reason of the delay of the flight. At the end, and after some initiatives taken, the plane took off. (AK) [06] YODAK participated in the meeting of the Association of Quality Assurance Agencies of the Islamic WorldTurkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (12.11.12) reports that Hasan Ali Bicak, the chairman of the Higher Education Planning Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YODAK) of the breakaway regime, participated in the meeting of the Association of Quality Assurance Agencies of the Islamic World (AQAAIW).According to the paper, various Islamic countries participated in the meeting and add that the breakaway regime participated in a workgroup together with Bahrain and Malaysia. The dates of the meeting are not mentioned at the paper. [07] Saint Fotini church and its cave has been cleaned and illuminatedTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.11.12) reports that the so-called municipality of occupied Yialousa village has cleaned and illuminated the Agia (Saint) Fotini church and its cave, which are located in occupied Agios Andronikos village in Karpass Peninsula. The paper writes that the church was cleaned six months ago and tourists show great interest about it.(I/Ts.) [08] The occupation regime participated in event organized by Wushu Federation in TurkeyTurkish daily Hurriyet (10.11.12) reported that the occupation regime has participated to an event organized in Turkey by the Turkish Wushu Federation called: "1st International Aikido Seminary and festival".As the paper writes, a total of 265 athletes from the UK, the "TRNC", France and Azerbaijan participated to the event. The member of the administration board of the World Wushu Federation, Abdurrahman Akyuz participate also to the event, writes the paper. (Tran.note: The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts) [09] BDP deputies boycotts panels in Parliament join hundreds Kurdish inmates on hunger strikeTurkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.11.12) reports that the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) has withdrawn from all parliamentary commissions as more of the party's deputies join hundreds of mostly Kurdish inmates on a hunger strikeBDP executives announced they would suspend work at parliamentary committees as long as hunger strikes by around 700 prisoners ? which entered their 61st day Nov. 11 ? continue. The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan defined both the hunger strikes and the deputies' participation as "blackmail" and vowed that the government would not bow to it. BDP co-leader Selahattin Demirta said the government has been trying
to get results with a "security concept," and the hunger strikes "knocked
it down."
He added that the BDP will not be silent in case of deaths, recalling
that seven BDP deputies are also on hunger strike in the southeastern
province of Diyarbak1r.
"If someone will die, it will be us, whom you gave authority [by voting
for us]. If you are resisting to death, we will resist to death,"
Demirta said in Ankara. "Every minute and second that passes without
resolution, spells danger for the lives of the people in the prisons. We
are concerned and we are reacting to the absence of a resolution,"
BDP co-chair Gulten K1anak said on Nov. 10 at a press conference
in Diyarbak1r as she announced that she and four more BDP deputies
Aysel Tugluk, Adil Kurt, S1rr1 Sureyya ?nder and Sabahat Tuncel and
Diyarbak1r Mayor Osman Baydemir were going on an indefinite hunger
strike in a bid to share the burden with the prisoners.
BDP Van deputy Ozdal U?er and Diyarbak1r deputy Emine Ayna already
began a hunger strike on Nov. 8.
In a speech delivered in Trabzon on Nov. 11, Erdogan slammed both hunger
strikers and the BDP deputies.
"Let it be hunger strikes or a death fast, they are blackmail, a bluff
and showing off. Now deputies are on a hunger strike. Let them do whatever
they want. Our duty is obvious. We will take the necessary interventions
for health. We don't bow to such blackmail," Erdogan said.
The paper writes that the military is engaged in a series of changes
in attempts to strengthen its hand against "foreign threats" rather
than the Turkish Armed Forces' s (TSK) concept of a "domestic threat,"
a notion the military used for many years to refer to acts of religious
conservatism. According to the new military concept, the TSK will
concentrate on threats coming from foreign sources and discontinue
speaking about a domestic threat.
The restructuring of the Turkish military is being coordinated and led
by Chief of General Staff Gen, Necdet Ozel.
Ozel seeks to modernize the military in terms of technology and economy,
according to military sources. The chain of command will be more dynamic
and functional, according to the military chief's plans. Military
commanders responsible for anti-terror operations will be forced to
coordinate the operations onsite, rather than from the General Staff
headquarters, and they will be granted broader authority during the
coordination of military operations. For instance, they will not be
obliged to communicate with the General Staff for any action they are
planning to take during the operations. The existing principle of granting
the permission of the General Staff in operation leads the military to
lose time and eventually failure in operations.
In addition, the General Staff plans to gradually decrease the number
of military staff. Yet, the decrease will not cause a loss of power for
the military. Turkey has the second biggest armed forces within NATO
after the US, with about 800,000 personnel. With its current structure,
the TSK gives the impression that it is lagging behind, while the armies
of other NATO member countries have completed their transformation into
smaller but more mobile forces, towards today's threats.
Under the overhaul, the General Staff also hopes to allocate a greater
budget for modernization and weapons development projects. In this way,
the TSK will have greater chance to deal with projects to produce unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAVs), national tanks, submarines, helicopters, frigates
and warplanes.
The government allocated around TL 17 billion to defense in 2011, and
around TL 12 was spent on military staff costs and fuel, transportation,
nutrition and accommodation. The TSK's modernization projects were only
able to receive TL 3.5 billion from the defense budget.
The General Staff believes the major overhaul will bring victory in
its anti-terror fight. Turkey has been tackling the issue of Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) activities for over 30 years, failing to eradicate
it so far. More than 40,000 people, including civilians and members of
the military, have been killed to date in clashes between the military
and PKK.
The General Staff also plans to allow the military to benefit more from
technology so that its hand will be stronger against "terrorist groups". As
part of its plans, the General Staff has decided to purchase technological
devices it believes to strengthen the military against the PKK from foreign
countries. The item that tops the list of such devices is UAVs. Turkey now
has 13 such vehicles, but plans to return three of them to Israel because
they do not work and Israeli officials decline to provide technical
support.
Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.11.12) reports that Turkish defense and
aviation sector aims to reach 1.5 billion U.S. dollars of exports at
the end of 2012.
Speaking to AA correspondent, Defense and Aviation Industry Exporters'
Association head Latif Aral Alis said that they expected the industry
to increase its exports by 60 or 70 percent at the end the year and it
would hit record.
According to the figures by Turkish Assembly of Exporters, defense
and aviation exports were 661 million U.S. dollars between January and
October 2011 and exports rose by 51.87 percent to 1.3 billion USD in
the same period of 2012.
Alis said that they aimed to reach 1.5 billion U.S. dollars of exports
at the end of 2012.
He said that the defense and aviation sector employed nearly 50,000
people.
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio
/EI
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