Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-12-28

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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] Tension escalates in occupied Lefkosia; "Police" arrest 22 protesters; Kucuk refers to "terrorist actions"; General strike to be held today

[02] Eroglu: If the Greek Cypriots accept our positions we will reach an agreement

[03] An Azeri MP is illegally in occupied Cyprus

[04] Survey shows that UBP would rank first if "early parliamentary elections" were to take place in the occupied part of Cyprus today

[05] Davutoglu called on Iran to work on reducing sectarian clashes in the Middle East

[06] CHP's Kilicdaroglu accused the Turkish government of providing arms to the opposition in Syria; he opposed to Turkey's involvement in the Syrian crisis

[07] Turkey launched an information campaign on jailed journalists

[08] Chinese solar company firm invests in Turkey

[09] Germany to ship Patriots to Turkey on January 8

[10] KADEP leader passed away

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Tension escalates in occupied Lefkosia; "Police" arrest 22 protesters; Kucuk refers to "terrorist actions"; General strike to be held today

The employees of the "municipality" first marched towards the "prime minister's" office, and then towards the "district court", the "assembly" and the headquarters of the "ruling" National Unity Party (UBP). The protesters emptied in the streets all trash bins, which they found in their way during their march. They managed to overcome the obstacle of the "police" and entered into the UBP headquarters, where they brought down and broke the party's nameplate. When they could not find self-styled prime minister Kucuk, they changed the form of their protest. In front of the "assembly", they clashed with the "police" and closed the roads using vehicles of the "municipality". In front of the "municipality" they burnt tires and blocked the road. The "police" tried to disperse the angry employees by using batons.

Meanwhile, Kibris reports that the Trade Unions' Platform decided to declare a 24-hour general strike for today with the aim of expressing support to the employees of the "municipality" in the occupied part of Lefkosia.

Right after the decision of the platform, the so-called council of ministers convened late last night and decided to ban the strike at the "civil aviation department" for a period of 60 days. Announcing the decision, self-styled minister of transport, Ersan Saner said their aim with this decision was to prevent any problems in the visits of tourists to the occupied area of Cyprus.

Commenting on the developments, the self-styled prime minister Kucuk argued that the actions of the trade union have been turned into "street terrorism", that rights could not be demanded in such a way and that the incidents, which happened yesterday, are "a complete anarchy".

Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (28.12.12) covers the issue under the title "Lefkosia has been turned into a battle field" and reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu made a call for restraint regarding the activities in occupied Lefkosia's "municipality" and said that the problems should be solved through dialogue. The paper writes also that the leaders of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the Social Democracy Party (TDP) called on the "government" to resign and declare early "elections", while the leader of the Democratic Party (DP) said that the incidents caused sorrow and the problem should be solved the soonest.

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (28.12.12), mouthpiece of the "ruling" UBP, covers the issue under the title "Terror", while Yeni Duzen newspaper (28.12.12), mouthpiece of the "main opposition" CTP, uses the title "This is called uprising".

Some other front-page titles used by daily newspapers are the following:

Star Kibris: "The last episode of the disgrace".

Kibrisli: "Climate for revolution in Lefkosia!"

Vatan: "The shocking activity turned the capital into hell!"

Halkin Sesi: "It fell into disorder"

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu: If the Greek Cypriots accept our positions we will reach an agreement

He argued: "Some views he put forward in the past were encouraging, even though only a little bit, but recently we see and we hear that he has passed to a very different line. It is obvious that we will not be able to reach anywhere, if Mr Anastasiades tries to abolish or water down Turkey's active guarantees, to reject the rotating presidency, to throw away from the island some citizens of the TRNC, to take away from us some accommodation units and to cause wounds which could not be healed. If he does not do these and follow a realistic and constructive way, I wish we agree. We follow close the statements by Malas and Lillikas as well. Unfortunately, both candidates see absolutely not even one of the just demands of the Turkish Cypriot people".

Eroglu claimed that the wish of the Turkish side is to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem after "a productive negotiating process" with a timetable. He alleged: "We have many times said that we will support a four-party or a five-party meeting, that is, a multiparty meeting during this process. We expect from the sides concerned in Cyprus to support this sincere wish of ours and bring the Greek Cypriot side into a correct road? Unfortunately, the point to which we have come until today with the stance followed by the EU and the UN is disappointing for us. The status quo is used by the Greek Cypriot side against the Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriot people are victimized in an unjust manner [in the fields of] trade, economy, sports and politics. Our people are not satisfied with this course and their most important demand is to be saved from all the isolations, the embargoes and the restrictions. The Turkish Cypriot people demand from the world to respect their rights and continue their struggle for this".

Responding to a question on the internal situation in the occupied area of Cyprus, Eroglu said that if he was in the "government", he would not think of holding early "elections" now, because the ruling party has more than one year left in "power" and such a decision would be tantamount to saying that it could not bear the burden of being in "power" or that it wants to increase the number of its "deputies" to 40. Eroglu said that the "country" faces many problems and that the "government" should find solutions to these problems.

(I/Ts.)

[03] An Azeri MP visiting illegally in occupied part of Cyprus

As the paper writes, the Azeri MP paid a visit yesterday to the offices of Kibris newspaper. In statements there, he said that he was visiting the "TRNC" for the second time and added that their goal was the further promotion of the "TRNC" and the development of ties between Azerbaijan and the "TRNC".

Stating that he loves the "TRNC" as he loves the other Turkic states, the Azeri Deputy said that at the moment, a total of 500 Azeri students study at the "Eastern Mediterranean University" (DAU) and added that they would participate to an event which is to be organized there.

AK

[04] Survey shows that UBP would rank first if "early parliamentary elections" were to take place in the occupied part of Cyprus today

Also, the paper writes that the voters in the occupied part of Lefkosia, were divided on the issue of "early elections". Replying to the question if they would agree for early "parliamentary elections" to take place, 38.8% of the voters who are living in occupied Lefkosia replied positively while 32.6% replied negatively. Also, the percentage of the undecided or those who did not express their opinion was 28.6%.

The survey was conducted between December 15-21 across the occupied part of Lefkosia with a sample of 588 persons, above the age of 18 and with the face to face method, writes the paper.

AK

[05] Davutoglu called on Iran to work on reducing sectarian clashes in the Middle East

Speaking at a conference at the Ankara-based Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE) on Thursday, Davutoglu touched upon various issues and evaluated Turkey's foreign policy in 2012 in retrospect.

"Yes, Turkey took a risk in the Arab Spring. But this was an accurate risk taken at the right time. Turkey sided with the right side of history and became an actor that has directed the course of history," said Davutoglu.

Davutoglu said also that the Turkish foreign policy had stood by all religions and ethnic groups in the region over forces of the status quo, describing Turkey's foreign policy as non-sectarian.

Faced with criticism from opposition parties, Davutoglu defended the government's policies in Syria and the wider Middle East, asserting that the government wants to lead global and regional processes of change. "No one can rightly blame Turkey for the Syrian crisis, which was a political earthquake. We will tackle the problem in the end," said Davutoglu.

Davutoglu said further that the Turkish government stood by the peoples of the Middle East against Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regardless of sectarian concerns.

Due to the Syrian crisis, Turkey is experiencing new challenges with some of its neighbors, said Davutoglu, adding that Turkey has invested in the Syrian people and that, in the end, the Syrian people would emerge victorious.

The main point of contention between Turkey and Iran has recently been the uprising against the Assad regime. Ankara wants Assad to step down, while Baghdad and Tehran, the latter with close ties to Assad, were hesitant to take a strong stance on the Syrian leader.

Davutoglu said the regimes in the Middle East collapsed because these were remnants of the Cold War era. "The Cold War is coming to an end in the Middle East only now. All the archaic structures are now collapsing," Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu also dismissed suggestions that Turkey and Egypt are in competition and a rivalry over regional prominence, saying that Turkey will always support Egypt in achieving the goals of its revolution. "We have never been in competition with Egypt. We will support Egypt in demonstrating its regional role. During the Gaza crisis, Turkey and Egypt worked shoulder-to-shoulder," said Davutoglu, adding: "Nobody should use Cold War era terms such as a Shiite-Sunni bloc or Egypt-Turkey rivalry".

[06] CHP's Kilicdaroglu accused the Turkish government of providing arms to the opposition in Syria; he opposed to Turkey's involvement in the Syrian crisis

"There is a civil war in Syria. And what are we doing? We are giving weapons to one side, and putting money in its pockets and telling them to kill their brothers. Why are we doing this? What do we have to do with Syria? Why are we a part of that fight?" the CHP leader asked on Thursday as he paid a visit to the Malatya Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Kilicdaroglu also said that in the past Turkey had remained impartial when a war broke out between Iran and Iraq. "That war lasted for eight or nine years. Turkey remained equally distant to both sides," he stated.

The CHP leader also said that his party is acting as a spokesman for the people as it raises its voice about issues that require criticism. "As the main opposition party, there is no problem in this country that we do not give voice to. We raised the issue of young inmates raped in Pozant? Prison as well as the issue of the 34 citizens killed in Uludere. We have also submitted motions against Ministers who were involved in corruption," he said, but complained that the people seem apathetic towards the wrong deeds of the government.

"Turkey needs a new administration, a new spirit, democracy and freedoms. Turkey needs an economy in which everyone is fed," he added.

[07] Turkey launched an information campaign on jailed journalists

According to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry prepared a joint project of booklets outlining the reasons behind sentences given to journalists imprisoned in the country.

The booklets were delivered in the last three months to each Turkish embassy in foreign capitals, Davutoglu said yesterday while speaking at the Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE).

The Minister admitted that foreign officials abroad sometimes asked about the imprisoned journalists in Turkey. "We delivered booklets providing information ? one by one ? on the journalists who were sentenced due to their journalistic activities, and the ones who were imprisoned due to other reasons," Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu rejected criticisms about "suspended" democratic reforms in Turkey after prior steps the government had taken in the first couple of years of its rule. Citing the party closure case against the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2008, the Minister noted: "Nobody can pursue the closing of a political party at the moment."

He did not believe democracy in Turkey was going back a step, instead, he claimed the country has made significant progress.

He stressed that freedom of expression should have no limits, other than outrage.

"The most important revolution in releasing Turkish politics from slavery happened two years ago in the referendum to change the Constitution", the Minister added.

Additionally, Davutoglu announced that Turkey would be an observer in the Arctic Council, expressing Turkey's intention to be a member of all international organizations.

Turkey had also taken its biggest foreign policy risk in calling on the former President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, to resign, Davutoglu said.

[08] Chinese solar company firm invests in Turkey

In September, the two companies signed agreements to invest jointly in three newly established companies under the name "CSUN Eurasia" to produce solar cells and modules in Turkey and to invest in downstream solar projects in Turkey and neighbouring countries.

The first 150 MW solar module line installed in the new facility will begin producing solar panels in January 2013, while the 100 MW solar cell line is now being installed and will start manufacturing in March 2013, the statement said.

The company is planning to move an additional 200 MW equipment to the Turkish plant from its facilities in Shanghai in the first quarter of 2013 and to gradually ramp up production in the first half of next year, a plan subject to market dynamics and Turkey plant's production progress, it said, without elaborating on the volume of the investment.

However, China Sunergy expects the new plant to create over 1,200 job opportunities locally in Istanbul. The company expects Turkey to become its second-largest manufacturing base after China.

Last July it was reported that China Sunergy had signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Turkish manufacturing base with another local partner, Akfel Group, Reuters reported. However investment negotiations between Akfel Group and China Sunergy (CSUN) have been suspended.

"We are delighted to see our facilities in Turkey established and ready for production. Solar projects in Turkey enjoy higher feed-in tariffs when adopting locally manufactured cells and modules. Therefore, we believe our cooperation with the strong local partner Seul Energy will help us capture substantial market share in the region," said Stephen Cai, CEO of China Sunergy, in a press release.

Cagr? Seymen, CEO of SEUL Energy said: "Turkey's energy demand has dramatically increased over the past decade, and we believe with one of the highest solar radiation in Europe, Turkey is poised to become the next new solar energy dynamo in the region."

[09] Germany to ship Patriots to Turkey on January 8

Officials from Germany's air defence fleet said that Patriot missiles are expected to be shipped from the port of Travemunde on January 8.

German troops will later fly to Turkey. The system is planned to be ready early February.

The Patriot air defence system will be deployed in Turkey's southern province of Kahramanmaras.

[10] KADEP leader passed away

Elci had been elected an independent Deputy from the south-eastern province of Diyarbakir in the 2011 general elections and entered the Parliament. The number of vacant seats at the Turkish Parliament increased to two after the demise of Elci.

Below is a table showing the current distribution of seats at the Turkish Parliament:

Justice and Development Party (AK Party): 326

Republican People's Party (CHP): 135

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP): 51

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP): 29

Independent: 7

Vacant: 2

Total: 550

EI/ http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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