Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-04-30

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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] Davutoglu urges Downer for speedy resumption of the Cyprus talks

[02] Atalay announces low-interest-loans to tradesmen and the results of four projects during his illegal visit to occupied Cyprus

[03] Gul met with US lawmakers

[04] Eroglu: "The Greek Cypriots had stolen the Republic of Cyprus from us"

[05] Kilicdaroglu to illegally visit the breakaway regime

[06] A German company is preparing for investments in the occupied area of Cyprus

[07] Allegation for the privatization of the port and the free zone area of the occupied Famagusta

[08] Saner to participate in a Conference in Istanbul Bilgi University

[09] Greek and Turkish Cypriots to celebrate May 1 together

[10] Turkey and Kuwait signed 8 agreements; Cyprus was also discussed

[11] Japan likely the winner for Turkey's 2nd nuke plant

[12] Gul approved 4th judicial package

[13] Former Interior Minister Mehmet Agar released on probation

[14] Conservative regulation to Turkish Airlines employees raises questions in Turkey

[15] Turkish delegation to travel to Israel for second compensation talks

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Davutoglu urges Downer for speedy resumption of the Cyprus talks

During a meeting behind closed doors on Monday, Davutoglu and UN Special Envoy to Cyprus Downer exchanged views on the political process in Cyprus and the negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. Downer also gave a report to the Foreign Minister on his latest discussions in the Republic Cyprus, the "TRNC" and in Greece related to the negotiation process.

Davutoglu reiterated Turkey's determination to find a solution to the Cyprus issue in talks with the UN diplomat. The Foreign Minister and Downer discussed the letters Davutoglu sent to demand a new solution initiative on Cyprus. Davutoglu also explained Turkey's clear stance over the issue of the use of gas reserves off the coast of Cyprus. Ankara seeks to see the full rights of Turkish Cypriots respected over the reserves.

Davutoglu's letters on the Cyprus problem were addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Foreign Ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, and Greece, another guarantor state for the Cyprus.

[02] Atalay announces low-interest-loans to tradesmen and the results of four projects during his illegal visit to occupied Cyprus

The economy of the breakaway regime and the so-called stability program were discussed during the meeting, after which Atalay and Kucuk held a joint press conference. Before the meeting, "protocols" were signed between tradesmen organizations and the self-styled ministry of economy and energy.

Kucuk said that the "protocols" were signed in order for these organizations to be able to support their members and give them the opportunity to secure loans. He noted that during the meeting between the delegations reports that analysed four issues were discussed and a presentation of a research was made in order for establishing the problems of the economy of the regime and improving the economy. He said that within the next few days measures will be implemented for facilitating the economic life in the occupied area of Cyprus and the development of the "people".

Kucuk said that the "public" sector and the higher education were examined. He noted the number of students in their "universities" reached 55.500 in 2013 and that their aim is to have 60.000 students. He added that the income of the regime from these students is estimated around 1.8 billion Turkish liras (TL). He noted that the commercial life and relevant measures to be taken were also examined. Pointing out that the labour force market was also analysed Kucuk said that these four main issues are "very important" for the regime.

In his statements, Atalay said that this was the first meeting for examining the "2013-2015 Economic Development Program" of the breakaway regime. "Our priority is for the TRNC to obtain a healthy and sustainable economic structure", he argued noting that they determined the rules for implementing the second three-year program. "We are meticulously following the implementation of the program", he added arguing that thanks to the first economic program the breakaway regime has not experienced an economic crisis.

During the press conference, the results of four projects were distributed to the press: 1) "Analysis of the Labour Force Market" in the occupied area of Cyprus, 2) "Functional-Institutional Review Project in the "TRNC State" [Translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus], 3) "Higher Education Strategy and Action Plan" for the breakaway regime and 4) "Analysis of the Flow of Trade" between the occupied and the government-controlled areas of Cyprus and "Common Project of Policy Proposals" for the occupied area.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (30.04.13) reports that Atalay behaved like a "governor of a colony" in the occupied area of Cyprus and did not refrain from excluding the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu from his contacts. The paper writes that the "protocols" signed with the organizations of the tradesmen secure two million TL loan and one million TL grant to these organizations.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Gul met with US lawmakers

The meetings at the Cankaya Presidential Palace in capital Ankara were held closed to news media.

[04] Eroglu: "The Greek Cypriots had stolen the Republic of Cyprus from us"

In statements during the meeting, Eroglu stated that due to a mistake which was done by the UN's Security Council, the Republic of Cyprus was left in the Greek Cypriots and alleged that the real "occupying force" in Cyprus is the Greek Cypriots, and not Turkey as the Greek Cypriots say. Eroglu further said that the Turkish Cypriots were excluded from the Republic in 1963.

Eroglu continued and said that in return to these "realities", the Greek Cypriots became members of the EU and the UN. He added that some countries worldwide do not see the "realities" in the island and do not behave them in an equal manner.

Eroglu referred also to the so-called embargoes and the difficulties the Turkish Cypriot side experiences because of these and expressed the belief that together with the help of Turkey, they will achieve to overpass them.

(AK)

[05] Kilicdaroglu to illegally visit the breakaway regime

According to CHP's deputy chairman Faruk Logoglu who referred to the issue during a press conference, Kilicdaroglu will visit the breakaway regime on the occasion of the 1st of May and will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu and other "officials".

[06] A German company is preparing for investments in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the paper, the above mentioned company collects the wastes which cause environmental disaster in other countries as well such as in Germany, Spain, France and after collecting them, it recycles them and from those wastes it produces electrical energy.

The paper writes that the project and the plans for the installations of the company were already submitted to the occupation regime's "officials", and the company is expected to start its works on February, 2014.

In statements to the paper about the issue, Onur Ersen, one of the Turkish partners of the company has stated that the necessary geological and meteorological works for the installations were already made, adding that their desire is to solve the environmental problems in the "TRNC".

Ersen went on and said that they will take out a loan from a German state bank for the installations of the company which will cost 150 million dollars. Ersen stated that the installations will be built in 28 donums [Translator's note: donum: a land measure of 1000 square meters (about a quarter of an acre)] of piece of land in the occupied Filia village and that 120 persons at least will be employed there.

(AK)

[07] Allegation for the privatization of the port and the free zone area of the occupied Famagusta

The paper writes that after the so-called minister of Energy Sunat Atun have taken personally the decision for the transferring; four members of the "administration board" of the free port and the free zone area in occupied Famagusta, resigned from the post.

As the paper points out, the Arkas Navigation company is responsible for now on for all the labour services that are provided in the port and it also have seized the "Turkish Cypriot Company of the Port workers", since, a proposal was already submitted to the so-called council of ministers for the shares of the company to be sold to the Arkas Navigation.

The paper underlines that these activities, which are taking place behind closed doors for the privatization of the port of occupied Famagusta, are in the framework of the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem, which envisages the opening of the closed off city of Varoshia and the Famagusta port for mutual use.

(AK)

[08] Saner to participate in a Conference in Istanbul Bilgi University

According to the paper, the Turkish Minister of Transportation and Navigation Binali Yildirim, the Afghani Minister of Communication and Information Technology Amirzai Sangin and the Tunisian Minister of Information Technology Mongi Marzour will participate in the conference.

[09] Greek and Turkish Cypriots to celebrate May 1 together

The paper writes that representatives of PEO and SEK will participate in the festivity and will deliver speeches on the occasion.

[10] Turkey and Kuwait signed 8 agreements; Cyprus was also discussed

A particular agreement seeking to strengthen the ties in the field of defence, "The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Defence and Industry between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the State of Kuwait," was signed between the Minister of Defence, Ismet Yilmaz and the Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Khalid al-Hamad al-Sabah, as reported by the Anatolian news agency yesterday.

Expanding the bilateral trade volume and taking the necessary measures to increase the amount of reciprocal investments were discussed during the meeting, while opinions on regional and international issues, including Syria and Cyprus, were exchanged.

[11] Japan likely the winner for Turkey's 2nd nuke plant

Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 30.04.13) reports that Japanese-French partnership is one step ahead of its Chinese rival in the race to build Turkey's second nuclear power plant, as the official announcement of the winning bid is to be made later this week.

"The Japanese bid has the advantage, but there are still one or two issues that we need to work on together," Energy Ministry sources told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday. "We believe that we will find a common way when [Japanese Prime Minister] Shinzo Abe comes to Turkey [May 3]." Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, the world's biggest builder of nuclear reactors, is expected to be chosen to build the plant, Reuters also reported yesterday, citing unnamed Turkish government sources.

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, speaking to reporters yesterday following his meeting with a group of members of the U.S. Congress in Ankara, said that Ankara would officially announce by the weekend who would construct the country's second nuclear plant, a project located in the Black Sea province of Sinop and expected to cost around $22 billion.

[12] Gul approved 4th judicial package

The package is intended to eliminate rulings against Turkey in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for human rights violations, especially regarding the situation of convicts charged with membership in a terrorist organization.

[13] Former Interior Minister Mehmet Agar released on probation

Speaking to press upon his release on Monday afternoon, Agar said he saw his imprisonment as a state duty and added that he will continue his life like any other civilian by spending time with his family.

According to Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 29.04.13), Agar was released on one-year monitored probation on Monday after serving a year in prison on charges of establishing a criminal organization in a trial concerning a car accident in 1996 that exposed links between the Turkish state, the criminal underworld and Turkish security forces.

Agar, who served as a national police chief shortly before the incident, was standing trial for his role in an unlikely arrangement the crash exposed between a famous mafia boss, a member of the security forces and a politician. The prosecutor who charged him argued that Agar had established an organization with the purpose of committing crimes.

The Turkish court handed the former police chief a five-year sentence in September 2011, which was later reduced to three years, nine months. Agar was sent to Aydin prison in late April 2012.

[14] Conservative regulation to Turkish Airlines employees raises questions in Turkey

According to the new regulations, women employees must not put flashy makeup, must use pastel colours and have their hair colour must range in natural tones. Wigs are not allowed. In addition the personnel are not allowed to have tattoos in their body.

[15] Turkish delegation to travel to Israel for second compensation talks

This is the first time a high-level Turkish delegation is visiting Israel in two years after ties between the two countries nosedived.

The first leg of the compensation talks took place in Ankara last week and the sides tentatively agreed on basic principles of a possible accord.

A senior Israeli official told the state-run Anatolia news agency that Israel's National Security Council will host the Turkish delegation next week. The talks will take place in Israel at the request of the host country. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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