Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-02-18

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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] Terror attack kills 28, injures 61 in Turkish capital; Erdogan and Davutoglu vow to increase fight against terror

[02] Davutoglu: YPG, PKK carried out Ankara's terror attack; Erdogan: Despite YPG and PKK leaders' denial to the involvement, it is identified that this is done by them

[03] Syrian PYD leader rejects responsibility for Ankara attack

[04] Blast hits Turkish culture association in Stockholm

[05] Three political parties in Turkish Parliament issued a joint declaration condemning terror

[06] Turkish jets hit PKK in northern Iraq; Explosion rocks military convoy in Diyarbakir

[07] The water crisis is continuing; Kalyoncu will discuss the issue with Turkish officials; Talat and Ozgurgun called Davutoglu

[08] Positive reactions on the EU decision to place the "Task Force for the Turkish Cypriot Community" under Juncker's management

[09] A delegation by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe to visit Cyprus on April in order to prepare a report

[10] "Interior ministry" announced that the new "regulations" will not affect the ongoing high rise projects in occupied Keryneia

[11] Telsim- Vodafone Turkey plans to increase its investment in the breakaway regime

[12] The occupation regime included in the Google map implementation

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Terror attack kills 28, injures 61 in Turkish capital; Erdogan and Davutoglu vow to increase fight against terror

The Turkish General staff announced on Feb. 18 that 30 of the injured were discharged from hospitals while the other 31 were in fair condition, continuing to receive treatment in various hospitals.

Turkey will use its legitimate right to defend itself always and everywhere, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement. "Our determination to retaliate to these attacks that target our unity and our future, in Turkey and abroad, are increasing with such actions", he added.

"Turkey's losses in its struggle against terrorism are challenging its patience," he added, stressing that Turkey would overcome the attacks. Turkey will continue its struggle against "these pawns and powers behind them, every day, with determination", he said.

Erdogan has cancelled a visit to Azerbaijan scheduled for Feb. 18, while Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who was scheduled to leave for Brussels later on Feb. 17, also cancelled his visit.

The attack occurred in the centre of the city, just a few hundred meters away from the top military headquarters, Parliament and Prime Minister's office. It happened at a time when a high-level security meeting was being held at the Presidential Palace under the chairmanship of Erdogan.

"We will never step back from our righteous struggle against all terror organizations," said Davutoglu in a written statement, following the security summit. "The state of the Turkish Republic will keep defending humanitarian values that will primarily protect its national security in the name of all without digressing from the line of law and justice and without compromising to terror and violence," he said.

The leaders of the three opposition parties in parliament condemned the attacks.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the attack was carried out with a car bomb. "We are facing simultaneous terror attacks, as if they were controlled by the same people, trying to intimidate Turkey", Kurtulmus told reporters.

"We do not yet know the perpetrators of this attack," the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that seven prosecutors had been assigned to the case and those behind the attack would be found out as soon as possible. "This attack did not only target our military personnel in those shuttles," Kurtulmus said.

"This attack openly targets out entire nation. We condemn those who carried out this attack, those who used the perpetrators as tools, and those who gave logistical intelligence and even political support to such attacks," he said.

Kurtulmus called on the international community to stand by Turkey. "I want everybody to know that some plain condemnations no longer satisfy Turkey. Whatever they do, the terrorist organizations and the powers behind them will not be able to reach their targets," he said.

Most of the injured are in fair condition, Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu said. "Terror has attacked treacherously in Ankara. We curse this attack," ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman Omer Celik said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the Turkish General Staff also strongly condemned the attack in a statement, saying there were military personnel among the casualties.

"Deeply saddened, shocked by the terror attack in Ankara. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who are affected," U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass said in a tweet.

The British Ambassador to Turkey, Richard Moore, also extended his condolences via Twitter, giving solidarity messages. "U.K. stands shoulder to shoulder with Turkey at this difficult time. Utterly condemn terrorism," Moore tweeted.

[02] Davutoglu: YPG, PKK carried out Ankara's terror attack; Erdogan: Despite YPG and PKK leaders' denial to the involvement, it is identified that this is done by them

Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Davutoglu said that the attack was carried out by a Syrian national named Saleh Najar, who was born in Syria's Hasakah province. "It has been determined with certainty that this attack was carried out by members of the separatist terror organization PKK, together with a member of the YPG who infiltrated from Syria", Davutoglu said.

He said that Turkish security forces have detained nine people in connection with the deadly attack, which killed 28 people and injured 61, while noting that 26 of the 28 people killed in Ankara attack were soldiers. "Their connection to the YPG has been confirmed," Davutoglu said and added that he cannot comment further as the investigation is still proceeding.

Davutoglu underscored that there is concrete evidence about the YPG's involvement in the attack, and added that Turkey expects support in accordance with the evidence.

Davutoglu noted that he has given instructions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu to distribute documents containing information about the incident, to the members of the United Nations Security Council, known as the Permanent 5. "It is our right to expect a common stance against terrorist organizations," he said, urging all allies to display a firm stance against the YPG.

He reaffirmed that Turkey will retaliate against the perpetrators of the attack and said that the Turkish Air Force have conducted cross-border operations in Northern Iraq, killing over 70 PKK terrorists, including senior members.

"We will take all precautions under the scope of legitimate self-defence and will retaliate with no hesitance," he said.

The Prime Minister also said that the same way Al-Qaida and Daesh cannot sit on peace tables, the YPG also cannot sit on the peace table and they do not have the 'right to represent the Syrian people'.

Davutoglu warned YPG supporters and said that those directly and indirectly supporting the terrorist organization, risk losing Turkey's backing. He noted that it is unacceptable for members of NATO and the United States to have relations with an organization which carried out terrorist attacks 'in the heart of Turkey'.

He told reporters that the Assad regime, which openly expresses support for the YPG is also responsible for the attack, and said the YPG is a 'pawn' of the Assad regime.

The Prime Minister also touched on Russia's condemnation of the attack and said it was a 'positive thing' while he urged Russia to stop using its force against innocent civilians in Syria.

Moreover, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey's initial investigation indicated that the PYD and PKK terrorist organizations were responsible for Wednesday's terrorist attack in Ankara, despite their leaders' denials. "Even though those who head the PYD and PKK say this has no connection with them, based on the information obtained by our Interior Minister and our intelligence agencies, it is identified that this is done by them," he added.

Previously Salih Muslim, co-chairman of the PYD, said that the group's forces had "no link" with the bombing, while the PKK's senior leader Cemil Bayik said that he does not know who was behind the attack.

[03] Syrian PYD leader rejects responsibility for Ankara attack

The declaration comes after Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that a member of the People's Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the PYD, was behind the attack. "We are not responsible for the Ankara bombing", Saleh Muslim was quoted by the Arbil-based Rudaw media network as saying.

"We are completely refuting that. (...) Davutoglu is preparing for something else because they are shelling us as you know for the past week", Muslim told Reuters by telephone.

"I can assure you not even one bullet is fired by the YPG into Turkey ... They don't consider Turkey an enemy," he said.

The co-leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) umbrella group, Cemil Bay?k, was quoted by the Firat news agency as saying that he did not know who was responsible for the Ankara bombing. But the attack, he said, could be an answer to "massacres in Kurdistan", referring to the Kurdish region spanning parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

[04] Blast hits Turkish culture association in Stockholm

All the windows of the centre were blown out, newspaper Swedish Aftonbladet reported on its website, quoting police, adding that there was no information about whether there were injuries.

An eyewitness told the daily that the Turkish cultural association building had been vandalized and hit by rocks last Sunday.

The president of the Botkyrka Turkish cultural association, Ismail Zengin had stated Sunday that PKK and its Syrian wing Democratic Union Party (PYD) terrorists had physically attacked the members of the association and that the Swedish police had not been very active in preventing the attacks.

The blast occurred on the same day a terrorist attack hit military-owned vehicles in central Ankara, killing at least 28 persons and wounding 61 others.

[05] Three political parties in Turkish Parliament issued a joint declaration condemning terror

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and opposition parties Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) signed the declaration, while the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) did not approve the declaration on the ground that it fails to condemn previous terrorist attacks in Diyarbak?r, Suruc and Ankara.

"As political parties represented in Parliament, we strongly condemn inhumane terrorist attacks that target our unity and integrity as well as our peace and security. Terrorism and violence will never reach its goal. We declare that our nation will never bow to terror and that it has the power to foil these plans," the statement said.

[06] Turkish jets hit PKK in northern Iraq; Explosion rocks military convoy in Diyarbakir

The operation came hours after a deadly car bomb attack targeting shuttles carrying military personnel in Ankara, which killed at least 28 and injured 61 others.

Meanwhile, the paper also reports that a large explosion hit a military convoy on February 18 in the south-eastern province of Diyarbak?r. Casualties have been reported after the attack, which was reportedly staged by outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants after the detonation of a roadside bomb.

Six soldiers have been killed while another has been heavily wounded as a PKK-placed improvise explosive device (IED) hit a military convoy on Feb. 18 in the southeastern province of Diyarbak?r, Turkish Army announced in a statement.

[07] The water crisis is continuing; Kalyoncu will discuss the issue with Turkish officials; Talat and Ozgurgun called Davutoglu

Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (18.02.16) reports that after the discussion at the "cabinet", the chairmen of the two "coalition partners", Mehmet Ali Talat (Republican Turkish Party) and Huseyin Ozgurgun (National Unity Party) met at the former's office and discussed the water issue. According to Vatan's information, during the meeting the two leaders held a telephone conversation with the Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu. Under the title "The party chairmen asked 'improvements' from Ankara", the paper writes that Talat and Ozgurgun informed Davutoglu that they want some amendments to be made in the "water agreement text". The leaders will reportedly work in the direction of urgently signing the agreement.

Moreover, in statements after the "cabinet's" meeting, Sunat Atun, self-styled minister of economy, industry and commerce, said that drought exists in the occupied area of Cyprus and this drought may continue. Therefore, the debates on the agreement with Turkey are "groundless and timeless", he argued. Atun criticized the accusations against Turkey on this issue and said that the UBP could not remain a spectator to these developments, adding that his party is ready to conclude the issue on the basis of the agreement reached with Turkey. "The UBP conveyed this view to the prime minister at today's cabinet meeting. The UBP ministers are very determined on this issue upon instructions they received from their chairman", he added and expressed his sorrow for "some propaganda conducted against Turkey".

Finally, Kibris (18.02.16) reports also that the Social Democracy Party (TDP) visited the "municipalities" of occupied Goneyli, Keryneia, Trikomo and Famagusta asking for support in its struggle against the agreement achieved between Turkey and the self-styled government of the regime on the water issue.

In statements after their meeting yesterday, Ismail Arter, self-styled mayor of occupied Famagusta, said that the water issue has been discussed for a long time but the "municipalities" have been left outside these discussions.

"We have been following the issue through the press for one year. The last text has been sent to us by mail because we asked it", he noted adding that they started debating the issue after everything was over. He said that the occupied city of Famagusta has an agreement until 2023 with a private company which operates a desalination facility and when they asked the regime's officials what will happen with this facility which covers half of the needs of the city, they could not get a satisfactory reply. "While there are so many disagreements on the water issue, how we will be able to determine the common target on the Cyprus problem", he wondered.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Positive reactions on the EU decision to place the "Task Force for the Turkish Cypriot Community" under Juncker's management

Commenting on the issue, Fikri Toros, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTTO), stated that this is a very positive step towards further improving the relations between EU and the Turkish Cypriots. He also said that this is an encouraging decision that was as a result of the arguments provided by KTTO either in writing or during talks.

Kibrsili newspaper (18.02.16) reports that Armagan Candan, "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stated that this is a very positive development which shows the importance that is given to the solution procedure for the unification of Cyprus.

(CS)

[09] A delegation by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe to visit Cyprus on April in order to prepare a report

According to paper, the two "mayors" addressed the members of the Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe.

Meanwhile, as a result of the "official membership" which was granted to the "Turkish Cypriot municipalities union" in the past, a delegation of observers from the Council of Europe will be visiting the occupation regime on April 5-7 in order to carry out inspections in both sides of the island and prepare a report.

Also, according to the paper, Benli described as an important development with lots of benefits for the democratization of the local authorities the report to be prepared by the observer's delegation coming to Cyprus. "Cyprus experiences a serious dynamism and the hopes for the solution of the Cyprus problem increases. A report by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will contribute to the solution process in Cyprus and is of a vital importance".

Referring also to their visit to Paris, Benli explained that within the framework of their stay there, he met with the chairman of the German delegation in the Council of Europe, Dr. Bernard Vohringer and briefed him about the Cyprus negotiation process and the support of the "municipalities" to the process.

(AK)

[10] "Interior ministry" announced that the new "regulations" will not affect the ongoing high rise projects in occupied Keryneia

"Interior ministry" announced that the new "regulations" will not affect the ongoing high rise projects in occupied Keryneia. It also announced that the 104 applications for permits from the total 152 are for new buildings. The permits will be 12 for 10-storey buildings, 3 for 9-storey buildings, 6 for 8-strorey buildings, 28 for 7-strorey-buildings and 18 for 6-storey buildings. The rest of the buildings will be less than 5-storey.

The measures, announced by the "ministry", introduce immediate stop-gap changes to the "Keryneia white area decree" and foresee the completion of a "Keryneia zoning law". The measures aim to preserve the town's character.

(DPs)

[11] Telsim-Vodafone Turkey plans to increase its investment in the breakaway regime

According to the paper, during the meeting the Turkish delegation gave information about the future investments of the firm in the occupied area of Cyprus and also noted the importance the company gives to its development in the breakaway regime. The delegation stated that it aims to increase its developments in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Speaking during the meeting, Ertugruloglu stated that with the firm's help they could transform Cyprus "into an island of information technology."

(CS)

[12] The occupation regime included in the Google map implementation

According to the paper, this step by Google has pleased "TRNC officials" since it was not until so far included in the Google map application.

Commenting on this development, the "chairman" of the "Turkish Cypriot travel agencies' union" Orhan Tolun described this step by Google as very important and said that this will bring important touristic and political benefits to the Turkish Cypriots.

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(DPs/AM)

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