Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-03-28

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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] A Kyrgyz delegation is illegally visiting the breakaway regime

[02] So called privatization law approved under protests

[03] Eroglu met with the Italian Ambassador to Lefkosia

[04] Turkey to grant 646 million Turkish liras to the breakaway regime in 2012; The cost of maintaining the occupation and a puppet regime

[05] Foreign visitors to the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 36.5% in 2011

[06] "GAU" signed five agreements for breakaway regime's tourism

[07] Ataturk vocational school to participate in the Drupa-Print Media Fair in Dusseldorf

[08] "EP's 'Turkey Report' shows deep flaws"; Wherever they go, Cyprus blocks the path publishers

[09] Turkey is determined to provide 10% of its electricity needs from nuclear energy by 2030

[10] "Large firms study on oil search in Turkey"

[11] New judicial reform reportedly will prevent the closure of publications in Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] A Kyrgyz delegation is illegally visiting the breakaway regime

In statements during the meeting he had with the Kyrgyz delegation, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriots have always applauded the independence of states established after the Soviet Union collapsed and said that relations between the occupied area of Cyprus and Kyrgyzstan will develop further.

M?nbatov begun his speech by paying tribute to former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and expressed his readiness to contribute to all efforts aimed at improving relations; M?nbatov also said they want to see the breakaway regime becoming a member to the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries.

The Kyrgyz delegation also had meetings with the self-styled speaker of the "assembly" Hasan Bozer and self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk.

[02] So called privatization law approved under protests

The "law" will allow the privatization of illegal Tymbou airport and the "Telecommunication's Department".

"Deputies" from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) did not take part in the voting process and withdrew from the "assembly".

The "law" was then unanimously approved by the remaining "deputies".

In addition, Turkish Cypriot midweek Cyprus Today newspaper (28.03.12) reports that unions and opposition parties attempted to derail the "bill" and they are now planning to refer to the "constitutional court" in order to halt it. The paper also writes that the unions are considering a general strike in protest.

The chairman of CTP Ozakn Yorgancioglu, stated to Cyprus Today that the "ruling" National Unity Party ignored the efforts made by the opposition parties and the unions for harmonizing the "law" with European laws: "The bill is not in favour of the Turkish Cypriot community. Furthermore it is a bill threatening the future of our people", he stated.

On his part, the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOEOS) Ahmet Kaptan stated that the new "law" will allow the privatization of the main assets of the Turkish Cypriots and the brain drain of Turkish Cypriot youngsters to other countries. "It aims at protecting and making benefits available to the ruling party's supports"", he said.

[03] Eroglu met with the Italian Ambassador to Lefkosia

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Gunes newspaper (28.03.12) reports that Eroglu will brief the inhabitants of occupied Morfou on the Cyprus negotiations. The briefing will be held on 5 April upon an invitation by occupied Morfou's "NGO's" platform.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkey to grant 646 million Turkish liras to the breakaway regime in 2012; The cost of maintaining the occupation and a puppet regime

(I/Ts.)

[05] Foreign visitors to the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 36.5% in 2011

Citing data given by the self-styled ministry of tourism, environment and culture, the paper writes that 800,376 tourists visited the occupied area of Cyprus in 2009 through its illegal sea and air ports. This number increased to 902,390 in 2010 and 1,022,089 in 2011. During the past couple of months an increase of 13.3% was observed in the number of tourists visiting the occupied area of Cyprus. According to the paper, the numbers show that the promotions made for tourism during the past few years were successful.

The majority of the tourists came to the occupied area of Cyprus from Turkey during the period 2009-2011. The number of Turkish tourists was 801,326 in 2011, 741,925 in 2010 and 638,700 in 2009. It was established that most Turkish tourists come to the occupied area of Cyprus in September.

According to the paper, the number of the foreigners [Translator's note: persons coming from countries other than Turkey], who visited the occupied area of Cyprus during the same period was 161,676 in 2009, 160,465 in 2010 and 220,763 in 2011, which had been declared as so-called "TRNC Tourism Year" in Turkey.

After the Turks, the largest number of tourists who visited the occupied area of Cyprus was from Britain. The number of the British tourists was 45,399 in 2010 and 50,846 in 2011. After the British tourists, the most visitors of the occupied area of Cyprus come from Iran, Germany and Russia, which are followed by Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, France, Kazakhstan, Moldavia and Syria. Iranian tourists were 8,394 in 2010 and increased to 18,897 in 2011. Significant increase was also seen in the number of the German tourists, who were 7,447 in 2010 and became 18,079 in 2011. The numbers of tourists coming from other countries are as follows: Italians 4,981 in 2010 and 7,582 in 2011, Azerbaijanis 2,494 in 2010 and 7,608 in 2011, Russians 9,584 in 2010 and 12,150 in 2011 etc. Fewer tourists came from countries such as Slovenia, Norway, Israel, Spain, Georgia, Austria and the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, Kibris (28.03.12) writes also that according to a report prepared by the "Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers' Union" (KITOB) for March 2012, the occupancy of the small hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 100% in comparison to the same month of 2011. The occupancy of five-star hotels has also increased by 8% in the same period. The occupancy rate in the hotels members of "KITOB", which was 31% in March 2011, increased to 41% in March 2012.

Finally, Kibris (28.03.12) reports that, according to information published in the "official gazette" of the breakaway regime, the Turkish Cypriot kitchen will be promoted in the "Food and Travel" magazine. According to a decision taken by the "council of ministers" of the breakaway regime, two reporters from the above-mentioned magazine will visit occupied Keryneia area next April.

(I/Ts.)

[06] "GAU" signed five agreements for breakaway regime's tourism

According to the paper, the aim of the agreements is to promote "northern Cyprus" to the world tourism authorities, and to explain the tourism potential of the occupied area of Cyprus to the world.

On behalf of "GAU" the agreements were signed by the vice president of its administrative council, Asim Vehbi, who said that the president of EUHODIP Dr Cees van der Klip signed the agreements on behalf of Bulgaria's College of Tourism and Hotel Management (HRC) Culinary Academy, Helena Cvik on behalf of Slovenia's Vocational College for Catering and Tourism Mariber, Giuseppe Schipano on behalf of Italy's Scuola Alberghiera, and Dr Shyam Patiar on behalf of Britain's College Llandrillo Cymru. An agreement was also signed by Ahmed Shafig on behalf of Pakistan's College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) institute.

Vehbi recalled that Nafiya Guden, head of "GAU's" tourism, hotel management and accommodation department, has become the first general secretary of EURHODIP.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The Ataturk vocational school to participate in the Drupa-Print Media Fair in Dusseldorf

According to the "official gazette" of the breakaway regime, the decision of the participation of the school in the fair was taken by the "council of ministers".

[08] "EP's 'Turkey Report' shows deep flaws"; wherever they go, Cyprus blocks the path

"As the mood in Turkey-EU relations remains very icy and is expected to worsen when Cyprus takes over the EU presidency, a resolution on the 'Turkey Progress Report' is to be debated and voted on. It is clear that Turkey's reform process has turned 'tricky' to comprehend, with mixed signals from Ankara. The sheer number (some 500) of amendments tabled to the report in question is already an indication of how widespread the perceptions about Turkey's progress have become within the EP's various flanks.

The 15-page-long report summarizes the situation and 'progress' in 58 points, and paradoxically enough, compared to former progress reports, looks balanced, but, in the details, it does not quite cut it in the least for those who seek fairness and objectivity. In almost every point there are double standards and manifestly inaccurate statements. It "smells" of bias, generally.

Let me walk you through some problematic parts.

In the initial point A, it says: '? whereas accession negotiations with Turkey were opened on 3 October 2005 after the Council had approved the Negotiating Framework, and whereas the opening of those negotiations is the starting point for a long-lasting and open-ended process based on rigorous conditionality and the commitment to reform ?' It is clear a reference to 'with the aim of accession,' which was omitted, telling us that the majority of MEPs believe that this process should not lead to full membership.

Point F, about Cyprus, fails to mention the EU Council decision (April 26, 2004) on 'direct trade' to northern Cyprus as not yet implemented. It is a sheer double standard obviously reattempted.

This is then followed by a highly troublesome Point 3 on visa liberalization. The parts in the draft text that refer to: 'stresses the importance of facilitating access to the European Union ? in harmonizing and simplifying visa requirements and in creating new visa facilitating centres in Turkey; urges Turkey to sign and implement the EU-Turkey readmission agreement without further delay ? asks for the progressive convergence of the visa policies of Turkey and the EU with regard to citizens of third countries ? define the roadmap for visa liberalization ...' are all examples of hypocrisy because the arguments against are very simple and clear: Turkey is the only candidate country without visa liberalization. Every candidate country gets it. Instead of nonsensical terms like 'facilitating access' or 'simplifying visa requirements' Turkey should receive as soon as possible visa liberalization, now at least for academia, business and NGO members. Signing a readmission agreement normally goes hand-in-hand with visa liberalization in these cases.

The phrase '? asks for the progressive convergence of the visa policies of Turkey and the EU with regard to citizens of third countries ?' implies that Turkey should stop its visa liberalization with inter alia Arab/Central Asian countries. It means this: 'We don't want to give you visa liberalization and we don't want you to have visa free travel with countries like Morocco (!), either. There is no mention at all of the fact that the member states that have a legal obligation to implement visa free travel to certain groups (based on the standstill clause of the Additional Protocol and an Association Council decision) have still not done so. There are clear European Court of Justice (ECJ) and national court judgments on this issue.

Finally, point 17 about 'coup trial' cases also deserves a proper critique. It goes: 'Stresses that investigations of alleged coup plans, such as the 'Ergenekon' and 'Sledgehammer' cases, must demonstrate the strength and the proper, independent, impartial and transparent functioning of Turkish democratic institutions and the judiciary, and their firm, unconditional commitment to the respect of fundamental rights; is concerned about the allegations of the use of inconsistent evidence against the defendants in these cases ...'

The 'concern' expressed above shows how little concern MEPs have about European Court of Human Rights' (ECtHR) decisions on these cases. While no national court or the ECtHR has yet issued a decision about "inconsistent evidence" in those specific trials, the EP thereby interferes with the judicial case simply by taking ad-hoc notice of the claims of some defendants and propaganda. This is wrong.

I do hope that the text is cleansed from those double standards and hypocrisies. But, still, my concern remains. It has to do with Cyprus' irrational intent, as it takes over the presidency, on blocking Chapter 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice, freedom and security). Turkey is in the midst of a historic debate about a "civil constitution" and judicial reform. These are of crucial importance for Turkey -- and the EU. Turkey wants to open these chapters, but the EU fails to notify Turkey of its criteria to negotiate on these two chapters. It is impossible to understand. On the one hand the EU criticizes Turkey on these issues, but on the other hand it refuses to open these crucial chapters. This is a proper example of the union's folly, of 'shooting itself in the foot.'"

[09] Turkey is determined to provide 10% of its electricity needs from nuclear energy by 2030

"Making use of safe, low-cost and environmentally-friendly energy resources is the focus of our development strategies," Erdogan said, addressing the general assembly attended by world leaders.

"Turkey has launched its ambitious nuclear program. It will implement this program resolutely to meet the country's energy needs sustainably," he said, adding that the program would be based on the principles of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), attaining high safety and security standards.

"What happened in Fukushima, adding to the Chernobyl and Three Miles Island accidents, has once again reminded us the crucial importance of nuclear security and the tests that nuclear energy is facing."

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, who joined Erdogan during his visit, told journalists that Turkish and South Korean officials had not reached an agreement on the construction of a second nuclear plant in Turkey.

After a meeting with South Korean Information Technologies Minister Hong Suk-Woo, Yildiz said South Korea had expressed an interest in constructing a 5,000-6,000 megawatt nuclear as well as coal power plant in Turkey, and that talks were continuing, according to Reuters.

Turkey's first nuclear power plant will be built by the Russians in Akkuyu near the southern port city of Mersin. The second nuclear plant, slated for the Sinop region on Turkey's Black Sea coast, is still up for grabs. Turkey is currently still negotiating with Japanese firms for the Sinop plant, according to Yildiz, but the Japanese company TEPCO withdrew its bid on Aug. 4 2011.

"Just like with natural gas, we want diversity. In addition to Japan and Russia, we are negotiating with South Korea and China," Yildiz told reporters. He had previously told Reuters that the Chinese were also interested in building a nuclear power plant in Turkey.

Yildiz met with executives from SK, KOSEB and HACO, the leading nuclear energy companies in South Korea, Anatolia news agency reported.

Turkey is set to hold a second round of talks with South Korean authorities during the Energy Leaders Summit in Istanbul next month, a large event expected to be participated in by around 70 countries.

[10] "Large firms study on oil search in Turkey"

"Turkey's national oil and gas company and energy regulator will soon receive applications from corporations to search for oil in Turkey and import natural gas from Iraq, respectively.

Chevron, Total, Petrobras, Statoil, ConocoPhillips, OMV, RWE, Genel Enerji and BG are preparing applications to search for oil in southern Turkey's Mersin-Iskenderun region, an energy official told Reuters. The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) will start receiving bids for the oil search on May 15.

TPAO said although they expected to reach an agreement with one particular company, they could consider increasing this number if there were different applications for more than one license.

Meanwhile, the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) has set an April 9 deadline to receive bids to import natural gas from Iraq. Turkey needs different sources of natural gas as it used 48.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2011, according to Reuters.

2014-2033 period

According to the regulation, private companies are allowed to import gas from any country from which Turkey's state-run natural gas supplier BOTAS does not buy.

Based on EPDK stipulations, the applications will cover the 2014 to 2033 period and will start with the importation of 700 million cubic meters of natural gas and will go up to 3.2 billion cubic meters, according to the EPDK website. The EPDK has already looked favourably upon Siyah Kalem Muhendislik's application."

[11] New judicial reform reportedly will prevent the closure of publications in Turkey

The judicial reform package introduces nearly 100 amendments to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the Code on Criminal Procedure (CMK), the Counterterrorism Law (TMK) and the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law. Ergin said the package will abolish a TMK provision that grants courts the right to discontinue publications for a certain period of time.

"We do not want such problems to occur in Turkey again. We decided to enact such a reform since we see such a problem with press freedoms. Once this reform becomes law, this problem will be done away with," he said during an interview with NTV news broadcaster on Tuesday.

He added that further measures to strengthen freedom of expression and the press will be included in another reform package on which his Ministry is working.

Facing charges of "disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization," the Ozgur Gundem daily, which is accused of having ties to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), will be closed for a month on the order of the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court. The court ruled on Sunday that the daily's news reports on pages one, eight, nine, 10 and 11 of last week's Sunday and Monday editions constituted propaganda in support of the terrorist organization and ordered that police recall all printed copies. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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