Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review 06/04/2012
CONTENTS
1. Eroglu replies to CTP’s criticism 2. A “crisis” with Eroglu’s visa to Saudi Arabia was reportedly experienced 3. Hasipoglu replies to CTP’s criticism on the Cyprus problem 4. The Albanian Premier met with Cicek and Erdogan in Turkey; Cicek reiterated that Turkey’s-EU ties will be frozen if the Republic of Cyprus takes over the EU term presidency on July 1st 5. A US Congressman asks from Clinton to review the policy on Cyprus 6. Efforts by the Turkish side to create tension in Pyla village; Kucuk found an excuse to make threats 7. Transactions of real estates in the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 300% 8. Gul warns Israel to allow the establishment of a Palestinian state 9. “Turkey’s new military policy” 10. Turkey steps up pressure to Europe for visa-free travel for Turkish nationals 11. The Sultan of Brunei due to Turkey 1. Eroglu replies to CTP’s criticism Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (06.04.12) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has assessed the decision published the day before yesterday by the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) on the Cyprus problem. Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the National People’s Movement (UHH) headed by Taner Etkin, Eroglu alleged that a party which has established the so-called lack of will of the other side does not have to right to accuse him. He claimed: “If the other side is unwilling, if it does not want an agreement, how could I agree? …If what is said is ‘give whatever the Greek Cypriots want in order for an agreement to be achieved’, we will not do it. This people cannot tolerate any more new traumas and open-ended negotiations”. Eroglu said he has read the decision of the CTP-BG, which said, inter alia, the following: “Eroglu should not benefit from the unwillingness of the Greek Cypriot side and interrupt the negotiations. If the negotiations are interrupted, we believe the following: [We believe] that he has a mission and that this mission is to turn this place into a subsidiary of Turkey”. Eroglu argued that two sides are needed for an agreement and addressing the CTP-BG said: “If you have established that one of the sides is unwilling and you write this openly in a party committee decision, you do not have the right to accuse a person who holds the negotiations on your behalf”. Alleging that he has been negotiating and submitting proposals for finding a solution from the very beginning, Eroglu argued that there is a limit for an agreement and it is not possible to go beyond this limit. He claimed: “In any case, when you go beyond this limit, you will cease to exist. You will have neither sovereignty nor partnership. You could not go further from being a minority. There were persons who carried out the negotiations before me. If the Greek Cypriot side had an intention to agree, an agreement would have been reached a long time ago”. Eroglu recalled that in his address to the people before the referendum on the Annan Plan in 2004, late President Papadopoulos had said that “I took over a state and I do not want to hand over a community”. He argued that President Christofias thinks the same today. Eroglu reiterated his view that this is the “end of the game”, that 1 July is the “natural end” of the negotiations and that negotiations after 1 July would be meaningless. He alleged that the UN Secretary-General has also said so and added: “They say the Greek Cypriots are in favour of the continuation of the negotiations. They may be, as the Greek Cypriots feel no discomfort as long as the negotiations continue. However, my people has a discomfort, they worry about the future. Therefore, this people want to know what will happen now”. Eroglu alleged that he knows that he is negotiating to find a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution on the basis of political equality, but “the important thing is its content”. Eroglu argued that the Greek Cypriot side asks the return of occupied Morfou and Karpassia and tries to limit some rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the administration. He alleged that, when someone asks for something, he should make “realistic evaluations”. He noted that he is saying the following to President Christofias: “The Turkish Cypriot people are not the people they were in 2004’s referendum. Turkey is not 2004’s Turkey. Do not forget this and come to the negotiations with reasonable demands”. Eroglu alleged that the Turkish Cypriots understood the so-called intransigence of the Greek Cypriots and that they have other intentions towards the Turkish Cypriots. Eroglu reiterated the allegation that a socioeconomic structure has been created in the occupied area of Cyprus since 1974 and that there could be no return to the pre-1974 period. “The Turkish Cypriots have settled so well on these lands, the number of those who see their future on these lands increased so much, that you cannot suddenly make an agreement by ignoring them”, he alleged claiming that an agreement could be viable only if it is based on the “existing realities”, which should be seen by everyone. Meanwhile, in his statements, the head of UHH’s delegation, Taner Etkin said they were satisfied with the fact that Eroglu says that “the state cannot be wasted” and expressed their support to the Turkish Cypriot leader. Etkin alleged that if a solution will be found, this should be based on the existence of two sovereign states and added that if this cannot happen, then they believe that the recognition of the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, should be brought onto the agenda. (I/Ts.) 2. A “crisis” with Eroglu’s visa to Saudi Arabia was reportedly experienced Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (06.04.12) reports that a “crisis” with the visa of Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu’s delegation for Saudi Arabia has been experienced before the departure of the Turkish Cypriot leader and his 14-member delegation for Jeddah upon an invitation by Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, General Secretary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The paper writes that the tension ended after mediation by the authorities of Turkey. Meanwhile, the paper reports also that the self-styled foreign minister Huseyin Ozgurgun was not included in Eroglu’s delegation. (I/Ts.) 3. Hasipoglu replies to CTP’s criticism on the Cyprus problem Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (06.04.12) reports that Ertugrul Hasipoglu, general secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP), issued a written statement yesterday replying to the decision published the day before yesterday by the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) on the Cyprus problem. Hasipoglu argued that they should get rid of the “complex” that they could be accused and they should think what is for the benefit of the Turkish Cypriots and the correct thing to do for them. He alleged that CTP-BG’s statement does not have the character of “contributing to the end of the Cyprus problem with an agreement”. “Those who say that open-ended negotiations should continue for another 40 years, even though these have no result, harm the Turkish Cypriot people at least as much as the Greek Cypriots do”, he claimed. Hasipoglu argued that Eroglu had never approved an international conference only after the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem are solved and that since December 2010, Eroglu had been insisting on a four-party or a five-party conference with the participation of the guarantor powers. He alleged that the proposals made by Eroglu are not made only for the sake of being made and claimed that Eroglu’s letter to the UN Secretary-General shocked not only the Greek Cypriot side but the CTP as well. (I/Ts.) 4. The Albanian Premier met with Cicek and Erdogan in Turkey; Cicek reiterated that Turkey’s-EU ties will be frozen if the Republic of Cyprus takes over the EU term presidency on July 1st Under the front page title: “Cicek: Turkey’s-EU ties will be frozen in case the Greek Cypriots overtake the EU term presidency on July 1st”, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (06.04.12) reports on statements by the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), Cemil Cicek who in statements yesterday during the meeting he held with the Prime Minister of Albania he reiterated, inter alia, Turkey’s stance that Turkey will freeze its ties with the EU in case the Greek Cypriots will overtake the EU term Presidency on July 1st. Referring to the Cyprus problem, Cicek alleged that it was impossible for a solution to be found to the Cyprus problem because of the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriots. “Unfortunately, Greek Cypriots are spoiled by the EU and some other countries”, he added. Meanwhile, according to Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.04.12), Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday in a joint press conference with the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha in Ankara that Turkey supports Albania's European Union (EU) full membership. "I hope that Albania will get the membership it deserves as soon as possible," Erdogan said. Erdogan said Turkey's investments in Albania were up by nine-fold in five years, and defined 400 million USD of foreign trade as a figure below the real potential. Moreover, Erdogan said Turkey backed Albania's NATO membership, and it would also support “Macedonia's” NATO membership. (AK) 5. A US Congressman asks from Clinton to review the policy on Cyprus Under the title: “You shall change your policy on Cyprus”, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (06.04.12) reports that the U.S. House of Representatives Congressman, MP with the Democrat Party and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Howard L. Berman has send a letter to the Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton asking for the USA to change its policy on the Cyprus problem. Berman who belongs to the same party with Clinton and President Barack Obama, expressed his discomfort on Turkey’s stance about Cyprus and demanded from the USA to review its policy on Cyprus. Berman underlined in the letter that the re-unification of the Republic of Cyprus is of a great importance not only for the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean but also for the USA’s interest as well. Berman continues in the letter expressing his discomfort about Turkey’s threats with military intervention against the Republic of Cyprus’ agreement with Israel to conduct oil and natural gas exploration activities in its EEZ. Berman points out in the letter that the American stance should be aware more clearly that it supports strongly all the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, including the Republic of Cyprus’ rights in its EEZ and its legal territories. 6. Efforts by the Turkish side to create tension in Pyla village; Kucuk found an excuse to make threats Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (06.04.12) reports that a Turkish Cypriot named Kerim Ali Yahi from mixed Pyla village was arrested yesterday by the police of the Republic of Cyprus for driving his vehicle without having insurance. The vehicle is registered in the Republic of Cyprus having the registration number EZZ 478. Havadis argues that the police arrested Yahi in spite of the fact that they do not have the authority to make arrests in Pyla. According to the paper, the police used force against Yahi and led him to Oroklini Police Station. After his testimony was taken, he was set free, writes the paper adding that he remained at the station for five hours. According to Havadis, after the incident uneasiness was observed among the Turkish Cypriot inhabitants of Pyla. The Turkish Cypriot muhktar (headman) of the village, Nejdet Ermetal alleged that the police of the Republic of Cyprus had no authority to arrest a person within Pyla’s borders and that in such situations action could be taken through the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) or the “police” of the breakaway regime. The paper reports also that the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk made a statement on the issue and “warned” that “harassing” “TRNC citizen” Kerim Ali Yahi and using violence against him in Pyla, where the two communities live together, will increase tension in the entire island. Kucuk said the incident was “unacceptable” and added that the necessary initiatives have been undertaken by the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs. Kucuk said the UN has launched an investigation. Kucuk argued that the Turkish side could not remain a spectator to such actions, which allegedly “threaten the tranquility and security” of the “TRNC citizens’ in Pyla. “Everyone should know that in case this situation or a situation like this is repeated, our Security Forces are ready to interfere as necessary in the most efficient manner”, he threatened. (I/Ts.) 7. Transactions of real estates in the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 300% Under the front-page title: “Surprise increase”, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (06.04.12) reports on statements by the chairman of the “TRNC Real Estates Union”, Hasan Sungur who has said, inter alia, that during the past two years a rapid growth has been observed in the real estate sector in the occupied area of Cyprus, saying that real estate’s prices hit the ceiling. According to Sungur, despite the economic crisis, during the past two years there was a 300% increase in the estates transactions. He pointed out that the most rapid growth has been observed in the real sector particularly in occupied Keryneia and Lefkosia. Sungur added that the biggest interest for buying and selling immovable property in the occupied area is observed by several countries such as Turkey, Russia and Iran. Sungur further said that they are satisfied with the mobility of the real sector. He also added that they wait for an explosion on the real sector especially during the forthcoming August-September period, because of the fact that the investment conditions in the “country” will be improved, as he alleged. (AK) 8. Gul warns Israel to allow the establishment of a Palestinian state Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (06.04.12) reports that the Turkish President Abdullah Gul warned Israel yesterday to watch and analyze the political climate in the region carefully. Addressing a group of high ranking officers at the War Academy in Istanbul, Gul said the following: “Democracy will sooner or later prevail in the region and a democratic regime cannot implement a foreign policy deemed by its own people as unjust, inglorious and humiliating”. “Israel will turn into a complete apartheid regime in the next 50 years if it does not allow for the establishment of an independent and proud Palestinian state with its capital in east Jerusalem. That is why we are exerting efforts to achieve a fair peace with a strategic point of view, which is to Israel’s own interests,” Gul said. 9. “Turkey’s new military policy” Under the above title, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (06.04.12) publishes a commentary by its columnist Murat Yetkin related to Gul’s statements on the new Turkish military policy: “Turkish President Abdullah Gul presented a detailed outline of a new Turkish military policy in a speech at the War Academy in Istanbul on April 5. Starting with an analysis which states that the world’s centre of gravity is shifting to the Asia-Pasific region from the North Atlantic, Gul underlined the need to focus on three main areas in defining a new strategy. He names those as: - Asymmetric threats such as terrorism, organized crime, and ethnic tensions across borders - Global capital flow, competition over energy resources, and increasing injustice in the distribution of income at the global level - Climate change, poverty, food security and epidemic diseases. This is a wide spectrum, which pushed the President to tell his audience of young officers, about to become staff officers, that military power is not strictly military anymore, and neither are political economic, social and cultural factors entirely independent from military policy. ‘The Turkish military has become an important factor in Turkish foreign policy’ Gul said. ‘Therefore, diplomatic activism and military preparedness are not optional, but a must.’ Within that framework, Gul detailed the outlines of a new Turkish military policy in seven points, as follows: 1. Increase the joint operational capabilities of all three forces (land, air and naval), in harmony with the new threats and needs 2. Integrate command structures and share resources 3. Avoid the duplication of offices at all levels 4. Increase the percentage of combat troops by reducing the number of support units 5. Save by cutting expenses not contributing to the efficiency of the armed forces 6. Shift the arms and equipment focus from quantity to quality, using the expanding capabilities of the Turkish economy and defense industry 7. Restructuring of the armed forces for long term needs by making use of a procurement policy that gives priority to national resources as much as possible What Gul said is actually in line with the new strategy to be adopted by the Western military alliance NATO in its summit in Chicago next month, but there is a difference, and it comes with a suggestion. Instead of the ‘smart power’ concept promoted by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Gul suggested the idea of ‘virtuous power’ for the Turkish military. He thinks instead of the pragmatic way of thinking of the ‘Anglo-Saxon tradition,’ a humanitarian approach could be taken as a basis. ‘But,’ he advised the Turkish officers, ‘In order for Turkey to be a virtuous power, first we have to have a tidy house; our country should become a first-class democracy in every sense.’ That is actually a hidden criticism of the military, coming when the first court case against the leaders of the 1980 military coup was opened on April 4, only two days ago. One should not forget that it was this same military that issued a statement only five years ago speaking against the possibility of Gul’s being elected as President. It is no coincidence that Gul’s hidden criticism targeted the Recep Tayyip Erdogan government. ‘An advanced democracy is not only free elections,’ he said, underlining the need for timely justice and freedom of the press and of association. Yes, we can talk about the will to have a radical transformation in the Turkish establishment, but it is a matter of waiting to see how will that work.” 10. Turkey steps up pressure to Europe for visa-free travel for Turkish nationals Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (06.04.12) reports that Turkey anticipates that a meeting on April 26 with the European Union’s Internal Affairs Commission will yield progress on visa liberalization. “Turkey’s putting initials to [not adopting the accord but agreeing to the text] a readmission agreement in return for an E.U. statement authorizing the European Commission to begin discussing visa exemption for Turkish nationals,” could be a formula to pave the way out of the longstanding deadlock, according to a Turkish official. Turkey has stepped up pressure on the E.U. in a bid to ensure that the European Council gives the go-ahead for talks on a visa-free travel regime for Turkish nationals. Previous initiatives failed last year when the European Council asked Turkey to sign a readmission agreement, saying they would return to the visa issue later. After negotiations on the simultaneous timing of signing the readmission agreement, the parties agreed on a formula which would be a step toward removing visa requirements for Turkish nationals. A verbal statement authorizing the European Commission to start talks with Ankara on visa exemption would be a step forward, despite the possibility that some E.U. member states may stir up trouble later. “If some member states, such as Austria, Germany and France, which objected before, reject the visa agreement, then Turkey will not be required to adhere to the readmission agreement, since it would only be approving the text of the agreement,” the official said. Meanwhile, Turkey’s EU Minister Egemen Bagis said yesterday that the current one-year visa granted to Turkish businessmen in Romania will be extended to five years. Bagis expressed his hope that decisions would be made about visas during the April 26 meeting. “Visa-free entrance to the Schengen zone for Turkish citizens would be mostly in the interest of Romania, Greece and Bulgaria”, he said. 11. The Sultan of Brunei due to Turkey According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.04.12), a statement from the Turkish Presidency’s press office said that Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah is set to pay a formal visit to Turkey on April 7-11 as the guest of Turkish President Abdullah Gul. The visit would be a first on the level of head of state from Brunei to Turkey, the statement said, adding that the Sultan of Brunei will arrive in Istanbul on Saturday and proceed to capital Ankara on Tuesday. The statement said the Sultan’s talks will include the latest regional and international developments. --------------------------- TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio
