No. 104 /12
1. Eroglu demanded all the “citizens” of
the occupation regime who granted the “TRNC citizenship” to be consider
as citizens of the Federal State to be in case of a solution
2. Hughes said that a federal or a
co-federal solution will be beneficial for all the Cypriots; He
explained why he used the illegal Tympou airport to visit occupied
Cyprus
3. The so-called council of ministers approved the new “e-passports” of the occupation regime
4. Ozersay stated that the new movement under his leadership is open to discuss the possibility of becoming a new party
5. Turkey’s support for EU membership drops to 47.2%
6. Turkey expels Syrian diplomats after Houla massacre
7. A positive agenda
1.
Eroglu demanded all the “citizens” of the occupation regime who granted
the “TRNC citizenship” to be consider as citizens of the Federal State
to be in case of a solution
Illegal Bayrak television (30.05.12)
reported that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has said that
Turkey’s guarantee was indispensable for the Turkish Cypriot side.
Speaking during a visit paid to him by the
“Association of War Veterans”, Eroglu said that it was out of the
question for the Turkish Cypriot side to abandon Turkey’s active and
affective guarantees and added that the continuation of Turkey’s
guarantee was crucial for the Turkish Cypriots.
Describing Turkey’s guarantee as one of the
Turkish Cypriot side’s “red lines”, Eroglu said that it was out of the
question for the Turkish Cypriot side to make any concessions on this
issue.
Touching upon the issue of “citizenship”,
Eroglu repeated that, during the Cyprus talks, he defended the idea that
all “TRNC citizenships” granted by previous, current or future “TRNC
governments” would be recognized in the event of a solution.
He said that anyone with a “TRNC
citizenship” would become a citizen of the new partnership state, if a
solution to the Cyprus Problem was ever to be reached.
Reminding that the Turkish Cypriots
continued to live under inhuman “embargoes” despite their positive
efforts towards a solution, Eroglu complained that the Greek Cypriots,
which had deceived the international community into recognizing them as
the legitimate owner of the island and granting them EU membership, were
deliberately dragging their feet at the negotiations process.
He also said that it would not be possible to reach a solution by just giving attention to the Greek Cypriot side’s demands.
Meanwhile, Eroglu met with the outgoing
Finnish Ambassador to “south Cyprus”, as the Republic of Cyprus is
called Riitta Resch. No statement was issued before or after the
meeting.
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (31.05.12)
reports on Eroglu’ statements and writes that Eroglu has asked for the
“TRNC citizens” to be consider as citizens of the Federal State to be,
in case of a solution.
AK
2. Hughes
said that a federal or a co-federal solution will be beneficial for all
the Cypriots –He explained why he used the illegal Tympou airport to
visit occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper
(31.05.12) reports that Simon Hughes, Deputy Leader of the Liberal
Democrats who is visiting the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus,
stated that the efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem is
very near for having a result; therefore they must not be left in the
middle but they must continue. Hughes, who was speaking at a press
conference, stated that “a federal or a co- federal solution will be
beneficial for all the Cypriots”.
Asked if the fact that he used the illegal
Tympou airport to arrive in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
carries any messages, Hughes said that he visited Cyprus many times in
the past and he used Larnaka airport for conducting his visit in the
“South”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus. By using the Tympou
airport for his visit, he wanted to send the message that he keeps
“equal distance between the two sides in Cyprus”, he stated.
Asked about the “embargoes”, Hughes said
that the leaders are not obliged to pay the price for the fact that
there is no result coming out of the negotiations. He said that
everybody in the island of Cyprus is equal and added that the two
leaders in Cyprus must realize that the solution of the “isolation
issue” is in their hands and that the solution of the “isolation” will
be beneficial for both sides in Cyprus.
He also stated that Britain is keeping equal
distance between the two sides in Cyprus and added that when he will
return to the UK, he will inform his friends in the British parliament
on the issue and they will safeguard that Britain will place a more
active role regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem.
He also said that the Cyprus problem is the
only unsolved problem in the European Union and added that the solution
of the Cyprus problem must be a priority.
3. The so-called council of ministers approved the new “e-passports” of the occupation regime
Under the title: “The council of ministers
approved the e-passport”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (31.05.12)
reports that so-called council of ministers announced yesterday after
its meeting, that it approved the “form, the size and the content” of
the new e-passport.
In statements after the meeting of the
so-called council of ministers, Nazim Cavusoglu, “minister of interior
and local administration” and also “spokesman” of the “council”,
announced that the so-called council of ministers discussed the
e-passport proposal which was prepared by the “ministry” in order for
the occupation regime’s passports to be in accordance with the
international conditions, and approved it.
Cavusoglu stated that the new e-passport
will start to be in use by the end of this year the latest. Concerning
the e-identity he said that the e-identity will also be approved by the
end of this year.
Cavusoglu continued and denied allegations that the name of the “state” is to change.
As regards the colour of the new passport,
he said that this will be bordeaux (blush wine) in order to be suitable
with the international conditions.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
(31.05.12) under the title: “Seperatist efforts”, reports on statements
by the United Cyprus Party (BKP)’s organizational secretary Abdullah
Korkmazhan, who expressed strong criticism to the so-called government
for the new e-passport implementation and the change of the code of the
“TRNC” as well as to the efforts exerted by the occupation regime for
the Cyprus Republic’s passports to be restricted.
In a written statement yesterday, Korkmazhan
said that this situation constitute the “continuation of the separatist
efforts in Cyprus”.
Also, writing in his daily column in Yeni
Duzen newspaper (31.05.12), columnist Cenk Mutluyakali commenting on the
new e-passports to be used in the “TRNC”, wonders what will change with
this implementation and with the change of the characters which are
written in the “passports”. He continues and writes that no matter what
it is written on them, the real thing is that the world would not accept
them. (...)
AK
4. Ozersay stated that the new movement under his leadership is open to discuss the possibility of becoming a new party
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(31.05.12) reports that the special representative of the Turkish
Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, Kudret Ozersay, who is heading the
movement called “We are gathering”, stated to the paper that the new
movement is open to the possibility of becoming a party.
Ozersay stated that the new movement has
nothing to do with the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and added
that he is heading the new movement as a simple citizen and academician.
Ozersay said that the next meeting of the movement will take place on Saturday at Misirlizade cinema.
AK
5. Turkey’s support for EU membership drops to 47.2%
Ankara Anatolia news agency (30.05.12)
reports that data showed that Turks have grown less enthusiastic in the
past six years over prospects to become the first-ever Muslim member of
the European Union.
According to a collection of surveys by
Turkey's statistics authority, support for the EU among young Turks
plunged to 47.2 % in 2011 from 74 % in 2005. Among adults, support as
well dropped from 63 % to 44.3%.
Opposition to EU membership among young
Turks almost doubled from 16.8 % to 30.8%, and 27.6% of the adults said
they would have voted against the accession if a referendum was held
today. Young Turks who said they had "no idea" about the issue was up
from 9.2 % to 22.1%.
Turkey applied for associate membership of
the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1959. Turkey is a candidate
country for EU membership following the Helsinki European Council of
December 1999. Accession negotiations started in October 2005.
So far, only one chapter (science and
research) has been provisionally closed. Twelve more have been opened,
but eight remain blocked by France, Austria, Germany, and the Republic
of Cyprus.
6. Turkey expels Syrian diplomats after Houla massacre
According to Hurriyet Daily News (30.05.12),
Turkish authorities have asked all Syrian diplomats to leave the
country in response to the recent Houla massacre.
The motive behind the decision was cited as
the recent Houla massacre, where "110 innocent citizens, 50 of them
children, were murdered."
"It is not a possibility to remain silent in
the face of such an act, which constitutes a crime against humanity," a
Foreign Ministry statement said. "It is the international community's
common responsibility to react to this massacre in a unified voice."
The statement further referred to the
Vienna Diplomatic Affairs Contract and asked Syrian diplomats to leave
the country within 72 hours, starting from May 30.
Turkey's recent decision followed a series
of similar actions by international powers. Several countries, including
Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Britain and United States, have also
expelled the Syrian diplomats in their countries following the massacre
that took place May 25.
7. A positive agenda
Writing in Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(30.05.12), columnist Cengiz Aktar comments on the establishment of the
“positive agenda” between Turkey and the EU and assesses the possible
developments with this new process. Following is the commentary: “The
topic of Turkey’s accession to the European Union, which has been out of
the spotlight for a long time, is now receiving increased attention and
a second lease on life under the new drive towards accession called the
“positive agenda.” Even though it can’t be compared to Turkey’s EU
agenda during the 2002-2005 periods, this could lead to some
developments.
If the ‘Economic and Monetary Policy’
chapter, which was blocked by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy
five years ago, is to be reopened in June, during the final days of the
presidency of Denmark, thanks to current French President Francois
Hollande’s approval, the positive agenda may gain additional momentum.
There are many reasons for this new wave of action.
As the European continent undergoes an
existential crisis, there are a decreasing number of decision-makers
interested in the enlargement policy and in its main player, Turkey.
Turkey’s prospective membership has become such a remote possibility
that even Sarkozy, who used and abused that membership in every
election, hardly made reference to it during the recent presidential
campaign.
The fact that Cyprus will assume the term
presidency on July 1, has added a new dimension to already cooled
relations between the EU and Turkey. The negotiation process is not
advancing, despite the isolated efforts of the EU Affairs Ministry. The
primary reason is lack of a clear perspective for Turkey. It is not
enough to say that “harmonization with the EU is in Turkey’s interest.”
As during Sarkozy’s presidency, it is not likely that Turkey will pay
attention to EU harmonization if the country is systematically
ostracized. Also, harmonization is tough to achieve and costly. Not to
mention the Turkish government’s lack of enthusiasm.
The European Commission is the natural ally
of candidate countries. The success of the candidate means the success
of the commission. The problems Turkey encounters during the negotiation
process are a nightmare for the commission. EU Commissioner for
Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule has therefore taken
action to get things moving. In addition to his staff and the official
channels of communication with Turkey, he engaged with independent
intellectuals in an attempt to seek an answer to the question in terms
of what else could be done to fix the current situation and rebuild
confidence.
The ‘positive agenda’ is so far an unheard
of practice in terms of enlargement policy techniques. Turkish
bureaucrats will work with ‘eurocrats’ in eight working groups. The
working principles of the groups are summarized by the commissioner with
the following formulas: ‘We will not teach you anything, we will be
equal partners around the table; we will talk about all the crucial
aspects of our relationship; the process will be interactive and civil
society will be part of it.’
Meetings will be held in Ankara and
Brussels; member states will be informed about the progress; in case the
opening criteria for the chapters are met, the commission will inform
in writing. Work won’t be interrupted during the presidency of Cyprus.
Frankly, this is not something we are used
to from the beginning of the accession process in Helsinki in 1999. The
working groups will focus on eight negotiation chapters. These are no
substitutes for negotiations, but the aim is to facilitate the process
through the commission’s involvement.
Selected chapters include ‘Right of
Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services,’ which was blocked since
2006; five chapters under negotiation: ‘Company Law,’ ‘Information
Society and Media,’ ‘Statistics,’ ‘Consumer and Health Protection’ and
‘Financial Control.’ These are no key chapters, and with the exception
of the chapter on health protection, rapid progress can be achieved
there.
The remaining two are crucial chapters:
‘Judiciary and Fundamental Rights’ and ‘Justice, Freedom and Security.’
These two chapters were unilaterally vetoed by Cyprus in December 2009.
The second chapter includes visa facilitation (not total waiver, as some
unreasonably advocate) which is one of the top issues of the positive
agenda.
In due course, it would be wise to create a
ninth group on ‘Regional Policy’ which indirectly refers to the notion
of decentralized administration, a vital matter that Turkey is
considering in connection with the new constitution. The chapter was
vetoed by Sarkozy as well.
EU decision-makers who value the integration
between Turkey and the EU are not pleased with the current state of
affairs. The same applies to large social groups in Turkey who look for
solutions to chronic problems, for the appropriate management of newly
emerging ones and the consolidation of democratic fundamentals. They are
fully aware of the functionality of the EU norms, standards and
principles. Thus, the common goal is to avoid further weakening
relations.
If a new dynamic is achieved with the
positive agenda, the next step should consist of bilateral consultations
for the articulation of a reasonable accession date. The results of the
elections in Cyprus and Germany in 2013 should be the right moment for
these consultations”.
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