15/1/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW




TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW


                                                       
                               
15.01.13

TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS
1. Eroglu: an agreement in the light of the existing realities in Cyprus should be reached
2. The so-called “supreme court” postponed its ruling on Kucuk’ appeal 
3. Gunsel argues that Turkey is uneasy for the situation in the UBP and asks Eroglu to take action
4. A hunger strike started at occupied Lefkosia’s “municipality”
5. Arrivals and departures at the breakaway regime for November
6. KTOS chairman allegedly to sue Archbishop Chrysostomos B for calling the Turkish Cypriots “useless”
7. KOP and KTFF will hold meeting with the participation of UEFA and FIFA observers
8. Arinc announced that the funeral of the three assassinated Kurdish women in Paris will take place in Turkey; he warned against provocation during funerals
9. MHP leader Bahceli visits jailed generals in Silivri prison
10. Davutoglu held phone conversations with his Egyptian, Finnish and Romanian counterpart; Syria crisis, main issue of discussion
11. SP to hold rally against Patriot deployment in Turkey
12.Turkish Muslims to be represented in Brussels; Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate to open office in Brussels
13. French Foreign Trade Minister to visit Turkey

1. Eroglu: an agreement in the light of the existing realities in Cyprus should be reached
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.01.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu has said that he will meet today with Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, and added: “Let us see what news he will bring to us. It is not possible to tell at the moment”.

In statements during a meeting with a delegation of the Society for Cooperation between Turkey and the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, Eroglu argued that the important thing is for the realties to be seen and be accepted, and to accept that the Turkish Cypriots have equally the right to live on these lands as the Greek Cypriots. Eroglu alleged that an agreement should be reached in the light of the realities that exist today. 

Eroglu said that what they want is to live in peace and security with the guarantees of Turkey.

Eroglu noted that they continue their promoting efforts in the direction of the “TRNC” and the Turkish Cypriots taking “the respectable place which they deserve in the world” with Turkey’s efforts and struggle. He expressed the view that the “TRNC” could not exist without “motherland” Turkey and that Turkey could not exist without the “TRNC”.

Eroglu alleged that the “TRNC” is a state, in spite of the fact that it is recognized only by Turkey, and added that those who visit the occupied area of Cyprus from abroad, realize that they come to a “state”, but do not want to accept this. Eroglu claimed that there is one “state” and one people in the “north”, as he described the occupied area of Cyprus, and one state and one people in the “south”, as he called the government-controlled area. He argued that efforts should be exerted for the acceptance of these “realities” and the “two peoples” to live side by side in peace.

Meanwhile, Kibris reports that Eroglu met also with a delegation of war veterans from Turkey’s Cankiri area. Addressing the veterans, who had participated in the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus in 1974, Eroglu argued that as long as the world does not see what he called as “the realities on the island”, he does not expect the Greek Cypriots to “bestow hand on a solution”. He reiterated the allegation that the dispute in Cyprus continues because the state allegedly occupied by the Greek Cypriots is respected by the world and it has been accepted as a member of the European Union (EU). He claimed that the world has begun seeing this reality better when Turkey got stronger. He claimed: “If the realities are seen, they will understand the intransigence of the Greek Cypriots. The world states do not exhibit any action towards motivating the Greek Cypriots for an agreement”. 

According to the paper, the same delegation met also with the “speaker” of the so-called assembly of the regime, HasanBozer, who alleged that the Turkish side is in favor of a lasting peace on the island, but it is not aiming at “any agreement”.

The head of the delegation and deputy mayor of Cankiri, RafetAlemdar said that the “TRNC” is a part of Turkey and noted that neither Turkey will abandon the Turkish Cypriots nor the Turkish Cypriots will abandon Turkey.   
(I/Ts.)

2. The so-called “supreme court” postponed its ruling on Kucuk’ appeal 
According to illegal Bayrak television (14.01.13) reported that the “supreme court” has postponed announcing its decision on the appeal case filed by the so-called prime minister IrsenKucuk against the “Lefkosia District Court’s ruling” to a near future.

The Supreme Court which heard the lawyers of the two sides present their cases today, refrained from giving a date as to when it will announce its ruling.

The “High court” which started its hearing into the “appeal case” filed Kucuk against an earlier ruling by the “Lefkosia district court” regarding the outcome of the UBP General Congress held last year, postponed its ruling on the case indefinitely.

The lawyers of the two sides presented their cases at today’s hearing.

The Supreme Court however said that the ruling will not be postponed for long.

3. Gunsel argues that Turkey is uneasy for the situation in the UBP and asks Eroglu to take action
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.01.13) reports that the founding “rector” of illegal Near East University (“YDU”), SuatGursel has called on the Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu to do his duty on the issue of the solution of the social, political and economic problems, which exist in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Gursel has sent a letter to Eroglu assessing the situation in the occupied area of Cyprus and at the same time he shared the letter with the press. In his letter, Gunsel argues that the “country” is “uneasy and tensed” and added that overcoming this uneasiness and tension is in the hands of Eroglu only. 

“Only by this means, the party you have established, the party which targets the ‘National Unity’ in the TRNC could be saved from being broken into pieces in front of our eyes”, he noted arguing that the problem is not only political, but it has become a “social phenomenon”.

Gulsel said that “the highest authority in the Republic of Turkey feels uneasiness for this position of Cyprus” and added that Eroglu surely is aware of the fact that Turkey feels great discomfort about the developments.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (15.01.13) reports that with the reference to Turkey’s “highest authority”, Gunsel implied Prime Minister Erdogan. According to the paper, this created the impression that Gunsel had met with Erdogan before trying to bring together “prime minister”, IrsenKucuk and his opponent for the post of the chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), AhmetKasif.  Havadis writes that the meeting of Kucuk and Kasif was held last week at Gulsel’s office.

Replying to the paper’s questions on the issue, Kucuk was contented with saying that they had only had a coffee. Kasif also confirmed that they had held a “secret” meeting at Gunsel’s office. He noted that they met only for 15 minutes and added that they would meet again. After the above-mentioned meeting, another meeting took place at Gunsel’s office between HasanTacoy, representing Kucuk’s side and UnalUstel, representing Kasif’s side.
(I/Ts.)

4. A hunger strike started at occupied Lefkosia’s “municipality”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.01.13) reports that two employees at occupied Lefkosia’s municipality launched a hunger strike yesterday because they have not been paid their salaries for months and because their social insurance and providence fund rights have not been deposited for years. The paper writes that the number of the hunger strikers is expected to increase.

Kibris reports that after the resignation of “mayor” CemalBulutoglulari, the “municipal council” was expected to convene in order to approve the six million Turkish liras advanced payment from the “government” to the “municipality”. The chairman of the “municipal” employees’ trade union (BES), SavasBozat stated that “chaos got bigger” and asked for “elections” to be held before June for the replacement of Bulutoglulari. He said that the “elections” should be held within 60 days.

Meanwhile, Nevvar Nolan, chairman of the “higher election council”, stated that the “by election” for determining the “mayor” of occupied Lefkosia in the place of Bulutoglulari will be held in June. Replying to a question yesterday, he noted that a person from the “municipal council” should be elected by the above-mentioned “body” to substitute the “mayor” until June.
(I/Ts.)

5. Arrivals and departures at the breakaway regime for November
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper (15.01.13) publishes information obtain by the so-called ministry of public works and transportation on the arrivals and departures at the illegal Tymvou airport and writes that 103.410 passengers arrived in occupied Cyprus last November while 100.000 persons departure from the breakaway regime.

During this period the illegal airport offered its services to 1646 planes, writes the paper.

6. KTOS chairman allegedly to sue Archbishop Chrysostomos B for calling the Turkish Cypriots “useless”
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper 915.01.13) citing information writes in its “Ayakligazete” (Walking paper) column that the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers Union (KTOS) SenerElcil is getting ready to file a lawsuit against Archbishop Chrystomos B.

According to the paper, Elcil will sue Archbishop on the grounds that he allegedly called the Turkish Cypriots “useless”, in recent statements.

According to the paper, the Archbishop is said to make these statements against the Turkish Cypriots in statements he made a few days ago regarding the news about the renovation of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery by the breakaway regime.

Elcil will file a lawsuit against the Archbishop in a court of the Republic of Cyprus and later will bring the case to the European Court of Human Rights, the paper claims. 

7. KOP and KTFF will hold meeting with the participation of UEFA and FIFA observers
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.01.13) reports that the “Turkish Cypriot Football Federation” (KTFF) and the Cyprus Football Federation (KOP) will hold a meeting on January 17.

UEFA and FIFA members will participate in the meeting as observers, writes the paper.
This is the second meeting of the two parties after the December meeting held in the free area of the Republic of Cyprus. The current meeting will be held in occupied Cyprus.

In addition, Mustapha Kesous from French Le Monde and Andrew Warshaw from AW Sport will cover the meeting, according to the paper.

8. Arinc announced that the funeral of the three assassinated Kurdish women in Paris will take place in Turkey; he warned against provocation during funerals
Ankara Anatolia news agency (14.01.13) reported that the Turkish Deputy Premier and government spokesman BulentArinc said that the Interior Ministry would take required measures for the funerals of the three Kurdish women who had been killed in Paris, in Turkey.

Commenting on transfer of the bodies of the women to Turkey for their funerals, Arinc said that the funerals should not be turned into a big provocation.

“Interior Ministry and related units will take necessary precautions. This issue should be approached from a humanitarian angle”, Arinc told reporters after Council of Ministers meeting on Monday.

Three Kurdish women --SakineCansiz, FidanDogan and LeylaSoylemez-- were found dead on Thursday at Kurdish Information Center in Paris, reportedly shot in the head --what appeared to be an execution-style killing. One of the victims was identified as SakineCansiz, one of the founding members of the PKK organization.

Turkish intelligence officials have been conducting talks with the PKK's jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan, in a bid to disarm the PKK.

PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization also by the United States and the European Union.

The conflict between PKK and Turkish troops has cost thousands of lives since 1984.

Arinc said that it was not clear yet whether the bodies of the women would be brought to Istanbul or directly to Diyarbakir.

He warned that there could be marginal groups which would try to turn the funerals into a show, propaganda or a clash milieu.

Three women's funerals will be held in Tunceli, Kahramanmaras and Diyarbakir provinces in Turkey upon demands by their families. The bodies are expected to be brought in Turkey on Wednesday.

9. MHP leader Bahceli visits jailed generals in Silivri prison
According to Turkishd daily Hurriyet Daily News (14.01.13) the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader DevletBahceli was in İstanbul's Silivri district on Monday to see former Chief of General Staff retired General İlkerBasbug and General Engin Alan, also a MHP deputy, jailed in Silivri Prison.

Bahceli was expected to be accompanied by other MHP officials, including SemihYalcın, RuhsarDemirel, CelalAdan and Atilla Kaya, during his visit. The MHP leader was granted permission from the Justice Ministry for the visit.

The MHP nominated Alan, a former special forces commander, in the general elections of 2011 while Alan was jailed and standing trial in connection with the Sledgehammer coup plot, which allegedly sought to undermine the government and lay the groundwork for a military takeover.

Basbug, on the other hand, is being tried in connection with alleged membership in the Ergenekon terrorist organization and his involvement in issuing the infamous Internet memorandum, in which the General Staff sponsored websites that were launched for slander campaigns against the government.

10. Davutoglu held phone conversations with his Egyptian, Finnish and Romanian counterpart; Syria crisis, main issue of discussion
Ankara Anatolia news agency (14.01.13) reported that the Turkish Foreign Minister AhmetDavutoglu held telephone conversations on Monday with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed KamelAmr, Finland's Foreign Minister ErkkiTuomioja, and the former Romanian Foreign Minister CristianDiaconescu.

Davutoglu-Amr conversation focused on recent regional developments including Syria. They exchanged views about the situation in Syria.

Davutoglu-Tuomioja conversation was about mediation initiative by both countries, and future steps to be taken within that scope.

Turkish-Romanian relations, developments in Balkans and Turkey-EU relations were discussed during Davutoglu-Diaconescu conversation.

11. SP to hold rally against Patriot deployment in Turkey
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (14.01.13) reported that the Felicity Party (SP) leader Mustafa Kamalak has stated that his party will hold a rally in İskenderun [Alexandretta], a city in the southern province of Hatay, on January 20, in order to protest the deployment of NATO Patriot missiles on Turkey's border with Syria.

Speaking at a press conference at the party's headquarters on Monday, Kamalak stated that he was expecting a large crowd to attend the rally, named “PatriotlarGelmesin, Biz Geliyoruz” (Don't let the Patriots come, We are coming instead).

Kamalak maintained that Turkey was deliberately being dragged into war, recalling that the Ottoman Empire was also dragged into another war, World War I, with a fait accompli strategy.

“There are 29 NATO bases in Turkey. Patriots will be deployed to Adana, Gaziantep and Kahramanmaras, which is very significant. These Patriots will not be under Turkey's control. Around 10,000 foreign troops will come to Turkey for the deployment of these Patriots. Turkey will meet all the costs of these soldiers,” said Kamalak.

Kamalak further stated that the aim was to create a war between two Muslim countries: Turkey and Syria.

“They are openly deploying Patriots to the Syrian border. Do you think that Turkey will benefit from this? No, on the contrary, according to the Greater Middle East Project, the border of the 22 countries, including that of Turkey, will be changed. Turkey is located at the center of the war,” said Kamalak.

Kamalak said that in addition to the rally in İskenderun, the SP will hold press conferences in all of Turkey's 81 provinces.

Kamalak recently said that the Patriot missiles were not deployed against Syria but against Iran, adding that Syria posed no threat to Turkey.

“These Patriots and the radar site based in Malatya's Kurecik district, are part of the Greater Middle East Project. We don't know who prepared this project. The Patriots to be deployed to Adana, Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep are to be used against whom? Who is the target? The crusades are still continuing today. The deployment of these Patriots to Turkey is the continuation of these crusades,” said Kamalak.

12.Turkish Muslims to be represented in Brussels; Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate to open office in Brussels
According to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (14.01.13) the Star daily reported on Monday that the head of Religious Affairs Directorate, Professor Mehmet Gormez has announced that the directorate will open an office in Brussels to present Muslim interests to the EU.

Gormez said the directorate decided to establish an office in Brussels because it feels the city lacks an office that represents Muslims, notably when there are offices there to represent other religions.

The top Turkish Muslim cleric noted that Catholics, Protestants and Jews are in constant communication with EU Parliamentarians about developments in the world that concern their faiths and that they make proposals to the EU on how to solve certain problems. “Similarly, the presence of an office that represents Islam in Brussels is of great importance. We are nearly finished with our work to this effect. As members of the Eurasian Islamic Council, and along with muftis in the Balkans, we are making efforts to establish an office in Brussels that will represent Muslims. Both classical and modern architecture will be used in the construction of the office,” said Gormez.

He also noted that the building would include a large mosque, library, conference hall and accommodations. “There will be muftis from all Islamic countries at the office, to be selected from those who are university graduates and speak at least two languages”, Gormez added.
           
13. French Foreign Trade Minister to visit Turkey
Ankara Anatolia news agency (14.01.13) reported from Paris that the French Foreign Trade Minister Nicole Bricq will arrive in Istanbul on Tuesday regarding a sale of Airbus planes.

Bricq will hold meetings with officials of Turkish Airlines (THY) which is willing to buy Airbus planes.

French press announced that THY was willing to buy 150 planes, most of which A380 model, and that Bricq would meet with THY Director General TemelKotil on Wednesday within this scope.

On Tuesday, Bricq will also meet Ali Sabanci, owner of Turkish Pegasus shipping company, which is too, planning to order 75 A320-type passenger planes.





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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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