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.
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.
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
/EI
