TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
1. Downer met Ozersay and discussed “possible
scenarios” after the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus
2. Turkey donated 100 thousand dollars to the Missing
Persons Committee
3. Sinirlioglu’s contacts in the USA; The Republic of
Cyprus’ forthcoming Presidential elections was included in his agenda
4. So-called higher broadcasting corporation wants to
take advantage of the protocol signed between Europarl TV and Kanal Sim
5. Chaos reportedly exists in the occupied part of
Lefkosia
6. The museum
that houses the Keryneia ship in occupied Cyprus earned top ratings from
Tripadvisors travelers
7. Protest against human trafficking took place in
occupied Lefkosia
8. Ankara and Paris revive nuclear talks; Hollande is
expected to visit Turkey in February or March
9. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister stated that Israel
is ready to apologize for Mavi Marmara incident; he proposed the adaption of
the American-Pakistani formula
10. Turkish jets have reportedly bombed 50 PKK
targets in Iraq
11. Turkey to participate at Davos summit
1. Downer met Ozersay and discussed “possible
scenarios” after the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus
Under the title “He meets even though he is not
negotiator”, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (17.01.13) reports that
the Kudret Ozersay, Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu’s former representative, met
yesterday at dinner with Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General’s Special
Adviser on Cyprus.
According to the paper, Downer and Ozersay discussed
what could be expected in the Cyprus problem during the process which will
follow. They exchanged views especially on possible scenarios after the
presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus and they agreed to meet more
often in the future.
(I/Ts.)
2. Turkey donated 100 thousand dollars to the Missing
Persons Committee
According
to illegal Bayrak television (16.01.13) Turkey is continuing to financially
contribute to the Missing Persons Committee in Cyprus.
The
so-called Turkish ambassador Halil İbrahim Akca handed over a check worth 100
thousand dollars to the Missing Persons Committee, today.
A
written statement issued by the Missing Persons Committee noted that Turkey has
contributed a total of 637 thousand dollars in aid to the committee until today.
It
also thanked the “Turkish embassy” for its contributions and support to the
Missing Persons Committee in Cyprus.
The
committee expressed the view that the money will contribute to efforts aimed at
exhuming, identifying and returning to families the remains of their loved
ones.
Up
until now the remains of more than 900 missing persons have been discovered,
340 of those have been identified and returned to their families.
3. Sinirlioglu’s contacts in the USA; The Republic of
Cyprus’ forthcoming Presidential elections was included in his agenda
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (17.01.13) reports that Turkish officials have said
that senior U.S. figures predicted during a recent meeting with Turkey’s senior
diplomat in Washington, Feridun Sinirlioglu that the embattled Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad will not last in power for more than six months at most.
According
to U.S. assessments, 80% of the country is under the control of militants,
while almost 40 % of Damascus has fallen into rebel hands. As such, al-Assad
has resorted to missiles because he has been unable to redeploy his
overstretched forces, U.S. officials told Turkish Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu during a recent meeting involving the State
and Defense Departments that also touched on Iran, Iraq and the Middle East
peace process.
For
its part, the Turkish side asked the Barack Obama administration to be more
active now that the presidential elections are complete, while conveying its
concerns over the 22-month-long crisis. Turkey also criticized the timing of
Washington’s decision to declare the Jabhat al-Nusra front, an Islamist group
at the forefront of the fight against the Syrian government, as a terrorist
organization.
(…)
Sinirlioglu
and his accompanying delegation also discussed energy issues in northern Iraq.
Washington fears that Turkish energy companies’ activities in Kurdish northern
Iraq, could push Baghdad closer toward Tehran and threaten Iraq’s unity.
“Turks
are standing firm on this issue,” a U.S. official speaking on condition of
anonymity said. Another U.S. official said Sinirlioglu tried to convince U.S.
Special Envoy for Energy Affairs Carlos Pascual over the matter.
But,
U.S. officials conveyed their concerns to the Turkish delegation, saying energy
deals that bypass the central government in Baghdad were very dangerous while
adding that they had informed U.S. energy firms active in northern Iraq not to
circumvent Baghdad. Turkish officials, meanwhile, said there was a common will
to work on the issue.
Sinirlioglu
also discussed upcoming elections in Israel, “Greek Cyprus”, as the Republic of
Cyprus is called by the paper, and Armenia and their effects on the region
while noting that U.S. support for Turkey’s efforts to combat terrorism and
plans on stopping terrorism financing.
In
addition to Pascual, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Assistant
Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Phil Gordon and Assistant Secretary
for Near East Affairs Beth Jones attended the meeting at the State Department.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also stopped in to greet Sinirlioglu during
the meeting, according to State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland.
4. So-called higher
broadcasting corporation wants to take advantage of the protocol signed between
Europarl TV and Kanal Sim
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (17.01.13)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot Kanal Sim informed the so-called higher
broadcasting corporation (YYK) of the breakaway regime about a cooperation
protocol signed between Kanal Sim and Europarl TV, the web television of the
European Parliament signed a with.
The protocol was signed during a ceremony held in
Strasburg in November 21. According to the protocol signed, Kanal Sim is
allowed to use any kind of material produced by Europarl TV.
Commenting on the issue, YYK chairman Olgun Ustun,
said that this is a very important step and added that this will help towards
YYK’s international efforts. He said that with the protocol signed by Kanal
SIm, the road will be opened for YYK as well, adding that YYK gave the
broadcasting permission to Kanal SIM. Therefore YKK must participate in the
European meetings using its own identity, he alleged. “Initiatives towards this
direction must continue”, he stated.
5. Chaos reportedly exists in
the occupied part of Lefkosia
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (17.01.13)
reports that Meric Eruklu, member of the “municipal council” of occupied
Lefkosia’s “municipality” has said that a “complete chaos” exists in the
occupied municipality. In statements yesterday, he noted that without the
“municipal council” to meet, no decision or action can be taken and no payment
can be made. He added that without a meeting of the “municipal council”, even
the resignations that had been submitted by some of its members cannot be
approved and the process for a “by election” cannot be launched.
Eruklu said that with the earlier resignation of the
ten members of the “council” that had been “elected” with the opposition
parties, and the recent resignation of four members “elected” with the National
Unity Party (UBP), the number of the members of the “municipal council” fell
from 22 to 8.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(17.01.13) reports that after the resignations, the opposition parties started
looking for candidates and think that the debts of the “municipality” and its
serious problems will be solved in time. The leaders of the Republican Turkish
Party (CTP), the Social Democracy Party (TDP), the Democratic Party (DP) and
United Cyprus Party (BKP) told Kibris that they are ready for “elections” and
asked also for general “elections” to be held together with the “municipal
elections”.
(I/Ts.)
6. The museum that houses the
Keryneia ship in occupied Cyprus earned top ratings from Tripadvisors travelers
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (17.01.13) reports that Tripadvisor , a web site that gives information on travelling feedback worldwide sent a letter to the so-called “Ancient shipwreck museum”*, which houses the Keryneia ship, the trading cargo ship which was raised from the bottom of the sea in 1967, saying that the museum earned top ratings from Tripadvisors travelers regarding its standards.
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (17.01.13) reports that Tripadvisor , a web site that gives information on travelling feedback worldwide sent a letter to the so-called “Ancient shipwreck museum”*, which houses the Keryneia ship, the trading cargo ship which was raised from the bottom of the sea in 1967, saying that the museum earned top ratings from Tripadvisors travelers regarding its standards.
The letter writes that the museum earned 4.5 points from the Tripadvisors
travelers and was selected among the best museums of its kind. The letter which
is signed by the business team of Tripadvisor calls on the museum to display
its distinction and take further advantage of it.
*Translator’s note: [occupied Keryneia
Castle. Preservation and conservation of the ship began in 1970 and lasted four
years. The Turkish
Invasion in Cyprus
in 1974 interrupted the work.
Replicas
Kyrenia II
In 1985, Greek professors
completed a full-size replica of the ship, known as Kyrenia II. Kyrenia II is
often used as a floating ambassador of Cypriot culture, and has visited many
parts of the world. In 1986, it visited New York; in 1988, Japan; and in 1989,
West Germany.
Kyrenia III
Following the 1988 visit to
Japan, the Japanese city of Fukuoka constructed a second copy of the ship,
which is on permanent display in the city.
Kyrenia Liberty
In 2002, the construction
of a third replica of the ship began. The ship was named Kyrenia Liberty. It
was built with respect for the original design but with modern techniques. The
ship was ready for the 2004 Olympic Games and set sail for Athens, Greece with
a symbolic cargo of copper to be used in the Olympic bronze medals. This cargo
was symbolic since the name Cyprus is associated with the Latin word for
"copper"].
7. Protest against human
trafficking took place in occupied Lefkosia
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (17.01.13)
reports that a protest against human trafficking took place yesterday in
occupied Lefkosia.
According to the paper, sixteen organizations, among
them Turkish Cypriot Primary School Trade Union (KTOS), Turkish Cypriot
Secondary School Trade Union (KTOEOS), Civil Servants Trade Union (KTAMS), New
Cyprus Party (YKP), and feminist organizations like FEM and FEMA participated
in the protest.
The protestors demand the closing of nightclubs in
occupied Cyprus and shouted slogans like “Freedom to sex slaves” and. “Does the
state know that women are sold?”,
8. Ankara and Paris revive nuclear talks; Hollande is
expected to visit Turkey in February or March
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (16.01.13) reported that Turkish Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Taner Yıldız said on Wednesday that French Minister of
Foreign Trade Nicole Bricq and he, discussed nuclear power plants during a
meeting in Istanbul.
Following
his meeting with Bricq, Yıldız said that the Minister and he, took up energy
issues. "We are aware of technological developments in France. We shared
Turkish energy productivity information and plans with her. We also know about
nuclear technologies in France," he said.
“Turkey
has a broad energy saving portfolio”, Yıldız said.
Bricq
said that Turkey has important plans regarding nuclear projects, and France has
great experience in this field.
Also,
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (17.01.13) reports that Europe’s largest
nuclear power developer has emerged as the latest bidder for Turkey’s second
planned nuclear power plant, with Turkey-France ties recovering since the
coming of President François Hollande to the Elysée Palace last summer.
“With
its unique experience and knowledge in nuclear energy, France is ready to serve
Turkey in construction and management of the nuclear plant in Sinop,” said
French Foreign Trade Minister Nicole Bricq in a written response to questions
from Hurriyet Daily News columnist Gila Benmayor, before her visit to Turkey
yesterday. “This is what I will discuss with the [Turkish] energy minister”,
Bricq said.
Japan,
South Korea, China and Canada are the short-listed contenders for a second
plant in the Black Sea province of Sinop. With Bricq’s statements, which she
also confirmed to news agencies, France has also stepped into the ring.
Bricq
underlined the energy sector as one of the most important constituents of
French-Turkish economic cooperation, mentioning the French energy companies
conducting business in Turkey and voicing optimism over potential future
cooperation over nuclear energy and energy efficiency. “French energy companies
also want to construct thermal power plants in Turkey”, she told Benmayor.
The
renewed French interest in Turkey is not limited to energy.
“The
EU member is also bidding to sell 150 Airbus Jumbo’s to Turkish Airlines
(THY)”, Bricq said prior to her visit to Turkey.
“THY
has been in talks with aircraft manufacturers to buy 150 passenger jets, but
the final purchase decision is up to its board”, said Zafer Caglayan, Turkish
Economy Minister after his meeting with Bricq and French company
representatives.
“The
negotiations between THY and Airbus has been going on for a while, but were
hampered because of political disputes on several occasions,” Caglayan added.
Turkey-France
ties were at their worst during the Presidency of Hollande’s predecessor
Nicholas Sarkozy due to a number of political disputes, including the French
parliamentary bills recognizing Armenian claims of genocide over the
Ottoman-era killings, and the former President’s stance against Turkey’s EU
membership bid.
Last
month, Airbus won a $7.5 billion order from privately owned Pegasus Airlines
for 75 of the A320 passenger jets. Bricq said the two parties had agreed for an
additional optional 25 plane trade.
Commenting
on mutual ties between the two countries, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman
Selcuk Unal said yesterday that the Ministry was seeing improvement on both
sides. “We will maintain our relationship with France through all channels,” he
said.
Bricq
also underlined that her visit to Turkey as business representative of the
French government indicated that French President Francois Hollande, sought reconciliation
and enhancement of the relationship with Turkey.
“There
are 400 French companies conducting business in Turkey, which should be
higher,” Bricq said, also calling on Turkish companies to invest in France and
Europe. “There are 500 million consumers in the European market that Turkey
should enter into. Please, take this economic statement as a political one
too”, she added.
The
mutual trade volume between France and Turkey is 15 billion euro.
Meanwhile,
chairman of the Turkish-French Business Council Sani Sener said that Turkish
businesses appreciated France’s positively changing approach, stressing the
importance of development in business and trade relations in order to enhance
political relations.
Hollande,
who is expected to visit Turkey himself in February or March 2013, has spoken
of France’s will to establish a “stable and trusting relationship” with Turkey
several times. The two leaders, Hollande and Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, came together in Brazil last June and agreed to open “a new
chapter” in relations, following Turkey’s abandonment of earlier sanctions
against France.
9. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister stated that Israel
is ready to apologize for Mavi Marmara incident; he proposed the adaption of
the American-Pakistani formula
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (17.01.13) reports that Daniel Ayalon, Israel’s
deputy Foreign Minister told daily Hurriyet that Israel is ready to send a
letter like one Washington sent Islamabad over the killing of 24 Pakistani
soldiers, in order to mend ties with Turkey.
“I
see some kind of improvement and opportunities,” Daniel Ayalon said to Hurriyet
while speaking about Turkish-Israeli relations, which have been frozen since
the Mavi Marmara raid that resulted in the killing of nine civilians by Israeli
commandos in 2010.
When
asked about the preconditions of reconciliation with Turkey, Ayalon said: “For
instance, I can think of creating a way of solving this by adapting the
American-Pakistani formula. Remember, recently there were 24 Pakistani soldiers
killed by mistake by American forces, and the Americans sent a letter that was
accepted in Pakistan. And I believe this could be a good platform to clear away
the issue.”
When
asked whether this was an apology, he said: “Yes. If you read the text, I think
that should be very clear to everyone. The American text that was sent to
Pakistan, I think this is a good base to work [from]. This is what I suggest.”
“Right
now, we have some lower level and we have some back channels,” Ayalon said,
when asked about the communication they have with the Turkish side.
10. Turkish jets have reportedly bombed 50 PKK targets in Iraq
According
to Turkish Daily Hurriyet Daily News (16.01.13) the AFP has reported that
military sources said on Wednesday, that Turkish jets struck more than 50 PKK
targets in northern Iraq where members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
are based.
"Sixteen
F-16 fighter jets took off from their base in Diyarbakir in the southeast at
around 2000 GMT on Tuesday and bombed the targets in Qandil Mountain in
northern Iraq, 90 kilometers from the border," military sources said.
"More than 50 targets were hit in the three-hour operation." Turkey
says around 2,000 militants are hiding in the mountainous region on the Iraqi
side of the border.
The
PKK listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international
community, took up arms for autonomy in the Kurdish-majority southeast in 1984,
sparking an insurgency which has claimed more than 40,000 lives.
The raids,
the first in several weeks, come as the long-running conflict between the
militants and Turkey appears to reignite and threatens to derail unconfirmed
peace talks between Ankara and jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.
11. Turkey to participate at Davos summit
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (16.01.13) several ministers of the Turkish
Cabinet as well as prominent figures from the business world are set to
participate in this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Turkey's
Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Energy
Minister Taner Yildiz and Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Sahin as
well as Erdem Basci, Turkish Central Bank governor, are expected to take part
in the global event scheduled for January 22-27.
Prominent
figures from the Turkish business such as Guler Sabanci, Ferit Sahenk, Ahmet
Calik, Cuneyd Zapsu, Tuncay Ozilhan and Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag as well as
acclaimed Turkish novelist Elif Safak will participate in the economic forum.
Other
major participants include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime
Minister David Cameron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and Russian Prime
Minister Dmitry Medvedev as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, IMF chief
Christine Lagarde and President of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim.
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