TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
29.01.13
1. Ozgurgun describes as unacceptable UNSC resolution
for extending UNFICYP’s mandate
2. Members of
Istanbul’s mafia are granted the “citizenship” even without visiting the
occupied area of Cyprus
3. Cicek accused the Republic of Cyprus for
intransigent attitude at the Cyprus problem
4. Toparlaniyoruz Movement is suing the self-styled
police and the “ministry of interior” for the events during the Karpasia
protest
5. New organization by Turkish Cypriots who live in
Britain
6. Erdogan considers Turkey’s membership to SGO, an
alternative to the EU; Analysts and Intellectuals comment on Erdogan's remarks
7. Turkey’s Arinc calls Greece to review attitude on
the issue of the reopening of Halki Seminary
8. Data on the number of people died in Turkey from
terrorist attacks during the last 30 years
9. CHP’s Deputy alleged that Turkey and the KRG have
launched secret talks
1. Ozgurgun describes as
unacceptable UNSC resolution for extending UNFICYP’s mandate
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (29.01.13)
reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled minister of foreign affairs of the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged
that the UN Security Council resolution of 24 January 2013, which extends the
mandate of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until 31
July 2013, does not comply with the so-called realities of the island, just
like the past UN Security Council resolutions.
In a statement issued yesterday, Ozgurgun called on
the UN Security Council to note the pro-solution stance allegedly exhibited by
the Turkish Cypriot side until today and stop tarring the Turkish Cypriots with
the same brush as the “intransigent” Greek Cypriot side.
Ozgurgun alleged that the mandate of the UN
Peace-Keeping Force was extended within the framework of the consent of the
Cyprus Government, the resolution “ignored the reality that the partnership
Republic, which had been established in 1960 based on the political equality of
the two sides, was demolished by the Greek side in 1963” and that since then
the “two peoples” administrate themselves.
He argued that only this fact is enough for resolution
to be entirely unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriot side.
(I/Ts.)
2. Members of Istanbul’s mafia are granted the
“citizenship” even without visiting the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (29.01.13)
reports that Sonay Adem, self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party
(CTP), said yesterday that members of Istanbul’s mafia have been granted the
“citizenship” of the breakaway regime without even visiting the occupied area
of Cyprus.
Addressing the “assembly”, Adem argued that all the
“citizenships” granted during this period, except for some marriages, are
“illegal” and “at choice citizenships”. “They are doomed to being annulled”, he
added.
Referring to Nazim Cavusoglu, self-styled minister of
interior and local administration of the breakaway regime in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus, Adem noted that Cavusoglu has said to Kibris TV that
the number of the Turkish Cypriots has been reduced and they need more
population for the army. He added: “Look, they have granted the citizenship to
five thousand persons. How many of these five thousand persons have you made
soldiers? If you have made even one you can spit in my face”.
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (29.01.13)
also refers to Adem’s statements. According to the paper, Adem said that
efforts are exerted to subdue the will of the Turkish Cypriot community by
continuously distributing the “citizenship”. He pointed out that there is “an
army of unemployed people” in the occupied area of Cyprus and the number of
these people is expected to increase this year.
Adem noted that the “government” of the regime carries
out this issue together with the AKP government in Turkey, that this “shirt
does not fit the Turkish Cypriots” and that even people who “vote” for the
National Unity Party see this. He asked for a quota system to be implemented in
every sector on the issue of the foreign workforce and serious controls to be
held.
(I/Ts.)
3. Cicek accused the Republic of Cyprus for
intransigent attitude at the Cyprus problem
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris (29.01.13) reports that the speaker of the Turkish Grand
National Assembly Cemil Cicek, in statement during a face to face meeting he
held with the chairman of the assembly of Oman, Seyh Halid bin Hilal bin Nasir
bin Saif el-Manevi, expressed his gratitude for the support of Oman to the
“TRNC” and said also the following: “The TRNC is the most important and the
longest dispute in front of the UN. Efforts were exerted for peace, however;
due to the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriot administration, unfortunately
this dispute was not solved. In spite of the sincere attitude and the stance of
the TRNC at the 2004 referandum, today, the TRNC is under an unfair isolation.
(...)”.
Cicek
went on and asked for the strengthening of ties between Oman and Turkey in all
fields, pointing out that Turkey’s ties with Oman are based on brotherhood and
friendship.
(AK)
4. Toparlaniyoruz Movement is
suing the self-styled police and the “ministry of interior” for the events
during the Karpasia protest
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (29.01.13)
reports that the Toparlaniyoruz Movement (TR. Note: We are gathering Movement,
which was established by the former advisor of Dervis Eroglu Kudret Ozersay),
is filing a case against the so called police and the “ministry of interior”
for the events took place on Sunday during a protest organized by environmental
activists who were protesting against the construction of a road in Karpasia
peninsula.
Representatives of the Movement who participated in
the protest filed a case against the slogans “plunderers, Greek Cypriots
supporters, atheists” shouted during the events.
5. New organization by Turkish
Cypriots who live in Britain
Turkish Cypriot daily (29.01.13) reports that a new
organization under the name “Turkish Cypriot Political Strategic Group”, was
established in London by Turkish Cypriots who live in the UK.
According to the paper, the organization is supported
by Baroness Meral Ece and by the self-styled representative of the breakaway
regime to the UK, Oya Tuncali.
The aim of the new organization is to make the voice
of the Britain-living Turkish Cypriots to be heard in a stronger and clearer
way and to strengthen their political profile, writes the paper. The leader of
the group is Fahri Zihni.
6. Erdogan considers Turkey’s membership to SGO, an
alternative to the EU; Analysts and Intellectuals comment on Erdogan's remarks
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (28.01.13) reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan's recent remarks, stating that Turkey is seriously considering
seeking membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have led to
serious concerns and confusion among prominent analysts.
As
Turkey and the European Union have failed to make substantial progress in their
accession talks, Erdogan once again brought the SCO issue onto the agenda,
saying Turkey is seriously considering being part of the SCO, which he
considers as an alternative at a time when the EU's future looks increasingly
dim.
The
SCO is a mutual-security organization which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by
the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan. The other countries, with the exception of Uzbekistan, had been
members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of
Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organization.
Speaking
to reporters during a televised program on Kanal 24 late on Friday, Erdogan
said Turkey is now seeking alternative options amid eroding hopes on the EU
process with regards to the adamant opposition to Turkey's membership by a
number of EU member countries.
However,
analysts believe that organizations such as the SCO cannot be an alternative to
the EU for Turkey.
A
Turkish intellectual and writer, Mehmet Altan, considers Erdogan's remarks to
be lacking political consciousness. “First of all, the SCO's most important
feature is that it lacks democracy, whereas the EU is a democratic
organization. Erdogan's remarks should be considered as giving up on efforts to
democratize Turkey and shifting to an organization which lacks democracy but
prefers dictatorship,” Altan told Today's Zaman.
Turkey
has made quite a number of democratic changes to its legal and bureaucratic
structure in recent years. And with most Turkish people using the EU as a
reference point with regards to the democratic steps that the country should
take, analysts oppose the SCO being presented as an alternative to the EU.
Erdogan
added: “If we get into the SCO, we will say goodbye to the European Union. The
SCO is better -- much more powerful. Pakistan wants in. India wants in as well.
If the SCO wants us, all of us will become members of this organization.”
Altan
considers Erdogan's remarks as “very dangerous.” “Consider an organization
where all the members lack democracy. So it seems like Erdogan wants to move
towards dictatorship. The SCO is the most serious opposition to NATO. On the
one hand, you are a NATO member but on the other, you want to become a member
of an anti-NATO organization. This attitude has the potential to change the
balance in the world,” said Altan, adding that Erdogan's statements were very
contradictory.
Meanwhile,
Faruk Logoglu, a Deputy chairman of Turkey's main opposition the Republican
People's Party (CHP), wrote on his Twitter account, “[The Justice and
development Party] AKP, which considers Shanghai Five as an alternative to the
EU, underestimates Turkey's future and foreign policy interests.”
Turkey
was accepted as a dialogue partner by the Shanghai Five at its annual summit in
Beijing on June 7, 2012.
According
to Ozdem Sanberk, President of the Ankara-based International Strategic
Research Organization (USAK), Erdogan is serious about his remarks. “I don't
think he was bluffing when saying that Turkey is seriously considering the SCO.
Turkey's remarks may lead to a great strategic change in the world order
because a NATO member country, Turkey, will become a member of an anti-NATO
bloc, which also includes Russia and China,” Sanberk told Today's Zaman.
This
is not the first time that Erdogan has raised this issue. Right after his visit
with Russian President Vladimir Putin back in July, Russian and Turkish media
reported on this same issue, despite denials by Turkish authorities who said:
“Erdogan was joking when he asked Putin if they would accept Turkey as a member
of the Shanghai Five.”
However,
Sanberk believes that although Erdogan is quite serious in considering the SCO
as a strategic alternative, both China as well as Russia would not consider
Turkey's membership unless both countries face a serious crisis with the US.
“In my view, it is unlikely for Turkey to take part in an alliance which is
against NATO,” said Sanberk.
For
some analysts, Erdogan's call may also be interpreted as a “veiled” signal to
the EU that Turkey is not obliged to the EU and has alternatives. “Erdoğan's
remarks show that Turkey has many alternatives to the EU. But Turkey is still
continuing its efforts in the EU accession process. I don't think that Turkey
will consider the SCO unless it faces serious problem in its EU track. If it
becomes definite that Turkey will not become an EU member, Turkey will start to
consider its alternatives, which one is the SCO,” former Foreign Minister Yasar
Yakıs told Today's Zaman.
When
asked to clarify whether the Shanghai Five is an alternative to the EU, Erdogan
said: “The Shanghai Five is better and more powerful and we have common values
with them.”
In
response to the question of why doesn't Turkey bid goodbye to the EU now, Erdogan
said that the country has a relationship with the EU and without first finding
alternatives and laying the groundwork to bid goodbye to the EU, it would be
too risky. “Thus, we need to prepare the groundwork first,” said Erdogan.
Erdogan
also said in the interview,
that Turkey has not yet given up on the EU process. “[Minister of EU Affairs
and Chief Negotiator] Egemen Bagıs makes his presentation on [Turkish-EU]
relations at every Cabinet meeting. He regularly travels throughout Europe,”
said Erdogan, citing the government's continued interest in the EU despite the
pessimistic atmosphere.
(…)
Some
analysts
think that Erdogan's remark was no more than muscle-flexing for the EU.
According to Nuzhet Kandemir, Turkey's former Ambassador to Washington and a
prominent foreign policy commentator, Erdogan's remarks also aims to send an
important message to the EU that Turkey has many other alternatives. “Turkey
was considering taking part in the SCO a long time ago but this desire was
never at the expense of the EU. The SCO was never considered as an alternative
to the EU. I consider his statements as strategic. Indeed, being a member of
the SCO may bring economic benefits but giving up on the EU process will
seriously harm Turkey's interests,” said Kandemir.
(…).
7. Turkey’s Arinc calls Greece to review attitude on
the issue of the reopening of Halki Seminary
According
to Turkish Daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.01.13) Deputy Prime Minister Bulent
Arınc has said that the government is supporting the reopening of the Halki
Greek Orthodox Seminary after being closed for more than four decades, but also
expressed his disappointment at the measures undertaken by Greece against Turks
and Muslims living in Western Thrace.
“We
consider the question [of the theological school’s reopening] from the
viewpoint of the Lausanne Treaty and religious freedom. But, while we are working
for the religious rights of minorities, what is happening in Greece saddens us.
The word ‘Turkish’ in the name of many associations has been forbidden, despite
rulings from the European Court of Human Rights,” said Arınc in a press
conference after a Cabinet meeting.
According
to the Lausanne Treaty, Greeks and other religious minorities should enjoy
equal rights with Turkish citizens.
Turkish
media reports have recently indicated that the reopening of the Halki Seminary
is once again on the table. The Education Ministry and Turkey’s Higher
Education Board (YOK) have accelerated work for its reopening upon the
instructions of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, daily Hurriyet reported
today.
Without
denying the reports and acknowledging the Greek community's need of more
ecclesiastics, Arınc emphasized the government’s discomfort regarding the
attitude of Greece toward the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, in the north
of the country.
Highlighting
that Greece did not respond positively to the needs of muftis, Arınc added that
Prime Minister Erdogan would be calling his Greek counterpart to speak about
the issue before heading to Qatar on Monday evening. “Greece has taken the
right to appoint muftis and teachers from the hands of the Turkish community.
Our Foreign Minister [Ahmet Davutoglu] told them [at the time]: ‘Would you like
us to appoint the [Greek] Patriarch?’ stating that this attitude was
unfriendly,” he said.
The
Supreme Court decided in 1971 that all higher education facilities had to be
connected to a state university. The Halki Seminary, located on Heybeliada
Island [Halki] in the Marmara Sea off Istanbul, was considered a “private
higher education facility” at the time, and so had to be tied to a state
university or a state seminary in order to stay open after the ruling. As the
patriarchate was unwilling to associate the school with a Turkish university,
the seminary was closed down.
According
to Hurriyet’s report on January 28, the government was searching for a formula
that would allow the Seminary to function as a professional school. An
alternative formula would be to change the necessary article in the
Constitution. However, such a change would pave the way for other minorities,
such as Armenians and Jews, as well as Muslim Turkish citizens, to open their
own religious schools, says the report.
8. Data on the number of people died in Turkey from
terrorist attacks during the last 30 years
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.01.13) terror attacks have taken the
lives of 35,576 people in Turkey in the last 30 years, according to a report
published today by Parliament’s Human Rights and Terrorism Commission.
The
report states that most of the casualties were between 14 and 25 years old, and
it is also says that 386,360 people in 14 provinces have been forced to leave
their homes. Some 187,861 of those who were forcibly displaced have returned
home, due to a rehabilitation project launched in 1999.
Based
on the sources of terrorism experts, the report says more than 11,795 soldiers
and police officers have been killed in conflicts, while according to the
police directorate 22,049 militants were killed in the same period.
The
report also touches on the profiles of the militants who retreat to the
mountains between Turkey, Iraq and Syria. According to the statistics, 88% of
the militants are men, while 50% become involved in these groups between the
ages of 17 and 20. The youngest person to become a member of an outlawed group
was nine-years-old, while the oldest person was 42-years-old. The youngest
militant to die was 14-years-old, and the average time that a militant spends
in the mountains is 6.9 years.
9. CHP’s Deputy alleged that Turkey and the KRG have
launched secret talks
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.01.13) reports that Republican People’s Party
(CHP) Deputy Aytun Cıray, told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday, that Turkey
and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) secretly signed a “framework
agreement” last year that outlined transportation and marketing of oil and gas
sources in northern Iraq to the global market by excluding the central
government in Baghdad.
“The
secret deal has not yet been finalized and the parties are discussing a
critical article”, Cıray said, adding that he had unconfirmed information about
the details of the critical article, thus he would not elaborate on what that
article consists of for now.
Iraq’s
central government in Baghdad and the Arbil-based KRG are locked in a widening
dispute over control of oil revenues, oilfields and territory that is fraying
the country’s uneasy federal union. The feud between Baghdad and the
Arbil-based KRG enclave, which has run its own regional administration and
armed forces since 1991, has escalated since the KRG began signing oil deals
last year with major companies Exxon Mobil and Chevron to develop fields.
Baghdad
insists the central government has the sole constitutional right to export oil,
while the KRG says its right to grant contracts to foreign oil firms is
enshrined in the Iraqi Constitution, which was drawn up following the 2003
invasion that ousted Dictator Saddam Hussein.
The
KRG began exporting its own very light oil, or condensate, independently to
world markets in October 2012 via truck to a Turkish port, where it was sold
through an intermediary. The central government describes the transaction as
“oil-smuggling.”
“Iraq’s
central government entitles the KRG to 17% of oil products refined in Iraq, but
the secret deal between Turkey and the KRG aims to transfer all northern oil
revenue to Arbil”, Cıray said.
“The
recent political crisis between the Baghdad government and Arbil administration
is an outcome of the secret agreement”, Cıray also claimed. “These developments
could lead to very dangerous results. Divisions within Iraq as well as Turkey
could occur. The [Turkish] government is playing a very dangerous game. The
government’s recent talks with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
leader Abdullah Ocalan to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict between
the PKK and security forces had actually been launched to secure ‘appropriate
conditions’ for the deal”, Cıray also claimed.
The
CHP lawmaker issued a parliamentary question to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
about the alleged secret deal.
Arguing
that an offshore company was founded by Turkey as part of the secret agreement,
Cıray asked Davutoglu whether companies whose owners are close to the Turkish
government would be shareholders in the offshore company.
“If
aforementioned deals come into force, a de-facto dissolution within Iraq will
be inevitable. Has Turkey’s foreign policy, which advocates the integrity of
Iraq, changed?” Cıray asked.
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