TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 22/13 31.01.13
TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS
1. Erdogan: the Greek Cypriots have “unreasonable dreams” in the Mediterranean and are not allowed to have a National Guard
2. Threats of war by Eroglu; Atun refers to land drilling for oil and natural gas
3. Kucuk: The recognition of the “TRNC” will come onto the agenda
4. Eroglu says visits by young people to the occupied area of Cyprus are important
5. Turks consider Cyprus as their province
6. Talat: “Turkish Cypriots to take advantage of the Republic of Cyprus’ economic crisis for reaching a solution on the Cyprus problem”
7. Ozersay commented on Archbishop’s statements on natural gas: “Solution or co-operation”
8. Former European Parliamentarian Ozan Ceyhun acts likes a spokesman of AKP and shows Ankara’s support towards Kucuk
9. France will reportedly vow to lift the blockage on Turkey’s frozen chapter on economic and monetary policy
10. Yildiz announced that Turkey have bought a new seismic vessel for oil and natural gas search
11. American Patriot units dock in Alexandretta port
12. Erdogan instructed for measures to be taken for the increase of birth rate; statements by Babacan
13. Akmina Travel Club to conduct 14 charter flights per week in the breaking regime
14. BDP’s Kisanak said that 90% of the claims suggesting that a group of PKK members laid down arms were speculative
15. Report details violations of Alevi rights in 2012
1. Erdogan: the Greek Cypriots have “unreasonable dreams” in the Mediterranean and are not allowed to have a National Guard
Ankara Anatolia news agency (30.01.13) reported that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the “Greek Cypriot administration’s”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus, “unreasonable dreams” in the Mediterranean, forced Turkey's stance to be more different.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Miqati following a tete-a-tete meeting in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Wednesday, Erdogan stressed that "Lebanon's sensitivity in the Mediterranean was in accordance with Turkey and Lebanon's joint sensitivity".
"Today, we went over our bilateral relations," Erdogan noted. "Our bilateral relations went up by fivefold to one billion USD from 219 million USD when we first came to power. Such an increase continued in 2012 despite regional political and societal turbulences," Erdogan stressed.
"I would like to stress that we are ready to make all contributions for the security of the Lebanese people," Erdogan noted.
"We support the Lebanese government's approach to the Syrian and other regional issues. Our region is going through a sensitive period," Erdogan said.
"170,000 Syrians now live in Turkish camps while 60,000 others live in Turkish cities. Our problem in Syria lies with the Syrian regime," Erdogan indicated, adding that they have no problems with the Syrian people. “They all are our brethren," he noted.
"Lebanon had serious problems with Syria. Lebanon experienced Syrian cruelty. At the time, we requested from Bashar al-Assad to withdraw his troops from Lebanon and he did. There was a virtual occupation of Syria in Lebanon," Erdogan stated.
Touching on the Lebanese individuals kidnapped in Syria, Erdogan said that Turkey continued to display sensitivity on the issue and was working so that those Lebanese individuals reunite with their families soon.
Meanwhile, Haber Kibris website (31.01.13) reports that Erdogan said that during the meeting, they discussed also the issue of the exclusive economic zone in the Mediterranean and alleged the following: “Together with all these, on the point of the security we especially had the possibility of stressing that attention should be paid to some worrisome steps within mutual solidarity in the Mediterranean. For still some unreasonable dreams of south Cyprus’ administration in the Mediterranean are undoubtedly brining our approach here to a very different situation. Lebanon’s sensitivity here, I believe that it is a necessity of our common sensitivity. Because, when we go to the 1960 agreement, Britain, Turkey and Greece are given the authority to maintain only security forces here and it never allows to south Cyprus to have a structure such as a national guard there”.
2. Threats of war by Eroglu; Atun refers to land drilling for oil and natural gas
Under the title “Warning like a threat of war”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (31.01.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has “strongly warned” the “Greek Cypriot administration”, as the paper describes the Republic of Cyprus, on the issue of the Observation Centre it has established in its Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean.
Replying to a question yesterday during one of his meetings, Eroglu argued that they would not prevent the Greek Cypriots from establishing such a center in their own territory, but “what was done is unnecessary”. He alleged: “If they do not think of causing a heat in the waters or if they do not resort to illegal means, there is no need for their place of observation”.
Arguing that there is a very big difference between establishing an observation center and defending that place, he alleged: “If they recourse to illegal means, if they have an approach that will harm the rights of motherland Turkey and of the Turkish Cypriots, this kind of places will not be enough to protect them”.
The paper writes that Sunat Atun, self-styled minister of economy and energy of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has made a “more diplomatic warning” on this issue describing this action of the Republic of Cyprus as “extremely meaningless and far from being sincere”. In a written statement issued yesterday, Atun expressed the hope that the President of the Republic who will be elected in February will put an end to such “insincere initiatives” and will reach a result with the Turkish Cypriots, who are “holders of right on the island on this issue”.
Atun said that the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has carried out with “great sensitivity” all the work it did in the occupied area of Cyprus and a result was taken from this work. Atun noted that this work “will shed light on both the drilling which will be held on shore and the seismic explorations which will be held in the sea in the next period”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Kucuk: The recognition of the “TRNC” will come onto the agenda
Under the title “We will not wait forever”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (31.01.13) reports that Irsen Kucuk, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged that they support the talks for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and they are impatiently waiting for the negotiations, but “the TRNC people should not be forced to wait forever”. [Translator’s note: So-called TRNC is the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus]
In a written statement issued yesterday, Kucuk argued that if the expected solution is not reached, after a certain point, the issue of “having the TRNC” recognized will come onto the agenda.
Kucuk made this statement after a meeting with the delegations of the Foundation of Turkey’s Volunteer Institutions and Islamic World’s Union of Civilian Society Institutions, which are visiting the occupied area of Cyprus for a youth Meeting.
Kucuk told them that their support is of great importance for the “TRNC’s” future and that such visits are important for the “TRNC”.
(I/Ts.)
4. Eroglu says visits by young people to the occupied area of Cyprus are important
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (31.01.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu met yesterday with a delegation from the Foundation of Turkey’s Volunteer Institutions, which is visiting the occupied area of Cyprus to participate in a youth meeting organized by the Islamic World’s Union of Civilian Society Institutions.
In his statements, Eroglu said that this kind of meetings are important from the point of view that young people from other countries are visiting the occupied area of Cyprus, are finding out about it and learning about the “Cyprus cause”. Eroglu said that they were considering of organizing such a meeting. “You, however, made it a reality”, he said addressing the visiting delegation. He argued that this kind of meetings give them hope for the future.
(I/Ts.)
5. Turks consider Cyprus as their province
Under the title “Cyprus is a province for us”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (31.01.13) reports that Hamza Akbulut, chairman of the Foundation of Turkey’s Volunteer Institutions, who is visiting the occupied area of Cyprus with a crowded delegation, has spoken openly as regards Cyprus.
In statements yesterday during a meeting with Hasan Bozer, self-styled speaker of the regime’s “assembly”, Akbulut said: “We see Cyprus as one of Turkey’s provinces like Mardin, Erzurum, Edirne, Konya, Sivas. However, we think that the people of the two countries do not know each other enough”.
Bulut and his delegation, which is visiting the occupied area of Cyprus within the framework of the 9th Youth Meeting organized by the Islamic World’s Union of Civilian Society Institutions, held yesterday a series of contacts.
During the above-mentioned meeting, Akbulut noted that they would exchange views in order for the “people of the two countries to be able to establish better communication. “We will discuss what Turkey could do for the Turkish Cypriot people”, he said noting that organizations such as the Foundation of Turkey’s Volunteer Institutions should make investments in the occupied area of the island and that the ‘legal” ground for this should be solid. He argued that the cultural activities in the occupied area of Cyprus, which has many “universities”, should increase and that young people from Turkey and Cyprus should visit each other’s country.
(I/Ts.)
6. Talat: “Turkish Cypriots to take advantage of the Republic of Cyprus’ economic crisis for reaching a solution on the Cyprus problem”
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (31.01.13) reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, alleged that since the Greek Cypriot side lost its economic strength, cannot longer maintain its previous “arrogance” and therefore a solution can be approached more easily.
He went on and alleged that the economic crisis hurt the acknowledged the Republic of Cyprus enjoyed in the past both internationally and by the European Union.
In statements to Star Kibris, Talat said that following the February presidential election to be held in the Republic of Cyprus, hopes for solution can be emerged and positive steps can be taken.
7. Ozersay commented on Archbishop’s statements on natural gas: “Solution or co-operation”
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (31.01.13) reports that Kudret Ozersay, the former advisor of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu and leader of the Toparlaniyoruz (We are gathering) Movement commented on the statements of Archbishop Chrysostomos B, who stated that a gas pipeline from Republic of Cyprus could pass via occupied Cyprus to Turkey if that would serve the national interests of Cyprus.
Ozersay said that in case no solution is reached on the Cyprus problem, the natural wealth which belongs to both “people” of the island, as he alleged, can be shared following a model of cooperation.
8. Former European Parliamentarian Ozan Ceyhun acts likes a spokesman of AKP and shows Ankara’s support towards Kucuk
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (31.01.13) reports that the Turkish-origin, former European MP with the Social Democratic Party of Germany Ozan Ceyhun, who is acting “like a spokesman of the Justice and Development Party (AKP)” in occupied Cyprus, according to Afrika, stated that if “prime minister” Irsen Kucuk goes, then the money send to occupied Cyprus by Turkey will be gone too.
Ceuhun, who was speaking to a program of Ada TV, said that AKP wants to give an end to the “Eroglu dynasty”, as he gave an end to the “Rauf Denktas dynasty” and added that Ankara is very pleased with Kucuk and wonder why Turkey would go against a person that is so satisfied with.
He went on and added that in case Kucuk would not win the second round of the election race for the National Unity Party (UBP) leadership, then Turkey could even stop sending the money for the civil servants salaries for a period of 5-6 months. “I do not even want to think about this, but is not an event that cannot take place”, he said and added: “If you think about this country’s benefit, then you should maintain good relations with motherland”.
9. France will reportedly vow to lift the blockage on Turkey’s frozen chapter on economic and monetary policy
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (31.01.13), France is expected to submit new proposals to accelerate Turkey’s accession talks with the Union, as Paris sends strong signals that it is prepared to lift its block on, at least, one accession chapter during Ireland’s current bloc term presidency.
Diplomatic sources told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday that the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, is expected to make the statement during a meeting with the Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu this weekend in Munich, where both men will attend an annual security conference. “Fabius will voice new proposals and will provide information on Paris’ intention to lift its block on the chapter on economic and monetary policy,” a source speaking on condition of anonymity said.
Five chapters were unilaterally blocked by France during former President Nicholas Sarkozy’s rule. But following the election of Francois Hollande last year, Paris softened its position on Turkey’s accession process.
Amid the new thaw, expectations are growing that the process will act as a catalyst for Turkey’s accession talks with the Union.
Reviving long-stalled EU accession talks will top the Ministers’ agenda, and the pair are expected to discuss a road map that would aid their cooperation to this end.
Elections in “Greek Cyprus”, as the Republic of Cyprus is called, could also create a better climate between Turkey and the EU, according to sources. However, European diplomats have questioned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent statements that Turkey could join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization if the EU drags its feet on Turkish membership.
Davutoglu and Fabius are also expected to discuss the developments in Mali.
(….)The two Ministers will further discuss ongoing developments in Syria and the international community’s failure to establish a strong and common front against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
10. Yildiz announced that Turkey have bought a new seismic vessel for oil and natural gas search
Ankara Anatolia news agency (30.01.13) reported from Ankara that the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz announced on Wednesday that they have bought a seismic vessel to conduct two and three dimensional seismic surveys in the seas of Turkey.
Yildiz stated that they have come to an important point in search of oil and natural gas in the seas, as they were at the final stage of a project ongoing for nearly seven months.
Announcing that they have bought a seismic vessel that proved its success in the international arena in 2D and 3D seismic surveying, Yildiz said: "We made a payment of 130 million USD and the vessel is to pass the Canakkale Strait [Dardanelle Strait] on Wednesday and then head for Istanbul."
He mentioned that the vessel would conduct searches in the Black Sea and then in the Mediterranean Sea. Yildiz said: "Our Prime Minister approved the name of ‘Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa’ upon my offer. The seismic vessel is to strengthen the basis for international agreements in addition to our search from the land."
11. American Patriot units dock in Alexandretta port
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (31.01.13) reports that the ship carrying American patriot air defense units to be deployed in Gaziantep, near the Turkish-Syrian border, have docked at the Iskenderun port [Alexandretta port], in the province of Hatay.
“The patriot air defense systems requested from NATO for defensive purposes, arrived at 7 p.m. to the Iskenderun port. The equipment transported in this ship, will be moved to Gaziantep,” Major Cengiz Alabacak of the Turkish Air Force, said.
Major Royal Reff of the American Air Force told reporters that the units would be operational next week. “There are 70 vehicles in this ship. The ship [only] carries launch systems. The missiles were previously sent to the İncirlik airbase in Adana”, Reff added.
The first NATO battery in Turkey was made operational in the southern province of Adana on January 26.
12. Erdogan instructed for measures to be taken for the increase of birth rate; statements by Babacan
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (31.01.13) reports that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has instructed Ministers led by his deputy Ali Babacan, to work hard on increasing the population growth rate and convince people to have more children.
“The Prime Minister has instructed me to lead efforts with all other related Ministries. We need to implement some very smart measures. We need a well-outlined plan that would take into account possible effects on budget balances,” Babacan said in a televised interview, adding that he will be working with the Ministers of Family, Labor, Development and Finance in line with Erdogan’s instructions.
Erdogan often calls on Turkish families to have at least three children, saying that emulating European countries on the issue of population increases will slow the pace of the economy.
“One or two children mean bankruptcy. Three children mean we are not improving but not receding either. At least three children are necessary in each family, because our population risks aging,” he said earlier this month.
Babacan’s remarks came soon after Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Sahin announced a project to provide fertilization treatment to 2,500 families with no social security as well as no children. “The project will be done in cooperation with Acıbadem Hospitals and the Ministry is evaluating 2.5 million Turkish families as to whether they are suitable for this project”, Sahin said. In a previous statement, she had claimed it was the Ministry’s duty to support low-income families in having children.
Turkey’s statistical authority, TUİK, recently announced the country’s population reached 75.6 million in 2012, saying the growth rate had slowed down from 0.13% in 2011 to 0.12% last year. Babacan said Turkey’s population is expected to increase until the year 2035, stabilizing at 80-85 million and then beginning to decline.
“Unfortunately, the Turkish state has attempted to decrease the pace of population increase in the past. We see that this is a huge mistake in the example of Europe. They are distributing money to their citizens to increase the population…This is why we have to take these measures,” Babacan said.
Babacan said this should be a policy rather than a motivation and that the main issue is to protect the family structure, adding that the spread of extramarital relations is an obstacle to population increase.
Development Minister Cevdet Yılmaz said that they will provide incentive measures to encourage families to have children, daily Hurriyet reported yesterday. “We will work on incentives. We have to have a system as powerful as in Europe,” said Yılmaz.
13. Akmina Travel Club to conduct 14 charter flights per week in the breaking regime
Under the title “Big goal”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (31.01.13) reports that Akmina Travel Club, which started charter flight to the breakaway regime in 2011 along with its partners, aims for 2013 to carry out 14 charters flights per week to the “TRNC” and bring to the occupied area of Cyprus 55.000 tourists.
In statements, Ismail Abidin, chairman of the “administration board” of Akmina Travel Club which carries out charter flights from several EU countries and which has also opened tourist offices in several countries such the “Citron Travel” in Poland and the “Turistrajiser” in Denmark, has stated that they aim to increase the number of charters flights to the “TRNC” for 2013, as well as the number of tourists. He added that they particularly aim to increase the number of tourists from Poland.
In the meantime, in statements last week at the EMITT tourism fair which took place in Istanbul, Dervis Abidin, vice-chairman of the “administration board” of Akmina Travel Club who participated at the fair, said, inter alia, that their aim is to increase the number of tourists who are visiting the “TRNC” in order, as he said, to contribute to the promotion of the “TRNC” worldwide.
(AK)
14. BDP’s Kisanak said that 90% of the claims suggesting that a group of PKK members laid down arms were speculative
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (31.01.13) reports that the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Gultan Kısanak presented Nelson Mandela’s case as an example for the solution of the Kurdish issue, saying that peace could not be achieved as long as Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), was kept isolated on Imralı Island.
Kısanak criticized the government’s exclusion of Ocalan from the solution process, adding that they were expecting a method resembling the “Mandela model.” Nelson Mandela, who was kept imprisoned on Robben Island for 27 years, was sent to a farmhouse after negotiations began with the ruling power of that period.
Kısanak also said that the 90% of the claims suggesting that a group of PKK members laid down arms and were deported after the Arbil negotiations were speculative.
(…)The peace process could not be successful unless Ocalan’s conditions were reformed, Kısanak added, and the BDP and PKK take on an active role. “It is not reasonable to expect a solution by depriving [Ocalan] of the means through which he can use his authority,” Kısanak said, noting that the party wanted to visit İmralı Island as soon as possible.
(…)
15. Report details violations of Alevi rights in 2012
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (30.01.13) reported that Alevi foundations led by the Hubyar Sultan Alevi Culture Association released on Wednesday a report concerning the rights violations faced by Alevi people in Turkey in 2012.
The report was made public at a news conference at the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD).
Representatives from the Alevi foundations gave information to members of the press about zoning problems concerning cemevis (Alevi places of worship) and a discourse of hatred against Alevi people.
According to the report, discriminatory practices and attitudes against Alevis continued and physical attacks against the minority group increased in 2012. The report outlines 60 examples of such actions against Alevis.
Speaking at the news conference, Sultangazi Pirsultan Abdal Cemevi Culture Association President, Zeynal Odabas said he was attacked one week before the opening of the cemevi. He claimed that although he filed complaints at a prosecutor's office three times, no investigation was launched against the attackers and that records of the citywide Mobile Electronic Systems Integration (MOBESE) security system were kept secret.
He also said a fine of TL 68 million was given to the cemevi for having been constructed without a zoning plan and that he stands trial facing a five-year jail sentence due to zoning problems regarding the cemevi.
Other problems mentioned in the report faced by Alevis include those related to the non-recognition of cemevis as places of worship; compulsory religious lessons at schools despite contrary decisions from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and Council of State; transfer of taxes collected from Alevis to institutions such as Religious Affairs Directorate and Sunni institutions which Alevis do not approve of; the government's failure to the turn Madımak Hotel, where 34 Alevis died in a fire in 1993, into a museum; discriminatory attitudes against Alevis who work for public institutions; the continued inclusion of “religion” boxes on ID cards; the denial of Alevis for posts in bureaucracy; and failure of state officials to attend funerals held in cemevis for Alevi soldiers.
The report suggests that in the new constitution currently being written, it should be ensured that the state maintains no bias towards any religion or faith. In addition, the state should provide no financial assistance to followers of any of the faiths or religions and should not participate in religious organizations.
“Religious education should not be offered at schools, but in places of worship. There should be sanctions for every kind of discriminatory action, word or insult against any ethnicity or faith. ‘Commissions for Confrontation with History and Investigation of Truths' should be established and massacres which have left big scars on our society should be investigated and their ongoing effects eliminated,” the report said.
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