TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS
1. A logo contest for Halloumi cheese is organized by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry
2. Effort by Ozgurgun to exploit the agreement on defense and military cooperation between Cyprus and Lebanon, ignoring the existence of 40.000 Turkish occupation troops on the island
3. Eroglu on the Cyprus problem; “The origin of the Turks of Cyprus comes from Anatolian region”
4. Kucuk meets with European diplomats
5. KTOS: The negotiations on the Cyprus football are being sabotaged by the supporters of division of the island
6. Self-styled minister addresses an international meeting in Istanbul
7. Turkey’s Cicek asked the OIC member states to extend more support to the occupation regime
8. Bagis participated to the informal meeting of the EU Ministers; positive signals were reportedly sent from the EU in Turkey's membership talks
9. Swoboda: The energy chapter in Turkey’s accession negotiations should open
10. Omer Guney, the prime suspect for the murder in Paris
11. BDP seeks inquiry into Dink’s murder
12. Gold production in Turkey rises in 2012
13. Israeli spokesman on Turkey’s ties with Israel; Turkish-Israeli ties got more tense after the violation of the occupation regime’s “airspace”
1. A logo contest for Halloumi cheese is organized by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (22.01.13) publishes an announcement by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry under the title “Hellim/Halloumi Logo Contest”. In the announcement the Chamber reports that people could vote online through www.kibso.org address until 30 January 2013 for the first five candidates that remained within the scope of the corporate logo contest of hellim/halloumi cheese, “which is one of the most valuable cultural heritages of our country”.
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2. Effort by Ozgurgun to exploit the agreement on defense and military cooperation between Cyprus and Lebanon, ignoring the existence of 40.000 Turkish occupation troops on the island
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (22.01.13) reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has commented on the agreement on defense and military cooperation signed recently between the Republic of Cyprus and Lebanon.
In a written statement issued yesterday, Ozgurgun alleged that the signing of this agreement, in a period when it is known that after the presidential elections of February in the Republic of Cyprus the UN will revive the negotiations for achieving a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, was a sign that the Greek Cypriot side does not believe in a solution and has no intention to exhibit a good will in this direction.
“This irresponsible stance of the Greek Cypriot side strengthens our concerns that it will continue its policies of gaining time and delaying tactics within the forthcoming period as well”, he alleged.
Ozgurgun claimed that if the international community wants to prove its support in the direction of the achievement of an overall and just solution in Cyprus, it should allegedly encourage the Greek Cypriot side to sincerely contribute in effective negotiations for a political solution on the island and not support the policies of the Greek Cypriot side, which allegedly causes problems on the island and in the region and refrains from being a part of the solution and the cooperation.
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3. Eroglu on the Cyprus problem; “The origin of the Turks of Cyprus comes from Anatolian region”
According to illegal Bayrak television (21.01.13) the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has expressed the need for the Turkish Cypriot “people” to claim its “country” through unity and solidarity.
In statements while meeting with the members of the “Society of the Perpetuation of the Anatolian Culture”, Eroglu touched upon the negotiations process aimed at solving the Cyprus issue and said that the policy which will be carried out by the “Greek Cypriot leadership” following the presidential elections, will determine whether or not an agreement will be reached.
Alleging that the origin of the Turkish Cypriots comes from the Anatolian region, he said that Turkey has become a developed and modernized country in recent years.
Referring to the Cyprus negotiations process, he thanked everyone who supported him during the Cyprus negotiations process.
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Reiterating that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey are in favor of an agreement in Cyprus, Eroglu said that it is necessary to clarify this to the Greek Cypriots and the time has come for the UN to decide what it will do for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
4. Kucuk meets with European diplomats
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (22.01.13) reports that the self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Irsen Kucuk met yesterday at his office with a delegation of the European Diplomats Union headed by the Union’s chairman, Gunther Meinel. No statement was made after the closed-door meeting. The press was only allowed to take pictures.
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5. KTOS: The negotiations on the Cyprus football are being sabotaged by the supporters of division of the island
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.01.13) reports that Sener Elcil, general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot School Teachers’ Trade Union (KTOS), has said that the ongoing negotiations between the Cyprus Football Association (CFA or KOP) and the so-called Turkish Cypriot Football Federation are being sabotaged by “those who support the division” of Cyprus.
In a statement issued yesterday, Elcil noted that “the policy, which supports the division established on the line of ‘embargo and isolation’, continues to prevent the Turkish Cypriot community from being opened to the world”.
Noting that the negotiations between the CFA and the Turkish Cypriot so-called federation seemed to have worried the supporters of division, who issue successive statements, Elcil added, inter alia, the following:
“Those, who oppose to the unification of the island and the cooperation between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots and hold negotiations for the sake of negotiating, have once more shown that they are insincere. Mr Eroglu, who pursues a separatist policy under the guidance of Ankara, has launched an initiative to sabotage the negotiations held between KOP and the Turkish Cypriot Football Federation, just like Mr Talat and those nourished by the regime had done in the past. He continues making a call on them for negotiating for the sake of negotiations but not to reach any result, just like he does. This policy, which tries to deceive the world with the lie that the Turkish Cypriots are under ‘isolation and embargoes’, is afraid of moves that will secure any cooperation...”
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6. Self-styled minister addresses an international meeting in Istanbul
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.01.13) reports that Ali Cetin Amcaoglu, self-styled minister of agriculture and natural resources of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has addressed the “Our Region and Beyond Forestry Meeting” organized in Istanbul by the Turkish Ministry of Forests and Water Affairs.
According to a statement issued by his “ministry”, Amcaoglu underlined the importance of the protection, improvement and sustainable development of the forests for the health and prosperity of the future generations. He argued that the friendly relations and the cooperation among the countries which participate in the meeting in Istanbul would contribute in this process.
Amcaoglu called on the ministers and the representatives of the countries which participate in the meeting to support what he described as “just cause of the Turks of Cyprus” and lift the so-called isolations. Amcaoglu thanked Turkey and especially the Turkish Minister of Forests and Water Affairs, Veysel Eroglu for their support to the Turkish Cypriots.
Kibris reports that Turkey, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Niger, Palestine, Somalia, Albania, Tajikistan and the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, are the countries represented in the meeting at ministerial level.
The meeting was a preparation for the UN 10th Forestry Forum that will be hosted in Istanbul between 8 and 19 April 2013.
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7. Turkey’s Cicek asked the OIC member states to extend more support to the occupation regime
Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.01.13) reported that the Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said on Monday that Turkey chose to be on the side of the Syrian people and continued to make humanitarian assistance to the Syrians.
Speaking at the 8th edition of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Khartoum, Cemil Cicek underlined that "relieving the Syrian people from their wounds was a duty of everyone who believed in human rights and freedoms. Democratic transformation in the Middle East and in North Africa is inevitable, Cicek stressed.
"Turkey supports the legitimate demands of the regional peoples. Turkey underlines that the peoples, while bringing up demands, should not resort to violence. It is the duty of everyone who believes in human rights and freedoms to relieve the Syrian people's wounds," Cicek indicated.
“Facilitating peace in Syria in the shortest time possible, is a necessity of universal values and regional security”, Cicek noted, underlining that It is the hope of everyone to see the process in Syria end in an atmosphere where all Syrian citizens are equal and Syria reaches a democratic system taken under constitutional guarantee.
"The structure in the Middle East is fragile. We want regional issues to be solved by dialogue and consensus," Cicek said.
On the Islamic world and human rights, Cicek stressed that the Islamic world should be one that established standards in human rights and one that was not criticized on human rights.
Touching on the OIC Summit of Leaders, Cicek stated that such a summit was never held in Turkey in the past. "We would be pleased to host all of you in Turkey. We would be happy to host the 13th OIC Summit of Leaders," Cicek indicated.
Cicek asked for the support of OIC member states in Turkey's bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games in Istanbul.
Cicek also asked the OIC member states to extend more support to Turkish “TRNC” and Azerbaijan.
8. Bagis participated to the informal meeting of the EU Ministers; positive signals were reportedly sent from the EU in Turkey's membership talks
Under the above title, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (21.01.13) reported that positive signal came on Monday from the informal ministerial meeting of the EU to open new chapters with Turkey.
Turkish Minister of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, attended on Monday the informal meeting of EU Ministers held under the auspices of the current EU term president, Ireland, in Dublin.
Bagıs met with European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule on the sidelines of the meeting.
After the Ministerial meeting, Fule and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton held a press conference on EU-Turkey relations.
Creighton said that she hopes to make progress with Turkey in accession talks during Ireland’s term presidency despite many enduring obstacles.
Fule said no chapter headings had been opened with Turkey during the last five EU term presidencies, adding that Monday's meeting showed that EU member states were willing to recover Turkey's membership talks by opening new chapter headings.
Underlining that the reform process in Turkey constituted a sound basis to open new chapters, Fule said the reforms were the pushing force of the membership negotiations. “Opening chapters regarding basic rights would be in the interest of not only Turkey but also the EU”, added Fule.
This was the first time Minister Bagis attended an EU meeting since the “Greek Cypriot EU term presidency”, as the Republic of Cyprus’ EU term Presidency is called, ended on December 31, 2012. Bagis did not attend any EU meetings during the last six-month.
Bagis and the EU ministers came together for a photograph at the Castle of Dublin after their meeting, which was closed to the press.
Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.01.13) reported from Brussels that the European Parliament (EP) Turkey rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten's demand of opening two chapters in the negotiation process, was supported.
Dutch Christian Democrat rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten penned "European Parliament resolution on the 2012 progress report on Turkey". The report was discussed at the EP Foreign Affairs Committee.
Spokesman of the political groups at the EP and many MPs who spoke at the session stressed that they agreed with the opening of chapter 23 on judiciary and fundamental rights and chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security.
9. Swoboda: The energy chapter in Turkey’s accession negotiations should open
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (22.01.13) reports that Hannes Swoboda, president of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, has argued that the chapter of energy should open in Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU. In statements to ABhaber website, Swoboda referred also to the Cyprus problem and said that after the presidential elections on the island the negotiating process should continue from the point it was left and a solution should be reached.
According to the paper, Swoboda expressed the view that Turkey’s accession process could gain a new acceleration in 2013 and argued that the chapters regarding energy and the fundamental rights should open. He said that progress in Turkey’s EU accession process would be for the benefit of both sides. He argued that work should be done on Turkey’s image in Europe and added that those who oppose Turkey’s accession put forward the issue of different culture and religion.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, he said he does not expect any development at this stage and added that after the elections the negotiations should resume from the point they were left. “A solution should be reached in Cyprus. As Socialist Group we have expressed our support on this issue in the past as well”, he noted.
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10. Omer Guney, the prime suspect for the murder in Paris
Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.01.13) reported from Paris that the Paris Public Prosecutor Francois Molins has said that Omer Guney, who had been detained in connection with the killing of three Kurdish women in Paris, was the prime suspect.
Three Kurdish women --Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Soylemez-- had been found dead on January 9, at Kurdish Information Center in Paris. They had been shot in the head which appeared to be an execution-style killing. Cansiz was a co-founder of the terrorist PKK organization.
The murders coincided with ongoing talks between Turkish intelligence officials and PKK's jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan in a bid to disarm the terrorist group.
Briefing the press about the murders, Molins said that they had the security cameras of nearby stores and saw that Guney entered and left the building twice which coincided with the time of shooting.
Molins said that Guney, who was born in Turkey's central Anatolian Sivas province in 1982, had been a PKK member for two years, adding that Guney did not confess the murders but his statements were contradictory. “We have also found gunshot residue on a bag belonging to Guney”, Molins added.
Guney was sent to court.
11. BDP seeks inquiry into Dink’s murder
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (22.01.13) the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) has submitted a proposal to open a parliamentary inquiry into the murder of Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian origin, only days after the sixth anniversary of his assassination.
The proposal, submitted to the Parliamentary Speaker’s Office on January 21 by a group of BDP Deputies led by Deputy parliamentary group chair İdris Baluken. “The ideological discrimination observed along the judicial process following the assassination has opened a deep wound in society’s conscience”, BDP deputies said.
They asked for a parliamentary inquiry to be opened to fulfil justice, to overcome the problems in the judicial approach and for the investigation of the murder along with its deep connections.
Dink was murdered on January 19, 2007, in broad daylight in front of the offices of Agos, the paper where he worked, by Ogun Samast, a 17-year-old Turkish nationalist. After a two-year trial, Samast was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to 22 years and 10 months of prison.
The court also ruled that Dink’s murder was not an organized crime despite serious claims that some civil servants linked to the “deep state” were “indirectly” involved, to the dismay of Dink’s family.
However, this court decision was recently challenged in an appeal. The prosecutor’s office of the Supreme Court of Appeals asked the top court to overturn the rulings in Dink’s murder case on January 10, arguing that there were enough elements to conclude that the assassination had been organized.
12. Gold production in Turkey rises in 2012
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (22.01.13) Turkey’s gold production increased to 29.5 tons in 2012 from a mere 1.4 tons in 2002. According to figures, Turkey produces 136 tons of gold in this period.
According to Gold Miners Association Chairman Umit Akdurb, Turkey broke its all-time gold extraction record in 2012 with 29.5 tons, generating $1.7 billion, coming at a time when the country has increased gold sales to the Islamic Republic of Iran, who faces hardships in cash transactions.
Gold production increased from a mere 1.4 tons in 2002, the sector representative told Anatolia news agency. “Thus, the gradual increase shows us that gold production in Turkey grew to 136 tons from 2001 to 2012,” he said, adding that Turkey has invested $2 billion in gold mining in the last two decades. Some $630 million was spent on exploration and the remaining $1.4 billion allocated to mining facilities and management.
Turkey imported a sum of $140 billion in gold between 1995 and 2012, according to Akdur. During the last 18 years, the country imported an annual average of 150 tons of gold, spending around $8 billion and his expectation for gold production in 2013 is 33 tons.
China produces the most gold with 351 tons of gold production followed by Australia with 258 tons and the U.S. with 232 tons.
Akdur also noted that nine gold mining companies were active in the country and in the following 10 years, new business organizations would be opened, raising the number of active firms to more than 20. “It takes 15 years to search for and discover new gold mines and also to produce [gold from] them,” he said.
Turkey is also among the leading gold consumers, with the precious metal being one of the most popular presents for special days such as marriages.
Turkey sold $6.5 billion worth of gold to Iran and another $4.2 billion worth to the United Arab Emirates in the first 11 months of 2012. Ankara is under severe pressure from its Western allies to reduce imports of natural gas from Iran, owing to Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.
On November 30, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved new economic sanctions aimed at further crippling Iran’s energy, shipping and port sectors, a year after Congress passed tough restrictions against Tehran.
13. Israeli spokesman on Turkey’s ties with Israel; Turkish-Israeli ties got more tense after the violation of the occupation regime’s “airspace”
Ankara Anatolia news agency (22.01.13) reports that the spokesman of the Israeli Foreign Ministry Amira Oron said on Tuesday that Turkey was the key for stability in the Middle East.
In an exclusive interview with the Anadolu Agency (AA), Oron underlined that Tel Aviv attached high importance in relations with Turkey. "We want our relations with Turkey to return to their old status after Tuesday's elections. Turkey is a crucial country for regional stability," Oron stressed.
Asked if Israel would accept Turkey's conditions to normalize relations again, Oron stated that they kept sending positive messages to Turkey but that they did not know the details of an apology that Turkey wanted from Israel. “In order to help relations return to their good days, Turkey and Israel both have to make concessions”, Oron noted.
Turkish-Israeli relations were badly damaged when Israeli troops raided the "Mavi Marmara" aid ship carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza in May 2010. Nine Turks were killed in the Israeli raid.
Turkey demanded an apology from Israel for the incident and wanted Israel to pay compensation to the families of the killed Turks.
Turkish-Israeli relations got more tense when Israeli jets violated the air space of the “TRNC” on May 14, 2012.
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