TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 29/13 9-11/2/13
1. Interview by Obama to Milliyet; he applauds
Turkey’s effort to solve the Kurdish problem
2. Turkey’s Yildiz reacts over the Republic of Cyprus’
agreement with ENI
3. Atun comments on the Republic of Cyprus’ economic
difficulties; he claimed that the exploration blocks claimed by both sides in
the Mediterranean, overlapped
4. Ozgurgun on the Republic of Cyprus’ oil exploration
activities in the Mediterranean
5. Italian Ambassador to Turkey on the signing
agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and ENI: “Italy understood the
complexity of the problem”
6. Yektaoglu says Turkey will not endure fait accompli
in the Mediterranean
7. Eroglu called on all Islamic countries to implement
OIC’s decisions on the Turkish Cypriots
8. Erdogan accused the Republic of Cyprus of playing
with time
9. Erdogan to meet EU envoys tonight; He expressed strong criticism to the USA Ambassador over his recent remarks
9. Erdogan to meet EU envoys tonight; He expressed strong criticism to the USA Ambassador over his recent remarks
10. Data on the applications by Greek Cypriots to the
“Property Compensation Commission”
11. Ozyigit criticized President Christofias for
appointing a deputy governor of the Central Bank
12. The competition of the Chamber of Industry for
halloumi cheese ended
13. Human trafficking is reportedly held in the
occupied area of Cyprus
14. Plundering of antiquities in occupied Karpasia
continues
15. A new Public Registry of Land in the breakaway
regime
16. Turkey's trade volume with SGO’s member countries
increased
1.
Interview by Obama to Milliyet; he applauds Turkey’s effort to solve the
Kurdish problem
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(09.02.12) reported that the U.S. President Barack Obama has applauded the efforts
of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to find a peaceful solution to the
Kurdish problem.
“I applaud Prime Minister Erdogan’s
efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to a struggle that has caused so much
pain and sorrow for the people of Turkey for more than 30 years,” Obama told
daily Milliyet’s Washington representative, Pınar Ersoy, in an e-mail
interview.
Turkey has launched a “peace process”
aiming to end the three-decade-old conflict between security forces and the
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). For the first time in recent Turkish history,
Turkish officials have openly held talks with the imprisoned leader of the PKK,
Abdullah Ocalan.
“I believe that the proactive measures
that the Turkish government is undertaking can lead to real progress. A
peaceful resolution will not only improve the lives of millions of citizens
living in the violence-torn regions of southeast Turkey, it will mean more
security and prosperity for people across Turkey for generations to come. The
Turkish people should know that the United States will continue to support – in
concrete ways – their desire to close this terrible chapter and begin a new
chapter of peace and security,” the president told the daily.
Commenting on the attack on the U.S.
Embassy in Ankara, Obama said it was an outrageous act of terrorism while
underlining the cooperation between the two governments. “The attack on our
embassy compound in Ankara was an outrageous act of terrorism for which there
is absolutely no justification. This was a tragedy for both our countries. Our
hearts go out to the family of Mustafa Akarsu, who gave his life to protect
others, Turks and Americans. We are very grateful for the prompt response of
the Turkish authorities, and the cooperation between our two governments has
been excellent. We’ll continue to coordinate closely and do everything we can
to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Obama said.
On the Syrian crisis, Obama said
President Bashar al-Assad’s regime will ultimately come to an end as it is
weakening day by day. “We are very mindful that the days ahead will continue to
be extremely difficult, for the Syrian people and the region. But we also know
that the [al-]Assad regime continues to weaken and lose territory. The regime
continues to suffer defections, while the opposition grows stronger. And make
no mistake – the [al-]Assad regime will ultimately come to an end and the
Syrian people will have the opportunity to decide their own destiny. That’s the
future that we will continue to work toward, in partnership with Turkey and the
international community,” the President said.
The U.S. President also praised Turkey’s
role in solving the crisis and dealing with the massive influx of Syrian
refugees. “We’ve taken all these steps in close coordination with the Turkish
government, and I want to commend Prime Minister Erdogan and the Turkish
government for playing a leadership role in trying to [bring an] end to the
violence and begin a political transition in Syria. I especially want to
applaud the people of Turkey, who have shown incredible generosity in hosting
more than 170,000 Syrians who escaped the violence and found refuge in camps in
Turkey.”
2.
Turkey’s Yildiz reacts over the Republic of Cyprus’ agreement with ENI
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (10.02.13) Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said during a press
conference in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri on February 9, that
“Greek Cyprus”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus, should either give up
exploratory drilling operations or distribute all the revenues obtained from
the drilling operations between both sides of Cyprus.
According to Ankara Anatolia news
agency, Yıldız alleged that the oil and gas research conducted by “Greek
Cyprus” in the Mediterranean was contrary to international law, as the water in
question lies in an undetermined exclusive economic zone between the two sides.
“Turkey will not cooperate with companies who participate in oil and gas
research there until the conditions are clarified,” he said. He also added that
the Energy Ministry has had talks with the Italian multinational oil and gas
company ENI.
Yıldız said Turkey’s state-run oil
researcher TPAO would continue its operations in authorized regions of the
island.
Also, according to Ankara Anatolia news
agency (08.02.13) Yildiz said on Friday that Turkey's energy sector would not
be indifferent to any energy project in Iraq.
On the claims that Turkey and the
administration in the north of Iraq signed a deal against the Iraqi
constitution, Yildiz said Turkey would have minded the priorities of the Iraqi
government and the constitution.
Yildiz added Turkey's energy sector
would not be indifferent to any energy project in Iraq, regardless it was in
the north or the south. Turkey was one of the 19 countries doing business in
Iraq, he added.
Regarding the “Greek Cypriot
administration's” agreement with Italian and French companies to conduct
drilling in the Mediterranean Sea, Yildiz said that drilling in the exclusive
economic zones contrary to the international law was not right. He said,
"if it would be done anyway, it should include the whole Cyprus."
He said they would overview the
applications of the (Italian energy company) ENI in Turkey and added that ENI
should decide which project it would be in.
On a question whether seismic search
ship would conduct a contra search activity, Yildiz said they were not after a
countermove in eastern Mediterranean.
3.
Atun comments on the Republic of Cyprus’ economic difficulties
According to illegal Bayrak television
(09.02.13) the so-called minister of economy and energy Sunat Atun has said
that “south Cyprus”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus, which had in the past
ignored the Cyprus Turkish side’s calls for establishment of free trade on the
island, was now facing an economic downfall today. He said that the
“government” was working together with Turkey to open the gates of the “TRNC”
to the whole world.
Speaking during the inauguration of a
business and finance TV channel in Istanbul Turkey, Atun reminded that Turkish
Cypriots had voted in favor of the UN sponsored Annan Plan in 2004 following
promised by the European Union that it would lift the isolation imposed on
“north Cyprus”. He however reminded that those promises were not kept and
pointed out that they were working had since then to open the “TRNC” to the
rest of the world.
Touching upon the Greek Cypriot side’s
hydrocarbon explorations off the coast of the island he alleged that, “This situation poses a serious threat to
regional peace and stability”, due to the fact that, as he claimed, the
exploration blocks claimed by sides overlapped.
4.
Ozgurgun on the Republic of Cyprus’ oil exploration activities in the
Mediterranean
Ankara Anatolia news agency (08.02.13)
reported from the occupied part of Lefkosia that the so-called foreign minister
Huseyin Ozgurgun has alleged that the parcels of Total, mentioned in the
agreement the French company signed with the Greek Cypriots for the search of
hydrocarbon, clash with the parcels whose authority was given to Turkish
Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) by the “TRNC”, as he said.
"Those companies in cooperation
with the Greek Cypriots will inevitably become a side to the issue,"
Ozgurgun said.
Ozgurgun stated that the Greek Cypriots'
signing of an agreement in regards to their so-called exclusive economic region
in the 10th and 11th parcels with French Total, has added a new dimension of
increasing tension in its “unilateral and illegal” hydrocarbon search in
Eastern Mediterranean.
Ozgurgun condemned the move of the Greek
Cypriots and their inclusion of a French company and said: "The parcels on
which the Greek Cypriots have signed an agreement fall in our area. As the
Turkish Cypriots we hope the UN negotiation process would end up with a fair
and permanent resolution. However, if the Greek Cypriots' attitude of extorting
the rights of the Turkish Cypriots continues, we will stand up for our right in
terms of hydrocarbon search with our guarantor state Turkey".
5.
Italian Ambassador to Turkey on the signing agreement between the Republic
of Cyprus and ENI: “Italy understood the complexity of the problem”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(09.02.13) reported that the Italian Ambassador to Turkey Gianpaolo Scarante
commenting on the possible agreement between Italian energy company Eni and
Greek Cyprus over the hydrocarbon drilling around the island, said that Italy understood the complexity of the
problem and added that “It is a private company, so we can’t say what to do
exactly”.
In statements to the paper on February
8, Scarante said that the European Union would struggle to be strong and efficient
without Turkey, underlining that Ankara and Brussels both had important roles
to play.
“I don’t think there are alternatives,”
the Ambassador told the Hurriyet Daily News in Istanbul on Feb. 8, when asked
to comment on the recent debate on Turkey’s possible membership to the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO). “The EU is an important pillar of Turkey.
Europe is in your history. In the future, Turkey will be an important pillar of
the EU. In the future of Europe there will be Turkey, I believe.”
Scarante stressed that 2013 would be an
important year for the stalled negotiations. “2013 will mark some positive
steps,” he said. The EU is preparing to lift its block on at least one
accession chapter during Ireland’s current bloc term presidency.
Scarante also said that Italy supported
the idea of removing visas for Turkey, adding that Rome was lobbying to this
end in Brussels. “It is not just to help a friend country, but it is also in
Italy’s interest and the EU’s interest to have a Turkey without visas. There
are 100,000 people coming every year from Turkey, but the potential is much
bigger. So why don’t we remove visas. There is no danger for our country, no
danger of illegal immigration,” he said.
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız
said Feb. 8 the government will review the applications of the company, adding
that ENI should decide which project it would be in.
6. Yektaoglu says Turkey will not endure fait
accompli in the Mediterranean
Turkish Cypriot
daily Star Kibris newspaper (11.02.13) reports that Mustafa Yektaoglu,
so-called vice president of the “assembly” of the breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged that Turkey will not allow
for the issue of natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea to go outside the
framework of the international maritime law.
In statements to
Star Kibris, Yektaoglu described as “blow to peace on the island” the
information that the Republic of Cyprus will launch explorations for oil and
natural gas in Eastern Mediterranean after signing two agreements with French
TOTAL Company. He alleged that these
explorations of the Greek Cypriots are not in harmony with justice and that the
plots where explorations will be held coincide with plots which allegedly
belong to the “TRNC”. He argued that the international maritime law will not
allow this.
Yektaoglu
claimed that the natural gas in Eastern Mediterranean should be distributed
fairly in order for serving peace and alleged that the Greek Cypriots should
behave “reasonably” on this issue. He noted that absolutely no war is permanent
and all disputes are sooner or later discussed at a negotiating table.
He alleged that
the actual issue here is the so-called violation of the rights of the Turkish
Cypriot “people” and Turkey. He argued that “Turkey will not endure such fait
accompli”.
(I/Ts.)
7.
Eroglu called on all Islamic countries to implement OIC’s decisions on the
Turkish Cypriots
According to illegal Bayrak television
(09.02.13) the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has called on all Islamic
countries to put into practice the decisions taken regarding the Turkish
Cypriots.
Eroglu made the call during a working
dinner he hosted for foreign missionaries, diplomats, think tanks, politicians,
Turkish Foreign Ministry officials, businessmen and media groups in the
Egyptian capital Cairo.
Eroglu hosted a working dinner at the
Turkish Ambassador to Cairo’s residence.
During the dinner, he made a speech
regarding “north Cyprus” and answered questions of his guests.
He also handed out documents which
contains information regarding his stance towards the upcoming Cyprus
negotiations process and the proposal he put forward to the UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon in September, regarding the petrol and natural
gas exploration in Cyprus.
Eroglu called on all Islamic countries
to implement the OIC decisions regarding the Turkish Cypriots as this would
motivate the Greek Cypriots towards a solution of the Cyprus problem. “The UN
and the EU can motivate the Greek Cypriot side for a solution by removing the
unjust embargoes imposed on us and the OIC also has a role to play in this
process”, Eroglu said.
8. Erdogan accused the Republic of Cyprus of playing with time
Under the title “We are not a scapegoat”, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (11.02.13) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused the Republic of Cyprus of playing games trying to gain time.
Under the title “We are not a scapegoat”, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (11.02.13) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused the Republic of Cyprus of playing games trying to gain time.
Erdogan who was speaking during a
meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) reiterated his position that
Turkey and the breakaway regime were punished despite saying yes to the Annan
Plan, while the Republic of Cyprus became member of the European Union. He went
on and added that the Greek Cypriots side is not sincere at the negotiations
and is trying to gain time because is pleased with the current situation.
9. Erdogan
to meet EU envoys tonight; He expressed strong criticism to the USA Ambassador
over his recent remarks
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (10.02.13) reported
that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with ambassadors
of EU countries at a dinner in Ankara on Monday evening after he recently made
a series of statements criticizing the 27-nation bloc for its reluctance in
speeding up Turkey's accession negotiations and what he called a lack of
sufficient cooperation against terrorism.
Erdogan has said on more than one
occasion recently that Turkey could drop its EU accession bid and seek
membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) instead because the
EU has been stalling in negotiations with Turkey for five decades. He repeated
criticism of the EU on Saturday, this time saying that it tolerates the
activity of terrorists wanted in Turkey.
During his speech at the Istanbul
meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Erdogan stated
that Turkey will show no further patience over what he called Europe's
tolerance of terrorist groups that target security forces and civilians in
Turkey.
“The latest incident in Paris and the
attack on the US Embassy, in which a Turkish national was killed and a Turkish
journalist wounded, have led us to question the relationship between Europe and
terrorism,” Erdogan said.
(…) Erdogan accused Europe of failing to
show the necessary solidarity with Turkey in fighting terrorism, adding that
terrorism has cost the country hundreds of billions of dollars over the past
three decades.
Erdogan also complained that European
officials talked about “freedom” and “law” when Turkey requests the extradition
of suspects. He stressed that he will bring up the issue at a meeting with EU
country envoys on February 11. “We have already told every [European] leader we
meet that our patience has almost run out,” he said.
The Prime Minister joined a chorus of
criticism against US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, who criticized Turkey's
judiciary in remarks earlier this month. Erdogan said these remarks were
“unacceptable,” adding that his country is not a scapegoat.
“Turkey is not anyone's scapegoat. No
one can dare to meddle in Turkey's internal affairs or stick one's nose into
its legislative, judicial or executive systems. Turkey is not a country whose
foreign policy guidelines can be dictated [by others],” said Erdogan during his
speech.
Ricciardone reportedly told a group of
Turkish journalists early last week that “you have members of Parliament who
have been behind bars for a long time, sometimes on unclear charges. You have
your military leaders, who were entrusted with the protection of this country,
behind bars as if they were terrorists. … You have non-violent student
protesters protesting tuition hikes behind bars. When a legal system produces
such results and confuses people like that for terrorists, it makes it hard for
American and European courts to match up.”
In response to these remarks, Erdogan
stated without directly mentioning Ricciardone, that no one should misinterpret
Turkey's patience, tolerance or friendship.
(…)
10. Data on the applications by Greek Cypriots to
the “Property Compensation Commission”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (11.02.13) reports that until 4 February 2013, 4.531
Greek Cypriots have applied to the so-called Property Compensation Commission,
which was established in 2006 by Turkey in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus.
According to the
paper, 316 of these applications have been settled in an amicable way and nine
of them were completed in “court”. Until now, the “Commission” paid to Greek
Cypriot refugees the sum of 101 million 326 thousand and 15 pounds sterling. In
one case return of property was decided, in two exchange and compensation and
in five cases return and compensation. Moreover, return after the solution of
the Cyprus problem was decided in one case and partial return in another.
According to the
paper, 1.601 applications were made to the “Commission” in 2012 and only eight
of them were concluded. In January 2013,
the “Commission” accepted 164 applications.
(I/Ts.)
11. Ozyigit criticized President Christofias for
appointing a deputy governor of the Central Bank
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper
(09.02.13) reports that Cemal Ozyigit, the general secretary of the Communal
Democratic Party (TDP) criticized the President of the Republic of Cyprus
Demetris Christofias for appointing Spyros Stavrinakis to the post that had
remained empty since the Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the Republic in 1963.
Ozyigit who said
that the decision was wrong, said that the appointment is against the
constitution of the Republic of Cyprus and is violating the rights of the
Turkish Cypriots.
12. The competition of the Chamber of Industry for
halloumi cheese ended
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (11.02.13) reports that the competition organized by the
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry on the logo of halloumi/hellim cheese ended
and that the first prize was won by a design of Baris Argus. The prize-giving
ceremony is planned to be held on 15 February. The paper publishes two pictures
of a logo writing “Hellim halloumi, Exclusive Cheese of Cyprus’ and “100%
Cyprus product”.
(I/Ts.)
13. Human trafficking is reportedly held in the
occupied area of Cyprus
Under the title
“Illegal human trafficking”, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(11.02.13) reports that a company illegally transfers cheap labor force in the
occupied area of Cyprus from countries of the so-called third world. According
to the paper, the company finds its clients through the internet and has its
headquarters in Romania. It also has offices in the occupied part of Lefkosia
presenting itself as “the one and only company for registered, licensed human
resources in northern Cyprus”. The company brings workers in various fields for
a monthly wage of 800 Turkish liras (TL).
Explaining the
procedure which is followed, the paper writes that the client applies to the
self-styled ministry of labor and social insurance of the regime asking for
“preliminary permit”. After this “permit’ is granted, the client pays social
insurance and providence fund expenses for his foreign workers, on the basis of
the minimum wage. The foreign workers work six days per week and ten hours per
day, according to the paper.
Meanwhile, the
chairman of Dev-Is trade Union, Mehmet Seyis told the paper that the
“government” of the regime gives special incentives for bringing cheap
workforce and noted that “the ground for slave trade supported by the
government is prepared”.
(I/Ts.)
14. Plundering of antiquities in occupied Karpasia
continues
Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (11.02.13) reports that an illegal excavation for
antiquities has infuriated the inhabitants of occupied Rizokarpaso village in
Karpasia peninsula. A person named Idris Keskinoglu had been found by the
“police” carrying out the excavations and was taken to “court” on Saturday.
This person is reportedly brother in law of the “mayor” of occupied
Rizokarpaso, Mehmet Demirci and son of Nail Akcam, head of National Unity
Party’s (UBP) local organization.
The “head of the
village council” of Rizokarpaso, Cevdet Dag said that this crime could not have
been committed only by three persons. He argued that the perpetrators had
brought an “exorcist” from Turkey in order to determine the place they would
carry out the excavation. He noted that this person has been sent back to
Turkey without being arrested. He said that many similar incidents had been
covered up in their village in the past and added that they will be following
this incident through the press. He said they heard that 20 antiquities had
been unearthed during the last excavation.
(I/Ts.)
15. A new Public Registry of Land in the breakaway
regime
Turkish Cypriot
daily Gunes newspaper (11.02.13) reports that a new Public Registry of land is
organized in occupied Cyprus with the support of Turkey.
According to
information by the self-styled land registry public registry of land, the
cadastral of the breakaway regime, which is dated on the British period in
Cyprus, is regenerated. In addition, the public registry of land documents
which remained at the public registry of land of the Republic of Cyprus after
the Turkish invasion of 1974, and exist in various copy forms, will be used for
new cadastral. The breakaway regime and Turkey even signed a protocol for this
issue.
16.
Turkey's trade volume with SGO’s member countries increased
Ankara Anatolia news agency (09.02.13)
reported from Ankara that Turkey's trade volume with member countries of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization made a rapid climb in just two year to reach
$62.7 billion in 2012 from $49.6 billion in 2010, data showed.
The figure accounts for 16% of Turkey's
overall foreign trade, 7.5% of the country's exports and 21.6% of its imports.
If Turkey was a member of the Shanghai
group, it would have been the third biggest economy of the organization with
$783 billion as of 2012.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
