TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
1. France and Turkey agree to open regional policy chapter
2. Erdogan provocatively criticized again the EU accusing it for having
affection to terrorism
3. Brussels
reacts to Erdogan’s statements that Turkey planned to create a Turkish
Lira-based monetary zone instead of accepting the euro
4.
First visit abroad of the new US State Secretary to Turkey
5.
“Ricciardone: US starts to see Turkey as Iraq energy bridge”
6. PACE
rapporteur to visit Turkey on February 14
7.
Azeri deputy refused to have his picture taken under the Turkish flag at the
self- styled assembly
8.
BKP is concerned over the increase of the criminal incidents
9.
The regime will be granting “work permits” to foreigners more easily
1. France and Turkey agree to open regional policy
chapter
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (13.02.13) reports during a press conference held after the Paris meeting on Libyan
security on Tuesday, French Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius stated that his country and Turkey have reached an
agreement to open Chapter 22 in the EU acquis communautaire for Turkey.
The French
Foreign Minister said the two countries agreed to open Chapter 22 titled
“Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments” for Turkey's EU
membership bid. This move has come after two years of stagnant ties with the
EU. No chapters have been opened since the end of the Spanish presidency in
June 2010.
During the press
conference, Fabius, stating that French President François Holland planned a
visit to Turkey,
said his country aims to enhance relations with Turkey in all aspects.
Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoğlu and his French counterpart met early in the day to discuss
issues that concerned both countries, on the sidelines of the meeting on Libyan
security. It was also reported that during the meeting Davutoğlu discussed EU
membership and the issue of lifting political obstacles the previous French
government had put forward.
A French
diplomatic source described it as "a political signal, a first step."
"We believe
that the veto would be lifted gradually for other chapters under the blockage
of France,
hopefully starting from chapter 22," Davutoğlu told a news conference in Ankara later on in the
day.
He depicted the
development as a positive sign that would accelerate the EU process with the
opening of new chapters. Davutoğlu said Turkey and France have
long been contemplating and discussing such topics and the move will certainly
contribute to Turkish-EU and Turkish-French relations.
"We hope
this will give new momentum to the European Union's relationship with Turkey,"
French foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said. "France now
expects Turkey
to contribute concretely to this new process."
Following his
meeting with Fabius, the Turkish Foreign Minister met with his British
counterpart, William Hague, at a working group meeting in the Turkish Embassy.
The meeting
about Libyan security was attended by representatives from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Qatar, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates,
the United Kingdom,
the United States,
the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the European Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) and the United Nations.
A statement
released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, said the meeting in Paris is to determine Libya's needs
regarding security cooperation, the legal system and the rule of law, and the
ways to address these needs.
The statement
said the meeting aims to step up Libya's security and stability.
Libya and foreign diplomats fear an exodus of Malian and
foreign fighters following a French-led intervention in Mali. Unless Mali's borders
are secured, weapons smuggling will also pose a threat.
2. Erdogan provocatively criticized again the EU
accusing it for having affection to
terrorism
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (13.02.13) reports that
the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan criticized strongly once more the
European Union, this time accusing it for tolerating terrorism.
Erdogan, who was
speaking at the parliamentary commission of the Justice and Development Party
(AKP), accused the European countries “for failing to take the necessary
measures to prevent the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from operating on their
soil”.
“The EU, which
criticizes us in every field, should put its relations with terror under the
spotlight,” Erdoğan claimed and added: “What is this affection between the EU
and terrorists? How long will this continue?”.
Also, addressing
the ambassadors of EU member countries in Turkey during a dinner at his
official residence on Monday, Erdoğan alleged the fact that cooperation against
terrorism in Europe falls short of
expectations. “Despite some countries' serious and sincere efforts, the level
of cooperation against terrorism in Europe in
general is not what Turkey
expects”, he said.
3. Brussels reacts to Erdogan’s statements that Turkey
planned to create a Turkish Lira-based monetary zone instead of accepting the
euro
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (13.02.13) reports
that European Commissioner Stefan Füle stated that Turkey must accept the euro as its
national currency if it joins the European Union.
Füle's comments
came in the wake of a written question from EU Parliament member Mario Borgezio
following Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent statement, that Turkey planned
to create a Turkish Lira-based monetary zone instead of accepting the euro as a
national currency after joining the European Union.
“After the EU Council approves the membership
of Turkey
[subject to its fulfilling the required conditions], Turkey will join the economic and
monetary union and adopt the euro as its national currency,” Fule said.
Füle also said
the EU Council had never invited Turkey to present its own position
in terms of economy and monetary policy negotiations – a chapter that has not
yet been opened.
Erdoğan said
some EU members had advised Turkey
to stay out of the euro zone and establish a “Turkish Lira zone” instead amid the
continuing accession talks.
“Securing
political stability in Europe is critically
important to maintain the confidence of European societies in the union and the
euro,” Erdoğan said in October in Germany.
“I know that
there are some EU member countries which say, ‘I am against the euro, I do not
want to take part in the eurozone.’ For instance Britain… It is quite satisfied. They
even say ‘You should stay away from the eurozone, you can establish a Turkish
Lira zone.’ And I said I think the same way, too. The EU should check up on
itself regarding the monetary system,” he said.
4. First visit abroad of the new US State Secretary
to Turkey
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (12.02.13) reports that US
Secretary of State John Kerry will pay a visit to Turkey.
Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters on Tuesday that officials were working
on setting a date for the visit.
“The day Kerry
took over the office, we discussed foreign policy matters on the phone, and he
conveyed his wish to visit Turkey, said Davutoglu, adding that it seemed
certain that Kerry would pay the first abroad visit to Turkey after he started
his term in office”, Davutoglu stated.
5. “Ricciardone: US starts to see Turkey as Iraq energy
bridge”
Under the above
title, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (13.02.13) reports that the US ambassador to
Turkey Francis Ricciardone, said that Turkey has been considered as a link to
Iraq’s energy for US, “praising the strategic location of the country and
boosting bilateral trades between two parties”, as the paper wrote.
He was speaking
during the U.S.-Turkey Smart Grid Workshop in Istanbul.
“Energy has
always led our economic relationship. We are beginning to describe Turkey as
bridge to Iraq’s
energy. We’re very optimistic about that,” Anatolia
news agency quoted him as saying at the workshop.
He said
conducting joint energy projects was important and added that such relations
have been much more vivid compared to the past. The relationship will continue
to rise with the fresh energy that comes with U.S. President Barack Obama’s
second term in office, he said.
“The
ambassador’s statements came amid rising tensions between Baghdad and Ankara over the latter’s assertive energy
ties with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)
in Iraq.
These ties have aroused objections from the U.S. as well. Baghdad has been
saying it alone has the authority to control exports of the world’s
fourth-largest oil reserves and deals outside of its authority are illegal”,
the paper wrote.
Ricciardone
praised Turkey’s
progress in the energy field and its strategic geographical location, which
enables implementing critically important projects for both Turkish and
European markets. The Smart Grid project of Turkey, funded by the U.S. Trade
and Development Agency to provide a cheaper and safer electricity network, is
only applicable because of Turkey’s
strategic importance, he said.
“In the 1990s
when I was here, we were working on carrying Hazar energy and the
Baku-Tiflis-Ceylan (BTC) oil pipeline. Now here, we’re discussing really
important energy alternatives prompted by Turkey’s strategic geographical
location for both Turkey’s
and European markets.”, he said.
6. PACE rapporteur to visit Turkey on February 14
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (12.02.13) reports that John Tomlinson, rapporteur of Committee on
Social Affairs and Democracy at Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), will pay a visit to Turkey
on February 14.
The British
parliamentarian is preparing a report on illicit drug trafficking from Afghanistan to Europe.
He will hold
meetings with officials at Turkish Interior Ministry, Security Department and
Customs Department in Ankara.
The report is
expected to be voted in a session of PACE in spring.
7. Azeri deputy refused to have his picture taken
under the Turkish flag at the self-styled assembly
Turkish Cypriot
daily Afrika newspaper (13.02.13) reports that Aydin Mirzazade, an Azeri deputy
who had illegally visited the occupied area of Cyprus last January together with
other members of the parliament of his country, was kicked out of the
self-styled assembly of the breakaway regime because he refused to have his
picture taken under the flag of Turkey.
Citing
information published in “Bizim Yol” newspaper of Baku, Afrika writes that during his visit in
the occupied area of Cyprus,
Mirzazade wanted to meet with the “speaker” of the self-styled assembly, Hasan Bozer.
He went to the “assembly”, but he was astonished when he saw the flag of Turkey on the
wall together with the flag of the breakaway regime. He told Bozer that they
could have their picture taken under the flag of the regime, but not under the
flag of Turkey,
“because this was contrary to the TRNC’s internal protocol”.
According to the
paper, the Azeri deputy gave them the following message: “you are an
independent state, why you present yourselves as colony?” However, writes the
paper, Bozer did not understand this and ordered for the Azeri deputy to be
sent out of the “assembly”. At the same time, the regime informed Turkey about
the situation and complained to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs against
Mirzazade. Bozer confirmed the incident to the Azeri newspaper, which published
the information.
(I/Ts.)
8. BKP is concerned over the increase of the
criminal incidents
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (13.02.13) reports that Salih Efendi, member of the
executive committee of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), has said that “a boom”
exists in the number of crimes and criminals in the occupied area of Cyprus and
argued that the community lives in insecurity and fear.
In a written
statement issued yesterday, Efendi said that almost every day murders, rapes,
armed robberies, thefts and arsons happen in the occupied area of Cyprus. “Just
like the economic crisis and the deepening of poverty are important factors in
the booming of the crimes, entering into the country with identity cards and
the disorder also constitute an important reason”, he said.
Noting that “it
is not known who enters into the country and who goes away”, Efendi added that
tens of thousands of illegal persons exist in the occupied area of Cyprus and that
the increase of crimes is “normal and expected” development in this situation.
(I/Ts.)
9. The regime will be granting “work permits” to
foreigners more easily
Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (13.02.13) reports that according to the “official
gazette” of the breakaway regime, the “work permit regulation” under the “law
for the work permits of foreigners” was amended. In order to grant “work
permit” to a foreigner, the regime will not seek the condition of not remaining
abroad for more than 135 days. This will be valid in some cases and
professional groups when the self-styled ministry of labor will consider that
such a decision is appropriate.
In the issue of
the above-mentioned paper on 29 January 2013, it is also said that preliminary
“permit” will not be asked in the following cases: the foreign spouses of a
worker in the “TRNC”, their children who completed their 18th year
of age in the occupied area, the foreigners whose “permit” to establish a
business ended and submitted an application for a transitory work “permit”
within 30 days from the expiry of their “permit” and persons whose exit from
the occupied area had been forbidden by a “court” order.
(I/Ts.)
10. Dispute over the restoration of a building that
belongs to St. Mamas church in occupied Morfou
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (13.02.13) reports that a building next to Saint Mamas
Church in occupied Morfou, which belongs to the monastery and is used by
Vakiflar Bank, has suffered an irrevocable damage after an attempt for its
restoration. According to the paper, the building is considered to be an
antiquity and allegedly belongs to Evkaf foundation. Glazed tile and marble was
placed with glue on the building’s limestone. The “police” of the regime
interfered upon complains by some “citizens” and the construction works were
temporarily stopped.
The director of Evkaf foundation, Kemal Kaykamzade
confirmed the information and said that the Vakiflar Bank started the repairing
of the above-mentioned building without informing the foundation. He noted that
they stopped the repairing and the persons who want to do this work have
applied to Evkaf for getting the necessary license. Kaykamzade added that a
restoration could be made in the manner by which the Evkaf and the “museums’
and antiquities’ department” will suggest.
Emine Sivri, head of the “museums’ and antiquities’
department” in Morfou, said that the bank had secured a license for restoring
the inside part of the building, but said nothing about the outside part.
(I/Ts.)
