TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 33/13
15/2/13
1. Bagis presented the example of Pope’ elections for
the solution of the Cyprus problem
2. EU Turkey’s rapporteur accused Bagis for “missing
chance to develop a constructive dialogue between Turkey and the EU”
3. Ripert: “New chapters to come in 2013
4. TPAO and Shell signed a cooperation
agreement to drill in the Black Sea
5. Turkish official confirms that Israel offered to
lay a gas pipeline to Turkey
6. The occupied area of Cyprus might reportedly be
plunged into darkness due to lack of fuel
7. The situation in occupied Prastio village; A place
inhabited by Turkish settlers
8. Four more retired generals arrested in Feb
28 coup probe
9. Population of Turkey estimated to be 84 million in
2023
10. Turkish Cypriot is elected dean of the University
of Cyprus’s Faculty of Humanities with the votes of Greek Cypriot professors
1. Bagis presented the example of Pope’ elections for
the solution of the Cyprus problem
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (14.02.13) reported from Ankara that the Turkish Minister
of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis showed the upcoming Pope
elections as an example and said: "The TRNC, the Greek Cypriot
administration, Turkey and Greece should gather in one room and not leave until
the Cyprus issue is solved like the cardinals who are locked up in a room until
the Pope is selected."
Bagis
spoke at the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission in the Turkish parliament
on Thursday.
Stating
that Turkey possessed a significant portion of the energy resources that the EU
required, Bagis said: "Opening the chapter of energy is extremely vital
for the 500 million citizens of the European Union."
"The
Greek Cypriot administration's blocking of the energy chapter does not damage
us but the 500 million citizens of the European Union. If three out of four
Greek Cypriots had not rejected the Annan plan, today the Greek Cypriots
wouldn't have been on the verge of bankruptcy and the EU wouldn't have had an
energy crisis".
2. EU Turkey’s rapporteur accused Bagis for “missing
chance to develop a constructive dialogue between Turkey and the EU”
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (14.02.13) reported that Turkish and EU officials exchanged
criticism regarding the slow-going accession process for Turkey at the latest
Turkey-EU joint parliamentary meeting, held in Ankara on Thursday.
The
recent positive signs from France that it would lift its block on one of the
five negotiating chapters in the EU acquis communautaire that has been in place
since former President Nicolas Sarkozy's term in office, was not sufficient to
disguise the tense relations between Turkey and the EU.
While
Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bagis welcomed the French move as revitalizing to
the stalled discussions, he reiterated that the fact that no chapter having
been opened in the last two-and-a-half years, is a major hindrance to the development
of relations.
Speaking
on the sidelines of a Paris meeting on Libyan security on Tuesday, French
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France was ready to unblock talks with
Turkey. "I confirmed to him that we are ready … to begin discussions on
Chapter 22," Fabius said after talks with his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet
Davutoglu.
Bagis
thanked the French administration in his remarks during the joint parliamentary
meeting, but emphasized that Turkey would not be satisfied with such an overdue
development and would continue to wait for bigger steps in Turkey's EU bid. “We
are in a position to open many other chapters, such as the energy chapter and
the chapter on education and culture. We will not be lulled by the opening of
just one chapter in the last two-and-a-half years. We cannot complete Turkey's
accession process by waiting for two or three years to open just one chapter,”
Bagis noted.
Bagis
also referred to a 270-page EU progress report that was prepared by the Turkish
government last December and said that “we managed to produce a big document
that recorded our progress on our EU bid, but the EU could not manage to open
even one chapter in two-and-a-half years,” he remarked.
Bagis also held the “Greek Cypriot
administration”, as the Republic of Cyprus is called, responsible for Turkey's
stalled EU negotiation process. “Greek Cyprus” is blocking a total of six
chapters, two of which are of great importance to Turkey, including Chapter 15,
dealing with energy, and Chapter 26, related to education and culture.
(…)In
response to Bagis’s remarks, European Union Turkey rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten
stated that his “bashing” of the EU and a country which had the former term
presidency, “Greek Cyprus”, did not reflect a goal of developing a constructive
dialogue between the EU and Turkey. Oomen-Ruijten also criticized Bagis for
only referring to the Turkish government's own progress report and not to last
October's progress report prepared by the European Commission on Turkey, saying
that this indicates Turkey's “neglect of what is happening on the EU side
related to the Turkish process.”
She
also added that the tone Bagis used to make his criticisms means it was a
“missed chance to develop a constructive dialogue between Turkey and the EU.”
Oomen-Ruijten
emphasized the deficiencies related to media freedom in Turkey but noted that
there is optimism that the upcoming fourth Turkish judicial package could be a
positive step to lift the pressure on the media in Turkey.
The
fourth judicial reform package, which mainly aims to do away with violations in
the area of human rights, such as ensuring a fair trial, expanding the
boundaries of freedom of expression and preventing unduly long detention and
trial periods, is scheduled to come before the Cabinet this week.
Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent remarks on dropping the EU bid and
joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) instead have further
aggravated the sour relations between Turkey and the EU.
Bagis’s
remarks during the meeting have also drawn criticism from members of the
Turkish opposition. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Oguz
Oyan has complained that the Turkish government “is not used to consulting with
opposition parties in general,” and that the recent EU progress report created
by the government was not prepared in a cooperative process with opposition
parties.
(…)
3. Ripert: “New chapters to come in 2013
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (14.02.13) reported that the head of European Union's (EU)
Turkey Delegation, Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, has stated that 2013 started
off well in terms of Turkey-EU relations and said: "We are sure about
opening new chapter in 2013."
Jean-Maurice
Ripert spoke at the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission in the Turkish
Parliament on Thursday.
Emphasizing
on the affirmative effects of the "positive agenda" during the “Greek
Cypriot administration's EU Term Presidency” as the Republic of Cyprus’ EU term
Presidency is called, Ripert stated that they were hopeful and said: "We
are sure about opening new chapter in 2013."
Ripert
stated that he had positive expectations in terms of visa and immigration and
added that the EU was working on a roadmap which is to be discussed with
Turkey.
Stating
that there were parts that Turkey had to complete, Ripert underlined
harmonization to the EU in regards to the standards of the International Labor
Organization, public tender legislation and customs union.
Ripert
also touched on freedom of expression, press, organization and fair hearing and
said: "The 4th judicial package was prepared to cover these issues anyway.
Now, what is necessary is to bring this draft to the parliament and have it
approved."
Ireland's
Ambassador in Ankara Kenneth Thompson stated that Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan had shown his determination in Turkey's target of full
membership into the EU,
at the dinner he gave for the Ambassadors earlier in the week.
Thompson
touched on the importance of concluding the 22nd chapter which recently opened
and stated that failure would result in a vicious cycle in the negotiation
process.
4. TPAO and Shell signed a cooperation agreement to drill in the Black
Sea
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (14.02.13) reported that after several unsuccessful
attempts made in recent years by some of the world's energy giants, the Black
Sea is once again on Turkey's agenda for oil and gas.
The
Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and one of the world’s leading energy
firms Shell, have concluded a deal to explore for gas and oil in the western
Black Sea.
As
per the joint management agreement signed on Thursday in the presence of
Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yıldz, the Shell company is to collect and
analyze three-dimensional data of an area of 1,500 square kilometers, block
number 3,920, which lies in the westernmost part of the Black Sea. The partners
are also to drill at least one well within three years.
TPAO
and Shell both hold a 50% share in the venture. For the deep-water exploration
to be conducted in the western Black Sea, Andy Brown, upstream international
director of Shell, said at a press conference in Ankara: “We see potential to
drill for either gas or oil [in the region]”.
Shell
is estimated to spend nearly $200 million per each deep-water well and already
gave Turkey $5 million for the signing of the contract as well as a letter of
guarantee worth $150 million.
Energy
Minister Taner Yıldız also expressed hope that deep-water exploration being
conducted off Turkey's Mediterranean coast in cooperation with Shell would
prove fruitful. “The results will become clear at the end of 2013”, Yıldız
added. Turkey, which paid $60 billion last year for energy, has stepped up
efforts to meet its needs from domestic sources as much as possible in recent
years. In the last 10 years Turkey's oil production has increased by 27 million
tons, achieved through the efforts of both public and private companies.
In
2012, TPAO drilled 57 wells for oil and struck oil in one-third of them. Though
admitting that these wells have low production capacities, the minister said,
“If it weren't for the increase achieved in the last 10 years, we would have
had to pay $35 billion more for oil in that same time period”, Yildiz added.
In
order to facilitate the conduct of more expert exploration in the seas
surrounding Turkey, the country recently bought a seismic research vessel that
can carry out the two and three-dimensional seismic surveys that help locate
exploitable oil reserves. Turkey paid $130 million for the vessel, the Barbaros
Hayrettin Pasa, named after the renowned 16th-century fleet admiral of the
Ottoman navy, and the vessel is getting ready to set sail to collect seismic
data in the western Black Sea.
In
response to a question over whether the vessel would head for the Mediterranean
in reaction to rival drilling activities launched by the “Greek Cypriot
government”, Yıldız stated: “Research activities in both the Black Sea and the
Mediterranean are important. We are not acting provocatively”. Turkey was nevertheless widely understood to
be acting to secure for the Turkish Cypriots a share in the natural resources
that are located in regions currently controlled by the “Greek Cypriot
government”. The recently purchased vessel is to set sail in a ceremony in
which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also participate.
(…)
5. Turkish official confirms that Israel offered to
lay a gas pipeline to Turkey
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (15.02.13) reports that a Turkish Energy Ministry
official has told the Hurriyet Daily News that Israel has offered to lay an
undersea natural gas pipeline to Turkey’s south coast in order to sell energy
to Europe, but the Turkish government is yet to give an answer due to the political
tension between two parties.
“Israel
has made a bid to build a pipeline to Turkey within last two weeks,” the
official said. “But we have a policy regarding Israel and the claims that
Turkey leans towards this idea is not true.”
Referring
to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronot, Turkish daily Vatan claimed yesterday that
Israeli Prime Ministry Undersecretary Harel Locker and Israeli energy giant the
Delek group - who also signed an agreement with “Greek Cyprus”, as the Republic
of Cyprus is called, to explore off-shore energy, arousing reactions from
Turkey - had conducted two meetings with the Turkish Energy Ministry to present
the pipeline offer.
The
newspaper also said that the project would cost $2 billion, most of which will
be financed by the Ankara government, which views the project positively.
However,
the Ministry official denied the claims of the newspaper by saying that
Turkey’s current policy on Israel relations would hamper any possible agreement
with the country.
On
the same day, another Israeli daily newspaper made another claim about the
issue, saying that the Turkish conglomerate Zorlu Group planned to lay an
undersea pipeline from the Leviathan field, the biggest in Israel.
The
relationship between Turkey and Israel hit a historic low after Israel’s deadly
May 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla aid ship that killed eight Turkish
citizens and one U.S. citizen of Turkish origin.
The
attack was the climax of a two-year-long saga of rising tensions between Turkey
and Israel, during which the former’s prime minister walked out of the Davos
Economic Forum in protest at the latter’s President. The chill in ties has
continued due to Turkish demands for an official apology from Israel for the
Mavi Marmara attack and compensation for the raid’s victims.
Recently,
Israel has authorized the passage of Turkish trucks through Gaza carrying
materials for the construction of the Turkish-Palestine Friendship Hospital.
Lifting the siege on Gaza constitutes Turkey’s third condition to Israel for
the normalizing of relations.
6. The occupied area of Cyprus
might reportedly be plunged into darkness due to lack of fuel
Under the front-page title “Crisis again”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.02.13) reports that alarm has been given in
the occupied area of Cyprus, due to the decrease of the stock of fuels at the
electricity power plants that are located in Trapeza area, in occupied
Keryneia, which meet the electricity needs of a great part of the occupied area
of the island.
In statements to Kibris, Caglayan Cesurer, chairman of
EL-SEN, the employees in the so-called electricity authority, said that in case
the “ministry of finance” did not urgently pay 143 million 28 thousand and 891
Turkish liras to the “electricity authority”, the production of electricity at
the above-mentioned power plant will completely stop within 20 days.
Cesurer argued that the “ministry” owes the
above-mentioned sum of money to their organization, adding that they could not
purchase the necessary fuel for the power plants, because this money has not
been deposited. Noting that after a certain period of time, the entire occupied
area of Cyprus will be plunged into darkness.
(I/Ts.)
7. The situation in occupied
Prastio village; A place inhabited by Turkish settlers
Under the title “They cannot breathe”, Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (15.02.13) refers to the situation in occupied Prastio
village, in occupied Famagusta area and reports that population from Turkey has
been settled in the village after the 1974 invasion of Cyprus. The paper writes
that the number of the inhabitants of the village today is 1.600 and that
around 30 families stay there with a “work permit”.
According to Kibris, nearly 30 families in Prastio are
unemployed and the main occupation of the villagers is livestock breeding,
farming or work as carriers in the constructions. Kibris notes that the village
has problems with its infrastructure and the sewage water coming from occupied
Lefkosia.
(I/Ts.)
8. Four more retired generals arrested in Feb 28 coup probe
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (14.02.13) reported that four retired generals were
arrested on February 14 in relation to the ongoing investigation into the
"post-modern coup" of February 28, 1997, only a day after the arrest
of four other retired generals in the same investigation.
Upon
a petition from Ankara's chief prosecutor, the court ruled for the arrest of
Ayhan Cansevgisi, Refik Zeytinci, Metin Yasar Yukselen and Cengiz Kosal. Temel
Batmaz Dandin, Fuat Buyukcivelek and Ahmet Ziya Oztoprak have been released
under probationary conditions despite the prosecutor's request for their
arrest.
Another
retired general, Abdullah Cahit Sarsılmaz, who gave his testimony earlier in
the day was released after the hearing.
"The
judiciary is fulfilling its own duty and, as the executive [body], we are doing
our part," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on February 14 in
response to reporters' questions about developments in the ongoing
investigation.
9. Population of Turkey estimated to be 84 million in
2023
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (14.02.13) reported that the population of Turkey is
expected to be 84,247,088 in 2023 according to "Population Projections
2013-2075" of Turkey's Statistical Authority.
Turkey's
Statistical Authority, Turkstat, announced on Thursday the results of
"Population Projections 2013-2075" research.
Elderly
population, people who are 65 years of age and over, was 5.7 million in 2012
with a proportion of 7.5% in the whole population and this population will
reach 8.6 million people with a proportion of 10.2% in 2023.
The
population of Turkey is expected to be 84,247,088 in 2023 and half of the
population of Turkey will be over 34 years old the same year.
While
the population of 60 provinces will increase, the population of 21 provinces
will decrease in 2023 compared to 2012 figures. The order of the most populous
four provinces will not change. The population of Istanbul, the most crowded
city in Turkey will be 16.6 million followed by Ankara which will increase to
5.9 million, the population of Izmir will be 4.4 million, and the population of
Bursa will be 3.1 million in 2023. The place of Adana, which is the fifth
populous province in 2012, will be taken by the province of Antalya with a
population of 2.6 million.
According
to the 2012 based population projections of United Nations, world population is
approximately 7 billion and 52 million. Turkey, which forms 1.1% of the world
population in 2012, is the 18th of most populated country. In 2075, world
population will increase to 9 billion and 905 million people. The rank of
Turkey will change as 24.
10. Turkish Cypriot is elected
dean of the University of Cyprus’s Faculty of Humanities with the votes of
Greek Cypriot professors
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (15.02.13)
reports that Turkish Cypriot academician Niyazi Kizilyurek has been elected as
dean of the Faculties of Humanities of the University of Cyprus. The paper
writes that 54 year old Kizilyurek received 19 votes against 12 of his Greek
Cypriot opponent. Kizilyurek was elected with the votes of Greek Cypriot
professors.
(I/Ts.)
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
