TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 38/13 22/2/13
1.
Atalay says they will grant the “citizenship” of the regime to 22 thousand
families of Turkish settlers
2.
Erolgu expects no change in the Greek Cypriot policy on the Cyprus problem
after the presidential elections
3.
Turkish sources refer to a need of changing the negotiator in the Cyprus talks
according to the circumstances
4.
Kucuk’s press conference on the “activities” of his “government”
5. The Cyprus problem has
been discussed at yesterday’s session of the so-called assembly; statements by
Yorgancioglu and Ozgurgun
6.
Press conference on the economic program of Turkey to the breakaway regime will
take place today with the participation of Kucuk and Akca
7. Turkey’s MFA confirms that Asil Nadir may return back to Turkey
7. Turkey’s MFA confirms that Asil Nadir may return back to Turkey
8.
Taekwondo world championship to be held in occupied Cyprus in Summer
9.
Syria, bilateral ties and EU the main
topics on Merkel’s agenda for her forthcoming visit to Turkey
10.
Turkish Justice Ministry approves BDP's delegation list of members which will
visit Ocalan in Imprali on Saturday
11.
The main political parties in Turkey agree to subordinate General Staff to
Defense Ministry in the framework of the new Constitution
12.
Another retired general was convicted for February 28 plot
13.
New city construction of Istanbul to begin in six months
14.
Turkey losing its ethnic tongues according a an UNESCO report
15. The breakaway regime is participating in the Free
Munich Messe Tourism Fair
1. Atalay says they will grant the “citizenship” of
the regime to 22 thousand families of Turkish settlers
Turkish Cypriot
daily Afrika newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the Turkish Deputy Prime
Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Besir Atalay, has said that they will
grant the citizenship of the breakaway regime to 22 thousand families.
According to the paper, “the reason why the Justice and Development party (AKP)
insistently wants Irsen Kucuk is coming to surface” and adds that “the citizenship
is being granted to 22 thousand families”.
The paper writes
that during a meeting held at the Turkish self-styled embassy in the occupied
part of Lefkosia last Monday, some insults were heard for the Cypriots and the
“ministers” of the breakaway regime. Chairmen of organizations of Turkish
settlers also attended the meeting. When some participants in the meeting said
that they consider Turkey’s interference [in the National Unity Party’s (UBP)
congress] to be “unfavorable”, Besir Atalay replied the following: “We are
working for you. We will make 22 thousand families TRNC citizens”.
According to the
paper, Atalay said that both former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas and
the current Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu were “unreligious” and added:
“They prevented the imam schools and the Koran courses in a Moslem community.
We want to work with Mr Irsen”.
Afrika writes
that tension existed during the meeting and that when self-styled minister
Ersan Saner said “hello, I am Ersan Saner”, in an attempt to introduce himself,
his hand remained in the air. AKP’s propaganda expert in the occupied area of
Cyprus, Erol Olcak did not shake Saner’s hand and told him: “pass over there, I
know you”. According to the paper, Erol Olcak complained that the self-styled
ministers of the regime “do not exert enough effort” in favor of Irsen Kucuk
for the UBP’s congress.
Meanwhile, in
statements at a press conference yesterday, self-styled prime minister of the
breakaway regime, Irsen Kucuk said that those [foreigners] who have worked in
the occupied area of Cyprus for over than five years could apply for being
granted the “citizenship” of the regime.
(I/Ts.)
2. Erolgu expects no change in the Greek Cypriot
policy on the Cyprus problem after the presidential elections
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader,
Dervis Eroglu has said that he expects no change in the policy of the Greek
Cypriot side by the President of the Republic who will be elected on Sunday’s
presidential elections in the government-controlled area of the Republic.
Addressing yesterday a delegation headed by the so-called TMT fighters’
association’s newly elected administrative council, Eroglu said he is always in
consultation with Turkey and that he had recently met with President Gul in
Cairo for about one hour. He noted that it is important for the Turkish
Cypriots to use time well and to be united.
Eroglu argued
that with “a wide propaganda” they should explain to the world what he called
as “the intransigent stance of the Greek Cypriot side”. He reiterated the
allegation that the world should see the “reality” that “there are a people
living under unjust embargoes”. He claimed: “…We are not in 1968 or 1974
anymore. We are in 2013. A long time passed since then, many things changed.
The realities must be seen and accepted”.
Eroglu alleged
that the “TRNC state” exists and that the world should see this reality. He
claimed that an agreement made taking into consideration the existing
“realities” could be lasting.
Referring to his
recent contacts in Egypt, Eroglu said that he had met with many heads of states
there, but the most important of his meetings was the one with the Turkish
President Gul. Eroglu argued that the “TRNC state” has started to be accepted.
“Our bad
neighbor has made us owners of state”, he alleged adding that in case the
so-called intransigence of the Greek Cypriots continues, the world will see
that the Turkish Cypriots are right and the decisions of some states could
become debatable.
(I/Ts.)
3. Turkish sources refer to a need of changing the
negotiator in the Cyprus talks according to the circumstances
Turkish Cypriot
daily Afrika newspaper (22.02.13) reports that high ranking officials from
Turkey told Kibris Postasi newspaper, that there was a need to change the
negotiator of the Turkish side in the Cyprus talks, who is the Turkish Cypriot
leader, according to the circumstances.
Replying to questions
on the issue, the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk said: “Such moves are
definitely discussed in the modern world. Why not being discussed in northern
Cyprus as well?”
Kucuk said that
in all the world such negotiations are held by the ministries of foreign
affairs and added that there was no obstacle in discussing the “legal grounds”
of a similar change in the “TRNC”, when the conditions of the day and the
changing world order is taken into consideration.
The paper argues
that presidential candidate and chairman of the Democratic Rally Party (DISY),
Nikos Anastasiades had stated that he would not participate in the negotiations
in case he won the presidential elections and that the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs would be given this authority.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Kucuk’s press conference on the “activities” of his “government”
According to illegal Bayrak television
(21.02.13) the so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk has briefed the public on
the activities of the “government” at a press conference held with members of
his cabinet.
The “premier” underlined the fact that
economic stability and growth was a priority for the “government’s policies”
and said that “motherland” Turkey’s continuous support is vital in realizing
this goal.
Kucuk told the press conference that
positive economic developments have taken place in the “TRNC” as a result of
austerity measures taken by his “government”. “I guarantee my people that the
year 2013 will be better, both in terms of economic growth and prosperity, as a
result of our new initiatives and motherland Turkey’s support. All sectors of
our country will benefit from the transition program for a sustainable economy
and new employment opportunities will be created with investments in various
sectors. Our major goal is to ensure the continuation of economic growth and
stability with reforms and financial arrangements as envisaged in the 2013-2015
economic program”, Kucuk stressed.
He also pointed to the significant level
of momentum gained in tourism and higher education sectors of the TRNC and
noted that his “government” will maintain its supportive policies to help the
further development of other sectors as well.
He went on saying that the “government”
has put its signature under important projects in various fields such as road
construction, road safety, e-state practices and health services. “Motherland
Turkey has always provided its support for our stable economic development. A
brighter future awaits us with new projects such as the transfer of water and
electricity from Turkey. The TRNC has overcome the global economic crisis with
slight losses, compared to other European countries such as south Cyprus and
Greece. We will continue to maintain our bilateral relations with Motherland
Turkey at the highest level, knowing that it is Turkey’s desire to see Turkish
Cypriots maintain their existence in security and prosperity. We will take the
TRNC state to a higher position, in unity with the motherland”, Kucuk also
said.
Reporting on Kucuk’s press conference
yesterday, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (22.02.13) writes that Kucuk
commenting on the fact that Eroglu has organized a press conference under the
title: “evaluation of south Cyprus’ elections”, said that he would not response
to Eroglu and pointed out this was an effort by Eroglu to give directions to
the UBP in the light of the congress.
Referring to the forthcoming UBP
congress, Kucuk said that he is consider as the favourite at the second round
of the congress and expressed his perception that he will definitely be the
winner.
Stating that the “election of the
president” is not included at the party’s agenda at the moment, Kucuk went on
and said that after the elections at the occupied Lefkosia municipality, the
“local and general elections” will take place. He added that he has no
intention to make a “reshuffle of the cabinet” until the “general elections”.
As regards his ties with the Turkish
Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, Kucuk said that he hasn’t have any personal
conflict with the “president” and added that they will continue their contacts
in every platform.
(…).
5.
The Cyprus problem has been discussed at yesterday’s session of the
so-called assembly; statements by Yorgancioglu and Ozgurgun
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar
(22.02.13) reports on the meeting of the so-called assembly yesterday, which
took place under the “chairmanship” of the so-called speaker of “assembly”
Hasan Bozer and writes that the Cyprus problem was among the matters being
discussed.
Speaking during the meeting of the “assembly”,
Ozkan Yorgancioglu, chairman of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party
(CTP) expressed criticism accusing to the so-called government, for excluding
the Cyprus problem from its agenda.
Saying that it is not possible to ignore
something that exists, Yorgancioglu said that if the Turkish Cypriots are
interested, developments were experienced abroad regarding the Cyprus problem.
Referring to the presidential elections
to take place in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus on Sunday, Yorgancioglu
said that the elections in “south Cyprus”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus,
are important for the Turkish Cypriots and said: “There would be developments
in the future since it will be determined who will be our interlocutor at the
Cyprus problem”.
Recalling that DISY leader Nikos
Anastasiades was ahead during the first round of the elections, Yorgancioglu
said that Anastasiades is expected to be the winner.
Referring to the statements made from EU
authorized organizations that the person to be elected as the President will
need a period of 3-4 months in order to solve the internal problem experienced,
Yorgancioglu pointed out that Cyprus negotiations talks are expected to be
resumed after this period.
Referring to Turkish-EU accession negotiation
talks, Yorgancioglu said that the Cyprus problem will be the main subject on
the agenda. He added that despite of this, in “north Cyprus” they are behaving
as if the Cyprus problem does not exist. He similarized this as the ostrich
which put its head into the sand.
Yorgancioglu spoke also of the
possibility that the Turkish Cypriots will not be able to interfere to the
solution of the Cyprus problem and not be able to carry out rational policies
and said that the process will be under the risk to stay out of circuit. He
went on and said that if they, in this country, will not submit a solution
proposal that will protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, then the
developments will not be in their favour. He warned also that the international
community may consider again the Turkish Cypriot side, as the side, which is
not willing the solution.
Yorgancioglu accused also the Turkish
Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu for decelerate actions.
Replying to the criticism expressed, the
so-called foreign minister, Huseyin Ozgurgun stressed the need for the Cyprus
problem to be discussed at the “assembly” more excessively, Ozgurgun said that
because of the elections in the “south” and their economic problems, the Cyprus
problem was kept behind. He spoke of the possibility of the talks to be resumed
on April.
Ozgurgun went on and alleged that due to
the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, not much progress has been
achieved at the Cyprus talks. He continued and said that there is a will for a
solution in the “north” of Cyprus, both in the “parliament” and in the
“people”, still, it is not possible as he said, to say the same for the Greek
Cypriot side.
Speaking on the possibility for
Anastasiades’ election, Ozgurgun said that they will see how far Anastasiades
is from the solution. Ozgurgun said that if they sit at the negotiation table
and accept the “equality” of the Turkish Cypriots, then the Cyprus problem will
be solved, as he said, adding that the solution will bring positive
developments to both sides of the island (...).
(AK)
6. Press conference on the economic program of Turkey to the
breakaway regime will take place today with the participation of Kucuk and Akca
Under the title “An important press conference”, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (22.02.13) reports that a press conference will take place today in occupied Cyprus regarding the 2013-2015 economic program signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime.
Under the title “An important press conference”, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (22.02.13) reports that a press conference will take place today in occupied Cyprus regarding the 2013-2015 economic program signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime.
According to the paper, the
self-style prime minister Irsen Kucuk, the Turkish “ambassador” to occupied
Lefkosia Halil Ibrahim Akca, the “economy and energy minister” Sunat Atun and
other “officials” will participate in the conference.
7.
Turkey’s MFA confirms that Asil Nadir may return back to Turkey
Under the title: “It confirmed Asil
Nadir’s return”, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (22.02.13) reports that the
spokesman of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Levent Gumrukcu
commenting on the allegations saying that the Turkish Cypriot businessman Asil
Nadir may return back to Turkey, has said that they were informed that the 5
million sterling pounds compensation that Asin Nadir should had to pay, have
been paid and added that at the current stage they should make an evaluation
with the British Ministry of Justice.
Gumrukcu went on and said that as soon
as the British authorities will decide on the issue, the Turkish and British
authorities will cooperate and work together on a judicial level.
(AK)
8. Taekwondo world championship to be held in
occupied Cyprus in Summer
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the issue of the Taekwondo world championship to be held in occupied Cyprus on June 2013, was discussed during a meeting held between the “speaker” of the self-styled assembly Hasan Bozer and a delegation of the Turkish Wushu and Aikido federation which is visiting the breakaway regime. The chairman of the “Turkish Cypriot National Olympic Committee”, Eyup Zafer Gokbilen also participated in the meeting.
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the issue of the Taekwondo world championship to be held in occupied Cyprus on June 2013, was discussed during a meeting held between the “speaker” of the self-styled assembly Hasan Bozer and a delegation of the Turkish Wushu and Aikido federation which is visiting the breakaway regime. The chairman of the “Turkish Cypriot National Olympic Committee”, Eyup Zafer Gokbilen also participated in the meeting.
According to the
paper, Gokbilen asked for Bozer’s support regarding the organization of the
championship.
9. Syria, bilateral ties and EU the main topics on
Merkel’s agenda for her forthcoming visit to Turkey
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (22.02.13)
reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is going to Turkey with an agenda
including Patriot missiles, Kurdish issue, Turkey’s EU accession and cultural
activities.
The German
Chancellor is set to pay a high-profile visit to Turkey with top German
businessmen accompanying her on a tour covering three cities in two days in an
attempt to further boost the strategic dialogue between the two partners.
Merkel, who last
appeared in the Turkish capital in 2010, will arrive in Gaziantep on Feb. 24
before heading to Kahramanmaraş, where 300 German soldiers have been deployed
along with two units of Patriot defense systems. Sparing her Feb. 24 late
afternoon to cultural activities, Merkel will visit Cappadocia where she is
also expected to meet Christians living in the area. Later she moved on to
Ankara on Feb. 25 for official talks with President Abdullah Gül and Premier
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. She will also pay her respects to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
with a visit to his mausoleum, the Anıtkabir. Merkel will also attend the CEO
Forum organized by the TUSİAD of Turkey and BID of Germany.
“Merkel’s visit
comes after a series of high-level visits from Germany to Turkey, including the
interior minister and his state secretary. According to German diplomatic
sources, the visit shows how deep and comprehensive bilateral relations between
the two nations are. Leader of the Social Democrat Party, Sigmar Gabriel will
also pay a visit to Turkey next week to meet with Erdogan and Kemal Kılıçdaroglu,
leader of the Republican People’s Party.”, writes the paper.
10. Turkish Justice Ministry approves BDP's
delegation list of members which will visit Ocalan in Imprali on Saturday
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the Turkish Justice Ministry
approved a list of deputies from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party
(BDP), who sought permission to visit the jailed leader of the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) as part of ongoing peace talks to disarm the PKK.
The deputies
will travel to İmralı Island, where jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is
serving a life sentence, on Saturday.
After a long
controversy over the deputies to be included in the delegation, the BDP on
Thursday announced that it had officially submitted to the Justice Ministry a
list of three -- Pervin Buldan, Altan Tan and Sırrı Sureyya Onder. The
delegation will meet with Ocalan as part of the talks aimed at resolving
Turkey's long-standing Kurdish problem.
Last week, the
party unofficially named Ahmet Turk, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish Democratic
Society Congress (DTK) and an independent deputy, BDP co-Chairperson Selahattin
Demirtaş and Buldan, the BDP parliamentary group deputy chairwoman, as the
politicians who will go to İmralı to meet with Ocalan.
However, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had reportedly rejected the BDP's unofficial
list, and the party had been asked to prepare a new list. The BDP made a new
list after a meeting on Thursday evening.
The first
meeting between Ocalan and Kurdish politicians as part of the negotiations took
place on Jan. 4 when Turk and BDP deputy Ayla Akat Ata visited İmralı.
In the meantime,
according to a news report in the Vatan daily on Thursday, the crisis over
which Kurdish politicians will go to İmralı to join the peace talks was jointly
resolved by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and Ocalan.
Erdogan wanted
moderate figures who will be able to ensure the continuation of the process
until the end to go to İmralı. MİT met with Ocalan to overcome the crisis.
Then, Ocalan's brother Mehmet visited him on İmralı. Ocalan gave the names of
Buldan, Onder and Tan to his brother, saying that he thinks the government will
have no objections for these names.
“If the
government also says ‘no' to these names, then I will begin to think there is a
bad intention behind this. If something like this happens, the [peace] process
will be in serious risk,” Ocalan reportedly told his brother.
During his first
meeting with Kurdish politicians Turk and Ata, Ocalan told them he expects to
see BDP co-chairpersons and the DTK co-chairperson together in the next meeting
but gave up insisting on the names of these politicians due to government's
sensitivities.
Meanwhile, the
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy chairman, Semih Yalçın, directed
criticism at the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, accusing
it of trying to ensure Ocalan's release from jail.
Independent
Diyarbakır deputy Leyla Zana also spoke about the peace talks in an interview
she gave to The New York Times on Tuesday. “In Turkey today, the death tolls on
both sides hurt society as a whole. The funds of this country, billions of
dollars, are spent on this conflict. The necessary condition is set for the
Kurdish question to be solved; this opportunity should not be wasted,” she told
the daily.
11. The main political parties in Turkey agree to
subordinate General Staff to Defense Ministry in the framework of the new
Constitution
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the four political parties with
members in the Constitutional Reconciliation Commission in Turkey, have reached
an agreement to subordinate the General Staff to the Ministry of Defense in the
new constitution.
According to the
existing constitution, the chief of General Staff is answerable to the prime
minister; however, the General Staff is not tied to the Prime Ministry and is
autonomous in the exercise of its duties and powers. According to many, the
constitution is an obstacle to the government's plans to end military tutelage
in Turkey.
The move to link
the General Staff to the ministry has received a thumbs-up from legal experts,
who say it will help normalize ties between the military and the government.
“This
[subordination of the General Staff to the ministry] was an expected and
required move. The fact that it has happened with the consensus of all four
political parties [in Parliament] is pleasing. Some political parties had made
independent attempts in the past to link the General Staff to the Defense
Ministry. That it has happened through consensus is important for Turkish
democracy,” stated Reşat Petek, a retired public prosecutor, in remarks to
Today's Zaman.
Members of the
parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation Commission from the four parties --
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the Republican People's
Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peace and Democracy
Party (BDP) -- are continuing to work on the new civilian constitution to
replace the existing one, which was drafted under martial law after the Sept. 12,
1980 military coup.
The commission
convened on Wednesday under the presidency of AK Party deputy Mustafa Şentop.
News reports later in the day, said that the parties agreed to put an article
in the constitution stipulating that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) shall be
subordinated to the Ministry of Defense. According to the article, the TSK
chief will be appointed by the president on the Cabinet's recommendation.
AK Party Deputy
Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş said he has defended the idea of linking the General
Staff to the Defense Ministry since 2009. “I have also stated on various
occasions that the National Security Council [MGK] should not be a
constitutional body,” he stated.
According to the
draft constitution, the President will remain commander-in-chief of the
country.
12. Another retired general was convicted for
February 28 plot
Ankara Anatolia
News Agency (21.02.13) reports that retired general Şukru Sarıışık, a former
secretary-general of the National Security Council (MGK) was convicted on
February21 after testifying in the ongoing Feb. 28 “postmodern coup” trial.
Sarıışık and Lt.
Gen. Dogan Temel were sent to an Ankara court for arrest earlier in the day.
Temel was released under probationary conditions.
The two former
generals are also both suspects in the “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) coup-plot case.
In September, Sarıışık was sentenced to 18 years for involvement in the
Sledgehammer case. Some 73 retired generals are now under arrest following the
latest wave of arrests in the investigation into the “postmodern coup” of Feb.
28, 1997.
Following a
petition from Ankara’s chief prosecutor, the court ordered the arrest of 11
retired generals last week, while seven other retired generals were released
under probationary conditions.
The “postmodern
coup,” or the “Feb. 28 process,” refers to a military intervention that forced
late ex-Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan to resign in 1997. Suspects who have
been detained so far in relation to the Feb. 28 investigation have been sent to
court on charges of “attempting to annul the government of the Republic of
Turkey,” or “attempting to partially or entirely block the government from
performing its duties.”
13. New city construction of Istanbul to begin in
six months
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily news (22.02.13) reports that city planners in Turkey have begun
drafting a master plan for a new city in Istanbul that is expected to become
home to 1.5 million people with an eye to launching construction on the site
within half a year, according to officials.
The Turkish
government has completed the preparations for the new urban area, which will be
constructed on the Black Sea.
The plans, which
will be prepared by a consortium consisting of Turkey’s Dome architecture
company, U.S. firm HOK and U.K. firm Buro Happold, will be completed within six
months. The firms will prepare the master plan of the urban area, as well as a
model project, videos and animation for presentations to relevant institutions.
The borders of
the city were defined by a protocol signed Dec. 24, 2012, by the Turkish
Transportation Ministry, the Environment and Urban Planning Ministry, the
Housing Settlement Administration (TOKİ) and the Emlak Konut real estate
investment trust (REIT), which is a subsidiary of TOKİ.
The new city
will consist of four different settlements with specified urban functions.
The government has
said it plans to make the city into a health and health tourism center, and
health investments in terms of a biomedical scientific park, integrated health
campuses with accommodation facilities and research and development centers are
anticipated to elevate the brand value of the city as a global health hub.
The third
Istanbul airport, which expected to be built by 2017, will be in the vicinity
of the new city. An Olympic village that is part of Istanbul’s prospective
effort to land the 2020 Olympic Games is also planned for the region. After the
Games, the area is slated to be repurposed as university and urban service
areas.
14. Turkey losing its ethnic tongues according a an
UNESCO report
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (22.02.13) reports that UNESCO figures show that 18
languages are endangered in Turkey. Three of them have already extinct. A
nongovernmental group blames ‘nation-state’ policies for the decline in
cultural richness.
Courses are not
sufficient for citizens to learn their mother tongues and families also lag
behind in teaching them to kids, a civil society organization says.
As the world
celebrates International Mother Language Day, an updated UNESCO report shows
that 15 out of 34 ethnic languages spoken in Turkey are in danger of dying out,
while three others have become extinct already.
The Anatolia
Research and Culture Association (AKA-DER), a body that is active in promoting
local cultures, held a demonstration in Istanbul yesterday to attract attention
to this fact.
“As the people
living on this soil, we have organized this rally to make our mother tongues,
which are at risk of dying, live on, to say that we do exist and to call on
everyone to lay a claim to their mother languages against policies to destroy
them,” said Altan Acıkdilli about the event.
Acıkdilli, who
is also among the pioneers of ethnic language courses, said nation-state
policies were to blame for the loss of dozens of languages once spoken in the
country.
“In the 1930s
and 1940s we could not speak our languages due to ‘Speak in Turkish, Citizen’
campaigns backed by the state and one language-one culture policies,” he told
the Hurriyet Daily News.
UNESCO ranks
endangered local languages in five categories from “vulnerable” to “extinct.”
Ubykh, Masho and
Cappadocian Greek have already become extinct, the body says. Hervetin is in
critical danger.
Mother tongue
education, a recent improvement at Turkish schools, should be secured well, Acıkdilli
also said. “For mother tongue education to be successful, we should immediately
withdraw from racist, monotype policies,” he said. Despite the efforts by the
association, it is hard to learn mother tongues at schools, Acıkdilli said.
“A mother language
is taught in the environment that a kid lives in, with lullabies and
fairytales, but families do not teach mother languages to their children.”
15. The
breakaway regime is participating in the Free Munich Messe Tourism Fair
Illegal Bayrak television (22.02.13) reports that the occupation regime is participating in the Free Munich Messe Fair which is taking place in Germany.
Illegal Bayrak television (22.02.13) reports that the occupation regime is participating in the Free Munich Messe Fair which is taking place in Germany.
The fair is a well-known Tourism exhibition according
to Bayrak. The breakaway regime will participate with a 40-square-metre pavilion.
The fair will be opened until 24 of February.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
