TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
6/2/13
1.
The Turkish Prime Minister alleged that the Republic of Cyprus is not a state
but an administration
2.
Erdogan: Being denied EU membership not end of world
3. Eroglu to Cairo for the
OIC meeting; He met with Gul today
4.
Illegal Turkish settlers are establishing a political party in the occupied
area of Cyprus
5. The occupation regime
granted the “citizenship” to four more persons; Unverdi on “migration amnesty
law”
6.
Settlers of the Turkish Midyat town live in the breakaway regime
7.
Turkey reportedly blocked Israeli NATO steps
8.
US government reportedly to pursue a legal case against the organization
claimed responsibility for bomb attack on the US embassy
9.
Top Council of Europe official says Turkey must work on press freedom
10.
Turkey wants to build a pipeline to import natural gas from northern Iraq
11. Arabacioglu the candidate of DP for the forthcoming
“elections” in the “municipality” of occupied Lefkosia
12.
Buffavento castle in occupied Keryneia in a bad condition
1. The Turkish Prime Minister alleged that the
Republic of Cyprus is not a state but an administration
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (06.02.13) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan gave a speech at Budapest's ELTE University and criticized the
European Union for granting membership to Cyprus, “despite the reunification
refusal among the Greek population in 2004’s referendum”, as he alleged. He
also claimed that after the global financial crisis the Mediterranean island
has gradually become a burden for other EU members.
Erdogan made the
following allegations: “They admitted south Cyprus and now they are paying the
price. [The president of Cyprus,
Demetris] Christofias said the other day that they went bankrupt. Now [the EU] will
have to support [Cyprus],”.
He went on and claimed that membership of some countries had nothing to do with
the European acquis as they were admitted for “pure ideological sake” and alleged
that Cyprus
was one of them. He also called upon countries that pushed for a two-state
solution to “embrace their promises.”
“To begin, south
Cyprus
is not a state, it’s an administration. There is no such thing as Cyprus as a country.
There is the Greek Administration of South Cyprus and there is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the
north of the green line,” Erdogan alleged.
In addition,
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (06.02.13) reports that speaking to journalists
who accompanied him to Prague, Erdogan stated that Turkey only refused to
comply with the [additional protocol to the] Ankara Agreement, which
necessitates opening ports and harbors to the “Greek Cyprus Administration”, a
country that according to Erdogan Turkey doesn't recognize, but the EU has
completely ignored the timeline scheduled out for Turkey's membership process,
as he alleged.
“There is a timeline that has been agreed on;
this has to happen in six years, thus within 12 years. When you look at it,
none of these are followed properly. They have been keeping us engaged all this
time.” He said for Turkey
to sign the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement, the Turkish Parliament
has to ratify it first. “And such ratification necessitates a constitutional
majority. There is a risk here. This will come up later for us as a price to
pay.”
2. Erdogan: Being denied EU membership not end of
world
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (06.02.13) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on a three-day visit to Central Europe, during
which he has been giving messages directed at EU officials, has described the
bloc's stance regarding Turkey as “disrespectful,” and said that being an
EU-reject is not the end of the world.
He explained to
Turkish journalists accompanying him in Prague on Tuesday, that his interest in
joining international organizations such as the Shanghai Five or the ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) are part of his approach to gain a
larger market for Turkey and Turkish products.
Speaking about Turkey's EU
process, he claimed that Turkey
was currently continuing to fulfill its obligations rising out of EU membership
negotiations. However, he noted that Turkey's membership process began
in 1959 and was accelerated in 1963. “And we have been patient all this time.
How far we have come? When you look, there is the customs union [1996] and the Helsinki summit [1999],
when Turkey
was given candidate status] and the official start of Turkey's negotiations.
We can call these three important steps. Except these three, they only engaged
us. Has any other country been treated like this? No. This is in essence
disrespect to Turkey.
What is more natural than us expressing this situation?”
He further said:
“But is the EU a sine qua non for Turkey? Let me say that too, it is
not something we can't do without. It is not the end of the world if they don't
accept us to the EU. And the world is still here. We are still continuing on
our path in a stable manner.”
Erdogan said that
when Turkey
was officially approved as a candidate country, it had taken a great effort.
“We had one open and closed chapter. Then the governments in France and Germany
changed. No chapters were closed. There are 13 chapters [being negotiated]
opened in total still,” he said. He noted that although former President
Nicolas Sarkozy promised him that he would be supportive of Turkey's EU
membership prior to his election, he became an obstacle in the way of full
membership. “With Mrs. Merkel, we opened two chapters during her term in
office, but no chapters were closed again. It doesn't have any significance if
there are no chapters being closed.”
He also said
that it was his responsibility as the prime minister of a country of 76 million
to tell his people and the world about the situation regarding the EU process.
“And the world has to know about this.” He said the Shanghai Five or ASEAN were
not alternative searches, emphasizing that none of these international
organizations constitute an alternative to another.
Erdogan also
criticized the Turkish opposition, for not being supportive of the EU process
initially. He said the opposition has criticized the government that Turkey's
membership in the Shanghai Five might be problematic as a NATO member.
Finally, Erdogan
said that his government is determined about completing the EU process.
3.
Eroglu to Cairo
for the OIC meeting; He met with Gul today
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes
(06.02.13) the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu departed yesterday for Cairo via Istanbul in order to
participate in the 12th meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation
(OIC).
Eroglu went to Cairo upon an invitation by the general
secretary of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.
As the paper writes, Eroglu is
represented at the OCI meeting as the “president” of the occupation regime.
Also, in the framework of the OIC meeting, Eroglu will carry out contacts with
the “secretariat” of the OIC as well as with representatives of member states
of the OIC.
Eroglu’s contacts and his participation
in the meeting is expected to contribute to the further development of the ties
of the occupation regime with OIC’s member states, writes the paper.
Eroglu is expected also to call OIC
member states to further develop their bilateral ties with the breakaway regime
and to take concrete steps for the lifting of the “unjust embargoes”.
Eroglu and his accompanied delegation
which is composed by his “special representative” Osman Ertug, the “Director” of the “Department for
relations” with the OIC Kemal Koprulu and Gunes Onar from the Turkish Cypriot side’s
negotiation team were welcomed by Egyptian states officials and the Turkish
Ambassador to Cairo.
Meanwhile, the paper writes that the
Greek Cypriot-Greek lobby failed to prevent Eroglu’s visit and contacts to
Cairo.
Eroglu is expected to return to the
occupied area of Cyprus
on February 8 after completing his contacts.
Meanwhile, the website
www.gundemkibris.com (06.02.12) reports in its latest news that the Turkish
Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu continues his contacts in Cairo.
According to the report, within the
framework of his contacts in Cairo,
Eroglu met in the morning with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
4. Illegal Turkish settlers are establishing a
political party in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily Star Kibris newspaper (06.02.13) reports that “People’s Justice Council”
(HAK), a formation established by illegal Turkish settlers in the occupied area
of Cyprus,
is moving step by step towards “appearing in the political arena” in the
occupied area of the island.
According to the
paper, the target of “HAK” is at the first stage to enter into the race of the
“municipal elections” to be held in the occupied part of Lefkosia, by
supporting an “independent candidate” and afterwards to become “an alternative
political party” in the “general elections” and the “presidential elections”
planned for 2014.
Citing
statements by a “reliable source”, Star Kibris writes that “HAK” will not be
turned into a political party, but it will participate in a new formation,
which is on the way. The source said that the new formation will be a “mass
party”, which will be embracing “all peoples without taking into consideration
political views and different ethnic origin”.
(I/Ts.)
5.
The occupation regime granted the “citizenship” to four more persons; Unverdi
on “migration amnesty law”
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (06.02.12)
reports that while the discussions for the “citizenship” continue, the
so-called council of minister has granted the “citizenship” of the breakaway
regime to four more persons including an old-man who is 81 years old.
According to the “official gazette” of
the occupation regime which was published yesterday, the occupation regime’s
“citizenship” was granted to the following:
-Hakan Moral born in Terme district in Turkey
-Ali Topuz, born in Cayeli, Turkey
-Emil Guzelis, born in Istanbul, Turkey
-Kemal Taukcuoglu, born in Saudiye, Turkey.
The paper underlines the fact that in
spite of the reactions expressed against the “UBP
government”, still it continue the “granting” of the occupation regime’s
citizenship since it has decided to “grant” the “citizenship” in every meeting
of the “council of ministers”.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan
(06.02.13) reports that the so-called minister of labour and social security,
Serife Unverdi, in statements yesterday while meeting with a delegation,
referred, inter alia, to the issue of the illegal workers and said that since
last February when they implemented the “migration amnesty law”, a total of
10.000 persons were benefited from this “law”, since they applied for legal
registration. She added that the “law” was implemented in order to exclude
illegal workers.
AK
6. Settlers of the Turkish Midyat town live in the
breakaway regime
Illegal Bayrak
television (06.02.13) broadcast information about settlers from the Turkish
Midyat town and reports that a delegation of the Midyat Integration and
Cooperation Association in Turkey, headed by its chairman Faysal Dagdelen is
illegally visiting the breakaway regime.
According to
Bayrak, during a meeting the delegation held with the self-styled finance
minister Irsen Tatar, Dagdelen said that the aim of their visit is develop
relations between Turkish Cypriots and migrants from Midyat living in the breakaway
regime.
Tatar on his
part stated that “integration” is very important and
added that “people who moved to the island from Midyat were now TRNC citizens”.
“Calling on
everyone living in the TRNC to unite in order for a brighter future for the
TRNC subjected to unjust embargoes and isolation, Tatar alleged.
Midyat is an
originally an Assyrian town in the province
of Mardin in Turkey.
7. Turkey
reportedly blocked Israeli NATO steps
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (06.02.13) reports that Turkey blocked North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) initiatives taken towards the inclusion of Israel in the
organization, according to statements made by the Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan was
speaking on the possibility of cultural differences as the cause of the
European Union’s five-decade delay, when he said it was possible that the union
was “hesitant because the members will not be able to do everything they want
when Turkey gets in,” likening the situation to that of NATO”.
“Are we not in
NATO with these countries?” Erdogan asked, recalling that Turkey is the
only country in the pact with a Muslim population.
“We, as Turkey, would
stop wrong steps [in NATO]. Thus, we saw such steps towards Israel’s
inclusion in NATO. We prevented that,” Erdogan said. “We have our own red
lines. For us, to be involved in NATO with Israel is never considerable. To be
with such a cruel understanding would conflict with our structure, history and
culture.”
8. US
government reportedly to pursue a legal case against the organization claimed
responsibility for bomb attack on the US embassy
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (06.02.13) report that the US Ambassador to Turkey Francis
Ricciardone said that the US Justice Department has the authority to pursue a
legal case against the far-left organization in Turkey that claimed
responsibility for Friday's suicide bomb attack on the US embassy in Ankara.
He made these
statements speaking at the opening of a conference on Turkish-US ties hosted by
the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization (USAK). The
conference was titled “Obama's Second Term: Realism, Change and Continuity in
Turkey-US Relations,”
“We can open a
case against the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C). It
might be a secret indictment,” he said, stressing that Turkish and American
officials have been working together to develop the best evidence to hold up in
court in an effort to go after the terrorist organization.
Recalling that US law allows
authorities to go after conspirators beyond American borders, the ambassador
said the US
can step up international cooperation in prosecuting the DHKP/C terrorist
organization. “The DHKP/C is not ashamed of it [the attack]. They brag about
it. Your government has a lot of evidence [against the group]. We can use that
evidence to build a case that will hold up in the courtroom,” he said.
In addition,
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (06.02.13) reports that speaking on the conference
Ricciardone stated that Turkish-US relations deepened even further after the
attack on the US Embassy in Ankara
last week, adding that “terrorism cannot damage the relationship between the
two countries”.
Ricciardone
stated that the relationship between the two countries was much more mature and
stronger than ever. “Not only in the terms of military alliance but we are
engaged to each other in many other terms, including economy,” said the US
ambassador.
“I am more optimistic regarding the relationship between Turkey and the US than I was
when I first arrived in Turkey
a few years ago,” said Ricciardone.
9. Top Council of Europe official says Turkey must
work on press freedom
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (06.02.13) reports that citing a large number of cases pending against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) that involve freedom of expression, Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland said in Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey should take more steps to address the shortcomings.
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (06.02.13) reports that citing a large number of cases pending against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) that involve freedom of expression, Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland said in Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey should take more steps to address the shortcomings.
He said that despite steps taken by the
government in past years to expand the boundaries of freedom of expression,
there seem to be more steps, especially mentality-wise, adding that Turkey should
make an effort to comply with the Council of Europe's standards given that the
number of cases pending against Turkey in the ECtHR in the field of freedom of
expression stands at 450.
“This is simply
too much,” commented Jagland, speaking at the High Level Conference on Freedom
of Expression and Media Freedom in Turkey on Tuesday, referring to the high
figure.
At the
conference in Ankara, held as part of a joint project Turkey and the Council of
Europe which started more than a year ago, in order to enable Turkey to raise
its standards in judicial verdicts regarding freedom of speech and media
freedom, Jagland underlined in his opening speech that freedom of expression is
the founding pillar of democracy and that the need for action is evident in
Turkey.
This is still a
major issue for Turkey,
considering that two-thirds of all cases in which the ECtHR ruled against Turkey so far
are, related to freedom of expression.
Since a previous
conference, held 14 months ago in Ankara,
Turkey and the
Council of Europe have started working together to address the main challenges
in law and in practice related to freedom of expression identified by the court
in its judgments concerning Turkey.
Jagland, who also praised Turkey's
efforts to bring the country's legislation in line with CoE standards,
expressed his hope that the fourth reform package -- which Justice Minister
Sadullah Ergin affirmed at the conference would be brought before Parliament
soon -- would include the necessary legislative amendments. “What is needed is
a complete overhaul of the Counterterrorism Law [TMK],
as well as amendments to the Turkish Penal Code [TCK],” the secretary-general
added.
Some of Turkey's
cases before the court refer to the offence of “praising a crime or a criminal”
and “disseminating propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization”, while
other cases relate to punishing defamation against certain national values and
state bodies. Referring to a previous judgment of the court, “Freedom of
expression may offend; it may even shock,” he noted.
For Jagland,
protecting journalists and freedom of expression is protecting democracy. He
noted that according to the case law of the court, politicians should accept
that their words and actions are open to a higher degree of scrutiny by both
journalists and the public at large. “They should therefore be cautious when
they initiate criminal or civil defamation cases. This can have a serious
chilling effect on freedom of expression and the media,” he cautioned,
seemingly in reference to statements by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
targeting some media outlets.
10. Turkey
wants to build a pipeline to import natural gas from northern Iraq
Turkish daily
Hurriyet newspaper (06.02.13) reports that according to backstage information, Turkey is
preparing to make an agreement with what it calls “northern Iraq” in the
field of energy and especially on the issue of natural gas. Under the title
“Preparation for a special package for Iraq”, the paper says it is
estimated that the agreement will include the building of a pipeline and the
transfer of at least 10 billion square meters of natural gas annually from
northern Iraq
to Turkey.
It is expected
that this natural gas will be cheaper than the one purchased from Iran and Russia. At the
same time, it is noted that a new pipeline is also needed in addition to the
existing “Crude Oil Pipeline” between Turkey and Iraq.
According to the
paper, analysts say that building pipelines for oil and natural gas is
strategically not possible without the approval of Iraq’s central government. Hurriyet
writes that the USA
supports that an “independent energy agreement” could lead Iraq to
partition.
According to
paper’s information, the “new package” of Turkey is being prepared in view of
Prime Minister Erdogan’s forthcoming visit to the USA. The package will be
“multidimensional” and include cooperation in various fields, not only in
energy.
Turkey’s needs
in oil and natural gas, are by 92% and 98% respectively depended on imports,
says the paper.
(I/Ts.)
11.
Arabacioglu the candidate of DP for the forthcoming “elections” in the
“municipality” of occupied Lefkosia
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (06.02.13)
reports that the Democratic Party (DP) has announced yesterday after the
meeting of the party council that determined Mustafa Aranacioglu as the party’s
candidate for the forthcoming “elections” in the “municipality” of occupied
Lefkosia.
In statements on the issue, the chairman
of DP Serdar Denktas said that Arabacioglu was informed about the party’s decision
and accepted to be candidate of DP with pleasure.
AK
12.
Buffavento castle in occupied Keryneia in a bad condition
Under the front-page title: “Betrayal to
the history”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (06.02.13) publishes photos from the
Buffavento castle locate in occupied Pentadakytlos mountain range (Keryneia)
and writes that the castle, which is consider one of the most important
historical monuments in “north Cyprus”, is in a very bad condition since is
full of garbage, animal droppings and the walls are full of inscriptions.
The paper writes that a German tourist
called Joachim Etzold who had visited the Buffavento castle, had a conduct with
the paper and expressed his reaction and disappointment over the view his saw.
In statements to the paper, Etzold
describe as a “betrayal to the history” what he saw at the Buffavento castle
and stressed the need for the historical monument to be protected, calling the
“officials” to take measures the soonest.
AK
