TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
8/2/13
2.
Turkey to host upcoming OIC summit
3. Erdogan reiterated again
his known allegations that there is not a state under the name Cyprus
4. BKP reacts to Erdogan’s
remarks
5.
Turkish newspapers refer to the explorations for oil and natural gas in Cyprus’
EEZ
6.
CTP delegation met with Papandreou in the sidelines of Social International Council
and invited him to occupied Cyprus
7.
Ozgurgun on the Pyla incident
8.
Turkey-US tension takes American envoy to the Turkish Foreign Ministry
9.“Turkey-US at a Kurdish impasse”
9.“Turkey-US at a Kurdish impasse”
10.
Turkey awaiting concrete sign of French support for EU bid
11.
Erdogan: Azeri-Turkish Trans Anatolia Pipeline gas project set to start in 2013
12. “Iraqi Kurds signal ‘Baghdad out' in Turkey pipeline bid”
12. “Iraqi Kurds signal ‘Baghdad out' in Turkey pipeline bid”
13. Illegal GAU signed a cooperation
protocol with TURKSOY
1. Reference to Cyprus in OIC’s decision satisfies
Eroglu
Turkish Cypriot
daily Vatan newspaper (08.02.13) reports that the 12th Islamic
Summit Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which ended
yesterday in Cairo, adopted a paragraph on Cyprus in its final decision. The
paragraph reportedly says that they appreciate what they called as
“constructive efforts” exerted by the Turkish Cypriots in the direction of
achieving a solution to the Cyprus
problem that is acceptable by both sides. The decision urged also the
member-states to show active solidarity with the so-called Turkish Cypriot
state.
According to
illegal Bayrak television, in the part of the decision regarding Cyprus, regret
is expressed because no result has been achieved in the negotiations launched
in 2008 within the framework of UN Secretary-General’s good offices mission.
The same source reported that the decision expresses support to a just,
comprehensive and lasting solution based on the “founding power” of the “two
peoples” in Cyprus
and the “joint ownership of the island”.
In statements
after the decision, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu said that they
saw the benefits of their contacts and expressed his satisfaction with the fact
that positive expressions regarding the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, are included in the decision of a summit during
which big world issues such as Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Mali came into
prominence. He said the Turkish Cypriot delegation had the opportunity to meet
with the heads of states and government officials of Islamic countries and
expressed the belief that this meeting will lead to the increase of solidarity
among the Islamic countries.
Eroglu argued
that in case the decision on Cyprus
is implemented, the dialogue and the cooperation of the breakaway regime with
the OIC and its member states will increase. He said: “The important thing is
to increase dialogue. Here we established contact with officials of many
countries. We invited some of them to our country. We do not say that we do not
face problems deriving from being a non-recognized state, but meeting with
heads of states and listening to their problems and views is very important.
Expressions we wanted regarding Cyprus
have been included in the final decision in a summit during which world
problems such as Egypt,
Syria,
Palestine, Somalia and Mali came to
prominence. This will be distributed to all Islamic countries and be evaluated
by the competent authorities”.
Meanwhile,
Eroglu gave interviews to Al Ahram newspaper and Anatolia Agency’s Arabic
Bureau. According to Eroglu, the fact that in the decision the “TRNC” is
considered as an equal side in the negotiating process for finding a solution
in Cyprus
is important.
Eroglu said that
they expect more support from the Islamic countries and noted that they have
given incentives for investments in occupied Cyprus in the field of tourism from
Islamic countries. Eroglu added: “We
expect from the Islamic countries not to comply with the embargo in transports
implemented on us by the EU. There are no direct flights from the Islamic
countries to the TRNC. We want this to happen”.
Eroglu alleged
that the relations of Egypt
with the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus will be developed, because
President Mursi closely cooperates with Turkey. He added that they were
encouraged that this will be positively reflected on Egypt’s relations with the
breakaway regime.
Eroglu said that
the religious men could contribute in the development of their relations with
Islamic countries and added that their religious affairs “deportment” is
holding the necessary contacts.
Finally, Eroglu
met yesterday with Ikbal Riza, the representative of the UN Secretary-General
in the summit and conveyed his regards to Ban Ki-moon. Last night the Turkish
Cypriot leader hosted a dinner in Cairo
for representatives of some think tanks, academicians, business circles and
media.
(I/Ts.)
2. Turkey
to host upcoming OIC summit
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (07.02.13) reports that Turkey will host the 13th Summit meeting
of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Egyptian
President Mohamed Morsi announced on Thursday that Turkey would host the upcoming OIC Summit
in 2016.
Speaking at the
closing session of the 12th Summit
meeting of the OIC in Cairo,
Morsi said the member countries agreed on Turkey's hosting the upcoming
summit.
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul, attending the Summit, thanked member
states for choosing Turkey
as the host country.
3.
Erdogan reiterated again his known allegations that there is not a state under
the name Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (08.02.13)
reports on statement by the Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan who reiterated
yesterday during his speech at the Turkish-Slovakian Business Forum exactly the
same positions he expressed in Hungary the other day and during his meeting
with the Slovakian Premier yesterday, that “there is no state in the world
under the name Cyprus” but there is “the Greek Cypriot administration in the
south”. He continued and said: «Why
there is not? Because there is a green line through them and how can you say
that there is a Cyprus
state in a place where there are UN’s forces? And because there is a structure
of a different state in the south, an administration structure and call it what
you want.., in North Cyprus as well, there is
a state structure. I don’t care if it is not recognized by everyone but Turkey has
recognized the TRNC. And now, North Cyprus has
passed in the OIC under the name Turkish Cypriot state, exactly as it was
called at the Annan plan”. Erdogan stressed also the need for “pacta sund
servanda” [translator’s note: (Latin for "agreements must be kept"),
is a brocard, a basic principle of civil law and of international law] and also
the need to be honest and said: “We will not be a burden for the EU but on the
contrary we are a country that will receive burdens from the EU”.
Erdogan referred also to the situation
in Cyprus
and said: “(…) South Cyprus’ situation distance a lot from the obedience to the
EU acquis communautaire. The case is totally “ideological, totally
ideological…”.
Referring to the negotiations for the
Annan Plan, Erdogan said that they did not accepted Greek Premier’s demand for
the postponement of the signing of the plan, explaining that they kept their
promises and putted their signature.
AK
4.
BKP reacts to Erdogan’s remarks
Under the title: “Reaction to Erdogan
came only from the BKP”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (08.02.13) reports that
the United Cyprus Party (BKP) in a written statement yesterday, expressed
strong criticism to the Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has stated,
the other day, that “there is no country with the name Cyprus”. The statement
stresses that Erdogan’s remarks are insulting for the Turkish Cypriots first
and then for the Cypriot people.
In the written statement, Abdullah
Korkmazhan, organizational secretary of BKP has said that Erdogan is wrongly
informed about the history and the geography of Cyprus.
5. Turkish
newspapers refer to the explorations for oil and natural gas in Cyprus’
EEZ
Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (07.02.13) referred
to the signing of agreements between the Republic of Cyprus and ENI and TOTAL companies for explorations for oil
and natural gas in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and reported that in
spite of all the objections by Turkey and the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the island, the “Greek Cypriot administration”, as the paper calls the
Republic of Cyprus, which “has divided into plots Eastern Mediterranean” and
“created crisis” in the area by giving one part to American Noble Energy
Company, continues its actions.
Under the title “The plot is so-called, the signature
is real”, Omer Bilge, Hurriyet’s correspondent in the occupied area of Cyprus,
reported that two plots were given to French TOTAL company and three to Italian
ENI company, while Israel was made
a partner in parcel 12, where American Noble Energy had found natural gas last
year and “caused crisis”.
The paper published a map and a picture of the area as
well as a picture from the signing ceremony with TOTAL.
The paper recalled that after Noble Energy had found
natural gas in the area, Turkey
and the breakaway regime gave a so-called license to Turkish Petroleum
Corporation (TPAO) to carry out seismic explorations in the same area. It also
recalled that according to Turkey’s
plans, after the vessel named Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa, which was recently
purchased by TPAO, finishes its seismic explorations in the Black
Sea, it will hold explorations in the same area in the Mediterranean.
Revealing Turkey’s plans to create tension in
the area, the paper wrote: “it seems that the waters will heat up for good with
Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa vessel’s coming down to the Mediterranean”.
Meanwhile, writing in his column in Turkish daily
Hurriyet newspaper (08.02.13), Ertugrul Ozkok refers, inter alia, to the same
issue under the title “I have written one under the other things we found out
during the last 48 hours and the following picture occurred”. Under the
subtitle “We said we will send the fleet, but South Cyprus
did not listen”, Ozkok reports that “south Cyprus”, as he describes the Republic of Cyprus, has divided into plots the
reserves of oil and natural gas in Eastern Mediterranean,
in spite of Turkey’s
objections and “even its threats for war”.
Ozkok goes on and writes the following on the issue:
“Yesterday it announced that it gave five of its parcels, two to French TOTAL
and three to Italian ENI Company.
In the same area Israel
has become a partner to parcel 12 given before to American Noble Energy. The
meaning of this is the following: Not only south Cyprus, but also France, Italy, Israel and America now is
against Turkey
in Eastern Mediterranean for which Turkey strongly
objects and considers that it has also rights”.
Furthermore, writing in Turkish daily Milliyet
newspaper (08.02.13), columnist Melih Asik argues that the “Mediterranean
belongs now to the Greek Cypriot –Israeli partnership”. The article’s title is “Mediterranean
is theirs”.
(I/Ts.)
6. CTP delegation met with Papandreou in the
sidelines of Social International Council and invited him to occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (08.02.13) reports that a delegation of the
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) participated in the Social International Council
which took place in Lisbon,
Portugal
between 4-5 of February.
CTP was
represented in the Council by Lefkosia
“MP” with CHP and Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ozdil Nami
and member of the party’s Foreign Affairs
bureau Armagan Candan.
In the sideline
of the Council, CHP delegation met
with PASOK Chairman George Papandreou with whom it discussed the Cyprus problem.
Papandreou was invited to visit occupied Cyprus. The delegation also held a
meeting with the chairman of the Republican People’s Party of Turkey, Kemal
Kilicdaroglu.
7. Ozgurgun on the Pyla incident
Illegal Bayrak
television (07.02.13) reports that the self-styled minister of foreign affairs
Hüseyin Özgürgün evaluated
the postponement of match in the mixed village of Pyla
and said that the British High Commission has apologized to the breakaway
regime over the incident experienced at the Pile crossing point last week.
Several players
from the Akanthou Greenhouse Growers Football Club and a referee were prevented
from crossing into the mixed village
of Pile to play a match
with the Pyla Sports Club on the grounds that they were settlers.
Ozgurgun said
that the Deputy British High Commissioner who contacted him apologized over the
incident, stating that the players had been prevented as a result of a
misunderstanding. “He reassured us that the British government would never
again allow the repetition of this incident. He said that both the match and
other sports activities can continue”, Ozgurgun alleged.
He added that
the matter had been solved in a positive atmosphere.
In addition,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (08.02.13) reports that various sport
“officials” of the breakaway regime visited yesterday PYla in order to show
their support towards the footballers.
Among the
persons who visited the village, was the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot
Football Federation, Hasan Sertoglu, the general coordinator of the “ministry”
of education and sport Suleyman Goktas and the chairman of the Turkiosh Cypriot
sport journalists association, Ogun Genc Kacmaz. They all expressed the desire
such incidents not to be repeated again, according to the paper.
8. Turkey-US tension takes American envoy to the
Turkish Foreign Ministry
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (08.02.13) reports that Turkey and the United States have found themselves embroiled in new tension after the U.S. envoy received a dressing down from Turkish officials yesterday in the wake of critical comments from the ambassador.
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (08.02.13) reports that Turkey and the United States have found themselves embroiled in new tension after the U.S. envoy received a dressing down from Turkish officials yesterday in the wake of critical comments from the ambassador.
The criticisms
directed towards Ambassador Francis Ricciardone came in the wake of senior
American officials’ reactions to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s
statements on Israel,
as well as their criticisms on the undemocratic nature of the Turkish judicial
system.
Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu expressed Ankara’s discomfort with the recent events in
an unprecedentedly long meeting with Ricciardone that lasted for two hours and
15 minutes.
Although the
meeting took place upon the request of the U.S. embassy to thank Turkish
officials over their efforts in the aftermath of last week’s suicide bombing at
the embassy, Ricciardone’s recent statements and other top issues regarding
cooperation against terrorism were brought to the agenda, according to sources.
“We have
conveyed our unease with his statements. This is unacceptable, we told him. And
we also expressed that this should not happen again,” a diplomatic source said
after the meeting.
The two men
discussed issues raised in Ricciardone’s meeting with journalists on Feb. 6, a
U.S. Embassy official told the Hürriyet Daily News. “The undersecretary made
clear his government’s disappointment at what he saw as interference in Turkey’s
domestic affairs. The ambassador respectfully pointed out the importance to Turkey’s
friends and allies of Turkey’s
steady progress in strengthening the rule of law and protections of human
rights, and urged a careful reading of the full text of the Feb. 5
conversation, which is available on the U.S. Embassy website.”
In the meantime,
there were reports that Ricciardone sent a letter to Hüseyin Çelik, number two
of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), expressing an apology of what he
said. But the U.S.
embassy official denied this report, saying, “The ambassador did not provide an
apology letter.”
During a recent
meeting with Ankara
media bureau chiefs, Ricciardone had criticized the arrests of military
officers, non-violent protesters and professors on unclear charges. “You have
your military leaders, who were entrusted with the protection of this country,
behind bars as if they were terrorists,” he said, referring to hundreds of
military officers behind bars as part of the ongoing “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) and other court
cases.
“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. We are working to
reconcile our legal processes in both countries,” he said.
Meanwhile, in
her daily press briefing on Feb. 7, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Victoria
Nuland argued that there was nothing new in Ricciardone’s comments on Turkey.
“This is nothing
new from our point of view. We have always been very clear on these issues
before the public and during private meetings. Ambassador Ricciardone only
repeated what [former] Secretary of State Clinton has already said, and I am
sure that Secretary of State John Kerry will say the same things when he has
the opportunity to speak in public on these issues,” Nuland told reporters.
Nuland added
that the friends and allies of Turkey
would continue to insist, with due respect, on the importance of improving
human rights in Turkey.
9. “Turkey-US at a Kurdish impasse”
Under the above title
columnist Murat Yetkin writes in
Hurriyet Daily News (08.02.13) the following about the crisis between USA and Turkey:
“In the morning
hours of Feb. 7, Turkish news stations filed urgent stories saying that Francis
Ricciardone, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara,
had been summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The night before, the ruling
Justice and Development Party’s (AK Parti) influential media spokesman Hüseyin
Çelik had harshly criticized Ricciardone for his criticism of the prolonged and
not clearly justified arrests of journalists, academics, and lawyers -
including opposition members of the Turkish Parliament - in a press briefing on
Feb. 4. Many assumed that Ricciardone was going to face questions and perhaps a
protest about his words on the Turkish legal system. Yet it was soon understood
that Ricciardone had requested an appointment to talk to Foreign Ministry officials.
Officially, he wanted to express his gratitude to the Turkish police for its
efforts following the suicide bombing against the U.S. Embassy building in Ankara on Feb. 1.
Ricciardone held
nearly two hours of talks with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun
Sinirlioğlu.
It was obvious
that both sides had something to say to each other. Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdoğan is very sensitive about any criticism of the judicial process in Turkey, which
puts the government in a difficult position not only in Turkey (Erdoğan
himself being critical of prolonged arrests) but also in Western platforms. The
first information following the meeting was that Sinirlioğlu had told
Ricciardone not to get too involved in Turkish political affairs.
But there are
other problems between the U.S.
and Turkey
nowadays too; Syria,
for example. The second Barack Obama administration is not in favor of
intervention to topple Bashar al-Assad, but is rather in cooperation with Russia’s
Vladimir Putin for a transition of power. Ankara
is not happy with this, instead urging a combined push against al-Assad. There
is the Israeli problem, too. Turkey
has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Israel, under U.S.
protection, over the failure to apologize for the killing of nine Turks by Israeli
commandos in the Mavi Marmara tragedy in 2010. When Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoğlu recently combined these two subjects by saying that al-Assad had
never thrown even a pebble against Israel - let alone confront it -
the U.S.
reacted. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Feb. 5 that
Davutoğlu’s words were “inflammatory” and harmed Turkish-U.S. relations.
But the real
problem between the U.S.
and Turkey
nowadays is over relations with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq. The U.S. and Turkey have
swapped positions on the Iraqi stage radically over the last four years; the
change is on the axis of the Kurdish and energy issues. Up until 2009, Turkey was
against even establishing relations with the KRG,
on the basis that this may lead to an independent Kurdish state and
disintegrate Iraq.
Now, holding its own dialogue with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
for a political solution to Kurdish problem, Ankara is taking the risk of being at odds
with its major ally, the U.S.,
and is embracing the KRG.
Turkey is deeply interested in oil and gas projects in the KRG region, which infuriates the Nouri al-Maliki
government in Baghdad.
The KRG has been sending crude oil
with tankers to Turkey
in order to be refined into gas and diesel fuel, paying Turkey in the
form of crude oil. What’s more, Turkish oil companies are investing in KRG fields despite the opposition of Baghdad. Ricciardone said
on Feb. 4 that Washington
had told Ankara,
Baghdad and
Arbil (the KRG headquarters) that
the tension might cause the disintegration of Iraq and lead to chaos. Iran’s
influence over the Shiite dominated Baghdad
is a major worry for the U.S.,
Israel,
Saudi Arabia,
and other Gulf states.
It is not clear
where the story is going to end up with, but it is clear that there is a
Kurdish impasse between Turkey
and the U.S.
over Iraq.”
10. Turkey
awaiting concrete sign of French support for EU bid
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (08.02.13) reports that Ankara's expectations of an
acceleration in EU negotiations during the presidency of France's François
Hollande -- which follows that of Nicolas Sarkozy, who was known for his
opposition to Turkey – have not yet been met.
The paper writes
that although Turkey
was hoping to open at least one new chapter last June, a month after Hollande
was elected president, it has yet to receive France's support despite 10 months
of efforts since then.
In December France notified
Turkish officials in Paris
that it had removed the “political obstacle” on the chapters. However, such a
message has not yet “arrived” in Brussels.
The word “accession,” which could not find a place in EU documents with
reference to Turkey
during Sarkozy's presidency, went back in circulation again in December when France removed
its objection. However, Ankara
still expects a rapid reflection of such a change in the attitude to the
chapters.
Meanwhile,
another debate is under way between the two countries on the chapter to be
opened. While Ankara
desires the opening of Chapter 17 on economic and monetary policy, France could be
in favor of opening Chapter 22 on regional policy and coordination of
structural instruments.
Although there
are no opening criteria for Chapter 17, there are certain preconditions in
Chapter 22, which could delay the opening of this chapter. Despite the EU's
previously expressed reservations on Ankara's
insistence on the opening of Chapter 17 due to the financial crisis in Europe, the same chapter was opened in December with Iceland, which
is also a candidate country for membership.
In addition, Ria
Oomen-Ruijten, the European Parliament rapporteur on Turkey, has said a renewed mutual
agreement in the context of Turkey's
EU accession process is needed to maintain a constructive relationship,
commenting on a recent statement by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
that the EU's stance on Turkey
is “disrespectful.”
In comments to
Today's Zaman on Erdoğan's remarks, Oomen-Ruijten said Turkey needs to
step up its efforts in the reform process, while the EU needs to make renewed
efforts for the opening of negotiation chapters.
“There appears
to be frustration in Turkey
about the lack of progress in the accession negotiations. I believe that to
maintain a constructive relationship, renewed mutual engagement in the context
of the negotiation process is needed. Mutual engagement means efforts from both
Turkey
and the EU. Turkey
needs to step up its efforts in the reform process, while the EU needs to make
renewed efforts for the opening of negotiation chapters. The interdependence
between Turkey
and the EU can lead to positive results, but only in a context of mutual
commitment,” Oomen-Ruijten stated.
Finally, Tuday’s
Zaman also reports that reacting to the Justice and Development Party’s (AK
Party) proposals to revamp the judiciary, the European Union has said
constitutional provisions on the judiciary should guarantee its independence
and impartiality based on European standards.
In a written statement to Today’s Zaman, the
EU Commission said it welcomed the Turks’ desire for a new and democratic
constitution and called on the political parties to “redouble” their efforts
for the adoption of a new constitution with the broadest possible consensus.
11. Erdogan: Azeri-Turkish Trans Anatolia Pipeline
gas project set to start in 2013
Ankara Anatolia news agency (07.02.13) reports that the construction on the Azeri-Turkish Trans Anatolia Pipeline (TANAP) project will begin this year, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a press conference in Slovakia Forum on Feb. 6.
Ankara Anatolia news agency (07.02.13) reports that the construction on the Azeri-Turkish Trans Anatolia Pipeline (TANAP) project will begin this year, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a press conference in Slovakia Forum on Feb. 6.
“We took a new
step with Azerbaijan.
The agreement for TANAP has been approved in the parliaments of both sides,” he
said.
Erdogan
criticized the European Union for not making any visible progress in the
Nabucco pipeline project, which would transport gas to Europe
via Turkey.
“This is a problem of the European Union, which has to supply 30 billion cubic
meters of gas per year,” he said.
Turkey and Azerbaijan
signed an agreement on June
26, 2012, for TANAP that would be actualized in six years with an
investment of $7 billion. Turkey’s
BOTAŞ and Azerbaijan’s
SOCAR will work together in the project, which is slated to carry large amounts
of Azeri gas to western Turkey,
from where it will be transported to Europe.
SOCAR has a nearly 62 percent stake of former state petrochemical company
Petkim.
12. “Iraqi Kurds signal ‘Baghdad out' in Turkey pipeline bid”
Under the above
title Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (08.02.13) reports the following
about the decision of the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to build its own oil export pipeline to Turkey. The
paper, which describes KRG
movement as “a signal ignoring Baghdad's
efforts to keep the northern Iraqi oil trade ‘under control’” writes the
following:
“’We want to
have an oil pipeline to ourselves,’ the KRG
minister for natural resources, Ashti Hawrami, told a news conference in the
regional capital of Arbil on Thursday, adding a new dimension to the ongoing
tension between the oil-rich north and the central government in Baghdad over
how to exploit Iraq's hydrocarbon riches and divide up the proceeds. Hawrami's
statements add to speculations that the Kurdish region would commence building
an oil pipeline for exports to Turkey
without waiting for any settlement with Baghdad.
Baghdad says it
alone has the authority to control the exports of the world's fourth-largest
oil reserves, while the Kurds say their right to do so is enshrined in Iraq's
federal constitution, drawn up following the US-led invasion of 2003. ‘It is
currently in the works and we will continue until it is completed,’ Hawrami
added.”.
In addition,
Hurriyet Daily News (08.02.13) writes that commenting on the same issue,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdoğan said that Turkey will continue its oil trade
with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
in northern Iraq,
while confirming the trade as legitimate.
13.
Illegal GAU signed a cooperation protocol with TURKSOY
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
(08.02.13) the illegal American
University of occupied
Keryneia has signed a cooperation protocol with the International Organization
of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY).
The protocol was signed at a special
ceremony organized yesterday at illegal GAU by the “rector” of the illegal
university Serhat Akpinar and the general secretary of TURKSOY, Dr. Dusen
Kaseinov.
The protocol envisages the cooperation
of illegal GAU with TURKSOY in the fields of science, culture and art and the
exchanged of students and academic staff between the two.
In his statements, Akpinar stressed the
importance of the signing of the “protocol”, alleging that it is important from
the point of view that a bridge in the fields of science and culture is to be
established between the “TRNC” and the Turkic world.
AK
Reminding that Turkey is a
guarantor power of the Republic
of Cyprus which was
established in 1960, Korkmazhan said that AKP’s goal is the permanent division
of the island and the annexation of the “north” part of Cyprus to Turkey.
The statement of BKP said also the
following: “There is a country which is called Cyprus, and there is also a state
there. Mr. Erdogan should be aware of this, that the Republic of Cyprus
is neither a Hellenistic state nor an extension of Anatolia.
It is a partnership state where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have
political equality. In a possible solution to the Cyprus problem, the Cyprus Republic
state will be turn into a bi-zonal bi-communal federation”.
AK