TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 50/13 12/3/13
C O N T E N T S
1.
Smuggling of cigarettes from occupied Famagusta to Europe
2.
Turkish Cypriot columnist: We should be ashamed for the situation in
Varosha
3.
Eroglu has renewed his call for a meeting with Anastasiades
4.
Nami said that both sides should respect the agreements of 23 May and 1 July
5. A
Turkish Cypriot bank decided of expanding to Kosovo and Georgia
6.
Doctors Union Chairman: Population in occupied Cyprus is increased without
control
7.
Information about the “Turkish Islamic Culture Community”
8.
“Swine flu” suspicions again in the occupied area of Cyprus
9.
Aerial navigation controllers in occupied Tymvou airport to go on a 24-hour
warning strike
10. The final list of candidates to run for the
“municipal elections”
11.
Foreign capital firms in Turkey exceed 32,000
12.
“Something is being plotted over Cyprus”
13.
Erdogan cancels programme due to health issue
1. Smuggling of cigarettes from occupied Famagusta
to Europe
Under the banner
front-page title “Nest of illegals”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(12.03.13) reports that the incident which came to surface recently regarding
the smuggling of cigarettes through the occupied port of Famagusta is only “the
top of the iceberg”. According to information obtained by Havadis, 350 million
illegal cigarettes are waiting to leave from the occupied area of Cyprus having
as destination various countries.
The paper writes
that 15 persons have been arrested during the recent operation and that eleven
containers with cigarettes, the worth of which is estimated to be many hundred
thousand Euros, have left occupied Famagusta port, but their destination is
unknown.
“Many companies, which use the TRNC that
remained outside the international law, send illegal cigarettes to Spain,
Greece and Italy. Through these countries, the illegal cigarettes are
distributed to other EU countries”, reports the paper.
According to
Havadis, the ships which leave the occupied port of Famagusta loaded with
cigarettes stop by the ports of many Mediterranean countries. The paper writes
also that the recent incident disclosed that the ships which leave the occupied
port of Famagusta give false information to the “authorities” of the breakaway
regime and conceal their destination.
“It has been
noted that the ship detected during the recent incident is close to Basharal
Assad’s family. While nothing is said about the other firms which do the same
job in the same area, the raid into the ship named Sirena was perceived as
‘blow to the money resources of Assad’”, argues the paper noting that around 20
firms use the occupied Famagusta port sending cigarettes to many countries.
The cigarettes,
which “legally” come to occupied Famagusta, are reportedly produced in Poland
and China and have no brand.
According to the
paper, the smuggling of cigarettes had been carried out through the
government-controlled area of Cyprus, but after the accession to the European
Union and often controls exerted by the Interpol, the smugglers were directed
to the occupied area of the island, which became an attractive place for this
issue, because it is outside the international law. For this reason, many
Greek, Romanian and Spanish businessmen have allegedly established offices at
occupied Famagusta port during the past few years and direct their smuggling
from there.
Havadis writes
that cigarettes of various brands are imported to the “free trade area” of
occupied Famagusta port in order to be re-exported. They are stored up in the
occupied port and when a buyer is found they are loaded in freight ships in
order to be re-exported. In this manner, notes the paper, the breakaway regime
secures an income from these procedures. The smugglers transfer the cigarettes
into boats which wait for them outside the control area of the so-called coast
guard and illegally carry them to Arab countries which are in war, writes the
paper.
(I/Ts.)
2. Turkish Cypriot columnist: We should be ashamed
for the situation in Varosha
Under the title
“Whose territory you are bargaining to whom”, journalist Ali Kismir reports in
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (12.03.13), that the situation of the
occupied fenced city of Varosha is something to be ashamed of.
Referring to the
territory issue and the way by which the various sides see this issue, which he
describes as one of the “most fundamental problems” in the negotiations, Kismir
says that people with various views have carried out the negotiations and adds
that some of them argued that “we will not give a single span of territory” and
some others said “these lands belong to all of us”.
Kismir says
afterwards that the situation that actual should be assessed is the way
America, Britain, Turkey and Greece see the issue and notes that actually
Britain will continue protecting the territory of the sovereign bases either a
solution is found or not.
“Turkey is
approaching this issue with a totally ottoman mentality”, argues Kismir and
writes, inter alia, the following:
“It demands
rights which it does not have on these lands thinking that ‘I have shed blood
and took them’. Actually, it does not demand rights; it keeps these lands under
occupation. As for the Turkish Cypriots in general, they see this as right of a
‘guarantor’. Or they think that they are obliged to accept this situation
somehow.
If we return to
what those who represent us at the negotiating table support, we can see that
Varosha is the common point of all of them. While the most ‘leftist’ of them
argue that Varosha is the most important ‘issue of bargaining’ in the
negotiations, the most “rightist” of them claim that this area is ‘a Turkish
territory’. However, both of them cannot even enter into this area, on which
they think that they have rights.
They especially
say with one voice that ‘if Varosha will open, it should open under the control
of the Turkish sector’. This is definitely a political ‘ugliness’. Whose land
you are bargaining to whom? On the one hand you keep the properties of the
people under your occupation for years and on the other you turn and say ‘if
you want you can return back to your properties under our control’. Do you seek
a bigger injustice than this? Especially Varosha is a situation for which we
should feel ‘ashamed’… This is not valid only for Varosha, it is a situation
valid for all the other areas. And the statement by Egemen Bagis that ‘we have
changed our image in the world with one ‘yes’, without giving a span of territory
and without withdrawing a single soldier’ should add shame on our shame. We
should not allow our own property or the property of the Greek speaking
Cypriots to become issue of bargaining by others. A healthy solution passes
through a Cypriot solution”.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Eroglu has renewed his call for a meeting with Anastasiades
According to illegal Bayrak television
(11.03.13), Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has renewed his call for a
meeting with the new Cyprus President Anastasiades as soon as possible.
Commenting on media reports that said he
received a letter from Anastasiades at the weekend, Eroglu said: “I haven’t
received such a letter yet. I will make an evaluation to the public when I get
the letter”.
He also said that the Turkish Cypriot
side desires the re-launch of negotiations as soon as possible, adding:
“Anastasiades gives positive messages to the international community now, but
his real stance will come out on the negotiations table. South Cyprus is now
busy dealing with the economic crisis but the early launch of negotiations will
come as a response to hopes towards the solution of the Cyprus problem”.
Eroglu reiterated the “Turkish Cypriot
side’s willingness for a settlement which allows the two peoples of the island
to coexist in peace and security”.
Commenting on the UN Special Adviser
Alexander Downer’s scheduled meeting with him on Tuesday (today), Eroglu said that certain
issues related to the solution process might become clearer following Downer’s
contacts in Cyprus.
4.
Nami said that both sides should respect the agreements of 23 May and 1 July
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar
(12.03.13) reports that UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer had yesterday a
meeting with the so-called deputy of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Ozdil
Nami, who used to be special representative of the former Turkish Cypriot
leader Mehmet Ali Talat. The meeting lasted one hour and issues like how the
negotiations will be re-launched and be performed were discussed.
Nami said that he told Downer that both
sides should respect the convergences being obtained between the two sides as
well as the agreements of 23 May and 1 July. Noting that this is a good
opportunity for a new process, Nami added that he is ready to give any kind of
support to the negotiation process.
5. A Turkish Cypriot bank decided of expanding to
Kosovo and Georgia
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (12.03.13) reports that Kibris Iktisat Bankasi, the
biggest Turkish Cypriot private bank, has secured a license by the Turkish
Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) to function in Turkey. The
decision of the license granted to Kibris Iktisat Faktoring Co. Inc. was
published in the Turkish official gazette on 09 March 2013.
The chairman of
the administrative council of the bank, Mete Ozmeter said that they have
decided to expand to European countries, in parallel to their activities in the
field of financing and insurance in the occupied area of Cyprus. He noted that
after establishing a factoring company in Turkey, they think of launching
activities in the banking sector in Kosovo and Georgia.
The general
director of Kibris Iktisat Bankasi and vice president of Kibris Iktisat
Faktoring Co. Inc., Ahmet Melih Karavelioglu said that they will be the first
address and help desk for those in Turkey who want to trade with the occupied
area of Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
6. Doctors Union Chairman: Population in occupied
Cyprus is increased without control
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (12.03.13) reports that the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Physicians Union Dr Ozdemir Berova stated that the population in the occupied area of Cyprus is increased without control and as result the number of patients is increased as well.
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (12.03.13) reports that the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Physicians Union Dr Ozdemir Berova stated that the population in the occupied area of Cyprus is increased without control and as result the number of patients is increased as well.
He said that due
to the number of patients, very often there is luck of medical supplies adding
that there are not enough doctors to meet the needs of the persons going to the
hospitals. Therefore he said, they are trying to bring doctors from abroad to
the occupied regime.
7. Information about the “Turkish Islamic Culture
Community”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen (12.03.13) reports about a house in occupied Omorfita village
which was rented after a decision made by the “council of minister” for 100
sterling per month to an Islamic organization and gives information about it.
According to the
paper, the organization has the name “Turkish Islamic Culture Community” and
has been established in 1983. Its president is named isilay Arkan and was born
in Lefkosia. He is special advisor of Dr Suat Gunsel, who is the rector and
founder of the illegal Near East University and is the director of the Near
East college which is related to the illegal university.
The “Turkish
Islamic Culture Community” is organizing conference, meetings and seminars
about Islam.
8.
“Swine flu” suspicions again in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (12.03.13)
reports that after the death of a man, who lost his life last week in occupied
Cyprus because of the H1N1 virus (“swine flu”), two siblings, were taken in a
hospital in Famagusta, with swine flu symptoms.
The patients a girl and a boy, stayed in
the hospital while blood samples were sent to Turkey for further exams.
The paper citing information by the
“ministry of health” writes that eight more persons were put in quarantine last
week with swine flu symptoms and their blood samples were sent to Turkey for
further exams.
9. Aerial navigation controllers in occupied Tymvou
airport to go on a 24-hour warning strike
Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (12.03.13) reports that aerial navigation
controllers will go on a 24-hour warning strike on Thursday.
The controllers’
trade union, which support that the “government” is under footing the honor of
their profession, said that they are protesting against what they call
“disregardful” behavior towards them by the “government”.
10. The final list of candidates to run for
the “municipal elections”
According to illegal Bayrak television
(11.03.13), the official and final list of candidates to run for the “mayoral
and municipal assembly elections” in the occupied part of Lefkosia has been
announced by the so-called high electoral council.
Nine candidates will be running for the
“Lefkosia Turkish municipality mayor position” during the so-called by-elections
which will be held on the 7th of April.
The candidates are the following:
“The National Unity Party’s (UBP)
candidate Hasan Sertoglu, the Republican Turkish Party’s (CTP) candidate Kadri
Fellahoglu, the Democrat Party’s (DP) candidate Mustafa Arabacioglu, the Social
Democratic Party’s (TDP) candidate Suphi Hudaoglu, the New Cyprus Party’s (YKP)
candidate Murat Kanatli, the Cyprus Socialist Party’s (KSP) candidate Zehra
Cengiz as well as independent candidates Arif Salih Kirdag, Nurhayat Aytok and
Yahya Eran are running for the mayoral elections.”
11.
Foreign capital firms in Turkey exceed 32,000
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 12.03.13) with the above title reports that the number of
internationally capitalized companies in Turkey surpassed 30,000 at the end of
2012, with over half of these companies being European Union-based, according
to figures compiled from Economy Ministry data.
There are 32,604 foreign capitalized
companies and branches in Turkey, 5,494 of which are associates of Turkish
companies with domestic capital.
The top sector among foreign companies
operating in Turkey is wholesale and retail trade, comprising 32% of foreign
companies. The real estate sector, at 16%, comes in second.
German companies top the
list
Manufacturing is another sector
attracting internationally capitalized companies. After the real estate sector,
manufacturing comes in third place with 4,980 companies operating in the
industry.
Of those foreign companies within the
manufacturing sector, 553 produce chemicals, 520 produce food products and 483
produce beverages and tobacco.
The data suggests nearly half – 50.3% –
of these companies are EU-based. Among them, Germany ranks first with 5,158
companies in Turkey, England follows with 2,446 and the Netherlands come in
third with 2,105 companies.
Following the EU, countries with the
most companies or branches in Turkey are Near and Middle Eastern countries,
with 7,460. In this category, Iran ranks first with 2,872 companies, Azerbaijan
follows with 1,190 and Iraq comes in third with 1,009.
Istanbul tops the list as the city
foreign investors establish their companies in most often, hosting 18,968 among
32,604 internationally capitalized companies. Other provinces that follow
Istanbul include Antalya, Ankara, Izmir, Mugla, Bursa, Mersin, Aydin, Kocaeli
and Hatay.
12.
“Something is being plotted over Cyprus”
Columnist Seyfettin Gursel, writing in
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 12.03.13) under
the above title, argues in his following
commentary that the new game on the Cyprus problem is playable for Turkey:
“Nowadays Turkey is concentrating all
its attention and energy on the ‘peace process’. As in other newspapers, the
majority of writers at Today’s Zaman are reserving their columns for the
Kurdish issue, and they are right to do so. I have nothing new to add to this
debate of utmost importance, except maybe to say that I strongly support the
courageous initiative taken by the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
government. So I would like to bring to your attention today another crucial
issue, namely the Cyprus issue and its implications regarding membership
negotiations with the European Union.
It
seems that something is being plotting behind the scenes in the
half-century-old Cypriot conflict. What led me to this thought was the
publication in Zaman of an article by Hélène Flautre, the co-chairwoman of the
EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, on Feb. 28 [See Turkish Cypriot and
Turkish Media Review No. 42/13, 28.02.13],,
and an exclusive interview given by former UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to
Today’s Zaman on March 9 [See
Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review No. 49/13, 09-11.03.13].
We have witnessed in the last few weeks
an important sequence of events. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a
surprising sortie into the possibility of Turkey joining the Shanghai Five if
the EU refuses Turkey membership. I do not know if this was a bluff or not, but
the facts remain that it certainly contributed to getting things moving on the
negotiations front. French President François Hollande abandoned the repulsive
approach of his predecessor while German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared in
Ankara that she strongly supports the continuation of negotiations even though
she is still not clear on Turkey's membership. Last but not least, Nicos
Anastasiades, the right-wing Greek Cypriot politician who had the courage to
support the Annan plan in 2004, has been elected president of the Greek side of
the Island.
Admittedly, Turkey and the EU have great
interest in continuing the accession negotiations in the coming years. Turkey,
with its low domestic savings, absolutely needs European investment in order to
pursue its economic development. Let me remind readers that 80% of foreign direct
investment (FDI) in Turkey is European. A great jump in FDI occurred after 2004
when Turkey started membership negotiations with the EU, and I do not see in
the foreseeable future a serious alternative to European capital for the
Turkish economy. On the other hand, the EU cannot risk pushing Turkey out of
Europe, primarily for political reasons. The EU is in serious turmoil and
cannot be thoughtless enough to add to its issues a destabilized Turkey. I
strongly believe that the EU perspective continues to be a solid economic and
political anchor for Turkey.
Both sides are in crucial need of time
before making a final decision regarding membership. The only way to get this
time is the smooth continuation of negotiations. And the way to continue them
lies in the solution to the Cyprus problem. Certainly, this can take time, but
a serious move in the Cyprus issue can also bring progress to membership
negotiations.
The views expressed by Madame Flautre
and Mr. Straw suggest that leaders in Europe and in Brussels may have decided
to take a carrot-and-stick approach, particularly in regards to the Greek
Cypriots, to get them moving toward a solution. Flautre thinks that the
parameters have changed in Cyprus. Blocking Turkey’s progress in EU
negotiations can no longer be used to pressure Turkey. The election of
Anastasiades is an opportunity to be seized, but the economic crisis the Greek
Cypriots are facing is preventing them from moving first, as they have lost
self-confidence. Ankara should therefore make the first move by opening its
ports to Cyprus. According to Madame Flautre, ‘Cyprus will be unable to resist
a new opening initiated by Ankara’. All the more so after facing a serious
economic crisis and taking into consideration that Germany is unwilling to save
failed Cypriot banks whose deposit accounts are full of Russian billionaires’
money. The Greek Cypriots must think twice before refusing Ankara’s helping
hand, Flautre thinks.
Straw is less diplomatic than the
co-chairwoman of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, since he no
longer has political responsibilities. According to his view, ‘It may still be
that if the Greek Cypriots continue to block the accession approach of Turkey,
then my view is certainly that we have to move towards recognizing the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus [Transl.note: breakaway regime in the occupied part
of the Republic of Cyprus].”
The former UK foreign secretary does not
hesitate, like Madame Flautre, to remind us of the new context produced by the
economic crisis: ‘Now that people have been exposed to the true nature of the
financial shambles Greek Cyprus is in, as well as its huge debt to Russia along
with many other problems, which is worrying Germany and others, I think it's
time to get tough with the Cypriots.’
I think the new game is playable for
Turkey.”
13.
Erdogan cancels programme due to health issue
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 12.03.13), Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
cancelled his program today, including a parliamentary group meeting due to
health issues, according to media reports.
Anatolia news agency said Erdogan caught
a cold and would rest at home.
The Prime Minister will have a rather
light program for a few days more and rest, the agency said.
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