TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No.
51/13
13/3/13
C
O N T E N T S
1. Downer: President
Anastasiades is anxiously waiting to discuss the Cyprus problem
2. Eroglu: Talat
started causing harm with his statements
3.
Bagis: Anastasiades has courageously shown his stance in favour of
the solution by supporting the Annan Plan
4. Kucuk: Our aim is
to increase income per capital to $17.000 by 2015
5. Turkey
Confederation Community calls German Turkish Businessmen and
industrialists Association to invest in the breakaway regime
6. Calls for promoting
tourism of the breakaway regime
7. Turkish businessman
disappeared in the occupied area of Cyprus
8. The license of
satellite ART was cancelled
9. Turkish MFA
Undersecretary due to Germany and France
10. Trade volume of
Turkey-Kyrgyzstan; agreement on investments between Turkey-Gambia
11.
Yildiz supports Sudan's normalization
12. A strategic
partnership agreement was signed by Turkey and Sweden
13. Turkish hostages
released by PKK in northern Iraq
1.
Downer:
President Anastasiades is anxiously waiting to discuss the Cyprus
problem
Turkish Cypriot daily
Haberdar newspaper (13.03.13) reports that Alexander Downer, UN
Secretary-General’s special adviser for Cyprus, met yesterday with
the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu at the latter’s office in
the occupied part of Lefkosia. Eroglu’s adviser and special
reprehensive, Hasan Gungor and Osman Ertug respectively, as well as
his negotiating team were present at the meeting.
In statements after the
one-hour-long meeting, Downer said he would work with the leaders on
the issue of how and when they would meet and how the process could
be successful. He noted that the first meeting he held yesterday with
President Anastasiades had been very productive and added that with
Eroglu he exchanged views regarding the changes that happened.
Downer added that
President Anastasiades should have to focus on the negotiations with
Troika this period and pointed out that this is a very important
issue for the Greek Cypriots. Downer said that he would visit Cyprus
again in April and he would also hold a meeting in New York with the
UN Secretary-General and the members of the Security Council. He
noted that in April he would try to take the procedure one step
forward.
Asked whether the
negotiations will start soon in view of the economic problems of the
Republic of Cyprus, Downer said he could not be in Cyprus for the
next couple of weeks and he did not want to enter into the issue of
any timetable in a period during which President Anastasiades has
just been elected. Noting that President Anastasiades should hold
negotiations with Troika, Downer added that President Anastasiades is
anxiously waiting to discuss the Cyprus problem.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Eroglu:
Talat started causing harm with his statements
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (13.03.13) reports that the Turkish
Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has alleged that a statement made
recently by the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat
showing him as the “side which does not want an agreement” in
Cyprus,
does not reflect reality. In a written statement issued yesterday,
Eroglu said that he considers as natural Talat’s efforts to remain
in politics and to work secretly for the “elections”. He claimed,
however, that Talat’s statements on the negotiating process and his
own stance during this process are misleading.
Eroglu argued that
Talat’s statements have reached such a dimension that should
definitely be answered. “Unfortunately, the increasing accusations
by Mr Talat that we are intransigent and his effort to strengthen his
position by distorting our statements has started causing harm to us,
who hold various qualitative international negotiations in order to
protect the rights and the interests of the Turkish Cypriot people”,
he said.
Accusing Talat of
ignoring his statement that he wants an agreement and that he is
ready to start negotiations with a time limit, Eroglu claimed that
Talat used the words in the end of this statement that “if we
cannot agree, agreeing on this is also an agreement” in order to
enter into an argument with him.
Eroglu wondered why Talat
could not reach an agreement with the Greek Cypriot side during the
two years he had been negotiating with former President Christofias
and recalled of Talat’s statements against the stance of the Greek
Cypriots in the EU. Eroglu said that if Talat wanted to emphasize
that they should exert efforts and explain well their views to the
world, he should be relaxed on this issue.
Eroglu alleged that he
had informed President Anastasiades that they were ready to start the
negotiations the soonest, but he had found out President
Anastasiades’ reply from the press. Eroglu reiterated the
allegation that the Greek Cypriot side uses delaying tactics and
benefits from the status quo.
He argued that they will
exert every effort they can for a lasting agreement which will not be
taking us to the pre-1974 period, will protect Turkey’s “historic
rights and interests” regarding Cyprus and will be based on the
existing “realities”.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Bagis:
Anastasiades has courageously shown his stance in favour of the
solution by supporting the Annan Plan
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (13.03.13) reports that Egemen
Bagis, Turkish Minister Responsible for EU and Chief Negotiator, has
said that President Anastasiades had courageously exhibited his
stance in favour
of the solution in Cyprus with his support to the Annan Plan. “We
hope that his new title [Translator’s note: the election to the
post of the President of the Republic of Cyprus] will appear as an
opportunity which secures the materialization of this stance and not
to shadow his previous reconciliatory stance”, argued Bagis in
statements to Anatolia news agency.
Bagis alleged that the
Turkish side has always been acting calmly and confidently because it
had allegedly been the side which wanted peace and stability on the
Cyprus problem.
Bagis argued that the
fate of Turkey and the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied
area of Cyprus, is the same and added that because of this, those who
thought that the “TRNC” would pay the cost in case the
non-solution on the island became permanent have been disappointed.
Bagis claimed that the
breakaway regime has already proved that it could maintain its
existence on the island as “a state” which could stand on its own
feet. He went on alleging that, on the other hand, the “Greek
Cypriot administration”, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, is
facing a crisis and bankruptcy and pays the price for the
non-solution.
Bagis alleged that the
Europeans have understood that they had committed a mistake by
accepting the Republic of Cyprus into the EU. He, inter alia, claimed
the following: “To tell the truth, it is not possible to understand
and explain how a community, which established its philosophy on
unity and integrity, has accepted a decomposed so-called state. We
have said it before: we are ready to press the reset button for the
solution. The solution in Cyprus is not a dream, provided that the
Greek Cypriot side and the international community show their
will...”
(I/Ts.)
4.
Kucuk:
Our aim is to increase income per capital to $17.000 by 2015
Turkish Cypriot daily
Haberdar newspaper (13.03.13) reports that the self-styled prime
Irsen Kucuk stated that the income per capital in the breakaway
regime is 15.500 dollars for the time being and that they aim this
amount to be increased to 17.000 dollars by 2015.
Kucuk made these
statements speaking during a meeting for information regarding the
economic program prepared for the breakaway regime for Turkey.
Referring to the economic program Kucuk said that it will encourage
investment in occupied Cyprus.
5.
Turkey
Confederation Community calls German Turkish Businessmen and
industrialists Association to invest in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily
Haberdar newspaper (13.03.13) reports that the chairwoman of the
Turkey Confederation Community, Emine Atasoy, called the German
Turkish Businessmen and industrialists Association (ATIAD) which is
activated in Germany, to make investments in the breakaway regime.
According to a statement
of Atasoy, ATIAD is the voice of the Turkish businessmen living in
Europe and it is not only the biggest Turkish business association in
Germany but in Europe as well.
Atasoy said that
investments in the field of tourism to the field of education can be
made in occupied Cyprus and added that a lobby for “TRNC’s
independence” must be conducted.
6.
Calls
for promoting tourism of the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily
Haberdar newspaper (13.03.13) reports that various representatives of
the “tourism sector”, among them the “Turkish Cypriot Travel
Agencies Union” (KITSAB) commented on the participation last week
of the breakaway regime in the Berlin Tourism Fair and stated that
tourism in the occupied area of Cyprus must be promoted even more in
many European countries.
KITSAB
chairman Orhan Tolun said that in this framework, tourism must be
advertised in Germany, which is “the second most important tourism
market after the UK” for the breakaway regime and suggested that
advertisement should be placed in German taxis which are driven
mostly by Turkish persons.
In addition, he stated
that many German tourists who are visiting the breakaway regime
arrive in Cyprus using the Larnaka airport, because it is very
expensive for them to use the illegal Tymvou airport. As he said, the
arriving of German tourists form Larnaka airport must be encouraged,
if they want the number of German tourists to be increased.
7.
Turkish
businessman disappeared in the occupied area of Cyprus
Under
the title “Bulut vanished into thin air”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Afrika (13.03.13) in its front page reports that the Turkish
businessman Temel Bulut – Chairman of the management board of Bulut
construction company -, who was promised “cheap houses” in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus last year, bagged his things
and ran away. The paper reports also, that it was the only paper that
has warned in its previous reports about the fraud of this Bulut
construction company.
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (13.03.13), the legal advisor of the
Bulut construction company Mustafa Sener, in an announcement to the
press on behalf of the company, argued that Bulut left because the
“citizenship” of the occupation regime was not granted to him due
to a minor previous conviction. He also tried to appease the concerns
of their buyers, adding that the Evviva Lavinium project in the
occupied village of Bogazi would be continued and the houses would be
delivered until December 2013.
8.
The
license of satellite ART was cancelled
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (13.03.13), the so-called Supreme
Broadcasting Council (YYK) with its decision YYK/05/2013-K cancelled
the licenses of broadcasting of the satellite Avrasya Radio and
Television Broadcasting Ltd, which has stopped broadcasting since
November 2012.
9.
Turkish
MFA Undersecretary due to Germany and France
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (12.03.13), Turkish Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu will travel to Germany and France.
In
a written statement released on Tuesday, the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated that Sinirlioglu would be in Berlin on
March 13 as part of continuing consultations with Germany.
Sinirlioglu will meet with his German counterpart Emily Haber in the
capital city.
Following
the talks in Germany, Sinirlioglu will also visit Paris, the French
capital on March 14 as part of the continuing consultations with
France. Sinirlioglu will meet with French Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Pierre Sellal.
“During
the meetings, bilateral relations, Turkey's European Union process,
current regional and international issues as well as evaluation and
preparation of high level visits will be discussed,” the statement
said.
10.
Trade
volume of Turkey-Kyrgyzstan; agreement on investments between
Turkey-Gambia
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (12.03.13), Kyrgyzstan's State Customs
Services stated on Tuesday, the trade volume of Turkey and Kyrgyzstan
increased in the year of 2012.
According
to the data of State Customs Services that in 2011, Kyrgyzstan
imported 115.7 million USD worth of goods from Turkey and in 2012,
Kyrgyzstan's imports scored 192 million USD. Imported goods from
Turkey included insulated cables, electric heating systems, medical
appliances, fridges, freezers, heating stoves and automobile parts.
Moreover,
A.A. reports that Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan met Gambian
Minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment Kebba Touray
in Ankara on Tuesday. Caglayan and Touray signed an agreement on
bilateral protection of investments between Turkey and Gambia.
Caglayan
said that gross domestic product of Gambia was one billion USD, and
total trade volume was 465 million USD. Gambian-Turkish trade volume
reached 36.1 million USD by the end of 2012, said Caglayan, adding
that they aimed to increase this figure to 100 million USD within the
next five years.
Meanwhile,
Touray said that Turkish and Gambian government officials were
working on an agreement to prevent double taxation. Touray also
invited Caglayan and Turkish businessmen in his country.
11.
Yildiz
supports Sudan's normalization
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (12.03.13), Turkish Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said that Turkish energy sector would
do its best for the normalization of Sudan.
Sudan
is a very important country for Turkey, added Yildiz who met the
speaker of the Sudan National Parliament Ahmed Al-Tahir in Ankara on
Tuesday.
Noting
that Sudan was passing through difficult days, Yildiz said that
Turkish public and private sectors would support Sudan.
“We
can extend support in crude oil, natural gas, renewable energy
resources and mining sectors,” he said. “We also have an
initiative for cooperation in energy sector with Sudan,” said
Yildiz.
Meanwhile,
Al-Tahir said that they aimed to further develop the relations with
Turkey, defining the political relations between the two countries as
“very well” and on “high-level”. “However, we should
develop the ‘low-level’ economic relations,” he said.
12.
A
strategic partnership agreement was signed by Turkey and Sweden
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (online, 12.03.13), under the title “Gul
complains terrorists abuse Europe's extensive freedoms”, reported
that Turkish President Abdullah Gul, in a joint press conference with
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in Stockholm, reaffirmed
Turkey’s commitment to membership in the European Union but,
underlining lingering misgivings, complained that terrorists in
European countries are exploiting freedoms to achieve their goals.
“For
us, Turkey’s relations with the EU are strategic. Therefore, we
certainly want to complete the [membership] negotiation process,”
Gul said.
Prime
Minister Reinfeldt, for his part, reiterated his country’s support
for Turkey’s EU accession and Ankara’s reform process but
underlined EU concerns about freedom of speech, saying there are
provisions in the Turkish Constitution that need to be amended.
“There should be more focus on the issue of freedom of media,” he
was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency. “There are
journalists being held in prisons on terrorism charges,” he said,
noting that a planned judicial reform package endorsed by the
government is expected to narrow the definition of terrorism. “Of
course, it is not just about laws. How laws will be interpreted and
implemented by courts is another matter,” Reinfeldt continued.
On
Turkey's complaints over a lack of sufficient cooperation against
terrorism, Reinfeldt highlighted the need to balance the fight
against terrorism with measures to make the society a more inclusive
one, embracing minorities and people of different beliefs and
opinions. “The only long-term solution is to build an inclusive and
secure society,” he said.
Reinfeldt
said EU reforms and Turkey’s plans to rewrite the current
constitution will increase freedoms in the EU candidate country.
Sweden
is one of the staunchest supporters of Turkey’s membership in the
EU, and Gul’s visit helped cement bilateral ties as well. The two
countries signed a strategic partnership agreement, which Reinfeldt
said will pave the way for deeper cooperation between Sweden and
Turkey.
“Sweden
is entirely supportive of Turkey's EU membership. We believe that the
strategic and economic value of Turkey's membership is greater today
than ever,” said Reinfeldt.
The
agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his
Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt.
Praising
Sweden’s robust support for Turkey's accession into the EU, Gul
assessed it as an important aspect of bilateral cooperation. “There
is significant potential for greater cooperation between our two
countries, not only in Europe, but also in a wide geography,” said
Gul.
13.
Turkish
hostages released by PKK in northern Iraq
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 13.03.13) reports that public
officers kidnapped by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have been
handed over to a group including Peace and Democracy Party (BDP)
lawmakers and non-governmental organization representatives sent to
northern Iraq.
The
group, accompanied by Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
officials, headed to an undefined meeting point in northern Iraq,
Anatolia news agency reported.
Turkish
President Abdullah Gul expressed his happiness at the release of the
Turkish public servants, highlighting that the transition from
security-based policies to ones based on reform, would be facilitated
by an end to violence.
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