TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 5213 14/3/13
1. Eroglu
received a replying letter from Anastasiades
2.
Kilicdaroglu: the target in Cyprus is the recognition of the “TRNC”
3. Izcan: “The negotiations should be launched as soon as possible”
4. Bozer
accused the Greek Cypriot side for showing an “insatiable” stance on the issue
of oil and natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean
5. Tanker
leaks fuel oil into sea off occupied Gastria village
6. Smuggling
of fuel oil is also held through the occupied area of Cyprus
7. Efforts
McDonalds and similar international chain food
restaurants to be operating in illegal Tymvou airport
8. Danish
tourists to visit occupied Cyprus
9. Davutoglu
held a phone conversation with Kerry
10. Gul addressed the Swedish Parliament; “It
will be a strategic myopia for Europe to distance itself from Turkey”
11. Erdogan to
visit Denmark and the Netherlands
12. US
Congress members urge Erdogan to retract Zionism remarks
13. Study
shows that 193 thousand Turkish migrants return back to Turkey from Germany in
the last four years
14. Alcohol
consumption was banned in open places in Isparta province in Turkey
1. Eroglu received a replying letter from Anastasiades
Turkish
Cypriot daily Vatan (14..03.13) reports that the office of the Turkish Cypriot
leader DervisEroglu, in a written statement yesterday, said that Eroglu received
the expected reply letter from newly-elected Cyprus President Anastasiades
while he was in a meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s special adviser for
Cyprus Alexander Downer.
According
to the statement, the details of the letter’s content would not be announced
due to the principle of confidentiality, but it was a kind of a thank you
letter, adding that they know that Anastasiades has trouble now with the
financial situation and they hope that once he gets through these financial
troubles in a short period of time, they will come together and discuss the
road map and how they can proceed on the Cyprus problem.
According
to the announcement, the Turkish Cypriot side will continue today and as always
its concrete and proactive stance in consultation with motherland Turkey in
order to be able to reach a just and lasting understanding without wasting
time.
Commenting
on the meeting of Eroglu with Downer, the announcement said that during the
meeting they discussed how the process of the negotiations can be re-launched
from the point that they have stopped some time ago and how the road map that
they have proposed on this issue can be carried out, as well as related topics
on the Cyprus problem.
2. Kilicdaroglu: the target in
Cyprus is the recognition of the “TRNC”
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (14.03.13)
reports that Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chairman of Turkey’s main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP), has said that the Turkish side’s target on the
Cyprus problem is the recognition of the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. He noted that they should proceed
towards this target pursuing a determined and consistent policy.
In an interview with Havadis’ journalists Mete
Tumerkan, BasaranDuzgun and SeldaIcer at his office in the Turkish Grand
National Assembly (TGNA), Kilicdaroglu was asked whether there were approaches
in Turkey in the direction of solving both the Kurdish and the Cyprus problem.
Kilicdaroglu replied the following on the Cyprus
problem: “There is a target regarding the Cyprus problem. The recognition of
the TRNC, and the TRNC governments should follow a determined, consistent
policy together with the governments of Turkey in the direction of this
target”.
Asked about his views on the Cyprus problem and how he
sees the election of the new President of the Republic of Cyprus, Kilicdaroglu
alleged that the field of freedoms in “TRNC” is wider than the one in Turkey
and that the quality of democracy and the human rights is also higher in the
occupied area of Cyprus. He referred to the referendum on the Annan Plan and
reiterated the Turkish view that the promises given by the EU to the Turkish
Cypriots have not been fulfilled after their “yes” vote in the referendum. He
said that every time they meet with European officials they ask them why they
do not keep their promises and why they do not put the “Direct Trade
Regulation” into effect.
Referring to the reactions of their interlocutors when
they tell them this, Kilicdaroglu said that the Europeans reply that they are
working on this issue and that they have transferred it to committees. He went
on and said: “There is the following tradition in the bureaucracy in Turkey:
when you do not want to do something, you transfer it to a committee… I hope
that there is no such a thing now in the EU…”
Referring to Turkey’s role in the Middle East,
Kilicdaroglu noted that it had been said that Turkey was a “play maker” in the
area, but “it has been revealed that this is not correct”. He added the
following: “If Turkey had really undertaken the role of the play maker in the
Middle East, many of these countries would have recognized the TRNC today and
significant progress would have been made there”.
Kilicdaroglu said also that per capita income in the
occupied area of Cyprus is higher than the one in Turkey, but comparing to per
capita income in the government-controlled area of the island, the situation is
“not very bright”. He argued that the illegal universities could promote the
breakaway regime in the whole world.
Asked to comment on the way by which the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) sees Cyprus, Kilicdaroglu said that all
political parties in Turkey see Cyprus as their “national cause” and alleged
that the “TRNC” is an “independent country”, which they have to respect. He
went on and argued the following: “Turkey should not implement on the TRNC the
conditions and the pressures, which had once been implemented by the IMF on
Turkey. This should be made in a different, better, diplomatic manner. The
style of esteemed Prime Minister regarding the citizens living in the TRNC, is
not a kind of style which we could bear”.
Replying to a question as to whether they consider
Cyprus and the Kurdish issue as a fetter for Turkey, Kilicdaroglu said that
they never see Cyprus as fetter. “We see it as mutual solidarity of two
countries, because a country seeing another country as fetter could not be
accepted. However, the Kurdish problem is also a very big problem for Turkey
and should be solved”, he argued.
(I/Ts.)
3. Izcan: “The
negotiations should be launched as soon as possible”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Volkan (14.03.13) reports that the General Secretary of the
United Cyprus Party IzzetIzcan, in a written statement, said that the process
of the Cyprus talks should be launched as soon as possible.
Noting
that it is necessary to make a good preliminary preparation in order to
re-launch the negotiations, Izcan added that however time should not be lost.
He also said that the time that has gone without a solution on the Cyprus
problem is against to all Cypriots, asking that the resumption of the
negotiations for a comprehensive solution should be done from the point that
were left off.
Izcan
also said that the ground of the negotiations is “a bi-communal, bi-zonal
federation based on the political equality, which is a single sovereignty, a
single citizenship and a single international personality” as defined in the
resolutions of the UN Security Council. He called on both leaders, Anastasiades
and Eroglu, to stick to this basis for a solution and to the already agreed
–upon issues of the negotiators before them.
4. Bozer accused the Greek Cypriot side for showing an
“insatiable” stance on the issue of oil and natural gas in the Eastern
Mediterranean
According
to illegal Bayrak television (13.03.13) the “speaker” of the so-called assembly
Hasan Bozer held yesterday a meeting with the “Cyprus Turkish Culture
Association”
In
statements during the meeting, Bozer accused the international community of
turning a blind eye to the usurping of the Turkish Cypriot “people’s” rights.
Informing
Bozer over the works being carried out by the “association”, Ahmet Goksan,
chairman of the “association” said that they have agreed with the “Eastern
Mediterranean University” for organizing the 4th International Cyprus Symposium
next year.
Bozer
also pointed to the importance of the symposium which will be held under the
title of ‘Cyprus Turkish People’s Place In the International Law’.
Alleging
that the partnership state which was established in 1960 was destroyed by Greek
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were excluded, Bozer said that the world has
turned a blind eye to the usurping of the Turkish Cypriot people’s rights.
“Although
we are the side which is in favor of a solution in Cyprus, Greek Cypriots have
refrained from reaching a solution”, Bozer said and called on the international
community to give rights to the Turkish Cypriots.
Reporting
on the issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (14.03.13) reports that Bozer, in
statements during the meeting, referred, inter alia, to the issue of the oil
exploration activities in the Mediterranean, alleging that the Greek Cypriot
side stance is “insatiable”.
(AK)
5. Tanker leaks fuel oil into sea
off occupied Gastria village
Under
the title “1200litres of petrol leak into the sea”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis
newspaper (14.03.13) reports that 1200 litres of petrol leaked into the sea
last night at occupied Gastria village, as a result of negligence. According to
the paper, the ship belongs to Alpet Company and was carrying the cargo to
Alpet’s storage installation at occupied Gastria.
The
“district officer” of occupied Trikomo, Bunyamin Merhametsiz said the “officials”
of the “department of environment” estimate that the leakage is around 1200
litres and that its dimensions were not as big as to cause pollution to the
environment.
Dogan
Sahir, chairman of the initiative No to the Fuel Oil Storage Installation, said
that the gulf of occupied Gastria is from time to time polluted with small
spills, and added that their fears have become true and tons of petrol leaked
into the sea last night. He noted that the “authorities” had been informed
about the accident 12 hours after it had happened and added that this shows
that those who caused the accident do not care and are insensitive. He said
that delaying to act in such incidents causes great damages and especially when
the oil reaches the shore. He argued that the accident proved that they are
right when they oppose to the construction of an oil storage installation in
the occupied area of Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
6. Smuggling of fuel oil is
also held through the occupied area of Cyprus
Under the title “Great swindle”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (14.03.13) reports that foreign gangs, which use the “TRNC”,
breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, because it is not recognized,
carry out trade of fuel oil in parallel to the smuggling of cigarettes, which
exceeds the amount of three billion Turkish liras (TL) per year. The paper
recalls that the captains of two ships were arrested last week on the grounds
that they have been conducting smuggling of cigarettes in the open sea of
occupied Famagusta.
According information obtained by Kibris, ships under
foreign flags are used by smugglers for selling a lot of products in the open
see by false manifests. It is understood that they mainly sell cigarettes and
fuel oil, writes the paper, adding that the two ships which are currently under
detention are the ships “Flamingo”, under the flag of Sierra Leone, and
“Sirena”, under the flag of Togo. The paper notes that 66 million 500
cigarettes carried by these ships have been destroyed. In this manner the
regime has saved a loss higher than 13 million TL.
An “official’ told Kibris that almost every week one
ship under foreign flag and loaded with cigarettes, come to the occupied port
of Famagusta and departs after giving the information that it will go to
another country. The “official” noted that because the regime is an
unrecognized “country”, it has no right to ask for information in the
international field.
A ship, notes Kibris, said it would go to a port in
Montenegro, but the authorities of Turkey found out that this information was
not true. Another time, a ship asked for 50 thousand tons tax free fuel oil
from occupied Famagusta’s so-called customs’ directorate in order to go to
Senegal, but afterwards it was understood that it never went there.
(I/Ts.)
7. Efforts McDonalds and similar
international chain food restaurants to be operating in illegal Tymvou airport
Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (14.03.13) reports
that the general director of the Tasyapi Constructions GokselBodur, which is
the company that won the 25-year management of the illegal Tymvou airport,
stated that they started efforts aiming to bring in the breakaway regime
American fast food chains like McDonalds.
Bodur, who stated that Gloria Jean’s coffee shops will
be operating in the illegal Tymvou airport, stated that upon a request by the
“Turkish Cypriot people” they will try to have McDonalds restaurants and
similar international chains in the illegal airport. Commenting on how difficult this can be, Dodur
said that they work in cooperation with “the state and the nation” adding that
a “high ranked official” supports Tasyapi Constructions’ efforts towards this
direction.
He went on and said that due to the efforts made by
the Republic of Cyprus, franchises or distributions are not given to the
breakaway regime and he gave the example of Vodafone which cannot use its trade
mark in occupied Cyprus and uses the name Telsim. In the same framework Burger
King fast food chain, became Burger City.
Bodur went on and stated that investments in the
breakaway regime continue and said that they are making plans regarding
investments in hotels.
8. Danish tourists to visit
occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.03.13)
reports that Akmina Travel Club, which according to the paper is known for
transferring tourists with charter flights to the breakaway regime, will bring
tourists from Denmark for the first time in occupied Cyprus in 2013.
According to the paper, Akmina Travel Club
participated in the Herning tourism fair which is the biggest tourism fair in
Scandinavia and which was organized by Turistrejser firm.
The chairman of Akmina management board Ismail Abidin
claimed that they managed to participate in the fair despite efforts by the
Republic of Cyprus which tried to prevent them from attending.
9. Davutoglu held a phone conversation with Kerry
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (13.03.13) reported that the Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu held on Wednesday a phone conversation with his US counterpart
John Kerry.
Diplomatic
sources said that the phone conversation took place at the request of John
Kerry.
Kerry
conveyed his thoughts to Davutoglu on his recent tour in the Middle East. The
two officials discussed the latest developments in the region.
10. Gul addressed the Swedish Parliament; “It will be a strategic myopia
for Europe to distance itself from Turkey”
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (14.03.13) reports that Turkish President Abdullah Gul
addressing the Swedish parliamentarians,
has said that an open and transparent debate on a “multi-speed EU” is
required to overcome differences of opinion across the 27-member bloc, adding
that it would be a strategic myopia for Europe to distance itself from Turkey.
“Allowing
Turkey to successfully complete membership negotiations without permitting any
artificial delays is, first and foremost, a prerequisite of “pacta sunt
servanda” [Latin for ‘agreements must be kept’]. The eventual membership shall,
of course, be shaped around the decision of the peoples of the European Union
and Turkey,” Gul told members of the Swedish Parliament yesterday.
“At
a time when democracy is expanding in the Middle East and North Africa and the
center of gravity in the global economy is shifting toward Asia, it would be a
strategic myopia for Europe to distance itself from Turkey as this would have
serious strategic ramifications in the long term,” the President said, adding
that Ankara was closely following the debate around a “differentiated Europe”
within the European Union, with which it has a longstanding association.
“It
is obvious that not all members of the European Union are in favor of more
integration, especially on fiscal policy. The fundamental issue here is how the
EU, as a ‘project for peace and prosperity,’ shall overcome differences of
opinion,” Gul told the Parliament on the last day of his landmark trip to
Sweden.
“I
find the open and transparent debate in the context of a ‘multi-speed EU’ very
appropriate. This debate shall result in a formula reflecting the collective
wisdom because the EU project has always moved forward after World War II and
never regressed despite grounding to a halt at times,” he said.
“Multi-speed”
Europe is the term used to describe the idea of a method of differentiated
integration even as common objectives are pursued by a group of member states.
“It
is also important for these issues to be discussed not only by member states,
but also by countries such as Turkey, which is negotiating for membership,
because the future of Europe concerns us all,” Gul said.
The President
also thanked Sweden for its sincere and strong support for Turkey’s accession
to the bloc.
11. Erdogan to visit Denmark and the Netherlands
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (13.03.13) the Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan will make formal visits in Denmark and the Netherlands on March
19 to 21, 2013.
According
to a statement
released by the Turkish Prime Ministry, Erdogan will travel to Denmark and the
Netherlands upon an invitation of his counterparts.
The
first stop of Erdogan's formal visit will be the Danish capital of Copenhagen
where Erdogan will meet with Queen of Denmark Margrethe II and Prime Minister
Thorning Schmidt, make official contacts and attend round table discussions.
Erdogan
will then travel to the Netherlands where he will meet with Queen Beatrix of
the Netherlands on Thursday. Erdogan will also meet with the Dutch Prime
Minister Mark Rutte and will attend a meeting with Turkish and Dutch company
representatives in Rotterdam.
"These
visits will contribute to our bilateral relations as well as Turkey's EU
accession process and discussion of international matters," the statement
said.
12. US Congress members urge Erdogan to retract
Zionism remarks
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (13.03.13) reported that a group of US Congress members
have urged Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to retract his earlier
remarks on Zionism, in which the Turkish Prime Minister defined the Zionism as
a crime against humanity along with ideologies such as anti-Semitism and
fascism.
Eighty-nine
members of the US Congress signed a letter urging Turkish Prime Minister to
backpedal on his remarks over Zionism in a speech in Vienna last month.
Speaking
at the UN Alliance of Civilizations conference in Vienna in late February,
Erdogan complained of prejudices against Muslims and said Islamophobia should
be considered a crime against humanity "just like Zionism, like
anti-Semitism and like fascism."
The
remarks received a barrage of criticism from the White House, UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon and Israel, after a video recording of the speech was published by
a Geneva-based nongovernmental organization, UN Watch. “Our grave
disappointment with the statement you made at the United Nations-sponsored
conference in Vienna last month equating Zionism -- the foundation of the
Jewish state and the movement for Jewish self-determination -- with fascism and
anti-Semitism, and labeling it a ‘crime against humanity,’ the members of the
US Congress said in the letter.
13. Study shows that 193 thousand Turkish migrants
return back to Turkey from Germany in the last four years
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (14.03.13) reports that according to a study
conducted by the Germany-based Turkish European Foundation for Education and Scientific
Studies (TAVAK), some 193,000 Turks living in Germany, returned permanently to
Turkey between 2007 and 2011.
“Young
Turkish origin migrants are increasingly returning to Turkey due to high
unemployment, discrimination and better economic chances”, said Professor Faruk
Sen, the President of the board of TAVAK. He added that the figures indicated
that Europe should not be concerned about a population flock from Turkey if
visas restrictions are lifted.
“Returns
from Germany to Turkey among young migrants increased considerably between 2007
and 2011. Even young Turks who have a profession and own property in Germany
are returning. The biggest reasons cited are discrimination and unemployment,”
Sen said in a phone interview with the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday.
According
to the study, there are currently 2,950,000 people of Turkish origin living in
Germany, of whom only 1,020,000 are in possession of German citizenship. Some
1,930,000 people keep their Turkish passports and hold foreigner status.
Individuals
of Turkish origin make up 31% of the nearly 9 million immigrants in Germany.
Around 720,000 of these are tenants while 230,000 own their houses. Average
household size is 3.9 and average income is 2,020 euro, meaning that the total
income of Turks in the country amounts to 16.5 billion euro.
The
unemployment rate among Turks in Germany is 30% according to TAVAK figures,
compared with the overall unemployment rate of 5.90%. However these statistics
do not tell the whole story, according to Sen.
“Nearly
2 million short term workers are not counted among the unemployed. In addition,
nearly 1.5 million people taking vocational courses and the nearly 1.6 million
women who have remained jobless for over 15 months do not have unemployed
status,” he said, suggesting that the real overall unemployment rate in Germany
was 14.5%.
The
paranoia that Turks may flock to EU if Turkey becomes a member of the bloc and
visas are lifted is unjustified, Sen also said, adding that Turkish citizens
would not leave Turkey if unable to “find a job suitable to their skills and
education.”
Sen
also claimed that excluding Turks from professional life was a regular practice
in Germany. “Firms do not want Turks or other outsiders that are suggested for
their positions by the Labor-Employment Exchange Institute,” he said, adding
his opinion that the reason behind this, is rising “Islamophobia” and
“Turkophobia,” especially in Germany. He said that the neo-Nazi attacks against
Turks, were concrete results of discrimination.
Some
44% of the Turkish migrant population lives below the national poverty line
(372 euro per month) in the country, according to Sen. “These people do not
know what to do, where to go. They are not considering returning to Turkey as
they are afraid of not finding any jobs there either,” Sen said .
However,
Sen said some 55,000 or 65,000 people per year are expected to return to Turkey
in the future, if equal employment requirements are not met.
Turkey
and Germany do not have a double citizenship agreement, which forces youngsters
to make a choice between the two before the age of 23.
14. Alcohol consumption was
banned in open places in Isparta province in Turkey
Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (14.03.13) reports that consumption of alcohol in public places has been banned in the Turkish province of Isparta.
Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (14.03.13) reports that consumption of alcohol in public places has been banned in the Turkish province of Isparta.
A corresponding decision has been made by the
province's governor, MemduhOguz.
A similar regulation was recently implemented in the
province of Afyonkarahisar.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
