TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 60/13 28/3/13
1. Davutoglu submitted new proposal for the solution
of the Cyprus problem
2. Turkey’s decision to shelve planned projects with
ENI might have international repercussions
3. Eroglu to the Associated Press: “Economic crisis
could delay prospects for a Cyprus settlement”
4. Sonya criticized the latest statements of
Kasoulides
5. Illegal GAU university delegation met with the
Congo Ambassador in Ankara over the statements by the Congo ambassador in
Athens
6. Illegal Near East University continues to promote
health tourism in the occupied area of Cyprus
7. An international conference of ETUCE in the
occupied Famagusta
8. Davutoglu due to Georgia for contacts; he will
participate to a tripartite meeting
9. Turkish Justice Minister: “PKK expected to complete
withdrawal before the end of summer”
10. S&P upgrades Turkey's credit rating to BB+
11. No progress to Turkey-France foreign trade in
2012; Turkey's exports to France reduced while imports from France increased
slightly
1. Davutoglu submitted new proposal for the solution
of the Cyprus problem
Turkish
channel NTV (online, 28.03.13), under the title “Davutoglu: Either a solution
or a division”, broadcast that Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet
Davutoglu submitted a three-alternative plan to “south Cyprus” for a solution
in the Cyprus problem and said: “Either a solution or division”.
NTV
broadcast the following:
“The
Turkish side submitted a new plan with three alternatives to the Greek Cypriot
Administration [Trans. Note: as he refers to the government of the Republic of
Cyprus] for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Foreign
Minister Davutoglu explained the context of the plan, which was prepared in the
framework of the use of the natural sources in the Mediterranean.
Speaking
to Star newspaper, Davutoglu said that one of the alternatives after the
solution is ‘to establish a United Cyprus State and to use together the natural
sources’.
Davutoglu
proposed as a second road, while the negotiations for the solution process are
continuing, to form a joint committee and marketing the natural sources by this
committee.
Davutoglu
as a third option brought in the agenda the proposal of a ‘two state solution’.
Foreign
Minister Davutoglu summarized the plan with the expression ‘either a solution
or division”.
2. Turkey’s decision to shelve
planned projects with ENI might have international repercussions
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (27.03.13) reported on the news that Turkey has suspended planned projects and investments by the Italian energy company ENI in the country because the firm has gone ahead with plans to explore for natural gas in the Republic of Cyprus but notes that observers argue that the decision to shelve planned projects with ENI might have international repercussions as the Italian firm is also involved in partnership with third partners -- such as Russia -- in a critical investment for Turkey: the South Stream pipeline project, which will transport Russian natural gas to Europe by passing through Turkish territorial waters. ENI is partnering with Russia's Gazprom and France's EDF for the project. Turkey had given its approval for Russia to construct and operate South Stream in December 2011.
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (27.03.13) reported on the news that Turkey has suspended planned projects and investments by the Italian energy company ENI in the country because the firm has gone ahead with plans to explore for natural gas in the Republic of Cyprus but notes that observers argue that the decision to shelve planned projects with ENI might have international repercussions as the Italian firm is also involved in partnership with third partners -- such as Russia -- in a critical investment for Turkey: the South Stream pipeline project, which will transport Russian natural gas to Europe by passing through Turkish territorial waters. ENI is partnering with Russia's Gazprom and France's EDF for the project. Turkey had given its approval for Russia to construct and operate South Stream in December 2011.
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner
Yıldız told reporters in Ankara on Wednesday that “Ankara has decided to halt
cooperation with ENI” over the disputed plans for development of natural gas
fields off Cyprus.
Ankara had earlier warned that companies involved in
the Republic of Cyprus exploration process would be excluded from Turkey's
energy investment plans.
But ENI is also involved in the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline
project to carry crude oil from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. “Calık
Holding and ENI are partners in a proposed Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline that would
pump Russian oil from Turkey's Black Sea coast to the Mediterranean. Calık will
make their own decision to continue with the Italian firm, but the government
might opt to exclude ENI from this project,” Yıldız asserted.
It is not certain whether Turkey will move to announce
similar decisions regarding the remaining companies that are interested in the
popular “Mediterranean gas rush.”
According to energy analyst Necdet Pamir, Turkey has
the right to establish its own exclusive economic zone though it may have to
take careful steps when third parties are involved. “Assertive maneuvers could
backfire in this tricky region. For instance, I doubt that the Russians will be
fine with any plans to block ENI in the South Stream project. The government
has failed to draw clear lines here,” he argued. Pamir says that there may be
other upcoming energy projects passing through Turkey in which ENI will be
interested. “The proposed Interconnector Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline [ITGI]
project to carry natural gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Phase II to Italy is
one of them. Let us say that the ITGI may not be realized, but then you have
the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline [TAP] project that aims to pump Azerbaijani gas to
Europe via Turkey again.”
“We will see how Turkey's future strategy for energy
firms doing business with Greek Cypriots unfolds. … But I have serious doubts
that the Turkish government is bluffing here, and it might have to change its
mind later,” Pamir asserted.
Enel, Italy's biggest utility, is interested in taking
a stake of up to 20 percent in the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project that
aims to pump Azeri gas to Europe, the group's chief executive said on Tuesday.
3. Eroglu to the Associated Press: “Economic crisis
could delay prospects for a Cyprus settlement”
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (27.03.13) reported that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis
Eroglu in an interview on Wednesday with the Associated Press in his “office”
in the occupied part of Nicosia has said that the “Greek Cyprus'” financial
woes, as he called the Republic of Cyprus, may further delay prospects for a
settlement to the island's nearly 40-year ethnic division.
(…)
"The
fact that our southern neighbors have gone into this kind of crisis does not
please us," Eroglu said. "This may be one of the factors that is
likely to delay a settlement. It may also force our good friend Mr.
Anastasiades to spend all his energy on economic problems and have less time to
devote to the negotiation process", Eroglu added.
Eroglu
said he hoped Anastasiades' government "will be able to get out of this
crisis soon, and that his citizens will not suffer as a result of these
problems."
(…)
"I
am hoping and I am thinking that in view of the developing economic
circumstances and problems that the south is facing, there will emerge perhaps
a greater desire for a settlement," Eroglu stated, adding: "We are
wishing that this crisis will not last very long and that the confidence of the
Greek Cypriot people will not diminish, because if there is a weakening of the
trust that the people have in the new leader, then it will be more difficult
for that leader to come to a solution with the Turkish Cypriot side."
Without
international recognition, the breakaway “northern Cypriot state”, as the
breakaway regime is called by the paper, suffered years through decades of
economic isolation, dependent almost entirely on Turkey. While the euro is the
currency in the “south”, the “north” uses the Turkish lira - although most
shops and cafes in old Nicosia also accept euros.
A
decade ago, Turkish Cypriots estimated it would take about 18 years for their
economy to catch up with that of the south. "But that was then,"
Eroglu said. "Now the situation is different. The Greek Cypriot economy is
in worst shape than ours."
He
said any new plan to reunite the two sides of the island would have to
re-examine how far economic integration would go.
The
Greek Cypriots "believed until recently that entering the European Union
and becoming a member of the European Union, would solve all their problems.
But now, as you can see, this is not the answer to all their problems,"
the Turkish Cypriot leader said.
The
“south” is now "just beginning" to experience economic problems.
4. Sonya criticized the latest statements of Kasoulides
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (28.03.13), the general secretary of the
Democratic Party (DP) Bengu Sonya, in a written statement, criticized the
latest statements of the Cyprus Foreign Minister Kasoulides on the Cyprus talks
by saying that “some circles in South Cyprus, who do not want an agreement,
exploit the financial crisis in the South”.
5. Illegal GAU university
delegation met with the Congo Ambassador in Ankara over the statements by the
Congo Ambassador in Athens
Turkish Cypriot
daily Vatan newspaper (28.03.13) reports that the illegal Keryneia American
University (GAU) is taking action against the statements made by the Congo
Ambassador in Athens, who recently called on students from his country not to
study at the illegal GAU.
The paper writes that a delegation of GAU met with the
Congo Ambassador in Ankara Marsel Mulumba Tshidimba who, according to the paper,
promised to offer his help on the issue.
6. Illegal Near East
University continues to promote health tourism in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (28.03.13)
reports that the hospital of the illegal Near East University (YDU) signed a
tourist health protocol with the “Travel and Holidays” firm.
The aim of the protocol is to promote tourism in the
breakaway regime.
7. An international conference of ETUCE in the
occupied Famagusta
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (28.03.13), the Turkish Cypriot education trade
unions of KTOS (Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers Trade Union), KTOEOS
(Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Trade Union) and DAU-SEN will host the
international conference “Peace Education in Schools” of the European Trade
Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) at the Salamis Bay hotel in occupied
Famagusta between 17-18 May.
Christine
Blower, Chairman of the ETUCE, Martin Romer, the European Director of ETUCE and
representatives of the Heidelberg University, Tel Aviv University, Queen’s
University and other academicians as well as trade unionists will also
participate in the conference.
8. Davutoglu due to Georgia for contacts; he will
participate to a tripartite meeting
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (27.03.13) reported that the Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu arrived on Wednesday in Georgia, the neighboring country to the east,
ahead of a tripartite meeting of the Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian Foreign
Ministers to be held in the port city of Batumi on Thursday.
Paying
a two-day visit to the capital city of Tbilisi on Wednesday upon the invitation
of Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, Davutoglu had a meeting with his
Georgian counterpart as well as with President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime
Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili and State
Minister for Reintegration Paata Zakareishvili, according to the Turkish
Foreign Ministry.
In a
written statement, the Foreign Ministry said that strengthening bilateral relations,
increasing regional cooperation as well as economic, energy and security
projects will be the main issues discussed during the meetings.
On
the second day of his visit, Davutoglu is scheduled to join the trilateral
meeting of Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian Foreign Ministers to be held in
Batumi. The development of regional cooperation in all areas for mutual benefit
will reportedly top the meeting's agenda. The parties are expected to exchange
their views on bilateral and regional issues of common interest including
strengthening regional stability and security as well.
During
the meeting, mutual Turkish-Azerbaijani projects, as well as Turkey's strong
support for Georgia's NATO bid, will be widely discussed, according to Georgian
officials.
On
the sidelines of the Batumi meeting, Davutoglu is also scheduled to have a
tête-à-tête with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
The
Batumi meeting between Davutoglu, Mammadyarov and Panjikidze will be the second
one for the Foreign Ministers of these countries, who first came together for a
meeting held in the northeastern Turkish province of Trabzon on June 8 last
year. Georgia was then represented by Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze.
The
meeting was concluded with the Trabzon Declaration outlining the major areas of
cooperation between the three countries, ranging from mutual support in
international organizations to regional joint projects in energy and
transportation.
9. Turkish Justice Minister: “PKK expected to complete
withdrawal before the end of summer”
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (27.03.13) reported that the Justice Minister Sadullah
Ergin announced on Wednesday that he expects the withdrawal process of the
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from Turkey to be complete before the end of
this summer.
Speaking
during an interview on broadcaster NTV, Ergin said: “Now, with a cease-fire,
the withdrawal process will proceed. We will follow it. We are hoping to see
the completion of the withdrawal from Turkish territory before the end of
summer.”
(…)
During
celebrations of Nevruz, a spring festival, in the south-eastern province of
Diyarbakır last week, Ocalan called on the PKK to declare a cease-fire and
withdraw from Turkey.
Ocalan
made this call as a result of talks he had with state officials on İmralı
Island, where he serves a life sentence. The talks are aimed to resolve
Turkey's long-standing Kurdish and terrorism problems.
Meanwhile,
the Justice Minister has said no legal arrangement is needed for the
establishment of a "wise men" commission to monitor or manage the
ongoing peace process with the PKK.
When
asked about plans for the establishment of an advisory commission to monitor
the settlement process, the Minister said that the government can establish
such a commission without any legal regulations, underlining that the
commission will be a wholly civilian one that would represent all of Turkey.
(…)
Justice
Minister Ergin also said on Wednesday that there is no need to make a legal
amendment to ensure the withdrawal of the PKK from Turkey, adding that if
bringing peace to the country is a crime, he is committing that crime.
“They
[PKK terrorists] will leave Turkey using the same method they came. … Will a
prosecutor come up and ask, ‘why are you trying to bring peace to Turkey?' or
‘why are you making efforts to end the bloodshed and tears?' If this is a
crime, then I am committing this crime,” said Ergin.
In
the meantime, Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagış on Wednesday called on
all parties to make careful remarks during the settlement process, arguing that
criticisms from all parties could weaken the current degree of determination,
which has not existed in the 40-year history of the conflict, to solve the
problem. "I do not want to talk about this issue [the settlement process]
and I call on the main opposition leader who talks about this issue [in a
critical way] to be just and conscious and to love Turkey," said Bagis,
referring to CHP leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu.
10. S&P upgrades Turkey's credit rating to BB+
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (27.03.13) reported from Istanbul that the international
credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) upgraded on Wednesday
Turkey's long term credit rating to BB+ from BB.
In a
statement released on Wednesday, S&P underlined that Turkey was in the
process of rebalancing its economy.
S&P
emphasized that the resolution of the Kurdish issue would have a positive
effect on Turkey's ratings.
“The
progress made on the Kurdish issue will lead to a decline in security related spendings
and would increase border trade in Turkey”, S&P noted as a reason for the
upgrade.
In
response to the upgrade, Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek stressed that
"it was encouraging. However, Turkey deserves a higher rating".
Turkish
Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said he was expecting the upgrading for a long
time.” I do not consider S&P's upgrading as sufficient”, Caglayan
underlined.
Turkish
Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz described the upgrading as a "positive
development". "However; the credit rating that Turkey deserves is
still not given", Yilmaz said.
11. No progress to Turkey-France foreign trade in
2012; Turkey's exports to France reduced while imports from France increased
slightly
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (27.03.13) reported from Paris that Turkey's exports to
France reduced slightly in 2012 compared to the previous year and its imports
from France increased slightly in the same period.
Trade
volume between Turkey and France was 12,569,315 euro in 2012 whereas this figure
was 12,625,783 euro in 2011, according to the statistics of Paris Embassy
Office of the Commercial Counsellor.
While
Turkey's exports to France were worth 5,667,073 euro, Turkey's imports from
France were worth 6,902,242 in 2012.
Airplanes,
automotive supply products, automobiles, iron and steel products, plastic
products, pharmaceutical products, engines and organic chemicals are on top of
the list of French exports to Turkey.
Automobiles,
underclothing, leather clothing, white goods and textile products are on the
top of the list of Turkey's exports to France.
Turkey
is 12th among the countries France makes exports the most and 15th among the
countries France imports the most.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
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