TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 69/13 Date: 11/4/13
C
O N T E N T S
1.
Bagis on the Cyprus problem; he discussed the opening of the regional policies
chapter
2.
Eroglu reiterates his view for “two states” in Cyprus
3.
Statements by Ozgurgun on Cyprus talks
4.
Yildiz: TPAO seeks Lebanon explorations
5.
Turkey, Iraq warm to new pipeline as supply surges
6.
Iraq, Jordan ink $18 billion oil deal
7.
Rumors for “cabinet reshuffle” in the breakaway regime
8.
The self-styled Turkish embassy reportedly demanded the granting of “TRNC
citizenship” to 100 thousand persons
9. So-called minister of
finance evaluated the economic crisis in the Republic of Cyprus; He reiterated
that the occupation regime does not have any economic problems
10.
“Goodwill Ambassadors project” for the breakaway regime by the Turkic World
Youth, Friendship and Solidarity Association
11.
Erdogan to travel to Gaza after Washington visit; US Defense Secretary due to
Ankara
12.
President Gul approves law on foreigners
1.
Bagis on the Cyprus problem; he discuss the opening of the regional policies
chapter
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(10.04.13), Turkish Minister of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis,
delivering a speech at the European Policy Centre in Belgium, touched upon the
Cyprus problem too.
Commenting on the Cyprus problem, Bagis
said that the election of Nicos Anastasiades, the new leader of the Cyprus
Government, provided an opportunity and stated that if the EU removed the
so-called isolations it has put on the breakaway regime in 2004, realized its
promise of direct trade, Turkey would be ready to open its port and air space
to the Republic of Cyprus. Bagis alleged that the division in Cyprus damaged
the Greek Cypriot economy the most.
Touching on Turkey’s EU membership,
Bagis stated that Turkey hade made more reforms in one year compared to all
European countries, and even made unilateral progress in blocked chapters.
The support for Turkey’s EU membership
was around 50% which dropped as low as 25% in the 50 year process due to EU not
keeping their promises, added Bagis.
Reminding that Turkey was the first
country to say that Assad should go, Bagis called on the international society
to move in the right direction. Noting that he didn’t agree with western
countries’ concern over what would happen when Assad left, Bagis said: “They
ask who would come when Assad goes. Whoever the Syrian people choose, that
person will lead. Syrians should be given the opportunity to choose what they
want.”
Moreover, A.A reports that Turkey’s EU
Minister Egemen Bagis and Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional
Policy, discussed opening chapters into negotiations during Turkey’s EU
membership talks.
Following the meeting in Brussels on
Wednesday, Hahn said they discussed to open regional policies chapter into
negotiations, and he was very optimistic about it.
Bagis also said that no chapters had been
opened to negotiations with Turkey for the past 2.5 years, but this would
change with opening regional policies chapter. He also expressed hope that the
regional policies chapter would be opened to negotiations in June.
Bagis and Minister of Labour and Social
Security Faruk Celik also met with Laszlo Andor, EU commissioner for
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, in Brussels. They discussed opening
social policies chapter heading to negotiations in Turkey’s EU membership
process.
Bagis told reporters that an EU delegation
would pay a visit to Turkey in the end of April, and expressed hope that social
policies chapter heading would be opened to negotiations in the second half of
this year.
2.
Eroglu reiterates his view for “two states” in Cyprus
According to illegal Bayrak television
(10.04.13), Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, speaking during a meeting
with the Society of Kutahya War Veterans from Turkey who served in the 1974
Turkish invasion in Cyprus, claimed that the Greek Cypriot side continue to
reportedly deny the reality that there are two separate states in Cyprus and
perceive the Turkish Cypriots as stateless and vulnerable people.
Eroglu said that the martyrs and war
veterans has played an important role in the establishment of the breakaway
regime which was born as a result of the joint struggle waged by Turkey and the
Turkish Cypriots.
Explaining that “they learned how
difficult it is to establish a state through experience”, Eroglu said that “the
important thing was to uphold the state and not to concede gains at the
negotiating table”.
Reminding that negotiations to reach a
comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem have been continuing for years,
Eroglu said that any solution to be reached will be an agreement that will
safeguard the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots.
Noting that he had repeatedly told the
Greek Cypriots that they should abandon the illusion that everything will go
back to the way it was before 1974, Eroglu called on the Greek Cypriot side to
acknowledge the “realities” on the island.
He also said that the Turkish Cypriot
side supported the introduction of a timetable and deadlines to the
negotiations process, a policy, he added that was supported by motherland
Turkey.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar
(11.04.13) reports that the delegation was also accompanied by a MP of the
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) without giving any more details.
3.
Statements by Ozgurgun on Cyprus talks
According to illegal Bayrak television
(10.04.13), self-styled foreign minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, in a written statement,
claimed that the latest statement by the Government Spokesman of Cyprus
Christos Stylianides that conditions are not right for a new initiative to be
launched on the Cyprus negotiations process, was proof that the Greek Cypriot
side does not desire a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Ozgurgun also claimed that the
constructive and determined approach adopted by the Turkish Cypriot side both
during the negotiations process and the period that followed had disturbed the
Greek Cypriot side.
Alleging that the Greek Cypriot side was
at every opportunity using the economic crisis in Cyprus as an excuse to leave
the process hanging, Ozgurgun claimed that the latest statements made by the
Greek Cypriot leadership once again demonstrated the Greek Cypriot side’s
reluctance towards reaching a settlement.
4.
Yildiz: TPAO seeks Lebanon explorations
Under the title “State oil firm seeks
Lebanon explorations”, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 10.04.13), reports
the following:
“Energy Minister Taner Yildiz on
Wednesday said the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has applied to begin
exploration for oil off Lebanon’s Mediterranean shores, reportedly joining a
number of other Turkish firms in a bid for a license.
‘The TPAO is an applicant among many
other international firms,’ Yildiz said during Wednesday’s press conference.
‘We've seen that there have been many more bids for Lebanon’s gas than for
fields in Greek Cyprus [Trans. Note: Republic of Cyprus].’
The Turkish application for Lebanese gas
comes amid a row with Greek Cyprus [Trans. Note: Republic of Cyprus] over oil
and gas drilling in the east Mediterranean. Greek [Trans. Note: Cypriot] and
Israeli offshore gas reserves have seen intense media attention in recent
months, but the pre-qualification round for gas tenders last week attracted 52
firms, including ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell, Lebanese media outlets
reported.
(…) A senior US official told Reuters on
Wednesday that the US was requesting importers of Iranian crude oil to make significant
cuts in their purchases, the latest effort from the US to enforce international
sanctions against the Iran’s nuclear program.
Yildiz said on Wednesday that Turkey’s
energy trade was within the boundaries of international law, although he
detailed the country's plans to open a pipeline in Iraq this year and move its
energy trade away from Iran.”
5.
Turkey, Iraq warm to new pipeline as supply surges
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online,
11.04.13) reports that Turkey reiterated its willingness to build a new
pipeline in cooperation with energy-rich Iraq for a second time in less than a
week after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki made statements aimed at
breaking the ice with Ankara following months of hostile rhetoric.
The statements come at a time of new oil
discoveries in Iraq with the existing pipeline infrastructure starting to fall
short of meeting overseas demand, undermining the war-torn country's potential
to boost energy exports incomes. Ankara and Baghdad have been at odds over a disagreement
between the two to export northern Iraq's oil via Turkish markets. The latest
developments, however, enhanced the chance for reconciliation between the two
with the central government in Baghdad appearing to be less sceptical about
Ankara's engagement with the autonomous Kurdistan region -- or Kurdistan
Regional Government (KRG) -- to the north. Resource-hungry Turkey has heavily
courted Iraqi Kurds regardless of the strife with Baghdad and continues doing
so.
In an op-ed article published in Washington
Post to mark the 10th year of US invasion in Iraq, Maliki said
Baghdad ‘is committed to good relations with all our neighbours … offering the
hand of friendship to Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait’. Turkish Energy
Minister Taner Yildiz said in Ankara on Wednesday that the government ‘is ready
to cooperate in building a new pipeline that could serve as an alternative to
an existing Baghdad-controlled Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline to Turkey’. Exports
via that channel dried up in December -- from a peak of around 200,000 barrels
per day (bpd) -- due to a row with Baghdad over payments. Last month Yildiz
said the Baghdad government has offered to build a pipeline from the Iraqi oil
site of Basra to Ceyhan.
Yildiz asserted: ‘Iraq has the potential
to boost current annual oil and gas sale revenues of $100 billion by three
times in five to six years. Turkey will be happy to see conditions in Iraq
improve.’ Comprised of two different routes, Kirkuk-Yumurtalik remains the
longest crude oil exports line in Iraq. ‘We are ready to transfer the crude
from Basra to world markets when needed. This need will become more apparent
when the capacity grows higher with the new oil facilities being built here,’
Yıldız noted. The Minister added that Turkey remained a key transfer route for
Iraqi energy resources including oil and gas.
‘Our energy trade with Iraq is covered
by trade contracts that were signed earlier. A possible comprehensive deal on
the government level will likely see extended cooperation in energy between
us,’ the Minister added. There was no immediate response to Yildiz's comments
from Baghdad on Wednesday regarding a planned Basra-Ceyhan pipeline.
Turkey places heavy importance on
tightening its position as a key energy bridge for its major trade partner the
EU, which it aspires to join. A crucial resource for energy-poor Europe, Ankara
has already inked separate natural gas transfer deals with the regional major
suppliers of Azerbaijan and Russia. Also making mention of a critical issue,
northern Iraqi crude exports to Turkey, the Minister said Ankara has an
interest in increasing exports from this region as well. The KRG is already
bypassing the federal pipeline network by trucking small quantities of crude
oil over the Turkish border in exchange for refined oil products.
One of the key explorers in Iraq for
Turkey, the Anglo-Turkish oil firm Genel Energy said on Wednesday it made a
significant oil discovery in Iraq’s Kurdish north. Genel is the largest
producer in Iraq's north.
The firm is no newcomer to the region.
In early January, the company started exporting Kurdistan crude oil directly to
world markets through Turkey despite Baghdad's opposition. Bloomberg sources on
Twitter quoted Genel CEO Tony Hayward as saying a new pipeline between Iraq's
north and Turkey ‘would be completed this summer’. Hayward also told the news
site the company is in talks with as many as four Turkish utilities to sell gas
from its Miran field.
In an e-mail to Today's Zaman on
Wednesday, London-based IHS energy analyst Siddik Bakir said Genel is in the
process of completing oil and gas infrastructure within the KRG-controlled
region which includes the building of oil and gas pipelines. ‘There is
discussion to use a gas pipeline, which needs to be built another 50 km to get
to the Turkish border, for Kurdish oil exports. Reportedly, Genel is
considering turning it into an oil pipeline and transporting crude within Iraqi
Kurdistan from its production fields (down from Taq Taq over Khurmala all the
way up to Fish Khabur),’ he said.
According to Bakir, it is not clear if
Baghdad and Ankara would agree to connect the pipeline with the Turkish side of
the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline. ‘Turks could truck it further, or as many in
the KRG hope, Turkey will build an additional stretch of pipeline on its side
that is connected directly with Kurdish oil exports,’ he noted.
6.
Iraq, Jordan ink $18 billion oil deal
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 11.013.04) with the above title reports that Amman and Baghdad have
signed a deal to extend an $18-billion pipeline to the Red Sea city of Aqaba to
export Iraqi crude and supply Jordan with oil and gas, an Iraqi official has
said.
“The two countries have signed an
agreement to build a 1,700-kilometer pipeline from Basra to Aqaba,” Nihad Musa,
director of the State Company for Oil Projects, told Jordan’s official news
agency, Petra, in Amman on April 9. “The designs and technical studies, which
are currently being conducted by a Canadian company, are scheduled to be done
by the end of this year.”
Musa said Iraq “is serious about
implementing the $18 billion project. It is important for the two countries.”
Under the deal, which is expected to be
operational by 2017, “Jordan will get 850,000 barrels of oil as well as 100
million cubic meters of gas a day,” the Iraqi official was quoted as saying.
Iraq, which sits on the region’s
third-largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia and Iran at 115 billion barrels,
hopes the move will increase and diversify its exports.
Jordan currently imports 10,000 barrels
of Iraqi oil per day at well below the global market value and has recently
agreed to increase that amount to 15,000 barrels.
7. Rumors for “cabinet reshuffle” in the breakaway
regime
Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (11.04.13) reports about rumors on “cabinet
reshuffle” in the breakaway regime.
The paper, which
cites information by the National Unity Party (UBP), which is the “power party”
in the breakaway regime, writes that there was an agreement between “prime
minister” Irsen Kucuk and his revival for the UBP’s leadership, Ahmet Kasif on
the issue and suggests that Kucuk will give a “ministry” to Kasif and to two of
his main supporters, Ilkay Kamil and Kemal Durust.
In addition,
Yeni Duzen writes that three more persosn, who participate in the the past in
“UBPs government” will also join the reshuffled “cabinet”: Turgay Avci, Mustafa Gokmen and Tahsin
Ertugruloglu.
The paper does
not give information about the “ministers” that would be replaced.
8. The self-styled Turkish embassy reportedly
demanded the granting of “TRNC citizenship” to 100 thousand persons
Under the title
“100 thousand new citizenships” Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper
(11.04.13) cites information according to which the Turkish “embassy” to occupied
Lefkosia demanded the granting of “TRNC citizenship” to 100 thousand persons
and that the self-styled minister of interior Nazim Cavusoglu, is resisting
against the demand.
The paper writes
that the “embassy” is asserting strong pressure to the “minister of interior”
on the issue and that it is not pleased with him resisting its wishes. “Therefore, it is interesting to see whatever
Cavusoglu will continue with his duties”, writes Kibrisli which suggests that
this development is related with rumors for “cabinet reshuffle” in the “prime
minister” Kucuk’s self-styled government.
9.
So-called minister of finance evaluated the economic crisis in the Republic
of Cyprus; He reiterated that the occupation regime does not have any economic
problems
Under the title: “No problem in the
TRNC”, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (10.04.13) published an interview given to the
paper by the so-called finance minister Ersin Tatar who evaluated the economic
crisis in the Republic of Cyprus.
Tatar reiterated in the interview that
the occupation regime does not have any economic problems and added that their
ratio is in a very good condition.
Stating that they do not have any
worries in the “TRNC” about the economic crisis in the Greek Cypriot side,
Tatar recalled that they experienced similar difficulties during 2001 and added
that thanks to their good cooperation with Turkey and the efforts exerted by
Turkey, they achieved to reach this good level.
Asked to reply to the question whether
it is true that there are efforts by Greek Cypriots and British people to
transfer their money in the “TRNC”, Tatar confirmed this and said that they had
a lot of phone calls by now with this demand. He however, reiterated that their
aim is certainly to keep their banking system clear, adding, that they will not
accept black money to be transferred to their banks.
Asked to express his view about which
will be the salvation formula for the Greek Cypriots, Tatar said that Greek
Cypriots will continue to feel the impacts of this crisis for a long of period,
no matter of the efforts they will exert to overcome the crisis and no matter
of the agreements they will sign. “It was a great mistake when south Cyprus has
unilaterally become a member of the EU, after the period of the Annan plan. The
EU felt disturbed because south Cyprus became tax heaven for offshore companies
as well as a centre for money laundering. (...)”, Tatar said.
(AK)
10. “Goodwill Ambassadors project” for the
breakaway regime by the Turkic World Youth, Friendship and Solidarity
Association
Illegal Bayrak
television (10.04.13) reports that a delegation of students from Turkic world
who are in the breakaway regime to take part in the “Goodwill Ambassadors
project” “that was coordinated by the
World Youth, Friendship and Solidarity Association of the Turkic world paid a visit to various
“officials”.
The delegation
met with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, who alleged that in order
for a solution to be found to the Cyprus problem both sides must desire a
solution. He claimed that the breakaway regime is “a fully functioning state,
but an unrecognized country subjected to unjust embargoes”.
The delegation
also met with the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk who said that “it
would be beneficial for Turkic nations to recognize one another”.
The delegation
also paid separate visits to the “speaker of assembly” Hasan Bozer and the
self-styled minister of education Mutlu Atasayan.
11.
Erdogan to travel to Gaza after Washington visit; US Defence Secretary due
to Ankara
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online,
10.04.13) reports that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a long-awaited
visit to the Gaza Strip will take place after he travels to Washington, D.C.,
in mid-May for talks with President Barack Obama.
“I think it will take place after the US
visit,” Erdogan told journalists en route to Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday evening,
when he was asked about the planned trip to Gaza. The Prime Minister had
earlier said he planned to visit the Hamas-run territory in April. Erdoğan and
Obama are set to meet in Washington on May 16.
US Secretary of State John Kerry,
meanwhile, is expected to pay yet another visit to Turkey in two weeks, this
time to attend an international meeting on Syria. Kerry and his Turkish
counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, agreed that the meeting, a gathering of an
11-nation core group of the Friends of Syria, should convene soon.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is also
set to visit Turkey later this month and will try to rekindle military
cooperation between Turkey and its former close ally Israel in his first visit
to the two countries since taking office, a Turkish official was quoted as
saying by Reuters on Wednesday.
Hagel, whose visit to Turkey will take
place close to his Israel trip set for April 21-23, will also discuss regional
issues, the official said. The US Embassy in Ankara said it would not comment
on any potential visits.
During his visit, the official said,
Hagel would try to encourage both countries to restart military cooperation,
which used to include manoeuvres and defence contracts. Apart from relations
with Israel, the civil war in Syria is likely to feature prominently in
discussions.
12.
President Gul approves law on foreigners
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online,
10.04.13) reports that President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday approved a new law
on foreigners and international protection that was recently adopted by the
Turkish Parliament.
The EU last week welcomed the new law,
hailing the move by the Turkish Parliament as “clear sign” of Turkey’s efforts
to establish a sound legal and institutional framework for migration and
asylum.
According to the law, foreigners and
those who have international protection cannot be sent back to places where
they could be subject to torture, inhumane treatment or humiliating punishment,
or where they would be threatened due to their race, religion or membership in
a certain group.
The law stipulates that foreigners who
are subject to comprehensive investigations while entering the country can be
forced to wait for only four hours. Another article of the law allows Turkish
authorities to ban a foreigner for only five years, but if that person is seen
as a serious threat to public order and security, his or her ban can be
increased to 10 years. Foreigners with expired residence permits will be given
only a year's ban if they appeal to a governor's office.
The law stipulates that foreigners who
stay in Turkey for more than 90 days should apply for a residence permit. The residence permit will become invalid if
not used for six months.
---------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
