TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 73/13 17/4/13
1.
Eroglu briefed the political parties on the Cyprus problem
2.
Turkish Cypriots continue claiming rights on the Republic of Cyprus’s gold
forgetting they plundered occupied Greek Cypriot properties
3.
Azeri journalists are illegally visiting the breakaway regime
4.
Bagis: “Cyprus is a biggest problem for Europe than for Turkey”
5.
Bagis called on the investors from EU countries to deposit their money in
Turkey
6.
Fule called for the opening of the energy chapter in Turkey’s accession
negotiations
7. Turkey’s Minister of
Youth and Sports continues his illegal contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus
8. The USA Ambassador in
Cyprus visited the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade
9.
South Korean FM on how Cyprus gas exploration affects his countries’ relations
with Turkey
10.
Lavrov, Davutoglu to discuss boost in ties
11.
“Turkish PM’s Gaza trip tried to be ‘legitimized’”
12.
Merit Tourism Group invested more than $700 million in occupied Cyprus since
1990
13.
Internal crisis in the UBP
14. Turkey to submit a proposal to the
OIC for the Turkish Cypriot athletes to be able to compete
under
the umbrella of the IOC
15.
Water is found for occupied Kythrea area
16.
European court orders Turkey to pay 1.4 million euro over Semdinli raid
17.
Court accepts indictment seeking life for general over Ozal's death
1. Eroglu briefed the political parties on the Cyprus
problem
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (17.04.13) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis
Eroglu held a meeting yesterday at his office in order to brief the leaders or
representatives of the Turkish Cypriot political parties represented in the
“parliament” on the Cyprus problem.
In statements
after the two-hour meeting, Irsen Kucuk, self-styled prime minister and
chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), alleged that the Cyprus talks have
been postponed for almost a year because of the presidential elections in the
Republic of Cyprus and added that the preparations for the resumption of the
negotiations continue and that on 25 April, Alexander Downer, UN
Secretary-General’s special adviser on Cyprus, will visit the island for the
second time in two months. He said that Downer will meet with the leaders and
may bring some ideas.
Kucuk claimed
that President Anastasiades is looking for a way out from the economic crisis
and is trying to gain time and prolong the negotiations. He argued that
President Anastasiades rejected Eroglu’s proposal for meeting at a dinner in
April and that this social meeting was postponed for May. Kucuk said that the
view of his party is that the negotiations should start immediately and that
Eroglu will undertake the necessary initiatives mainly towards Downer.
In his
statements, Ozkan Yorgancioglu, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP),
said that the Cyprus problem might be on the agenda within the forthcoming days
and that they shared with Eroglu their views regarding the ground on which the
negotiations will start. He noted that they told Eroglu that the “new
negotiations process” should be held on the ground of the issues that have been
agreed during the past negotiations and registered by the UN as well as on the
basis of the agreements reached during the period of former President
Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat. He said that they
submitted to Eroglu their views for creating and taking alternative proposals
to the negotiating table during the new process on issues on which disagreement
exist in the chapters of the territory, property and administration and power
sharing.
Noting that the
time of the resumption of the negotiations is not clear yet because of the
economic crisis in the Republic of Cyprus, Yorgancioglu said that they told
Eroglu to suggest to the UN the resumption of the talks as soon as possible. He
noted that the crisis in the government-controlled area of the Republic might
postpone for a couple of months the negotiations which are expected to start in
May. He expressed the view that a delay longer than the above-mentioned period
would not be positive development.
Mehmet Cakici,
leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said they believe that the
negotiations should start the soonest and added that during the meeting they
expressed their view that all agreements reached in the past should be
reaffirmed and that new proposals should be submitted regarding the issues on
which disagreement exists.
Criticizing Eroglu
and wondering whether they have a strategic planning, Cakici said that
absolutely no progress has been achieved in the three years during which Eroglu
was holding the negotiations and added that especially the last one year passed
in vain.
Cakici noted
that America, the EU, Turkey and “south Cyprus”, as he described the Republic
of Cyprus, are making plans on sharing and transferring the natural resources
of the area and asked where the Turkish Cypriots are in these plans. He added
that what his party will do is to find the “biggest strategic solution”, to
create a just partnership depended on this, to allow no one to seize their
rights and to demand at least their natural gas and oil rights deriving from
the Republic of Cyprus, while the West shares the oil and natural gas in this
area.
He said in case
these things are not done, his party will change the negotiator of the Turkish
side, if it wins the “elections” to be held next year.
In his
statements, Atay Ahmet Rasit, foreign relations secretary of the Democratic
Party (DP), said that they understood that with the change of President in the
Republic of Cyprus, some new parameters and details will be brought to the
negotiating table. “We strongly oppose to this”, he added arguing that this
will serve in nothing else than prolonging the negotiating process. He said
that their view is the continuation of the talks from the point they have been
left. “We should frustrate Anastasiades’s efforts to change the content and the
ground of the negotiations”, he argued.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (17.04.13) reports that in statements
during a meeting with war veterans from Turkey, Eroglu wished for the
negotiations to start in May or June and reiterated the allegation that the
Greek Cypriots want to postpone the negotiations for next year showing as
pretext the economic crisis.
Eroglu described
as “a wrong decision” the UN Security Council resolution which provides for not
recognizing the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus and urging for
the protection of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, claimed
(I/Ts.)
2. Turkish Cypriots continue claiming rights on the
Republic of Cyprus’s gold forgetting they plundered occupied Greek Cypriot
properties
Under the title
“As it suits us!” Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (17.04.13) refers to
the reactions by the Turkish Cypriot leader’s office and the self-styled
minister of finance Ersin Tatar to the information that because of the economic
crisis, the Republic of Cyprus plans on selling gold reserves that exist in the
Central Bank of Cyprus. Relating these reactions to statements by Turkish
Cypriot “officials” that a separate state exists in the occupied area of the
island, the paper reports that “reactions came from the presidency of the
republic and the finance minister Tatar, who every day refer to a ‘separate
state’”.
According to
Ortam, Eroglu’s office alleged that no income or property of the Turkish
Cypriot “people” could be unilaterally sold, mortgaged or be promised for
future purposes, without taking the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side and
without settling accounts with the Turkish Cypriot side. The paper writes that Ersin Tatar wondered
“whose property the Greek Cypriots are selling to whom”. Both Ersin Tatar and
his father, Rustem Tatar reiterated their view that the gold belongs to the
Turkish Cypriots a well.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (17.04.13) reports that the self-styled
speaker of the “assembly”, Hasan Bozer also made a statement yesterday arguing
that the gold is common property “of the partnership Republic established in
1960” and that “the Turkish Cypriots have also rights on this”. Speaking during
one of his meetings, Bozer alleged that as a necessity of the politics in the
world, the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, continues
its existence as “separate state”.
“If the Greek
Cypriots allege that they have a state, we are also in the position of having a
state as they are”, he claimed, adding that “either an agreement is reached or
not, we have a state”.
Moreover, Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (17.04.13) reports that political observers
argued that these reactions may be justified, but “while we were selling many
Greek Cypriot properties by force and distributing title-deeds, we did not say
whose property you are selling to whom”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Azeri journalists are illegally visiting the
breakaway regime
Illegal Bayrak
television (17.04.13) broadcast that a delegation of Journalists from
Azerbaijan is illegally visiting the breakaway regime. The delegation met with so
called various officials of the breakaway regime like the Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu, the “prime minister” Irsen Kucuk and “foreign minister” Huseyin
Ozgurgun.
Speaking during
the meeting, Eroglu said that it is important to inform the jouirnalist about
the Cyprus problem and added that “he was proud and happy to see other Turkic
states, besides Turkey, extending its support to the Turkish Cypriots”. He
claimed that the Greek Cypriot side had started using the economic crisis as an
excuse to postpone the negotiations process, and added that he believed the
talks would restart sometime this year.
“But whether or
not we can reach a solution after 45 years of negotiations, we shall see once
the talks resume” he claimed.
On his part,
Kucuk said that Azerbaijan’s support to the Turkish Cypriots is important and called
on journalists to inform their citizens regarding the developments taking place
in Cyprus. He also called the journalists to inform their country regarding the
investment, education and tourism opportunities in the breakaway regime in
order to further strengthen relations.
“Meanwhile the
common message given by the Azerbaijan journalist delegation was for the
development of relations between the two countries as Turkey, the TRNC and
Azerbaijan are brother nations”, Bayrak broadcast.
4.
Bagis: “Cyprus is a biggest problem for Europe than for Turkey”
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar
(17.04.13) reports that Turkish Minister of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator
Egemen Bagis, speaking to Swedish Foreign Journalists Association at his office
in Ortakoy, Istanbul, said that Cyprus is a bigger problem for Europe than for
Turkey, adding that he is optimistic for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Noting that Turkey is now more
successful, has more self-confidence and is more transparent comparing to 1959,
the year when Turkey applied to join the EU, Egemen Bagis said: “This does not
mean that Turkey is perfect, we still have our deficiencies, however, today’s
Turkey is better than yesterday’s, and tomorrow’s Turkey would be better than
today’s.”
Replying to a question, Bagis said that
they expect the opening of the chapter on “Regional Policy” in June. He also
said that Cyprus forms a bigger problem for Europe than Turkey, adding he is
optimistic on the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Bagis also said that Turkey expects a
fair negotiation process from the EU. Asked when Turkey would be EU term
presidency, Bagis replied: “2023 would be a meaningful year for Turkey’s EU
term presidency.”
5.
Bagis called on the investors from EU countries to deposit their money in
Turkey
Turkish daily Sabah (17.04.13), under the
title “Come to Turkey, rest” inside its financial pages, reports that three
Turkish Ministers called on the investors, who have become uneasy in the EU, to
deposit their money in Turkey and to trust them.
Journalist Hazal Ates writes that the
implementation of haircutting the deposits over 100 thousands euro, which has
started in Cyprus, and the uneasiness in the European bank system show that
“Turkey” is a trust address for those who have deposits in these countries.
Turkish Minister of EU Affairs and Chief
Negotiator Egemen Bagis said that the most reliable port for the EU is Turkey.
He said, among other things, that “the Greek Cypriot sector is an example of
frustration and not an example of success for the EU”. Bagis said that the most
trustful place in crisis times for those who are looking a safe place is
Turkey.
On the same issue, Turkey’s Finance
Minister Mehmet Simsek said that the cutting of the deposits in Cyprus made
uneasy those, who have deposits there (Cyprus) and in Euro countries. He added
that however to the global uncertainties Turkey has an economic stability and,
as government, they always give great importance to stability and financial
discipline.
Moreover, Turkey’s Economy Minister
Zafer Caglayan said to the international investors: “Here are our performances,
trust us.”
6. Fule called for the opening of the energy
chapter in Turkey’s accession negotiations
Ankara Anatolia news agency (16.04.13) reports that the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule called for the opening of the energy chapter in accession negotiations in Turkey's European Union entry talks.
Ankara Anatolia news agency (16.04.13) reports that the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule called for the opening of the energy chapter in accession negotiations in Turkey's European Union entry talks.
Fule, made a
written statement to the European Parliament after receiving questions from the
members of Parliament, in which he said "The Commission thinks that Turkey
is ready to negotiate the energy chapter." Fule also reminded that
"not every member of the EU approved the opening of the energy
chapter."
Fule said "energy"
is not among the eight chapters which EU suspended due to the disagreement with
Turkey on Turkey's refusal to have trade links with the Republic of Cyprus.
There are 35
chapters in total for Turkey to complete negotiations.
7.
Turkey’s Minister of Youth and Sports continues his illegal contacts in the
occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi
(17.04.13) reports that the Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Suat Kilic who
is illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus in order to attend several
events, participated yesterday together with the so-called minister of
education and culture Mutlu Atasayan, to the opening ceremony of the 1st
International University Sport Games of the Economic Cooperation Organization
which are taking place in the occupied area of Cyprus.
As the paper writes, Atasayan and Kilic
made statements to the press after the opening ceremony of the games.
In his statements, Kilic spoke of the
importance of the organization of the International Sport Games both for the
occupation regime and youths in the occupation regime and said that the Turkish
Ministry of Youth and Sports will do the necessary to help them.
Referring to the so-called embargoes, he
described them as “unfair” and assured that Turkey will continue calling out
for the lifting of the “injustices” which are imposed by the EU to the Turkish
Cypriots and added: “You will see that step by step, these embargoes, which are
contrary to the international law, will be ended”.
Meanwhile, Kilic has also participated
yesterday afternoon to a foundation stone ceremony of the 5th
Student Campus which took place at the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University
(DAU).
According to the paper, the new Campus
to be constructed at the illegal DAU will be consisting of nine flours and will
have a capacity of 400 beds. The campus will cost 5 million TL and will be financed
by the Turkish Republic writes the paper.
The campus is expected to be completed in 16 months.
Speaking during the foundation stone
ceremony, Kilic expressed the belief that the so-called Turkish embassy in the
occupied area of Cyprus will contribute to the maximum so that the campus to be
completed by the next academic year.
Kilic stated also that two more Youth
Centres will be constructed in the future both in occupied Lefkosia and
Famagusta, in order to meet as he said the need of youngsters. He then asked
from the occupation regime’s “authorities” to find the soonest the land where
these centres will be constructed and asked for the tender process to be
intensified.
At the same time, the Turkish Minister
has also participated and delivered a speech at a conference organized at
illegal DAU entitled: “Visions for 2023”. Kilic referred in his speech to the
expectations of youths as regards Turkey’s future visions and explained also
what the Turkish government’s action will be for the next 10 years.
(AK)
8.
The USA Ambassador in Cyprus visited the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper
(17.04.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade, issuing a written
statement yesterday said that the USA Ambassador in Cyprus, John Koenig has
delivered a speech yesterday at a conference organized by the chamber about the
Cyprus problem and the latest developments in the region.
Speaking during the conference, Koenig
said that the businessmen circles in both sides of the island could play an
important role for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Koenig reiterated also the USA support
towards the efforts for a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution in Cyprus.
Referring to the economic crisis
experienced in the Republic of Cyprus, Koenig said that the businessmen world
has always survived from such kind of crisis and said this crisis shows the
necessity for the implementation of some conditions.
(AK)
9. South Korean FM on how Cyprus gas exploration
affects his countries’ relations with Turkey
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (17.04.13) publishes an exclusive interview with the
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se who referred to bilateral relations
between Seoul and Ankara and who stated that “Turkey is one of South Korea's
best partners in the politically fragile Middle East”.
When asked
whether the South Korean government's Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), which is
licensed by Greek Cyprus for offshore gas exploration, would be a topic of
concern for bilateral relations between Turkey and South Korea, Yun replied
that there may be some issues that both sides disagree on; however, he added
that the important thing was that the two countries, Turkey and South Korea,
trust each other.
“Overall the
future of our economic cooperation is very bright. There may be some issues,
but after all we trust each other,” said the minister.
10. Lavrov, Davutoglu to discuss boost in ties
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (17.04.13) reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu
will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov today to discuss ways of
boosting bilateral ties and bringing an end to the Syrian crisis.
Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Lavrov are expected to meet in the morning and the
two will hold a press conference around 1 p.m. at Cıragan Palace in Istanbul.
“The meeting is
expected to be an opportunity to review the preparations for the fourth meeting
to be held in Russia in the second half of the year,” the Foreign Ministry said
in a statement.
Syria, the
Caucasus, the Black Sea, Central Asia and the Balkans will be on the agenda, a
Turkish diplomatic source said, adding that the meetings boosted their economic
and social ties.
The economic
targets between the countries are “assertive but realistic,” the diplomat also
said, adding that the countries’ mutual will was determined in an institutional
framework at the meetings. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander
Lukashevich said Syria, Middle East, North Africa and the North Korean crisis
will be discussed during Lavrov’s visit.
The meeting will
be third of its kind of the Joint Strategic Planning Group (JSPG), which is a
sub-organ of the Turkish-Russian High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC).
11. “Turkish PM’s Gaza trip tried to be
‘legitimized’”
Under the above
title Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (17.04.13) reports that the Palestinian
President Abbas wants to lead Turkish PM Erdogan’s official visit to Gaza.
Palestinian and US officials say such a move would legitimize the visit,
expected to be at the end of May.
Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Istanbul on April 20 and will hold talks
with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as well as with Turkish leaders.
The aim of the
visit is not to dissuade Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan from his plans to
travel Gaza, Palestinian officials told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday, but
adding that the issue would certainly be discussed during the Istanbul talks.
What the
Palestinian Authority expects from Turkey, as an official stance, is to conduct
Erdogan’s visit to Gaza “through legitimate paths.” Abbas is ready to receive
Erdogan in Gaza, as the head of State of Palestine, and to travel Ramallah
together by helicopter and hold official bilateral meetings there. The Turkish
Prime Minister will therefore be the first head of state to visit Gaza,
accompanied by Abbas.
The Palestinian
President is also keen to show himself in the Hamas-ruled Gaza, which he has
long been unable to do because of the dispute between Hamas and Fatah. The
official also claimed that if Erdogan was not received by the official head of
state of Palestine in the Gaza Strip, it could deepen the division between
Hamas and Fatah.
However, such a
visit to Gaza will be more beneficial if it comes after progress in the
reconciliation process between Hamas and Fatah, which is expected to occur at a
mini-summit in Doha in the near future.
12. Merit Tourism Group invested more than $700
million in occupied Cyprus since 1990
Turkish Daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (17.04.13) reports that the Merit Group, which has
launched the most significant tourism investments in occupied Cyprus, is
opening the Merit Royal to target rich Chinese and Arab tourists.
The paper writes
that the hotel has 70 king suites. Personalized services are provided by noting
in advance how many ice cubes the customer usually has in his or her drink or
what kind of pillow he or she prefers. Merit International Hotels Executive
Committee head Reha Arar said they had undertaken the mission of diversifying
tourism in the breakaway regime as the Merit Tourism Group. “The Merit
International Hotels and Resort, a member of Net Holding, has increased the bed
capacity to 2,500. With our new hotel that will open in May, the Merit Royal
Hotel, the number of our hotels in the region will be seven. As the Merit
Tourism Group, we have invested more than $700 million in (occupied) Cyprus
since 1990”, he stated.
13.
Internal crisis in the UBP
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (17.04.13),
under the title “Early elections were asked”, reports that a meeting of the
“parliamentary” group of the National Unity Party (UBP) was held yesterday in
tension.
The paper reports that during the
meeting some “deputies of the UBP” asked to take decisions on some issues
including the “early elections”. The so-called deputy of UBP Turkay Tokel,
speaking during the group meeting, asked to take measures on various issues
including also the “cabinet reshuffle”. He also implied that in case these
necessary measures are not been taken by 30th of April, then he will
act independently from the party.
The so-called UBP deputy of occupied
Kyrenia Mehmet Tancer proposed to carry “early elections” under some
conditions. He also said that they discussed some internal problems of the
party.
The so-called UBP deputy of occupied
Lefkosia Zorlu Tore also said that measures should be taken regarding the
“cabinet reshuffle”.
According to confidential source, the
so-called minister of foreign affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun felt uneasy from the
meeting, so he walked out from the meeting by saying “it can’t be such party”.
Finally, the leader of UBP and so-called
prime minister Irsen Kucuk made a harsh speech and gave the messages that he
could launch internal disciplinary actions in the party.
14.
Turkey to submit a proposal to the OIC for the Turkish Cypriot athletes to
be able to compete under the umbrella of the IOC
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (17.04.13)
reports that “officials” of the so-called National Olympic Committee of the
“TRNC”, carried out a meeting yesterday in Ankara with the chairman of the
Turkish Olympic Committee Ugur Erdener.
According to the paper, the occupation
regime’s delegation was headed by the “chairman” of the “committee”, Serdar
Savim. Savim said during the meeting that the Turkish Cypriot athletes are for
years under “embargoes”, underling the need for these to be lifted.
Savim went on saying that the “TRNC
National Olympic Committee” is exerting efforts so that the Turkish Cypriot
athletes to be able to make openings abroad and asked from the Turkish National
Olympic Committee to support them on this issue.
Speaking also during the meeting, the
chairman of the Turkish National Olympic Committee, Ugur Erdener expressed
their readiness to help the “TRNC” in all fields.
Erdener went on and said that after the
election of the new chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who
is going to be elected during the general assembly of the IOC on September,
they will undertake an initiative and they will submit a proposal, so that the
Turkish Cypriot athletes, to be able to compete to several sport events under
the umbrella of the OIC, until a solution on the Cyprus problem will be found.
(AK)
15. Water is found for occupied Kythrea area
Under the title
“Good news for water” Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (17.04.13)
reports that as a result of efforts exerted by the so-called municipality of
occupied Kythrea with the support of the self-styled department of geology and
mines and Turkey’s so-called aid delegation, a new water well has been opened
in the area of the quarries of occupied Halevka forest situated on the south
slopes of occupied Pentadaktylos mountain range.
According to the
so-called mayor of Kythrea, Osman Isisal, the depth of the well is 246 meters
and the water will be enough to meet the needs of both the villages bound to
occupied Kythrea municipality and many other places outside the borders of this
“municipality”. He said that they try to further dig the well and argued that
next year they will be very relaxed from the point of view of their water
needs.
(I/Ts.)
16. European court orders Turkey to pay 1.4 million
euro over Semdinli raid
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (17.04.13) reports that the European Court of Human
Rights (ECtHR) has ordered Turkey to pay more than 1.4 million euros in
pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages to the relatives of 12 villagers who have
been missing since a military raid in 1994 in the Semdinli district of Hakkari,
located on the Iraqi border.
According to the
relatives of the missing villagers, the Turkish military and gendarmerie forces
raided the Ormancık village of Semdinli on July 24, 1994. There have also been
claims that these forces were part of an illegal intelligence organization
inside the gendarmerie known as JİTEM.
The residents
were told by the military to gather at a helicopter landing pad located in the
village's main square, according to the villagers. The men of the village were
then stripped naked and beaten. Two pregnant female villagers, Emine Celik and
Zubeyda Uysal, were also beaten when they protested the security forces'
conduct and later suffered miscarriages. The relatives also told the European
court that the security forces set fire to their homes. The rest of the people
in the village were then forced by officers to leave Turkey and had to cross
the border into Iraq. The villagers left their homes in 1994 and returned in
1997.
Fourteen
relatives of the missing villagers appealed to the ECtHR on Sept. 10, 2002,
having exhausted all domestic legal options.
The court found
that the state was liable under Article 2 of the ECHR for the disappearance and
deaths of the applicants' relatives and for failing to meet its obligations as
outlined in Article 2. The court also found that Article 5 of the ECHR had been
violated on account of the unlawful detention of the missing villagers.
Additionally, the court decision ruled there had been a violation of Article 3
of the ECHR on account of the suffering of the applicants upon the
disappearance of their relatives.
The court
awarded 11 applicants 60,000 euro each in pecuniary damages. It also found that
the applicants had suffered non-pecuniary damages and awarded 11 applicants
each 65,000 euros in this regard. The court also awarded Sengul and Ozturk
32,500 euros each and İnan 20,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages. The court
also awarded the applicants a collective sum of 5,200 euros to cover their
legal fees for the court proceedings they were a part of before taking their
case to the ECtHR.
17. Court accepts indictment seeking life for
general over Ozal's death
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (17.04.13) reports that an Ankara court on Tuesday
accepted an indictment concerning the 1993 death of former President Turgut Ozal
which names key Ergenekon suspect retired Brig. Gen. Levent ErsOz as the prime
suspect and seeks life imprisonment for him.
In the
indictment, Prosecutor Kemal Cetin names ErsOz as a prime suspect and seeks an
aggravated life sentence for the retired general, accusing him of having a role
in Ozal's death and charging him under Article 156 of the Turkish Penal Code
(TCK), which deals with conspiracy against the president.
ErsOz is also a
key suspect in the trial into Ergenekon, a clandestine network accused of
working to overthrow the government.
Under Turkey's
statute of limitations, legal proceedings cannot be initiated more than 20
years after the event. The 20th anniversary of Ozal's death falls on Wednesday.
An Ankara court
accepted an indictment on Tuesday seeking life imprisonment for retired general
Levent Ersoz. The indictment lists Ozal's wife and son as plaintiffs and
accuses Ersoz of "attempting to or succeeding in an attempt to murder the
president."
Ozal's body was
first exhumed last October after years of rumours that he was murdered by
militants of the "deep state" - a shadowy group within the Turkish
establishment of the day. He had angered some with his efforts to end a Kurdish
insurgency and survived an assassination bid in 1988.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
