TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 77/13 23/4/13
C O N T E N T S
1.
Statements by Eroglu on the Cyprus problem
2.
Cyprus was in the agenda during Davutoglu-Kerry meeting
3.
Arinc criticized Kerry’s statement on Erdogan’s visit to Gaza as wrong
4. Nami and Tacoy informed the self-styled assembly on
their contacts in Brussels and Strasbourg
5. Twenty-two million crossings since the opening of
the barricades ten years ago
6. Generals end anti-BDP boycott
6. Generals end anti-BDP boycott
7.
Davutoglu in Brussels to attend a NATO meeting
8.
Arinc on the meeting with Israeli officials on redress for flotilla victims
9.
Gul and Abbas discussed the Middle East peace process
10.
No step back on terror fight, military vows
1.
Statements by Eroglu on the Cyprus problem
According to illegal Bayrak television
(22.04.13), during a meeting with administrators of public primary schools as
part of events marking the 23rd of April Children’s Day, Turkish
Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side’s desire for
the restart of the Cyprus negotiations process in May. He, however, said that
this was highly unlikely as it seems that the Greek Cypriot side will be
postponing the process, recalling Cyprus Foreign Minister Kasoulides’ statement
that the Greek Cypriot side will not sit at the negotiating table before the
economic crisis in Cyprus is solved.
Reminding that he will be meeting with
the UN Secretary’s Special Advisor Alexander Downer who will be visiting the
island this week, Eroglu said that he will once again convey to the UN Special
Envoy the Turkish Cypriot side’s “official” request for the immediate
resumption of the Cyprus negotiations process. He added: “We shall continue to
be persistent because waiting for the solution of the ‘south’s’ economic
problems could take years”.
Claiming that both sides should want a
solution if any progress is to be reached on the Cyprus problem, Erolgu alleged:
“Unfortunately, to this day, we have not seen such a desire or willingness from
the Greek Cypriot side”. Claiming that the international community should exert
pressure on the Greek Cypriot side, Eroglu said: “Unfortunately I cannot say
that a solution will take place tomorrow.”
Moreover, “BRT” broadcast that Eroglu,
evaluating his contacts in the Turkish city of Adiyaman at the illegal airport
of Tymbou, said that he was extremely pleased with the attention and interest
shown towards his visit in Adiyaman. “I held several meetings during my visit
and I can say that the most important aspect I noticed during my contacts was
the strong sense of loyalty and sensitivity the citizens of Adiyaman have
towards the Turkish Cypriots and the Cyprus problem”, he added.
Eroglu further said that he also found
the opportunity to meet with officials from the Turkish ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP).
2.
Cyprus was in the agenda during Davutoglu-Kerry meeting
Turkish daily Sabah (23.04.13) reports
that the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu discussed with
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry the nuclear works in Iran.
Recalling a source, the paper reports
that another important issue in the agenda of the meeting between
Davutoglu-Kerry was Cyprus. Davutoglu asked once more that the opportunity for
a solution of the Cyprus problem should not be missed, the paper reports.
3.
Arinc criticized Kerry’s statement on Erdogan’s visit to Gaza as wrong
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(22.04.13), Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Turkish
Government Bulent Arinc, speaking at a press conference in Ankara following a
meeting of the Turkish Council of Ministers on Monday, said that US Secretary
of State John Kerry's words uttered on Sunday about Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's potential visit to Gaza was wrong from a diplomatic
point of view. Arinc stated that the Turkish Government would decide when and
where the Turkish Prime Minister or a Turkish official would travel.
“We are not in a position to receive
permission from any other authority or accept their approval”, Arinc stressed.
“Mr Kerry knows this. The world knows
this. Turkey has the strength to accomplish what it wants and when it wants,”
Arinc also said.
4. Nami and Tacoy informed the self-styled assembly
on their contacts in Brussels and Strasbourg
Turkish Cypriot
daily Gunes newspaper (23.04.13) reports that the two “MPs” of the self-styled
assembly Ozdil Nami from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and Hasan Tacoy
from the National Unity Party (UBP) who held contacts in Brussels and
Strasbourg informed the “assembly” about their contacts.
Nami, who
reminded the “MPS” that the EU has commitments towards the Turkish Cypriots,
stated that in the 2012 EU Progress Report for Turkey, calls were made for the
opening of the Famagusta port and for direct trade.
He also
commented on the issue of the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the
works of the European Parliament (EP) as observers and said that a big step was
taken but there is a long way to go.
On his part
Tacoy commented on the EU Progress Report for Turkey and claimed that every
year the Cyprus problem is mentioned in the Reports and is used in order to
slap Turkey.
Commenting on
the statements of Nami and Tacoy, the self-styled minister of foreign affairs
Huseyin Ozgurgun, said that the representation of the Turkish Cypriots in
Brussels and Strasbourg must be strengthen. He also expressed the hope the
Turkish Cypriots to be represented soon with two seats at the European Parliament.
On the issue of the opening of the Famagusta port, he claimed that the port is
“legal and open” and that the call made is not sincere.
5. Twenty-two million crossings since the opening
of the barricades ten years ago
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (23.04.13) reports about the anniversary of the barricades opening on April 23, 2013 and writes that 22 million crossings of persons took place in the last ten years.
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (23.04.13) reports about the anniversary of the barricades opening on April 23, 2013 and writes that 22 million crossings of persons took place in the last ten years.
The paper writes
that 8 million crossings on behalf of the Greek Cypriots and 14 million crossings
on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots took place.
Commenting on
the issue, Cenk Mutluyakali, editor-in-chief of Yeni Duzen, writes that during
these ten years people went and go but no permanent friendships were
established. However, there was not any hostility among the persons who
unfortunately crossed just as “tourists”.
6.
Generals end anti-BDP boycott
Under the title “Turkey marks April 23,
Generals end anti-BDP boycott”, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 22.04.13)
reported that Turkey will mark April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day
on Tuesday and the Turkish army's top brass will be attending this year's
reception held in honour of the event in Parliament for the first time in six
years, changing their previous attitude toward the pro-Kurdish Peace and
Democracy Party (BDP).
Generals from the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK) will attend Tuesday's reception together with BDP deputies for the first
time. The Generals had previously boycotted the receptions, refusing to meet
with members of the BDP, which they see as an extension of the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK). They did attend last year's reception; however, this was
due to a boycott by the BDP, which was protesting the courts' refusal to
release some of its Deputies who were in prison on terrorism-related charges.
7.
Davutoglu in Brussels to attend a NATO meeting
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online,
23.04.13) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is in Brussels
as NATO Foreign Ministers are meeting on Tuesday to discuss the wars in Syria
and Afghanistan.
Kerry - attending his first meeting of
the alliance's governing body, the North Atlantic Council, as America's top
diplomat - will also see Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the
side-lines of the session. Officials said those talks would likely include a
discussion of the ethnic Chechen brothers accused of last week's Boston
Marathon bombings.
Davutoglu will also hold talks on the
margins of the meeting with his counterparts
8.
Arinc on the meeting with Israeli officials on redress for flotilla victims
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(22.04.13), Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Turkish
Government, Bulent Arinc, speaking at a press conference following the meeting
of the Turkish Council of Ministers on Monday, said that the talks between the
Turkish side and Israeli officials on redress for flotilla victims went
positive.
He underlined that “no discussion took
place between the Turkish and Israeli sides on Monday on the amount of
compensation for the families of the Turkish victims killed in a deadly Israeli
raid in May, 2010”.
“The amount of compensation was not
clearly mentioned. However, the sides discussed the methods and principles to
be used while calculating the compensation and they determined the parameters,”
Arinc emphasized.
The Israeli delegation was headed by
Netanyahu's national security adviser, Yaakov Amidror. Talks were held behind
closed doors at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) headquarters.
Israeli officials later met with Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc in a meeting which lasted around half an
hour and was closed to press. In regard to rumours published in some
international media that the Israeli delegation arrived in Ankara to ask for
permission to use the Akinci Airbase nearby Ankara for training purposes, Arinc
underlined that it was out of the question for the Israelis to use such an
airbase in Ankara.
9.
Gul and Abbas discussed the Middle East peace process
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(22.04.13), Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas on Monday held talks in Istanbul, discussing the latest developments in
the Middle East and Palestine.
The two Presidents took up issues such
as bilateral relations as well as the Middle East peace process and the efforts
to reach a reconciliation between rival groups Fatah and Hamas, according to a
statement posted on the official website of the Turkish President.
The statement cited Gul as telling Abbas that
the appointment of Turkey's ambassador to the state of Palestine constituted
the first concrete gain from Palestine's upgraded status at the United Nations
as a non-member observer state. Gul also expressed hope that Turkey's move to
send an ambassador to Palestine would set an example for other states.
Abbas expressed his gratitude for
Turkey’s long-term support and contribution to the Palestinian cause.
10.
No step back on terror fight, military vows
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 23.04.13) with the above title reports that the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK) announced on April 22 that its fight against terrorism was continuing,
about one month after the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared a
unilateral cease-fire.
A list titled “News from the Turkish
Armed Forces,” was posted on the official website of the TSK, with item one
titled “The Turkish Armed Forces’ Fight the Terrorist.”
“The Turkish Armed Forces’ fight the
terrorist, as stated in laws and in the government’s directive, is continuing,”
the TSK wrote, without naming “the terrorist” and explicitly citing the name of
the PKK.
On March 21 jailed PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan called for a cease-fire and for thousands of his fighters to leave Turkey
as part of a government-led peace process aimed at ending the three-decade-old
conflict between security forces and the PKK. Hours later, although welcoming
the call, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sounded a note of caution, saying
Turkey wanted to see “to what extent it is implemented” by the militants.
Erdogan said Turkish security forces
would cease operations against the militants as soon as Ocalan’s call was
implemented.
When the leader of the main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, was asked about the TSK’s
statement, he said, “In accordance with the law, the army will perform its
duty. This is not a big deal.”
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 22.04.13), under the title “General Staff says fight against terrorism
continues”, reports that also on Monday, some Turkish newspapers claimed that
PKK commanders are planning to announce their decision to withdraw their
terrorists from Turkish soil most probably within a week.
The newspapers, without identifying a
source for their claim, reported that PKK commanders are positive about
withdrawing from Turkey as part of the settlement process. According to the
newspapers, the PKK commanders will send a letter to Ocalan in which they will
declare their decision to leave Turkey. The decision will then be announced to
the public. This will take a week or so, the newspapers reported.
BDP deputy Sirri Sureyya Onder confirmed
the reports, saying that the PKK has “displayed its position in favour of the
settlement process” and that it may make an announcement for withdrawal later
this week. “We are expecting the announcement to come as soon as possible,” he
stated. “What is important is the will [of the PKK] to withdraw. It is not
important when it will happen provided that the will exists. The Kurdish
movement will keep its pledge about the withdrawal,” Onder added.
---------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
