TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 79/13 25/4/13
C O N T E N T S
1.
Atalay will illegally visit Cyprus on Monday; Bozer says important developments
will soon take place on the Cyprus problem
2.
So-called foreign minister Ozgurgun reiterated that the closed off city of
Varoshia is a part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem;
statements by an anonymous high level official
3.
Turkish MP alleges that the Cypriot Foreign Minister is “talking nonsense”
4.
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce sends a letter to Fule and Schultz
5.
The head of the religious affairs “department” wants the opening of a
“representation office” of the breakaway regime in Egypt
6.
Turkey criticizes Obama's address on Armenian Remembrance Day of April 24; BDP
urges Turkey to apologize to Armenians
7.
CTP’s Youth Organization calls the two leaders in Cyprus to stay committed to
the point being agreed at the Cyprus negotiation talks
8.
Statements by a Turkish Cypriot who might be appointed in Bank of Cyprus’s new
administration
9. Columnist wonders
why “TRNC” has been founded if they are still partners of the Republic of
Cyprus
10.
More about the renovation of the illegal Tymbou airport
11. Promoting the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus in Istanbul
12.
Turkey launches revolutionary e-visa system for citizens of 94 countries
including Republic of Cyprus
13.
Turkey attracts 26% more tourists in March
14.
Navy to get 2nd local warship in September
1.
Atalay will illegally visit Cyprus on Monday; Bozer says important
developments will soon take place on the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(25.04.13) reports that a Turkish Cypriot delegation headed by Hasan Bozer, “speaker”
of the self-styled assembly, visited yesterday in Ankara the Turkish Deputy
Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Besir Atalay.
In statements during the visit, Bozer
referred to the natural gas and oil resources in Eastern Mediterranean and said
that as long as such wealth exists, the
interest of the whole world for the island will continue.
Noting that the future Cyprus policies
could be established on this wealth, Bozer argued: “I hope that this wealth
will play a role in the unification of the two peoples. We expect the
contribution of the entire world for this”.
Bozer alleged that the solution could be
achieved more easily if the world could “see the two peoples equally” and
added: “It seems that very serious
initiatives for the solution of the Cyprus problem will be undertaken soon”.
Meanwhile, in his statements Basir
Atalay reiterated that the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus, is a national cause for Turkey and that they provide aid to
the regime in all issues. He argued that while economic crisis exists in the
government-controlled area of Cyprus, the occupied north part of the island
achieved progress from every point of view.
Atalay added: “We have recently examined
our projects for northern Cyprus. There is absolutely no delay in our water
project. We have recently held a meeting with the Forestry and Water Affairs
Ministry. Everything is going well, thank God. On the other issues, we are very
closely following both the works for the tourism sector and the other fields of
the economy. Next Monday I will be there. We will have meetings regarding the
economy”.
(I/Ts.)
2.
So-called foreign minister Ozgurgun reiterated that the closed off city of
Varoshia is a part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem;
statements by an anonymous high level official
Writing in Turkish daily Milliyet
(25.04.13) under the title: “Return the close off city of Maras [Translator’s
note: occupied fenced off city of Varoshia] and we will lift the
blockage”, columnist Sefa Karahasan
reports that the “Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister”, as it calls the Foreign
Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, during his contacts in Brussels, met with the EU
Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement, Stefan Fule and supported that a new
chapter on Turkey’s EU negotiation talks could open in return for the
“returning of the close city of Maras to the UN”.
According to the paper, during his
meeting with Fule, Kasoulides referred to Turkey’s EU bid and sent the message
that the opening of a new chapter on Turkey’s EU negotiation talks could be
possible to happen with the return of the close city of Maras to the UN.
In statements on the issue, the
so-called foreign minister, Huseyin Ozgurgun said that the issue of Maras is a
part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that only then
it could be solved.
Meanwhile, speaking to Milliyet, a high
level official has stated that Maras could open for the “Greek Cypriot
citizens” for settlement but under the Turkish control. The same official has
also said that it is not right for the Greek Cypriots to continue bringing the
issue of Maras into the agenda, adding that the issue of Maras and the issue of
Turkey’s EU membership, are two independent issues. He went on and accused the
Greek Cypriot side for being insincere against the EU.
The paper goes on and writes that the
closed off city of Varoshia (Maras) was supposed to open after the 1st
of July, 2012, when the “Greek Cypriots” undertook the EU term presidency and
adds that the issue of the closed city of Varoshia which is considered as one
of the most important matters of the Cyprus problem, has been brought to the
agenda during the Turkish Cypriot leader, Eroglu’s visit to Ankara. The
proposal prepared then by the Turkish Cypriot side was seen positively by
Ankara, however, the developments in Syria and the suspension of the talks, did
not offered the chance for the proposal to come forward, writes the paper.
(AK)
3.
Turkish MP alleges that the Cypriot Foreign Minister is “talking
nonsense”
Illegal Turkish Cypriot Bayrak
(25.04.13, online) broadcasts that Volkan Bozkir, MP with the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) and president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of
the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), has commented on statements made by
the Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides, who reportedly said
that Cyprus might lift the blockade on chapters in Turkey’s negotiations with
the European Union (EU) provided that the occupied fenced city of Varosha is
returned to the United Nations (UN).
Noting that these statements created
reactions in the Turkish side, Bayrak reports that Bozkir argued that
Kasoulides is “talking nonsense”.
Bozkir wrote, inter alia, the following
on a social media: “…I think that the Foreign Minister of the bankrupted Greek
Cypriot Administration has talked nonsense trusting those who have spoiled him.
What does it matter if you open a chapter? What difference does it make, if you
do not? The Greek Cypriot Administration should firstly give account for the
black money it has laundered and abandoned to be exhausted. It should give this
account to those who accepted it in the Euro knowing this situation”.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce sends a letter to Fule and Schultz
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(25.04.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce has sent a
letter to the President of the European parliament, Martin Schultz and the
Commissioner Responsible for the Enlargement of the European Union, Stefan Fule
on the occasion of the ninth anniversary from the referendum on the Annan Plan
and reminded them of the promises given to the Turkish Cypriots.
According to a statement issued by the
chamber, the letter was signed by its president Gunay Cerkez, who stressed the
role of the international community in the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Cerkez pointed out to the importance of turning the economic crisis in the
government-controlled area of the island and the oil and natural gas reserves
into catalyser for the solution and to an opportunity. He argued that the
lifting of the so-called embargoes allegedly implemented on the Turkish
Cypriots would contribute in the solution.
The paper writes that in the appendix of
the letter, the Chamber sent also many statements made by UN and EU officials
after the results of the referendum regarding the “yes” vote of the Turkish
Cypriots.
(I/Ts.)
5.
The head of the religious affairs “department” wants the opening of a
“representation office” of the breakaway regime in Egypt
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(25.04.13) reports that Talip Atalay, head of the breakaway regime’s religious
affairs “department”, is holding various contacts in Egypt. Atalay has
separately visited Mahmoud Abdel Gawad, Advisor of Al Azhar’s Sheikhi, and Ali
Abdel Baki, General Secretary of the Islamic Research Centre.
According to a statement issued by Sukru
Aydin, press officer of the so-called religious affairs department, in his
statements Atalay pointed out to the old history, culture and geographic
proximity, which connects Cyprus and Egypt. He said that there have been
relations between Cyprus and Egypt in the past, but after 1974 these relations
were allegedly interrupted. Atalay asked for the opening of a representation
office of the breakaway regime in Egypt in order for these relations to
allegedly be re-established.
“Egypt has relations only with the Greek
Cypriot side. This relation does not annoy us, but we want this situation to be
balanced and relation and cooperation to exist with the Turkish side as well”,
he argued.
Atalay said that the Cyprus Mufti’s
office is an institution internationally recognized according to the
constitution of the 1960. He noted that Al-Azhar belongs not only to the
Egyptians, but to the Moslems in the entire world. He pointed out that a
faculty and a college of theology has been opened in the occupied area of
Cyprus and added that the aim of his visit to Egypt was to create the ground
for cooperation and mutual aid in this field.
In his statements, Ali Abdel Baki has
reportedly said that Atalay’s visit was the first step for their mutual aid and
argued that it is unacceptable for Egypt to have relations with countries which
are far away and not to have relations with the “TRNC”, which is near to it.
Baki said that they fully support the
cooperation between Egypt and the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus, and argued that the opening of a “representation
office” by the regime in Egypt would be “appropriate”. He noted that he also
wants such an office to open and added that in this case, their cooperation
will be facilitated.
Sheikh has reportedly said that if they
receive a demand they could send educators to both the religious faculty and
the college in the occupied area and that they could even pay the salaries of
these teachers. He noted that they could grant scholarships to Cypriot students
not only in the faculty of religion, but in other faculties as well such as
medicine, engineering etc.
(I/Ts.)
6.
Turkey criticizes Obama's address on Armenian Remembrance Day of April 24;
BDP urges Turkey to apologize to Armenians
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(24.04.13), Turkey regretted over US President Barack Obama's April 24
statement regarding 1915 incidents.
The Ministry on Wednesday said that
unfortunately US President Obama was demonstrated this year once again a
one-sided approach which reflected the Armenian views regarding the dispute
between Turks and Armenians on the painful part of their common history.
It was added: “We regard this statement,
which distorts the historical facts, as problematic in every aspect and deeply
regret it. Issued under the influence of domestic political considerations and
interpreting controversial historical events on the basis of one-sided
information and with a selective sense of justice, such statements damage both
Turkish-American relations, and also render it more difficult for Turks and
Armenians to reach a just memory. Our expectation from an important ally of
Turkey such as the US is not to further deepen the problem, but to provide
constructive contributions for its resolution, and to encourage the Armenian
side, which avoids objective and scientific research of the issue, to be more
realistic and conciliatory.”
Furthermore, A.A. also reports that
Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, who is
currently in Washington, touched on the US President Barack Obama’s April 24
statement regarding 1915 Armenian genocide and said: “We have to look beyond
words. We have to focus on common interests.”
“Unfortunately, today, the Armenian
diaspora extorts the actual national interests of Armenia,” added Bagis.
Bagis stated Turkish Americans and
Armenian Americans tried their best in order to form a lobby at the White House
and at the US Department of State for which words Obama would use in the
official statement about 1915 incidents.
Bagis noted that an open and wide
understanding was a must to have, and if it was not there, it would have wrong
outcomes. “We all have to focus on the future with a long-term vision; we have
to come over some problems”, stated Bagis.
Meanwhile, under the title “BDP urges
Turkey to offer apology to Armenians”, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 25.04.13) reports, inter alia, the following:
“The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP)
commemorated the mass killing of Armenians in 1915 on its 98th
anniversary, referring to it as ‘Meds Yeghern’ - Armenian for ‘great calamity’
– and also calling it genocide. The party also bid for an official apology for
the events, and introduced a proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into the
forced deportation of Armenians from Anatolia.
‘The traumas and grievances of the
genocide are still fresh in the societal memory, because Turkey has not
confronted one of the biggest genocides of the 20th century in order to clear
society’s conscience. It has not come to terms with its own history and has not
apologized to the Armenian people by admitting the reality of genocide,’ BDP
said in a press statement released on April 24.
BDP also drew parallels with the current
agenda regarding the ‘peace process’ aimed at ending the three-decade long
conflict between Turkish security forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK).
(…)
‘The BDP is the only political party in
Parliament that deems the mass killings of 1915 genocide. Last year, the party
offered its April 24 declaration as ‘the day of sharing the Armenian people’s
national mourning and grievances’. (…)”
7.
CTP’s Youth Organization calls the two leaders in Cyprus to stay committed
to the point being agreed at the Cyprus negotiation talks
Under the title: “Be committed to the
points to which an agreement was reached”, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen
(25.04.13) reports that the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP)
Youth Organization, Urun Solyali, issuing a written statement yesterday on the
occasion of the anniversary of the simultaneous referenda which were held in
Cyprus during 2004 on the Annan Plan, called the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek
Cypriot leader to adhere the points into which an agreement was reached during
the Cyprus negotiation talks.
The written statement called also for
the immediate re-launching of the negotiation talks aimed to find a
comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem and urged the two leaders to start
the talks and be adhering to the points into which an agreement was reached by
the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat and President Demetris
Christofias.
The Youth Organization of CTP reiterated
that that they support the efforts for finding a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution
on the Cyprus problem based on the political equality, as it is described in
the UN parameters.
(...)
(AK)
8.
Statements by a Turkish Cypriot who might be appointed in Bank of Cyprus’s
new administration
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(25.04.13) reports that a Turkish Cypriot named Erol Riza might be appointed in
the new administration of the Bank of Cyprus. According to the paper, economist
Riza is living in Limassol.
In statements to Kibris over the phone,
Riza confirmed the possibility of his appointment to the administration of the
bank and said that the existing economic problem is a “very big opportunity for
the solution of the Cyprus problem”. “I hope for the bad days to became an
opportunity for the reunification of our country and secure the solution” he
noted and expressed the wish to do whatever he can in the banking and financing
sector on the issue of the solution of the Cyprus problem.
“I hope that many Turkish Cypriots will
take a role in the economy of the country in the future”, he said pointing out
that in London Turkish and Greek Cypriots live together, do business together
and cooperate. “Similar partnerships and cooperation will be realized on the
island”, he added.
(I/Ts.)
9.
Columnist wonders why “TRNC” has been founded if they are still partners of
the Republic of Cyprus
Columnist Huseyin Ekmekci, writing in
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (25.04.13), under the title “Everything is
common, but separate state”, asks from those who rule the breakaway regime in
the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus to explain to the young generations
their contradictory statements whether they are partners in the Republic of
Cyprus or they want a separate state.
Ekmekci writes that on the one hand, the
Turkish Cypriot politicians made statements that they also have rights and
shares of the natural gas in Cyprus, they also have shares in the gold reserves
of the Central Bank of Cyprus and they also claim that 30% of the electric
power plants in the government-controlled area of Cyprus belong to the Turkish
Cypriots. On the other hand, they want a separate state and they give a
struggle so “TRNC” to be recognized. Ekmekci wonders what they want after all,
if they want to be partners in everything in the Republic of Cyprus, why they
have founded this separate “TRNC” state.
10.
More about the renovation of the illegal Tymbou airport
Turkish Cypriot daily Hurriyet
(25.04.13) reports on statements by Emrullah Turanlu, chairman of the
“administration board” of Tasyapi Insaat (Construction) Company, the company
which has won the tender for the innovation of the illegal Tymvou airport, who
in a press conference replied yesterday to questions of reporters about their
goals in the occupied area of Cyprus.
In his statements Turanli said that that
the construction of the new illegal Tymvou airport will be launched this year.
He said that they feel honoured for the new facility to be constructed and
added that after its construction the number of passengers who are visiting the
island will be increased from 3 million to 10 million.
Stating that the Tasyapi Insaat has
established a consortium with the Kaner Group, the local partners in the “TRNC”
and the Terminal Yapi, Turanli underlined that they would like to work and have
the cooperation of all sectors and tradesmen in the “TRNC”.
Referring to the latest criticism they
received by the “TRNC media” regarding the increase on the handling fees,
Turanli said that it is not the consortium they established called T&T
which is responsible for the designation of the prices, but the “TRNC state”.
Meanwhile, reporting on the same issue,
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (25.04.13) writes that Turanli has stated
during the press conference that the new 150.000 meters squares airport to be
constructed by the company is going to be ready in 3.5 years instead of 4 years
as the contract envisaged.
(AK)
11.
Promoting the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus in Istanbul
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes
(25.04.13), a tourism promotion campaign of the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus has been launched in the main metro stations in Istanbul.
The paper reports that promotion video
for “North Cyprus” will be shown in the metro stations for two whole months in
English and in Turkish.
Unal Ustel, so-called minister of
tourism, environment and culture, said that this campaign will contribute to
the promotion of “North Cyprus”, because Istanbul hosts innumerable tourists
from different nations throughout the year.
12.
Turkey launches revolutionary e-visa system for citizens of 94 countries
including Republic of Cyprus
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 25.04.13) reports that aiming to attract more tourists from all over
the world, Turkey has launched a new revolutionary online visa application
system for the citizens of 94 countries that enable the issuing of tourist
visas within minutes under certain conditions.
“Around 30 million foreigners visit
Turkey each year. 65% of them are exempted from visa. Our target is the
remaining 10 million foreigners. They are allowed to enter into Turkey after
they get their visa from our consulates or at the border gates. This system is
designed to transfer all of these procedures to the electronic context,” Deputy
Foreign Minister Naci Koru told the Hurriyet Daily News in an interview on
April 23. As the architect of this system, Koru is well known for his expertise
in digitalizing many functions of the ministry.
“We want more people, more businessmen,
and more tourists to visit Turkey. We want to reinforce our multidimensional
foreign policy. Our interest is not limited to countries in our immediate
neighbourhood. We want to open up to the peoples of the Far East, South
America, Africa… because we want to support our economic, political opening up
to these regions by easing travel conditions of the people of these regions,”
Koru stressed.
The system categorizes countries under
two large groups. The first group is composed of 40 countries whose citizens
will get online visas without conditions. Among them are the United States,
Canada, Australia, Austria, Cyprus,
Qatar, Norway, the United Kingdom, etc.
The citizens of the second group
composed of 54 countries will however get their quick visas under certain
conditions. A visa obtained from an OECD country will suffice for applicants
from these countries to get an online touristic visa for Turkey. In addition,
holding a residence permit from an OECD country is also sufficient for an
online application. This group of countries is mainly from Africa.
According to the information provided by
Koru, applying for a Turkish visa is very easy and takes only a few minutes.
Applicants will have to go to the address www.evisa.gov.tr to make their online
application, which is designed to be a simple one.
13.
Turkey attracts 26% more tourists in March
Turkish daily Sabah (25.04.13) reports
that the number of tourists visiting Turkey went up by 22.5% in the first
quarter compared to same period in 2012.
According to data released by the
Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Wednesday, the number of foreign tourists
arriving in Turkey increased by 26.06% in March compared to the same month of
the previous year, bringing the total figure for the month to 1.84
million.
The data, which were prepared according
to information accessed from the General Directorate of Security, also revealed
that the number of tourists visiting the country went up by 22.5% in the first
quarter compared to same period in 2012, with a total of 4.2 million tourists
during this time. The number of tourists visiting the country in the first
quarter of last year was 3.4 million.
The data show that Germany led the way
in being the country of origin of most tourists with a share of 16.6% in March.
Iran and Georgia followed with 7% and 6.6%, respectively. Syria, Bulgaria,
Russia, England, Greece, Azerbaijan and France also ranked in the top 10.
14.
Navy to get 2nd local warship in September
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 25.04.13) with the above title reports that Turkey’s second national
warship, Buyukada, is planned to be submitted to the Turkish navy in September
as part of the national warship (MILGEM) project.
The warship is the end product of
cooperative works of more than 40 local firms and organizations, including
Aselsan, Havelsan and TUBITAK (the Scientific and Technological Research
Council of Turkey).
Buyukada is invisible to radar thanks to
a series of fairly developed electronic systems and its special design.
According to the sources, MiLGEM
warships are known as ‘ghost ships’ as the radar cross-sections of these ships
are low. The warships under the umbrella of MILGEM project are designed to be
used for deterrence, constant patrolling and observation, monitoring and
preventing marine terrorist activities, submarine defence, surface warfare and
air defence.
MILGEM warships are designed, built and
integrated by only local means by the Turkish Naval Forces in accordance with
all national and international military standards. It was learned from various
sources that a foreign firm paid $500 million for the production of one
warship. Turkey however appeared to produce one such warship for not more than
$260 million.
A previous MILGEM warship, Heybeliada,
was submitted to the naval forces in 2011. The MILGEM project was first born in
1993 as a concept that was then realized in the following two decades. Turkey
is now one of the 10 countries that can make their own warships.
Turkey’s defence Industry Executive
Committee has been begun talks on January with Koc Holding’s enterprise RMK
Marine for the construction of six corvettes for navy as part of the Milgem
project. Corvettes are the smallest warships in the inventory of the Turkish
Navy, as the country has no ocean coasts.
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