TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 98 /13 25-27/5/13
1.
Turkey’s Yildiz reiterated Turkey’s proposal for Cyprus, Israel, Iraq to sell
their hydrocarbon reserves to Europe via a pipeline to pass from Turkey
2.
The eight expelled “deputies” will cooperate with the DP
3. The “motion of censure” against the “ruling” UBP will
be discussed on May 30
4. New data for the granting of citizenship: Ten
thousand new “voters” in the last four years in the breakaway regime
5. CTP a founding member of the newly established
Progressive Alliance
6.
The 51st EU-Turkey Association Council to convene today in Brussels;
A Turkish official invited some member states not to be hiding behind the
Cyprus problem
7. A
cooperation protocol will be signed between “YDU” and Crimea State University
8. The breakaway regime imports
daily goods from Turkey valued 2.64 million dollars
9. Chrysokavas ancient burial
ground opened to public
10. A new museum has opened in occupied Lefkosia
11.
Kucuk attended the foundation laying ceremony for new road project in the
occupied Famagusta-Trikomo districts
12. Davutoglu
discussed Syria with US, UAE and Saudi Arabian counterparts; he stated that
Turkey and the USA have a plan B on Syria if Geneva meeting fails
13.
Erdogan to pay an official visit to Morocco in early June
14. Turkey’s
Yıldız signed several cooperation agreements on energy in Sudan
1.
Turkey’s Yildiz reiterated Turkey’s proposal for Cyprus, Israel, Iraq to sell
their hydrocarbon reserves to Europe via a pipeline to pass from Turkey
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (27.05.13) reports the following:
“Energy-hungry
Turkey has offered to cooperate with its oil and gas-rich southern neighbors
for the exploration and transportation of their hydrocarbon products to world
markets via Turkey. It has particularly called out to Israel and Cyprus, which
recently had problems over the legality of the licenses issued for petroleum
exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.
‘Israeli
officials, local officials in Greek Cyprus, as they called the Republic of
Cyprus, and representatives of the ‘TRNC’
[as the occupation regime is called], they have all agreed on one reality: The
natural gas to be produced from this region will get its utmost feasibility by
a pipeline that will pass through Turkey. All relevant figures prove this
idea,’ Energy Minister Taner Yıldız told the Hurriyet Daily News in a
comprehensive interview outlining the Turkish government’s energy policies
regarding oil and gas reserves of its southern neighbors.
Yıldız
held substantial meetings with acting Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and
U.S. President Barack Obama’s special envoy for energy issues Carlos Pascual,
last week in Washington. The meetings were crucially important as the two
allies found themselves on opposite sides on a number of issues related to
Baghdad-Ankara tension over the latter’s growing interest in making deals with
the Kurdistan Regional Government and to the Turkey-Cyprus quarrel over the ‘Greek
Cypriot government’s’ ambitious moves for oil exploration in the disputed areas
of the Mediterranean.
Although
Yıldız underlines that Turkey appears to be the best route for these countries
to flow their products to world markets, he is doing his best to show that
Turkey is not in a position to abuse its geographical advantage in its
potential talks with its neighbors.
‘Turkey
does not say ‘Well, you are obliged to pass through our territories, so let’s
talk over this.’ It adopts a very realistic approach,’ he said. ‘Instead,’
Yıldız continued: ‘Turkey says it’s open to any sort of projects with the
accomplishment of political stability in the region’.
Subtitle:
Opportunity is there: Cypriot reserves
The
political stability the energy minister referred to concerns the decades-old
Cyprus problem which could not be solved despite numerous mediation efforts by
the United Nations. There are floating ideas that recently discovered oil and
gas reserves off the island could set an opportunity for Turkish and Greek
Cypriots to resolve their differences and agree on a peace plan.
‘I
agree that opportunity is there. But this should have legality,’ Yıldız said,
adding that the current status of the Greek Cypriot oil explorations in the
Mediterranean was illegal as there was no deal among the countries who have
coastlines on the definition of economic exclusive zones.
‘When
will they become legal? As put by our Prime Minister, they won’t become legal
until these reserves are shared by the entire island. Will works be legal when
[reserves are] shared? Yes’.
Subtitle:
‘US confirms Turkey’s rightfulness’
The
involvement of foreign energy companies from many western countries including
the United States, makes the situation a little more complicated as Turkey said
it would not allow those companies operating on the island to do business in
its territories.
Yıldız
said he made clear to his American counterparts the Turkish position regarding
Greek Cyprus’s (as they refer to the Republic of Cyprus) operations and
underlined that ‘We have seen that not only our correctness but also our
rightfulness is being confirmed [by the U.S.]’.
Subtitle:
Iraqi model for Cyprus
For
Yıldız, the position Turkey has adopted in Cyprus’s energy bid is not very
different from his stance regarding northern Iraqi reserves.
‘The
reasonableness and consistency of what we are saying about Iraq [with regard
its oil and gas reserves] should also be valid for Cyprus. Or vice versa. These
two issues are mutually supportive’, he said.
A
growing political stalemate between Ankara and Baghdad under the leadership of
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had implications for Turkish companies operating
in southern Iraq that pushed Turkey to seek more substantial energy deals with
the KRG.
‘Signing
a protocol and an agreement are different things. Agreements are
inter-governmental,’ Yıldız explained while clarifying a recent deal between a
Turkish state company and the U.S. giant Exxon for exploring oil in northern
Iraq.
‘The
idea that state companies cannot make commercial contracts is wrong. They can
make them,’ he said. Pointing out that 39 companies from 19 different countries
had already made similar deals and although central Iraqi government did not
recognize them, it started to receive 83% of revenues out of these projects as
a result of their revenue sharing agreement with the KRG,
Yıldız said: ‘This means an indirect recognition of these commercial
contracts.’
Subtitle:
Ready to talk with Baghdad
Giving
some clues as to how he introduced the situation in Iraq to his American
counterparts, Yıldız preferred to use the concept of normalization in Iraq that
would help to resolve all standing problems. ‘What’s the goal of Iraq?
Increasing its current 2.7 million barrels per day oil production to 7 million.
This
is very good. You have oil and gas and you want to use them for your needs. But
you cannot. This is abnormal,’ he said. The normal thing was to use them and to
transport them to world markets, he stressed, adding Turkey was ready to
contribute to them. ‘What’s wrong with that?’ asked the minister.
Washington’s
concern was that Turkey’s interest in northern Iraq would cause the division of
Iraq, according to Yıldız. ‘What we have told them is this: On the contrary,
Iraq would be divided if we do not show this interest. Iraq would not get
divided as long as it becomes normalized. It would be divided if it would
become abnormal. We are creating formulas for the normalization of Iraq.’
For
Yıldız, an Iraq which would increase its annual revenues up to $300 billion,
three times more than current figures, and which would share it accordingly,
would not face the risk of partition.
Yıldız
said turkey was ready to discuss these issues with Iraq whenever they requested.
Subtitle:
Turkey’s interest will not go
According
to him, Washington well understood Turkey’s position. ‘They [Americans] have
realized that there is nothing abnormal about the point we have arrived at [in
the northern Iraq]. What we are discussing [with the U.S] now is legality [of
Turkey’s deals] and not their rightness. What we are doing in Iraq is the right
thing from the perspective of international relations and of neighborhood. I
must confess that the problem of legality will be resolved only after the hydrocarbon
law is passed in Iraq.’
(…)
Subtitle:
Israel: Political feasibility needed
When
it comes to cooperating with Israel on its energy projects, Yıldız drew
attention to the fact that first there was a need for political feasibility to
talk about these projects’ technical feasibility. The Minister recalled that
there were signs of this political feasibility after Israel apologized to
Turkey but he wanted to underline that these projects could never be presented
as the reasons for this apology. ‘They may well be the consequences of this
apology,’ he stressed”.
2. The
eight expelled “deputies” will cooperate with the DP
The
main issue in today’s Turkish Cypriot press (27.05.13) is the announcement of
the eight expelled “deputies” from the “ruling” National Unity Party (UBP) that they have resigned from UBP and they will enter the upcoming “early
elections” in alliance with the Democratic Party (DP), under the same roof, in
the same list as Democratic Party – National Forces (DP – UG).
According
to the Turkish Cypriot press, this movement has caused the UBP to become a “minority government” with only 22
“deputies”.
Under
the title “UBP has turned upside
down”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (27.05.13), in its front page, reports that
the 8 “deputies”, who were expelled by the disciplinary committee of the UBP, preferred to resign from the party.
According
to the paper, the 8 “deputies” will submit this morning their resignation from
the UBP in the “assembly”.
The
“deputy” Ahmet Kasif, speaking in a press conference held yesterday on behalf
of the 8 expelled “deputies”, accused Irsen Kucuk - leader of the UBP and self-styled prime minister – of
transforming the UBP to the Social
Development Party (TAP). TAP is the party that Kucuk established when he
abandoned the UBP.
Kasif
also announced that the meetings with the DP are being continued in a positive
way and they will participate in the “elections” under the same roof.
Kucuk
described this behaviour of the 8 expelled “deputies” to cooperate with the
political parties of the opposition as a black stain in the political history
of Cyprus.
Meanwhile,
the column “A letter from Africa” in Turkish daily Afrika (27.05.13), under the
title “AKP dividing the UBP has
paved the way for CTP”, writes that the fight, which has started in UBP and has resulted the resignation of the 8
“deputies”, is a product of the AKP (Justice and Development Party). The real
architect of this operation is AKP, the column writes. It also argues that the
AKP has decided to erase Eroglu from the political scene, because they didn’t
agree with him, adding that in order to achieve this, they should first
underrate the UBP. Now that the UBP has lost its power, the chance of CTP
(Republican Turkish Party) to be first has increased, so the way for Talat to
be the next “president” has been paved, the column argues.
3. The “motion of censure” against the “ruling” UBP will be discussed on May 30
According
to news portal Kibris Postasi (online, 27.05.13), the self-styled assembly of
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus convened this morning, in
order to discuss the "motion of censure" submitted against the UBP self-styled government.
The
“TRNC assembly speaker”, Hasan Bozer, in a statement made in the “assembly”,
said that it has been decided with the majority of votes that the “motion of
censure” will be discussed on May 30.
4. New data for the granting of citizenship: Ten
thousand new “voters” in the last four years in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (25.05.13)
reports that the chairman of the “higher election committee” of the breakaway
regime, Nevvar Nolan, stated that the number of voters during the last four
years has been increased up to ten thousands.
Nolan said that the persons who turned eighteen during
this period obtaining a “right to vote” are included in this number. He also
said that due to the “citizenship” granting, the number of “voters” is expected
to rise even more.
The paper further publishes the numbers of “voters” in
the previous years which are as follows:
|
Year
|
“Voters”
|
|
2008
|
157.302
|
|
2009
|
161.373
|
|
2013
|
171.588
|
In addition, the paper also writes that Ahmet Kaptan,
the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot "Public" Servants Trade Union
(KTAMS) stated that during the last four days “citizenships” were granted to
215 persons. He also said by tomorrow (tr. note, on Sunday) the “TRNC
citizenships” will be granted to 100 more persons.
Reporting on the same issue Afrika (25.05.13) writes
that the Turkish Cypriot Primary Teachers Trade Union (KTOS) protested on
Friday against the illegal granting of the "citizenship".
In statements about the issue, the general secretary
of KTOS Sener Elcil stated that the "TRNC citizenship" is distributed
in the breakaway regime because of the forthcoming ‘elections” and added that
this developments is part of the efforts made by the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) in Turkey to save the National Unity Party (UBP).
5. CTP a founding member of the newly established
Progressive Alliance
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (25.05.13) reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) participated in the conference of the Socialist Alliance International which took place in Lepzig, German on May 22.
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (25.05.13) reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) participated in the conference of the Socialist Alliance International which took place in Lepzig, German on May 22.
According to the paper, the Progressive Alliance was
established during the conference, which is a political international founded
by political parties currently or formerly members of the Socialist
International and that CTP became one of the founder members of the new
alliance.
Leftist political parties from more than 70 countries
participated in the conference, according to Yeni Duzen.
6.
The 51st EU-Turkey Association Council to convene today in Brussels;
A Turkish official invited some member states not to be hiding behind the
Cyprus problem
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (26.05.13) reported that while the EU-Turkey Association
Council, the highest decision-making body for relations between the EU and
Turkey, convenes for the 51st time on Monday amid stalled accession talks, both
sides are scrambling to find a common position to inject fresh dynamism into
negotiations.
The
draft EU position paper, viewed by Sunday’s Zaman, which the EU will present to
the Turkish delegation at the meeting on Monday, has a tone that is
distinctively more positive in comparison to ones submitted in previous years.
Nevertheless, that will not stop the Turkish side from pushing aggressively for
concrete action from the EU to put the accession process back on track.
“The
main issue that will come up during this meeting is the obstructionist attitude
in the EU, mostly by a minority group, that prevents the progress in the
EU-Turkey talks,” Haluk Ozdalga, Deputy Chairman of the EU Harmonization
Commission in Parliament and member of the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AK Party), told Sunday’s Zaman. “The EU must understand that it can’t impose
its own will through deadlocked talks on the divided island of Cyprus.
The excuse some member states use, to hide behind the Cyprus issue,
is no longer a valid argument,” he added.
The
draft position paper accentuates the Cyprus problem, however, asking Turkey to open
its sea and air ports to the ships and planes of “Greek Cyprus”, as the Republic of Cyprus is called by the paper, without
delay, while expressing concerns about threats made by Turkey towards
member countries. The EU also makes clear in the document that “Greek Cyprus”
is considered to have the right as a sovereign state per international law to
exploit natural resources in the Mediterranean,
something which Turkey
and the “TRNC” dispute.
(…)
Turkey
is also gearing up for a new round of talks in Cyprus under UN mediation, and the
issue was discussed during Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit
to Washington.
Ankara believes
the natural gas potential in offshore areas around the island, may be enough
incentive for a last push for unification.
An
almost three-year hiatus on chapter openings in accession talks is the
lingering complaint from the Turkish side. So far, only 13 out of a total of 35
chapters have been opened in the accession talks, with one provisionally
closed. Eighteen chapters have been frozen -- eight by the EU, because of Turkey’s
refusal to allow “Greek Cypriot” ships to use Turkish ports in response to the
EU’s refusal to have direct trade with Turkish Cypriots, and the remaining 10
by the governments of “Greek Cyprus” and France.
“What
we expect is to have at least Chapter 22, which is on regional policy and
coordination of structural instruments, opened in the near term,” Umut Oran, Deputy
chairman of both the main opposition Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP) and the EU Harmonization Commission in
Parliament, told Sunday’s Zaman. “We also desire Chapter 23 on the judiciary
and fundamental rights and Chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security to be
opened to upgrade standards for fundamental rights and freedoms in Turkey,” he added.
Turkey
wants to hasten the opening of these chapters as it has been undergoing a major
overhaul in judicial reform and its constitution. Yet both chapters remain
blocked due to veto by the Greek Cypriots.
(…)
The
subject of visa liberalization will also come up during the Brussels’ meeting on Monday. There is growing
mistrust on both sides as to whether the visa liberalization talks will
actually lead to a visa waiver for Turkish nationals at the end of the process.
The EU insists that Turkey
needs to sign a readmission agreement before the visa liberalization roadmap
will be put into action. Turkey,
which initialed the agreement, has shied away from signing before seeing some
kind of light at the end of the tunnel, saying that visa simplification ought
to be put into action first before moving on the signing and ratification of
the agreement.
(…)
The
EU-Turkey Association Council is the highest decision-making body for relations
between the EU and Turkey.
The Turkish delegation at Monday’s meeting will be headed by Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, while Eamon Gilmore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Ireland
will represent the EU Council, and Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, will represent the European
Commission.
(…)
As
usual, the EU-Turkey Association Council will evaluate the progress of the
European Commission-led “positive agenda,” and Turkey’s progress on the acquis
communautaire criteria -- which will be a survey of a range of issues including
transparency and accountability in governance, corruption, trade union rights,
minority rights, freedom of expression and civilian-military relations. It will
also examine the coordination between Turkey and the EU in regions and
countries ranging from Syria,
the Middle East, North
Africa, the western Balkans,
Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
7. A cooperation protocol will be signed between “YDU”
and Crimea State University
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (27.05.13), the founding dean of the illegal
Near East University (YDU) Dr Suat Gunsel flied to Crimea,
in Ukraine,
as a guest of the Chairman of the Crimean Tatar nation, MP Mustafa Cemil and
the Dean of Crimean State Engineering Pedagogical University Prof. Dr Fevzi
Yakubov.
During
his visit, Gunsel will carry out contacts on the fields of education and
medicine. In addition to this, Gunsel will sign a cooperation protocol with the
Crimea State University.
8. The breakaway regime
imports daily goods from Turkey
valued 2.64 million dollars
valued 2.64 million dollars
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (27.05.13) reports that the average value of goods that the
breakaway regime imports daily from Turkey worth 2.64 million dollars.
The paper also writes
that goods worth 317 million dollars were imported in four months from Turkey. The
paper also writes that imports from Turkey were increase 0.57% for the
first years of 2013 compared to the same period last year.
9.Chrysokavas ancient burial ground opened to public
According to Turkish Cypriot mid-week newspaper Cyprus
Today (25.05.13 in English), an ancient site in occupied Kerynia described as
an “open-air museum” is accessible to
the public after the withdrawal of a military unit.
There has been criticism of the state of the
Chrysokava area, about 1 Km east of occupied Kerynia Castle, which is overgrown
with weeds and has been left scattered with debris.
A tourism official said work was now under way to
register Chrysokava as an archaeological site and a clean – up would take
place.
The old quarries of Chrysokava were used as a burial
ground by the island’s earliest Christians, who constructed a rock-cut cemetery
and catacombs, some of which were later converted into churches and decorated
with frescoes.
The site, a rocky cape also home to the Chrysokava
monastery, is believed to have supplied the building materials for the
construction of the nearby yacht harbour and Kerynia Castle in the Lusignan and
Venetian eras.
Former senior “Antiquities Department” official Tuncer
Bagiskan told Cyprus Today he had visited the site, which was opened about six
months ago, and was dismayed by is state.
He said: “When we are celebrating Museums week, it’s
really a pity to have an open-air museum covered in weeds.
“This area is a world-famous unique archaeological
site”.
Sahap Asikoglu, “under-secretary” of the so-called tourism,
culture and environment ministry, said: “This has been an archaeological site
since the 1800s. In 2004, we launched
work to re-register it.
“We attach importance to this area, which is known as
one of the first sites of the clans of Cyprus”.
10. A new museum has opened in occupied Lefkosia
According
to illegal Bayrak television (24.05.13), the so-called prime minister Irsen
Kucuk inaugurated the newly renovated Turkish Cypriot Islamic Artworks Museum
in occupied Lefkosia.
Speaking
at the inauguration, Kucuk highlighted the importance of preserving and
maintaining historical artworks belonging to the island’s Ottoman and religious
heritage.
He
said that the importance given to the Vakıflar Administration during his “government’s
term in office” was evident; adding that the policies carried out jointly with “motherland”
Turkey,
had started to yield important results.
He also
said that their aim was to increase such restoration and renovation projects.
The
Museum was established within the framework of a cooperation protocol signed
between the Republic of Turkey
Vakiflar Foundation, the so-called Turkish Embassy to occupied Lefkosia and the
Turkish Cypriot’s Vakiflar Foundation’s General Directorate.
The
restoration project was carried out under the watchful eye of the Turkish
Cypriot’s Vakiflar Foundation and the so-called department of antiquities and museums.
Valuable
carpets, rugs, watches and written decrees from the Ottoman era that were found
in the Vakiflar Foundation’ storage depots and mosques are all on display at
the museum.
11. Kucuk attended the foundation laying ceremony for
new road project in the occupied Famagusta-Trikomo districts
According
to illegal Bayrak television (25.05.13) the so-called prime minister İrsen Kucuk
attended the foundation laying ceremony for several road projects in the occupied
Famagusta-Trikomo districts.
A
general foundation laying ceremony took place for the Famagusta-new hospital
dual carriage way and roundabout, the occupied Trikomo-Ardana road, the Kantara
junction-Flamoudi road and the second stage of the occupied Gialousa-Rizokarpaso
road yesterday.
Making
a short statement during the ceremonies, the so-called minister for public works
and communications Ersan Saner said that he was pleased with the developments
in the country and added that when they came to duty in 2010, there was a total
of 124 kilometers of dual carriageways in the “TRNC” and within three years
they were able to double this number.
Irsen
Kucuk for his part said that since 2010, they were continuing to take
precautionary measures together with “motherland” Turkey, as he called Turkey, in
order to modernize the country. “Thanks to the contributions from motherland Turkey and the
good dialogue between the two countries, investments in the TRNC are increasing”
Kucuk said, adding that works to improve the country were continuing.
(…)
12. Davutoglu discussed Syria
with US, UAE and Saudi Arabian counterparts; he stated that Turkey and the USA have a plan
B on Syria
if Geneva
meeting fails
According
to Turkish website World Bulletin.com.tr (27.05.13), Turkey's Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu held a phone call separately with US Secretary of State John
Kerry, Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Abdallag bin Zayid Al
Nuhayyan and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faysal bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud on Sunday evening.
Diplomatic
sources said that Davutoglu discussed the Syria issue with his counterparts.
Last
week's Amman
meeting, Syrian opposition meeting which was held in Istanbul, and the planned Geneva meeting which is expected to take
place in June, were covered during their talks, sources added.
Meanwhile,
according to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (25.05.13), Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu in statements to a group of Turkish reporters on Friday, has
said that Turkey and the US have an alternative option, a Plan B, if the
upcoming Geneva meeting fails to provide a viable political solution to the
two-year-old Syrian conflict.
Davutoglu
spoke about the recent developments in Syria at a time when Ankara faces a great
number of challenges with regard to the intractable crisis in the Middle
Eastern country.
Denying
criticism suggesting that Turkey -- which had faced accusations of favoring
military option, an intervention in Syria by domestic criticism -- has shifted
its Syria policy and has been forced to back initiatives for a diplomatic
solution as result of strong pressure from the US and Russia, Davutoglu said that
Turkey has always backed a diplomatic solution, adding that while other
countries described the Bashar al-Assad regime as illegitimate from the very
beginning, Turkey has struggled to persuade Assad to adopt a political solution
for nine months.
Noting
that Turkey has always been involved in diplomatic initiatives and efforts,
Davutoglu asserted that Ankara is in contact with Iran, Russia and Arab and
Western countries, working on formulas which contemplate the political future
of Syria with or without Assad.
He
stated that the formulas to be discussed in the second Geneva meeting were shaped during those
diplomatic efforts and Ankara
also contributed to their content.
Expressing
his hopes ahead of the Geneva
meeting, Davutoglu said Ankara
and Washington
synchronized their approach on Syria
during the meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President
Barack Obama in Washington,
D.C., on May 16. He, however,
declined to elaborate on the details of a strategy, the Plan B, which has been
developed by Turkey
and the US
as an alternative policy in case of a failure in the Geneva II conference.
Regarding
the recent diplomatic efforts ahead of the conference, Davutoglu said that 11
countries, including Turkey, agreed on a common policy on May 22, during the
Friends of Syria alliance meeting in Amman, that envisages the exclusion of
Assad in the formation of a new transitional government that will bring in
elements of the Assad regime and the Syrian opposition at the same time.
According
to the proposal on which the countries agreed at the meeting in Amman, all powers and
rights in the new transitional government should be transferred to those who “don't
have blood on their hands.”
Davutoglu,
however, said if this formula, backed by Turkey for an enduring political
solution, fails in the upcoming Geneva meeting, the type of support the 11
countries provide to the Syrian opposition will change, hinting that the
international backers of Syrian National Council (SNC) would consider openly
arming the opposition.
(…)
"Tomorrow
we won't be able to walk on the streets of Aleppo and Cairo if we stand by the Assad regime,"
the Davutoglu also said and rejected charges of “backing the wrong horse” in
the Syria
crisis, deeming such criticism itself unethical.
When
asked about whether there has been a major failure in Turkish foreign policy
regarding the prolonged Syrian crisis, Davutoglu expressed his dismay, saying
that Turkey
failed to predict the scale of violence that the Syrian regime and Assad could
execute against their own people.
(…)
13. Erdogan to pay an official visit to Morocco in
early June
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (26.05.13) reported that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
is scheduled to make an official visit to Morocco starting from June 3.
“Erdogan's
visit will bring strong momentum to state and individual relations between both
countries and will present new opportunities for cooperation in many fields,”
said Lahbib Choubani, the Moroccan Minister in Charge of Relations with Parliament
and Civil Society, before Erdogan's upcoming two-day visit to the North African
country.
Choubani
also emphasized that Turkey
and Morocco
will become equilibrant powers in their own regions after they achieve
political stability, development and social peace in their respective
countries.
Choubani,
a Minister from the Moroccan Justice and Development Party (PJD) -- the largest
coalition party in government which has the same name as Turkey's ruling
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) -- also said that the affiliation
between both parties goes well beyond their names. “We share the same targets
with the AK Party with regards to issues of peace, social justice, political
stability and development. We would like to realize these targets not only in
our country, but also in our region,” he said, adding: “In the past, bilateral
relations were interrupted even though we did not wish so. But Ankara and Rabat are making an effort to develop
cooperation in every field,” Choubani also said, underlining the deep historic
ties between the two countries.
14. Turkey’s Yıldız signed several cooperation
agreements on energy in Sudan
According
to Turkish website World Bulletin (26.05.13) Turkey’s Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Taner Yildiz arrived on Sunday in Sudan for a series of talks with
Sudanese officials and signed up separately 3 agreements on mining, electric,
and hydrocarbon to improve energy cooperation between two countries.
Yildiz
came together with Sudan's
Mining Minister Kamal Abdel Latif, Water Resources and Electricity Minister
Tabita Botros Shokai, and Oil Minister Awad Al-Jaz.
Yildiz
said that Turkey
will back up the works of Sudan's
master plan on electric. "We will back up the private sector
representatives in energy sector, wind, sunny, and hydroelectric being at the
first place, to make investments in Sudan," said Yildiz.
Minister
Kamal Abdel Latif said that the relation between Turkey and Sudan went back
a long way, and added that they will work more to improve the relations between
two nations. "We would like to see Turkish businessmen more in Sudan. We also
would like to benefit from Turkey's
experience on industry, mining, and transportation sectors," said Abdel
Latif.
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