TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
1. “Early elections”
on 28th of July; Discussion on the “motion of no confidence” on the
3rd of June
2.
Scenarios on the day after the approval of the “motion of no confidence”
3.
Kucuk evaluated the latest political developments in the occupied area of
Cyprus
4.
Solomou murderer Akin to participate in the “election” with DP
5.
Eroglu met with Mathew Kidd; the Cyprus problem and hydrocarbon explorations
were discussed
6. Ozersay conveyed
Downer his views for finding an exit for the deadlock of the Cyprus talks
7. Turkey’s Yildiz
stated that Turkey has signed trade engagement with north Iraq
8. Arrests in first
degree military zone by persons who tried to pass to the occupied area
9.Third
Bosporus bridge to be called 'Yavuz Sultan Selim'; the groundbreaking ceremony
took place yesterday
10.
Turkey to manufacture its own LSD
11.
Turkish PM due to North Africa
12.
Turkey’s Parliament debated the LGBT's rights after CHP’s
initiative; AKP ruling party calls it 'immoral'
13.
Turkey to establish first Kurdish-language University in Diyarbakir
1. “Early
elections” on 28th of July; Discussion on the “motion of no
confidence” on the 3rd of June
According to illegal Bayrak television
(30.05.13), the self-styled assembly of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of Cyprus convened this morning and ratified the issue of holding early
“elections” on the 28th of
July, 2013.
Moreover, illegal BRT (29.05.13) broadcast that the self-styled
assembly’s advisory committee convened on Wednesday morning under the
chairmanship of the so-called assembly speaker HasanBozer. In line with the
“bylaw”, National Unity Party (UBP)
leader- self-styled prime ministerIrsenKucuk and the leader of the main
opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) OzkanYorgancioglu were also present
at the meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, Bozer
announced that the committee approved with a majority of votes to hold the
general discussions on the “motion of no confidence” filed against the UBP “government”, on Monday, the 3rd of June.
2.
Scenarios on the day after the approval of the “motion of no confidence”
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (30.05.13),
in its front page under the title “AKP divided UBP,
paved the way for CTP”, continues to report that the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) is behind this movement to divide the National Unity
Party (UBP). The paper also
reports that it is the first time that UBP
will run third in the upcoming “early elections”, adding that the Republican
Turkish Party (CTP) may be the first party in the “early elections”.
Afrika publishes a statement by former
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat saying that “the coalition between CTP-UBP may be difficult but not impossible”.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily
YeniDuzen (30.05.13), in its front page under the title “what would happen when
the government falls”, wonders what would happen if on Monday the “motion of no
confidence” filed against the UBP
“government” approved.
The paper reports that according to the
“constitution”, when the “motion of no confidence” is approved, then the “prime
minister” should submit his/her resignation to the “president”. However, there
is no article in the “constitution” in case the “prime minister” doesn’t
resign.
After the resignation, the “president”,
the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu, should assign to any “deputy” that he
wants the duty of form a new “government”, which will be able to obtain a vote
of confidence. Later, the “president” will assign the duty to a “deputy” to
establish the “council of ministers”. The “deputy” has to complete the task
within in 15 days whether he/she succeeds or not and then return to his/her
duties.
According to paragraph 6 of the Article
106 of the “constitution”, in case the “new government”, which is approved by
the “president” but doesn’t obtain “vote of confidence” by the “assembly”, will
continue its duties despite the will of the “assembly”. It would be the
“government” of the “presidency” and not of the “assembly”.
Meanwhile, the “prime minister” should
remain in the position until the new “government” is established.
3.Kucuk
evaluated the latest political developments in the occupied area of Cyprus
According to illegal Bayrak television
(29.05.13) the so-called prime minister IrsenKucuk, evaluating the latest
political developments to illegal Bayrak Haber, said that various circles were
trying to create an atmosphere of chaos following the “motion of no-confidence”
filed against the “government”.
Kucuk called on both the Turkish Cypriot
leader DervisEroglu and the “deputies” in the
“assembly” to exercise restraint and to act more responsibly.
Kucuk said that the 8 “deputies”
expelled from the “UBP” and the
opposition DP and TDP parties,
were trying to postpone the date for the “early elections” because they knew
they were going to lose to the election. “The 8 deputies who left us and the
Democrat and Social Democratic Party are trying to push back the early election
date. They know they will suffer a crushing defeat”, he said.
He said that postponing the date for the
“early elections” will only serve to drag the country into further chaos,
adding that it will not be the UBP
but the Democrat Party (DP), the Social Democratic Party (TDP) and 8 “deputies” who will be responsible for
the disruption of life in the “country”.
(…)
4.
Solomou murderer Akin to participate in the “election” with DP
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(30.05.13) reports that the assembly of the Democratic Party (DP) conveyed
yesterday and voted in favor of the participation of the eight resigned members
of the National Unity Party (UBP)
for the forthcoming early “election”. The new political coalition will
participate in the “elections” under the name DP-National Forces.
In addition, the party assembly approved
the participation of Kenan Akin under DP in the “election”. Akin’s participation,
who according to the paper stayed in the political shadow over the last few
years, will be approved by DP congress which will be held on June 5.
(TR. Note: Kenan Akin is wanted by
Interpol with Red Bulletin accused for murdering SolomosSolomou in the
incidents occurred in 1996 in Deryneia)
5.Eroglu
met with Mathew Kidd; the Cyprus problem and hydrocarbon explorations were
discussed
According to illegal Bayrak television
(29.05.13) the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu met this morning (yesterday)
with the British High Commissioner to Cyprus Mathew Kidd.
The meeting took place at the
“presidential palace” and the latest developments on the Cyprus problem as well
as the issue of hydrocarbon explorations, were discussed.
Eroglu’s “special representative” Osman
Ertug, his “undersecretary” HasanGungor and members of the Turkish Cypriot
sides negotiating team, were also present at the meeting.
No statement was issued to the press
before or after the meeting.
6. Ozersay
conveyed Downer his views for finding an exit for the deadlock of the Cyprus
talks
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (30.05.13)
reports that in a press release issued by the Movement “We are coming together”
(Toparlaniyoruz), the leader of the Movement KudretOzersay , met with Alexander
Downer, UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus.
According to the press release, Ozersay
conveyed to Downer his views in order to be able to find a way out and a result
to the negotiations. He said that he believes that it is possible and necessary
that the two communities in the island as well as other players in the East
Mediterranean area to develop cooperation models in a creative way without
getting stuck to discussions of recognition and status. He explained that if
they could carry out step by step cooperation models that would create
interdependency among the two sides in time on issues like economy,
transportation, tourism and energy, then the risk of conflict and instability
would be reduced or even removed.
7.Turkey’s
Yildiz stated that Turkey has signed trade engagement with north Iraq
According to Turkish website
worldbulletin.com.tr (30.05.13) Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources TanerYildiz stated on Wednesday that Turkey has signed a trade
engagement and not an agreement with the north Iraqi administration, concerning
the debates on Turkish Petrol Draft Law.
Speaking in the Turkish parliament
during the hearing of Turkish Petrol Draft Law, Yildiz stated that Turkey has
signed a trade engagement with north Iraq, emphasizing that further trade
agreements with north Iraq and deals made with central government would provide
profit both in medium and long term.
"We believe that Iraq's petrol and
natural gas administration is not done correctly. Engagements and agreements
are different objects. There are both agreements and trade engagements,
Republic of Turkey signed with central government of Iraq. Turkish Petroleum
Corporation (TPAO) won 4 tenders in Iraq, each one worth $25 billion. Our share
within the consortium is $5.5 billion," Yildiz said. "There are also
trade engagements. Both public and private companies, which are subjected to
the provisions of private law, are able to sign trade engagements. Turkey will
get profit from these agreements with north Iraq and deals made with central
government [...] Isn't it for Turkey's benefit to let the petrol and natural
gas transferred through itself? Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline will have an income
of $800 million when it starts to work with its full capacity", he added.
Reminding world known companies such as
BP, Shell and Exxon, Yildiz emphasized that none of them were public companies,
saying that 41 of integrated companies are private. “There are companies, owned
half by the public and half by the private sector”, Yildiz said, noting that
they would try to bring TPAO to work flexible in international area.
Turkish parliamentarian of Republican
People's Party (CHP) DurduOzbolat
recovered the issue, saying that agreements on searching and producing petrol
were quite normal; however it was not natural to do it without taking into
consideration the interests of the country. "Government does not consider
how searching and producing activities could be more productive. It is in
pursuit of making the international capital happy. It lets the initiative to
the market in the most strategic area," he said.
Turkish parliamentarian of Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) AlimIsik
stated that the draft was not fine for decreasing dependency in petrol and
other natural resources, saying that a possibility of TPAO's privatization was
at the door.
8.
Arrests in first degree military zone by persons who tried to pass to the
occupied area
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(30.05.13) reports that the so-called police of the breakaway regime arrested
30 persons at a first degree military zone who tried to pass to the occupied
area from the Republic of Cyprus.
The paper writes that the persons are
mostly holders of Syrian passports; however among them are holders of Iranian,
Pakistani, Lebanon and Cypriot passports.
9.Third
Bosporus bridge to be called 'Yavuz Sultan Selim'; the ground-breaking ceremony
took place yesterday
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(29.05.13) reported that the $3 billion new bridge to be built over Istanbul’s
Bosporus will be named after Yavuz Sultan Selim, one of the prominent and
notorious Sultans in Ottoman history.
The Sultan, known as Selim the Grim in
English, was famous for his conquests in the eastern world, and Turkey’s
contemporary border with what is now Iran was determined following the 1514
Battle of Caldıran against Sah İsmail of the Safavids.
The 59-meter-wide bridge – the widest in
the world – will be the third one to connect the Asian and European sides of
Istanbul.
The name of the second bridge over the
Bosporus is named after another sultan, Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmed the
Conqueror), who conquered the city from the Byzantines on May 29, 1453. Sultan Yavuz was Mehmed’s
grandson. The second bridge was built in 1988.
Yavuz Sultan Selim is beloved by some
for expanding the Ottoman Empire’s boundaries in the 16th century, but is
especially reviled by Alevis, who remember him as the murderer of thousands of
their ancestors.
Many have expressed worries that the
construction of the third bridge will lead to the destruction of Istanbul's
remaining green areas near the Black Sea coast while creating new traffic
headaches.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the
controversial bridge was held today (yesterday), on the 560th anniversary of
Istanbul’s conquest by the Ottomans, with the attendance of Turkey’s President
Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan.
10.
Turkey to manufacture its own LSD
According to Turkish website
worldbulletin.com.tr (29.05.13) Mehmet GokhanKoseoglu, Operations Director of
HAVELSAN, a Turkish software and systems company, said on Wednesday that
"the Directorate of the Defense Industry will shortly put manufacturing of
a national landing ship dock (LSD) on its agenda, which would be composed of
purely domestic design and software."
Defining the manufacturing and delivery
of the first national ship within the scope of project MILGEM (National Ship)
by the Directorate of the Defense Industry in 2011 as a "turning
point", Koseoglu added: "The first national ship has become one that
does not miss any target."
Announcing that they will produce a
national LSD shortly, Koseoglu also declared that they started working on the
production of the remaining 6 national ships, and plan a new project called
“genuine helicopters”.
11.
Turkish PM due to North Africa
According to Turkish website
worldbulletin.com.tr (29.05.13) Turkish Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan will
visit Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia between June 3 and 6, 2013.
Erdogan will cover the political,
economic and cultural relations, as well as regional and international
developments during his tour of these three North African countries.
According to a statement released from
the Prime Ministry's press centre on Wednesday, Erdogan will have tete-a-tete
meetings with the Presidents and Prime Ministers of those countries and attend
the first meeting of Turkey-Tunisia High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
During his visits, business forums will
be held in all three countries as well.
12.
Turkey’s Parliament debated the LGBT's rights after CHP’s
initiative; AKP ruling party calls it 'immoral'
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (29.05.13) as many countries discuss granting gay marriages, the
Turkish Parliament has tackled for the first time on May 29 the discrimination
faced by lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people (LGBT), a sensitive
issue long ignored by politicians.
The initiative came from the main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP),
which submitted an inquiry proposal regarding the problems of the LGBT
community in Turkey that was signed by 59 Deputies.
The general assembly debates were once
again heated as one ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy accused
the signatory MPs of “defending immorality” while BinnazToprak, the sponsor of
the initiative for the CHP,
stressed that homosexuality was neither “a choice, nor a disease.”
“The LGBT individuals face serious
prejudices. Politicians have not done what was needed to this date. They are
harassed by the police. Their families ostracize them. They are forced to
commit suicide. Courts reduce the sentences of the murderers. They can’t find
work, or are subjected to mobbing in their professional lives,” Toprak said,
emphasizing that all these problems affected every aspect of the basic daily
lives of any lesbian or gay individual. LGBT people were oppressed in
political, economic, social and psychological terms, she said.
“This picture is unacceptable. As the
Parliament, we have to change it. We cannot ignore these rights in a country
that we claim is an advanced democracy.”
Toprak, who recently won the “Outspoken
Award” from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in the
USA, demanded legal guarantee for sexual orientation and identity.
AykanErdemir, also from the CHP, criticized the negligence in terms of
legislation on hate speech and hate crimes, especially when directed towards
LGBT individuals. “We say that you cannot move forward with anger and hate. We
demand a legal arrangement [on hate speech],” Erdemir said while recalling that
the former Women and Family Minister AliyeKavaf’s description of homosexuality
as a “disease” had sparked huge criticism three years ago.
Meanwhile, the AKP rejected the
opposition’s initiative, arguing that it would encourage “behavior that people
do not approve of.”
“As a doctor, I consider the condition
defined as LGBT as an abnormal behavior,” the AKP’s TurkanDagoglu said, adding
that western countries could not be seen as a role model on the issue.
“Marriage of a woman with a woman and of a man with a man is not a right; on
the contrary it is a practice that paves the way for a social subversion by
showing as an accomplishment the reversal of sexual orientation,” she said.
Dagoglu denied that the AKP was lenient
on attacks and abuses on LGBT individuals. Instead of new legislation, she
proposed a joint work with non-governmental organizations to introduce “pre-emptive
measures” that would prevent “arbitrary” decisions in the courts.
LGBT rights remain a sensitive topic in
Turkey, as lesbians, gays and transsexuals routinely suffer abuses such as
discrimination, harassment, mobbing and stigmatization. During many years, LGBT
associations were under constant threat of being banned and frequently
prosecuted for pursuing activities “against morality.” However, associations
such as Kaos GL helped raise awareness, especially among human rights
activists.
One of the current debates centres on
the protection of sexual orientation and sexual identity under the new
Constitution being drafted by the Turkish Parliament. The AKP has recently
declined a proposal demanding the inclusion of the term “sexual orientation and
sexual identity” in the Constitution Conciliation Committee, which was backed
by the CHP and the Peace and
Democracy Party (BDP).
13.
Turkey to establish first Kurdish-language University in Diyarbakir
According to Turkish website
worldbulletin.com.tr (29.05.13) the formation of the Mesopotamia Foundation,
which will establish Turkey’s first Kurdish-language University, was approved.
Founders of the University include
Kurdish artist Sivan Perwer, human rights activists, academics and businessmen.
The University to be founded in Diyarbakir,
a Kurdish populated province in eastern Turkey, will also provide education in
the English, Armenian and Assyrian languages in the future.
Head of Board of Trustees of Mesopotamia
Foundation SelimOlcer said, most probably the University will be named as
“Amed”- name given to Diyarbakir in Kurdish, and added: “We aim contributing in
Kurdish language and give education in mother tongue.”
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