TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 103/13 01-3/6/13
C O N T E N T S
1.
Protests in Turkey against the construction of a park snowballed to widespread
anger across the country against AKP government
2.
How the Turkish press covers in its front-pages the latest incidents which are
taking place in Turkey
3.
Erdogan retires mall project, vows mosque in Taksim- calls Twitter
“troublemaker”
4. Main opposition leader calls on Turkish PM to apologize to people
4. Main opposition leader calls on Turkish PM to apologize to people
5. “Anonymous” launches attacks against Turkish
government for Gezi Park protests
6. Reactions in occupied Cyprus to the police violence at Gezi Park in Turkey
6. Reactions in occupied Cyprus to the police violence at Gezi Park in Turkey
7.
Turkish Cypriot columnists on the incidents at Gezi Park
8.
Kucuk in an interview to Al Jazeera said that in case of no Cyprus settlement,
then the recognition of “TRNC” is in the agenda
9.
Eroglu on the dinner with President Anastasiades
10.
Talat says that the Cypriots are the responsible for their negativities
11.
Fifty five more “TRNC citizenships”
12.
BASIN-SEN will attend the 28th
Congress of IFJ
13.
Eighty seven hotels in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
14.
BKP will cooperate with Communal Existence Forces for the “early elections”
15.
Apricot festival with the participation of guest from various countries in
occupied Agios Amvrosios
16.
Hüseyin Yalyali the new director of illegal TAK
17.
Director of Turkish State Theaters removed from his office
1.
Protests in Turkey against the construction of a park snowballed to widespread
anger across the country against AKP government
The Turkish press reported over the
demonstrations took places in Turkey which started as protest against the
construction of Gezi Park in Istanbul but led to huge demonstrations against
the government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkish daily Hurriyet daily News
(02.06.13) wrote that more than 90 separate demonstrations in 28 provinces took
place on May 31 and June 1. Late on June 1, violent clashes broke out in
central Ankara’s Guven Park, as police tried to quell protesters with tear gas
and water cannon with brutality.
Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler
said on June 1 that 53 civilians, 19 of which from Istanbul, and 26 police
officers were injured during the violence.
Amnesty International, however, put the
number of wounded in hundreds and said there had been two deaths. Amnesty said
some protesters had been left blinded by the massive quantities of tear gas and
pepper spray used by police, while at least two people were hit in the head
with gas canisters. Guler said police had detained 939 people as of June 1
evening, but many have been released. More than 100 detained people were
released yesterday, according to Anatolia news agency.
President Abdullah Gul has urged
“sensitivity and maturity” to calm the five days of tensions. “I believe that
everybody will immediately do his share to provide calm and discuss the issue
that will suit us,” Gul said in a written statement.
Clashes erupted between police and
protestors in Istanbul's Besiktas district in the early hours of Sunday
morning, Dogan news agency has reported.
Columnist Mutlu Tonbekici in an article
in Turkish daily Vatan (02.06.13) wrote the following under the title : “Not a Tahrir,
But a Wonderful Turkey Has Emerged”:
“Here is a summary of what happened:
Most people poured into the streets not for Gezi Park but to protest the
actions of the police. This applies even to those who voted for the government
party. The operative phrase here was "use of disproportionate force."
This hurts the sensibilities of even a donkey. There is no point in telling
anyone: "You supported the government in the past. So what happened
now?" So what if she supported the government? Does she have to approve
cruelty by the police also?
A BBC
correspondent reportedly said: "I have seen demonstrations in many parts
of the world but I have never seen this much tear gas used." The police
fired tear gas canisters nonstop for four days. They fired tear gas no matter
what we did--sit, lie, stand up, or walk. […]
In the morning, a police officer with whom I argued in the Talimhane
[Taksim] area told me: "If you were so concerned about trees, you would
protect the forests that were burned by the PKK [Kurdistan People's Congress,
KGK]." I did not tell him that it was the state, not the PKK, that burned
those forests. I replied: "We want just these trees." He said:
"Do not tell me about it. We know the interests you are serving." I
asked: "Which ones?" He replied: "The PKK." Do you
understand now why they have been using tear gas canisters like bullets and
firing them after aiming them at protesters? In their mind, they are
"punishing" us. […]
Columnist Hasan Cemal in his article in
Istanbul T24 web site (02.06.13) under the title "The Real Issue is
Erdogan's Understanding of Democracy!", wrote the following:
“[…] Yes, as the Gezi Park Resistance
has gone down in the history of our democracy, it has also showed in just how
wrong a position [Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and the AKP [Justice and
Development Party] government are standing from the standpoint of democracy.
[…] The real issue is Tayyip Erdogan’s understanding of democracy; the
problematic thing is this. Prime Minister Erdogan’s authoritarian, “what I say
goes” policies are pushing political stability in this country more into danger
with every passing day, and are making stability, which is the most important
thing of all, extremely fragile.
As long as Erdogan does not revise his
problematic conception of democracy, as long as he does not question this
malformed mentality in order to change it, and as long as he does not activate
the mechanisms of self-criticism in his own world, there will be no first-class
democracy or state of law in Turkey, nor any real peace, and the day may come
when economic stability as well, which is going well today, is also upset. If this problematic conception of democracy
on the part of Erdogan, and his increasingly brazen authoritarian habits,
continue in this way, the “peace process” regarding the Kurdish issue, which
has begun so well with the cease-fire and the withdrawal to outside the border,
could also at some point become blocked, which would be a shame. […]”
Under the title “Social Eruption on 31
May 13" Kadri Gursel wrote the following in Milliyet (02.06.13) :
“[…] How did this reaction against the
police and against Tayyip Erdogan on 31 May grow the way it did? Why did 31 May
happen?
31 May was the day when the pent up
anger and frustration created by the succession of mistakes that need to be
fixed made by a government suffering from hubris against a very important
segment of society that it belittled, scorned, alienated and ostracized
transformed into a social explosion. […]
It was obvious that the restrictions and
bans in the bill were aimed not so much at safeguarding the people's health but
at making the exclusive liquor culture of the secular segment of society, which
makes up a significant proportion of society, illegitimate and shameful, and to
make that lifestyle not seen in public.
This ideology-based ban on alcohol
caused a serious rift and created the perception of a great threat leading to
people asking, "If they can do this today I wonder what they will do
tomorrow?" Meanwhile, the prime
minister poured scorn on people who drink socially using such terms as
"alcoholics, lushes and drunks."
He told them, "Go and drink in your homes." […]
The government unfortunately thinks
democracy is all about the ballot box.
Not only does he not care about those who did not vote for him, he has
no respect for them either. And so this
culture hit a brick wall.
Under the title "Is Taksim the End
of the Presidential System?", Asli Aydintasbas wrote the following in
Milliyet (02.06.13):
“[…] The reason that tens of thousands,
ranging from MHP [Nationalist
Action Party] adherents to TKP [Turkish Communist Party] supporters, and from
gay and lesbian groups to everyday citizens, poured into Taksim yesterday was
not just the fact that the trees in Gezi Park were being cut down. The objection of the people is to the Prime
Minister’s gradually increasing patriarchic, authoritarian concept of
rule. People want to have a say in decisions
in their own cities, their own lives, and their own country. Even if they did not vote for the party in
power, they want their words to have some value. They are saying: “We should be asked as well about the fate of
the city; we should be consulted as well on the system of the country; how we
are going to live should be left to us.”
Is it so difficult to understand this?
[…]”
2.
How the Turkish press covers in its front-pages the latest incidents which are
taking place in Turkey
All Turkish dailies continue giving
extensive coverage today (03.05.13) to the latest incidents and continuing
demonstrations which are taking place all across Turkey concerning the
demolition of Taksim's Gezi Park, as well as to the latest statement made by
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that a mosque is going to be built
in Taksim square, adding, that it is not necessary to get permission from CHP’s chairman as well as from the plunderers to do
so.
Milliyet:
“Afterwards meeting”, “We will build a mosque in Taksim, too”.
The paper writes that the protest
organized in Taksim square by several political parties, trade unions and
organizations, continued in Turkey yesterday as well, with the participation of
thousands of people returning back to the square and gathering there for the 6th
day. As the paper writes, hundreds of people protested in Taksim after Erdogan
noted that the Ataturk Culture Center (AKP) in Taksim would be demolished and
said that an opera house would be built instead.
The paper underlines that the protesters
opened a placard with Ocalan’s photo, something which caused tension among the
protesters. The police fired tear gas against the crowd.
The protests were extended to all big
cities of Turkey such as Ankara, Gaziantep, Izmir, Trabzon, Bursa, Eskisehir,
Sivas, e.t.c, writes the paper, pointing out to a statement made by the
Minister of Interior Muammer Guler, yesterday, who said that by 28 of May, that
the protests were launched, until today, a total of 235 protest in 67 different
provinces of Turkey took place. He added that 1730 people were taken into custody
and set free. According to the figures,
115 members of the police and 58 citizens were injured while in the
protest in central Istanbul, 89 police vehicles, 42 private vehicles, 5 buses,
18 cars - which belong to the municipality - were set on fire, and 94 working
places got damaged.
Sabah:
"Previous ten years are assurance of tomorrow". The paper refers to
an expression of Erdogan's speech in statements to a program broadcast by
Haberturk, where he said that he would not get the permission from main
opposition Republican People's Party (CHP)
to build an opera house and a mosque in Taksim. Erdogan said during his speech
that for ten years they did not engaged to people’s way of life adding that we
will not do it also in the future.
The paper under the title: “The anger
went off, the losses stayed”, refers also in another news report in its
front-page, saying that the protests cost 20 million lira damage in Ankara and
Istanbul.
Sabah covered Turkish Interior Minister
Muammer Guler's statement on Sunday about the cost of damage after the
protests, which is 20 million liras according to the official figures.
Hurriyet:
“Cleaning up of the Park”. The paper writes that a huge number of people
gathered yesterday at Taksim square, but the areas around the park were
restrained. The paper writes also that the protesters in Taksim Square started
a cleanup, helping to tidy the park after the wreckage.
Also, under the front-page headline,
"Heavy loss", Hurriyet refers to the amount of damaged buses and
cars, alongside number of people detained in five days.
Zaman:
"Environmental awareness transformed into devastation". Turkish daily
Zaman under the above front-page title emphasizes the contradiction between
environmental awareness, which was the starting point of the protests and the
wreckage left after five days.
The paper refers also to Erdogan’s
statement who responded to the allegations that a shopping mall will be built
at the place where Gezi Park is found.
Cumhuriyet:
“The people rest easy”.
Under the above title, Turkish daily
Cumhuriyet reports that after the calling by Prime Minister to the people who
poured to the streets to end the protests, the protesters had started
re-gathering to the Taksim square after Erdogan’s latest remark that “we will built
a mosque, too. I will not get the
permission (…) from some plunderers for this”.
Also, Cumhuriyet refers to statements by
CHP main opposition party leader,
Kemal Kilicdaroglu who has called Prime Minister Erdogan to apologize to the
people for the police’s use of violence.
The paper points out also that the
protesters in Ankara and Istanbul yesterday, were shouting slogans such as
“shoulder to shoulder against fascism”, “Tayyip resign”, “Taksim everywhere,
resistance everywhere”, “government resign”, “dictator resign”. Also, according
to the paper, 2 people were died in Istanbul while one thousand of people got
injured. The International Amnesty Organization has also called on the Turkish
government to allow the protesters to use their basic rights and freedoms.
AK
3. Erdogan retires mall project, vows
mosque in Taksim- calls Twitter “troublemaker”
Turkish daily Hurriyet (03.06.13) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stepped back from building a shopping mall in the Artillery Barracks project to replace Taksim Gezi Park, while also announcing that a mosque will be built on Taksim Square.
Turkish daily Hurriyet (03.06.13) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stepped back from building a shopping mall in the Artillery Barracks project to replace Taksim Gezi Park, while also announcing that a mosque will be built on Taksim Square.
“You cannot make an AVM [shopping mall] familiar to the international
ones in this area. There is no conclusive AVM
project here. Maybe we will make a city museum there or an architectural work
that will put different activities in place. Is there any certain document?
No,” said Erdoğan on June 2 in Istanbul as he attended the Rumeli Turks
Association’s general assembly.
Erdoğan also said the much debated Atatürk
Cultural Center (AKM), also on Taksim Square, should be demolished, proposing
to build an opera house and a mosque there instead.
“A mosque will be built in Taksim,” said
Erdoğan adding that he did not have to receive permission from the main opposition
leader or a “few marauders” for the projects. He said that the authority had
already been given by people who voted for the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP).
In the meantime, Erdoğan has remained
defiant against the demonstrations taking place in Istanbul’s Taksim Gezi Park
for the past six days.
“Is your issue about planting trees? It
is not tree cutting going on there. It is the stubbing 12 trees as part of the
pedestrianization project of Taksim,” said Erdoğan, citing the projects of his
government that had planted trees across the country.
He also accused the protesters of
causing damage to property. “They are burning, damaging the shops. Is this
democracy?” asked Erdoğan. He also criticized those who called him a “dictator”
for the excessive use of force against the protesters in Taksim. “[They say]
Tayyip Erdoğan is dictator. If they call one who serves the people a dictator,
I cannot not say anything,” he added.
In addition, Erdogan stated that
“Twitter is a troublemaker” “There is a
trouble called Twitter. Unmitigated lies are there [on Twitter],” Erdoğan said.
“The thing that is called social media is a troublemaker in societies today.”
He criticized what he called false
tweets being posted on Twitter, saying that people were being misinformed by
lies when they did not catch subsequent corrections.
Moreover, Hurriyet (02.06.13) also
reports that Turkish Deputy PM Arinc said the court has made the right decision
to halt the execution of Taksim Gezi Park constructions. Regarding the
incidents at Istanbul's Taksim Gezi Park on Friday, Turkish Deputy PM Arinc
stated that certain intelligence agencies and agent provocateurs try to render
Turkey vulnerable to provocations, saying "This is what we encounter in
Reyhanli and Cilvegozu. We trust the common sense of our people. We believe
they will display more sensitivity in such issues", he said.
4.
Main opposition leader calls on Turkish PM to apologize to people
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(03.06.13) reports that the main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called on
the prime minister to apologize to people for the excessive use of force
against demonstrators who protested against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park,
to be replaced with a shopping mall.
“One cannot rule against the people.
People are the strongest force. [Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] must
apologize to the people. I am waiting for that but I don’t know if he will show
this merit,” Kılıçdaroğluı told reporters today.
The main opposition leader also said that
his visit to the demonstrations was not an opportunist attempt. “I went there
as a civilian citizen, to support the demonstrators. This demonstration is not
[Republican People’s Party] CHP’s.
It is the people’s protest. We didn’t take our party flags,” said Kılıçdaroğlu.
Meanwhile, under the title: “The country
verges on dictatorship”, Turkish daily Zaman (03.05.13) newspaper reports on
statements by the chairman of the National Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli who commented on the latest
incidents occurred at Taksim Square and supported that Turkey has entered into
a secession period, adding: “Unfortunately,
Turkey verges on dictatorship. The power is intolerant, is a despot, is
unrestrained”. “The incidents occurred during the last 5 days at Istanbul’s
Gezi Part, are extremely important taking into consideration the stance and the
preferences of the government. The original images derived from there show the
slight position Turkey has drop down. (...), Bahceli said, expressing also
strong criticism to the police for the use of gas at the protest.
(...)
Also, commenting on the incidents at
Gezi Part, the chairman of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Selahattin
Demirtas, has underlined that those incidents are a provocation by some circles
in Turkey who want to oppose to the Turk or they want ethnic clashes.
Demirtas called the AKP government to
receive the messages from the streets and expressed strong criticism to the
government’s response to this message that was to suppress, with the police to
use violence with tear gas.
5. “Anonymous” launches attacks against
Turkish government for Gezi Park protests
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (03.06.13) reports that “Anynomous” has promised to launch attacks against the Turkish government in response days of police violence against protesters at Taksim Gezi Park and around the country.
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (03.06.13) reports that “Anynomous” has promised to launch attacks against the Turkish government in response days of police violence against protesters at Taksim Gezi Park and around the country.
“Erdoğan should learn from the fate of
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and resign before inflaming the situation
further”, it said in a YouTube video that displayed shots of the recent
violence between protesters and police.
The group managed to take down access to
the Official Gazette of Turkey and other sites with a hacking attempt late on
June 2. The website of private channel NTV, which has come in for stiff
criticism for failing to adequately cover the events, was also subjected to an
apparent Anonymous attack early June 3.
Accusing the government of censoring
social media to prevent citizens from learning the truth, “Anonymous” vowed to
bring the Turkish government "to its knees" by attacking all state
websites in Turkey.
"We have watched for days with
horror as our brothers and sisters in Turkey who are peacefully rising up
against their tyrannical government [have been] brutalized, beaten, run over by
riot vehicles, shot with water cannons and gassed in the streets," the
group said in a message posted on YouTube. “Anonymous” said that while Turkey's
government claims to act like a democracy, it was more akin to the "petty
dictators in China or Iran."
6.
Reactions in occupied Cyprus to the police violence at Gezi Park in Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(02.06.13) reported that the general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party
(CTP), Asim Akansoy has reacted to the use of “brutal force” by the Turkish
police against protestors at Istanbul’s Taksim Square. Akansoy said that after the
fascistic behavior of the police that used disproportionate force and
chemicals, the debate and protests on the issue of demolishing Gezi Park were
spread to entire Turkey. He noted that it was known that the “unnecessary
insistence” of the Turkish government on the issue of destroying Gezi Park and
building a shopping mall would face a “serious reaction”. He said that “it is
not advisable and acceptable” for the official authorities to declare war to
the people and added that democratization in Turkey is as important as the
developments on the Kurdish problem and the economic growth.
Havadis reported also that Mehmet
Cakici, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP)
has issued a written statement on the issue, noting that the incidents are a
reaction to the efforts of creating a “mild Islam model” with the behavior of
the “autocratic and authoritarian administration” [of AKP] aiming at creating a
“single identity” [in the country]. He said that the action of the people who
were protesting against the uprooting of some trees has been turned into a
social resistance and that this had been incited by the use of disproportionate
force and pepper gas by the police. Cakici noted that the AKP government should
act with reason, embrace the society and listen to the voice of the people.
According to the paper, the New Cyprus
Party (YKP) has sent a letter of solidarity to the people showing resistance at
Gezi Park. In a written statement, YKP noted that AKP has been turned into an
authoritarian regime and added that “it was clear that AKP sultanate would be
demolished like every sultanate”. It argued that the sultanate of those, who
consider themselves as neo-Ottomans, will be demolished with the uprising of
the people, like it had happened to the Ottomans with the uprisings of the
peoples. The party urged everyone to participate in all the activities in
occupied Lefkosia, Keryneia and Famagusta for solidarity with those who resist
in Turkey.
Havadis reported also that a statement
describing the incidents as “unacceptable” was published by the “We are
gathering together (Toparlaniyoruz)” Movement, which said that the use of
disproportionate force by the police caused concern to everybody.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
newspaper (03.06.13) reports that Izzet Izcan issued a statement expressing his
party’s support to the protestors at Gezi Park and adding that the “despotism
of AKP has come to its end”. He noted
that the government was forced to make a step backwards on the fifth day of the
protests at Gezi Park. He pointed out that the AKP government is “a fascistic
government and in favor of violence” and expressed his sorrow for the fact that
there are still some circles in the occupied part of Cyprus who try to present
AKP as “apostle of peace” to the Turkish Cypriots. “We will force the AKP
government and its collaborators in Cyprus to take a step backwards”, he noted.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
newspaper (02.06.13) reported that protests of support to the people resisting
in Turkey had been held in the occupied area of Cyprus. On Saturday morning
protestors had been gathered in front of the Turkish so-called embassy to the
occupied part of Lefkosia shouting slogans against AKP and Prime Minister
Erdogan. The so-called police tried to prevent the protestors from passing in
front of the “embassy”, but the participants in the activity breached the
obstacle of the “police”. Protests were also held in occupied Famagusta and
Keryneia.
(I/Ts.)
7.
Turkish Cypriot columnists on the incidents at Gezi Park
Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper give
extensive coverage to the incidents at Istanbul’s Taksim Square and the use of
disproportionate force be the Turkish police against protestors demanding the
AKP government abandon its plan of building a shopping mall at Gezi Park.
Writing in daily Kibris newspaper
(03.06.13), Bilbay Eminoglu reports that “Turkey has received a serious wound”.
Referring to the way by which the world press covered the issue, Eminoglu notes
that even the information published by the AFP
new agency that police were beating up even people who had been lying
unconscious is enough to show that. He says that it would not be easy for this
wound to heal, because “while Turkey is changing, while it is developing, some
things are unfortunately remaining the same”. “For example, efforts are exerted
for preventing even common marches and protests by using disproportionate force
like in the example of Taksim”, he notes.
Writing in daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(03.06.13), Sami Ozuslu notes that the question as to whether these incidents
were a Turkish Spring similar to the Arab Spring is very important, because
“the incidents experienced during the weekend in Turkey, are actually not an
‘end’ but a ‘beginning’”. Describing the incidents as “an uprising”, “a riot”,
Ozuslu points out that Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s and AKP’s operation of “turning
Turkey into Ottoman” country backlashed.
He goes on and says: “During the recent
incidents, Turkey understood also some realities. The ‘sovereign media’ are the
televisions now, not the newspapers! In any case, the media in Turkey are not
media at the moment!”
He expresses the view that the same
media, which had broadcast live 24 hours a day the developments at Tahrir
Square and the arrest of Kaddafi and are describing as “civil war” the problems
which the Assad regime is facing, during these incidents showed a stance that
is a disgrace to democracy and the freedom of the press. “The fact that the
people of Turkey faced this reality is sad but good”, he notes.
Writing in daily Halkin Sesi newspaper
(03.06.13), Esref Cetinel wonders whether Erdogan is heading towards democracy
or a theocratic state. He notes that his fear is that Erdogan is one of the
leaders who after many years succeeded to become Turkey’s ‘only man’ and he is
trying to use this in order to change the constitution and become President of
the Republic. “On the other hand it is obvious that he wants to restore the
state again according to the ‘religious doctrine’”, he notes adding that Erdogan
is often referring to Turkey as “my state”, “my people” and uses phrases such
as “what I want”.
Noting that he is afraid of such a
leader, Cetinel refers to the Cyprus
problem and says: “There is a Cyprus problem onto which it is unnecessary
for Erdogan to put emphasis since the Annan Plan. More correctly there is no
such a thing! Because he sees northern Cyprus together with its people as a
part of Turkey. Such an obsession is carrying Cyprus away from the solution and
moreover, it is causing its continuation as a political problem! Moreover,
Erdogan follows a stance with which ‘what he will do is not known’. With the
Annan Plan which he had supported, the transfer of the north to the Greek
Cypriots would have been realized, if that side said yes”.
The columnist says his fear is that
Erdogan could take some unilateral decisions and put the Turkish Cypriots in a
very difficult situation someday.
(I/Ts.)
8.
Kucuk in an interview to Al Jazeera said that in case of no Cyprus
settlement, then the recognition of “TRNC” is in the agenda
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (03.06.13),
in its front page under the title “Kucuk: the negotiations should start as soon
as possible”, publishes an interview by the so-called prime minister Irsen
Kucuk to Al Jazeera correspondent.
Kucuk reiterated his known views on the
Cyprus problem. Furthermore, he argued that the stance of Turkey and the “TRNC”
on the Cyprus problem is that they support the launch of the negotiations as
soon as possible.
Replying to the questions what are their
expectations on the recognition issue and what are their relations with Arab
countries, Kucuk said that the Turkish Cypriot side for 30 years now is
nourished with the hope for a peace and an agreement. He argued that primarily
they prefer the union of Cyprus and to live together side to side in a peaceful
island. However, he added, if this cannot be realised within the process, then
the issue of recognition and keeping the “TRNC” alive will be in the agenda.
Kucuk also claimed that “today North is in a strong position and it is the
South that will benefit from these opportunities”, adding that they are in
expectation if they will establish a joint federal state, as founding states.
Kucuk also said: “If we cannot establish it, then of course, we will wait for
receiving support from the Islamic countries in order the TRNC will eventually
be recognized.”
9.
Eroglu on the dinner with President Anastasiades
Illegal Bayrak television (01.06.13)
broadcast that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu commented on the dinner
he held with President Nicos Anastasiades and said that the meeting had passed
in a warm atmosphere and that both he and Anastasiades had expressed their
commitment towards reaching a sustainable solution in Cyprus.
He said that he will be briefing the
political parties as well as the “assembly” on the meeting in the coming days.
Eroglu made these statements in a speech
he delivered in a festival in occupied Agios Amvrosios.
10.
Talat says that the Cypriots are responsible for their problems
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli
(02.06.13) reports that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat,
participating in a television programme at Turkish Cypriot private channel
Kibris TV, said that responsible for those problems that are discussed among
the people are the “Cypriots”, adding that they, themselves, have implicated
Turkey in their domestic affairs.
Talat argued that Turkey, during the
ruling period of Justice and Development Party (AKP), displays its willing for
a solution on the Cyprus problem.
Commenting on the dinner between Eroglu
and Anastasiades hosted by the UN, Talat said that nothing important on the
Cyprus problem has come out from this dinner.
Commenting on the latest statement by
Cyprus Foreign Minister Kasoulides that they want to meet with Turkey on
October in order to find a solution on the Cyprus problem, Talat said that
Kasoulides is dreaming.
Sefa Karahasan, correspondent of the
Turkish daily Milliyet in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus,
commenting on Talat’s statement that the Cypriots are responsible for the problems
and that Turkey interferes in their domestic affairs, writes that “the double
face of Talat should be decoded”. Karahasan argues that Talat used to make
complains that Ankara and AKP interferes in their domestic affairs and now he
accuses the Turkish Cypriot politicians that they are the ones who invite the
AKP to intervene in their domestic affairs.
11.
Fifty five more “TRNC citizenships”
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi
newspaper (01.06.13) reports that at the “last turn” of the “early elections”
that will be held on 28th July, the self-styled council of ministers
continues to grant the “TRNC citizenship”.
According to the paper, the self-styled
council of ministers granted a total of 55 “TRNC citizenships” within two days,
even to a person born in Texas, USA.
The names and the places of birth of the
55 persons are published in the paper.
12.
BASIN-SEN will attend the 28th
Congress of IFJ
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (03.06.13)
reports that the Press Workers' Trade Union (BASIN-SEN)
will attend the 28th Congress of the International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ), which will take place on 4th-7th June in Dublin, Ireland.
According to BASIN-SEN’s announcement, BASIN-SEN
will be represented at the Congress by a delegation headed by the chairman of
BASIN-SEN Kemal Darbaz, the
general secretary Canan Onurer and the responsible for foreign affairs Ali
Kurtoglu.
13.
Eighty seven hotels in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
According to Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris (03.06.13), “North Cyprus Hotelier Association” (“KTOB”) announced that
the capacity in the hotels in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
during the month May reached the 53%.
“KTOB” also announced that from the 87
hotels, the 2 are closed and another 8 are empty during May.
14.
BKP will cooperate with Communal Existence Forces for the “early elections”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (01.06.13)
reported that the general secretary of United Cyprus Party (BKP), Izzet Izcan,
in a press conference yesterday, said that they will cooperate with the
“Communal Existence Forces” for the “early elections”, adding that their
cooperation will continue and after the “elections”.
Izcan said that their aim is the
protection of the Turkish Cypriot identity, culture and existence.
Meanwhile, the Culture Centre of Baraka
announced that they will support the BKP Communal Existence Power, adding that
the upcoming “elections” will be an “election” between Ankara and the
“Existence Powers”. Baraka also argued that a game of democracy is played in
the “country”, adding that there is no political will in the “assembly”, and their
political will is in at the hands of the governments in Ankara.
15.
Apricot festival with the participation of guest from various countries in
occupied Agios Amvrosios
Illegal Bayrak television (01.06.13)
broadcast that the 6th Apricot Festival took place in occupied Agios Amvrosios.
Speaking during the festival the so-called
mayor of Agios Amvrosios Erdal Barut stated that guests from India, Turkey,
Slovenia and Bulgaria are attending this year’s festival.
16.
Hüseyin Yalyali the new director of illegal TAK
Illegal Bayrak television (01.06.13)
broadcast that Huseyin Yalyali has been appointed as the new director of the
illegal Turkish news agency (TAK). Yalyalı, an employee of the TAK, was
appointed to the post following the approval of the Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu.
17.
Director of Turkish State Theaters removed from his office
Turkish daily Hurriyet Newspaper
(03.06.13) reports that the Director General of Turkish State Theaters Lemi
Bilgin, has been removed from office only days after he initiated the
publication of full-page advertisements in several daily newspapers outlining
the performance of the State Theatres over the past year.
Despite having been notified of the
removal decision by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as of May 31 evening,
Bilgin is said not to have yet signed the notification about his removal, news
reports said.
“This season alone, we covered a route
of 430,000 kilometers. We went to our 81 provinces. We staged 6,180
performances of 149 different plays. We thank our people who showed intense
interest in every corner of our country,” the advertisements, published last
week in mass-selling newspapers, said.
Bilgin’s removal came as a reaction to
the fact that the advertisements were placed without permission from the
Minister of Culture and Tourism Ömer Çelik, news reports said. The ministry is
said to have considered these advertisements as a reaction against recently
surfaced plans by the government to close down the state theatres.
According to draft laws reported by the
media recently, the government plans to abolish the state theatres in order to
be replaced with a new body which will work under the Prime Ministry and which
will not have the current autonomous structure which the State Theatres have.
Bilgin was appointed as the director
general of the State Theatres before the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) came to power in 2002.
Stage actors and actresses have gathered
in several cities to protest a government decisions regarding the privatization
of theatres.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
