TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 120/13 28/06/2013
1. Davutoglu alleged that the Republic of Cyprus’ attitude did not open the way for solution
2. Eroglu to Al Jazeera: UN parameters are not “word of Holy Koran”
3. Turkish Government plans to change law used as pretext for military coups
4. Erdogan: Only 15% of PKK forces have withdrawn from Turkey
5. No date scheduled for Turkish PM's Gaza visit
6. Turkish ruling AKP presents resolution to Parliament on Gezi Park
7. "Why Did AKP Give Up on EU Membership?"
8. So-called deputy attorney general: there was not enough evidence to prove Aslanbaba’s bribery allegations
9. Hundreds of birds have been destroyed in occupied Cyprus because of pseudo-fowl
1. Davutoglu alleged that the Republic of Cyprus’ attitude did not open the way for solution
Illegal Bayrak television (28.06.13) broadcast that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu met the ambassadors of European Union member states in a lunch given in honor of him by EU Term President Ireland.
Speaking at the lunch, Davutoglu referred to the Cyprus problem alleging that Turkey was determined for the solution in Cyprus problem, and claiming that the attitude of “Greek Cypriot administration”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus, did not open the way for the solution. He also said that they expected EU’s help towards the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Referring to the natural gas exploration by the Republic of Cyprus, Davutoglu said that the “unilateral exploration” is not beneficial for the whole of the island.
Moreover, touched upon the importance of the relationship between Turkey and EU and the opening of Chapter 22, Davutoglu said: "One swallow does not make a summer".
Davutoglu also pointed out to the chapters 23 and 24 and said that Turkey wanted to open new chapters.
2. Eroglu to Al Jazeera: UN parameters are not “word of Holy Koran”
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (28.06.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has said that the United Nations had made some proposals on the Cyprus problem, but the UN parameters are not “the holy word of Koran”. In statements to Al Jazeera television, Eroglu claimed that the UN parameters could change according to the conditions of the day.
Eroglu alleged that the Greek Cypriot side had no will of solving the Cyprus problem and that the Turkish Cypriot side was trying to solve the problem within a short period of time. He said that President Anastasiades “shows as pretext” the economic crisis and says that he is not ready yet for negotiations.
Eroglu claimed that he expected a result from the negotiations which would begin in October “because there is no aspect of the Cyprus problem that has not been discussed”. “If this will exists, we have this will. If it exists in the Greek Cypriot side, I think that this problem will be settled within 6 months- one year”, he alleged.
Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side wanted a “federal state based on political equality with two zones and two peoples”, adding that they have been discussing for years whether this was possible.
Eroglu alleged that reaching a solution has not been possible until today, because the UN Security Council “has given away to the Greek Cypriots” the Republic of Cyprus, which is based on the partnership between the Turks and the Greeks of the island, and the Greek Cypriots do not want to abandon this Republic.
“They have said ‘no’ to the Annan Plan because they do not abandon the Republic of Cyprus”, argued Eroglu adding that they were referring to a federal state which would be established by two “founding states” and part of its powers would be given to the central government. He argued: “Given that we are the ones working on this, we are those who will make it possible. However, unfortunately I do not see this will in the Greek Cypriots. Therefore, I am saying that it must be solved soon, but I am not saying that it will be solved”.
Replying to a question by Al Jazeera on the so-called embargoes allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots, Eroglu argued that the Turkish Cypriots do not deserve this situation and claimed that they are “the side that looked positively at many solution texts put forward by the UN Secretary-General”. Alleging that they should be saved from these so-called embargoes, he noted that they raise the issue when they meet with officials from the EU and the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He said that they expect mainly from the Islamic world to lift the “embargo” on the freedom of traveling and transportation.
Eroglu claimed that they have not launched an initiative for the recognition of the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, because the negotiations on the Cyprus problem continue for years. He added: “We have always remained faithful to the negotiations in order for not being accused of being the side that abandoned the table and is searching for recognition”. Noting that he cannot accuse anyone because of the non-recognition of the regime, Eroglu alleged, however, that many sides can be accused of the embargo on traveling and transportation.
Asked about their expectations from the Islamic countries, Eroglu said that they have diplomatic contacts with these countries and that they have “representation offices” in many Islamic countries. He noted that they expect from the Islamic countries the development of their economic relations, investments in the occupied area of Cyprus and improvement of their friendly relations.
Meanwhile, Haberdar (28.06.13) reports also that addressing the opening ceremony of the traditional festival in occupied Trikomo village, Eroglu alleged that if the so-called embargoes on the Turkish Cypriots are lifted and the UN Security-Council’s resolution for not recognizing the “TRNC” was reexamined, the Greek Cypriot side would want more a solution at the negotiating table. Arguing that the Turkish Cypriot “people” live freely and happily under the roof of their “state”, Eroglu said that they will resist until the end against those who want to take their happiness away from them.
(I/Ts.)
3. Turkish Government plans to change law used as pretext for military coups
Ankara Anatolia news agency (27.06.13) reports that Turkish government plans to propose bill to amend part of military code that was used to justify past juntas.
The Turkish government has prepared a draft law to amend Article 35 of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Internal Service Act. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said the bill would be introduced on Thursday in the Turkish parliament.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul had previously said the law "should be amended in a way that would prevent any misunderstandings and exploitation that might take place in the future."
Article 35 says “TSK is responsible for protecting the Turkish land and the Republic of Turkey as defined in the constitution.” It was used as a pretext for the military intervention on September 12, 1980.
4. Erdogan: Only 15% of PKK forces have withdrawn from Turkey
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (27.06.13) reports that during a meeting on Wednesday with the Wise People Commission, which is tasked with working on the details of the settlement process aimed at ending the decades-old conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that only 15% of PKK forces have so far withdrawn from Turkish soil.
The Wise People Commission came together with Erdogan in Istanbul in a meeting finalizing its work. According to reports, Erdogan said during the meeting that only 15% of PKK forces have pulled out of Turkey, while the remaining 85% are still within its borders.
5. No date scheduled for Turkish PM's Gaza visit
Turkish daily Hürriyet Daily News (27.06.13) reports that no date has yet been scheduled for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Gaza, a prime ministry official told the Hürriyet Daily News today.
An official was responding to a question about earlier reports that claimed the Prime Minister would visit the Hamas-controlled enclave on July 5, denying that such a date was set in stone. However, the official reiterated that Erdoğan would visit Gaza at some point.
A senior Hamas official had stated that Erdoğan would visit the Gaza Strip next week. “The visit of Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan is to take place on July 5,” Abdelsalam Siyyam, secretary general of the Hamas government, said in an interview with a Palestinian.
6. Turkish ruling AKP presents resolution to Parliament on Gezi Park
Ankara Anatolia news agency (27.06.13) reports that Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party presented Thursday [27 June] a resolution to the parliament for the investigation of the incidents, disturbing the peace upon Gezi Park protests.
AK Party's deputy chairmen Nurettin Canikli, Mustafa Elitas, Ahmet Aydin, Mahir Unal and Ayse Nur Bahcekapili besides other several parliamentarians signed the resolution, in which Turkey's unity and solidarity were stressed.
The resolution stated, "Taksim Gezi Park protests started for a particular reason, leading to an aimless, anti-governmental and ideological violence and vandalism movement. Disinformation was frequently done through social media, incidents were exaggerated and a provocative language was used such as 'massacre', 'rebellion', 'social networks are blockaded', 'a civil war broke on', 'tens even hundreds died', 'genocide took place' and 'Thousands are lost'. This language is a discriminating and provocative one. Several claims and photos were shared in social networks to provoke masses, websites of some newspapers and some national and international press wrote news on these without any confirmation."
Tweet number increased from 8 million to 35 million in Turkey during Gezi Park protests, the statement said, adding that the tweet 'Friend, it's not only about Gezi Park. Didn't you still get it?' of a Turkish artist meant more than innocent environmentalist sensibility. Also mentioning the damages and losses during the protests, the resolution said 4 citizens have died since June 25, one security guard being martyred, 668 security guards and 4,152 civilians were wounded.
"Total loss was more than 250 million Turkish liras, where 271 civil vehicles, 116 patrol cars, 59 public buildings, 45 ambulances, 4 private buses, 90 public buses, 337 working places, 1 residence building, 5 police centers, 14 political party buildings, one belonging to Republican People Party's (CHP) and others to AK Party, hundreds of bus stations, traffic lights and signboards, mobile electronic system integration cameras, cashomats and pavement were harmed," the resolution stressed.
7. "Why Did AKP Give Up on EU Membership?"
Under the above title Turkish daily Radikal (25.06.13) publishes the following article by Koray Caliskan who argues that the real reason behind the AKP giving up on the EU process is that it believes it has established total hegemony in civil politics now that the army has been pushed aside:
“The real reason behind the AKP [Justice and Development Party] giving up on the EU process is that it believes it has established total hegemony in civil politics now that the army has been pushed aside.
For a long time the AKP put the EU carrot in juxtaposition to the army's stick. It needed the support of EU to curb army's influence. This policy sat very comfortably with Turkey's westernization adventure and reassured those who felt nervous about the AKP's Islamist baggage.
For the last three years, any officer who looked the wrong way, whether he might or might not have planned a military coup or even thought about it or not, has been arrested. At a time when the Juntaist General [Kenan] Evren was not even brought to court, the chief of the General Staff was put behind the bars for running a terrorist organization.
The trials of those who toyed with the idea of a military coup and got caught in the purge operations in the army were staged in catch-all courts in the same vein as catch-all laws. The ultimate support of those who normally would not vote for the AKP was secured during the last referendum and squandered. The army's stick has been taken away and the EU carrot has been eaten up.
Why EU? In the eyes of the AKP the EU process was a strategic move. The moment it decided to push the army out of the political scene, the AKP started backtracking on the EU process which it had already slowed down.
The content of the Accession Partnership Document is clear and the Copenhagen Criteria are not the sort of criteria which can be bent. When faced with strong criticism in the European Parliament's Turkey report in 2011, Erdogan had this to say: "Their job is to write up reports and our job is to do things our way."
The Progress Report of 2012 criticized Turkey even more strongly with respect to human rights violations, freedom of expression, and democratization. In response to these criticisms, the government took even a harder line. In a manner which can be summed up as "If they can write up a report, what is stopping us to write up our own!" a report titled "Anti Progress Report" was penned. This report which was received in diplomatic circles with astonishment and partially with a hint of light-hearted mockery brought the [EU-Turkey] relations to a breaking point.
The Gezi protests were the last drop that made the cup of patience overflow. The government going through a crisis of trust with Europe and the United States decided to build army barracks in Gezi Park around the same time when it announced the end of the army's legacy. Then the prime minister said, "This will not be actual barracks; it will serve as a shopping center or maybe as residence."
You know the consequences. The largest public protests since the 1980's engulfed the country. Even though the AKP backtracked, it failed to stop the people's reaction against rising authoritarianism. Confronting the people, who opposed the building of barracks, with gendarme and anti-riot vehicles was the end of [government's] claim for advanced democracy.
We can now see that the AKP had never believed in the EU process; that EU was a strategic step in the coalition it set up to send the army back to its barracks. Actually it turned out not to be such a bad move after all. For the first time in the history of the [Turkish] republic, if we put police violence aside, civil politics are governing us. We may very well be taking the final test on our way to democratization.
Why? The real reason behind the AKP giving up on the EU process is that it believes it has established total hegemony in civil politics now that the army has been pushed aside. It does not need an outside actor any more to counterbalance the army's influence. The point is democracy exits not for the execution of the ideas of those who are in power but for the hopes of those who are not in power. The AKP, who is getting more and more isolated in the country and around the world, looks like a captain lost at sea without a compass in the new political scene in Turkey where even the nationalists are holding on to the EU's standards of democracy. The AKP does not have a story which can substitute our common story. It has lost its ability to generate an agenda. […]”
8. So-called deputy attorney general: there was not enough evidence to prove Aslanbaba’s bribery allegations
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.06.13) reports that Mahmut Atakara, so-called deputy attorney general of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that there was not enough evidence to prove the “bribery crime” alleged by Ejder Aslabnbaba, independent self-styled MP in occupied Trikomo area.
In statement yesterday during the hearing of the “bribery giving and taking case” at occupied Lefkosia district “court”, Atakara said that the testimony of all sides and the CDs were heard, but during the conducted investigation they could not find enough evidence to prove the crime. He added that for this reason, the ‘attorney general’s office” has withdrawn the case. The paper writes that the ban for Aslanbaba’s travelling abroad was lifted after the above-mentioned developments.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (28.06.13) refers to the same issue under the title “Buffoon” and reports that Aslanbaba said yesterday at “court” that his statement at the “assembly” that he took money as bribery and spent 100 dollars for whisky and cigars had been “a joke”. “I wanted to show to the people in what situation the parliament is”, he alleged.
According to Havadis, Aslanbaba said exactly the opposite in statements to Anatolia news agency after the “court” was finished. He said: “The bribery incident is not an allegation, but a reality with its tape recordings and the money taken. This money is an exhibit taken for showing to our people the real face of some politicians”.
In his statements, Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG) said yesterday that he would not stop following this bribery issue. He noted: “We will not play this game. In front of the court, he made no such accusation, but he made it in front of the public…Let him explain what he has taken when he left the UBP”. He added that he would follow Aslanbaba wherever he goes.
Ahmet Kasif, the other “MP” of the DP-UG, the name of whose was also involved in the bribery issue, said that no one believed Aslanbaba and called him to explain “whose game he was playing”. “I have been a victim of my humanity, I feel that I was deceived”, he added.
(I/Ts.)
9. Hundreds of birds have been destroyed in occupied Cyprus because of pseudo-fowl
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.06.13) reports that pseudo-fowl pest disease that had occurred in the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus has influenced occupied Morfou, Famagusta and Lefkosia areas near the Green Line that divides the island.
Under the title “Hundreds of animals have been destroyed in the north too”, the paper writes that the director of the so-called veterinary department, Huseyin Ataben confirmed that the disease was seen in the occupied area of Cyprus as well. He described, though, as “pleasing” the fact that pseudo-fowl has not occurred in commercial plants. Ataben said that when there are deaths, his department must be informed.
(I/Ts.)
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