15/7/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW




TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW


C O N T E N T S
No. 131/13                                                                                         13-15/07/2013

1. Eroglu: “Sitting at the negotiating table is not tantamount to rejecting our state”
2. Bagis: “Too many authorities were granted to the central government in the Annan Plan”
3. Turkish Cypriot delegation meets Fule
4. AKP image makers are helping Kucuk; Eroglu is campaigning for the DP-UG
5. Cyprus problem is reportedly not on the agenda of the “election” campaign in occupied Cyprus
6. KTOEOS accuses of Turkish diplomats to distribute instructions at the “ministry of education”
7. Turkey has send over $4 billion to breakaway regime’s budget since the 1970’s
8. Turkey will offer 2 million euro for constructions at “BRT station”
9. Music festivals in the occupied Cyprus were cancelled
10. Turkish Parliament approved change in Article 35

1. Eroglu: “Sitting at the negotiating table is not tantamount to rejecting our state”
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (14.07.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has referred to the natural gas found in the area south of Cyprus and argued that it was not possible for the one side to take away something on which both sides have rights. Addressing a meeting of Lions Club in occupied Keryneia, Eroglu said that when the issue of natural gas came onto the agenda the attention of the whole world was turned to Cyprus.

Eroglu alleged that the cooperation of the Republic of Cyprus with Israel will “heat up” the area and its waters. “The natural gas, as the UN Secretary-General has said, is a treasure which belongs to both peoples. Therefore, the one side cannot not take away something, on which both sides have rights”, he claimed.

Eroglu reiterated that they are looking for an agreement which will be taking into consideration the existing realities in Cyprus, based on two founding states with the continuation of Turkey’s active and effective guarantees, sovereignty and political equality.

Eroglu alleged that in case the EU kept its promise for lifting the so-called isolation and the UN revised its resolutions which are allegedly against the Turkish Cypriots, pressure would be exerted on the Greek Cypriots. He reiterated that the negotiations which will resume in October should have a time limit and added: “Creating a more viable TRNC, increasing the standard of living of the Turkish Cypriot people and strengthening the relations with motherland Turkey are principles which I have always been supporting. We have exerted effort to show that the Turkish Cypriots are people committed to their cause, to their state. Sitting at the negotiating table is not tantamount to rejecting our own state. On the contrary, the existence of our state makes us stronger at the negotiating table…”
(I/Ts.)                                      

2. Bagis: “Too many authorities were granted to the central government in the Annan Plan”
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 12.07.13), Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış, speaking on the Cyprus problem to a Turkish newspaper, reminded that the current Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades had supported the 2004 UN sponsored Annan Plan, adding that the Greek Cypriot leader was positive during the conversation they had at Croatia’s membership initiation ceremony.

Claiming that Turkey supported new steps on the Cyprus problem under the auspices of the UN, Bağış said: “We definitely want this but both sides must be willing. After all, the Greek Cypriot side is not our collocutor. Our collocutor is Greece. We both are guarantor countries.”

Arguing that Turkey was ready for a summit meeting with the participation of the three guarantor countries, the breakaway regime (“TRNC”), Republic of Cyprus and the UN, Bagis repeated his proposal to hold a conclave style summit where all parties will remain isolated from the outside world until an agreement is reached.

Commenting on rumours regarding the re-tabling of the Annan Plan, Bagis said the plan would not be called the Annan Plan but the Ban-Ki Moon Plan. 

“I think that too many authorities were granted to the central government in the Annan Plan. Creating a partnership where the two states have more autonomy but who delegate issues such as security to the central government would be the more sensible”, Bagis concluded.

 3. Turkish Cypriot delegation meets Fule
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.07.13) reports that a delegation from the self-styled assembly of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the republic of Cyprus is departing for Brussels today in order to hold a meeting with Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner Responsible for the Enlargement. Ozdil Nami and Teberruken Ulucay from the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) and Hasan Tacoy from the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG) will be participating in the Turkish Cypriot delegation.

Expanding the scope of application of EU’s Financial Aid and Green Line Regulations and overcoming some impediments in their function, as well as the representation of the Turkish Cypriots at the European Parliament and issues regarding the negotiations for finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, which are expected to resume in October, will come onto the agenda of the meeting. 

Erhan Ercin, chairman of the so-called EU Coordination Centre will also attend the meeting, which will be held today at 17.00 hours.
(I/Ts.)

4. AKP image makers are helping Kucuk; Eroglu is campaigning for the DP-UG
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (14.07.13) reports that image makers from Prime Minister Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), who in the past had had former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat change his glasses and shave his hair, have now had National Unity Party (UBP) leader, Irsen Kucuk’s hair dyed. According to the paper, Kucuk’s dyed hair was the thing that attracted attention the most on Saturday during UBP’s meeting in the occupied part of Lefkosia. The issue has reportedly been discussed on the social media as well. According to Afrika, Kucuk seems to be the “candidate” who faces the biggest problems in the “elections”.

The paper writes that two weeks before the “elections” three parties claim that they would come to “power” alone. The leader of the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG), Serdar Denktas has stated that he would resign if his party did not come first. On the other hand, the leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), Mehmet Cakici has promised that he would resign in case his party wins the same or lower percentages than it already has.  

Meanwhile, the period during which surveys could be published ended on Saturday, 13 July. According to Afrika, for the first time, no one ordered a survey from KADEM Research Company during these “elections”. The paper notes that the survey made by Redborder Company on behalf of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) was not convincing.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (13.07.13) reports that Asim Akansoy, general secretary of the CTP-BG, has stated that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu interferes in the “elections”. Akansoy accused Eroglu of going around the villages and asking from the supporters of the UBP to vote for the DP-UG. According to Akansoy, replying to those who have objections to vote for the DP, Eroglu says that “this will happen only once” and that afterwards they will return to the UBP.  

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (14.07.13) reports that two newspapers and two TV stations ask money from “candidates” in the “elections” in order to interview them, promising that they will help them to be “elected”. According to the paper, if the “candidates” accept the offer, a price list is presented to them. Volkan writes that the price for five TV programs and five articles in the two papers is 20 thousand Turkish liras, for three programs and three articles 15 thousand TL and for two programs and two articles 10 thousand TL. According to the Volkan, this “election ring” has been able to “trap” 23 “candidates” until now and gained hundreds of thousands of TL.
(I/Ts.)                                                                                                   

5. Cyprus problem is reportedly not on the agenda of the “election” campaign in occupied Cyprus
Writing in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (15.07.13), Basaran Duzgun reports that for the first time the Turkish Cypriots are experiencing an “election” campaign without the Cyprus problem. Under the title “The Cyprus problem and the elections”, Duzgun writes, inter alia, the following:

“…The parties had been defined in the past according to their point of view to the Cyprus problem, the electors had been voting according to this, and the oversea centres had been taking position towards the parties according to the Cyprus problem. Now no one bothers about the Cyprus problem. Therefore, not even a single reference is made during the propaganda for the election.

There is a will which is emasculated by cunning policies like the one that says ‘whoever comes in the same, the control is in Ankara’s hands’… This is the vanity of showing that it is reasonable for a person who does not believe in the solution at all and therefore does nothing for the solution to sit at this post. However, that post is the symbol of the will of the Turkish Cypriots and it is assigned with the duty of defending the interests of the Turkish Cypriots. Not only against the Greek Cypriots, but against everything that is in contradiction with the interests of the Turkish Cypriots...

Very well, what about the Cyprus problem? Are we going to spend this period with persons who are waiting for the Greek Cypriot side or Turkey to undertake initiatives? Has the time for creating a leadership in the direction of the interests of the Turkish Cypriots not come?

This election will end, a new government will be established and the debates as to whether the economic protocol will be implemented or will change will start… This system will continue in a vicious circle. However, in the solution of the Cyprus problem the Turkish Cypriots will both gain economically and be included into the international system. In the past we had been the side that gained even in the possibility of a solution. Now we are being deceived with the ‘absolutely nothing will change’ fairy tales and we are being fooled with the economic package. Even during the elections which will determine the fate of the Turkish Cypriots”.
(I/Ts.) 

6. KTOEOS accuses of Turkish diplomats to distribute instructions at the “ministry of education”
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (13.07.13), in its front page under the title “A rule by embassy to the ministry’s employee”, reports that the Chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOEOS) Tahir Gokcebel, in a written statement, said that the Quran lessons, which have started, are contrary to the “regulations and laws of the TRNC constitution”.

Gokcebel also announced that advisers of the so-called Turkey’s embassy to the occupied part of Lefkosia, who have taken advantage of the change of the new “government”, are running to the corridors of the so-called ministry of education giving constantly orders and instructions to the bureaucrats of the “ministry”.

7. Turkey has send over $4 billion to breakaway regime’s budget since the 1970’s
Under the title “The debt is big”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.07.13) reports that the self-styled finance minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Zeren Mungan has said that the money sent by Turkey to the “TRNC” for so-called defense purposes and investments is a donation, but Turkey’s contribution to the “public” sector and the real sector of the economy are a loan. In statements to Kibris, Mugan referred to the 2013-15 “protocol” signed between Turkey and the regime and claimed that this “protocol” is an international agreement and it has been approved by the two “countries”. 

Economists told Kibris that the money given for many years by Turkey to the regime reached four billion dollars. According to economst Zeki Besiktepeli, this money could be asked by Turkey in case of an agreement. Economist Mustafa Besim noted that these credits are treated as foreign debt and that the Turkish Cypriots have always had a debt to Turkey, but they paid nothing until now. Associate professor Erdal Guryay pointed out that “if the money is taken by a single place, this place could impose on you many things”. Associate professor Okan Safakli expressed the view that the period of taking and distributing money from Turkey has ended.
(I/Ts.)  

8. Turkey will offer 2 million euro for constructions at “BRT station”
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 13.07.13), the so-called director of Bayrak radio television corporation Mete Tümerkan has announced plans for the construction of a 300 meter square fully equipped studio as part of a cooperation protocol to be signed with Turkish State Television-TRT on the 20th of July. Tümerkan also said that the corporation, which was preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, will be undergoing fundamental changes and a general overhaul.

He said that the aim of the changes will be create a state broadcaster with a sustainable financial structure and modern technical infrastructure which will enable the broadcaster to compete with other channels.

“We have reached an agreement with Turkish State Television-TRT to restructure BRTK on its 50th anniversary and to completely change its infrastructure. This means that BRT will change a 100% as it celebrates its 50th anniversary” Tümerkan added.

Announcing plans to construct a state of the art, 300 meter square TV recording studio with 6 cameras and sitting stands for audiences with the support of 2 million Euros from the Turkey, the “BRT director” said that the current BRT 2 studios will also be renewed.
Tümerkan added that the cooperation protocol with the TRT will be signed on the 20th of July with a ceremony to be attended by the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Cyprus Affairs Beşir Atalay.

9. Music festivals in the occupied Cyprus were cancelled
According to illegal Bayrak television (13.07.13), the Sandance Reggae Festival, which was planned to have taken place between the 31st of July and the 1st of August, has been cancelled after it emerged that the organizers had planned the event without getting the necessary permits. The venue of the festival, the beach at occupied Davlos, which is a natural protected area where sea turtles come to nest, was deemed inappropriate to hold such an event.

Pointing out that the festival was organized without obtaining the necessary permits, the so-called environmental protection department under the ministry of tourism, environment and culture said that the “ecological impact and assessment regulations” clearly stated that such events could not be organized in naturally and environmentally protected areas.

On the same issue, another event, the Silk route festival, which was initially planned to take place on the occupied Golden Sands beach but had later been relocated to the occupied tourist area of Vokolida, following fierce opposition from environmental groups, was cancelled by its organizers.

Speaking to the “BRT”, the organizers said that they had postponed the event to September next year because of being unable to sufficiently promote the concert following changes in the venue.

10. Turkish Parliament approved change in Article 35
According to Ankara Anadolia news agency (13.07.13), Turkish Parliament approved change in Article 35 of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Internal Service Act, which had long served as coup pretext to justify past juntas.

Article 35 which says “TSK is responsible for protecting the Turkish land and the Republic of Turkey as defined in the constitution," was replaced with the new version which says, "TSK is responsible for protecting the Turkish land against external dangers and threats, ensuring the protection and strengthening of the army forces in a deterring way, performing the duties abroad as assigned by Turkish Parliament, and helping to provide international peace."

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."
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