23/7/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW



TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW


C O N T E N T S

No. 137/13                                                                                                    23/07/2013

1. Eroglu is going to Brussels; he will hold meetings with Barosso and Fule
2. Eroglu’s special representative Ertug held a telephone conversation with Greek Cypriot side negotiator Mavroyannis
3. Davutoğlu set to visit Poland for bilateral talks; Cyprus problem is on the agenda 
4. Environmental disaster in the occupied Gastria bigger than though
5. Erk alleges that Greek Cypriot side should have been more constructive in how they presented Gastria oil spill
6. Azerbaijani Universities carry out contacts in occupied Cyprus
7. Erdoğan says Turkey patient on Syria until now

1. Eroglu is going to Brussels; he will hold meetings with Barosso and Fule
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.07.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu is going to Brussels this evening.
According to the paper, Eroglu will hold meetings tomorrow afternoon with Jose Manuel Barosso, President of the European Commission and Stephen Fule, Commissioner responsible for enlargement and European neighbourhood policy.

Eroglu will be escorted in his trip by his advisor and special reprehensive, Hasan Gungor and his special representative Osman Ertug. He will return to Cyprus on July 25.
2. Eroglu’s special representative Ertug held a telephone conversation with Greek Cypriot side negotiator Mavroyannis
Under the title “The special representatives communicated via telephone”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.07.13) reports that Osman Ertug, the special representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu held a telephone conversation with Andreas Mavroyannis, the Greek Cypriot side negotiator for the Cyprus talks.

Kibrs which sites information writes that Ertug congratulated Mavrogiannis in a telephone conversation described by the paper as “sincere and cordial” and notes that the two men discussed how the negotiations will continue as well as how an early solution can be reached.

3. Davutoğlu set to visit Poland for bilateral talks; Cyprus problem is on the agenda 
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 22.07.13) reported that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is set to visit Poland on Tuesday to attend a conference for ambassadors and have bilateral talks with his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski. 

A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Monday noted that Davutoğlu's visit is significant as it coincides with the 90th anniversary of a treaty of friendship that the two countries signed on July 23, 1923.

The statement said that Davutoğlu will deliver a speech on Turkish-Polish relations at the annual meeting of the ambassadors in Poland.

During a tête-à-tête meeting, Davutoğlu and Sikorski are expected to discuss Turkey's EU membership bid and issues related to Cyprus as well as exchange views on developments in Egypt and Syria.

The statement mentioned that Turkey and Poland signed a "Declaration of Will" in March for activities to mark the 600th year of diplomatic relations in 2014 and said that Tuesday's visit was particularly significant as it will contribute to ties. As part of the "Declaration of Will," Turkey and Poland will hold various events in 2014, including exhibitions, concerts and cultural and social activities.

4. Environmental disaster in the occupied Gastria bigger than though
Under the title “All the living creatures died within a perimeter of 15 km”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (23.07.13) reports that the environmental disaster in the occupied Gastria village due to the recent leak of oil in the area is even bigger than thought and notes that it affected an area of 15 km.

The paper writes that three experts from the Turkish Middle East Technical University, who were invited in occupied Cyprus by the self-styled minister of tourism, environment and culture, Mehmet Harmanci prepared a report about the effect of the oil leak in the area and notes that the results of the report are “scary”. According to the report all creatures living in the sand or in the rocks in a perimeter of 15 km died.

5. Erk alleges that Greek Cypriot side should have been more constructive in how they presented Gastria oil spill
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (23.07.13) reports that Kutlay Erk, self-styled minister of foreign affairs criticized in a written statement the actions of the Cyprus government and reports in the Greek Cypriot media regarding the oil spill in the occupied village of Gastria. Erk said that it was sad how the environmental destruction, which was the result of an accident, was handled by the Cyprus Government and the Greek Cypriot media. He claimed that the stance, which was followed by the Cyprus Government, is not the stance that will serve to build cooperation between the two sides and prepare the ground for the Cyprus talks. He added that their expectations are that all the sides involved in the Cyprus problem should exhibit a sensitive and constructive stance in such sensitive issues like this.
 
Erk claimed that initially, they asked the government of Cyprus through the United Nations if there are available oil absorbent booms. Later, he said, they asked if there was an intention by the government to sell them. He explained that they wanted to buy this material through the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), as it happened before, when they sold electricity to the Republic.

 Erk said that when their proposal to purchase the booms was first put forward, they waited for clarifications. The KTTO then purchased the absorbent booms from the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the 18th of July and on the 20th of July. This transaction was completed through the Chambers. He said that on the 18th of July, they paid 9440 euros, including VAT, for 400 metres of oil absorbent boom and on the 20th of July, they paid 4720 euro, including VAT, for another 200 metres.

6. Azerbaijani Universities carry out contacts in occupied Cyprus
 According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 23.07.13), a delegation from the private Nahcivan University and the Bakü State University is having contacts in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

The administrators and students of the private Nahcivan University and the Bakü State University, who are in the occupied Cyprus within the framework of cooperation with the “Eastern Mediterranean University” (YDU), had a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu.

Speaking during the visit, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation İrade Şirinnova informed Eroglu about their visit.

The Vice Rector of the Private Nahcivan University İbrahim Kazımbeyli for his part pointed to the importance of relations between the “TRNC” and Azerbaijan.

Noting that Azerbaijan had earlier taken some initiatives for the recognition of the “TRNC”, Kazımbeyli said these initiatives were prevented by some major countries.

Eroğlu expressed his happiness over the cooperation between universities of Azerbaijan and “TRNC”, adding that he himself always had good relations with Azerbaijani people and their leaders.

7. Erdoğan says Turkey patient on Syria until now
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 22.07.13) with the above title reported that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has signalled that Turkey could take action as clashes between Kurds and al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front fighters rage just over Turkey's border with Syria, saying his government remains patient regarding developments on its borders but that he couldn't say how long that patience would last. 

“The developments in Syria have crossed our borders and caused deaths in our country. We are patient for now. But how long [we will stay patient?]” Erdoğan said during a speech at the Haliç Congress Centre on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Turkish army has said it is retaliating against attacks from the Syrian side of the border as clashes between Kurdish militants and al-Qaeda affiliates intensify in northern Syria.

The army said in a statement on Monday that it has taken necessary security measures against threats from across the Syrian border. The army said its units are returning fire across the Syrian border according to its orders.
Turkey has continued to reinforce areas of the Syrian border where clashes are taking place. Turkish forces frequently exchange fire with Syrian gunmen, most likely militants from the Democratic Union Party (PYD), an offshoot of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

On Monday, Cabinet members were expected to discuss the crisis in Syria.

Frustrated by the tension along Turkish-Syrian border, Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), argued on Sunday that the capture of the Syrian border town of Ras al-Ayn by the military wing of the PYD presents a clear risk of fomenting separatism in Turkey and urged the government to announce a military intervention if the PYD declares autonomy.

Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Faruk Loğoğlu said on Monday that Turkey should protect its borders and citizens, adding that the Turkish-Syrian border was out of control. "Turkey's aim should be to end the clashes in Syria and put an end to the violence. The wider aim should be the protection of the territorial integrity of regional countries. Turkey's Syria policy should also be based on this aim. In the event of a military intervention in Syria, what would the next step be? Is Turkey going to occupy Syria and stay in the country?"

Referring to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's call on the United Nations Security Council to act, Loğoğlu said that a decision to intervene was unlikely to come from the Security Council.

"Davutoğlu's statements are the reflection of desperation and the dead end that foreign policy has come to. Waiting for a step like intervention from the Security Council is being a daydreamer," Loğoğlu added.

Opposition army chief pledges to resist ‘planned' Kurdish state in Syria
Brig. Gen. Salim Idris, head of the Syrian opposition's Supreme Military Council, has said that the opposition will never recognize a Kurdish state in northern Syria -- which some, he added, are planning -- and stressed that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) would battle any group that wants to divide Syria.

Speaking on Turkish TV on Monday, Idris said, “The main goal of the PYD is to found their own state, ‘Western Kurdistan.'”

“They are receiving support from the Syrian regime and Kurdish militants based in Iraq and Iran, and the PKK.”

“But this is so clear that we won't ever accept or recognize such a state. We will fight anyone who is making efforts to divide Syria,” he said, adding that the opposition's struggle with the PYD would continue.

“We've already begun to shift some of our troops to Rasulayn [which is now under PYD control.] We won't wait until the PYD gets stronger. We also told them [the PYD] that we won't recognize a Kurdish state,” Idris said.

Heavy clashes between the PYD and FSA continue in Rasulayn (Serekaniye in Kurdish). Rasulayn is an area of Syria's al-Hasakah province a few hundred meters from the Turkish town of Ceylanpınar, Şanlıurfa province.

Idris is currently in Ankara to talk with Turkish officials as concerns over the possibility of a PYD-controlled autonomous Kurdish region in Syria have risen in Turkey. Many are worried that the emergence of Kurdish autonomy in Syria could embolden PKK terrorists fighting for autonomy in Turkey.

Meanwhile, Seydi Fırat, a member of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) affiliated with the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), has said that the PYD is preparing to declare autonomy.


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