25/7/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW





TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW


C O N T E N T S

No. 139/13                                                    25/07/2013
1. Eroglu asks from Barosso to lift so-called isolations 
2. Eroglu: if Russia recognizes “northern Cyprus”, the whole world will do the same 
3. Bagis said that Turkey “delightedly noted” President Anastasiades’ statements on Milliyet
4. Turkish Cypriot columnist argues that the EU “will become no one’s postman” the issue of occupied Varosha
5. Turkish MIT recorded Talat conversations, in which he called on AKP to support his party in 2009 “elections”
6. Siber sends a letter to Turkey assuring she will implement the “economic protocol”   
7. Numan said that UBP-CTP could form a “government”
8. Turkey warns Kurdish autonomy in Syria may lead to wider conflicts
9. Turkey won’t accept Israel’s ex gratia payment as compensation in Mavi Marmara case
10. President Gül congratulates Egyptian interim president on national day
11. Columnist wonders whether Davutoglu will go or not
12. Turkey now 154th in world press freedom index

1. Eroglu asks from Barosso to lift so-called isolations
Under the title “’Lift the isolations’”, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (25.07.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu has conveyed to the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barosso his discomfort from the so-called isolations and embargoes, and mainly from the limitation of the freedom of traveling allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots and said that they were expecting positive steps on this issue. Eroglu met yesterday in Brussels with Barosso and the European Commissioner Responsible for the Enlargement, Stefan Fule.

In statements after the meeting that lasted for more than one hour, Eroglu reiterated the allegation that the Greek Cypriots were the side which prevented a result when the negotiations came to a stage for reaching a result. Eroglu said that Barosso told him “openly and clearly” that the sides should solve the problem. Alleging that the Turkish Cypriot side had a will for reaching a solution, Eroglu said that he told Barosso that it would be more correct if he reminded their member, the Greek Cypriots, of these evaluations.
Eroglu said that he discussed with Barosso and Fule the issues of the negotiations for reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem expected to resume in October, EU’s financial aid to the “TRNC” [Translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus], the lifting of the so-called isolations, the Green Line Regulation and the stance of the Greek Cypriot side.

Eroglu argued that Barosso has clearly denied the information published in the Greek Cypriot press that “Varosha will be included in the bargaining” of opening the illegal Tymvou airport, outside of the negotiations for finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

Eroglu said that the important thing is for the negotiations to reach a result after 45 years and alleged that if the Greek Cypriots insist on keeping the Turkish Cypriots at the negotiating table and “playing with time”, it will not be possible for a result to be reached.  
(I/Ts.)

2. Eroglu: if Russia recognizes “northern Cyprus”, the whole world will do the same
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (25.07.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu has argued that if Russia recognizes “northern Cyprus”, as he described the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, the whole world will recognize it. In statements made to Russian Kommersant newspaper, Eroglu said that they are in favor of the establishment of a “federation of two peoples and two states”, adding that “this plan is still valid”.

According to the paper, Eroglu noted that they will give to the Greek Cypriot side about 1-1.5 year-time for the solution of the Cyprus problem and if a solution is not reached, they will “determine the future of the country without discussing with the Greek Cypriots”. Eroglu said that if the alternative of establishing a federation of two peoples and two states is not realized, they will continue to exist as “a separate state” and they will officially launch efforts for recognition.

According to Kommersant newspaper, a delegation from the occupied area of Cyprus has recently visited Moscow and held contacts at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs prior to Eroglu’s meetings in Brussels. Citing Turkish sources, the paper said that the efforts of the Turkish side for finding mediators will “force Greek Cypriots to get into action” and argued that Russia and the EU are considered as mediators.

Eroglu said that he met President Anastasiades only at the dinner hosted by UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer and added that they agreed to launch negotiations in October. Eroglu alleged that the EU had committed “mistakes” which led the negotiations process into deadlock and referred to the Republic of Cyprus’s EU term presidency and the “sanctions” allegedly implemented on “northern Cyprus”. He said that their target is to “lift these sanctions” and added that he would discuss this issue in Brussels.
(I/Ts.)

3. Bagis said that Turkey “delightedly noted” President Anastasiades’ statements on Milliyet
Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (24.07.13) reports that EgemenBagis, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and chief negotiator of Turkey in accession talks with the European Union, described as positive the statements made by President NicosAnastasiades during a recent interview to the paper.
Bagis said that they delightedly noted President Anastasiades’ statements that his father was raised by a Turk. Bagis said that despite the reactions that President Anastasiades’ statements could have caused to the Greek Cypriot side, he went on and talked on this issue and added that the Turkish side delightedly noted the braveness and fidelity he displayed. He went on and added that the steps taken by President Anastasiades for paying this debt will open the door of a happy future for the two communities in Cyprus.

Bagis also said that they are obliged to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem and claimed that Turkey’s stance was pro-solution from the beginning. He said that nobody can abandon the efforts for the solution just because the previous efforts were not successful. However he said that they cannot tolerate the price of the non-solution to be paid by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, as he claimed and added that the solution of the Cyprus problem is not far if everybody appears sincere and determined.

4. Turkish Cypriot columnist argues that the EU “will become no one’s postman” the issue of occupied Varosha
Writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (25.07.13), Turkish Cypriot columnist and director of illegal Bayrak television, Mete Tumerkan argues that the European Union is not pleased with the efforts of the Greek Cypriot side to relate the Union with the return of the occupied fenced city of Varosha to its legal owners. Under the title “EU will become no one’s postman”, Tumerkan writes that the EU’s approach is that “absolutely nothing could substitute the comprehensive solution in Cyprus” and points out that the Union is determined not to take any step which would put the UN into difficult position.

“Therefore, the EU will not enter into an engagement which is not accepted by both sides on the Cyprus issue”, argues Tumerkan adding that “in order for the EU to launch an initiative on the issue of Varosha, both sides in Cyprus should approve this”. Noting that such a development is out of the question now, Tumerkan says that the EU is closely cooperating with the UN on the Cyprus problem and points out that UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer has given “very clear messages” to the European Commissioner Responsible for the Enlargement, Stefan Fule.

According to Tumerkan, Downer has in brief said to Fule the following: “There is no need to waste time by dealing with the issue of Varosha. If the sides are in the position of achieving progress on the issue of Varosha, they are in the position of solving the Cyprus problem anyway”. 

The columnist added, inter alia, the following: “Downer pointed out that the obstacle to the solution of the Cyprus issue exists in the technical matters and that the Cyprus issue could be solved immediately if the Greek Cypriots were ready to compromise on technical matters such as the FIR or the customs… With these messages the EU preferred to exhibit a stance that approaches the issue of Varosha with distance…At this stage the issue of Varosha or a model related to Varosha does not exist on the agenda of the EU… Fule is exhibiting his stance on this issue by saying the following to persons whom he meets: ‘No step could be taken on the issue of Varosha without the consent of the Turkish side’… In brief, neither the EU nor the UN intent to focus on macro-confidence building measures instead of the comprehensive solution at this stage reached on the Cyprus issue…” 
(I/Ts.)

5.Turkish MITrecordedTalat conversations,  in which he called on AKP to support his party in 2009 “elections”
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (24.07.13) published documents of tape recordings that took place prior to the 2009 “parliament elections” between the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, his spokesman HasanErcakica and ZerenMungan, current undersecretary of “ministry of finance” and at the time advisor of Talat.

According to the paper, in the tapes Talat is heard saying that the ruling in Turkey Justice and Development Party (AKP) must support the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) in the elections and not the National Unity Party (UBP) noting that this would be of AKP’s benefit.
Commenting on the issue, columnist HasanHasturer writes in Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi (25.07.13) that the Turkish Cypriot community is of urgent need of democratization and civilization. He goes on and notes that according to him the contest of the conversation is far less important that the fact that the conversation was taped. 

6. Siber sends a letter to Turkey assuring she will implement the “economic protocol”  
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper (25.07.13) reports that SibelSiber, self-styled prime minister of the interim “government” of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has stated that she had sent a letter to Turkey saying that the “economic protocol” for the period 2013-15 [signed between Ankara and the regime] would be implemented. Speaking yesterday before the meeting of the self-styled cabinet, Siber explained why she has sent the above-mentioned letter by saying: “Privatizations were the part of the protocol which had been criticized the most. I have put this signature because it is not possible for privatizations to be made in two months”.

According to the paper, the Social Democracy Party (TDP), “coalition partner” in the interim “government”, held a meeting of its council yesterday in order to discuss whether it should withdraw from the “government”. However, no such decision was taken because only three days remained until the “elections”, notes HalkinSesi. However, the chairman of the party, Mehmet Cakici described as “contrary to the principle of transparency” the fact that TDP knew nothing about Siber’s letter to Ankara.

Meanwhile, IrsenKucuk, leader of the current main opposition National Unity Party (UBP), stated that the “coalition partners” in the interim “government” had said that they would not implement the “protocol”, which had been signed by the UBP. “When they could not pay the salaries for two months, they put the signature and concealed it from the people. Is this transparency? Cakici had said that ‘if there is such a thing, I will withdraw my support from the government’. What are you still waiting for, Cakici?”
Commenting on the reactions, Siber said that they had stated in the past that the “economic protocol” would not be on their agenda. “Bringing this issue onto the agenda and demanding revision, is tantamount to a show”, she argued.
(I/Ts.)

7. Numan said that UBP-CTP could form a “government”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (25.07.13) reports that NecdetNuman, general secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP), said that a strong structure should be formed after the “elections” in order to be able to change the problems in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, like the financial and the mistrust of the people towards the politicians. He added that this strong structure could be formed by the “two main political parties”.

Explaining that in case of necessity they could give the green light to cooperation with the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG), Numan said that in his opinion, the two political parties will obtain a yearly consensus in order to take steps on internal and external issues, by putting aside all their previous views.

8. Turkey warns Kurdish autonomy in Syria may lead to wider conflicts
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 24.07.13) reported that Turkish Foreign Minister AhmetDavutoğlu said on Wednesday that Turkey had no enmity for any ethnic group in Syria, but that Ankara opposed a bid by Syrian Kurds to create an autonomous region along the Turkish border, saying steps that could generate further conflict should be avoided. 

"Any act of fait accompli would lead to far more bloodshed and quickly turn clashes between two parties into a conflict involving several parties," Davutoğlu said at a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart, Salman Khurshid, in Ankara. "A de facto situation that would emerge as a result of acts of fait accompli would trigger responses from others. If everyone attempts to create their own regions, difficulties will ensue."

Davutoğlu was responding to a question on remarks made earlier in the day by pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) leader SelahattinDemirtaş, who criticized the government's policy on ongoing clashes between Syrian Kurds and fighters affiliated with al-Qaeda in Syrian border towns. Demirtaş said Turkey should refrain from "pouring oil on fire" and defend the rights of all groups in Syria. "That is not the case right now," he told a press conference in Diyarbakır.

Referring to Kurdish groups and Syrian opposition forces fighting to oust Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad, Davutoğlu said all ethnic groups in Syria were “friends of Turkey.”

“We don't consider ethnic and sectarian identity [while pursuing policies],” Davutoğlu said, adding that Ankara defended the rights of Kurds when they were discriminated against by the Syrian regime.

Davutoğlu stressed that groups in Syria should refrain from taking unilateral steps until a legitimate parliament is elected in the country. Ankara will not accept any de facto autonomy in Syria before the establishment of a legitimate legislature, Davutoğlu said in a separate speech on Tuesday, adding that this didn't necessarily mean that Ankara opposed the rights of Kurds in northern Syria.

9. Turkey won’t accept Israel’s ex gratia payment as compensation in Mavi Marmara case
Turkish daily Hürriyet Daily News (online, 24.07.13) with the above title reported that  the reason for the deadlock in compensation talks between Turkey and Israel is the latter’s insistency in redressing the damages of the Mavi Marmara victims as an ex gratia payment and not as a result of its wrongful act, a senior Turkish government official has said.

“In our first meeting [the Israelis] showed no opposition to this. But in the second meeting, they intended to give an ex gratia payment as a form of reparation because they fear compensation [as a result of their wrongful act] will set an example for other cases, which is not a concern to us,” Deputy Prime Minister BülentArınç told Ankara bureau chiefs late on July 23. Arınç is leading a Turkish team composed of diplomats and legal experts negotiating the compensation issue with the Israeli government.

“The amount of money is not the problem,” Arınç said. “There are two problematic areas. The first one is that Israel should accept that it’s paying this money as a result of its wrongful act, nothing less than this will be accepted. And second, we are waiting for them to realize our third condition of cooperating with Turkey in making life conditions easier for Palestinians. We are not talking about the amount of money as our first two conditions have not been met,” he added.

“We are not going to rush for the money. Israel has to accept its wrongful act. Otherwise we will not say ‘yes’ to them,” he said, adding that the amount of money to be given to the families of the victims will be automatically calculated in accordance with criteria.

If an agreement can be reached between Turkey and Israel, it will be brought to Parliament as an international agreement and will have an effect on ongoing cases opened against the Israeli state by the victims’ families. “There cannot be two separate legal attempts to seek compensation. If the governments agree, it will cover [the victims’] demand for compensation as well.”

10. President Gül congratulates Egyptian interim president on national day
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 24.07.13) reported that President Abdullah Gül has sent a message to Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour to congratulate the country on its national day, the Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed to daily Hürriyet July 24.

The ties between the countries have been strained since Turkey adopted a harsh stance against the military takeover in Egypt on July 3, repeatedly emphasizing the illegitimacy of the elected President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman LeventGümrükçü said in a written statement that the message sent by Gül on July 23 was a “customary” one, conveyed every year, intending to send regards to his counterpart for the national day.

Gümrükçü also said that the letter had been addressed to Adly Mansour.

Despite saying that it would not cut diplomatic ties with Egypt, Ankara is leading efforts to push the international community to re-instate Morsi.

Turkish Foreign Minister AhmetDavutoğlu met with Egypt’s Ankara envoy AbderahmanSalaheldin last week to soothe the ongoing tension.

11. Columnist wonders whether Davutoglu will go or not
Under the title “Will Davutoğlu go?”, columnist SemihIdiz, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 25.07.13), published the following commentary:

“I have been privy to talk among diplomats in Ankara recently about whether Prime Minister RecepTayyipErdoğan will change Foreign Minister AhmetDavutoğlu, seeing as Turkey’s foreign policy needs a serious overhauling now that the ‘zero problems with neighbours’ policy has been replaced by tensions with just about everyone. The names being bandied about as possible replacements range from current EU Minister EgemenBağış, current Culture Minister ÖmerÇelik to MevlutÇavusoğlu, the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) deputy head in charge of foreign affairs.

The basic argument is that the government cannot afford to allow Turkey’s foreign policy interests to keep taking blow after blow, as they appear to be doing presently. The fact that the Middle East is turning out not to be the place that either Erdoğan or Davutoğlu expected, is seen as the most serious blow to the government, which once had pretensions of being the ‘principle game-setter’ in the region.

Ankara has ended up instead with serious difference with just about every Arab capital, a fact that is also apparent over Egypt now where ‘the keepers’ of the region’s Sunni order think differently to Erdoğan on the coup that toppled the Muslim Brotherhood. From Syria to Egypt, and beyond, Ankara misread the prevailing realities, which really matter in the end, and which govern the region. Tellingly, it is now in a state of near panic over the possibility of another autonomous Kurdish entity emerging on its borders, which is not just similar to, but also directly related to Kurdish northern Iraq.

The notion among some diplomats therefore appears to be that if Davutoğlu were to be replaced, this dire situation might change. The first thing to be said here is that it is extremely unlikely for Erdoğan to dismiss Davutoğlu at a time like this. The simple reason is that it would reflect adversely on him politically, more than it would on Davutoğlu, because it would amount to admitting that he selected the wrong person to run Turkey’s foreign policy after having appointed him with so much fanfare.

Davutoğlu’s dismissal would also provide grist to the opposition’s mill given that hardly any Turkish Foreign Minister in living memory has caused so much controversy. Erdoğan obviously cannot allow this to happen at a politically delicate time for himself and the AKP as this. Finally, and perhaps most crucially, the question of whether Turkey’s foreign policy would return to a more traditional and cautious line if Davutoğlu were to go, is a wide open one.

It is, after all, Erdoğan, and not Davutoğlu, who has been the main driving force behind Ankara’s foreign policy debacles, with his abrasive tone and full-frontal attacks against other leaders, countries and organizations. The simple fact is that being the unquestionable leader of the AKP, which appears more like a movement with a mission today than a regular political party, neitherDavutoğlu nor anyone who might replace him is in a position to question Erdoğan.
It is, for example, hard to believe that highly qualified members of the government like Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, Turkey’s ‘economic supremo’, or Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek believe the malarkey about ‘an interest rate lobby that is trying to undermine Turkey’. But all they can do when Erdoğan keeps carping on about this is to timidly try and rationalize for others what their leader means when he says such things. It is also clear, especially after his latest choice of ‘Chief Adviser’ – who incidentally is on record saying ‘he is prepared to die for Erdogan’ – that Erdogan does not want advisers who have the courage to correct him when his is blatantly wrong. Therefore, the simple answer to the question is that Davutoğlu is here to stay, at least until the next elections. The situation might change after that, but then many things are likely to change in Turkey then, for better or worse.”

12. Turkey now 154th in world press freedom index
Turkish daily Hürriyet Daily News (online, 24.07.13) reported that Turkey has experienced another among fall down the ranks of Reporters Without Borders’ (RWB) World Press Freedom index, dropping to 154th on the list.

RWB stated that Turkey, a country of “political importance” amid the Syrian conflict, was “currently the world’s biggest prison for journalists.” The country suffered a six-slot fall, plummeting from 148th to 154th.

The report also targeted Turkey for failing to live up to its regional model aspirations “despite a varied and lively media” presence in the country. The Turkish state was criticized for pursuing “a paranoia about security, which has a tendency to see every criticism as a plot hatched by a variety of illegal organizations.”

The ongoing paranoia has intensified during the past year, which was “marked by a rising tension over the Kurdish question,” the organization said.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.07.13) reported that Turkish Prime Minister RecepTayyipErdoğan, in a message released to celebrate Journalists’ Day on July 24, said that members of the press should not ignore the moral values that come with their occupation, the interest of their home country, public order and societal dynamics.

“Our institutions of the press should not ignore the interest of the country, public order, societal dynamism and the moral values that their occupation brings while pursuing a free, objective and responsible way of doing their jobs,” the statement said.

The Prime Minister highlighted the press as “an institutional force” in advanced democracies, capable of “influencing and guiding a large part of society.”

Erdoğan also added that the ruling Justice and Development (AKP) government had realized “important reforms on the issue of information and freedom of expression in parallel of Turkey’s advancement in issues of human rights and democracy.”

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