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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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
