TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.143/13 31/07/2013
1.
The oil spill has affect an area of 13 km from the incident
2. Editor-in-chief of Milliyet daily loses position –
Columnist notes that pens have been broken in every sense of the word in Turkey
3.
A second summit on Syria
within a week
4. Yorgancioglu: “Cyprus problem will be a touchstone
in the formation of coalition government”
5. UBP
prepares for extraordinary congress
6. Denktas decides not to resign; Rumors say that he
had met with Erdogan before the “elections”
7.
Kilicdaroglu: Lessons should be taken from the “TRNC elections”
8. Lithuania
hopes to open new negotiation chapters says Lithuanian Ambassador to Ankara
9.
Davutoglu and Barzani had common stance on the developments in Syria
10. Turkey
denies suspending cooperation agreements with Egypt
11. No loans for students who engage in Gezi Park
protests
12. President Gul approves bill to change coup article
1.
The oil spill has affect an area of 13 km from the incident
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (31.07.13)
reports that the team of the Institute
of Marine Sciences of the
Middle East Technical University
in Mersin,
which came to examine the environmental dimensions of the oil disaster occurred
in the occupied Gastria upon an invitation of the self-styled ministry of
tourism, environment and culture, announced yesterday its report.
According to the report, the oil spill
not only affected the sea coasts, but also the sea floor and the sea surface.
The team gathered samples for assessment from 10 different points from the
shores, approximately 10 km far from the area of the incident and from 11
different points from the sea. The oil spill was observed at least 13 km from
the AKSA electrical power station.
According to the report, all the marine
species, which were living within one kilometre from the incident in the rocks
and in sand at the coast, have died. It is also observed that the impact of the
oil spill continues eastward and reduces partially on the benthic.
2. Editor-in-chief of Milliyet daily loses position
– Columnist notes that pens have been broken in every sense of the word in Turkey
Turkish daily
Zaman (31.07.13) reports that Derya Sazak, the editor-in-chief of the Milliyet
newspaper, was replaced with Ankara representative Fikret Bila, in latest of a
series of reshuffles in the Turkish media at a time when government and media
relations have come to spotlight amid mounting concerns over the freedom of the
press.
The move aroused
suspicions over the nature of the reshuffle, which came after mass firings of
journalists relating to Gezi protests, dealing further blow to the editorial
freedom of news outlets.
The Milliyet
daily had come under fire when it published minutes of the İmralı talks between
pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies and the jailed leader of
the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) earlier this year.
Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vehemently criticized the newspaper, deeming its
work as sloppy journalism. Following mounting government pressure, prominent
columnist and journalist Hasan Cemal had to leave the newspaper after his
pieces faced censorship.
Commenting on
the issue, Fehmi Koru writes, inter alia the following in Turkish Star
(28.07.13) under the title "Every Time Someone Leaves, We Are
Diminished":
“Masters of
writing, whose articles I have disliked, whose comments I have objected to,
whom I felt a strong desire to criticize… Whoever comes to your mind, it is
them I am talking about…
Would I ever
wish that they are prevented from writing, that they lose the means to express
themselves, that they are driven away from the media? You probably would not be
surprised to hear that my answer to this question would be an unequivocal
"No."
[…]
Turkey has a criminal record regarding "freedom of
press"… It is a twofold record: Many self-seeking, power-hungry impostors
masquerading as "journalists" affiliated to groups at home or abroad,
groups driven by self-interest; "journalists" who do not deserve to
use that freedom have come and gone in this profession.
What is more,
there have always been enemies of freedom who could unscrupulously contemplate
teaching certain journalists a lesson because they felt intimated by their
opinions and comments, and when that failed, banishing them from the
profession, and even threatening their lives…
Pens have been
broken in every sense of the word…
What could my
choice be? As long as self-seeking or power-hungry characters do not walk
around masquerading as "journalists," would it be OK if my freedoms
are curtailed? Or as long as my freedoms are left alone, let there be
self-seeking and power-hungry characters around?
[…]
In recent days
our media sector has suddenly begun to have the feel of a deserted place. Even
the disappearance of a single writer without reason adds to this feeling of
desolation. Not only does the absence of that single person make itself deeply
felt, it also brings pangs of conscience on the people working for that
newspaper where that person's column remains vacant, as well as on people
working for other newspapers…
That absence
orphans those who crossed pens with that person, who criticized that person
mercilessly and who was at the receiving end of that person's criticism. That absent place, that very absence itself is
much powerful than when it was occupied…
No one has the
right to do this to us. We are going through a period when ownership of media
is changing hands; new owners of newspapers and television channels may change
their staff for various reasons. People who work there may leave because the
newspaper or the television station has changed hands. Ties may be severed
without a reason; years of working together may come to an end.
However, one
would expect that all of these take place within common rules of courtesy. When
the process smacks of politics and political meddling, then the whole thing
becomes discourteous. Since this is very often done under the pretext of an
"intervention of a political sort", this tarnishes the actual
politics as well.
Good or bad,
useful or harmful, all opinions in today's world make themselves heard. There
is no shortage of newspapers or television channels. If all doors are shut,
then there is the increasingly powerful Internet media. Even those who cannot
get a place there can easily find their own way. However what is left behind is
a diminished media. Do not do this to us.”
3.
A second summit on Syria
within a week
Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (31.07.13),
under the title “A Syria alarm at the Prime Ministry”, reports that a state
summit was convened yesterday at the Prime Ministry due to the latest
developments in the borders with Syria.
The summit started immediately after Turkey’s Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s arrival from Istanbul to Ankara. Among the attending officials were
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay, Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel,
Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Justice
Minister Sadullah Ergin, National Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz, National
Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan and other officials
related to the issue. The meeting lasted for 2.5 hours.
According to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 31.07.13), the meeting was set to discuss a roadmap on the Syrian
crisis, security threats from ongoing clashes between radical Islamist groups
and Kurdish militia near the border as well as smuggling incidents.
4. Yorgancioglu: “Cyprus problem will be a touchstone
in the formation of coalition government”
Illegal Bayrak
television (31.07.13) broadcast that leader of the Republican Turkish Party –
United Forces Ozkan Yorgancioglu evaluated the results of the early “general
elections” and announced his party’s next step at a press conference.
Yorgancioglu
said that “the result of the election was proof of the public’s confidence in
the CTP-BG”.
Noting that they
are standing behind promises that they had given during their “election
campaign”, Yorgancioglu said that people have voted in favor of the CTP for
enabling equality, transparency and for the improvement of the economic
structure.
Yorgancioglu
also stressed that the new government will work to take measures to increase “people’s”
confidence in the state and to boost the economy.
On the formation
of a coalition “government” Yorgancioglu said they will stand at an equal
distance with all political parties and will work to make the coalition “government”
stable and long lasting.
Touching upon
the Cyprus problem, Yorgancioglu said that the Cyprus problem will be a
touchstone in the formation of coalition “government”. He also said they are
hoping to reach a bi-communal, bi-zonal solution in Cyprus and we want the Turkish
Cypriots to claim a spotlight in the international community.
5. UBP
prepares for extraordinary congress
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (31.07.13) reports that after losing power in the early
“parliamentary elections” held on Sunday in the occupied area of Cyprus, the
National Unity Party (UBP) is
trying to determine a new road map, especially due to the fact that its
chairman, its general secretary and the presidents of its local organizations
could not be “elected’ in the “parliament”. The competent organs of the party
have evaluated the results and launched preparations for holding an
extraordinary congress.
The general
secretary of the party, Necdet Numan stated yesterday that they want to gather
their strength and serve the “people”. “The fact that the chairman lost the
elections caused the need for holding a congress soon. We have started
preparations”, he said. Numan also noted that they received less “votes” than
they expected and added that they have taken the messages given by the
“people”. He also said that it would be useful to have only one candidate at
the congress and pointed out that radical changes will take place in the UBP.
Referring to the
“government”, the establishment of which is expected after the “elections”,
Numan said that it would be very good if the three parties that participated in
the temporary “coalition government” continued their cooperation.
Meanwhile, Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (31.07.13) writes that Numan said that UBP’s chairman Irsen Kucuk should resign in order
for the party to be able to hold an extraordinary congress. “If the chairman
resigns, we will go to an extraordinary congress. The decision on this issue
belongs to the chairman of the party”, he said.
Havadis refers
also to criticism made by the former “finance minister” of the regime and
current “MP” with the UBP, Ersin
Tatar against Irsen Kucuk, who had reportedly stated that the 14 “MPs” of the
party should be able to select a chairman among them without the quarrel of a
congress. Tatar said that Kucuk, who has stated that he would resign from the
presidency of the party, had not allowed the election of a general secretary
with only one candidate for the post and that now he should not interfere in
democracy within the party. Tatar accused Kucuk of remaining spectator to the
split of the party and ignored those who had received the votes of
approximately 50% of the party. He said that a great damage had been caused to
the UBP, because the resignation
of Ahmet Kasif and other seven “MPs” was not prevented and the quarrels lasted
for too long.
Meanwhile, Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (31.07.13) reports that Tatar was one of the
persons that kept neutral stance during the conflict between Irsen Kucuk and
Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. Yesterday, Tatar visited Eroglu, writes
Afrika adding that this visit angered many officials of the UBP. Tatar has reportedly paid no attention to this
and said that he had no problem with Eroglu. According to the paper, two names
are heard for the presidency of the UBP:
the one is Nazim Cavusoglu who is reportedly supported by Irsen Kucuk and the
other is Faiz Sicuoglu, who is generally more accepted than Cavusoglu.
(I/Ts.)
6. Denktas decides not to resign; Rumors say that
he had met with Erdogan before the “elections”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Afrika newspaper (31.07.13) reports that Serdar Denktas, chairman of the
Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG), has said that his party increased
its “votes” by 125% in the recent “elections” of the 28th of July,
2013 [comparing to the “elections” held in 2009] and that within this framework
he decided to continue his duty as chairman of the party. In a statement issued
yesterday, Denktas referred to the promise he had given before the “elections”
that he would resign if DP-UG did not come first, and noted that taking into
consideration the responsibility given to him personally and to his party, he
could not fulfill this promise.
Afrika reports
also that, according to some allegations, Denktas had visited Turkey during the
night of the 20th of July, 2013 and met with Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan. Denktas has reportedly returned to the occupied area of the
island right afterwards day after discussing with Erdogan the “elections” and
the period that would follow. According to the same unconfirmed information,
Erdogan’s approach to Denktas was “very warm” and Denktas promised him that he
would not participate in the “government” after the “elections”, in case
Erdogan did not want him to do so.
(I/Ts.)
7.
Kilicdaroglu: Lessons should be taken from the “TRNC elections”
Turkish daily Sabah
(31.07.13) reports that the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu, in a written announcement,
said that the political power of Turkey should take important
lessons from the results of the “early elections” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Kilicdaroglu claimed that the Turkish
Cypriots have exhibited once more their democratic maturity by not taking into
consideration the external pressure and the interferences. He also said that
the duty of all political parties in Turkey is to act with solidarity
and harmony with their “brothers” in Cyprus on their national cause, the
Cyprus
problem, and to show respect to the Turkish Cypriots’ political will.
8. Lithuania
hopes to open new negotiation chapters says Lithuanian Ambassador to Ankara
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (31.07.13) publishes an interview by Lithuanian
Ambassador to Turkey Kęstutis Kudzmanas.
“Lithuania took
over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from Ireland
in July to chair the bloc for the second half of 2013, a development that is
hoped will bring Turkey closer to the opening of new chapters with the European
bloc”, the paper writes, adding that during the six-month presidency of the
Baltic country, which supports Turkey's EU accession bid, it is expected that a
new chapter will be opened with Turkey, bringing fresh life to stifled
negotiations.
Underlining that
Lithuania hopes to open new negotiation chapters, the Lithuanian envoy said
they will work on three chapters -- chapter 17 on economic and monetary policy,
chapter 19 on social policy and employment and chapter 22 regulating regional
policies, which were suspended due to Germany's opposition.
"It's Turkey's main
responsibility to show progress in the EU membership process and to continue
making reforms," Kudzmanas added.
He also
expressed the importance of maintaining an inclusive constitutional reform
process, which provides an opportunity to address issues relevant to solving
most of the Kurdish issues, strengthening basic freedoms of Turkish citizens
and bringing Turkey's
legal system closer to that of the EU.
Talking about
economic relationships, Kudzmanas also underlined the importance of political
relations between the two countries. "I can see that we have quite warm
relations at all levels; presidential, governmental, business level," he
said
‘'We have
bilateral support on various issues and Lithuania especially supports Turkey at an
international level," Kudzmanas added.
9.
Davutoglu and Barzani had common stance on the developments in Syria
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(31.07.13), Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu met on Tuesday
with Nachervan Barzani, prime minister of the regional administration in the
north of Iraq,
in Ankara.
According to diplomatic sources,
Davutoglu's closed meeting with Barzani focused on bilateral relations, recent
incidents in Iraq,
the situation of Syria,
the Kurdish National Conference and the recent developments and incidents in Egypt.
The two leaders discussed bilateral
relations as well as energy and cooperation opportunities, and they expressed
uneasiness over escalating violence and terrorism in Iraq.
Diplomatic sources said that recent
developments in Syria were also high on the agenda of the meeting, adding that
both parties exchanged views about the situation in Syria especially the
developments in the north of the country.
Parties agreed that Turkey and
regional administration in Iraq
had the common stance and concerns about the recent developments in Syria and its
north.
Sources said that Barzani had similar
stance with Turkey regarding the future of Syria, and he gave the message that
they did not want a division in the country.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah (31.07.13) reports that Turkey’s Minister of Energy Taner
Yildiz, commenting on Barzani’s visit to Turkey, said that he will discuss
with him the energy issue.
10. Turkey
denies suspending cooperation agreements with Egypt
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (31.07.13) reports that Turkey has denied reports that
it has suspended the cooperation agreements it signed with Egypt during Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Cairo last November “after the
Egyptian army committed mass killings in Cairo last weekend”.
Official sources
speaking to Today's Zaman have denied reports in the Turkish media claiming
that Turkey
decided to suspend a number of cooperation agreements, some covering the
defense industry, which it signed with Egypt in 2012, saying that no such
plan is on the agenda. The North African country is expected to acquire 10
Ankas (unmanned aerial vehicles) from Turkey according to these
agreements.
The same sources
also said that Ahmet Yildiz, the new Turkish ambassador appointed to Cairo, has
delayed the start of his mission in the North African country, noting that Huseyin
Avni Botsalı, the current Turkish ambassador in Cairo, would remain in his
mission until the political turmoil in the country has settled down to a
certain degree.
11. No loans for students who engage in Gezi Park
protests
Turkish daily
Hurriyet (31.07.13) reports that no education loans will be granted to students
who engage in resistance, stage boycotts, chant slogans or become involved in
similar activities, according to newly announced conditions by the Higher
Education Loans and Dormitories Institution (KYK), Turkey’s official student
loan institution.
The precondition
states that those who engage in “resistance, boycotts, occupations, writing,
painting [in public spaces], chanting slogans and the like,” will not be
eligible for student loans, as such activity constitutes a “violation of the
right to an education,” according to the KYK.
“In the
education institutions he/she attends, in its extensions in the dormitory
he/she resides, outside of the education institution or the dormitory, either
solely or collectively, in whichever form, those who are concerned with events
of anarchy and terrorism, engaging in behaviors violating the right to
education (resistance, boycott, occupation, writing, painting, slogan-chanting,
et cetera), whether attempted partially or fully,” are classified as ineligible
alongside those who carry any sort of firearm or sharp device.
Questions were
raised when the details of preconditions to receive loans were enumerated and
published on July 29, with many speculating that an article banning such
student behavior had been inserted as a result of the Gezi Park
protests. But while the conditions had
already been on the books since the first half of 2000s, it appears that the
KYK has chosen to highlight actions such as engaging in resistance, staging
boycotts and chanting slogans in its announcement for the upcoming academic
year for the first time.
The condition in
question is absent from the KYK’s official website, where information on
general eligibility criteria from previous years is available.
12. President Gul approves bill to change coup
article
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper 930.07.13) reports that Turkish President Abdullah Gul
has approved a bill seeking to amend Article 35 of the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK) Internal Service Code, which provides grounds and an incentive for the
military to intervene in politics.
On July 13, all
political parties represented in Parliament passed the proposal, which was
submitted in late June by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party),
by a majority vote.
Article 35 of
the TSK Internal Service Code has
often been criticized for its role in the past four military coups in Turkey, and the
government recently announced plans to either amend or abolish it. Article 35
entered the TSK's statutes after
the coup in May 27, 1960.
It was later cited as the legal basis for military interventions in March 12, 1971 and Sept. 12, 1980. The article
says the military has a duty to “preserve and protect the Republic of Turkey.”
The proposed
amendment redefines the TSK's duty
as “defending Turkish soil against threats and dangers from abroad, empowering
the military force to ensure deterrence, performing missions abroad given by
Parliament and helping to maintain international peace.”
TURKISH
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