TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.144/13 01/08/2013
1.
Erdogan's Gaza visit postponed due to turmoil in Egypt
2.
Palestinian foundation to be established in Turkey
3.
Turkish Police fire water cannons and tear gas to disperse demo for gas
canister-hit teenager fighting for life
4.
US Representatives sent a letter to Gul criticizing Erdogan’s “anti-Semitic”
statements
5.
The detention of DHKP-C members on a boat off Chios island
6.
The Commanders expected to be appointed by Turkey's Supreme Military Council
7.
Eroglu’s claims: “There must be a deadline for the negotiations; Turkish side
lost its patience”
8.
Quarrel in UBP starts again; Many
candidates for its presidency
9.
Akansoy says the 2013-15 economic “protocol” will be re-examined; Cavusoglu
does not exclude a “coalition” with CTP-BG
10.
The “election campaign” cost of CTP and BKP; after the Bayram the new
“government”
11.
KTOS explains its view that nobody won in the “elections”
12.
Serdar denied that he met with Erdogan prior to the “elections”
13.
Oil spill threatens the coasts of occupied Famagusta bay
1.
Erdogan's Gaza visit postponed due to turmoil in Egypt
Turkish daily Today's Zaman newspaper (31.07.13) reported that Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Gaza Strip has
been postponed due to the unfolding political turmoil in Egypt, Erdogan's chief
advisor said on Wednesday.
İbrahim Kalın, chief advisor to Erdogan,
said via his Twitter account that the visit has been delayed due to the
prolonged crisis in Egypt. The Turkish Prime Minister was expected to visit
Gaza in mid-June, but the trip was postponed due to the Gezi protests.
When Erdogan planned to go to the
coastal city in early July, the coup in Egypt changed his plans and led to
another delay.
2.
Palestinian foundation to be established in Turkey
Turkish daily Today's Zaman (31.07.13)
reported that an aid and solidarity foundation between Turkey and Palestine,
tasked to collect donations and allocate funds for investments and projects
serving Palestine, is to be established in Turkey, a press release from the
Palestinian Embassy in Ankara said on Wednesday.
The establishment of the foundation will
be announced during a fast-breaking dinner on Friday in Istanbul, hosted by
Mehmet Görmez, head of the Religious Affairs Directorate and attended by Deputy
Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag.
“The foundation will be a nongovernmental
organization, which will not be under the supervision of either Turkey or the
Palestinian Authorities,” said sources related to the Palestinian Embassy in
Ankara.
The Turkish government is planning to
make a specific donation in support of the foundation. The new institution is
expected to allocate the money this year for the benefit of families of
Palestinian prisoners, the press release said.
3.
Turkish Police fire water cannons and tear gas to disperse demo for gas
canister-hit teenager fighting for life
Turkish daily Hurriyet (01.08.13)
reports that the Turkish Police fired water cannons and tear gas at a group of
demonstrators who gathered in Taksim Square to protest the violence used
against a 14-year-old teenager who has been in intensive care for 46 days after
being hit by a tear gas canister in Istanbul during the Gezi Park unrest.
Berkin Elvan was not a protester but a
by-stander who was attacked after stepping out to buy bread during a police
intervention in Istanbul’s Okmeydanı neighbourhood on June 15.
Hundreds turned out to show their
support in a demonstration called by the young protester’s family, seeking
justice and action against those officers who fired the gas canister.
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)
lawmaker Sezgin Tanrıkulu also attended the protest.
Elvan’s condition is critical due to an
infection, the family had said in their call for protest. However, riot police
stationed around the Taksim area started to use water cannons after the
protesters refused to disperse.
Scuffles occurred when police officers
tried to push protesters to the entrance of the pedestrian İstiklal Street. The
parents of the injured teenager, Sami and Gülsüm Elvan, who had read a written
statement, were trapped inside the crowd.
The mother who broke down and cried
saying, “I only want my son back,” was laboriously calmed by protesters.
Officers were chasing demonstrators who have escaped into the side streets,
Hurriyet reported. A protester has been injured and taken to hospital after
being hit by an "unidentified object" on the head, the report also
said. An officer was also reportedly firing rubber bullets from the top of an armoured
police vehicle.
Police have not allowed demonstrations
in Taksim Square, despite having reopened Gezi Park in the second week of July.
4.
US Representatives sent a letter to Gul criticizing Erdogan’s “anti-Semitic”
statements
Turkish daily Hurriyet (01.08.13)
reports that forty-six 46 U.S Representatives have written a letter to Turkish
President Abdullah Gul criticizing some of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s statements which they described as “anti-Semitic”.
The letter requested Gul to publically
condemn “the anti-Semitic rhetoric” of government officials. The signatories
noted that another letter had been written a few months ago asking Erdogan to
retract his statement that compared Zionism to a “crime against humanity,”
without success.
They also argued that Erdogan’s
accusations of an “interest rate lobby” engineering the Gezi protests were
implicitly targeting Jews, recalling that Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay
had openly stated that the “Jewish diaspora” was behind the recent unrest in
Turkey.
The letter was prepared on the
initiative of Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois), Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas),
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Florida) and Mark Meadows (R-North Carolina) and signed by
Congressmen from both the Democrat and Republican parties.
5.
The detention of DHKP-C members on a boat off Chios island
All today’s (01.08.13) Turkish dailies
covered the detention of DHKP-C members on a boat off Greece's Chios island.
Following the seizure of a boat off Greece's Chios island in the Aegean Sea
with four people aboard along with two anti-tank mortar weapons, four grenades,
bullets and a great number of explosives, Turkish Interior Minister Muammer
Guler said on Wednesday that "Hasan Biber, a member of the outlawed DHKP/C
terrorist organization, who has been clearly identified as the perpetrator of
the bomb attack targeting Turkish Justice Ministry, is among the
detainees."
Turkish daily Milliyet (01.08.13), under
the title “USA ruined the bloody plan”, reports that Turkish National
Intelligence (MIT) informed the Greek security about the whereabouts of Hasan
Biber 3 days before his seizure. The daily said the intelligence from Turkey
was actually transmitted by the United States to Greece, regarding the boat
which was heading for Istanbul to launch acts of terror against AK Party
headquarters and security points.
6.
The Commanders expected to be appointed by Turkey's Supreme Military Council
Turkish daily Hurriyet (31.07.13) reported
that the Supreme Military Council [YAS] of Turkey will convene on August 1 with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan presiding. The council is expected to make
changes in the command echelon of the TSK
[Turkish Armed Forces]. Specifically, the commanders of the Land, Air, and
Naval Forces are expected to be replaced. The council will also discuss the
promotions and appointments of 103 generals and admirals (of whom 15 are under
arrest) in the Land, Air, and Naval Forces Commands and the General Command of
the Gendarmerie.
In addition to Prime Minister Erdogan,
Chief of the General Staff Necdet Ozel, Minister of National Defense Ismet
Yilmaz, and nine generals and one admiral who are members of YAS will attend
the council meeting that will be held at General Staff Headquarters. The
council will discuss the promotions and appointments of 103 generals and
admirals (of whom 15 are under arrest) in the Land, Air, and Naval Forces Commands
and the General Command of the Gendarmerie.
General Necdet Ozel is expected to
remain Chief of the General Staff until August 2015. Admiral Murat Bilgel,
Commander of the Naval Forces; General Hayri Kivrikoglu, Commander of the Land
Forces; and General Mehmet Erten, Commander of the Air Forces are expected to
go into retirement.
Existing customs will have to change
with regard to the Naval Forces Command in this year’s YAS meeting because
there are no full admirals left to appoint as force commander. According to
custom, the person who serves as Commander of the Fleet for two years is
appointed as Commander of the Naval Forces. However, because of the resignation
of Admiral Nusret Guner as Commander of the Fleet, this custom cannot be
applied in this year’s YAS meeting.
Instead, there are two alternatives:
First, the term of office of Admiral Bilgel may be extended for another year
and a vice admiral may be promoted [to the rank of full admiral] and appointed
as the Commander of the Fleet.
In the second alternative, Admiral
Bilgel may be sent into retirement and Vice Admiral Bulent Bostancioglu, the
current Northern Naval Zone Commander who will be promoted to the rank of full
admiral, may be directly appointed as Commander of the Naval Forces to replace
Bilgel. However, if this course is taken the rank of the Commander of the Fleet
will have to be reduced to vice admiral.
A similar situation exists in the Air
Forces Command. Lieutenant General Abidin Unal, who is slated for promotion
this year, is expected to be appointed Commander of the Air Forces. According
to military custom, the Commander of the War Academies is appointed as
Commander of the Air Forces. However, last year, Lieutenant General Raif Akbas,
who comes from the Land Forces, was appointed as Commander of the War
Academies.
According to rumors circulating in
anterooms, the appointment of Abidin Unal as Commander of the Air Forces is
considered certain. Similarly, General Bekir Kalyoncu, currently General
Commander of the Gendarmerie, is expected to be appointed as Commander of the
Land Forces.
If Kalyoncu is appointed as Commander of
the Land Forces, he will become the strongest candidate to become the next
Chief of the General Staff. If this happens, he will have a clear shot at
becoming Chief of the General Staff for two years starting in 2015.
Decisions taken at this year’s YAS
meeting will also clarify the status of officers who remain under arrest in
connection with the Ergenekon, “Sledgehammer,” and military espionage trials.
At present, 15 generals and admirals and 235 commissioned and noncommissioned
officers are under arrest.
In the previous YAS meeting, the status
of the detained generals was frozen and these officers were not promoted. At
this YAS meeting, detained generals and admirals who have reached retirement
age are expected to be sent into retirement and the status of the others is
expected to remain frozen. Within that framework, detained YAS members General
Bilgin Balanli and General Nusret Tasdelen may be sent into retirement this
year.
7.
Eroglu’s claims: “There must be a deadline for the negotiations; Turkish side lost its patience”
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris
newspaper (01.08.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu made
statements regarding the launching of the Cyprus talks in October, claiming
that the Turkish side lost its patience and that the negotiations must have a
deadline.
Eroglu issued a statement on the
anniversary of the “1 August communal resistance”. The 55th anniversary
of the establishment of the terrorist Turkish Resistance Association (TMT), the
37th anniversary of the establishment of the command of the
so-called security forces and Cyprus’ conquest by the Ottomans in 1571, are
also celebrated on August 1.
Eroglu claimed that the Turkish side is
ready to continue the October negotiations “with consciousness and
determination” and added that a deadline is necessary so that a result can come
out from the negotiations.
He also alleged that no one has the
right to keep the Turkish Cypriots under “isolation and embargo” and added that
their patience has run out.
8.
Quarrel in UBP starts again;
Many candidates for its presidency
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(01.08.13) reports that a quarrel for the presidency of the National Unity
Party (UBP) has started within the
party. Havadis points out that two names have come into prominence for UBP’s leadership and that Turkish Cypriot leader
Eroglu’s influence is evident in this race.
According to Havadis all eyes are turned
to party chairman Irsen Kucuk’s resignation, after which the process for the UBP congress will start. Havadis argues that a
group in the UBP supports that an
administration in the party which Eroglu could not control should continue.
Even though many names are discussed for the presidency of the UBP, the “two names who are coming into prominence”
are Tahsin Ertugruloglu, as the candidate of those who are against Eroglu, and
Sunat Atun, as the candidate supported by Eroglu.
Havadis quotes Atun as saying that the
message of the “elections” should be perceived and that “people” told the UBP to be renovated, to select young people for its
administration and demand “power” again. He said that especially people from
Famagusta urge him to become president of the party and added that he would
evaluate this pressure.
The paper writes that Irsen Kucuk had
told the organs of the party that he would resign on the condition that UBP would hold a congress having only one candidate
for its presidency.
The harshest criticism against Kucuk has
been made by Ertugrul Hasipoglu, former chairman of the party, who could not be
“elected” in occupied Famagusta during the recent “parliamentary elections” of
the 28th of July, 2013. Accusing Eroglu’s interference in the developments
in the UBP, Hasipoglu said that
they had seen the same “film” in 1992 as well, when the then Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktas had supported nine “MPs” of the UBP
who established the Democratic Party (DP). Now, he added, Turkish Cypriot
leader Eroglu supported the eight “MPs” who joined the DP. Noting that Kucuk
has no other alternative but to resign, Hasipoglu accused Kucuk of not being
able to handle the crisis and of leading the party into this situation.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika
newspaper (01.08.13) reports that Kucuk has not yet resigned from the post of
the president of the UBP in spite
of his defeat in the “elections” and that he is looking for ways to enter into
the “assembly” again. Kucuk thinks that Faiz Sucuoglu should run for UBP’s “candidate” in the “municipal elections”,
which are planned for next year. In case Sucuoglu is “elected”, “by election”
should be held for his “seat” at the “parliament” and Kucuk plans to become a
“candidate” for this “seat”, writes the paper adding that UBP’s organizations were very angry with Kucuk’s
stance and started collecting signatures for removing him from his post.
Kucuk postponed a meeting of UBP’s administrative council planned for today,
writes Afrika noting that the name of the new president of the party is
expected to be determined at this meeting.
(I/Ts.)
9.
Akansoy says the 2013-15 economic “protocol” will be re-examined; Cavusoglu
does not exclude a “coalition” with CTP-BG
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen
newspaper (01.08.13) reports that Asim Akansoy, general secretary of the
Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) has stated that the “people”
gave his party the duty of establishing a “coalition government” and that the
important thing for them is the implementation of the program they had
presented to the “voters” in order for securing their support.
In statements made yesterday, Akansoy
noted that they would reexamine the “2013-15 Economic Protocol” and that the
actual aim was to demand its revision taking into consideration the interests
of the Turkish Cypriots. He said that in the “elections” the “people” clearly
showed that they were not satisfied with this economic program.
Akansoy referred also to the Cyprus
problem and argued that “very serious developments” will happen as of October
on the issue of the solution of the Cyprus problem. He added that they see that
the recent statement made by the US President “increased the anticipation for
serious activity” on the issue.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin
Sesi newspaper (01.08.13) reports that the administrative council of the
Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG) convened last night and gave the
chairman of the party, Serdar Denktas, the authority of holding discussions
aiming at the establishment of a “coalition government”.
Furthermore, according to Halkin Sesi
(01.08.13), Nazim Cavusoglu, “MP” with the National Unity Party (UBP), has said that his party could establish a
“coalition government” with the CTP-BG adding that there was no hostility
between the two parties. Cavusoglu pointed out, however, that the CTP expects
to establish a “coalition government” with the DP. He noted that the CTP will
try to establish a “government” because it came first in the “elections” and
added that the UBP should “quickly
complete its homework”. He said that Irsen Kucuk will resign from the post of
the chairman of the UBP and now
the timing of this resignation is being discussed. He noted that the UBP lost the “elections” not because of its actions
as a “government” but because of the problems experienced within the party and
the process that led to its last congress.
Expressing his views on the Cyprus
problem, Cavusoglu alleged that the Turkish Cypriot “people” were thirsty for
an agreement and that they were punished for years with what he described as
“unjust embargoes and isolations”. He claimed: “Our duty is to meet at the same
point with the world and increase the level of happiness of our people. We are
looking at the Cyprus problem not by having the view that the Turkish army
should be withdrawn, but as our people meeting with the world. We have been
thirsty for a sustainable structure on the basis of two equal states. However,
unfortunately, we do not think that the Greek Cypriot side is ready for this.
Especially the Greek Cypriot youth is still being raised as supporters of
EOKA”.
(I/Ts.)
10.
The “election campaign” cost of CTP and BKP; after the Bayram the new
“government”
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (01.08.13)
reports that the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG), in a press
release, announced yesterday that the financial cost of their “elections
campaign” has reached 1.020.364 TL.
On the other hand, United Cyprus Party –
Communal Existence Forces (BKP-TVG) spent only 16.434 TL for their “election
campaign”.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni
Duzen (01.08.13) reports that the self-styled high electoral council (YSK)
announced the provisional election results regarding the “early parliamentary
elections”. The “YSK” will examine now the objections regarding the “elections,
and these objections will be taken up by the “authorized committees” before the
official results are published in the “official gazette” of the breakaway
regime.
According to Nevvar Nolan, self-styled
chairman of the high electoral council, once the investigation has been
completed the official results will be published in the “official gazette”,
which will be on the 8th of August, after the Bayram holiday.
Nolan also said that once the official
results have been published in the “official gazette”, 10 days after this date
at 10am, the self-styled general assembly of the parliament will convene with
the newly elected “deputies”. During the gathering which will be led by the
eldest “deputy”, the newly elected “deputies” will be sworn in. The first
legislative session of the 8th term of the self-styled parliament
will begin with the swearing in ceremony on the 1st of September.
11.
KTOS explains its view that nobody won in the “elections”
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper
(01.08.13) reports that Sener Elcil, general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot
Primary School Teachers’ Trade Union (KTOS) has said that the current political
system in the occupied area of Cyprus is “under mortgage” and that it is not
possible to say that any party has won the “elections” held on the 28th
of July, 2013.
Pointing out that the “new parliament of
the regime was formed” last Sunday, Elcil noted that a political victory will
be achieved when the structure in the occupied area of Cyprus becomes a system
in which the Turkish Cypriots will administrate themselves and their political
will is respected. He pointed out that the current system has been created by
the governments in Ankara and their collaborators. He noted that this regime is
depended on Turkey and that the political will [of the Turkish Cypriots] is
mortgaged. He said that what is important is to see whether the political
parties would implement the positions included in their “pre-election”
programs.
(I/Ts.)
12.
Serdar denied that he met with Erdogan prior to the “elections”
According to Turkish Cypriot daily
Afrika (01.08.13), the leader of the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG)
Serdar Denktas called yesterday to the paper denying yesterday’s publication by
the newspaper that he met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he was
in Turkey. Serdar Denktas confirmed that he visited Turkey prior the “early
elections”, however, he denied that he met with Erdogan.
Denktas wondered why he should have hidden
the meeting if this happened, adding that he has never avoided meeting with
Turkey’s officials.
13.
Oil spill threatens the coast of occupied Famagusta bay
According to Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris (01.08.13), the oil spill, which was caused by the AKSA electrical power
station, started to threaten the coast of occupied Famagusta bay. The coast at
the Bogazi port in occupied Trikomo village was covered yesterday with pieces
of petrol tar from the oil spill.
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