TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.153/13 14/08/2013
1. The process for establishing a “coalition government”
begins; CTP-DP the most possible solution; Press sees problems between
CTP-DP
2. Results of 2011 “population census” are announced
after two years; They say only 56% of the population is born in Cyprus
3. Afrika continues referring to Talat’s wiretapping
4. Turkey on alert over Egyptian clashes
5. Ankara seeking Iran’s help with the kidnapped Turks
6. Russian Ambassador: Turkey is an important political
partner of Russia
7. Gülen Movement denies “rift with ruling AKP”
8. CHP accuses government of making blacklist of its
members
9. Turkish Parliament to be open to scarves
1. The process for
establishing a “coalition government” begins; CTP-DP the most possible
solution; Press sees problems between CTP-DP
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.08.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
leader, Dervis Eroglu met yesterday with delegations from the political parties
represented in the “assembly” within the framework of assigning one of these
parties with the duty of establishing a “coalition government” after the “parliamentary
elections” of the 28th of July, 2013.
Eroglu
met first with the delegation of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces
(CTP-BG) under Ozkan Yorgancioglu, who in statements after the meeting recalled
that his party received the most “votes” during the “elections” and expressed
the hope that Eroglu would make the assignment for establishing a “government”
the soonest.
Eroglu’s
second meeting was with the delegation from the National Unity Party (UBP)
under Irsen Kucuk, who stated that their meeting was held “in a very good
climate”. Kucuk said that the competent organs of his party gave them the
authority to hold discussions on the establishment of a “government”.
Serdar
Denktas, who was heading the delegation of the Democratic Party – National
Forces (DP-UG) said that Eroglu will naturally assign the CTP-BG with the duty
of establishing a “government” and added that DP-UG will possibly be a
“coalition partner”.
Eroglu’s
last meeting was with the delegation of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) under
Mehmet Cakici, who said that the “government” should be established quickly,
noting that “this is what people expect”.
In his
statements after the meetings, Eroglu said that all agreed that they should
increase the standard of living of the “TRNC’s people”. He added that they
discussed issues such as the amendment of the “constitution” and changes mainly
in the “political parties’ law”, the “civil servants’ law” and the
“parliament’s internal regulations”, as well as the submission of the “constitutional
amendment” to a “referendum” next year together with the “local
elections”.
Eroglu
noted that the CTP-BG is the party which came first in the “elections” and it
is closer to the establishment of a “government”. He, inter alia, said: “If
there is a formation outside CTP-BG, we will evaluate it of course. By saying
‘another formation’ we mean that perhaps some parties might come together and
say that they are thinking of another formation, and this could take a day of
our work, but the party in the first position now and closer to establishing a
government is CTP-BG...”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (14.08.13) covers Eroglu’s statements under the
title “Towards a CTP-BG- DP-UG coalition”.
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (14.08.13) reports that confusion was caused by
Eroglu’s statement that the CTP is closer than any party to establishing a
“government”, but “different formations” could also be evaluated.
According
to the paper, the “unofficial” discussions of CTP-BG with the DP-UG have
started with “a crisis”. The DP has reportedly suggested a “restoration
government”, which will change the “constitution” and some fundamental “laws”
and will be established by technocrats like the current temporary “government”.
The CTP, on the other hand, has insisted on an “executive government” based on
“members of the parliament”.
Havadis
reports also that another issue which has been turned into a “crisis” between
the two parties is the Cyprus problem. The DP-UG is reportedly insisting on the
inclusion of an expression in the possible “coalition protocol” of the two
parties saying that “if the negotiations come to deadlock, they should not
continue”. According to the paper, the CTP replied negatively to this demand.
The paper points out that the DP thinks like Eroglu who says that the
negotiations could not continue for too long and that everybody should take his
own way.
(I/Ts.)
2. Results of 2011
“population census” are announced after two years; They say only 56% of the
population is born in Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (14.08.13) reports that the results of the
second stage of the “2011 Population and Building Census” were announced
yesterday, two years after the census was held. The results were announced by
Ali Korhan, “permanent undersecretary” at the “State Planning Organization” of
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus.
According
to these results, the number of the population permanently living in the
occupied area of Cyprus or the “de jure population”, as the regime calls it, is
286.257 persons. 150.483 persons or 52.6% of the population are men and 135.774
or 46.4% are women. The number of those who were born in Cyprus is said to be
160.207. This number constitutes 56% of the population constantly living in the
occupied area of the island.
The
number of the people born in Turkey and permanently live in the occupied area
of Cyprus was established to be 104.641 or 36.6% of the total population
permanently living in the occupied area of the island. The total number of the
“TRNC citizens” who are born in Cyprus and live permanently in the occupied
area of the island is 153.374. This number is 80.5% of the “TRNC citizens”
permanently living in the occupied area of Cyprus. The number of the “TRNC
citizens” who are born in Turkey is said to be 31.234.
The
distribution of population to the occupied districts of Cyprus is said to be
the following:
Nicosia:
94.824 (49.838 are men and 44.986 women),
Famagusta:
69.741 (36.742 are men and 32.999 women),
Keryneia:
69.163 (36.718 are men and 32,445 women),
Morfou:
30.037 (15.661 are men and 14.376 are women) and
Trikomo:
22.492 (11.524 are men and 10.968 are women).
According
to the results, the number of the “TRNC citizens” in the “de jure population”,
who stated that they are “citizens” of one or two “countries”, is 190.494. The
number of the citizens of Turkey was 80.550 in the census, while the number of
the citizens from the United Kingdom was 3.691.
(I/Ts.)
3. Afrika continues referring
to Talat’s wiretapping
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (14.08.13) reports that according to some
allegations there are hundreds of tapes with former Turkish Cypriot leader
Mehmet Ali Talat’s conversations, which have been held in the period during
which Talat was leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.
The
paper writes that it is said that Halil Falyali, a well-known businessman in
occupied Famagusta, had visited Talat last Friday in his summerhouse at
occupied Livera village and held a “very private meeting” with him on the issue
of this wiretapping.
It is
alleged that all the recordings of Talat are in the hands of the person who had
programed his computer and that hundreds of tapes exist except for those leaked
to the press. It is said that this person attempted to sell these tapes to some
politicians.
According
to Afrika, Serdar Denktas rejected the proposal of buying these tapes and
informed Talat about the incident. However, some other politicians have
purchased some of these tapes, writes the paper wondering why the “police” have
not yet acted on the issue.
(I/Ts.)
4. Turkey on alert over Egyptian clashes
Under the title “Turkey on
alert over Egyptian army’s intervention against coup protesters”, Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (online, 14.08.13) reports that Turkey’s top leaders are
closely watching Egyptian security forces’ crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood
sympathizers protesting the July 3 coup that ousted President Mohamed Morsi,
Anadolu Agency reported today.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan was informed of the Egyptian forces’ intervention early today, the
agency said, adding that both Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu
placed diplomatic calls immediately after the news broke about the crackdown.
Davutoğlu was said to have discussed the matter with some of his colleagues,
but no details have been given so far.
The Prime Minister's Office and
the Foreign Ministry declined to give details on the contacts of Erdoğan and
Davutoğlu.
Moreover, Turkey’s main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) has also reacted to the crackdown, calling on
the U.N. Security Council to release a call for halt to violence in Egypt,
arguing that the international community needs to give a stronger reaction to
what has happened in the Middle Eastern country.
CHP’s Deputy Chair Faruk
Loğoğlu spoke to Anadolu Agency hours after Egypt’s security forces backed by
bulldozers moved in on two huge protest camps set up in Cairo by Morsi's
supporters.
“The use of violence in this by
armed forces and security forces of any country, including Egypt, against
civilian people definitely has no aspect which is acceptable,” Loğoğlu said,
expressing “deep sadness and grave concern.”
“Thus, we condemn these
interventions and call for an immediate end to these,” he said, while underlining
the international community’s responsibility to display a stronger reaction to
developments in Egypt.
“We believe that it is
particularly necessary for the U.N. Security Council to release a call asking
for a halt to violence and for opening of the gate and way to democracy in
Egypt,” said Loğoğlu, a veteran retired diplomat.
5. Ankara seeking Iran’s help with the kidnapped Turks
Under the title “Davutoğlu
talks to Iran's Salehi as hostage threat mounts”, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 13.08.13) reported that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has
spoken on the phone to his Iranian counterpart, Ali Akbar Salehi, to discuss
efforts to secure the release of two Turkish nationals kidnapped last week in
the Lebanese capital of Beirut, officials said on Tuesday.
Davutoğlu phoned Salehi on
Sunday seeking Iran's help with the kidnapped Turks, saying Turkey would
welcome any Iranian contribution to efforts to secure their release. Salehi
expressed regret over the abduction of the Turks and said his country was ready
to do what it can to help ensure their release.
After the Friday abduction of
Turkish Airlines pilot Murat Akpınar and co-pilot Murat Ağca, Turkey has urged
its nationals to avoid travel to Lebanon and asked those who are in the country
to leave. It also suspended activities of the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural
Center and moved the office of THY inside the Beirut airport as a security
measure.
A group called Zuwwar Imam Ali
al-Reda has claimed responsibility for the abduction, demanding that Turkey
step up pressure on the Syrian opposition to release nine Lebanese Shiites who
were kidnapped by Syrian opposition fighters in the civil war-torn country in
May 2012. Turkey, a staunch supporter of the Syrian opposition, says it has little
influence on the fate of the Lebanese hostages since they were kidnapped in a
foreign country and are being held by foreigners.
6. Russian Ambassador: Turkey is an important political
partner of Russia
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 13.08.13) reported that Russia's newly appointed Ambassador to Turkey,
Andrey Karlov, has stated that Turkey is one of the most important Russian
partners in the region, adding that the two countries are playing a more active
role in boosting bilateral ties.
“Russian-Turkish relations are
developing in various fields, including the economy, politics, tourism and
culture, and a few days ago Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had a telephone
conversation with President [Vladimir] Putin. We are doing our utmost to
maintain and intensify this tempo,” Karlov said in an interview with Today's
Zaman during his visit to the Turkish-Russian Cultural Center in Moscow on
Monday.
Karlov stated that the main
target is to triple the trade volume between the two countries. “Trade and
economic ties are not growing by themselves. We need to increase our trade
volume from $34 billion to $100 billion and therefore need to advance regional
cooperation,” Karlov said, adding that he plans to concentrate on working
towards further developing the ties in this field. He specifically noted that
it has already been two weeks since he began having meetings with regional
representatives and managers deeply interested in trade, economic and
investment cooperation with Turkey. “Our duty is to help the connections be
established between the two sides in the region,” Karlov added.
Describing Turkey as an
important political partner of Russia, Karlov said Turkey is one of the first
countries Russians are interested in visiting. However, he said, “The number of
Turks visiting Russia is very low, unfortunately,” and added that he does not
think “Russia is less beautiful than Turkey.”
Referring to the fact that 3.6
million Russian citizens travelled to Turkey last year, Karlov called on Turks
to frequently visit Russia, too.
7. Gülen Movement denies “rift with ruling AKP”
Turkish daily Hürriyet Daily
News (online, 13.08.13) reported that one of the leading institutions of the
Gülen community, the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), has denied
rumours of a split between the group and the ruling government, calling the claims
“black propaganda”.
Many have been speculating
about recent conflict between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
and the “Hizmet” (Service) movement, an Islamist religious movement taking
inspiration from self-exiled theologian Fethullah Gülen and whose inner
workings have often been the source of speculation.
The GYV also categorically
denied that the Gülen movement had played any sort of role in sparking the Gezi
Park protests.
The Hizmet Movement is not
against unarmed peaceful protests as it respects democracy, the statement said,
but added that such protests could be abused, prompting the movement to
discourage its followers from attending such demonstrations.
The statement repeated Gülen’s
June 6 statements, in which the religious leader urged the government not to
underestimate the possibility that Gezi could be transformed into a plot
against the government, even though it began as an environmentalist action.
The statement also cited
Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy İdris Bal’s recent “Taksim Incidents
Analysis,” which said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had been
misinformed during the Gezi Park protests and that a redevelopment project at
the heart of the issue had not been handled in a democratic way.
The statement said the Hizmet
Movement’s approach to the issue was not different than Bal’s findings and that
the government had made a “strategic mistake” on the Gezi Park protests.
8. CHP accuses government of making blacklist of its
members
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 13.08.13) with the above title reported that the main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) is accusing the government of using the
National Intelligence Organization (MİT) to compile a “blacklist” containing
files on the activities of 15 CHP deputies, according to the Hürriyet
daily.
Hürriyet published some of the
files on its website without specifying their source -- or exact purpose -- but
CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu pointed the finger at the government and said his
party would raise the issue in Parliament as soon as the new legislative
session opens on Oct. 5.
Kılıçdaroğlu said the “[Prime
Minister] cannot stand any opposition. They have put state institutions on the
main opposition party's tail. We were informed about this before and we are
investigating.”
According to the paper, based
his story on documents, Mehmet Baransu wrote for Taraf daily in mid-June
claiming that the MİT had put together a blacklist of businessmen and companies
in categories like “CHP members,” “leftists” and “Christians.” The alleged
purpose of the list was to keep those on it from doing business with state
institutions and winning public tenders.
9. Turkish Parliament to be open to scarves
Turkish daily Hürriyet Daily
News (online, 14.08.13) reports that Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation
Commission has reached four landmark decisions under the section of Fundamental
Rights and Freedoms: paving the way for women with headscarves to become public
servants and mayors, giving a green light to women’s quotas, including a
mention of “sexual orientation” as a part of a rationale within the equality
clause and classifying everyone below the age of 18 as a child.
The four agreed articles have
long caused controversy on a legal and constitutional level, as much as among
the four parties in Parliament.
Regarding the wearing of
headscarves, all four parties have maintained a consensus as the new version of
the article has become: “The state takes precautions to remove obstacles and
all sorts of discrimination that make it difficult for women to use their
rights and freedoms in political, social, economic and cultural areas.”
Women’s quota
It is widely interpreted that
this will pave the way for women wearing headscarves to participate freely in
public service.
Another remarkable decision was
the fact that women’s quotas have entered the draft Constitution for the first
time with a four-party consensus. It will now be legitimate to implement quotas
in order for women to participate in greater numbers in political party
headquarters, provincial organizations, city councils, universities, labour
unions and judicial organs among organizations.
“Sexual orientation,” a critical
term for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, was
omitted despite a proposal by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP); still, it
was mentioned as part of a rationale of the article on equality. Previously the
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) had been staunchly against mentioning the term in the Constitution. AKP
deputies had even argued beforehand that if it were done, people would call it
a “homosexual Constitution.”
The BDP demanded the term
“ethnic origin” to be included in the equality section as well, which was
accepted by the AKP and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP),
while the MHP opted out.
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