TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.156/13 20/08/2013
1.
Famagusta Initiative says Turkey keeps fenced Varosha and the future of
Famagusta’s inhabitants as hostage since 1974
2.
CTP gives priority to establishing a “government” with the DP-UG
3.
Gulten Plumer Kucuk denies information published by a Greek Cypriot newspaper
on the missing persons
4.
Fire in occupied Limnitis burned 452 hectares of land; UN rejects Eroglu’s
accusations
5.
Turkey makes money from occupied Cyprus’s historical sites
6.
Ankara in intense work over Egypt
7.
OIC head rebuffs criticisms of Turkish officials
8.
Newly founded pro-Kurdish party holds first congress
9.
Turkish defence company Aselsan to develop strategic naval radar
1.
Famagusta Initiative says Turkey keeps fenced Varosha and the future of
Famagusta’s inhabitants as hostage since 1974
Under the title “It is like we sleep
with a dead’”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (20.08.13) reports that
Serdar Atai, spokesman of the “Initiative for Famagusta”, has said that the
inhabitants of occupied Famagusta, are forced to sleep for 39 years embraced
with the fenced city of Varosha, which he described as a “corpse”. In
statements to Kibris, Atai argued that they have to think who is responsible
for “systematically playing with our mental health and sanity for years.”
Atai noted that the politicians who say
that “Varosha is part of the comprehensive solution” in Cyprus and those who
allege that Varosha is Evkaf religious foundation’s property, “have absolutely
no relation with the realities of the city of Famagusta”. He said that these
politicians do not represent the view of the people of Famagusta. Atai
expressed the view that these politicians give wrong messages to both the
internal public and the world and added that the above-mentioned politicians
and associations see Varosha as “a cow to be milked” and pursue unilateral
gains. He noted that these persons and associations are deprived of the universal
thinking having people as its centre and inter-communal peace and
reconciliation as its axis.
Atai said that soon they will share with
the public the results of a survey they have conducted among the inhabitants of
occupied Famagusta and clearly shows the expectations of these people.
Addressing the MPs from Azerbaijan, who
are invited to the occupied area of Cyprus, Atai urged them to look at Varosha
and not believe what they are told by the representatives of the occupation
regime. He argued: “You will witness that Varosha shares the same fate with
Agdam, which Armenia has turned into ghost city in Nagorno Karabah the past 20
years. Because there is absolutely no difference between Varosha, which Turkey
keeps as hostage and Agdam which Armenia keeps as hostage”.
Atai said that another unacceptable
practice in the occupied area of Cyprus after 1974 is the change of the names
of the places that existed for thousands of years. He pointed out that by
changing these names at once the regime tried to extinguish the traces of the
cultural identities which exist there.
The paper writes that during their
interview, Atai was wearing a t-shirt having on it the picture of a bird with a
broken wing and the number 39. He said that the bird symbolized Famagusta which
is divided. He added that because one of its wings is broken, that is because
Varosha is closed, the bird cannot fly for 39 years. “39 symbolizes the ongoing
since 1974 suffering of the city of Famagusta, the future of which is kept
hostage because of Varosha”, he explained.
(I/Ts.)
2.
CTP gives priority to establishing a “government” with the DP-UG
Under the title “Green light to DP from
CTP”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (20.08.13) reports that the
council of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) convened last
night and decided to give priority to the Democratic Party – National Forces
(DP-UG) on the issue of the discussions for establishing a “coalition
government”. The meetings between the two parties are expected to begin today.
The paper writes that CTP-BG determined a “new road map” during the three-hour
meeting of its council last night. The party will hold discussions with the
DP-UG for three days and re-evaluate the situation on 22 August.
In statements after the meeting, CTP’s
chairman Ozkan Yorgancioglu said that the council of the CTP will evaluate on
22 August the positive or negative results of the meetings with the DP-UG.
Asked whether the council of the party had some “red lines”, he said that they
had “red lines”, just like the other side, that is the DP has. He noted that
the most important issue on which they could not “go back” is the Cyprus
problem. He said that discussions might start within the forthcoming days on
the Cyprus problem, which is the most important issue for his party since CTP’s
establishment.
Arguing that they had held no bargaining
for distribution of “ministries” until today, Yorgancioglu said that they have
different approaches on some issues, but “in general there is a consensus”.
Asked what will happen if they could not
reach an agreement with the DP, Yorgancioglu said that the proposals will be
submitted to the council of the party, which will decide the course of the
discussions.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Gulten Plumer Kucuk denies information published by a Greek Cypriot
newspaper on the missing persons
Under the title “Greek Cypriot press
lied”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (20.08.13) reports that Gulten
Plumer Kucuk, Turkish Cypriot member in the Committee on Missing Persons, has
denied news published in Greek Cypriot Politis newspaper that an agreement had
been reached for carrying out excavations for missing persons in three military
zones in the occupied area of Cyprus. Kucuk described as “speculative” the information
published in Politis that the three members of the Committee agreed in writing
that these excavations should be held until the end of December and informed
the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) on this issue.
“We will continue taking permission for
holding excavations in military zones. The military authorities have never
refrained from cooperating with us”, she argued noting that they do not possess
the information published in the Greek Cypriot paper.
She said that the Committee works based
on the principle of secrecy and that it keeps secret the names of the persons
who give information. “This kind of speculative news, deals a blow to the
efforts and is wrong”, she argued.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Fire in occupied Limnitis burned 452 hectares of land; UN rejects Eroglu’s
accusations
Under the title “It is 452 hectares, not
1000”, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (20.08.13) reports that an
official from the breakaway regime’s “forestry department” stated yesterday
that the fire which had broken out at occupied Limnitis area last Saturday
burned 452 hectares of land. The paper writes that because the work of
establishing the damages had not been completed, the regime announced yesterday
that 1000 hectares had been destroyed. According to the same official, 132
hectares of land were burned in the government-controlled area of Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibrisli newspaper (20.08.13) reports that an official of the UN Peace Keeping
Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has been asked by the paper to comment on Turkish
Cypriot leader Eroglu’s accusation against the UN that the UN teams in occupied
Limnitis area had not helped the regime in extinguishing the fire. The official
said that he could not accept that they did not help the Turkish side and noted
that the UN “always keeps equal distance between the two sides”.
(I/Ts.)
5.
Turkey makes money from occupied Cyprus’ historical sites
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(20.08.13) reports that Turkey’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture has started
selling a card, the holder of which could enter into the historical sites and
the museums in the occupied area of Cyprus by paying only 50 Turkish Liras (TL)
for one year. Kibris writes that the name of the card is “Muzekart+” and that a
card named “Muzekart” sold for 30 TL existed for Turkey’s historical sites and
museums.
According to the paper, the fact this
Turkey’s “Muzekart” is valid in the occupied area of Cyprus caused some
citizens’ reactions. A reader, who asked to remain unknown, called Kibris and
said that when he was on vacation in Turkey he wanted to visit St. Mary’s
Monastery with his spouse and added that the officials at entrance of the
monastery suggested to him to buy the card that could be used in Cyprus as well. The reader wondered how Turkey could obtain
income from occupied Cyprus’ museums and historical sites. “That is, you pay 20
TL more and you tour free of charge the museums and the historical sites in the
TRNC, but the money remain there”, he said.
The paper reports that this practice
started because of a “protocol’ signed last year between Turkey’s Minister of
Tourism and Culture, Ertugrul Gunay and the regime’s former self-styled
minister of tourism, environment and culture, Unal Ustel. The self-styled
minister of tourism, environment and culture, Mehmet Harmanci told Kibris that
only the citizens of Turkey and the breakaway regime could benefit from
“Muzekart”. He said that according to the “protocol”, the regime does not get
any financial income from this practice.
(I/Ts.)
6.
Ankara in intense work over Egypt
Under the title “Gov’t in intense work
over Egypt, Erdoğan-Gül meeting on Tuesday”, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 19.08.13) reported that Ankara is witnessing a series of high-level
meetings concerning developments in Egypt, amid the Turkish government’s
growing anger over the Egyptian security forces’ heavy crackdown on Muslim
Brotherhood protestors and the international community’s perceived poor
response.
President Abdullah Gül and Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will hold a summit on Egypt on Aug. 20, a day
before the country’s top security board is set to convene to discuss all
regional developments, with particular emphasis on Egypt and Syria. The two
were scheduled to meet Aug. 18 but the meeting was cancelled at the last
minute.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is also
expected to join the President and the Prime Minister.
Before the Aug. 20 meeting, Gül was
briefed by Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Hüseyin Avni Botsalı, who was called
back to Ankara for consultations following the Egyptian security forces’ brutal
intervention against protestors. “I was briefed by our most knowledgeable
person about the developments. We talked about how we can help Egypt overcome
this chaos,” Gül told reporters Aug. 19. When asked when Botsalı would return
to Cairo, Gül underlined that he had been recalled for consultations, meaning
the ambassador could be resent to Egypt in the near future.
In parallel to these talks, the Turkish
government has intensified its diplomatic efforts to push the international
community to stand against the coup in Egypt, while further raising its voice
against the interim government.
Botsalı joined the weekly cabinet
meeting in order to brief ministers concerning the latest developments in
Egypt. He earlier separately briefed President Abdullah Gül and Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu about the course of developments in a country where he
has been serving since 2009. Although Botsalı’s mandate expired in Egypt on
June 30, days before the coup took place, his term in Cairo was extended in
light of his expertise on the political situation in the north African country.
According to sources, the Cabinet has
reviewed the crisis in Egypt and its potential consequences on both bilateral
relations and in the Middle Eastern region. Economic relations have already
been negatively affected of the turmoil in Egypt, following leading Turkish
companies’ recent decision to suspend operations in the country. Despite
problems, however, Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan has said Turkey is not
considering suspending its economic relations with Egypt.
While trying to mobilize international
bodies such as the U.N. and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to speak
out and be more critical against the interim government, the Turkish government
has also repeatedly called on Cairo to release Mohamed Morsi and announce
elections as soon as possible.
An overall assessment will be made
during the National Security Council (MGK) meeting on Wednesday, with the
participation of top military officials including Chief of General Staff Gen.
Necdet Özel. Ambassador Botsalı is also expected to join the meeting and brief
the members of the MGK.
7.
OIC head rebuffs criticisms of Turkish officials
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 19.08.13) reported that the Secretary General of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC) has rebuffed criticisms from senior Turkish
government officials over his stance on Egypt’s crackdown, saying the
organization does not only consist merely of the office of the Secretary-General.
“What is happening in Egypt is savagery.
Born and raised in Egypt, my feelings are beyond an average Turk toward Egypt,”
Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu wrote on his Twitter account. “Yesterday the U.N.
Security Council convened upon the request of France, United Kingdom and
Australia. Our statement made a day after the incident is not [short of] the
U.N.’s. Some of our citizens and friends seek statements beyond this
statement,” he wrote.
Referring to the heavy crackdown on
Muslim Brotherhood protesters on Aug. 14, İhsanoğlu called on all parties to
exercise restraint and to return to dialogue in order to forge national
consensus and bring about social peace.
Responding to criticisms, he continued:
“I need to wait for the consensus of states and mobilization of relevant
mechanisms to make a statement unless there is a joint decision from the
states. … Until now, no state has made an application for action. When we
convene upon a request, we will not be incapable of making statements.”
The Secretary-General said that what was
happening in Egypt was disproportionate force and a violation of human rights.
“I demanded the release of Mr. [Mohamed] Morsi a day after his ouster on July 3
and offered mediation but they chose the European Union … I’m astonished how
they criticize and sentence us easily by not taking into account those
statements and incidents,” İhsanoğlu wrote.
8.
Newly founded pro-Kurdish party holds first congress
According to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 19.08.13), a new political party named the People's Democracy Party
(HDP) held its first-ever congress on Sunday, reportedly established under
orders from head of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan.
BDP deputy Ertuğrul Kürkçü has been
asked to act as a co-chair in the party. He said: “There are no problems about
the BDP's self-sufficiency. Every group that has come together to form the HDP
is self-sufficient. The BDP is a component of both the People's Democratic
Congress [HDK] and the HDP. The main purpose of this step [the new party] is to
establish a party at a national level. Our goal is to establish a common ground
for the oppressed against the Justice and Development Party [AK Party] and the
Republican People's Party [CHP],
which are dividing the nation.” He said he hasn't yet discussed the issue of
co-chairmanship at length, but confirmed that he has been proposed the post.
BDP Mardin deputy Erol Dora was one of
the speakers who took the floor during the first party congress of the HDP on
Sunday. Greeting the participants in three languages -- Kurdish, Syriac and
Turkish -- Dora said that the HDP was seeking to unite the peoples of
Kurdistan, Mesopotamia and Anatolia, who have been oppressed over the past 90
years ago and been subject to policies of annihilation due to their ethnic or
religious structures. “We are heading out with the goal of building a
democratic nation and not a structure based on a single-nation,” he said,
adding that it was important for the HDP that the current definition of Turkish
citizenship in the constitution is revised. Education in one's mother-tongue is
another priority area for the party, Dora explained. He also said the party
believed that Öcalan has an important role to play in the settlement of
Turkey's Kurdish issue, demanding that the government improve his prison
conditions.
BDP Adana deputy Murat Bozlak told the
Taraf daily, that the HDP was not a new organization created to replace the
BDP. He said the party was born out of the need to act together with
revolutionary and democratic movements in Turkey. “Now that we are in a peace
process we can be more flexible. We have always had this project but now we
want to place it on a tougher foundation.” He said the HDP was in no way a
movement seeking to eliminate or end the BDP.
9.
Turkish defence company Aselsan to develop strategic naval radar
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 20.08.13), Turkey’s biggest defence company, Aselsan, has
won a contract to develop what defence analysts view as an ambitious venture
for the design, development and production of a strategic radar.
The contract for the multi-mission
phased array radar, known by its Turkish acronym CAFRAD Faz-1, was signed in
early August between Aselsan and the country’s defence procurement agency, the
Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM).
The CAFRAD radar will be similar to the
ALPHA multi-mission M-2258 advanced lightweight phased array naval radar
developed by Israel’s IAI and Elta for blue water and littoral warfare support.
The radar was selected by the Israeli Navy for the upgrade of existing vessels,
as well as for its new combatants.
Radar test for Turkey
Analysts said Aselsan’s venture was the
first time that Turkey’s local capabilities in radar technologies were being
tested. “No doubt, this is a challenge for Aselsan,” said one London-based
Turkey specialist. “If the Turks succeed in this program, they will certainly
have passed a critical threshold in radar technology.”
A senior Aselsan official was
“realistically optimistic” about success. “We are perfectly aware of the
technological challenges our engineers will be facing. And we are definitely
confident that Aselsan has the capabilities to develop this radar in line with
the specified timetable.”
In a written statement, Aselsan said
deliveries under the program would be completed between 2014 and 2018. The
company will cooperate with the state scientific research institute, TÜBİTAK,
for CAFRAD.
Under the plan, a first phase will
contain the development of illumination radar and a non-rotating identification
friend-or-foe (IFF) system. The
second phase will involve the development of long-range surveillance and
multifunctional radars.
The Aselsan official said the CAFRAD
demonstrator will define the primary antenna mast architecture for the TF-2000,
an air defence frigate Turkey has been developing, and for the vessel’s combat
management and area air defence missile systems. He said the work would focus
on more sophisticated tests and development after 2014.
Moreover, Aselsan’s market value was
worth $1 billion in 2011, according to independent auditors. It has a backlog
of orders worth $4.3 billion until 2018. Aselsan reported Aug. 11 that its 2012
net profit went up by 82 percent to $148 million. Its 2012 net sales,
meanwhile, totalled $860 million and its exports $152 million.
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