TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.157/13 21/08/2013
1.
CTP-BG and DP-UG discussions for establishing a “government” are reportedly
going well
2.
Izcan: the efforts for a “coalition government” are a trick; AKP is
administrating from the backstage
3.
Cakici and other TDP officials
resign
4.
Basarir: An investigation on the tender for the privatization of the illegal
airport of Tymvou is being carried out
5.
Elcil says his appointment in the English School’s board is “honourable duty”
6.
Egorov paid a farewell visit in the occupied part of Cyprus
7. The term of duty
of the deputy commander of the Turkish occupied forces in the occupied area of
Cyprus has ended
8.
The number of offshore banks in the occupied area of Cyprus increased
9.
Israel behind coup to oust Morsi, Turkish PM Erdoğan says
10.
Turkey to ask EU’s bid to keep Arab Spring alive
1.
CTP-BG and DP-UG discussions for establishing a “government” are reportedly
going well
Under the title “Rough bargaining”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (21.08.13) reports that intensive
discussions between the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) and
the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG) started yesterday within the
framework of the efforts for establishing a “coalition government” in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Delegations under the general
secretaries of the two parties met twice yesterday, in the morning and in the
evening. According to the paper, during the five-hour discussions, the sides
first put onto the table their principles and afterwards launched a “rough
bargain” on the issue of the distribution of “ministries”. Citing information
obtained by reliable sources, Halkin Sesi reports that the plans is for CTP-BG
to take six “ministries” and DP-UG four in a possible “coalition government”.
The problem which exists, notes the paper, is that the DP definitely wants to
take one of the “ministries” of finance or internal affairs, while the CTP-BG
wants both of these “ministries”.
Today the sides are expected to meet at
presidential level.
In statements to Halkin Sesi, CTP-BG’s
general secretary Asim Akansoy said that their efforts went well and added that
their target is to overcome the differences and achieve progress. “We see that
the other side has a constructive stance”, he noted.
Meanwhile, under the title “Behold the
bargaining”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (21.08.13) reports that
the two parties have not been able to overcome their differences on the
negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. According to the
paper, the CTP supports the struggle for a federal Cyprus and the continuation
of the negotiations, while the DP says that “there should be no insistence for
a new process, if the existing process collapses”. Havadis reports that the DP
has put onto the table the alternative of holding a referendum for
re-determining their policy on the Cyprus problem.
Furthermore, Havadis writes that the
National Unity Party (UBP), which
had submitted in writing its positions to the CTP-BG as regards a possible
“coalition government”, is “ready for everything”. The UBP
noted that it is ready to pursue policies, which are in harmony with the CTP on
all fundamental issues, including the Cyprus problem. In spite of this, the CTP
hesitates due to reactions from its members to a possible “coalition” with the UBP and intents to push until the end for a
“coalition” with the DP, which had cooperated with it in the past.
Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika
newspaper (21.08.13) reports that according to some allegations, Ankara exerts
pressure for the establishment of a “coalition government” between CTP and UBP. The paper writes that according to the same
allegations, the Turkish self-styled ambassador to Nicosia, Halil Ibrahim Akca
“has made suggestions in this direction”. Afrika reports that the contacts held
in Ankara by Huseyin Ozgurgun, who is the only candidate for the presidency in UBP’s congress of 31st of August, are
kept secret. According to Afrika, Ozgurgun could not secure a meeting with
Prime Minister Erdogan and met with Besir Atalay, Turkey’s Deputy Prime
Minister responsible for Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Izcan: the efforts for a “coalition government” are a trick; AKP is
administrating from the backstage
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(21.08.13) reports that Izzet Izcan, chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP)
has said that the ongoing efforts for establishing a “coalition government” in
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus are administrated by the Justice
and Development Party (AKP) from the backstage. In a written statement issued
yesterday, Izcan noted that all possible “coalition” models “will have as a
target deceiving the people” and implement the economic and political views
imposed by the AKP.
Izcan argued that all four political
parties represented in the “assembly” of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of Cyprus are collaborators of the AKP government and had given assurances
that they would implement its “catastrophic economic package” and its political
impositions.
Izcan said, inter alia, the following:
“The debates for a coalition which have been held for days are a trick.
Whichever parties participate in the coalition will make no difference, because
the economic and political program, which will be implemented by all of them,
is a program imposed by the AKP”.
Izcan noted that the economic program
imposed by the AKP provides for the privatization of all institutions which
belong to the Turkish Cypriots and mainly the electricity “authority”, the
telephone “department” and the ports as well as for the non-solution of the
Cyprus problem. He said that this program will annihilate the Turkish Cypriots
as a community.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Cakici and other TDP officials
resign
Under the title “New era in the TDP”, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper
(21.08.13) reports that Mehmet Cakici, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), and all the members of the party’s central
administrative committee, including Cemal Ozyigit, TDP’s
general secretary, submitted their resignation to the council of the party last
night.
After accepting the resignations, the
council decided that the regular congress of the TDP
will be held in November. The council asked from Cakici and the members of the
committee to remain at their posts until the congress.
In statements to Halkin Sesi after his
resignation, Cakici said he had resigned because TDP
“did not achieve any progress” in the “parliamentary elections” held on 28 July
and added that the delay of his resignation derives from his health problems.
“I am behind my promise. I had promised
that I would have resigned and I did it”, he noted. Asked whether he would run as
candidate at the congress, Cakici replied that it was very early to respond to
this question and added that his priority now was his health.
Cakici noted: “The TDP showed no decrease during my term of duty, it
did not regress. In the recent elections it showed a slight increase, but we have
not met our expectations. I had stated that I would have resigned, if
expectations were not materialized. I have made my evaluation and submitted my
resignation”.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Basarir: An investigation on the tender for the privatization of the illegal
airport of Tymvou is being carried out
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 20.08.13), self-styled minister of public works and communications
İsmail Başarır, speaking on a program broadcast on “BRT”,
has criticized sections of the contract regarding the privatization of the
illegal airport of Tymvou and said an investigation into the tender in question
was continuing.
Başarır pointed out that a comprehensive
investigation was being conducted on the tender for the privatization of the
illegal airport of Tymvou which was finalized with a comprehensive agreement.
“An article in the agreement which
prevents the establishment and operation of another airport for 25 years is
wrong. Who knows what will happen in the country in 25 years. Perhaps we will
solve the Cyprus problem. It is possible to open the Geçitkale airport
[editor’s note: the illegal airport of occupied Lefkonoiko] as a second
alternative once necessary measures are taken, but the agreement prevents that
from happening”, he complained. He noted that the tender also fails to set up a
calendar for the construction of the “new airport facility”.
He also commented on the negligence at
the illegal ports of Famagusta and Keyrneia, as he stressed the need for
creating an additional fund in the budget in order to meet the shortages. He
concluded by saying that ticket prices needed to be lowered to ease air and sea
transportation to and from the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
5.
Elcil says his appointment in the English School’s board is “honourable
duty”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper
(21.08.13) reports that Sener Elcil, general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot
primary school teachers’ trade union (KTOS), has been appointed to the board of
management of the English School in the government-controlled area of Cyprus as
of 8 August, 2013. In statements to Kibrisli, Elcil said that this appointment
is “honourable” and added that all Turkish Cypriots have the right to be
appointed to this position.
Noting that the British colonial
administration of Cyprus had transferred the school to the Republic of Cyprus
in the 1960’s, Elcil argued that 50% of the English School belongs to Evkaf
foundation and added that the school has an independent board. He argued that
just like the Greek Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriots have also the right to
participate in this board and recalled that Izzet Izcan and other Turkish
Cypriots had been members of this board before himself.
The paper writes that an educational
organization in the government-controlled area of Cyprus named “Nea Pnoi” [New
Breath] reacted against the appointment of Elcil, noting that he was the person
who organized the Education International Europe’s (ETUCE) conference in the
occupied area of Cyprus. According to the paper, Nea Pnoi criticized the Cyprus
Government for the appointment and the Greek Cypriot educational organizations
for saying nothing on the issue.
(I/Ts.)
6.
Egorov paid a farewell visit in the occupied part of Cyprus
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 20.08.13), Political Affairs Officer and Special Assistant to the
Third Member of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, Oleg Egorov is
retiring.
Egorov, who has been serving in the
Committee for four and a half years, paid a visit to the “society of martyrs
families and disabled war veterans” on Tuesday morning.
Welcoming Egorov, the chairman of the
society Ertan Ersan said they worked with Egorov in harmony over the past four
and a half years. Noting that some of the 502 missing persons have yet to be
found, Ersan said that the Committee on Missing Persons needed financial
support in order to carry out its work.
The Turkish member of the Missing
Persons Committee Gülden Plümer Küçük, who also accompanied Egorov, said that
there are missing persons who have been identified but still waiting to be
buried.
Noting that the Committee is still
continuing its work with 9 teams, Küçük said the remains, which have been found
during excavation works in the occupied village of Livera, will be identified
following DNA tests.
Also speaking, Egorov said it was not
enough to be a good UN diplomat to work for the missing persons and that one
needed to commit oneself to the issue.
7. The term of
duty of the deputy commander of the Turkish occupied forces in the occupied
area of Cyprus has ended
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 20.08.13), self-styled prime minister Sibel Siber had a meeting with
the deputy commander of the Turkish occupied forces Brigadier General Mehmet Soğancı, whose term
of duty ends on the 30th of August.
Soganci paid a courtesy visit to Siber
on Tuesday morning as part of his farewell visits to “state and government
officials”.
Speaking during the visit, Siber thanked
Brigadier General Mehmet Soğancı for his services and then presented him with a
shield as a token of appreciation.
8.
The number of offshore banks in the occupied area of Cyprus increased
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper
(21.08.13) reports that the number of offshore banks in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus has increased. The paper writes that this number was 40
in 2010 and increased to 62 in 2011. This year this number reached 78, notes
the paper adding that these banks are called “international companies” and are
holding money transfers.
The paper writes also that the number of
the offshore companies in the government-controlled area of the island
decreased from 2.300 to 2.166 due to the economic crisis and the measures
imposed by Troika.
(I/Ts.)
9.
Israel behind coup to oust Morsi, Turkish PM Erdoğan says
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 20.08.13) with the above title reported that Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan went back on the warpath Aug.20, accusing one of Ankara’s most
prominent bogeymen, Israel, of complicity in overthrowing Egyptian President
Mohamed Morsi while telling critics to find dictatorship not in Turkey, but in
today’s Egypt.
“Who is behind [the coup]? There is
Israel,” Erdoğan told a meeting of party leaders. “We have document in our
hands,” he said, citing an open session between a Jewish intellectual from
France and an Israeli justice minister before the first free elections in Egypt
held in March 2011.
As he was delivering multi-layered
messages concerning both foreign and domestic policy at the meeting, Erdoğan
furthermore maintained that those, who have been accusing the government of
autocratic governance in Turkey, should actually look at Egypt, where the coup
rulers have been acting dictatorially. “If you want to see a dictator, go
ahead, go to Egypt,” he said.
In an apparent reference to moves to
topple his government at the time, Erdoğan recalled that Turkey had experienced
coup attempts and undemocratic practices. “Here, at this moment, there are
those who want to float again the West’s understanding which says ‘Democracy is
not the ballot box,’ or ‘Democracy is not only the ballot box.’ But we say that
democracy’s path passes through the ballot box and the ballot box itself is the
people’s will. At the moment, this is what is being implemented in Egypt.”
“What do they say in Egypt? They say
that ‘Democracy is not the ballot box.’”
Erdoğan
refers to Bernard-Henri Levy: Claim
A source later told the Associated Press
that the evidence on Israel that Erdoğan was referring to was a video
“available on the Internet” of a press conference by Israeli Justice Minister
Tzipi Livni and French philosopher and author Bernard-Henri Levy.
The official, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said that as far as he knew, that was the only evidence of the
claim. A video of the two, dating back to 2011, shows Levy saying: “If the
Muslim Brotherhood arrives in Egypt, I will not say democracy wants it, so let
democracy progress. Democracy is not only elections, it is also values.”
Pressed further as to whether he would
urge Egypt’s military to intervene against the Muslim Brotherhood, Levy said:
“I will urge the prevention of them coming to power, but by all sorts of
means.”
“‘The Muslim Brotherhood will not be in
power even if they win the elections, because democracy is not the ballot box.’
This is what they said at that time,” Erdoğan said.
In Israel, the country’s Foreign
Ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor, said Erdoğan’s comments did not merit a
response. “This is a statement well worth not commenting on.” Turkey has been
one of the fiercest international critics of what it has called an “unacceptable
coup” after the military toppled Morsi last month, lashing out at the West and
Arab nations for failing to condemn his ouster.
Touching on the run-up to the upcoming
local elections in March 2014, Erdoğan firstly underlined the need for party
executives at all level of branches to dedicate themselves to work for the
upcoming local elections, instead of focusing on their own political career.
“Thirty metropolitan cities constitute
76%. With this aspect, we have to see how important are the votes we will get
from these 30 metropolitan cities,” he said, referring to the fact that the
number of metropolitan municipalities rose from 16 to 30 after a controversial
law on restructuring municipalities was adopted in late 2012 despite strong
objection from the opposition parties.
10.
Turkey to ask EU’s bid to keep Arab Spring alive
Under the above title, Turkish daily
Hürriyet Daily News (online, 21.08.13) reports that with concerns that the Egyptian coup could
reverse the Arab Spring movement that raised hopes for democracy in the Muslim
world, Turkey is preparing to launch a fresh diplomatic move with its European
partners aimed at protecting the achievements of the Arab Spring.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is
scheduled to meet his Italian, German and British counterparts this week to
discuss developments in Egypt and how to keep the hopes of the Arab Spring
alive, the Hürriyet Daily News has learned.
So long as there are no last-minute
changes, the Turkish Foreign Minister is expected to meet German Foreign
Minister Guido Westerwelle, British Foreign Minister William Hague and Italian
Foreign Minister Emma Bonino on Aug. 22 and 23, just one day after the European
Union is set to assess events in Egypt. Meetings have been decided on following
recent phone conversations between Davutoğlu and the aforementioned Foreign
Ministers.
The timing of Ankara’s move is
critically important, as European countries have recently begun to toughen
their positions vis-à-vis the interim government in the aftermath of brutal
crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood protestors.
Davutoğlu’s talks with his European
counterparts will focus on two areas. As an immediate urgency, restoring
stability and ending the bloodshed in Egypt through the creation of an
environment for political dialogue that would also include Mohamed Morsi and
other political camps is likely to be at the top of Davutoğlu’s agenda. He will
seek to discuss how to put further pressure on the interim government to
announce inclusive elections as early as possible, as well as how to fully
implement a road map for the normalization of the political climate in Egypt.
Alongside the immediate Egyptian case,
Davutoğlu’s face to face talks with his counterparts will also pave the way for
a broad discussion on how to secure the continuation of the Arab Spring
movement across the Middle East.
Gül-Erdoğan
summit focuses on Egypt
Davutoğlu’s diplomatic traffic will
follow a series of internal high-level meetings with President Abdullah Gül and
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s summit on Tuesday, just a day before the
National Security Council (MGK) was set to convene. Accompanied by Davutoğlu,
the Gül-Erdoğan meetings focused on the Egyptian crisis and Turkey’s position
vis-à-vis developments in the northern African country. There was no statement
following the meeting that lasted nearly two hours.
Hours before the meeting, Gül urged
mobilization for the restoring of democracy in Egypt, saying there could be no
“backward step from democracy,” especially since the Egyptian people are now
familiar with the notion of democracy.
“Everybody should be mobilized to
prevent more casualties,” he stressed.
“What must be done in Egypt is to create
very quickly an environment in which nobody is excluded from elections, ensuring
that representatives are elected by the free will of the people of Egypt and
ending this blood-stained environment in Egypt, ending the arrests immediately.
I think this is the way out of this deadlock,” Gül said, speaking at a joint
press conference following talks with visiting Slovak President Ivan
Gašparovič.
“It is a fact that Egypt has once
recognized democracy. After a long authoritarian regime, it passed to a
multi-party system, had elections, in which people voted. You cannot keep such
a country outside of democracy for long,” Gül added.
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