TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.159/13 23/08/2013
1. Survey shows that
occupied Famagusta’s inhabitants want return of Varosha to its legal owners and
opening of Famagusta port
2. Erk alleges that
the Greek Cypriot side tries to create an “artificial agenda” on the issue of
occupied fenced Varosha
3. Eroglu said that
if a precondition comes up in the Cyprus talks, then a problem may occur
4. Efforts for
establishing a “coalition government” continue; “All roads lead to Ankara”
5. “YDU” became a
member of the European Law Faculties Association (ELFA)
6. Turkey recalls US
'red lines' on Syrian crisis
7. Erdogan breaks
into tears over slain young Egyptian girl
8. UAE drags feet on
huge energy project in Turkey
9. Columnist argues
that the attack against Ihsanoglu was due to internal political gains out in
AKP
10. Turkey’s
constitution commission unable to agree on Article 4
11. Turkish daily
Sabah files suit against columnist
1.
Survey shows that occupied Famagusta’s inhabitants want return of Varosha to
its legal owners and opening of the Famagusta port
Under the title “Varosha must be
returned to is legal owners”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.08.13)
reports that the Initiative for Famagusta announced yesterday the results of a
survey according to which 73% of the inhabitants of occupied Famagusta
expressed their support to the opening of Varosha and Famagusta port for
international trade the soonest and the return of the occupied fenced city of
Varosha’s to its legal owners.
Representatives of the initiative held
yesterday a press conference at the Home for Cooperation in the buffer zone in
Nicosia and announced the results of the survey regarding Varosha and the port
of Famagusta.
Speaking on behalf of the Initiative,
Okan Dagli said that the majority of the participants in the survey expressed
the view that the “proposal as regards Varosha and the ports” would positively
influence the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that this
result refutes the position that “the opening of Varosha would decrease the
belief in a solution”.
Dagli recalled that the Initiative for
Famagusta was established three years ago in the area of Famagusta, taking into
consideration the non-solution in Cyprus and having the aim of producing a
“Peace Project”. He said that it would be impossible to produce a solution to
the problem in a process during which the communities do not participate,
cannot cooperate in various fields and cannot hold contacts. Dagli noted that
the area of Famagusta could potentially contribute in inter-communal
cooperation and approach in the economic, social and cultural fields.
Dagli argued that the people living in
Famagusta’s north and south wish a solution more than the people living in
other areas and expressed the view that this is shown by the results of the
referendum [in 2004] and the bi-communal activities.
Noting that the demilitarization of
occupied fenced Varosha and its return to its legal owners under UN
administration would pave the way for economic, social and cultural
cooperation, Dagli said that this cooperation could play the role of catalyzer
in the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Dagli went on and argued: “We find
deficient and insufficient the statements by the Greek Cypriot leadership that
says ‘make a gesture by returning Varosha to us’ or by the Turkish Cypriot
leadership that says ‘Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution’. Both
Famagusta port and Varosha have potentials that could pave the way for
cooperation and economic development of the two communities without waiting for
a solution…”
Dagli said that the survey was conducted
between 31 July and 5 August 2013 by “Kibrisim Call Centre” under the
coordination of Muharrem Amcazade among people living in Famagusta area. The
survey was conducted through telephone interviews with the participation of 403
persons older than 18.
According to the paper, 73% of the
participants in the survey said that the port of Famagusta and Varosha must
open for international trade and the settlement of its legal owners the
soonest. Only 4% of the participants said they definitely oppose to this
development.
When asked to express their position on
the view that “if a solution to the Cyprus problem is not found, the port of
Famagusta and Varosha should remain in their current situation”, 50% said they
do not agree with this view, 3% said they definitely agree and 37 % said they
agree.
Asked what they expected from the
opening of Varosha and Famagusta port to international trade, 4% said that this
will cause deterioration of their economic problems and unemployment, 2% said
that it will have no influence, and 90% said the situation as regards the
economic problems and unemployment in the area will be improved.
Asked about the influence of the opening
of the port of Famagusta and Varosha for international trade on the relations
between the two communities, 59.3% of the participants in the survey said that
it will have positive influence, 23% argued that it will have negative
influence and 13% expressed the view that it will have no influence.
Asked about the influence of the same
development on the Cyprus problem, 58% of the participants in the survey said
that this will have positive influence on the comprehensive solution of the
Cyprus problem, 15% noted that this will have negative influence and 11% said
that it will have no influence.
(I/Ts.)
2. Erk alleges that
the Greek Cypriot side tries to create an “artificial agenda” on the issue of
occupied fenced Varosha
Under
the title “They do not prefer peace”, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris
newspaper (23.08.13) reports that Kutlay Erk, self-styled minister of foreign
affairs of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus,
has alleged that the demand of the Greek Cypriot side as regards the return of
occupied fenced Varosha to its legal owners is a “postponing tactic” [for the
solution of the Cyprus problem].
In an
interview with Star Kibris, Erk argued that in spite of the fact that in
various platforms, the Turkish side has expressed the view that Varosha is a
part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, the Greek Cypriot
side exerts efforts to allegedly create an artificial agenda within the country
and abroad with “scenarios” it prepares.
Erk
claimed that the Greek Cypriot side puts forward some issues having the
intention of postponing the problem. Citing statement allegedly made by former
Foreign Minister Nikos Rolandis that Varosha had been proposed seven times by
the Turkish side to the Greek side which rejected this proposal, Erk went on
and alleged: “Now the Cyprus problem has been turned into an issue of
exploitation in Cyprus’ internal politics. The people are told ‘be patient, you
will take your rights’…”
Erk
argued that the reason for bringing the issue of Varosha onto the agenda prior
to the resumption of the negotiations in October is an effort exerted by the
Greek Cypriots to camouflage their lack of will for a solution by creating the
ground for an infertile debate on this issue.
Erk
claimed that the Greek Cypriots are satisfied with the current status quo on
the island and with being internationally recognized as the representative of
Cyprus. He argued that the Greek Cypriots are not ready to share power with the
Turkish Cypriots.
Erk
alleged that it is as if the Greek Cypriot side sees that war will happen in
the future and in order to win this war it cooperates with many countries such
as Israel and China and secures to Russia and France the possibility of using
military bases. He reiterated his allegation that peace and stability in Cyprus
and in the region are threatened by “the revival of the plans of permitting to
the Russian Federation” to use the airbase in Pafos.
(I/Ts.)
3. Eroglu said that if a precondition comes up in the
Cyprus talks, then a problem may occur
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar
(23.08.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, during a
meeting with a delegation from Buca municipality of Izmir’s province, in
Turkey, claimed that the Turkish Cypriots support the continuous relations with
Turkey in détente, which was reportedly safeguarded with Turkey’s invasion in
1974, and try to live as two brother countries without problems.
Noting that the geography
around Cyprus has some serious problems, Eroglu claimed that the occupation
regime continues its existence in tranquillity and confidence due to Turkey’s
guarantees.
Moreover, according to illegal
Bayrak television (online, 22.08.13), Eroglu, commenting on the latest
developments of Cyprus talks, reminded the decision of the talks’ resumption in
October, which was taken during the dinner with President Anastasiades in May,
because September is the month of the UN meetings.
Eroglu also said that
Anastasiades reportedly is working on the method of participation in the
negotiations and that he is going to send a letter to the UN and to EU on his
preparatory work. Eroglu noted: “If a precondition comes up, then a problem may
occur” and reiterated his opinion that the fenced off town of Varosha is not a
separate issue, but part of a comprehensive solution.
4. Efforts for establishing a “coalition government”
continue; “All roads lead to Ankara”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
newspaper (23.08.13) reports that the central administrative committee and the
council of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) discussed in
detail last night the negotiations, which were held with the Democratic Party –
National Forces (DP-UG) for establishing a “coalition government” and resulted
in disagreement. Noting that no decision was taken last night, the paper writes
that the CTP-BG felt the need to take the views by its members and its regional
organizations. The party organs will convene again on Monday and determine
their strategy as regards the establishment of a “government” in the light of
the decision to be taken by the members of the party.
CTP-BG’s chairman, Ozkan
Yorgancioglu said that they would take the decision that concerns their future
by discussing with the basis of their party and that they would not meet with
any other party at this stage. Yorgancioglu noted that they will evaluate all
alternatives, including the alternative of returning the duty of establishing a
“government” to Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu.
Meanwhile, Kibris reports also
that after the failure to agree with the CTP-BG, DP-UG’s council convened last
night and gave to its chairman, Serdar Denktas the authority to hold meetings
for establishing a “coalition government” with the National Unity Party (UBP)
and the Social Democracy Party (TDP).
Denktas issued a statement
yesterday noting that they could not agree in the sharing of the “ministries”
with the CTP-BG, as Yorgancioglu rejected his proposal for giving to DP-UG one
of the “ministries” of finance or interior. Denktas said that they discussed
the main principles first and reached “consensus to a great extend”. Noting
that in spite of the fact that their disagreement on the Cyprus problem
continued to exist from the very beginning, the DP-UG clearly stated that it
would not sabotage the new negotiating process, but it would not accept the
“United Federal Cyprus” expression which is contrary to its policy. It was
decided that the issue would be discussed by the leaders of the parties.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot
daily Afrika newspaper (23.08.13) reports that the CTP-BG could not dare to
start negotiations with the UBP after its discussions with the DP-UG were
interrupted, because of the voices heard in the basis of the party saying that
establishing a “government” with the UBP is “impossible”.
Under the title “All roads lead
to Ankara”, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (23.08.13) reports that “the
picture of a new government” came to light with the insistent statements by
former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat in favour of a CTP-UBP “coalition
government” and with the recent visit of the future leader of the UBP, Huseyin
Ozgrugun to Ankara. Noting that the CTP-BG “came to the point to which Talat
has been referring for days”, the paper writes that “CTP-BG’s reaching this
point through tortuous ways, created the
impression in the community that a scenario was played” and “this scenario was
influenced by the Ankara wind which blows through Talat”.
Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily
Gunes newspaper (23.08.13) reports that the negotiations for establishing a
“coalition” will continue between CTP and UBP. Huseyin Ozgrugun stated that at
this stage the decision of the CTP-BG’s council is important and added that
“the UBP will not leave the country without a government”. He said that the UBP
is ready to discuss the establishment of a “government” with the CTP and
pointed out that during the two preparatory meetings they had held recently
with the CTP they said that everything could be discussed, but now the
situation has reached “a different point”. He said that in case the CTP goes to
the UBP for establishing a “coalition”, their priority would be to agree on
principles.
(I/Ts.)
5.
“YDU” became a member of the European Law Faculties Association (ELFA)
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan
(23.08.13), the faculty of law of the illegal Near East University (“YDU”)
announced that it has become member of the European Law Faculties Association (ELFA).
“YDU”, in a statement, said that the
European Law Faculties Association (ELFA) was founded in 1995 in Leuven by more
than 80 Faculties of Law located in different universities across Europe,
adding that the organisation now has more than 200 members from countries
within the E.U. and beyond.
6.
Turkey
recalls US 'red lines' on Syrian crisis
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 23.08.13), Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
Aug. 22 that a "red line was crossed" in Syria, calling for international
action after reports of a massacre involving chemical weapons. The phrase was
an apparent reference to President Barack Obama's statement last year that
chemical weapon usage represented a "red line" for the U.S.
Davutoglu visited the British and German
capitals for talks, mainly to ask for Europe
to increase pressure on Egypt.
However, Syria
topped the agenda due to the latest report of a massacre by regime forces, he
stated.
"All red lines have been crossed,
but still the U.N. Security Council has not even been able to take a decision.
This is a responsibility for the sides who still set these red lines, and for
all of us," Davutoglu told reporters at a joint conference with his German
counterpart Guido Westerwelle in Berlin.
Last year, Obama issued his "red
line" to the Syrian regime, saying he would ensure that Damascus suffered "enormous
consequences" if chemical weapons were used, or even if they were being
prepared for deployment.
The main Syrian opposition group claims
that as many as 1,300 people were killed in a chemical weapons attack on rebel
areas near Damascus
on Aug. 21.
Davutoglu said the U.N. Security Council
had been too hesitant in the face of the bloodletting in Syria. "If
we don't manage to pass sanctions, we will lose the power to create a
deterrent. If we don't act decisively, even worse massacres will follow,"
he said.
Phone
conversation with Kerry
Speaking in London, Davutoglu also told reporters that he
had held phone discussions with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, upon the
latter's request.
"When we started these visits, Egypt was the
priority on our agenda. However, developments have made Syria an even
more urgent matter. With Mr. Hague, we shared the information that we had in
our hands and evaluated our perspectives," Davutoglu told reporters after
his meeting with his British counterpart.
"We tried to develop a common
perspective on the policy that could be put in practice. We share the same
opinions on Syria.
We discussed the issue in the same way with Mr. Kerry as well," he added.
7.
Erdogan breaks into tears over slain young Egyptian girl
Under the above title, Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman (online, 22.08.13) reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan broke into tears on a televised program aired on Ulke TV late on
Thursday when senior Muslim Brotherhood politician Mohammad al-Beltagy's letter
to his daughter, who was killed by the Egyptian security forces in a crackdown
in Cairo on Aug. 14, was read at the end of the program.
Speaking on a wide array of issues
ranging from the recent alleged use of chemical weapons in Damascus to the
surging number of Syrian refugees crossing the border to Turkey, Erdogan broke
into tears at the end of the program when a video was aired in which Beltagy's
letter to his daughter following her death was read.
Erdogan, who could not speak for a few
minutes, said the video reminded him of the difficult days of the late 1990s,
when he was banned from politics and sent to prison.
Erdogan said he could rarely meet with
his children during his busy and turbulent political life. He said his daughter
one day complained about the situation.
Commenting on the recent alleged use of
chemical weapons in the suburbs of Damascus,
Erdogan slammed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for perpetrating massacres
against his own people.
Noting that more than 100,000 people
were killed since the beginning of the uprising against the regime, the Turkish
Prime Minister said the Syrian president is bent on destroying everything in
the country.
Erdogan said Turkey now hosts 500,000 Syrian
refugees and has spent more than $2 billion to meet the needs of the refugees
accommodated in a number of camps across south and southeast Turkey.
Erdogan also lambasted the Iranian
leadership for its unwavering support for the Syrian regime, saying that Tehran didn't appreciate
enough Turkish support for Iran
in the international arena just a few years ago.
Emphasizing Turkey's rejection of any
sectarian-based policy, Erdoğan told reporters that he expressed his distaste
and disappointment over Iran's
policies in the region to Iranian officials, including Iran's Supreme
Leader Ali Khamanei during his visit to the country.
The Turkish Prime Minister did not hide
his exasperation over the inertia that has engulfed the international community
when he vehemently criticized the United Nations for its inability to issue a
strong condemnation of the chemical attack, let alone conducting an immediate
investigation at the site.
Erdogan also argued that the simmering
political conflict in Egypt
could be part of an international plot to detract international attention from
enduring atrocities in Syria.
As for the release of former Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak, Erdogan said it could have been pre-planned following
the military coup that toppled Egypt's
first democratically elected leader, Mohammed Morsi.
"It always happens in the same way.
We also witnessed it during military coups in our country. It seems the roadmap
[for Mubarak’s release] was drawn up by the military junta following the
coup," Erdogan said.
According to the paper, as 2014 -- an
election year with local, parliamentary and presidential elections -- nears,
polls have been increasingly conducted to measure how many votes political
parties in Parliament would get if an election is held today.
Erdogan said his ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) would get more than 50% of votes in the upcoming
parliamentary elections, three different polls show.
He said three different surveys, which
were conducted upon request of the ruling party, indicate that AKP respectively
would get 51.4%, 51.9% and 51.5% of votes if an election is held today.
The poll results suggest that, Erdogan
says, his party still has a strong popular mandate despite mounting criticism
against his government policies over the past months.
8.
UAE drags feet on huge energy project in Turkey
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 23.08.13), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which promised
in January to invest $12 billion in Turkey’s Afşin Elbistan power plant,
appears now to be dragging its feet on the huge project. The UAE could not keep
up progress on the project as it had sought a Turkish partner but couldn’t find
one, sources familiar with the matter said.
Energy-hungry Turkey signed a landmark deal with
the UAE to develop its coal fields in the south with a giant project worth
nearly $12 billion. The deal was made between the Abu Dhabi-based,
government-controlled TAQA and Turkey’s
state-run electricity company EUAŞ in January.
After the intergovernmental agreement
had been made, some progress was seen on the way to establish a partnership
scheme. While 35% of the project was given to EUAŞ, the remaining 65% was held
by the TAQA. After the partnership scheme had been established, the host
country agreement was supposed to be made. The TAQA, however, decided to seek a
Turkish partner at this stage to give up to 14% of its 65% of share in the
project. The TAQA intended to ask its potential Turkish partner to make a financing
contribution of around $1.7 billion. Potential Turkish partners do not look
favourably on an “immediate” financing contribution, according to the sources.
The TAQA have met some Turkish companies
to build a partnership, but these companies are hesitating to provide the
required money.
9.
Columnist argues that the attack against Ihsanoglu was due to internal
political gains out in AKP
Under the title “News Analysis: Attack
against OIC chief is a road accident”, Serkan Demirtas, writing in Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 23.08.13), argues that Celik and Bozdag, two
prominent figures from the AKP, seem to be after internal political gains out
of their attack against Ihsanoglu, as following:
“Senior ruling party officials’
strongly-worded criticisms against the secretary-general of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, are still one of the
most-debated issues in the capital and elsewhere, as this sort of a campaign
against a Turkish international figure has never been witnessed in the past.
When digging to find out the reasons of
this campaign, it has been revealed that along with some communication problems
between the foreign policy decision-makers and senior party officials, a number
of internal political motivations played an important role in what a senior
government official described as ‘a road accident’.
Here is how all this happened: Ihsanoglu
was elected as the secretary-general of the 57-member OIC in 2005 as a result
of the Turkish government’s intense work with Abdullah Gul, as the Foreign
Minister of that time, playing the most crucial role. Ihsanoglu, who spent more
than two decades as the founding Director General of the Research Centre for
Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), a subsidiary body of the OIC, was
born in Egypt
and has a deep knowledge of this country. His election as the head of the OIC,
whose headquarters is based in Jeddah and therefore is under Saudi Arabia’s
influence, was one of the most important early successes of the Justice and
Development Party (AKP).
That’s why deputy leader of the AKP,
Huseyin Celik, and Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag’s fierce reaction against
Ihsanoglu created a shocking effect on many people, including Ihsanoglu
himself.
Celik, via his Twitter account, and
Bozdag, in a televised interview, lashed out at Ihsanoglu on Sunday (Aug. 18),
while the latter called on the OIC chief to resign due to inaction of his
international body in the face of a brutal crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood
protestors.
The Hurriyet Daily News learned that
Celik and Bozdag’s reactions were the reflection of a foreign policy meeting
held in Istanbul
on Saturday (Aug. 17) under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. At that meeting, foreign policy decision-makers reviewed options to
mobilize the international community against the junta regime in Egypt and of
course whether or not to make an appeal to the OIC. After deliberations, it was
concluded that an appeal to the OIC for an extraordinary meeting would be
useless, as many of member countries have already declared their support to the
coup plotters and the necessary majority for such a reunion would never be
provided.
But this conclusion of that meeting on
Saturday could not be effectively spread among the AKP’s senior officials,
which brought about a communication mistake and therefore this road accident,
according to sources.
Following these public criticisms, the
Daily News learned that Ihsanoglu phoned Erdogan and other senior Turkish
officials to ask the reason for such statements. Ihsanoglu once again
reiterated the OIC’s position with regard to developments in Egypt and
stressed that there was no appeal for a meeting from any member country.
Ihsanoglu
for President?
Celik and Bozdag, two prominent figures
from the AKP, seem to be after internal political gains out of their attack
against Ihsanoglu. But the political dimension of this attack is not limited to
these two politicians’ daily profits. In Ankara,
there are rumours floating about that an early attack against Ihsanoglu could
have a perfect connection with the upcoming presidential elections, as
high-level international personalities are always regarded as potential
contenders for the presidency.
Yet another frequently mentioned dimension
of this attack is the fact that slamming Ihsanoglu would also reflect unease
towards President Abdullah Gul’s foreign policy approaches, which are not
always parallel with those of the government.”
10.
Turkey’s
constitution commission unable to agree on Article 4
According to news portal World bulletin
(online, 22.08.13), the parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation Commission,
which convened on Wednesday to discuss Article 4 of the Turkish Constitution,
which states that the first three articles of the constitution cannot be
amended and their amendment cannot even be suggested, could not come to an
agreement during their five-hour meeting.
The four political parties in the
parliamentary commission are seeking consensus on the issue of non-amendable
articles in the constitution. The parties could not reach an agreement during
Wednesday's meeting and the issue was postponed for discussion during a meeting
on Friday. The Republican People's Party (CHP)
and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
are against any discussion over the articles while the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) say a new constitution
cannot be drafted without discussing the articles.
Speaking about the commission meeting,
Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said on Thursday that the discussions over
Article 4 will continue in an upcoming commission meeting, adding that
consensus over this issue carries great importance for the success of the
constitution drafting process.
Pointing to the difficulty of the
parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation Commission in coming to an
agreement on the first four articles of the constitution, AKP Deputy Chairman
Mustafa Sentop, speaking with Today's Zaman, criticized the tough stance
adopted by the CHP and the MHP regarding possible changes to the first three
non-amendable articles of the constitution.
“Even the Sept. 12 coup plotters [the
drafters of the current 1982 Constitution] were not as rigid in their stance
over the first three articles as the CHP
and the MHP currently are. The
generals placed these articles under protection in terms of principles but
opened the door for slight changes to the text, wording and expressions in the
articles. However, what we observe today is that the CHP
and the MHP are adopting a more
rigid view of not amending the articles and a tougher stance than the five
generals in the Sept. 12 coup junta,” Sentop said
Criticizing the attitude adopted by the CHP in the last two weeks in the process of
drafting a new constitution, Sentop said the CHP
members in the parliamentary commission behave as though they are from two
different political parties. Requesting that the CHP
revise its members appointed to the commission, Sentop said: “After a CHP representative in the commission agreed on an
article along with members from the other three parties, another CHP member says he objects to the article. If a
political party is sincere about drafting a new constitution, it should appoint
serious and sincere representatives to the constitution-making commission.”
Speaking to reporters following the
commission meeting on Wednesday, CHP
Konya deputy Atilla Kart said that the CHP
will never discuss changes to the first three articles of the constitution.
Stating that all the political parties in the commission have expressed their
views regarding changing those articles during the five-hour meeting, Kart
said: “The first three articles of the constitution carry symbolic meaning.
Therefore, the CHP will not be
involved in any kind of discussion over changes to these three articles. We
will also not allow others to discuss it.”
MHP
deputy Faruk Bal told Today's Zaman that the attitudes of the parties in the
commission are all very different from each other, stating that the MHP will not allow the first three articles to be
changed.
11.
Turkish daily Sabah files suit against
columnist
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 23.08.13) with the above title reports that Turkish daily Sabah has
filed a compensation lawsuit worth 50,000 Turkish Liras against prominent
journalist Cengiz Candar for his views expressed on international web page
Al-Monitor on press freedom in Turkey.
Candar’s definition of daily Sabah in his piece, “Sabah,
the biggest daily controlled by the state,” spurred the daily to file the
complaint, Candar wrote yesterday in his column in daily Radikal.
The daily Sabah’s
accusations during the Gezi
Park unrest against the
columnists writing for Al-Monitor moved Candar to write a column on press
freedom in Turkey
for Al-Monitor, which was published on July 5.
“Al-Monitor has been hit by its share of
the defamation campaign. Of course, along with Al-Monitor, those who regularly
write for it from Turkey
are also targeted, with my own name at the top of the list. [...] one of the
media organs under government control decided Al-Monitor also belonged there. A
website called Medyagundem said to be under the supervision of Sabah, the biggest daily controlled by the state, accused
Al-Monitor on June 28 of being a “subcontractor of the Zionist lobby.” Candar
wrote July 5. Medyagundem, linked to the daily Sabah,
had accused Al-Monitor of being “a Zionist media.”
“There is a website called Al-Monitor...
Obviously, it is a costly operation. You can find local language articles in
English on this site. Its selection of news and articles is meticulously made
and is highly professional. Its main theme is the news and analysis that will
serve the interests of Israel
and the global Zionist network... Works of anyone who is a sworn enemy of
Islamists and conservative administrations and actors are translated
immediately into English... Some of its Turkish writers are interesting. This
team that complains about their own country to the West in an Islamophobic,
Zionist media organ has not come together by coincidence ...”
Candar said compensation cases were the
new method of those who are seeking new ways to repress the opposition in Turkey.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
