TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.160/13 26-24/08/2013
1. Interesting allegation by Erk: Turkey knows
that it could impose absolutely no
2. Mustafa Akinci: Varosha must not be abandoned to
dying anymore
3.
Eroglu accuses the Republic
of Cyprus for its
armament policy
4. Occupied Famagusta’s
shopkeepers say Varosha must be returned to its legal owners
5.
Turkey’s
Confederation Community calls Arab and Muslim states to recognize the occupation
regime
6. CTP-BG is expected to decide tonight whether it
will continue its efforts to establish a “coalition government”
7.
Davutoglu discussed Syria
issue with Kerry; “Turkey
would join any international coalition against Syria”
8.
Erdogan on the developments in Syria and Egypt
9.
Several protests staged in Turkey
to protest the massacre in Egypt
1. Interesting allegation by Erk: Turkey knows
that it could impose absolutely no agreement which the Turkish Cypriots do not
want
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (26.08.13) reports that Kutlay Erk, self-styled minister
of foreign affairs of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, has
argued that nothing which the Turkish Cypriots do not accept could happen in
the Cyprus problem. In statements to Kibris, Erk was asked to comment on
information recently published in Cyprus Mail newspaper that Turkey, the
Republic of Cyprus and the EU have reached an agreement through secret
bargaining on the issue of how Cyprus’ natural gas resources will be used. Erk
said that this kind of scenarios is put onto the agenda from time to time, but
they have absolutely no relation with reality.
Erk alleged the
following: “Turkey
directly and clearly knows that it could impose absolutely no agreement which
the Turkish Cypriots do not want. The
Turkish Cypriots have proved their political majority. And while doing this
they were supported by Turkey,
but they succeeded with their own will and experiences. The Turkish Cypriots
are not a child any more”.
Referring to the
negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, Erk said that his
“government” held contacts and lobbying activities with foreign representatives
in Cyprus.
He noted that during the short period of time which this temporary “government”
is on duty, they have conveyed their views to the representatives of the USA, Germany, Russia and the UK. He added:
“We have also met with the United Nations and told them that we are ready for
the negotiations. We asked them to prepare the south [Translator’s note: this
is how Erk calls the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus]
on the issue of the negotiations because they are the ones who are confused”.
Erk said that
the foreign representatives told them to show tolerance before the economic
situation of the Republic
of Cyprus. “However, when
we were at the same situation we did not ask for tolerance or for
understanding”, he alleged.
Erk noted that
the foreign representatives told them that President Anastasiades wants to
solve the problem and added: “This may be true, but we are worried about his
partner DIKO”.
Erk argued that
the wish of the Greek Cypriots to drag Turkey into the negotiations would
increase the lack of confidence which the Turkish Cypriots feel.
Referring to the
issue of the return of the occupied fenced Varosha to its legal owners, Erk
claimed that turning Varosha into precondition for the negotiations without
securing support from third countries “is tantamount to hoping for the
impossible”.
Referring to a statement
made by Foreign Minister Kasoulides on the issue of the island’s hydrocarbon
resources, Erk alleged that “Kasoulides is playing with fire” when stating that
in case Turkey interfered with the ships of the companies which carry out
explorations, it would come face to face with the countries of these companies.
Erk alleged that if the 1960 constitution is valid, the Turkish Cypriots have
some rights according to this constitution.
Erk said that
with sending representations from occupied Nicosia, Famagusta and Kerynia “municipalities” abroad
and their becoming members to international organizations, they have overcome
the obstacles caused from the fact that the “foreign ministry” of the breakaway
regime is not recognized. Erk alleged that this kind of initiatives “secures
positive contribution to the image of the country”. He also said that
“non-governmental” organizations also express the views of the Turkish Cypriots
when they hold visits abroad. He described as important for these organizations
to convey to foreigners the Turkish Cypriots’ “way of life, democracy and will
for a solution”.
Erk said that
they exert efforts to develop the “cities’ diplomacy”, and the “citizens’
diplomacy” in parallel to the “political diplomacy”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Mustafa Akinci: Varosha must not be abandoned to
dying anymore
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (26.08.13) reports that Mustafa Akinci, former “mayor”
of the occupied part of Nicosia, “MP” and party chairman, has said that the
occupied fenced city of Varosha must not be abandoned to dying anymore. In his
first statements made after a long period of time, Akinci noted that the demand
for opening the fenced Varosha should be examined and added that the door for
the solution of the Cyprus
problem could “open up” with this development.
Akinci went on
and wondered: “Why we do not stop saying that Varosha is part of the
comprehensive solution and evaluate it as a key which will open the door of the
comprehensive solution?”
Akinci described
as “striking” and “comprehensible” the results of the survey recently announced
by the Initiative for Famagusta
[See Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 23/08/2013, Item 1] and noted that “people can
see what is right”.
Recalling that
when he was active in politics he was saying that “Varosha has become a place
of snakes, centipedes and rats, but somehow it could not become a place of
people”, Akinci added: “let it become a place of people, let a solution be
produced, and let a step be taken on the issue of Varosha”.
He noted:
“Varosha must not be abandoned to dying any more. 73% of the people of Famagusta want its
opening. The Greek Cypriots would of course want this. It is not a wise thing
to leave this issue hanging in the air for another 40 years. Varosha is at the
same time a humanitarian issue. The Turkish Cypriots are experiencing the
sorrow of living together with this. And think also the sorrow of those who
have abandoned this place. Think also the business fields which will open here.
Think the economic potential. There is an element that could be triggered from
whichever point you look at it and we should go beyond the ordinary on this
issue”.
Akinci referred
also to the efforts for establishing a “coalition government” in the occupied
area of Cyprus
and said that the “people” made their choice during the “elections”, pointing
out that they wanted a “coalition government” between the Republican Turkish
Party- United Forces (CTP-BG) and the Democratic Party – National Forces
(DP-UG).
Akinci said that
former “coalition governments” had ended because of “interventions from
outside” and added that the “wrong relations” between Turkey and the
occupied area of Cyprus
have not changed. Akinci noted that some things changed in Turkey and the
world since 2002, but nothing changed in the occupied part of Cyprus. He
added that the “police” are still bound to the army, and the financial policy
and head of the “central bank” in the occupied area of the island is still
determined by Ankara,
just like in the past. Referring to the reasons for which these relations have
not changed Akinci said that the administrators in Turkey do not aim at a real
democratization for themselves, and therefore they did not contribute to the
real democratization in the occupied area of Cyprus. He added that neither the
“governments” in the occupied area nor the “people” had such a target or
demanded such a change.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Eroglu accuses the Republic
of Cyprus for its
armament policy
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(25.08.13) reported that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in
statements while delivering a speech at the opening of the occupied Kazafani
festival the night before yesterday, referred, inter alia, to the Cyprus
negotiation talks which are expected to be resumed on October, pointing out the
following: “It is not possible to understand why ‘south Cyprus’, as he called
the Republic of Cyprus, is trying to stage a show of force by continuing its
armament, in a period that the
negotiation talks are expected to be resumed on October and while the Turkish
Cypriot side desires a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem”.
Recalling that the Turkish Cypriot side
has made several calls to “south Cyprus” to proceed to the
negotiation table in October, Eroglu added that he wanted to repeat this cal
once more.
AK
4. Occupied Famagusta’s
shopkeepers say Varosha must be returned to its legal owners
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (25.08.13) reported that the shopkeepers from the
within the wall area of occupied Famagusta have expressed their strong support
to the Initiative for Famagusta, which was established with the aim of
producing a “peace project” in Cyprus and continuously keeps on the agenda the
proposal of returning the occupied fenced city of Varosha to its legal Greek
Cypriot owners.
In statements to
Havadis, shopkeepers complained that for a long time now they have been closing
their shops without even making a single sale and added that they have been
eagerly waiting for the opening of Varosha for 40 years.
The shopkeepers
said “let Varosha be opened regardless of who will be controlling it” and
expressed the view that this development will contribute to the improvement of
not only their area and occupied Famagusta,
but to the economy of the “country” as well. They said that the opening of
Varosha and its return to its real owners would create satisfaction in both
sides of the island and will constitute a big step in the solution of the Cyprus problem.
(I/Ts.)
5.
Turkey’s
Confederation Community calls Arab and Muslim states to recognize the
occupation regime
Under the title: “Recognize the ‘TRNC’”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (24.08.13) reported that Turkey’s
Confederation Community has stressed the need for the Arab states to recognize
the independence of the “TRNC”, as it called the occupation regime.
According to the paper, the chairman of
the Turkish Confederation Community Nezaket Emine Atasoy has conveyed his
request to the representative of Turkey to the Arab states,
Ambassador Mohammed El Fatah Naciri.
Turkey’s
Confederation Community, in a written statement stressed the need for the Arab
and Muslim countries to lobby with the aim for the “TRNC” to be recognized.
AK
6. CTP-BG is expected to decide tonight whether it
will continue its efforts to establish a “coalition government”
Under the title
“Critical Monday”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (26.08.13) reports
that the council of the Republican Turkish Party - United Forces (CTP-BG) is
expected to decide tonight on whether CTP-BG will continue the efforts to
establish a “coalition government” by meeting with the National Unity Party (UBP) or it will return the duty to Turkish Cypriot
leader Eroglu, something which the CTP-BG has to do if it fails to establish a
“government” within this week.
According to the
paper, two views predominated during the meetings held at CTP-BG’s local
organizations in the five occupied districts, but the tendency is to hold
discussions for establishing a “coalition government” with the UBP.
Huseyin
Ozgurgun, candidate for UBP’s
leadership, told Havadis that his party is positive to discussions with the CTP
for the establishment of a “government”. He said that they have to be
constructive in these discussions for a “coalition” taking into consideration
the situation that exists in the “country”.
On the other
hand, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (26.08.13) reports that three
different groups with opposite views exist within the CTP-BG. According to the
paper, the one is the group of CTP-BG’s chairman Ozkan Yorgancioglu supported
by Ozdil Nami and Asim Akansoy, who believe that the party should try to
continue discussions and reach a consensus with the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG).
Another group,
which supports former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat and includes Ferdi Sabit
Soyer and Omer Kalyoncu, says that the CTP-BG should discuss with the UBP and if they agree to establish a CTP-UBP “coalition”. According to the paper, this group
uses as argument that Turkey
wants a CTP-UBP coalition, noting
that “otherwise we will not be able to pay the wages”.
Volkan alleges
that the third group is headed by “the supporters of AKEL in Famagusta district” who say that the CTP-BG
should not participate in the “coalition government” and together with the
trade unions should carry out a strong opposition against the “government”,
Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu’s policy in the Cyprus talks, the economic package,
the privatizations and Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
7.
Davutoglu discussed Syria
issue with Kerry; “Turkey
would join any international coalition against Syria”
According to Turkish website
Worldbulletin.com (26.08.13), Turkey’s
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was quoted as saying on Monday that Turkey would
join any international coalition against Syria even if a wider consensus on
action cannot be reached at the U.N. Security Council.
"We always prioritise acting
together with the international community, with United Nations decisions. If
such a decision doesn't emerge from the U.N. Security Council, other
alternatives ... would come onto the agenda," Davutoglu told the Milliyet
daily. "Currently 36-37 countries are discussing these alternatives. If a
coalition is formed against Syria
in this process, Turkey
would take its place in this coalition”, Davutoglu stated.
Meanwhile, Davutoglu talked on Saturday
with his American counterpart John Kerry over Syria. Davutoglu held telephone calls twice with
Kerry over Syrian incidents on Saturday.
Diplomatic sources said that the
chemical weapon attack in Syrian capital Damascus
on Wednesday was handled during the phone conversation, where the steps to be
taken were also evaluated.
On Wednesday, the Syrian opposition
coalition blamed the Syrian regime forces of carrying out a chemical weapon
attack in suburbs of capital Damascus
which it said killed at least 1,300 people.
But the Syrian regime strongly denied
the claim and described reports and figures as "lies and groundless,"
saying reports were aimed at "distracting a visiting team of United
Nations chemical weapons experts from their mission."
A UN investigation team is currently in Syria to
investigate earlier an allegation of use of chemical weapons reported by the
Syrian government at Khan al-Assal as well as two other allegations reported by
UN Security Council member states.
Meanwhile, also according to
Worldbulletin.com (24.08.13), Davutoglu held a press conference with his Qatari
counterpart Khaled al-Attiyah in Istanbul during which they evaluated developments
in Syria.
Upon a question about Russia's
statement about Syrian regime's allowing UN team for chemical probe, Davutoglu
said it was a very correct statement. "If the issue is chemical weapons,
everybody has to be on the same line. This is a crime against humanity and
deserves joint action."
Davutoglu stated that he shared these
views with his Iranian counterpart as well, and added: "If the Syrian
regime does not allow UN probe, because there is a suspicion that there are
hidden facts, we expect Iran
and Russia,
and the international community to force the regime to allow the
investigation."
Davutoglu added that if it was proved
that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons, then the UN should take a
decision within international law in unity.
8.
Erdogan on the developments in Syria and Egypt
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(24.08.13) Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed Al-Azhar Grand
Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb over his support to the military coup against elected
President Mohammad Morsi. Erdogan said on Sunday that there could not be a
democratic coup and that "a coup is a coup", criticizing those who
fail to call the military coup in Egypt as a "coup".
Speaking at the assembly meeting of
Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Development Foundation in Rize province,
Turkish Premier Erdogan touched upon the recent developments in Egypt following
the “military coup” on July 3 and the following civilian massacre by Egyptian
security forces.
Addressing the countries and
institutions, which did not call these as 'coup', Erdogan stressed that those
who could not call the “coup” as it is, betrayed not the past, but the
future."We harshly criticized the coup in Egypt both from a humanitarian
perspective and based on our conscience and principles," Erdogan said,
adding that “coups” could not have any legal, fair and reasonable
justifications.
Erdogan also noted that the supporters
of the “military coup” in Egypt
are trying to justify it as a democratic action by the Egyptian army. "A
coup is coup, there could not be a democratic coup," Erdogan stressed.
Erdogan also slammed those blaming
Mohamed Morsi, the first democratically elected President of Egypt, for making
mistakes that led to his ouster, to legitimize the
“military coup” against his regime.
“military coup” against his regime.
He called such sentences as "Morsi
also made mistakes" a "direct support to the military coup".
Erdogan also mentioned the Gezi Park
protests of June, underlining that the meaning of freedom must be well
understood by all. "Freedom is what you can do until the boundaries of
another person's freedoms, by respecting the public order," he said.
He also added that fight for freedom can
only be with ideas not with weapons.
Also, according to Worldbulletin.com
(25.08.13) Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan heavily criticized Syrian
President Bashaar Al-Asaad stating: “These are the last moves being played by
Bashaar. I believe that Allah will question Bashaar and take revenge of all
innocent children which he has killed, because Allah is the best of Judges”.
Erdogan also criticized the US
administration stating the following: ‘‘It was not personable for America to
react to our statements; we pointed to Israel as the main figure behind
the military coup in Egypt.
Why does the US
react?”
Below are some of the main points of the
PM Erdogan's speech which took place in the province of Rize:
“Some people are telling us that Turkey has
become 'lonely' in the Middle East. They
should know that we are not 'lonely'. If they have tanks, military planes and
artillery that they use to kill innocent kids, we firstly have Allah and our
people by our side.
From 1071 until today we have been
ambassadors of peace. We have encouraged peace, protected the rights of the
innocent and encouraged brotherhood and friendship. We have always been on the
side of the oppressed and will continue to do so!
No one can order us what to do! Everyone
should keep in mind that Turkey
will continue to be on the side of the oppressed and do whatever should be
done, regardless of the criticism at home and abroad.
It should also never be forgotten that
we will always be with the people of Cairo,
of Quds, of Damascus.
Now I am asking you who has been questioning ‘why are we so concerned about
others?’. Do not forget! We have a responsibility that has come with the
history that we share with our neighbours. In our battle in Canakkale did we
ask why our brothers from Cairo,
from Quds, from Damascus
were fighting on our side, in our lines? Without any doubt they fought with the
enemy in our lines and defended our land with us. By not being concerned with
the massacres taking place around us, we will be turning our backs to our
grandfathers and our people who have died for this cause and civilization.
When we stated that the main figure behind
the military coup in Egypt
was Israel
we suddenly got a negative reaction from the United States. To be honest I was
disappointed; what we said was not addressed to the US but to Israel. So what
is happening to America?
If someone has to be concerned, it should be Israel. It was disappointing to see
a NATO member reacting in such a manner to another member of NATO.
Can you see the double standards
currently taking place? Have you now learned who stick with democracy and who
act against it?”, Erdogan said.
9.
Several protests staged in Turkey
to protest the massacre in Egypt
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(24.08.13) several representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s)
gathered on Saturday in Turkish capital Ankara's Sihhiye Square, to stage the
meeting "Resistance for Egypt, resistance for humanity" in order to
protest the massacre in Egypt.
Memur-Sen, Hak-Is, Mazlum-Der and
Anadolu Youths Association, besides several other non- governmental
organizations joined the meeting.
Holding banners with the Rabaa sign,
citizens shouted the slogans "Muslims cannot remain silent in front of
tyranny" and "Muslims, do not sleep but protect your brother."
On the other hand, the massacre in Egypt and the chemical
weapon attack in Syrian capital Damascus
were protested during Friday night in 15 several cities of Turkey.
Under the presidency of Human and
Civilization Movement in Turkey's
Istanbul,
several representatives of non-governmental organizations and citizens staged
protests to attract attention to the ongoing incidents in both Egypt and Syria.
Banners were hanged, on which the words
of Sayyid Qutb, Sheikh Ahmad Yasin, Turkish scholar Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Aliya
Izzetbegovic and Malcolm X were written on.
"If brotherhood is a pay, it's time
to support Egypt"
and "Sarachane is sister square of Adawiyya," the banners said in
Turkish, Arabic and English. Two big Rabaa signs were also displayed on the
platform.
Protests for the same reason were also
staged in Turkey's
Van, Antalya, Erzurum, Konya, Kocaeli, Sivas, Erzincan, Bolu, Karabuk, Samsun, Sakarya,
Nevsehir, Isparta and Batman cities.
Mohamed
Morsi, Egypt's
first democratically elected President, was ousted by the army under an army
roadmap on July 3. Thousands of his supporters have since taken to the streets
to demand his return to power.
10.
Taraf daily to take MİT's wiretapping to the Constitutional Court
According to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(25.08.13), Turkish daily Taraf reported on Sunday that it will file a
complaint today with the Constitutional Court against the National Intelligence
Organization (MİT) for wiretapping the telephones of several of the daily's
columnists and former editors-in-chief.
After obtaining court orders from the
11th and 14th İstanbul High Criminal Courts, MİT reportedly wiretapped, between
2008 and 2009, the phones of Ahmet Altan and Yasemin Congar, former Taraf
editor-in-chief and deputy editor-in-chief, and those of current Taraf
columnists Amberin Zaman and Mehmet Baransu and former columnist Markar Esayan.
Mehmet Altan, Ahmet Altan's brother and a professor of economics, was also
targeted for MİT wiretapping in the same period, according to the daily.
After it was reported in February 2012
that the intelligence agency had wiretapped the journalists' phones, Taraf's
lawyers filed a criminal complaint with the İstanbul Public Prosecutor's
Office. In Turkey
intelligence officials can only be tried with the permission of the Prime
Minister; as Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not give it, the prosecutor's office
decided not to prosecute.
The Bakırkoy 6th High Criminal Court
upheld the decision not to prosecute, opening the door for the daily to take
its complaint to the Constitutional
Court.
Last February, Taraf published copies of
court orders in which journalists wiretapped by
MİT were only mentioned by codenames in
foreign languages, mostly in Arabic. The mobile phone numbers of Taraf
journalists were also listed in the court order, which enabled the daily to
identify which alias belonged to which journalist.
The aim of the “technical monitoring,”
according to the 11th and 14th İstanbul High Criminal Courts' orders, was to
collect information about individuals suspected of illegal activity ahead of
possible acts of terrorism. The journalists in question saw MİT's wiretaps as a
scandal and said when the news broke, that they expected a satisfactory
statement from MİT and the Prime Ministry.
In the past few months, MİT has come
under criticism for various alleged activities. In a report that appeared in
mid-June, Taraf accused the agency of collecting -- illegally and in
cooperation with government institutions -- information on people and likened
the agency to an Orwellian Big Brother.
Taraf claimed that MİT, about a year
ago, signed agreements with Turkish Airlines (THY) and the Ministry of
Education, among other public institutions, enabling the intelligence agency to
collect information about anyone receiving services from those institutions.
MİT denied the claim.
According to the report, MİT has access
to the personal information of THY customers, including email addresses,
photographs and information about the private lives of their relatives, as well
as information about students who attend Ministry of Education schools, and
their parents.
Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek recently
acknowledged that MİT has access to a wide array of personal information on the
Internet. “We now know who is flying where, have information about their
children, people's bank transactions and apartment fees. We will make use of
this information when necessary,” Simsek said on a television program.
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