TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.161/13 27/08/2013
1.
Davutoglu’s phone diplomacy with Lavrov and Kerry over Syria
2.
Erdogan discussed with his Dutch counterpart over the phone the recent
developments in Syria and Egypt; Turkey is reportedly working on action plan to
stabilize Egypt
3.
Turkey
to send letters to Parliaments about Egypt and Syria
4.
Main opposition’s CHP Deputy
Chairman reacts to Davutoglu’ latest statement over a possible intervention to Syria; “Turkey does not
need a war”
5.
Turkish columnist views possible opening of Incirlik base in Turkey if a
military operation takes place in Syria
6. CTP-BG will simultaneously discuss with UBP and DP for establishing a “coalition government”
7. The occupation regime will be represented in Istanbul’s 2nd
International Disaster Administration Fair
8. The occupation regime will be represented in an
international darts championship in Romania
9.
Police and MİT to investigate Akkuyu
nuclear plant employees
1.
Davutoglu’s phone diplomacy with Lavrov
and Kerry over Syria
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(26.08.13) Turkey’s
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held phone calls with U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the evening of August
26, focusing on the chemical attack claims in Syria.
Davutoglu discussed with Kerry possible
further steps to be taken on the crisis, following a strong earlier speech in
which he stated that the U.S. had “no doubt” chemical weapons had been used.
Davutoglu also had a phone conversation
with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in which he welcomed Moscow’s call for Syria to allow
the United Nations weapons inspection team to reach Damascus.
Davutoglu agreed to continue a strong
dialogue with both Lavrov and Kerry in a bid to end the bloodshed in
neighboring Syria.
2.
Erdogan discussed with his Dutch counterpart over the phone the recent
developments in Syria and Egypt; Turkey is reportedly working on action plan to
stabilize Egypt
According to Worldbulletin.com
(27.08.13) Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone
conversation with the Netherlands'
Prime Minister Mark Rutte over recent incidents in Syria and Egypt.
Turkish Prime Ministry sources said that
having intensified the telephone diplomacy in recent days, Erdogan told his
Dutch counterpart that he set openly forth that concrete steps had to be taken
by the international community following the recent use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Erdogan stressed that a democratic
process should be initiated urgently with the participation of all sides in Egypt.
(…)
Also, according to Worldbulletin.com
(27.08.13) the pro-government Turkish Star daily has said that Turkey is
working on a seven-step course of action together with the United States,
the European Union, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar to
stabilize Egypt's
volatile political environment.
The course of action reported by the
daily is similar to a Financial Times article: “Egypt must restore its fledgling
democracy - and fast,” in early August and seems to be an extended version of
it. In the Financial Times piece, President Abdullah Gul listed four steps that
are vital for putting democracy back on track in Egypt. Gul's first step is a quick
return to democracy through an inclusive transition process.
According to the action plan, there are
seven steps that need to be taken in the Arab world's most populous country,
including the release of Mohammed Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood members, holding
elections, the reopening of media outlets and settling the political dispute.
The first step of the action plan
mandates the “release of Egypt's
ousted leader Morsi,” who was overthrown by a military coup on July 3 after an
army ultimatum two days before.
Turkey
has been the staunchest supporter of Morsi since he won the Presidential
election in June 2012. Morsi,
Egypt's first
elected civilian President after the country went through a revolution in 2011,
was also one of Turkey's
key allies in the Middle East. Both countries
tried to strengthen their relations via official visits and trade investments
during Morsi's one-year Presidency. Turkey also supplied financial aid
for Egypt's
economic recovery which was disrupted by political instability and the
mismanagement of different governments.
In the second step, the countries demand
the end of the arbitrary detention of Muslim Brotherhood members. Three leaders
of Egypt's
Muslim Brotherhood appeared in court on Sunday on charges of being involved in
the killing of protesters.
Under the third condition of the plan,
the countries want the reopening of closed media organizations. The authorities
in Egypt's
new military-backed government raided Al Jazeera's Egyptian station after the
coup, disrupting its service, and shut down at least three stations supportive
of Morsi, so as to cut off coverage of pro-Morsi events, the Committee to
Protect Journalists (CPJ)
reported.
Fourthly, the countries want Muslim
Brotherhood political detainees to be released. The action plan also includes
the cessation of pro-Morsi demonstrations, which started after the July 3 coup
and turned into bloody incidents after a military crackdown on August 13 resulted
in the deaths of more than 600 people. The protests are still ongoing in Rabaa
al-Adawiya Square in Cairo.
The anti-coup protests went worldwide as demonstrations were held in Tunisia, Pakistan, Sarajevo, Jordan,
France
and Germany
to show support for the Egyptian nation.
After establishing peace in Egypt, the
countries recommend the establishment of a technocrat interim government.
Last but not least, the course of action
prepared by the abovementioned countries to end the clashes between anti-coup
protesters and the country's security forces, calls for free and fair elections
in Egypt.
3.
Turkey
to send letters to Parliaments about Egypt and Syria
According to Turkish website
Worldbulletin.com (26.08.13), Turkey
is preparing to send letters to the Parliaments of some countries in order to
push them to take action to put an end to the bloodshed in Syria and to
accelerate the transition period in Egypt.
The letters will be sent within this
week, Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said in a press conference in Ankara.
Reminding the death toll in Syria, Cicek
said: "We, as Turkish Parliament, think there would be lots of work and
efforts that would be exerted by Parliaments in order to end the civilian war
and the existing regime in Syria,
and to accelerate the transition period in Egypt, and to draw the world's
attention to the tragedies happening. For that reason, as Speaker of
Parliament, I've decided to write a letter to Parliaments and international
Parliamentary Assemblies."
Cicek added: "In the letter,
emphasis would be given on the need to end the bloodshed in Syria and the
need of transition into democracy in Egypt."
4.
Main opposition’s CHP Deputy
Chairman reacts to Davutoglu’ latest statement over a possible intervention to Syria; “Turkey does not
need a war”
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (27.08.13) the main opposition party CHP
has warned that any intervention to be launched into Syria without the
authorization of a U.N. Resolution may spark a regional fire, urging the government
to be patient for any response to what has been happening in neighbouring Syria
and to wait for results of a U.N. examination on the use of chemical weapons
before taking any unilateral action.
Speaking at a press conference at the
Parliament, Republican People’s Party (CHP)
Deputy Chair Faruk Logoglu, recalled Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s
recently delivered remarks in which he said Turkey would join any international
coalition against Syria
even if a wider consensus on action could not be reached at the U.N. Security
Council.
“The government has been blatantly
dragging the country into a war with its Syria policy, as Davutoglu himself
is acting like “a warmonger as he acts irresponsibly” Logoglu, a former
undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, said.
Echoing what CHP
leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu said on August 25 about the use of chemical weapons,
Logoglu reiterated that it was “a crime against humanity” which they condemned
no matter who the perpetrator was.
“Turkey doesn’t need a war,” he
said, recalling that there were countries like Russia and Iran who were
against an intervention into Syria.
“What is our aim that we want intervention into this country? Davutoglu and the
Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] will be responsible for those civilians
who will lose their lives during a bombing of Damascus.”
Emphasizing that their party had not
been lending support to the Assad regime in Syria either, Logoglu, however,
noted that U.N. inspectors were already allowed by Syria to investigate sites
of an alleged chemical weapons strike on the outskirts of the Syrian capital.
“While this investigation is not yet
finalized, the US,
Britain
and France
are adamantly stating that chemical weapons were used and this was done by the
Assad regime. The regime is denying this.”
Logoglu argued that the case concerning Syria resembled
what happened in Iraq
in the run-up to the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2003. He was referring
to the fact that the invasion was based on false information about weapons of
mass destruction in Iraq.
When asked about Kılıcdaroglu’s recent
remarks in which he suggested that he could be visiting Gaza under appropriate conditions like he
visited Iraq
last week, Logoglu said there was no official contact for such a visit yet.
“However, certain discussions are held on such a visit”, he added. “No place
that Davutoglu and the Prime Minister can visit is left in the Middle East. We can go everywhere”, he added.
5.
Turkish columnist views possible opening of Incirlik base in Turkey if a military
operation takes place in Syria
Under the title: “Turkey may open
İncirlik base upon NATO decision”, Murat Yetkin, columnist in Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (27.08.13) writes the following: “Turkey may open its
strategic İncirlik air base for possible military operations into neighboring
Syria, if the Western defense alliance NATO decides for an intervention in the
ongoing civil war, a ranking Turkish official told the Hurriyet Daily News on
August 26.
The official, who asked not to be named,
said the reports of chemical weapons last week triggered the motivations of the
international community in such a way that fewer leaders were now indifferent
to what has been happening in Syria for the over two years civil war.
‘According to the results of the political and military evaluations these days,
it is possible that the NATO Council might convene with Syria on the
agenda. If there is an intervention decision, Turkey would take part in it, which
could include the opening of the İncirlik air base.’
One of the meetings that the official mentioned
was the political meeting between the ‘Core Group’ of the Friends of Syrian
People and the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), representing the opposition
against the Bashar al-Assad regime, which will take place in Istanbul on August 26. The other meeting is a military one in
Amman, Jordan, another neighbor of Syria, where defense ministers and/or the
top commanders of 10 nations got together on the same day to discuss
‘preventing a spillover’ of the civil war, and also to assess the scenarios of
a possible intervention in Syria. Those 10 nations were Jordan, as the
host country, the U.S.,
Saudi Arabia,
the U.K.,
France,
Turkey,
Germany,
Qatar,
Italy
and Canada.
The possibility of a military
intervention in Syria
without a United Nations mandate had been ruled out by the U.S. and
Western allies, up until the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack near the capital Damascus in which
hundreds of civilians were killed. The al-Assad regime still rejects
responsibility (with the backing of Russia and Iran), pointing
the finger instead at the rebel forces. However, Western intelligence insists
that the al-Assad forces did it. Turkish national daily Cumhuriyet reported on
Monday, referring to Turkish military sources, that the kind of chemical
warhead shells that were fired were not possessed by the rebel forces, but by
the Syrian army.
Turkey
has been pressing for nearly two years now for a joint intervention in the
civil war, in which an estimated 100,000 people have so far been killed, in
order to stop the war and prevent further spillover. However, it has not got
much of a response up to now, mainly for three reasons. The first was Russia and China’s
blocking in the U.N. Security Council. The second was the reluctance of the U.S. and EU
partners to provide weapons to the rebels that could end up in the hands of
groups linked to al-Qaeda, such as the al-Nusra Front. The third was the policy
of U.S. President Barack Obama not to send ground troops into conflict zones,
drawing his lesson from the Afghanistan
and Iraq
campaigns, where it was observed that the U.S. invasion helped some political
Islamist groups to further grow and become radicalized under the wings of
American protection.
However, the use of chemical weapons,
which had been announced as a ‘red line’ for Syria before, has seemingly changed
the game. The Kosovo option that is now under discussion suggests the use of
air and navy units, not ground forces, which could be a way out for Obama. All
eyes are now on a possible NATO meeting.
The İncirlik air base, south of Turkey is one
of the most strategically important NATO bases in the world. It was effectively
used for Iraq
operations in the past, and also in Kosovo”.
6. CTP-BG will simultaneously discuss with UBP and DP for establishing a “coalition
government”
Under the title
“Simultaneous discussion”, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(27.08.13) reports that the council of the Republican Turkish Party - United
Forces (CTP-BG) decided last night to discuss with both the National Unity
Party (UBP) and the Democratic
Party – National Forces (DP-UG) within the framework of establishing a
“coalition government” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
The decision was
announced by CTP-BG’s chairman, Ozkan Yorgancioglu and its general secretary
Asim Akansoy after the meeting which lasted for almost four hours.
Yorgancioglu
said that they decided to meet with all sides, including the UBP, during their efforts for establishing a
“government”. He noted that they will hold meetings today and tomorrow (27 and
28 August) and added that the council of the party will convene again tomorrow
night to evaluate the results of these meetings.
Replying to a
question, Yorgancioglu said that the option of establishing a three-party “government”
will be evaluated during their party council’s meeting on the 28th
of August, in case a consensus is reached on this issue.
Under the title
“The last decision tomorrow”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.08.13)
reports that the CTP-BG’s council will take its final decision tomorrow on the
issue of the party with which the CTP-BG will establish a “coalition
government”.
Kibris reports
also that Huseyin Ozgurgun, candidate for UBP’s
leadership, told illegal Bayrak after the announcement of CTP-BG’s decision,
that the UBP “is ready to bare its
own neck” on the issue of the establishment of a “coalition government”, but
the CTP-BG is the party that should decide, because it is the one assigned with
the duty of establishing a “government”.
Ozgurgun said
that they expect the formation of a “government” this week and described as a
“surprise” the fact that CTP-BG could not establish a “government” with the
DP-UG. He said that the UBP will
do whatever its duty is in order for not leaving the “country” without a
“government” and added that they are also ready to become the “main opposition
party”.
(I/Ts.)
7. The occupation regime will be represented in Istanbul’s 2nd
International Disaster Administration Fair
Turkish Cypriot
daily Haberdar newspaper (27.08.13) reports that the breakaway regime’s “fire
brigade and forestry department” under the coordination of the so-called civil
defense organization will participate in Istanbul’s
2nd International Disaster Administration Fair which will be held
between 28 and 30 August,
2013.
The
organizations which fight with natural disasters in the occupied area of Cyprus will be
presented at the fair and the developments as regards the equipment, the means
and the methods in administrating and fighting against natural disasters will
be examined.
Furthermore, the
chairman of the breakaway regime’s “International Universities’ Search and
Rescue Council”, Prof. Dr Huseyin Gokcekus will make a presentation regarding
“civil defense organization’s” contribution and the activities and plans of the
“International Universities’ Search and Rescue Council” which was established
upon efforts of the illegal universities in the occupied area of Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
8. The
occupation regime will be represented in an international darts championship in
Romania
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (27.08.13)
reports that the breakaway regime’s “darts’ federation” is participating in an
International Darts Championship which is taking place in Bucharest, Romania,
between 26 and 30 August, 2013.
According to the paper, 200 athletes from 12 different
countries have been registered in the championship. The Turkish Cypriot
“federation” will participate with five athletes, while nine other Turkish
Cypriot athletes will travel and participate in the championship with their own
means.
(I/Ts.)
9.
Police and MİT to investigate Akkuyu
nuclear plant employees
Istanbul Today's Zaman Online in English
(26.08.13) reported that according to media reports on Monday twelve thousand
workers to be employed at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, will be investigated
for security purposes by police and the National Intelligence Organization
(MİT) in the southern province of Mersin.
The General Directorate of Security will
reportedly investigate 4,000 Turkish citizens, including interns, while MİT
will look into 8,000 Russians to be hired to work at the plant, set to be built
in Mersin's
Gulnar district.
The Energy and Natural Resources
Ministry demanded investigations into the Akkuyu power plant staff by the
Interior Ministry, which initially rejected the energy ministry's demand,
stating it was against the relevant directives.
Later, the Energy and Natural Resources
Ministry demanded a special article to be added in a directive that allows only
for the investigation of public servants, seeking the inclusion of employees of
the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, stating that the facility has strategic
prominence in terms of state security.
The Justice Ministry received the demand
and stated its opinion that there should be a special regulation in the
directives for issues related to national security, meaning the investigation
of the nuclear power plant workers should be made permissible.
Interior Ministry Deputy Undersecretary
Mustafa Demirer issued a new directive to the governors of the 81 provinces
stating that employees, Turkish interns and subcontractors at facilities with
strategic importance such as nuclear power plants require investigation.
Future requests for security checks
under the directive will be carried out through the investigation of archives;
Turkish employees will be investigated by the General Directorate of Security,
while MİT will be in charge of looking into foreign personnel.
So far, the General Directorate of
Security and MİT have investigated the records of over 200 Turkish and foreign
employees employed for the project. It has been reported that Turkish employees
found to have a criminal record that includes such offenses as terrorism and
smuggling will be terminated. Russian citizens who work at the Akkuyu nuclear
plant will be deported if they are found to have a criminal record.
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