TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.172/13 11/9/2013
1.
Ertug: determining a definite date for a meeting between the community leaders
depends on the developments
2.
CTP: Downer should undertake a more active role
3.
Talat: it is impossible for the regime to stand on its feet without Turkey
4.
Kasif: Our target is a “national carrier”
5.
The construction of the biggest mosque in occupied Cyprus starts
6.
A “land mafia” has reportedly been created in occupied Cyprus
7.
The breakaway regime participated in the hiking fair “Tournatur 2013”
8. They had a
pseudo-government, now they have a “shadow government”
9.
Erdogan chaired a high level security meeting
10.
Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds gathered to denounce protester's death
11.
CHP ‘supports Egyptians’ July 3
choice’
1.
Ertug: determining a definite date for a meeting between the community
leaders depends on the developments
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(11.09.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu’s special
advisor, Osman Ertug has said that determining a definite date for a meeting
between the community leaders within the framework of the Cyprus talks depends
on the developments.
In statements last night after a dinner
hosted for him and the Greek Cypriot negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis by UN
Secretary-General’s special adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer at the buffer
zone in Nicosia, Ertug said that the climate during the dinner was good and
added: “We are at an important stage and we want to evaluate it in the best
manner. We will talk to the press as little as possible. We are discussing how
the leaders will be engaged in the negotiating process. We are preparing the
ground for this”.
Responding to a question as regards the
date on which the negotiations will start, he said: “We know that the leaders
had met for dinner and their meeting again is in the question. We are making
preparations for this. Determining a definite date will depend on the
developments. A meeting between the leaders in October is both our proposal and
anticipation”.
In statements after the meeting, Downer
expressed the hope that the leaders will meet in October and launch the
negotiating process. He described as “very positive” the climate at the dinner
held last night.
Today, Downer is expected to meet with
President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu. On Thursday, he
will depart for Ankara where he will meet with Foreign Minister Davutoglu on
Friday.
(I/Ts.)
2.
CTP: Downer should undertake a more active role
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(11.09.13) reports that Asim Akansoy, general secretary of the Republican
Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG), has said that the UN
Secretary-General’s special adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, should
undertake a more active role in the Cyprus problem and “use until the end” UN’s
good offices mission. In a written statement issued yesterday, Akansoy
described as “important” Downer’s visit for holding various contacts in a
period during which “cries for war are heard very loudly in the area” and the
anticipation for lasting peace in Cyprus has increased.
Akansoy claimed that the Turkish Cypriot
“people’s” “biggest anticipation” is in the direction of achieving
“constructive progress” during the negotiations, which are expected to begin
after the UN General Assembly that will be held in the end of September.
Noting that “time is working against
both “peoples” in Cyprus, Akansoy alleged it should not be ignored that the
hydrocarbon resources, which are allegedly explored by the Greek Cypriots in
the south of Cyprus without taking into consideration the rights of the Turkish
Cypriots, cause potential risks in parallel to their advantages and their
“triggering influence” on the negotiating process.
Akansoy argued that the negotiations
expected to begin in October should move forward and “courageous steps” should
be taken by remaining committed to the joint statements of 23 May and 1 July
and by showing respect to the existing convergences.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Talat: it is impossible for the regime to stand on its feet without
Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi
newspaper (11.09.13) reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali
Talat has said that it is impossible for the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of Cyprus to stand on its own feet without Turkey. In statements to Cyprus
Time news website, Talat was asked to comment on the allegation that the Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay had called the leader of the Republican
Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG), Ozkan Yorgancioglu in order to express
to him his view on the “government” model, which would be established in the
occupied area of Cyprus. [Translator’s note: Atalay has reportedly called
Yorgancioglu the night during which the CTP-BG would have taken the decision to
establish a “coalition government” with the Democratic Party – National Forces
(DP-UG) and told him that Prime Minister Erdogan believed that Turkey would not
be able to cooperate in harmony with the DP-UG]. Talat replied the following:
“It is an initiative made without knowing how to contact the CTP. It could
create a problem in the future between the governments of Turkey and the TRNC.
It will not be a big problem, but it will be a problem. Turkey interfering in
this manner in the formations of governments is not pleasant”.
Talat said that the economic
developments in the occupied area of Cyprus are very bad and added that the
economic situation of the households is not good even though the statistic data
are presented to be good. Talat argued that the biggest problem of the CTP-BG -
DP-UG “coalition government” will be economy.
Referring to the relations between Turkey
and the breakaway regime, Talat said that they should closely work with Turkey
and pointed out that it is absolutely necessary for the regime to have good
relations with Turkey, because without Ankara’s direct contribution it cannot
cover even the payment of the salaries including the current expenses. He said
that even during the years 2004-2006, the period when the regime was at the
best situation economically, Turkey was building the infrastructure in the
occupied area of Cyprus. He noted that without Turkey it is impossible for them
to stand on their own feet today when their economy is in this situation.
Talat said he observes that the
conditions for a solution to the Cyprus problem are not appropriate now when
“indifference” exists. Referring to the role of the CTP-BG - DP-UG “coalition
government” in the Cyprus problem, Talat pointed out on the one hand to the
CTP, which has allegedly been devoted to the mission of finding a solution on
the island and on the other hand to the DP-UG “which has more strict rules”.
Noting that “Talat attacked the CTP”,
the paper writes that Talat argued that they were not able to educate well the
members and the supporters of the CTP, adding that this was proved by the
reactions against him when he expressed his views regarding the establishment
of the “coalition government”.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Kasif: Our target is a “national carrier”
Under the title “Our aim is a national
carrier”, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (11.09.13) reports that self-styled
minister of public works and communication Ahmet Kasif said: “It is important a
country’s flag flies in the sky”.
Speaking on illegal BRT news program yesterday morning, Kasif said: “To
have a national carries is important from the point of view to stabilize the
ticket price and to fly the flag in the skies. This is our target. Studies are
being currently carried out towards this.”
Responding to a question regarding the
former “Cyprus Turkish airlines”, Kasif said that founding a “national carrier”
is a condition, adding that this could be accomplished with forming a company
with a foreign partnership. He also announced that feasibility study has
already been carried out to see whether it’s possible to set up a new airline
company.
Moreover, Kasif said that the contract signed
for the privatization and development of illegal airport of Tymbou needs to be
re-examined and reviewed legally. He added that if there was any violation of
the conditions set forth by the contract then all legal action will be taken to
correct the situation.
5.
The construction of the biggest mosque in occupied Cyprus starts
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper
(11.09.13) reports that the construction of Hala Sultan Mosque in the occupied
area of Mia Milia has started. The mosque will be the biggest in the occupied
area of Cyprus and it is being built on an area of 200 and a quarter donums
[Translator’s note: a land measure of about 100 square meters], which was
leased to “Cyprus Foundation of Science Ethics Social Mutual Aid” for a period
of 30 years with an annual cost of 100 Turkish liras. The mosque will have the
capacity of hosting 3000 persons.
(I/Ts.)
6.
A “land mafia” has reportedly been created in occupied Cyprus
Under the title “A ‘land mafia’ in the
villages”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (11.09.13) reports that the
water which will be carried from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus is
expected to come in March 2014, but it has not been clarified what will happen
regarding the agricultural land. Persons, who cannot gain any income from the
land they possess, especially in Masaoria plain, are reportedly selling this
land to local and foreign businessmen.
The chairman of the Turkish Cypriot
Farmers’ Union, Alican Kabakci told the paper that some persons are going around
the villages and buy land. He said that there are suspicious that a “mafia of
unearned profit” has been created in connection with the water, which will be
carried from Turkey. He noted that the farmers, who cannot have any income from
their land, sell this land away. He added: “There is absolutely no information regarding
the water which will come from Turkey, but businessmen, including foreigners,
are rapidly taking away the fields of the villagers”. He said that the land
“becomes a monopoly” in the hands of certain businessmen.
The former self-styled minister of
agriculture, Ali Cetin Amcaoglu said that they had prepared a “draft-law” on
this issue, but they could not complete their work. He argued that with this
“draft-law” they would have solved, even for a little bit, this problem and
protected the land.
(I/Ts.)
7.
The breakaway regime participated in the hiking fair “Tournatur 2013”
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Star
Kibris (11.09.13), the self-styled deputy prime ministry, and ministry of
economy, tourism, culture and sports participated in the tourism fair Tournatur
2013, which was held in Dusseldorf, Germany, between 6-8 of September.
Within the fair, the “north Cyprus
tourism office” distributed brochures and explained to the German visitors
about the hiking and walking trails of the occupied part of the Republic of
Cyprus.
8. They had a
pseudo-government, now they have a “shadow government”
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (11.09.13)
reports that the main opposition party National Unity Party (UBP) announced that they formed for the first time in
the Turkish Cypriot history a “shadow government”. According to the paper, the
members of the “shadow government” will follow the duties of the self-styled
ministers of the pseudo-government.
Following are the names of the “shadow government”:
Shadow prime minister: Huseyin Ozgurgun
Shadow minister of foreign affairs: Tahsin Ertugruloglu
Shadow minister of interior and rural affairs: Nazim
Cavusoglu
Shadow minister of finance: Ersin Tatar
Shadow minister of health: Faiz Sucuoglu
Shadow minister of economy, tourism, culture and sports:
Sunat Atun
Shadow minister of agriculture: Nazim Cavusoglu
Shadow minister of public works and transports: Hamza
Ersan Saner
Shadow minister of education: Kemal Durust
Shadow minister of environment and natural resources:
Izlem Gurcag
Shadow minister of works and social security: Erdal
Ozcenk
9.
Erdogan chaired a high level security meeting
Turkish daily Milliyet (11.09.13)
reports that a security meeting was chaired by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
at Prime Ministry’s official residence in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon.
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay,
Chief of General Staff General Necdet Ozel, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,
Interior Minister Muammer Guler, National Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz , Prime
Ministry Undersecretary Efkan Ala and MIT (National Intelligence)
Undersecretary Hakan Fidan attended the meeting.
According to the paper, security issues
were discussed at the meeting, as well as the latest developments on Syria. The
meeting was closed to the press.
The paper reports that General Ozel
explained them the latest measures taken in case of military intervention to
Syria. Military preparations regarding naval or air strike as alternative in
case of a military intervention or not were also discussed in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Fidan briefed them with the latest intelligence information from
Syria.
10.
Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds gathered to denounce protester's
death
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 10.09.13) reported that the police staged a fresh crackdown on
demonstrators in the early evening hours of Sept. 10, after groups had gathered
in Istanbul's Taksim Square to denounce the death of a protester in Antakya during
an intervention.
After the crowd swelled in numbers in
Taksim Square, police pushed them down through the pedestrian Istiklal Avenue
in order to prevent the demonstration from taking place.
Once again tear gas and water cannons
were resorted to, with police chasing protesters down Istiklal Avenue and the
many narrow side streets in the area.
Police also used tear gas to disperse a
crowd that had arrived by ferry at the Karakoy docks, downhill from Istiklal
Avenue, in order prevent them from reaching the Taksim area.
The police intervention continued for
more than four hours around Istiklal Avenue's side streets.
The Istanbul bar association has stated
that 41 people have been detained in Istanbul alone. Another protest was staged
in the district of Kadıkoy, on Istanbul's Asian side.
Ahmet Atakan, 22, died in the early
hours of Sept. 10 in Antakya, where he had joined a demonstration to protest
police handling of the demonstrations in Ankara's Middle East Technical
University (ODTU).
Witnesses and activists claimed that
Atakan was hit in the head by a gas canister fired by the police. However, the
Turkish police released a statement saying footage from a police camera
indicated that Atakan had fallen from a building, and that no intervention by
the police was visible.
A doctor present during the protester's
preliminary autopsy said there was no evidence to prove that the latter had
fallen from a building.
Shortly earlier, police had sealed off
Gezi Park next to the square following calls on social media for a
demonstration.
The Taksim Solidarity Platform, which
initiated the first protests against the destruction of trees in Gezi Park
months ago, scheduled a public rally in Taksim Square at around 7 p.m. “We will
gather at Taksim with carnations to commemorate Ahmet Atakan and denounce
police violence,” the group said via its social media account.
Meanwhile, the under-21 football match
between Turkey and Sweden at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium in the Kasımpaşa
district was temporarily interrupted due to tear gas drifting over from the
nearby Taksim area.
Police
also intervene in Ankara and İzmir
Almost 3,000 people gathered in Ankara,
where demonstrations have been ongoing since last week due to a road dispute on
the campus of ODTU, as well as protests calling for an end to police violence.
Police resorted to tear gas and water
cannons after protesters refused to disperse from Kızılay Square. Many
bystanders were affected by the intense tear gas used by the police.
The crowd had arrived at the square
after departing from nine different gathering points in order to prevent police
from stopping their march. All members of the riot police teams had been called
to duty prior to the demonstrations, daily Hurriyet reported.
In Izmir, police intervened to halt
protesters aiming to march to Basmane Square.
Fresh protests are also ongoing in the
southern city of Antakya’s Armutlu neighbourhood, where Atakan died, following
his funeral. Police responded to protesters by firing tear gas and water
cannons, and some demonstrators erected barricades with car tires and set them
on fire.
11.
CHP ‘supports Egyptians’
July 3 choice’
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(10.09.13), the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) supports the choice made by the Egyptian
people on July 3, according to the party’s deputy leader, Faruk Logoglu. July 3
was the date when the Egyptian army toppled President Mohamed Morsi following
massive demonstrations against his turbulent one-year rule.
Logoglu and CHP
Istanbul deputy Osman Koruturk are in Egypt for a three day visit, despite
strong criticism from the government, which accused them of “talking to coup
plotters.”
“As the CHP,
we support the choice made by the Egyptian people on July 3. Nobody can
interfere with the people’s choice,” Logoglu told reporters on Sept. 10,
following their visits to meet with the head of the Egyptian Republican
People’s Party, Hazem Omar.
An open-dialogue process that will not
exclude any party should be initiated to solve the political crisis in the
country, according to Logoglu. Touching upon the parliamentary elections in
Turkey, he also said they would change Turkey’s “map of relations with other
countries,” while reiterating their discomfort with the government’s Syria
policy.
Logoglu had previously said they had not
approached Morsi’s office for a meeting, but they were planning to meet with
representatives from his Muslim Brotherhood movement.
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