TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.173/13 12/9/2013
1.Downer conveys
President Anastasiades’ proposal on occupied Varosha to Eroglu and Davutoglu
2. Eroglu will meet the new “coalition government” on the Cyprus
problem
3. The “new coalition government” won a “parliamentary confidence
vote”
4. Turkish Cypriot
businessmen hold contacts in the Netherlands
5. The “TRNC” is seen as
“important step for the division” within the framework of “Cyprus’ Recovery
Plan”
6. Syrian crisis isn’t just about chemicals, says Turkish President
7. Turkish Parliament: 345,000 Syrians have fled to Turkey since 2011
8. Iraq vows to reinstate relations with Turkey
9. Police intervene against protesters during demos in Istanbul’s Kadikoy
10. The ‘Gul difference’ in Turkish administration
1.Downer conveys
President Anastasiades’ proposal on occupied Varosha to Eroglu and Davutoglu
Turkish
Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (12.09.13) reports that the UN
Secretary-General’s special adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer has said that
he conveyed yesterday to Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu a proposal by
President Anastasiades regarding the occupied fenced city of Varosha and that
tomorrow he will convey this proposal to the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet
Davutoglu.
In a
statement after his meeting with Eroglu yesterday in the occupied part of
Nicosia, Downer said that their primary target is to plan the negotiations
which are expected to begin in October and secure that progress will be
achieved by the leaders. He noted that the representatives of the leaders will
meet today at noon and added that 2-3 such meetings will be held until the
leaders’ meeting.
Downer
said that in parallel to the issue of occupied fenced city of Varosha they
discussed some other issues with Eroglu and added that he will convey President
Anastasiades’ proposal on Varosha to Minister Davutoglu and the Turkish
government tomorrow. He noted that the UN sees issues such as Varosha
separately from the negotiations adding that their duty is to encourage the
comprehensive solution and help in reaching this solution. He said that the
Greek Cypriot side sees issues like Varosha as confidence building measures and
believes that the negotiations will be accelerated, if progress is achieved on
this issue. Downer pointed out that the important thing for them is for the
negotiations to be productive and added that all their efforts to this direction.
Citing
“diplomatic sources”, YeniDuzen writes that there is no proposal in writing for
Varosha and that the Greek Cypriot side has conveyed to Downer “not clarified
views” such as the opening of Varosha under EU control, taking care of chapters
in Turkey’s EU accession negotiations and discussion of the issue of illegal
Tymvou airport in return of handing over Varosha to its legal owners.
(I/Ts.)
2.Eroglu will meet the new “coalition government” on the Cyprus
problem
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 11.09.13), the Turkish Cypriot leader
DervisEroglu is going to meet on Friday at 14.30, at his residence, the
self-styled prime minister OzkanYorgancioglu, self-styled deputy prime minister
SerdarDenktas and self-styled minister of foreign affairs OzdilNami regarding
the latest developments on the Cyprus problem.
3.The “new coalition government” won a “parliamentary confidence
vote”
According to illegal
Bayrak television (online, 11.09.13), the new self-styled coalition government
won the vote of confidence, after an open vote was held at the so-called TRNC
assembly on Wednesday morning.
The “government program”
of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) and the Democrat
Party-National Forces (DP-UG) “coalition government” was approved with 32 votes
at the self-styled general assembly.16 “deputies” voted against the program.
National Unity Party
(UBP) “deputy” TahsinErtugruloglu and the CTP-BG “deputy” Omer Kalyoncu didn’t
take part in the voting.
In a short statement after
receiving the vote of confidence, self-styled prime ministerOzkanYorgancıoglu
said that a critical period awaits the “new government” with new initiatives
and reforms put on the agenda, adding that they expect the opposition to
cooperate with them for the sake of the public’s interests.
Meanwhile, “permanent
committees” of the so-called TRNC assembly held their first meetings yesterday
to elect their “chairmen” and “vice-chairmen”.
4. Turkish Cypriot
businessmen hold contacts in the Netherlands
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.09.13) reports that a delegation from the
Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council (KTIAK) has met in the Netherlands with the
Turkish Ambassador to The Hague UgurDogan and visited Amsterdam’s Chamber of
Commerce and factories which produce cheese. During their visit to the
factories, the businessmen had the opportunity to see new technologies and
discussed business possibilities.
In
statements during his meeting with the 21-member Turkish Cypriot delegation,
Dogan said that the Netherlands keeps equal distance from both communities in
Cyprus and pointed that Cyprus in general and the occupied part of the island
in particular, is in parallel to the regulations of the European Union. The
Turkish ambassador noted that the Netherlands as a country cannot officially
lift the so-called embargoes allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots, but
in spite of this, bilateral relations based on mutual profit could be
established between businessmen. He argued that “if there is a profitable
business, the embargo will not be able to prevent a businessman”.
Dogan
said that at the first stage firms which have business relations with Turkey
might be directed towards the occupied area of Cyprus and could launch good
relations with it. He noted that businessmen are interested in profitable
businesses everywhere in the world. Dogan argued also that the businessmen
could be the steam engine of the solution in Cyprus.
The
delegation briefed Dogan on breakaway regime’s situation in the fields of
economy, trade and politics. It also asked his help for being able to trade
with Dutch businessmen and investors.
In
statements at the Turkish embassy, the chairman of KTIAK IlkerZugurt said that
they want to have a result from their contacts in the Netherlands and added
that they “could not sit and wait passively because embargoes exist on the
TRNC”. He said it was the first visit of Turkish Cypriot businessmen to the
Netherlands, but it will not be the last.
During
its visit to Amsterdam’s Chamber of Commerce, the delegation asked help on the
issue of trade between Turkish Cypriot and Dutch businessmen. A promise for
help in bilateral contacts was given to the Turkish Cypriot businessmen. The
Chamber’s trade consultant, FatmaSener, who is a Turk born in the Netherlands,
said she is ready to offer any kind of help to the Turkish Cypriots and added
that she will exert efforts for the “TRNC”, but the “embargoes” limit the
things which could be done on this issue.
(I/Ts.)
5. The “TRNC” is seen
as “important step for the division” within the framework of “Cyprus’ Recovery
Plan”
Under
the title “Cyprus’ 12th of September”, columnist Sami Ozuslu
assesses in Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (12.09.13) the
consequences of the military coup carried out in Turkey on 12 September 1983 by
the junta under General KenanEvren. Ozuslu reports, inter alia, the following:
“…The
military regime formed with the coup increased the influence of the Special War
Department in Cyprus, which had anyway been very strong. Interferences in the
political life, in the elections and in the internal affairs of the parties
increased. The most important development of that time was experienced in 1983.
In the morning of the 15th of November a ‘new state’ was declared in
north Cyprus, of which telephone connection with the world was suddenly cut off
one night. On the one hand, the possibility to be elected to the post of the
head of the state, which had been limited to two terms in the Constitution of
the Turkish Cypriot Federate State (KTFD), was turned into unlimited times, and
the way of president RaufDenktas was politically paved, but on the other hand
another important step was taken for the ‘division’ within the framework of
‘Cyprus’ Recovery Plan’. We entered into a new period for Cyprus with this step
of the fascist coup, a period that perhaps has no return. The fascist coup of
12 September brought many pains and developments which changed the direction of
history for the Turkish Cypriots and the Cyprus problem …”
(I/Ts.)
6. Syrian crisis isn’t just about chemicals, says Turkish President
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 11.09.13) reports that the crisis in Syria
isn’t solely about solving the chemical weapons issue, Turkish President
Abdullah Gul has said, while also adding that Russia’s proposal for the Syrian
regime to hand over its chemical weapons is a significant development.
“We
already knew that there was a great amount of chemical weapons in one of our
neighbouring countries. So cleansing Syria of chemical weapons is a significant
development. One should be grateful for this. But this should not become a
tactic; it should be a real cleansing. The second dimension to this is that the
issue is not solely about chemical weapons,” Gul told reporters on Sept. 11,
following the International Financial Systems Forum in Istanbul.
The
Syrian Foreign Minister said Sept. 10 that his government was ready to turn
over its chemical weapons stockpile in line with the proposal, in order “to
thwart U.S. aggression.”
However,
Gul called on the U.S. authorities to not view the situation only in terms of
chemical weaponry and also recognize the broader situation in the Syrian civil
war, where over 100,000 people have been killed so far.
“There
is a country here where over 100,000 people have been killed, where a cruel
civil war reigns, where people’s cities are destroyed. This must be stopped.
There has to be a political strategy as a way out. Otherwise, no one can accept
things going as they are,” he said, adding that the overturning of the chemical
weapons did not dismiss the need for a real solution in the war-stricken
country.
Meanwhile,
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson LeventGumrukcu said that Turkey welcomes the
proposal that would allow Syria to surrender chemical weapons to the control of
the international community, but such a move would not abolish the Syrian
regime’s responsibility for past incidents where chemical weapons were used.
The use
of chemical weapons is just one part of the crisis in Syria, but not the sole
element, he added, citing that due to the Syrian regime’s “violence”, more than
100,000 people had been killed and more than 2 million displaced.
The
international community should perceive that all these elements are threats
against international and regional peace and security, and develop a strategy
accordingly, Gumrukcu stated.
7. Turkish Parliament: 345,000 Syrians have fled to Turkey since
2011
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (online, 11.09.13) reported that the Turkish Parliament's
research centre has estimated that 345,000 Syrians fled to Turkey since the
civil war began in mid-2011 amid the increasing concerns on how to handle the
exodus of Syrian refugees after the chemical attack in Syria on Aug. 21.
As the
alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime and the possible
international intervention in war-torn Syria have brought the Syrian refugee
problem to the agenda of Syria's neighbouring countries, the Turkish Parliament
has prepared a detailed report on refugees.
According
to the report, 345,000 Syrian refugees have entered Turkish borders since the
Syrian war began in mid-2011. While 144,000 of them returned to their homeland,
201,000 have continued to stay in different Turkish cities. Turkey also hosted
397 Syrians who were injured in the war in Syria and required medical or
hospital care.
The
report estimated that the town with the most refugees is Sanliurfa's border
town of Ceylanpinar. A total of 36,521 refugees have been staying in 4,500
tents in Ceylanpinar. There are also 29,292 Syrians who have been living in
tents in Sanliurfa'sAkcakale.
The
report also mentioned the situation of other refugees living in Turkey.
According to data, 36,000 asylum seekers, 14,000 Iraqis, 9,000 Afghanis, 7,000
Iranians, 2,000 Somalians and 2,000 people from other countries have been
taking shelter in Turkey. Most of these refugees range in age from 18 to 59,
says the report.
The
report notes the number of refugees that Turkey has been hosting since 1960.
While there were only 2,200 refugees in 1960 in Turkey, the number of refugees
reached a peak in 1989 with 33,000 refugees. In 1972 and 1974, there were no
refugees in Turkey.
8. Iraq vows to reinstate relations with Turkey
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 12.09.13) reports that Turkey and Iraq have
reached an agreement to reinstate bilateral ties, Iraqi Parliament Speaker
Osama al-Nujaifi stated in a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, CemilCicek.
“In a
meeting we had today with Prime Minister [RecepTayyip] Erdogan, we reached an
agreement to put the relationship between the two countries back on track, back
to its normal flow,” al-Nujaifi said yesterday.
“I
submitted Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s desire for relations to go
back to normal, and for problems to be solved, new horizons to be opened. Prime
Minister [Erdogan] accepted this issue. In a short while, there will be mutual
visits and soon after he will invite the Iraqi Foreign Minister to Turkey,” he
added, while affirming that bilateral ties between the two countries had
“always been positive” and had witnessed only a brief regression. Al-Nujaifi
also commented on the ongoing crisis in Syria, saying that both Iraq and Turkey
had responsibilities. “The two countries have a common responsibility to sustain
stability and peace in the region. What is happening in Syria is making our
hearts bleed. As a neighbouring country, it has been affecting us too. By all
means, we must make an effort to create peace and stability in Syria,” he said.
The
Iraqi speaker also criticized the West’s response to events in Syria. “While
100,000 people were dying, they did not get mad. They only voiced their
reaction when 1,000 people died with chemical weapons. Their aim is not to stop
death in Syria, it is to take the chemical weapons from Syria,” he said.
9. Police intervene against protesters during demos in Istanbul’s
Kadıkoy
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 11.09.13), the protests in
Istanbul moved to the Asian shores on Sept. 11, as several thousands gathered
in Kadıkoy to denounce the death of a protester a day earlier in the
southeastern province of Hatay.
Kadıkoy,
where demonstrations have mostly been eventless since the end of May, witnessed
a heavy-handed police intervention for the second day in a row.
Riot
police officers who were deployed in large numbers started firing tear gas and
water cannons in the Sogutlucesme area, a major public transportation node,
against protesters who were marching from the docks, around 10 p.m.
Police
continued their intervention and once again resorted to tear gas and water
cannon trucks (TOMAs) to disperse protesters who were gathered near the well-known
“bull square” on the main artery of the Bahariye neighbourhood.
Some demonstrators formed barricades with
garbage cans and set them on fire at the entrance of the pedestrian Bahariye
Avenue.
Social
media users posted pictures of protesters injured during the police
intervention and called for medical treatment.
10.The ‘Gül difference’ in Turkish administration
Columnist
Murat Yetkin, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 12.09.13),
pens the difference of administration between Gul and Erdogan, in the following
commentary with the above title:
“‘The
loss of life is not a joke’” is the striking sentence Turkish President
Abdullah Gul used yesterday about the death of a 22-year old man, AhmetAtakan
in a protest demonstration two days earlier on September 9.
The full
expression that he used is as follows: ‘The most sensitive inspections will be
done over this issue. What’s necessary will be done. It is a controversial
issue as far as I understood. But I felt great sorrow. The loss of life is not
a joke’.
The
death of the young man sparked further protests with the suspicion that he was
actually killed (hit in the head by a tear gas canister) and further police
reaction in different cities of Turkey on September 10 night. The controversy
that Gul was mentioning the next morning was about Atakan’s death. The course
of the debate had changed following a video released by semi-official Anadolu
Agency, showing a body – presumably that of Atakan – dropping from somewhere
high, presumably from the roof of a building, where, according to some reports
he was throwing objects on the armoured police vehicle there trying to disperse
the crowd. It is not certain yet whether he had fallen after being hit or if he
was not hit at all. Interior Minister MuammerGuler stated that there was no
uncertainty that the death was not due to a stroke to his head.
It is
important to note that Gul’s expression of grief neither makes a judgment of
whether Atakan was committing a crime, nor the police, but takes a humanitarian
and neutral stance as a President should do. It could be recalled that Gul had
said in the first days of the Gezi incidents that unnecessary use of force by
the police had put fuel on the fire and caused the incidents to escalate. After
Prime Minister TayyipErdogan’s full backing of the police, calling their act as
‘legendarily heroic’ and giving them bonuses because of their high performance,
Gul preferred not to make any comment on that, perhaps in order not to cause
further allegations that there is a discrepancy between him and the Prime
Minister.
There
are more examples to underline Gul’s difference in the Turkish administration.
To name a few, it was Gul who said that ‘Democracy is not about the ballot box
only. You should listen to people,’ on June 3, in the heat of Gezi protests and
exactly one month before the coup in Egypt which toppled the elected President
Mohamed Morsi. He was criticized (without being named) by Erdogan and a number
of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) MPs and pro-government writers.
In foreign policy, his statements regarding the developments in Egypt and Syria
were not weaker in content than those of the government members, but in a less
alienating rhetoric. He was the first to raise the Kurdish issue as the ‘most
important’ problem of Turkey and recently he received a delegation of Alevis to
listen to their demands and expectations from a new constitution. Gul’s press
office has recently released a list of Turkish cities that he had visited since
he was elected in 2007; some of them had not been visited by a President for
decades.
Erdogan
wants a stronger presidency for the future of Turkey, while Gul is trying to
draw a softer, embracing one.”
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