TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
1.
Turkey
and Greece agree that the Cypriot negotiators should hold contacts in
Athens and Ankara respectively
2. Ertug: the contacts
of the Cypriot negotiators in Greece and Turkey are important and
something which the Turkish Cypriot side wanted
3.
Eroglu allegedly wants commitment in writing that the negotiations
will resume from the point they were left
4.
Gul called on the Greek Cypriot side to respond positively to
Turkey’s steps
5. Davutoglu met with
Kerry in the side on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly
6.
Korkmazhan: Eroglu’s stance on the occupied Varosha is unacceptable
7. Ex-US Congressman
organizes lobby for occupied Cyprus in the USA; The expenses are paid
by Turkey
8.
Remains
of six Greek Cypriot missing persons were reportedly found in
occupied Neo Chorio Kythreas
9. Afrika relieves the
list: Atalay asked Kucuk to grant “TRNC citizenship” to eleven
persons
10.
Akansoy: the system of granting the “citizenship” of the regime
will change; Illegal
settlers say they will apply to ECHR
11.
Yorgancioglu confirms that he sent a letter to Ankara but says that
the contest was different
12.
TYHA awarded with 5 Gold Anchor Karpaz Gate Marina built in the
occupied part of Cyprus
13. Turkey says
Russian suggestion to send Turkish troops to Syria not on agenda
14. Turkey, Russia
conduct joint air military exercise
15. Erdogan slams UN
system depending on 5 Security Council members' decisions
16. German election results not likely to make a change for Turks
16. German election results not likely to make a change for Turks
17.
Turkey's postmodern
February 28 coup's transcripts of MGK unveiled
1.
Turkey
and Greece agree that the Cypriot negotiators should hold contacts in
Athens and Ankara respectively
Ankara
Anatolia news
agency (23.09.13) reports that Turkey and Greece agreed on the
reciprocal visit of representatives from the breakaway regime and the
Republic of Cyprus to both countries over the solution in Cyprus.
Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu met with his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos in
New York, where he attended the UN General Assembly.
The two leaders discussed
regional issues covering developments in Syria and Egypt as well as
bilateral relations including cooperation in trade, tourism, and
fight against terrorism.
Leaders
also voiced their demand over the immediate start and result of the
negotiations for solution in Cyprus, AA broadcast.
2.
Ertug:
the contacts of the Cypriot negotiators in Greece and Turkey are
important and something which the Turkish Cypriot side wanted
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (24.09.13) reports that the Turkish and Greek
Foreign Ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Evangelos Venizelos agreed
yesterday in New York that the special representative of the Turkish
Cypriot leader Eroglu, Osman Ertug should visit Athens for contacts
with the Greek government and the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas
Mavroyiannis should visit Ankara for meetings with the Turkish
government. Describing the agreement as a “step taken for the first
time” in the Cyprus negotiations, the paper writes that the two
ministers expressed the view that the negotiations on the Cyprus
problem should start and be concluded the soonest.
In
statements to Kibris, Osman Ertug said that the development was
something that the Turkish Cypriot side wanted. Noting that the
Turkish Cypriot side was responding to the demand of the Greek
Cypriot side to meet with Ankara by demanding that the Turkish
Cypriots should also meet with Greece, Ertug recalled that the
Turkish demand had not been accepted and added: “We insisted on the
negotiations being held on the basis of equality. After this, such an
arrangement came up. It is an important development”.
Noting that the timing
and the format of the mutual visits of the representatives to Athens
and Ankara has not been known yet, Ertug said that this is a decision
in principle, “but the logic points out that the meetings will be
held simultaneously”. He added, though, that it would not be
correct to enter into details from now and “create a climate as if
these are preconditions”.
Ertug said that the
Turkish Cypriot side has been demanding that the two leaders should
meet in New York and argued that it would be a “good opportunity”
for the negotiations to begin at the leaders’ level, as both
leaders are in New York. “This process could resume under the
Secretary-General’s supervision”, he noted.
Ertug said that Eroglu
would meet tomorrow with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and on
Saturday with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.
Commenting on the
proposals submitted by President Anastasiades to Ban Ki-moon,
especially on the issue of the occupied fenced city of Varosha, Ertug
said that the views of the Turkish Cypriot side have not changed and
argued that no proposal was submitted to them on this issue.
“In
principle, Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution and if a
comprehensive solution is reached, this problem will also be solved”,
he added.
Ertug expressed also the
view that the EU could contribute in the negotiations at a
consultative level and the agreement to be reached should be adapted
to the EU legislation.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Eroglu
allegedly wants commitment in writing that the negotiations will
resume from the point they were left
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (24.09.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader,
Dervis Eroglu has said he expected that, after their meetings in New
York, “suggestions” would be made to President Anastasiades in
the direction of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
In
statements to illegal Bayrak television and “TAK news agency” in
New York, Eroglu argued that the negotiations should resume in
October from the point they had been left. He claimed that after he
had been “elected” he sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General
in which he was committed in writing that the negotiations would
continue from the point they had been left. He alleged that the same
commitment should be made by President Anastasiades as well.
Eroglu toured yesterday
the new headquarters of the “representation” of the breakaway
regime in New York accompanied by the regime’s representative,
Mehmet Dana.
Eroglu
argued that an agreement had been reached on the issue of the
resumption of the negotiating process in October and expressed his
sorrow because President Anastasiades’ stance on the issue of the
resumption of the negotiations is, allegedly, not clear. Eroglu
claimed that he is ready to resume the negotiations from the point
they had been left and said that the progress achieved could not be
thrown away and that what should be done is to reach an agreement on
the main issues the soonest.
Eroglu
said he would convey these views during his contacts in New York and
mainly during the meeting with the UN Secretary-General. Eroglu is
expected to meet today with the General Secretary of the Organization
for Islamic
Cooperation, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and afterwards to attend a
reception to be hosted by the Turkish Permanent Representation in
President Gul’s honor.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Gul
called on the Greek Cypriot side to respond positively to Turkey’s
steps
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.09.13), Turkish President Abdullah
Gul came together with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York
on Monday. Gul and Ban discuss the Syrian crisis as well as the
Cyprus problem.
The
Presidency of the Republic of Turkey issued the following press
release (online, 23.09.13) regarding the meeting between Gul and Ban
Ki-moon:
“President
Abdullah Gul, visiting New York where he will attend the 68th
Session of the UN General Assembly, met with Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon of the UN. Underscoring the significance of the drawing of a
comprehensive political strategy to come out of the crisis in Syria,
President Gul declared that it is time the UN took a concrete step
for its dignity and credibility. The President and Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon also tackled the Cyprus issue and the negotiations
between Israel and Palestine.
Stating
that the agreement on stripping Syria of its chemical weapons is an
affirmative development, President Gul accentuated that the problem
is not only about chemical weapons and underscored the significance
of the drawing of a comprehensive political strategy to come out of
the crisis in Syria. President Gul further declared that it is time
the UN took a concrete step for its dignity and credibility.
The
President also reiterated that Turkey’s will for resolution about
the Cyprus issue is certain and clear. This approach of Turkey
towards the issue is shared by the Turkish Cypriots as well, said the
President, adding that if the Greek Cypriots positively responded to
these steps, progress would be made towards a resolution.
5.
Davutoglu
met with Kerry in the side on the sidelines of United Nations General
Assembly
Ankara Anatolia news agency (23.09.13) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.
Ankara Anatolia news agency (23.09.13) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.
They
discussed the ongoing crisis in Syria, as well as other developments
in the Middle East and the ongoing changes in the region, in a
meeting that lasted longer than scheduled, according to diplomatic
sources.
The
New York meeting was a follow-up of a previous meeting held in Paris
between the foreign ministers of Turkey, the U.S., Britain and
France. Kerry informed Davutoglu about the recent meetings held in
The Hague and New York, after a meeting in Paris that clarified a
proposal to remove chemical weapons from Syria, according to the
sources.
Kerry
also informed Davutoglu about all elements that should be involved in
a U.N. Security Council decision on the issue, and the scheduled
meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the
P5+1 was also on the agenda. Davutoglu is scheduled to meet with
Zarif in the coming days.
Ankara’s
Ambassador to Washington, Namik Tan, participated in the meeting,
along with foreign ministry officials Feridun Sinirlioglu and Omer
Onhon, and advisor Ali Sarikaya.
6.
Korkmazhan:
Eroglu’s stance on the occupied Varosha is unacceptable
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (24.09.13) reports that Abdullah Korkmazhan,
general secretary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), said that the
stance of the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu regarding the
opening of the occupied Varosha is unacceptable.
In
a written statement issued yesterday, Korkmazhan also said that the
denial of the opening of occupied fenced off town of Varosha and port
is like putting obstacles in front of an early solution to the Cyprus
problem.
Korkmazhan
noted that the reason of the increased interest lately on the Cyprus
problem is to keep under control the oil and the natural gas of
Cyprus.
7.
Ex-US
Congressman organizes lobby for occupied Cyprus in the USA; The
expenses are paid by Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (24.09.13) reports that ex-US Congressman, Mike
McMahon will be holding lobbying activities in favor of the “TRNC”,
breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, in the United States
of America. According to information published on O’ Dwyer’s
blog, which is dealing with issues of public relations and marketing
communication, Herrick Feinstein Law Firm, in which McMahon is a
partner, will be paid 200 thousand US dollars annually in return of
its services to the “TRNC”.
According to the contract
signed with Herrick Feinstein, McMahon will organize trips to the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus with the participation of
members of the Congress and make sure that the occupied area of
Cyprus will be presented in a positive manner in the media.
Former
self-styled foreign minister of the regime, Kutlay Erk had said that
this kind of lobbying activities started during former Turkish
Cypriot leader Talat’s period and intensify when negotiations for
finding a solution to the Cyprus problem we held. Erk said that the
money is paid to the firms in installments in return to the services
they offer. He noted that in the past this amount had been paid by
the “president’s office”, but now it is paid by the “publicity
department”.
However, information
obtained by Kibris from an official in the “ministry of foreign
affairs”, who wants to remain unknown, the expenses for the
lobbying activities of the breakaway regime are covered by the
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The official said also that the
firm, which will be organizing the lobbying activities, has been
chosen upon Turkey’s “advise”.
(I/Ts.)
8.
Remains
of six Greek Cypriot missing persons were reportedly found in
occupied Neo Chorio Kythreas
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.09.13) reports that excavations
have started in occupied Neo Chorio Kythreas village in order to
unearth remains which are believed to belong to six Greek Cypriot
missing persons. The remains had been found the day before yesterday
during excavations for the foundations of a building. The operator of
the bulldozer informed the so-called police and the Committee on the
Missing Persons. It
has been announced that DNA tests will be conducted and the remains
will be given to the families.
Murat
Soysal, assistant of the Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee on
Missing Persons told Kibris that they had been informed two years ago
that six Greek Cypriot missing persons were buried in the area, but
their efforts gave no result then, due to the lack of eye witnesses.
Sevket Fedai, self-styled
mukhtar (headman) of the occupied village, said he informed the
“police” and the Committee on the Missing Persons as soon as he
found out about the incident and added: “We have been hearing many
stories in the past. The remains were really found under an olive
tree just like it had been said”.
(I/Ts.)
9.
Afrika
relieves the list: Atalay asked Kucuk to grant “TRNC citizenship”
to eleven persons
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (24.09.13) reports about a list sent
to the former prime minister Irsen
Kucuk by the office of the Turkish Minister Responsible for Cyprus
Affairs Besir Atalay in which it was asked that eleven persons were
granted the “TRNC citizenship”. The list was sent through a
letter issued by Atalay’s permanent undersecretary.
The
list was sent to Irsen Kucuk during the period that the election
congress of the National Unity Party (UBP) was taking place and
“Kucuk was distributing citizenships like bread and cheese”, as
the paper writes, in order to gain the necessary support to be
elected as the party’s leader, according to Afrika, which sites
information by the Kibris Manset news side.
The paper writes that in
the letter was asked as a favor from Kucuk to grant the “citizenship”
to 11 Turkish citizens, including Mustafa Kabakci MP with the ruling
in Turkey Justice and Development Party (AKP), to Sehmuz Barut who is
known for his rush reactions against the demonstrators in Gezi Par,
officials related to Cratos Hotel in occupied Cyprus and some wives
of militants who serve at the occupation army in Cyprus.
10.
Akansoy:
the system of granting the “citizenship” of the regime will
change; Illegal settlers say they will apply to ECHR
Under the title “New
system in the citizenship”, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar
newspaper (24.09.13) reports that Asim Akansoy, general secretary of
the “ruling” Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG),
stated yesterday to illegal Bayrak television that the “government”
proposes a system that provides for those living for five years
continuously in the occupied area of Cyprus to be able to obtain a
“white identity card” and after another five years to have the
right to apply for the “citizenship” of the breakaway regime.
Turkish Cypriot daily
Star Kibris newspaper (24.09.13) reports that representatives of
illegal settlers’ organizations reacted to the statement by Akansoy
that they would only obtain the right to apply for the “citizenship”
after ten years.
Enver Dincoglu, chairman
of the settlers’ organization called “Refugees’ Association”,
said that in case this practice is implemented, they will “knock
all doors, including the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)”.
Bertan Zaroglu, chairman
of the settlers from Alexandretta, argued that Akansoy’s statement
contradicts with the program of the “government” and alleged that
such an arrangement would be contrary to the “constitution” and
the human rights.
(I/Ts.)
11.
Yorgancioglu
confirms that he sent a letter to Ankara but says that the content
was different
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (24.09.13) writes that the so-called
prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu confirmed a report in yesterday’s
Turkish Cypriot press that he sent a letter to Ankara afters his
“election” but denied that it the letter was written that his
“government” will follow / obey the Economic Programme 2013-2015
“word for word”.
Yorgancioglu
stated instead, that in the letter he evaluated the deficient of the
protocol as these were evaluated lately and the needed changes.
12.
TYHA
awarded with 5 Gold Anchor Karpaz Gate Marina built in the occupied
part of Cyprus
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (24.09.13), “Karpaz Gate Marina”
has become the first marina in the occupied part of the Republic of
Cyprus to achieve Gold Anchor status after it was awarded the
prestigious 5 Gold Anchor rating following an assessment by The Yacht
Harbour Association (TYHA).
Managed
by the Sea-Alliance Group, the marina has benefited from the Group’s
extensive experience in the requirements of yacht owners, focusing on
customer service and the provision of industry-leading services both
in the marina itself and shore-side, the paper reports.
Director
of Sea-Alliance Roy Klajman said: “This is a significant milestone
for Karpaz Gate Marina and we are extremely proud of our team which
has produced the exceptional standards required to achieve this
award. Our attention to detail and comprehensive training of everyone
involved with the marina has created a blue print for other projects
in the future.”
TYHA
assessor Murat Tuncer described Karpaz Gate Marina, located in the
occupied Karpasia peninsula, as “an ideally situated base in the
heart of the area - the perfect place from which the Karpaz
peninsula’s pristine waters, untouched bays and deserted sandy
beaches can be explored”.
As
part of its 5 Gold Anchor status, Karpaz Gate Marina has also
achieved the internationally recognised ICOMIA (International Council
of Marine Industry Associations) clean marinas award.
12.
TYHA
awarded with 5 Gold Anchor Karpaz Gate Marina built in the occupied
part of Cyprus
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (24.09.13), “Karpaz Gate Marina”
has become the first marina in the occupied part of the Republic of
Cyprus to achieve Gold Anchor status after it was awarded the
prestigious 5 Gold Anchor rating following an assessment by The Yacht
Harbour Association (TYHA).
Managed
by the Sea-Alliance Group, the marina has benefited from the Group’s
extensive experience in the requirements of yacht owners, focusing on
customer service and the provision of industry-leading services both
in the marina itself and shore-side, the paper reports.
Director
of Sea-Alliance Roy Klajman said: “This is a significant milestone
for Karpaz Gate Marina and we are extremely proud of our team which
has produced the exceptional standards required to achieve this
award. Our attention to detail and comprehensive training of everyone
involved with the marina has created a blue print for other projects
in the future.”
TYHA
assessor Murat Tuncer described Karpaz Gate Marina, located in the
occupied Karpasia peninsula, as “an ideally situated base in the
heart of the area - the perfect place from which the Karpaz
peninsula’s pristine waters, untouched bays and deserted sandy
beaches can be explored”.
As
part of its 5 Gold Anchor status, Karpaz Gate Marina has also
achieved the internationally recognised ICOMIA (International Council
of Marine Industry Associations) clean marinas award.
13.
Turkey
says Russian suggestion to send Turkish troops to Syria not on
agenda
Turkish daily Today's Zaman newspaper (24.09.13) reports that Ankara has stated that a Russian suggestion to send Turkish troops to Syria along with Russian troops as part of a monitoring mission to protect the United Nations team that will carry out the process of destroying Syria's chemical weapons “is not currently on the agenda”.
Turkish daily Today's Zaman newspaper (24.09.13) reports that Ankara has stated that a Russian suggestion to send Turkish troops to Syria along with Russian troops as part of a monitoring mission to protect the United Nations team that will carry out the process of destroying Syria's chemical weapons “is not currently on the agenda”.
Despite
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggesting that Turkish and
Arab troops may also contribute to protecting the UN team that will
carry out the mission in the war-torn country, Turkish diplomatic
sources have stated that “Ankara has not yet received an official
request from the Russian side over the mission”.
“This
suggestion is Lavrov's personal opinion. We have not yet received an
official request. Therefore, the topic is not currently on our
agenda. In addition, it is very hard to evaluate this topic as
sending troops to a foreign country needs serious political
deliberation. However, we will evaluate such a proposal when it is
made by the Russian side,” said a senior Turkish diplomat, who
spoke to Today's Zaman on the condition of anonymity, on Monday.
The
Turkish diplomat also noted that it was not an easy task to send
Turkish troops -- even if they were part of a UN force -- to Syria,
as Ankara, which is the staunchest supporter of the Syrian opposition
that is fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been
at odds with the regime in Damascus.
“Moreover,
the areas where the chemical weapons are located are said to be under
the regime's control. So this makes the task tougher for us. The
process of destroying the chemical weapons is a troubling one. The
team that will destroy them should be protected,” said the
diplomat. The diplomat maintained that even if Turkey sends troops,
this should not be considered a military action, adding that the aim
would solely be to protect the UN team.
14.
Turkey,
Russia conduct joint air military exercise
Turkish
daily Hurriyet
Daily News (24.09.13) reports that Turkey and Russia are conducting a
two-day joint air military drill under the NATO-Russian Cooperative
Airspace Initiative, the Turkish army announced today.
“The
joint exercise is being held to test, evaluate, and develop both the
equipment and personnel of the new Ankara Area Control Center’s
ability to oppose the use of civilian aircraft in terror attacks
while cooperating with Russia under the aegis of the NATO-Russia
Cooperative Airspace Initiative,” the Chief of General Staff said
in a written statement.
Both
nations will be enacting the drill in the skies above Samsun, Sivas
and Trabzon and international airspace over the eastern Black Sea
region. The exercise will utilize two F-16 jet-fighters from the
Turkish Air Command, Unified Air Operations Center-2 (Diyarbakir)
personnel, as well as one TU-154 and four SU-27 jetfighters from
Russian Federation Air Command.
15.
Erdogan slams UN system depending on 5 Security Council members'
decisionsAnkara
Anatolia news agency (23.09.13) reports that Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that "a world that is stuck between
the opinions of five permanent members cannot be a fair one,"
regarding United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Speaking
at the opening of Asia-Pacific Congress and Expo in Istanbul's Lutfi
Kirdar Hall, Erdogan said the world was bigger than the "five"
(five permanent members of the UN Security Council: US, UK, Russia,
China and France) stressing that steps should be taken for peace and
welfare.
He added that two of the
permanent members locked the system by saying "no" for the
envisioned steps to be taken, underlining the must of a cycling
system.
Erdogan
also said
that Turkey is one of the exceptional countries in the region when it
comes to peace, stability, welfare and especially democracy. "We
find solutions for each existing domestic problems via democracy and
law. In regional issues, we support peace, welfare and stability,
especially the systems where demands of the people reflected on the
administration, where democracy and the will of nation are dominant
in the governmental system," Erdogan said.
16.
German
election results not likely to make a change for Turks
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (24.09.13) reports that the
German election results are not expected to have an impact on the
status of Turks in Germany, or Turkish-German relations for that
matter.
Although Merkel increased
the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)/Christian Social
Union of Bavaria (CSU) votes she slightly falls short of the absolute
majority that is required to form a single party government. Two
coalition scenarios stand out: either a grand coalition with the
Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is the second biggest party with
192 seats, or another coalition with the Greens, who hold 63 seats in
the federal parliament, the Bundestag.
Since
the CDU is likely to dominate in the coalition given its success in
the elections, Germany's policy towards Turkey's EU membership is
expected to be the same as a “state policy.” However, analysts
say that in case the Greens become part of the government, they would
favor Turkey's full membership to the EU. Yet, even CDU officials
reiterated several times that they desire the continuation of the
negotiation process despite occasional hiccups in their relations and
despite the tension between Merkel and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan.
As a development worth noting, German Foreign Minister Guido
Westerwelle, who has been a close ally with the Erdogan government,
lost his seat in parliament. Currently, there are no candidates who
stand out to fill his position.
As far as immigration
policies towards the Turks, the largest minority group in Germany,
are concerned, the overall atmosphere on the day after the election
is that nothing is going to change in their status. Merkel's CDU has
never promised dual citizenship. Observers state that the option
model, which requires the preference of one passport over the other
for Turkish immigrants between the ages of 18 and 22, will remain the
same.
The
head of the Berlin Turkish Society, Bekir Yilmaz,
told Today's Zaman that he does not believe the election results will
make a difference for Turks in Germany. Although he finds the
election of a higher number of Turks into parliament pleasing, he
believes that it is also important who is elected to the Bundestag.
According to him, Turks should take advantage of the interest of
German parties in immigrant votes.
An
unprecedented high number of politicians of Turkish origin entered
parliament in Sunday's elections. Five out of a total of 11 Turkish
politicians are from the SPD: Aydan Ozoguz, Metin Hakverdi, Cansel
Kiziltepe, Mahmut Ozdemir and Yuksel Gulistan. For the first time in
its history the CDU nominated a Turkish Muslim woman from its party
for the federal parliament: Cemile Giousouf, who made it to the
Bundestag on Sunday.
Cem
Ozdemir, the first politician of Turkish origin to be elected to
parliament from the Greens in 1994, has been re-elected. Ekin Deligoz
and Ozcan Mutlu are the other names who entered parliament from the
Greens. The Left Party, known for its sympathetic stance towards the
terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), will be represented by two
female politicians of Turkish origin in parliament: Sevim Dagdelen
and Azize Tank.
The
day after the federal elections, no statistical data were available
on the voting behavior of Turkish immigrants in Germany. A higher
voting turnout was expected by civil society organizations due to a
campaign conducted to encourage Turks in Germany to vote. Although
the number of Turkish voters is estimated between 600,000-900,000
people, there is still a significant number of Turks, especially from
first-generation immigrants, who chose not to become German citizens
and hence are not eligible to vote.
Meanwhile,
the BİG Party, which predominantly consists of Turkish immigrants
and people of other foreign descent, received 2,678 of the first
votes and 17,695 of the second votes.
Turkish
Ambassador to Germany Huseyin Avni Karslioglu told Today's Zaman that
Turkey is happy to witness an increase in the number of deputies of
Turkish origin as such a picture displays a good example of
integration. “We hope they would constitute a substantial
connection between Germany and their root country,” he further
added.
Commenting
on the results of the German elections, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister
Bulent Arinç said on Monday in İstanbul that Merkel had protected
her power and even increased it and will probably establish a
coalition. “I would like to congratulate the esteemed Angela
Merkel,” Arinç said as he noted that the debate over a coalition
is a domestic matter of Germany. He said Turkey would not lose
anything as a result of these election results, but gain instead. “I
think Merkel will pay more attention to Turkey's cooperation and
friendship,” Arinç added.
17.
Turkey's
post modern February 28 coup's transcripts of MGK unveiled
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (23.09.13) reports that court
in Ankara has unveiled on Monday the transcripts of the National
Security Council (MGK) meeting on the date of Turkey's post modern
February 28,1997 coup that forced former Prime Minister Necmettin
Erbakan to resign.
The
transcripts advised the government to take measures against radical
Islamist
groups who were opposed to a secular and social state of law and
aimed to establish an Islamic Republic based on sharia in Turkey.
National Security Council
had gathered on February 28, 1997 to discuss threats and destructive
activities aiming to topple Turkish Republic.
The
decisions made by the National Security Council are as follows:
-Radical
Islamist groups aiming to establish an Islamic Republic based on
sharia pose a threat against a democratic and secular state of law,
Turkey.
-Those radical groups
attempt to weaken Turkey by discriminating between secular and anti-
secular people.
-Secularism in Turkey
provides democracy and a peaceful lifestyle.
-Turkey
will never give up being a state of law and old-fashioned
implementations carried out by ignoring laws do not comply with
supremacy of law. Turkish president, prime minister, foreign
minister, deputy pm, minister of national defense, interior minister
and chief of general staff , commanders of the Turkish land forces,
naval forces and air forces and commander of the Turkish gendarme
forces had signed the transcripts.
-Measures to be taken
against the threats to topple Turkish Republic are as follows :
-Secularism, one of the
Turkish Republic's fundamental principles must be protected
sensitively, current legislations must be carried out and if needed,
new regulations must be made,
-Private dormitories,
foundations and schools associated with religious sects must be
brought under control by the state.
-Students must have an
eight-year of continuing education.
-Necessary administrative
and legal regulations must be carried out for Qur'an courses under
the control of the Ministry of National Education.
-Practices of religious
sects must be terminated.
-Implementations
regarding laws in clothing that will present Turkey as old fashioned
must be prevented.
-Attempts
to solve the country's problems with the notion of "Islamic
ummah" and those who support terrorist organizations must be
prevented.
-Those who abuse laws and
disrespect Ataturk, the founder of Turkish Republic, must not be
given any opportunities to do so.
The measures listed above
were only a part of the overall measures.
The
National Security Council made a total of 18 decisions during a
9-hour long meeting on Feb. 28, 1997 and presented them to Erbakan
for approval. He was forced to sign the decisions. He subsequently
resigned, handing over the Prime Ministry to his coalition partner,
True Path Party leader Tansu Ciller. However, then-president Suleyman
Demirel handed over the duty to form new government to Motherland
Party leader Mesut Yilmaz. He formed his government with Democratic
Left (DSP) and Democratic Turkey Party (DTP). DTP was constituted by
resignations from True Path Party, which was pressed hard by media
and judicial circles. Also, the Welfare Party that Erbakan led was
banned by the Constitutional Court as a result of accusation for
violating the principle of secularism in the constitution. During the
infamous process many steps, that are interpreted as a setback for
religious circles, were taken such as restrictions on graduates of
Islamic schools entering into universities and expulsion of
conservative people from public service.
In
2012, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an
investigation into the coup. The office prepared a 1,300-page
indictment that was accepted by the Ankara 13th High Criminal Court.
103 suspects, including Former Chief of General Staff Ismail Hakki
Karadayi, was asked to defend themselves on accusations of
“overthrowing the Turkish government by force.” Turkish army had
overthrown three administrations in 1960, 1971 and 1980.
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
YH
