No. 182/13 25/09/2013
1.
Reference by Gul to the Cyprus problem at the plenary session of
the 68th UN General Assembly
2.
Eroglu is satisfied with the agreement between Turkey and Greece on reciprocal
visits of the leaders’ representatives to Athens and Ankara
3. Eroglu meets with
the Emir of Qatar and the Azeri Foreign Minister
4.
Ozersay: former President Christofias could not accept a proposal on reciprocal
visits of the leaders’ representatives to Athens and Ankara
5.
Turkish Cypriot professor argues that Ertug could discuss only the issue of
guarantees in Athens
6.
Akansoy described as a “positive development” the latest mobility on the Cyprus
problem
7.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister to attend the opening ceremony of theological
college in occupied Mia Milia
8.
ISAD said that Cyprus settlement is a condition for saving the economy of the
breakaway regime
9.
Izcan called on Yorgancioglu to disclose Ankara’s letter; Mungan: no need of
revision of the economic protocol
10. Changes to the so-called
citizenship law may take place in the breakaway regime
11. Davutoglu discussed Cyprus
problem with Asthon on the sidelines of
the UN General Assembly
12. Gul addresses the 68th UN General Assembly giving
extra weight on Syria
13. Turkey gets cold shoulder from Shanghai
Cooperation Organization
14. Turkey, Russia agree to
extend simplified customs procedures
15. Kilicdaroglu to apply to ECtHR against AKP for
claims of damages
16. Turkey reacts against Eurocourt ruling over
visas
1.
Reference by Gul to the Cyprus problem at the plenary session of
the 68th UN General Assembly
Under the title “We are committed to the target of the
solution”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.09.13) reports that the
Turkish President Gul has alleged that his country, as guarantor power in Cyprus,
is fully and sincerely committed to finding a just and negotiated solution to
the Cyprus problem.
According to Kibris, during his address at the plenary session of the 68th
UN General Assembly, Gul said the following on the Cyprus
problem:
“Repeated attempts towards a peaceful settlement have
ended in failure, including the rejection of the Annan Plan in 2004. Turkey, as
a guarantor, is fully and sincerely committed to finding a just and negotiated
settlement. We therefore expect the international community to urge the Greek
Cypriots to reciprocate by engaging in result-oriented and time-framed negotiations
in good faith. Those who must solve this question are the Turks and Greeks of
Cyprus. They must start negotiating as soon as next month, with no ifs or buts.
The settlement of the Cyprus question is essential to a stable and peaceful
Eastern Mediterranean.”
(I/Ts.)
2.
Eroglu is satisfied with the agreement between Turkey and Greece on
reciprocal visits of the leaders’ representatives to Athens and Ankara
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.09.13)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has expressed
satisfaction with the agreement reached in New York between the Turkish and
Greek Foreign Ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Evangelos Venizelos on the issue of
reciprocal visits by the special representatives of the Cypriot leaders to Athens
and Ankara. In a statement yesterday at the breakaway regime’s representation
office in New York, Eroglu said that they had been saying since a long time
that such a development could constitute “the first step towards a four-party
meeting”.
Eroglu called on President Anastasiades to meet with
him in New York under the supervision of the UN Secretary-General and
immediately launch the negotiations for reaching a solution to the Cyprus
problem at the level of the leaders.
Eroglu went on and said that the Turkish Cypriot side
is examining the letters sent by President Anastasiades to the UN
Secretary-General and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel
Barosso, and will give the necessary replies.
Meanwhile, according to Kibris Eroglu met with the
general secretary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
at the “Turkish House” in New York. The regime’s representative in New York,
Mehmet Dana and Eroglu’s special representative, Osman Ertug also attended the
meeting.
(I/Ts.)
3. Eroglu meets
with the Emir of Qatar and the Azeri Foreign Minister
Kibris Postasi news website (25.09.13), reports that
the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu met yesterday with the Emir of Qatar,
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan, Elmar Maharramoglu Mammadyarov.
Eroglu’s meeting with the Sheikh of Qatar was held at
Qatar’s representation and his meeting with Mammadyarov at the “Turkish House”
in New York.
After the meeting with the Azeri Minister, Eroglu
attended a reception hosted by the Turkish Permanent Representative in
President Gul’s honor.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Ozersay: former President Christofias could not accept a proposal on
reciprocal visits of the leaders’ representatives to Athens and Ankara
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (25.09.13)
reports that Kudret Ozersay, former representative of the Turkish Cypriot
leader Eroglu and current leader of the “Toparlaniyoruz (We are gathering
strength) Movement”, has said that a proposal on the issue of reciprocal visits
by the special representatives of the Cypriot leaders to Athens and Ankara had
come onto the agenda in 2011 in Geneva.
In a statement issued yesterday on social media,
Ozersay commented on the recent agreement reached in New York between the
Turkish and Greek Foreign Ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Evangelos Venizelos and
argued that the then President Christofias “could not say yes” to this proposal
submitted by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon in 2001. Ozersay noted that
then the Turkish side had said that it accepts the proposal “if the
representatives of the two sides are received in the same status and
conditions”. He argued that the then President Christofias had said that he
needed time to think about it, but he “refrained from giving a positive
response” to the UN.
Noting that the agreement is a positive development,
Ozersay expressed the view that this “new negotiation modality” will not solve
the problems by itself, but it could be “helpful in breaking some artificial
perceptions/ prejudices” of the Greek Cypriots about Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
5.
Turkish Cypriot professor argues that Ertug could discuss only the issue of
guarantees in Athens
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.09.13)
reports that Ahmet Sozen, head of the illegal Eastern Mediterranean
University’s (DAU) International Relations’ Department, has described as “very
important from the point of communication between the sides” the meetings of
the representatives of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides in Athens and
Ankara. In statements to Kibris, Sozen recalled that communication takes an
important place in the solution of disagreements and added that especially the
Greek Cypriot side has been demanding to meet with Turkish officials for a long
time. He said that in this manner the Greek Cypriots will be able to convey
their demands, worries and fears to Turkish officials at first hand.
He argued that the wish of the Greek Cypriot side was
realized and the opportunity to complain was taken away from it. He noted that
in order to achieve the principle of equality, the Turkish Cypriot side will
hold meetings in Greece, but he wondered what Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu’s
representative, Osman Ertug will discuss with Greek officials.
Sozen expressed the view that Ertug could discuss only
the issue of guarantees with Greek officials, because for many years now the
doctrine of the “Greek Cypriots decide and Greece supports” is implemented in
Cyprus. “Greek Cypriot negotiator Mavroyiannis has many things to discuss in
Ankara, but Mr Osman has not many things to discuss in Athens”, he argued.
(I/Ts.)
6.
Akansoy described as a “positive development” the latest mobility on the
Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (25.09.13)
reports that Asim Akansoy, general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party –
United Forces (CTP-BG), evaluating the Cyprus problem at a television
programme, said that a possible solution in the Cyprus problem should be in the
light of the consensuses reached until today, adding that the political will
has reached the stage to take decisions.
He also said that he is hopeful due to the mobility in the latest days
regarding the Cyprus problem.
Akansoy described as a “positive
development” 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.
Commenting on
the opening of the occupied fenced off town of Varosha, Akansoy said that the
Varosha issue is part of the comprehensive solution and it is not possible to
be discussed as a separate issue at the negotiations.
Responding to a
question regarding the letter sent by the “government” to Turkey’s “Aid
Committee” for the economic protocol 2013-15, Akansoy stressed that he doesn’t
understand why this issue has been discussed so much. He explained that the
letter was prepared by experts, who asked to meet with the “prime minister” to
discuss some matters be in the protocol.
7.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister to attend the opening ceremony of theological
college in occupied Mia Milia
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.09.13)
reports that the opening of Hala Sultan Theological College that started
operating in occupied Mia Milia area and the groundbreaking ceremony of four
projects, including the Hala Sulta Mosque (in the same area) will be held on
Friday 27 September. The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs,
Besir Atalay will illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus in order to
attend both the opening and the groundbreaking ceremony.
Meanwhile, Kibris reports also that the self-styled
minister of education, Mustafa Arabacioglu inspected yesterday the classrooms
of the theological college in occupied Mia Milia. In statements after the
visit, Arabacioglu said that when the buildings of the theological college are
completed, it would be turned into an educational complex which will have the
capacity of hosting 1200 students. He recalled that the groundbreaking ceremony
of the building had been held in 2012 and added that the opening will take
place on Friday 27 September, 2013. He noted that the building is constructed
with the financial aid of “esteemed institutions from the Republic of Turkey”,
without the Turkish government or the self-styled government of the breakaway
regime to pay anything. He said that together with Atalay, Rifat
Hisarciklioglu, chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of
Turkey (TOBB), which contributed in the construction of the complex, and
representatives of other institutions which have also contributed, will attend
the opening ceremony.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper
(25.09.13) wonders what messages Atalay will give after the rejection of his
demand from the Republican Turkish Party to establish a “coalition government”
with the National Unity Party (UBP). According to Halkin Sesi, the general
secretary of the primary school teachers’ trade union (KTOS), Sener Elcil
recalled that the self-styled prime minister Yorgancioglu had been among those
protesting against the construction of the theological school when he was in
the opposition. Elcil wondered whether Yorgancioglou and the self-styled deputy
prime minister Serdar Denktas will attend the ceremony on Friday.
(I/Ts.)
8.
ISAD said that Cyprus settlement is a condition for saving the economy of
the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris
(25.09.13) reports that the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Businesspeople
Association (ISAD) Metin Sadi, in an interview with the paper, said that the
businessmen have great problems regarding the imports and exports due to the
political situation in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Claiming that the implementation of the
economic cooperation programme signed between the occupation regime and Turkey
is a condition, besides the solution, in order to liberate the economy of the
breakaway regime, Sadi said that the sides should sit in the table, discuss the
protocol and revise it.
Sadi alleged the Cyprus settlement is a
condition for saving the economy of the breakaway regime, proposing that “TRNC”
may also unite with Turkey.
9.
Izcan called on Yorgancioglu to disclose Ankara’s letter; Mungan: no need of
revision of the economic protocol
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes
(25.09.13), Izzet Izcan, leader of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), called on the
self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu, to announce the content of the
letter, which was supposedly sent to Ankara for the implementation of the
economic package.
In a written announcement yesterday, Izcan
noted that the “coalition government” of the Republican Turkish Party and the
Democratic Party (CTP-DP) is not a transparent “government”, as it claimed to
be, adding that the concealment of the letter sent to Ankara regarding the
economic package is unacceptable.
Izcan wonders why they have hidden from
the public this letter.
On the same issue, self-styled minister
of finance, Zeren Mungan, said that there is a tight cooperation between the
occupation regime and Turkey. He noted that the “ministry of finance” does not
need to revise the economic protocol.
10. Changes to the so-called
citizenship law may take place in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (25.09.13)
reports that the self-styled minister of interior Teberruken Ulucay, made
statements regarding the “citizenship issue” in the breakaway regime.
Ulucay said that
efforts has started so that, as it was mentioned at the “government program” of
the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), “TRNC citizenships” to be applied by the
self-styled assembly and not by the “council of ministers”.
11. Davutoglu discussed Cyprus
problem with Asthon on the sidelines of
the UN General Assembly
Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.09.13) reports that
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Tuesday attended the ministers
meeting of the initiative of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and met
with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Saud al-Faisal and EU High Representative
Catherine Ashton separately.
According to
diplomatic sources, Davutoglu discussed Turkey-EU relations with the High
Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Catherine Ashton.
Davutoglu and
Ashton also talked about Iran's nuclear program as Ashton is the top negotiator
on Iran's nuclear program for the P5+1 countries which have been conducting
negotiations with Iran on the nuclear dispute.
Turkish FM also
pointed out the Cyprus problem and the latest development regarding Cyprus.
Davutoglu also
spoke at the ministers meeting of the initiative of Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT). In the meeting, Iran, Syria and the latest developments in the
Middle East were discussed.
Underlining the
stockpile of Syrian chemical weapons, Turkish Foreign Minister stressed that
not only nuclear weapons in the region but also all weapons of mass destruction
(WMD) must be cleared off.
Davutoglu and
Al-Faisal discussed the latest developments in Syria and the steps which can be
taken for the country's future.
12. Gul addresses the 68th UN General Assembly giving
extra weight on Syria
Ankara Anatolia
news agency reports that Turkish President Abdullah Gul addressed the delegates
during the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on
Tuesday. He gave extra weight on Syria crisis on his speech.
Addressing the
delegates during the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New
York, Gul underlined that "the agreement to destroy Syria’s chemical
arsenal must not allow the regime to avoid responsibility for its other
crimes."
Touching upon
the function of the whole UN system, Gul said "We all need a strong,
efficient, and credible UN." Gul added, "We need a UN fit for purpose
in the face of current global realities."
Giving extra
weight on Syria, Gul said "No issue facing us is more pressing than the
situation in Syria". About US-Russian agreement on Syria, Gul said,
"Turkey welcomes and firmly supports the US-Russian agreement to eliminate
Syria’s arsenal of chemical weapons."
"We cannot
forget that chemical weapons were used against Syrian civilians only a month
ago," Gul highlighted. Gul urged,
"The perpetrators of this crime against humanity must be held accountable
and be brought to justice."
Seeing this
agreement on Syrian chemical weapons as an opportunity, Gul said "I hope
it will be a first step in the formation of a security architecture to ensure
the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East."
Criticizing
international community, Gul said "Were it not for the use of chemical
weapons, would the international community have continued to turn a blind eye
to the deaths of more than a hundred thousand people?"
"For how
long can we afford to evade our moral responsibility to the people being killed
even as we speak?" Gul said. Gul underlined that "The agreement to
destroy Syria’s chemical arsenal must not allow the regime to avoid
responsibility for its other crimes." "It is a disgrace that the
United Nations Security Council has failed to uphold its primary responsibility
in this case," Gul said. "The Syrian people’s cries for help went
unheeded," Gul said.
Gul said
"What could match the Syrian people’s disappointment as they suffered the
worst massacre of the twenty-first century as the international community
simply looked on?" "We must devise and enforce a political strategy
led by P5 and the neighboring countries," Gul said.
Referring to
Turkey's candidacy for a non-permanent member of UN Security Council for the
term 2015-2016, he said the following:
"Turkey is
candidate. […] If elected, Turkey will bring an independent voice to the
Security Council; one that listens to all and tries to find comprehensive and
lasting solutions through dialogue."
13. Turkey gets cold shoulder from Shanghai
Cooperation Organization
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman newspaper (24.09.13) reports that despite Turkey's desire to
establish closer ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Turkey,
an SCO dialogue partner, was not invited to the organization's latest summit in
Bishkek. This, analysts say, is the result of Turkey's image -- due to its
Western-linked foreign policy -- as a Trojan horse of the West.
“They don't want to have Turkey, which they
see as a Trojan horse of the West, among them,” Murat Bilhan, vice chairman of
the Turkish-Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM), has said.
Unwillingness on
the part of the SCO -- or one of its full members in particular -- became more
obvious in April at the Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference in Almaty,
Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of which Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet
Davutoglu and General Secretary of the SCO Dmitry Mezentsev signed a memorandum
of understanding granting Turkey dialogue-partner status in the organization.
That is far from
the rank Turkey seeks in the SCO, which brings together Russia, China and other
countries in the region in an apparent counter to US influence in Central Asia.
Turkey was announced about a year ago as a dialogue partner by the
organization, but at the beginning of this year, the Turkish Foreign Ministry
made clear that it wants higher status. “Naturally, we wish to become an
observer member, […] to improve cooperation with the organization as much as
possible,” Selcuk Unal, then Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, said at a
press conference at the end of January.
“One of the
[full] members of the organization is against Turkey's admission to the
organization,” a Turkish official who spoke on condition of anonymity has told
Today's Zaman. Although Turkey hoped, after the signing of the memorandum, to
get invited to the Bishkek summit, dialogue partners were not issued
invitations.
Given the fact
that Turkey's position on the Syrian conflict is diametrically opposed to that
of leading SCO members like Russia and China, Turkey's foreign policy choices
may have had an effect on the SCO's attitude toward Turkey, analysts believe. In
a sign of the organization's diplomatic priorities, Russian President Vladimir
Putin met, at the 13th meeting of the council of SCO leaders in Bishkek, with
Hassan Rohani, newly elected president of Iran, which has observer member
status. “Russia may be opposing Turkey's higher status in the SCO because of
the country's Syria policy,” Yasar Yakıs, a former foreign minister of Turkey,
had previously told Today's Zaman.
14. Turkey, Russia agree to
extend simplified customs procedures
Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.09.13) reports that
Turkish minister of customs and trade Hayati Yazici has said Turkey and Russia
had agreed to extend application of a set of simplified customs procedures --
currently available at one customs checkpoint -- to other such facilities in a
bid to boost trade ties between the two nations.
In a written
statement on Tuesday, Yazici said that Turkish Ministry of Customs and Trade
and Russian Federation Customs Authority had decided to include three more
customs checkpoints in "the Green Line" which was first introduced in
2009.
Yazici said the
Green Line will be available at Triyebortniye Crossing on the Ukrainian border
(beginning on October 15, 2013), Verhkny Lars Crossing on the Georgian
border (beginning on January 1, 2014),
and Tuapse Port on Black Sea coast (beginning
on October 15, 2013).
Referring to the
advantages of Green Line, Yazici stated that it will enable benchmark value
application and physical examination of the goods to be exempt from custom
clearance procedure and shorten the time for custom clearance.
15. Kilicdaroglu to apply to ECtHR against AKP for
claims of damages
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman newspaper (24.09.13) reports that Republican People's Party (CHP)
leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu said he would apply to the European Court of Human
Rights (ECtHR) for claims of damages. “I had no case for claims of damages
before the ruling Justice and Development Party [AKP] included politics in the
justice system,” said the CHP leader. Kılıcdaroglu also criticized judges for
ignoring Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's similar statements.
Speaking at a
meeting with economy correspondents on Tuesday, Kilicdaroglu touched on various
topics including Erdogan's criticisms about the CHP, last week's terrorist
attack on the police headquarters in Ankara, the democratization package,
constitutional amendments and freedom of universities.
In response to
Erdogan's statement saying that the CHP is hand to hand with terrorist
organizations, Kilicdaroglu accused Erdogan of maintaining close relationships
with terrorist organizations, comparing the Prime Minister to catholic
religious leader Monk Pierre L'Hermit, who provoked people against Turks and
the Islam world, during the Crusades.
Regarding the
terrorist attack on Friday evening that targeted buildings belonging to the
Security General Directorate in Ankara, the CHP leader recalled the
government's statement that they had been following the attackers and asked why
they had failed to apprehend them before the attack. “This is an obvious case
of conspiracy,” Kilicdaroglu stated.
Saying that he
has no information on the details of the democratization package, the CHP
leader expressed his party's support for the package if it really would bring
about democracy. Kilicdaroglu also noted that in order to bring about
democracy, the government should change the Sept. 12 coup constitution first. In
the meeting, the CHP leader mentioned the freedom of universities, saying it
would be wrong to use the police to maintain discipline in universities.
In addition,
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily news (25.09.13) reports that CHP accused Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of being the main financer of the radical Islamist
groups in Syria, claiming the state’s assets have been mobilized for these
groups.
“If you bring
foreign radical elements into Turkey, train, arm and finance them, then it has
a cost,” Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu said
yesterday at a meeting with economy reporters. Turkey’s 900-km border with
Syria is only “a border on paper, but in reality those borders have turned into
a parking area,” said Kılıcdaroglu.
16. Turkey reacts against Eurocourt ruling over
visas
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily news (25.09.13) reports
that the decision of the Court of Justice of European Union (ECOJ) refusing to
grant Turkish citizens the right to visa-free travel, has been fiercely
criticized by the Turkish government that described the rule as “unjust,”
“political” and conflicting with the ongoing process between Ankara and
Brussels for visa liberalization.
In a written
statement, Turkey’s EU Minister Egemen Bagis underlined that some EU countries
who were pushing Turkey to sign the Readmission Agreement to move forward in
visa-free travel talks had put the Court under pressure and had issued negative
assessments with regard to the case.
“This situation
created suspicions about the sincerity of these countries over the visa
liberalization process. It should be noted that Turkey will not ignore the
positions of these countries during its talks with the European Commission,” Bagıs
said in his statement.
Turkey and the
European Commission were planning to accelerate a process that would grant
visa-free travel rights to Turkish citizens in return for Ankara’s signing of
the Readmission Agreement. The court’s decision is likely to create further
difficulties for the parties to advance, due to the growing lack of confidence.
Bagıs said the
court’s ruling was mainly political and was aiming at creating new borders
within the European continent although the EU claimed to be removing such
boundaries. “This decision of the ECOJ is unfortunate as regards the principle
of rule of law, one of the most fundamental values of the EU,” he said.
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