TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
183/13 26.09.13
1. Eroglu describes as pleasing the
reciprocal visits of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot representatives in Ankara
and Athens
2. Eroglu meets Gul; Ertug: we discussed
how the “representations” of the breakaway regime abroad could be strengthened
3. Turkish Energy Minister Yildiz:
Turkey may drill for oil and gas in Cyprus
4. Turkish Cypriot delegation in New York
attends a reception hosted by President Gul
5. Davutoglu discusses Syria,
Balkans, Burma on the sidelines of UN General Assembly
6. Hollande promises to support
Turkey’s EU negotiation process
7. Atalay will lay the foundation
for two mosques in occupied Cyprus
8. “Immovable Property Commission” has
reportedly turned into Turkish land 8.853.000 square meters of occupied Greek
Cypriot land
9. “A workshop of evaluation and observation the global
climate change” in the occupied part of Lefkosia
10. Criminal complaint filed
against former President Demirel for his role in 1997 coup
11. CHP officials held contacts
in Washington
12. Eighteen prisoners, including
PKK convicts, escape from prison in eastern Turkey
13. Erdogan advisor says that
Turkey should quit its EU bid to grow stronger
14. Self-styled foreign minister
Nami met with the Yemen foreign minister
1. Eroglu describes as pleasing the
reciprocal visits of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot representatives in Ankara
and Athens
Illegal Turkish
Cypriot Bayrak television (26.09.13, online) broadcast that the Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu referred to the Cyprus problem during a visit to Peace Islands
in New York yesterday. Eroglu described as pleasing the decision of reciprocal
visits by the special representative of the Turkish Cypriot side and the
negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side to Athens and Ankara respectively. Eroglu
said that they are talking about a “new partnership to be established by two
founding states in Cyprus” and alleged that they want to eliminate the problem
so that Cyprus to become a “beautiful island”.
“The problem should
be solved by taking into account the characteristics of the two peoples”, he
argued claiming that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready for the solution of the
problem.
He reiterated that
when he had been “elected” in 2010, he sent a letter to the UN
Secretary-General noting that he was ready to continue the negotiations from
the point they had been left. “During the negotiations conducted in this
process, some important convergences were reached”, he argued and called on
President Anastasiades to state his commitment to these convergences.
Eroglu claimed that
President Anastasiades has put “various preconditions even before sitting at
the table” asking positive gestures from the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey.
He alleged that according to what the Greek Cypriot press had published, these
“preconditions” are reiterated in the letters sent by President Anastasiades to
the UN and the EU and put an obstacle for the beginning of the talks.
Eroglu argued that
the Greek Cypriot side is the one which should prove its good will and claimed
that the Greek Cypriot side has nothing to lose from the lifting of the
so-called isolations and embargoes allegedly implemented on the Turkish
Cypriots.
Eroglu said that the proposals submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side on
the issue of Cyprus’ hydrocarbon resources are still on the table and added
that they will recall these proposals at the meeting they will hold with the UN
Secretary-General.
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu meets Gul; Ertug: we
discussed how the “representations” of the breakaway regime abroad could be
strengthened
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (26.09.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader,
Dervis Eroglu met yesterday in New York with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Self-styled foreign minister, Ozdil Nami, Eroglu’s
special representative Osman Ertug and the regime’s so-called representatives
in New York and Washington, Mehmet Dana and Ahmet Erdengiz respectively
attended the meeting on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot side, while the Turkish
side was represented by Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, the Undersecretary
at the Foreign Ministry Fedidun Hadi and the Turkish Permanent Representative
at the UN, Halit Cevik.
In statements to KIBRIS
after the 45-minute meeting, Osman Ertug said that a full agreement existed
between Turkey and the “TRNC” on the issues discussed during the meeting. He
noted that they exchanged views on the Cyprus negotiations expected to resume
next month and discussed how the “TRNC’s” so-called representations abroad
could be strengthened.
Ertug said that they
discussed also the reciprocal visits of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot special
representatives to Athens and Ankara respectively and confirmed that “the
development experienced on this issue is a sign of the full equality that
exists between the two sides”.
Ertug said that Gul
and Eroglu discussed also the letter sent by President Anastasiades to the UN
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. “This letter was negatively received by
diplomatic circles here. It includes preconditions and elements which
contradict to the UN parameters”, he alleged.
Asked whether the
position of the Turkish side on the issue of the occupied fenced city of
Varosha was confirmed during the meeting, Ertug responded: “There is no need to
be confirmed. It is out of the question for something to change on this issue”.
Meanwhile, Eroglu will give a press conference on Saturday after his
meeting with the UN Secretary-General. The Turkish Cypriot delegation is
expected to return to the island on Sunday. It is said that Eroglu will return
later.
(I/Ts.)
3. Turkish Energy Minister Yildiz: Turkey may drill
for oil and gas in Cyprus
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (26.09.13) reports that Turkey’s Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa seismic vessel, which has been conducting offshore oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, could enter Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone in three weeks to continue exploration pending prime ministerial approval, Turkish Energy Minister TanerYildiz has said.
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (26.09.13) reports that Turkey’s Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa seismic vessel, which has been conducting offshore oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, could enter Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone in three weeks to continue exploration pending prime ministerial approval, Turkish Energy Minister TanerYildiz has said.
“The Barbaros
Hayrettin Paşa is drilling off the coast of the Mersin-İskenderun-Antalya
region. It will work there, for three weeks more. Later, we will speak with
Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] as to whether it will enter Cyprus’
exclusive economic zone. If the prime minister approves, the vessel could enter
to the north or south of Cyprus because it has both a technical and political
dimension,” Yildiz told private broadcaster A Haber in an interview early
today.
Yildiz also said
they might buy a new vessel depending on the work load.
4. Turkish Cypriot delegation in New
York attends a reception hosted by President Gul
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (26.09.13) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis
Eroglu attended yesterday a reception hosted by the Turkish President Abdullah Gul at the “Turkish
House” in New York on the accession of Turkey’s candidacy for becoming
non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2015-2016.
UN’s and Arab League’s Special Representative for Syria, El Ahdar el-Ibrahimi,
the Palestinian President, Mahmut Abbas, the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of
Somalia, Hasan Sheikh Mahmut and former US Foreign Secretary, Henry Kissinger
were among the participants in the reception.
(I/Ts.)
5. Davutoglu discusses Syria,
Balkans, Burma on the sidelines of UN General Assembly
Ankara Anatolia news agency (25.09.13) reports that
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who is in New York to attend UN
General Assembly 68th session, participated Tuesday in several bilateral,
trilateral meetings and initiatives that Turkey takes part in.
Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has met Lakhdar Brahimi, joint Special Representative
of the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria in New York.
Diplomatic
sources said, during the meeting, Davutoglu pointed out that there should be
fast and lasting solution meeting the expectations of Syrian public. Davutoglu
told Brahimi that gathering of the Second Geneva Conference was an unavoidable
necessity to put forth the parameters and objectives of the process, while
Brahimi briefed Davutoglu about the preparations for the Geneva II.
Davutoglu
participated in several regional and global initiatives besides his bilateral
meetings. During the trilateral meeting among foreign ministers of Turkey,
Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina, sources said that the parties agreed on widening
the scope of their cooperation. The ministers exchanged views about the
benefits of the Trilateral Business Forum that would be convened next year in
Sarajevo, emphasizing that the initiative created a positive dynamic in the
region instead of tension.
Davutoglu also
participated in the Organization for Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Rohingya
Contact Group meeting and highlighted that the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (ex
Burma) were still in a worrisome situation which needed to be addressed by the
OIC continuously and more efficiently.
Besides,
Davutoglu attended Bosnia Herzegovina Contact Group and noted that despite all developments;
the situation in Bosnia Herzegovina was still fragile, therefore called on the
OIC to support the country in all terms.
6. Hollande promises to
support Turkey’s EU negotiation process
Turkish daily Zaman (26.09.13) reports that French
President François Hollande, who met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul on the
side-lines of the UN General Assembly in New York, gave positive messages on
Turkey’s EU accession process and the Syrian crisis.
President
Hollande expressed his pleasure at meeting with President Gul and said he would
also pay a visit to Turkey in the near future and reiterated that he supports
the continuation of Turkey’s negotiation process with the EU after the chapters
are successively opened.
President Gul
expressed his belief that President Hollande’s visit to Turkey will boost the
bilateral relations between the two countries. Declaring that Turkey’s
membership in the EU is Turkey’s strategic orientation and objective, President
Gul underscored that Turkey attaches great importance that new chapters be
opened.
The two leaders
also discussed the Syrian civil war; both sides agreed that the agreement on
the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons should be turned into a UN
Security Council resolution with the power of sanction. They further reaffirmed
the continuation of the existing cooperation toward a resolution of the crisis
in Syria.
According to
diplomatic sources, France and Turkey share the same approach on the Syrian
crisis, the paper reports.
7. Atalay will lay the
foundation for two mosques in occupied Cyprus
Under the banner headline “In God’s mercy”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika (26.09.13), in its front page, reports that suddenly the
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs Besir Atalay, who
will illegally visit tomorrow the occupied area of Cyprus, will lay the
foundation for two mosques. The Hala Sulta Mosque in the occupied village of
Mia Milia, as well as the mosque in the illegal University of Near East,
(“YDU”).
According to the
paper, Atalay is coming in order to lay the foundations for projects, which
will conform more the Turkish Cypriots to Islamic law. The paper also writes
that the ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) is determined to design the
social structure of the Turkish Cypriots according to its own vision.
8. “Immovable
Property Commission” has reportedly turned into Turkish land 8.853.000 square
meters of occupied Greek Cypriot land
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (26.09.13) reports that the
so-called Immovable Property Commission established in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus has turned into Turkish eight million and 853 thousand
square meters of occupied Greek Cypriot land.
The paper writes that the Commission paid 133 million pound sterling to
Greek Cypriot refugees since its establishment in 2006. Havadis goes on and
notes that with the increase of Greek Cypriot applications to the “Commission”
especially in the period 2012-13 due to the economic crisis, “a serious
Turkification in the Greek Cypriot properties” is being held.
The paper writes that Greek Cypriots applied to the “Commission” for 14
million 709 thousand square meters of occupied land until today and adds that
compensation was paid for eight million 853 square meters of land, which
“passed to the Turkish land register”.
Moreover, 460
thousand square meters of land have been returned to their Greek Cypriot owners
and one million 196 thousand square meters were exchanged with Turkish Cypriot
property in the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
9. “A workshop of evaluation and observation the
global climate change” in the occupied part of Lefkosia
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (26.09.13), a workshop of “evaluation and
observation the global climate change” started yesterday in the occupied part
of Lefkosia. Experts from Turkey, FYROM, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Palestine, Russia
and Germany participate in the workshop, which will be held until Friday.
Dr. Mustafa Yildirim, Deputy General
Director of Turkish State Meteorological Service of Turkey’s Ministry of
Forestry and Water Affairs, also participates in the workshop.
10. Criminal complaint filed
against former President Demirel for his role in 1997 coup
Turkish daily Today's Zaman (26.09.13) reports that a
lawyer representing a number of plaintiffs filed a criminal complaint against Suleyman
Demirel, the Turkish president during the Feb. 28, 1997 period, for his role in
the coup.
The 18th hearing
of the historic trial, which involves 103 suspects accused of attempting to
overthrow a democratically elected government on Feb. 28, 1997, continued on
Wednesday at the Ankara 13th High Criminal Court, where defendants are
currently giving statements. Before the hearing began, lawyer Mustafa Polat
filed a criminal complaint against Demirel for his role in the “postmodern”
coup.
Polat also
requested that the defendants be asked whether they would like repentance to be
taken into account by the judges deciding their sentences. A coalition
government led by a now-defunct conservative party, the Welfare Party (RP), was
forced by the military to step down on Feb. 28, 1997. Not only was severe
damage done to fundamental rights and freedoms after the coup, but democracy
and the rule of law were also effectively suspended. The coup introduced a
series of harsh restrictions on religious life, with an unofficial but widely
practiced ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf at public institutions and
universities.
11. CHP officials held
contacts in Washington
Ankara Anatolia news agency (25.09.13) reports that
two deputies of the Republican People’s
Party (CHP), the party’s Deputy Chairman Faruk Logoglu and Umut Oran made statements
to journalists after contacts they held at the White House, State Department
and Pentagon.
“Where CHP's
views were once just a matter of interest, now we are faced with more
comprehensive and detailed questions, and this gives me the impression that the
US considers CHP as the potential ruling party in the next term," Logoglu
said.
Noting that the
purpose of their US visit was to share CHP's views on Turkey's domestic and
foreign issues ahead of an anticipated visit to the U.S. by party leader Kemal
Kilicdaroglu, Logoglu said that his general impression from the meetings so far
was that the US closely monitored the developments in Turkey, and were deeply
concerned about the consequences.
Regarding CHP'S
view on US-Turkey relations, Logoglu said that they preferred "strong and
sustainable relations based on common values and interests, regardless of the
conjuncture", and that they shared this with US officials. Referring to a
question posed at Pentagon, Logoglu said they (CHP), as well as about 70% of
the Turkish population was against a US military intervention in Syria;
however, they agreed with the US on finding a political solution.
As for a
question regarding how the US administration and Congress viewed the ruling AK
Party, Logoglu said that "lately the US officials have been able to
express their concerns more freely compared to previous visits, albeit not
directly".
Logoglu added
that they also met with a representative of the pro-Israel lobby group, AIPAC.
In response to a
question about whether there was a discord between the Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul, Logoglu noted that since Gul served
as a Foreign Minister for about 4 and a half years, and represented Turkey on
various international platforms, he had an extreme wealth of knowledge which
influenced his choice of words and mentality. Saying this was the reason why
Gul always had a more careful and restrained discourse, Logoglu said
"Nonetheless, it would be quite an exaggeration to see this as a deep difference
of opinion between the President and Prime Minister."
12. Eighteen prisoners,
including PKK convicts, escape from prison in eastern Turkey
Turkish daily Today's Zaman (26.09.13) reports that
security forces were hunting for 18 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party
(PKK) who escaped from prison in Turkey's southeast by digging a 70-metre-long
tunnel, police said on Wednesday.
The prison break
outside the city of Bingol comes days before Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan unveils a package of reforms designed to strengthen democracy and keep
on track a fragile settlement process to end a conflict between PKK members and
the Turkish state.
The PKK has been
fighting for autonomy for the mainly Kurdish southeastern region for almost
three decades in a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people. Among
Kurds' demands are changes to the anti-terrorism law that would make it more
difficult to jail non-combatants for ties with the PKK.
The prisoners
who escaped overnight were convicted of or charged with belonging to the PKK or
aiding and abetting the militants and are believed to be hiding in a
mountainous, wooded area of Bingol province, security officials said.
13. Erdogan advisor says that
Turkey should quit its EU bid to grow stronger
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (25.09.13)
reports that a top adviser to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote
on Wednesday that Turkey needs to stop aspiring to European Union membership
and seek to expand its influence in the Middle East and elsewhere, raising
questions as to whether Turkey is abandoning its goal of EU membership.
In his column
for the Star daily, titled “Could Turkey be among the leaders?” Yigit Bulut
said that “the West, or the imperial order” drew a roadmap for Turks during
both the Ottoman and republican eras to steer the course of events toward its
own benefit. Bulut explained his views by giving examples of Turkey's relations
with Germany from the fall of the Ottomans to the present day.
According to
Bulut, Turkey is the center and leader of a circle that includes the Middle
East, Central Asia and Africa. He said that Turkey's leadership emerged
“naturally” after 2006 when the country left behind the “artificial period of
1850 to 2006.”
“Today,
everything is under the control and will of the Turkish state, not the imperial
powers. Within the scope of this ‘natural leadership' in the region, I
personally think Turkey will be successful in leading the new models emerging
in the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa and that Turkey should immediately
get rid of the European Union scenarios. We're still dealing with those who
have wasted our time with nonexistent roadmaps for the last 150 years. If there
is a civilization project underway, it will emerge from the richness of our
roots and history, not from the EU, which has gone into a process of
dissolution,” Bulut said.
Bulut's
statements came as latest step down of declining expectations for Turkey's EU
accession process. Turkey's EU Minister Egemen Bagis has recently said that
Turkey will probably never become a member of the European Union because of
stiff opposition and "prejudiced" attitudes of current members, and
that Turkey had to accept that its long-cherished goal of joining the EU was
likely to end in disappointment.
14. Self-styled foreign minister Nami met with the
Yemen foreign minister
Illegal Bayrak television (26.09.13) broadcast that the self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime Ozdil Nami is having contacts in New York with representatives of countries which are members of the United Nations and the Organization for Islamic Cooperation.
Illegal Bayrak television (26.09.13) broadcast that the self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime Ozdil Nami is having contacts in New York with representatives of countries which are members of the United Nations and the Organization for Islamic Cooperation.
According to
Bayrak, Nami held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Yemen Abu-Bakr
Abdullah Al-Qirbi and they discussed ways of improving the relations between
Yemen and the breakaway regime.
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