TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
197/13 17.10.13
1. Special representatives visits to Athens and Ankara reportedly to
be held next week
2.
The EU Progress report: EU needs to step up its engagement and continue to support
Turkey
3.
Arinc blames EU countries for Turkish people's diminishing beliefs in
membership; Bagis declines to comment due to the Muslim Eid al Adha festival
4.
Kilicdaroglu: Report shows AKP cannot progress; Bahceli: it’s a play
5. How the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press covers the EU Progress
report
6.
Columnist: “Reading the EU call to Turkey correctly”
7.
Istanbul to host “World Energy Congress 2016”
8. Chambers of commerce of both side stressed the need for the
solution of Cyprus problem
1. Special representatives visits to Athens and Ankara reportedly
to be held next week
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
newspaper (17.10.13) reports that the visits of Osman Ertug, special
representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu and Andreas Mavroyannis,
Greek Cypriot side negotiator for the Cyprus talks, to Athens and Ankara
respectively, are expected to take place next week.
The paper, citing information by
a source close to “presidency”, writes that the dates of the visits are not
determined yet; however they may be held on 22 and 23 of October. The same
source also told the paper that the visits of both representatives will be held
in equal basis and that they will meet with Greek and Turkish undersecretaries
of the Greek and of the Turkish Foreign Ministries.
The paper notes that the visits
which are the first of its kind during the negotiation process of the Cyprus
problem are considered to be very important by the Greek Cypriot leadership.
According to the source, the
Greek Cypriot side will be disappointed if it expects to gain anything outside
of the negotiations during the contacts in Ankara, since, the source noted,
that the negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side in not Turkey but the Turkish
Cypriots.
The source also denied reports of
the Greek Cypriot press that Ertug will meet in Athens with DemetrisKarataides,
the honorary ambassador, consultant of Cyprus problem of the Greek Foreign
Ministry.
2. The
EU Progress report: EU needs to step up its engagement and continue to support Turkey
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
16.10.13), under the title “Gezi puts its mark on EU Progress Report”, reported
that the European Union released its progress report on Turkey Oct. 16, with
anti-government Gezi protests in June putting a mark on crucial parts of the
document, including democracy and the rule of law, financial services and the
media.
The report also highlights a number of
important steps taken by Turkey over the past 12 months, notably the adoption
of the fourth judicial reform package and the peace process to end militancy
and violence in the southeast of the country.
The report, however, said the political
climate in Turkey continued to be marked by polarization. “This translated into
an understanding of democracy as relying exclusively on a parliamentary
majority, rather than a participative process in which all voices are heard,
and finally in an uncompromising stance in the face of dissent and a failure to
protect fundamental rights and freedoms.”
On Cyprus,
the report said Turkey had expressed support for a resumption of talks aimed at
achieving a comprehensive solution to the issue under the offices of the United
Nations. “However, Turkey has still not complied with its obligation of full
non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association
Agreement and has yet to remove all obstacles to the free movement of goods,”
it said.
Overall, the European Commission urged EU
states to confirm their willingness to give new impetus to ties with Turkey by
resuming talks, and added that issues in the report underlined the importance
for the bloc to enhance its engagement with Turkey on fundamental rights.
“It is in the interest of both Turkey and
the EU that the opening benchmarks for chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental
Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security) are agreed upon and communicated
to Turkey as soon as possible with a view to enabling the opening of
negotiations under these two chapters. This would significantly contribute to
ensuring that the EU remains the benchmark for reforms in Turkey,” the report
said.
Meanwhile, EU Enlargement Commissioner
Stefan Fule said Oct.16 the "time has come" to put Turkey's accession
process on track, in line with the understanding in the progress report.
Fule said the protests in May and June and
the excessive use of force by police along with the overall absence of dialogue
had raised serious concerns.
3. Arinc
blames EU countries for Turkish people's diminishing beliefs in membership;
Bagis declines to comment due to the Muslim Eid al Adha festival
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online,
16.10.13), under the title “Turkey blames ‘irresponsible' EU countries for
waning public support for membership”, reported that Turkish Deputy Prime
Minister BulentArinc has put the blame on “irresponsible” European Union
countries for declining support among the Turkish public for the country's EU
membership.
“There has been a noteworthy decline in our
public's support for the EU. It has declined to around 18 - 20% from 75%. We
are not to blame on this issue. The irresponsible EU counties who brought
obstacles and who attempted to question Turkey are at fault in this [decline],”
Arinc said on Wednesday.
His remarks came hours after the European
Commission announced its new progress report on Turkey, which criticized Turkey
for what it says, is "an uncompromising stance" against dissent and a
failure to protect fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and assembly,
while also praising some recent reforms.
On the same issue, Today’s Zaman (online,
16.10.13), under the title “EU hails Turkish reforms, calls for 'truly
participatory democracy'”, reported that Turkey is deeply frustrated at what it
sees as humiliating treatment by Europe, which has turned its public opinion
against EU membership. Turkish EU negotiator EgemenBagis complained this month
that the EU has held dozens of summits with Russia, China, Brazil and other
partners in the last decade but only one with Turkey and other candidate
countries.
Bagis had complained on Twitter at the
weekend about the EU publishing the report during the Muslim Eid al Adha
festival, which began on Monday afternoon and lasts all week.
His press adviser confirmed to Reuters on
Wednesday that the government would not issue a response until after the
holiday.
4. Kilicdaroglu:
Report shows AKP cannot progress; Bahceli: it’s a play
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 17.10.13), the progress report unveiled by the European Union
Commission clearly shows that the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
government has not fulfilled its responsibilities in the fields of politics,
the judiciary and human rights, the main opposition Republican People’s Party
(CHP) has suggested.
“The report basically reveals that the AKP
cannot carry Turkey a step forward towards the EU. The AKP, which has not
succeeded in opening negotiations on even a single chapter for years, will not
be able to progress in the upcoming years. In fact, this report shows that it
is the AKP that cannot progress, not Turkey,” CHP deputy chair Erdogan Toprak
said on Oct. 16 in a written statement.
Recalling that the report described the
police’s use of excessive force during Gezi protests as “unacceptable,” Toprak
said it was a “shame on the AKP.” “Even this single issue is enough for the AKP
to be ashamed,” he said.
Also commenting on the report, Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) leader DevletBahceli dismissed it as “play.” “The EU
releases a report every October. It neither stands behind its report nor does
it expect Turkey to take it into consideration. This is a play,” Bahceli told
reporters during a party meeting in Ankara.
5. How the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press covers the EU
Progress report
The Turkish and Turkish Cypriot
press covers today (17.10.13) the EU Progress report as follows:
Hurriyet: “Three good and two bad points from EU to the government” and notes
that while the Turkish government is praised for the democratization package is
criticized for the Gezi Park incident.
Sabah reports on the issue under the title:
“Strong support by the EU for the package”.
Zaman: “Fulle: What shall we say to the Turks?”. The paper also writes
that the EU Minister EgemenBagis stated that he will not comment on the report
until after the end of the KurbanBayram.
Radikal: “Gezi Park, Gul and government at the EU report”.
Kibris: “The EU Report announced”. The paper writes that the same phrases
that were used in the past are used at the report as regards the Cyprus
problem.
YeniDuzen: “Warnings against the violence, noting for solution (of Cyprus
problem)”
6. Columnist:
“Reading the EU call to Turkey correctly”
Columnist Murat Yetkin, writing in Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 17.10.13), makes the first assessment of the
EU Progress Report on Turkey. Yetkin wrote, inter alia, the following:
“It seems that Erdogan’s half-full glass
package has served as a last minute move to save Turkey from a more bitter report
and the EU from releasing one that could further sever relations with Turkey,
which are already not in a bright stage after 50 years in the waiting room. (…)
The report says the Gezi Park
demonstrations have ‘reflected [an] emergence of vibrant, active citizenry’ in
Turkey, representing the most open praise ever by an international body so far
regarding the largest wave of protests ever in Turkey, which have been
condemned by the government as being ‘ill-intentioned’.
Another interesting point made by the
report is the distinction made between President Abdullah Gul and the Erdogan
government, regarding political tensions including Gezi. Gul’s role was
described as ‘conciliatory’ and warning citizens against ‘polarization’, while
the government was accused of ‘adopting an uncompromising stance during
protests, including a polarizing tone towards citizens, civil society
organizations and business’. (…)
The report is a call to Turkey from the EU.
Despite the exhausting duration and nature of relations, neither Brussels nor
Ankara wants to sever relations completely. It is also true that the EU has not
been fair to Turkey, as it was to adopt a number of eastern and southern
European members, including the Cyprus government in 2004. Still, the call of the
report should be read correctly in Ankara; the expectations are still high in
Brussels about further democratization in Turkey, and Gezi is not seen as an
obstacle but an opportunity for European eyes to bridge the political cultures
in between.”
7. Istanbul
to host “World Energy Congress 2016”
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(16.10.13), Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources TanerYildiz has
said Wednesday that Istanbul will host the "World Energy Congress
2016".
Attending the 22nd World Energy
Congress, being held in Daegu, South Korea from October 13 to 17, Yildiz said
the congress gave an opportunity to network with top global players, explore
business opportunities, secure investment, and access new markets.
Stating that the next congress would be
held in Istanbul in 2016, Yildiz said, “the city will host around 9,000 people
including government Ministers, energy CEOs and respected analysts and
researchers”. He added: “Turkey deserves such a prestigious organization”.
8. Chambers of commerce of both side stressed the need for the
solution of Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
newspaper (17.10.13) reports that the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry
and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, issued a joint statement, noting
that a comprehensive solution will
benefit all sectors of the economy and as a result will improve the welfare and
prosperity of all Cypriots.
"The Cyprus problem can no longer be
left unresolved as this situation benefits neither the Greek Cypriots nor the
Turkish Cypriots. Therefore, we urge both leaders to intensify their efforts to
reach a fair and sustainable solution as soon as possible," the statement
notes.
"The two Chambers express their
commitment to contribute to the process and are ready to support the efforts of
the political leadership. A comprehensive solution will bring economic benefits
to both communities while the continuation of the existing stalemateinhibits
the improvement of the present economic situation", the statement concludes.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
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