TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
199/13 19
- 21.10.13
1. Ertug: We’ll set today the
dates of the reciprocal visits to Athens and Ankara
2. Nami: The content of the
joint statement proposed by UN is rejected by the Greek Cypriot side
3. Press release by the
Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding Turkey 2013 EU Progress Report and
Enlargement Strategy document
4. Davutoglu on the EU
Report: “Remarks made on the Cyprus problem and internal developments in Turkey
are one sided”
5. Bagis on the EU Report:
The Turkish side expects the Greek Cypriots to take steps as regards the
negotiations
6. Merkel gives green light
to EU talks with Turkey
1. Ertug:
We’ll set today the dates of the reciprocal visits to Athens and Ankara
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (21.10.13)
reports that Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu’s special representative Osman
Ertug is going to meet today at 10.30 the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas
Mavroyiannis. Speaking to “BRT” correspondent, Ertug said that during the
meeting, they will determine the date of their reciprocal visits to Athens and
Ankara, and the details of what they will discuss.
Claiming that the ball of the resumption of
the Cyprus talks is at the Greek Cypriot side, Ertug argues that although the
Turkish Cypriot side displays flexibility the Greek Cypriot side puts forward
conditions. He noted that while Anastasiades shows sensitivity on single
sovereignty, he doesn’t want to consider issues like residual powers and
internal citizenship.
Replying to a question whether he is very
close to reach a joint statement with Mavroyiannis, Ertug reminded the
statement made by Anastasiades’ deputy spokesman Papadopoulos that “the leaders
won’t meet without a joint statement”. Ertug pointed that the Turkish Cypriot
side is ready to reach a joint statement, adding that they want the resumption
of the talks between the leaders even if they don’t come to an agreement (for a
joint statement).
2. Nami:
The content of the joint statement proposed by UN is rejected by the Greek
Cypriot side
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
(21.10.13), self-styled minister of foreign affairs OzdilNami, evaluating the
content of the joint statement to “BRT”, said that the content of the joint
statement proposed by the United Nations was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot
side, but rejected by the Greek Cypriot side.
Nami said that the Greek and Turkish
Cypriot committees are continuing their efforts with the UN officials on the
content of the joint statement in order to hold the first meeting of the
leaders, which was pronounced (Note: As declared by the Turkish side) as the 4th
of November.
Nami argued that the difficulty on the
context of the joint statement is to try to add in the content of the joint
statement by the Greek Cypriot side the issues of “Single Sovereignty” and
“Single Citizenship”, which were agreed principles between the leaders on July
2008.
Nami claimed that the Greek Cypriot side
wants to dictate immediately in the content of the joint statement the issues
of “Single Sovereignty” and “Single Citizenship”, which are their own priority,
however, they (Turkish Cypriot side) want to debate the issues of “Internal
citizenship” and “Residual powers”, which are their own priority, and this
stance cannot be accepted.
Commenting on the intention of Cyprus
President Anastasiades to meet with the EU Ambassadors and brief them with his positions
including the Cyprus problem, Nami said that they always do this, adding,
however, that the EU stresses in every platform that it will give only
technical support to the talks and does not want to interfere in this issue.
Nami reminded that the comprehensive agreement to be reached will comply with
the EU norms and that there is an EU chapter in the negotiations, which they
have already agreed on it.
3. Press release by the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding Turkey
2013 EU Progress Report and Enlargement Strategy document
The Turkish Foreign Ministry
published on Saturday (19.10.13) the following announcement on its website (http://www.mfa.gov.tr) regarding Turkey’s 2013
EU Progress Report:
“Turkey 2013 Progress Report and
Enlargement Strategy Document prepared by the EU Commission, was published on
October 16, 2013.
The Report comprehensively describes the
political reforms realized in Turkey during the last year. We welcome the
emphasis on our Governments determination regarding the continuation of
democratization and political reforms, and in this context, the reference to
the Democratization Package published on September 30, 2013, as well as to the
steps taken with regards to the judiciary reform and ongoing work on the new
constitution. The Report states that the solution process constitutes a
milestone and continues to indicate the EU’s support to this process. The Report also refers to Turkey's active
role in foreign policy. We share the assessment on the significance of our
cooperation with the EU in this field.
In terms of economic criteria, the Report
reiterates that there is a functioning free market economy in Turkey and
underlines the high economic potential of our country. It stresses that Turkey
with its large and dynamic economy is a significant trade partner contributing
to the EU’s competitiveness through the Customs Union. The Report indicates
Turkey’s growth performance and its ability to cope with external shocks.
However, some negative elements such as the current account deficit and foreign
debt structure are also addressed.
In the Report, it is mentioned that the
General Affairs Council agreed to open negotiations on Chapter 22-Regional Policy
and Coordination of Structural Instruments in June 2013 and the negotiations
will start this fall. One of the steps that have to be taken to overcome the
standstill in our accession process is opening negotiations on the remaining
chapters.
The Report also points out progress on the
issue of visa dialogue and with reference to the Road Map proposed by the EU
and the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, invites Turkey to sign
the Readmission Agreement regarding the return of illegal immigrants. We are
continuing our talks with the EU in the framework of our stance that the
Readmission Agreement as a whole should be implemented concurrently with the
start of a visa free regime for Turkish citizens.
Unfortunately, as in previous years the
Cyprus issue and within this context, the dispute which occurred due to the unilateral Greek Cypriot
initiatives concerning hydrocarbon resources in Eastern Mediterranean are also
mentioned in the Report with a one-sided perspective. The steps and initiatives
of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey, as the guarantor state, taken so far
towards the settlement of the Cyprus issue are well known by the international
community, especially by the UN. We maintain our consistent and result-oriented
approach on this issue.
In this period during which negotiations on
the Cyprus Issue under the auspices of the UN are foreseen to start soon, we
expect the EU to adopt an attitude to steer the Greek Cypriot Administration
towards a comprehensive settlement.
Membership to the EU is a strategic choice
for us. With this understanding, the Progress Report will be evaluated as
usual, in coordination with the relevant Turkish institutions; particularly the
Ministry of EU Affairs and, our views on the Report will be conveyed to the
Commission as in previous years.”
4. Davutoglu on the EU Report: “Remarks made on the Cyprus
problem and internal developments in Turkey are one sided”
Illegal Bayrak television
(19.10.13) broadcast that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu evaluated
the latest EU Progress Report on Turkey on a television program. He said the
remarks made on the Cyprus problem and
internal developments in Turkey are one sided but as a whole the report is
favorable as it has added momentum to Turkey’s EU membership negotiations.
Explaining that obstacles are always in
place in front of Turkey’s EU membership negotiations and therefore has turned
into a difficult process, Mr. Davutoglu said single sided judgments were also
made on the Cyprus problem.
5. Bagis on the EU Report: The Turkish side expects the Greek
Cypriots to take steps as regards the negotiations
Illegal Bayrak television
(19.10.13) broadcast that Turkey’s EU Minister and Chief Negotiator EgemenBagis
evaluated the latest EU Progress Report on Turkey.
Bagis who had previously announced that he
would not be making any comment on the report until the Islamic Feast of
Sacrifice had been concluded made his evaluation on the progress report on
Saturday. He said that the EU progress report is not a report card for Turkey
and the only persons that can give a report card to the Turkish government is
the people.
On the Cyprus problem,Bagisclaimed that
Turkey will never be the party that leaves the negotiations process or abstains
from coming to an agreement on the Cyprus problem.
Referring to the “bold steps” taken by
Turkey on the Cyprus problem, he alleged that they expected the opposite side
to show the same courage as well.
6. Merkel gives green light to EU talks with Turkey
Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.10.13)
reports that the German government will support an EU decision next week on
opening a new chapter in Turkey’s EU membership talks, media reported on
Sunday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed with
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Germany’s support for the progress in
Turkey’s accession talks, Spiegel reported.
EU ministers are set to meet in Luxembourg
early this week and Turkey’s EU process is among the key items on the agenda.
On Tuesday ministers will discuss determining a date for opening the new policy
chapter in Turkey’s membership talks, the Chapter 22 on "Regional
Policy."
It would be the first chapter to be opened
in three years and has been widely regarded as an important step to revive
Turkey’s stalled EU membership process.
An agreement for opening the chapter had become far from certain
following the outcome of September 22 elections in Germany, but Merkel’s “green
light” is highly likely to clear the way for a positive decision.
German conservatives, who won a resounding
victory in the September 22 elections, are opposing a full EU membership
perspective to Turkey.
Following the publication of European
Commission’s Progress Report on Turkey last week, German conservative member of
the European Parliament, (MEP) Markus Feber, told press that the time has come
for the EU “to show Turkey the red card”. Feber, who is a member of the Christian
Social Union (CSU), the sister party of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU),
argued that Turkey has already lost her interest in the EU process and is not a
democratic partner.
Despite opposition by some outspoken
conservatives, German Foreign Ministry has called for opening new chapters in
Turkey’s accession talks.
According to Spiegel, Foreign Ministry’s
evaluation ahead of talks in Luxembourg has underlined that Turkey’s recent
democratization package “has been the right step in the right direction,”
following the developments after Gezi Park protests.
German Foreign Ministry pointed out ongoing
discussions on democracy and freedom of expression and further suggested
opening new chapters in Turkey’s membership talks which are related to human
rights and the judiciary.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
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