TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
200/13 22.10.13
1. Ertug says there is
different approach between the sides regarding the joint statement
2. Nami is meeting Fule
tomorrow; The Turkish side does not accept the EU’s active involvement in the
Cyprus negotiations
3. Bagis: If a solution like the
Annan Plan resolves the Cyprus problem, obstacles before the Turkish accession
negotiations would be removed
4. BKP: The Turkish Cypriot
side’s behaviour is unacceptable
5. Tekman is in favour of
opening Varosha under UN supervision
6. EU expected to open
membership talks for Turkey on November 5
7. Turkish columnist: Ankara
would not have been this keen on the EU Report if all was going well in the
Middle East for Turkey
8. Columnist argues that
Turkey still has chances to join the EU
9. Political pressures are
exerted on the Turkish Cypriot “football federation’s” chairman prior to his
meeting with CFA, UEFA and FIFA
10. Former “MP” Aslanbaba to form a new political
party with financial support from businessmen living abroad.
11. “Biologist Association”
warned that the “water transfer project” is a non-recycling intervention to nature
12. US cancelled delivery of
predators to Turkey
1. Ertug says there is different approach between the sides regarding
the joint statement
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(22.10.13) reports that Osman Ertug, Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu’s spokesman
and special representative, met yesterday with Andreas Mavroyiannis, the Greek
Cypriot negotiator, and agreed that their visits to Ankara and Athens
respectively should be held the soonest before the end of this month. According
to the paper, the sides said they agreed to exchange through the UN the texts
that each of them has prepared regarding the joint statement to be issued after
a possible meeting between the community leaders.
The paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot
side submitted yesterday to a UN representative in Cyprus the text which
includes its proposals for the joint statement aimed at launching the
negotiations.
In statements to Kibris, Ertug said that it
would be a speculation to comment on the possibility of being able to overcome
the disagreements on the text of the joint statement. Noting that the two sides
exhibit different approaches as regards the above-mentioned text, Ertug alleged
that the Turkish side follows the line drawn by the UN on this issue and
empathizes with the Greek Cypriot side, which he accused of following a
“maximalist stance”. He claimed that the Greek Cypriot side tries to solve the
most difficult unsolved issues of the last 40-50 years in the text of the joint
statement, but “we will reach nowhere in this manner”.
Ertug said, inter alia, the following on
the text of the joint statement:
“It should be a balanced text. Who will
tell the elements which we want to be included in it in order for being
balanced, where are they? The balance is spoiled when reference to federal
sovereignty is made without reference to residual powers. The residual powers
are related to the source of the sovereignty and the way of forming the
federation. There will not be a federation established by preparing a new
constitution for the Republic of Cyprus and by its evolutionary change. There
will be a brand new partnership. The federal states will have sovereignty, but
if you do not add the source of this sovereignty, the balance is spoiled. The
source of this sovereignty is the existing founding states. This was in this
way in the past. It was this way in the parameters. It was this way in the last
UN plan. Spoiling this balance will lead us nowhere. It will only block the
process”.
Noting that another issue of disagreement
is the internal citizenship, Ertug alleged that if you do not include the
“internal citizenship” when you refer to federal citizenship, the question of
“how the senate will be elected” is arising. He argued that these issues should
be discussed at the negotiating table and not in public.
Pointing out that the date of the
representatives’ separate visits to Athens and Greece has not been determined
yet, Ertug said that they agreed on the level of the meetings and that they
will meet with the general secretary and the undersecretary of the Turkish and
Greek Foreign Ministry respectively who are at the same level.
(I/Ts.)
2. Nami is meeting Fule tomorrow; The Turkish side does not
accept the EU’s active involvement in the Cyprus negotiations
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper
(22.10.13) reports that OzdilNami, self-styled foreign minister of the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, will meet
tomorrow in Strasbourg with Stefan Fule, Commissioner for the EU Enlargement.
In statements to Genc TV, Nami said yesterday that the so-called isolations
allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots and the improvement of the Green
Line and Financial Aid Regulations of the EU are issues which will be on the
agenda of his meeting with Fule. He noted that he will express the views of the
Turkish side as regards the necessity of amending the Green Line Regulation and
turning the Financial Aid Regulation into a “more long-termed and effective”
regulation.
Replying to a question as regards the EU’s
more active contribution in the negotiating process for finding a solution to
the Cyprus problem, Nami said that the Turkish side’s view is clear on this issue
and that the EU is offering support on technical issues when this is necessary.
He added: “However, the EU is a side [in the negotiations] and when it sits at
the table it is obvious in favor of whom it will speak when it opens its
mouth”. Recalling Fule’s previous statement that the EU will undertake a more
active role in case both sides ask this, Nami said that the Turkish side will
not accept the EU to have a role beyond its existing role at the negotiating
table.
Nami argued that if the problem is not
solved again, in spite of what he called as “Turkish side’s will”, the Turkish
side should not be punished. “Then we all have to raise our voice more loudly
in order for the world not to do this for the second time”, he claimed and
added: “If the process ends with failure again, we have to explain that this
does not derive from the Turkish side, so that an opportunity is created for
the things we will demand and do in the process that will follow”.
Moreover, Nami referred to the issue of
Cyprus’ natural gas and alleged that if the international community told the
Greek Cypriots that the income from the natural gas could be used only after a
solution to the Cyprus problem is found, it would significantly contribute to
the solution. Otherwise the Greek Cypriot side will be led away from the
solution, he alleged.
Referring to the relations of the Turkish
Cypriots with Turkey, he said they want to carry these relations to “their best
point ever”. He noted that they conveyed to Turkey their demands regarding some
amendments in the “economic protocol” for the period 2013-15, adding that these
demands concern privatizations, especially of the ports and the electricity
“authority”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Bagis:
If a solution like the Annan Plan resolves the Cyprus problem, obstacles before
the Turkish accession negotiations would be removed
Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.10.13)
reported that Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator EgemenBagis said that the
European Union’s annual progress report on Turkey, which was released on
October 16, is more balanced and objective compared to the ones in previous
years.
Speaking at a farewell reception of the EU
ambassador to Turkey Jean-Maurice Ripert in Ankara, Bagis said that Turkey has
taken very important steps and there are still steps to be taken.
"Turkey's determination towards the
institution of further democracy and transparency was confirmed by the progress
report," he said. "The continued democratization of Turkey was also
recognized by the report.”
Turkey will hopefully open chapter 22,
which regulates regional policies, on November 5 in Brussels after three years,
he said.
“Bagis said Turkey has showed its
determination to be a member state of the EU despite political obstacles put
before Turkey, referring to the Cyprus issue.
Bagis said if a solution like the Annan Plan, a United Nations proposal
to resolve the Cyprus dispute, was found, obstacles before 14 chapters of
Turkish accession negotiations would be removed”, Ankara Anatolia reported.
4. BKP:
The Turkish Cypriot side’s behaviour is unacceptable
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (22.10.13)
reports that the United Cyprus Party (BKP) stressed that the ground of the
talks, as was accepted and declared by ex-President Christofias and former
Turkish Cypriot leader Talat, is defined by the UN Security Council Resolutions,
as a bizonal, bi-communal federation, with political equality based on a single
sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality. BKP
added that the stance of the Turkish Cypriot side, which opposes the inclusion
of this basis for solution in the joint statement, is unacceptable.
In a written statement issued yesterday,
the leader of BKP IzzetIzcan affirmed that to start searching for a new basis
for negotiations apart from a bizonal, bi-communal federation, with political
equality based on a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single
international personality, as defined by the UN Security Council Resolutions,
is a fruitless venture.
Izcan called on the sides to commit to the
ground of the negotiations, which must continue from the point they have left
off. He noted that the Turkish Cypriot side, which makes reference for a
solution within three months, wants to open discussions again on the single
sovereignty, single citizenship and on single identity and to deviate from this
basis. On the other hand, Izcan said the Greek Cypriot side wants to
renegotiate the issues, which had already been agreed by Talat and Christofias.
Noting that the Turkish Cypriot leader
DervisEroglu and the so-called coalition government of CTP-DP (Republican
Turkish Party – Democratic Party) is conducting negotiations in coordination
with the policies outlined by the
government of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Izcan said that
the Turkish Cypriots don’t have the right of say in the negotiations.
5. Tekman
is in favour of opening Varosha under UN supervision
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris
(22.10.13) reports that reporter Ali Tekman, in an interview to the paper,
evaluating the Cyprus talks, said that the negotiation process is in fact
active and all the actors have exhibited their willpower at this point.
Explaining that the United Nations are determined on the solution issue, Tekman
said that the UN can be the key to unlock the opening especially of the fenced
off town of Varosha. He added: “I am supporter of the more flexible group at
the Cyprus talks… one of these issues is Varosha”.
Tekman stressed that the fenced off town of
Varosha may be opened under the supervision of the UN in exchange for the
opening of the occupied ports and the removal of “embargoes”.
6. EU expected to open membership talks for Turkey on November 5
Ankara Anatolia news agency
(21.10.13) reported that the European Union (EU) is expected to launch official
talks on a new chapter with Turkey on November 5, according to sources familiar
with the process.
The Union's top heavyweight,
Germany, signalled it will retract its opposition to open a new chapter with
Turkey after a general election is over with Chancellor Angela Merkel's
crushing victory. On the eve of the EU ministers’ talks in Luxembourg, Germany
confirmed through official sources that it will not raise any objection to
opening membership talks with Ankara on Chapter 22, Regional Policy. Also, the
Netherlands' parliament gave a green light to open a new chapter.
Against this background, EU and
diplomatic sources commented that they do not expect any new hurdles at
Tuesday’s EU ministers’ meeting that will decide to open a chapter with Turkey
and said the talk with Turkey on 22nd chapter will be launched officially on
November 5. Sources told that the EU Commission’s stance, in particular
enlargement commissioner Stefan Fule's, on opening talks and "balanced"
progress report eased possible risk on the way of opening a new chapter.
The EU had initially planned to
open Chapter 22 in Turkey’s accession talks in June. But due to the disagreements between Brussels
and Ankara in the aftermath of the Gezi Park protests and due to the opposition
by Berlin, the final decision has been delayed to October.
EU foreign ministers reached a
political agreement on June 25 to open Chapter 22 but said that they would
determine the date for the Inter-Governmental Conference on opening the chapter
on October 22, after the presentation of the European Commission's progress
report on Turkey and following a review of the political situation.
In addition Ankara Anatolia also
reported (21.10.13) that German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle hailed on
Monday political agreement reached on opening a new chapter in Turkey's EU
membership talks next month and urged for progress in new chapters two revive
the process.
“I think that it has become more
urgent now to focus on further negotiations in chapters that are related with
judiciary and the rule of law,” Westerwelle told journalists on Monday at the
margins of the EU Council on Foreign Affairs in Luxemburg. “We should address
these issues in a more strong way,” he stressed.
German Foreign Minister
Westerwelle has been influential in reaching an agreement among EU partners on
opening the new chapter. “I think this is our common interest,” he stressed. “I
believe that the decision for the accession conference is the right decision
for Europeans and for Turkey.”
7. Turkish columnist: Ankara would not have been this keen on the
EU Report if all was going well in the Middle East for Turkey
Under the title “Turkey’s EU
caravan trundles on”, SemihIdiz writes the following article in Hurriyet Daily
News (22.10.13):
“Ankara seems happy with the EU
Commission’s latest Progress Report on Turkey. EU minister EgemenBagis
criticized the Commission, of course, for announcing the release of the report
in the middle of Bayram, which he considered disrespectful.
He withheld his comments on the report,
therefore, until the holiday was officially over. When they eventually came,
however, Bagis’ remarks showed Ankara is not unhappy with what the Commission
says in this year’s report card on Turkey.
The report’s language is noticeable for
being encouraging - and not off-putting - through praise for reformist steps
that have been taken by Ankara. This is good considering there is hardly any
confidence left among Turks about the EU’s good faith, the assumption being
Europe will do what it can to obstruct Turkey’s path to the EU.
Needless to say, Bagis rejected the
criticism in the report over the way the government handled the Gezi Park
protests, as well as criticism over freedom in Turkey. Ankara is also not so
happy about the Commission’s line on Cyprus, considering this to be one-sided
with the usual bias. It is nevertheless clear the Erdogan government considers
the glass to be more full than empty this time.
It is an open question whether Ankara would
have been this keen if all was going well in the Middle East for Turkey,
especially when one considers how touchy Prime Minister Erdogan is about
criticism over the Gezi Park protests and the state of the freedom of the
press.
This could be a sign that Ankara’s need for
the EU has grown due to the turmoil in a region that was supposed to provide
alternatives to Europe, at least as far as the ruling Justice and Development
Party’s (AKP) grass roots supporters are concerned.
It is equally interesting to note Germany
is preparing to lift its veto on the opening of one of the chapters in Turkey’s
EU membership negotiations. It blocked the chapter on regional policy
ostensibly to protest police brutality against the Gezi Park protestors.
Cynics in Turkey believe the move was a
political one as the Merkel government headed for general elections. The
general view was Merkel had to show her constituency; she was still against
full EU membership for Turkey, and the Gezi protests provided her with the
opportunity to do so.
The elections are over and Merkel is back
now. She still believes there is no room in the EU for Turkey as a full member.
She clearly desires to show, however, that Berlin will not obstruct the
membership talks, provided they remain “open ended” with no guarantee of
membership even if they end successfully.
That is merely a formula for buying time
while ensuring Turkey does not stray from Europe, as some fear she already is.
Merkel is among those who believe Turkey has to remain “anchored in Europe” for
strategic and economic reasons.
This is why she has prepared to offer a
special partnership in the EU to Ankara, which may fall short of full
membership but maintain its links with Europe. The EU’s dilemma is while many
in Europe consider Turkey to be a potential source of instability if it should
become a full member; many also see that Turkey is an actual source of
stability in a region that is vital for Europe.
Whatever the street level-sentiments which
feed the ultra-right in Europe may be, the question of Turkey for those who are
in the position of having to make policy is not a black and white one. The same
goes for Turkey for which the benefits of remaining “anchored in Europe” are
also becoming apparent again due to regional developments.
This year’s Progress Report and Berlin’s
latest decision should therefore be seen as an effort to try and breathe new
life into Turkey’s EU perspective so the show basically goes on. Otherwise, no
one expects a massive breakthrough in this perspective any time soon.”
8. Columnist
argues that Turkey still has chances to join the EU
Under the title “Turkey still has chances”,
NurBatu, correspondent of Turkish daily Sabah (22.10.13) in Brussels, in her
column “The deep state of Brussels”, writes that the aim of the “Deep state
Brussels” is the energy charter, which could not be opened for 8 years now due
to a Cyprus veto. Intense efforts behind closed doors are going on in order to
open this chapter. The reason is the natural gas reserves found offshore of
Cyprus. Batu also claims that the atmosphere in Brussels has started to change
for the following 3 reasons:
1.
The economy of Turkey.
2.
No benefit to be in fight with
Turkey in a medium or a long term.
3.
Gezi park protests started to
break the Islamophobia
NurBatu, under the subtitle “The friends of
Turkey entered again the struggle”, and a photo with her and the European
Commissioner responsible for enlargement and European neighbourhood policy
Stephan Fule, writes that she followed the discussion at the Parliament when
the EU Commissioner Fule announced the “Progress Report of Turkey” and came to
the conclusion as if the “deep state in Brussels” has already obtained
consensus in order for chapters 23 and 24, which have been vetoed by the Greek
Cypriots, to be opened.
Batu repeats that she observes intense
efforts behind the doors to open the chapter of energy, adding that for
Brussels it is important the transfer of the natural gas with pipes to Europe
as is the findings of natural gas in Cyprus. The options are either through
Turkey or through Crete and Greece. Europe wants to reduce her dependence on
Russia for natural gas. She believes
that an intermission formula, which will be financial beneficiary for Turkish
and Greek Cypriots, for Turkey and Greece, can be found in a short time.
9. Political pressures are exerted on the Turkish Cypriot
“football federation’s” chairman prior to his meeting with CFA, UEFA and FIFA
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(22.10.13) reports that HasanSertoglu, chairman of the so-called Turkish
Cypriot football federation, has said that politicians started exerting
pressures on him since the date of his “federation’s” meeting with the Cyprus
Football Association (CFA), UEFA and FIFA, which will be held in Zurich on 5
November, was announced. In statements to Kibris TV, Sertoglu noted that the
pressures are exerted “in an unbelievable manner” and added that they decided
to turn off their phones, because of this. He accused politicians of seeing
football clubs as “potential votes” and called on them to submit alternative
proposals, if they have any.
Sertoglu said that they are continuing
their preparations for the meeting of the 5th of November and added
that an agreement could not be exactly as either side wants it to be. He noted
that the draft of the text will be very detailed. He went on and revealed that
“two details” included in it are that this will be a “provisional agreement”
and that “it will not constitute a precedent”.
He said that they will wait and see what
will be submitted to them and added that the club members of the “federation”
will also have to approve this agreement.
(I/Ts.)
10. Former “MP” Aslanbaba to form a new political party with
financial support from businessmen
living abroad.
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi
newspaper (22.10.13) reports that former “MP” EjderAslanbaba stated that he is
forming a new political party.
According to the paper, Aslanbaba will make
the announcement about the new party by the end of November or in the early
days of December. He will be the “candidate” of this party for the
“municipality elections” of occupied Trikomo. He is a currently an independent
candidate for the position.
Aslanbaba, who said that he will establish
the new party with a team of friends, also said that he will form the party
with financial support from businessmen living abroad.
11. “Biologist Association” warned that the “water transfer project”
is a non-recycling intervention to nature
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen
newspaper (22.10.13) reports that the “Biologist Association” warned that the
“water transfer project” is a non-recycling intervention to nature.
In statements to the paper, the
Association’s chairmanHasanSarpten criticized strongly the project and noted
that it is extremely wrong. He also said that the ecological price of the
project will be heavy.
12. US cancelled delivery of predators to Turkey
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
newspaper (22.10.13) reports that the United States Congress cancelled the
delivery to Turkey of 10 Predators -- unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are
proving crucial in combating terrorism -- following Turkish intelligence chief
HakanFidan's disclosure of the identity of 10 Iranians who had been working for
Mossad with the Iranian intelligence service, according to the Taraf
daily.
The daily reported that the claims about
Fidan can be traced back to the year after the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010 when
the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) suspended relations with Israel's
intelligence agency Mossad and shared information about the Israeli agency with
Iran.
Reacting to Turkey's move, the US cancelled
the delivery to Turkey of 10 Predators. Turkey was expecting the Predators in
June of last year, but the US Congress decided not to accept Ankara's request
because of the close relations between MİT and the Iran intelligence service.
According to Turkish government sources,
the timing of the release of news against Fidan in the US press is related to
the fact that NATO member Turkey has chosen a Chinese defence firm sanctioned
by Washington to co-produce a $4 billion long-range air and missile defence
system, rejecting rival bids from Russian, US and European firms.
The second fact concerning the timing of
the news reports about Fidan is the suspension of a military intervention in
Syria and agreement between US President Barack Obama and Russian leader
Vladimir Putin on the destruction of chemical weapons. In the event of a
possible intervention, the CIA, Mossad and MİT were planning to work together
and Turkey was expected to play an important role in directing the Syrian
opposition. The suspension of the intervention decreased the need for intelligence
sharing between the agencies.
The claims that MİT informed the Iranian
intelligence service about Mossad's 10 Iranian agents do not fully cover the
truth, however. Taraf's report stated that the Iranian agents were uncovered
within the scope of another operation, but Israel and the US put the blame on
Fidan for the disclosure of the identities of the Iranian agents.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
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