TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 205/13 30.10.13
1.
Eroglu: Under the current circumstances it had become inevitable for
the Turkish Cypriots to go their own way
2.
Turkish Cypriot daily: no reciprocal meetings without a joint
statement
3.
Parliamentarian delegation from Kyrgyzstan meets with Yorgancioglu
and Nami
4.
Turkish Cypriot politicians evaluate the effort for unifying the
Cypriot football
5.
International Turkic Republics’ Games might be held in occupied
Cyprus
6.
Ajans Cyprus news website starts operating in occupied Cyprus
7.
New initiative by Turkish Cypriots businessmen to establish a new
air carrier
8.
A Panama registered ship carried water pipes to the occupied area of
Cyprus
9.
New headquarters of Grey Wolves opened in occupied Nicosia
10.
Marmaray tunnel officially opens on Turkish Republic's 90th
anniversary
11.
Tens of thousands mark Republic Day with alternative rally in Ankara
12.
Erdogan: Latest EU progress report “more well-intentioned”
13.
Davutoglu visits US to discuss bilateral relations and regional
developments
14.
A senior Israeli diplomat evaluates Israel’s relations with Turkey
15.
Turkey and Japan signed formal agreement to build second nuclear
plant in Sinop
16.
Facebook shuts BDP page for using “Kurdistan”
1.Eroglu:
Under the current circumstances it had become inevitable for the Turkish
Cypriots to go their own way
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 30.10.13), Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu, delivering a speech to
mark the 90th Anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of
Turkey, said that the Turkish nation was proud of celebrating the 90th
anniversary of the Republic of Turkey and added that the Turkish Cypriots have
taken the Turkish Republic as model for their own struggle for freedom and existence.
Underlining the unbreakable bond that exists between Turkey and the breakaway
regime, Eroglu said that they were inseparable.
Commenting on the Cyprus problem, Eroglu
claimed that the Greek Cypriot side’s insistence on pre-conditions was blocking
the way for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations process. He added that
the Turkish Cypriot side was working hard for the re-launch of the Cyprus
talks.
He, however, argued that the Greek Cypriot
side, which lacked the spirit of good will, was working against this goal,
reportedly leaking details of the work being carried out to the press, and
bringing pre-conditions to the table.
Eroglu stressed that under the current
circumstances it had become inevitable for the Turkish Cypriots to go their own
way.
Claiming that President NicosAnastasiades
was citing the economic crisis as a reason not to sit at the negotiating table,
Eroglu said that the Turkish side had stated from the very beginning that it
would give the Greek Cypriot side a reasonable timeframe to prepare for the
negotiations. He added: “It has even taken 6 months for Mr.Anastasiades to
appoint his Special Representative. The Greek Cypriot side’s insistence on
preconditions is blocking the way of the resumption of the negotiations process.
They are trying to cram substantive issues into the joint statement. We have
been telling them from the very beginning that it is our desire to have this
joint statement, but that we are ready to resume negotiations without it as
well”.
Also touching upon the issue of the fenced
off town of Varosha, Eroglu reiterated that the issue could only be taken up as
part of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, a fact that had been
reaffirmed recently by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule.
Underlining the need to restart
comprehensive negotiations as soon as possible, Eroglu said that it was out of
the question for the Turkish Cypriot side to accept pre-conditions put forward
by the Greek Cypriot leader.
“Mr.Anastasiades has been giving his people
the wrong message. The partnership to be established will be created from two
founding states on the basis of political equality. We are saying that a
solution is possible by the spring of next year and that talks cannot continue
endlessly without a time table”, he added.
Complaining that a date had yet to be set
for the mutual visits of the special representatives to Ankara and Athens,
Eroglu called on the Greek Cypriot side to start working towards a solution.
2. Turkish
Cypriot daily: no reciprocal meetings without a joint statement
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(30.10.13) reports that according to unofficial information it acquired from a
source close to the Cyprus government, in case no progress is achieved as
regards the joint statement, the reciprocal visits of the representatives of
the Cypriot community leaders to Athens and Ankara might not take place.
According to the paper, the source, which
wished to remain anonymous, said that this should not be perceived as a
precondition for the visits to Athens and Ankara. This view expressed by the
Greek Cypriot side, notes journalist Osman Kalfaoglu in Kibris, is derived from
the wish of the Greek Cypriot side to see progress on the issue of the text of
the joint statement that will launch the direct negotiations between the
leaders.
(I/Ts.)
3. Parliamentarian
delegation from Kyrgyzstan meets with Yorgancioglu and Nami
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper
(30.10.13) reports that OzkanYorgancioglu, self-styled prime minister of the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, met yesterday
at his office with a delegation from Kyrgyzstan’s parliament consisted of the
country’s coalition parties. The chairman of the Social Democrat Party,
CinibayTursunbekov and the chairman of ATAMEKEN Party, OmurbekTekelaev were
among the participants in the visit.
Yorgancioglu told his interlocutors that
they are very satisfied with the fact that students from Kyrgyzstan study in
the illegal universities in the occupied area of Cyprus and added that the
regime is heading towards becoming “a country of universities”.
In his statements, Tursunbekov said that
during the two days they are visiting the occupied area of Cyprus, they found
out that many students from Kyrgyzstan study there and argued that this will
play a significant role in the friendly relations between the two “countries”.
He noted that they are following with
interest the developments in the occupied area in Cyprus and added: “In
Kyrgyzstan you have brothers who are rejoiced with your wellbeing and are
sadden with your difficulties”.
Moreover, YeniDuzen reports that the same
delegation visited also OzdilNami, self-styled minister of foreign affairs of
the breakaway regime. Nami told the Kyrgyz visitors that they want to develop
their relations with Kyrgyzstan and that they are ready to offer any support in
this direction.
According to a statement issued by Nami’s
“ministry”, Tursunbekov also said that they wish to develop their relations
with the breakaway regime.
(I/Ts.)
4. Turkish
Cypriot politicians evaluate the effort for unifying the Cypriot football
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper
(30.10.13) publishes an evaluation by Turkish Cypriot politicians of the
meeting of the 5th of November in Zurich between the Cyprus Football
Association (CFA or KOP) and the Turkish Cypriot so-called football federation
at the presence of FIFA and UEFA.
The paper reports that OzdilNami,
self-styled minister of foreign affairs of the breakaway regime, said that they
do not know what formula will come up and expressed their faith in the
administration of their so-called federation. He noted that the “federation”
consulted with his self-styled ministry, which explained to them the formula
created in order to secure the Turkish Cypriot participation in the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Nami said that they are
approaching positively any initiative in which the “balance of political
equality” will not be spoiled, the one side will not dominate over the other,
the two sides will come closer to each other and the Turkish Cypriot football
will open to the world. He expressed the view that such agreement will
positively influence the meetings between the community leaders.
Huseyin Ozgurgun, chairman of the National
Unity Party (UBP) said that his party will have no objection, if the Turkish
Cypriot “federation” cooperates with the CFA and matches are played both in the
government-controlled area and in the occupied part of the island and if in
this sense the activities of the so-called Turkish Cypriot federation are held
in the international arena. If the Turkish Cypriot “federation” holds its
activities under the CFA, “this is something we oppose to”, he added.
Mehmet Cakici, chairman of the Social
Democracy Party (TDP), said that this meeting must end positively and recalled
that his party supported such a result when the issue had come onto the agenda
in 2008. He noted, inter alia, the following: “In the 1960 Constitution of the
Republic of Cyprus, the sports, education and health had been left to the
administration of the communities. If we had established a football federation
then, these problems would not have been experienced today. When we abandoned
the Republic in 1964, these rights we had, were abolished. According to the
Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriots have rights in the
Football Federation of the Republic of Cyprus. Therefore, we have to use this
period as transitional period until an agreement is reached”.
(I/Ts.)
5. International
Turkic Republics’ Games might be held in occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(30.10.13) reports that SerdarSavim, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot so-called
national Olympic committee, has said that the International Turkic Republics’
Games might be organized in the occupied area of Cyprus.
A meeting of the Olympic Committees of the
Turkic Republics was held in Istanbul at presidential level, writes the paper.
During the meeting possibilities for cooperation in the field of sports were
examined. They also discussed the development of contacts in the field of
sports between the breakaway regime and the above-mentioned Republics and the
upgrade of the relations among their federations. Furthermore, they agreed on
organizing camps and tournaments.
In his statements, Savim noted that the
representatives of all countries exhibited a positive approach on the issue of
organizing the games in the occupied area of Cyprus.
Noting that Savim is satisfied with his
contacts, the paper reports that during his stay in Istanbul, he exchanged
views with high ranking officials from Turkey, who participate in international
sports organizations, as regards “models for opening to the world” and tactics
of struggling against the so-called embargo allegedly implemented on the
Turkish Cypriots.
(I/Ts.)
6. Ajans
Cyprus news website starts operating in occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper
(30.10.13) reports that a news website named “Ajans Cyprus” started operating
yesterday in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. The general publishing
director of the site, HuseyinTuran stated that Ajans Cyprus will always be
protecting the perpetuity of the “TRNC” and continue stressing at every
platform that it is tied to “our motherland Turkey”. He promised that they will
use various sources and try to publish correct news and analyses.
(I/Ts.)
7. New
initiative by Turkish Cypriots businessmen to establish a new air carrier
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Star
Kibris (30.10.13), three Turkish Cypriot businessmen living in London launched
an initiative to establish a new airline, which will also fly to the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus. The businessmen are TonguzKazim, one of the
founders of Onur Air, HasanKazim and Baysan Hasan.
The businessmen said that after the closure
of the “Turkish Cypriot airlines”, inconvenience was created among the Turkish
community living in the Britain. They argued that their aim of establishing
this new airline, under the name “Kibris Airways”, is to facilitate the British
Turkish community to travel to Turkey and the occupied area of Cyprus with
reasonable ticket fees.
8. A
Panama registered ship carried water pipes to the occupied area of Cyprus
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 29.10.13), the first shipment of pipes and other components to be used
in the “TRNC leg” of the water transfer project also known as the ‘project of
the century’ arrived at the occupied port of Famagusta on Tuesday morning.
The pipes will be used to connect the
underwater pipeline, to be suspended under the sea channel, over land to the
occupied village of Levconico reservoir.
The 190 meter long Panama registered Zhou
Shan Haı ship carrying its 10 thousand ton load docked at the occupied port of
Famagusta on Tuesday.
According to information received the transportation
of the pipes and its components will begin on Wednesday.The second shipment of
pipes is expected to arrive in a month’s time.
9. New
headquarters of Grey Wolves opened in occupied Nicosia
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper
(30.10.13) reports that the new headquarters of the “Hearths of the Ideal”,
known as Grey Wolves, were opened yesterday in the occupied part of Nicosia,
near Afrika’s offices at Koskluciflik area.
According to the paper, the Grey Wolves
moved into an apartment evacuated by TahsinErtugruloglu’s party, which has
closed down. During the ceremony, they sacrificed a ram in the middle of the
road in front of the “assembly” of the regime and shouted slogans such as
“Nicosia plain is home of Grey Wolves”, “Cyprus is Turkish and will remain
Turkish”, “We are soldiers of Turkes” [Translator’s note: AlpaslanTurkes was
the founder of the Grey Wolves] and “The Grey Wolves Movement cannot be
prevented”.
The headquarters were opened by
OlcayKilavuz, chairman of the Grey Wolves in Turkey. A speech was also
delivered by AdemYurdakul, chairman of the Grey Wolves in the occupied area of
Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
10. Marmaray
tunnel officially opens on Turkish Republic's 90th anniversary
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
29.10.13) reported that the Marmaray, the underwater rail tunnel linking the
European and Asian sides of Istanbul, took its maiden journey on Oct. 29
following a grand ceremony celebrating the realization of the government’s
first of many mega projects.
The ceremony, which coincided with the 90th
anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic, was attended by Turkish
President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan, as well as
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta,
Somali President Hasan Sheikh Mahmud and a number of foreign civil servants.
Speaking at the ceremony, President
Abdullah Gul said the government’s vision and stability had made the
realization of the Marmaray possible. “An environment of stability and trust
established in recent year paved the way for the realization of large projects.
In the upcoming period, definitely larger ones will come online,” he said.
Erdogan also said the project was just the
first of other giant transportation projects slated for Istanbul and Turkey.
The ceremony held on Republic Day only
marked the opening of only a small part of the project that will be supported
by 63kms of suburban lines.
Erdogan also noted the date of the
inauguration ceremony was deliberately picked as the 90th anniversary of
Republic. “We have never forgotten the road to the proclamation of the
republic,” he said.
Erdogan also said the Marmaray was not only
connecting two continents but also realizing a century-old dream.
The idea of the tunnel was first floated by
Ottoman sultan Abdülmecid in 1860, but technical equipment at the time was not
good enough to take the project further.
“This project that was dreamed of 153 years
ago, has been happily realized by our government,” President Abdullah Gul also
said.
Speaking before Erdogan, Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe had called on everybody to dream of a high-speed train
beginning in Tokyo and passing through Istanbul on the way to London, drawing
praise from the audience and Erdogan.
“Tokyo, Beijing, Uskudar, London: Can it
be? It can. The Marmaray is the project of all our brothers in Beijing, London
and Tokyo,” Erdogan said, responding Abe’s call.
Abe also repeated his amicable messages
that stressed the warm relations between Turkey and Japan, while speaking at
the ceremony.
11. Tens
of thousands mark Republic Day with alternative rally in Ankara
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
30.10.13) reports that with a series of official ceremonies being customarily
held to mark the 90th anniversary of foundation of the Republic of Turkey at
different points across the capital city, tens of thousands of people gathered
in Tandogan Square for an alternative celebration.
The main opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) and the Workers’ Party (IP) held a joint rally along with a number
of civil society organizations including the Turkey Youth Union (TGB) and the
Kemalist Thought Association (ADD) in order to mark the day in Tandogan Square,
which is a couple of hundreds of meters away from Anitkabir, the mausoleum of
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.
Anitkabir experienced one of its most
crowded days as people carrying Turkish flags and posters of Ataturk flocked to
the mausoleum before and after the celebrations.
CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu delivered a
speech at the rally, giving a message of unity among opposition parties. “We
will not split, we will be together. We will exalt the Republic by joining
forces,” he said.
He once again labelled Prime Minister
RecepTayyip Erdogan a “dictator,” vowing that “Republicans and revolutionists
will not allow any dictator to rule Turkey. Our young people brought a dictator
to his knees with the Gezi resistance. They took a dictator down a peg.”
Emphasizing that the CHP was protecting
“republican” values, Kilicdaroglu stressed that the first three articles of the
Constitution, which define the characteristics of the Republic as a
“democratic, secular and social state” while regulating the integrity of the
state, the official language, the flag, the national anthem and the capital,
are the “red lines” of his party through the ongoing negotiations for the new
Constitution. The IP has at various times called on the CHP to “leave the table”
at Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation Commission, claiming that the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) is seeking to destroy republican values.
Throughout Kilicdaroglu’s speech, onlookers
enthusiastically chanted slogans such as “Government, resign,” “We are the
soldiers of Mustafa Kemal” and “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism.”
IP Deputy Chairman HasanBasriOzbey also
delivered a speech at the gathering. Demonstrators also chanted slogans such as
“Either independence or death; fully independent Turkey,” “The AKP will fall,
not the Republic,” and “We will win with resistance.”
They also chanted the student oath in
unison, in apparent protest against the government’s recent move to abolish the
oath, which used to be obligatory for primary school students to recite every
morning. The student oath starts with the words, “I’m Turkish, I’m righteous,
I’m hardworking,” and ends with the phrase, “How happy is the one who says ‘I
am a Turk.’”
People at the rally expressed solidarity
with the Gezi Park unrest, chanting the motto of demonstrations: “Everywhere is
Taksim, everywhere is resistance.” Six slain Gezi protestors were also
commemorated, with all people at the rally shouting “here” when their names
were announced.
12. Erdogan:
Latest EU progress report “more well-intentioned”
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 29.10.13), Turkey’s Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan has
softened his stance on the European Union's latest progress report on Turkey,
saying that it contents showed that it was "more well-intentioned"
compared to previous years.
"It is not that there aren't
[criticisms] that we disagree with. But our latest democratization package and
the administrative steps that we undertook afterward have caused serious positive
repercussions in the European Union," Erdogan said on Tuesday during a
joint press conference in Istanbul with visiting Romanian counterpart Victor
Ponta, a few hours after the opening ceremony of the Marmaray Tunnel.
This year's report, controversially
released during the Feast of Sacrifice, praised the Kurdish peace bid and the
latest democratization package, while criticizing the government's stance
during the Gezi protests. In his initial comments after the release, Erdogan
reacted sharply against the report, saying the EU should engage in
self-criticism over its "unwilling" attitude in the accession
process.
However, he said today (Tuesday) that he
believed both France and Germany's stances would be more positive following
this report, anticipating an official visit to Berlin shortly. "We are
waiting for the formation of the Cabinet in [Germany]. [German Chancellor
Angela] Merkel made an invitation, and we will discuss these issues during this
visit," Erdogan said.
13. Davutoglu
visits US to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online,
29.10.13) reported that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, by
invitation of US Secretary of State John Kerry, is expected to pay an official
visit to Washington on Nov. 18 for talks on bilateral relations and regional
developments.
“During the visit, there will be meetings
with officials from the White House, State department and US Senate. Bilateral
ties and regional developments, including Syria, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan,
will be the main agenda for the two ministers. Davutoglu's visit is expected to
last one and a half or two days,” a Turkish official, who wished to remain
anonymous, told Today's Zaman.
According to a report from the Turkish
daily Aksam, Davutoglu's main topic for discussion with his American
counterpart will be the Syrian civil war which has raged on Turkey's doorstep
for more than two and a half years. The report says that the officials are
expected to discuss the Geneva II conference and the future of Syria in an
effort to prepare the ground for a smooth transition in the war-torn country.
The Aksam article noted that another issue
Davutoglu is expected to discuss is Turkey's role as a mediator in Iran's
nuclear talks. At the time of the recent UN General Assembly, Iranian President
Hassan Rohanisignalled that his country is ready to engage in nuclear talks
with Western countries. Turkey and Brazil, both non-permanent members of the UN
Security Council, tried to revive the stalled deal with Iran in an attempt to
help the Islamic republic avoid new UN sanctions imposed due to its ongoing
nuclear program in 2010.
The official denied that Turkey has any
desire to play a mediator role in the dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program
and said that Turkey will assist the talks only if one of the sides requests
its help. “There seem to be no problems with the nuclear talks between Iran and
Western countries. However, if they [Iran or other Western countries] wish
Turkey to take part in the talks, Ankara is ready to support the talks in order
to settle the problem. But it is certain that Turkey won't step forward by
itself to be a mediator in the talks,” the official said.
14. A
senior Israeli diplomat evaluates Israel’s relations with Turkey
Under the title “Apology timing related to
developments in region: Israel”, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
30.10.13) reports that the timing of Israel’s apology offered to Turkey earlier
this year is related with regional developments as well as the composition of
the coalition of Israel’s government, formed only days before the apology, said
a senior Israeli diplomat.
Israel wants to exploit the potential of
bilateral cooperation with Turkey, not only in trade but also in security and
strategy fields, ReuvenAzar, head of the Middle East Bureau Centre for Policy
Research at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, told Hurriyet Daily News last week.
“As the conflict in Syria escalated, we
reached a common conclusion that we have to cooperate more, whether it will be
in the security, intelligence or other areas, to jointly cope with threats. We
find ourselves having common interests with partners. Some of these common
interests haven’t been realized and that is the common interest we have with
Turkey,” Azar said.
Another opportunity is cooperation on
energy with countries like Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt, because of the findings in
offshore Israel, Azar said reminding that the Israeli Supreme Court has
recently approved the government’s decision to export 40% of the natural gas
found offshore of Israel.
Asked if Israel’s feeling of loneliness in
the region over a crisis in Syria has led the government to seek rapprochement
with Turkey and therefore apologize for the Mavi Marmara killings, Azar said
his country is not feeling alone, but he stressed his country’s goal to restore
ties with Turkey.
“General sense within the Israeli
establishment, and especially in the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Turkey is a
major player in the region, with which we have to engage. Turkey is not only a
trading partner, but also a strategic partner. Many Israelis said they would
like to restore that. There is a lot of sympathy towards Turkey in this
country, in this government and in this building (the foreign ministry),” he
said.
However, it has hesitations concerning
“Turkey’s financial and logistic support to Hamas,” Azar, nonetheless, noted.
“There are many questions. Because we don’t
really know what is going to be future of the Turkish approach when it comes to
the area and toward Israel. One thing that is very disturbing for us is the
attitude toward Hamas,” he stated, underlining that Hamas is an organization
that is dedicated destruction of Israel.
“This organization is getting not only the
sympathy of Turkey but also financial and logistic support from Turkey. It
brings the question as to what extent you can put your eggs in the Turkish
basket,” he said.
“Because, think that energy cooperation is
in the common interest of Turkey and Israel, but until now we haven’t heard anything
serious from the Turkish government,” Azar said.
Israel seeks to reinstate an ambassador to
Turkey as soon as possible before the concluding normalization talks, Israeli
sources told Hurriyet Daily News. The Israeli government considers appointing
the Head of European Division Ambassador Raphael Schutz to Turkey if both
parties agree on mutual appointment. Ankara is eager with the normalization
process with Israel and plans to appoint an ambassador to Tel Aviv after
compensation talks for the Mavi Marmara incident is finalized.
15. Turkey
and Japan signed formal agreement to build second nuclear plant in Sinop
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 30.10.13), Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan and his Japanese
counterpart Shinzo Abe signed on Oct. 29 the official agreement for building
Turkey's second nuclear plant in the Black Sea province of Sinop.
Abe came to Istanbul to attend the official
opening ceremony of the Marmaray tunnel, which has also been built by a
Japanese firm.
Erdogan told reporters during a joint press
conference after the Marmaray's opening ceremony, that the nuclear plant would
be built with the most developed technology.
"We know that it is impossible to say
something like 'accidents will never happen.' Even if it is one in a million,
such a danger, such an accident, might occur, and it is impossible to ignore
this," Erdogan said, commenting on the Fukushima nuclear disaster in
Japan.
"There is no investment without risks,
in any field. But every firm, every company should take 100% security measures.
The ideal thing is without a doubt to minimize the margin of error," he
added.
"Moreover,I believe that Japan will
put forward the most developed technology in the works that we will undertake
together at the Sinop nuclear plant. This is necessary for both Japan and
Turkey," the Prime Minister said.
16. Facebook
shuts BDP page for using “Kurdistan”
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 30.10.13), only days after closing down the Peace and Democracy
Party’s (BDP) Istanbul provincial branch's page on Oct. 24, Facebook has closed
the BDP headquarters’ page due to the use of the word “Kurdistan.”
The party announced the shutdown, accusing
Facebook of increasing censorship, which it said is a result of the company’s
constant cooperation with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
“Cooperation with the AKP, which discovered
the value of social media during the Gezi Resistance days, Facebook is
continuing without slowing down. As a result of this cooperation, our party’s
censorship on Facebook is gradually increasing. Facebook’s censorship policy
regarding our party is similar to the policy of pressure being assumed in the
political field,” said the BDP in a statement released yesterday.
Recalling that their Istanbul provincial
branch’s page was closed down days ago, the BDP said Facebook’s motive for
cooperation with the AKP was its desire to get more shares in advertisement
opportunities in Turkey via opening an office here. The new page bans come only
a month after BDP officials met with representatives from the social media
company in London, after its official party pages were officially closed.
“The closure of our headquarters’ page is
the most concrete indication of this. Facebook cited use of the word
‘Kurdistan’ in a message posted on the page. The word ‘Kurdistan’ is a
legitimate and legal word; however, Facebook’s ban of this [word] is
irrational,” it said in a statement.
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