TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 191/13 09.10.13
1.
Davutoglu announced that he will visit the breakaway regime prior to the two
leaders meeting which he said will take place on November 4
2.
Eroglu wants resumption of the Cyprus talks even without joint text
3. Nami’s contacts to Ankara
4.
Denmark MFA: If Cyprus problem is solved, then another obstacle for Turkey’s
membership to EU will be taken away
5.
Bagis: Cyprus settlement would be significant not only for Greek Cypriots and
Turkish Cypriots but also for Turkey and Greece
6.
BKP called on Yorgancioglu to announce what they accept from the economic
package
7.
Turkish authorities did not give permission to Cyprus Minister´s wife to enter
Turkey
8. SunatAtun is the new general secretary of UBP
9.
The breakaway regime established an Ad Hoc committee to discuss amendments to
“constitution”
10.
Bayrak is using Turkish aid committee money for improving its working standards
11.
Davutoglu accuses Kerry over US “praise” for al-Assad
12. Islamic
Finance Development Centre to open in İstanbul
13.
Erdogan meets Hamas leader Mashaal in Ankara
14.
Turkish public servants start wearing headscarf freely –Reactions from
opposition parties
15.
TV host fired after AK Party official's décolleté remarks
16.
“Why won't they reopen Halki Theological School?”
17.
Top Turkish court approves conviction of 237 suspects in coup case
1. Davutoglu
announced that he will visit the breakaway regime prior to the two leaders meeting
which he said will take place on November 4
Turkish daily Sabah online newspaper (09.10.13) reported on statements made by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu who stated that he will visit the breakaway regime prior to the launching on Cyprus negotiations.
Turkish daily Sabah online newspaper (09.10.13) reported on statements made by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu who stated that he will visit the breakaway regime prior to the launching on Cyprus negotiations.
Davutoglu who held a meeting with the
self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime OzdilNami who is holding
“official contacts” in Ankara also stated that the two leaders in Cyprus will
be meeting on November 4.
Cyprus problem was the main issue among the
other topics discussed between Davutoglu and Nami, according to the paper.
He stated that the Cyprus problem came to a
very critical point and said that if there strong political will, the solution
in Cyprus is possible.
As regards the visit of the two
representatives of the two Cypriot leaders to Ankara and Athens accordingly,
Davutoglu stated that this is the first time in 50-60 years that such a
development is taking place and said that an important psychological obstacle
was overcame.
2. Eroglu
wants resumption of the Cyprus talks even without joint text
Under the banner headline “Our aim is
solution”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (09.10.13) in its front page publishes
an interview with the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu to illegal Bayrak
television.
Claiming that he invited persistently the
Cyprus President Anastasiades to sit on the negotiation table, Eroglu said that
he wished to resume the Cyprus talks at the second half of October, adding that
they may be extended to November.
Referring to the joint text that both sides
are working on, so the leaders could address with UNSG Special Advisor
Alexander Donwer at the first day of the resumption of the talks, Eroglu said
that if there is no agreement on the joint text, they may again start the
negotiations. He explained that the joint text was a request by the Greek Cypriot
side as Downer informed them, adding that they want the resumption of the
Cyprus talks even if there is no joint text, because their aim is the solution.
Eroglu reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot
side wants to continue the negotiations from the point they stopped.
Replying to a question regarding his
meeting with US diplomat Eric Rubin, Eroglu noted that contacts have been
increased lately. Eroglu said that the international public opinion does not
want to waste time anymore and it gives the message that it is ready to aid in
order to find a solution the soonest possible. He claimed that if there is
will, then the talks can be finished until March, or April.
Commenting on the visits of the negotiators
to Ankara and Athens, Eroglu also claimed that the agreement includes that the
meetings of the special representatives will be in the same level and with
equal position. The visits will take place at the second half of October.
Noting that Anastastasiades has lost his
credibility in the public opinion due to the economic crisis, Eroglu said that
Anastasiades brought into the agenda the opening of the fenced off town of
Varosha in order to gain his credibility back.
3. Nami’s contacts to Ankara
Turkish Cypriot internet site
KibrisPostasi (09.10.13) reports that the self-styled foreign minister
OzdilNami expressed the hope a plan for a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus
problem to occur in the coming months and a referendum that would be contacted
for the issue, to have a positive outcome.
Nami, who is currently visiting
Ankara, made these statements prior to his meeting with the Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, during which he informed him about the expectations
of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the stage reached on Cyprus negotiations.
Nami stated that the Cyprus
problem came to a very important stage and claimed that the international
community begun mentioning that this is the last effort for reaching a
comprehensive solution for the Cyprus problem. He went on and stated that their
aim is a solution to be reached soon and thanked Turkey for the help towards
the breakaway regime.
Nami and Davutoglu’s meeting
continued behind closes doors.
In addition, Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (09.10.13) reports about Nami’s in Ankara and writes
that according to a senior Turkish diplomat who spoke to Today's Zaman on
condition of anonymity, Nami, who is on his first “official” visit to Ankara
and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will exchange views on the
political process in Cyprus and the negotiations that are expected to start in
the coming days.
“Turkey […] wants the Cyprus dispute to be
resolved as soon as possible and the talks not to be delayed indefinitely,” the
diplomat said. When asked whether a definite schedule for the talks has been
set, the diplomat said that the start date was still unclear and could be
postponed to November. He added, however, that Turkey expects the talks to
start in October.
“In order to reach a solution, first the
talks should start and this should not be delayed further,” the diplomat said.
The paper also publishes statements by
Mehmet Hasguler, a Turkish Cypriot academic who teaches at the illegal European
University of Lefke, who said that he expects the talks to start by November. “I
hope that the media in Greek Cyprus don't publish manipulative reports that
will damage the negotiation process. Indeed, it will be a tough process, but
first it should start,” Hasguler told Today's Zaman.
The diplomat also said that Turkey and Greece
have agreed on the visits of the two special representatives of the two sides
in Cyprus. “Their visit will definitely take place. However, the date is not
clear. But we predict it to be before November, in coordination with the Greek
side,” the diplomat said.
4. Denmark
MFA: If Cyprus problem is solved, then another obstacle for Turkey’s membership
to EU will be taken away
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (09.10.13)
reports that Denmark's Foreign Minister VillySovndal, in a joint press
conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Tuesday in Ankara,
replying to a question regarding Turkey’s membership to EU, said that if
Turkey’s government acts bravely at its reform agenda and if it’s possible to
solve the Cyprus problem, then some obstacles can been taken away from this
path.
On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news
agency (09.10.13) reports that Sovndal also said: "We want all other
chapters which have been blocked to be opened but l cannot put up a time table
for Turkey's membership to EU while l can [list] some obstacles."
Regarding Turkey's reform program, Sovndal
said Turkey came a long way with the reform program, and the country can always
develop further, adding: "We ask you to be brave in the agenda item on
freedom of speech and minority rights. We want all other chapters to be opened
which have been blocked. He also said that the Chapter 22 was opened and the
Chapter 23 will be opened as well.
"Turkey has also taken major steps to
solve Cyprus problem," Sovndal said.
5. Bagis:
Cyprus settlement would be significant not only for Greek Cypriots and Turkish
Cypriots but also for Turkey and Greece
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(09.10.13), Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator EgemenBagis,
speaking on Tuesday at the new Turkish Embassy building in Athens, said that a
comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem would be significant not only for
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots but also for Turkey and Greece as well as
for Britain, said
"That is why we supported the Annan
Plan although it was not a perfect one," he said, reminding that the Greek
Cypriot side did not support the Plan.
During his visit in Athens, Turkish
minister discussed several issues including the opening of the Halki seminary,
the mosque problem in Greece, and lifting visa requirements for Turkish
citizens.
Bagis said Greek authorities voiced their
demands over the opening of the Halki seminary (the Theological School of
Halki), which is located on the Turkish island of Heybeliada (Princes’ islands)
off Istanbul.
"We told them that it was not a
political decision of us to close the school; it was a judicial decision for
which we try to find a formula," he said.
"If Greece keeps its promises to the
Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the last 12 years, it may encourage the
way to the formula (for the Halki seminary)," he noted.
He also touched on the issue of Athens'
lack of a mosque and he underlined problems such as the ban on using Turkish
words in the names of some associations as well as the lack of a Muslim
cemetery in Athens.
6. BKP
called on Yorgancioglu to announce what they accept from the economic package
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (09.10.13)
reports that the leader of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) IzzetIzcan called on
the self-styled prime minister OzkanYorgancioglu to announce which articles of
the “economic programme 2013-15” signed with Turkey he has accepted, which
articles he has rejected and when the works for revision of the economic
programme will start.
In a written statement yesterday, Izcan
described Yorgancioglu’s statement that he doesn’t reject entirely the economic
programme as unfortunate and disturbing. He repeated that Yorgancioglu has not
announced yet the content of the letter he sent to Ankara regarding the
implementation of the economic package and he called him once more to share
with the public the letter’s context.
Asking for the immediate cancellation of
the economic package, Izcan stressed that the persistence of implement this
package would be the biggest harm for the Turkish Cypriots.
7. Turkish
authorities did not give permission to Cyprus Minister´s wife to enter Turkey
Turkish Cypriot news portal Kibris son
dakika (online, 09.10.13) reports that Greek Cypriot ChrysemeliKenevezou, wife
of the Cyprus Minister of Education KyriakosKenevezou, arrived at the Adnan
Menderes airport yesterday, but the Turkish authorities did not issue her a
visa to enter the country.
Referring to confidential sources, the news
portal reports that Kenevezou waited at the airport for six hours without being
able to obtain a visa. Kenevezou created a diplomatic episode and the issue
reached to the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the news portal
reports.
Kenevezou was going to participate in an
educational conference in Izmir as a speaker.
8. SunatAtun is the new general secretary of UBP
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis
newspaper (09.10.13) reports that SunatAtun was elected general secretary of
the National Unity Party (UBP).
SunatAtun was elected with 47 votes while
the other candidate for the position, Ersan Saner, received 37 votes.
Atun’s election created new reactions in
the party since the decision of holding elections for the position of the
general secretary was taken by UBP’ central committee, despite the fact that
the previous general secretary NecdetNuman did not officially resigned.
9. The
breakaway regime established an Ad Hoc committee to discuss amendments to
“constitution”
Illegal Bayrak television (08.10.13)
reports that the self-styled assembly approved a decision to set up an “Ad Hoc
committee” to discuss reforms and amendments to the “constitution, the charter
of parliament and the law governing elections and voters”. The committee will
include representatives of all political parties represented in the self-styled
assembly.
10. Bayrak
is using Turkish aid committee money for improving its working standards
Illegal Bayrak television (08.10.13)
reports that a tender that had been opened for the purchasing of vehicles for
the BayrakCorporation has been concluded and a protocol has been signed with
SerhanKombos Automotive Limited for the purchasing of 4 vehicles.
Making a statement on the issue BRT
Director Mete Tumerkan stated the following: “972 thousand Turkish liras have
been provided by the Turkish aid committee to Bayrak Radio Television
Corporation to buy vehicles, cameras, computers and furnishings”.
11. Davutoglu
accuses Kerry over US “praise” for al-Assad
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(09.10.13) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is the latest
Turkish figure to accuse US Secretary of State John Kerry for lauding Bashar
al-Assad’s compliance with the UN over chemical weapons, saying the Syrian
leader is a ‘killer’
“Anyone who speaks about Syria should not
say anything that they wouldn’t be able to say when looking into the faces of
Syrian refugees who are suffering,” Davutoglu said on Oct. 8, speaking during a
press conference with his Danish counterpart, VillySovndal.
Touching on Turkey’s support for a recent
deal on the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria, the minister said he
“openly discusses” the issues with Kerry, while underlining that he had a
“close, friendly relationship” with the U.S. secretary of state.
“Any discourse that does not address the
hearts of the Syrian refugees will not bring peace; on the contrary, it will
raise offensiveness ... will egg on an offensive regime to stage more attacks
just after chemical weapons were used,” he said.
Davutoglu referred to pictures of dead
children due to recent chemical attack in Syria and stressed that many world
leaders, including Kerry, had seen them. “We don’t think those who are
responsible for the attack deserve any praise,” he added.
Davutoglu also warned against the risks if
the international community lost its decisive stance against the Syrian
government.
The U.S. secretary of state praised
al-Assad on Oct. 7 for beginning to destroy chemical weapons in Syria just a
week after a U.N. Security Council resolution was passed on the matter.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Davutoglu also
once again refuted allegations that Turkey was supporting the al-Qaeda-linked
al-Nusra Front fighting in Syria.
12. Islamic
Finance Development Centre to open in Istanbul
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (09.10.13) reports that the Turkish Cabinet
approved on September 30 an agreement between the Under secretariat of the
Treasury and the World Bank to establish the World Bank Global Islamic Finance
Development Centre in Turkey, the Turkish Official Gazette announced on
Tuesday.
The agreement was made in an exchange of
letters between the World Bank, which proposed establishing the centre, and
İbrahim H. Canakci, the undersecretary of the Treasury.
The proposal letter states that the
initiative will be implemented in İstanbul over a four-year period, ending in
2017, it will cover the development of work programs related to Islamic finance
and it will establish a physical presence for the World Bank in İstanbul
through the centre.
The centre will collaborate with
stakeholders in the areas of Islamic economics and finance, including
international financial institutions, standard-setting bodies, nongovernmental
organizations and the private sector.
13. Erdogan
meets Hamas leader Mashaal in Ankara
Ankara Anatolia news agency (09.10.13)
reports that the prime ministry in Ankara was the venue for a meeting between
the head of Hamas’ political bureau, KhaledMashaal, and Turkish Prime Minister
RecepTayyip Erdogan. The meeting, which started at 7 p.m. and lasted for three
hours, was closed to the press.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,
National Intelligence Agency (MİT) chief HakanFidan, Deputy Undersecretary for
the Prime Minister’s Office Ibrahim Kalin and advisor SeferTuran were also
present at the meeting, Anadolu Agency reported.
The meeting between Mashaal and Erdogan
came around four months after their latest meeting. It came at a time when rumours
suggest that Mashaal, currently in exile in Qatar, is searching for another
place to live.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, sources from
the Office of the Prime Ministry declined to give further information regarding
the agenda of the meeting. The latest meeting between Erdogan and Mashaal also
took place at the prime ministry official residence on June 18. Gaza’s Prime
Minister Ismail Haniyeh and a number of members of Hamas’ political wing had
also participated in that meeting.
14. Turkish
public servants start wearing headscarf freely –Reactions from opposition
parties
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(09.10.13) reports that covered women working as public servants were able to
enter their workplaces with their headscarves yesterday for the first time ever
after an amendment guaranteeing the freedom of dress went into effect earlier
in the day.
The watershed move, which was announced by
the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) government in a
“democratization package” on Sept. 30, was the fulfilment of a long-time
promise.
Both the lifting of the headscarf ban and
the abolition of an oath that was obligatory for primary school students are
moves that will serve to normalize the country and bring back the authentic
spirit of the Turkish Republic, Erdogan told a parliamentary group meeting of
his ruling party yesterday.
In an apparent response to objections
against the move that are based on secularist concerns, Erdogan said there were
“ignorant and exploitative” circles who were attempting to portray each and
every step and reform by the government as anti-republican.
Erdogan said they had fixed imbalances,
brought the republic back to its origins, and steadily removed pressures, bans
and “cruelties” that had been imposed since the 1940s.
Main opposition Republican People’s Party
(CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu chose not to comment on the development in his
address to his party’s parliamentary group meeting yesterday.
While Kilicdaroglu was delivering his
critical remarks over the government’s recently announced democratization
package in his address to his lawmakers and party members at the meeting, a
party member made a loud comment and said, “Their primary objective was to
allow the headscarf for public servants.” Kilicdaroglu, however, did not
respond to the comment.
For his part, Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) leader DevletBahceli, who has constantly expressed his support for the
lifting of the ban, criticized the government for waiting so long to implement
an initiative that could have been instituted much earlier.
“Now the headscarf has come on the agenda
once more and been put in the PKK [the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party]
package,” Bahceli said at his parliamentary group meeting, referring to the
democratization package which his party considers as a concession given to the
PKK.
“For us, being annoyed at the headscarf
goes against the grain. However, Prime Minister Erdogan has made the headscarf
a cover for the PKK and its own disgraces instead of putting it on the heads of
pious women,” Bahceli said.
15. TV
host fired after AK Party official's décolleté remarks
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (09.10.13) reports that Turkey's ATV channel
has fired a TV host two days after she was indirectly criticized by a senior
official from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for her
excessive décolleté.
“The TV host of a game show yesterday
[Saturday] was wearing such a dress, which, I mean, is not appropriate. We are
not interfering in anyone's life but it was too much. It is not acceptable in
the rest of the world, either,” AK Party Deputy Chairman HuseyinCelik said,
speaking on a television program on Sunday. Although he did not name the TV
host, he was reportedly referring to Gozde Kansu, the host of the song contest
“Veliaht” (Crown prince) as there is no other game show on Turkish TV channels
on Saturday that is hosted by a woman.
Reports emerged on Tuesday that Kansu was
fired by the channel administration and SevilayYukselir, a columnist with the
Sabah daily, which is from the same media group with ATV, confirmed the reports
on her Twitter account. She said she talked to ATV managers on the issue and
they told her that Kansu was fired not over her dress but because of her “low
performance.”
Some reports also linked Kansu's sacking to
her support for the anti-government protests that engulfed Turkey in June. She
was a supporter of the protests that began in Istanbul over the government's
plans to build a replica of a historic military barracks in place of what is
now Gezi Park in Taksim and turned into widespread protests against the government.
Responding to criticism on his Twitter
account later on Tuesday, Celik said that during the interview he was asked
about concerns that some would “exaggerate” the practice of allowing the
headscarf at public institutions and he said these concerns were groundless,
adding that he referred to the TV host as an example for “exaggeration.” “I did
not name a TV channel, a show or a person in my speech,” Celik said. “My
sensitivity is for the sensitivity of the public. It is my natural right and
freedom of expression to voice my thoughts on an issue as an individual, a TV
viewer and a politician,” he added.
16. “Why
won't they reopen Halki Theological School?”
Under the above title, Orhan Kemal Cengiz
publishes the following commentary on Turkish daily Today’s Zamannewspaper (09.10.13):
“Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan spoke
in Parliament on Tuesday, addressing his party.
Among many other things, he spoke about the
conditions under which the Halki Theological School will be reopened. “When our
cognates [referring to the Turkish minority] in Greece are able to choose their
own mufti, then we will reopen the Halki Theological school,” he said.
When I heard these words, I wondered if the
Prime Minister had ever mentioned this so called “precondition” to his All
Holiness Bartholomeos. As far as I know, they communicate on various occasions
and I am sure that the reopening of the Halki School must have come up sometime
during these frequent communications. This is a life and death matter for the
survival of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey.
As I indicated various times before in this
column, the reopening of Halki has always been on the agenda of this
government. If you look at newspaper archives, you will observe that as early
as 2003, at ministerial levels, different spokespeople from the government have
spoken about the possibility of reopening Halki Theological School. Most of the
time, they say “there is no obstacle before reopening the school.” But somehow,
when it's time to turn this into concrete reality, they come up with different
excuses, all of which are related to “reciprocity.”
Before, they had said Greece should first
open a mosque in Athens. Now, the Prime Minister comes out with this final
precondition: “the election of the mufti by the Muslim minority in Greece.”
When you’re unconscious (some say
subconscious) dictates you to do something, your conscious always fabricate
something to justify it. You cannot change the dictates of your unconscious
mind until you fully confront them and sometimes with the source of its
creation.
Whatever changes on the frontier, deep down
Turkish statesmen's mentality of the image of non-Muslims and what they
symbolize have not changed dramatically. Non-Muslims are infidel, unwanted,
untruthful and unfaithful elements of this society. Was it not the patriarchate
people who welcomed the Greek army when they invaded İstanbul? Wasn't it the minorities
who caused the loss of large territories from the Ottoman Empire? These and so
many other perceptions somehow remain alive on an unconscious level in some
segments of society and statesmen alike.
This is the most non-Muslim friendly
government that we have seen during the whole republican era. But they cannot
move beyond the point of giving some “presents” sporadically and do not
recognize minorities' fundamental rights.
We all welcomed this government's
initiative of returning Mor Gabriel Monastery's land back. If you forget who
seized them in the first place, you can regard this as a great step. It was the
very state agencies acting under the strict control of this government who took
this land after winning a legal battle which they fought fiercely. And now the
government is giving the land back.
The government is taking some steps but
none of them has the effect of creating fundamental changes for non-Muslims,
such as creating legal devices recognizing the institutions of these groups.
As I always say, unless Turkey reaches the
point of fully confronting with its past, there will not be a fundamental
change in these spheres because goodwill or anything else cannot change the
dictates of your unconscious mind. Turkey, unfortunately, will continue to act
on automatic pilot and will not take the fundamental steps to fully address the
grievances of non-Muslims unless we fully confront with our problematic past.”
17. Top
Turkish court approves conviction of 237 suspects in coup case
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily news
(09.10.13) reports that the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals approved the
convictions of 237 suspects in the “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) coup-plot case this
morning, including former First Army Gen. Cetin Dogan, former Air Force Gen.
Halil İbrahim Firtina, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy and
former general Engin Alan, former Navy Adm. OzdenOrnek and other high-ranking
retired generals.
The court approved the acquittal of 36
suspects, while quashing the convictions of 63 other suspects on the grounds
that they had agreed to commit a crime but had not followed through and
actually committed an infraction. The suspects will soon be released, although
it was not immediately announced when and if they would face a retrial.
The court also ordered the release pending
a retrial of 25 imprisoned suspects over problems with evidence.
The much-anticipated final verdict
announced by the Ninth Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals is seen
as the precursor for other controversial coup cases into plots like Ergenekon
and the Feb. 28 process.
The verdict is the product of the longest
trial in the history of the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals, with the process
including defenses from 96 lawyers at 17 sessions that stretched out for a
month.
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