TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 209/13 05.11.13
2. Taurus military exercise was called off
3. Talat: it will be
difficult to solve the issue of occupied closed city of Varosha if the status
quo continues
4. Eroglu says
students in their illegal universities exceed 60 thousands
5. Caglar and Ertugruloglu will attend PACE meetings
6. Turkey exports to the breakaway regime total
817,011,000 dollars
7. Increase in the
hotels capacity for October in occupied Cyprus
8. Turkish Tourism minister visited
the pavilion of the breakaway regime in the World Travel Market tourism Fair in
London
9. President Gul
signals candidacy for Turkish presidency
10. Main opposition
CHP deputy chairman set to visit US
11. Erdogan: Female,
male students living together is against our character
12. Facebook lifts ban
on BDP's page
1. Eroglu describes
as unacceptable the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus into a federation
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.11.13)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has alleged that a
solution which provides for the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus into a
federation is unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriot “people”. Addressing an
“Academic Youth Forum” organized by the so-called association of friendship
between Azerbaijan and Cyprus, Eroglu claimed that the evolution of the
Republic of Cyprus into federation is “contrary to the experiences and the
existing realities on the island”. He argued that something like this is
unacceptable because it could allegedly cause the victimization of the Turkish
Cypriots once more.
Eroglu said that the time for an
agreement in Cyprus has come and claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready
for “a new partnership”, which will have a bi-communal, bi-zonal federal
structure based on political equality. Eroglu said that the “partnership state”
which will be established, will be formed by two “founding states” of equal
status and will have one seat at the United Nations, one identity in the
international arenaand a single citizenship. At the same time, he argued, the
founding states will be able to “act sovereignly” and will have the right of
granting “internal citizenship”.
“We say ‘yes, let us reach an
agreement, it is enough, let us turn Cyprus into an island of tranquility and
peace’, but we cannot act carelessly and endanger the future of our people”, he
claimed alleging that Turkey’s “active and effective guarantees” are an
indispensable condition for the Turkish Cypriots.
“The agreement to be reached will become
primary law of the European Union so that tomorrow no problem is experienced on
issues such as bi-zonality, political equality, economic sustainability,
territory and property”, he alleged.
(I/Ts.)
2. Taurus military exercise was called off
According to
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen(05.11.13), Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis
Eroglu’s special representative Osman Ertug announced that the annual military
exercise Taurus, which was carried out jointly between the Turkish occupation
forces in Cyprus and the so-called securities forces of the breakaway regime,
has been cancelled.
In a statement,
Ertug said that they made the necessary contacts and consultations with the
authorities of the motherland and guarantor Turkey on the issue. He added that
this decision was deemed that it will aid the efforts for the resumption of the
negotiations from the point which were left off for a comprehensive solution
with the meeting of the leaders, which is expected to be held in a short
time.
3. Talat: it will
be difficult to solve the issue of occupied closed city of Varosha if the
status quo continues
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.11.13)
reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat has said that
it will be very difficult to solve the issue of the occupied closed city of
Varosha, if the existing status quo continues. In statements yesterday, Talat
noted that in case of non-solution, it will be necessary to address issues such
as the administration, the security and the economic course of Varosha. He said
that under these circumstances, it seems very difficult and impossible for
Varosha to secure benefits in case of non-solution. In spite of this, he added,
even a little economic benefit could be secured in case of a possible
arrangement on Varosha. He argued that discussing Varosha under conditions of
non-solution is more difficult than looking for a solution.
Responding to a question on the
project of bringing water from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus, Talat
said that the reserves in the dams in the government-controlled area of Cyprus
are 325 million cubic meters and are much more than the 75 million cubic meters
that will come from Turkey. In spite of this, he claimed, the water from Turkey
will be of better quality and this water could be used as drinking water.
Talat argued that during his
so-called presidency the Greek Cypriots had a positive approach to the water
project and added that the powers regarding the water distribution are included
within the authorities of the federal government in a possible solution of the
Cyprus problem.
Referring to Turkey’s policy on
Cyprus, Talat argued that the Turkish policy after 2002 is different than the
policy before 2002. He expressed the view that because of her old policy on
Cyprus, Turkey has been forced to wait at the doorstep of the European Union.
Meanwhile,
responding to questions of Kibris TV, Talat said that he supports the Cyprus
policy of the AK Party government and recalled that the AKP supported a
solution in Cyprus based on federation and the Annan Plan. “If supporting the
policy of this party which coincides with our policy makes me representative of
the AKP in Cyprus, this does not sadden me”, he noted commenting on press
reports which described him as “agent of the AKP in Cyprus”.
(I/Ts.)
4. Eroglu says students in their illegal
universities exceed 60 thousands
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.11.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
leader, Dervis Eroglu has said that the number of students in the illegal
universities in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus exceeds 60 thousand
and added that within a certain period of time this number will reach 100
thousand.
Addressing an “Academic Youth Forum”
organized by the so-called association of friendship between Azerbaijan and
Cyprus, Eroglu noted that 32 thousand students from Turkey and 11 thousand
students from third countries study in the illegal universities and alleged:
“This fact ensures a serious contribution for us making our existence felt in
the international field and de facto imposing the fact that a state exists
here”.
Eroglu alleged that the
“universities” are the most evident proof of the “very useful services offered
by the state of the TRNC as a sovereign entity” to “all the nations and peoples
regardless of language, religion and race”.
“We attach great importance to the opening of
our universities to the world together with our students”, he said.
(I/Ts.)
5. Caglar and Ertugruloglu will attend PACE
meetings
According to
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (05.11.13), the so-called deputy with the
Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) Mehmet Caglar and the
so-called deputy with the National Unity Party (UBP) Tahsin Ertugruloglu will
participate tomorrow in meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE) in Prague and Lisbon.
Caglar will take
part in the meeting the Committee on Media and Information Society that will be
held between 5-8 November, 2013, in Belgrade (Serbia). Ertugruloglu will also
take part in the meeting of the Committee Political Affairs and Democracy,
which will be held in Lisbon, between 5-9 November.
6. Turkey exports to the breakaway regime total
817,011,000 dollars
Under the title
“Turkey gives one and takes two”, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (05.11.13)
reports that Turkey, which contributes yearly 1 billion TL to the budget of the
breakaway regime, takes back double this grant through its exports to the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
According to the
paper, Turkey got 817 million 11 thousand dollars from its exports to the
breakaway regime during the period January-October 2013. The exports increased
by 2.7% compared to the same period last year.
7. Increase in the
hotels capacity for October in occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(05.11.13) reports that there was increase in the hotel capacity in the
breakaway regime for October. As the
paper notes the celebration of the Feast
of Sacrifice in October was a factor for this development.
According to data given by the Turkish Cypriot
Hotel Union (KITOB) five stars hotels capacity was 78%, increased by 2.6%
compared to the same period last year. In addition small hotels capacity was
increased as well and was 62%, increased by 10% compared to last year.
8. Turkish Tourism minister
visited the pavilion of the breakaway regime in the World Travel Market tourism
Fair in London
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.11.13) reports that the breakaway regime is
participating in the World Travel Market tourism Fair which is taking place in
London under the name “North Cyprus”. The market is the second biggest tourism
fair in the world.
The
162-square- meter pavilion of the breakaway regime is placed next to the
Turkish pavilion, writes the paper. It also reports that yesterday the Turkish
Minister of Culture and Tourism Omer Celik visited the pavilion of the
breakaway regime.
Kibris
also writes that the advertisement campaign started last year in black taxis
and buses for promoting tourism, will continue this year as well.
9. President Gul
signals candidacy for Turkish presidency
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(05.11.13) reports that TurkishPresident
Abdullah Gul has hinted he is prepared to challenge Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan in presidential elections next summer, according to the Guardian.
Asked during an exclusive weekend interview
with the Guardian whether he would seek a second term, Gul said it was too
early to make a decision. When pressed, he declined to rule out his candidacy,
saying he was keeping "all options open".
After the
article was published, Presidency Press Consultant Ahmet Sever said Gul had
said nothing different from his previous statements about his candidacy for the
2014 presidency elections. Sever said the article's headline hinting at a
battle for presidency between Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was
the writer's own observation.
Gul
insisted Erdogan was a friend, not a rival, and dismissed talk of policy rifts
over his more inclusive stance on issues such as alcohol use and when Muslim
women may wear the headscarf.
"Erdogan
is a friend and we have worked shoulder to shoulder with him in the course of
all these years," Gul said.
-------------------------------
Syria could become a "Mediterranean
Afghanistan" if the international community does not act to end its civil
war, Gul warned. Gul, who was speaking to the British newspaper during a visit
to the Scottish capital Edinburgh, called the world's response "very
disappointing" and said the UN Security Council's reaction had been a
"disgrace".
He argued that many of the war's casualties
could have been avoided if the outside world had reacted strongly to President
Bashar al-Assad's crackdown against rebel forces, which he warned were now in
danger of becoming radicalized.
10. Main opposition
CHP deputy chairman set to visit US
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(05.11.13) reports thatRepublican
People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Erdogan Toprak will pay a visit to the
U.S. from Nov. 6 to 8, ahead of a visit by the party's leader.
Toprak will meet with Chairman of the
American-Turkish Council James Holmes, Director at the Washington Institute for
Near East Policy Soner Cagaptay, Director of Research and Information at the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Rafi Danziger, Steven A. Cook
from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Alan Makovsky from the House
Foreign Affairs Committee and Kemal Kirisci from the Brookings Institute.
Toprak will
participate in the preparations for the establishment of the U.S. bureau of the
CHP and have talks ahead of the upcoming visit of CHP Chairman Kemal
Kilicdaroglu to Washington, a written statement from the party said yesterday.
"CHP
considers relations with the U.S. within a historical framework and importance,
not tactically or strategically," Toprak said in the statement.
11. Erdogan:
Female, male students living together is against our character
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (05.11.13) reports thatTurkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has condemned female and male students' living under one roof,
vowing to take measures against such instances.
"This
is against our conservative, democratic character," Erdogan said during a
closed-door meeting Nov. 3 with his Justice and Development Party (AKP)
deputies at a key party meeting in Ankara's Kizilcahamam district.
"We
witnessed this in the province of Denizli. The insufficiency of dormitories
causes problems. Male and female university students are living in the same
accommodation. This is not being checked," he said.The Turkish Prime Minister
added that his government had instructed the Denizli governor to
"investigate" the matter, but did not clarify whether he meant to inspect
private houses or collective student dormitories.
However,
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has said the government does not have any
plans in place for students currently sharing mixed houses.
"The
Credit and Dormitories Institution has built perfect dormitories throughout our
government's 10 years in power. But the number of dormitories is not
sufficient. The Prime Minister has instructed [the institution] to increase the
number of these dormitories. He said it would disturb the students if the protests
in the streets entered the dormitories. We have not had any conversations about
raiding private houses where students are residing. Private houses are not the
area of our interest," Arinc told reporters, according to daily Hurriyet.
Last
August, a provincial education director in Trabzon had caused public outrage
after lamenting that female and male students were using the same sets of
stairs on the way to their rooms.
12. Facebook lifts
ban on BDP's page
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (05.11.13) reports thatFacebook has reopened the Peace
and Democracy Party (BDP) headquarters page less than a week after closing it
down due to the use of the word "Kurdistan."
"As a
result of the meetings we conducted, the ban has been lifted. Thus, it has been
accepted the ban was wrong," BDP headquarters announced yesterday, without
elaborating about the content of their meetings with the Facebook company.
"Nonetheless,
opening our page has not removed the need to adopt Facebook rules to both
universal media norms and Turkey's geography and realities. Solely reopening
our page is not sufficient," BDP said.
In a statement announcing the closure Oct. 29,
the party accused Facebook of increasing censorship, which it said is a result
of the company's constant cooperation with the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP).
As of Oct. 24, Facebook closed down the BDP's
provincial Istanbul branch's page. The statement yesterday did not contain
information regarding the provincial branch's page.
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