TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 207/13 01.11.13
1. President Anastasiades: delay in finding a solution harms both communities in Cyprus
2. Akca: Turkey plays an important role in the economic policies being implemented in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
3. Ozkardas: the problems in paying the salaries of the “civil servants” injure the self-esteem of the Turkish Cypriots
4. Sertoglu: some people are trying to prevent us from reaching an agreement with the CFA
5. Yildiz claims that Turkey will find a way to solve problems with Cyprus and Israel
6. The breakaway regime will participate in the tourism fair “Destination 2014” in London
7. The 2014 draft budget of the breakaway regime is 3,774,945,000 TL
8. The pipeline infrastructure of the water project will be completed within 3 years
9. Headscarves deputies for the first time in Turkey’s Parliament
10. Turkey's Zorlu Energy in talks on Israeli gas, but politics in the way
11. Regional administration in north of Iraq wants to export the oil of the region over Turkey
12. Turkey notes openness to updated offers for anti-missile project
13. 5th party enters Turkish Parliament
14. Popular Sisli Mayor Sarigul returns to CHP
1. President Anastasiades: delay in finding a solution harms both communities in Cyprus
Under the title “We are losing time”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.11.13) reports that President Anastasides has stated that the delay in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem harms both communities of the island. In an exclusive interview with Kibris, the President of the Republic noted that the loss time is working against both the Turkish and the Greek Cypriots.
President Anastasiades said that the Greek Cypriot community and himself are in a hurry for finding a solution, but opening for negotiations issues on which agreement had been reached causes loss of time.
President Anastasiades pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side wants the framework, the targets and the basic principles of the solution to be included in the joint statement discussed between the representatives of the leaders. Asked whether the basic principles are not known, the President recalled of statements made by the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu on 29 October, in which the Turkish Cypriot leader referred to “sovereignty of two states” and alleged that these “two sovereign states” should reach an agreement in which the constituent federated states will continue having sovereignty. He added that problems are also caused on the issues of the international identity of the state and the single citizenship.
Noting that in absolutely no federation in the world the federated states or units have sovereignty, the President said that the agreements reached between the two communities in the past and the relevant UN resolutions address these issues and if we continue to negotiate on them we will be wasting time.
Replying to a question regarding the visits of the representatives of the community leaders to Athens and Ankara respectively, the President of the Republic said that the Greek Cypriot side wants to have substantial negotiations in Turkey and noted that if we want an urgent solution to the Cyprus problem, the sides which say that they want a solution must help in finding it.
Asked whether they are thinking of negotiating the issue of the military zones and the occupied closed city of Varosha with Turkey, President Anastasiades said that we should not be limited with these issues and that Turkey could help in other issues as well, such as the withdrawal of troops, the human rights etc. He further recalled of the letter submitted by Turkey to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) during the Demopoulos Case in which Turkey admitted that the occupied northern part of Cyprus is under her control and that the “Property Compensation Commission” would be a local remedy of the Republic of Turkey, to which the Greek Cypriot refugees could apply before going to the ECHR.
Asked to comment on the meeting between the Cyprus Football Association (CFA or KOP) and the Turkish Cypriot so-called football federation on 5 November in Zurich at the presence of officials from FIFA and UEFA, President Anastasiades said that he does not interfere in football, but added that he would support any agreement that could bring the two communities in Cyprus closer to each other.
(I/Ts.)
2. Akca: Turkey plays an important role in the economic policies being implemented in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 01.11.13), Halil Ibrahim Akca, self-styled ambassador of Turkey to the occupied part of Nicosia has said that Turkey played an important role in the economic policies being implemented in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Speaking at a symposium organized by the illegal European University of Lefka’s faculty of economics & administrative sciences entitled “Neo-Liberal Transformation: Its Dimensions and Consequences”, Akca said that it was necessary to focus on the issue of institutionalization in the “TRNC”. He noted: “Naturally Turkey plays a role in the economic policies being implemented in the ‘TRNC’. Turkey is making important contributions. It has assumed this responsibility”.
Noting that it was like there was a hidden role when it came to the distribution of wealth in the breakaway regime, Akca said: “Taking steps towards growth has been completely left to Turkey”.
Akca also said that it would be better if those who are running the “country” would look at the picture as a whole.
3. Ozkardas: the problems in paying the salaries of the “civil servants” injure the self-esteem of the Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.11.13) reports that Mehmet Ozkardas, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot “civil servants” trade union (Kamu-Sen), has said that the difficulties regarding the payment of the salaries of the “civil servants” and the pressures exerted to the direction of implementing the “protocol” prepared with Turkey, injure the self-esteem of the Turkish Cypriot “people”.
In a written statement issued yesterday, Ozkardas noted that the money given annually by Turkey for the payment of the salaries in the occupied area of Cyprus reaches 350 million dollars. He pointed out that in order for political gains to be secured many thousands of people are granted the “citizenship” of the regime without any criteria to be taken into consideration, while others who have acquired the so-called right of becoming “citizens” of the regime, are not made “citizens”.
Ozkardas said that because of the rabid and uncontrolled increase of population, the services offered in the hospitals are insufficient, the quality of education decreased, the infrastructure services offered by the “municipalities” and the roads are inadequate and the standard of living declined.
(I/Ts.)
4. Sertoglu: some people are trying to prevent us from reaching an agreement with the CFA
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (01.11.13) reports that Hasan Sertoglu, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot so-called football federation, has said that they enjoy the support of the vast majority of the “people” for the meeting with the Cyprus Football Association (CFA or KOP) in Zurich on 5 November at the presence of officials from FIFA and UEFA. Speaking yesterday at a press conference, Sertoglu said that according to a survey held by the research company Redborder, 81.2% of the “people” supports the actions of the “federation”.
Sertoglu noted that the conditions in the world are changing very quickly and “we must keep up with this pace”. “We must change or else we will vanish within 3-5 years”, he added.
Sertoglu pointed out that some people “having the old mentality” are trying to prevent them from going to Zurich and reach an agreement. He noted: “No one could make us turn back from this road. Moreover, 90% of the persons who have this mentality are taking salary from the Greek Cypriot side. However, I could not understand their efforts to oppose to a reconciliation that will be made for the sake of [the Turkish Cypriots] being opened to the world”.
(I/Ts.)
5. Yildiz claims that Turkey will find a way to solve problems with Cyprus and Israel
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (01.11.13), Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, commenting on the natural gas resources in the Mediterranean reminded that there are political problems with Israel and Cyprus and added: “I don’t believe these (problems) can continue. We will definitely find a public reason, a common ground regarding the way of the solution. And we will secure that these sources will reach in a correct and feasible way to the points of consumption.”
Yildiz went on: “Turkey has never exploited the advantages derive from its geographical position and will never do it. As you know, the transportation of Sahdeniz 1 gas with the natural gas pipeline of Baku-Tiflis- Erzurum to Turkey and Sahdeniz 2 with the related consortium are just a part of these projects, which will transfer natural gas to Turkey and to Europe. West cannot be remained indifferent to the natural gas of Turkmenistan. Turkey will continue its positive stance on this matter.”
6. The breakaway regime will participate in the tourism fair “Destination 2014” in London
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (01.11.13) reports that according to the “official gazette”, the breakaway regime will participate in the tourism fair “Destination 2014”, which will be held in London between 6-9 February. The fair is organized by Clarion Events Ltd.
7. The 2014 draft budget of the breakaway regime is 3,774,945,000 TL
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 31.10.13), the self-styled council of ministers has approved the “2014 draft fiscal year budget” of the breakaway regime as 3 billion 774 million 945 thousand Turkish Liras (TL).
Speaking to the “BRT” after the meeting, the so-called minister of finance Zeren Mungan said that the self-styled council of ministers had approved the “2014 draft budget”, which envisages a 9% growth rate compared to the last year.
Mungan said during yesterday’s meeting they held overall discussions on the “state budget” and they made some new arrangements which will not affect its growth, adding that the “draft budget” will be presented to the “parliament” on Thursday.
According to the “law”, the “draft budget” should be presented to the “parliament” until the 31st of October. The “2014 draft state budget” is also expected to be taken up at the so-called economy, finance, budget and plenary commission in mid-November.
8. The pipeline infrastructure of the water project will be completed within 3 years
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 31.10.13), the work on the water transfer project, which aims to bring water from Turkey to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus via a pipeline is continuing. The self-styled director of the illegal department of geology and mining Mustafa Alkaravli, speaking at a program on “BRT”, announced that the pipeline infrastructure which will distribute water to the occupied area of Cyprus will be completed within three years.
“The water which will be transported from Turkey to the ‘TRNC’ and other underground water resources in the country should be used carefully,” Alkaravli said.
9. Headscarves deputies for the first time in Turkey’s Parliament
The main issue in Turkish dailies today (01.11.13) is the attendance of four headscarves deputies in Turkey’s Parliament for the first time.
Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (01.11.13), under the title “Hypocrite freedom”, in its front page, reports that those who imprison eight MPs due to political lawsuits, those who interfere in how long the skirts women wear, those who make women redundant because of their décolletage, let headscarves into the Parliament. The paper continues and writes that Savak Pavey – deputy with the Republican People’s Party (CHP) - , who has a prosthetic leg, teaches a lesson. Pavey blames the ruling party for gender and religion discrimination as she is prevented from wearing trousers due to internal regulations of parliament.
On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 01.11.13), under the title “Lawmakers wearing headscarves attend session in Turkish Parliament for first time”, reports that four female lawmakers of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) entered a General Assembly meeting in Turkey’s Parliament wearing headscarves on Oct. 31, 14 years after a similar move led to high tension.
Sevde Beyazit Kacar, Gulay Samanci, Nurcan Dalbudak and Gonul Bekin Sahkulubey became the first women to wear headscarves in a parliamentary session without any major protests from the opposition.
Although all who took the floor at the session spoke about their situation, the four lawmakers preferred not to take the floor during the session.
When Deputy Parliament Speaker Meral Aksener opened the session, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy parliamentary group chair Muharrem Ince demanded a debate on the procedure. “We are witnessing a first here since the Parliament opened. All parties should express their opinions on the issue,” Ince said.
Ince took the floor to make the CHP’s position clear. “We will not allow [the AKP] to use the issue as a matter of politics during an election campaign; we will not let them play the role of a mistreated party,” he said.
Stating that the four deputies had rarely taken the floor of Parliament’s General Assembly in the past, Ince criticized them for not bringing up any issues about women’s rights in Parliament previously.
“You [the AKP] have deceived people for years by using this issue. We will not allow you to do so this time,” he said.
Ince also criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for using the rhetoric of “My headscarves sisters.” “He always says ‘My headscarves sisters...’ Aren’t women who don’t cover their heads your sisters? Both veiled and non-veiled women are our sisters,” Ince said, receiving applause both from his party and the AKP ranks, including the four veiled lawmakers.
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Pervin Buldan voiced her support for the deputies being allowed to enter Parliament while veiled and said men should no longer interfere in women’s dress.
The deputy head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Ruhsar Demirel, gave a speech that won many plaudits. She said they were experiencing a “usual” day in Parliament, adding that the four lawmakers were facing mobbing and that her party refused to judge people based on their outfits in the name of all women. Echoing Buldan, Demirel called on male politicians to cease making politics over women.
Demirel also criticized AKP lawmakers who shared their photos taken with the headscarves deputies via their Twitter accounts. “You cannot treat these women like they are fish in an aquarium. Please respect their privacy,” she said.
AKP Istanbul deputy Belma Satir expressed her pleasure about the speeches that went before her, saying everyone had been waiting for this positive environment.
“We are ending one of the prohibitions in Turkey. Making politics over women is a subject that we are all against. We should have done what was necessary according to the Constitution regarding a democratic and secular Turkey. Our headscarved friends will continue to work with us as a part of this democratization move,” Satir said.
CHP deputy Safak Pavey also took the floor and gave a much anticipated speech, speaking about “unjust treatments at Parliament.”
Pavey, who has a prosthetic leg, is not permitted to wear trousers in Parliament due to internal regulations. She noted that she could not find any remarks about other people’s freedoms when she searched through the headscarves deputies’ previous speeches.
“But I heard this defamation in news reports: ‘I will not get dirty anymore by unveiling my head.’ Are those who are not veiled dirty? Who could dare to label someone as dirty due to their beliefs?” she said.
Pavey recalled that internal regulations were not changed to allow her to wear trousers, although it could have been done with a one-article legal amendment. “How come the most authoritarian government in Turkish history did not change the internal regulation, which would have taken a couple of minutes? Maybe they aimed to score political gains imagining that their planned show would turn into a fight. I don’t know exactly, but I will never wear trousers unless the internal regulations are amended,” she said.
Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, meanwhile, said there was no obstacle in Parliament’s bylaws preventing Pavey from wearing trousers.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, also speaking at the debates at the General Assembly, said the scene had shown the maturity of Turkish democracy, especially when compared to the Merve Kavakci incident of 1999.
10. Turkey's Zorlu Energy in talks on Israeli gas, but politics in the way
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 31.10.13) reported that Turkey's Zorlu Energy Company is in talks with Israeli firms over the potential for a pipeline to carry Israeli gas to Turkey, industry sources say, but the political rift between the two former allies is holding up progress.
“Turkey is a very suitable route for Israeli gas. I can even say it is the most suitable,” said Omer Yungul, chief executive of Zorlu Holding, the owner of Zorlu Energy.
But relations between the two countries have been scarred since May 2010 when Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish activists while storming the Mavi Marmara, a ship in a convoy seeking to break an Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.
Industry and diplomatic sources said the Zorlu Group, which already holds an indirect stake in an Israeli power plant, is in talks with private Israeli companies over a possible pipeline deal. Yungul did not confirm the talks, but said Zorlu Energy's existing investments in Israel have given it a head start.
Zorlu Energy holds a 25% stake in Dorad Energy, which is building an 875 megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant in Ashkelon on the Israeli coast. Yungul said the first unit of the plant would come on line by February 2014.
Other Turkish companies including Turcas Petrol are also interested in a pipeline project, officials on both sides have said. Such a project could be worth $3.5 billion, according to Amit Mor, an Israel-based consultant who is familiar with the talks. It would entail construction of an undersea section to Turkey's southern coast and a link to central Turkey.
“The export of Israeli gas to Turkey via a pipeline or in compressed natural gas (CPG) form in marine tankers are the most economically viable options for exporting large gas volumes from the region,” said Mor, chief executive of Eco Energy Financial and Strategic Consulting.
He added that it would be possible to allocate about 8 bcm of gas per year to supply growing demand in the Turkish market. Zorlu's Yungul and industry sources say the quantity could go up to 10 billion bcm in the event of a deal.
As much economic sense as it would make, a pipeline through Turkey is still at the mercy of politics. “Of course the most feasible route for Israel to export its gas is Turkey. The private sector is holding talks about this, but political steps must be taken,” a government source said. “We are aware of the talks, but these issues cannot be resolved in a couple of months, and such a project could not go through without the government's consent,” he added.
11. Regional administration in north of Iraq wants to export the oil of the region over Turkey
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (31.10.13), regional administration in north of Iraq wants to export the oil of the region over Turkey, said the spokesperson of regional administration in north of Iraq, Sefin Dizai on Thursday.
Dizai evaluated the visit of Prime Minister of the administration Nechirvan Barzani to AA, and said that the oil pipeline would come into activity between Turkey and north Iraq soon.
Pointing to the agreement of Turkey and the administration on the export of the oil, Dizai said, “We want to export the oil of the region over Turkey”.
Dizai also said that the meetings of Barzani with Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu were very successful and positive for the two countries.
12. Turkey notes openness to updated offers for anti-missile project
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 01.11.13) reports that Turkish defence officials have said the country is open to new offers from other companies for contract discussions on a long-range missile defence system even though Ankara selected a Chinese firm for the project on Sept. 26.
“The process has just started. If the second and third [companies in the list] send their [new] offers to us, that will be useful through the discussion phases with the current one. So, everybody is free to send a last offer,” Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz told reporters yesterday.
There was no problem with the current talks, the Minister said when asked about the discussions with the Chinese company with whom Turkey will jointly produce the systems.
China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corp (CPMIEC) beat out competition from a U.S. partnership of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin and a European Italian-French consortium defence in the tender, but NATO officials have expressed concern that Turkey’s selection of the company could mean sensitive data will be shared with a non-alliance member.
The Minister also confirmed that the amendment in legislation paved the way for a top commander to appoint a political consultant for himself who will be in charge only during the commander’s term.
13. 5th party enters Turkish Parliament
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (31.10.13), the number of political parties represented in Turkish Parliament increased to five through the participation of four independent members of Turkish Parliament to HDP, which was not represented in the Parliament.
Independent deputies of Istanbul province Sabahat Tuncel, Sirri Sureyya Onder, Levent Tuzel, and the independent deputy of Mersin province Ertugrul Kurkcu joined the People's Democratic Party (HDP).
The Chairwoman of HDP Tuncel told AA that they have visited the President of the Turkish Parliament Cemil Cicek, and submitted the petition regarding joining the HDP.
New distribution of the chairs in Turkish Parliament is as follows:
Party Number of Members
Justice and Development Party (AK Party): 327
Republican People's Party (CHP): 134
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP): 52
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP): 26
People's Democratic Party (HDP): 4
Independent: 5
Total: 548
14. Popular Sisli Mayor Sarigul returns to CHP
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 31.10.13) reported that Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul has announced that he will return to the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) ahead of key municipal elections scheduled for March of next year.
Sarigul's return to the party is expected to boost its chances of winning the Istanbul municipal race, the most important and competitive seat in next year's election.
Sarigul, whose name has been mentioned in connection with the İstanbul mayoral post for years, was expelled from the party in the past. To run on behalf of the CHP, Sarigul first needed to re-join the party, which required the removal of the disciplinary action that led to his expulsion from the party for defying then-party leader Deniz Baykal.
Observers believe that Sarigul's candidacy will make it harder for the incumbent Justice and Development Party (AKP) to be re-elected, but AK Party officials have dismissed claims that the ruling party could lose to Sarigul.
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