TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 213/13 09.11.13
1. Turkey’s Plan B for Cyprus is reportedly a
two-state formula
2. Erdogan: there is no country named Cyprus
3. Turkish Cypriot columnist: Erdogan knows very well
that there is a country named Cyprus
4.
Fule hopes Cyprus talks resume as soon as possible
5. Ertug claimed that the Greek Cypriot
side moved “slightly” on the joint declaration issue
6. Chairman of settler’s association says that the
occupation regime needs population
7. Tension between Kurdish and Grey wolves students
increased dangerously in occupied Cyprus
8. A
media forum of Turkish speaking countries in the occupied part of Cyprus
9.
Sertoglu: FIFA has accepted the “KTFF” as one of the two sides in Cyprus
10.
Akansoy and Yorgancioglu the only candidates for CTP leadership
11. Cakici will not run for TDP’s leadership again
12.
A rift within AKP
13.
Female and male students in same house fined for ‘noise’ in Aegean province
1. Turkey’s Plan B for Cyprus is reportedly a
two-state formula
Turkish Cypriot
daily HalkinSesi newspaper (11.11.13) reports that according to Turkish Haber
Turk newspaper, Turkey has prepared a Plan B for Cyprus in case there is no
solution within the framework of the UN parameters in the negotiations. The
paper writes that the foundation of the plan is “to go outside the UN
parameters and to concentrate on the two-state formula with the mentality that
solution is born from the non-solution”.
The source of
the information for the news, which is signed by BaharBakir, is in Ankara,
notes HalkinSesi pointing out that according to the “new mentality”, the
options for one and two states in Cyprus will be negotiated. “The approach that
solution will come out from the non-solution will come forward in Ankara’s new
policy”, reports the paper adding that Ankara thinks that the parameters on the
island changed with the natural gas found in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone
and the water which Turkey plans to transfer to the occupied northern part of
Cyprus with pipelines.
Ankara,
continues the paper, is making the assessment that the Greek Cypriots,
[Translator’s note: as the Republic of Cyprus is described] will not be able to
extract the natural gas and if they attempt to extract and use it, “a new
partnership agreement with the TRNC [Translator’s note: the breakaway regime in
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] or discussing the two states will
be needed”. The paper reports that Ankara argues that Turkey is the only
realistic alternative for transporting the gas to the world.
(I/Ts.)
2. Erdogan: there is no country named Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (10.11.13) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister,
RecepTayyip Erdogan has alleged that there is no country named Cyprus. Replying
to questions after a conference in Poland under the title “Turkey-EU
Relations”, Erdogan claimed that the “south Cyprus Greek administration”, as he
described the Republic of Cyprus, had been accepted into the EU for political
reasons and not because it was in harmony with the European laws.
Trying to
explain his views on why Turkey is not accepted in the EU, Erdogan recalled
that at his first term as Prime Minister, the EU member states were 15 and
noted that 12 countries had been accepted as members all together then. He went
on and alleged:
“However, they
did not admit them because they were in harmony with the EU laws. They admitted
them with a political decision. I will give you an example of this. One of them
is south Cyprus. Pay attention! They do not admit it as south Cyprus. They
admit it as Cyprus. There is no country named Cyprus. There is the local
administration of south Cyprus. Because there is north Cyprus and a Green Line
exists between them. Who is there at the Green Line? Security battalions
established by the UN. Absolutely no country within the EU laws should
experience security problems. That place has such an internal problem. How
could you admit it? The decision is totally a political decision”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Turkish Cypriot columnist: Erdogan knows very
well that there is a country named Cyprus
Writing in
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (11.11.13), Turkish Cypriot columnist
TumayTugyan comments on Turkish Prime Minister, RecepTayyipErdogan’s allegation
that there is no country named Cyprus. Under the title “A country named
Cyprus”, she writes the following:
“The Turkish
Prime Minister, RecepTayyip Erdogan knows very well that there is a country
named Cyprus. Do not listen to what he says that ‘there is no’ such country.
What would he say? If he said that ‘there is a country named Cyprus’, would
they not ask the man, would they not ask him ‘what are you doing there?’ ‘What
business do your 40 thousand troops have in a country named Cyprus?’ ‘Why your flag
is waving in every corner?’ ‘Who are you and when the issue of Varosha comes
onto the agenda, you can say, as if it was your property, that ‘I will not give
land in Cyprus even for the full membership’? ‘How comes and your employees can
behave there as ‘Dominant Governors’? ‘Why the balance of population is
inverted every day that passes a little bit more in your favour?’
Would they not
ask the man? Of course they would ask him. E, how could he say that ‘there is a
country named Cyprus’? Otherwise, he also knows very well that all these, which
we have mentioned above, happen thanks to the existence of a country named
‘Cyprus’. He knows that he is here by virtue of the guarantor right he acquired
thanks to the Republic of Cyprus established with the London - Zurich
Agreements.
And he knows
very well how he turned his known guarantor right into a right for ‘endless
recreation’. Is it possible not to see that white flag which passed in front of
him at the Mediterranean Games in Adana and at the European Youth Olympic Games
in Trabzon? And not to know that this white flag belongs to that country named
Cyprus? Is it possible? Is it possible
not to see that the Turkey’s teams which play football in the European Championships
go to play matches in that country named ‘Cyprus’? And not to know that the
passports of Turkey, which are in the pockets of the groups of that teams, are
stamped by the migration officers of that country named ‘Cyprus’? Is it
possible? Of course it is not possible.
However, how he
could say that ‘there is a country named Cyprus’? Otherwise, he also knows that
there is such a country. Instead of saying that it exists and having the whole
world shouting at him, he says ‘it does not exist’ and makes a handful of
‘handmaids’ like us shouting! Besides, who listens to our voice? Who
understands our sorrow? Let us shout a little for this as well. Who cares? Have
you not read Milliyet newspaper on Friday? It said that Ankara wants to conduct
‘one last experiment’ with a possible negotiating process. If nothing happens
again, it said, it will launch an intensive diplomatic traffic for upgrading
TRNC’s status. I do not know how many times in New York Gul, Davutoglu and
Eroglu determined a new road map to be followed on the Cyprus issue. It is said
that they will get into action in the end of this process for which they give a
deadline until March. It is said that Ankara told the Turkish Cypriot side that
‘let a last experiment be conducted, it could not continue always like this, we
will look for another solution, we will launch diplomatic traffic for a two
state solution’.
Of course, they
could ask the man: ‘30 years passed since the declaration of the TRNC, if the
formula of upgrading its status was in your pocket, I wonder why you waited for
so long’. Anyway…!!!”
(I/Ts.)
4. Fule
hopes Cyprus talks resume as soon as possible
Under the title
“President Gul urges EU Commissioner to open new chapters in Turkey’s accession
process”, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 08.11.13) reports that President
Abdullah Gul said on Nov. 8 he expected European Union member countries to
accelerate the opening of new chapters in Turkey’s accession negotiations
during a meeting with the EU’s Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule at the
Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara.
“The opening of
a new chapter is a step taken in the right direction, but the other chapters
must also be opened without further delay,” Gul said, in reference to Chapter
22 on regional policy, opened last month after the European Commission’s
approval.
“We expect from
EU leaders to have a visionary and strategic approach regarding Turkey’s
membership process,” Gul said, expressing his appreciation of Fule’s
“constructive efforts” on the matter.
Gul also said
Turkey should not be excluded from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP), emphasizing that the EU had responsibilities towards Ankara
due to its membership of the Customs’ Union.
For his part,
Fule assured Gul that the European Commission held the same view as Turkey
regarding tackling new chapters in the accession process.
“We have been
making efforts to maintain a sustainable momentum in Turkey’s accession process,”
Fule said. He also expressed his hopes that talks between Brussels and Turkey
on a visa deal could start in the near future, and that the two parties in
Cyprus would restart talks for a viable solution in the island as soon as
possible.
Fule also met with
opposition members and NGO representatives during his visit to Istanbul and
Ankara.
Moreover, HDN
(09.11.13), under the title “Ankara hopeful over new Cyprus peace bid”,
reported that Ankara has voiced hope for a comprehensive solution on the Cyprus
dispute so that membership negotiations between the European Union and Turkey
can get back on track.
“We hope
comprehensive talks on Cyprus will be launched and so that the issue will no
longer be a discouraging factor between the EU and Turkey,” Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters on Nov. 8 at a meeting with EU Enlargement
Commissioner Stefan Fule. The Turkish side has the determination to launch a
process on Cyprus gathering together Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders
while pursuing negotiations on the basis of earlier talks before reaching a
solution through an international conference, Davutoglu said. A solution in the
Cyprus dispute would not only bring peace to the island, but also pave the way
for the EU to become a global actor with Turkey’s accession to the union, he
said.
“With Turkey’s
accession to the EU, a historical step will be taken that will influence the
international agenda in various ways,” said the Minister.
Fule, for his
part, said the timing was right to launch Cyprus talks. “I’d like to express
that we give full support to talks,” the EU commissioner said, adding that he
hoped the parties would use this “window of opportunity” to the fullest.
5. Ertug claimed that the Greek
Cypriot side moved “slightly” on the joint declaration issue
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (10.11.13) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu’s
special representative Osman Ertug claimed that the Greek Cypriot side is
“moving slightly” on the issue of the joint declaration, adding that the
efforts on the issue are being continuing.
In a statement
to “TAK” after an hour-long meeting with UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor
on Cyprus Alexander Downer, Ertug said that although the Greek Cypriots
continue to persist on their “hard line”, they again prepared and sent a draft
of the joint declaration where he observed that they moved “slightly” in the
text.
Noting that he
had a constructive meeting with Downer, Ertug said that they, as the Turkish
Cypriot side, brought up “bridging” proposals during the meeting.
6. Chairman of settler’s association says that the
occupation regime needs population
Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (10.11.13) reports that BertanZaroglu,
chairman of the "culture and solidarity association" of the settlers
coming from Alexandretta stated that the previous “government” granted
citizenship to 800 persons, however, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) - Democratic
Party (DP) “coalition government” freeze the procedure, adding that the
“association” is taking measures against this developments in order to help the
persons involved.
He added
that due to the “citizenship policy” followed by politicians during the last
three years, around 100 thousand persons were forced to migrate from occupied
Cyprus adding that the economic crisis influenced negatively the settlers. He
went on and added that “the country needs population”.
7. Tension between Kurdish and Grey wolves students
increased dangerously in occupied Cyprus
Under the title
“Dangerous tension”, Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (11.11.13)
writes that the strain between Grey wolves and Kurdish students who study in
the breakaway regime is climbing.
The paper
reports that following the fight occurred between the two groups last week in
occupied Famagusta, around 100 Kurdish students organised yesterday a protest
in the occupied part of Lefkosia marching to the “Turkish embassy” and
protesting against “police” behaviour during the fight. The protestors also
called on the “police” to set the students arrested in Famagusta free.
Reporting on the
issue, columnist BasaranDuzgun, writes in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
(11.11.13) that years ago a whole village of Kurds living in occupied Monarga
were sent back to Turkey over a night,adding that the same fate is waiting the
Kurdish students involved in the incidents in Famagusta. He also writes this
“ugly war”, in which Turkish Cypriots are not involved is continuing in
occupied Cyprus.
8. A
media forum of Turkish speaking countries in the occupied part of Cyprus
According to
Ankara Anatolia news agency (09.11.13), the breakaway regime in the occupied
part of the Republic of Cyprus will host the 4th Media Forum of
Turkish Speaking Countries and Communities next year, a Turkish diplomat said
on Saturday at the 3rd Media Forum of Turkish Speaking Countries in Bishkek.
Director General
of Press and Information Murat Karakaya told the AA reporter that Turkish
speaking countries established a media forum portal. “The forum was so
beneficial and all the participants were satisfied with the result,” Karakaya
added.
Forum's final
declaration was also signed in the summit by the members of Turkish speaking
countries.
9. Sertoglu:
FIFA has accepted the “KTFF” as one of the two sides in Cyprus
According to
illegal Bayrak television (08.11.13), the chairman of the so-called Turkish
Cypriot Football Association (KTFF) HasanSertoglu, in a press conference on
Friday morning, said the final words regarding the much debated provisional
agreement signed between the “KTFF” and the Cyprus Football Association in
Zurich.
Sertoglu said he
stands by the announcements he made before going to Zurich and added that “I
had told everyone before I went to Zurich that this provisional agreement would
emerge and asked everyone to put forward their views. There is no reason to
panic”.
“Whether or not
I like or dislike the agreement doesn’t matter. I told everyone that I would
bring this agreement home. The owners of the Football association are the
teams, clubs and directors”, said Sertoglu before pointing out some important
factors in the agreement.
“If there is
good will then all problems can be solved,” said Sertoglu and noted that much
false information had been circulating in the press.
He also noted
that he had not met with the Turkish Cypriot leader or with the so-called prime
minister since returning to the island as he had been preparing for the press
conference.
“There is no
return from this road we will take what we need by force if necessary”, said
Sertoglu and added that they were aware of the problems that they would be
forced to deal with once in Zurich.
“CFA is the only
official collocutor of FIFA and UEFA and we wanted to see how we could
collaborate with them. FIFA has accepted the KTFF as one of the two sides in
Cyprus”, said Sertoglu and noted that there were still some cloudy issues on
the agreement and therefore it would not be possible to accept the agreement
until everything has been clarified.
10. Akansoy
and Yorgancioglu the only candidates for CTP leadership
According to
illegal Bayrak television (online, 09.11.13), the Republican Turkish Party -
United Forces (CTP-BG) will be holding the 24th ordinary party
congress on the 8th of December.
The Secretary
General of the ruling Republican Turkish Party AsimAkansoy has officially
announced that he will be running for the party’s leadership. The current CTP
leader, self-style prime ministerOzkanYorgancioglu and General Secretary
AsimAkansoy are the only two candidates who are competing for the party
leadership position. The deadline for applications ended at 5pm on Friday
afternoon.
According to the
party’s charter, all candidates must submit their official candidacies a month
before the general congress.
Alongside the
party leader, the party assembly members and the high advisory board members
will also be elected. There are over a hundred candidates running for the party
assembly member’s position.
11. Cakici will not run for TDP’s leadership again
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (11.11.13) reports that Mehmet Cakici, chairman
of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), stated that he will not be candidate for
his party’s leadership again.
Cakici stated
that he will not run for the position in the forthcoming election congress of
TDP, committed to the promised he made prior to the “parliament elections” that
if the party would not have increased its strength, he would resign.
12. A
rift within AKP
Under the title
“Erdogan, Arinc in same photo despite claims of quarrel”, Turkish daily Today’s
Zaman (online, 10.11.13) reported that Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan and
Deputy Prime Minister BulentArinc, whose relationship was apparently strained
last week due to a controversy over student housing, sat next to each other
during ceremonies to commemorate the death of the nation's founder, Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, in what looked like an attempt to gainsay claims of any dispute
between the two.
It was the first
time Erdogan and Arinc have appeared in public together since last Friday, when
Arinc called on the Prime Minister to explain the contradiction between them
over remarks Erdogan made regarding mixed-gender student housing.
At a press
briefing on Nov. 4, Arinc, who is also government spokesman, denied media
reports that Erdogan had made remarks about male and female students sharing
apartments and threatened government action against such housing on Nov. 3.
Arinc vehemently denied the reports, calling them “false” and
“ill-intentioned.”
A day later,
Erdogan confirmed that he had made the remarks in question, which were widely
seen as an obvious intrusion into citizens' private lives.
In the wake of
Erdogan's refutation of Arinc's remarks, many began to doubt the deputy prime
minister's credibility, and many columnists wrote that they wouldn't want to be
in his shoes.
Last Friday,
Arinc complained in a televised interview that Erdogan's remarks on student
housing had created a false impression of his own views among the public, and
he asked the Prime Minister to solve the problem.
He said there
was an “open contradiction between his and the Prime Minister's words” and
claimed that he was not responsible for the situation.
“I am not
responsible for the Prime Minister's remarks. I am not responsible for this
situation. I am not only a Minister, I have my own weight. I should not be used
up. I should not be ignored. I never want to be turned into the punching bag of
some,” said Arinc.
What saddened
him most, he said, was that as someone who keeps tabs on the Prime Minister 24
hours a day, he expected the Prime Minister to follow up on what he had said,
to pay attention to him and not contradict him.
According to a
column by DenizZeyrek in the Radikal daily on Sunday, Arinc was driven by the
Prime Minister's three-day silence on the discrepancy to publicly ask Erdogan
to explain the contradiction.
Shedding light
on the background of the Erdogan-Arinc row in his column, Zeyrek wrote that
Arinc's disappointment intensified when, after a Justice and Development Party
(AKP) parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan disregarded his request to explain
the contradiction between their remarks, putting Arinc in a difficult position.
According to
Zeyrek, when Arinc appeared before the press on Nov. 4, he was completely
unaware of Erdogan's remarks on student houses aside from a note warning him
that he might be asked about the issue and informing him that the government
had no plans to take action against mixed-gender housing.
Zeyrek said
Arinc was not voicing his personal views and only shared the official line of
the Prime Ministry. After Erdogan refuted Arinc's remarks the next day, Arinc
asked Erdogan to explain the contradiction. Erdogan failed to do so, and Arinc
waited until last Friday to publicly call on the Prime Minister to give an
explanation.
13. Female
and male students in same house fined for ‘noise’ in Aegean province
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (online, 10.11.13) reported that a students’ house in the
Aegean province of Manisa was raided by police late on Nov. 9 and the students
fined for making noise and questioned about living arrangements, according to
daily Radikal.
Three female
students sharing the same apartment in Manisa had two male friends as guests.
Their house was raided by the police at around midnight. The students claimed
that the police questioned them about whether it was a co-ed house or the male
students were guests. Each of the five students was fined to 88 Turkish Liras
for violating the law of misdemeanour on the grounds that they were making
noise and there were complaints. The students claimed that they were not making
noise and said that they were worried upon seeing the police at their door.
RasimEkmekciogu,
one of the guest students at the house said they were not making any noise.
“There were six police officers at the door. They asked for our ID. They asked
who was living in that house and whether we were living girls and boys
together... We were not making noise. Even if we made noise, why did they ask
whether it was a co-ed house,” said Ekmekcioglu.
Manisa Police
Department, however, told daily Hurriyet that the fine was caused by the noise.
“The fine was for the noise, not because it was a co-ed house. There was a
complaint about the house. We are not interested in who lives where with whom,
the police do not fine for no reason,” said an official from the police
department who wanted to remain anonymous.
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