TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 220/13 21.11.13
1. Davutoglu and Hague are seeing a window of
opportunity in Cyprus
2. “Diplomatic sources”: the agreement on the
visits of Mavroyiannis and Ertug to Ankara and Athens is still valid
3. UBP: The Turkish Cypriots do not accept
entering under the sovereignty of the Greek Cypriots
4. Ihsanoglu: trade volume between the
breakaway regime and the Islamic countries has doubled in nine years
5. Turkish Minister to participate in a
conference organized by OIC and the self-styled foreign ministry in occupied
Cyprus
6. Serdar Denktas
evaluated the latest developments in Cyprus
7. A “Parliamentary Promotion Council” was established
in the breakaway regime
8. Luxembourg FM:
Stopping Turkey's EU process a big mistake
9. Erdogan is starting his visit to Russia today
10. Yildiz: Turkey must prioritize its own renewable
natural resources
11. Turkish
Deputy Speaker: Mixed-gender education a mistake, to be corrected
1. Davutoglu and Hague are seeing a window
of opportunity in Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.11.13) reports that the Turkish Foreign
MinisterAhmet Davutoglu has said that the negotiations in Cyprus should start
the soonest and “golden 2013”, as he described the current year, should not be
wasted. Davutoglu met yesterday with his British counterpart, William Hague,
who was visiting Turkey.
In statements after their meeting,
Davutoglu said that Britain is Turkey’s “extremely important partner in Cyprus”
and added that they discussed the Cyprus problem. He claimed:
“We think that a window of
opportunity is open in Cyprus. Let the negotiations start the soonest and let
golden 2013 not be wasted. However, the meeting between the leaders has been
continuously postponed by the Greek Cypriot side. In spite of all efforts for
overcoming the crisis in the last period, negotiations could not be secured…
Turkey is ready for any kind of step, for paving the way of the process… We
asked from Mr Hague their help on the issue of speeding up the process. It is
in no one’s interest to continuously postpone peace”.
In his
reference to Cyprus, Hague said that Britain’s stance is well-known on this
matter and added that a great international effort is being exerted on the
issue. Wishing for these efforts to succeed, Hague said a window of opportunity
exists for the settlement of the problem within the forthcoming months.
(I.Ts.)
2. “Diplomatic sources”: the agreement on
the visits of Mavroyiannis and Ertug to Ankara and Athens is still valid
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (21.11.13) reports that “diplomatic
sources” have said that the agreement reached on the issue of visits of the
representatives of the Cypriot community leaders to Turkey and Greece is still
valid, but it has been agreed that the visits would be more useful after the
realization of a meeting between the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu and
President Anastasiades.
A “high ranking official” at the
self-styled foreign ministry of the breakaway regime said that the
representatives of the UN are holding contacts with the two sides on the island
trying to prepare the ground for the meeting between the two leaders.
After the
date of the meeting of the leaders is determined, the “sources said”, the date
of the visits will be also determined in coordination with Turkey, Greece and
the two communities. Even if the uncertainty on the date still continues, the
visits will definitely be held, the sources said noting that no side had made a
step backwards from the agreement reached in New York (between Turkey and
Greece).
(I/Ts.)
3. UBP: The Turkish Cypriots do not accept
entering under the sovereignty of the Greek Cypriots
Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (21.11.13) reports that Sunat Atun, general
secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP) has said that his party supports
the resumption of negotiations in Cyprus that will reach a result within a
certain time table in the first months of 2014 and that the agreement which
will be reached to be submitted to referendum in the first quarter of 2014.
In a written statement issued yesterday,
Atun argued that they will never accept entering under the sovereignty of the
Greek Cypriots and added that they fully support the policy followed by the
Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu on this issue.
He argued: “In case this effort also
does not give a result, we must decide together as people what we will do. The
parties represented in the assembly, we must exert effort for a new road. We
must prepare from now in full cooperation and solidarity with motherland Turkey
for taking steps which will take the Turkish Cypriot people out of the
situation they had been led into”.
He alleged
that what he called as denial of President Anastasiades to sit at the
negotiating table, in spite of Eroglu’s “good will and reconciliatory stance”,
shows that whoever comes to power in the Greek Cypriot community “the
chauvinistic stance which considers Cyprus as a Greek island will not change”.
(I/Ts.)
4. Ihsanoglu: trade volume between the
breakaway regime and the Islamic countries has doubled within nine years
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (21.11.13) reports that Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu,
general secretary of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is
illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus today in order to be granted an
“honorary doctorate” distinction tomorrow at the illegal European University of
Lefka.
Ihsanoglu will meet tomorrow at
11.00 o’ clock with the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu, at 12.00 o’ clock with
the self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu and at 12.30 with the
so-called foreign minister, Ozdil Nami. According to the paper, Nami will host
a dinner in Ihsanoglu’s honor tomorrow night. Ihsanoglu will leave occupied Cyprus
on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes
newspaper (21.11.13) reports that in statements at the 29thedition
of the OIC’sEconomic and Commercial
Cooperation Permanent Committee (ISEDAK)
meeting, Ihsanoglu said that the trade volume of the “TRNC” with the Islamic
countries doubled within the past nine years.
Arguing
that the OIC attaches great importance to Cyprus [as he described the occupied
part of the island], Ihsanoglu claimed: “The economic embargo which is
attempted to be implemented on Cyprus has been punctured to an extent. Cyprus
is one of our most important causes. This is not only Turkey’s cause. We have
turned this into a cause of the entire Islamic world. Of course, there is a
wish for much more things to be done, but politics and diplomacy works are
doing what is possible and increasing the limits of what is possible”.
(I/Ts.)
5. Turkish Minister to participate in a
conference organized by OIC and the self-styled foreign ministry in occupied
Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (21.11.13) reports that the self-styled foreign
affairs ministry of the breakaway regime is organizing a conference on Water
and Food Safety in the occupied area of Cyprus in cooperation with the
Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, general
secretary of OIC and Veysel Eroglu, Turkish Minister of Forests and Water
Affairs, will participate in the conference, which will take place in occupied
Keryneia and last for three days. Self-styled foreign minister, Ozdil Nami will
open the conference, during which Ihsanoglu and Veysel Eroglu will also make an
address.
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.11.13) reports that Veysel Eroglu will come
to the occupied area of Cyprus tonight and depart tomorrow. During his illegal
visit, he will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, the
self-styled prime minster Ozkan Yorgancioglu, the “speaker” of the so-called
assembly Sibel Siber and the self-styled minister of environment, and natural
resources, Hamit Bakirci.
(I/Ts.)
6. Serdar Denktas
evaluated the latest developments in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (21.11.13)
reports that the self-styled deputy prime minister and minister of culture and
tourism Serdar Denktas, evaluated the latest developments in Cyprus.
Denktas criticized the statements made by the
self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu, that 363 persons working in the
“public sector” must be ceased from their jobs and said that the “ministers’
council” has not decided yet over this issue. He also said that having these
persons losing their jobs a few days before the beginning of the New Year, is
against his conscience.
Referring to the electricity price hikes,
Denktas stated that it is true that this will affect negatively the “people”;
however he said that by next June prices
will be decreased again.
Denktas once more expressed his disagreement
over the provisional agreement signed in Zurich between the Turkish Cypriot
"football federation" and Cyprus Football Association (CFA or KOP),
with the aim of uniting Cyprus football. He stated that he warned the Turkish
Cypriot "football federation" chairman not to sign the agreement and
said that the agreement is dangerous. He added that the Turkish Cypriot
"football federation" became member of CFA and that the “Turkish
Cypriot football” will be absorbed by the Greek Cypriot football.
7. A “Parliamentary Promotion Council” was
established in the breakaway regime
Illegal
Bayrak television (20.11.13) broadcast that the “Parliamentary promotion Council”of
the breakaway regime held its first meeting at the beginning of its new period
yesterday.
Self-styled
parliamentary speaker Sibel Siber chaired the council meeting which was
attended by the Republican Turkish Party United Forces “MP” Professor Doctor
Mehmet Caglar, Democrat Party National Forces “MP” Mentes Gunduz and the
National Unity Party “MP” Nazim Cavusoglu.
Making a short
statement to the press before the meeting began;Siber informed the press
regarding the workings that will take place. She also pointed to the importance
of the council working effectively “in order to promote the country which is
suffering under international isolations”, as she claimed.
8. Luxembourg FM:
Stopping Turkey's EU process a big mistake
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (21.11.13) reports that Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn
said: "I am really, deeply convinced that it would be an enormous mistake
to stop Turkey's EU process."
Speaking to AA
correspondent on the side-lines of the first presidential level visit from
Luxemburg to Turkey, Asselborn said that since the opening of an embassy in
Ankara, bilateral relations had gone accelerated.
Asselborn stated
that he has observed a lot of confidence in Ankara that Luxembourg would try to
push the negotiations in Brussels. He added the process would be in the
interest of both sides.
Asked of his
opinion about Turkey's opening of 22nd chapter on regional policy, Asselborn
said, "Chapter 22 is very important but there are more important chapters.
I am convinced that even during the Greek presidency we could have positive
debate about opening other chapters like Chapter 23 on Judiciary and
fundamental rights and Chapter 24 on Justice, freedom and security."
He added,
"We must not stop the process for another 3 years. Therefore Luxembourg is
on the side of those who want to lead this negotiation process in a positive
direction."
9. Erdogan is starting his visit to Russia today
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (21.11.13) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
is paying an official visit to Russia on 21-22 of November to attend the fourth
meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council (UDIK).
The meeting will
be held with the attendance of cabinet ministers from the two countries and
will be moderated by Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, said prime
ministry's press office in a written statement.
The leaders will
discuss regional and international issues, primarily the on-going crisis in
Syria and bilateral relations between Russia and Turkey.
UDIK was founded
so as to coordinate important cooperative projects between Turkey and Russia on
political, economic and cultural affairs in 2010.
10. Yildiz: Turkey must prioritize its own
renewable natural resources
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (21.11.13) reports thatTurkey plans to build a pipeline with
greater or equal capacity than the Kirkuk–Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, which transfers
about 70 million tons of oil to the international market, Turkish Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said on Wednesday.
Yildiz stressed
Turkey's partnerships with Iraq and Azerbaijan and the expansion of its energy
capacities during his statement on the NTV channel's live broadcast while in
Paris to attend the International Energy Agency Ministerial meeting.
Regarding shale
gas, Yildiz said that if the gas produced in the US and Canada were to be put
on sale on the world market, the cost of shale gas would decreases
significantly.
11. Turkish Deputy
Speaker: Mixed-gender education a mistake, to be corrected
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (21.11.13) reports that Turkish Deputy Parliament Speaker Sadik Yakut said on
Wednesday that Turkey made a mistake in allowing coeducation and promised that
efforts to correct that mistake would come soon.
Delivering a
speech at the Turkish Parliament's 14th International Forum on Children, Yakut
said: “Turkey made a historic mistake in allowing the education of male and
female students at the same schools in moves toward Westernization.” He added
that there are Western schools in Turkey where coeducation is not allowed.
