TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 223/13 26.11.13
1. How the Turkish Cypriot press covers last night’s
meeting between President Anastasiades and DervisEroglu
2. The breakaway regime participated in the Economic
Cooperation Organization with the observer status
3. The period for applying to the “Immovable Property
Compensation Commission” is extended for two years
4.
Sertoglu said they will evaluate the football agreement
5.Sibel is visiting Turkey; meetings with Cicek and
Gul
6. Mehmet Harmanci is the new general secretary of TDP
7.
Turkey to hike Iran oil imports after nuke deal
8.
Turkey has serious problems with East Mediterranean countries
9.
The Monastery of Stoudios in Istanbul will be converted into a mosque
1. How the Turkish Cypriot press covers last
night’s meeting between President Anastasiades and DervisEroglu
Under the title
“The necessary basis exists”, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (26.11.13)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu and President
Anastasiades held a meeting that lasted for almost 2.5 hours at Chateau Status
restaurant in the buffer zone yesterday. Noting that no progress was achieved
on the issue of the joint statement during the meeting, the paper writes that
Eroglu told President Anastasiades that he was ready to sit at the negotiating
table with him after the President’s return from his visit abroad.
“The message I want
to convey to you tonight is clear: The necessary basis exists in the
convergences which are on the negotiating table”, said Eroglu in a statement
after the meeting.
Noting that
impasse exists in the joint statement on the issue of Governance and Power
Sharing, Eroglu said that he submitted to President Anastasiades his proposal
to resume the negotiations from the chapter of governance and power sharing.
Eroglu added
that he submitted some “new formulas” for overcoming the difficulties on the
issue of the joint statement and that he reiterated his proposal to visit
together with President Anastasiades the occupied Apostolos (Saint) Andreas
Monastery before the end of 2013.
The paper writes
that President Anastasiades said that the meeting was positive. He added that
there is a lot of distance to be covered for being able to reach a result, but
the representatives of the leaders will continue meeting for concluding the
joint statement.
Turkish Cypriot
daily KibrisPostasi newspaper
(26.11.13) refers to the issue under the title “[They] talked together, but at
cross purposes” and reports that the two leaders made separate statements to
the press. “While the fact that the statements of Eroglu and Anastasiades were
extremely different from each other drew attention, it caused comments such as
‘they talked together but at cross purposes’”, writes KibrisPostasi. The
paper’s editor-in-chief, RasihResat writes in his column that in spite of the
different statements made by the leaders, “we saw that the climate was
positive”. “That is, they reached no point, but I think we would not be
exaggerating if we said that there are at a better place”, he adds.
Turkish Cypriot
daily YeniDuzen newspaper (26.11.13)
writes that “the meeting of the leaders is fruitless”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Havadis newspaper (26.11.13) notes that “They could not agree”, and HalkinSesi
reports that “There is no result”.
Turkish Cypriot
daily Afrika newspaper (26.11.13)
covers the issue under the title “Anastasiades: there is still a long distance
that we should cover” and Star Kibris
under the title “There is a lot of way to be covered”.
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibrisli newspaper (26.11.13)
refers to the meeting under the title “’I am sitting unconditionally at the
table’”.
(I/Ts.)
2. The breakaway regime participated in the
Economic Cooperation Organization with the observer status
Illegal
Bayrak television (26.11.13) broadcast that the so-called foreign minister
OzdilNami who “represented” the breakaway regime at the meeting of the Economic
Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Tehran, Iran, where it participated with the
observer status, made statements on the issue and expressed his satisfaction
for this development.
Nami,
who according to Bayrak also participated in a reception threw in his honour by
the Turkish ambassador to Tehran Unit Yardim, stated that occupied Cyprus is
under “unjust embargoes” and therefore is very difficult for it to establish
contacts with the world. “It is a great opportunity for us the fact that ECO
recognize us with this status. We are determined to use actively this right in
the coming period”, he stated.
He
went on and alleged that in 2014, 50 years are completed from the launching of
the Cyprus problem and said that a procedure is taking place now under the
auspices of the United States for the solution of the problem. “We are saying
to all our friendly and brotherly countries that while the negotiations are
continuing, there is no point and no right for keeping the Turkish Cypriot
people under isolation”, he said. He
also stated that while the negotiations were continuing, Cyprus became member
of the European Union and added that the breakaway regime must continue its
economic, social and culture relations with friendly and brotherly countries.
He
went on and added that they hope that a federal solution will be reach soon and
the problem known as Cyprus problem for the last 50 years to be solved and stay
in the pages of history books. Finally
he said that their aim is to become full member of the Organization of Islamic
Conference.
In
addition, Turkish Cypriot KibrisPostasi (26.11.13) reports that in the
framework of the ECO meeting, Nami met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran
Ibrahim Rahim and they exchanged views on various issues. Nami also met with
Iranians who graduated from the illegal universities in occupied Cyprus.
3. The period for applying to the “Immovable
Property Compensation Commission” is extended for two years
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (26.11.13) reports that the “plenary session” of
self-styled parliament of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus adopted yesterday with majority a “draft-law” providing for
extending for two more years the period during which applications can be
submitted to the “Immovable Property Compensation Commission” established by
Turkey in the occupied area of the island.
Addressing the
“parliament”, Mehmet Cakici, “MP” with the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said
that even though the “Commission” has returned and exchanged some properties,
the stance of his party did not change. He added: “We believe that the
Commission does not contribute to the solution. It serves no other purpose than
extending the process”. Cakici argued that the place from where the Turkish
Cypriots, who abandoned properties in the government-controlled area of the
island, could demand their rights is “ambiguous”. He expressed the view that
the structure of the “Commission” should change and the Turkish Cypriot should
also be able to apply for their properties. Cakici said that his party would
reject the “draft-law”, because it does not speed up the solution process and
does not take into consideration the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
HuseyinAngolemli,
“MP” with the TDP, argued that it is not correct to compensate only the Greek
Cypriots without “overcoming the unjust treatment of the Turkish Cypriots”. He
noted that the Turkish Cypriots, who abandoned properties in the
government-controlled area, had been deceived and forced to renounce their
properties with waivers.
FerdiSabitSoyer,
“MP’ with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said that the “Commission” had
been established “for opening a new window on the property issue” and argued
that it takes an important place in the solution process of the Cyprus problem.
He said that the next step is securing that the guardian of the Turkish Cypriot
properties in the government-controlled area of the island is questioned
internationally.
Zorlu Tore, “MP”
with the Democratic Party (DP), said that they could accept the exchange and
the compensation of properties to a certain point, but they oppose to
abandoning the places in which the Turkish Cypriot have settled.
Huseyin
Ozgurgun, chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), argued that it should not
be forgotten that the Cyprus problem is a political problem and not a property
problem. He said that his party would vote in favor of the “draft-law”, but
they did not forget that “no step is taken on the unjust treatment” of the
Turkish Cypriots, who left property in the government-controlled area of the
island.
Referring to the
negotiations process, he argued that when Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu came to
“power”, pressures had been exerted on him to continue the negotiations from
the point where former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat had left them. He alleged
that no similar pressure was exerted on President Anastasiades to continue from
the point where former President Christofias had left the negotiations.
Ozgurgun claimed that UN Secretary-General’s special adviser on Cyprus,
Alexander Downer “has lost his impartiality”.
(I/Ts.)
4. Sertoglu said they will evaluate the football
agreement
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (26.11.13) reports that HasanSertoglu, president of the so-called
Cyprus Turkish Football Association (KTFF), evaluating the latest developments
regarding the recent signing of the provisional football unification agreement,
told Turkish Cypriot private channel KIBRIS TV that they do not approve the
latest initiatives of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) officials and claim
that CFA officials have launched an unexpected attack against them. Sertoglu
argued that in Zurich earlier this month, they outlined the road that would be
followed after the signing of the provisional agreement. He added however that
the CFA made statements and held its general assembly meeting which means that
they also have to now make their own evaluations. Sertoglu noted that they will
hold an evaluation meeting regarding the agreement with their football clubs on
Friday or on Monday.
Meanwhile,
Sertoglu said that Turkey’s Minister of Youth and Sport SuatKilic taught them a
lesson by saying that the Cyprus Turkish Football Association is an autonomous
organization and that for this reason, its decisions should be respected. He
added that Turkish Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan also gave his support, by
saying that this provisional agreement will contribute to the solution process.
Sertoglu said
that they are on the right path, their aim is clear, they don’t get into
politics. He wondered why those who say that there should be a Cyprus
settlement in three months, are in a panic and are opposed to this agreement.
5.Sibel is visiting Turkey; meetings with Cicek and
Gul
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.11.13) reports that the self-styled speaker
of the “assembly” SiberSibel heading a delegation consisted of “parliament”
members”, will visit Turkey upon an invitation by the Turkish Speaker of the
Grant National Assembly CemilCicek.
Sibel
will also meet with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
6. Mehmet Harmanci is the new general secretary of
the TDP
Turkish
Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (26.11.13) reports that Mehmet Harmanci was
elected the new general secretary of the Social Democracy Party (TDP). The
lection took place yesterday at a party’s meeting in occupied Lefkosia. The
other candidate for the position was BoysanBoyra.
7. Turkey to hike Iran oil imports after nuke deal
According to
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 26.11.13), Turkey could increase its
oil imports from Iran to 130,000-140,000 barrels per day (bpd), from around
105,000 bpd in a gradual manner, if Western sanctions against Iran ease,
Turkish Energy Minister TanerYildiz said during a live interview on CNBC-e
television yesterday.
“We have already
reduced our imports to around 105,000 [bpd] due to the sanctions. Once these
sanctions are no longer in effect, I believe the amount we buy will hike,” he
said, adding that Turkey couldn’t ignore Iran, which had one of the world’s
three largest oil reserves, and was Turkey’s second biggest oil supplier after
Russia.
Turkey cut
dramatically its oil imports from Iran from a previously contracted volume of
180,000 bpd last year after a European Union embargo against Iran came into
full force on July 1, which also targeted marine insurance.
Yildiz said
Turkey has already rejected further reducing its oil imports from neighbouring
Iran, adding that Turkey bought natural gas from five countries and oil from 12
countries.
Brent crude fell
1.6% yesterday just after the deal, but Yildiz called for patience. “It is of
great importance to be patient and cautious in making any comment on whether
the recent nuclear deal with Iran will have an effect on oil prices,” he noted.
8. Turkey has serious problems with East
Mediterranean countries
Columnist Murat
Yetkin, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 26.11.13), under
the title “Turkey loses ground in the Middle East and East Mediterranean”, says
in the following commentary that Turkey has no access at the gas fields in East
Mediterranean, because are under control of Egypt, Israel and Republic of
Cyprus, with whom Turkish government has serious political problems:
“Turkey’s
National Security Board (MGK) has not only discussed Syria and Iraq and the
Kurdish issue during its Oct. 28 bi-monthly meeting, as it was said in the
press release afterwards.
According to
high rank sources talking to HDN, one of the main issues discussed was Turkey’s
national interests in the light of new energy sources, mainly natural gas found
in the East Mediterranean. With projections showing liquefied natural gas (LNG)
terminals and transportation would become more expensive with respect to
pipeline transportation, following the new shale gas production technology
promoted by the U.S., Turkish officials point out that the cheapest and safest
way to transport East Mediterranean gas to European markets would be pipelines
through Turkey. One ranking source described the analysis as follows: “Imagine,
the island of Cyprus divides the map of East Med into Northern and Southern
halves. The northern part is under our maritime influence and the south is
Egypt’s. We have to find a way to work this out.”
Now with this
information, President Abdullah Gul’s address to the Atlantic Council in
Istanbul on Nov. 21 makes even more sense. Without mentioning country names,
Gul was criticizing the Europe Union for not opening the energy chapter of
membership negotiations because of the Greek Cypriot embargo.
He said that in
addition to new pipelines planned from Azerbaijan and Iraq, including the
Kurdish region, Turkey was ready to facilitate pipelines carrying East
Mediterranean pipelines to Europe.
There is nothing
wrong so far, but the problem starts exactly at this point. The new gas fields
in East Mediterranean are under control of Egypt, Israel and Republic of
Cyprus. The Turkish government has serious political problems with all Greek
Cypriot, Israeli and now Egyptian governments – perhaps no need to mention
absent diplomatic relations with another East Mediterranean government, Syria.
It is obvious
that Ankara has to enhance its relations with other capitals in the Middle East
and East Mediterranean for its national interests; especially for economic and
strategic reasons. In a new atmosphere where Iran, as one of the main oil and
gas players in the region and the main pole of Shiite, rather non-Sunni Islamic
politics has come to an agreement with P5+1 countries over its nuclear program,
better political relations between its region and Europe becomes more vital for
Turkey.
But Cyprus is
not the only problem and the other three arose in the last three years of
TayyipErdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. Despite the
quick rise and fall of the Arab Spring, Erdogan wants to address the Arab
street directly, ignoring their governments in parallel with his “policy of
principles,” or ideology-based diplomacy, which could only find a limited echo
in the pious Sunni street. That caused a reaction among the governments in the
region as the recent move of Egypt by downgrading relations and expelling the
Turkish ambassador showed. It would not be correct to put the responsibility on
Foreign Minister AhmetDavutoglu’s shoulders only; not only because the Turkish
Foreign Ministry and Presidency are apparently trying their best to normalize
the atmosphere, but also because the Prime Minister’s close aides and he are
playing a greater role in Turkey’s foreign policy.
Gul is right
when pointing out that the forming of a transportation axis between the Middle
East and East Mediterranean to Europe via pipelines through Turkey is in both
Turkish national interests and would help European energy security. It should
be noted on the other hand that the Turkish government better shift back from
its diplomacy with an ideological focus for its national interests, which is
causing it to lose ground in this region which has prior importance for the
country.”
9.The Monastery of Stoudios in Istanbul will be
converted into a mosque
According to
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 26.11.13), the largest Byzantium
monastery in Istanbul will be converted into a mosque after its restoration
next year.
The Monastery of
Stoudios, also known as the Imrahor Monument, will be turned into a mosque and
be titled ImrahorIlyasBey Mosque. The renovation of the mosque, which forms
part of the Hagia Sophia Museum, will follow the same fate as that of Hagia
Sophia churches in Trabzon and Iznik, which had been already turned into
mosques.
“I wouldn’t like
to speak as a member of a council but my personal opinion is that cultural
heritage shouldn’t be reflected as an antagonistic heritage. If we reflect it
like this, it will damage societies on a macro level,” said LakiVingas, acting
as representatives of the Directorate General of Foundations. Vingas added that
the issue creates grief within society, and it was not only the Greek
community’s problem.
“Cultural
heritage is universal heritages, meaning that they are humanity’s common
heritage,” he said.
Imrahor’s
conversion into a mosque came at a time debate continues as to whether to
reopen Hagia Sophia as a place of worship. Most recently, Deputy Prime Minister
BulentArinc has expressed his hope to see the Hagia Sophia to be used as a
mosque.
Vingas said: “My
personal view is that when you are trying to create a new vision you should be
careful not to create new problems for the future.”
The Monastery,
which dates back to the fifth century, was the most important monastery of
Istanbul during the Byzantium era, also serving as the centre of Byzantine
intelligentsia. The basilica was converted to a mosque, during the period of
Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II. After two major fires in the 18th and 19th
centuries, the monastery was mostly destroyed. In 1946, it was turned into a
museum in line with a ministerial cabinet decision.
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