TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 208/13 04.11.13
1. Bagis says positive developments are
happening on the Cyprus problem
2. Eroglu alleges that the Turkish Cypriot side
is ready to agree on a mutually accepted joint statement
3.Ertug describes as “unjustifiable and
unnecessary” the Greek Cypriot reactions on Ban Ki-moon’s recent statement
4. Nami: We are in close
co-operation with Eroglu
5. Cakici: the issue of occupied closed Varosha
must come onto the agenda before the comprehensive solution
6.
Yorgancioglu: Nami should be at the negotiation table
7. Talat: the Turkish Cypriots feel themselves
as part of Turkey
8. The
exports in the occupied area of Cyprus fall after the 1994 ECJ verdict
9. Mungan: regime’s budget for 2014 provides
for a growth of 9.6%
10. “Water and Food Safety”
conference of OIC to be held in the breakaway regime
11. Nationalist Turkish Cypriot
politician Avci was seen taking a Republic of Cyprus passport
12. Intelligence cooperation between
Turkey and Iran is in a “very, very good state,” according to the Iranian
Ambassador
13. Turkish Think Tank surveys
shows Turkish public sees independent
Kurdish state 'Biggest Threat'
14. Thousands of Alevis hit streets
in Istanbul
15. Turkey's Directorate General for
Religious Affairs issues fatwa against tattoos
1. Bagis says positive developments are
happening on the Cyprus problem
Under the
title “We are near to a solution”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.11.13)
reports that EgemenBagis, Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator, has said
that positive developments are happening on the Cyprus problem. In statements yesterday to a television
station, Bagis said that at the moment no chapters in Turkey’s negotiations
with the EU are closed, because of an EU decision providing that no chapter
will be closed as long as the Cyprus problem is not solved. He added, inter
alia, the following:
“However,
positive developments are happening now on the Cyprus issue. Cyprus foreign
minister MrOzdilNami [Translator’s note: the self-styled foreign minister of
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] had been
chief negotiator in the past and he undertook an intensive effort. I hope that
within a short period of time we will receive the chief negotiator of the South
Cyprus’ Greek Administration in Ankara. Athens will receive TRNC’s chief
negotiator and the emergence of a new UN plan, like the Annan Plan, perhaps a
Ban Ki-moon Plan, will be in the question… If the Cyprus issue is solved, we
are at the point of being able to easily open 12 chapters and closing 10
chapters. We are at the point of passing some issues with a little work and
further increasing that number. If the Cyprus problem is solved, we could open
12 chapters within a very short period of time and easily close 10 chapters”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu alleges that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to agree on
a mutually accepted joint statement
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi
newspaper (04.11.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu has
alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to agree on a mutually accepted
text of a joint statement and added that the Turkish “constructive” proposals
on this issue are still on the table. In a written statement issued yesterday,
Eroglu said that the “joint statement text exercise” should not be prolonged
and added:
“We are ready to hold the meeting of the
leaders, which will launch the negotiations from the point they were left, even
without the joint statement that has been turn into a precondition by the Greek
Cypriot side. Come and let us continue the negotiations from the point we were
left and reach the comprehensive solution which the two peoples expect from us
in the first quarter of 2014”.
Eroglu said that the Turkish side supports UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s expectation in the direction of determining the
date of the meeting between the leaders that will launch the negotiations. He
added that in his statement of 1 November 2013, Ban Ki-moon ascertained
important things regarding the point reached in the efforts exerted in Cyprus
for finding a just and lasting comprehensive solution within the framework of
his good offices mission. He noted that the expectation of the UN Secretary- General
regarding the resumption of the negotiations and his warning that a limited
window of opportunity exists, underlined once more that the waste of time in
the negotiations must end.
He said that the Turkish Cypriot
side does not adopt the Greek Cypriot “attacks” made against the UN
Secretary-General because of his correct ascertainments.
(I/Ts.)
3. Ertug describes as “unjustifiable and
unnecessary” the Greek Cypriot reactions on Ban Ki-moon’s recent statement
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (03.11.13) reports that Osman Ertug, Turkish
Cypriot leader Eroglu’s special representative, has described as “unjustifiable
and unnecessary” the Greek Cypriot reactions to the “wish” of the UN
Secretary-General for determining the date of the meeting between the leaders
within the four days during which his special adviser, Alexander Downer will be
visiting the island.
In
statements to Kibris, Ertug alleged that he finds it difficult to understand
the Greek Cypriot reactions to the statement made by Ban Ki-moon recently. He
argued that Ban Ki-moon and Downer are trying to fulfill the duty required by
their good offices mission in Cyprus and within this framework they are
referring to the recommencement of the negotiations from the point they were
left.
He argued
that they see these allegedly “unjustifiable and excessive” reactions as a
result of the so-called delaying tactics for prolonging the process without
having any time limit.
He said
that they do not find useful the attacks against the UN Secretary-General.
In
addition, illegal Bayrak television (02.11.13) broadcast that Ertug commented
to the statements of Andreas Mavroyannis, negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side.
Mavroyannis
said the Greek Cypriot side will approve the opening of 8 chapters in Turkey’s
EU accession talks in return of the implementation of the additional protocol
and will approve the opening of the Famagusta port to direct trade with the EU
if Turkey hands over the closed city of Maras to the United Nations.
Ertuğ
responded to Mavroyannis by saying ‘the wrong subject the wrong address’. Ertuğ
said that Mavroyannis’ words are “inexplicable” and added that even the exact
date of the Ankara visit is not certain. He said that they are still waiting
for a response from Greece and the Republic of Cyprus on the visit.
In addition
in statements to Today’s Zaman (03.11.13) Ertug said the following: “The visits
-- planned for October -- didn't happen. The ball is in the Greek side's court.
We are still waiting for a date from them. Both Greece and Greek Cyprus are
dragging their feet on the visits of the special representatives. They have a
number of concerns. However, the problems that they talk about are not the real
ones. For example, Greek Cyprus says that Ankara and Athens should agree on the
[date of the] visits, about which they had previously agreed [at the time of
the UN meeting],” he said.
4. Nami: We are in close
co-operation with Eroglu
Illegal
Bayrak television (04.11.13) broadcast that the self-styled minister of foreign
affairs OzdilNami stated that they are in close co-operation with the Turkish
Cypriot leader DervisEroglu adding that the cooperation will be increased and
will become more intensive in the coming period.
Nami
said that the Cyprus problem entered a very critical phase. He also said that
the Turkish Cypriot side is not trying to impose any deadlines but as he added
attention must be paid to the natural time limits. He said that this issue must
be taken seriously since in the past the two sides paid a heavy price for
ignoring the natural time limits.
He
also said that the aim of reaching a solution in the first months of 2014 does
not seem possible and accused the Greek Cypriot side of avoiding the issue of a
common statement.
5. Cakici: the issue of occupied closed
Varosha must come onto the agenda before the comprehensive solution
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (03.11.13) reports that Mehmet Cakici, leader of
the Social Democracy Party (TDP), has said that a package of proposals
including the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha to its legal owners
under the UN supervision, the opening of Famagusta port to international trade,
the opening of illegal Tymvou airport to direct flights and the opening of the
Turkish ports to ships under the flag of the Republic of Cyprus must come onto
the agenda before the comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, paving the
way of the solution process.
According
to a written statement issued by the TDP, Cakici said that “Varosha has been
left to the snakes and centipedes” by repeating the statement that “Varisha is
part of the comprehensive solution” and added that an opening regarding Varosha
would create positive acceleration in the process for the solution.
Cakici
attended the 4th Regular Congress of his party in occupied Famagusta
area during which Mustafa Emiroglulari was reelected chairman of TDP’s regional
organization.
Cakici
noted that TDP struggles for the solution of the Cyprus problem, equality,
justice, human rights, democratization and transferring power to the civilians.
He argued that the area of Famagusta will be leading this struggle.
(I/Ts.)
6. Yorgancioglu:
Nami should be at the negotiation table
Under the title “Nami should be at the
negotiation table”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (02.11.13) reported thatthe
self-styled prime minister OzkanYorgancioglu said that the self-styled minister
of foreign affairs OzdilNami with his experience could assist the Turkish
Cypriot leader DervisEroglu on the Cyprus problem.
In an exclusive interview to the journalist
Osman Kalfaoglu, Yorgancioglu said that he believes with the resumption of the
Cyprus talks, Nami should be part of the negotiation team. Yorgancioglu
explained that Nami conveyed this request to Eroglu, however, he added, they
won’t be able to know on this issue before the resumption of the negotiation
process. Yorgancioglu also said that Nami’s experience will contribute a lot to
Eroglu.
Commenting on the question whether the
meeting of Nami with the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis was a
result of a more proactive target of the “government programme” on the Cyprus
problem, Yorgancioglu said that Nami has not met only with Mavroyiannis, but he
also met with the Turkish Foreign Minister in New York and in Brussels, adding
that Nami works in an active way and he constantly shares his thoughts with the
Turkish Cypriot leader.
Yorganicioglu went on: “We, as government,
as prime minister and most of all our foreign minister, are eager and
determined to contribute as much as we can in the process for the solution of
the Cyprus problem.”
7. Talat: the Turkish Cypriots feel themselves as part of Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis
newspaper (04.11.13) reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali
Talat has said that the Turkish Cypriots feel themselves as a part of Turkey. In
an interview with Havadis, Talat criticized the debates started in the occupied
area of Cyprus for decreasing the period of the military service, and wondered:
“Don’t we say that we are an independent state? We transfer here literally
whatever we hear in Turkey. This is the sad thing. Without realizing it, the
Turks of Cyprus feel like they are a part of Turkey. They deny it in words, but
they are living it in their ego and mind. This is the sad thing”.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, Talat alleged,
inter alia, the following: “It is totally legitimate for us as Turkish side to
put certain target dates. It is extremely reasonable and legitimate for the
Turkish Cypriot side to put certain time limits. What is essential when you put
timetables is to put it forward within the scope of a programming of the
solution… If we create the climate that everyone should go his own way by
saying that we have put a final date and we could not solve it, this will be
used against us and cause disappointment in the peoples…”
Talat went on and said that no one evaluates
and takes seriously into consideration how the sides will reach a final result
until next February or March in the
negotiations that will be launched in November by the sides which could not
agree on the text of the joint statement to be issued after the first meeting.
Talat noted that the Cyprus problem could be solved within a few months if the
accumulated experience is used. “However, the current environment shows that
this will not happen”, he said adding that he does not see that the Turkish
Cypriot leadership exhibits a “fast-moving approach”.
Referring to his possible
candidature in the “presidential elections” in the occupied area of Cyprus,
Talat said that he could not say whether he will be a candidate in the
“elections”, because he will not decide this alone. He noted that this will be
decided by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), which is the biggest party in
favor of the solution, and the other pro-solution forces in the community.
(I/Ts.)
8. The
exports in the occupied area of Cyprus fall after the 1994 ECJ verdict
Under the title “Like this we went
bankrupt”, Turkish daily Afrika (04.11.13) in its front page, reports that the
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO), the ship-owners association and the
shippers’ association, in a joint statement, argued that the biggest blow of
their economy happened when a 1994 European Court of Justice (ECJ) verdict
prohibited the ships, which are carrying a “TRNC” flag, to transfer their cargo
to the EU member countries. They added that the exports fall from 80 million
dollars, prior to reportedly embargoes, to 8.5 million dollars. [Transl. note:
the ECJ has never taken a decision prohibiting the Turkish Cypriots from export
their products to the EU through legal ports of the Republic of Cyprus]
Ali Cirali, chairman of the Chamber of Industry,
noted that prior the ECJ judgement, 150-200 thousand tons of citrus fruits and
20 thousand tons of potatoes being grown in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus exported to the EU countries.
The chairman of the “shippers’
association”, HasanDortgazi, said that the 80% of their citrus fruits exports
is send to Iraq and the 20% to Turkey.
9. Mungan: regime’s budget for 2014 provides for a growth of 9.6%
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
newspaper (04.11.13) reports that ZerenMungan, self-styled finance minister of
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said
that the regime’s budget for 2014 is providing for an economic growth of 9.6%
in comparison to the previous year.
In statements to illegal TAK news agency, he
noted that one of the fundamental principles of his “government” for the budget
of 2014 is budget discipline and savings in current expenses. He said that no
one will be hired by the “state” this year and only 360 persons will be
employed in 2014. He added that 75 of these newly appointed employees will be
teachers and the rest 285 persons will be employed as permanent staff.
Mungan said that the budget deficit will
increase by 22.7% in comparison to the previous year and added that the only
way of dealing with this problem is to “register the underground economy”. He
noted that the deficit in the budget of 2013 was 290 million 330 thousand and
348 Turkish liras and increased to 366 million 238 thousand in the budget of
2014.
He said that the total amount of
Turkey’s aid and credits in the regime’s budget was 942 million Turkish liras
in 2013 and increased by 7.76% reaching one billion 15 million liras in 2014.
(I/Ts.)
10. “Water and Food Safety”
conference of OIC to be held in the breakaway regime
Turkish
Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (02.11.13) reports that the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation is organizing conference on “Water and Food Safety” which will take
place in occupied Cyprus between 22-24 of November.
The paper
writes that the general secretary of OIC. EkmelettinIhsanoglu will also
participate in the conference. The conference
will be held in the Acapulco Hotel in occupied Keryneia.
11. Nationalist Turkish Cypriot
politician Avci was seen taking a Republic of Cyprus passport
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper writes that politician TurgayAvciwas seen queuing at the Lefkosia District office in
the free areas for taking a passport.Avci in the past accused the Turkish
Cypriots who obtain to take a passport of the Republic of Cyprus of been
traitors.
12. Intelligence cooperation
between Turkey and Iran is in a “very, very good state,” according to the Iranian
Ambassador
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.11.13) reports that the Iranian Ambassador to
Ankara AlirezaBigdeli stated that the intelligence cooperation between Turkey
and Iran is in a “very, very good state”.
Speaking to
the daily Hurriyet, Bigdeli said the intelligence cooperation between the two
countries were at a level that should be between strong neighbors and brothers,
which bothered Western powers, as well as Israeli authorities.
“Why do
they not like it when Turkish and Iranian intelligence agencies cooperate? They
expect Turkey to have good cooperation with MOSSAD or CIA. There is that side
to it. Turkish and Iranian agencies always have cooperation, and they should have
so, and they will have so. It is normal between neighbors to have that, but
they treat it with doubt,” Bigdeli said.
When asked
about the recent claims of Turkey handing over Israeli spies to Iranian
authorities, Bigdeli did not go into details, and just said, “I’ve been here
for only seven months. The claims in that story go back a year. I have no
information regarding them.”
The Iranian
envoy further told Hurriyetthat Iranian and Turkish agencies cooperated during
the rescue of the Turkish pilots who had been kidnapped in Lebanon, and the Iranian
citizens who were retrieved from Syria.
13. Turkish Think Tank surveys
shows Turkish public sees independent
Kurdish state 'Biggest Threat'
On
30 October, EDAM posted on its website (http://www.edam.org.tr) a "public
opinion survey carried out by TNS in Turkey on behalf of the Centre for
Economic and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM)." Accordingly, the survey shows
"that the biggest threat perceived by the Turkish public remains the
foundation of an independent Kurdish state in southern part of Turkey. For the
expert community however the biggest threat is the dominance of Islamist
extremists in Syria. One third of the polled participants said that the biggest
threat against Turkey is the foundation of a Kurdish state. While AKP [Justice
and Development Party] voters see a potential military intervention by the
United States or Israel aimed at preventing Iran from achieving nuclear weapons
as the second biggest threat; CHP [Republican People's Party and BDP [Peace and
Democracy Party] voters view the potential dominance of Islamist extremists in
Syria as a more severe threat.
14. Thousands of Alevis hit
streets in Istanbul
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (04.11.13) reports that thousands of Alevis gathered in a
massive rally in Istanbul’s Kadikoy district on November 3, demanding equal
citizenship rights and freedom of faith, while also raising their voice against
projects aiming to “assimilate Alevis.”
Demonstrators
chanted slogans such as “We won’t be the state’s Alevis,” and “We will never
bend the knee to injustice,” as well as slogans referring to the
anti-government Gezi Park protests that were sparked in May. Around 50 Alevi associations and political
parties were represented in the rally.
Alevis, who
follow a liberal sect of Islam, voiced several demands, including the removal
of compulsory religion courses in schools, official recognition of their
worship places, Cemevis, and investigations into the unknown murders of Alevis.
“We want
our beliefs to have legal status so the Alevi community can perform its rituals
freely,” the Pir Sultan Abdal Association stated on its website, in its call to
the rally. It calls for the cancelation of a project in which a mosque and a
Cemevi will be built next to each other in Ankara, in a project supported by
Muslim cleric FetullahGulen.
Alevis also
demand the removal of the compulsory religion courses, as well as the Religious
Affairs Directorate on the ground that it is a conflicting situation that “a
secular country has an institution which only serves Sunni Hanefi Muslims.”
They also demand the return of land, Cemevis, and other assets that were
confiscated by the state. The estates belonging to Alevis such as HaciBektasVeliDergâhSahkulu,
Garipdede and Erikli Baba should be returned to Alevi communities without any
cost, it said.
15. Turkey's Directorate General
for Religious Affairs issues fatwa against tattoos
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.11.13) reports that the Directorate General for
Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has issued a fatwa stating that tattoos are not in
accordance with Islam.
"The
same way that they are harmful for health, they are prohibited by
religion," the body's High Committee of Religious Affairs said on Nov. 2,
in response to a question over whether tattoos were permissible.
"In Islam,
drawing attention [to oneself] and changing the properties and form given by
birth is considered to be altering creation, and is therefore banned," the
Diyanet said, adding that the practice dated back to the pre-Islamic "age
of ignorance."
The
statement also mentioned that the Prophet Muhammad said that those who changed
how they were created were distancing themselves from God's mercy and grace.
The Diyanet
also clarified that Islam disapproved of earrings and other such piece of
jewelry in men. However, the statement
said that long hair on men and styling hair in any kind of way is not
considered illicit, so long as the hair is kept clean.
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