TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 234/13 11.12.13
1. Eroglu called on Anastasiades to resume Cyprus
talks this week after his meeting with Downer
2. Eroglu: deadlock exists on the issue of the
representatives’ visits to Athens and Ankara; Comments on Bagis’ and Mungan’s
statements
3. Nami briefs Guinean journalists on the Cyprus
problem
4. Denktas holds contacts in London; He says they will
re-establish an aviation company in 2014
5. Ozgurgun: the regime’s economy will “eternally
need” Turkey’s support
6.Akinci announces he could run for “president” of the
regime
7. The Italian Ambassador promised to support Turkey’s
EU negotiations during Italy’s EU presidency in 2014
8. Turkey announced trade figures with EU countries
1. Eroglu called on Anastasiades to resume Cyprus
talks this week after his meeting with Downer
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (11.12.13) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu, in a written
statement issued after his meeting with UN SG’s Special Advisor for Cyprus
Alexander Downer yesterday, called on Cyprus President Anastasiades to resume
the talks for a United Cyprus this week.
In the written
statement, Eroglu said that he had a sincere meeting with Downer and they
discussed the last point reached on the joint agreement and how they can
surpass the difficulties. Eroglu claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side has a
constructive stance on this critical stage. He argued that their strategic and
approach is to secure the continuation of the new partnership that they try to
establish. He also argued that they, as the Turkish Cypriot side, keep in mind
the concerns of the opposite side and they try to reflect them in their
proposals. In order for this to be possible, in parallel to overcoming the
concerns of the Greek Cypriot side, one of the sides should be prevented by
taking under its monopoly the international identity of the island alleging
that it is the representative of the entire Cyprus.
He went on
saying that he exhibited a political will towards establishing a permanent and
viable united Cyprus and he expects the same stance from Anastasiades. He
claimed that if the Greek Cypriot side accepts, they are ready to resume the
Cyprus talks from the point they were left off within this week. He also
extended a reconciliation hand to Anastasiades, claiming that if they resume
the negotiations this week, they can reach a comprehensive solution the first
quarter of 2014.
Moreover, the
paper reports that Downer, speaking after the one and half hour long meeting
with Eroglu, said that the two sides had reached a sensitive point in on the
joint agreement but refrained from giving any details.
On the same
issue, according to illegal Bayrak television (online, 10.12.13), Eroglu’s special representative
Osman Ertug, speaking to the “BRT” after the meeting, said that they focused on
the joint statement.
Pointing out that Downer was continuing
his efforts to reach a comprimise agreement between the two sides, Ertug
claimed: “We, as the Turkish Cypriot side, will continue to maintain our
constructive stance”.
2. Eroglu: deadlock exists on the issue of the
representatives’ visits to Athens and Ankara; Comments on Bagis’ and Mungan’s
statements
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (11.12.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader,
DervisEroglu has argued that after his “election” he had sent a letter to the
UN Secretary-General expressing commitment to continue the negotiations
[towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem] from the point they had been
left [during former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat’s and former President
Christofias’s period], but President Anastasiades has allegedly given no such a
commitment.
According to a
statement issued from his “office”, in an interview with a TV channel, Eroglu
argued that deadlock exists on the issue of the visits of the leaders’
representatives to Ankara and Athens. Eroglu claimed that first they agreed on
holding these visits in October, but Greece said that October was not a
convenient period. He went on and claimed that according to recent statements
by Greece, the visits would be held after the commencement of the negotiations
and alleged that the obstacle for this meeting is the Greek Prime Minister
Samaras.
Replying to a
question on the issue of the “internal citizenship”, Eroglu said that the
“TRNC” would be a founding state [in case a federal Republic of Cyprus is
established] and the “citizens” of the “founding states” would become “citizens
of the partnership state”.
He went on and
said: “The point we disagree with the Greek Cypriots is that the persons that
came from Turkey will go away. Now, we say that no one has the right to say ‘go
back’ to these people after 40 years. The international law also does not
reject this. If we come to the point of an agreement, who will vote in the
referendum? The people will do this, the citizens of both founding states.
These people will become citizens of the partnership state as well…”
Eroglu argued
that the “citizens of the partnership state” will at the same time be “internal
citizens” in case they want it.
Eroglu said also
that on the territory issue, for example, the Greek Cypriots want the areas of
southern Mesaoria, Karpasia and Morfou to be returned [under Greek Cypriot
administration]. He added: “They do not stay only with this. They want Greek
Cypriots to return to the lands which will remain to us. Very well, is this an
agreement? Is this an agreement which will permit the Turkish Cypriots to live
on these lands? We have to show these to the world. This is the duty of our
foreign minister, of the officials of our ministries, of our special
representative…”
Eroglu referred
also to the statements made recently by EgemenBagis, Turkish EU Minister and
Chief Negotiator, who has compared the Cypriots to mules. Eroglu argued: “It is
something else to say that the Cypriots are stubborn, but as he used the word
‘mule’, he said it without thinking. Of course the Turkish Cypriot people will
be stubborn where they are right. Every man will persist, and insist when he is
right in order for taking his rights. However, the comparison was wrong”.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi newspaper (11.12.13) reports that Eroglu
was asked to comment also on the agreement signed between the Cyprus Football
Association (CFA) and the Turkish Cypriot so-called football association
(“TCFA”) in Zurich. He said that according to the information he had acquired,
the Turkish Cypriot clubs authorised the chairman of the “TCFA”, HasanSertoglu
to continue the negotiations. He argued that what was discussed in the recent
general assembly of the “TCFA” was not the document signed in Zurich, but views
on the content of the letter which Sertoglu would send to the President of
FIFA. Eroglu noted that after the signing ceremony in Zurich Sertoglu had
stated that he would work for changing the text. “However, CFA chairman behaved
more cleverly and approved the document”, he argued.
Referring to
self-styled finance minister ZerenMungan’s statement that if they do not
implement the “financial protocol” they had signed with Turkey, they could not
pay the salaries, Eroglu said: “These statements are very wrong. No minister
should use such expressions. This will both cause reactions against Turkey and
lead people to having various thoughts towards the existing government”.
He argued that
the best way would be to submit some proposals to Turkey and added: “In the
end, those who are before you are also people. They are people who do not want
the Turkish Cypriot people to be victimized”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Nami briefs Guinean journalists on the Cyprus
problem
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (11.12.13) reports that OzdilNami, self-styled foreign minister
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, briefed
yesterday journalists from Guinea on the Cyprus problem, upon a demand he
received from the representatives of the press.
According to a
statement issued by the regime’s “information office”, Nami is in Conakry, the
capital city of Guinea, for the 40th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of
the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in which the breakaway regime
is participating as “observer”.
Nami explained
the regime’s expectations from the OIC and informed the journalists on the
recent developments in the Cyprus problem. He also expressed their condolences
to the African peoples for the loss of Nelson Mandela.
(I/Ts.)
4. Denktas holds contacts in London; He says they
will re-establish an aviation company in 2014
Turkish Cypriot
daily YeniDuzen newspaper (11.12.13) reports that SerdarDenktas, self-styled
deputy prime minister and “minister” of economy, tourism, culture and sports of
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, has said that an “aviation
company” will be re-established by the regime in 2014 in order to become its
“flag carrier” and pave the way of tourism so that the regime to reach its real
potential in this field.
According to a
statement issued by his “office”, Denktas participated yesterday in London in a
dinner hosted to his honour by Guild of Travel and Tourism Company at Royal Air
Force Club.
Businessmen from
the field of tourism, so-called crown princess of Yugoslavia Catherine, the
vice-president of the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG), SerhatKotak,
and the regime’s “representative” in London, OyaTuncali were among the
participants in the dinner.
Addressing the
dinner, Denktas referred to the so-called embargoes allegedly implemented on
the regime and to the problems which are derived from them. He argued that the
“government” of the regime “has opened its arms” to foreign investors and
called on foreigners to invest in the occupied part of Cyprus. He asked the
support of the participants in the dinner on the issue of overcoming the
“embargoes” and especially on the issue of “direct flights”.
(I/Ts.)
5.Ozgurgun: the regime’s economy will “eternally
need” Turkey’s support
Turkish Cypriot
daily KibrisPostasi newspaper (11.12.13) reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun,
chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), has said that the economy of the
“TRNC” [Translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus] could not stand on its own feet and that it would
“eternally need” the support of Turkey.
The paper writes
that trying to criticize yesterday the “budget” of the regime at the
“assembly”, Ozgurgun “destroyed the hopes of the Turkish Cypriot people”.
Ozgurgun said
that the target for the regime’s economy to become self-sufficient, which is
included in the program of all the self-styled governments and it is even the
main goal of the “economic protocol’ signed with Turkey, “will never be
possible”.
Ozgurgun noted
that he was pleased to hear the self-styled finance minister saying that they
have to implement the “economic protocol”.
“I am grateful to Turkey, not thankful. We are tied to Turkey from the
heart, not from the belly”, he argued.
(I/Ts.)
6.Akinci announces he could run for “president” of
the regime
Turkish Cypriot
daily Star Kibris newspaper (11.12.13) reports that Mustafa Akinci, former
“mayor” of the occupied part of Nicosia and “deputy prime minister” of the
breakaway regime, has stated that he could run for “president” of the regime in
the forthcoming “elections”, if the community accepted this.
In statements to
Ada TV, Akinci said yesterday that they always needed a solution to the Cyprus
problem and that without the solution the Turkish Cypriots “will make no
progress”. “Whatever we do, the source of our problems is the Cyprus problem”,
he argued noting that if this problem is not solved they could take their place
in the international law only to an extent.
(I/Ts.)
7. The Italian Ambassador promised to support
Turkey’s EU negotiations during Italy’s EU presidency in 2014
Under the title
“Turkish citizens will get visa free travel soon, says Italian ambassador”,
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 10.12.13) reported that Italian Ambassador
to Turkey GianpaoloScarante recalled that Italy will hold the EU presidency in
2014 and promised to provide support for Turkey's EU negotiations.
Scarante
stressed that negotiations are now continuing after a pause, stating that the
EU opened Chapter 22 on regional policy and the coordination of structural
instruments at the Intergovernmental Accession Conference in November.
The Ambassador
has stated that many countries in Europe have simplified their visa application
procedures with Turkey, thus the next step will be the removal of all visa
requirements.
Underlining that
the European Union has eliminated visa requirements for various countries in
the Balkans, Scarante said that if the EU can achieve this with the Balkans,
there is no reason not to give it to Turkey. “I'm sure that next year we will
develop a way, and the removal of visa requirements for Turkey is not very far
off,” he added.
Scarante also
said Italy was the first country to raise the issue in the European Council
(EC) and added that there is no threat of immigration of Turks to Italy or
Europe in general if the EU removes the visa requirements.
Commenting on
migration from Turkey, Scarante said: “When we compare Turkey's economic
situation with that of the EU, many people are coming back to Turkey. So that's
an important point.”
Commenting on
suspicions that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has given up on
the EU accession after Turkey's ruling party joined the Alliance of European
Conservatives and Reformists (AECR) in November, Scarante said there is no
doubt that Europe will be in Turkey's future.
The Italian
ambassador underlined that Europe and Turkey have a long shared history and
said, “I can't imagine the future of the country without Europe, because Europe
is in Turkey's past. It's in your present as well.”
“We consider
Turkey European. When Istanbul was a European Capital of Culture, when speaking
about Turkey being part of the European Championship in football, nobody asked
why Turkey was in the championship,” he said.
8. Turkey announced trade figures with EU countries
According to
Ankara Anatolia news agency (10.12.13), Turkey's foreign trade volume with
European Union countries between January and October term increased by 5.5%
compared to the same term last year and reached $126.813 billion, according to
the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
According to the
data released by TurkStat, Turkey's recorded 120.1 billion dollars of trade
with EU countries covered 51.381 billion of which was exportation and 75.431
billion was importation.
Turkey's main
partner country for foreign trade exports was Germany with (30.766 billion Dollars),
Italy (16.154 billion Dollars), England (12.266 billion Dollars), France
(11.868 billion Dollars) and Spain (8.823 billion Dollars).
Export and
Import data in the January and October term with 27 EU countries are:
Country Exports (K $) Imports (K $)
Germany 11.189.581
19.577.237
Italy 5.510.773 10.643.602
England 7.167.331 5.099.413
France 5.221.428 6.647.196
Spain 3.524.518 5.299.149
Netherlands 2.916.632 2.660.988
Belgium 2.107.873 3.169.154
Romania 2.178.696 2.980.705
Greece 1.127.997 3.505.452
Poland 1.679.140 2.618.090
Bulgaria 1.618.470 2.316.900
Czech Republic 622.874 2.092.204
Austria 864.504 1.397.929
Sweden 940.105 1.665.514
Hungary 542.551 1.003.942
Slovakia 360.103 903.541
Finland 224.487 1.031.851
Portugal 490.717 562.073
Denmark 818.819 654.050
Ireland 303.332 680.441
Malta 787.496 65.270
Slovenia 542.330 249.430
Lithuania 307.833 148.982
Estonia 171.686 197.744
Latvia 118.010 151.908
Luxembourg 42.464 108.685
Cyprus 1.493 480
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
