TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 237/13 14-16.12.13
1. Havadis publishes 78-page document that might allegedly be called the
“Ban Ki-moon Plan”
2. Davutoglu’s meeting
with Eroglu in occupied Cyprus
3.
Turkish Cypriot source says the negotiations process is going positively; Nami
comments on Davutoglu’s visit
4. Turkish Cypriot
“official” speaks about a news initiative for Cyprus
5. TDP was not invited at the meeting with Davutoglu
6.
Izcan: Davutoglu, Eroglu, CTP, DP and UBP agreed on a confederation based on
two separate states and two separate sovereignties
7. Denktas commented on the latest developments on the
Cyprus problem
8. CHP’s Logoglu:
Cyprus is not for sale
9. AK Party unveils
all candidates for municipal elections
10. Turkish company to
construct pipeline for ExxonMobil in Iraq
1. Havadis publishes 78-page document that might allegedly be called the
“Ban Ki-moon Plan”
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (16.12.13)
publishes today the first part of a 78-page document, which allegedly
includes the agreements and the convergences between the sides during the
Cyprus talks and might be called as “Ban Ki-moon Plan”. Under the front page
title “Behold the Plan”, Havadis writes that the document has been prepared by
UN officials and includes the “agreements” and “convergences” reached between
former President Christofias with former and current Turkish Cypriot leaders
Talat and Eroglu respectively during the negotiations of the period 2008-2012.
The UN officials formed a “draft plan”, which has been submitted to
the sides, notes the paper adding that according to this “draft”, “big
agreements and convergences” have been achieved on the Governance and Power
Sharing chapter. According to the paper, the presidency in federal Cyprus will
be rotated, there will be a President and a Vice President and the legislative
power will consist of the Senate and the House of Representatives. In case the
Cabinet cannot take a unanimous decision, majority in which one or two votes
from members of the opposite community will be enough.
A deadlock exists on the issue of guarantees, writes Havadis noting
that the Turkish side wants the continuation of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee
and Alliance, while the Greek Cypriot side insists that there is no need for
such agreements and demands the demilitarization of the island within a short
period of time.
Convergence has reportedly been achieved on the basic principles on
the property issue, but debates had been experienced on the number of the Greek
Cypriots who will return under Turkish administration. The UN
Secretary-General’s special adviser, Alexander Downer has reportedly suggested
that the number of the Greek Cypriots who will return under Turkish
administration should influence the percentage of the territory which will be
given back.
An impasse exists also on the territories which will be returned,
writes Havadis, adding that the Greek Cypriot side wants the establishment of a
canton in the Peninsula of Karpasia at the villages of Agios Androkinos,
Gialousa and Rizokarpaso and the return of more land in the plain of Mesaoria. The Turkish side strongly rejects this, notes
the paper pointing out that these disagreements are the reason for which the
territory has been left for the end.
Arguing that this is the first time that
the 78-page “plan” is published in the press, Havadis announces that tomorrow
it will publish the map which has been formed upon the demand of the Greek
Cypriot side as a result of the bargaining between the sides on the territory
and property issues.
(I/Ts.)
2. Davutoglu’s
meeting with Eroglu in occupied Cyprus
Ankara Anatolia news agency (14.12.13) reports
that Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu stated that the current
"positive psychological atmosphere" is favorable to find a solution
for the Cyprus problem. He made these statements speaking at a press conference
after a meeting he had with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in occupied Lefkosıa.
Davutoglu said that a serious psychological
atmosphere now exists in the international community for a permanent peace
regarding Cyprus. He said that Turkey always takes sides with the breakaway
regime,and he expressed his hope for a new future vision to develop so as to
bring peace and tranquility both to the Island and to the wider Eastern
Mediterranean region.
“The faith, welfare, stability and tranquility
of the Turkish Cypriots are prerequisite for Turkey. […] Turkey and TRNC always
show goodwill for a solution based on a two-state and two-community that have
equal status, hoping the Greek Cypriot side, especially following the election
of Nikos Anastasiadis as its President, and the related developments would add
positively to the efforts of the UN within this regard”, he stated. On his part
Eroglu, said: “No solution has yet been
achieved on Cyprus; but we continue to seek an agreement with the best of our
goodwill'."
Ankara Anatolia also reports that addressing
Turkish Cypriots Davutoglu said the following: “We will give all the support you
need for the peace you want. […] There is commonsense and common approach
regarding the negotiations process in the TRNC and this is a great richness of
the TRNC. Peace parameters in Cyprus are clear and everybody should approach
those parameters with commonsense”, he stated.
Referring to a project that aims bringing water
from Anatolia to occupied Cyprus, Davutoglu alleged that everybody will once more see that the fates of
Anatolia and Cypriot Turks are same and then gave a message to President
Anastasiadis, saying: “Now is the time of political will”. Davutoglu also alleged that Turkish Cypriots will
never yield to isolations and he was happy to have seen this will in Cyprus and
in “President” Eroglu in person.
On his part, Eroglu alleged that president Anastasiadis was trying to buy time with a
“common declaration game” and Greek Cypriots block the declaration and the
restart of negotiations.
Davutoglu later on visited so-called parliament
speaker Sibel Siber and allegedthat “they (the Turkish government) are proud of
the active democracy in the TRNC” Siber
for her part said that “Turkish Cypriots have a small but dynamic democracy and
they are also proud of it”.
Ahmet Davutoglu also came together with UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s special Cyprus envoy Alexander Downer at so-called
Turkey’s Lefkosia embassy. “We have exchanged views with Downer in a
constructive manner”, Davutoglu said on his meeting with Downer."
Ankara Anatolia also reports (15.12.13) that Davutoglu
spoke to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss the recent
developments in the Cyrus talks upon returning from occupied Cyprus.
Anadolu Agency reported that the phone
conversation between Davutoglu and the U.N. secretary-general focused mainly on
the current state of negotiations. Davutoglu also had a phone conversation with
his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos.
In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes
newspaper (16.12.13) writes that during his visit in occupied Cyprus Davutoglu
also held meetings with the self-styled foreign Minister Ozdil Nami and “prime
minister” Ozkan Yorgancioglu. He also met with the chairman of the National
Unity Party Huseyin Ozgurgun.
3. Turkish
Cypriot source says the negotiations process is going positively; Nami comments
on Davutoglu’s visit
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (16.12.13)
reports that a Turkish Cypriot high ranking source argued that only the
approval of the Greek Cypriot side remained for the “joint statement” which
“has been turned into sine qua non for the commencement of the negotiations”
for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. “We think that the process is
going positively”, the source told Kibris adding:
“The Turkish side believes that the process has come to its final
stage and not that it has been dynamited, as Greek Cypriot administration’s
Spokesman Christos Stylianides said. If Mr President Dervis Eroglu has invited
all circles, the opposition and the government, to the evaluation meeting held
with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu, it would not be
wrong to say that this is already a final point. The ball is definitely in
Greek Cypriot side’s field and our side fully believes that the text of the
joint statement is ready”.
The same source said that the text of the joint statement is “very
different’ than the previous texts and added that the texts until now had not
entered into so many details. “It will almost be like a plan. We believe that
there is no reason for the Greek Cypriot side not to accept it”, the source
argued alleging that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side are ready for a
solution and fully believe that “the final stage has come”.
Meanwhile, Kibris (16.12.13) reports also that Ozdil Nami,
self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, has evaluated the messages given by Turkish Foreign
Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu during his recent illegal visit to the occupied area
of Cyprus. Nami alleged that the Greek Cypriot side should exhibit good will
and the issue of the joint statement should end the soonest.
Nami argued that Davutoglu expressed a
strong support to the continuation of the negotiations and added: “Turkey’s
support strengthen us a lot at the table”. He went on and said that “very
important convergences” have been reached until today during the negotiating
process and added that in case an intensive process started focused on the
issues that remained open, a new comprehensive solution plan could emerge
within months, not years. This will be a Cypriot plan, not a plan imposed by
outside, he said.
(I/Ts.)
4. Turkish Cypriot
“official” speaks about a news initiative for Cyprus
Today's Zaman Online (15.12.13) reports that a
“senior Turkish Cypriot official”, who spoke on condition of anonymity to the
paper, stated that the new initiative for Cyprus proposes a single representation
in international platforms but joint sovereignty on the island that includes
the rights of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots: “With this formula, both sides will have equal
rights and no side will have hegemony over the other side,” the official told
Today's Zaman.
When asked whether the proposal was in the
interest of the breakaway regime,he replied that it depends on how the
initiative would be implemented. “It is not a proposal that would satisfy a
single side; however, it is a ‘proposal of consensus.' I hope this proposal
will be accepted by the Greek side,” he said.
He added that “if the Turkish plan fails due to
the Greek side's rejection, the UN will put another plan into action”.
“Currently, there are other formulas in
Downer's mind. However, we have proposed this new formula now, to show our
willingness to solve the matter. But if our proposal is rejected, Downer's plan
will be brought to the agenda. This is our last bona fide proposal. We will not
go beyond this,” he said.
5. TDP
was not invited at the meeting with Davutoglu
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (16.12.13),
under the title “The scenario was written by AKP and Turkey’s embassy” reports
that the chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), Cemal Ozyigit, referring
to the fact that the TDP had not been invited in the last two meetings
regarding the Cyprus problem, said that everything has disclosed and this is a
part of a written scenario. The scenario has been written by the self-styled
Turkish embassy to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP).
In a written statement, Ozyigit said that
the TDP was not invited again in a meeting that occurred few days ago with the
excuse from Eroglu’s office that “things happened very quickly and we could not
inform you”. Ozyigit, stressed that TDP was not invited, because it fights for
the existence of the Turkish Cypriots, for permanent peace and not for
sovereign interests like someone else, accusing the Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu and self-styled deputy prime minister and minister of foreign
affairs Serdar Denktas.
On the same issue, so-called deputies with
the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) Asim Akansoy and Dogus
Derya reacted to this incident with criticisms on the Facebook. Both of them
said that it was an acceptable and the inclusion of all partied in the process
is a condition. Neither the New Cyprus Party (YKP) not the United Cyprus Party
(BKP) were invited to the meetings.
Akansoy, in his Facebook account, wrote
that he condemns the fact that the TDP, which is a sincere and constructive
political party regarding the Cyprus talks, was not invited at the meeting with
the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as well at the briefing meeting by
Eroglu few days earlier.
Derya, in her Facebook account, wrote:
“Important developments regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem happen.
Taking into account at this process the views of all the political parties, who
fight for years for peace, as well inviting them at these meetings, is a
condition. Not inviting TDP is unacceptable”.
6. Izcan:
Davutoglu, Eroglu, CTP, DP and UBP agreed on a confederation based on two
separate states and two separate sovereignties
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (16.12.13)
reports that Izzet Izcan, chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), has said
that during the recent illegal visit of Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet
Davutoglu to the occupied area of Cyprus, Davutoglu, the Turkish Cypriot leader
Eroglu, and officials from the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG),
the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Democratic Party (DP) reached an
agreement on a confederation in Cyprus based on two separate states and two
separate sovereignties.
In a written statement issued yesterday, Izcan criticized the fact
that the BKP and the other pro-solution political forces had been excluded from
the above-mentioned meeting and noted that the agreement reached during that
meeting “does not bind the Turkish Cypriot community, but only the AKP and its
collaborators”.
Izcan pointed out that the Turkish side, which insists on two
separate states and sovereignties, is not sincere when it talks about the
solution of the Cyprus problem and it “plays a game aiming at misleading and
blowing up the solution process”.
Izcan noted that the BKP supports a united
federal Cyprus, which has single and inseparable sovereignty that derives from
the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. “Mr Davutoglu cannot talk on
behalf of the Turkish Cypriot community. He cannot make proposals on behalf of
the Turkish Cypriot community”, he added.
(I/Ts.)
7. Denktas commented on the latest developments on
the Cyprus problem
According to
Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis (16.12.13), leader of the Democratic Party (DP)
Serdar Denktas – self-styled deputy prime minister and minister of economy,
tourism, culture and sports – speaking at his party congress, said that new
developments on the Cyprus problem came into the agenda with the visit of
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. He added that everything has been
cooked but they don’t know what exactly has been cooked. He noted that when he
finds out. He will set out to the streets and brief them, adding that an
improved Annan plan will be submitted for referendum. He stressed that in any case an improved
Annan plan would not be improved in order to raise the votes of the Turkish
Cypriots from 64% to 70%. He argued that
there would be an initiative of changing the no votes of the Greek Cypriots
from 70% to 51% yes vote.
8. CHP’s Logoglu:
Cyprus is not for sale
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(14.12.13) reports that the deputy chairman of the Republican Turkish Party
(CHP) Faruk Logoglu called on Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu not to
sell away the interests of Turkey and the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and
noted: Cyprus is not for sale.
Logoglu who issued a written statement
regarding the recent developments of the Cyprus problem, said that Turkey and
the breakaway regime must exhibit a principled stand that will safeguard the
rights and interest of Turkey and the breakaway regime.
He went on and added that the policy that the
Justice and Development Party (AKP) follows are dangerous and can harm “our
Cyprus cause which is a national cause”, as he stated.
9. AK Party unveils all candidates for municipal elections
Turkish daily Today's Zaman Online (15.12.13) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced all 81 candidates under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for the municipal elections slated for March of next year.
Out of the incumbent 47 AK Party mayors, 21
will not run again and have been replaced with new candidates. The only female
candidate is current Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Sahin, who will
run for mayor of the southern province of Gaziantep.
The average age of the candidates is 50. The
candidates' level of education is very high; many of the 81 people selected are
engineers, lawyers and doctors. The AK Party is looking to keep its current
mayors in Istanbul (Kadir Topbas) and Ankara (Melih Gokcek). Tight competition
is expected between Topbas and Mustafa SarıGul, who is expected to run as the
Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate for the same post. There has been
speculation that SarıGul, deemed a strong opponent for Topbas, is likely to unseat
the incumbent mayor, according to recent media reports.
The AK Party made a major move in the Aegean
province of Izmir by naming as candidate current Transportation Minister Binali
Yildirim. Izmir has long been regarded as a bastion of the main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) and the AK Party candidate is expected to
intensify the competition.
There are currently 34 cities not governed by
AK Party mayors; the AK Party will endeavor to change this by putting up new
candidates.
10. Turkish company
to construct pipeline for ExxonMobil in Iraq
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (14.12.13) reports that Turkish construction firm EİD İnsaat is to build a 120-km-long pipeline for ExxonMobil in Iraq for $90 million, a project that is expected to be completed in one year.
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (14.12.13) reports that Turkish construction firm EİD İnsaat is to build a 120-km-long pipeline for ExxonMobil in Iraq for $90 million, a project that is expected to be completed in one year.
"This is a privilege to carry out a
project for ExxonMobil that ranked second in energy sector of the world. We won
the project with our foreign partner. We completed the contract and technical
procedures. There is also an 85-km-long pipeline project under construction.
The two pipelines will be more 200 km-long," Chairman Bora Can Yildiz has
said.
Yildiz stated that the pipeline was an advanced
engineering project that was used for drilling oil via high water pressure.
The Iraqi market accounts for 70 percent of the
business volume of EİD İnsaat, which has operations in the energy and
construction sectors in the Middle East and Russia. The company had carried out
other projects such as airports and industrial facilities in Iraq jointly with
American, Canadian and European companies, he said, adding that they were
currently working on a project worth $250 million in South Iraq and Basra.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
