TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 238/13 17.12.13
1.
Draft joint statement: Sovereignty springs from two “peoples”
2. Nami: Support of Turkey makes us very strong at the
table of negotiation
3.
Havadis publishes the map of the “Ban Ki-moon plan”
4. Self-styled
presidency denies Havadis’ publication:
“There is neither a map, nor a new plan”
5. Davutoglu supported
his Cyprus policy in front of the Turkish assembly
6. The political parties evaluated the illegal visit of
Eroglu
7. Two Turkish Cypriot
parties participated in the 4th Ordinary Congress of the European
Left Party
8. Kutlay Erk was
re-elected general secretary of CTP-Sonya remains to his post
9. Turkey, EU sign
readmission agreement to facilitate Visa-free travel to EU countries
10. AK Party deputy
Hakan Sukur resigns due to friction over prep schools
1. Draft joint statement: Sovereignty springs from
two “peoples”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (17.12.13) reports that a draft of a proposed joint statement that
would enable the resumption of Cyprus reunification talks, was recently
submitted to both sides and appears to have important details on the issue of
sovereignty.
According to
information obtained by the paper, the draft document suggests that a reunified
Cyprus would have the status of a single state internationally. It will be
represented with one seat at the UN and will be bicommunal and bizonal with
single international identity and single sovereignty.
The draft
document defines that the sovereignty of the state, which would be established,
will derive from two “peoples”, and the one side would not be able to dominate
the other side.
On the issue of
citizenship, there would be a single federal citizenship; however, the
constituent states will also be able to confer citizenship.
On the issue of
authorities, that will be left to the constituent states.
The paper also
reports that the draft joint statement was discussed Saturday by Turkish
Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, the so-called coalition government, the main
opposition party and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu who paid an
illegal visit to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Given that the
report to extend UNFICYP’s mandate will be issued at the end of January, it is
estimated that Cyprus peace talks may resume in the middle of January, the
paper reports.
The paper quotes
diplomatic sources as saying that in case there’s no progress on the joint
statement and that the impasse cannot be overcome, the Turkish Cypriot side and
the UN may come up with different alternatives.
2. Nami: Support of Turkey makes us very strong at
the table of negotiation
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (17.12.13) reports that self-styled foreign affairs minister Ozdil
Nami evaluated the messages given by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
during his illegal visit at the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and the
joint statement. Claiming that Davutoglu
supported the continuation of the negotiation process, Nami said: “Support of
Turkey makes us very strong at the table of negotiation”.
According to a
press release issued by his “office”, argued that the joint statement is coming
out very soon, claiming that the Greek Cypriot side should also display a
constructive attitude and the joint statement should be finalized as soon as
possible.
He added: “I
think we are very close to the joint statement, however, the Greek Cypriot continue
to make negative statements. He added that both Greek Cypriot leader
Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu have important share of the
meetings carried out by representatives.
Nami also said
that the efforts regarding the joint statement have taken more time than the
expected, as a result the month March, which was the target, has to be moved.
Noting that very
important convergences have been achieved at the negotiations until today, Nami
said that if the other untouched issues were to be focused after today and if
the negotiations were intensified, then it would be possible to prepare a new
comprehensive solution plan even in months not in years. Nami also said that
this plan would be the solution plan of Cypriots not a plan imposed by outsiders.
3. Havadis publishes the map of the “Ban Ki-moon
plan”
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (17.12.13)
publishes today the map 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 “A
new map, bizonal”, 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.
According to the paper, during the
negotiations, the Greek Cypriot side demanded the return of two new
territories, which were different from the Annan plan. The first territory is
to form a canton at the area of Karpasia, including the villages of Agios
Andronikos and Yiallousa. The second territory is more land at the Mesaoria
area. According to the paper, there was a consensus on the return territory.
4. Self-styled
presidency denies Havadis’ publication:
“There is neither a map, nor a new plan”
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper
(17.12.13) reports that the “presidency” of the breakaway regime issued a
statement in which the reports about a new plan and a new map as regards the
Cyprus problem are denied. The reports were published yesterday in Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis.
According to the statement, the text presented
by the paper is not plan report prepared by United Nations, but a text prepared
by Alexander Downer and his team regarding the rapprochement between of the two
sides between 2008-12. In addition it is noted that this text was published
under the title “rapprochement”, eight months ago by a Greek Cypriot internet
side.
5. Davutoglu
supported his Cyprus policy in front of the Turkish assembly
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(17.12.13) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglustated that a
lot of efforts were exerted for the recognition of the breakaway regime and
said that a “state” must stand on its on feed before is recognized by the
international community.
Davutoglu made these statements during the
debates on the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s budget for the 2014 fiscal year at the
Turkish assembly, where he referred to the Cyprus problem.
Davutoglu said that Turkey and the Turkish
Cypriot side worked trying to safeguard the right of the Cyprus cause and to
protect the “people” by showing determination for the negotiations’ continuation
and by using a global language. He went on and added that prior to 2004
Burgenstock meeting, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side were kept in the corner,
but during the last ten years they are forcing the other side to come to the
negotiation table.
He went on and added that Turkey’s approach is
to make the “people” of the breakaway regime to feel strong and confident
adding that this is the biggest strength as regards the negotiations. He also
alleged that in negotiations of today the Turkish side is in the best rightful
position than ever.
He also said that the recognition of the
breakaway regime is important as well as it is to made make it voice heard in
the world and added that it has 20 “representation offices” and that the 21st is about to be
opened.
6. The political parties evaluated the illegal
visit of Eroglu
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (17.12.13) reports that the political parties represented in the
so-called assembly, evaluated the messages regarding the Cyprus problem that
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu gave during his illegal visit at the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Serdar Denktas,
leader of the Democratic Party (DP), evaluated Davutoglu’s contacts as
important. He noted that during the meeting they had with Davutoglu, the
consensus of view on the issue of “we continue the path with the approach focus
on the solution” was confirmed.
Noting that some
concessions were given on the issue of the joint statement, Davutoglu said that
despite the concessions, the negotiations can start, and they will continue to
support the negotiation process.
Sunat Atun,
general secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP), described the visit of
Davutoglu to the occupied area of Cyprus as extremely positive, adding that the
visit, in a period that Anastasiades tries to play with time, is extremely
beneficial towards the encouragement of the process.
Noting that the
strategic followed by the Turkish Cypriot side on the negotiation table is
found positive by the motherland is an important message, Atun claimed that
during the illegal visit, it appeared once more that the Turkish Cypriot side
is the sincere side for the solution.
Cemal Ozyigit,
leader of the Social Democrat Party (TDP), said that Davutoglu’s statement that
“there is no obstacle for the joint statement” is positive and he wished that
the joint statement would be announced and the negotiations will resume. He
repeated that his party was the only party from the parties represented in the
“assembly”, which was not invited during the meeting with Davutoglu.
7. Two Turkish
Cypriot parties participated in the 4th Ordinary Congress of the
European Left Party
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(17.12.13) reports that United Cyprus Party (BKP) participated in the 4th
Ordinary Congress of the European Left Party held in Madrid, Spain between
13-15 of December.
The paper writes that Salih Sonustun,
BKP’sforeign secretary represented the party in the congress and held meetings.
Speaking during the congress, Sonustun said
that imperialists are trying to put Cyprus under their control due to its
natural wealth. He also called on
European Left Party to undertake initiative for the solution of the
Cyprus problem.
In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika
newspaper (17.12.13) reports that the New Cyprus Party (YKP) also participated
in the congress. In a speech he delivered in the congress the chairman of YKP
accused Turkey of destroying the democratic structure of occupied Cyprus.
8. Kutlay Erk was
re-elected general secretary of CTP-Sonya remains to his post
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(17.12.13) reports that Kutlay Erk was elected general secretary of the
Republican Turkish Party (CTP).
In addition, the problems existed to Democratic
Party (DP) as regards the party’s general secretary Bengu Sonya came to an end
since DP decided against dismissing Sonya from his post.
9. Turkey, EU sign
readmission agreement to facilitate Visa-free travel to EU countries
Ankara Anatolia news agency (16.12.13) reports
that Turkey and the European Union (EU) signed the Readmission Agreement on
Monday that will allow Turkish citizens to enjoy visa-free travel to European
countries.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
stressed that Turkey would not be a burden to the EU, but it would take the
burden off the EU countries with the agreement that will allow the return of
the citizens of non-member countries that travel to Europe illegally.
"Nobody should be worried when visas are
lifted with the EU. We are not coming to be a burden, we are coming to take the
burden off" said Erdogan.
Talks on the readmission agreement which allows
the return of illegal immigrants has been stalled for years, largely due to
Turkish distrust over the EU's willingness to ease visa rules.
10. AK Party deputy
Hakan Sukur resigns due to friction over prep schools
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper
(17.12.13) reports that Hakan Sukur a
Turkish member of Parliament and former international football player, quit
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) on Monday in protest at a government plan to shut down prep schools,
revealing underlying intra-party squabbles.
The resignation came after Sukur expressed his
objection to a government proposal to shut down prep schools, which help
students prepare for university and high school admission exams. He said he was
personally offended by what he called "hostile moves" against the
Hizmet movement led by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen.
“The Hizmet movement has helped Erdogan's
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) win a growing share of the vote in
three successive elections over the past decade”, Today’s Zaman writes.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
