17/12/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW




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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