TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 231/13 06.12.13
1. Davutoglu to visit the occupied area of Cyprus on
Dec. 14
2. Three Turkish warships anchored at occupied
Famagusta port to allegedly protect Barbaros Hayrettin Pashaship
3. A press release by the self-styled mfaabout the UN
controlled buffer zone
4. Bagis: not even a hand span of Varosha will be
given for Turkey’s accession to the EU
5. Cicek wants the EU to end the “isolation” of the
Turkish Cypriots
6. US interest on the Cyprus negotiations increased;
Eroglu met with the American Ambassador twice in three weeks
7. Denktas claims that improvements are made to the
Annan Plan which are not for the Turkish Cypriots’ benefit
8. French ambassador to Lefkosia says that France
supports Turkey’s EU bid and the Cyprus problem solution
9. Mungan: We have to implement the economic protocol
10. Opinion poll: 56% of the respondents view
positively Turkey's recognition of the Republic of Cyprus
11. Israeli Minister offers olive branch in first
visit to Turkey in three years
12. Davutoglu set to visit Armenia on Dec. 12
13. Ruling AKP’s Topbas to re-run for Istanbul Mayor
post
14. Socar’s investments in Turkey to reach $20 billion
1. Davutoglu to visit the occupied area of Cyprus
on Dec. 14
According to
Turkish daily YeniSafak (online, 06.12.13), Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu said that he would visit the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
on December 14, after his visit to Athens on previous day.
2. Three Turkish warships anchored at occupied
Famagusta port to allegedly protect Barbaros Hayrettin Pashaship
Turkish
Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper (06.12.13) reports that three Turkish
warships have anchored at occupied Famagusta port in order to allegedly protect
Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha vessel from being attacked. Barbaros is carrying out
seismic explorations for oil and natural gas in the Mediterranean. Citing
information published by KibrisManset news website, HalkinSesi writes that
Goktepe F 494 frigate the P 330 torpedo boat and Inebolu vessel that carries
fuel are docked at occupied Famagusta Port.
Reporters
of KibrisMenset have reportedly observed “a remarkable activity” at the
occupied port. Some army officers told these reporters that their mission in
the protection of Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha seismic explorations vessel. A
non-commissioned officer has reportedly said that they had been at the occupied
port for some time and when they leave, other ships will replace them.
“Barbaros Hayrettin is in the Mediterranean now and we in the port are waiting
for it to carry out explorations”, he noted.
(I/Ts.)
3. A press release by the self-styled mfaabout the
UN controlled buffer zone
According to a
statement issued yesterday (05.12.13) by the self-styled ministry of foreign
affairs of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus,
the “foreign ministry” called on the Cyprus government to respect the status of
the UN Controlled Buffer Zone and to refrain from policies that will raise
tensions.
According to
illegal Bayrak television (05.12.13), the self-styled ministry of foreign
affairs warned the Greek Cypriot farmers, who are planning to go to their
fields at the UN buffer zone that all necessary legal measures will be taken, if
such an attempt would be made.
The statement
also argued that it attaches great importance to the preservation of the
peaceful atmosphere on the island at a time when full-fledged negotiations for
a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem is expected to commence.
It noted that
the rising of tensions in the buffer zone will only serve to harm relations
between the two sides and the political atmosphere on the island.
The statement
also said that the Turkish Cypriot side supports the view that a basis for good
will from both leaders to motivate their peoples for a settlement needed to be
created on the island.
Also voicing its
expectations from the United Nations, the self-styled foreign ministry said
that it expected the UN to take all precautionary measures within its area of
control and jurisdiction in the buffer zone to prevent the escalation of
tensions.
4. Bagis: not even a hand span of Varosha will be
given for Turkey’s accession to the EU
Turkish
Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (06.12.13) reports that EgemenBagis, Turkish EU
Minister and Chief Negotiator, has reiterated that not a hand span of land in
the occupied closed city of Varosha will be given away even for Turkey’s
accession to the European Union (EU). In an interview with Diyalog, Bagis
replied to EU’s calls on Turkey to open its air and seaports for Cypriot
airplanes and vessels. He said: “If aviation companies of European states start
using Tymvou airport, we could also open the ports we have closed to the Greek
Cypriots. We had declared this before…”
Bagis alleged
that Turkey has always been the side which “bared its own neck” for a solution
in Cyprus and added that they will not give even a single hand span of land in
occupied Varosha even for Turkey’s accession to the EU. He alleged that their
main target is to reach a comprehensive and lasting solution and added that
this new opportunity should not be wasted.
Bagis noted that
there was not a concrete plan at the moment in order for being able to talk
about a new referendum in Cyprus.
Bagis said that
“the natural gas which the Greek Cypriots will extract in Eastern
Mediterranean” could be transferred to Europe through Turkey with pipelines
only after the solution of the Cyprus problem. He claimed: “We see both the
water and the explorations for natural gas as elements which could contribute
to the solution in Cyprus, if they are canalized correctly. The energy
(resources) of the Mediterranean should be used for uniting Cyprus not dividing
it”.
Bagis
claimed also that “Turkey and the Turkish side will pursue until the end the
sovereign rights which they have on the island”. He said: “We will not give the
opportunity to those who try to create fait accompli on the island without a
solution”.
(I/Ts.)
5. Cicek wants the EU to end the “isolation” of the
Turkish Cypriots
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (06.12.13) reports that CemilCicek, Speaker of
the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), has argued that the EU’s
draft-regulation, which had been adopted by the Commission with the aim of
ending the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, should be implemented
the soonest and asked from the EU to keep its commitment in this direction.
Addressing the
73th Meeting of the Joint parliamentary Committee between Turkey and the EU at
the TGNA, Cicek alleged that the “TRNC” [Translator’s note: the breakaway
regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] and Turkey as guarantor
power exert every effort they can for a just and comprehensive solution to the
Cyprus problem, “based on bi-zonal equality”. “We want the EU to exert the
necessary pressure on the other side on this issue”, he said.
(I/Ts.)
6. US interest on the Cyprus negotiations
increased; Eroglu met with the American Ambassador twice in three weeks
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (06.12.13) reports that the interest of USA as regards the Cyprus problem increased
and notes that the Ambassador of USA to Lefkosia John Koening met twice in
three weeks with the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu. Last meeting was held
yesterday.
The paper writes
that during yesterday’s meeting held between the two men, no statements were
made; however, a journalist asked the US Ambassador if he is working on the
common declaration to be issued. “Of Course”, Koening replied.
In
addition, citing sources closed to the “presidency”, the paper writes that
Eroglu complained to the US diplomat about Greek Cypriot side’s “intransigents
stance”. According to the same source, the US Ambassador told Eroglu to
continue working towards the issue of the common declaration for a while
longer.
7. Denktas claims that improvements are made to the
Annan Plan which are not for the Turkish Cypriots’ benefit
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (06.12.13) reports that the self-styled deputy
prime minister and minister of economy, tourism, culture and sport,
SerdarDenktas said that a new procedure is launching as regards the Cyprus
negotiations and added that they want a solution that will safeguard their
“identity, rights, equality and sovereignty”.
Denktas made
these statements during a meeting he held with the “Kocaeli Combatant Veterans
Society”, which is visiting the breakaway regime.
Denktas claimed
that a new improved Annan Plan is prepared these days and alleged that the
improvements will not be positive for the Turkish Cypriot side.
He went on and
added that the changes made to the Annan Plan aimed to make the Greek Cypriot
side, which rejected it before, to accept it this time.
8. French ambassador to Lefkosia says that France
supports Turkey’s EU bid and the Cyprus problem solution
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (06.12.13) reports that the French Ambassador to
Lefkosia Jean-Luc Florent sent a letter to the paper replying to a question by
Kibris on questions regarding France’s position to Turkey’s EU bid and the
reunification of Cyprus.
Florent stated that
following the election of Francois Hollande in 2012, his country’sstance on
Turkey’s EU membership changed and noted that France supports Turkey’s EU bid.
Therefore a decision for strengthening Turkey-France relations and cooperation
was taken and France created a new momentum regarding Turkey’s-EU negotiations.
As regards, the
Cyprus problem, Florent said that France’s position did not change and
continues to support a comprehensive solution based on UN Security Council’s
Resolutions.
9. Mungan: We have to implement the economic
protocol
Under the title
“Either the protocol or no salaries”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (06.12.13),
on its front page, reports that the self-styled minister of finance ZerenMungan
announced that they have to implement the economic protocol signed between
Turkey and the occupation regime, otherwise, the money will not come from
Turkey and they won’t be able to pay the salaries.
10. Opinion poll: 56% of the respondents view
positively Turkey's recognition of the Republic of Cyprus
Under the title
“Support for government's foreign policy drops to 25%, survey reveals”, Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (05.12.13) reported that one of the other striking findings
of the poll is that 56% of the respondents positively view Turkey's recognition
of Republic of Cyprus, indicating a change of perception among people in
Turkey. The finding comes as a surprise as the official Turkish stance is
firmly against any move to recognize Cyprus without a viable solution that
contains political reunification of the island.
According to the
paper, only 25% of Turks currently support the government's foreign policy,
compared to 34.7% in 2012, a survey conducted by Kadir Has University indicated
on Thursday.
According to the
research, conducted by Istanbul Kadir Has University to measure the Turkish
people's views on foreign policy issues, 65% of the public consider the Syrian
crisis as the most intractable problem Turkey faces.
For the survey,
1,000 people from 26 provinces were interviewed over the telephone.
11. The Israeli Minister offers olive branch in
first visit to Turkey in three years
According to
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 06.12.13), Israeli Environment
Minister Amir Peretz yesterday offered an olive branch to Turkey during his
visit to Istanbul, saying that the people of both nations are expecting
“reconciliation” from their governments very soon.
Peretz arrived
in Istanbul late on Dec. 4, launching the first visit from an Israeli
government official since the Mavi Marmara raid back in May 2010, which badly
damaged relations between the former allies.
“I believe that
problems between Turkey and Israel will be resolved very soon,” he said while
attending a United Nations conference on pollution in the Mediterranean. “The
people of Israel and the people of Turkey expect their governments to reconcile
as soon as possible.”
Peretz was not
expected to meet his Turkish counterpart during the visit, a Foreign Ministry
official told AFP, stating that it was not an official visit. His trip follows
a visit by an Israeli Foreign Ministry envoy to Istanbul last month for an
energy conference.
12. Davutoglu set to visit Armenia on Dec. 12
According to
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 05.12.13), Turkey’s Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu announced on Dec. 5 that he would be visiting Armenia next
week, marking a first diplomatic push since the protocols between the two
countries signed in 2009 which foresaw the development of relations, including
a decision on opening the borders, was shelved.
Davutoglu said
he accepted Armenia’s invitation to attend a meeting of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) in Yerevan on Dec. 12.
13. Ruling AKP’s Topbas to re-run for Istanbul
Mayor post
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (online, 05.12.13) with the above title reported that
Turkish Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan has announced the current Istanbul
Mayor KadirTopbas as his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate
for Istanbul in the 2014 March local elections. Topbas will run for the post
for the third time. He was first elected mayor in 2004.
European Union
Minister EgemenBagis was speculated to be the AKP’s candidate. Bagis was quick
to congratulate KadirTopbas from his twitter account right after his name was
announced.
14. Socar’s investments in Turkey to reach $20
billion
According to
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 06.12.13), the investment portfolio
of Socar, Azerbaijan’s state-oil company, for Turkey will reach around $20
billion with the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP), Socar Turkey head
KenanYavuz said yesterday, noting that this was the official figure, during a
press meeting at the 3rd Caspian Forum in Istanbul.
Socar’s
investments in petrochemicals, energy and logistics will also enable Turkey and
Azerbaijan to produce oil and natural gas derivative intermediate goods, he
added. Yavuz recalled that Socar was currently the biggest foreign direct
investor in Turkey. Some $475 million was recently transferred to Turkey from
Azerbaijan to finance the forthcoming expenditures in the STAR Refinery, the
most important part of integration investments in the Petkim Peninsula.
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