TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 232/13 07-09.12.13
1. Ertug alleges that there will be a joint statement
if the Greek Cypriot side abandons its “rigid stance”
2. Nami to attend OIC Ministerial meeting in Guinea
3. Yorgancioglu is re-elected CTP’s chairman;
AhmetDerya: AKP is trying to reshape the northern part of Cyprus
4. Verhofstatd: the Turkish Cypriots should be given
the status of observer at the EP
5. TDP wants two Turkish Cypriots to take part at the
European Parliament
6. Contacts of the delegation of self-styled mayors in
Brussels
7. Reactions against Mungan’s statement that they have
to implement the “economic protocol”
8. Siber may be the next Turkish Cypriot leader
9. Taraf to sue PM Erdogan over treason accusations
10. Columnist: Turkey returns to EU as foreign policy
fails
1. Ertug alleges that there will be a joint
statement if the Greek Cypriot side abandons its “rigid stance”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (09.12.13) reports that Osman Ertug, Turkish Cypriot
leader Eroglu’s special representative, has alleged that negotiations could
resume this week and the visits of the representatives of the leaders to Athens
and Ankara could take place in two weeks, if the Greek Cypriot side abandons
its “rigid stance”
Ertug was asked
by Kibris to comment on a statement reportedly made by Foreign Minister
IoannisKasoulides to Turkish Sabah newspaper, according to which the
negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem would start this week
and the visits of the representative to Athens and Ankara would take place
after two weeks.
Ertug said the
following: “The Greek Cypriot side seems to have understood that they could not
continue for a long time the rigid stance they follow until now on the issue of
the joint statement. We will see within a few days if this is true. Our wish is
for these developments to happen within a few days. We, as Turkish Cypriot
side, are the ones who said yes to the unconditional realization of the
negotiations and the visits”.
Ertug alleged
that the Turkish Cypriot side has the right to ask Turkey’s effective
guarantees to be included in the joint statement as a return for Greek Cypriot
side’s insistence on the single sovereignty.
Meanwhile,
Kibris cites information acquired from a “high ranking source”, who wished to
remain anonymous, according to which, “there should be a mistake in the
translation” of the statements made by Minister Kasoulides. “A joint statement
is needed for the resumption of the negotiations”, said the source pointing out
that there is no such a statement yet. The same source is quoted as saying that
the issue of the joint statement “is highly possible to end this week” during
UN Secretary-General’s special adviser, Alexander Downer’s visit to the island.
(I/Ts.)
2. Nami to attend OIC Ministerial meeting in Guinea
According to
illegal Bayrak television (07.12.13), self-styled foreign minister OzdilNami
will be attending the 40th OIC foreign ministerial meeting which will be held
in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, between the 8th and 12th of December. According
to a press release from the self-styled foreign ministry’s public information
office, Nami will be accompanied by his private secretary HuseyinOzel, the
self-styled director of the department for relations with the OIC ArifAtlay and
self-styled 3rd secretary HasanAksoy.
The Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will also be attending the meeting.
3. Yorgancioglu is re-elected CTP’s chairman;
AhmetDerya: AKP is trying to reshape the northern part of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (09.12.13) reports that OzkanYorgancioglu was re-elected
yesterday chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) receiving the support
of 555 out of the 1015 delegates during the voting held at the party’s 24th
Regular Congress in the occupied part of Nicosia. Yorgancioglu’s opponent,
CTP’s general secretary, AsimAkansoy received 442 votes. Eighteen votes were
blank or invalid.
In statements
after his victory, Yorgancioglu said that some persons “cross the line” during
competitions within the parties, but as long as the target is the same,
afterwards everyone continues their way together. “Either we will save this
community all together, or we will remain spectators to its annihilation, to
the weakening of its economic power, to the downgrading of its ability to
administrate itself”, he noted.
The paper writes
that 114 candidates competed for the 40-member council of the party.
Representatives from Turkish Cypriot political parties, as well as
representatives from Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), Peace and
Democracy Party (BDP), Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Peoples’ Democracy
Party (HADEP) attended the congress.
Meanwhile,
addressing the opening of the congress, Yorgancioglu argued that the Turkish
Cypriots could not benefit of their rights deriving from the EU and added that
in order for overcoming the problems in the “country”, the Cyprus problem
should be solved. Arguing that the CTP has given difficult struggles in this
field and noted that they could not get the solution they desire. He said that
their target is to contribute in the solution process during this period they
are in the “government”.
Yorgancioglu
alleged that it is not correct to produce policies only on the so-called
mistakes of the Greek Cypriot side and added that it is necessary to sit at the
table producing alternative policies and “put pressure” on the “unwilling
side”. He said that the solution will bring positive results to both the
Turkish and the Greek Cypriots as well as for peace in the region. He noted that the island is too small to be
divided and big enough to embrace everyone who lives on it.
In his address
at the congress, former chairman of CTP, FerdiSabitSoyer argued that the
process for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem “is being dragged into
deadlock”. He said that the Cyprus problem is an issue which could not be left
to the initiative of the party leaders and added that there is a need for
exerting efforts on this matter. Pointing out to the importance of implementing
confidence building measures, Soyer argued that peace, democracy and justice
are CTP’s principles, which could not be changed whoever is elected in its
leadership.
Moreover, in his
address, AhmetDerya, member of CTP’s party council, said that the CTP had been
“like a communist party” in the first years of its establishment and in spite
of all pressures and threats the members of the CTP were fighting for the
labourers and peace. He said that there is a wish for reshaping the occupied
northern part of Cyprus with policies and programs imposed by the AKP and recalled
that in some of their statements Turkish officials criticize the Turkish
Cypriots.
Derya noted that
Turkey has deliberately turned the Turkish Cypriots into dependants on it. He
added that efforts are exerted to take away from the Turkish Cypriots their
economic values and education and interferences are experienced in their social
life.
Derya said also
that in the Cyprus problem efforts are also exerted to impose the view that
“everyone should go his own way if the problem is not solved”. He noted that
CTP’s duty is to resist against these impositions and added: “Unfortunately, I
see that they are trying to reshape, change the CTP. There is a wish to be
changed into a liberal democrat party, which will be implementing AKP’s
policies. This congress will be a turning point on this issue. I oppose to this
party becoming a liberal democrat party”.
(I/Ts.)
4. Verhofstatd: the Turkish Cypriots should be
given the status of observer at the EP
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (07.12.13) reported that Guy Verhofstatd, President of
the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) at the European
Parliament (EP) has argued that the Turkish Cypriots should at least be
represented at the EP as “observers” until the solution of the Cyprus problem.
In statement to Kibris, he said that his group has for a long time been
positive to the idea of the representation of the Turkish Cypriots.
Verhofstatd
wished a solution to be found to the problem of the representation of the
Turkish Cypriots at the EP before the European elections of 2014 and added that
a development in this direction or even a solution to the Cyprus problem until
the date of the elections would be very pleasing development for them.
He said that his
group has repeatedly proposed the participation of two Turkish Cypriots as
observers in the works of the EP, but this proposal could not find the
necessary support in the EP. He noted that he is not very sure that the most
ideal and preferable development for the Turkish Cypriots could be realized on
this issue. He pointed out that the Turkish Cypriots have the right to vote and
being elected according to the laws of the Republic of Cyprus, but alleged that
he doubts that this alternative “is functional” before a comprehensive solution
to the Cyprus problem.
(I/Ts.)
5. TDP wants two Turkish Cypriots to take part at
the European Parliament
According to
illegal Bayrak television (07.12.13), the leader of the Social Democratic Party
(TDP) CemalOzyigit said that they want two Turkish Cypriots to take their place
at the European Parliament after next year’s elections.
A delegation
headed by Ozyigit paid a visit to the acting director of the European
Parliament’s Cyprus Office Alexandra Attalidou.
Speaking at the
meeting held at the European Parliament’s Cyprus Office in the government
controlled area of Cyprus, the acting director Alexandra Attalidou
congratulated Ozyigit on his recent election as party leader. “We look forward
to promoting the image of the European Parliament within the Turkish Cypriot
Community”, she said, stating that her office was always ready to help
establish contacts between the European Parliament and the Turkish Cypriot
Community.
The EP’s Cyprus
Office Director Alexander Attalidou also expressed the hope that the Turkish
Cypriot community and the TDP will be engaged in next year’s elections at the
European Parliament.
For his part,
the leader of the Social Democratic Party CemalOzyigit said that both the
European Union and the European Parliament was of utmost importance to the
Turkish Cypriots. He expressed the view that the EU should be more involved and
active in the Cyprus negotiations process expressed to gain momentum in the
coming days.
Reminding that
the Greek Cypriots were occupying two seats in the European Parliament
allocated for Turkish Cypriots, Ozyigit conveyed his party’s demand that two
Turkish Cypriots should be participated in the European Parliament as full
members and not as observers. He also asked that Turkish Cypriots be allowed to
elect their own representatives to the European Parliament.
6. Contacts of the delegation of self-styled mayors
in Brussels
Turkish Cypriot
daily (09.12.13) reports that the self-styled mayor of occupied part of
LefkosiaKadriFellahoglu, the self-styled mayor of occupied Famagusta
OktayKayalp, the self-styled mayor of occupied GonyeliAhmetBenli and the
self-styled mayor of occupied MorphouMahmutOzcinar, who were in Brussels for a
series of contacts, met with representatives of the European Parliament,
European Commission and European municipalities.
They met with
the Czech MEP Libor Roucek, the British MEP Chris David, the German MEP Ismail
Ertug and the British MEP Michael Cashman. The paper reports that the EU funded
projects were discussed during the meetings.
The delegation
of the self-styled mayors also met with the head of the European Commission’s
Cyprus desk Michaela di Bucci and her assistant Vincent Rey.
Within the
framework of their contacts with the local administration, they met with the
Mayor of Schaarbeek, Bernard Clerfayt and the deputy mayors SadikKoksal and
SaitKose. They discussed possibilities of cooperation on culture sector.
7. Reactions against Mungan’s statement that they
have to implement the “economic protocol”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Ortam newspaper (07.12.13) reported that Mehmet Harmanci, general
secretary of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), has said that the officials of
the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) had been saying before the “elections” that
they would revise the “economic protocol” signed with Turkey, but now they
changed this view and especially the self-styled minister of finance,
ZerenMungan said recently [Translator’s note: see Turkish Cypriot and Turkish
Media Review of 06 December 2013, item 9] that they would continue implementing
the “protocol”.
Harmanci said,
inter alia, the following: “If the CTP has changed its stance on the issue of
the economic package and decided that it will be literally implemented, it
should share this view with the public. Otherwise, if they continue saying one
thing and do something else, this does not fit into political ethics and it is
a two-faced policy”.
Meanwhile, Ortam
reports that DogusDerya, so-called MP with the CTP, also criticized Mungan on
her Facebook account. She, inter alia, wrote the following referring to Mungan:
“E man, who are you? Or rather, who made you minister? Either you are in the
wrong party or I am! It is enough, honestly!”
Moreover,
according to Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (07.12.13), the chairman of
the United Cyprus Party (BKP) has also criticized Mungan noting that the
latter’s statement “was an announcement of what was known”. Izcan argued that
the CTP- Democratic Party self-styled government “is behaving as a local
organization of the Justice and Development Party (AKP)”.
(I/Ts.)
8. Siber may be the next Turkish Cypriot leader
Under the title
“Will Siberbe the first womanpresident?” Turkish daily Milliyet (08.12.13)
reported that the name of self-styled parliamentary speaker SibelSiber comes
forward regarding the next “presidential elections” that will take place in
2015 in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
According to a
“high rank official”, Sibel is accepted by a large part of the Turkish Cypriot
community and in case she is candidate at the next “elections”, she may be the
first womanTurkish Cypriot leader.
The paper also
reported that Sibel, who recently visited Ankara as quest of Turkey’s Assembly
Speaker CemilCicek, also met with Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul and Turkey’s
PM RecepTayyip Erdogan.
Sibel also got
the majority of votes among the candidates at the “early elections” in July,
and she got “46 votes” at the "assembly" of the breakaway regime from
50 “deputies”, the paper wrote.
9. Taraf to sue PM Erdogan over treason accusations
According to
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 08.12.13), Turkish daily Taraf has
announced that it will file a criminal complaint against Prime Minister
RecepTayyip Erdogan on charges of attempting to influence due process after the
Turkish leader called on the “judiciary to do its duty” against the newspaper
for exposing a plan to eliminate the Gulen movement.
Taraf said
Erdogan had filed a criminal complaint against the daily’s Mehmet Baransu for
leaking secret state documents but then went further by saying “the judiciary
must do its duty” during a meeting.
A lawyer for the
daily, Veysel Ok, will file the criminal complaint this week, the daily said
today. “Erdogan’s words mean ordering prosecutor and judge what to do, and it
is a damage to the judiciary. These are crimes under the Turkish Criminal
Code’s 228th Article,” Ok was quoted as saying by Taraf.
“Revealing state
privacy is not called freedom, it is sheer treason,” Erdogan said, addressing a
crowd in the north-western province of Tekirdag during a mass opening ceremony
on Dec. 7.
The statement
comes a day after prosecutors launched investigations Baransu and Taraf.
Separate criminal complaints were filed by the Prime Ministry, the National
Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the National Security Council (MGK).
On Dec. 7,
Baransu said via Twitter that he found a hidden camera and a receiver in his
apartment. “My source who told me that intelligence officers were following me
warned me of this,” he said.
On the same
issue, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 08.12.13) reported that Hélène
Flautre, the co-chairwoman of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, has
described the launch of an investigation into the Taraf daily and journalist
Mehmet Baransu for publishing records of controversial National Security
Council (MGK) documents as being “scandalous” and “inappropriate,” adding that
she has serious concerns about freedom of the press in Turkey.
“Attacking the
newspaper or the journalist who printed this news [about government profiling
of individuals] is like arresting somebody who runs toward you and reports a
crime. The journalist is told: ‘You are going to jail. It is you who is going
to jail for revealing a crime.' Certainly, this is obviously an inappropriate
situation and is scandalous behaviour. This newspaper reported something for
the public's benefit and it revealed a violation of duty at the end of the
day,” Flautre told the private Cihan news agency in an exclusive interview.
She said the
limits of activities about collecting information about the private lives of
individuals are clearly set by laws and if these laws have been violated, then
there is a need for extensive reform to establish a democratic control
mechanism.
Baransu now
faces charges of acquiring confidential documents crucial to state security,
unveiling information that is forbidden to announce and political and military
espionage. He may face a prison term of up to 43 years for the charges.
The European
parliamentarian said she believes there is a serious censorship imposed on the
Turkish press, which triggers self-censorship.
“As a matter of
fact, when you take the consequences of the publications you make, you began to
be more careful before you print them. This is definitively a worse situation.
There is a need for the establishment of a structure that will clearly
guarantee media freedom in Turkey. Politicians making accusatory statements
about newspapers or journalists are not something that can be seen in
deep-rooted democracies,” Flautre said.
She also said
the launch of an investigation into Taraf and Baransu will definitely come to
the agenda of the European Parliament during the talks on its annual report on
Turkey.
10. Columnist: Turkey returns to EU as foreign
policy fails
Columnist SerkanDemirtas,
writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 09.12.13), reports that
Turkey’s visible pragmatic return to its European Union agenda following a
long-term breeze in ties with Brussels is aiming both to distract attention
from poor foreign policy performance in the Middle East and to utilize the
soon-to-be-signed visa deal with Brussels as part of the ruling party’s
pre-election campaign, according to foreign diplomats.
“You will hear
good news on Dec. 16. Turkey is launching a new process with the EU. You will
hear about it on Dec. 16, I am not disclosing it now. You will be informed
about it when we put our signatures on Dec. 16,” Prime Minister RecepTayyip
Erdogan was quoted as saying by the Anadolu Agency during his Justice and Development
Party’s (AKP) rally in Kirikkale, a town in Thrace, on Dec. 6.
Turkey’s return
to the EU agenda will be enriched by some high-level exchange of visits in
December and January. Among them most importantly is Prime Minister
RecepTayyipErdogan’s projected visit to Brussels in mid-January, nearly four
years after his last journey where he will meet with top EU officials,
President of the European Commission Herman von Rompruy, President of the
European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and President of the European
Parliament Martin Schultz.
French President
François Hollande’s visit to Turkey and Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s
planned visit to Italy, both late January, are also seen very important in this
regard. For his part, Davutoglu will be in Athens on Dec. 13, in an important
visit that comes just before Greece resumption of the EU’s term presidency on
Jan. 1, 2014. Apart from Turkey’s accession process, envisioned unification
talks in Cyprus will also be a very important item during the foreign minister’s
visit.
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