TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 01/14 01-02.01.14
2. Cavusoglu: Greece supports Turkey’s EU accession course in spite of the
Cyprus problem
3. Islamic education quietly spreads in the occupied area of Cyprus with
Turkey’s support
4. Columnist assesses Eroglu’s role in the “crisis” within the CTP-DP self-styled
government
5.
Yildiz: Barbaros continues explorations in the Mediterranean outside the
disputable areas
6. Erdogan promises EU talks will speed up in 2014
7. Turkish President Gul urges respect for rule of law
8. Suspicious of arms shipment, theTurkish army stops truck bound for Syria
9. Another AK Party Deputy, Hami Yildirim, resigns in protest
10. Turkey hopeful of ties with EU during Greek
presidency, High-level visits early 2014
11. Erdogan to tour East Asian countries in first days
of 2014
12.Erdogan sues Today's Zaman journalist over critical
tweets
13. Senior AK Party member admits profiling of
citizens in government, private sector
14. Pro-Kurdish parties call for independence
1. Eroglu: We wish 2014 to bring an agreement based on the existing
realities on the island
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.01.14)
reported that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis
Eroglu has alleged that no progress for an agreement on the Cyprus problem
was achieved in 2013 because of what he alleged as “negative stance” of the
Greek Cypriotsandwished for the Greek
Cypriots to revise their stance and 2014 to bring an agreement based on the
existing realities on the island.
In a message for the New Year, Eroglu referred to the Cyprus problem
and claimed that the Greek Cypriots
submit such views that will eliminate Turkish Cypriot “people’s” rights. He
went on and alleged:
“We wish for our Greek
Cypriot neighbours to revise their stance and 2014 to bring with it an
agreement based on the existing realities on the island. As I have said
many times, we have the necessary will for an agreement, which will be
protecting our rights. Our Greek Cypriot neighbours should know that the Turkish Cypriot people will never
accept to return to the pre-1974 period. Even in the conditions of 1963,
the Turkish Cypriot people did not give concessions from their sovereignty,
their freedom. Now, when they are under the roof of a state and the guarantee
of motherland Turkey, they will
absolutely not make any concession…”
Eroglu alleged that no one should try to
deceive the Turkish Cypriots that all their problems will cease to exist with a
solution to the Cyprus problem or that the reason of their problems is the
Cyprus issue.
(I/Ts.)
2. Cavusoglu: Greece supports Turkey’s EU accession course in spite of the
Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.01.14)
reported that the newly appointed Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator, Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that Greece has
from the very beginning been supporting Turkey’s EU accession course in spite
of the existence of the Cyprus problem.
In statements during a meeting with Lithuania’s Ambassador to
Ankara, Kestutis Kudzmanas, Cavusoglu referred to the Greek Presidency of the
Council of the EU and said:
“As you know there have been positive relations based on mutual
trust in our bilateral relations with Greece. We have signed many agreements
during the past few years. Especially during the recent visit of the Greek
Prime Minister in Istanbul. Not only we, but all the EU states know the support offered from the very beginning by
Greece to Turkey’s EU accession process, in spite of the existence of the
Cyprus problem. For this reason,
during the Greek term presidency, the relations between Turkey and the EU and
Turkey and Greece will develop in a more positive climate”.
He also thanked the Lithuanian Ambassador
for the fact that one chapter in Turkey’s negotiations with the EU opened
during his country’s term presidency and added that Turkey expects more chapters to open during the Greek term presidency
and afterwards. “In this manner we could gain a new acceleration for the
relations between Turkey and the EU”, he noted.
(I/Ts.)
3. Islamic education quietly spreads in the occupied area of Cyprus with
Turkey’s support
Under the title “Is there a new ‘theological’ crisis”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (02.01.14) reports that the foundations of the building of a primary school belonging to
“Adabilim Educational Foundation” has quietly been laid some weeks ago in
occupied Famagusta area. The construction of this private school has
started on the old road between occupied Famagusta and Nicosia, writes the
paper adding that the chairman of the
foundation’s board of trustees is Sunalp Turkel, vice president of the Turkish
Cypriot Businessmen’s Council and director of Turkish Yeni Safak
newspaper.
In statements made to Yeni Duzen, the self-styled minister of education, Mustafa Arabacioglu said that no
application has been submitted to his “ministry” for granting any “license”.
It is noted that the so-called embassy
of Turkey in the occupied area of Nicosia has financially contributed in the
connection of the plot of land on which the school will be built with the main
road. Problems had been experienced on this issue and these have been solved with
theallotmentof a vacant plot of land to the foundation.
According to Yeni Duzen, well-known [Turkish] Cypriots are included
among the founding members of the above-mentioned foundation, for which not
much information could be found on the internet. A source from Turkey told the
paper, that Adabilim schools belong to the
SBK Education and Commerce Joint Stock Company, the headquarters of which are
based in Konya. The president of the administrative council of the schools
is a person named Durmus Aydogmus.
It is said that the foundation in the
occupied area of Cyprus has direct relation with Adabilim schools, which
include primary and secondary schools as well as lyceums. According to Yeni
Duzen, the target of these schools is to
“breed idealist generations” by offering lessons of “education on values”,
Koran, the life of Mohammed and basic knowledge on religion. The English,
Arabic and Ottoman languages are taught in these schools.
(I/Ts.)
4. Columnist assesses Eroglu’s role in the “crisis” within the CTP-DP
self-styled government
Writing in his column in Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (02.01.14), Sami
Ozuslu refers to Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu’s role in the problems within
the “coalition government” of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces
(CTP-BG) and the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG). He reports
that it is much more difficult to maintain “coalition governments” in “abnormal
countries”, as he describes the occupied area of Cyprus, because “there are
many interfering and mischief-makers”. Ozuslu goes on and says, inter alia, the
following:
“…It is known that the
‘permanent coalition partner of the government’ in the TRNC is Turkey’s Aid
Delegation and the Turkish Embassy to Nicosia. It knows and says something on
every issue.
Even though now it is sensed less, the ‘army’ also participates in the decision making and executing
processes of the governments…
It is being seen that the
presidential palace has an influence in many problems and crises, which the
CTP-DP government is experiencing. President Eroglu has not signed some
appointments that he did not want at the public service commission. He did not
approve the name submitted by the government for the post of the director of
the police. He did not openly took a
side in the debate regarding the temporary employees, but it is a secret known
by everyone that Eroglu interfered in this issue through the UG wing within the
DP [Translator’s note: by ‘UG wing’ the columnist means the members of the
National Unity Party who joined the DP which afterwards was named DP-National
Forces (DP-UG)].
It is highly possible that this kind of crises will continue. Eroglu has taken the control in the UBP,
which he ‘saved’ from Irsen Kucuk. He intends of becoming the ‘secret leader’
in the DP through the ‘UG’ members. Bengu Sonya and other high ranking DP
officials are annoyed by this situation, but Serdar Denktas gives the image that he is engaged with Eroglu.
It is highly possible that
bigger crises will come up in the government by creating ‘a pretext’ on ‘an
appropriate moment’ especially in the Cyprus problem. What was experienced during
Ahmet Davutoglu’s visit to Cyprus is a clue for this.
Because Eroglu’s intention is to bring more closer the UBP and the DP until the
presidential election is in April 2015, to keep the control in both parties
in his hands, to force them to create alliances in the local elections which
will be held in June this year and thus create the appropriate ground for him
for next year…”
(I/Ts.)
5. Yildiz:
Barbaros continues explorations in the Mediterranean outside the disputable
areas
Turkish Cypriot illegal Bayrak television
(02.01.14, online) broadcast that the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources, Taner Yildiz has said that
the Turkish Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha vessel is in the Mediterranean Sea and
argued that it continues its seismic explorations outside the disputable areas.
Yildiz gave a press conference evaluating the work of his Ministry in 2013 and
announcing their targets for 2014.
Replying to a question regarding the explorations for oil and
natural gas in the Mediterranean, Yildiz wished
for the oil and natural gas in the Mediterranean to become “a pretext for
peace”.
He said: “I believe that a development in this manner will happen in
2014. Therefore, I have to say that our
first preference both technically and politically is not to be in disputable
areas when is not compulsory especially in 2014”.
Yildiz noted that the vessel
is in the Mediterranean and continues its work outside the disputable areas. He
went on and claimed: “Of course, we have
to build a structure [political] in which the gas in both Israel and in South
Cyprus Local Administration to belong to the whole of Cyprus. We are
exhibiting a consistent stance. As we say that the oil which is extracted in any
area of Iraq belongs to the whole of Iraq, we say that the oil and natural gas
which is extracted at any place of Cyprus belongs to the entire Cyprus”.
Noting that we have to be constructive in
2014, Yildiz added: “We are seeing
positive statements in South Cyprus Local Administration. I have to say that a
positive response in the same manner is given by our side to these positive
statements. We have to realize any energy value to be created in Cyprus by
sharing it in a just manner and establishing its political feasibility. I wish
for 2014 to be a year of gain in this sense”.
(I/Ts.)
6. Erdogan promises EU talks will speed up in 2014
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman (01.01.14) reported that Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that his government will accelerate
a reform process and its stalled bid to join the EU in 2014. He made these
statements in a New Year's Eve speech which was dedicated mainly to the Gezi
Park protests and a massive corruption investigation, which Erdogan termed as
foreign plots to weaken Turkey.
“As the attempts
[to establish a system] of tutelage get weaker, Turkey's will to carry out
reforms gets stronger,” Erdogan said in the pre-recorded speech broadcast on
television channels on Tuesday evening. “2014
will be a year in which full membership talks with the EU and the
democratization reforms will speed up. Political institutions' capacity to
carry out reforms will increase in an atmosphere in which policies of fear,
intimidation and abuse are dispensed with.”, he stated.
7. Turkish President Gul urges respect for rule of
law
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (01.01.14) reported that political uncertainty and rising
risks in Turkey have moved President
Abdullah Gul to use his traditional New Year's message to call for the utmost
attention to respect for the rule of law for the sake of the country's future
generations.
"We are a
country which has been integrated with the world, which has harmonized with the
European Union acquis to a considerable extent, which has become a center of
attraction of investors and where capital flows liberally. In such a country,
stability, trust and confidence in the future are determining factors," Gul
said in a message posted on the official website of the Presidency of the
Republic of Turkey.
8. Suspicious of arms shipment, the Turkish army
stops truck bound for Syria
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman (01.01.14) reported that Turkish
military personell reportedly discovered weapons and ammunition after pursuing
a truck bound for Syria in the southern province of Hatay on Wednesday.
Acting on a tip,
gendarmes stopped a truck that allegedly belongs to an aid organization on a
road between Kırıkhan and Reyhanlı near the Syrian border.A significant amount
of ammunition and weapons were discovered, according to local reports.
When news reports appeared in the media, the
Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH) strongly rejected any link to the seized
truck in a written statement. The İHH said it has
nothing to do with the truck. Launching a massive relief campaign on the same
day, the İHH has sent dozens of trucks loaded with food, blankets and basic
goods that are desperately needed for the displaced Syrian civilians battling
tough winter conditions in makeshift camps in the Syrian side of the border.
9. Another AK Party Deputy, Hami Yildirim, resigns
in protest
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman (31.12.13 ) reported that
another Deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Hasan
Hami Yildirim, has resigned from his party in protest of the graft scandal.
Yildirim, the
party's Burdur Deputy, announced his resignation in a press conference on
Tuesday. With Yildirim's resignation,
the number of AK Party seats in the Parliament group dropped from 327 to 320 in
two months and the number of independent lawmakers rose to 12. Yildirim
slammed what he called a campaign of “insults” and “defamation” against Turkish
Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen and the Hizmet movement, criticizing the
government's description of Hizmet as a “gang.”
Three Deputies
-- Erdal Kalkan, Ertugrul Gunay and Haluk Ozdalga -- left the party on Friday,
continuing a string of resignations that started in November and has reached
seven Deputies. Earlier this week, former Interior Minister İdris Naim Sahin “jumped
ship” as well, citing disagreements over a number of issues, including the
party's stance of the recent corruption scandal.
10. Turkey hopeful of ties with EU during Greek
presidency,High-level visits early 2014
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (01.01.14) reported that
the momentum provided in ties with the European Union thanks to the
commencement of visa exemption talks and the opening of a chapter after three
years could be further boosted during the Greek and Italian term presidencies
in 2014, the Turkish government believes, although it sees a slimmer chance for
a breakthrough on Cyprus.
"We are hopeful about the Greek presidency.
Greece has been supporting the Turkish accession to the EU for a long time. We
have already expressed our expectations to Greece for the opening of more
chapters and for accelerating the negotiation process," a senior Foreign Ministry official told the
Hurriyet Daily News.
"The
momentum gained in recent weeks should be continued with the opening of more
chapters. We should avoid another period of stagnation in accession
talks," the official said.
With the coming of 2014, Turkey-EU ties will witness
an exchange of high-level visits that are expected to give more opportunities
to accelerate the accession process, writes the paper. One of the most important visits will be carried out by Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Brussels on Jan. 21, making his first trip to
the EU capital since 2009. This will be followed by French President Francois
Hollande's visit to Turkey on Jan. 26, making him the first French leader to
pay a state visit since 1992. Ankara expects that Hollande will announce the
removal of a French veto on some chapters during the visit. President Abdullah Gul is also expected to go
to Italy on Jan. 28, while there are also plans for Erdogan to go to Germany in
early February.
11. Erdogan to tour East Asian countries in first
days of 2014
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman (01.01.14) reported thatTurkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to pay official visits to
Japan, Singapore and Malaysia in the first days of the new year.
Erdogan will be traveling from Jan. 5-11. A delegation of Ministers, Deputies and high-level officials is
expected to accompany the Turkish Prime Minister on his visits, most likely
including Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc and Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu as well as new Cabinet appointees European Union Affairs Minister
Mevlut Cavusoglu and Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci.
Turkey and Japan
signed an agreement on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the city of
Sinop,during the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's October visit to Turkey. Turkey's
relations with Singapore, another stop on the Prime Minister's tour, have been
intensifying as bilateral economic initiatives have gained momentum in recent
years.
12.Erdogan sues Today's Zaman journalist over
critical tweets
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman (31.12.13 ) reported thatTurkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has filed a complaint against Today's Zaman
journalist Mahir Zeynalov for posting tweets that include “heavy insults and
swear words in a bid to provoke the nation to hatred and animosity.”
Erdogan's
lawyers said in a petition they submitted to Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office
that Zeynalov's tweets constitute a “blunt assault on Erdogan's honor and
reputation and his personal rights.”
13. Senior AK Party member admits profiling of
citizens in government, private sector
Turkish daily Zaman
(02.01.13) reports that a senior member
of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has admitted that the
government has profiled some 2,000 senior public officials including police
chiefs, prosecutors and judges as well as academics, journalists and
businesspeople.
Sending messages
on New Year's Eve on his Twitter account, Parliament's Constitutional
Commission head and AK Party Deputy Burhan Kuzu claimed that “an intelligence
report that was submitted to the Prime Minister detailed a parallel structure
within state,” adding that some 2,000 people's names are listed in that report.
Kuzu's acknowledgement was the first admission
explaining how Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has replaced
hundreds of police officers and other government employees in rushed decisions
without any justification against the background of massive corruption
investigations launched by prosecutors in Istanbul which implicated senior
members of the government and their close relatives.
Kuzu also
admitted that the government foiled other possible investigations against his
government in 42 provinces.
14. Pro-Kurdish parties call for independence
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman (31.12.13 ) reported that the leaders of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and the
People's Democratic Party (HDP) called for an “independent Kurdistan” on
Saturday, the second anniversary of the deaths of 34 Kurdish civilians
killed near the Iraqi border in the town of Uludere in the province of Sirnak.
Addressing
10,000 people during the commemoration, BDP Co-chairman Selahattin Demirtas stated, “If a Kurd has a
Kurdistan, then there won't be any more Roboski [Uludere] massacres.”Aysel
Tugluk, co-chairwoman of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), a group
affiliated with the BDP, also said that the DTK will oppose those who were
responsible for the Roboski massacre by continuing the struggle for freedom.
These statements
came after the government acknowledged that there are no longer funerals held
for martyrs, a fact that is mainly the result of the settlement process
launched on March 21. At the same time, people living in eastern Turkey have
stated that the period that began with the end of armed conflicts in the region
is one of historic significance.However, sources in the region who have spoken
to Today's Zaman have said that the government is already losing this control
over the eastern part of the country.
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