TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 06/14 10.01.14
1.
Nami: It is important to start negotiations after agreeing on a joint
statement
2.
Businessmen call on the sides to start negotiations
3.
Eroglu will meet with Downer on the 13th of January
4.
TUSIAD’s delegation holds contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus
5.
Nami met with the US Ambassador to Lefkosia
6.
KTAMS: Eroglu’s and Ertug’s statements aim at making the non-solution
permanent
7.
Ozersay: The Turkish Cypriot side must be careful on Greek Cypriot side’s
proposals on the joint statement
8.
Turkey’s MFA spokesman: The Cyprus problem is going through a critical phase
9.
Self-styled minister of environment said that the water coming from Turkey will
start to flow by the end of this summer
10.
Pentadaktylos slaughtering continues
11. A “mutual understanding agreement” was signed
between the breakaway regime and Ankara on the economic protocol
12.
US Defence Secretary to pay key visit to Turkey in late January
13.
Sonar survey: Turkish ruling party's popularity slips amid graft scandal
14.
Vimeo blocked in Turkey after amendment to Internet law
15. AKP Deputy likens Turkish prosecutor Oz’s fate to
prosecutor found dead at home
1. Nami: It is important to start negotiations
after agreeing on a joint statement
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (10.01.14) reports that OzdilNami, self-styled foreign minister in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus has said that it is
important to start negotiations by agreeing on a joint statement. In an
interview with Havadis, Nami noted that in
case the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem resume
without a joint statement, the issues which concern this joint statement will
again come onto the table from the very first day. Nami said that it is a precondition to reach an agreement
on a common text so that the three months spent for agreeing on a joint
statement are not wasted in vain.
“If we start without this text, we might be forced to
renegotiate these issues for another 3-4 months after spending these three
months. An important text has emerged. Come and let
us put an end to this. Then the negotiations could continue”, he said.
Nami said that
they had conveyed to the Greek Cypriot side their last proposal as regards the
joint statement during the illegal visit of Turkish Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu to the occupied area of the island. “Our expectation was not the last reply
given by the Greek Cypriot side which could be described as provocative”,
he argued.
Nami said that
their expectation at this stage is for the Greek Cypriot side to accept the
text proposed by the Turkish side and come to the negotiating table. Nami
alleged that the last paper proposed by
the Greek Cypriots includes elements which could be described as “provocative”
and added that “there was no need for
this”.
Nami said that reaching a comprehensive solution to the
Cyprus problem has become a necessity for the entire region and added: “We are
obliged to succeed”. He noted that the solution is a necessity both for
Turkey and the sides on the island. He said that the businessmen in Turkey are
aware of the importance of the solution in Cyprus for Turkey and this is why a
delegation from the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) visited
the occupied area of Cyprus yesterday.
Nami expressed
the hope that the UN Secretary-General’s special adviser on Cyprus Alexander
Downer’s forthcoming visit to the island “will gain meaning” by the Greek
Cypriot side “adopting a constructive stance in the exchange of documents
carried out for months”.
Replying to a
question, Nami argued that Downer
executes his duties successfully and that “Downer carries out his duty here
representing the will of the UN. He
said that the Turkish side should be extremely “selective and careful” in its
statements regarding the UN officials.
(I/Ts.)
2. Businessmen call on the sides to start
negotiations
Under the title
“Start the negotiations”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.01.14)
reports that four important
organizations representing the business people in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey
have made a call on the politicians to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Speaking
yesterday at a press conference in the buffer zone in Nicosia, the chairmen of Turkish Cypriot
Businessmen’s Association (ISAD), the Cyprus Industrialists’ and Employers’
Federation (OEB), the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) and
the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) announced thatthey have agreed on
a joint statement calling on both communities in Cyprus to start negotiations
with good will aiming at reaching a comprehensive and lasting solution to the
Cyprus problem.
In the statement
which was read by MetinSadi, chairman of ISAD, it is said that the mentality
that the political and economic issues are connected to each other constitutes
an opportunity for a solution in Cyprus. The statement noted also that a solution in Cyprus would create economic
cooperation at a high level among all sides concerned.
In his
statements at the press conference, MuharremYilmaz,
chairman of TUSIAD, said that “we have before us a new opportunity for the
solution of the Cyprus problem” and added: “There is a Turkey which wants to open new chapters in order to revive its EU
accession process and for this reason to end the vetoes related with
Cyprus. There is a northern Cyprus which
unfortunately lives under isolations. There is a south Cyprus and a Greece, which have been influenced at the highest
level by the global economic crisis and live all the consequences of the
financial crisis”.
He pointed out
that the developments in the field of
energy “offer potential for regional economic cooperation and prosperity”
and expressed his satisfaction with the fact that international players see
positively the solution of the Cyprus problem, because they worry about
stability in the area.
He expressed the
view that positive results might be produced by Turkey playing a leading role
in the new negotiating process and described
the climate on the island as the most appropriate of the past few years for
launching an initiative towards a solution.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper (10.01.14) reports that responding to questions after the press
conference, Yilmaz said that Turkey should open its ports for Cyprus. He
noted that the politicians should create the necessary climate in order for the
business circles to cooperate. He added: “The
opening of the ports could be an important step for the development of trade.
I think that the Greek Cypriot side
could also be helpful in the creation of a climate that would facilitate the
Turkish side’s taking this step”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Eroglu will meet with Downer on the 13th
of January
According to
illegal Bayrak television (online, 09.01.10), Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu, during a meeting with a
delegation from the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association
(TUSIAD), announced that he will be
meeting with the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser Alexander Downer on the
13th of January. He added: “We shall meet and we will exchange
views. But the last proposal we made was
a proposal approved by all related circles, but the Greek Cypriots have made
their intention to delay the process by putting forward excuses. We don’t
know what the Greek Cypriot side’s stance will be. Both Mr Anastasiades and I
have spoken with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon. We need to do all we can
to reach an outcome”. He argued that the Greek Cypriot side too needed to show
the necessary will for a solution to be reached on the island.
Speaking during
the meeting, a member of TUSIAD’s Board of Directors VolkanVural reminded that their association was always working for a
lasting and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem and were preparing
reports in that direction.
“Today we continue
with our efforts to contribute to a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus. We
see the absence of a solution to the 50 years Cyprus problem at a time when
there is great economic and political instability in the region as a drawback.
Not only the Turkish Cypriots but the whole region will benefit from a
solution. New opportunities will be born”, he argued.
For his part,
Eroglu claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side was working hard for a solution to
the Cyprus problem, repeating that he
had expressed his full commitment to convergences reached in the Cyprus talks
by his predecessor when taking “office”. Eroglu criticized his Greek
Cypriot counterpart for not doing the same.
Claiming that it
was the Turkish Cypriot side’s sincere desire to return to the negotiating
table and to restart full-fledged negotiations aimed at reaching a solution to
the Cyprus problem, Eroglu added: “We cannot solve anything without sitting at
the negotiating table. You can’t achieve anything by just exchanging papers or
letters. My proposal is that since Mr
Anastasiades refuses to resume the talks from where they left off, let’s sit at
the negotiating table without any preconditions and renegotiate the 6 chapters.
Whether it was the convergences reached during my predecessor’s term or during
my term and had we continued from where the talks were left off, we would have
made good progress and perhaps crowned the talks with a settlement”.
4. TUSIAD’s delegation holds contacts in the
occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (10.01.14) reports that a delegation from the Turkish Industry and Business Association
(TUSIAD) held various contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus yesterday.
The delegation headed by MuharremYilmazvisited
the self-styled prime minister of the regime, OzkanYorgancioglu, who in statements during the meeting, said that TUSIAD’s support to the process
for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem was important. He also described as “very positive approach” the
fact that the businessmen are concerned with the issue.
Noting that the
solution in Cyprus could contribute not only to the Turkish and Greek Cypriot
communities, but to the whole area and the world, Yorgancioglu said that due to
the non-solution in Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriots are kept outside the
international law. “As long as the
problem is not solved, production is a problem, exports are a problem, property
is a problem and claiming rights at the international arena is a problem”, he
argued.
Referring to the
hydrocarbon resources in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, Yorganicolgu
expressed the view that it would not bevery easy for these resources to be transferred
to the world if the Cyprus problem is not solved.
Moreover, Kibris
reports that the TUSIAD delegation met
also with the self-styled minister of foreign affairs of the regime, OzdilNami,
who in statements at the meeting said that the Cyprus problem has come to a
critical stage. He reiterated
thatprogress has been achieved on the issue of the joint statement, but it has
not been concluded. He recalled that TUSIAD
“encouraged” the Turkish Cypriots in taking “difficult decisions” during the
Annan Plan period and added that it secured that the Turkish Cypriots always
feel the support of Turkey is behind them.
On the same
issue, according to illegal Bayrak television (online, 09.01.13), the
delegation from the TUSIAD visited the EU Coordination Centre in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Speaking during
the visit, the Coordinator of the EU Coordination Centre ErhanErsin pointed to
the importance of the meeting between TUSIAD and its adjacent NGOs in the UN
Controlled Buffer Zone at a time when initiatives and efforts aimed at
re-launching the Cyprus negotiations process intensified. Ercin also praised
TUSIAD for assuming important tasks for the Turkish Cypriots.
Also speaking,
the member of the TUSIAD Board of Directors VolkanVural said that the
Association pays great importance to the living standards of the Turkish
Cypriots just as much as it pays to the European Union. He added that they are always arguing in favour of the Turkish Cypriots
as being part of the EU.
Also speaking
during the visit, the President of the Cyprus Turkish Businessmen Association
(ISAD) MetinSadi said that the Turkish Cypriots’ place within international law
and the solution of the Cyprus problem were amongst the goals and strategies of
the association.
5. Nami met with the US Ambassador to Lefkosia
Turkish Cypriot
daily YeniDuzen newspaper (10.01.14) reports that self-styled foreign minister OzdilNami met with the US Ambassador to
Lefkosia John Koenig.
According to a
statement issued by the “foreign ministry”, Nami conveyed to Koenig the Turkish Cypriot side’s views and evaluated
the latest developments regarding the common statement between the two sides in
Cyprus.
Nami, writes the
paper, also conveyed the strong will of the Turkish Cypriots for a solution as
regards the Cyprus problem adding that for this will to be realized
negotiations must be launched the soonest possible and also must give a result.
On his part, Koenig stated that his country supports the
procedure and is ready to offer any assistance needed for a positive outcome of
the negotiations.
6. KTAMS: Eroglu’s and Ertug’s statements aim at
making the non-solution permanent
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (10.01.14) reports that AhmetKaptan, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot “civil servants’” trade
union (KTAMS) has said that the statements made by the Turkish Cypriot leader
DervisEroglu and his spokesman Osman Ertug aim at making the non-solution of
the Cyprus problem permanent. In a written statement issued yesterday
Kaptan argued that the deadlock on the
issue of the joint statement is derived from the “potential of the leaders
sitting at the table to create chaos instead of solution”.
Noting that
KTAMS is determined to continue its struggle for the establishment of a
bi-communal, bi-zonal “federal roof” in Cyprus based on political equality,
Kaptan said: “We are watching with concern the last point to which the Cyprus
problem has come and is closely related with the future of our country.
Undoubtedly, both sides’ using delaying
tactics is unacceptable. We evaluate the statements made by both President
DervisEroglu and his spokesman Osman Ertug as a stance aiming at making
non-solution permanent…”
Moreover, Kaptan described as “unacceptable the
statements made by Huseyin Ozgurgun, leader of the National Unity Party
(UBP), against Alexander Downer, UN
Secretary-General’s special adviser for Cyprus, and the pro-solution forces in the occupied area of the island.
(I/Ts.)
7. Ozersay: The Turkish Cypriot side must be
careful on Greek Cypriotside’s proposals on the joint statement
Turkish Cypriot
daily YeniDuzen newspaper (10.01.14) reports that KudretOzersay, leader of the “We are gathering together” movement
(ToparlaniyoruzHareketi) stated that the
Turkish Cypriot side must be very careful as regards the issue of the joint
statement.
Ozersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side must be
very careful on the proposal of the Greek Cypriot side on issuing a shorter
joint statement and on insisting that all the UN Security Council Resolutions,
especially Resolution 1251, to be included in the joint statement. He noted that the Resolution 1251 is not about the continuation of
the good mission of the UN Secretary General in the island and the finding of a
solution via the negotiations, but is related with the continuation of the
Peace Forces duty in the island. Therefore it shows the Greek Cypriot side’s
mentality, allegedOzersay.
8. Turkey’s MFA spokesman: The Cyprus problem is
going through a critical phase
According to
illegal Bayrak television (online, 09.01.10), the Spokesman of the Turkish
Foreign Ministry LeventGumrukcu,
speaking at a routine weekly press conference, said on Cyprus that the Turkish
side has adopted a very constructive approach on the joint declaration. He
added: “I hope the Greek Cypriot side
shows the same constructive approach and we put an end to any disagreements
over the joint statement so that the talks between the two leaders can start
soon”.
Gumrukcu also said that the Cyprus problem is going
through a critical phase, adding that it was the joint statement which was
preventing the two leaders from starting full-fledged negotiations between the
two sides.
9. Self-styled minister of environment said that
the water coming from Turkey will start to flow by the end of this summer
According to
illegal Bayrak television (online, 09.01.10), self-styled minister of
environment and natural resources HamitBakirci, inspecting the dam at occupied
Panagra, said that their aim was to have
the Panagra Dam filled to capacity by the end of the summer and to start
pumping the water to arrive from Turkey to all parts of the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus.
Noting that
pipes were being piled up along the route where the pipeline which will
distribute the water to the major areas of settlement will be installed, Bakirci asked the public to be
understanding regarding the visual pollution caused by the pipes.
10. Pentadaktylos slaughtering continues
Turkish Cypriot
daily Star Kibris newspaper (10.01.14) reports that DoganSahir, chairman of the Green Peace Movement in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus, said that the unregulated quarrying, which he
describes as slaughtering, in Pentadaktylos mountain range must be stopped the
soonest possible.
He said that the
destruction of Pentadaktylos continues for 20 years now and reminded that the
Greek Cypriot side brought the issue at the European Parliament agenda. He went
on and said that despite the area is included in the EU 2000 Natura program” of
the EU and the Turkish Cypriot side received 5-6 million Turkish Lira for its
protection, the area’s destruction continues.
11. A “mutual understanding agreement” was signed
between the breakaway regime and Ankara on the economic protocol
Turkish Cypriot
daily YeniDuzen newspaper (10.01.14) reports that an agreement was made as regards the economic protocol signed
between Turkey and the breakaway regime.
The paper writes
that the self-styled prime ministerOzkanYorgancioglu, said that a “mutual
understanding agreement” was signed between his “government” and Ankara. According to Yorgancioglu, the economic and
political needs of his “government” were taken into consideration as regards
the economic protocol.
12. US Defence Secretary to pay key visit to Turkey
in late January
According to
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 10.01.14), U.S. Secretary of Defence
Chuck Hagel is expected to pay a visit
to Turkey in late January to discuss a number of security issues, with the
Turkish government’s decision to purchase a Chinese anti-ballistic missile
defence system and the developments in Syria and Iraq topping the agenda.
Hagel’s visit will be the highest-level encounter
between the two countries since Turkey was shaken by a massive internal
political earthquake that also impacted the Washington-Ankara relations.
Hurriyet Daily
News has learned that Hagel’s visit to Turkey will take place on Jan. 27 as
part of the Secretary of Defence’s European tour. Hagel is expected to meet
Turkish Defence Minister IsmetYilmaz and other senior Turkish government
officials. The last high-level Turkish official Hagel met was Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu, who was in Washington lastNovembe.
What makes
Hagel’s visit more important is that ties between the two allies have hit a low
point, especially after Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan publicly threatened
the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Francis Ricciardone, with expulsion because of
Washington’s supposed role in an ongoing corruption operation against his
government. The U.S. Department of State issued statements to dismiss the
claims and called on the Turkish government not to draw the U.S. into an
internal fight, something that would negatively affect bilateral ties.
Apart from the
bitter political ties, the issues the two sides will touch on during the visit
have the potential to even worsen relations. At the top is Turkey’s decision to
launch negotiations with a Chinese company under U.S. sanctions for the
co-production of an anti-ballistic air defence system.
13. Sonar survey: Turkish ruling party's popularity
slips amid graft scandal
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 09.01.14)
reported that Turkish Prime Minister RecepTayyipErdogan's ruling party has seen
its popularity slip since a corruption scandal broke out last month but remains
comfortably ahead of the main opposition, the first major poll published since
the affair showed on Thursday.
The survey by SONAR research, one of Turkey's main
pollsters, put support for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) at
42.3%, two percentage points below its previous poll last August and well below
the 50% the party won at the last election in 2011.
The main
opposition Republican People's Party CHP
scored 29.8% in the poll, its highest since June 2011 according to SONAR,
whose surveys tend to put ruling party support below the AK Party's own
estimates.
The government
has said neither street protests last summer nor the corruption scandal have
had a major impact on AK Party popularity. Deputy Prime Minister BulentArinc
said last week the party enjoyed support of around 52%, based on four surveys
commissioned by the government.
14. Vimeo blocked in Turkey after amendment to
Internet law
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 09.01.14)
reported that Vimeo, a US-based
video-sharing website on which users can upload, share and view videos, has been blocked in Turkey upon a ruling by
the Criminal Court of Peace late on Thursday.
The decision
came after a Deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
introduced an amendment to Law No. 5651
on cybercrimes, a move that could pave the way for the government to censor the
Internet and social media as well as profile Internet users.
The move has
raised concerns over the government's widening encroachment on private lives of
people as well as different mediums where people express their social and
political thoughts.
“The government is making an effort to silence the
Internet and social media, just as it did with the media following the [recent]
corruption operation,”EmrehanHalici, deputy
chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), said on Thursday.
The move is seen
by many people as silencing internet tools to prevent dissidents and citizen
journalists from sharing video footage regarding any social and political
activity.
15. AKP Deputy likens Turkish prosecutor Oz’s fate
to prosecutor found dead at home
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (online, 09.01.14) reported that ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) Deputy Ali Aslik
has said that the fate of controversial prosecutor Zekeriya Oz will be like
that of another prosecutor who was found dead in his home after opening a probe
into corruption allegations last year.
“Prosecutor Oz
will prepare his end like Prosecutor Murat Gok did! What was the saying: Don’t
do wrong to those suffering; it will come back to you,” Aslik posted via his
Twitter account late on Jan. 8.
Gok opened
several investigations into corruption allegations in a number of district
municipalities in Izmir, before being removed from the Izmir prosecutor’s
office and appointed to the Black Sea province of Samsun in April 2013.
On April 12, a
friend of Gok found him dead in his apartment in Samsun.
Before his
death, he had been receiving treatment for lung failure. In November 2013,
forensic reports announced Gok’s cause of death to be “natural.”
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