TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 08/15 15.01.14
1. Russian Ambassador: I am very
optimistic on the solution
2. Turkish Cypriot daily assesses Eroglu’s visit to Ankara
3. Eroglu said Downer will submit a report to the UN
regardless if he meets or not the leaders
4. Nami on the joint statement
5. Denktas said that no more concessions can be made
to the Greek Cypriots
6. Self-styled deputies carry out contacts in Strasbourg
at PACE
7. The breakaway
regime is participating in the “CMS Stuttgart Tourism Fair”
8. Hunger threshold in the occupied area of Cyprus is reportedly 1290
TL
9. “Declaration on
Online Journalism” is signed in the occupied area
10. Suspected al-Qaeda members nabbed in police
operation
11. Gul: 2014 should be a new start for Turkish-EU
relations
12. Arinc argues it's not EU's place to criticize HSYK
proposal
13. Erdogan to pay two-day official visit to Iran
14.Graft prosecutor Oz files formal complaint against
Erdogan after 'threat' claims
15. One out of every four brides in Turkey is a child
1. Russian Ambassador: I am very optimistic on the solution
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (15.01.14) reports that the Russian Ambassador to Nicosia, Stanislav
Osadchiyhas said that his country wants stability in the Middle East and
therefore a peace agreement in Cyprus is very important for Russia. In an
exclusive interview with journalist Esra Aygin of Havadis, the Russian
Ambassador expressed the view that peace
in Cyprus will both contribute in the stability of Middle East and secure that
Cyprus is turned into an energy and transportation centre in the area.
Ambassador Osadchiy said that the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek
Cypriots must sit at the negotiating table and agree on a mutually acceptable
formula which will be in both side’s interest. He noted that the current conditions in the world and on the island
necessitate a peace climate in Cyprus.
Asked whether he is optimistic on the issue of the solution in
Cyprus, the Russian Ambassador replied that he is “very optimistic” and added that he experienced the incidents
in 1974, but at the same time he had
witnessed the Greek and Turkish Cypriots’ living together in the same villages,
helping each other, having coffee together at the same coffee shops. “I
closely know both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. I know their
past and their character. I know that
they can establish communication with each other. That is, I know that the
solution is practically possible”.
AmbassadorOsadchiy said “the important thing here is for the
solution which will be found to serve both communities’ interests”. He added that finding a “balanced formula”
in the interest of both communities is a duty that belongs to the Greek and
Turkish Cypriots. “This is our primary position. We are in favour of all
Cypriots, not only the Greek Cypriots”,
he said.
Noting that the joint declaration between the community leaders is
important, the Russian Ambassador pointed out that a joint declaration would confirm the commitment of both sides to the
principles which will form the federation in Cyprus and this will be a strong
signal that they are ready to work for the solution of the problem.
Asked whether the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation is appropriate
for Cyprus and whether we have been pursuing the wrong formula for years, the
Ambassador noted that the solution in Cyprus must be based on the relevant UN Resolutions
and the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation on the basis of political equality. He
added, however, that the kind of the solution depends on the two communities in
Cyprus.
Contrary to the debates that “Russia wants a military base in
Cyprus”, writes the paper,AmbassadorOsadchiy said that Russia does not want
Cyprus to become a base in the area. “We do not want Cyprus to be used as base
for intervention in the area”, he noted.
Referring to Cyprus’ oil and gas natural
resources, the Ambassador expressed the view that the natural gas found in
Cyprus is an opportunity and an economic basis for the prosperity of the entire
island. “In fact, the natural gas must
be one of the leading reasons for finding a solution in Cyprus the soonest”,
he added.
(I/Ts.)
2. Turkish Cypriot daily assesses Eroglu’s visit to Ankara
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (15.01.14) refers to Turkish
Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu’s one-day visit to Ankara tomorrow and reports
that the “remarkable point” in this
development is the fact that Eroglu will
meet with the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in parallel to his
meetings with President Abdullah Gul and the Speaker of the Turkish Grand
National Assembly (TGNA), Cemil Cicek. According to the paper, it is known that
the relations between Eroglu and the
Justice and Development Party (AKP) government were “cloudy”. Havadis notes
that Eroglu conflicted many times with
the AKP andrecalls that the Deputy
Prime Minister responsible for Cyprus, Besir Atalay had illegally visited twice
the island without meeting with Eroglu.
The paper writes that the demand for meeting Turkish officials had
been submitted by Eroglu on 15 November, 2013, during the celebrations for the
unilateral declaration of independence of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of Cyprus, to the General Secretary of the Turkish Presidency, Mustafa Isen,
who mediated in arranging the appointment between Gul and Eroglu.
Citing information obtained from a source
close to the Turkish Presidency, Havadis reports that by mid-February the latest, contacts
will be held in Ankara between the Turkish government and the self-styled
government of the breakaway regime. The
relations between the “governments” had allegedly deteriorated because of
Erdogan’s stance and Ankara’s attempt to interfere in the establishment of the
self-styled government after the 28 July early “elections” in the occupied
area of Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
3. Eroglu said Downer will submit a report to the
UN regardless if he meets or not the leaders
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (15.01.14) reports that Turkish
Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said that there are two possibilities on UN
Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer’s visit to
Cyprus; Downer will prepare a report for the UN without meeting with the
leaders or he will meet the leaders and then submit the report.
Speaking during
a meeting with a delegation from the Cyprus Cooperation Community from Turkey,
Eroglu said that Downer will meet today with his special representative Osman
Ertug at 2.00 pm.
4. Nami on the joint statement
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (15.01.14) reports that self-styled foreign affairs minister Ozdil
Nami said that it is the first time in the Cyprus negotiation process that the
two sides have reached a good point on the issue of the joint statement.
Nami referred to
the importance of the joint statement prepared by the Turkish Cypriot side.
Nami claimed that in case of success on forging a joint statement, this would
mark an important development that will address key issues pertaining to an
overall agreement. This would include details to a degree never before reached
in any previous agreement between the leaders. Nami said that a comprehensive
solution is very important for a bright future, adding that the people should
be informed correctly.
5. Denktas said that no more concessions can be
made to the Greek Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (15.01.14) reports that self-styled deputy prime minister and
minister of economy, tourism, culture and sports Serdar Denktas, participating
in a television programme of private channel Kibris TV, claimed that a joint
statement, which was prepared and approved devotedly by all sectors at the
Turkish Cypriot side, cannot any longer be changed by the desires of the Greek
Cypriots. He added that no more concessions can be made to the Greek Cypriot
side on this issue.
Alleging that
the issue of single sovereignty has reached to a point where it threatens the Turkish
Cypriots’ future, Denktas claimed that the most important assurance of their
future is to be the owners of the sovereignty.
Denktas
reiterated that his party is the only party against the single sovereignty. He
alleged that in case the Greek Cypriots seize the single sovereignty, the
Turkish Cypriots will lose their communal and founding rights, and they will
fall to a minority status.
Referring to the
provisional agreement for football in Cyprus, Denktas noted that the Turkish
Cypriot Football Federation (KTFF) has not yet accepted to be member of the
Cyprus Football Association (CFA).
Denktas alleged
that the statement “we need a solution” has lost its strength and they should
produce solutions on today’s conditions. Claiming that an alternative solution
is the creation of a joint economic ground, Denktas noted that the reason that
this cannot be created is the on-going Cyprus talks. He also said that the
Mersin gate, which could ease the Turkish Cypriots, is closed, because of the
agreement that Turkey signed the Customs Union with the EU in 1996.
6. Self-styled deputies carry out contacts in
Strasbourg at PACE
Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen (15.01.14) reports that a
delegation from the so-called assembly, consisting of self-styled deputy of
Republican Turkish Party –United Forces (CTP-BG) Armagan Candan, self-styled
deputy of National Unity Party (BP) Ersan Saner and self-styled deputy Hasan
Tacoy is carrying contacts in Strasburg at the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE).
The delegation
held meetings with Elmar Brok,German Member of the European Parliament and
the current Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, EU-Turkey
Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-President Helene Flautre and Parliament's
Turkey Rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten.
7. The breakaway
regime is participating in the “CMS Stuttgart Tourism Fair”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper
(15.01.14) reports that the breakaway
regime will participate in “CMS Stuttgart Tourism Fair”, which is taking place
in Germany between 11-19 of January.
According to the paper, more than 2.000 firms
are participating in the Fair which targets special tourist groups that are
interested in golf, bicycle and camping .
8. Hunger threshold in the occupied area of Cyprus is reportedly 1290
TL
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (15.01.14) publishes a
report prepared by the Turkish Cypriot “civil servants’” trade union (KTAMS),
according to which the hunger threshold
in the occupied area of Cyprus for a four-member family as of December 2013 is
1.290 Turkish Liras (TL) [Translator’s note: One euro equals 2.993 TL
today] and the poverty limit 5.856 TL.
The report was prepared taking into consideration the products
necessary for healthy nourishment as announced by the “ministry of health” and
the average prices of these products according to the so-called state planning
organization of the breakaway regime.
The paper writes that the minimum wage in the occupied area of Cyprus is currently 1.357 TL,
while a newly appointed employee in the “public sector” receives 1.650 TL if he
is a graduate from a lyceum and 1.850 if he is a university graduate.
(I/Ts.)
9. “Declaration on
Online Journalism” is signed in the occupied area
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (15.01.14) reports that a “Declaration on Online Journalism”
has been signed between the so-called Media Ethics Committee and the managers
of the online new sites operating in the occupied area of Cyprus.
As the paper reports, 7 news sites’ representatives, out of the 40 existing in the occupied
areas, attended the signing ceremony, which took place yesterday at the
premises of the “Journalists’ Union”, in occupied Nicosia.
Referring to the importance of this
“Declaration”, the chairman of the “Media Ethics Committee”, Suleyman Irvan
stated that online journalism becomes more important every passing day. As he
indicated, the “Declaration”, which consists of 10 articles, is only the
beginning. He further stated that the
“Declaration” aims at putting the 26 internet news sites, including the internet
version of the 14 print newspapers, into “order”, “something that will increase
the prestige of journalism and encourage serious journalism”.
10. Suspected al-Qaeda members nabbed in police
operation
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (15.01.14) reports that
Police and gendarmerie units in Turkey carried out raids in six provinces
across Turkey in which they detained alleged senior members of al-Qaeda. The
raids appear to be part of a major operation against the global network.
Tight security
measures were taken during the raids carried out in the provinces of Van,
İstanbul, Adana, Kilis, Gaziantep and Kayseri.
News reports said two senior al-Qaeda operatives --
İbrahim Sen, who is allegedly a top al-Qaeda leader in the Middle East, and
Halis Bayancuk, who is said to be in charge of the al-Qaeda network in Turkey
-- were among the people detained in the operation.
An employee of the charity group Humanitarian Aid
Foundation (İHH) was also among the detained. The İHH confirmed that its
storage facility near the Syrian border in Kilis was searched and an employee
detained. However, the organization rejected any ties to al-Qaeda and denounced
the police raid as an attempt to discredit it. The
operation and the way it was conducted clearly shows that there is an effort to
link al-Qaeda and the aid organization, according to İHH officials. The İHH
owned a Gaza-bound aid ship raided by Israeli commandos in international waters
in May 2010 which laid to the Mavi Marmara incident.
11. Gul: 2014 should be a new start for Turkish-EU
relations
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (14.01.14) reports that Turkish
President Abdullah Gul addressesAmbassadors within the scope of the 6th annual
Turkish Ambassadors' Conference in Turkish capital Ankara
The year 2014 should be a new start for Turkey's
European Union (EU) negotiation process, President
Gul and added: "Both the Turkish and EU sides should come up with new
political wills. We should remember that
everything we have done for the EU was for the sake of Turkey and for Turkey to
become stronger," Gul stressed.
In addition, Turkish
daily Today's Zaman (14.01.14) reported that Gul has invited two Deputies
from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to accompany him
during his visit to Italy at the end of January.CHP welcomed the invitation
from Gul.
12. Arinc argues it's not EU's place to criticize
HSYK proposal
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (15.01.14) reports that Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said on Monday that it is
not right for the European Union to criticize the Justice and Development
Party's (AK Party) newly proposed changes to the judicial system.
Speaking after a
Cabinet meeting late on Monday, Arinc
also denied claims that the proposed changes to the judicial system were
against the Constitution. Arinc said taking back the proposed change to the
judicial system is out of the question.
13. Erdogan to pay two-day official visit to Iran
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (15.01.14) reports that
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing to make an official
trip to Iran on Jan. 28-29 at the invitation of Iranian President Hassan
Rohani. Erdogan's visit will mark the first meeting between the Turkish prime
minister and Rohani.
14.Graft prosecutor Oz files formal complaint
against Erdogan after 'threat' claims
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (15.01.14)
reports that Turkish Prosecutor Zekeriya
Oz filed a formal complaint against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan less
than a week after he claimed he had been threatened by two members of the high
judiciary sent by the prime Minister.
Oz also filed a complaint against Saban Aslan, the
news coordinator of daily Sabah that has published a number of headline stories
alleging that the Prosecutor had made 22 foreign trips before the graft probe
raids targeting the expenses of certain firms.
15. One out of every four brides in Turkey is a
child
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (15.01.14) reports that according to the Union of Turkish
Bar Associations, one out of every four
brides is a child, with families increasingly applying to change their
daughters' birthdates so that they can legally marry.
A third of marriages in Turkey’s eastern and south eastern
provinces involve brides of minor age, with a significant proportion under the
age of fifteen, a study by an NGO in the area has shown. The study, conducted by KAMER, an NGO focusing on the improvement of
women’s conditions and rights, is based on interviews with 60,000 women across
23 provinces.
The results
paint a worrying picture of the extent of child marriages, particularly in
rural areas, and were announced following the tragic death of yet another child
bride in Siirt province made headlines across the country, after she gave birth
to her second baby. Among the women interviewed by KAMER, 4,711 were married at
16 or 17 in the last 10 years. Some 2,217 were married between the ages of 13
and 15, while 54 were married at the age of 12 or below.
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