TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 12/15 21.01.14
1. Nami is annoyed because
the UK has not informed them of the agreement with the Republic of Cyprus on
the properties in the British Bases
2. More reactions to the
agreement signed between the UK and the Republic of Cyprus on the properties in
the British Bases
3. Erk suddenly remembers
the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus’ Constitution
4. Cicek on the Cyprus
problem
5. Yorgancioglu and Ulucay
say they gave away to no one the area Turkey had landed its occupation troops
in 1974
6. Land from 25 occupied
villages to be “expropriated”
7. The “draft-law” for
abolishing the death penalty and de-penalizing the “abnormal sexual behaviour”
causes tension at the “assembly”
8. Electricity supply was
cut off to those own money to “Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority”
9. New company under the
name “Karpass Airlines” to start operate in the occupied area of Cyprus in
April
10. Eroglu met with the Danish
Ambassador to Cyprus
11. Erdogan to press for
EU membership timeline in Brussels
1. Nami is annoyed because the UK has not informed
them of the agreement with the Republic of Cyprus on the properties in the
British bases; He says the pessimistic climate could change any moment
Turkish Cypriot
daily KibrisPostasi newspaper (21.01.14) reports that OzdilNami, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the Turkish Cypriots were annoyed because the United
Kingdom had not informed them of the agreement signed with the Republic of
Cyprus last week on the properties, which are located in the British Bases on
the island.
In statements to
illegal Bayrak television, Nami argued that this was demanded by the Greek
Cypriots for 50 years and added: “Therefore, its realization during Anastasiades’ visit to London has the character
of a present given by Britain. Of course, do these British presents have a
price? Is something asked in return of these? This is a separate issue. What concerns and annoys us is that Britain
has not informed us, has not consulted with us. At the point they have
given it, everything was finished. Of course, this is unacceptable. There
has been a status formed in the 1960 agreements. There is an issue of an
injustice imposed on us again by the Cyprus problem. From this point of
view, from the point of view of its method, it has been a saddening development”.
Referring to the Cyprus problemand the issue of the
joint declaration, Nami argued that “there are some obstacles which have been
reduced to a few words” and added that “a
significant effort is being exerted” and the “process is advancing”. “Even if a pessimistic climate exists
because no concrete result came up, this could change any moment”, he said
noting that “a process in which the concerns will remain behind will start”.
Asked whether
the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu is annoyed because of his interference
in the efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, Nami responded
that there is no tension between them and claimed that three “legs” exist in this
process: the one is the self-styled presidency, the other is self-styled
foreign ministry and the other is Ankara.
“There are extremely serious dialogues within these three legs. I do not
even think that the president could be annoyed about the efforts I exert in the
direction of the solution”, he argued.
(I/Ts.)
2. More reactions to the agreement signed between
the UK and the Republic of Cyprus on the properties in the British Bases
Turkish Cypriot
daily Star Kibris newspaper (21.01.14) reports that Ersin Tatar, self-styled MP with the National Unity Party (UBP), has said that the agreement signed last
week between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus on the properties,
which are located in the British bases on the island was a “big surprise” for
them.
In statements to
Ada television, Tatar described the
agreement as unacceptable. “Taking such a step while the negotiating
process is continuing and Britain giving some guarantees to the Greek Cypriot
side is unacceptable”, he alleged.
Tatar went on
and argued that the Greek Cypriot side “stocked up a great morale” with this
agreement and added that there has been no such development in the area of the
British Bases in Cyprus since 1960. He
alleged the following: “Now that place will be under the control of Britain but
various companies and institutions will be given permission to build and
therefore, in a sense, Britain will be
economically depended on the Republic of Cyprus.This situation cannot happen
without the Turkish Cypriots, who are partners of the Republic of Cyprus”.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (21.01.14) reports that referring to
the same issue, the United Cyprus Party
(BKP) has said that Britain permitted the development of the areas it had
accepted to give away in the Annan Plan. In a statement issued by Abdullah
Korkmazhan, general secretary of BKP, it is noted that these areas will secure “great profit” for the Greek Cypriots, but, because of the non-solution, the Turkish
Cypriots could not use their right of having a say on the issue. Korkmazhan
criticized those who “insist on the separatist structure which causes the
isolation of the Turkish Cypriots in all fields”.
He stated the
following: “If, as Turkish Cypriot community,
we do not take our political will in our own hands, if we do not defend our
rights in the Republic of Cyprus, if we do not sincerely work for an early
federal solution and if we continue to insist on the separatist status quo, we
will continue to lose”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Erk suddenly remembers the rights of the Turkish
Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus’ Constitution
Turkish Cypriot
daily YeniDuzen newspaper (21.01.14) reports that Alexandra Attalides, Acting Head of the European Parliament Information
Office-Cyprus, held a meeting with the general secretary of the Republican
Turkish Party (CTP) KutlayErk, and gave information about the forthcoming
European Parliament elections to be held in May.
According to the
paper, Attalides stated that the Republic of Cyprus is taking initiatives so
that Turkish Cypriots to be able to participate in the elections.
Erk issued a statement following the meeting, stating
that two out of the six seats of Cyprus at the European Parliament belong to
Turkish Cypriots and alleged that these seats are under the Greek Cypriots’
occupation. He went on and added that the Turkish Cypriot side must take
initiatives at the EU in order to solve this issue and added that according to
the 1960 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, the elections of the political
representatives of the two communities are conducted separately; therefore
Turkish Cypriots must conduct their own elections in their side for the two
seats of the European Parliament. He went on and added that they want the EU to
find a solution on this issue and at least the Turkish Cypriots to gain the “observer”
status at PACE. “Different kind of
solution is contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus”, he argued.
4. Cicek on the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (21.01.14) reports that Turkey’s Assembly Speaker CemilCicek said
that they prefer peace in Cyprus, claiming that they, as Turkey and “TRNC”
(translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus) have done everything they could so there would be a just and lasting
peace, however, one-sided love doesn’t exist.
In a meeting
with visiting Georgian President GiorgiMargvelashvili, Cicek, referring to the Cyprus problem, claimed that they are peace lovers,
but the other side doesn’t respond. Unfortunately, the Cyprus problem
continues to be the longest dispute in front of the UN, he added.
Cicek noted that
there are many possibilities in Cyprus, adding that many tourists from Georgia
visit Cyprus. He claimed that with the development of these relations with the
“TRNC”, the visits from Georgia will be important especially at the
“parliamentarian level”.
5. Yorgancioglu and Ulucay say they gave away to no
one the area Turkey had landed its occupation troops in 1974
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (21.01.14) reports that OzkanYorgancioglu and TeberrukenUlucay, self-styled prime minister
and “minister” of interior of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus, respectively, have said that the area of “PenteMili” beach in occupied Keryneia, which the Turks
call “Beach of the Landing”, as it is the place at which Turkey landed its
occupation troops in the 1974 invasion of Cyprus, has been transferred to no
one. They were both addressing the
“assembly” of the regime yesterday and responded to information that the
above-mentioned area was leased for 49 years to Turkish Altinbas Holding.
Yorgancioglu noted that the transfer of this beach was
neither on the agenda of the Evkaf foundation nor of the “council of ministers”. He said that giving this
area away was out of the question and called
on the company which is interested not to conclude an agreement with the
tenants of the area.
Ulucay also said
that the information that the area had been given away to a company was not
true. He added: “There is a leasing
contract between two companies. One of these contracts includes transfer to
the other and the applications regarding this. These applications are being
evaluated at the relevant services. However,
the beach has been given to no one. The issue has not come onto the agenda of
the Evkaf foundation”.
(I/Ts.)
6. Land
from 25 occupied villages to be “expropriated”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (21.01.14) reports that land from 25 villages in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus will be “expropriated” for the construction of the
distribution network station as well as for the pipelines that will carry water
from Turkey within the framework of the “water supply project” between Turkey
and “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus).
According to the
paper, the land will be “expropriated” from the following villages in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus: Skylloura, Myrtou, Panagra, Vasilia,
Lapithos, Karavas, Elia, Trimithi, Karmi, Templos, Kyreneia, Akanthou, Thermia,
Kazafani, Karakoumi, Klepini, AgiosAmvrosios, Kalograia, Kampyli,
LarnakaLapithou, Agridaki, Sisklipos, AgiosErmolaos, Pileri and Krini.
The decision for
the land “expropriation” was announced in the “official gazette” on 16 January,
2014. A period of 15 days has been given for anyone wishing to file an
objection.
7. The “draft-law” for abolishing the death penalty
and de-penalizing the “abnormal sexual behaviour” causes tension at the
“assembly”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (21.01.14) reports that the “draft-law” for abolishing
the death penalty and de-penalizing the “abnormal sexual behaviour” caused
debates and tension yesterday at the “assembly” of the breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
The amendment of
the “law” was discussed and was unanimously adopted article by article
yesterday, but voting on the whole of the proposal remained for the next
session of the “assembly” on 23 January. The “MPs” of the National Unity Party
(UBP) did not enter into the room of the “assembly”.
(I/Ts.)
8. Electricity supply
was cut off to those own money to “Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority”
Turkish Cypriot
daily YeniDuzen newspaper (21.01.14) reports that El-Sen, the trade union of the workers of the “Turkish Cypriot
Electricity Authority” cut off the electricity supply from “municipalities” and
“state institutions” who did not pay their bill.
According to the
paper, El-Sen cut out the electricity
supply to four “state institutions”, one “ministry and five “municipalities”
that own totally 20.284.479 Turkish Lira to the “Turkish Cypriot Electricity
Authority”.
Among the places
which were cut off are illegal Bayrak television station which owns 2.899.250
Turkish Lira, occupied Lefkosia “municipality” which owns 348.786 Turkish Lira
and Lefka “municipality” which owns 8.384.000 Turkish Lira. In addition, the electricity supply was cut off
to the “ministry of finance”, to the “Sports department”, and the “water
affairs department”, and to the Morfou, Famagusta and Lapithos
“municipalities”.
Speaking to the
paper on behalf of El-Sen, CaglayanCesurer stated that every kind of written
and oral warning was issued to the “institutions” to pay up their debts, but these
warnings were ignored.
9. New company under the name “Karpass Airlines” to
start operate in the occupied area of Cyprus in April
Turkish Cypriot
daily Star Kibris newspaper (21.01.14) reports that the chairman of Have-Sen,
Buran Atakan, stated that a new airline
firm is established in the place of the “Turkish Cypriot Airways” (KTHY) which
were closed down due to various economic problems in 2010.HavaSen is the trade
union of the “KTHY”.
The name of the new firm is “KarpazHavaYollari” (Karpass
Airways) and it will start its operations in April. The company is registered
in Turkey.
10. Eroglu met with the Danish Ambassador to Cyprus
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 20.01.14), Turkish
Cypriot leader DervisEroglu met yesterday morning with Danish Ambassador to
Cyprus Casper Klynge. Eroglu’s undersecretary HasanGungor, Eroglu’s special
representative Osman Ertug, self-styled director of advisory and political
affairs at Eroglu’s office GunesOnar, as well as “officials” from the
self-styled foreign ministry were also present at the meeting.
No statement was
issued before or after the meeting.
11. Erdogan to press for EU membership timeline in
Brussels
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (online, 20.01.14) reported that Turkey will constantly highlight the need to set a timetable in
negotiations for raising the chances for a swifter conclusion in its EU
membership bid, EU Minister MevlutCavusoglu said January 20, on the eve of
Prime Minister RecepTayyipErdogan’s visit to Brussels.
“We are
demanding close cooperation from our European friends. We will surely underline
that [our accession negotiations] process should be based on a timeline and it should
not be open-ended,” Cavusoglu told reporters during his meeting with Norwegian
Ambassador Janis BjörnKanavin.
Cavusoglu said
these issues will be brought to the agenda of EU member - countries in
successive meetings with EU officials, starting from Erdogan’s talks with
senior EU authorities in Brussels on Jan. 21.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
