TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 13/14 21.01.14
1. Erdogan says he ignores proposals such as withdrawal of troops from
Cyprus; Schultz: Accept that the whole of Cyprus joined the EU
2. Barroso and
Rompuy’s statements on Cyprus during their joint conference with Erdogan
3. Eroglu says territorial concessions are not on their agenda
4. Nami: Instead of
writing letters, leaders must start negotiations
5. UBP: Britain maintains the non-solution with the agreement on the
properties in the British bases in Cyprus; More reactions by the press
6. Sources expect Ban Ki-moon to call on the sides to agree on how the
solution process in Cyprus will advance
7. Traffic in “ports”
and barricades in the occupied area of Cyprus
1. Erdogan says he ignores proposals such as withdrawal of troops from
Cyprus; Schultz: Accept that the whole of Cyprus joined the EU
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (22.01.14) reports that the
Turkish Prime Minister, RecepTayyipErdogan
has said that they do not listen to proposals such as the withdrawal of Turkish
occupation troops from Cyprus and that their fundamental principle is the
establishment of “a federal structure based on two founding states”.
In statements yesterday in
Brussels during a joint press conference with the President of the European
Parliament (EP), Martin Schultz, Erdogan claimed that they have always
supported the “TRNC’s” [Translator’s note: the breakaway regime established by
Turkey in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] approach to the process
“with a constructive method”. Erdogan went on and alleged: “We think that
Greece, because it is a guarantor power, should also support this process in
the same manner. Especially, our
fundamental principle is a federal structure based on two founding states. The
acceptance of anything outside this is in any case out of the question”.
Erdogan said that the negotiations should be held with good will and
alleged that the Greek Cypriot side should not run away from the
negotiations.
Referring to the issue of the Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus,
Erdogan argued: “Those who try to lead us to different places are behaving
wrongly. For example, they told us
something else today. Something such as the withdrawal of troops. We did not
listen to such a proposal, we are not listening to such a proposal. Because
this had come up in the Annan Plan. While we had accepted it in the Annan Plan,
the Greek Cypriot side then had not accepted it”.
When Martin Schulz said that the
Republic of Cyprus joined the European Union representing the entire island,
Erdogan alleged that “south Cyprus”, as
he described the Republic of Cyprus, does not represent the entire island. Erdogan claimed that according to the acquiscommunautaire,
no country with internal problems could join the Union. He went on and alleged:
“Besides, in a Cyprus which
is divided with the UN green line, the south has no right to represent north
Cyprus. This is contrary to the acquis as well. If there was such an
authority, then why are these negotiations conducted? Ignoring the Turks in
northern Cyprus and presenting south Cyprus as the owner of the entire place
there does not comply with the
understanding of justice from the point of view of the international universal
values.
At the moment there is
unfortunately a wish for the TRNC to be condemned to nonexistence by force.
Then, I can easily say this. Why we have
held those meetings at Burgenstock in Switzerland? During those meetings we came to a final
point. Until then, south Cyprus was not a member of the EU. After the meetings
referendum was held. The TRNC kept its promise at the referendum. It said ‘yes’
by 65%, while south Cyprus said ‘no’ by 75%. Those who said ‘no’ were rewarded, while those who said ‘yes’ were not
accepted into the EU. As a matter of fact there is an unjust practice
there. The acceptance of south Cyprus into the EU is political. It is not in
harmony with the acquis of the EU. If my esteemed friend Schultz reads the book
written by the former German Chancellor Schroder, there is a six-page chapter
there. In this chapter he explains how unjust the decision taken on Cyprus
was”.
After
Erdogan’s statements, Schultz said that they should prevent a quarrel in public between
the Turkish Prime Minister and the President of the EP and added “we have to find a reasonable solution” to
the Cyprus problem. He noted that he
understands Erdogan’s position on this issue, but added: “The entire island has
entered into the EU. Please accept this situation”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Barroso and
Rompuy’s statements on Cyprus during their joint conference with Erdogan
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(22.01.14) reports that the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel
Barrosso and the President of the
European Council Herman Van Rompuy spoke on the urgent need to find a solution
on the Cyprus problem at a joint news conference with the Turkish prime
Minister TayyipErdogan who is currently holding contacts in Brussels.
Issuing a written statement following his
meeting with Erdogan, Barroso stated that they share with the Turkish Prime
Minister the view that a solution must be found the sooner possible in Cyprus
adding that this will contribute to Turkey’s wider relations with the EU.
On his part, Rompuy stated that all parties
must start negotiations as soon as possible and added that the solution of the
Cyprus problem will be beneficial for both Turkey and the EU.
3. Eroglu says territorial concessions are not on their agenda
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (22.01.14) reports that the
Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu has
reiterated his view that the issue of the territory will be the last one to be
discussed in the negotiations aiming at finding a solution to the Cyprus
problem. In statements yesterday during a meeting with a delegation from
occupied Limnitis village, Eroglu responded to the concern expressed by the
head of the village, ErsoyKoycu that they are afraid of their village being
“given away” [in case of a solution to the Cyprus problem]. Eroglu argued that
the UN Secretary – General has also accepted that the territory is the last
issue to be discussed in the negotiations.
Eroglu added: “As we understand, in case we sit at the negotiating
table, Anastasiades will bring the territory issue onto the agenda. However,
asking is one thing and giving is another
thing . I will not discuss the territory
before sitting at the negotiating table. The territory will be the very last
issue we will discuss after we sit at the negotiating table. We have no policy on our agenda such as
giving Limnitis or any other area”.
Arguing that some people are concerned that the territorial
concessions will come onto the agenda, Eroglu noted that in case of a possible
solution, a referendum will be held and people will take the final decision.
Koycu
said thatthey were concerned because a newspaper had published a map showing
that Limnitis would be returned under Greek Cypriot administration in the event
of a solution to the Cyprus problem. “We do not accept this.
This kind of news and discussions cause us pain and demoralize us”, he argued noting that in case of a solution, they
want to live within the borders of the Turkish Cypriot administration.
(I/Ts.)
4. Nami: Instead of
writing letters, leaders must start negotiations
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.01.14)
reports that the self-styled minister of foreign affairs OzdilNami stated that negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus
problem must start immediately.
Nami made these statements during a meeting he
held with the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers Trade Union (KTOEOS). He is informing trade unions and civil
society organizations on the latest developments on the Cyprus negotiations and
said that the exchange of views with them will play an important role in policy
making regarding the Cyprus problem.
Nami said that UN special envoy Alexander
Downer met with both leaders in a non-successful effort to overcome the
deadlock regarding the common statements and following this the leaders sent a
letter to the UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon. Nami argues that instead of sending letters, the two leaders should
start negotiations without any further delay. He went on to add that both
communities on the island want the launching of comprehensive negotiations.
5. UBP: Britain maintains the non-solution with the agreement on the
properties in the British bases in Cyprus; More reactions by the press
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (22.01.14) reports that HuseyinOzgurgun, chairman of the National
Unity Party (UBP), issued a written
statement yesterday describing as “injustice to the Turkish Cypriot people” the
agreement signed between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus by
which opportunity is given to the property owners in the British bases on the
island to sell and develop their properties.
Ozgurgun said it was not possible for him to “give a reasonable
explanation to Britain’s ignoring the
rights of the Turkish Cypriot people” by responding to the long-lasting
Greek Cypriot demand. He alleged that this was a “scandal” from the point of view of its timing and claimed that as
guarantor power, Britain treated unjustly one of the sides.
“With such initiative,
Britain maintains the non-solution instead of contributing to an agreement
based on the equality of the two peoples in Cyprus and to a just and
lasting solution that is seeked with this agreement”, he alleged.
Ozgurgun said that the view of the Turkish officials had not been
asked as regards the situation of the Turkish-owned properties in the area and
added that “many Turkish villages and
immovable properties” will be influenced by this agreement.
Meanwhile, writing in his
column in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.01.14), Ata Atunalleges that he possesses the
original text of the agreement reached on 15 January, 2014, between Britain and the Republic of Cyprus. He claims that it is not true that with the
joint statement between the two countries, Britain supports the positions of the Greek Cypriots and with the
agreement 198 square kilometres from the British bases are returned under Greek
Cypriot ownership.
Noting that the text consists of eight
paragraphs, Atun concludes by saying that Britain
did not give away the above-mentioned territories to the Republic of Cyprus,
because“it is in any case impossible to do this without the approval of Turkey
and the TRNC”.Atun says that the coordinates of the borders of the British
bases are mentioned in the 1960 Zurich – London Agreement and the Constitution
of the Republic of Cyprusand could change only with the consent of the sides
which had signed these agreements. “One of the sides is Turkey and the
other is the Turkish Cypriot community whose current name is TRNC”, he alleges
and concludes by arguing that “without the approval of these sides absolutely
no change will have international validity”.
(I/Ts.)
6. Sources expect Ban Ki-moon to call on the sides to agree on how the
solution process in Cyprus will advance
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.01.14) reports that Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General’s
special adviser on Cyprus, is expected to brief the Security Council today on
the peace process in Cyprus. Citing sources “close to the peace process”,
Kibris notes that after Downer’s oral
briefing today, the UN Secretary-General is expected to call on the sides in
Cyprus to agree on how the process will advance.
The sources, which wished to remain anonymous, told Kibris that no
development should be expected on the “alternatives”, which Downer had
submitted to the sides before departing for Australia in December 2013. “The UN will express its anticipation for an
agreement on the issue of how the negotiations will continue the soonest”, the
sources said adding that the UN expects
an agreement and wants the sides to decide whether this [continuation of the
process] will happen with or without a joint declaration.
The sources went on and said that there
are “some misunderstandings as regards the position of the UN on the island”
and added that it is out of the question
for the UN to accept or reject any proposal submitted by the sides. They
noted that it is impossible to implement
any formula which is not accepted by the sides.
(I/Ts.)
7. Traffic in
“ports” and barricades in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper
(22.01.14) publishes data by the self-styled police about the traffic in
“ports”, “airports” and barricades in the occupied area of Cyprus for the years
2012-2013 and notes that the number of persons crossing to the Republic of
Cyprus has reduced, but the number of persons traveling from the illegal ports
and airports has increased.
According to the paper, in 2012, there were 3.157.835
individuals crossings to the breakaway regime while 3.151.841 crossings to the
free area of the Republic of Cyprus. For 2013, these numbers were 2.999.522 and
3.083.293 respectively.
As regards the “air and sea traffic” from
“airports” and “ports”, in 2012 1.413.021 persons entered and 1.416.200 departed
from the breakaway regime. For 2013, these numbers were 1.490.654 and 1.464.124
respectively.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
