TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 18/14 28.01.14
1. Eroglu: The founding states in Cyprus will be sovereign and make
international agreements, Erdogan also believes this
2. Eroglu: It
is out of question for the Turkish Cypriot side to put forward a new proposal
3. Yorgancioglu will meet with Erdogan on Thursday
4. Reservoirs to be built in occupied Morfou area
5. A new programme of harmonization of the “TRNC legislation” with the “EU’s
acquis communautaire
6. Industry in occupied Cyprus made a loss of 30% due to the exchange
rate
7. Opinion poll shows
that 61% of households in occupied Cyprus were affected negatively by the
economic crisis
8. Turkish businessman says he is ready to invest in illegal Tymvou
airport, but the land has not been yet handed over to him
9. Free apartment e in a draw with newspaper coupons
10. Gul departs for talks in Italy as part of busy EU
agenda
11. Erdogan's visit to Iran to focus on economy, energy
projects
12. Bagis appointed as PACE representative
13. Turkey extends time for missile deal offers
14. Turkey's Central Bank makes massive rate hike to
stem Lira fall
1. Eroglu: The founding states in Cyprus will be sovereign and make
international agreements, Erdogan also believes this
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (29.01.14) reports that
the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu
has alleged that the “founding states” in a possible federal solution in Cyprus
will be sovereign and added that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan also believes this.
In statements to Ada television, Eroglu argued that sovereignty is
important for the Turkish Cypriot “people” and that the Greek Cypriots do not
accept that the Turkish Cypriots are sovereign. Eroglu recalled that during his
recent visit to Brussels, Erdogan has emphasized on the “founding states” and
claimed that sovereignty could not be rejected in the founding states.
Responding to a question, Eroglu alleged, inter alia, the following:
“If we had not had the self-determination right in the Annan Plan
process, that is, if we had not had a separate structure, if we were not a
separate people, if we were not a sovereign community, they would not accept us
as a side and they would take a decision and impose it on us. Therefore, two separate sovereign peoples exist here…
Of course, if we are going to establish
a new partnership state, these two sovereign peoples will establish this
partnership state. Otherwise, this will not be called partnership. There
might be some people in the south who say ‘let us return to the 1960’. However,
this will be tantamount to rejecting our existence. We are searching for a new
partnership state. Therefore sovereignty is important of course…”
Asked whether the substance of the problem as regards the joint
declaration is the “insistence of the Greek Cypriot side” on the issue of
sovereignty, Eroglu replied that the
Greek Cypriots do not accept that the Turkish Cypriots are sovereign and added,
inter alia, the following: “…During the
meeting we had with Mr Erdogan we discussed that the sovereignty of the
founding states is sine qua non. If I will enter again under the Republic
of Cyprus, we will be rejecting the fact that we have lived in a separate state
for years… Of course a state will be
sovereign. Perhaps outside there will be a single sovereignty. This is a
separate issue. However, the founding
states will of course have the right of making international agreements. And this means that the founding states
will be sovereign. If you present me only as a ‘federal unit’, I might find
myself in the street again like in 1963. Because this is a matter on which we
are sensitive, they found the opportunity and play with time. For example, in
the constitutions of Turkey, Britain or Spain no reference is made to single
sovereignty…”
Asked whether an alternative plan will come onto the agenda if the
process ends in a negative manner, Eroglu
said that they are looking for an agreement and if there is no agreement, the
alternatives will come onto the agenda.
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu: It is out of question for the Turkish
Cypriot side to put forward a new proposal
Illegal Bayrak
television (28.01.14) broadcast that astatement
has been issued by the self-styled presidency regarding issues that have been
reflected in the Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot and Turkish press. According to
the statement, the Turkish Cypriot side has presented a constructive proposal
on the 14th of December to the interested parties and “motherland” Turkey.
“The proposal put forward by the Turkish Cypriot side
is a continuation of its constructive stance which aimed to open the way of the
Cyprus negotiations process. The proposal put forward was praised by all sides
concerned stresses the statement and adds that it is out of question to put
forward a new proposal or for any other proposal to be approved or rejected”,
is alleged in the statement.
It is also
argued that Eroglu since the day he has come to duty, is ready to make an
agreement which takes the “realities” of Cyprus into consideration and is
determined to do whatever is necessary to achieve this.
3. Yorgancioglu will meet with Erdogan on Thursday
Turkish Cypriot
daily Halkin Sesi (29.01.14), under the title “The first meeting with Ankara”,
reports that self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu will fly to Ankara
on Thursday to carry out contacts on a request by Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
According to a
press release issued by the self-styled prime minister’s office, Yorgancioglu
will be accompanied by self-styled minister of foreign affairs Ozdil Nami,
self-styled undersecretary of the “prime ministry” Alpay Afsaroglu and the
self-styled director of personnel Huseyin Gursan. The delegation will meet on
Thursday with Erdogan and later on with the Assembly Speaker of the Turkish
Parliament Cemil Cicek.
After completing
his contacts, Yorgancioglu and his accompanied delegation will return to the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus on Friday. Meanwhile, in his return
flight, he will be with the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay,
Minister of Energy Taner Yildiz and Minister of Water Affairs Veysel Eroglu,
who will pay an illegal visit to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
On the same
issue, Turkish daily Havadis (29.01.14), in its front page, reports that
economy will be the priority in the agenda during the meeting between
Yorgancioglu and Erdogan.
4. Reservoirs to be built in occupied Morfouarea
Illegal Bayrak
television (28.01.14) broadcast thatself-styledminister
for environment and natural resources Hamit Bakirci has announced that
reservoirs will be built in the occupied Morfou region and the first reservoir
will be built in the occupied Potamos tou Kampoyarea.
Bakircimet with
a delegation from the Investigation, Planning and Allocation Department that
operates within the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works of Turkey that
is currently carrying out technical workings with the so-called Water Works
Department of the breakaway regime
During the visit Bakircisaid that close to 7.5 million
cubic meters of water is flowing into the sea around the occupied Morfou area
and that for some time now they have been working on a reservoir project and
finally they will be implementing this project. He also said that during the
workings none of the areas in question will be left submerged under water as
the reservoirs will be made with an underground retention system.
5. A new programme of harmonization of the “TRNC
legislation” with the “EU’s acquis communautaire
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis (29.01.14) reports that Erhan Ercin, head of the EU Coordination
Centre of the self-styled prime ministry, in an interview to Turkish Cypriot
news agency (TAK), said that the new programme of harmonizing the “TRNC
legislation” (Translator’s note: the legislation of the breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) with the EU’s acquis communautaire has
been renewed for the years 2014-16.
The new
programme envisages the preparation within three years 228 “regulations” and a
total of 83 “laws”, from which the 54 “regulations” will be within 2014 and the
18 “laws” will include 16 EU acquis chapters. He added that despite the
economic difficulties, as much as 50 “laws” and “secondary legislations” have
been approved and come into effect.
Ercin explained
that the “legal regulations” aimed at the programme are a condition in order to
solve the financial and social problems and to raise the standard of living
whether there will be a Cyprus settlement or not.
6. Industry in occupied Cyprus made a loss of 30% due to the exchange
rate
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.01.14) reports that the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber
of Industry, Ali Cirali has said
that the industry in the occupied area of Cyprus was influenced by the recent increase
of the foreign exchange rate and added that the industrialists made a loss of
30% during the recent period. In statements yesterday, Cirali noted: “The
raw material in industry is purchased in foreign exchange, but the sales are
carried out in Turkish Liras. This causes a great injustice”.
Meanwhile, Alpay Afsaroglu,
advisor at the self-styled prime minister’s office, saidyesterday that they
continue their work on the measures they could take regarding the rapid increase
of the foreign exchange rate. He noted that the issue will be discussed today at the “council of ministers” and
the decisions will be announced to the public.
The chairman of the Turkish
Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, Gunay Cerkez noted that the Turkish Lira lost
30% of its value as regards the foreign exchange. He noted that the “government” should prepare measures quickly.
(I/Ts.)
7. Opinion poll
shows that 61% of households in occupied Cyprus wereaffected negatively by the
economic crisis
Turkish Cypriot daily Realist-Kulis newspaper
(29.01.14) publishes an opinion poll
conducted by the Cyprus Social and Economic Surveys Centre (KADEM) on behalf of
the paper, which shows that the economic crisis affected households in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
According to the poll,
61% of households stated that are in a worse condition compared to five years
ago, 27.1% stated that are in the same condition while 11.9% stated that are in
a better condition.
The poll also revealed
that households are having trouble paying their debts.
8. Turkish businessman says he is ready to invest in illegal Tymvou
airport, but the land has not been yet handed over to him
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (29.01.14) reports that Emrullah Turnali, president of the
administrative board of Tas Yapi Terminal (T&T), which is the company that has
leased for 25 years the illegal airport in occupied Tymvou, has said they have
been waiting for one year the decision of the “government” of the breakaway
regime to construct the new landing field and the new terminal of the “airport”.
In statements to Diyalog, he noted that there is nothing wrong with the
“airport” and that his company does not face any financial problem. He added:
“We have a problem with overtaking the land. Our money is ready, our project is
ready. Let them show us a place”.
Turanli said that they will have no profit from the “airport” during
the first ten years, but after the ten years their investment will become
profitable. He noted: “We saw that it is profitable. For example, this year
there is an increase of 5.5 % in passengers. If there is an increase of 7-7.5%, there will be no problem”.
Turanli said that the delay in overtaking the land exists because
some other buildings are on this land. He argued that they are suffering loses
because no land is given to them. He
claimed that 50 million euros remain unused and that they lose four million euro
annually. Turanli said that they do not want the “TRNC” to compensate them for
this money.
Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
newspaper (29.01.14), in statement’s to Kibris TV, Turanli expressed the belief that ten million passengers could be
carried annually to the occupied area of Cyprus and argued that if the
people give priority to development, the illegal airport could grow not only by
7.5% annually, but by 10%. He said that if the obstacles
in front of him cease to exist, he could start working with his team after ten
days and hand over the illegal airport within two years.
(I/Ts.)
9.Free apartment e in a draw with newspaper coupons
Turkish Cypriot
daily Volkan (29.01.14) accuses the owner of the newspaper “Realist” and
constructor Temel Bulut of launching a campaign in order to give away one of
his apartments with coupons. A draw will be held among those who will take the
coupons.
The paper asks
the self-style minister of finance Mungan if he has given the necessary
permission. The paper wonders if the apartment, which will be in the draw, has
a “title deed”. It also wonders whether the necessary licenses given to the
“Realist” paper in order to hold a draw.
10. Gul departs for talks in Italy as part of busy
EU agenda
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman newspaper (28.01.14) reported that Turkish President Abdullah Gul left Turkey for Italy on Tuesday to
discuss Turkey's EU bid, bilateral relations and regional developments amid a
flurry of activity related to Turkey's EU agenda.
Paying an
official visit to Italy at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Giorgio
Napolitano, on Jan. 28-31, Gul will have
talks with Italian officials on political and economic issues. Bilateral
relations between Rome and Ankara as well as regional and international
developments will most likely be discussed during Gul's visit. His visit to
Rome comes at a time when Turkey's EU schedule has intensified in the last two
weeks.
During Gul's
visit to Italy, a Turkey-Italy business forum organized by the Turkish Union of
Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) and Turkey's Foreign Economic
Relations Board (DEİK) will take place. Gul is expected to attend the forum and
address the Turkish and Italian businessmen attending the conference. He is
also scheduled to attend the opening of the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center
in Rome.
11. Erdogan's visitto Iran to focus on economy,
energy projects
Turkish daily
Yeni Safak (28.01.14) reported that following
the lifting of the economic embargo against Iran, the visit that Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is conducting to Tehran is going to open new
doors for Turkey's economy. The goal is
for the 30 billion dollars of trade to be increased to 50 billion dollars, and Iran
will propose the establishment of a "Free Energy Zone" in Turkey.
In Erdogan's
portfolio for his Iran visit, which began yesterday, are the topics of energy,
the embargo against Iran, and Syria.
Erdogan, who will meet with Iranian President Hasan Ruhani is also
expected to meet with the Supreme Religious Leader, Ali Khamanei.
In addition,
Hurriyet Daily News (29.01.14) reports that during the meeting Turkey and Iran will sign an agreement to establish
a high-level cooperation council. Western countries eased sanctions on Tehran
over an interim nuclear deal. According to Iran's Foreign Ministry, a visit
to Turkey by President Hassan Rouhani will also be on the agenda. Spokeswoman
Marzihe Afkham described the visit as "very important."
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (29.01.14) reported that ahead
of Turkey PM's visit to Iran, energy minister Yildiz says that no new oil
agreement has been reached with Iran, despite Turkey's increasing energy
demand.
Yildiz also hinted that Turkey and France are planning
to invest in a US$22 billion nuclear energy project with a Japanese partner, aiming
to reduce Turkey's dependence on
imported natural gas and focus on nuclear and renewable energy.
12. Bagis appointed as PACE representative
Turkish daily
Today's Zaman newspaper (28.01.14) reported thatTurkey's former EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis, was recently
appointed as representative of Turkey's delegation to the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Bagiswas replaced in a Cabinet
reshuffle after a corruption scandal on Dec. 17,
13. Turkey extends time for missile deal offers
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (29.01.14) reports that Turkey has again extended the deadline for bidding companies to send
revised offers for its anti-ballistic missile air defence system. The new deadline for rival bidding companies
to submit their proposals is April 30, allowing U.S. company Raytheon Co and
Lockheed Martin Corp and Italian-French team Eurosam SAMP/T to revise their
offers and try to head off a Chinese company, with which Turkey is still in
talks.
Turkey announced
its decision to negotiate with China’s Precision Machinery Import and Export
Corp. (CPMIEC) to co-produce anti-ballistic missile system last September. It
then extended the deadline to Jan. 31, after firm statements from NATO and U.S.
officials that the Chinese MD-2000’s would not be interoperable with the NATO defence
architecture. Turkish leaders said the deal had yet to be finalized, and that
Ankara remained open to new offers from the other two bidders.
14. Turkey's Central Bank makes massive rate hike
to stem Lira fall
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (29.01.14) reports that Turkey's Central Bank hiked all of its key interest rates in dramatic
fashion at an emergency midnight policy meeting Jan. 28.
The bank raised its overnight lending rate to 12% from
7.75%, its one-week repo rate to 10% from 4.5%, and its overnight borrowing
rate to 8% from 3.5% - all much sharper moves than economists had forecast.
The Turkish Lira strengthened to 2.18 per dollar after
the decision, from 2.25 late on Jan. 28 and after touching 2.39 a day earlier -
the latest in a series of record lows.
The Central Bank
had been struggling to contain the lira's precipitous slide, with investor
confidence damaged by a corruption scandal shaking the government and the
global impact of a cut in U.S. monetary stimulus. In a statement, the bank said
it would maintain tight monetary policy until the inflation outlook showed a
clear improvement. That could have a marked impact on Turkey's economic growth,
which the government has forecast at 4% this year.
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TURKISH
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