TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 20/14 30.01.14
1. The Italian
President reportedly said that Turkey belongs to Europe and that Cyprus
accession created difficulties to Turkey’s EU bid
2. Eroglu: Guarantees are sine qua non for the Turkish Cypriots
3. Self-styled foreign ministry: The efforts for the Turkish Cypriot voting
in the EP elections are unacceptable
4. Bryza: Eastern Mediterranean’s natural gas could be carried to Europe
through Turkey
5. Kasif refuted Turkish reports
on the name of the new airline firmto be established in the occupied area of
Cyprus
6. Denktas will run
for the Democratic Party’s leadership
7. Erdogan to visit
Germany on February 4
8. Turkey voices will to expand energy deals with Iran
during Erdogan's visit
9. Erdogan says he will wait to see the interest rate
hike’s impact before stepping in
10. Turkey’s population exceeds 76 million; median age
of the population 30.4 years
1. The Italian
President reportedly said that Turkey belongs to Europe and that Cyprus
accession created difficulties to Turkey’s EU bid
Turkish daily Today's
Zaman (29.01.14) reported that Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has
extended strong support for Turkey's bid to join the European Union, saying
that Turkey belongs to Europe and that Italy wants Turkey's EU accession
negotiations to continue consistently and continuously.
He made these statements during a joint press
conference with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul who is currently paying an
official visit to Italy.
“Turkey belongs to
Europe, and the global security map also confirms this,” said the Italian President,
as he slammed other European countries for raising obstacles to Turkey's path
to accession. According to Today’s Zaman, Napolitano was referring to the
Republic of Cyprus and France when he made the following statement: “The
decision to start negotiations [with Turkey] was taken unanimously. However,
after this decision, some events happened that we don't agree on. Some European
countries affected the negotiation process negatively by blocking the chapters
and slowing their opening:“Speaking about the obstacles on Turkey's path towards the EU, the Italian
President talked about Greek Cyprus' status and said that granting EU
membership to Greek Cyprus has made things hard for Turkey”, Today’s Zaman
wrote.
Reporting on the same
issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (30.01.14) reports that
Napolitano further said that unfortunately while they were prepared for the
integrity of Cyprus, the Annan Plan was not approved and this was the result of
a complicated situation.
2. Eroglu: Guarantees are sine qua non for the Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (30.01.14) reports that
Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has
alleged that Turkey’s “active and effectiveguarantees” should continue in case
of a possible solution to the Cyprus problem and added that this is a sine qua
non for the Turkish Cypriot side.
In statements to Ada television, Eroglu argued that Turkey had
accepted to reduce the number of its troops in Cyprus to 650 in the Annan Plan
for the “sake of having an agreement”. Noting that Turkey left the issue of
discussing this matter every yearopen, Eroglu claimed: “Turkey’s guarantees is valid for us. The discussion of whether the
number of troops will be reduced is another issue. The continuation of the
guarantees is one of our indispensable conditions”.
Eroglu reiterated the
allegation that a joint declaration is not necessary for the resumption of the
Cyprus negotiations,arguing that former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat had also
said this. “In the end we met at a common point”,
he added. When he was reminded of the fact that Talat had made two different
statements on this issue, Eroglu replied that when you talk a lot, one day you
forget something you had said the other day. “Therefore, Mr Talat talks too
much. If you are on television three times a week and you issue statementsfour
times, one week you may forget what you had said in a previous program. If,
however, he is at the point he recently said, he said the truth. There is really absolutely no need for a
text of a joint declaration”, he argued.
Eroglu referred also to the decision of the government of the
Republic of Cyprus to facilitate the Turkish Cypriots’ using their right to
vote and being elected during the European Parliament (EP) elections. He alleged that “entering into EP elections
under the Greek Cypriots will be tantamount to recognizing the Republic of
Cyprus”. He claimed that this is “a
trick of the Greek Cypriots”, who will go to the EU and say that they have
given to the Turkish Cypriots the right to vote and be elected, but the latter
have not accepted it and therefore they cannot demand other rights. “I do not
believe that my people will be deceived”, he argued.
Eroglu referred to the
meetings between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties and said
that this of course can happen, but when the Republican Turkish Party (CTP)
holds contacts in the government-controlled area of Cyprus, it would be better
if these contacts were held by the general secretary or the “MPs” of the party
and not by the “prime minister” and the “minister of foreign affairs” of
the regime.
Referring to the issue of the natural gas in Cyprus’ Exclusive
Economic Zone, Eroglu argued that the Greek Cypriots are not positive to the idea of this gas to be transferred
through Turkey, with or without a solution to the Cyprus problem. Israel, he claimed, is positive to this
idea. Referring to the military manoeuvres jointly carried out in the area
by the Republic of Cyprus and Israel, Eroglu argued that both Israel and the
Greek Cypriots should stop the tricks, because “the more the waters get warm,
the more troubles will be in the area”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Self-styled foreign ministry: The efforts for the Turkish Cypriot voting
in the EP elections are unacceptable
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (30.01.14) reports that the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus has
alleged that the efforts exerted by the Republic of Cyprus to facilitate the
Turkish Cypriots’ voting in the European Parliament (EP) elections will not
overcome the problem of the representation of the Turkish Cypriots at the EP
and are unacceptable.
In a statement issued yesterday, the self-styled ministry said that
they have been struggling for many years for their representation at the EP and
added that the issue, on which all their
political parties agree and they will never give concessions, is the election
of the Turkish Cypriot representatives by the Turkish Cypriots themselves.
The statement argued that the two “peoples” of Cyprus, as it called
the two communities, have always been voting with two separate voters’ lists
and candidates’ lists and expressed the view that “this has constituted one of
the most fundamental elements of the 1960 Constitution”.
The statement alleged that the Turkish Cypriots should be
represented at the EP in the way they are represented at the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
The statement claimed also
that the measures announced by the Republic of Cyprus are “only for the show”
and aim at nullifying the pressures exerted by the Turkish Cypriots and
“degrade the communal rights of the Turkish Cypriots to individual rights”.
Arguing that their “people” will not
support such measures, the statement said that they will never support
arrangements which harm the Turkish Cypriot communal rights and will continue their struggle in the
direction of the reflection of their will at international and national level.
(I/Ts.)
4. Bryza: Eastern Mediterranean’s natural gas could be carried to Europe
through Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (30.01.14) reports that Matthew J. Bryza, former Spokesman of
the US State Department, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan and current board
member of Turkas Energy Co. Inc. has
said that carrying the natural gas found in Eastern Mediterranean to Europe
with pipelines through Turkey would be the most low-cost and reasonable way.
In statements to Kibrisli, Bryza argued that the Turkish Cypriots should also undertake an active role in works in
the field of energy in the Mediterranean. He said that the Turkish Cypriots are obliged in the end to play a role in the
determination of the economic future of Cyprus and added that this role
“should be determined the soonest”.
Bryza said that Turkas Energy
is closely interested in the explorations for oil in Eastern Mediterranean and
in transferring the natural gas from there to Turkey. He noted that the
cost of such pipeline will be 2.5 billion US dollars and the pipeline from Israel’s
Leviathan area to Turkey’s Mersin area through Cyprus will be 470-kilometer
long. Israeli businessmen are positive to this idea, while the Cypriot
officials are keeping a distance, he added.
He noted: “There is enough
natural gas for the pipeline in Eastern Mediterranean. And as Turkas we hope
that we will build a pipeline from Israel to Turkey. Furthermore, a natural
gas terminal based in Cyprus or Israel is being considered. I think that this
will be politically impossible. The relations between Turkey and Israel are
known. Perhaps there is Jordan or Egypt, but I think that this will also be
politically impossible…”
(I/Ts.)
5. Kasif refuted Turkish reports on the name of the
new airline firmto be established in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily Diyalog (30.01.14) reportson statements by the self-styled minister of
public works and communications Ahmet
Kasif, who refuted information regarding the name of the new airline firm to be
established in the place of the “Turkish Cypriot Airways” (KTHY)which closed down in 2010.
Evaluating
reports in the Turkish press that the “TRNC” is establishing “Karpaz Havayollari”
(Karpass Airways) and that flights will begin next April, Kasif stated that work is in progress for the establishment of a new
airline firm, but “there is still no plan a or b as regards to the name”.
As Kasif said, he is not informed about the issue and noted that there is still
no application submitted at the “ministry” about this. As he further indicated,
the last permission given by the so-called ministry was to “Bora Jet”.
6. Denktas will run
for the Democratic Party’s leadership
Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper
(30.01.14) reports that Serdar Denktas will be a candidate for the leadership
of the Democratic Party (DP) at the party’s 19th election congress
which will be held on Sunday February 2.
Denktas is the current leader of DP.
7. Erdogan to visit
Germany on February 4
Turkish daily Today’s
Zaman (30.01.14) reports that as part of a series of official visits to
European countries, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing to
pay an official visit to Germany to keep up the momentum on EU relations. The
visit will be conducted on February 4.
8. Turkey voices will to expand energy deals with Iran
during Erdogan's visit
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (29.01.14) reported thatTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in Iran with
the expectation of expanding economic cooperation between the two countries,
particularly with new energy deals that would feed energy-thirsty Turkey.
"It is
obvious that we import crude oil and gas from Iran, which are strategic energy
sources, and will be able to increase the volume of these imports," Erdogan
said in Tehran.
In addition,
Today’s Zaman (30.01.14) reports that Erdogan has said that Iran is like his
“second home.” Erdogan met withIranian President Hasan Rohani, First Vice President Ishaq Jahangir
and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday. He also met with other Iranian officials.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry official has confirmed to
Today's Zaman that an agreement on establishing a High-level Cooperation
Council mechanism between Turkey and Iran was signed between Rohani and
Erdogan.
At the joint
press conference, the prime minister emphasized that he hopes the year 2014
will be a milestone for both countries and that the trade volume will reach $30
billion by the end of 2015, pointing out that due to the economic sanctions on Iran,
the trade volume with Iran plummeted to $13.8 billion in 2013 from $21.8
billion in 2012.
9. Erdogan says he will wait to see the interest rate
hike’s impact before stepping in
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (30.01.14) reports
that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the government
will wait to see the results of the Central Bank’s rate hike move, claiming
that there are “alternative plans” if the rise fails to stem the Turkish Lira’s
recent losses.
“It falls to me
to be patient for a while,” Erdogan said answering reporters’ questions about the
massive interest rate hike that the Central Bank announced at midnight on
January 28.
Erdogan has
been vocal in his opposition to any interest rate hike recently, raising
questions about the independence of the Bank, which has refrained from raising rates
despite the steep slide of the Turkish currency.Repeating
that he has always opposed raising interest rates, Erdogan said his government
would wait to see where things are going before stepping in.Erdogan repeated
his view that raising interest rates is not the only available tool.
10. Turkey’s population exceeds 76 million;median
age of the population 30.4 years
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (30.01.14) reports
that the population of Turkey increased to 76.6% million as of Dec. 31, 2013,
with an annual growth rate of 13.7% per thousand, according to data released on
Jan. 29 by the country’s statistics institution.
The population
increased by around one million between 2012 and 2013. Men make up 50.2% of the
total and women make up 49.8% according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUİK).
The annual population growth rate increased to 13.7 per thousand last year,
from 12% per thousand in 2012.
According to the
figures, a majority of Turkey’s population - 14.1 million people, or 18.5% of
the total population - lives in Istanbul. The city’s population, increased by
2.2% from 2012 to 2013.More than 36%of Turkey’s total population lives in five
cities: Istanbul, Ankara (5 million), İzmir (4 million), Bursa (2.7 million)
and Antalya (2.1 million) respectively.
Meanwhile, the median age of the population increased
slightly, from 30.1 in 2012 to 30.4 in 2013. While the median age was 29.8 for
males, it was 31 for females.
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