TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 34/14 19.02.14
1. Eroglu: Turkish settlers will automatically take
the “federal citizenship”; Varosha is not on our agenda
2. Ertug is allegedly worried about Mavroyiannis’ statements;
He refers to a new partnership
3. Ozersay: The substance of the issues should be
discussed; the visits to Athens and Ankara will be useful
4. Nami: The main agenda is the joint statement and
the Cyprus talks
5. KTOS and KTAMS issued a joint statement; a
10-article proposal includes the opening of more crossing points
6. Cicek urges Muslim countries to support the Turkish
Cypriots at the Cyprus talks
7. Natural gas has potential to reshape ties in east
Mediterranean
8. MUSIAD’s branch in the occupied area of Cyprus to
organize an international event
9. Italy eager to help Turkey come closer to EU
membership during the next presidency
10. Gul ratifies internet bill
11. EU letters put pressure on Ankara for disputed
laws
1. Eroglu: Turkish settlers will automatically take
the “federal citizenship”; Varosha is not on our agenda
Under the title
“Giving Varosha is not on our agenda”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(19.02.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu has said that the return of the occupied closed
city of Varosha to its legal owners is not on their agenda. In statements
yesterday during a meeting with a delegation from the so-called “Cyprus Turkish
Solidarity and Culture Association”, Eroglu noted that the Greek Cypriot side
has from the very beginning been discussing Varosha as a Confidence Building
Measure and tries to “stir the world up” in this direction, but “everything in the negotiations is held with
give and take”.
He said: “An issue such as giving Varosha does not
exist on our agenda. Let the negotiations start. When we come to the give and
take stage we will discuss everything there of course and we will share it with
the public”.
Referring to a possible solution and the status of the
Turkish settlers, who have been granted the “citizenship” of the regime, Eroglu alleged: “You are now citizens of this country. When
an agreement is reached everyone who is in the election register will vote as
citizen of the TRNC. And automatically they will become citizens of the new
partnership state”.
Eroglu noted
that the Greek Cypriots may think differently on this issue, but “we will not
leave in the street the people after 40 years”. He claimed: “We will not say
‘you are not our citizens anymore, gather your belongings and go to Turkey’. There is no power in the world which can
impose this to us, because every country is obliged to defend its own
people. You are all under the protection of our constitution. The USA cannot say ‘deprive those who came
from Turkey from the citizenship and send them back’. Neither Russia nor the
Greek Cypriot side can demand such a thing”.
He said he was
satisfied with the support and trust to him by the above-mentioned association
and added that we are still in the beginning of the negotiations and the give
and take process did not start yet. He noted that after the visits of the
negotiators to Ankara and Athens, the negotiations will be intensified and
meetings will be held twice a week. He added: “There is nothing to be worried about at the moment, because there is
nothing discussed and put in front of us at the table”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Ertug is allegedly worried about Mavroyiannis’
statements; He refers to a new partnership
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (19.02.14) reports that Osman Ertug, Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu’s spokesman, has alleged that the Greek Cypriot
negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis, in
an interview he had given, made some
“unilateral comments” regarding the content of the joint declaration, tried to
present some elements which do not exist in the declaration as existing in it
and distorted the wording and the spirit of the declaration.
In a written
statement issued yesterday, Ertug argued
that the joint declaration is a means that will carry us to the comprehensive
solution and argued that “unilateral
comments and statements only harm the process”. Describing as “especially
worrying” the statements by Mavroyianins on the issue of how the “new
bi-communal, bi-zonal federal partnership will be”, Ertug expressed the view
that such comments and statements should
be avoided “in a period when hopes and expectations for a successful result are
increased again”.
Ertug alleged
that Mavroyiannis’ statement that the federal state will be formed with a work
described as “constitutional exercise” and “editorial adjustment” is contrary
to the UN parameters. He claimed that
the effort is to establish a “new partnership state”.
Referring to the
statement reportedly made by Mavroyiannis that “the right to return is above
the property rights”, Ertug argued: “We
are not referring to denial of the individual rights and freedoms, but on how
to arrange these rights and freedoms in a manner which does not harm
bi-communality and bi-zonality that is one of the most fundamental agreed
parameters… We see that in Mr Mavroyiannis’ statements effort is being
exerted to write the recipe of returning to the pre-1974 period, under the name
of ‘right to return’. However, the
process should be established on the basis of a new partnership which will
not force us to live the pains of the past…”
Referring to the “interpretation” of Mavroyiannis on
the issue of citizenship, Ertug alleged that this was a “unilateral
interpretation, does not comply with the wording and the spirit of the joint declaration
and it is unfortunate”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Ozersay: The substance of the issues should be
discussed; The visits to Athens and Ankara will be useful
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (19.02.14) reports that KudretOzersay, the negotiator of the Turkish Cypriot side in the
Cyprus talks, has said that the
negotiating teams of the two sides will come together today and added that they
should decide the soonest how the negotiations will proceed and start
discussing the substance of the issues.
In an interview
with illegal TAK news agency, Ozersay recalled that the visits of the negotiators of the two Cypriot communities to Athens
and Ankara will be held on 27 February and added that the visits will be useful
from the point of view of both sides establishing a dialogue. Describing
the visits as “historical visits”, he pointed out that this never happened in
the past and added: “I think that this will be useful especially from the point of view of the sides understanding
each other, but I want to particularly emphasize an issue: No matter how big effort the Greek Cypriot
side is exerting, as a requirement of internal politics, to create the
impression that ‘we want to negotiate with Turkey’, the basic in these visits
is the commencement of a dialogue”.
He noted that
the negotiations will be held between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish
Cypriots and argued that what he described as “new partnership” will be established between the Greek Cypriots
and the Turkish Cypriots.
Ozersay said
that they were expecting the Greek Cypriot side to express its views during the
meeting which is expected to be held today. He added: “What we asked the Greek Cypriot side at the first stage is: Are the
proposals submitted by the Greek Cypriot leader in the previous period still on
the table or are you going to withdraw them? Will you put forward a more
flexible position or you will become more demanding? …”
Ozersay noted that depending on the replies of the
Greek Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriot side will probably develop new proposals
and enter into the substance of the issues. He said
that they will try to achieve convergences in the new process and their basic
aim is to increase these convergences as much as they can and pass into the
last stage and the last step.
(I/Ts.)
4. Nami: The main agenda is the joint statement and
the Cyprus talks
According to
illegal Bayrak television (online, 18.02.14), self-styled minister of foreign
affairs OzdilNami, evaluating his
contacts in Brussels to “BRT”, said the
main agenda of his contacts is the joint statement and the new negotiations
process.
“A positive
atmosphere and expectations have been aroused here. They have asked for
detailed information from us. We shared our views about the latest statement
reached and the future of the process” Nami said.
Explaining that
he will have meetings with permanent EU representatives of various countries in
Brussels, he said that he will also
address the Socialist Group at the European Parliament this evening. He
also added that a question and answer section regarding the Cyprus issue will
also take place after the meeting.
Noting that he
will deliver a speech on the Cyprus problem at a leading institution, Nami said
he will find the opportunity to explain in detail the Cyprus problem.
Nami will also meet with representatives of the
European Commission where the Green Line Regulation, Financial Aid Regulation
and EU harmonization works will be discussed in detail.
5. KTOS and
KTAMS issued a joint statement; a 10-article proposal includes the opening of
more crossing points
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper
(19.02.14) reports that Turkish Cypriot
Primary School Teachers Trade Union (KTOS) and the Turkish Cypriot “civil
servants’” trade union (KTAMS), issued yesterday a joint statement, accusing
the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu (who has signed the joint declaration
statement for the re-launching of the negotiation talks), for moving towards
the continuation of the status quo and the blockage of the negotiation process.
The two trade
unions organized yesterday a press conference at AyiosDometios crossing point
and expressed strong criticism to Eroglu’s statements that the “joint
declaration” text includes “abstract of expressions”. The trade unions accused
also Eroglu for representing the sides that are in favor of the no-solution.
The chairman
of KTAMS trade union AhmetKaptan said that Cyprus is enough for all Cypriots.
He added that both trade unions will watch closely the negotiation process and
will continue to support all the positive steps that are taken for the solution
of the Cyprus problem.
KTAMS and KTOS submitted also a
10-article proposal which includes: the opening of crossing points in Famagusta
Gate, in Lekfa-Apliki, in occupied Louroudjina and in Deryneia, the ending of
controls at the crossing points, the return of the fenced of city of Varosha
(Maras) to its legal owners, the opening of occupied Famagusta port and the
illegal Tymvou airport for international traffic, the preparation of a common
project related to the education sector and the preparation of an education
system that will prevent chauvinism, nationalism and racism, the introduction of
learning Greek and Turkish languages in schools, the suspension of military
exercises e.t.c.
In the joint
statement, KTAMS and KTOS, commenting on Eroglu’s statement that “in five
months we can go to a referendum”, accused him for being insincere. The two
trade unions pointed out that if Eroglu implements his proposals, they will
support him.
(AK)
6. Cicek urges Muslim countries to support the
Turkish Cypriots at the Cyprus talks
According to
Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.02.14), Turkey's Parliament Speaker,
CemilCicek, asked for the support of the Parliamentary Union of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states in a meeting in Tehran,
Iran, for Turkey’s bid for UN Security Council non-permanent membership, of
which elections will be held in October.
“We should not let this problem continue. What we need
from you - Turkey’s friends - is support the Turkish Cypriots’ praiseworthy
efforts for a solution that is in line with the U.N. Secretary-General’s calls
for an end to the problem and for good relations with the TRNC”, Cicek said.
SibelSiber,
self-styled parliamentary speaker of TRNC (editor’s note: the breakaway regime
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) also attended the meeting. The
“TRNC” holds observer status in the 57-member OIC.
On the same
issue, Siber attended an opening ceremony for an exhibition of archives and
documents on Ottoman-Iranian relations at Iran's Parliament Library, Museum and
Archives Center in Tehran. Accompanied by Cicek, Siber expressed her pleasure
at being in Iran.
"Since the
past we have shared many things in common with Iran in our culture. We want to
develop our cultural ties with Iran and increase visits to each other. This
way, Iranians can get to know our country and we can get to know Iran,"
Siber said.
She also added
that many Iranian students have studied in the “TRNC” and that she hopes for
more to come in the future.
7. Natural gas has potential to reshape ties in
east Mediterranean
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman (online, 18.02.14) reported that Turkey, being the best economic
option for transporting Israeli and Greek Cypriot natural gas to Europe, has
the potential to turn problematic relationships in the eastern Mediterranean
region in a positive direction. (…)
Peace talks
concerning the island of Cyprus started on Feb. 11 after a push by the US
government, in a sign of the changing political environment in the region.
Experts say that one of the most important incentives to restart the Cyprus
negotiations is the natural gas resources in the area and the billions of
dollars that a gas deal would bring to those involved in possible pipeline
projects.
Diplomatic sources, who
preferred to remain anonymous, told Today's
Zaman that the US administration backs an energy partnership between Israel,
Greek Cyprus and Turkey, so that the mutual energy dependency will help to
restore and maintain peace in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Representatives from the US-based Noble Energy and
Israel's Delek consortium are in Istanbul this week to discuss a possible
pipeline deal which would transport Israeli natural gas to Europe through
Cyprus and Turkey. The Noble-Delek partnership will
negotiate with Turkish companies Zorlu, Enka, Turcas and Calik. According to
the daily Hurriyet, transporting Israeli gas via a different route would be
eight times more expensive.
According to
experts, a pipeline from Cyprus to Turkey, transporting Israeli and Greek
Cypriot natural gas, will be cost efficient with a price tag of 2 to 3 billion
dollars. The alternative figure, involving the building of an LNG facility,
liquefying the natural gas and shipping it to Europe, would cost 10 to 15
billion dollars.
The recent start
of the negotiations over the long-divided island of Cyprus has created a
positive political environment for building a pipeline through Cyprus and
Turkey. However, Turkey's Energy Minister TanerYildiz said on Sunday that Israel needed to fulfil certain conditions
set by Turkish Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan before any energy deal can be
sealed.
Yildiz said that certain projects may be economically,
but not politically, feasible. On Monday, Yildiz also said that Israel or
indeed any companies interested in a pipeline going through Turkey have not yet
requested a meeting with Turkish energy officials.
Cyprus President
NicosAnastasiades, in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, agreed
that a deal would allow Turkey to be supplied with newly found Greek Cypriot
and Israeli natural gas and further contribute to improving relations between
Turkey and Israel.
Moreover,
according to Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.02.14), natural gas reserves
discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean could provide a new catalyst for Cyprus
peace talks, analysts say.
Analysts
indicate that a pipeline to Turkey from the Aphrodite field is currently the
most economical way for the gas to enter international markets.
Energy experts maintain that a Cyprus settlement,
together with normalized ties between Turkey and Israel, will turn the Eastern
Mediterranean into a new source of energy for the international markets.
“The newly-found
natural gas in the East Mediterranean has provided a new catalyst for peace and
cooperation in the region,” researcher in International Strategic Research
Organization (USAK), HasanSelimOzertem said.
The distribution
of the gas found in Aphrodite is among the most important topics in the
regional countries. Fields licensed by Greek Cypriots for the search of natural
gas, coincide with the fields licensed by “TRNC” (editor’s note: the breakaway
regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus).
This issue is
considered to be a major obstacle that needs to be overcome during the Cyprus
peace talks. “Turkey strongly believes
in a structure which will distribute the income from energy resources to both
sides in Cyprus rightfully,” Yildiz recently stated.
“Turkey is
currently holding talks in order to increase its pipeline capacities as well as
renewing the complete substructure,” Ozertem said, adding: “Considering these,
Turkey is also a very strong candidate to become a transit route for natural
gas to reach European markets.”
Meanwhile,
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 17.02.14) reported that Israelis looking to work with Turkey to deliver its natural gas to
Europe via Turkey's undersea pipelines.
Israel is
reluctant to move forward with the negotiations, as Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism from the opposition for his apology. It
is expected that the talks for the project will begin after the Mavi Marmara
compensation issue is solved.
Israel declared it wanted to cooperate with
Turkey's four energy companies to deliver the natural gas discovered in the
recent years. The total natural gas to be delivered via Turkey is reportedly
between 10 and 17 cubic meters. Officials
from Turkey's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources officials said Turkey
may cooperate with Israel if the reconciliation in Cyprus between the Turkish
and Greek sides is successful, as Greek Cyprus (editor’s note: as they refer to
the Republic of Cyprus) will also benefit from the prospective project.
“Six pipes must be placed in the Mediterranean Sea,
which will cost around $1.5 billion,” said a Turkish official. "It is
worth it to put the project into practice."
Turkish officials stressed Turkey will be one of the partners of the project
and not just build pipelines.
The officials
also said that the gas delivery project would help provide stability to the
region. "If the gas project does
not become real, Turkey's loss will not be huge," said the officials.
"Turkish companies may be reluctant to be involved in the project unless
Turkey is declared as a partner by Israel. Turkey does not aim to be only a
transition point in the Mediterranean. The project would play a significant
role in the peace negotiations in Cyprus, as the gas reserves cannot be used if
the conflict in the region continues."
8. MUSIAD’s branch in the occupied area of Cyprus to organize an
international event
Turkish Cypriot daily Dialog
newspaper (19.02.14) reports that the Independent Industrialists and
Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) will organize
in the occupied area of Cyprus an international event with the participation of
Turkish Cypriot and foreign businessmen.
As the paper writes, the
international event will take place at Acapulco Hotel in occupied
Keryneiabetween February 28-March 1st.
In statements on the issue,
the chairman of MUSIAD branch in the occupied area of Cyprus, OkyaySadikoglu
said that a lot of manufacturers,
developer companies, universities and people who are related to the health and
other business sectors are expected to attend the event.
(AK)
9. Italy eager to help Turkey come closer to EU
membership during the next presidency
According to Ankara
Anatolia news agency (18.02.14), Italy,
which will hold the rotating EU presidency for the last six months of this
year, is keen to open more chapters to
facilitate Turkey's accession to the European Union, said Italian Ambassador to
Turkey GianpaoloScarante.
Scarante told AA
in an exclusive interview that the EU negotiation process is “entering a very
dynamic phase” and Italy will work very hard in order to establish more
positive cooperation between Turkey and EU.
"Italy is a
traditional supporter of Turkey's accession to the Union since the beginning. In order to bring Turkey much closer to the
European standards, we have to open more chapters. Otherwise, we can have no
mean to help Turkey come much closer to Europe [...] Sometimes bureaucracy
and rules of EU are very narrow but we will work in this direction to open more
chapters and improve the dialogue between Turkey and EU," the Ambassador
said.
Scarante stressed they were fully convinced that a
Europe with Turkey as an EU member would be better as well as Turkey with EU.
Scarante stated
as of July, they would work in the
direction to eliminate if possible different and contradictory opinions in
southern Europe, adding that this is a difficult task not only for Italy,
but for each member country.
He added that
Turkey is ready to open chapters also in energy, education and those concerning
freedom of expression and the freedom of people and civil society. “We are
confident that the atmosphere is better than in the past,” the Ambassador said,
adding that they were confident that some important results for Turkey and for
Europe were to be gained during the Italian chairmanship.
10. Gul ratifies internet bill
According to
Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.02.14), Turkey's
President Abdullah Gul signed a controversial Internet bill into law on
Tuesday, despite having asked for amendments to two key points.
On his Twitter
account, Gul said he was pleased with the government's decision to modify the
bill. He announced the ratification of the bill immediately after arriving in
Turkey from Hungary.
Immediately
after the bill's ratification, ruling AK Party submitted an amendment package
to the parliament to revise the points in question. Communications Minister
Lutfu Elvan met with delegations from the three main opposition parties in the
Turkish parliament.
The TIB will be able to deny access to web pages due
to privacy violations, but it must receive a court order within 24 hours, he said.
Elvan said a decision to store Internet users'
browsing histories would only be given by a court order.
On the same
issue, Turkey's Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan said that the new internet
law does not stipulate any censorship, and it is a measure against
blackmailing, immorality, and the threat against people's reputation. "A
scalpel saves lives in the hands of a surgeon, and kills in the hands of a
murderer," said Erdogan.
11. EU letters put pressure on Ankara for disputed
laws
Journalist
SerkanDemirtas, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
19.02.14), reports that the European
Union has sent its fifth letter to Turkey since the emergence of a major graft
probe to urge the Turkish government to proceed with caution over contentious
bills on the Internet and the judiciary.
At the same
time, the bloc has also expressed its concerns that widespread corruption and
graft claims are not being efficiently investigated because of a massive purge
of police officers and prosecutors that followed the launch of the Dec. 17,
2013, case, according to sources.
The most recent
letter, signed by Stefan Fule, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, to EU Minister
MevlutCavusoglu arrived in Ankara last week after Parliament approved the
controversial Internet Law. The EU Commission confirmed the recent
correspondence from Brussels to Ankara, but declined to comment or give details
as it does not want to convey its messages via the media.
Upon a question
from the Daily News, the EU Commission’s spokesperson, Peter Stano, summarized Brussels’ line with regard to the Internet Law.
“The law to be adopted imposes important restrictions on the freedom of
expression,” he said.
With regard to
the HSYK Law, Stano said it was crucially important for the rule of law in
Turkey. “We have underlined, on a number of occasions, our serious concerns
regarding the potential impact earlier versions of this law would have had on
the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, and the separation of
powers in Turkey.”
He said the
Commission would now assess the adopted law “to monitor and report on
developments in the country in light of the accession criteria.”
The Daily News
has also learned that diplomats from the EU delegation in Ankara last week
visited the Presidency and expressed Brussels’ concerns over the Internet Law.
Under such conditions, the continuation of accession
negotiation talks will be harder, as there is little hope for the opening of a
new chapter soon. Chapters 23 and 24 are on the agenda of both sides, but given
the circumstances, they are unlikely to be opened, given that Cyprus’ will be
difficult to overcome. The only chapter that could be opened is Chapter 19,
social policy and employment, but the EU is not expected to accept the Turkish
government’s proposal to alter the required benchmarks.
----------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
