TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 40/14 27.02.14
1. Ozersay: Davutoglu is coming to the island on
Monday
2. Ozersay’s statements prior the meeting in Athens
3. Eroglu said that
confidence building measures important for a solution
4. Talat: it’s the first time since 2004 that the
Greek Cypriots have a tendency to a solution
5. Murat Kanatli’s
imprisonment continues
7. Remnants dated to
the late Bronze Age were discovered near occupied Galinoporni village
8. British EU Minister said that the Energy Chapter
should open for Turkey
9.Turkish main opposition takes judicial bill to
Constitutional Court
1. Ozersay: Davutoglu is coming to the island on
Monday
Turkish Cypriot
daily Realist (27.02.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Negotiator Kudret Ozersay,
in statements to the paper’s reporter Ulas Baris, said: “An intense negotiation
process expects us. In the coming
Monday, Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu will come to the
island. As Turkish side, we will continue our well-intended, constructive
and positive stance.”
2. Ozersay’s statements prior the meeting in Athens
Turkish Cypriot
daily Realist (27.02.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Negotiator Kudret
Ozersay with his delegation arrived yesterday in Athens, where he met with
Turkey’s Ambassador in Athens Kerem Uras. The negotiators’ visits to Ankara and
Athens will be a first since 1959, when Rauf Denktas, then Turkish Cypriot
leader, travelled to Athens on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots.
Evaluating his
contacts in Athens to the editor-in-chief Harun Denizkan and the news
coordinator Ulas Baris of the paper Realist, Ozersay said that he is very
satisfied from the sincere welcoming and the warm interest he has received,
adding that from a symbolic point the meetings carry bigger meanings. He noted
that the Undersecretary of the Greek Foreign Minister welcomed him in Athens
airport.
Commenting on
the Cyprus talks, Ozersay said that the new process is a quite serious process.
He noted that the serious situation that used to be at the period of the Annan
plan also exists at this moment, adding that there is an air of peace in the
island and this situation increases his own hopes.
Avoiding making
any comments regarding the meeting, Ozersay said that it is not right to say
anything prior to the meeting, however, the top-level meeting is very important
as symbolic.
Meanwhile, under
the title “Cross Cypriot talks set to kick-off today”, Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 27.02.14) reports that negotiators from each side of Cyprus
are set to embark on visits to guarantor powers Turkey and Greece today to hold
meetings on the fresh reunification talks.
Mavroyiannis
will meet Undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Feridun Sinirlioglu
for talks aiming to break prejudgments and to build confidence in a bid to
support the Cyprus negotiations, according to Turkish officials.
A Turkish
official told the Hurriyet Daily News that the cross-meetings with the
negotiators mainly aim to help break psychological barriers and did not amount
to a negotiation platform with the guarantor countries.
These visits are
to be held in the framework of a comprehensive solution, Anadolu Agency quoted
Ozersay as saying.
“The dispute in
Cyprus has not been able to be solved merely between Turkish and Greek
Cypriots, and guarantor countries Turkey and Greece are part of the discord,”
Ozersay said, noting that all parties, therefore, should build a healthy
dialogue.
Hence, both
societies will be able to meet in a bid to find a solution, Ozersay said,
adding this model requires will from both sides for a solution.
“I believe a
healthy dialogue can be built through meetings in Ankara and Athens. These
discussions will develop a reliable environment of dialogue that will enable
the removal of prejudices. What is crucial is removing prejudices,” Ozersay
said.
According to
Ankara Anatolia news agency (26.02.14), Ozersay said a 'structured negotiation'
should be held as soon as possible to obtain a result, and added: “What we need
is not to make a law. The thing we need is that the two leaders reach a result
by negotiating for the solution of the Cyprus issue. It is essential to
negotiate with political parties at the parliament and to prepare different sections
of the society and inform them.”
On the same
issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (27.02.14) reports that Ozersay, in
statements to the paper’s chief-in-editor Rasih Resat, said that with this
dialogue in Athens and Ankara, the sides will understand each other better.
Noting that there is a delayed solution, Ozersay said that in order to reach
this solution, the international actors try to obtain a better understanding
between them particularly on Cyprus and the solution should be attained to an
international balance.
Furthermore,
according to illegal Bayrak television (online, 26.02.14), speaking to the
“BRT” before his departure to Athens, Ozersay said that the visits are
important in removing existing prejudices between the parties involved and
establishing a healthy dialogue which is necessary for a political settlement.
He said that the
visits are an ideal opportunity for the two sides to convey their positions to
the guarantor countries directly.
Pointing out
that it was the first time since 1959 that a Turkish Cypriot negotiator is
travelling to Athens, Ozersay said: “The Cyprus problem is not only a problem
that can be solved with the involvement of the two sides in Cyprus. The
guarantor powers are a part of this problem which is why these visits are
important.”
Noting that the
Cyprus problem will not be solved at discussions held during the cross visits,
Ozersay said that a comprehensive settlement will ultimately be found at the
negotiating table by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.
Responding to a
question as to whether or not similar visits will be conducted in the future,
Ozersay said that this depends on whether or not the outcome of the visits
satisfies the two sides. He, however, added that any such future visit had to
be reciprocal and based on political equality.
3. Eroglu said that
confidence building measures important for a solution
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(27.02.14) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu held a meeting
with the Society of Cyprus Turkish Journalists.
During the meeting, Eroglu stated that
confidence building measuresare important for both the two “peoples” in Cyprus
and added that some issues can be included in the confidence building measure
package and some other can be discussed at the negotiation table.
Eroglu further said that he would not be
accepting an agreement that would take the Turkish Cypriots back to pre-1974
conditions and that he will strive to reach an agreement that is viable and
will secure the peace and harmony of the two “peoples” on the island.
In addition, illegal Bayrak (26.02.14)
broadcast that Eroglu also held a meeting with the “Association for the
Protection of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”. During the meeting,
Eroglu claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side had sincerely begun the Cyprus
negotiations process and alleged that if the Greek Cypriot side showed the same
sincerity then it will be easier to reach an agreement on the Cyprus problem.
4. Talat: it’s the first time since 2004 that the
Greek Cypriots have a tendency to a solution
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (27.02.14) reports that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali
Talat, in an interview with journalist Emine Davut Yitmen, evaluates the new
process of negotiations on solving the Cyprus problem. Talat noted that it is
the first time since 2004 that the Greek Cypriots have an inclination for a
solution, claiming that this is the biggest reason to be hopeful.
Commenting on
the reciprocal meetings of the negotiators in Athens and Ankara, Talat said
that both negotiators will say after the meeting that they had a constructive
meeting and that Turkey and Greece would support any solution. However, Talat
wonders whether the confidence building measures could be in the agenda of the
meetings.
5. Murat Kanatli’s
imprisonment continues
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(27.02.14) publishes an interview with
the member of the Board of Directors of New Cyprus Party (YKP) Murat Kanatli
who is detained by a so-called military court because he declared his
conscientious objection and refused to do “military service” since 2009.
Kanatli stated that he
was detained because he considers himself not to be guilty and did not pay the
fine ruled to him by the “military court”.
He also said that the decision was not democratic; however he said that
he hopes this development will help towards the democratization in the occupied
area of Cyprus. He also said that he is waiting for the appeal of the case and
added that the decision is against paragraph 9th of the European
Charter of Human Rights.
In addition the Turkish press writes that various
organizations and political parties in the occupied area of Cyprus expressed
their support to Kanatli.
6. Yorgancioglu on Kanatli’s detention and on the
cooperation agreement with Turkey
According to
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (27.02.14), self-styled prime minister Ozkan
Yorgancioglu, in statements prior the meeting of the self-styled council of
ministers, referred to the rejection of the conscientious objection plea for military service by saying that in many countries it is a founding human rights
principle, however, this right for the citizens is not recognized in the “TRNC
Constitution”. He added that the efforts of amending the “constitution” are
continuing.
Referring to
yesterday’s news report that Turkey and the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus will sign a cooperation agreement on the fields
of energy and natural resources, Yorgancioglu confirmed the news. He added that
energy and natural resources issues are on the self-styled parliament’s agenda
and the issue will be discussed at the meeting of the “council of ministers”.
Referring to the
Cyprus talks, Yorgancioglu said: “We as the government will make positive
contributions towards these efforts”.
7. Remnants dated
to the late Bronze Age were discovered near occupied Galinoporni village
Turkish Cypriot daily
Yeni Duzen newspaper (27.02.14) reports that remnants dated to the late Bronze
Age were discovered in a hill near the occupied Galinoporni village.
According to the paper, the remnants were
discovered during archaeological excavations conducted by the illegal Near East
University and the German Tubingen University.
8. British EU Minister said that the Energy Chapter
should open for Turkey
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily news newspaper (27.02.14)
reports that the British EU Minister David Lidington, who was in Ankara to meet
Turkish EU Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and attend an energy forum, voiced his
country’s strong support in the opening of the chapter on energy in membership
talks between Turkey and the European Union, while arguing that it is not
possible to speak about energy in Europe without mentioning Turkey.
“Lidington, in
an interview with Anadolu Agency, recalled that the opening of the energy
chapter had been blocked by Greek Cyprus, a member of the EU since 2004”, the
paper writes and reports that Lidington
said that all blocks on chapters should be lifted in the shortest time possible
and the path for Turkey’s EU membership should be smoothed.
Delivering a
speech at an energy forum organized by the Economic Policy Research Foundation
of Turkey (TEPAV) and British Petroleum (BP) in Ankara, Lidington said energy
cooperation with Turkey is important in the U.K.’s quest to diversify its
energy supplies.
On his part, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız
claimed that the reasons for the blocking of the energy chapter were
“political.” “Not opening the energy chapter in Turkey’s EU membership process
is politics’ burden on the sector. This burden should be lifted,” Yıldız said.
9.Turkish main opposition takes judicial bill to
Constitutional Court
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily news newspaper (27.02.14)
reports that Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) applied
to the top court for the annulment of a controversial judicial bill, hours
after it was approved by Turkish President Abdullah Gul. CHP made its application on the grounds that
the bill was unconstitutional.
----------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
