TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 52/14 18.03.14
1. Ozersay holds contacts in the USA
2. Turkey’s MFA: Turkey supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, political unity and territorial integrity
3. Eroglu: The territory will be the most difficult issue in the negotiations
4. Siber asked from the IPU to give them the “status of observer”
5. Cicek: The international community should support the solution efforts in Cyprus
6. Illegal settler “minister”: Pendathaktylos does not belong to the Greeks and the EU; Let them send us away, if they can
7. Data of the breakaway regime’s exports in 2013
8. German ZDF TV has reportedly promoted the occupied area of Cyprus as a tourism destination
9. “YDU” at the technology fair in Dubai, ArabLab
1. Ozersay holds contacts in the USA
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (18.03.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret Ozersay has said that the “leading elements of international diplomacy” are at the stage of evaluating the role which they could play in the negotiations process in Cyprus, but this process is not a game and those who will in any case reach an agreement are the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots.
According to Kibris, Ozersay held yesterday important contacts in New York. In his statements he drew attention to the importance of putting forward a “healthy and effective vision” from the very beginning when the basic parameters are shaped as regards the method of the process. “If we do not want to come across a surprise by the end of the day, we must be the side which determines the process with active diplomacy by participating in every stage of this process”, he argued.
Ozersay met yesterday morning with the UN Deputy Secretary-General responsible for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman and other UN officials. In the afternoon he departed to Washington where he will continue his contacts today. Ozersay will also give a lecture at Georgetown University organized by the Turkish Studies Institute under the title “The latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the possibility for an agreement’.
In statements to illegal Bayrak, Ozersay said that they held talks with UN officials as regards the steps which will be taken from now on in the negotiating process and conveyed to these officials the so-called vision of the Turkish Cypriot side for reaching an agreement the soonest.
(I/Ts.)
2. Turkey’s MFA: Turkey supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, political unity and territorial integrity
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued on 17 March 2014 the following press release regarding the referendum held in Crimea:
“The result of the unlawful and illegitimate ‘referendum’ held in Crimea on Sunday, 16 March 2014, and the de facto situation that will prevail following the steps that will be taken in conjunction with this referendum will not bear any legal validity for Turkey and will not be recognized.
On every occasion, Turkey places a strong emphasis on finding a solution to the crisis in Ukraine on the basis of this country’s independence, sovereignty, political unity and territorial integrity, within the framework of democratic principles, and in accordance with law and international agreements.
Turkey attaches special importance and priority to the security and welfare of our kinsmen the Crimean Tatars, who are an essential element of Crimea and have been subjected to great sufferings in history. This has been particularly emphasized by Turkey in international organizations at every turn.
We consider that the developments that may take place in Ukraine and especially Crimea in the near future can also have negative effects on security and stability of our region. In this framework, we draw attention once again to the fact that creating faits accomplis by military means is extremely inimical, and we call on the parties to come together with a view to finding a political solution to the problem on the basis of the above-mentioned principles.”
3. Eroglu: The territory will be the most difficult issue in the negotiations
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (18.03.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Ergolu has said that it is extremely good for the people being attached to their village and the place they have been born and grew up, but today they have to defend the territory on which they live.
In statements yesterday during a meeting with a delegation from Vroisa village, Eroglu alleged: “We have established a state on these lands. After all, there could be no state without territory. Therefore, the most difficult debates at the negotiating table will be held again on the territory issue. Our view is to be able to reach an agreement by displacing the least possible of our people and even without displacing anyone. There will be some people who will be displaced with minor border adjustments. This is a separate issue…”
He went on and claimed that at the negotiating table it should not be ignored that their “people” have been living on these lands for 40 years and took roots here.
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4. Siber asked from the IPU to give them the “status of observer”
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (18.03.14) reports that the self-styled speaker of the parliament of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Sibel Siber, who is currently in Geneva to attend the meetings of the 130th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU), participated also in meetings with the Assembly Speakers of some countries with Turkey’s delegation headed by Turkey’s Assembly Speaker Cemil Cicek.
According to information by the “assembly”, Siber attended yesterday firstly, a meeting with Pakistan Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Saadiq, secondly with the Saudi Arabia Assembly Speaker Dr Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, thirdly with Kazakhstan Assembly Speaker Nurlan Nigmetulin and finally with United Arab Emirates Assembly Speaker Abdullaziz Abdullah Al Ghurair.
During the meetings, Siber briefed them on the Cyprus problem and expressed her satisfaction to be with the Turkish delegation. Referring to the ongoing Cyprus talks, Siber claimed that they, as “elected deputies”, represent their “people” and they try to explain in every platform their positions. She also asked them to give them the same status at the IPU as it is at the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Noting that while the negotiations between the two communities are going on, they do not want to be disregarded as a part of this process and she asked their support on this issue. In addition to this, Siber also invited them on behalf of the “assembly” she represents, to her “country” in order to brief them in detail regarding her “country”. Siber added that many students from their countries study at the “universities” in the occupied area of Cyprus. She repeated her invitation to them, adding that it is very important to visit their “country” from the point of view of tourism and education.
The Assembly Speakers, on their part, expressed their support on the ongoing Cyprus talks hoping for a permanent solution in Cyprus the soonest possible. They also expressed their desire to meet and consult with the Turkish Cypriots.
Siber met also with Abdelwahad Radi, the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and General Secretary Anders B. Johnsson. According to the paper, this meeting, where MPs were also present, marks the first time where a “TRNC delegation” meets with the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the President and General Secretary level. During the meeting, Siber expressed her optimism regarding the resumption of the talks and the pace of the process.
Siber claimed that by voting 'yes' to the Annan Plan referendum in 2004 Turkish Cypriots presented their strong will towards solution and peace, alleging that despite the fact that Greek Cypriots voted 'no', the “embargoes and isolations” are still imposed on the Turkish Cypriots and all the promises made to them are hanging in the air.
Siber also said: “If the negotiation process is between the two communities, the international community should give the chance to the Turkish Cypriots, who are one of the two negotiating communities, to express themselves.”
“We do not think it is democratic our self-expression to be embargoed through the international platforms”, Siber claimed.
Siber asked also from Radi, the President of the IPU to give them the observer status, adding that this will contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem. She noted that the “representatives of their people” deserve this right. She also asked their support to participate at the meeting of the Women Speakers of Parliament IPU in September.
Radi, for his part, expressed his satisfaction for see at the IPU meetings the Turkish Cypriot delegation and conveyed his support to the negotiation process for a Cyprus settlement.
5. Cicek: The international community should support the solution efforts in Cyprus
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (online, 18.03.14), Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Cicek, who is holding a series of meetings in Geneva with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, spoke about the newly resumed negotiations in Cyprus.
Cicek said: “Our wish is to see that this new process bares results and a solution in which the two communities who share the island form a comprehensive, permanent and fair system with political equality after the referenda”. Cicek also called for the support of the international community to endeavour in this direction.
6. Illegal settler “minister”: Pentadaktylos does not belong to the Greeks and the EU; Let them send us away, if they can
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (18.03.14) reports that Hamit Bakirci, self-styled minister of environment and natural resources of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has reacted against the complaint submitted by the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union (EU) regarding the destruction of the environment on occupied Pentadaktylos mountain range because of the stone quarries.
Replying to questions yesterday during a visit to Diyalog’s offices, Bakirci alleged:
“Let the Greek Cypriots take care of their one lands first. Let them be interested in the administration of their own country. Let them not extend [their hand] here at all. That is, let them complain about this to the EU as much as they want. In any case the EU officials never come to us demanding to close them [Translator’s note: the stone quarries] down. They cannot come with such a demand, because they are doing this in their countries as well. The important thing, the mentality here is the following: These are ours, these mountains are ours, they do not belong to the Greek Cypriots, they also do not belong to the EU. We must defend them. Is the solution at the point to close them down? It is not. However, we have to secure that they operate correctly. This is what we are trying to explain to the community… People say that ‘the one finger of Pentadaktylos is being destroyed’ [Translator’s note: Pentadaktylos in Greek means ‘he who has five fingers]. Nothing is destroyed, but if it is left in this manner, it will be…”
Asked to comment on Archbishop Chrysostomos II statement that in case of a solution to the Cyprus problem the illegal Turkish settlers will have to leave Cyprus and only those who are married to Turkish Cypriots will stay, Bakirci, who is also an illegal settler, replied: “If he can send them away, let him do so. I will not go away. I come from Turkey. I am on this island since 1996. I will not leave. If he can send me away, let him do it. The migrants here [translator’s note: this is how he describes the illegal Turkish settlers] had the mentality that ‘one day we will go away from here’ and did not even put a nail into the houses they live. If we continue with this mentality, one day we will go away. No place, which you do not defend, belongs to you… I have built my house during the Annan Plan process in 2004. Who will send me away? My wife is here since she was three years old. My children have been born and grew up here. My daughter is 15 years old and my son seven. Where they will send us? They refer a lot to the human rights. Something like this is not possible. No one will allow it…”
(I/Ts.)
7. Data of the breakaway regime’s exports in 2013
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (18.03.14) publishes data by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO) regarding the exports of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
According to the statistics of the KTSO, during the period 2012-13, “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) exported products of 236,948,367 dollars of value. The 52% of the exports in 2013 went to Turkey, the 7.5% to EU countries, the 0.2% to Far East countries, the 2.8% to other European countries, the 31.9% to Middle East countries and the rest of 5.4% to other countries.
8. German ZDF TV has reportedly promoted the occupied area of Cyprus as a tourism destination
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (18.03.14) reports that the German ZDF television has promoted the tourism sector of the occupied area of Cyprus. According to the paper, ZDF’s Middle East correspondent, Christian Sievers visited the occupied area of Cyprus some weeks ago and prepared a 15-minute long program calling the occupied area of Cyprus “TRNC”, presenting the occupied historic places of Cyprus and promoting the illegal Tymbou airport.
In the program it is said that “northern Cyprus” is an important tourist centre. It is also noted that in case direct flights begin much more tourists will visit the occupied area of Cyprus and it is added that the planes which come to the illegal airport from Europe and other destinations land there after “touching down” in Turkey.
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9. “YDU” at the technology fair in Dubai, ArabLab
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (18.03.14) reports that the “Near East University” (“YDU”) represents the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus) at the biggest technology fair in Dubai, called ArabLab.
Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (online, 18.03.14), Assist. Prof. Dr Irfan S. Gunsel, chairman of board of trustees of “YDU”, flied to Dubai to attend the ArabLab, so as, to participate in the presentation programs through which technology products produced at the YDU-IBM Advanced Research Centre will be introduced to world of technology. Gunsel will also hold meetings and establish institutional relations with the other organizations participating at the event.
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