TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 54/14 20.03.14
1. Ozersay: Steps parallel to the solution are on the
agenda; The duty of Van Nuffel in the negotiations has not changed
2. Eroglu: We are holding negotiations to reach the
agreement which is missing for the Turkish Cypriots so as to take their place
in the world
3. Siber met with Luis Ayala
4. Atalay: The psychological barriers in Cyprus must
be overcome
5. Debates on the decision of the recent education
council continue
6. Left parties in the occupied area of Cyprus on the
way to form an alliance for the “municipal elections”
7. An increase of tourists in the occupied area of
Cyprus
1. Ozersay: Steps parallel to the solution are on
the agenda; The duty of Van Nuffel in the negotiations has not changed
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (20.03.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, KudretOzersay has met in Washington with
the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, Victoria Nuland and
Undersecretary, Eric Rubin. In statements to Kibris, Ozersay said that they discussed ‘steps which will secure benefits to
the sides on the island while the solution process continues”. He also told his interlocutors that the Turkish
Cypriots want to become a part of the international law adding that due to
the existing status quo they need more than the Greek Cypriots “to
breath”.
Ozersay noted
that while they exert efforts for finding a comprehensive solution, in parallel to the process, they also work
on steps which will benefit both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.
“I hope that soon we will be able to implement some of these measures”, he
added.
Ozersay said
that the Turkish Cypriots experience many difficulties because of not being part
of the international law for years and added that the existing status quo
includes many uncertainties as a result of which they “cannot see their
future”. Therefore, he added, they want a negotiating process that will have
results. He noted that he drew attention
to these “basic issues” during his contacts in Washington and shared with their
interlocutors the concrete steps that should be taken for the success of the
process. Ozersay said that they received satisfactory answers from this point
of view.
Referring to
some reports in the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot press referring to the
Annan Plan, he described them as “not helpful to the process” and added that “there is no need for the Greek Cypriots to worry, because the Annan
Plan is not on the table” and that “the Turkish Cypriots should not worry in
any way, because the on-going process is not an effort to adjust the Annan Plan
in favour of the Greek Cypriots or changing it”. “No one could do such
injustice against the Turkish Cypriots and of course we cannot allow this”, he
argued and claimed: “What will come up
if this process ends successfully, is a new solution agreement which will
establish a new partnership. In order for such a solution agreement to be
acceptable, not only the rights and the benefits which will be acquired should
be balanced, but at the same time, the prices which will be paid should be
balanced. This is an indispensable condition for a viable agreement. I assure
everyone that we are working for this”.
During his visit
in the USA, Ozersay gave a lecture at
Georgetown University and participated in round table discussions at think
tanks as the Heritage Foundation and the German Marshall Fund.
Meanwhile, Kibris reports also that Ozersay replied to
what are described as allegations that Pieter Van-Nuffel, special
representative of the President of the European Commission in the Cyprus
problem, could participate in the negotiations.
Ozersay said that Van-Nuffel is not a person who has just arrived in the
island, he is a part of the UN’s good offices mission, but his actual title is
“personal representative of the EU Commission’s President Jose Manuel Barosso”.
“Van-Nuffel is doing today what he has been
doing in the past”, argued Ozersay adding that Van-Nuffel’s duty is to provide
technical support on the issue of increasing the convergences under the EU
Chapter and help within the EU context on some confidence building measures.
Ozersay said that the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem
are a UN process, something which the Greek Cypriot side knows very well and
accepts.
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu: We are holding negotiations to reach the
agreement which is missing for the Turkish Cypriots so as to take their place
in the world
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (20.03.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu has argued that they are
holding the negotiations trying to find the agreement which is messing in
Cyprus in order for the Turkish Cypriots to take their place in the world and
not to create “new unjust treatments for the sake of overcoming some other
unjust treatments”.
In statements
yesterday during one of his meetings, Eroglu said that everyone should know
that they are looking for an agreement which will secure their opening to the
world and not one which will make their life more difficult.
Eroglu pointed
out to the importance of the agreement eliminating the worries of the people
and protect their rights. He noted that
the other side will always have demands which they do not approve and added
that this has started happening.
“Reaching an
agreement which will create unrest could secure that the two sides will again
have controversies with each other on these lands”, he claimed.
(I/Ts.)
3. Siber met with Luis Ayala
Turkish Cypriot
daily Vatan (20.03.14) reports that the self-styled assembly speaker of the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, SibelSiber, who continues her contacts in Geneva, met with the General Secretary of the Socialist
International Luis Ayala.
According to a
press release by Siber’s office, ErhunSahali, “deputy” of the Republican
Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG), was also present at the meeting.
During the
meeting, the resumption of the Cyprus peace talks, as well as, the benefit of
the contribution of all involved sides in reaching a permanent solution to the
Cyprus problem were discussed.
In the meeting,
it was also noted that a positive outcome of the negotiations will contribute
to the creation of stability in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.
They also referred that in addition to this, the stability in the region will
prevent human trafficking and illegal migration.
4. Atalay: The psychological barriers in Cyprus
must be overcome
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi newspaper (20.03.14) reports that the “head of religious affairs” of the breakaway regime TalipAtalay stated that the good relations that started to form between the two religious leaders in Cyprus, will contribute to the solution and will also play an important role for the building of brotherhood and peace between the two communities in Cyprus.
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi newspaper (20.03.14) reports that the “head of religious affairs” of the breakaway regime TalipAtalay stated that the good relations that started to form between the two religious leaders in Cyprus, will contribute to the solution and will also play an important role for the building of brotherhood and peace between the two communities in Cyprus.
Atalay, who
evaluated during a press conference the “Promotion of Inter-religious
Dialogue”, which took place recently in Geneva, said that these meetings carry
great significance.
He said that the
meetings held between the religious leaders, which started three years ago have
a positive reflection to the society, adding that the religious leaders can
play a supportive role with their attitude in the process of overcoming the
psychological barriers between the two communities.
He went on and
added that for the first time in its history, the Church contributed to peace.
“Politics and political language is politicians’ job. The language of religious
leadership should be kept separated from political language” said Atalay.
5. Debates on the decision of the recent education
council continue
Turkish Cypriot
daily YeniDuzen newspaper (20.03.14) reports that almost thirty persons representing 42 organizations held a protest
yesterday in front of the headquarters of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’
Organization (KTOS) against the recent educational council and the decisions
taken during this council. The protesters read out a press statementdescribing as “knife in the carotid of the Turkish Cypriot
community” decisions taken at the council such as “abolishment of the oath in
the schools”, “teaching the Greek language as obligatory subject”, “changing
the history books in a manner which will contribute to peace” and “closing down
the theological college”. The protest lasted for half an hour.
Referring to the
issue, Turkish Cypriot Realist newspaper (20.03.14) reports that the protesters
were holding banners, which said: “KTOS and KTOEOS should close down”, “It is
not KTOS which saved this country” and “We do not recognize the decisions of
the council”.
Meanwhile,
Realist reports that SunatAtun, general
secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP) criticized KutlayErk, general
secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) who had said that the oath in
their schools “have fascist and racist mentality”. In a statement yesterday
commenting on Erk’s evaluation of the council’s decisions, Atun argued that Erk “went beyond the limits”. He noted that the decisions taken at the council are only
recommendations and argued that Erk may be happy because the decision for teaching the Greek
language as obligatory subject “echoed” positively in the
government-controlled area of the island, but “it will never be possible for such a decision to be implemented”. “This will find the UBP opposing with all its
power”, he noted.
Moreover, in an
interview with Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (20.03.14), the chairman
of the UBP, Huseyin Ozgurgun expressed
his full support to the self-styled minister of education, Mustafa Arabacioglu,
who had opposed to the abolishment of the oath and the closure of the
theological college. He noted that the decisions of the council seem very
“innocent” but they will definitely not be accepted. “When you abolish the oath
in such a structure, when you start such things, the day will come when they
will say to us ‘let us not raise the flag’”, he argued describing the decisions
of the council as “shameful”.
(I/Ts.)
6. Left parties in the occupied area of Cyprus on
the way to form an alliance for the
“municipal elections”
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi newspaper
(20.03.14) reports that the General Secretary of the Social Democracy Party
(TDP) Mehmet Harmanci made statements about the efforts taking place for
forming a political alliance between left parties for the forthcoming
“municipal elections” in the occupied area of Cyprus.
Harmanci stated
that the party will convey on Monday and discuss the formation of an alliance
with United Cyprus Party (BKP), noting that the idea for a political alliance
between TDP and BKP has matured. He also stated that the ties with the New
Cyprus Party (YKP) who is leaning towards independent candidates, are not
completely broken.
In addition, KibrisPostasi (19.03.14) reported that
New Cyprus Party (YKP), Revolutionist Communist Union (DKB) and Cyprus Turkish
Civil Servants Union (Cag-Sen) agreed to form an alliance for the “municipal
elections” and join forces for social issues.
7. An increase of tourists in the occupied area of
Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily HalkinSesi (20.03.14) reports that OrhanTolun, chairman of the “Turkish
Cypriot Tourism and Travel Agencies Union”, speaking to the paper, said that
760,000 tourists visited last year the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
and added that they expect the number to increase by 10% this year, reaching
the 820,000.
Tolun noted that
in 2013, the 500,000 tourists came from Turkey, the 65,000 from Britain and the
30,000 from Germany.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi Daily News (online, 19.03.14) reported that
the “chairman of north Cyprus hoteliers association” (KITOB) HuseyinAktig said
that a Cyprus settlement will create a boom in tourism.
Noting that
tourism is the destiny of the island, Aktig said that the opening of the
occupied airport of Tumvou and the occupied port of Famagusta to international
transportation, as well as, the opening of the fenced off town of Varosha will lead to a serious touristic
activity. However, he stressed that there
are lots to be done regarding the tourism sector.
The number of
tourists in 2009 was 370 thousand in the occupied area of Cyprus and this
number has increased by 100% by 2013 and reached 800 thousand, he noted.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
