TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 58/14 28.03.14
1. Talat: If the Greek Cypriots did not want a
solution, they would not have invited me to Limassol
2. Koenig: Solution in Cyprus is possible within this
or next year
3. More reactions to the incidents in Limassol during
Talat’s speech
4. Sibel due to London for contacts with British
officials
5. The first stage of constructing the undersea water
pipeline is completed
6. International Cittaslow Organization’s delegation
is illegally carrying out contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus
7. “GAU” will host the CAUMME II 2014 symposium on
October 2014
8. Illegal DAU university programs accredited by FIBAA
Foundation
9. Turkey's internet authority blocks access to
Youtube due to a leak of a wiretapped security meeting
10. Reactions over the leaking of wiretapped security
meeting
11. Facebook ban next in line in Turkey?
12. KONDA poll for Sunday’s municipal elections in
Turkey; AKP gets 46%
1. Talat: If the Greek Cypriots did not want a
solution, they would not have invited me to Limassol
Turkish Cypriot
daily YeniDuzen newspaper (28.03.14) reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talathas said that if the
Greek Cypriots did not want a solution, they would not have invited him to give
a lecture in Limassol. Replying to a question in an interview with the
paper’s editor-in-chief, CenkMutluyakali, Talat said yesterday that he did not
go by himself to Limassol. He noted that the Mayor of the city received him in
a very warm manner and was saddened because of the incidents.
Referring to the
ultranationalist ELAM movement, which had caused incidents the night before
yesterday during his lecture, Talat said: “These
are not the Greek Cypriot majority. If the state takes measures, it is possible
for them to be isolated and I think that this is a must for creating a culture
of peace in Cyprus”.
Talat noted that
a great interest was exhibited for his lecture in Limassol and pointed out that
the pro-peace persons were much more
than those who oppose peace.He stated that the only positive aspect of ELAM’s
“shameful attack” will be the measures that will be taken by the Cypriot
government. He also expressed the view that their conference was successful,
that they gave the messages which they wanted to give and that these messages
were understood.
He went on and
said: “We discussed the opposite of what ELAM did. Our aim was to take a step
for creating a culture of peace, for understanding each other. We achieved
this. We completed the conference successfully. We understood once more that even though we use the same terms, we
refer to different meanings. For example, when we talk about ‘federation’, the
Turkish Cypriots understand this differently than the Greek Cypriots.These
should be discussed by creating a common language. I would not say that the confidence building measures have been wrongly
discussed in our country, but they could not be successful. This is due to the
content. Because, in my view, the content of the confidence building measures
must not be directed towards the substance of the Cyprus problem.For
example, the opening of Varosha and the Tymbou airport. However, these are
parts of the Cyprus problem. I have made other proposals so that these failures
to be turned into successes. We discussed them within the scope of confidence
building measures. For example, the opening of a common school in the buffer
zone, it could be a university…”
When the journalist referred to ELAM’s attack,
saying that it is the first time that after such an attack, a Government
Spokesman of the Republic of Cyprus stated that “we are ashamed” and expressing
the view that “some mentalities are changing”, Talat replied that this protest “was good in this sense” and added:
“Actually this action could very easily
be prevented. That is, the police in a very legal and legitimate manner
should not have allowed these people to approach the building, because they
were not coming to protest peacefully, they were trying to break the doors,
they were aggressive. All these happened in front of the eyes of the police and
the police did not interfere. Therefore,
this caused a great sensitivity in the Greek Cypriot government”.
Answering
another question, Talat said that he is used to such incidents and added that
he had come face to face with such protests by Turkish Cypriots in London in
2002, when the British police was forced to lead him out of the building
through the back door. Another incident, he said, was experienced in the
Turkish city of Trabzon, when all the reservations he had made in hotels were
annulled. He noted that he was able to find a place to stay after interference
by some politicians.
(I/Ts.)
2. Koenig: Solution in Cyprus is possible within
this or next year
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (28.03.14) reports that the US Ambassador to Nicosia, John Koenig has said that solution in
Cyprus is possible within this or next year. Ambassador Koenig hosted a
breakfast for Havadis’ journalists yesterday and replied to their questions.
According to the
paper, he, inter alia, said that the
Cyprus problem has reached the stage of a solution and that the US President
Barrack Obama and Secretary of State, John Kerry are “closely interested” with
the solution in Cyprus.
Noting that we
are at the verge of the solution, Ambassador
Koenig said thatthe Cyprus problem has been discussed for decades and added
that“many views are ready that could help the sides in securing convergence on
issues they could not agree”. He went on and said that “a strong political will” seems to exist in both sides for doing this
and “therefore it is possible to reach a comprehensive solution within this
year or perhaps within the next year, but definitely within a period of time
relevant to this”.
Asked whether we
are heading towards a solution, Koenig said that this depends on the Cypriots,
that if there is a will for a solution, something which he believes that
exists, the conditions in Cyprus are “very, very appropriate” for the sides
reaching a solution. He argued
thatTurkey, which is allegedly partner of all Cypriots, both the Greeks and the
Turks, offers “extraordinary support” to the Cypriots on this issue. “Many
players from outside are trying to help you, but this depends on the Cypriots”,
he said.
Referring to the incidents in Limassol during a
conference with the participation of the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet
Ali Talat, Koenig, who was in the conference room
during the attack, said that the climate
in the room was more encouraging than the incidents outside the building.
He noted that there was not a consensus in the conference room, that different
views and approaches as regards the future of the island existed, but Talat and
the moderator of the discussion, journalist Kostas Yennaris did a very good job
in discussing some views that had the character of a protest or a complaint and
in directing the people to concentrate on the future.
(I/Ts.)
3. More reactions to the incidents in Limassol
during Talat’s speech
Reactions tothe incidents caused by ultra nationalist
ELAM movement the night before yesterday in Limassol during a speech by the
former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talatcontinue in the occupied area of Cyprus.
Turkish Cypriot
daily Bakis newspaper (28.03.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu referred to the incidents
during one of his meetings yesterday and said that the “Greek Cypriot government should have taken measures”. “It is
not possible to welcome such an attack”, he noted arguing that an attack
against a person who had been “president of the TRNC” during a period when
efforts for reaching an agreement that will satisfy the “two peoples” are
exerted, is “a very saddening incident”. Eroglu
claimed that the Greek Cypriot security forces have not the power to prevent
such incidents and argued that Greek Cypriots, who went to the occupied part of
Cyprus for conferences, had not faced such attacks and “there is no one who
thinks of carrying out such attacks”.
Bakis reports
also that the general secretary of the
Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG), SerhatKotak argued that it is not
possible pass over the incident by saying that “this is a handful of
ultranationalists”. In a written statement, he expressed the view that the attack will deteriorate the lack of
confidence within “both peoples” on the island. The incidents, he alleged, showed us how careful we should be at the
negotiating table. He claimed that
the incidents are important from the point of view of the USA understanding
what kind of bad results could be caused if “we are forced to an agreement
which is not built on correct foundations and does not guarantee the communal
and individual safety of the Turkish Cypriots”.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot KibrisPostasi (27.03.14, online) reports that the Turkish
Cypriot negotiator, KudretOzersay posted
a message on Facebook, saying he called
UN Special Representative Lisa Buttenheim and expressed Turkish Cypriots’
concerns over Wednesday night’s attack.
According to the
paper, Ozersay wrote: “I spoke to Chief of UN Mission and Special Representative
Lisa Buttenheim on the phone. I expressed our demand from the Greek Cypriot
authorities in which we ask for immediate action to be taken and the aggressors
to be arrested; otherwise similar incidents will continue to occur. Deterrence
is very important, if no legal action is taken against attackers, this will
translate as an encouragement for future similar attacks. The belongings of
Turkish Cypriots victims were unreasonably taken by the Greek Cypriot police
(cameras etc) and should be returned immediately to the owners. We are
following the issue in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (28.03.14) reports that, in a written statement, the chairman of the National Unity Party
(UBP), Huseyin Ozgurgun argued that the “vital source” of ELAM is the Cyprus
Church, which, allegedly, is also a main player in the Greek Cypriot political
life. He argued that the efforts to
deemphasize the incident by presenting it as an action of a small and not
influential group are “thought provoking”.
The general secretary of the Republican Turkish
Party (CTP), KutlayErk issued a written statement noting that the attack of
ELAM against Talat harms once more the feeling of the Turkish Cypriots for
safety. He noted that such incidents
are the source of the importance they attach to the security issues during the
negotiating process. “The security forces in the south are insufficient to
prevent this kind of incidents. The life safety of the Turkish Cypriots must be
secured in any event”, he added. Erk argued that the government of the Republic
of Cyprus should treat ELAM as a terrorist organization and added that the
perpetrators of the incidents in Limassol are seen on camera.
Finally, the
chairmen of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) and the United Cyprus Party (BKP),
CemalOzyigit and IzzetIzcan said, in separate statements, that those who
attacked Talat should be punished. Otherwise such incidents will be repeated,
they argued.
(I/Ts.)
4. Sibel due to London for contacts with British
officials
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (28.03.14) reports that self-styled assembly speaker of the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, SibelSiber,
will fly today to London in order to carry out contacts and to have a series of
meetings.
According to an
announcement by the “assembly”, Siber will have meetings with British
officials, NGO’s, and civilians.
Sibel will be
accompanied by an “assembly delegation” from the 31st of March. The
delegation will be consisting of the “deputy” of the Republican Turkish Party –
United Forces (CTP-BG), BirikimOzgur, the “deputy” of the Democrat Party –
National Forces (DP-UG), Ergun Serdaroglu, the “deputy” of the National Unity
Party (UBP) IzlemGurcagAltugra and the “deputy” of the Social Democracy Party
(TDP) ZekiCeler.
Siber and the
delegation will return to the occupied area of Cyprus on 4th of
April.
5. The first stage of constructing the undersea
water pipeline is completed
Turkish Cypriot
daily HalkinSesi (28.03.14) reports that Turkey’s
Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs, VeyselEroglu, in a written statement
yesterday, announced that the first block of the construction of the undersea
pipeline for the “Water Supply project” has been completed.
Eroglu said that
on this stage, the construction of the undersea pipeline, is the most difficult
and crucial stage of the project. He explained that a Dutch origin ship named “Fairplayer”, which departed from the port of
TasucuSeka on 23rd of March, carried 14 pieces of anchorage
blocks, which each one weights 220 tons to put on the ocean floor. 126 pieces
of anchorage blocks will be needed to complete the construction of the undersea
water pipeline. The Dutch ship will make in total 8 trips.
According to the
written statement, the first block will be installed in 290 metre depth and the
last block will be in 670 metre depth. Every trip will have a length of 9 days.
6. International Cittaslow Organization’s
delegation is illegally carrying out contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (27.03.14), a delegation of the International Cittaslow Organization, headed by its
chairman Cianluca Marconi, is illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus
upon an invitation sent by the occupied AgiosSergios municipality.
As the paper writes, the delegation will carry out
contacts with several “government and state officials” and NGO’s. It will also
inspect the cittaslow works in the “municipality of AgiosSergios”.
Yesterday the
delegation has met with the “speaker” of the so-called assembly, SibelSiber and
the so-called prime minister OzkanYorgancioglu while today is expected to meet
with the Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu and afterwards to visit the
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade, the “Turkish Cypriot’s doctors union” and the
“chamber of architecture”.
Translator’s note: “Cittaslow is a movement founded in
Italy in October 1999. The inspiration of Cittaslow was the Slow Food
organization. Cittaslow's goals include improving the quality of life in towns
by slowing down its overall pace, especially in a city's use of spaces and the
flow of life and traffic through them. More about the movement can be found in
the website http://www.cittaslow.org/”.
(AK)
7. “GAU” will host the CAUMME II 2014 symposium on
October 2014
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibrisli (28.03.14) reports that Contemporary Architecture & Urbanism
in the Mediterranean & the Middle East (CAUMME), will hold its second
symposium in 23-25 October 2014 at the illegal Girne American University
(“GAU”) in the occupied area of Cyprus.
CAUMME II,
Architectural and Urban Research, Education, and Practice in an Era of
‘Post-Professionalism,’ is an international symposium organized by “GAU”,
Yildiz Technical University – Turkey, and Qatar University – Qatar. CAUMME II
comes after the success of CAUMME I – 2012 on “Global Impacts and Local
Challenges” which was organized in Yildiz Technical University by Co-Chairs
Prof. Dr Murat Soygenis of Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, and Prof. Dr
Ashraf M. Salama of Qatar University, Doha.
8. Illegal DAU university programs accredited by
FIBAA Foundation
Turkish
Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (28.03.14) report that the “Faculty of Tourism”
of the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU) was given accreditation
by FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation)
which is operating in Germany.
As the
paper writes, FIBAA has accredited the undergraduate program studies of Tourism
and Hotel Management and the post graduate programs on Tourism Management.
(AK)
9. Turkey's internet authority blocks access to
Youtube due to a leak of a wiretapped security meeting
Ankara Anatolia news agency (27.03.14) reported that
Turkey's telecommunications authority (TIB) has announced an “administrative”
block on video-sharing website Youtube, where a leaked security meeting of
high-ranking Turkish officials appeared on Thursday.
The leaked recording features a confidential meeting
between Turkey's intelligence agency chief HakanFidan, Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu and Deputy Chief of General Staff YasarGuler. The meeting was
apparently about possible threats against a Turkish territory in Aleppo, Syria
-- home to a symbolically-important tomb.
In a written notice it sent to TIB, the ministry said
the content “poses an imminent threat against our national security.” “It is important to restrict access to this website (Youtube) and
others which may have the same content," the ministry said, designating
links to fifteen videos on Youtube.
Turkey’s
Science, Industry and Technology Minister FikriIsik said Thursday that shutting
down theYoutube was "a precautionary measure and an administrative
decision.” He added that “the foreign ministry has made the necessary
statement. There is nothing to say after that."
Ankara's Chief
Prosecutor has launched an espionage investigation into the wiretapped security
meeting. The investigation into the wiretapping of a meeting involving high
level Turkish state authorities discussing the threats against Turkish
territory in Syria will be run by the Office of Crimes Against the
Constitution.
Reporting on the same issue, Turkish daily Today's
Zaman (28.03.14) argues that this is another form of pressure on media ahead of
elections by the AKP government and writes that the Youtube ban comes only one
day after the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) cancelled the
nationwide broadcasting license of the KanalTurk television station.
10. Reactions over the leaking of wiretapped
security meeting
Turkish Foreign Ministry (http://www.mfa.gov.tr/) condemned yesterday (27.03.14) the release
of the wiretapped security meeting to
Youtube describing as a “Top secret meeting”.
“[…]The said
meeting was held to assess the risks and threats created by the fighting in
Syria in general, to discuss the measures that may be taken against these
risks, and to review within this context the threats against the Suleyman Shah
Saygi Sentry Post, which is located on homeland territory inside Syria. Discussions among relevant state
institutions to defend a piece of the homeland that is threatened by certain
terrorist groups are a natural activity that falls within the primary
responsibilities of the state. Turkey’s full determination to defend the
Suleyman Shah Saygi Sentry Post against any attack and to take the required
resolute steps, if necessary, to protect the Suleyman Shah Saygi Sentry Post
and the safety of our personnel assigned there was affirmed at the said
meeting.[..]”, was noted at the statement.
In addition, Ankara Anatolia news agency (27.03.14)
reported that Turkish Premier RecepTayyip Erdogan slammed leaked spying on a
security meeting and described it as an act of "immorality, villainy,
abjectness, and ignominy" during an election rally in southeastern
province of Diyarbakir.
Speaking to the
press in Turkey’s central Anatolian province of Sivas, Turkey’s Defence
Minister IsmetYilmaz said spying on a
security meeting between senior Turkish officials was
"counter-intelligence against the state," adding it was
unacceptable and the Turkish judiciary will take action concerning the issue.
11. Facebook ban next in line in Turkey?
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi newspaper
(27.03.14) reported thatseveral reports from Turkey are now saying that after
Twitter and Youtube, Facebook ban might be next in line.
According to the news report on Turkish Star TV, the Turkish
Department of Telecommunication has applied for the authorization of the ban.
If the reports
are true, in couple of days Turkish internet users might encounter a court
order instead of their account when trying to log in to their Facebook
profiles.
The bans on
social media have affected some of the Turkish Cypriot internet users whose service
providers were late to sort out technical issues. Since then the communication
“authorities” have repeated their position and said “TRNC is an independent
state, governed by its own laws”.
12. KONDA poll for Sunday’s municipal elections in
Turkey; AKP gets 46%
Turkish internet news site T24 (http://t24.com.tr/) published yesterday (27.03.14) an opinion
poll regarding the municipal elections to be held in Turkey on Sunday.
With a margin of error of [plus or minus] 1.8%, KONDA
projects the AKP [Justice and Development Party] to win 46% of the vote, the
CHP [Republican People’s Party] 27% of vote, the MHP [Nationalist Action Party]
15% of the vote, the BDP [Peace and Democracy Party] 7% of the vote, and other
parties to win 5% of the vote.
TarhanErdem,
Chairman of the Management Board of KONDA Arastirma, disclosed the results of a
survey that was conducted [on 22 and 23 March] through face to face interviews
with 3,067 respondents in 173 quarters and villages of 33 province centers.
Below are the results published on KONDA’s website (http://konda.com.tr).
Erdem, said that
KONDA evaluated the survey’s results as follows:
1. The voter share of the AKP has declined from more
than 54% in early 2012 to 46% 24 months later. Let
us recall that numerous poorly-managed critical developments occurred in the
last two years, including the process of drafting a new constitution, the Syria
crisis, the Gezi Park incidents, the 17 December operation, and the solution
process.
2. One of the primary reasons for the present picture
is the failure of the CHP and MHP to renounce their romantic narratives of the
past and to formulate coherent programs in the face of the economic and
administrative actions of the AKP after the general elections of 2002.
3. The results of the polarization between secular and
religious-conservative lifestyles were seen in the general elections of 1977. The leader of the ruling party at the time found this useful
politically. This polarization has grown and survived to this day. This initial
split along the secular-conservative axis turned into a rift between support
for and opposition to the AKP after the elections of 2011 without moving away
from its original axis. Every development--political or not--that has occurred
since the fall of 2013 has been viewed, interpreted, opposed, or supported
within the context of this polarization. This rift has corroded our social
fabric and has turned most of the public into its prisoners.
4. The preferences that are being expressed today must
not be interpreted as an “approval” or “excusal” of corruption. A review of the
KONDA Barometer Reports of the last three months will show that 77% of the
people find the charges of corruption that led to the 17 December events
credible.
5. A large proportion of the people is convinced that
it has been belittled and rejected by “secularists” and “opponents of the AKP”
for a long time. These people also do not see any
signs that such discrimination will end if they abandon their positions and
cross over to the other side.
6. Those who do not vote for the AKP, regardless of
their affiliation and opinions, must know that they are the majority and must
try to get to know the “AKP voter.” They must
understand that they cannot accomplish anything without understanding the needs
and aspirations of the AKP or by disregarding the actions of the AKP.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
