TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 59/14 29-31.03.14
1. Yorgancioglu: The way for the Turkish Cypriots’ applying to the “Property Compensation Commission” will open
2. Talat expressed his happiness for Archbishop’s condemnation of ELAM’s attack against him
3. Talat evaluated the latest developments in Cyprus
4. Ozersay: The revolutionary changes in fields such as communicating with the world will soon be reflected on the community
5. Atun: The connection to Turkey is a solution too
6. Diyalog: Ten thousand persons are waiting to apply for the “citizenship” of the breakaway regime
7. Siber attended a festival with a British member of the House of Lords
8. Illegal Keryneia American University signed a cooperation agreement with the Dubai Canada University
9. Yorgancioglu: “Our ports are far cry from sufficient for future demand”
10. Turkey's Local Elections: AK Party leads
11. Erdogan in his victorious balcony speech said: The traitors will pay for it
12. Eight people were killed in Turkey’s municipal elections; allegations for fraud
13. How the Turkish press covered the municipal elections held yesterday in Turkey
14. How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the results of the 2014 local elections in Turkey
1. Yorgancioglu: The way for the Turkish Cypriots’ applying to the “Property Compensation Commission” will open
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (31.03.14) reports that Ozkan Yorgancioglu, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that a so-called legal arrangement, which will open the way for the Turkish Cypriots to apply to the “Property Compensation Commission” [Translator’s note: established by Turkey in the occupied area of the island] is about to be completed.
Yorgancioglu visited yesterday the occupied villages of Lefkoniko and Piyi, in the occupied area of Famagusta, and listened to the complaints of the people living there.
Asked by a “citizen” at occupied Piyi village what will happen with those who had been given “equivalent points” [for the properties they abandoned in the southern government-controlled area of Cyprus] but could not get any property in return of these points, Yorgancioglu replied that distributing such property in a period during which negotiations are being held would be wrong. However, he added, their aim as “government” is to make possible for the Turkish Cypriots, who left immovable property in the government-controlled area of Cyprus and could not get something in return in the occupied area of the island, to apply to the “Immovable Property Commission”. “We are considering of such a method for those who have points and did not get their equivalent or anything else”, he noted.
Yorgancioglu went on and said that they are also considering of giving to the holders of “equivalent points” the 108 thousand-donum land [Translator’s note: a donum is a land measure of about 1000 square meters] leased by the “state”, but such an initiative would cause an appeal by the Greek Cypriots to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). He added: “However, if a Turkish Cypriot agrees with a Greek Cypriot, personally or through the Property Compensation Commission on the issue of exchanging property, the Greek Cypriot administration will not be able to oppose to this, because exchange is currently carried out at the Property Compensation Commission. We are about to finish the draft-law. We will send this to the assembly within the forthcoming days”.
Noting that nothing could be given in return of 5-5.5 billion points, but a part of these points concerns property that belongs to EVKAF religious foundation, Yorgancioglu pointed out the following: “25 billion points have been given to the Turkish Cypriots. 5.5 billion of these points are still exposed. 200 thousand Greek Cypriots migrated from the north to the south and 70 thousand Turkish Cypriots migrated from the south to the north. The properties left by 200 thousand Greek Cypriots were not enough for 70 thousand Turkish Cypriots! And 5.5 billion points remained exposed. This corresponds to one fourth. Such injustice and inequality happened that in spite of the fact that the properties were over, many points remained exposed”.
Moreover, Yorgancioglu referred to the situation of the illegal Lefkoniko airport and said that it is not “very pleasant”. He noted that they will discuss the issue with the company which is leasing the “airport”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Talat expressed his happiness for Archbishop’s condemnation of ELAM’s attack against him
Under the title “Chrysostomos condemned ELAM”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (31.03.14) reports that Archbishop Chrysostomos B’ called the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and expressed his sorrow over the attack against Talat in Limassol by ELAM members. He also expressed his sympathy towards Talat.
The paper writes that the Archbishop told Talat that peace, solution and trust between the two communities in Cyprus must be established in Cyprus and therefore fascist and irrational behaviors are condemned. He also stated that the government (of the Republic of Cyprus) should prevent and not give permission for these kinds of attacks.
On his part, Talat stated that this is the first time the Church of Cyprus takes such a stance and expressed his happiness over it. He also expressed the hope that the dialogue between the religious leaders in Cyprus to continue, noting that this will contribute towards peace.
In addition, the Religious Employees Trade Union (DIN GOR_SEN) thanked Archbishop Chrysostomos B’ for apologizing to Talat for ELAM’s attack. The trade union noted that it expected and hoped for this reaction by the Archbishop.
3. Talat evaluated the latest developments in Cyprus
Under the title “If it was me, the joint statement would have come out in two hours” Turkish Cypriot daily Realist newspaper (31.03.14) publishes an article by the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat who evaluates the latest developments in Cyprus.
Speaking about the joint statement, Talat accused the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu for being hesitant over the solution arguing that this is the reason it took the joint statement four months to be issued.
He also alleged that the return of Famagusta to the Greek Cypriot side will put obstacles towards the solution.
In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (31.03.14) writes that Talat also spoke on his attack by ELAM members and said that these kinds of organizations must be banned. Speaking on the issue during a press conference, he stated that these actions and these organizations hurt the solution progress. He also stated that peace culture must be established in Cyprus.
4. Ozersay: The revolutionary changes in fields such as communicating with the world will soon be reflected on the community
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (31.03.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret Ozersay has argued that the “status quo” in Cyprus “is creaking”. In an interview with Havadis, Ozersay said that we will soon see the reflections on the [Turkish Cypriot] community of the “revolutionary changes” in the field of communicating with the world and other fields and added: “The non-recognition cannot prevent this. Perhaps it can delay it a little. The status quo is creaking. I think that both the communal structure and the policy which nourished it will creak”.
Ozersay argued that instead of both sides insisting on the ideal solution for them, they should try to meet each other at a common point and alleged: “We, as Turkish Cypriot side, think that this will be done with making bridging proposals and give and take”.
Ozersay said that in case the solution is just and viable, it will “in any case accommodate a vision” better than the situation which exists today and added: “Becoming a part of the international law will be very important for us. Of course, for this, we have to change our way of life, our understanding of administration”.
Ozersay referred to the Turkish Cypriot negotiating delegation and said that it works well and that they have “a strong negotiating delegation” in which experts who help them participate. He argued that this delegation “proved itself within the past four years”. “If things were not so, if we had been in a situation of putting forward excessive demands and of delaying the process, believe me, the international community would not have hesitated to accuse the Turkish Cypriot side”, he alleged.
(I/Ts.)
5. Atun: The connection to Turkey is a solution too
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (31.03.14) reports that Prof. Dr Ata Atun, member of the consultant team of Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, said that the natural gas is a catalyst for solution. He added that the Turkish Cypriots want a Cyprus settlement; however, this solution will not be in any case a partnership republic. He went on: “A federation is a solution, a confederation is a solution, separate states are a solution, and a connection to Turkey is also a solution. The important thing is to sign a solution that will move forward the Turkish Cypriot people”.
6. Diyalog: Ten thousand persons are waiting to apply for the “citizenship” of the breakaway regime
Under the title “Ten thousand persons are in line”, Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (29.03.14) reported that the so-called citizenship law which the self-styled government of the breakaway regime is preparing is about to be completed.
The paper writes that it acquired “important information” as regards the framework of the “law” which is expected with interest by ten thousand persons. According to the “law”, those who have a work “permit” for continuous five years in the occupied area of Cyprus will acquire the right of getting a “white card”. Those who will be given “white card” will not have to apply for work “permit” every year.
The persons who remain for another five years in the occupied area of Cyprus with a “white card”, which is considered to be “the first step” for the “citizenship” of the breakaway regime, will acquire the right to apply for the “citizenship” in the end of this process.
Citing an “official” of the breakaway regime, the paper writes that at the first stage about ten thousand persons who are currently living in the occupied area of Cyprus will acquire the right to apply for a “white card”.
(I/Ts.)
7. Siber attended a festival with a British member of the House of Lords
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (30.03.14) reported that self-styled speaker of the assembly Sibel Siber, who is currently in London for a series of contacts, was the honour guest of the “3rd spring festival” organized by Vatan Cultural Turkish choir on Friday night.
Siber was accompanied to the reception by the representative of the breakaway regime in London, Oya Tuncali and the British Deputy Barones Sarah Lutford.
8. Illegal Keryneia American University signed a cooperation agreement with the Dubai Canada University
Under the title “One more international agreement”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (31.03.14) reports that the illegal Keryneia American University (GAU) signed an agreement for cooperation with the International Dubai Canada University.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, GAU dean Asim Vehbi stated that the “university” has cooperation with more than 150 universities.
9. Yorgancioglu: “Our ports are far cry from sufficient for future demand”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 28.03.14) reported that self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu stated that the ports in the occupied area of Cyprus are “far cry from being sufficient to meet future demands” and added that the capacity building and modernization work are underway.
Yorgancioglu was at the occupied port of Famagusta, inspecting the area and being briefed by “port officials” on the condition of the port.
Speaking after his inspection, Yorgancioglu also said: “The port officials informed me about the need for further investments which would help the creation of conditions for bigger ships and vessels to approach the port where imports and exports would be happening”.
10. Turkey's Local Elections: AK Party leads
Turkish private channel CNNTurk (online, 14.30, 31.03.14) broadcast the following unofficial results from Sunday's local elections in Turkey, according to a 98.45 percentage of opened ballot boxes:
AKP (Justice and Development Party): 45.43%
CHP (Republican People's Party): 27.93%
MHP (Nationalist Movement Party): 15.25%
BDP (Peace and Democracy Party):6.37%
Others: 4.83%
According to CNNTurk television, 52.718.458 people went to the polls, a 87.72% of participation, which is considered very high.
On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 31.03.14) reports that
MHP has taken the lead in Turkey’s three eastern and southern provinces, which had belonged to other parties since the 2009 local elections.
MHP was leading the votes in Turkey’s Mersin, Kars and Igdir provinces late on March 30, all of them ruled by other political parties since the last local elections in 2009.
Moreover, HDN reports that AKP Istanbul's incumbent Mayor, Kadir Topbas, won a third term with 48% of the vote.
Topbas beat CHP rival Mustafa Sarigul into second place; Sarigul won 39.5%, according to unofficial results.
AKP Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek has also declared victory in his bid to win the capital's mayoral seat for a fifth consecutive time, dismissing suggestions from his main rival, Mansur Yavas of the Republican People's Party (CHP), that the main opposition had won the city.
The BDP again enjoyed a near sweep in the southeastern provinces of Turkey after the March 30 elections, maintaining most of their mayoral seats in the predominantly Kurdish cities.
Meanwhile, HDN reports that the first Mayor with a headscarf, Fatma Toru, the mayoral candidate for the Meram district of Konya from the AKP, has been elected.
None of Turkey’s metropolitan cities have been governed by female Mayors until the March 30 local elections and now not one, but three women have made history after being elected to the helm on opposite sides of the country.
11. Erdogan in his victorious balcony speech said: The traitors will pay for it
According to Turkish daily Sabah (31.03.14), Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing the nation in a balcony speech in Ankara, said: “Today, no one has lost; every citizen has won a party that will serve them. Let's open a new page in which the love of Turkey exceeds all.”
Erdogan said that today, the new Turkey is victorious. He stated that it is not enough for a party (ruling party) to embrace the people. Opposition parties should also leave arrogance out of politics. The Prime Minister said that it is clear that Turkey is in need of a new opposition. Erdogan was quoted as saying, "Today, arrogance has lost again."
Speaking harshly of his opponents, Erdogan said: "How could you dare threaten our national security? They will pay for it. The traitors who betrayed the nation by wiretapping a top-secret meeting at the foreign ministry's office will pay for it."
Erdogan told the crowd: "Today, the nation gave a clear message, we are here!" He finished by saying, "I thank the people who prayed for our victory."
12. Eight people were killed in Turkey’s municipal elections; allegations for fraud
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 30.03.14) reported that at least eight people were killed March 30 in clashes between groups backing rival candidates in Turkey’s municipal elections.
Security officials said six people were killed in a gun fight between two families, in in the village of Yuvacik in the southeastern province of Sanlıurfa’s Hilvan district, which borders Syria. In the Siverek district of the same province, another brawl happened after one family insisted on violating the rule of anonymous voting, leading to several injuries. Such clashes have occurred also in previous local elections.
In the southern province of Hatay, which also borders Syria, two people died in a shootout between the relatives of two candidates in the Golbasi village of Kirikhan, officials said. The two candidates have no party affiliation.
Meanwhile, the paper reported that the main opposition Republican People Party (CHP) officials have voiced concern over widespread blackouts throughout Turkey during counting ballots for the March 30 local elections.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz denied any wrongdoing. Yildiz spoke in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri after the voting was completed, saying: "Especially in the eastern Mediterranean cities of Mersin, Adana and Gaziantep, there was a storm with winds reaching 75 km/h. On the other hand, there was heavy snow in eastern Anatolian cities like Erzurum and Ardahan. These weather conditions caused some local power disruptions which didn't affect the vote counting."
Yildiz failed to address complaints about power disruptions in western cities like Eskisehir and Istanbul, where the weather conditions were better.
Moreover, HDN, under the title “Fraud allegations in local elections”, reported that reports have emerged of ballot papers at one voting station in the eastern district of Tatvan in Bitlis province, on the shores of Lake Van, being annulled. The cancellation came after an officer reportedly stamped the outside of the ballot papers and envelopes at home, despite the fact that this final stamp must be made in front of the High Election Board’s (YSK) district officer. The chief electoral officer said he had done the sealing at home to ease their job. The official of the district election board has prepared a report over the issue.
In the western province of Canakkale, the ballot officials gave the wrong envelopes to the voters for a while. In one ballot in the province’s Bayramic district, the voting was suspended for a period when it was understood that the envelopes had been distributed erroneously.
13. How the Turkish press covered the municipal elections held yesterday in Turkey
Following are the titles of the main Turkish newspapers today (31.03.14) following the municipal elections held yesterday in Turkey:
Milliyet: AKP broke its own records and won with 46.72% and notes that the road for presidency is open now for Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Sabah: Vote of confidence to Erdogan and adds that the policy of defamation failed.
Hurriyet: The ballot box’s decision. The paper writes that the voters; participation was very high and that AKP won in the main municipalities.
Taraf: There is no end to the tension. The paper writes that the speech that Erdogan delivered after the election results were announced, was not full of messages for unity. “Erdogan issued accusations for traitors against the country, giving the sign for more tension to rise”, writes the paper.
Haber Turk: Erdogan’s win.
Radikal: Seventh win for AKP.
Cumhuriyet: Tension won.
Yeni Safak: Turkey stood upright.
Aksam: Nation victory.
In a commentary under the title “The naked truth of Turkish politics”, Murat Yetkin writes in Hurriyet:
“Here is the naked truth: Half of those corruption claims in any other democratic country would be enough for the collapse of the government; in Turkey it cost only some 5 points of loss in support of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan’s votes in the local elections on March 30. […]Erdoğan’s political recipe based simply on antagonism won again. This time, the subject of antagonism was the supporters of Fethullah Gülen, his former ally moderate Islamist scholar living in the U.S. who is accused of staging a coup against Erdoğan by bringing up corruptions claims. Erdoğan has vowed to root out the Gülenists during the election campaign and now there is no reason left to carry out that promise, since he will take the election results as a license to do so. Now Turkey will have the presidential elections in August. Its campaign will start in June. Some 45% is enough to win the 8th poll after 2002 for Erdoğan, but will not be enough for presidency, for which 50 percent plus one vote will be needed. The Kurdish voters could be attracted for that, whereas the BDP is locked on regional autonomy. How will the AK Parti voters respond to that? Erdoğan might come up with another issue to fit his antagonist recipe. But nor is it time for him to enjoy victory.”
14. How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the results of the 2014 local elections in Turkey
The great majority of the Turkish Cypriot daily newspapers today (31.03.14) covers on their front page the results of the municipality elections which were held yesterday in Turkey.
Under the title “AK Party came out strong”, Kibris reports that the elections ended with the victory of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which won the elections in spite of fact that it had been said that it would lose its power due to a “series of negative incidents” that happened all over Turkey. The paper points out that AKP won, in spite of the views according to which it would suffer losses because of the Gezi Park incidents, the confrontation of the party with the Fethullah Gulen community, the corruption allegations, the closing down of the Twitter and Youtube and the leak of a conversation at a security meeting to the internet.
Afrika covers the issue under the title “Approval to the dictatorial regime”, noting that “the Turkish people made its choice” and that “Turkey loves its thieves and its dictator”. According to the paper, Recep Tayyip Erdogan won an election victory yesterday in Turkey similar to the one won by Hitler in 1933 in Germany. The paper notes that Hitler’s party had secured 44% of the votes, while Erdogan’s party more than 45%. Afrika argues that the great majority of the people in Turkey approved corruption, fraud, the collapse of the judiciary, the silencing of the press, the war with Syria, the police violence, the booing against young people who have been killed and the closing down of Twitter and Youtube.
Under the title “A strange election”, Yeni Duzen reports that the controversy over the “parallel state” sealed local elections in Turkey and the ban on Twitter and Youtube will be remembered from these elections. The paper writes that two main news agencies of the country, Anatolian news agency and Cihan news agency were reporting different election results. According to Yeni Duzen, “confrontation came out again from the ballot box”.
Star Kibris refers to the issue under the title “Turkey spoke, continuation of the road with Erdogan” and notes that “AK Party renewed vote of confidence with the local elections”. The paper publishes on its front page Erdogan’s speech after his party’s victory and reports that addressing the crowd he said: “You have defended Turkey’s war of independence like in the War of Independence. You have defended the ideal of a Great Turkey. You have defended your will. You have defended your party, your Prime Minister”. Referring to Fethullah Gulen, Erdogan said: “We will not surrender these lands, which have been watered with the blood of the martyrs, to the man in Pennsylvania and his extensions, the traitors here. Those who were able to escape have escaped. For some we have filed criminal complaint… I have said that ‘we will enter into their lair’. We will. They will pay the price of endangering our national security”.
Havadis covers the issue under the title “Victory of the AK Party”, while Kibris Postasi writes that “Turkey said AKP”.
Realist notes that “AKP won”, while according to Halkin Sesi “AKP is stronger now”, as it increased its votes by 6% in comparison to the latest local elections.
Gunes reports that “AKP exceeded 47%”, while according to Diyalog Erdogan’s AKP “Wrote history”.
Kibrisli covers the issue under the title “Erdogan: ‘The slander, montage policy has been demolished’”.
Finally, Ortam covers the issue under the title “The elections became a bloodshot”, while Detay writes that “The elections in Turkey were bloody”.
(I/Ts.)
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