TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 44/14 06.03.14
1.
Nami: Time for a solution to the Cyprus problem has arrived
2.
The breakaway regime describes as positive the references to Cyprus in EP’s
report on Turkey
3. Candan:
The time has come for the Turkish Cypriots to be integrated in the EU
institutions
4.
Eroglu met with the Ambassadors of several countries
5.
The “local elections” in the occupied area of Cyprus will be held on 29 June
6.
CTP and DP to meet on Friday
7.
The occupation regime to participate in ITB Berlin Fair
8.
Kanatli was discharged
9.
Erdogan admits meddling in trade deals, says he will leave politics if AKP not
come first in local elections and signals lifting three-term presidency
10. Believe it or not! The PM admits manipulation
11.
The Venice Commission urges the Turkish Constitutional Court to annul judiciary
bill
1. Nami: Time for a solution to the Cyprus problem
has arrived
Turkish Cypriot
daily KibrisPostasi Daily News (online, 05.03.14) reported that according to
reports by the so-called ministry of foreign affairs, OzdilNami was interviewed
by GerdHöhler from the German newspaper Handelsblatt Online.
During the
interview Nami stated that due to uncertainty regarding the Cyprus problem many
issues remain unfruitful and resources are being wasted. "All of these
uncertainties result in lack of constructive or rational environment for
investments”.
Nami said: “With
current conditions it would take ten or twenty years for Greek Cypriots to
reach their former life standards. Resolution of Cyprus problem would make
economic improvement possible. Both sides would benefit from this. Potential of
a unified Cyprus will definitely be more than two sides' divided potential. For
this reason the Greek Cypriots should pay attention to a solution”
Referring to the
water project, Nami noted: “Water pipeline can be built in order to bring water
from water-rich areas of Turkey to Cyprus which suffers from chronic drought.
Greek Cypriots can benefit from this if the planned power lines are utilised
for water transfer”.
Commenting on
the joint declaration, Nami said: “After four months of negotiations between
the two communities, the joint declaration which serves as a basis for current
negotiations was created. The declaration outlines the solution as bizonal,
bicommunal federation”. He claimed that main issues such as citizenship,
international representation and other constitutional issues are mostly cleared
out and the remaining topics are resolvable technical issues.
Nami believed
that if realistic and determined approach is followed, negotiations can be finalised
in 5-6 months, adding, however that Greek Cypriots mention an 18 months period
and in any case it’s a matter of months, not years.
He concluded:
“Negotiations should be contributed with the implementation of confidence
building measures which can make daily life easier.”
2. The breakaway regime describes as positive the
references to Cyprus in EP’s report on Turkey
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (06.03.14) reports that the self-styled foreign ministry of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus has described as positive the fact that the
report on Turkey adopted by the European Parliament’s (EP) Foreign Affairs
Committee expressed EP’s satisfaction with the joint statement agreed by the
leaders in Cyprus. In a statement issued yesterday, the “ministry”
expressed the view that the “road map” drawn by the joint statement constitutes
“an important opportunity” for the solution of the Cyprus problem and added
that the support by the EP to this opportunity is a “positive approach”.
The “ministry”
said that the “expectations of the
Turkish Cypriot people have not been met yet”, in spite of the fact that “some calls are made” in the above-mentioned
report regarding the implementation of the “promises” given to the Turkish
Cypriots within the framework of the decision taken on 26 April 2004 regarding
the lifting of their so-called isolation.
“The lack of expression for the
representation of the Turkish Cypriots in the European Parliament constitutes
one of the most important deficiencies of the report”, argues the statement
noting that the insistence of the Turkish Cypriot people to be represented in
the EP continues.
(I/Ts.)
3. Candan: The time has come for the Turkish
Cypriots to be integrated in the EU institutions
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (06.03.14) reports that ArmaganCandan, self-styled deputy with the Republican
Turkish Party (CTP) has met in Brussels with various groups in the European
Parliament (EP) and officials from the EU Commission.
In statements
after the meetings,Candan said that
during this period in which the solution process in Cyprus has resumed, the
time has come for the Turkish Cypriots to be integrated in the EU institutions
in an irrevocable manner. Candan noted that during his contacts he
expressed theirview that they want the
way for the Turkish Cypriots’ more active participation in the EP to be paved
and that this is absolutely necessary.
Candan
reiterated the view that it would be
unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the EP elections that
will be held in the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus
and added that they told the European
officials that the government of the Republic of Cyprus could allegedly not
pass the relevant draft-law from the House of Representatives.
Candan said that
during their contacts they expressed the view that the harmonization process of
the Turkish Cypriots with the EU should be intensified and speeded up while the
solution of the Cyprus problem comes nearer. “There is a need for the Commission to provide a more active support in
legal and technical sense”, he noted.
(I/Ts.)
4.Eroglu
met with the Ambassadors of several countries
Turkish Cypriot daily Realist
(06.03.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglumet yesterday withthe Ambassadors in Cyprus
of Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands, Alphonse Creusen, Christian
Biever and BrectijeSchwachofer, respectively.
The meeting took place at the so-called
presidential palace and no statements were made before or after it.
(AK)
5. The “local elections” in the occupied area of
Cyprus will be held on 29 June
According to
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi Daily News (05.03.14, online), self-styled
minister of foreign affairs OzdilNami announced the date for the “local
elections”.
Speaking during
a press conference after the “council of minister's meeting”, Nami announced
that the proposed date for “local elections” for 29 June is accepted and will
be sent for “parliament approval”. According to the proposal, electoral silence
will be invoked on 30 April.
6. CTP and DP to meet on Friday
Turkish Cypriot
daily KibrisPostasi Daily News (05.03.14, online) reported that according to
the decision made by CTP/BG's (Republican Turkish Party – United Forces) Party
Assembly, the party assembly authorized CTP leader OzkanYorgancioglu and the
Central Executive Board to evaluate every option including the future of the
“government”.
Self-styled prime ministerYorgancioglu said that they
will meet with DP/UG (Democratic Party – National Forces) on Friday, where they
will discuss the UBP-DP (National Unity Party – Democratic Party) collaboration
and the future of the “coalition government”.
7. The
occupation regime to participate in ITB Berlin Fair
Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper
(06.03.14) reports that representatives
of the illegal Near East University Hospital (YDU), together with a delegation
of the Cyprus Turkish Travel Agencies Union” (KITSAB), and tourism
representatives in the occupation regime, will participate under the umbrella
of the so-called ministry of tourism, environment and culture in the ITB Berlin
Tourism Fair, the biggest of its kind worldwide.
As the paper writes, the fair will take
place between March 5-9 and in total 10.147 organizations and foundations will
attend the fair. Also, as the paper writes, it is expected that more than 110
thousand people will visit it.
In statements on the issue, the member
of the executive board and director of tourism businesses of the illegal YDU
Hospital, AhmetSavasan said that, in the framework of their participation in
the fair, they will hold contacts with
several tour operators, with the aim to promote “north Cyprus history, culture
and touristic prosperity” and as the “most healthy tourism destination”.
(AK)
8. Kanatli was discharged
Turkish Cypriot
daily KibrisPostasi Daily News (online, 06.03.14), under the title “Free at
last!” reports that Murat Kanatlı - Member of Board of Directors of the New
Cyprus Party (YKP) - who declared his conscientious objection on ideological
grounds in 2009 and has since refused each year to participate in the annual
compulsory military exercises and was imprisoned for 10 days, was discharged
this morning after a 10 days prison term.
9. Erdogan admits meddling in trade deals, says he
will leave politics if AKP not come first in local elections and signals
lifting three-term presidency
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (online, 06.03.14) reports that Turkey’s Prime Minister
RecepTayyipErdogan has admitted to
interfering in the judicial process and defence tenders, following the
revelation of wiretapped conversations released online this week, defending his meddling as “natural.”
However, on
March 5, he said he was ready to step down if his ruling party Justice and
Development Party (AKP) failed to win the most votes in the March 30 elections.
“I am ready to quit politics unless my
party emerges as the winner in the elections,” Erdogan said.
Moreover, Erdogan has indicated that he is open to a
change of internal party rules which would let him stand for a fourth term as
leader of Turkey. “I do not have such a demand. However, if my party wishes
so, I may run at the [party] congress,” Erdogan said yesterday.
Erdogan’s
remarks came at a meeting with representatives of local media outlets in
Ankara, where he was asked whether he would consider moving on after his third
term in office, which began in March 2003, following the first victory of his
Justice and Development Party (AKP) in November 2002.
10. Believe it or not! The PM admits manipulation
Columnist Murat
Yetkin, in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 06.03.14) with the above
title, commenting on the admittance by Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan that
the interference in trade deals is “natural”, writes the following:
“(…) Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan has not only admitted that he attempted to manipulate a
court decision through his former justice minister and cancelled a military
tender by manipulating a competition against the winning company, but he has
also defended those moves as ‘natural’.
(…)
On the morning
of March 5, Erdogan admitted that he had indeed asked the Justice Minister to
pursue the court case. As he had heard some unpleasant stories about the case
from the SPK (Capital Markets Board), it was ‘only natural’ for him to step in,
he said.
The second group
of recordings - released on March 4 - was made up of alleged phone
conversations between Erdoğan and MetinKalkavan, a businessman close to him. In
them, Erdoğan allegedly advises Kalkavan to file a complaint against the Koç
Group, which had won (and had already started to deliver) Turkey’s National
Warship (MİLGEM) project. This despite the fact that Kalkavan had not
officially applied for the tender. As a result, the project was taken from Koç,
in a similar way that a giant ring road project for the third Istanbul bridge
project in 2013 was taken from it.
In a March 5
speech, Erdogan also admitted that intrusion, and justifying it by saying there
was an incoming complaint and the price for the project - which was later
handed to another company - was too low. (…)
Erdogan was
furious that his phone conversations have been thoroughly compromised and
recorded. He is right in that sense. The tapping of a Prime Minister’s
telephones is a crime in all countries.
Turkish
intelligence sources assume that all conversations on phones encrypted by
TÜBİTAK (Turkey’s technology and research agency) may have been compromised,
recorded and sent abroad through Gülen sympathizer experts. This could be
accepted by no government on earth.
However, to
manipulate courts in democracies and to manipulate trade deals in market
economies could also not be accepted.
So why is Erdogan acting so boldly in admitting these
manipulations? The answer lies in his understanding of democracy and his
over-confidence in his voters.
He believes that
his Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) is going to secure the most votes
in the March 30 local elections, which would clean him of all allegations of
corruption, with no further need for independent courts.
This bold
attitude fuels worries that voting in Turkey is turning into a sort of
majoritarianism where the elected leader tends to assume all three powers of
the state on himself. The conflict between Erdogan and Gulen, which surfaced
after the Dec. 17 graft probes, is poisoning Turkish politics.”
11. The Venice Commission urges the Turkish
Constitutional Court to annul judiciary bill
According to
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 06.03.14), the Venice Commission has
indirectly requested the annulment of a controversial bill on the Supreme
Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), saying it believes that Turkey’s
Constitutional Court will fulfil its role of protecting the Constitution and
its basic values.
“The
independence of the judiciary is a fundamental value of the Turkish Constitution.
If the law is brought to the Constitutional Court, the Venice Commission
believes that the Court will play its role of guarantor of the Turkish
Constitution and its basic values,” Daniel Holtgen, the Venice Commission’s
spokesperson said in a written statement in response to the Hurriyet Daily
News’ question on the HSYK law.
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