TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 74/14 24.04.14
1. Ozersay is concerned about the changes in the
“Immovable Property Commission”
2. Eroglu: UN Under-Secretary-General for Political
Affairs Jeffrey Feltman to visit Cyprus due to Ban’s busy schedule
3. Erk: “We have to be the ones leading the
negotiation process”
4. Levent: The Turkish Cypriot community must
definitely participate in the EP elections
5. Turkish Cypriot EP candidate Birinci will have
Schultz’s support for her campaign
6. Erdogan pays tribute to people who died in 1915
7. First reaction on Erdogan’s 1915 message
8. Turkish fuel retailer starts talks to buy Israeli
gas
9. US Ambassador Ricciardone to keep working on Turkey
after retirement
1. Ozersay is concerned about the changes in the
“Immovable Property Commission”
Turkish Cypriot
daily HalkinSesi newspaper (24.04.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
negotiator, KudretOzersay has expressed
his concern and warned about the changes, which the self-styled government of
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus had brought
onto the agenda as regards the “Immovable Property Commission” established in
the occupied area of the island by Turkey. [Translator’s note: The self-styled
council of ministers of the breakaway regime has approved a “law proposal”,
which will enable Turkish Cypriots to apply to the “commission” for
compensation of property they had abandoned in the government-controlled area
of the Republic of Cyprus – see Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review,
23/04/2014, Item 3]
Ozersay, who had actively participated in the efforts
for the establishment of the above-mentioned “commission”, argued that there is no problem in re-examining the steps that had been taken
in the way of harmonization with the international law on the issue of the
“commission”, but some changes published
in the press worry him “both in the context of their possible reflexions in the
negotiating process and of their possible evaluations by the European Court of
Human Rights (ECHR)”.
Expressing his
concern in his social media account, Ozersay said: “The Immovable Property
Commission law and regulation has been prepared as a result of a long lasting
effort taking into consideration the decisions of the ECHR. When I look at some
publications regarding some possible changes on this issue, I cannot resist
from saying ‘please let us not turn this issue into infertile political
discussions, into a topic of personal interests and let us avoid steps which will harm the approaches that the Turkish
Cypriot side supports within the context of the property issue in the
negotiations’. I will share my view with the public from here after
examining the changes”.
Meanwhile,
according to Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (24.04.14), the well-known Turkish Cypriot lawyer,
Mustafa Asena was asked to comment the decision of the “cabinet” providing
for giving the right to the Turkish Cypriots to apply to the “commission” for
their property in the government-controlled area of the island. Asena drew
attention to the problems which exist on the property issue and said: “This arrangement is not for the good of the
Turkish Cypriots. I think that this is an arrangement which tries to zero the
properties of the Turkish Cypriots which remained in south Cyprus”.
Asked whether
this arrangement will invalidate the “waivers” which the Turkish Cypriots had
been forced by the occupation regime to sign for their properties in the
government-controlled area of the island, Asena
replied that these “waivers” had been invalid before, because the international
law does not include any provision saying that the property of a person could
be taken away from him with such “waivers”.
Secondly, he said, since there is no other recognized state in the
occupied northern part of Cyprus than Turkey, Turkey is the one which took these “waivers”. “And because Turkey seems to be an occupier according to the
international law, you cannot take the property of a citizen in a country which
you occupied or to which you came to secure peace”, he added.
Replying to
another question, Asena said that the
“Immovable Property Commission” cannot establish the value of the property in
the government-controlled area of the island. “The commission does not
function, they are only making advertising”, he noted.
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu: UN Under-Secretary-General for Political
Affairs Jeffrey Feltman to visit Cyprus due to Ban’s busy schedule
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi newspaper
(24.04.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglui returned to
the occupied area of Cyprus after completing his contacts in New York. In
statements at the illegal Tymvou airport, Eroglu said that the UN
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and not the UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Cyprus due to latter’s busy schedule.
Eroglu said that this shows the level of Ban’s interest as regards the solution
of the Cyprus problem.
Evaluating his
contacts in New York, Eroglu stated that these were fruitful and added that
during his meeting with Ban he explained his views as regards the negotiations.
As he said, the screening process has been completed and that now they will
continue with special issues; therefore a program is needed. He said that some
of the issues put on the table were accepted and some other were not
accepted. Eroglu said that he conveyed
to Ban his view that in order for the negotiations to come to a result must
continue in this way and added that the Turkish Cypriot side continues the
talks with good intentions and with a cooperation spirit.
Replying to
criticism that his meeting with Ban lasted only for half an hour, Eroglu stated
that the meeting was not a summit meeting, noting that it was important that
the UN Secretary General who has such a busy schedule found the time to see
him. He went on and added that Ban treats the two sides in Cyprus equally. He also said that the Varosha issue was not
mentioned during the meeting.
Eroglu also referred to the two Cypriot negotiators
who are going to South Afrika this evening and stated that Andreas Mavroyiannis
and KudretOzersay will exchange views with persons who helped solving the
conflict in the country. He said that it will be useful to benefit from these
people’s experience.
In addition
KibrisPostasi Daily News also reports that Eroglu met with the president of the
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Richard Haas during his visit to New
York. Turkish Cypriot negotiator
KudretOzersay was also present at the half an hour meeting where Eroglu and
Haas discussed the Cyprus problem, the negotiation process in the framework of
regional developments, changes in Eastern Mediterranean region and the impact
of the Ukraine crisis. Eroglu met also with members of the New York based
Turkish Cypriot Society during the last day of his New York visit. After
completing his contacts Eroglu spoke to TRT Turk and TRT News in New York.
3.Erk: “We
have to be the ones leading the negotiation process”
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi
(24.04.14-online in English) reports that the
general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party –United Forces (CTP-BG) KutlayErk, referring to the ongoing
negotiations, said that many plans were being cooked outside the
Turkish Cypriots’ will. "Cypriots should be the creators and the pioneers
of any plans on Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East”, said Erk.
Issuing a written statement for the
11th anniversary of the opening of the check-points and the 10th anniversary of
the Annan Plan referendum, Erk said: “Turkish Cypriots who voted “yes” by 65%
did not give up their vision for a solution. However, Turkish Cypriots still
suffer because of the isolations. On the other hand the leaders’ statements are
delaying the process further.”
Erk also
stated that leader’s statements were the products of their delaying tactics and
that this did not give any hope to people. “We are aware of the plans that are
being prepared outside our will in Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East
but we have to be the ones leading the process”, said Erk.
He urged all
the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots who want peace to go to the streets
together and put pressure on the leaders. “Brotherhood of the communities does
not have plan A, plan B, plan C. federal solution in Cyprus should happen as
soon as possible”.
4. Levent: The Turkish Cypriot community must
definitely participate in the EP elections
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (24.04.14) reports that the general publishing director
of Turkish Cypriot Afrika newspaper, SenerLevent,
who had announced his candidacy for the
European Parliament (EP) elections that will be held next month, has said that
the Turkish Cypriot community must show interest in these elections. In an
interview with Kibris, Levent pointed out to the importance of the
participation of the people in these elections and noted that this will create “great opportunities for
the community”. He underlined that having
a Turkish Cypriot representative in the EP is more important than the
“municipality elections” which will be held in June in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus.
Levent said: “A
climate is created as if the people are not interested. This is very wrong. We
should have been passionately concentrated on these elections. We need voices which will be able to
reflect the real will of the Turkish Cypriots in Europe and the world. I see
that our voice in the world now is not our voice… This voice is the voice of
Ankara, of Turkey and of our politicians who follow them…”
Levent noted that
if he is elected, the Turkish language will become one of the official European
languages, adding that this has been said during meetings he had held with EU
officials.
Levent said that
it is extremely important for him the Greek Cypriots to vote for a Turkish
Cypriot candidate and the Turkish Cypriots to vote for a Greek Cypriot
candidate. “That is, to what extent nationalism which existed in the minds has
been overcome? It will be possible to see this also in these elections”, he
argued.
(I/Ts.)
5. Turkish Cypriot EP candidate Birinci will have
Schultz’s support for her campaign
Under the title “A ‘brave’ Turkish Cypriot candidate
for the European Parliament Elections”, Turkish daily Milliyet (23.04.14)
reported about DenizBirinci, the international relations secretary of the
Social Democracy Party (TDP) who is participating in the European Parliament
elections as a candidate of the independent “Bi-communal” list, established by
Turkish and Greek Cypriots.
The paper notes that the European Parliament President
Martin Schulz who was impressed by Birinci’s candidacy proposed to her to hold
together her election campaign, during a meeting they had in Paris. According
to the paper, Birinci accepted Schultz’s proposal.
Explaining the
reasons behind her decision to run for the elections Birinci stated that she
wants to give an end to the antidemocratic fact that the Turkish Cypriots as a
community are not represented in the European Parliament, despite the fact that
there are EU citizens. The second reason is to give a message that the time of
peace has arrived, with the establishment of a common list of Turkish and Greek
Cypriots EP elections candidates.
The paper
further writes that Birici, who speaks Greek, makes an effort to get to know
Greek Cypriots and to get them know Turkish Cypriots and participates quite
often in television programs, sending the message that “together we can make
it”.
6. Erdogan pays tribute to people who died in 1915
According to
Ankara Anatolia news agency (23.04.14), , Turkish Prime Minister RecepTayyipErdogan, in
a written statement, said:
“Regardless of their ethnic or religious origins, we pay tribute, with
compassion and respect, to all Ottoman citizens who lost their lives in the
events of 1915”.
Erdogan released
the message on Wednesday ahead of the anniversary of the events of 1915, which
led to an unknown number of people dying in civil strife after the Ottoman
Empire approved a deportation law for Armenians in April 24 of that year.
Erdogan said: "Armenians who lost their lives in
the events in the early 20th century rest in peace, and we convey
our condolences to their grandchildren."
"In Turkey,
expressing different opinions and thoughts freely on the events of 1915 is the
requirement of a pluralistic society as well as of a culture of democracy and
modernity," said Erdogan in the statement released in Turkish, English,
French, Armenian and several other languages.
Erdogan said that any conscientious, fair and humane
approach to the Armenian issue was required in order to bring forth an
understanding of all the suffering experienced during the period, regardless of
religion or ethnicity.
"It is a
humane and scientific duty to view this tragic history from the perspective of
fair memory. It should not deter reciprocal humane attitudes and the
establishment of sympathy between the Turkish and Armenian people that
incidents which had inhumane results, like the 1915 relocation, occurred during
the First World War when millions of people from all religions and nationalities
lost their lives. What was experienced during the First World War is our mutual
pain," said Erdogan.
Erdogan stated that Turkey is open to reconsidering
its approach to the issue, and added: "Some
may perceive this climate of freedom in Turkey as an opportunity to express
accusatory, offensive and even provocative assertions and allegations. Even so,
if this will enable us to understand historical issues with their actual
aspects and to transform resentment to friendship again, we will consider
different discourses with empathy and tolerance and expect a similar attitude
from all sides."
Erdogan also
called for Turkish and Armenian societies not to derive enmity from history and
create new antagonisms.
"The spirit
of the age necessitates dialogue despite differences, understanding by heeding
others, evaluating the means for compromise, denouncing hatred, and praising
respect and tolerance. It is with this understanding that we have opened our
archives to all researchers. Today, hundreds of thousands of documents in our
archives are at the service of historians," he said.
Turkey calls for academic research of the 1915 events
to be carried out by a commission of Turkish, Armenian and international
historians, the Turkish Prime Ministry said in a written statement on Wednesday
ahead of the anniversary of the events.
7. First reaction on Erdogan’s 1915 message
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (online, 24.04.14), under the title “Nationalist party
slams, main opposition welcomes Turkish PM Erdogan’s 1915 message”, reports
that Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
leader DevletBahceli slammed Erdogan’s message on the incidents of 1915, while
the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was more welcoming.
“There is no
point of evaluating [the statement]. This
is too much torture for this nation,” Bahceli told reporters when asked
about the statement.
The CHP, however, welcomed Erdogan’s move, but asked
why the government had finally chosen 2014 for such a statement after years in
power.
Erdogan is
abusing history for political reasons, CHP deputy chair FarukLogoglu said,
adding that they shared the sorrow and pain of the descendants of those who
lost their lives under the circumstances of 1915.
On the same
issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.04.14) reports that Washington has
welcomed the statement released by the Turkish Prime Minister on April 23 in
which he offered condolences to the descendants of Armenians killed during
World War I.
"We welcome
Prime Minister Erdogan's historic public acknowledgement of the suffering that
Armenians experienced in 1915," said Jen Psaki, the U.S. State Department
spokeswoman.
"We believe
this is a positive indication that there can be a full, frank and just
acknowledgement of the facts, which we hope will advance the cause of
reconciliation between Turks and Armenians."
Moreover,
columnist Murat Yetkin in HDN
(24.04.14), under the title “The first call for Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation”, writes that “yesterday was the first time that a Turkish Prime
Minister has issued a statement on the eve of April 24, offering condolences,
sharing the grief of the grandsons and granddaughters of those who lost their
lives, also saying that the deportation had caused ‘inhumane consequences’.
In his statement,
Erdogan carefully made a distinction
between the Ottoman Sultanate government of the time and the Republic-era
governments, making a point of saying that the establishment of the Turkish
Republic on the 94th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Parliament
was actually against the wrongdoings of the final Ottoman governments,
including their welcoming of invading armies.
Perhaps it is
not the exact wording that most Armenians in Armenia, Turkey and elsewhere have
been waiting for. But it clearly states
a shift in the mentality in a positive direction.
There is particular stress on the notion of a “common
future” between Turkish and Armenian peoples in the statement. That is a call
for historic reconciliation. It could be a new
start for getting the historical conflict solved for the benefit of both
peoples.”
Columnist
BarcinYinanc, in HDN (24.04.14), under the title “Deconstructing Turkish PM’s
statement on Armenian tragedy”, writes that “one of the firsts is that it is
the first time a Turkish PM has issued a statement about the ‘issue’. It is not a statement issued as a counter
reaction to the statements made all over the world. In a way, it has perhaps
started a tradition whereby we might have a statement each year on the eve of
April 24.
Of course it
does not name the ‘issue.’ But Turkey now officially recognizes the ‘pain’of
the Armenians. And obviously, the statement talks about the pains suffered by
all at that time, since it wants to refrain from singling out the Armenians.
This is the result of an effort to show that Armenians were not targeted just
because they were Armenians, but that they got a share of the suffering at the
time. (…)
By issuing an official statement and accepting the
commemoration efforts as normal; Turkey for the first time officially
recognizes April 24, as the day of remembrance. (…)
While the
statement implies that Turkey is
ready to listen with tolerance to all discourse, even that of genocide, it sends a warning to the Armenian diaspora
about their planned activities for next year when it says ‘using the events of
1915 as an excuse for hostility against Turkey and turning this issue into a
matter of political conflict is inadmissible’.”
8. Turkish fuel retailer starts talks to buy
Israeli gas
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman (online, 23.04.14) reported that Turkish fuel retailer Turcas said on Tuesday its gas unit has begun
non-binding talks with another company to jointly procure natural gas from the
Leviathan field in the eastern Mediterranean for Turkish markets.
Turcas is in
talks with Istanbul-based Enerjisa, which is owned by Turkey's Sabanci Holding
and German utility E.ON, to buy the gas from the Israeli field, according to
the stock-exchange filing.
Industry sources
said in October last year that Turcas was among a few other Turkish energy
firms in talks with Israeli firms over the potential for a pipeline to carry
Israeli gas to Turkey. The sources said the political rift between the two
former allies was holding up progress. Such
a project could be worth $3.5 billion, observers have earlier said. It would
entail construction of an undersea section to Turkey's southern coast and a
link to central Turkey.
9. US Ambassador Ricciardone to keep working on
Turkey after retirement
According to
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 23.04.14), U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone will keep working on
Turkey and the Middle East after he leaves his post following Turkey's
Presidential elections scheduled for August, assuming the title of vice president
of the Atlantic Council and becoming director of its Rafik Hariri Centre in
late September.
Ricciardone has
been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism from circles close to the
Turkish government since the Dec. 17, 2013, graft probe.
Ricciardone, who
will start his new job in late September, also said in a statement released by
the institution that he would return to Turkey in November with his new title
during the sixth annual Atlantic Council Energy and Economic Summit in
Istanbul.
Diplomatic sources said a potential new Ambassador to
Ankara was John Bass, currently the executive assistant to Secretary of State
John Kerry and former Ambassador to Tbilisi. A
senior State Department official also confirmed that “Bass could be nominated
to be the next ambassador to Turkey.”
Bass would need
to obtain U.S. Senate approval before being assuming to the post.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS
SECTION
