TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 75/14 25.04.14
1. Ozersay describes the visit of the negotiators to South Africa as “an
important international initiative”
2. Nami explains the benefits of the Turkish Cypriots during the ten years
that passed since the Annan Plan; Conflict with Tore
3. Nami informed the participants in
the “International Universities Search and Rescue
Council -2014” on the Cyprus problem
4. Talat: There would be a solution if Turkey had
annexed the whole island
5. “TMT Association”
and Celik’s statements against the solution
6. Davutoglu discusses Cyprus with Ban Ki-moon
7. Turkish Cypriot candidate in the EP elections: Vote for us if you
believe that your salvation is in your hands
8. Data on the number of Turkish Cypriots and
Greek Cypriots crossing since 2003
9. Turkey's 1915 statement wins praise from the West
but Armenia unimpressed
1. Ozersay describes the visit of the negotiators to South Africa as “an
important international initiative”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.04.14) reports that the
Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret
Ozersay has described the four-day visit which the negotiators of the two
Cypriot communities will hold to South Africa as “an important international
initiative” before entering into the second stage of the negotiations in
Cyprus.
In statements to Kibris prior to his departure, Ozersay was asked
whether they will examine only the experience of South Africa or they will
discuss the Cyprus problem as well. “It
is not possible not to discuss the Cyprus negotiations in an environment in
which the two negotiators will come together”, he replied.
The paper writes that Ozersay and his
delegation departed last night for Johannesburg in order to hold negotiations
with the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and his delegation and
acquire information on the negotiations in South Africa which had ended
successfully. Both delegations are expected to return to the island on 30
April.
(I/Ts.)
2. Nami explains the benefits of the Turkish Cypriots during the ten years
that passed since the Annan Plan; Conflict with Tore
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (25.04.14) reports that Ozdil Nami, self-styled foreign
minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, has said that ten years have
passed since the referendum on the Annan Plan and referring to those who ask
“what has changed” he argues that the Turkish Cypriots are represented in
Europe, took their place in the Islamic states as “Turkish Cypriot State”,
“laws” for harmonization with the EU passed in the “TRNC” [Translator’s
note: This is how he described the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
Cyprus] and their “elected MPs” can meet
with officials in Europe.
Addressing the “assembly” of the breakaway regime yesterday, Nami
strongly criticized Zorlu Tore, “deputy” with the minor “coalition partner” Democratic
Party – National Forces (DP-UG), noting that Tore delivers “fevered speeches”
from the bench, has not digested the reply given by the “people” in 2004,
exceeded the limits and his ears should listen to what his mouth is saying.
Nami went on and argued that “people” are fed up with Tore’s statements that
they had been deceived.
Nami said that “people” listen to what everybody says before taking
their decision and no one can deceive them. Nami accused Tore of “deliberately lying” and described the map which
Tore presents as part of the discussions of the territory issue as “figment of
imagination”.
Nami pointed out that a campaign for voting “no” in a possible
referendum could be carried out, but it should be based on the truths.
Referring to Tore, Nami said: “Enough! Learn to listen, speak the truth, not
with lies”.
Addressing the “assembly”, Tore
argued that many things changed in 40 years, the “TRNC” is born, developed and
grew. He alleged that the reason of the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is
“the wish of the Greek Cypriots-Greece duo” to take the entire island.
Referring to those who say “let a solution be reached now, immediately”, Tore
claimed that the views of the Greek Cypriots have not changed and argued that
the Greek Cypriot officials say that “our national cause is Keryneia” and that
“160 thousand Greek Cypriots will return”.
He argued that in spite of the fact that ten years passed since the
Annan Plan, the promises given to the Turkish Cypriots are not kept and
alleged: “If it had been said yes to the
Annan Plan, the Turkish Cypriots would have lived in the foot of Pentadaktylos”.
Referring to the Turkish Cypriots, Tore argued that everyone should be careful,
because if no territory is given to the Greek Cypriots, there will be no
referendum.
On the issue Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan
(25.04.14) reports that Tore accused
Nami of visiting the USA and of holding meetings with the CIA. “He is
trying to activate Karen Fogg and Soros Foundation”, he alleged claiming that “there will be a flood of dollars and euro”
in the occupied area of Cyprus in order to deceive the Turkish Cypriot “people”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Nami informed the participants in
the “International Universities Search and Rescue
Council -2014” on Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.04.14)
reports that the self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami informed the
participants of the “International Universities Search and Rescue Council
(IUSRC) general meeting -2014” that took place in the breakaway regime
yesterday,on the Turkish Cypriot side’s position on the Cyprus problem.
According to the paper, Nami stated that 2014 will be
the year of solution as regards the Cyprus problem. He also said that economic
and political cooperation will open the road for peace and added that the discovery of natural gas will be an
important factor towards the solution of the Cyprus problem.
The paper
further writes about the universities which participated in the Council and
reports that these are the following:
The University of Lahore, Pakistan, the College of Advanced Technology
Studies (CATS), India, the Azerbaijan
State Economic University, Azerbaijan, the University of Taubate, Brazil, the Islamic
University of Indonesia, Indonesia, the Uczelina Vistula
University, Poland, the Kerman Medical University, Iran, the Tambov State
Technical University, Russia and the Canakkale
18 Mart University, Turkey
4. Talat:There would be a solution if Turkey had
annexed the whole island
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper
(24.04.14) reported that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat who was
in Turkish city Corum where he attended a conference on Cyprus problem stated: “ If the Turkish army had annexed the whole
Island, there would have been a settlement then or if Turkey didn’t go through
the political troubles in that period,the Cyprus problem would have been solved
by now”.
Talat was
speaking at the conference co-organized by the Hitit University and Corum Municipality where he answered a
comment by a Turkish martyr who said “I wish Turkey had annexed the whole
island”.
Speaking upon the martyr’s comment Talat said: “If the
Turkish army had annexed the whole Island or if Turkey would not have gone through
political troubles, there would have been a settlement then andthe Cyprus
problem would have been solved by now. Because soon after the Peace Operation the
Turkish government under Ecevit’s leadership had fallen and the successor
government couldn’t figure out ‘how to return what Ecevit had taken?’ and this
went on and the discussion lingered. Actually the solution could have been lot
easier if these political developments didn’t happen in Turkey”.
He went on and
said the following: "The aftermath of that major military victory didn’t
take the necessary form. The TRNC still remains isolated from the rest of the
world. We do not have any official ties with the international community. The
only relations we form are through Turkey. Therefore we cannot reach the
desired level of development. A spark of hope had emerged in 2004 as a federal solution based on political
equality was the essence of the plan. Unfortunately after their accession to EU
the Greek Cypriots didn’t see an incentive in accepting the Annan Plan. In the
end the Turkish Cypriots were left out
of the international law once again. This shows that the international law does
not always stand on the side of the rightful.”
5.“TMT Association”
and Celik’s statements against the solution
Under the title: “No to a brokenly solution”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (25.04.14) reports on statements by
Celal Bayar, spokesman of the “TMT Association” who in a written statement
yesterday, said, inter alia, that they say “no” to a brokenly solution under
the name of the “Confidence Building Measures”.
Underlining that the “Greek Cypriot
administration”, as he described the Republic of Cyprus exerts efforts to gain
Varosha under the name of the “Confidence Building Measures”, Bayar said that
it seems that it convinced the EU and the UK for this. He went on alleging that
the occupied fenced off city of Varosha (Maras) is a Turkish territory and
stated that there is a “court decision” on this issue.
Claiming that the Greek Cypriot side and the EU
have always waited from the Turkish Cypriot side to undertake steps, Bayar said
that they themselves do not make even a small step. “The Greek Cypriots who
attack even the former president Talat who supports the solution, how could
they give trust to an average Turkish Cypriot citizen?”, Bayar wondered.
“We trusted them in 1960 and we were deceived,
we trusted them again in 2004 and again we were deceived. Let’s not be deceived
for another time. Let’s focus altogether to a realistic solution which is based
on our Sovereign State”, stated Bayar.
Meanwhile, according to Turkish daily Halkin
Sesi (25.04.14) the “chairman” of the so-called parliamentarian union of the
occupation regime, Vedat Celik in a written statement yesterday referred inter
alia, to the Cyprus negotiation talks and expressed criticism to the latest
stage of the negotiation process, stressing the need to be concentrated to the
existence of “two separate people in Cyprus, two separate states, two separate
democracies, two separate political geographies, two separate identities and
cultural existences”.
Celik went on and criticized the so-called
prime minister, Ozkan Yorgancioglu who
has said that “the Turkish side has only one thing to give, and that is land”.
Celik stated further that they felt the need to
point out to their “people” that they are on a dangerous path.
(AK)
6. Davutoglu discusses Cyprus with Ban Ki-moon
Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.04.14) reported that
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has discussed by phone the developments
in the Cyprus problem, Ukraine and Syria with
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
7. Turkish Cypriot candidate in the EP elections: Vote for us if you
believe that your salvation is in your hands
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.04.14) reports that Osman Zorba, candidate with the Cyprus
Socialist Party in the European Parliament elections, has said that they run in
the elections because they want a society in which the Greek Cypriots and the
Turkish Cypriots will live brotherly without killing each other.
In an interview with Kibris, Zorba noted that they see all elections
as a means to explain their views and added that this means should “be used
until the end”. He called on those who
believe that their salvation is in their own hands to vote for them.
Zorba expressed the view that together with the lack of trust
created by the economic problems towards the politicians in the
government-controlled area of Cyprus, the representative democracy has gone
bankrupt.
Zorba said that some things must be done at the EP especially for
Cyprus and argued that the European
Central Bank has unofficially seized the Cyprus’ natural resources. He
noted that in this situation, the Turkish Cypriots are also considered as
having debts and argued that this will be imposed on the Turkish Cypriots in a
possible agreement in the Cyprus problem.
Noting that Cyprus has both natural gas
and oil, Zorba argued that plans are
carried out for seizing not only the gas but the oil as well. “The Cypriots are
used as pawns here”, he claimed.
(I/Ts.)
8.Data on the number of Turkish Cypriots and
Greek Cypriots crossing since 2003
Turkish Cypriot daily
Yeni Duzen newspaper (25.05.14) reports that eleven years have passed since
the opening of the crossing points in Cyprus and gives data regarding the
number of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots crossing to the free areas of the
Republic of Cyprus and to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
respectively.
According to the
paper, during the 11 years, 13 million 805 thousand 576 Turkish Cypriots
crossed to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, whereas 7 million 895
thousands 442 Greek Cypriots crossed to the occupied area of Cyprus.
Also, according to the paper, in total 6
million 381 thousand 333 tourists crossed from the free areas of the Republic
of Cyprus to the occupied area of Cyprus until March 2014.
The paper goes on and
writes that 2012 was the record year as regard the crossing of the Turkish
Cypriots to the “south”, since totally 1 million 398 thousand 866 Turkish
Cypriots crossed to the Republic of Cyprus.
Also, the paper
writes that in 2003 in total 1 million, 359 thousand, 816 Turkish Cypriots crossed
to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, in 2004 1 million 754 thousand
875, in 2005 1 million 498 thousand 303, in 2006 907 thousand 905, in 2007 1
million 656 thousand 896, in 2008 1 million 810 thousand 176, in 2009 1 million
503 thousand 439, in 2010 1 million 600 thousand 45 and in 2011 1 million 443
thousand 472.
Meanwhile, according
to the data, the number of Greek Cypriots who have entered to the occupation
regime from 2003 until 2012 was lower compared with the number of the Turkish
Cypriots. Particularly, in 2003, in total 642 thousand 992 Greek Cypriots
crossed to the occupation regime, whereas in 2004 this number was 884 thousand
483. In 2005, the number increased to 939 thousand 811. Also, in 2006 the number of Greek Cypriots
crossing to the occupation regime almost reduced to the half and reached to 356
thousand 919. In 2007 it was 575 thousand 569, in 2008 645 thousand 164, in
2009 635 thousand 788, in 2010 634 thousand 426, in 2011 694 thousand 633, in
2012 658 thousand 117 and in 2013 723 thousand 904.
(AK)
9. Turkey's 1915 statement wins praise from the West
but Armenia unimpressed
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (25.04.14) reports that
while the West and Armenians in Turkey have welcomed a statement from Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the events of 1915 on the eve of their
99th anniversary, in which he extended condolences from Turkey to Armenians for
the first time in the history of the Turkish Republic, Armenia does not seem
impressed.
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan made a statement on
Wednesday regarding the 1915 events, but he did not mention Erdogan's statement
made earlier the same day. Sarksyan said Turkey is in “utter denial” of what
Armenia sees as genocide under Ottoman rule 99 years ago. Sarksyan underlined: "[1.5 million] Armenians fell prey to a crime that did not
have a name at that time. Nor had any human language coined such an expression
or a term yet. They were killed simply because they were Armenians. The crime,
designed minutely and in advance, pursued a clear goal to take possession of
the home country, the property and the 100-year-old heritage by exterminating
the native people living there. This
way, they committed a monstrous crime, seeking to once and forever annihilate
Armenians as a political factor.”
In addition, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (25.04.14)
reported that Turkey’s move is 'a call for Armenia that we hope will be
answered,' Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.The
reason why Ankara released the statement on April 23, but not April 24 – the
day Armenians around the world mark the 1915 incidents – is “to take the first
step before developments and conduct a proactive policy,” a Turkish Foreign
Ministry official told the Hurriyet Daily News.
Ankara aimed to
express its view before April 24 so that the statement could be appraised on
its own terms, not as a response to statements on April 24.
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