TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 65/14 09.04.14
1.
Ozersay accuses the Greek Cypriots of not accepting the convergences reached in
the negotiations; Response to Mavroyiannis
2. Eroglu: Our road map was not accepted
3. Rubin issued a statement following Eroglu visit
4.
Nami and Ozgurgun briefed Fule on the Cyprus talks
5. Water treatment facility inaugurated
6. Contacts of Kosovo
delegation in the occupied area of Cyprus
7.
Students from a U.S. university met with Siber, Yorgancioglu and Nami
8.
Taner Dervis hands over a letter for Varosha to the US Assistant Secretary of
State Eric Rubin
9.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry regrets for the burning of a Turkish flag by APOEL
FC fans
10.
Derya’s demanding the closure of the Grey Wolves causes the reaction by the
regime’s representatives; Harmanci: The Grey Wolves are tolerated
11. Erdogan evaluated the election results; He said that those
who criticized AKP committed a betrayal
12. CHP leader assaulted before Parliament speech
13. Bahceli: Thieves cannot become presidents
14. AKP Mayor in Bingol refuses to let women hold
positions at municipal council on religious grounds.
1. Ozersay
accuses the Greek Cypriots of not accepting the convergences reached in the negotiations;
Response to Mavroyiannis
Under the title “Problem in the negotiations”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (09.04.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret Ozersay has alleged that the Greek
Cypriot side does not accept the convergences achieved between the sides during
the negotiations. In statements yesterday after his two and a half hour meeting
with the Greek Cypriot negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis, Ozersay argued that
this situation worries them as regards the future of the negotiations.
The paper writes that in statements to the Greek Cypriot press,
Andreas Mavroyiannis replied to Ozersay and said that there is no document at
the negotiating table. He also accused Ozersay of disclosing the content of the
negotiations, noting that the former special adviser of the UN Secretary
-General, Alexander Downer had also said that a so-called UN convergences
document is not at the negotiating table.
Ozersay told Kibris that two issues worry the Turkish Cypriot side.
The one is the so-called objection by the Greek Cypriot side to the
convergences reached in the past and the other is the accusation by the Greek
Cypriot negotiator against him saying that “you are playing the blame game”
because he had stated this.
Ozersay alleged that the
objections of the Greek Cypriot side to many convergences reached since 2008
will either delay the process or will cause its collapse.
He argued: “I think that if
they (the Greek Cypriot side) continue questioning the convergence papers, this
will stop being a mini-crisis. In fact, it is not a mini-crisis now, it is an
obstacle and deadlock”.
Ozersay claimed that in order for the problem to be overcome,
President Anastasiades should get rid of the commitments he had allegedly made
on the Cyprus problem in the internal politics or the sides concerned with the
issue should say something. He alleged: “The UN has a position saying that we
should benefit from the accumulated experience and not deviate from it. In the
end the sides together did these and it is a UN process. Perhaps the process is not in a deadlock, it is not collapsing, but an
important obstacle exists and this worries us”.
Ozersay went on and alleged that the so-called objections of the
Greek Cypriot side might be a delaying tactic because they want to wait for the
presidential elections in Turkey and the so-called presidential elections in
the occupied area of Cyprus. He argued that it is wrong to index the Cyprus problem with the elections and that
the rational thing to say is “come and let us solve the issue until the
elections”.
Ozersay described the negotiations as “a wall of a house” and said
that in case a brick is taken out from this wall, a domino effect could be
created and the entire wall could collapse. “Some matters which we have
accepted in return of some conditions, stop being acceptable with the
withdrawal of these conditions”, he claimed alleging that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to torpedo everything
which the Turkish side was considering to be in its own advantage. He noted
that if the Greek Cypriot side withdraw
these convergences, the Turkish side will say that “since you do not want this
convergence, I do not want the other one” and “this will bring us to zero
point”.
Replying to the statements made yesterday by the Greek Cypriot
negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis, Ozersay alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side
is still avoiding the “blame game”, but the Greek Cypriot side does this at the
level of its leader, who in front of the UN Secretary-General, had accused the
Turkish Cypriot side of deviating from the joint statement. He argued that they
could establish that there are many things which might be described as
accusations or deviations from the joint statement, if there were trying to do
so, but “we did not go around saying these, we did not go to the UN to
complain”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu: Our road map was not accepted
Illegal Bayrak television (09.04.14) broadcast that
the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu met with the Academic Director for the
Peace and Conflict Resolution Program of the American University, Washington
Semester Program and accompanying students who are on the island for a study
trip.
Eroglu briefed
the visiting students on the history of the Cyprus problem as well as the
latest developments in the current negotiations process.
Speaking to the students, he claimed that a number of
convergences had been reached between the two sides by himself and his
predecessor but President Nicos Anastasiades is rejecting these convergences, demanding
that the 6 chapters be re-negotiated from the very beginning. Stating that much progress had been achieved at the end of 4 years
of negotiations, Eroglu alleged that scrapping the convergences reached would
only consist a big loss of time.
Sayingthat the
issue of Security and Guarantees will be taken up in a meeting with the
participation of the three guarantor powers in Cyprus once discussions on the
other issues are completed, Eroglu stated that the chapter on territory was
extremely important for the Turkish Cypriot side.
“This chapter is
extremely important for us because it will determine where people will settle
and how the economy will be shaped. We expressed the view that maps and figures
should be opened to discussion once agreement is reached on the other issues, a
position which has been accepted by the UN Secretary General” he added.
Claiming that
President Anastasiadis is rejecting the road map put before him, Eroglu said
that the Cyprus Turkish side was hoping
that the current screening process would have been completed by April 15th, a
proposal which the Greek Cypriot side had also rejected.
Eroglu said that
a repetition of the parallel visits by the two respective negotiators is
amongst the latest proposals they brought to the table, adding that they wanted
to hold a quartet meeting with the guarantor powers in June to discuss
territory and the issue of guarantees.
3.Rubin statements following Eroglu visit
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper
(09.04.14) reports that U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin who
is visiting Cyprus for a series of official meetings made statements regarding
his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu
Rubin said that
he expressed the strong support of the United States for the success of the
negotiation process, the strong support for the commitment of both leaders of
both communities to see the process move forward toward a settlement under the
auspices of the United Nations Good Offices mission.
“I expressed America’s readiness and
commitment to do everything we can to see the process succeed, to help with
people-to-people confidence building measures and other ways to help make the
benefits of a settlement real to the people of both communities. We are very, very hopeful that this will be a
year of historic progress and we’re prepared to play our part in supporting it”,
he said.
He also said theUS
thinksthis is a period when a solution
should be possible and that they hope that the two leaders in Cyprus will seize the moment. Asked if Famagusta is the key, he stated: “It is not for us to say what
the key is or isn’t. It’s really for the
two leaders to make those decisions.”
Asked if the
situation in Ukraine makes it more urgent to find a solution to Cyprus, he said
that he thinks what Cyprus offers to the world today is a positive vision of
what can be achieved through reconciliation, through negotiations, through
compromise, with a vision of a better future for real people.”
4. Nami
and Ozgurgun briefed Fule on the Cyprus talks
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (09.04.14)
reports that self-styled minister of foreign affairs Ozdil Nami discussed yesterday with EU Commissioner of Enlargement and Neighbourhood
Stefan Fule the regulations of Green Line and Financial Aid.
In a press release by Nami’s office, Nami
met yesterday with Fule, where they discussed also the crossing of the
commercial vehicles to “South Cyprus” (translator’s note: the government
controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus), the geographic registration of
halloumi, as well as problems of the Turkish Cypriot producers.
During the meeting, Nami also briefed Fule
on the latest stage of the Cyprus talks and the views of the Turkish Cypriot
side on the negotiation process.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes
(09.04.14) reports that the leader of the main opposition party National Unity
Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun, in a meeting also with the EU Commissioner Fule,
discussed the representation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EU Parliament. Ozgurgun
said that he asked support from Fule in order for two Turkish Cypriots to be
represented in the Parliament with the observer status. He added that the meeting with Fule was very
beneficial.
Ozgurgun briefed Fule on his party
positions regarding the Cyprus problem, adding that they support Turkish
Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on the Cyprus talks and they are ready to support
the negotiation process.
Replying to a question how they can support
the efforts of implementing the EU acquis in “North Cyprus” (translator’s note:
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus), Ozgurgun said that a
disappointment was created among the Turkish Cypriots in the past, because the
EU did not keep its promises.
5. Water treatment facility inaugurated
Illegal Bayrak television (09.04.14) broadcast that
the Lefkosia Waste Water Treatment Facility in occupied Mia Milia region which
has been working at full capacity since the 1st of July 2013 was officially
inaugurated yesterday.
The Lefkosia Waste Water Treatment Facility serves the
whole of the island.
Self-styled
mayor of occupied Lefkosia Kadri Fellahoglu, Mayor ConstantinosYorgadjis, the
EU Commissioner in Charge of Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule
and a large group of guests all took part in the official opening ceremony of
the facility.
Delivering the
first speech at the ceremony on behalf of the UN Development Program, UNDP-PFF
Project Director Tiziyana Zennaro said that the project cost a total of 29
million euro to complete and that the project had been successful thanks to the
good will that existed between the two communities on the island.
Fule said he was
honoured to be able to take part in the opening ceremony of a project that was
carried out by the two sides of the island. After the speeches were completed,
olive trees, as a symbol of peace, were planted in the area.
The Lefkosia
Waste Water Treatment Facility has a capacity to produce ten million cubic
meters of water a year, which will be used for agricultural irrigation.
6. Contacts of
Kosovo delegation in the occupied area of Cyprus
Illegal Bayrak television (09.04.14) broadcast
that a delegation of Kosovo is visiting the occupied area of Cyprus.
The delegation, headed by “deputy” Enis Kervan
visited the “parliamentary speaker” Sibel Siber.
Speaking during the visit Kervan said that the
aim of their visit is to discuss the possibilities of cooperation between the
two “countries” and alleged the following: “The country that understands us the
most is Cyprus as we share a common destiny”. Siber on her part said that
Kosovo carries special importance for the “TRNC” and added that bonds of
communion exist between the two “countries”. “The cultural, economic and
trading ties between Kosovo and the TRNC carry great significance for us as
well’”, she said.
In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis
newspaper (09.04.14) writes that the Kosovo delegation met with the self-styled
deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas who stated that they follow Kosovo’s
activities “with enthusiasm and jealousy”. He also said that they want to
improve the culture, tourism, sport and economic relations between Kosovo and
the “TRNC”.
Denktas also referred to the Cyprus
negotiations and stated that “an agreement cannot take place by force”.
According to the paper, Denktas was invited to
visit Kosovo and the visit is scheduled to take place after June.
7. Students
from a U.S. university met with Siber, Yorgancioglu and Nami
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 08.04.14), students from the Washington American University’s Peace
and Conflict Resolution Program, who are on the island as part of a study trip,
met with the self-styled speaker of the assembly Sibel Siber on Tuesday
morning.
Siber informed the students headed by the
program’s academic director Assoc. Prof. Dr Eleftherios Michael on the Cyprus
problem and the solution process.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr Michael
said that they had received many positive feedbacks regarding Mrs Siber and
therefore wanted her to inform them regarding her views on the Cyprus issue and
the negotiations process.
Siber, for her part, told the students that
the solution process and peace on the island were two separate issues, adding
that while a solution will be achieved at the negotiating table, peace can only
be achieved through in the hearts and minds of the people.
Meanwhile, self-styled prime minister Ozkan
Yorgancioglu had also a meeting with the students and informed them regarding
the “government’s” views on the Cyprus negotiations process.
Noting that they were at a time when they
were very close to reach an agreement on the Cyprus issue, Yorgancioglu said
that currently the two sides are testing
their boundaries.
“We expect the Cyprus negotiations process
to speed up in the near future and enter a process of give and take”, said Yorgancioglu, adding that this was a new
opportunity which no one should miss. He warned otherwise international factors
could push for an interim solution overtaking a comprehensive solution.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis
(09.04.14) reports that the students met also with self-styled foreign minister
Ozdil Nami. During the meeting, Dr Michael expressed his satisfaction for being
able to meet with Nami.
Nami gave them a short brief on the Cyprus
history and explained them how the “ministry” functions and how the Turkish
Cypriots are carrying out their affairs abroad. While Nami was answering to the
students’ questions, he explained them the process of the Cyprus talks and the
“ministry’s” role in the negotiation process.
8. Taner
Dervis hands over a letter for Varosha to the US Assistant Secretary of State
Eric Rubin
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (09.04.14) reports that Taner Dervis, former general director of
the EVKAF religious foundation, has handed over a letter regarding the occupied
fenced off city of Varosha to the US Assistant Secretary of State, Eric Rubin
who visited Cyprus yesterday.
In statements to Kibris, Dervis said that he “enlightened” Rubin
regarding the “Turkish Cypriot people’s property rights in the closed city of
Varosha”.
He noted that he told Rubin what he had alleged in letters to other
foreign officials and reiterated the allegation that the entire city of Varosha
belongs to the EVKAF according to the laws of Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
9. The
Turkish Foreign Ministry regrets for the burning of a Turkish flag by APOEL FC
fans
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (09.04.14) reports that Tanju Bilgic, Spokesman of the Turkish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, has expressed their regret for the burning of a Turkish
flag by APOEL Nicosia fans during a football match of their team with
Omonia Nicosia FC.
Bilgic was called yesterday to comment on the issue. After
expressing regret, he noted: “We hope
that this disrespect shown towards our flag in a period during which the
comprehensive negotiations for a solution in Cyprus are being held, is not approved by the whole of the Greek
Cypriot community”.
(I/Ts.)
10.
Derya’s demanding the closure of the Grey Wolves causes the reaction by the
regime’s representatives; Harmanci: The Grey Wolves are tolerated
Under the title “Reply to Derya from Istanbul”, Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibrisli newspaper (09.04.14) reports that Azmi Karamahmutoglu, former chairman of the Hearths of the Ideal, known
as Grey Wolves, has replied to Dogus Derya, self-styled deputy with the
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) who had asked for the closure of the Grey Wolves
organization in the occupied area of Cyprus. Derya made this statement
after the recent incidents at the illegal Near East University (YDU) during
which members of the Grey Wolves attacked some students of Kurdish origin.
Karamahmutoglu, who is currently living in Istanbul, argued that
Derya’s statements recalled him of the statements made by neo-Nazis in Germany
who want the Turks to leave their country. He said that only the “judiciary”
has the right to close down the Grey Wolves in the occupied area of Cyprus and
added: “When I was establishing the
Hearths of the Ideal in the TRNC, I did not establish them to close them down
because Mrs Dogus wants so. These
Hearths could be closed down only if not even a single Turk who believes in us
remains in the TRNC. If Dogus Derya
takes a side when the PKK members attack the Idealists, she must declare that
she does this as a PKK sympathizer and not as a TRNC deputy”.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (09.04.14)
publishes statements by the self-styled
minister of public works and transport of the breakaway regime Ahmet Kasif and
the self-styled deputy with the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG) and
National Unity party (UBP), Zorlu Tore and Faiz Sucuoglu respectively, who said
that the Grey Wolves cannot be closed down.
Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (09.04.14)
reports that Mehmet Harmaci, general
secretary of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) has said that the incidents at
the “YDU” are unacceptable and made a call as regards taking the necessary
measures. He noted that this is not the
first time that the Grey Wolves recourse to violence and added that in spite of
this they are tolerated. He said that this encourages this group and
pointed out that fascist and racist
groups must not be allowed in the “country”.
Harmanci went on and
addressed some questions to the “prime minister” and the “interior minister”, who are both coming from the CTP. He asked them whether they consider the Grey Wolves as
“having a tendency for violence” and why
they do not perform their duty if they consider them to be a violent
organization. “If you do not consider them as such, you are obliged to give
explanations to both the Turkish Cypriot community and your own deputies”, he
added.
(I/Ts.)
11. Erdogan evaluated the election results; He said
that those who criticized AKP committed a betrayal
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (09.04.14) reports that
the Justice and Development Party (AKP) held its first group meeting following
the local elections at Turkey's Grand National Assembly yesterday.
Erdogan declared
that the AK Party won by a landslide compared to its opponents, adding that the
Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP)
votes together didn't come close to AK Party figures.
Erdogan claimed that Turkey's democracy, political
system, economic and social stability, reconciliation process with the Kurds
and an atmosphere of peace were all targeted by a number of people disturbed by
the "new Turkey" since the Gezi Park protests in the summer of 2013.
"The actual target of these attacks was Turkey, Turkey's unity and
brotherhood, rather than the AK Party," said Erdogan, who suggested that
the agitators used every method possible to cause chaos, including street
movements, terrorism, vandalism, fascism, racism, hatred and discrimination,
and to discredit Turkey's international reputation. He added that they also did
not hesitate to unlawfully record and wiretap people's private conversations
and fabricate tape recordings.
Erdogan panned
those who called for the boycott of the economy and for foreign investors to
stay away from Turkey, as well as those who criticize the government for
responding to attacks by Syrian forces which shot down a Turkish plane.
"History will not forget the betrayal and these inhumane attacks,"
said Erdogan. He went on to state that a number of media organs, including
those affiliated with the Gulen Movement, exploited their positions by
publishing provocative and misleading propaganda and deceitful polls prior to
the elections, while opposition parties did not hesitate to cooperate with such
traitors in hope of gaining votes.
In response to
the CHP's opposition to the election results in Ankara, Erdogan stated that CHP
candidate Mansur Yavas (formerly from MHP) is provoking people to take the
issue to the streets and cast a shadow on the elections.
12. CHPleader assaulted before Parliament speech
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (09.04.14) reported that
the leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu
was attacked on the way to a group meeting in the parliament. Media outlets
reported that Kilicdaroglu was punched in the face twice and his glasses were
broken in the attack.
CHP leader Kilicdaroglu spoke in parliament following
the attack on him and told everybody to remain calm. Kilicdaroglu stated that
they are not afraid of anything and they are determined to bring a 'healthy'
democracy to Turkey. "The path to democracy
is full of obstacles," he said. Later on pro-Kurdish Peace and Democrasi
Party (BDP) Deputy Sirri Sakik announced that the attack was not related to
their party. AK Party Deputy Samil Tayyar also condemned the attack via
Twitter. The identity of the attacker is not yet clear.
The punching of
Turkey's opposition leader in parliament on Tuesday was strongly condemned by
Turkish PM Erdogan who said that this is
not a correct way of behaviour in a democratic parliamentary system.
13. Bahceli: Thieves cannot become presidents
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (08.04.14) reported that
the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) stated that Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is not fit to be elected as president.
“[Just as] two
wrongs do not make a right or fire cannot be turned into water, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan is not fit to become president,” Devlet Bahceli said at the party's
parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday.
In his speech,
during a considerable portion of which Bahceli spoke about why Erdogan was not
fit to be elected as president, the MHP
leader said, “The one who attacks the
rule of law, runs away from justice and takes under his wing thieves and
receive bribes is not fit to become president.”
According to the MHP leader, any Turkish citizen, no
matter his political stance, can become president except for Erdogan.
14. AKP Mayor in Bingol refuses to let women hold
positions at municipal councilon religious grounds
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (09.04.14) reports that
the new Mayor of the eastern town of Bingol, elected in last week’s local
elections from the ranks of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has
refused to let women elected to the local municipal council hold positions of
responsibility on religious grounds.
Mayor Yucel
Barakazi’s comments have been interpreted as an attempt to prevent Nurten Ertugrul,
elected after topping the AKP’s list of running candidates for the municipal
council, from being granted the position of deputy mayor. According to Turkish legislation, Mayors of
towns that are not metropolitan municipalities choose one or several deputies,
according to the population of the locality, to become members of the local
municipal council. These are typically members of the same party as the
candidate who topped the party’s list at the elections.
Barakazi has
been reported as saying that he “would not assign any women for the deputy Mayor
post,” adding that this was acceptable on neither moral nor religious grounds,
and that society “would not accept it.”
Following his
comments, Ertugrul announced her immediate resignation from the municipal
council, slamming the new Mayor for his attitude.
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