TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 86/14 13.05.14
1. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) fined Turkey 90 million euro due to the violations from Turkey's 1974 invasion
2. Reactions over the ECHR decision by Davutoglu and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3. Atalay: ECHR decision will not influence the negotiations
4. Reactions from the occupied area of Cyprus to the conviction of Turkey by the ECHR due to the 1974 invasion of Cyprus
5. Turkish former ECHR judge: The decision is binding for Turkey
6. Self-styled presidency’s statement: Eroglu has not made any “official” statement regarding possible high level visits in Cyprus
7. Ozersay evaluates Biden’s visit to Cyprus
8. FEMA calls on the Turkish Cypriot leadership to return Varosha to his owners
9. Serdar Denktas: “Greek Cypriot’s intention is osmosis”
10. Denktas met with the President of the Turkish-English Chamber of Commerce
11. Tore to return to the UBP
12. Talip Atalay to attend a meeting in Brussels
13. Erdogan due to Germany
14. Turkey receives first batch of new military transport planes
1. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) fined Turkey 90 million euro due to the violations from Turkey's 1974 invasion
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (13.05.14) reports that Europe's top human rights body has ordered Turkey to pay dozens of millions of euro in compensation to Cyprus for “human rights violations” resulting from Turkey's military operation in Cyprus in 1974. Under the ruling, Turkey is obliged to pay the amount to the Cypriot state for it to deliver to individual victims under the supervision of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.
The Turkish press covered the issue as follows:
Under the front-page title: “90 million penalty for Cyprus”, Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (13.05.14) reports on the decision announced yesterday by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which orders Turkey to pay to the “Greek Cypriot administration”, as the Republic of Cyprus is called by the paper, the amount of 90 million euro due to the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974. The paper points out that 30 million will be paid to the families of the missing persons and 60 million to the Greek Cypriots in occupied Karpassia.
Turkish daily Sabah (13.05.14) covers the issue under the title: “Shock compensation to Cyprus from the ECHR: 90 million”. The paper writes that the ECHR has sentenced Turkey with a record compensation due to the “1974 peace operation in Cyprus” as the Turkish invasion is described.
According to the paper, 16 out of the 17 members of the ECHR have voted in favor of the decision. The Turkish judge Isik Karakas voted against the verdict writes the paper.
(AK)
2. Reactions over the ECHR decision by Davutoglu and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (13.05.14) reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu reacted before the announcement of the ECHR verdict which ruled for Turkey to pay 90 million euro in compensation to Cyprus for the Turkish military 1974 invasion. Davutoglu said the ruling would “neither be binding nor carry any value” for Ankara.
“The case has been brought to the agenda within a decade and in international law, it’s actually not binding and it does not have any value with respect to our views. It has many legal disadvantages and the timing is very problematic, ”Davutoglu told reporters on May 12.
“If there is such a sanction, this is of course a probability; we’ll be giving an official view,” the Turkish Foreign Minister said, adding that the timing of the judgment was inappropriate because the reunification talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots were “actually getting to a certain pace, after so many efforts.”
“Such a decision will affect the psychological atmosphere of the comprehensive negotiations on the island. It’s not correct if there is such a sanction; this is going to affect the peace negotiations on Cyprus. It’s going to negatively affect the psychological atmosphere,” he said.
In addition, Hurriyet (13.05.14-online edition) broadcast that speaking during a press conference today Davutoglu said: “We are not thinking of paying this amount to a country that we do not recognize.
Davutoglu described the timing of the ruling as “not well intentioned.” “The ECHR should rule on all the missing people cases, including the Turks in Turkish Cyprus,” he said. “The timing is unfortunate, the comprehensive peace talks have been dealt a huge blow,” Davutoglu added, referring to the recently restarted negotiations between the two sides of the divided island.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also slammed the ECHR ruling. “In the name of the nation, I call on the prime minister to reject the ECHR ruling and send it back, and declare to all sides that we will closely follow this issue,” Bahceli told today during his party’s parliamentary group meeting.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement yesterday describing the decision of the ECHR as “lacking legal ground”. Replying to a question, the spokesman of the Ministry argued that the decision includes “mistakes and inconsistencies” and “lacks legal ground”. According to the spokesman, it seems that the decision could not be implemented in conditions of continuation of the Cyprus problem. He alleged that the application filed in 2010 by the Greek Cypriot side, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, is “far from exhibiting good will”. He described as “worthy to be noticed” the fact that the decision on the application was taken in a period during which the efforts for producing a result in the negations are intensified.
3. Atalay: ECHR decision will not influence the negotiations
Turkish CNN Turk television (13.05.14, online) broadcast that the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Besir Atalay has said that the decision taken yesterday by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordering Turkey to pay the Republic of Cyprus the total sum of EUR 90,000,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage suffered by the relatives of the missing persons of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island and the Greek Cypriot enclaved persons in occupied Karpas peninsula will not influence the negotiating process for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Replying to questions of journalists at the Parliament, Atalay noted that the issue has been on the agenda for some time and said “yesterday our Foreign Minister made a statement and said that ‘it is null and void’”. “I also agree”, he added.
Asked whether this means that Turkey will not pay the compensation, Atalay said: “At the moment this is so, but there was a statement yesterday. Yesterday we held a meeting regarding Cyprus, but we did not bring the issue onto the agenda a lot. We discussed more issues regarding the negotiating process”.
Responding to a question as to whether the ECHR decision will influence the negotiations process, Atalay noted: “No, in any case we work on this issue. Both the TRNC and we work. We are exerting efforts for the Property Compensation Commission’s to work smoothly. Therefore we think that the statement by Mr Ahmet [Davutoglu] is right…It is true that we consider it as an advanced decision. However, we are exerting a great effort for the negotiating process going well. You know that the international community is also supporting this. On the 20th and the 21st of this month, the US Vice President Biden will visit Cyprus. Of course, we consider his visit to be important. We consider it as America’s concerning itself with Cyprus. Perhaps in this process there will be some work which we will also do. Perhaps in the meantime our Foreign Minister will visit Cyprus, the TRNC. This has not been definite yet, but there is such a serious effort on the Cyprus issue. God willing this time it seems as if things go a little bit faster. I am hopeful this time. The pressure by the international community is important…”
Atalay recalled the visits of the negotiators of the communities to Athens and Ankara, noting that “these are things which soften a little bit the relations”.
When he was asked again whether the ECHR decision will influence negatively the process, Atalay reiterated that “it certainly will not influence it” and added that “we must avoid actions and statements which will harm this process”. “Asked whether the timing of the decision aimed at weakening Turkey, Atalay noted that he did not want to say much on this issue and added that the side concerned is the Foreign Ministry.
(I/Ts.)
4. Reactions from the occupied area of Cyprus to the conviction of Turkey by the ECHR due to the 1974 invasion of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret Ozersay has alleged that the decision announced yesterday by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordering Turkey to pay the Republic of Cyprus the total sum of EUR 90,000,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage suffered by the relatives of the missing persons of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island and the Greek Cypriot enclaved persons in occupied Karpas peninsula could harm the negotiating process due to its timing.
Ozersay argued that Turkey had taken some “improving steps” regarding the above-mentioned violations after the decision taken in 2001 and that the decision that it should pay compensations in spite of these steps is “wrong and problematic”. He alleged: “We are talking about 2001. Having that decision as starting point, the Property Compensation Commission (PCC) has been established. The Turkish Cypriot side has taken some concrete steps regarding the former Greek Cypriot properties. In spite of the fact that steps had been taken in the desired direction, they returned to the very beginning and took a decision for compensation. This will not influence the work of the PCC, but it is tantamount to ignoring all that has been done in a trice”.
Ozersay alleged also that steps have been taken on some issues regarding the Greek Cypriot enclaved persons in Karpas and these steps have been inspected by the ECHR Delegates Committee. He alleged that if the Greek Cypriot side feels that it wins when it waits and punishes Turkey, the reasons it has for reaching an agreement will be decreased. “Moreover, I do not think that the proposals brought by the Greek Cypriot side on the property could become any harder”, he claimed.
Meanwhile, Turkish Anatolia news agency (13.05.14) reports that Serdar Denktas, self-styled deputy prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus and chairman of the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG), alleged that “the decision is political” and went on claiming that “it has been taken to punish Turkey and satisfy the Greek Cypriots and Greece”. He argued that both Turkey and the “TRNC”, the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, should re-examine their relations with the European Union (EU). “We have to think again how much we can trust the EU which has exhibited such an approach with this decision”, he argued. Denktas expressed the view that no negotiations should be held as long as this decision is not fully annulled. Denktas alleged that with this decision, the EU has given the message that it does not want Turkey.
Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime and chairman of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG), Ozkan Yorgancioglu has claimed that the decision was not a correct one and “it is an issue open for debate”. He argued that the on-going negotiations in Cyprus will be influenced by this decision and added: “If the ECHR would take a decision on this issue, it should have made its timing well”.
Kibrisli reports also that Huseyin Ozgurgun, chairman of the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP), alleged that the decision of the ECHR is not binding and that the Turkish Cypriots should react against this decision. “What is this decision taken during the period of the negotiations? This is another aspect of the misfortune”, he claimed.
Furthermore, the chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), Cemal Ozyigit has said that the Cyprus problem should be solved in order for these lawsuits to end. “We hope that it will not influence the negotiations process”, he noted adding that the decision should not be seen as an issue that will prevent the negotiations.
Finally, the leader of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), Izzet Izcan pointed out that the decision was not a surprise and added: “The substance of the issue is that a comprehensive solution in Cyprus is a necessary condition. The property structure in Northern Cyprus is contrary to the international law…” Izcan said that the way of eliminating this situation is the solution of the Cyprus problem and added that Turkey should be included in the solution the soonest.
(I/Ts.)
5. Turkish former ECHR judge: The decision is binding for Turkey
Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (13.05.14) publishes statements by the former judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and current Deputy with the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Riza Turmen, who has assessed the decision announced yesterday by the ECHR ordering Turkey to pay the Republic of Cyprus the total sum of EUR 90,000,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage suffered by the relatives of the missing persons of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island and the Greek Cypriot enclaved persons in occupied Karpas peninsula.
Commenting on Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s statement that the decision is not binding for Turkey, Turmen told Hurriyet that Turkey has no other option than implementing the decision. Turmen recalled of Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights signed by Turkey under the title “The binding force and execution of judgements” and noted that under this article the countries, which are sides to the Convention, have undertaken to abide by the final judgements of the Court. “The decision is binding and definite”, he noted adding that “if you do not pay the compensation, the interest will increase”.
(I/Ts.)
6. Self-styled presidency’s statement: Eroglu has not made any “official” statement regarding possible high level visits in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the self-styled presidency issued a statement according to which the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has not made yet any “official statement” regarding possible high level visits in Cyprus. The statement is as follows:
“[…] we want to emphasise that apart from the news which direct include quotes from our president, the responsibility of any news and opinion articles about the president’s remarks lies with the journalist/columnist himself/herself. Our president has yet to make any official statement regarding possible high level visits expected to take place in Cyprus. Eroglu sincerely wants a settlement to be reached in Cyprus based on the realities of the Island.
Therefore our president presented the roadmap that suggests referendums to be held after the completion of the 5 phases of the negotiations which are on-going on the basis of the `Joint Declaration`. He believes that official contacts and visits to Cyprus can be beneficial as long as they are held with equal respect and distance to both sides by defending the rights and interests of both communities.”
7. Ozersay evaluates Biden’s visit to Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret Ozersay in statements yesterday to the paper, evaluated the forthcoming visit of the Vice President of the United States of America, Joe Biden to Cyprus on 21 and 22 of May in order to meet with President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu. He said that Biden’s visit will be beneficial for the negotiation process and will “give motivation to the process to move forward”.
Pointing out that they are pleased for Biden’s forthcoming visit, Ozersay underlined the need for the two sides to do all the necessary in order for the visit to completed with a progress on the issue of the Confidence Building Measures or the comprehensive solution.
Ozersay said that they see Biden’s visit as evident that the negotiation process is considered important by the international community and that the international community feels the gravity of the related actors as regards the progress on the issue of the solution.
“This visit puts Cyprus on top of the global agenda” said Ozersay and pointed out to the fact that the Greek Cypriot side does not see positively the approach for the acceleration of the process.
Ozersay expressed also their uneasiness for the fact that the proposals submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side to the Greek Cypriot side last Wednesday were leaked to the press and said that they conveyed the issue to the UN.
(AK)
8. FEMA calls on the Turkish Cypriot leadership to return Varosha to his owners
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the Feminist Workshop (FEMA) issued a statement calling on the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, the “foreign minister” Ozdil Nami and the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay to return Varosha to its owners.
According to FEMA’s written statement, for 40 years now the Cyprus problem goes on, many persons suffered, therefore a culture of peace and justice must be build and the military view of things must be abandoned.
9. Serdar Denktas: “Greek Cypriot’s intention is osmosis”
Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the leader of the Democratic Party-National Forces (DP-UG) Serdar Denktas in statements during the week-end in an event which took place in occupied Akanthou village, referred inter alia, to the Cyprus problem.
Denktas underlined the fact that no-solution has been reached to the Cyprus problem yet and added that the only intention of the Greek Cypriot is “osmosis”.
Denktas went saying the following: “Greek Cypriots have only one goal which has not changed. And that is osmosis which is the policy of vanishing the Turkish Cypriots by diminishing them”.
Recalling the struggle of the Turkish Cypriots for years for their national existence, Denktas pointed out the contribution of the TMT and added that during those years the Turkish Cypriots had the belief that “Turkey would come one day”.
Denktas went on and alleged that what it is demanded is to remove from their hands all their rights except from the Turkish Cypriots who speak Turkish to stay in the island as EU citizens and said that this is a very dangerous path. He added: “Our equality, our sovereignty, our Turkishness, our state will be lifted, however, we will be individually citizens of the EU. (…) So, I say NO and that THIS WAY IS NOT THE WAY! It is for these reasons that in every place I go I am trying to explain that we are forced to follow the NO campaign”.
(AK)
10. Denktas met with the President of the Turkish-English Chamber of Commerce
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the Democratic Party (DP-UG) leader and the “deputy prime minister and the minister of economy tourism, culture and sports” Serdar Denktas met with the President of Turkish-English Chamber of Commerce and Industry Emma Edhem.
Touching upon the Cyprus negotiations Denktas alleged: “We have to be realistic. Personally I am not optimistic about the latest process. The Greek Cypriot leadership lacks the goodwill for a solution”. He also spoke about the economic problems of the occupied area of Cyprus and said that despite the problems the tourism sector has gained momentum.
On her part, Edhem said: “I think the progress in the negotiations is positive but slow. I would like to see more progress; I want to have hopes from the future”. She also said that direct flights to the occupied area of Cyprus would be the key for improvement in tourism industry.
11. Tore to return to the UBP
Illegal Bayrak television (13.05.14) broadcast that Zorlu Tore, who resigned from the Democratic Party National Forces (DPUG) last month has announced that he will be joining the National Unity Party (UBP) on Friday, the 16th of May.
Tore cited the UBP’s credibility as the reason for his transfer stating: “The UBP is the most trustable party when it comes to the national cause. It has never stepped out of its line.” The UBP’s number of seats in “parliament will rise to 15 with Tore’s transfer.
12. Talip Atalay to attend a meeting in Brussels
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the “chairman” of the “Religious affairs department” in the occupied area of Cyprus, Talip Atalay will attend the “Europe’s Muslims meeting” which is to take place in Brussels between May 13-14.
According to the paper, the meeting is organized by the secretariat of the “Eurasia Islamic Council”.
The paper points out that religious Muslim leaders from several countries as well as academicians are expected to attend the meeting.
13. Erdogan due to Germany
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (13.05.14) reports that Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is planning to visit Germany on May 24 in order to meet with Turkish citizens/ expatriates in the town of Koln.
Erdogan’s visit to Germany aims to exchange views and consultations with expatriates in Koln town regarding his candidacy to the Presidency of the Turkish Republic, writes the paper.
The paper underlines that Erdogan is expected to deliver a speech in Lanxess Arena in Koln town where he expected to send important messages as regards his goals and Turkey’s future.
(AK)
14. Turkey receives first batch of new military transport planes
Turkish daily Sabah (13.05.14) reports that Turkey's first A400M aircraft, regarded as the most developed military transport aircraft, was delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) yesterday.
Speaking at the delivery ceremony, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that after the cold war ended, states had to revise their security risk and threat perception. "In this context, flexible and easily mobilized troops are as necessary as the conventional ones," Gul said.
----------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio
