TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
88/14 15.05.14
1. Reactions
in the Turkish Cypriot side over Biden’s visit to Cyprus and ECHR
ruling
2.
Ozersay met the US Ambassador to Nicosia; The Cyprus
negotiation process and Biden’s visit were discussed
3. Famagusta
Initiative called on Turkish Cypriot politicians to abide to the
joint declaration
4.
Reactions in the occupied area of Cyprus against Turkey for the mine
blast in Soma; Turkish Cypriot politicians and President Anastasiades
send messages of condolence; two days of mourning in the occupied
area of Cyprus
5.
So called education minister met with foreign teachers who are
illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus
6.
Turkish columnists write that Erdogan is able to turn even the ECHR’s
decision on Cyprus to an advantage for his governance
7.
Schulz’s interviewed by Today Zaman: “Currently, it is very
difficult for a new chapter to open in the membership negotiations
between Turkey and the EU
8.
Turkey’s Turcas Petrol Company in talks for building a pipeline for
Israel’s gas
1.
Reactions in the Turkish Cypriot
side over Biden’s visit to Cyprus and ECHR ruling
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.05.14) reports on the reactions by
the Turkish Cypriot side over the visit of the US Vice President, Joe
Biden to Cyprus and on the judgment of the European Court of Human
Rights (ECHR) ordering Turkey to pay the Republic of Cyprus the total
sum of EUR 90,000,000.
Turkish
Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, commenting on Biden’s visit, stated
that “for sure he (Biden) will not use expressions in favor of us
but in favor of the Greek Cypriots”.
Eroglu made these statements during a meeting he had with a
delegation of the Political Academy Istanbul Aydin University. He
said that the Greek Cypriot side demands the return of Varosha as
part of the confident building measures but the Turkish Cypriot side
does not accept this saying that this is part of a comprehensive
solution.
The
self-styled prime minister Ozkan
Yorgancioglu before entering the “council of ministers meeting”,
highlighted the importance of Biden’s visit to Cyprus, stating that
it will contribute to overcoming some of the deadlocks present in the
current Cyprus negotiations process, as he alleged. “I hope that
his visit will contribute to the comprehensive solution process on
the island as well”, he stated.
On
his part, Osman Ertug, the spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader
Eroglu, stated that Biden’s visit is very important adding that the
Cyprus problem is becoming more visible from the international point
of view. This means more acceleration and interest, which is what the
Turkish Cypriot side wants, he claimed. He
also said that USA a super power is showing to the Cyprus problem the
same interest that shows to every other problem of the world. Ertug
described the ECHR ruling as a “compunction” ruling.
In
addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (15.04.14) writes
that the leader of the Democratic Party Serdar Denktas asked to
comment on Biden’s visit stated: “We are a hospitable nation.
Come to the island but do not expect any statements to be made by us.
Knowing this we can say that you can visit”, he stated adding that
the Turkish Cypriots are in a passive position and no one is taking
them seriously. Also Denktas described
the ECHR ruling against Turkey as a “dynamite” thrown to the
negotiation table. According to Denktas the table is “broken into
pieces, and negotiations cannot continue. Denktas also criticized
the Turkish Cypriot the negotiating team, without naming anyone and
said: “We are in a passive position and we seem like we could
easily be convinced. So, no one takes us seriously”.
2. Ozersay
met the US Ambassador to Nicosia; The Cyprus negotiation process and
Biden’s visit were discussed
Turkish daily Kibris
Postasi newspaper (14.05.14-online in English) reported that the
Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay met with the US
Ambassador to Nicosia, John Koenig today (yesterday).
Koenig and Ozersay
evaluated US Vice President Joe Biden’s Cyprus visit which is
due to take place between 21-23 May.
Speaking to the press,
Ozersay said: “We evaluated the latest state of the negotiations
and its challenges, as well as Joe Biden’s visit and the ways this
visit could contribute to the process”
Noting that Biden’s
visit will mark the first time as one of the highest ranking
officials of US will be visiting Cyprus for an official visit since
the early 1960s, Ozersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side is
making a constructive effort in order to make sure that results can
be reached during Biden’s visit.
3.
Famagusta Initiative called on
Turkish Cypriot politicians to abide to the joint declaration
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (15.05.14) reports that the Famagusta
Initiative, called on the Turkish
Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, the “foreign minister” Ozdil Nami
and the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay to abide to the
joint declaration signed between the two sides in February.
Speaking
on behalf of the Initiative Mertkan Hamit said that in the last few
days various statements are made by the Turkish Cypriot side which
are against the joint declaration’s spirit, adding that this is sad
and causes uneasiness in the on-going negotiations. He also said that
the decision of the judgment of the
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordering Turkey to pay the
Republic of Cyprus the total sum of EUR 90,000,000, shows how urgent
the solution of the Cyprus problem is.
4.
Reactions in the occupied area of Cyprus against Turkey for the mine
blast in Soma; Turkish Cypriot politicians and President Anastasiades
send messages of condolence; two days of mourning in the occupied
area of Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (15.05.14) reports that after
the mine blast in Turkey which cost the lives of more than 245
persons, several NGO’s in the occupied area of Cyprus organized a
protest yesterday in front of the “so-called assembly” in order
to express the sorrow for the incident.
According
to the paper, around 300 persons from
DEV-Is Trade Union, the United Cyprus Party (BKP) the Communal
Democracy Party (TDP) the Baraka Culture Center, the Student’s
Initiative of the “Cyprus International University” and others,
gathered yesterday in front of the “Turkish embassy” in the
occupied area of Cyprus and protested against the incident which took
place in Turkey. The protestors were holding placards writing slogans
such as: “AKP killer, collaborator CHP”, “Murderer state give
an account”, “It is not a working accident it’s a massacre”.
Also the
protestors, issuing a written statement expressed their condolences
to the families of the victims and condemned Turkey for not taking
measures to safeguard the lives of the workers in Turkey.
Meanwhile,
according to illegal Bayrak television (14.05.14) “state and
government officials” in the occupied area of Cyprus issued
messages of condolences for those who lost their lives in the
explosion at the coal mine in Soma in western Turkey.
Turkish
Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, “prime minister” Ozkan Yorgancioglu
and the so-called deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas have all
issued messages of condolences.
Meanwhile
today and tomorrow are declared as national
days of mourning in the “TRNC” due to the coal mine tragedy in
Turkey. The “national flag” will fly at half-mast across Turkey
and the “TRNC” and all celebrations apart from the “19th of May
official celebration” have been cancelled.
Also,
all Turkish Cypriot dailies reported today that
the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades has also
sent to Turkey a message of condolences for the incident.
5.
So called education minister met with foreign teachers who are
illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus
Under
the title: “It is important to promote
the country”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Havadis newspaper (15.05.14) reports that the so-called
minister of education, Mustafa Arabacioglu met yesterday with Latvian
and Bulgarian teachers who are illegally visiting the occupied area
of Cyprus due to the teacher’s exchange program which is
implemented by KTOS trade Union.
In
statements during the meeting,
Arabacioglu welcomed the delegation and underlined the importance of
their visit to the “TRNC” adding that their visit is important
for “promoting the country” abroad, as he said.
AK
6.
Turkish columnists write that Erdogan is able to turn even the ECHR’s
decision on Cyprus to an advantage for his governance
In
a commentary entitled: “A leader the
West will have to contend with, in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(15.05.14), columnist Semih Idiz writes:
“The
more Erdogan hits at the West – the way he did on Tuesday, May 13,
again – the more points scores in Turkey, the Middle East, Africa,
Asia and even parts of South America. He is not just a source of
admiration for Islamists anymore. He has become the voice in the
world of the previously voiceless masses against what is seen as an
arrogant West, riddled with double standards.
Western
leaders and politicians may throw barbs in his direction, but this is
all water off a duck’s back for him. He has no worries or concerns
about any political or economic retribution from anyone. Turkey has
enough critical mass politically and economically today for him to
wipe this aside with the back of his hand.
He can
shut down the German President, tell the U.S. Ambassador
he is only in Ankara on sufferance, and blast at Freedom House for
spreading misinformation about press freedoms in Turkey and it all
works to his advantage.
Erdogan
will even turn the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) latest
ruling against Turkey on Cyprus to an advantage, in which Ankara is
being ordered to pay an unprecedented sum of money in compensation to
Greek Cypriots.
There was a
day when this might have caused concern in Ankara, but no longer.
Having no
faith, trust or love left for Europe, he is prepared to risk Turkey’s
Council of Europe membership by telling the ECHR where it can get
off.
Erdogan
will refuse to pay the compensation, of course, which is bound to
score more points for him at home being an issue that unites
everyone. As far as his position on Cyprus is concerned it is no
different to that of the former Kemalist establishment.
This Cyprus
problem was settled “de facto” in 1974, and if a “de jure”
settlement has not been found because the West refuses to look at it
objectively in its historic context, then so be it! The caravan moves
on.
In
the meantime, no one should threaten that until this settlement is
found, Turkey will never be admitted into the EU.
Erdogan believes that Europe will never give EU membership to
predominantly Muslim Turkey anyway, even if Cyprus is resolved.
His
remarks about remaining committed to Turkey’s EU membership bid, on
the other hand, are only uttered for the sake of diplomacy. Erdogan
is, after all, the one who half-jokingly and half-seriously asked
President Putin to help Turkey join the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, in return for which he said he would dump the EU.
He
also believes Europe can only go so far in “punishing Turkey”
because of strategic reasons that still require Turkey to remain in
the Western fold. This is the Erdogan
the West is going to have to contend with once he is elected
President, as many expect him to be.
(…)”.
7.
Schulz’s interviewed by Today Zaman: “Currently, it is very
difficult for a new chapter to open in the membership negotiations
between Turkey and the EU
Turkish
daily Today Zaman newspaper (13.05.14) reported on statements by
the European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who is also the
leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the
EP and their candidate for President of the European Commission in
the 2014 elections.
Referring
to Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan, he said that he accuses his
critics at home of treason or of being part of an international plot.
He also claims that there is a “parallel state” in
Turkey trying to undermine his government. The international
community has agreed on international legal principles and the
International Declaration of Human Rights. Anybody who violates these
standards will be criticized”, he said.
“We
are seeing major problems especially in terms of the principle of
rule of laws, freedom of speech and pluralism.
The responses [Prime Minister Erdogan]
gives to criticism directed at himself and the bans he has imposed on
social media are not in line with the standards of the modern state.
I am also not under the impression that Prime Minister Erdogan is
interested greatly in changing his stance regarding the issues of
Twitter or Facebook. Under the current circumstances, Brussels
opening the chapter on freedom of speech with Turkey is out of
question.”
Schulz
added that currently it is very
difficult for a new chapter to open in the membership negotiations
between Turkey and the EU. He also said
he found Erdogan's attitude in response to criticism and opposition
directed at himself surprising. “This attitude makes many people
wonder if the path [Erdogan] is on is a civil path.”
But
what can the EU do to stop the anti-democratic developments in
Turkey? Schulz said: “Restrictions on freedom of speech cannot be
accepted and many people in Turkey don't like this being done to
them. We strongly criticize these restrictions because there are
clear democratic standards in Europe if Turkey wants to become a
member of the EU. I believe that we should
talk about the developments that pose a problem as part of Turkey's
negotiation process.”
8.
Turkey’s Turcas Petrol Company in talks for building a pipeline for
Israel’s gas
Turkish
daily Sabah newspaper (15.05. 14, online in English) reports that
Turkish energy company Turcas Petrol
announced that they are considering to build a pipeline for natural
gas in Israel's Leviathan field.
Last
month Turcas informed Istanbul's
stock-exchange BIST that they were 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.
Turcas
CEO Batu Aksoy announced that Turcas and E.ON unit Enerjisa may grow
their alliance to buy Israeli gas
and the company may consider building a pipeline for gas from the
Leviathan field.
According
to Aksoy the pipeline may cost about $2 billion (TL 4.15 billion) and
could supply 7-10bcm gas annually to
Turkey via a 500km undersea route.
The
Turkish consortium is planning to transport the natural gas in
Israel's Tamar and Leviathan areas through pipelines for the first
stage. In the medium term the consortium also planned to add Cypriot
gas to the route. The consortium envisages that 7 to 10 billion cubic
meters of gas will be transported to Turkey annually through the
yet-to-be built pipeline. Turcas wants to move ahead of its
competitors by building a strong supply chain, following the
transmission of the gas to Turkey.
(…)
----------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS
SECTION
http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio
