TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
95/14 24-26.05.14
1. Turkish Cypriot
reactions to the EP elections; They are ready to go to the ECHR
2. Eroglu and
Yorgancioglu assess the EP elections
3. Eroglu evaluated
Biden’s visit at the Turkish press
4. Comments on Biden’s
visit to Cyprus
5. Nami assesses US
Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Cyprus
6. Ozersay accuses the
Greek Cypriot side of “not showing courage” on the issue of the
occupied fenced off city of Varosha
7. Turkish Cypriot
daily reveals details related to the backstage of Biden’s visit;
“The Turkish Cypriot side is the responsible for the deadlock”
8. Siber discussed
with Cicek and Atalay the Cyprus problem
9. Davutoglu will
discuss the Cyprus problem with Lavrov in Moscow
10. Ertugruloglu to
attend a meeting on human rights at PACE
11. Deep Purple’s
concert in the occupied area of Cyprus
13. The “Turkish
Cypriot Red Crescent Association” to attend international events
1. Turkish
Cypriot reactions to the EP elections; They are ready to go to the
ECHR
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (26.05.14) reports that the fact that
Turkish Cypriots could not vote casted shadow on the European
Parliament elections held yesterday in the government-controlled area
of the Republic of Cyprus. According to the paper, the
government of the Republic of Cyprus created problems and prevented
the Turkish Cypriots from voting. Some Turkish Cypriots argued that
the government “failed” [in organizing the elections].
Kibris notes that Turkish
Cypriot candidates and voters participated for the first time in
elections held in the government-controlled area of the island,
but the amendment of the law that provided to the Turkish Cypriots
living in the occupied area of Cyprus to vote has allegedly caused
problems. Many Turkish Cypriots, who visited the polling stations
in order to vote, could not exercise their right, because they had
not stated that they live at an address in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus when taking an identity card of the Republic.
The Turkish Cypriot
candidates reacted to this situation, arguing that the announcement
regarding the voters’ lists had not been made in the way it should
have been made and even more some days before the elections. They
claimed that no time for objections had been left and described this
as “a deliberate action”.
The Turkish Cypriot
candidates in these elections, Deniz Birinci, Alev Tugberk, Sener
Levent, Osman Zorba and Mehmet Birinci protested against this
“negative situation”. Moreover, the chairman and general
secretary of the primary school teachers’ trade union, Guven
Varoglu and Sener Elcil, who visited a polling station near Ledra
Palace barricade in an attempt to vote and were not allowed to do so
because of the reason mentioned above, condemned this situation.
Deniz Birinci claimed
that “this is a great violation of human rights and people’s
democratic and civic rights”.
Sener Levent argued
that the right of 30 thousand Turkish Cypriots to vote was allegedly
usurped because of “unconvincing reasons”.
Meanwhile, Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (26.05.14) reports that the
Turkish Cypriot candidates told the paper that they will carry the
“injustice made against the Turkish Cypriots” to the European
Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Alev Tugberk said that they will
launch legal proceedings. Deniz Birinci noted that if necessary they
will ask for the annulment of these elections.
Furthermore, according to
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (26.05.14), 1,890 Turkish Cypriots voted
in the EP elections yesterday. Sener Levent, the paper’s
editor-in-chief received the most votes (2,718 or 1.05%), followed by
Drasis/Eylem group in which Deniz Birinci and Alev Tugberk
participated (2,220 votes or 0.86%) and the Cyprus Socialist Party
(278 votes or 0.11%).
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu
and Yorgancioglu assess the EP elections
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (26.05.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu has alleged that the European Parliament
elections held yesterday in Cyprus are “elections of the south
Cyprus administration”, as he described the government-controlled
area of the Republic of Cyprus. In statements yesterday during a
festival he was participating, Eroglu argued that the EP elections
“had no relation with the Turkish Cypriot side” and added: “The
elections are South’s elections. Our expectation is for electing
parliamentarians who will represent the Turkish Cypriot people. And
this could happen only after an agreement”.
Meanwhile, Ozkan
Yorgancioglu, self-styed prime minister of the breakaway regime
and chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), argued that
the elections where the “official representatives” of the Turkish
Cypriot “people” will be elected should be held by the Turkish
Cypriots in their own territory, and added that the EP should take
care of this. “We believe that whoever is elected there he will
not be representing the Turkish Cypriots”, he alleged.
(I/Ts.)
3. Eroglu
evaluated Biden’s visit at the Turkish press
The Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu evaluated to the Turkish Milliyet newspaper
(25.05.14) and to the Turkish Sabah newspaper (25.05.14) the visit of
the US Vice President Joe Biden to Cyprus.
Speaking to Milliyet,
Eroglu referred to the Varosha issue and claimed that during the
dinner held between him, President Nikos Anastasiades and Biden they
agreed with Anastasiades about the statement that the US Vice
President would have make; however, five minutes after a statement
was issued, Anastasiades brought up the Varosha issue, arguing that
he was worrying about the first pages of the Greek Cypriot press if
Varosha were not mentioned at the statement. Eroglu claimed that he
reacted on this, saying that there was no agreement as regards
Varosha and that if such a statement was to be made, he would not
have been standing next to Biden and Anastasiades while it was read.
According to Eroglu, Biden said then that he would read the statement
as it was agreed by the two sides and then, after the two leaders
left, he would speak about Varosha, saying that the US government is
ready to support an agreement reached by the two sides.
“These are the facts.
Varosha is a part of a comprehensive solution. There are six chapters
at the negotiation table. One of them is the territory issue. Varosha
will be discussed at the territory chapter”, Eroglu stated.
Referring in general to
Biden’s meeting, Eroglu stated that he was not surprised that the
US Vice President did not treat them as if the “TRNC” was a
“state”. “He saw us, as the Turkish Cypriot leadership. […]
The US government recognizes the Greek Cypriot administration as the
Republic of Cyprus”, he stated adding that nevertheless the visit
of the second ranged US official to them should not be
underestimated. “In the end of the day Biden knows that here is the
TRNC”, Eroglu claimed.
In addition, speaking to
Sabah newspaper, Eroglu again referred to Varosha and said that the
issue was discussed during the dinner with Anastasiades; however,
they have not placed this matter among the confidence-building
measures. Eroglu also claimed that Biden’s visit to the “KKTC
Presidency”, showed, that both “governments” are being treated
equally during the negotiation process.
Asked about the consensus
reached after the dinner between him Anastasiades and Biden, Eroglu
said: “During dinner an agreement containing four clauses was
agreed on. The first of these is to hold meetings with Greek Cypriot
leader Anastasiadis frequently, twice monthly. Another clause of the
agreement is for both sides to cooperate and assist the research
commission on missing persons. We also agreed to continue to take
actions that would contribute to the growth of mutual trust and to
establish joint technical committees.”
Asked about the
confidence-building measures, Eroglu said that confidence-building
measures are solutions that will be beneficial and accepted by both
sides of the island. “For example, we proposed the removal of all
land mines from the island as such a measure. Such a tangible measure
would increase safety for people on both sides of the island;
however, the Greek Cypriot side did not accept our proposal. Another
issue is trade”, he claimed.
4. Comments
on Biden’s visit to Cyprus
According to illegal
Bayrak television (online, 26.0514), Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis
Eroglu made evaluations regarding criticisms of his meeting with the
US Vice President Joe Biden during a visit paid to him today.
Explaining that his
meeting with the US Vice President had been planned and that he had
proposed that “government officials” take part at the meeting as
well Eroglu said however that this proposal had been rejected.
“The reason my request
had been rejected is because this visit was a courtesy visit and
nothing more. Mr. Biden came to Cyprus upon the invitation of the
Greek Cypriot administration. If he had been my guest then the
government would have taken part in the meeting,” he said.
Noting that the US
official did not want to meet where flags were present also not true,
Eroglu said: “Currently, I am in a room where there are no flags
because this is where I receive my visitors. Therefore all the
rumours are unfounded”.
Eroglu said that flags
are hoisted outside and that the US Vice President had entered the
grounds via these flags and left the same way.
“If there had been such
a request by the US Vice President for the removal of the flags I
would never have accepted such a visit” said Eroglu.
According to illegal
Bayrak television (online, 24.05.14), the so-called foreign ministry
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus issued a statement evaluating the US Vice President’s visit
to the island.
The statement welcomed
the visit to the island by a US Vice President after 52 years,
describing it as a pleasing development.
“The visit to Cyprus by
the US Vice President Joe Biden, at a time when efforts to reach a
comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem have intensified clearly
demonstrates that a settlement is amongst the international
community’s priorities”, the statement read.
It said that the visit
also played an important role in helping efforts to intensify and
speed up the negotiations process and to reach a successful
conclusion resulting in a federal partnership on the basis of
equality of the two sides and the creation of an atmosphere of peace
and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The statement said that
as announced by Biden of the agreement reached by the two leaders to
further speed up the process was a concrete step taken in that
direction. It is also said that other agreements announced by the US
Vice President such as revitalizing the bi-communal technical
committee were welcomed by the Cyprus Turkish side.
On the same issue,
according to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online,
26.05.14), former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, evaluating
also Biden’s visit, said: “US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit
was very important, but you should remember that he came upon the
official invitation by the Cyprus Republic. Therefore you can’t
expect him to treat both sides equally in these circumstances.”
Talat claimed that the
coverage of the Biden-Eroglu meeting by the Greek Cypriot media was
intentionally giving a bad impression on the meeting by focusing on
details and false allegations like “no handshake”, “no flags”
in order to humiliate the Turkish Cypriot side. Commenting on the
atmosphere surrounding the meeting, Talat said: "The reason
Biden didn’t make a statement after his meeting with Eroglu was
deliberate, and it was based on the nature of his visit which took
place upon the official invitation of the Cyprus Republic".
Talat also criticized
Eroglu of not inviting “foreign minister” Nami to the meeting.
“Greek Cypriot FM was present at their meeting, but Nami was not
invited to the meeting here”, said Talat, but he did not mention if
this was to be decided by Eroglu or if the names who could attend the
meeting was determined by the American side.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (26.05.14) reports that Eroglu’s spokesman Osman Ertug
said that Biden visited also the Turkish Cypriot side, which is equal
owner of the island, adding that the meeting with Eroglu poses a
different meaning.
In a written statement,
Ertug claimed that when the Greek Cypriot side didn’t succeed to
prevent this visit, it tried to distort the results. He alleged that
the statement by the Cyprus government spokesman on Biden’s visit,
reflected this effort of distortion.
The leader of the Social
Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit said that the visit of Biden to
Cyprus is important from a historical view, but the interests of the
Cypriots and of the USA should be included in the solution of the
Cyprus problem.
In a written statement,
Ozyigit also said that the discussions on “flags” are not so
important. He also stressed that if they want to interpret in their
favour the US initiatives, then they should cooperate between them,
adding that the duties of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots are very
important for a solution for “Cypriots”.
The National Unity Party,
in a written statement, said that Biden’s visit will contribute
positive to the ongoing solution process and will increase the
impetus of the talks. The statement also read that “despite all the
obstacles, Biden’s visit at Eroglu’s office, which was elected by
the free will of the Turkish Cypriot people, was a registry of the
two democracies in this region and the existence of two separate
people”.
5. Nami
assesses US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily
Havadis newspaper (26.05.14) reports that Ozdil Nami, self-styled
foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus, has argued that the Greek Cypriot side showed
unity during US Vice President, Joe Biden’s recent visit to Cyprus,
while the Turkish Cypriot side could not achieve this. In an
interview with Havadis, Nami argued that President Anastasiades
undertook an initiative and included in this process “all the
dynamics in the Greek Cypriot side”. He noted that the Turkish
Cypriot side could not achieve this “unity”. This was reflected
in Biden’s statements, he alleged.
Nami expressed the view
that Biden’s visit was successful by 50%. “There were
two obstacles in front of the rapid and effective progress of the
comprehensive solution negotiations. The one was the intensity
of the meetings. Biden’s visit solved this part
regarding the intensity of the meetings. However, there is another
more important part and this is not remaining committed to the
convergences achieved in the past. There is no reference to this
in Biden’s statements I think that this part remained deficient”.
Nami said that no
dialogue existed between the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu and the
self-styled government regarding Biden’s visit. He said that there
was a “difference in the level” between the meetings held by the
US Vice President in the government-controlled area and the occupied
area of the island.
(I/Ts.)
6. Ozersay
accuses the Greek Cypriot side of “not showing courage” on the
issue of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (25.05.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
negotiator, Kudret Ozersay has alleged that the reason for which no
progress is made on the issue of the occupied fenced off city of
Varosha was the fact that the Greek Cypriot side could not show the
necessary courage.
Ozersay responded to
questions by Kibris on the US Vice President, Joe Biden’s recent
visit to Cyprus and noted that the expected development during
this visit was a study by experts in the occupied fenced off city.
He argued that no development happened on this issue not because
of a crisis during the dinner hosted by Biden for the two leaders,
but because the negotiations held one week before Biden’s arrival
were suspended upon a demand by the Greek Cypriot side.
Referring to a statement
made by Foreign Minister Kasoulides on this issue, Ozersay argued
that this statement was “false from some aspects” and that the
issue of experts entering into Varosha had been discussed for one
week through the US Ambassador to Nicosia, John Koenig. Alleging that
the negotiations on Varosha were postponed because the Greek Cypriot
side asked for it, Ozersay claimed: “If we have to be more open,
the Greek Cypriot side could not show courage. It could not show
courage for the conclusion of an issue brought onto the agenda by
itself”.
He accused the Greek
Cypriot side of giving its own reasons for the failure and of not
referring to the other reasons because this does not suit its
purpose. He alleged: “What was discussed was not the return
of Varosha before the solution. What was discussed was to carry out a
technical research on Varosha and on some other issues. The
real deadlock derives from the fact that the Greek Cypriot side did
not want to relate such a step with the comprehensive solution …
The Greek Cypriot side opposed to the idea of ‘let us do something
on Varosha when we agree on the issue of the steps which will lead us
to the comprehensive solution’”.
Arguing that the Turkish
Cypriot side wants to see some concrete steps on the issue of the
solution, Ozersay said that if a road map is determined, a study
could be held in Varosha before the solution. The second
problem, he claimed, is the fact that the Greek Cypriot side
rejects the demand [of the Turkish Cypriot side] that a study should
be held in the ports in the occupied area of Cyprus as a return of
Varosha.
(I/Ts.)
7. Turkish
Cypriot daily reveals details related to the backstage of Biden’s
visit; “The Turkish Cypriot side is the responsible for the
deadlock”
Turkish Cypriot daily
Havadis newspaper (24.05.14) reported in its front-page on the
backstage of the US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Cyprus and
his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and the
President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiades.
Referring to the dinner
between the two leaders and the US Vice President, the paper writes
that in fact it has turned out to be a negotiation talks table
meeting, since the issue of Varoshia was discussed at the table.
As the paper points out,
Biden and his consultants insisted during that night on the
discussion of a road map on the issue of Varoshia and occupied
Famagusta port, in the framework of the confidence building measures
and exerted efforts for reaching to an agreement. Still, due to the
stance of the Turkish Cypriot side, their insistence was fruitless
writes the paper, underlining especially Eroglu’ stance on the
issue.
Invoking diplomatic
resources, the paper writes that after the deadlock on the
discussions of the action plan proposed by Biden on the issue of
Varosha, a problem was experienced on the issue of the final
statement of Biden.
As the paper writes,
Eroglu insisted that no reference should be included on Biden’s
statement on the proposal related with the Varosha issue and as it
was made known Eroglu warned Biden that in case he would referred to
Varoshia, he would not stand by his side at the podium.
(AK)
8. Siber
discussed with Cicek and Atalay the Cyprus problem
According to illegal
Bayrak television (online, 24.05.14), the self-styled assembly
speaker of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus Siber Siber, who carried out contacts in Ankara, attended
also a workshop titled, “Meeting the expectations after a solution
in Cyprus”.
Siber and the Speaker of
the Turkish Grand National Assembly Cemil Cicek delivered opening
speeches at the workshop which was organized by the Eurasia Economic
Relations Association and was attended by many participants from
Turkey and the “TRNC”.
As part of her other
contacts in Ankara, Siber met with Cicek at a working breakfast on
Saturday.
Speaking at the end of
the meeting, Siber reminded reporters that the Cyprus negotiations
process was going through a crucial phase.
Stating that she had
found the opportunity to evaluate the latest developments in Cyprus
with Cicek, Siber said: “We exchanged views on a wide range of
issues concerning the Cyprus issue as well as bilateral issues. It is
my hope that we reach a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus
problem in the near future. I hope that soon we shall no longer have
to speak of a 50 year old problem but an island of peace and
stability when we refer to Cyprus”.
For his part, Cicek said
that they have held a productive meeting which has focused on the
various aspects of the Cyprus issue.
“It is Turkey’s
desire to see that the current negotiations are concluded with a just
and lasting peace settlement based on the political equality of the
two sides. We have been stressing this desire since the problem first
began. The Cyprus issue remains to be one of the longest unresolved
disputes on the UN’s agenda spanning over 50 years. Unfortunately,
the Turkish Cypriot side is always being held responsible for the
failure of all solution efforts”, he claimed, expressing the
hope that the Greek Cypriot side makes the best of the current window
of opportunity and contributes to reaching a settlement on the
island.
Later, Siber also met
with the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, who is also in Charge of
Cyprus Affairs, Besir Atalay. According to Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris Postasi (25.05.14), Sibel and Atalay discussed the latest
developments on the Cyprus talks and evaluated the visit of the US
Vice President Biden in Cyprus.
Furthermore, Ankara
Anatolia news agency (25.05.14) reported that Sibel told the agency
on Sunday during her visit in Ankara that they hope that the ongoing
process for the unification of the island would bear fruit.
“A rise of confidence
between the two parties will be the most powerful motivator toward a
resolution,” Siber said.
She also hailed as “very
positive” Thursday's visit to the island by the U.S. Vice President
Joe Biden, the first such trip in 50 years.
In order for the solution
process to yield results, the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities
need to forgive each other on the common historical pain and approach
one another with empathy, Siber said.
9. Davutoglu
will discuss the Cyprus problem with Lavrov in Moscow
According to Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 26.05.14), Turkey’s Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will travel to Moscow tomorrow for a
preparatory meeting related to the Turkey-Russia High Level Strategic
Cooperation Council.
Davutoglu’s visit to
the Russian capital will follow his participation in a trilateral
meeting with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to be held in Baku today.
While in Moscow, along
with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, Davutoglu will chair a
meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Group, a sub-body of the High
Level Cooperation Council between the Black Sea neighbours which was
founded in 2010.
The crises in Syria and
Ukraine, including the situation of the Turkish-speaking Crimean
Tatars, will be on agenda, the Foreign Ministry said, noting that a
comprehensive exchange of views was expected to take place between
Davutoglu and Lavrov. On the same issue, Turkish daily Sabah
(26.05.14) reports that they will also discuss the Cyprus problem.
10. Ertugruloglu
to attend a meeting on human rights at PACE
According to Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 23.05.14), the
self-styled deputy with the National Unity Party (UBP) Tahsin
Ertugruloglu is attending the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe's (PACE) Law and Human Rights Committee meeting, which will
be held in Finland’s capital, Helsinki.
According to a press
release by the self-styled parliament, Ertugruloglu was to fly to
Helsinki on Sunday, May 25 and return to the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus on May 28.
11. Deep
Purple’s concert in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris Postasi newspaper (26.05.14) writes about the concert given by
the Deep Purple group in the occupied area of Cyprus on the framework
of the celebrations for the establishment of the illegal “Near East
University”.
The paper claimed that
among the 35 thousand persons who attended the concert were 8
Ambassadors to the Republic of Cyprus. According to the paper, the
Ambassadors of FYROM and Hungary, along with their families were
among the persons who watched the concert from the VIP platform. The
paper also writes that United Nation’s Peace Forces members,
tourists who were on holiday in the occupied area of Cyprus and
thousands of persons were among those who attended the concert.
The paper also writes
that the band landed in illegal Ercan (Tymvou) Airport in a British
Airways plane rented for the trip.
12. The
“Turkish Cypriot Red Crescent Association” to attend
international events
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (24.05.14) reported that the Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu met with the new “executive board” of the “Turkish
Cypriot Red Crescent Association”.
In statements during the
meeting, the “chairman” of the “association”, Ahmet Ulubay
informed Eroglu about their participation to several international
events abroad.
Particularly, Ulubay said
that they will be attending the meeting of the International Iran
Islamic Communities which will take place soon and the International
Red Crescent-Red Cross meeting which will take place in Italy between
June 3-7.
(AK)
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
