TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
98/14 29.05.14
1. Eroglu: The issue
of Varosha was closed before the arrival of Biden
2. Ozersay addressed a
conference in Paris
3. Kasif describes
Toros’ statements as “unfortunate”
4. Sener Elcil
evaluates the EP’s elections: “We knew the result”
5. Turkish Cypriot
columnist assesses the results of the EP elections; A Federal
Republic of Cyprus is inevitable
6. Columnist assesses
the “constitutional amendments” prepared by the breakaway regime
7. Two beaches in
occupied Vasilia are for “sale” on the internet
8. Cavusoglu called on
the EU to lift the political obstacles from opening new chapters
9. EU has not been the
most reliable partner for Turkey: Finnish head of Parliament
1. Eroglu:
The issue of Varosha was closed before the arrival of Biden
Turkish Cypriot daily
Bakis (29.05.14) publishes an interview of the Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu to Bayrak, where he said that the issue of
the fenced off town of Varosha was closed before the arrival of
Biden. He noted that the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) were
discussed during his meeting with the US Vice President Joe Biden,
however, the issue of Varosha was not raised.
Noting that issues and
views of the Turkish Cypriot side were brought during the meeting,
Eroglu argued that Biden did not use the expression “you will
hand out Varosha. You should do it”. He went on: “We put our
views on this issue in an openly and clearly way. The issue of
Varosha was brought to us by the US Ambassador even before the
arrival of Biden. We put our views at the meeting with the
Ambassador. He (US Ambassador) took our views and went to
Anastasiades. For this reason, the issue of Varosha was closed even
before the arrival of Biden. The Ambassador put in an open and clear
way that a compromise on this issue is not possible and that the
uncompromising side on the Varosha issue is the Greek Cypriot side.
This is the reason for not opening the issue of Varosha while we were
holding a meeting with Biden. However, when esteemed Anastasiades
raised this issue during the dinner, we put our objections and we
said that Varosha and Famagusta are an issue which satisfies only the
Greek Cypriot side. For this reason, we said that an issue, which is
under the chapter ‘Territory’, is not possible to be given to the
Greek Cypriot side at a time where the negotiations have started.”
Commenting on President
Anastasiades’ statement in Brussels that there may be a solution in
2015, Eroglu said: “What does this mean? It is the continuation of
the negotiations in an open end way.” Eroglu also said that the aim
of all is the solution, adding that time is shrinking and that he
told this to Biden. Eroglu also said: “My aim is to get results
and bring them into a conclusion in the referendum. There is not a
meaning of wasting time with the Confidence Building Measures.”
2. Ozersay
addressed a conference in Paris
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (29.05.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
negotiator, Kudret Ozersay has said that some technical
difficulties exist on the issue of remaining committed to the
progress achieved in the past during the Cyprus talks and on the
issue of speeding up the process with a road map for the future.
Ozersay addressed a conference yesterday at the European-American
Chamber of Commerce in Paris at the presence of diplomats,
academicians and journalists.
Ozersay alleged that even
though there is no comprehensive solution on the island the “Greek
Cypriot government”, as he described the government of the Republic
of Cyprus, “is treated as the only legal government of the island,
the Greek Cypriot side became full member of the EU and permission is
given for the unilateral use by the Greek Cypriots of the natural
wealth which everyone accepts that belongs to the Turkish Cypriots as
well”.
Ozersay argued that
the abnormal status quo in Cyprus is treated as if it is normal.
He alleged: “I am not saying it to accuse the Greek Cypriot
community. I am saying it to emphasize that the most important
obstacle in front of finding a comprehensive solution is this
approach exhibited by the international community. As long as
this treatment continues, the question of why the Greek Cypriot
community should share with the Turkish Cypriots the powers and the
wealth it uses today remains unanswered. It is within this scope
that if the transfer of the hydrocarbon resources to the
international markets is bound on the condition of taking the consent
of the Turkish Cypriots, of having a cooperation between the Turkish
Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots on this issue or of finding a
comprehensive solution, it will be possible to see positive and
concrete developments on many fields soon in Cyprus. Otherwise,
I think that the hydrocarbon resources will not be helpful for the
solution, but an obstacle”.
Ozersay argued that in
spite of some “technical problems” which exist in the negotiating
process, it is possible to have a positive result, but alleged that
this passes through the international community’s re-examining its
political vision for Cyprus.
Referring to the issue of
confidence building measures (CBM) and the occupied fenced off city
of Varosha, Ozersay claimed that if the CBM are not planned in a
manner that will help the solution, these would not contribute in
nothing else than making more permanent the current abnormal
situation on the island. “Therefore, the CBM could serve to
building confidence provided that are related to the comprehensive
solution and are balanced”, he added alleging that otherwise we
will have two parallel procedures which “poison each other”.
According to the paper,
yesterday afternoon, Ozersay explained in a close-door meeting at
the French International Relations Institute (IFRI) the latest
developments in the negotiations and the steps that should be taken
for creating an effective process.
(I/Ts.)
3. Kasif
describes Toros’ statements as “unfortunate”
Under the title: “It
is an unfortunate statement, our advice was not asked”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.05.14) reported on statements by
the so-called minister of transportation and communication Ahmet
Kasif who commented on the statements made yesterday by th e
chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade, Fikri Toros who
said that “direct calls will be possible across the divide in
Cyprus with mobile phones and the substructure work is expected to be
completed in May”.
In his statement Kasif
said that the above statement by Toros is “unfortunate” and
added: “The Greek Cypriot administration which is connected with
the Green Line Regulations carries out trade. An agreement may be
reached in the communication sector as well. However, this statement
was made without consulting us”.
Kasif went on and said
that it is natural for “north Cyprus” which communicates globally
to establish telephone communication with the “south”, as he
described the Republic of Cyprus, he, however, said that in order for
this to be arranged, it is necessary first for a series of talks to
take place in order to reach to an agreement”.
Kasif said that it would
be better if these statements were made after speaking first with the
technical groups and the related with communication departments. He
added that no technical problems exist for telephone connection with
the “south” and stressed that what it is necessary to be done
first by the technical groups, is to study the issue from the
economic, political and legal aspect, and then to reach to an
agreement.
(AK)
4. Sener
Elcil evaluates the EP’s elections: “We knew the result”
Under the above title,
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (29.05.14) reports on
statements by the general secretary of the primary school teachers’
trade union (KTOS), Sener Elcil who evaluated to a televised
program broadcast by ADA TV, the incidents experienced at the
European Parliament’s elections which took place last Sunday in
the free area of the Republic of Cyprus.
In his statements Elcil,
inter alia, said that after the crisis experienced during last
Sunday’s elections, they were expecting that the participation to
the elections would be at the lowest level.
Elcil said that the
political parties were exerting efforts months ago in order for no
participation to exist in the elections and added that with the
incidents which were experienced, they realized once more what the
Cyprus problem is. Elcil added the following: “We always say
this, that the Greek Cypriot leadership which holds the Republic of
Cyprus under invasion since 1963, does not want to share it. The
Turkish Cypriot side’s will is two separate states. The strange
aspect of this issue is that the Greek Cypriot side has as a basis
the UN decision since the 4th of March 1964.
This decision has been supported by Turkey as well”.
Elcil went on and
accused, Eroglu, Talat, Yorgancioglu, Kutlay Erk and some
“deputies” of the Republican Turkish Party for making statements
which are in favor of “division”, since as he said, they were
calling, until the last day of the elections, the “people” not to
vote.
Commenting on the
increase of the percentages of votes for ELAM in the “south”, as
he called the Republic of Cyprus, Elcil said that racism exists in
every place that economic difficulties are experienced.
(AK)
5. Turkish
Cypriot columnist assesses the results of the EP elections; A Federal
Republic of Cyprus is inevitable
Turkish Cypriot columnist
Serhat Incirli assesses in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(29.05.14) the results of the European Parliament elections held on
Sunday 25 May, 2014. Incirli reports, inter alia, the following:
“…The serious
increase of the votes of ELAM in the south is the most
impressive fact of the EP election. The hard efforts of the
administrators of the state to ‘cut’ the Turkish Cypriot voters
are as dangerous as the votes taken by ELAM. However, looking
at what happened, being afraid of ELAM’s votes, being fed up with
the behavior of the Greek Cypriot fascist state and saying ‘no one
could live together with the Greek Cypriots’, is fifty times fifty
more fascistic and racist than ELAM! …
In absolute no period of
my life since I remember myself, I believed, [or] I was deceived by
the racist propaganda which is used by fascism for maintaining the
status quo and which unfortunately I cannot deny that is successful.
The Greeks, the Armenians, the Maronites, the Latins, the people from
Philippines, Pakistan, Romania, Poland, France, Bulgaria, Britain,
Japan are my brothers and I can live with all of them. And my enemy
is fascism which gains from their brotherhood. In am not
interested in those who have sold the property they left in the
south, afterwards became rich with the benefit secured from the
property belonging to Greek Cypriots in the north and then said ‘the
Greek Cypriots do not want me, this is the proof’.
Once, if the Cyprus
problem is not solved, we have no chance of being able to say that
the lands on which we live ‘are my land’. If you do not have
land, how will you have a state? … The Greek Cypriots will not
abandon their lands. They will not abandon the human rights. If
there is not solution, the Greek Cypriots will file more lawsuits and
they will win. And we will continue sitting on the edge of a false
structure and be Turkey’s material for propaganda.
The Greek Cypriot
community is very conservative, a very orthodox community. It is
true, it does not want to share the political equality. However,
because the situation is this, I do not want to go and take its
passport when this suits me and enjoy myself on the illegal profit.
The main thing is the solution and my state. The Federal Republic
of Cyprus which has a place in the international law is inevitable…
Only the fact that all of you, without exceptions, take this
document which you call ‘Greek Cypriot Passport’ is a proof that
I am right.
Of course, I respect your
right to establish a separate state, to sustain a separate state. I
just explain that this is not a solution. The solution is nothing
else than giving to our Greek Cypriot brothers as much land as
possible, respecting their right to return back and taking political
equality in return of this…
Therefore, if you
believe that you have the right to establish and sustain a separate
state and you insist on this, go and tell this to Turkey first.
However, Do not try, for example, to call ‘separatists’ those who
defend the same right there…”
(I/Ts.)
6. Columnist
assesses the “constitutional amendments” prepared by the
breakaway regime
Under the title “Two
daggers attempted to be put into the constitution”, columnist
Erhan Arikli assesses in a column in Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan
newspaper (29.05.14) the amendments which the self-styled
government of the breakaway regime in planning to make in the
“constitution”.
He reports that yesterday
he had the opportunity to study in detail these amendments and found
out that two of them are “very dangerous”. The one, he
says, is the fourth amendment of so-called article 12 regarding the
minorities. He goes on and argues, inter alia, the following:
“…According to this
proposal: ‘Persons who belong to ethnic or religious minorities
cannot be deprived from the right of living their culture together
with the other members of their groups, to openly declare and
implement their religion and use their own language…’
This seems like a very
naïve and innocent expression, does it not? If you ask who the
minorities in this country are, you receive only one answer: The
Greeks and the Maronites. However, no, this is not the situation.
Allow me to explain. In 2012 the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights
Committee had conducted a study financed by the EU regarding the
minorities in our country…”
He goes on and writes
that according to this study, in parallel to the “Christian
minorities”, “non-Christian minorities” also exist in the
occupied area of Cyprus and these people are the Roma, the Alevites
and the Kurds. He notes that according to the report all these
“minorities” live under oppression in the occupied area of
Cyprus, adding that the 10.000 Alevites cannot express themselves and
have no places to exercise their religion, while the Kurds are
considered as “thread” and are “monitored” in the occupied
area of Cyprus, because of the situation in Turkey.
Arikli reports that with
the amendment of “article” 90 of the “constitution”, effort
is exerted to make the jurisprudences and the decisions of the
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as “national law” of the
regime, in spite of the fact that the latter is not a member of
the ECHR and it is not represented in any of its institutions.
The columnist says that
he is sure that those who have prepared these amendments do not know
these details and adds that he has no other objection to the
amendments other than these two points.
(I/Ts.)
7. Two
beaches in occupied Vasilia are for “sale” on the internet
Turkish Cypriot daily
Yeni Duzen (29.05.14), in its front page, reports that an internet
site in Istanbul (www.turizmgazetesi.com)
has put on “sale” two beaches in the occupied village of Vasilia.
Sahap Asikoglu,
self-styled undersecretary of the ministry of economy, tourism,
culture and sports, said that they have no information regarding the
issue and they will investigate it. He added that this issue has no
connection with the “ministry”. He also added that if the land is
a private property there is nothing they can do, but if the land is
allocated then it will immediately be cancelled.
8. Cavusoglu
called on the EU to lift the political obstacles from opening new
chapters
According to Ankara
Anatolia news agency (28.05.14), Turkey's EU Minister Cavusoglu said
that the EU should lift the political obstacles from Turkey’s EU
accession.
Addressing a meeting of
the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO), Cavusoglu called on the EU to
be clearer to them, adding: “We should do our duties, our reforms,
but you should lift the political obstacles in front of us”.
Cavusoglu said that since 2005 only 14 chapters have been opened,
adding that none of these have been closed because of the political
obstacles even if the closure criteria are fulfilled. He claimed that
17 chapters are prevented due to political reasons and 14 chapters
from these are prevented due to the Cyprus problem. Cavusoglu
said: “Despite the resumption of the Cyprus talks and the
constructive stance of Turkey, the Cyprus problem is being put
continuously as an obstacle at the negotiation process.”
Noting that the European
countries are looking for other energy routes in order to reduce the
dependence from Russia, Cavusoglu claimed that all alternative routes
emerge from Turkey, adding that Turkey can play a very important role
on this. However, he said, the energy chapter, which is so
important, is not possible to be opened due to the obstacles put by
the Greek Cypriot administration, as he referred to the Republic of
Cyprus. Cavusoglu said that there are two reasons for this; the first
one is that the power of the EU is not enough to persuade a small
country or the EU countries are hiding behind it. He concluded by
saying: “We will see the answer to this after the solution of the
Cyprus problem”.
9. EU has
not been the most reliable partner for Turkey: Finnish head of
Parliament
Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 29.05.14) with the above title reports that the
European Union has not been the most reliable negotiating partner for
Turkey in the negotiation process, the head of the Finnish Parliament
Eero Heinäluoma said in an interview to the paper during his
visit to Turkey yesterday.
“We know there have
been problems both concerning the attitude of the European Union and
some of the member states. Some member states put obstacles on the
way. The attitude has gone back and forth on the European side,”
Heinäluoma said.
Heinäluoma is paying an
official visit to Turkey in order to meet parliamentary Speaker Cemil
Cicek to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the beginning of the
official relations between Turkey and Finland.
“Finland is a very
keen supporter of Turkey’s EU membership. We hope to see Turkey as
a member state of the EU,” Heinäluoma said.
Heinäluoma stressed at
the same time that the most important thing is the strong commitment
on Turkey’s side to be a member state. “It is crucial for Turkey
that these negotiations go on. I hope the problems that we have seen
on the EU side, will not be any obstacle for the Turkish side to go
on and try to do this work”, he added. Heinäluoma also drew
attention to the importance of press freedom and human rights issues.
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