TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 109/14 14-16.06.14
1. Ozersay in Sweden for series of contacts
2. Ozersay: The Greek Cypriot side is behaving hesitantly towards the give and take process
3. Nami to hold contacts in Jeddah
4. Eroglu: “If everyone stakes a claim on their lands then my hand will be strengthened at the negotiating table”
5. Talat on the cross voting: The important thing is for the candidates to respect the sensitivities of the other community
6. The occupation regime to fund the “Immovable property commission” through money received from sale of Greek Cypriot property in occupied areas
7. Nami informs EU Ambassadors on Cyprus problem
8. Public survey: CTP the winner in the “municipalities” of occupied part of Nicosia and Famagusta
9. Erdogan and Biden talked Mosul on phone- The Cyprus problem was mentioned
10. NATO chief calls for immediate release of Turkish citizens held in Iraq
11. Former EP member: Negotiations with Turkey will be more difficult
12. Turkey: Some 319 Journalists were laid off in 2014
1. Ozersay in Sweden for series of contacts
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (16.06.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay went to Swedish capital Stockholm for series of contacts. According to the paper, Ozersay will hold various meeting in the Swedish Foreign Ministry.
During his visit Ozersay will be accompanied by the member of the negotiating team and the head of “political affairs” Gunes Onar and “legal expert” Oguzhan Hasipoglu.
“Ozersay and his delegation will convey the Turkish Cypriot side's views on a strategy which will transform the negotiations into a result-oriented process as well as the role of international actors and their possible contributions.”, writes the paper.
Speaking to the press regarding his visit Ozersay said the following: “If we want the Turkish Cypriot voice to be heard and our views and vision to be visible, we have to carry diplomatic contacts everywhere in the world. The international contacts that we have been carrying out for the last four months will increasingly continue. We want our voice to be heard and we are working for it. Our Sweden visit is part of this aim”, he stated.
Ozersay will return to Cyprus on Tuesday and will get together with Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis on Wednesday the 18th for a day long negotiations.
2. Ozersay: The Greek Cypriot side is behaving hesitantly towards the give and take process
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.06.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret Ozersay has alleged that the Greek Cypriot side is behaving hesitantly towards the give and take process and that it acts as if when the sides enter into a give and take, this will in any case turn against the Greek Cypriot side.
In statements after the recent meeting he had with the Greek Cypriot negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis, Ozersay said that the Greek Cypriot side brought new proposals in that meeting regarding issues on which agreement had been reached in the past and argued that this approach is tantamount to delaying the negotiations. Ozersay claimed that the problem allegedly created by the Greek Cypriot side as regards the agreements reached in the past continues to exist.
Ozersay said that during his two and a half hour meeting with Mavroyiannis, the Greek Cypriot side submitted proposals on the issue of the “federal judiciary” and the Turkish Cypriot side put onto the table two proposals on “how the new partnership will participate in the EU and the UN”, “what steps should be taken by the UN Security Council” and “what will be the validity of the past agreements after the solution in the fields of administration, legislation and judiciary”.
Ozersay alleged that the Greek Cypriot side brought new proposals as if the issues on which agreement had been reached in the past were never agreed. He said that the Turkish Cypriot side reacted and called on the UN to “take the necessary steps” on this issue.
Referring to information published in the Greek Cypriot press saying that the Turkish Cypriot side had not submitted any proposals on the issues of “citizenship”, “territorial adjustment” and “guarantees and security”, Ozersay argued that the Turkish Cypriot side had submitted in the past and will bring during the current period proposals on the issues of the “citizenship”, the “security” and the “guarantees”. He alleged that the issue off the “citizenship” was not discussed on Saturday because the Greek Cypriot side was not ready. He alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side has submitted proposals on the territory as well and argued that the only thing which they do not discuss in the territorial adjustment is the map. “We are ready to discuss the map together with the establishment of the stages which will step by step lead us to the referendum”, he argued alleging that the Turkish Cypriot side discusses all six chapters in the negotiations.
(I/Ts.)
3. Nami to hold contacts in Jeddah
Turkish Cypriot Kibris Postasi newspaper (16.06.14) reports that self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami is going to Saudi Arabia town Jeddah for the “41st Meeting of Foreign Ministers Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation”.
Nami will be accompanied by the “general director of the foreign affairs office” Kemal Koprulu and “secretary” Yasa Yesilada.
4. Eroglu: “If everyone stakes a claim on their lands then my hand will be strengthened at the negotiating table”
Illegal Bayrak television (14.06.14) broadcast that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu stated that his aim is to find a solution to the Cyprus problem that will be accepted by the Turkish Cypriots and allow them to live freely on these lands. He made the statement in a festival at occupied Platani village.
He said that at the negotiations table he would be looking to the future without forgetting the bitter experiences of the past while trying to reach an
agreement on the Cyprus problem adding that he will facilitate an agreement that will be accepted by the Turkish Cypriots and allow them to live freely on these lands. “If everyone stakes a claim on their lands then my hand will be strengthened at the negotiating table”, he alleged.
5. Talat on the cross voting: The important thing is for the candidates to respect the sensitivities of the other community
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (16.06.14) reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat has denied the allegations that the election of the federal government in a possible solution of the Cyprus problem with the method of the cross voting would benefit the Republican Turkish Party (CTP). In statements during a television program, Talat said that in time the political views of the candidates will gain importance and the support which will be given by both communities will depend on the “world views” [of the candidates].
Talat went on and added: “The only important thing on this issue is for the candidates to respect and attach importance to the sensitivities of the other community”.
Referring to the situation in the USA, Talat said that in the past no one could have thought that an Afro-American person could be elected President, but this could happen a hundred years later. “Therefore”, he added”, “today we must use the means which will prevent the one community from establishing sovereignty over the other. The political equality is exactly for this reason. We must leave the future arrangements to the future generations. We must not mortgage the future”.
Talat argued that the Turkish Cypriot side should work “like an orchestra” in the negotiations and added that the Turkish Cypriot leadership has a duty for the creation of this culture. He argued that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu refrains from cooperating with the self-styled government and gave as example for this the fact that Eroglu does not take with him the self-styled foreign minister in many of his visits and meetings. That is why the ‘split’ has become even deeper today, he claimed, alleging that in this situation they could not pursue a policy being in harmony “like an orchestra”.
(I/Ts.)
6. The occupation regime to fund the “Immovable property commission” through money received from sale of Greek Cypriot property in occupied areas
Under the title “25% of funds received from the sale of Greek Cypriot property should be given to the state”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (15.06.14) reported that because Turkey will no longer provide funding to the “immovable property commission” for compensating Greek Cypriot property owners, the occupation regime is preparing a new plan to secure its own funding.
According to the paper, this has yet to be confirmed by “official authorities.” But the “state” (translator’s note: the occupation regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) will receive 25% of the value of Greek Cypriot property sold in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. The paper reported that after Turkey ceases to provide money to the “immovable property commission”, “TRNC officials” want to fill this funding gap in this way.
7. Nami informed EU Ambassadors on the Cyprus problem
Illegal Bayrak television (14.06.14) broadcast that the self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami met at a working dinner with European Union Ambassadors serving in Cyprus.
Ambassadors from Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Denmark, Holland, Ireland and Poland to Cyprus came together at a working dinner at the Merit Hotel. Nami informed the Ambassadors on the latest phase reached on the Cyprus problem “and the deadlocks at the talks”, according to Bayrak.
Nami informed the Ambassadors on the workings on the EU harmonisation program, Turkish Cypriots relations with the EU and their expectations from the EU.
8. Public survey: CTP the winner in the “municipalities” of occupied part of Nicosia and Famagusta
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (14.06.14) published the results of a public survey conducted by the Cyprus Social and Economic Surveys Centre (KADEM) regarding the upcoming “local elections” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. The paper reported that the results created discussions in the social media disputing the results and wondering on behalf of whom the survey was conducted.
According to the survey, the results in four “municipalities” are as follow:
“Municipality” of occupied Famagusta:
Oktay Kayalp: Republican Turkish Party - United Forces (CTP-BG) 61.5%
Ismail Arter: independent 31.1%
Mustafa Emiroglulari: Social Democracy Party (TDP) 3.8%
Undecided: 3.6%
“Municipality” of occupied Geunyeli:
Ahmet Benli: CTP-BG: 64%
Olgun Amcaoglu: UBP: 27%
Undecided: 9%
“Municipality” of the occupied part of Nicosia:
CTP: 45.2%
National Unity Party (UBP): 32.6%
TDP: 184%
Others: 3.8%
“Municipality” of occupied Kythrea:
CTP: 54.1%
UBP: 34.3%
DP: 11.5%
Other: 0.1%
“Municipality” of occupied Gerolakkos:
CTP:55.8%
UBP: 29.3%
DP-UG: 14.9%
9. Erdogan and Biden talked Mosul on phone- The Cyprus problem was mentioned
Turkish Daily Sabah (14.06.14) reported that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Friday to discuss the latest developments in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). Erdogan's office said the phone conversation also touched upon the Syrian civil war and the Cyprus problem.
During the phone conversation which lasted half-hour, the two politicians exchanged views over the current security situation in Iraq and the efforts to ensure the safe return of the Turkish nationals still abducted in the restive country, said the office of the Turkish Prime Minister.
In addition, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (16.06.14) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that a meeting will be held in Ankara about the situation of Turkmens in Iraq over the developments in Telafer.
“The developments in Telafer are something that cannot be underestimated. As is known, Telafer is an area mainly inhabited by Turkmens. Almost half of the Turkmens there are Sunni, but the other half are Shia,” Erdogan said.
The prime minister also warned against a sectarian war in Iraq. “This issue has gone beyond a matter of ISIL elements. The offensive could sectarian clashes, maybe to sectarian war,” Erdogan stated.
His statement came a few hours after the Foreign Ministry issued a warning about sectarian clashes in Iraq. The prime minister also announced that he would hold another extraordinary meeting after returning to Ankara.
10. NATO chief calls for immediate release of Turkish citizens held in Iraq
Hurriyet Daily News (16.06.14) reports that NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on June 16 for the immediate release of Turkish diplomatic and security staff held by insurgents in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
"We follow the dangerous developments in Iraq with great concern. I condemn the unacceptable attack on the consulate general in Mosul," Rasmussen said during a visit to Ankara, standing beside Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Some 49 members of Turkey's Mosul Consulate and 31 truck drivers were kidnapped by the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) after they seized Mosul late June 9. One of the Turkish drivers had managed to escape over the week-end. "We want to see all of the Turkish hostages released and we want to see them safe," Rasmussen said.
During his visit to Ankara on June 16, Rasmussen is also expected to meet both President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The paper writes that Ankara will also host Fule on June 16-17. The EU commissioner will have bilateral meetings with Gul and Erdogan as well as other government officials; he is expected to have talks on recent developments on Iraq and Syria in Ankara in addition to Turkey's EU bid.
11. Former EP member: Negotiations with Turkey will be more difficult
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (15.06.14) reported that Emine Bozkurt, formerly a member of the European Parliament from the Dutch Labor Party for the last 10 years, stated that negotiations with Turkey will be more difficult with the new European Parliament, because the extreme right has much bigger part in the EP.
According to Bozkurt, the rise of far-right and Euroskeptic parties as a result of the May elections in two large EU countries, France and the UK, will create an unfavorable atmosphere for Turkey's EU accession negotiations.
“The bigger groups -- like the Christian Democrats or Social Democrats -- if they want to counterbalance with the extreme right, then they will have to cooperate more with each other. And the big question mark on this is that what they are going to do with Turkey,” she said.
She went on and stated that accession talks have been stalled since 2004 for Turkey by a number of problems. “The issue of Cyprus continues to be a major obstacle to negotiations. The EU Council froze the opening of eight chapters over Turkey's rejection to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus in 2006. Some of the chapters do not proceed to the next stage in the process, because they are blocked by France and Cyprus. Over the years, negotiations have been politicized too much. There have been efforts -- like the Positive Agenda in 2012 -- aimed at putting Turkey's stalled accession process back on track. What is really important is that new chapters will be opened especially on topics like fundamental rights and judicial reforms”, she said.
12. Turkey: Some 319 Journalists were laid off in 2014
According to a report of BIA Media Monitoring Reports and Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK) linked with Basin-Is syndicate (Media Industry Workers Syndicate of Turkey) data, at least 319 journalists have been left jobless since the beginning of 2014.
Most of the dismissals happened in April according to the data. The number of journalists who lost their jobs in 2013 was 131. After the increase in oppression that followed the Gezi Resistance, 94 journalists had been dismissed and 37 journalists were forced to resign.
In addition, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (15.06.14) reported that Star, a pro-government daily, has fired two of its critical columnists, Sedat Laciner and Mustafa Akyol. Both columnists were known to be liberal supporters of the government in the past.
Akyol and Laciner announced on their Twitter accounts on Saturday that the newspaper had asked them to suspend writing for the daily for a period of time. Akyol, who is also a contributor to the International New York Times, thanked the newspaper and said he will continue to write what he believes. Although known for their pro-government stances, both columnists did not refrain from criticizing many of the government's policies they deemed flawed.
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