TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 117/14 26.06.14
1. Eroglu: The Greek Cypriot side's condition on the property issue is unacceptable
2. Ozersay: The Greek Cypriot side does not accept some issues agreed in 2008
3. US Secretary of State Kerry said that he will visit Cyprus soon
4. The restoration of Apostolos Andreas monastery will be completed within 22 months
5. Expert warns that ISIL might try to be organized in the occupied area of Cyprus
6. Turkey’s YOK will supervise the illegal universities in occupied Cyprus
7. Reactions over a Greek Cypriot firm’s advertisement placed on an elementary school
8. Signatures for cancelling the “TRNC citizenship” of a construction firm owner
9. Demirtas: Peace should not be part of bargain
10. Alevi foundations refuse to support joint candidate Ihsanoglu
11. New opinion polls show that Erdogan can be elected President from the first round of the Presidential elections
1. Eroglu: The Greek Cypriot side's condition on the property issue is unacceptable
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 26.06.14), Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, talking with locals during his visit to occupied Varosha, commented on the citizenship chapter and promised that every “TRNC citizen” will be automatically become a citizen of the new “structure”. He claimed: “Anastasiades and his team do not accept our sine qua non regarding the citizenship discussion and the active guarantee of the Turkish Republic. But we are determined; every TRNC citizen should become citizen of the new joint state. As for Turkey's guarantorship, it is also a sine qua non for us. It has been made official with a parliamentary decision”.
Touching upon the issue of property, Eroglu said that the Greek Cypriot side's condition for discussing property is unacceptable and they may run away from the table if their condition is accepted. According to Eroglu, the Greek Cypriot side will only discuss the proposals on property if 100.000 Greek Cypriots take back their property in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus with the option of residing there.
Eroglu claimed that if this happens, the Greek Cypriots will leave the negotiation table the day they get the land for 100.000 Greek Cypriots.
Comparing the current and former Cyprus Presidents, Eroglu said that Anastasiades is more of a “hardliner” than Christofias. According to Eroglu, the reason for this evaluation is Anastasiades' past agreement with DIKO in which Anastasiades promised to never bring up the Annan Plan back again. “Anastasiades did what Christofias didn’t do and made promises to the Greek Cypriot National Council. Based on these promises he will not accept any agreement unless that agreement is approved by the 75% of the National Council. Unless the dominant mentality of the National Council changes that promise may lead to troubles in the future”, alleged Eroglu.
Eroglu claimed that the Greek Cypriots want the occupied villages of Karpasia, southern Mesaoria, Limnitis, Morphou and in addition to that “they want to place 100.000 Greek Cypriots back on these lands”. Stating Turkish Cypriot leadership's position on this, Eroglu referred to the Demopoulos case. “In Demopoulos case the verdict said that the emotional attachment of the people who are living in that house for the last 40 years is greater than the ones who reside there many years ago. We take this verdict as a reference.”
Eroglu also criticized the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis' statement about EU in which Mavroyiannis said that there won’t be a second accession to EU and that the Turkish Cypriots will have a smooth process to enter EU under the auspices of the Cypriot authorities.
2. Ozersay: The Greek Cypriot side does not accept some issues agreed in 2008
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (26.06.14) reports that Kudret Ozersay and the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis met again yesterday at the buffer zone in Nicosia, but the meeting has not been productive. In statements after the meeting, Ozersay argued that the Greek Cypriot side does not accept now some issues agreed and registered on the paper in 2008, alleging that the Turkish side exerts efforts to “bring the Greek Cypriot side from 2008 to 2014”.
Ozersay argued that in spite of the agreement reached in 2008 on the federal police and the equal representation in the internal security, they saw that the Greek Cypriot side does not accept these now. Ozersay claimed that yesterday the Turkish side exerted efforts to bring the Greek Cypriot side from 2008 to 2014 on approximately all chapters and especially on the issue of the police. He noted that some very important issues regarding the “equal representation in the federal police”, “the way the decisions will be taken” and the “powers of the federal police and the federal government” had been agreed and in case the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side changes, this would be tantamount to returning to 2008 or to “point zero”.
Ozersay claimed that the expectation of the Turkish Cypriot side from the negotiations is not only the “momentum” and alleged: “Those who refer only to a momentum and are not annoyed from the continuation of open-ended negotiations are actually those who are satisfied with the status quo (…) The momentum alone means nothing, it should lead us to the comprehensive solution with a planned manner. We have to take steps forward, not backwards. Secondly we have to try to go forward with a road map in a planned manner (…)”
Ozersay said that yesterday they decided that the negotiators will meet again on 1, 9, 16 and 22 July and the community leaders on 4 and 7 July. He noted that they want to set one more meeting of the leaders in July and added that the cross visits of the negotiators to Athens and Ankara in the beginning of August is discussed. He said that the negotiators will meet also on 23 and 26 August.
Ozersay also said that the issue of their meeting was the “internal security”, that they mainly discussed the “police” and that the Greek Cypriot side submitted a document. He noted that the Turkish Cypriot side submitted some views and proposals on the issue of “residence” and some elements of the issue of “citizenship” were discussed.
(I/Ts.)
3. US Secretary of State Kerry said that he will visit Cyprus soon
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (25.06.14), Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the United States Secretary of State John Kerry held a meeting to discuss regional issues on the side-lines of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels on Wednesday.
Addressing the media before the meeting, Kerry said Turkey and the United States have to deal with lots of issues, referring to the latest developments in Syria and in Iraq. "Turkey is a very important partner," he added.
Kerry also mentioned that he will head to the island of Cyprus soon, where Turkish and Greek Cypriots are taking part in ongoing negotiations to solve disputes over the divided island since 1974.
Meanwhile, Davutoglu pointed out that Turkey's neighbours are going through a tough time, and said "it is time to act together."
4. The restoration of Apostolos Andreas monastery will be completed within 22 months
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (26.06.14) reports that the so-called head of religious affair department Talip Atalay announced that the restoration of Apostolos Andreas monastery in the occupied peninsula of Karpasia will begin next September after his meeting with Archbishop Chrysostomos at the residence of the Swedish Ambassador.
Atalay explained that at the first stage, the main building will be restored, adding that the Church of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot religious foundation Evkaf will contribute 2.5 million euro each to the restoration works, which will continue for two years.
In his statements, Atalay said that their meeting was a very successful one, adding: “As the religious leaders of Cyprus and using the pure language of religion we are doing our best and we will be doing our best to support the peace process in Cyprus”.
He also thanked the Archbishop for his support and added: “We will do our best to improve religious freedom towards people`s religious places of worship and towards their faith”.
According to the paper, the tender on the restoration of Apostolos Andreas monastery, which was held under the auspices of UNDP-PFF, was won by the Turkish Cypriot company Tel-Za Construction Ltd and the Greek Cypriot company Pieris Hadjipieris Fixico Ltd.
5. Expert warns that ISIL might try to be organized in the occupied area of Cyprus
Under the title “ISIL is being organized in the TRNC”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (26.06.14) reports that Husnu Mahalli, expert on Middle East affairs, has argued that the ISID terrorist organization’s relation with Cyprus has its roots in history. Evaluating the information that “ISIL wants a base in Cyprus”, Mahalli said:
“As a journalist I want to say the following: I think that ISIL might exert efforts to be organized in northern Cyprus… Cyprus exists in the strategic mind and heart of ISIL, whose structure of mind I know very well. There has been a Social-nationalist Arab Party in Syria. They had a map called ‘Efficient Crescent’. The province of Damascus, that is, today’s Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq’s Mosul area are in the shape of a crescent in the map and the star of this crescent is Cyprus. ISIL defends this in its agenda…Thoughts such as ‘let us take over Cyprus, let our people go there and let us invest’ exist in ISIL’s mind. Financing institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank, the El-Barak Turk and Kuwait Turk and wealthy people of the Gulf, who make donations, and help ISIL directly or indirectly…”
(I/Ts.)
6. Turkey’s YOK will supervise the illegal universities in occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.06.14) reports that a joint committee which will be established by Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YOK) and the breakaway regime’s so-called higher education planning, evaluation, accreditation and coordination council (YODAK) will supervise the illegal universities in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus every year. A “protocol” was signed yesterday between YOK and YODAK aiming at implementing the “international agreement” for mutual recognition of the universities signed in 2009 between Turkey’s Ministry of National Education and the regime’s so-called ministry of education.
In statements during the signing ceremony, YOK’s chairman, Gokhan Cetinsaya said that new practices will be implemented within the framework drawn by the “international agreement” signed in 2009 and that the controls carried out by YOK in the universities in Turkey will be broadened to the “universities” in the occupied area of Cyprus. He said that this will contribute to the increase of the quality in the “universities’ and in strengthening the relations with Turkey.
In his statements, YODAK’s chairman, Huseyin Gokcekus said that this was a historical day for the higher education in the occupied area of Cyprus. He noted that the “TRNC” has a population of 300 thousand and 65 thousand of this population is students. He noted that nine out of the eleven “universities” in the occupied area of Cyprus accept students and added that 60% of the students in the illegal universities come from Turkey and more than 20% from 116 different countries. Gokcekus said that around 80% of their students come from abroad and added that all “governments” of the regime and Turkey see the occupied area of Cyprus as “an island of universities”.
(I/Ts.)
7. Reactions over a Greek Cypriot firm’s advertisement placed on an elementary school
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (26.06.14) reports that the “Public Vehicles Business Managers Union” (KAR-IS) reacted against an advertisement of a Greek Cypriot bus firm published at the annual magazine of the occupied Filia elementary school which has ties with the self-styled ministry of education.
According to the paper, the chairman of KAR-IS stated that a similar advertisement would not have been possible to take place in a Greek Cypriot magazine and wonders why this was published in the Turkish Cypriot magazine. On his part, the “minister of education” Mustafa Arabacioglu said that he was informed on the issue and he will look into it.
8. Signatures for cancelling the “TRNC citizenship” of a construction firm owner
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper reports that signatures started to be collected so that the “TRΝC citizenship” granted to Turkish businessman Temel Bulut, to be cancelled.
Bulut is the chairman of the Bulut Construction firm who is involved to many construction scandals in the breakaway regime.
9. Demirtas: Peace should not be part of bargain
The ongoing efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem should not be part of a “political bargain,” Peoples’ Democracy Party (HDP) co-leader Selahattin Demirtas has said in an interview with Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 26.06.14).
“The issue of peace should be freed from being part of a political gain, or a piece of bargaining material for the AKP [the ruling Justice and Development Party],” Demirtas said, while commenting on a fresh draft code from the government that suggests major steps in the Kurdish issue.
The HDP’s stance is set to be critical for the Aug. 10 presidential elections, as the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have named Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as their joint candidate. The AKP, meanwhile, is strongly expected to declare Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as its candidate on July 1.
However, speaking to Hurriyet, Demirtas expressed his scepticism over possible steps. “The Prime Minister has made some moves before all elections and took back everything that he gave to society. He continued ruling society with an authoritarian attitude that limits freedoms,” he said, while still welcoming the latest package.
“I’m not sure it will be enough to net votes for Erdogan or the AKP. For sure, the will of our voters is not simply in our hands. Voters are not a herd of sheep,” Demirtas added, in reference to a Turkish idiom. “Everyone has a thought, a way of thinking and will make their decision accordingly.”
The AKP should not cynically use the peace process as a means to collect Kurdish votes, he said, while also adding that the latest draft reform package should be taken seriously despite speculations on its timing on the eve of the presidential elections.
“The CHP has already expressed that it is warm [to the package]. This [package] would be a development that would comfort not only the AKP but the whole society and all political parties,” Demirtas said, highlighting that the legal warranty for peace process actors was crucial for all concerned.
The HDP will decide on exactly when to declare its own presidential candidate at its party assembly over the weekend, Demirtas also said. He said it would be holding only a limited amount of public rallies, preferring instead to deliver its messages via the media, adding that the main issues of the campaign would be solving the rising social tensions between various segments of society, such as those between Sunnis and Alevis or Kurds and Turks.
“It might be true that Mr Tayyip [Erdogan] came from inside the people, but today he is a part of the state. Mr Ekmeleddin also represents the state. The continuity of the state is more important than anything for both of them. The sole responsibility of the President cannot be just this,” Demirtas said, stressing that the state should serve the public rather than the other way round.
He also commented cautiously on the joint opposition candidate Ihsanoglu, the former head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), saying his stance and possible performance was still unpredictable today. “I shouldn’t make a biased comment before seeing this,” he said.
Ihsanoglu would lose the Kurdish vote if he defends the status-quo, but he could make an impact if he promises and guarantees a state that would exceed both CHP and MHP in terms of freedom, Demirtas added.
“All these will become clear if the race goes to the second round. First, we [the HDP] will discuss how to get into the second round. If we can’t do that, we will discuss these issues in the second round,” he said.
10. Alevi foundations refuse to support joint candidate Ihsanoglu
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 26.06.14) reports that the nomination of Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as the joint presidential candidate of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) continues to receive criticism as Turkey's Alevi associations and federations express their disapproval of the candidate for failing to meet the ideals of Alevi citizens, while most Alevi representatives indicate they will not support Ihsanoglu in his presidential bid.
Lawyer Ali Ihsan Sahin, the president of the Universal Alevi Bektasi Association, has told Daily Sabah that they were shocked and found it strange for the CHP and MHP to nominate Ihsanoglu as their presidential candidate. "I did not quite understand why the CHP came up with such a candidate," remarked Sahin, who said he has full insight into the CHP's philosophy, has followed the expectations of its supporters and did not expect for someone like Ihsanoglu to be nominated by the CHP, which is a secular party, whereas he claimed Ihsanoglu has conservative tendencies and has many features that resemble Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Sahin observed that the two main opposition parties did not create an alternative to the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) candidate, which will most likely be Erdogan, but rather came up with someone who is almost similar to the Prime Minister. On the other hand, he said that neither the CHP nor MHP asked for their insight into which the joint candidate should be, as they do not fit the CHP's ideals, and there is a distance between the Universal Alevi Bektasi Association and the CHP. Sahin said that the ideal President for Alevis would be determined through discussions with Alevi dedes and underlined that they would not vote for Ihsanoglu. "We expect the presidential candidates to take into consideration the needs of 25 million Alevis and want them to explicitly outline their projects for Alevis when they become President," said Sahin.
Hakki Engin, spokesperson for the Federation of Alevi Associations, also told Daily Sabah that the Alevi Federations will meet and discuss the matter, but the candidacy process in Turkey currently does not work as they wish. He stated that the Alevis would want someone who will embrace everybody regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.
11. New opinion polls show that Erdogan can be elected President from the first round of the Presidential elections
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (26.06.14) publishes two opinion polls, conducted by Genar abd MAK Research companies according to which the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has not announced if he will be a presidential candidate yet, can be elected from the first round of the elections of August 1.
The Genar opinion poll was conducted between 19-23 of June, with a sample of 1.800 persons with the face-to-face method. According to the poll, 55.2% of the persons asked stated that they would vote for Tayyip Erdogan as president 35.8% would vote for Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the joint candidate of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and 9% for Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party (HDP).
The Mac opinion poll was conducted between 20-22 of June with a sample of 8.640 persons from various regions and cities of Turkey with the face-to-face method. According to the poll, 56.1 .2% of the persons asked stated that they would vote for Tayyip Erdogan, as President 34.2% would vote for Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and 9.5% for Selahattin Demirtas.
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