TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 102/14 04.06.14
1. Eroglu: We cannot abandon the rotating presidency; Statements to Hurriyet
2. The Turkish Cypriot side leaks information on the content of the negotiations accusing the Greek Cypriot side of causing deadlock
3. Nami: I am more pessimist than four months ago
4. Talat claimed that the joint declaration is not important at the Greek Cypriot side
5. Ozersay will give a lecture at LSE in London
6. Albanian Deputy Energy Minister continues his contacts in the breakaway regime
7. The first prayer at Tahtakale mosque after 51 years took place yesterday
8. The EU has given a grant to Turkish Cypriot schools
9. Siber met with the Russian Cultural and Art Association; 5,000 citizens of the former “Soviet Union” are living in the occupation regime
10. Illegal YDU University became a member of the Caucasus Universities Union
11. Washington: PM Erdogan’s agent accusation on CNN reporter “ridiculous”
12. American-Turkish Council officials resign over corruption probe row
13. Turkey lifts block on access to YouTube
14. Top US diplomat’s special assistant to take Turkey post
1. Eroglu: We cannot abandon the rotating presidency; Statements to Hurriyet
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.06.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has said that the rotating presidency is an issue which the Turkish Cypriot side cannot abandon. During a meeting yesterday with the Izmir Nazlidere Noncommissioned Officers’ Association, Eroglu was asked whether the Greek Cypriot side made a step backwards on the rotating presidency. He said that the Greek Cypriot side wants a single voters’ list, something which is not possible for the Turkish Cypriot side to accept. He noted that both sides’ views will be discussed at the negotiating table.
Eroglu alleged that if a “new partnership state” will be established, there should be a rotation in the presidency and a Turkish Cypriot should also be able to be elected president. Otherwise, he argued, the Turkish Cypriots will not be able to say “this state is ours”.
Eroglu noted that they do not wish an agreement in which the president will be Greek Cypriot and the vice president will be Turkish Cypriot, because they experienced this in 1960 and they have allegedly been excluded from the state.
Eroglu went on and claimed that, if there is a single voters’ list, the Greek Cypriots who will be the majority will elect whomever they want as vice president. Eroglu said that he does not know how much the Greek Cypriots will insist on their proposals and added: “They have put such a proposal on the table. We will discuss it at the negotiating table… We will meet again on 23 June, we will see whether there is progress and we will discuss”.
Eroglu reiterated the allegation that the Turkish Cypriots want an “agreement that takes into consideration the existing realities” and added that they are not “out in the cold” as they have the “TRNC state” and the guarantees of Turkey behind them. He alleged that the Greek Cypriots should see these “realities” and bring their wishes to the table. He argued that the Turkish Cypriots have been struggling for years in order to be able to live under the roof of a state. “Thanks God, we have an independent state now”, he alleged arguing that the “big developments” that happened in the occupied area of Cyprus after the 1974 invasion cannot be ignored.
“We have 3-4 meetings between the leaders in front of us. In these we will see whether we can reach an agreement or not”, he said.
Meanwhile, Verda Ozer, of Turkish daily Hurriyet (04.06.14), reports that after his meeting with President Anastasiades on Monday, Eroglu met with a group of Turkish journalists who were visiting the island. Ozer writes that Eroglu entered into the room “sullen face” and said that tension existed in the meeting, with the leaders raising their voice from time to time. She says that the most critical issue was the territory, as the Greek Cypriots want the return of 100 thousand Greek Cypriot refugees back to their occupied homes. She goes on and reports, inter alia, the following:
“…According to Eroglu, these are dense populated places. Therefore, he says, Greek cantons will be formed in Turkish areas and this will create economic and social problems for the Turkish Cypriot people. Exactly for this reason, the issue of the territory should be discussed at the very end, according to Eroglu. The Greek Cypriots are in favor of its discussion at this stage. Eroglu interprets this as follows: ‘The ‘Greek Cypriots want the negotiations to enter into deadlock and the perception that ‘look the Turks do not want a solution’ to be created.
There is the issue of citizenship as well. The Greek Cypriots say ‘there should be only the citizenship of the established united state and this to be determined by the federal state’, because they are afraid that the TRNC will give the citizenship to all those coming from Turkey. Eroglu is annoyed on this issue as well.
The Greek Cypriot sector wants the EU to seat at the negotiating table. Eroglu is against this. Because he thinks that the EU will not be able to behave impartially…”
Ozer further reports that another “minefield” is the wish of the Greek Cypriot side for a permanent Greek Cypriot president and a permanent Turkish Cypriot vice president as well for a single voters’ list.
She writes that Eroglu argued that during the US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit the leaders agreed on four main chapters, but President Anastasiades changed his mind afterwards saying “how am I going to explain this to my people tomorrow?” “That is, reaching an agreement is possible. The whole issue is to convince the public opinion”, she claims.
Ozer writes that Eroglu told her that the breakaway regime’s relations with Israel deteriorated after the Mavi Marmara incident and that they “came closer” with Russia after US Vice President’s visit to the island.
(I/Ts.)
2. The Turkish Cypriot side leaks information on the content of the negotiations accusing the Greek Cypriot side of causing deadlock
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.06.14) reports that sources close to the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu’s office have alleged that the Greek Cypriot leadership wants to cause deadlock in the negotiating process for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, but the Turkish Cypriot side will allegedly continue to submit proposals with the aim of the sides coming closer.
The sources told Kibris that the proposals submitted by President Anastasiades during the meeting of the leaders on Monday on the issues of the election and the formation of the executive and the decision taking mechanism were in no way in harmony with the democratic practices and had a “dominant” mentality.
The sources alleged that the main problem on the issue of President Anastasiades asking the sides’ submitting proposals on all core chapters, is the fact that he wants a map from the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu in spite of the 2011 agreement. They alleged that if the map is submitted in the negotiations, the next day it will be published in the Greek Cypriot press. This will cause economic and socioeconomic problems for the Turkish Cypriot side, the sources claimed.
(I/Ts.)
3. Nami: I am more pessimist than four months ago
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (04.06.14) reports that self-styled minister of foreign affairs Ozdil Nami said that he is more pessimist than four months ago, pointing out that the Turkish side could not evaluate well the opportunity in its best.
Evaluating the last stage reached at the negotiation table at “BRT”, Nami noted that he is very anxious about the negotiation process, saying that issues that should not be at the negotiation table came and not those that should come.
Underlining the deadlock at the negotiations, Nami said that an alternative should be found with the Turkish Cypriot leader; however, he could not form until now the dialogue that he desired with the Turkish Cypriot leader.
Noting that a great difference of opinion is expressed at the moment although there are very important developments in the chapters of Governance and Power Sharing as well as the chapter of EU and Economy, Nami said that this is an indication that the two sides could not evaluate convergence papers in the past. Nami claimed that the Greek Cypriot side does not respect even the convergence papers, adding that the convergences were established under the auspices of the United Nations that is why the UN should claim on these convergences. Nami went on saying: “The Turkish Cypriot side should express directly their problems to the UN Secretary General and should demand his direct active role”.
4. Talat claimed that the joint declaration is not important at the Greek Cypriot side
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (04.06.14) reports that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat claimed that the text of the Joint Declaration is not a text which has a lot of importance at the Greek Cypriot side, adding that he also discussed the issues of single sovereignty and single citizenship in 2008.
Participating in a programme at Turkish Cypriot private channel ADA TV, Talat noted that the issues of “rotating presidency” and “crossing vote” are not issues that coincide with each other.
Noting that Eroglu before being elected, he committed that he will continue the negotiation process from the point it was left off, Talat said that when the negotiations started, Eroglu objected to the “crossing vote” and the Greek Cypriot side used it nicely in their own terms.
Talat also said that they fooled themselves for years at the negotiations with the thought that the “Cyprus Turkish state” will be recognized.
5. Ozersay will give a lecture at LSE in London
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (04.06.14), Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay, during his official visit to London, will give a lecture at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSEE) on “Cyprus settlement: the missing link” on Monday, 9th of June.
6. Albanian Deputy Energy Minister continues his contacts in the breakaway regime
Illegal Bayrak television (03.06.14) broadcast that the Deputy Minister of Energy and Industry of Albania Dorian Ducka continues his contacts in the breakaway regime and met with “prime minister” Ozkan Yorgancioglu and “deputy prime minister” Serdar Denktas.
The self-styled minister of food, agriculture and energy Onder Sennaroglu and the rector of the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University, Abdullah Oztoprak were also present at the meeting with Yorgancioglu.
Speaking during the visit, Ducka said that he was seeking possible areas of cooperation in the field of energy between Albania and the breakaway regime.
Yorgancioglu said that he was proud to see, Ducka, “a graduate of the Eastern Mediterranean University to rise to such a prestigious position within his own country” and expressed the belief that Ducka will contribute to further strengthening relations between Albania and the breakaway regime.
Later Ducka met with Denktas and said that dozens of Albanian students were studying or have completed their university education at the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University.
He also said that the breakaway regime could be an attractive holiday destination for Albanians. Ducka said that he always felt he was “a part of the TRNC as north Cyprus had played an important role in his current career”.
Denktas on his part said that all foreign students who came to study in the breakaway regime became “ambassadors” once they left. Expressing the hope that the current negotiations will yield positive results, Denktas said that he was planning to visit Albania in the near future to seek ways of establishing stronger cultural and economic ties.
7. The first prayer at Tahtakale mosque after 51 years took place yesterday
Under the title “The first prayer after 51 years”, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (04.06.14) reports that the Tahtakale mosque in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus which has been remained closed since the 21 December 1963 events, opened yesterday for a prayer.
The prayer which was conducted by the "head of religious affairs department" Talip Atalay, is taking place in the framework of the initiative of the Swedish Embassy to Cyprus for the dialogue between the religious leaders in Cyprus.
Speaking after the prayer, Atalay stated that it is great to be at the mosque because it shows that there is still hope that things will get back to normal one day.
In addition, columnist Hasan Hasturer writes in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (04.06.14) about the recent interruption of a religious service held at Saint Antonios Church by the Maronite community in occupied Kythrea. Hasturer writes that “It is a great shame to our Maronite brothers” that the religious ceremony was interrupted by the “police” only ten minutes before it was completed on the grounds that a permission by the “ministry of foreign affairs” was not given and calls on the self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami to look into the issue.
8. The EU has given a grant to Turkish Cypriot schools
Under the title: “575 thousand euro aid”, Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog (04.06.14) reports that a prize giving ceremony took place yesterday at Bedesten area in occupied Lefkosia for the schools which gained the right to be given a grant from the EU in the framework of the “5th Grant Program for the Innovation and Change for Schools Initiative”.
According to the paper, the so-called minister of education, Mustafa Arabacioglu, the head of the EU programme support team Alessandra Viezzer, the “general secretary” of the National Unity party, Hasan Tacoy, “ministers”, “bureaucrats”, “school directors” and teachers attended the event.
Speaking during the event, the so-called minister of education, Mustafa Arabacioglu said that in total 70 schools were given a grant and thanked the EU for its contribution.
Arabacioglu stressed that the EU has contributed to almost half of their schools and pointed out to the importance of education for human’s life and development.
(AK)
9. Siber met with the Russian Cultural and Art Association; 5,000 citizens of the former “Soviet Union” are living in the occupation regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.06.14) reports that the “speaker” of the so-called assembly, Sibel Siber met yesterday with a delegation of the Russian cultural and art association.
According to information acquired by the “assembly””, the chairwoman of the “association”, Marina Yuzcelik said that 5,000 citizens of the former “Soviet Union” are living in the “country”.
In her turn, Siber referred to the important contribution of the foreign citizens living in the “country” for the “country’s mosaic” as she said, and added that not only their culture but also their artistic works constitute a part of their mosaic.
(AK)
10. Illegal YDU University became a member of the Caucasus Universities Union
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (04.06.14) the illegal Near East University (YDU), has become a full member of the Caucasus Universities Union.
According to a statement issued by the illegal YDU, during the meeting of the Caucasus Universities Union which took place in Ankara, a ceremony took place where the chairman of the Union and rector of the Ardahan University Ramazan Korkmaz gave to the “vice rector” of the illegal YDU, Prf. Dr. Fahreddin Sadikoglu their membership certification.
Full members of the Union are universities from Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine and Moldova.
(AK)
11. Washington: PM Erdogan’s agent accusation on CNN reporter “ridiculous”
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.14) reports that Washington dismissed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s accusations targeting CNN International correspondent Ivan Watson over his coverage on the Gezi protests. Erdogan questioned CNN’s impartiality, labelling Watson “an agent” and blasting him for “wanting to stir up trouble in Turkey.”
“This is a ridiculous accusation,” U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said during a daily press briefing on June 3.
“I would say that [CNN] are nothing except for independent and non-biased media. We strongly support freedom of the press in Turkey, including Ivan Watson from CNN being able to report, and developments have continued to raise our concerns,” she said.
Harf also said Washington was “closely monitoring” the authorities’ response to demonstrations staged to mark the first anniversary of last year’s nationwide Gezi protests.
12. American-Turkish Council officials resign over corruption probe row
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.14) reports that top executives of the main bilateral business association between Turkey and the United States, the Washington-based American-Turkish Council (ATC), announced their resignation June 1, following government pressure in the aftermath of the corruption probe.
The Council’s President for 11 years and former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Jim Holmes, Deputy Head Canan Buyukustun and Executive Manager Ayse Sumer submitted their resignations following Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan’s demand.
The main reason behind the rift was a bulletin that only cited news reports from the website of Today’s Zaman, which were published after the Dec. 17, 2013 probe that implicated four ex-Ministers.
The bulletin overlooking the investigation drew harsh reactions from Cuneyt Zapsu, an executive member of the Turkish-American Business Council (TAİK) and former adviser to Prime Minister Erdogan. Zapsu conveyed his disturbance to the highest echelons of the TAİK, which is itself affiliated with Turkey’s top trade association, the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB).
13. Turkey lifts block on access to YouTube
Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.06.14) reports Turkey's telecommunications watchdog (TIB) on Tuesday removed its 67 days long YouTube ban after the country's top court said last week the ban was a breach of rights
The U.S.-based video-sharing website has been accessible in Turkey since Tuesday afternoon.
Last week on Thursday, Turkey's Constitutional Court ruled that the on-going block on access to YouTube constitutes rights violations, signalling that access would be restored soon. The block was lifted by a court in Ankara a week later, but the decision was overturned on the grounds that YouTube had not removed links hosting allegedly illegal content.
In early April, Turkey lifted a separate block on micro-blogging site Twitter following a similar order from the Constitutional Court.
14. Top US diplomat’s special assistant to take Turkey post
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.14) reports that the Obama administration has nominated John Bass, the former Ambassador to Georgia and a special assistant to Secretary of State John Kerry, to replace the outgoing envoy Francis Ricciardone as the United States’ envoy to Ankara.
Bass needs the Senate’s approval to be appointed to the Turkey post. Ricciardone’s tenure will end in July. He also served as director of the State Department Operations Centre.
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