TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 118/14 27.06.14
1. Ozersay criticizes the EU for calling on Turkey to recognize the Republic of Cyprus
2. Yorgancioglu accused Eroglu of interfering in the “municipal elections”
3. 136 resignations from DP-UG
4. Columnist comments on the upcoming “local elections”
5. Turkish energy club to discuss game changing developments; Yorgancioglu will attend the conference
6. Obstacles by the occupation regime in the trade between the two communities
7. Another illegal university will be established in occupied Morfou area
8. An Islamic Studies Centre was established at illegal YDU
9. US adopts bill on Christian properties in Turkey and in the occupied area of Cyprus
10. Erdogan and Barzani meet to discuss instability in Iraq
11. Turkish Parliament ratifies Readmission Agreement, paving the way for visa-free EU travel
12. Ihsanoglu tries to reach the CHP voters
1. Ozersay criticizes the EU for calling on Turkey to recognize the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (27.06.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay has criticized the European Union (EU) for calling on Turkey to recognize the Republic of Cyprus. According to Volkan, Ozersay commented in his Facebook account on the “Joint Attitude Document” and alleged that “the EU must seriously question whether in this manner it is supporting the solution process or it is becoming an obstacle”. “In this manner, not only the status quo is not questioned, but it is almost welcomed”, he claimed.
Ozersay alleged: “The EU officials ordered the ‘normalization of Turkey’s relations with the Greek Cypriot side. The negotiations, which have been continuing for 46 years for solving an international discrepancy that is on the UN Security Council’s agenda for 50 years, are being carried out for putting an end to an abnormal situation and establish a new normal order of things. With this approach, the EU wants for an abnormal situation to be treated as normal as it is. Treatment as ‘legitimate government’ even though there is no solution, membership to the EU even though there is no solution, unilateral use of the hydrocarbon resources in the sea even though there is no solution. If all these are possible without a solution, the conclusion reached by the UN Secretary-General in 2004 continues to be valid today and therefore no one can accuse the Greek Cypriot leadership: ‘If all these are possible without a solution, why should we share the power and the wealth with the Turkish Cypriots with a solution?’…”
(I/Ts.)
2. Yorgancioglu accused Eroglu of interfering in the “municipal elections”
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (27.06.14) reports that Ozkan Yorgancioglu, the self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and chairman of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG), has argued that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu “plays” with the Democratic Party (DP) and the National Unity Party (UBP) as he wishes. In an interview with Havadis, Yorgancioglu said, inter alia, the following referring to Eroglu: “He started making calculations from now for the presidential elections. The president loses his impartiality with made up excuses and participates in meetings of support to common candidates [Translator’s note: of UBP and DP]. He will pay the price of this before the people”.
Calling on the “voters” in the occupied part of Nicosia, Yorgancioglu recalled that 14 months ago the salaries of the employees in the “municipality” could not been paid, the garbage could not be gathered and the “municipality” faced demonstrations. Arguing that now all these belong to the past with the current “mayor”, Kadri Fellahoglu, Yorgancioglu said: “The people of Nicosia will not enter into another adventure. Mr Kadri deserves four more years”.
Yorgancioglu noted that the support offered by the DP to candidates of the UBP will not create crisis in the “government”. He added that “the problem is at the point of implementing or not the protocol of the government”. “We are facing problems on this issue, even though they are few”, he said.
Yorgancioglu argued that his party will win more than 14 “municipalities”, which it has set as target.
(I/Ts.)
3. 136 resignations from DP-UG
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 26.06.14), a large group of DP-UG (Democratic Party – National Forces) members who call themselves “1992 Spirit” announced their resignation from their party which is the small partner of the “coalition government”.
In their statement, the group said that the current condition of the party has left them no other option than to resign.
According to the “1992 Spirit”, DP-UG's policies and operation in the “coalition government” are contradicting with their former promises which they made during their opposition years.
The group also announced that they will be carrying out their activities above- party politics.
[Paper’s note: In 1992, 9 “deputies” resigned from UBP (National Unity Party) and formed DP. In 1993 “elections” after 17 years in “government” UBP was overthrown by DP. ‘1992 Spirit’ is a reference to party's early origins.]
On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (27.06.14) reports that the group “1992 spirit”, in its resignation letter, wrote that the reason of their resignation is that the leader of DP-UG Serdar Denktas took the initiative to announce its support to the UBP candidate Kemal Deniz Dana for the “municipality” of the occupied part of Lefkosia before the general assembly of the party evaluated this decision.
4. Columnist comments on the upcoming “local elections”
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 26.06.14), columnist Rasih Resat, under the title “Surprises all round!”, wrote the following about the upcoming “local elections and the referendum for the constitutional amendments” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus:
“Despite the fact that the High Election Board (YSK) had forbidden it after a certain date, there are opinion polls flying around regarding the possible results of the elections on Sunday. My advice is not to pay attention, because this election is going to be full of surprises. From what information I am gathering and what the people are saying on the street there are going to be a lot of tears, a lot of arguments and a lot of people going home with no job to go to on Monday. The people have decided but they are not talking to the opinion poll companies due to the lack of trust they have in them. It is obvious that there are going to be changes in certain places. The people have shown during the last parliamentary elections that they can change certain things (…). In our country politicians see politics, as a profession therefore leaving the seats when the time is right doesn’t even cross their minds. Famagusta municipality has being run by the same man for 20 years, Lefka municipality has being run by the same mayor for 24 years. Even these two examples tell the story.
As I said, there are going to be surprises. But the surprises are going to continue after the elections as well. The two coalition partners CTP (Republican Turkish Party) and the DP (Democratic Party) are competing against each other in some areas and DP has gone and declared support to Kemal Deniz Dana, who is the National Unity Party (UBO) candidate in Lefkosia. The capital city Lefkosia (editor’s note: the occupied part of Nicosia) is the Admiral’s Ship in municipalities and politics in general. Whoever gets Lefkosia has the potential of winning the next general elections. At least the historical pattern has told us this over the years. If UBP is to win the Admiral’s Ship with the support of CTP’s coalition partner DP, it is going to be a problem with the continuation of the government. If this is to happen then I am expecting a big far surprise in the form of an early general election, no later than autumn this year. As I said, before the people of this country have got the hang of changing things around, therefore after the early election surprise, I am guessing that the results would be full of surprises there as well. As surprise result in the local elections could spark a surprise early general election with surprise results.”
5. Turkish energy club to discuss game changing developments; Yorgancioglu will attend the conference
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (26.06.14), Turkish energy interest group, The Bosphorus Energy Club (BEC) will bring together representatives from government and private sector throughout the world on Friday.
BEC will hold its second annual meeting on 27 June in Istanbul with the participation of government and private sector representatives from the US, Britain, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government, Yemen, Afghanistan, “TRNC” (editor’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus), Greece, Jordan and Kosovo.
The meeting entitled "Game Changers: Energy, Investment and Geopolitics" will open with a speech by Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz.
Head of the BEC, Mehmet Ogutcu spoke to the agency on Thursday before the meeting, and explained the target of the meeting. "Turkey takes place in the centre of energy dynamics and transformations from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant's (ISIL) progress towards energy and water resources in Iraq to Russia's taking over of most of Ukraine's offshore fields," Ogutcu said.
Ogutcu emphasized one of the aims is to strengthen the energy cooperation among US-Europe-Turkey, as Turkish energy sector will need US$ 150 billion for the next ten years.
Ogutcu also said, to realize its goal of being energy hub, Turkey should establish an energy fund. The government can make the initial contribution with US$ 5-6 billion, and the rest will come from international investments.
Asked his opinion about the controversy between the Iraqi central government and the autonomous Kurdish region on the sale of Kurdish oil to international markets via Turkey, Ogutcu said, Baghdad won't strictly oppose it any more considering the ISIL threat.
Ogutcu touched upon Eastern Mediterranean gas, and said, a small window of opportunity for the Eastern Mediterranean gas might close, if no investment is done within 6-8 months because of lack of capital and controversies on price of tenders.
Looking from Israel’s perspective, a pipeline through Turkey to export their gas is seven times cheaper than other pipeline projects considered in the region, Ogutcu said.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 26.06.14) reported that self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu is flying to Istanbul on Friday for a day visit in order to attend the “Energy Symposium”. According to a press release issued by his “office”, Yorgancioglu will be accompanied by his “executive assistant” Huseyin Gursan.
6. Obstacles by the occupation regime in the trade between the two communities
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.06.14) reports that Gursel Kocak, owner of Linde Gas company, who has been buying gas from the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus and selling it to hospitals, clinics and other places in the occupied area of the island since 2007, told the paper that his license was not renewed by the breakaway regime’s “authorities” in May 2014. He noted that he will take the issue to “court” and pursue his rights until the end.
Kocak said that the allegation that the regulation will be changed had been put forward for not renewing the license. In a written statement he accused the self-styled deputy prime minister, Serdar Denktas of being responsible for this because of political reasons. He argues that Denktas and his team were trying to prevent the resignation of a “deputy” of his party. “It is obvious that while he could not prevent the resignation of members of his party, Mr Serdar Denktas, for the sake of securing profit to the brother of one of his deputies and create monopoly, risked even changing the legislation against Linde Gaz, which fulfilled all its obligation towards the state for seven years”, said Kocak.
(I/Ts.)
7. Another illegal university will be established in occupied Morfou area
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (27.06.14) reports that Mahmut Ozcinar, self-styled mayor of occupied Morfou and candidate in the “municipal elections” for the same position, has said that the area will obtain a third illegal university together with the “European University of Lefka” (LAU) and the “Middle East Technical University” (ODTU).
Addressing a meeting with members of the so-called civil society platform, Ozcinar noted that this will be a “foundation university” and that the “municipal council” unanimously decided the day before yesterday to support this project. He said that the “municipality” will support the “university” on the issue of the land on which it will be built, adding that the target of the “university” is to have five thousand students.
(I/Ts.)
8. An Islamic Studies Centre was established at illegal YDU
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.06.14) reports that an Islamic Studies Centre has been established at illegal “Near East University” (YDU) in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. The Centre, the inspiration for which was a similar Centre at Istanbul University, is launching studies regarding Cyprus. According to a statement issued by the YDU, head of the Centre will be Prof. Dr Ibrahim Capak, dean of the Theological Faculty. Capak said that they will be issuing an international magazine twice a year.
(I/Ts.)
9. US adopts bill on Christian properties in Turkey and in the occupied area of Cyprus
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (27.06.14), the U.S. House of Representatives is to vote on a bill calling for the State Department to monitor the return of property confiscated from Christians in Turkey and the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
The Foreign Affairs Committee will put a bill before the House to provide annual assessments on the status of, and US efforts to return, property such as churches to their former Christian owners.
Republican Committee Chairman Ed Royce and ranking Democrat Eliot Engel introduced the bill in March. It received bipartisan support in the Committee, but was met with opposition from Democrats Gerry Connolly and Gregory Meeks.
“It simply does not reflect the relationship the US has cultivated with Turkey, a close and trusted NATO ally,” said Connolly. “Passing this legislation will lead to a rupture in our relationship with Turkey at a time when the preservation of our strategic alliance should be a top priority.”
If the bill is adopted, the US Secretary of State will have to report no later than 180 days later on the State Department’s engagement with Turkish authorities to return Christian properties, and would have to do so until 2021. In addition, all information would have to be summarized in the U.S. annual country reports on human rights. The bill is unlikely to go for a full vote until after the summer recess.
10. Erdogan and Barzani meet to discuss instability in Iraq
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 27.06.14) reports that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday told Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Premier Nechirvan Barzani that the end to the chaos in Iraq necessitated the formation of a national unity government in Iraq in order to resolve the current crisis. Barzani and his delegation, who were invited to Ankara, also met with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief Hakan Fidan.
The visit took place just one week after Barzani formed a new government in the KRG amid the growing threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). According to sources from the Prime Ministry, Turkish officials and Barzani discussed the latest development in Mosul, Kirkuk, the current status of Turkish hostages who were captured by ISIS on June 11, growing concern over Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity as well as energy issues.
Earlier this week KRG President Massoud Barzani hinted that Kurds may seek independence on account of ongoing turbulence in Iraq; however, this move was not warmly welcomed by U.S. officials. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with KRG officials and urged them to stay engaged in Iraq's political transition and support the formation of a new government in Baghdad.
Reports indicate that Erdogan reached an agreement in line with the U.S. stance following their one hour meeting. According to information obtained from sources close to the Prime Ministry, Erdogan and Barzani stressed the significance of the formation of a national consensus government to save Iraq from being dragged into an environment of sectarian-based conflict and protect the country's territorial integrity and political unity.
Energy was also an important topic discussed during the meeting. Both Erdogan and Barzani expressed their determination to continue cooperation in this field. KRG oil exports from the port of Ceyhan began on May 23 and so far almost 4 million barrels of crude oil have been loaded onto four tankers.
11. Turkish Parliament ratifies Readmission Agreement, paving the way for visa-free EU travel
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 26.06.14), the Turkish Parliament June 25 ratified the Readmission Agreement between Ankara and Brussels, in a step welcomed by top EU officials.
“One more important step to a visa free regime for Turks travelling to the EU,” EU Enlargement Commission Stefan Fule said via his Twitter account. Turkey signed the long-anticipated agreement with the bloc in December 2013, refreshing hopes for new momentum in stalled bilateral relations between Ankara and Brussels.
The landmark agreement paves the way for EU governments to send back illegal immigrants crossing into Europe from Turkey in exchange for talks on visa-free travel for citizens of the country, which is a candidate for full membership. The aim of the EU-Turkey visa liberalization dialogue is to make progress toward the elimination of the obligation for a visa, currently imposed on Turkish citizens travelling to the Schengen area for a short term visit. Its implementation will begin three years after the Parliament’s ratification.
“I welcome today’s ratification by the Turkish Parliament of the Readmission Agreement signed in December, as it represents a significant step forward in cooperation between the European Union and Turkey,” Cecilia Malmstrom, EU Home Affairs Commissioner, said in a statement. “The agreement reflects our shared interest for more effective migration and border management, setting out clear obligations and procedures for the authorities of Turkey and EU member states in order to swiftly return persons who are irregularly residing on their EU territory, in full respect of International Law and fundamental rights,” she added.
The financial burden of readmission is on Turkey’s shoulders, but the country will establish shelters and facilities for migrants sent back by European countries with funds provided by the EU.
12. Ihsanoglu tries to reach the CHP voters
Under the title “CHP leader calls joint presidential candidate ‘wise man'”, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 26.06.14) reported that the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has described Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the CHP and the Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) joint presidential candidate, as a wise man during a visit Ihsanoglu paid to CHP headquarters on Thursday.
The CHP leader underlined that Ihsanoglu is the right candidate for Turkey, saying: “He will embrace all segments of society, which is his most important quality. … That's why we support his candidacy for President."
During his visit to the CHP's headquarters, the candidate addressed reporters in a room in which members of the CHP's Central Board of Management were also present. Ihsanoglu sounded optimistic about the support he expects in the presidential race to be held on August 10.
Apparently pleased with the support he obtained from the leaders of the Grand Unity Party (BBP) and the Democratic Left Party (DSP), with whom he met the same day before coming together with Kilicdaroglu, Ihsanoglu said: “I have seen how solid the foundation of this consensus is and how the [planned] steps, well-matched with national interests and targets, will save Turkey from a big danger.”
In an implied reference to Erdogan's rhetoric, Ihsanoğlu also cautioned against polarization and said it should be prevented.
Ihsanoglu, who served for 10 years as Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) until the end of last year, has not been received well by some CHP voters who describe themselves as secular social democrats. Ihsanoglu, who is known to have his circle of friends from among conservative and Islamist segments of society, is seen by some CHP voters as a political Islamist no different in vision from Erdogan.
Apparently in an effort to win over that group of CHP voters, Ihsanoglu has underlined that he is a sincere supporter of secularism who highly values Ataturk. Ihsanoglu said: “I am a Turkish citizen who is loyal to the principles on which this Republic was founded.”
Ihsanoglu drew attention to the fact that he openly expressed his views about secularism in his book “The Islamic World in the New Century”, saying: “Religion and state must remain separate. Religion should not dominate politics, nor should the state dominate religion”. He also dismissed claims he did not like Ataturk, saying: “I have always seen Ataturk as a national hero who won the War of Independence. I believe everybody should respect him.”
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