TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 138/14 26-28.07.14
1. Nami says that President Anastasiades did not abandon the negotiating table; Trade unions accuse Eroglu of lack of will
2. Eroglu harshly criticizes Nami for saying that President Anastasiades did not abandon the negotiating table
3. Erk criticizes Eroglu’s stance in the Cyprus talks
4. DP and UBP defend Eroglu
5. Foreign diplomat says that the deadlock in the Cyprus talks could be overcome
6. Yildirim: Nearly 100 thousand Turkish nationals are eligible to cast their vote in the “TRNC
7. Cirali protested against the registration of halloumi
8. The hotel occupancy in the occupied area of Cyprus has dropped 12% in July
9. Half of the population in the occupied area doesn’t work
10. Livestock will be export to Libya
11. A Turkish singer could not travel to Greece because her passport was stamped by the “TRNC”
1. Nami says that President Anastasiades did not abandon the negotiating table; Trade unions accuse Eroglu of lack of will
Under the title “The negotiating process came into a deadlock”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.07.14) reported that Ozdil Nami, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, has said that a delegation from his “ministry” visited the self-styled president’s office to be briefed on the content of the meeting held on Thursday between President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu within the framework of the Cyprus talks and added that this delegation was told that President Anastasiades had not abandoned the negotiating table, as the Turkish Cypriot press reported on Friday.
Responding to a question prior to a meeting with some trade unions which he had informed on the Cyprus problem, Nami said that after the meeting with Eroglu, President Anastasiades had a meeting with the Troika delegation. He noted that the President said that he had to leave and left after taking permission at a point during which the negotiations had been already completed. He said that “no incident of abandoning the table happened” like the press reported and added that he does not find correct and he does not approve the leak of this kind of information to the press instead of sharing information about the substance of the issues.
Nami argued that the negotiating process has entered into a deadlock and that this situation is unacceptable. He reiterated the Turkish allegation that the main reason of this deadlock is the disrespect of the Greek Cypriot side to the convergences achieved in the past and added that various deadlocks existed during the previous negotiating periods but the Turkish negotiating delegation pursued the necessary policy in order for them to be overcome. “We believe that this could be done again and this difficulty which is derived from the Greek Cypriot side, could be overcome with a very much more active policy by the Turkish side”, he claimed.
Nami said that the negotiations which have been continuing for six months gave no concrete result, contrary to the expectations of the “people”. He noted that this situation saddens him and added: “Unfortunately this was not surprising because of the fact that all our warnings have not been taken into consideration”.
According to Nami, it seems that at the current stage the sides cannot agree on the convergences achieved in the past, the methodology to be followed in the next stage and on any confidence building measure. He argued that this situation is the clearest indication of the fact that a serious problem exists in the negotiations and reiterated the readiness of his “government” and “ministry” to contribute in the overcoming of these difficulties. He said that they were still waiting for a positive answer to their call for cooperation with Eroglu.
In statements before the same meeting, Sener Elcil, general secretary of the teachers’ trade union (KTOS) said that they had some important gains in the negotiations which continue since 1968, that certain parameters have already been accepted by the UN and the world and that will and wish is needed in order for a solution to be formed upon these parameters. He added: “It is obvious that our negotiator has not this will and wish. If he has absolutely no contribution in the progress of the negotiating process and in leading to a result, there is no need for Eroglu sitting there. He no more represents the community”.
The chairman of the “civil servants’” trade union (KTAMS), Ahmet Kaptan thanked Nami for briefing them and criticized Eroglu for not showing the same “democratic approach”. “He acts with a mentality which supports the separatist policy like himself and a divided island and always implements delaying tactics for insignificant reasons”, he noted referring to Eroglu. Kaptan argued that Eroglu does not take into consideration the ‘yes” vote of the Turkish Cypriots in the referendum and tries to reject even the points agreed in the past. Kaptan claimed that if Eroglu loves the Turkish Cypriot community, he should resign.
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu harshly criticizes Nami for saying that President Anastasiades did not abandon the negotiating table
Under the title “A very serious shame in diplomacy”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.07.14) reported that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has harshly criticized Ozdil Nami, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, for saying that President Anastasiades had not abandoned the negotiating table during the meeting between the community leaders on Thursday.
In a written statement issued by his “office”, Eroglu referred to Nami, even though he did not mention his name, and claimed: “A matter which draws attention and saddens, is that an authority among us, in spite of the realities which are there, has almost become defender of Anastasiades by alleging that it is out of the question for Anastasiades to leave the table. The fact that they insist on this issue and made no correction, in spite of the information provided to them on this matter and all the warnings, is thought provoking. An authority which says that ‘we are not in the kitchen, we are not informed of the negotiations, how come and briefs the trade unions, if it has no information, no document?”
In his statement, Eroglu alleged that President Anastasiades behaved in “a nervous and improper manner” when he did not succeed to allegedly impose his views on the Turkish Cypriot side and abandoned the room of the negotiations alone before the completion of the meeting, that is “he abandoned the table”.
The statement alleged that abandoning the negotiating table by showing a “disrespectable attitude” is a “very serious shame in diplomacy” and claimed: “If the Turkish Cypriot side had done this, you know what some known persons and the countries which spoil the Greek Cypriots would say”.
The statement said that the Turkish side will not put up with this attitude and that it discusses the issue with the UN and other international actors.
(I/Ts.)
3. Erk criticizes Eroglu’s stance in the Cyprus talks
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (27.07.14) reported that Kutlay Erk, general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) has harshly criticized the stance of the Turkish Cypriot leader in the Cyprus talks. In a statement issued on Saturday, Erk said that the CTP feels the need to once again warn that Eroglu’s approach “which hopes for help from the deadlock in the negotiations is a product of a strategy which does not coincide with the Turkish Cypriot people’s interests and will cause results against us”.
According to Erk, it is understood that the news, which had been published in the [Turkish Cypriot] press and internet sites known with their closeness to Eroglu right after the meeting between the leaders on 24 July saying that the Greek Cypriots abandoned the table and that the negotiations collapsed, was a “deliberate propaganda”. Erk noted that Eroglu is obliged to explain to the Turkish Cypriot community what kind of future he promises, in case the negotiations do not end with a federal solution.
Erk recalled that with his recent statements, the self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami has repeatedly mentioned “some negative approaches” of President Ansdstasiades. Therefore, he added, “our party strongly criticizes the accusation that Mr Ozdil Nami is defending Anastasiades”. He argued that Eroglu owes an apology to Nami because of his “unfortunate statement which reminds of the period of the cold war” and his style “which is shameful”.
(I/Ts.)
4. DP and UBP defend Eroglu
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.07.14) reports that Hasan Tacoy, general secretary of the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG) has argued that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) criticizes the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu only for “elections” purposes.
In a statement issued yesterday, Tacoy alleged also that President Anastasiades’ stance in the negotiations was “contrary to diplomatic courtesy and negative”. He argued that in this critical stage Eroglu, who “continues the negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side by exhibiting a very good leadership example”, should be supported and not prevented.
Tacoy alleged that he was not surprised by the stance allegedly exhibited by President Anastasiades on Thursday, because he [President Anastasiades] had allegedly done the same thing before, by shouting and abandoning a meeting in Panama regarding the exchange of populations, in which Tacoy was also participating together with Turkish Cypriot “deputies”.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (26.07.14) reported that Huseyin Ozgurgun, chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP) has stated that Eroglu exhibits a successful stance in the negotiations by protecting what he called as the rights of the Turkish Cypriot “people”.
Ozgurgun alleged that President Anastasiades is “spoiled” by certain countries, behaves “aggressively and fearlessly” in the negotiations and dreams on leading the Turkish Cypriots to the pre-1974 period by ignoring the “existing realities” and using delaying tactics waiting for the right conditions to come.
Ozgrugun described as “unthinkable” the proposals submitted by the Greek Cypriot side on issues such as territory, property, security, guarantees and citizenship. “However”, he added, “the Turks of Cyprus will never enter under Greek Cypriot administration, we will protect our freedom and sovereignty, we will oppose to arrangements by which we will become minority in our own state from the point of view of property and land and we will never abandon the active and effective guarantees of motherland Turkey”.
(I/Ts.)
5. Foreign diplomat says that the deadlock in the Cyprus talks could be overcome
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.07.14) reports that a foreign diplomat, who serves in Nicosia, in an Embassy of a country which is “very close” to the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, has said that even though a deadlock or very serious disagreements seem to exist in the negotiations between the two sides, “these are not things which could not be overcome”.
The diplomatic source, which wished to remain anonymous, told Kibris that the relations between Turkey and the EU and the relations of Cyprus with the Partnership for Peace Organization could have at least as much influence in the [solution] process as the natural gas within the next period. “We are hopeful”, said the foreign diplomat describing as “very important” the visit which President Anastasiades is paying to Greece today. “It is expected to produce new developments, new views both regarding EU-Turkey relations and Cyprus-NATO relations”, he argued expressing the view that if some chapters in Turkey’s negotiations with the EU are opened, the more active involvement of the EU in the Cyprus talks might be secured.
(I/Ts.)
6. Yildirim: Nearly 100 thousand Turkish nationals are eligible to cast their vote in the “TRNC”
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 26.07.14), as the people in the Republic of Turkey are preparing to elect their own President for the first time in their history, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Izmir Deputy and former Minister for Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Binali Yildirim is illegally visiting self-styled officials in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.The Democrat Party General Secretary Hasan Tacoy accompanied Yildirim and his delegation during the visit.
Yildirim met firstly with the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. Speaking during the visit, Yildirim said that “Close to 100 thousand Turkish nationals are eligible to cast their vote in the ‘TRNC’ and therefore we wanted to inform our nationals here regarding the election procedure”, said Yıldırım.
Eroglu, for his part, also pointed to the significance of this year’s Presidential elections in Turkey and said that Turkish nationals electing their own President is a show of democracy in the country.
On the same issue, self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu met also with Yildirim. Speaking during the visit, Yildirim noted that they intended to inform Turkish nationals who will be casting their vote in the “TRNC” regarding the elections and added: “We will also be meeting with various civil society organizations and associations and discuss technical details as it is the first time the people will be electing their own President”.
Yorgancioglu, for his part, noted that two firsts were taking place during this year’s presidential elections in Turkey, not only are the people electing their own leader but Turkish nationals in the “TRNC” are also able to cast their vote.
“It is important to inform the people as this is the first time the elections are being held like this and therefore your visit to the ‘TRNC’ is very important. There are close to 93 thousand Turkish origin nationals in the country who can vote. 60 thousand of them hold dual citizenships and 35 thousand are here with working permits. Therefore it is important to properly inform people on how they can cast their vote”, Yorgancioglu said. He also wished the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan success during the elections.
7. Cirali protested against the registration of halloumi
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.07.14), the head of the “Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry” (“KTSO”) Ali Cirali held a press conference at the House for Cooperation at the buffer zone and made striking statements regarding the registration of local cheese, hellim.
Explaining that the Republic of Cyprus applied to register hellim or halloumi as they call it, as a protected designation of origin product (PDO) without including “North Cyprus producers” on the 9th of July with the European Union, Cirali said that they filed 8 separate objections at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Republic of Cyprus but due to the fact that the Turkish Cypriot producers do not operate under the Republic of Cyprus and do not reside in the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus their objections were rejected.
“The Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry is a civil society organization that represents hellim producers in Northern Cyprus and carries out inspections and until a permanent solution is found to the Cyprus problem the chamber has been tasked with this duty”, Cirali said.
He said that “as the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry, just as the chamber was given authority over products being traded within the framework of protocol 10 in the Green Line Regulation, the chamber should also be given similar authority for hellim inspections”.
Criticising the fact that while the Republic of Cyprus was trying to register hellim, it refrained from consulting with the Turkish Cypriots and including them in the process, Cirali said that for hundreds of years hellim has been produced jointly in the island and “South Cyprus” by depriving the Turkish Cypriots of this right, they are directly affecting more than 16.5% of the population.
“25% of our hellim exports are equivalent to 30 million dollars. The Turkish Cypriots are punished economically and culturally and once again this is unacceptable”, Cirali claimed.
He added that at a time when the negotiations process is continuing and confidence building measures are being discussed, the politicians on both sides of the divide should take goodwill initiatives to prevent a possible crisis that may emerge.
Cirali claimed that “the EU approving decisions that will lead the Turkish Cypriots to economic disaster, will lead to the decrease of trust in North Cyprus towards the EU Institutions and will deliver a critical blow to the negotiations process in Cyprus”.
8. The hotel occupancy in the occupied area of Cyprus has dropped 12% in July
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (26.07.14), the occupancy of the hotels in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus in July has dropped 12% compared to the occupancy figures of July 2013.
9. Half of the population in the occupied area doesn’t work
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (28.07.14), under the title “Half of the population doesn’t work” publishes a report on the economic situation of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus in 2013 issued by the so-called state planning organization (“DPO”).
The report shows that the employment in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus has increased to 101,181 persons in 2013 from 99,117 in 2012. Despite the increase of the employment, the report reveals that the 49.4% of the population which is eligible to work, is not working.
10. Livestock will be export to Libya
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (online, 28.07.14), the Turkish Cypriot stock farmers association launched efforts to sell for the second time livestock to Libya. According to an announcement issued by the stock farmers, they will export around 1500 goats and 200 sheeps.
The chairman of the stock farmers association Huseyin Cavus Kelle said that it is the second time that they export farm animals.
11. A Turkish singer could not travel to Greece because her passport was stamped by the “TRNC”
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet (28.07.14), the Turkish pop singer Bengu, who was on holidays in the area of Cesme in Izmir, tried unsuccessfully to visit with her friends during the weekend the Greek island of Chios. The Greek authorities did not give her permission to enter because her passport was stamped by the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
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