TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 153/14 19.
08.14
1.
Eroglu: The Greek Cypriot side has nothing to lose from the lack of an
agreement in Cyprus
2. Bakirici: Water transfer from Turkey to be
completed by the end of November
3. Atalay: The path of religious freedom has been
opened in Cyprus
4.
Almost half of the total labour power in the occupied part of Cyprus comes from
abroad
5. SafakOneri the
newly appointed “head” of the “supreme court”
6. Illegal GAU university
to promote Cyprus’ architecture in Italy
7. Kadem’s survey in
the occupied area of Cyprus revealed that more than half of the population has
internet access
8. Turkey seeks satisfactory explanation over Germany
spying scandal
9. Muharrem Ince to run for CHP leadership against
Kilicdaroglu
10. Commentary argues Erdogan plans to return to
Ataturk-like single party state rule
11. Tension created in South-eastern Turkey over the
demolition of a statue of PKK founder
1.
Eroglu: The Greek Cypriot side has nothing to lose from the lack of an
agreement in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily Star Kibris newspaper (19.08.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu has said that in case the
“Greek Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, as he called the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, participates in the negotiations for
finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, the self-styled foreign minister of
the breakaway regime, OzdilNami will also attend the negotiating table.
Replying yesterday
to criticism against him by former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat on this issue,
Eroglu noted that Talat, during his own
period, worked with three different “foreign ministers” and no one of them
participated in the negotiations at the table or accompanied Talat during his
visits abroad.
Eroglu said that the world accepts them as leaders and
the leaders are the ones who carry out the negotiations. “Besides, the
real duty of the foreign minister is to distribute, to promote to the foreign
world our views at the negotiating table”, he argued and described as “very
important” the duty which the “foreign minister” reportedly has and is to
explain to the world their stance as regards the settlement of the Cyprus
problem.
Eroglu reiterated the allegation that if the solution depended on the Turkish Cypriot side,
the problem would have been solved and that the Greek Cypriots submit proposals which are impossible to be materialized
and which are tantamount to return to the pre-1974 period. Eroglu claimed
that the Greek Cypriot side has nothing
to lose from the lack of an agreement in Cyprus and that the Turkish
Cypriots are actually those who suffer losses from this situation.
(I/Ts.)
2. Bakirici: Water transfer from Turkey to be
completed by the end of November
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper
(18.08.14) reports that the self-styled Turkish Cypriot minister of environment
and natural resources Hamit Bakirci stated that if weather conditions allow it,
then the “North Cyprus water supply project”, as he called the water transfer
from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus will be completed by the end of
November.
He said that the
placing of the pipes are continuing and that the first area to get access to
the water will be the occupied part of Lefkosia, with water reaching to the
furthest point of occupied Karpasia in
2015.
He also said
that dam pumping stations in Turkey and in the breakaway regime have been
completed, and that 80% of the refinement plant built on the dam in occupied
Panagra village is completed.
Bakirci stated
that the proceedings to the transition through the sea relies on the weather
conditions and that 5.200 metres of the route has been placed at the base of
the sea the occupied area of Cyprus, while approximately 8.5 kilometres has
been placed at Turkey.
“Currently the
tests of the pipes are taking place. Following the completion of the pipes the
installation of cut strapped pipes are going to begin. After the start of this,
in relation to the sea conditions it will be finalised in 75 working days.”
The weight
blocks required for the installation of the cut strapped pipes to begin have
been descended into the sea and buoys have been tied to them, stated Bakirci,
saying; “Only the installation of the pipes which are each 500 metres remain.”
3. Atalay: The path of religious freedom has been
opened in Cyprus
Illegal Bayrak television (18.08.14) broadcast that
the “chairman” of the “Religious affairs department” in the occupied area of
Cyprus, Talip Atalay gave a conference entitled “Islamic Motives in Cyprus” in
Tarsus, Turkey. Speaking during the conference, Atalay stated that the Turkish
Cypriots always claimed their spiritual values. He also stated that in the last
five years the path for religious freedom in Cyprus has been opened and that
contact between the religious leaders were actualized. He also said that as a
result of this dialogue for the first time they performed prayers at the Hala
Sultan Tekke Mosque in Larnaka.
4.
Almost half of the total labour power in the occupied part of Cyprus comes
from abroad
Under the title
“The employees come from abroad”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (19.08.14)
reports that 84 thousand persons are
employed in both the “public” and the private sector in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus. Eighteen
thousand persons work in the “public sector”. Fifteen thousand of these
employees are “civil servants” and three thousands are “workers”.
The number of the employees in the private sector is
66 thousand. Thirty five thousand of the registered
employees are “citizens” of the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, while 31
thousand are foreigners having work “permit”. According to the paper, the number of the unregistered workers is
unknown. Estimations, notes Havadis, say that they are around five thousand.
The fact that
especially the employees in the private sector do not belong to a trade union
caused decrease of the standard of living, long working hours and economic
problems. Representatives of trade unions told Havadis that all self-styled
governments do nothing for raising the standard of living of the employees in
the private sector. The trade unionists accused the “governments” of caring
only about the votes they will get and of refraining from taking measures in
spite of the fact that they know what should be done.
(I/Ts.)
5.SafakOneri the
newly appointed “head” of the “supreme court”
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
newspaper (19.08.14) the newly appointed “head” of the so-called supreme court
of the breakaway regime SafakOneri, has been sworn in a ceremony organized
yesterday at the so-called presidential palace.
As the paper writes, Oneri will undertake his
duties as of tomorrow.
Speaking before the ceremony, Turkish Cypriot
leader DervisEroglu stated that the “TRNC is a democratic country which needs
an independent judiciary” and expressed hopes that the term of the newly
appointed “head” of the “supreme court” will be beneficial. Oneri has been appointed by the “high
judiciary council” with unanimity of votes.
(AK)
6.Illegal GAU
university to promote Cyprus’ architecture in Italy
Under the above title, Turkish Cypriot daily
YeniDuzen newspaper (19.08.14) reports that the illegal American University of Keryneia (GAU) will organize the 3rd
Architecture Summer School in the town of Supino in Italy. The summer
school will be held between August 17-24.
As the paper writes,
“GAU” is organizing the summer school in cooperation with the Chamber of
Architectures of Italy and England’s Oxford Brookes University.The main title
of the 3d Architecture summer school is “Cultivating possibilities: Reclaiming
and Speculating”.
The summer school will be launched with the
participation of international academic staff and students, Luisa Morgantini,
an Italian MP at the European Parliament, the Mayor of Supino town, the
chairman of the Chamber of Architectures of Italy and others.
The paper adds that the students of the
“faculty of architecture” of the illegal GAU, within the framework of their
participation to the summer school, will promote the cultural heritage and the
architecture of Cyprus.
(AK)
7.Kadem’ssurvey in
the occupied area of Cyprus revealed that more than half of the population has
internet access
Under the title: “More than half of the population on internet”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper reports on the results of a survey conducted by Kadem Research
Company in the occupied area of Cyprus with the cooperation of Kibris newspaper,
as regards the internet access in the occupied area of Cyprus.
The survey has been
conducted between July 8-28 and the method which was used was the quantitative
method. The sample of the survey was 501
people above the age of 18 years old.
According to the results of the survey, 66% of the population in the occupied area
of Cyprus has internet access. According to this, the occupation regime, in
comparison with other countries ranks 55th out of 211 other
countries.
The internet access in the free area of the
Republic of Cyprus is 69% writes the paper, adding that in Turkey is only 45%.
Also, the survey revealed that 37% of those who have internet access in
the “country” is via mobile, while 35% have wireless access and 28% have access
with ADSL.
Moreover, according to the survey, 69% of the internet users have access with
their smart phones/mobile phones, 65% with their laptops, 30% with their
tablets, and 25% with their pc.
Also, the
majority of the internet users in the occupied area of Cyprus are users of
Facebook, instagram and twitter. A total of 86% of internet users use the Facebook.
(AK)
8.Turkey seeks satisfactory explanation over
Germany spying scandal
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (19.08.14)
reports that Turkey reacted against Germany over the allegations that Germany
has been spying on Turkey, summoning the German envoy and asking officials to provide
satisfactory explanations for allegations circulating in German media and to
immediately stop its eavesdropping activities if the allegations are true.
In a strongly
worded statement released on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the
allegations released in German media suggesting Germany's Federal Intelligence
Service BND has been spying on Turkey are “worrisome.” Even if the allegations
are partly correct, Germany should explain this “grave” situation.
“This is a grave
situation that needs to be explained by Germany if there is the slightest truth
to these allegations,” the statement said. “Such practices in relations among
friends and allies, which should be built on mutual trust and respect, are in
no way acceptable.”
German magazine
Der Spiegel reported on Saturday that BND was and is still spying on Turkey,
citing a confidential 2009 BND document.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu answered reports over
the allegations in Turkey's North-eastern city of Artvin. He said Turkey is closely
following the allegations and has summoned the German ambassador for an
“explanation.” “There are some key principles that one needs to be careful
about in international relations, especially between ally countries. If these
allegations are true, these are unacceptable and cannot be excused in any way.
We are faced with a situation which needs to be explained urgently. It is our
incontestable right to have an answer as soon as possible. If these allegations
are not true, some steps also should be taken," he said and added that he
and President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan exchanged views over the issue.
Davutoglu said
he will also talk with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the
phone in the evening.
The Foreign
Ministry statement followed the summoning of German Ambassador to Turkey
Eberhard Pohl to the Foreign Ministry regarding the alleged eavesdropping. Pohl
met with Turkey's acting Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Erdogan İscan.
A Foreign
Ministry official told Today's Zaman that the issue is highly “sensitive” and
Turkey doesn't act upon “media reports.However, calling the German Ambassador
to the Foreign Ministry on the same day explains the gravity of the situation,”
the official said.
A German Foreign
Ministry spokesman confirmed that the Ambassador had been invited to discuss
the issue by the Turkish government, but disputed that he had been
"summoned." German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said
Monday's meeting had a "friendly atmosphere,".
9. Muharrem Ince to run for CHP leadership against
Kilicdaroglu
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (19.08.14) reports that
Republican People's Party (CHP) parliamentarian and party Deputy Chairman
Muharrem Ince announced that he will run for leadership of the party at an
extraordinary party convention scheduled to be held on Sept 5-6.
İnce declared
that he will be running as a candidate to become the new party leader against
Kemal Kilicdaroglu. İnce organized a press conference in the Turkish Parliament
where he said that he has resigned from his position in the CHP as party deputy
chairman and declared his candidacy for the CHP chairmanship as expected. After
mentioning the common issues in Turkey and in Turkish democracy, İnce said:
"Turkey needs the CHP to resolve these issues; however the current
administration of the CHP falls short on offering resolutions.
In the press
conference, İnce emphasized intra-party democracy issues, and criticized the
CHP's consecutive election defeats.
Speaking to
journalists at Istanbul airport, Kilicdaroglu's first reaction to İnce's
candidacy was: "Good, very good indeed." Meanwhile, Mustafa Sarigul,
former district mayor of Sisli, is seen as one of the influential actors in the
chairmanship race within the party. Sarigul showed his support for the current
leader Kilicdaroglu. He said that he will back Kilicdaroglu in the
extraordinary party congress, which will be held on Sept. 5 in Ankara. "Kilicdaroglu
is the consolidative power of the CHP," Sarigul said. Circles close to the
CHP said that Sarigul aims to strengthen his place within the party for the
upcoming terms and to vindicate his 2005 resignation from the CHP.
10. Commentary argues Erdogan plans to return to
Ataturk-like single party state rule
Turkish daily Taraf newspaper (18.08.14) published an article by
Mehmet Baransu under the title: “All Erdogan needs now is to find his Inonu”:
“He talks about
"New Turkey" at every opportunity. The "new" President of
the Republic elect Tayyip Erdogan explained what this "new" Turkey
was going to be like in his farewell speech to the party members. He gives
clues as to what the administration will be like.
"I do not
know standard procedures, whatever. We are going to create the standard
procedures for new Turkey. These standard procedures include a goal for 2023
and 2053.
"I will not
say, 'I am going to Cankaya and the party can go to hell.
"Do not
think that the party will be ownerless when I go to Cankaya. I am going to
watch your work, your discipline, your performance. I will have my eye on you.
"Our union
will continue. This is no separation or breakup. My body may not be there but
my spirit will be."
What Erdogan is saying is quite clear. He talks like
the leader of a newly founded country. He says that established procedure means
nothing to him and that he still going to run the party. […]
Look at the huge
photographs posted on the roads and streets. A picture of Erdogan every two
paces. "Robust will" written in huge letters. Slogans. Most recently
they have produced bumper stickers reading "RT Erdogan" and his
signature. Almost all these things are scenes from the single party era and
"old" Turkey. His curiosity about one-man rule. His wish to be a
second Ataturk.
We saw a similar
sickness in the PKK [Kurdistan People's Congress, KGK] and its leaders, which
fought the established system for years and saw it as the enemy. The approaches
and rhetoric that took old Turkey as its example are still fresh in people's memories.
[…]
Today when I
look at the roads and streets and when I see what Erdogan and his party have
done over the past three years I cannot help but ask, "What has
happened?" The Turkey that I am also a part of voted for the AKP [Justice
and Development Party] to end the tutelage regime. And when that party was
fighting the tutelage regime it found itself in the arms of people who stood
for the tutelage regime. Simply looking at the undemocratic laws passed in
Parliament is enough to see into whose arms the party has fallen.
What we have is a leader who rides roughshod over
democracy and the law and who advocates a "party state." Just like
under "Kemalist despotism" he seeks to exonerate his crimes with
Revolutionary Courts. Right now he is desperate to find a second Inonu. What then, you ask? History tells us what happens next. A brief
glance at the history of the switch from Ataturk to Inonu is all you need. […]
11. Tension created in South-eastern Turkey over
the demolition of a statue of PKK founder
Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (19.08.14) reports
that tension was created in South-eastern Turkey over the demolition of the
statue of Mahsum Korkmaz, one of the founders of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK), which was erected in the South eastern province of
Diyarbakir on Aug. 16.According to the paper, the
statue was destroyed after a court in Diyarbakir ruled for its demolition and
this led to the creation of tension in the area between the Turkish police and
protestors. During the conflicts a person died and two others were wounded,
according to the paper.
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