TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 170/14 11.09.14
1.Eroglu: "Our aim at the
negotiation table IS to lay claim to our state, flag and country"
2. Yorgancioglu and
Serdar Denktas on the European Rally Championship and Middle East Rally
Championship to be co-organized by the two sides
3. Akinci started explaining his “vision” prior to the “elections”
4. CHP assembly
discuss the issue of the party’s candidacy; a decision was taken that prevents
Talat to run for the position
5. Veteran CTP member
criticized the Turkish Cypriot trade unions which are against Turkey: “We
cannot live without Turkey”
6. Atalay is
participating in a conference in Sweden
7. The issue of the military service in the occupied area of Cyprus is at the
table again
8. President Erdogan
to visit Qatar
9.Davutoglu convened a
security summit amid efforts to combat ISIL; Columnist views Turkey’s possible
choices on its engagement to the fight against ISIL
10. The US and the EU
warned Turkey about the tightening control over Internet
1.Eroglu: "Our
aim at the negotiation table IS to lay claim to our state, flag and
country"
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (10.09.14)
reported that Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu in statements during the opening night of the 3rd Culture and Art
Festival in occupied Elia village said: “If all of us claim our state, the hand
of the people sitting at the negotiation table will be strengthened”.
Stating that by “claiming your own culture and
art means that one lays claim to their homeland”, Eroglu added:“Our aim at the negotiation table is to lay
claim to our state, flag and country”. He also alleged that the Greek
Cypriots do not recognize the right of the Turkish Cypriots to live on these
lands.
Eroglu stated further that the Greek Cypriot’s stance
about the rights of the Turkish Cypriots is to “restrict the Turkish Cypriots
as much as possible and by doing so; we will distance them from these lands.”
Eroglu also claimed that the Greek Cypriot’s
hope is to go back to pre-1974 and distance the Turkish Cypriots from
Turkey. “However their hopes will not
come true” Eroglu said.
2.Yorgancioglu and
Serdar Denktas on the European Rally Championship and Middle East Rally
Championship to be co-organized by the two sides
According to illegal Bayrak television
(10.09.14) so-called prime minister Ozkan
Yorgancioglu in statements yesterday before the meeting of the “council of
ministers” said that occupied Lefkosia is going to witness a historic event on
the 19th of September, as this year’s 2014 Cyprus Rally will include a track
through the “TRNC”.
Speaking about the
European Rally Championship and Middle-East Rally Championship, Yorgancioglu
said that the event which will be broadcast live by the world’s leading sports
channels was extremely important in promoting the “country”.
Stating that the event will be held with the cooperation of the automobile and
racing associations of the two sides, Yorgancioglu added that the “government
has been supporting the initiative launched by the “Cyprus Turkish automobile association”
from the very first day they had been holding contacts for the rally to take
place in the TRNC”.
“It’s extremely
important that the TRNC leg of the rally is being promoted by one of the
world’s leading sports channel Eurosport. A large number of international
journalists and news networks will be covering the event. Some of the schools
or departments on this important route may close for the occasion”, Yorgancioglu added.
Meanwhile, the so-called deputy prime minister
and “minister of economy, tourism, culture and sports” Serdar Denktas inspected
yesterday the ongoing preparations in occupied Lefkosia for the “TRNC stage of
the rally which will take place next Friday.
Speaking to reporters following his inspection
tour, Denktas congratulated both the
“Cyprus Turkish touring and automobile association” and the so-called
“department of road works” for their excellent planning for the “TRNC stage”
and stressed the importance of hosting such an important international event.
Denktas also pointed out that some areas of
occupied Lefkosia could experience traffic problems on Friday due to the rally
and added: “Hosting such an international event here is extremely important.
Our citizens may experience difficulties that day for the benefit of the state.
We apologize in advance for any inconveniences which might emerge”.
Also, providing information about the occupied
Lefkosia stage of the rally, the “chairman” of the “Cyprus Turkish touring and automobile
association”, Tigin Kismir said that the track will be 5.8km long, half of
which will be in “south Lefkosia” and the other half in the “north”.
He said that they were
expecting around 50 thousand people to watch the event and that all security
measures had been taken in cooperation with the “police” and the occupied
Lefkosia municipality.
Kismir also provided information regarding the
route of the “TRNC stage”. “The racing cars will cross over to the TRNC through
the moat area near the Ledra Palace crossing point , passing in front of the presidential
palace, turning out of the walled city from Kyrenia Gate and continuing through
Osman Pasa Avenue and back to Ledra Palace. The stage will end in south Lefkosia”,
he said.
3. Akinci started explaining his “vision” prior to the “elections”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (11.09.14) reports that Mustafa Akinci, who had announced his candidacy for next year’s
“presidential elections” in the occupied area of Cyprus, met the day before yesterday with members of the Famagusta Initiative
and discussed his “vision” for the “elections”. During the meeting the
activists asked questions regarding Akinci’s vision for the solution of the
Cyprus problem and expressed their own views. Okan Dagli, one of the activists, said thata formula which includes the
fenced off city of Varosha, the port and the within the walls area is extremely
important for the creation of a peace climate on the island.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (11.09.14) reports that in
statements to Ada television Akinci said that he decided to run in the
“elections” upon “dense demands” by the “people” and added that he feels a
great responsibility on this issue. Akinci
said that, with his vision, he will “go beyond the ordinary”. He also noted
it is a vision of a policy which is
focused on the solution and on a process parallel to this which will gain
acceleration to the negotiating process with a formula for the fenced off
Varosha, will overcome the difficulties of the Turkish Cypriots in the fields
of trade through sea and air, open new fields of business and create jobs for
the unemployed.
(I/Ts.)
4. CHP assembly discuss the issue of the
party’s candidacy; a decision was taken that prevents Talat to run for the
position
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris Postasi newspaper (11.09.14) reports that the assembly of the Republican
Turkish Party (CTP) came together yesterday in order to discuss the issue of
the party’s candidacy for the forthcoming “presidential elections” to be held
in April 2015 in the breakaway regime.
The paper writes that despite the fact that no
statement was made on the issue by the party, the issue of the candidacy of the
former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat came into the agenda. Noting
that Talat announced some time ago that he is not interested to be a candidate,
the paper writes that the CTP’s assembly
took a decision that will make it impossible for Talat to be a candidate
anyway, since after “long and tensioned discussions”, it was announced that
everyone who is interested on the position, shall make a “candidacy
application”, as provided by CHP’s constitution.
This is the first time that such a decision is
taken by CHP. The paper notes that the discussion during the assembly was so
tensed that some party members left the meeting.
5. Veteran CTP
member criticized the Turkish Cypriot trade unions which are against Turkey:
“We cannot live without Turkey”
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris Postasi newspaper (11.09.14) reports that Ahmet Uzun, veteran member of
the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and former “minister of finance” criticized
strongly the Turkish Cypriot trade unions which make statements against Turkey.
Uzun stated that it is not possible for
everything negative in the breakaway regime Turkey to be blamed and added that
the occupied area of Cyprus is depended on Turkey financially:“We cannot live without Turkey”, he
stated.
6. Atalay is
participating in a conference in Sweden
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris Postasi newspaper (11.09.14) reports that Talip Atalay the
"chairman" of the "Religious affairs department" in the
occupied area of Cyprus went to Sweden upon an invitation by the Religious
Social Democrats.
According to the paper, Atalay is participating
in a conference which is taking place between 10-14 of September, and he will
give a speech under the title “Communication between religious leaders in
Cyprus-Assistance to the peace process in Cyprus”. The
paper also writes that in the framework of his visit, Atalay will hold contacts
with various civil society organizations and some Swedish officials.
7. The issue of the military service in the occupied area of Cyprus is at
the table again
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (11.09.14) reports that the “parliamentary committee” on legal, political affairs and foreign
relations held a meeting yesterday and discussed the “draft-law” providing for
“improvements” on the issue of the military service in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus. Army officers, “public prosecutors”, advisers at the
“prime minister’s office” and “deputies” participated in the meeting.
According
to Yeni Duzen, it seems that a
“consensus” exists in the proposals submitted by the “prime minister’s office”
and the so-called security forces command. Next week the proposals will be
discussed article by article.
Referring
to the content of the proposals, the
paper writes that the military service
for the vocational high school graduates will be decreased from 15 months to 12.
Moreover, there will be arrangement so that the Turkish Cypriots living abroad to be able to benefit from the
“scheme paid-for military service”. The
examination evaders and the deserters prior to 1 January 2009 will be given
amnesty and they will be able to benefit from the scheme paid-for military
service.
(I/Ts.)
8.President Erdogan
to visit Qatar
Ankara Anatolia news agency
(10.09.14) reported that according to Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to make a visit to Qatar next Monday.
Cavusoglu underlined that Erdogan’s visit to
Qatar reveals a ‘sibling relationship’ between the two countries, with both
having common regional issues and a similar goal in working for peace and
justice in the region.
The stopover will be Erdogan’s third visit as
President after the “TRNC” and Azerbaijan visits.
"We want Turkish companies to be included
in Qatar’s 2030 vision," Cavusoglu said, adding that "Qatar is
preparing itself to be home to many important organizations."
According to its government website, by 2030,
''Qatar aims to be an advanced society capable of sustaining its development
and providing a high standard of living for all of its people.''
9.Davutoglu
convened a security summit amid efforts to combat ISIL; Columnist views
Turkey’s possible choices on its engagement to the fight against ISIL
According to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
newspaper (10.09.14) top government and
military officials held an unexpected security summit on Wednesday ahead of
US President Barack Obama's outline of an expanded military and political
effort to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
News agencies reported on Wednesday that Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu chaired the security summit, which was attended by
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, the Chief of General Staff General Necdet
Ozel, the Land Forces Commander Hulusi Akar, the Gendarmerie General Command
General Abdullah Atay, the Deputy Chief
of General Staff Yasar Guler, Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz, Interior Minister
Efkan Ala, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan,
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu and Prime Ministry
Undersecretary Fahri Kasırga.
(…)According to reports in the Turkish media, some of the items discussed at the meeting
were Turkey's possible participation in the battle against ISIL, security
problems in border cities due to an influx of refugees, particularly from Iraq,
and the settlement process between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK).
Meanwhile, in
a commentary in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News under the title: “Ankara
faces difficult choices on ISIL”, columnist Semiz Idiz views Turkey’s choices
related with its participation to an international coalition that will fight ISIL
and writes, inter alia, the following:
“(…) President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been arguing that Ankara has to tread cautiously
because of the 49 Turkish hostages, including Turkey’s Mosul Consul General,
that are still being held by ISIL militants.
Past experience indicates, however, that Ankara
would still be reluctant if there were no hostages involved.
There are a number of reasons for this,
including a desire not to appear to be a key member of any Western led military
coalition that does not have the approval of the United Nations Security
Council against an Islamic nation.
But in this case it has to consider more than
just this or the possibility of endangering the lives of the Turks being held
by ISIL. Turkish involvement could have
undesirable spill-over effects, not the least of which is that ISIL carries its
terror campaign to Turkey itself given Turkey’s proximity to the region and its
porous long border with Syria.
There is also the
prospect that Turkey may find itself fighting alongside the Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK) against ISIL, an idea that is abhorrent to the Turkish armed forces
and most Turks. The
PKK, which in the eyes of Turkey is a deadly terrorist organization, has
nevertheless proved its worth against ISIL in Northern Iraq.
(…)
Turkey is already wary
that some of the weapons that the West has started to supply to Kurdish
Peshmerga fighters, as well as the Iraqi security forces, will find their way
into PKK hands and be used against the Turkish security forces.
Given this overall
picture the easiest thing for Ankara is to avoid the open involvement against
ISIL, while waiting for others to take care of it, and maintain its guard
against the PKK. It could also give behind-the-scenes support against ISIL in
order to appease its western allies, while appearing not to be doing so in
order not to incur the wrath of this group.
It is clear, however,
that opting to go in one of these directions will have severe consequences for
Turkey, losing credibility in the West, as well as its influence in the region,
especially if the U.S. convinces Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and even Qatar to
fight actively against ISIL.
If the fight against ISIL turns out to be
successful without Turkey’s active support this will also be used by the
opposition at home against President Erdogan and Prime Minister Davutoglu.
There are many “ifs” involved in all this, but
none of the options appear to be that great for Erdogan and Davutoglu, who have
said many lofty things in the past about Turkey’s role and influence in the
Middle East, but who now face difficult choices. (…)”.
10.The US and the
EU warned Turkey about the tightening control over Internet
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (10.09.14) reported
that the recent amendments to the
Internet law that violate privacy and aggravate censorship by further
tightening state control over the Internet have received strong criticism from
the EU and the US.
Commenting on the
latest amendments in an e-mail on Wednesday, Ryan Heath, spokesperson for
European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes, told Today's Zaman that it is
“bad news for freedom.”
The most recent
amendment to Turkey's Internet law grants the Telecommunications Directorate
(TİB) extensive powers over Internet use, such as blocking access to websites
without a court order.
In his message,Heath said that the issue raises concern since Turkish
Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Lutfi Elvan did
not mention such a law when he met with Kroes last week in İstanbul.
According to the latest amendments that were approved
in Parliament on Monday evening, within four hours of a request from TİB,
Internet service providers are required to block a designated website.
As per the amendments, TİB will be able to block access to websites for “national security,”
the “maintenance of public order” and "preventing a crime from being
committed" without needing a court order.
The US criticized the
amendments which also allow TİB to collect Internet traffic data without a
court order.
“We’ve regularly
raised our concerns about media freedom with Turkish officials, and have
continued to urge the Turkish Government to ensure open access to all social
media. And that’s a conversation we will continue having,” Marie Harf, Deputy
spokesperson of the US State Department, said in response to a question during
a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
(…)
Many believe the
amendments are against the Constitution as the head of TİB has been granted
powers that are not in accordance with the Constitution.
During a press meeting in İzmir on Wednesday
Erdal Aksunger, a Deputy from the main opposition Republican People's Party
(CHP), said that freedoms were not
violated in such an arbitrary way even at the time of the military coup in
1980.
Aksunger believes the amendments are against
the Constitution. “TİB's authorization to block access to websites does away
with the separation of powers,” he said.
(…)According to the latest amendment, TİB will
also be able to obtain Internet traffic data from Internet service providers
without a court order. The data will be given to the relevant authorities if a
court order mandates it do so.
(…)
----------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
