C O N T E N T S
No. 198/14 23.10.14
1. Turkish war ship Bartin watches the drilling platform SAIPEM - 10000
2. Eroglu accused the Greek Cypriot side of searching for excuses to leave the negotiation table
3. The Turkish Cypriot parties on the decisions of the National Council
4. Nami: The most recent crisis symbolizes the gravity of the Cyprus problem
5. Ersan on the ECHR’s decision on missing persons
6. Eroglu: the participation of international organizations in such games is a step for lifting the “embargoes”
7. The EU 2000 natura program left half-finished in the occupied area of Cyprus
8. Suicide vests and bombs seized in Turkey amid ISIL terror alarm
1. Turkish war ship Bartin watches the drilling platform SAIPEM - 10000
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 23.10.14), the research vessel Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa continues its exploration activities in the open sea in the north side of the Republic of Cyprus. The vessel is accompanied by war ships belonging to the Turkish naval fleet.
According to a press release issued by the Turkish General Staff, “the Gelibolu frigate has fulfilled its duty of protecting and looking out the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa research vessel, which is performing exploration activities at the authorized area by the TRNC”.
In addition to this, the Bafra corvette has also fulfilled its duty to watch, from 5 nautical miles distance, the drilling activities of the platform SAIPEM-10000 under the flag of the Bahamas.
Meanwhile, according to the official website of the Turkish General Staff, “the Turkish war ship Bartin carries out its duty to watch from five nautical miles the drilling platform SAIPEM – 1000 within its duty of the Mediterranean Shield Operation”.
2. Eroglu accused the Greek Cypriot side of searching for excuses to leave the negotiation table
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.10.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu accused the Greek Cypriot side for finding excuses every time in order to escape from the negotiation table so that the solution process not to be continued. He also claimed that this time as well the Greek Cypriot side left the negotiations with no excuse.
Speaking during a meeting with a union of veteran fighters yesterday, Eroglu said that no one can be forced to sit at the negotiation table, but added that if the Greek Cypriot side really wants a solution, it should return to the talks, since this is the only way a settlement is to be reached. He also said that the situation in Cyprus has remained the same for the last 40 years.
He went on and alleged that the current crisis was created by the Greek Cypriot side, claiming also that Turkey has been conducting seismic researches in the area for many years now. He also said that Cyprus is not one step behind a war, but one step behind the solution.
In addition, Kibris also reports that speaking at the opening of the Binatli Yilmaz sport club, Eroglu stated that it is important for investments to take place in the “TRNC”. He also commented again on the Barbaros vessel’s researches and said that the area around the shores in Cyprus does not belong to the south. He also claimed that the Turkish Cypriots is the only side sitting at the negotiation table for the time being and claimed that if a side puts conditions in order to come to the negotiation table, it means that it has no intention to negotiate.
3. The Turkish Cypriot parties on the decisions of the National Council
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.10.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot parties evaluated the latest developments as regards the Cyprus negotiations after the decisions taken by the National Council.
The paper writes that all parties stated that the decision of the Greek Cypriot side to withdraw from the negotiation table as well as the decisions taken by the National Council to condemn Turkey’s actions to conduct seismic researches in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone, are wrong.
The parties also note that the crisis occurred can be solved with dialogue and through diplomatic channels.
The secretary of foreign affairs of the Democratic Party Serhat Kotal stated that the crisis was created on false ground and added that it is very natural for Turkey to conduct seismic researches in the area.
The chairman of the United Cyprus Party Izzet Izcan stated that the solution of the Cyprus problem is the only way for the new crisis to be solved.
The leader of the New Cyprus Party Murat Kanatli said that all the issues that led to this crisis must be lifted and the Cyprus negotiations must continue the soonest possible.
4. Nami: The most recent crisis symbolizes the gravity of the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis (23.10.14) reports that self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami visited yesterday the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO).
According to a press release by the “foreign ministry”, during the meeting, Fikri Toros, chairman of the KTTO congratulated Nami for his initiative to open a “representative office” in Hungary, and also expressed his views concerning the recent crisis related to the hydrocarbon exploration activities taking place in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Nami stated that the “representative office” in Hungary opened within the framework of the “foreign ministry’s” strong vision aiming to integrate the Turkish Cypriots with the rest of the world. Nami also briefed Toros on his contacts in Hungary, including the meetings he had with Turkish and Hungarian businesspeople.
Nami claimed that following the commencement of unilateral hydrocarbon exploration and drilling activities by “South Cyprus”, Turkey’s seismic exploration activities are continuing with a view to protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the region, and added that the Greek Cypriot side has used this as an excuse to abandon the negotiating table.
Nami said that the issue of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) is a controversial aspect of the Cyprus problem and that the resolution of this issue should also be sought at the negotiating table. Nami claimed that once the Cyprus problem is resolved, all controversial issues on the island can also be resolved under a federal umbrella.
Conveying information to Toros regarding the recent developments related to the Cyprus problem, Nami said that it is unacceptable for the Greek Cypriot side to take unilateral initiatives and leave the negotiating table. Nami added that the most recent crisis symbolizes the gravity of the Cyprus problem and that a settlement should be reached without any further delay.
5. Ersan on the ECHR’s decision on missing persons
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (23.10.14) reports on statements by the chairman of the “association of martyrs families and war veterans” Ertan Ersan, who in written statement yesterday, condemned the decision of the European Court of Human Rights which was announced on September 23 saying that: “The legal responsibility for the investigation of missing persons, the opening of their files and the trials belongs to the Republic of Cyprus”.
Commenting on the decision, Ersan described it as unacceptable and said that with this decision, the legal struggle they had launched in 2000 has come to an end.
Ersan recalled that between May 6-9 they participated with their lawyers in a meeting of the UN’s Committee against Torture, which said in its report that it will examine the issue of the missing persons. Ersan said that this Committee is the only international platform to deal with this issue. He went on and said that the “association’s demand” is for the “government” to bring to the agenda in all international meetings and its meetings with “south Cyprus” the issue of the missing persons.
(AK)
6. Eroglu: the participation of international organizations in such games is a step for lifting the “embargoes”
Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (23.10.14) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu met with the chairman of the Global Taekwondo Federation Linda Park and the delegations representatives who visited the “TRNC” to participate in Dr Fazil Kucuk Sport Games from Turkey, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tartary, and Uzbekistan.
During a speech during the meeting, Eroglu said that he was honoured to see the delegation in the “TRNC”, adding that sports should be separated from politics. He claimed, however, that the world prevents the Turkish Cypriot youth to do sports with youth of other countries and Turkish Cypriots are still under reportedly embargoes.
Eroglu wished that the declaration of the Federation “Politics cannot intervene with sports” has been heard by the countries that imposed the “embargoes” on the “TRNC” and hoped that they are aware of their fault and change their attitude.
Eroglu said that no one has the right to prevent the youth of a country to make sports with the youth of another country. He claimed that this is totally a political obstacle and not a natural one. Eroglu said, however that the arrival of international organizations to the “TRNC” and their participation to such activities is a step to lift the reportedly embargoes.
7. The EU 2000 natura program left half-finished in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (23.10.14) reports that the EU “2000 Natura program” which is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union and was launched in 2009 in the occupied area of Cyprus as well, by the EU and the Turkish Cypriot side, has been left half-finished in the occupied area of Cyprus due to the disagreements and difficulties that exist between the Tosunoglu Construction Company which undertook the project and the EU.
According to the paper, the company, has filed a lawsuit against the EU in 2011, and won the case in 2013. After the verdict of the “court” which was in favour of the company, the company did not took the 1 million euro by the EU, which refused to pay a compensation providing as an excuse that it does not recognizes the occupation regime’s “courts”.
Speaking on the issue, the “director” of Tosunoglu Construction Company, asked for the “government’s support” in order for several buildings which are located in very important touristic places to be concluded.
The “Natura 2000 project” was planned to be implemented in the following four areas in Cyprus: Agia Eirini, Alagadi, Karpasia, and Alefka.
(AK)
8. Suicide vests and bombs seized in Turkey amid ISIL terror alarm
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 23.10.14), Turkish security forces have seized suicide vests, bombs and guns in a recent raid, after the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) warned of possible terrorist attacks by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants.
Ten AK-47 Kalashnikov rifles, 2,280 bullets, 40 hand grenades, 14 kilograms of TNT and nine suicide vests were seized during an Oct. 19 raid in the southeastern province of Gaziantep. Two men, who are suspected to have brought explosives and guns for suicide attacks from abroad, have been detained.
The findings were a result of an intelligence report that warned that ISIL had sent suicide bombers to Turkey.
The suspicions were reinforced when maps and plans for terrorist attacks were found during a raid in the central Turkish province of Konya.
Sources say ISIL chose Konya as its coordination centre for planned terror attacks not only in Konya, but also in Istanbul, Ankara and Gaziantep.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
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