TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 206/14 05.11.14
1. Eroglu: “The removal of Turkish research vessels from the area is out of the question”
2. Sibel: “Immovable Property Commission refutes the Greek Cypriot propaganda"
3. Akinci: “The approach observed for the Varosha issue is reflected on the Republic of Cyprus through the natural gas issue”
4. Ozersay explained his proposal regarding the f enced off town of Varosha
5. Cavusoglu and Kerry discussed Cyprus
6. TDP to support Mustafa Akıncı
7. The management of the water to be transferred from Turkey continues to stir problems in the breakaway regime
8. Iran’s “honorary attaché” to the breakaway regime stated that the breakaway regime could be an important market for Iran.
9. Bozkir: “Turkey may suspend customs deal with EU”
10. Bahceli: Gov’t paving way for independent Kurdistan
11. A new party under the name “Democratic Development Party” was established in Turkey
12. Turkish columnist writes that Obama’s stance on ISIL is likely to change following the Nov. 4 midterm elections in the U.S. and argues that this affects Turkey
1. Eroglu: “The removal of Turkish research vessels from the area is out of the question”
Illegal Bayrak television (05.11.14) broadcast that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu gave an exclusive interview to Turkey’s NTV news channel and stated that the removal of the Turkish research vessels from the area is out of the question and that the research vessels are carrying out activities on behalf of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.
Touching upon the counter activities that the Greek Cypriot side is taking, he said that the Greek Cypriot side “should have acted wisely”. “The Greek Cypriots left the table and therefore they should return without any preconditions”, he stated.
2. Sibel: Immovable Property Commission refutes the Greek Cypriot propaganda"
Turkish Cypriot daily Kıbrıs Postası (05.11.14) reports that self-styled parliamentary speaker and Republican Turkish Party “presidential candidate” Sibel Siber alleged that “the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) which foresees compensation, returning and swapping property is conducting an important duty by providing a bi-zonal basis for a future solution”.
“The Greek Cypriot propaganda saying that one day everyone will return to their homes is also refuted by the IPC”, she alleged. According to Siber the Commission is very significant for the solution and could provide dynamism as regards the property issue “as the property is one of the major elements of the Cyprus problem”. Siber was speaking during her meeting with the head of “IPC” Gungor Gurkan which took place this morning.
Speaking during the meeting Gurkan said that as of today there are 6007 applications tabled to the “Commission” and out of all the applications more than 500 of they have been finalized. According to Gurkan 150 applications were withdrew. Gurkan also added that a decision regarding several applications was “returning the property after a solution”.
3. Akinci: “The approach observed for the Varosha issue is reflected on the Republic of Cyprus through the natural gas issue”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kıbrıs Postası (05.11.14) reports that the “presidential” candidate Mustafa Akıncı commented on the decision of the Greek Cypriot side to withdraw from the negotiation table and said that the reason for this decision was the Turkish Navtex. “Turkey does not want to swallow their word, they will do all they can during the Navtex period. After the 31st of December a new Navtex will not be issued and Anastasiades will then accept the return to the negotiations. But I do not know when this would take place. The most realistic scenario that I can think of is this one”, he stated.
Akıncı also evaluated Kudret Ozersay's statement that Varosha should open under the control of the Turkish Cypriots, noting that the statement was not a realistic one, but one dictated by the “elections”. “If this could have been done it would have actualized in the last 40 years”, he stated. Akıncı noted that in 1993 it was determined that Varosha would be opened under the control of the UN within the framework of Confidence Building Measures, adding that Ozersay’s suggestions was not viable even then.
Akıncı stated that the approach observed for the Varosha issue is reflected on the Republic of Cyprus through the natural gas issue. Akıncı criticized Anastasiades’ approach, saying” “You cannot just say let’s wait to speak after the unified solution. This attitude has to change”, he stated.
4. Ozersay explained his proposal regarding the fenced off town of Varosha
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (05.11.14) reports that the “candidate” for the upcoming “presidential elections” Kudret Ozersay issued a statement with 14 points evaluating the comments, criticisms and proposals regarding his proposal for the opening of the fenced off town of Varosha by returning to its lawful owners under a Turkish Cypriot “administration”.
Here are some of the points that Ozersay explains regarding his proposal:
1- For those who say that this proposal means turkification of Varosha. It means that the military status of the area will be lifted and the area will be under the control of the Turkish Cypriots.
2- For those who say that this proposal is not confidence building but rather confidence destructive, and the Greek Cypriots cannot come to live under the Turkish control, Ozersay said that it is not true. He added that the most important criticism of the establishment of the “immovable property commission” was that the “Greek Cypriots will not apply”, but despite all the obstacles of the “Greek Cypriot administration” enough Greek Cypriots came and applied. Some of them took compensation; some have taken back their property. Even an article of Aysu Basri Akter published two years ago, quotes Lordos saying: “I am ready to return to Varosha even under Turkish Cypriot administration…”
3- Another argument in this way is: With this proposal we take the territory sovereignty in exchange for the return of property to the people. Ozersay said that this is a deceptive comment. They will start to perform a civil authority in a region where the army carried authority and the “municipality” will start to give services there. According to the “law of the Turkish Civil Code”, Varosha is not in their sovereignty area, but because it is a military area, the return is out of the scope. This is what will change. When Varosha comes out from the military area, then a return decision can be taken regarding the properties inside the fenced off town of Varosha.
4- Another criticism is based on the UN Resolution: “The UN Resolution 550 says that only inhabitants of Varosha can settle in Varosha and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations; for this reason it cannot be opened under the Turkish Cypriot administration”. Ozersay said that if you read careful the 550 Resolution, it says “considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible”. Ozersay said that the UN Resolution forbids the settlement of any inhabitants than the lawful owners and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations, adding that the opening of Varosha to its former inhabitants under the Turkish Cypriot administration and the return of their properties “creates a situation which abolishes in an important extension the violation” as described in the UN Resolution.
5- For those who say that this proposal is a proposal of the “election campaign”, Ozersay replied that this proposal is a product of a work prepared by them two years ago, it was in the agenda then. Ozersay said that it was reported on NTV (16 September 2013) last year that he visited secretly Varosha to make inspections and explained to various TV programs his positions then. He noted that he said that the opening of the fenced off town of Varosha is part of the comprehensive solution as long as the Cyprus talks continues, but in his opinion, when there is no negotiations, Varosha can be opened to its lawful owners under Turkish Cypriot administration.
9- For those who wonder why Varosha does not open under the UN control according to the UN Resolution, Ozersay said that this proposal was discussed a lot in the past and they could not reach a result. In addition to this, they should think in the long term, if there is not a comprehensive solution, then the lawful owners, who will be settled in the fenced off town of Varosha, should have the possibility to participate in a town committee parallel to the Famagusta municipality.
5. Cavusoglu and Kerry discussed Cyprus
Illegal Bayrak (05.11.14) broadcast that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu during his telephone conversation with the US Secretary of State John Kerry stated that a solution in Cyprus should be based on the joint declaration signed by the leaders on the 11th of February 2014.
Cavusoglu also said that Turkey is constructively supporting the restart of the negotiations in Cyprus.
During the telephone conversation which was realized upon a request by Kerry, the two men evaluated the latest developments in Syria and discussed ways of fighting with common threats in the region.
It’s been reported that the Cyprus problem was also taken up during the conversation and that the two men exchanged views on the Cyprus negotiations process.
“Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu stressed Turkey’s constructive support for the restart of the Cyprus negotiations and the need for reaching a mutual consensus which will be based on the joint declaration signed by the two leaders on the 11th of February 2014, in order to reach a just, permanent and comprehensive solution which will be based on the political equality of the two sides”, Bayrak reported.
6. TDP to support Mustafa Akıncı
Illegal Bayrak (04.11.14) broadcast that the Social Democratic Party’s assembly has decided to support independent “candidate” Mustafa Akıncı during the “presidential elections” next year.
The decision was taken during last night’s party assembly meeting that was held under the leadership of the TDP leader Cemal Ozyigit.
7. The management of the water to be transferred from Turkey continues to stir problems in the breakaway regime
Illegal Bayrak television (04.11.14) broadcast that the project which foresees water being transferred via underwater pipelines from Turkey to the breakaway regime is continuing at full speed.
The self-styled minister for environment and natural resources Hakan Dincyurek announced that the water will be managed by a “Supreme Board” that will be established within the “Effective Water Management Regulation”.
8. Iran’s “honorary attaché” to the breakaway regime stated that the breakaway regime could be an important market for Iran.
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (05.11.14) reports that Iran’s “honorary attaché” to the breakaway regime Karim Khosravian stated that the breakaway regime could be an important market for Iran.
Khosravian who has made many investments in the education and health sectors in Iran, stated in an interview to the Financial Asia newspaper which is published in Persian and English, that “embargoes on north Cyprus can prevent the trade between countries”. “If important issues such as investments are managed in the right way in a country, then we can find the way to work around embargoes and find opportunities” he said.
He also stated that there are many economic and commercial opportunities in the occupied area of Cyprus and added: “For example we can use the banking system in north Cyprus for the benefit of Iran. As a representative of north Cyprus, I think that there is an appropriate environment for investments,” he said. Khosravian also noted that products of Iran can be traded to other countries through the breakaway regime. Upon a question on what kind of commercial opportunities are present, Khosravian said that the commercial potential in petrol, gas, agriculture and industry are high.
9. Bozkir: “Turkey may suspend customs deal with EU”
Turkish daily Sabah (05.11.14) reports that Turkey's EU Minister Volkan Bozkır stated that Turkey may freeze its customs union deal with the EU if the planned trade deal between the US and EU does not cover all Customs Union members, including Turkey, said the EU Affairs Minister
“The planned trade deal between the U.S. and EU may cost $3 billion to Turkey. We cannot give the advantages of the Customs Union deal to all countries with which the EU signs such agreements, even if there is not any legal framework,” he said during his two-day Oslo visit. “Norway also made a special economic deal with the EU even though it is not a member. The planned TTIP will also have a negative impact on Norway,” he said. ‘We just want one additional article’.
Bozkır noted that the Customs Deal was now brought to a new stage in accordance with the latest World Bank reports so as to cover services, agricultural and public sectors. “However, Turkey may need to suspend the deal if Turkey is not protected,” he noted.
10. Bahceli: Gov’t paving way for independent Kurdistan
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (05.11.14) reports that Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli stated that the promotion of the Kurdish fighters for their battle against jihadists in the Syrian border town of Kobane is actually meant to lay the ground for the establishment of an independent Kurdistan, accusing the government of "treason."
“The AKP is lending weaponry and logistical support to the two-headed snake, the PYD-PKK,” he said hammering the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for its consent to the use of Turkish territory by the Peshmerga in order to cross into Kobane with arms and ammunition.
“The AKP is stabbing Turkey,” Bahceli said, addressing his party’s parliamentary group. “Opening a corridor from Suruc to Ayn al-Arab connected the north of Iraq and the north of Syria. The battle, which is supported and polished by the Western public, of the Democratic Union Party [PYD], the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party [PKK] and the Peshmerga against the Islamic State of Levant and the Iraq [ISIL], will let them fasten themselves next to our borders. Afterwards it will pave the way for miniature separatist states, and as conditions mature Kurdistan will surface.”
11. A new party under the name “Democratic Development Party” was established in Turkey
Turkish daily Vatan newspaper (05.11.14) reports that Idris Bal, an independent Deputy in Turkey established a new party under the name “Democratic Development Party”.
Idris was a member of the Justice and Development party (AKP) but resigned a few months ago.
12. Turkish columnist writes that Obama’s stance on ISIL is likely to change following the Nov. 4 midterm elections in the U.S. and argues that this affects Turkey
Under the title “Obama cannot risk Turkey and Erdogan knows that”, Murat Yetkin publishes the following article in Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (05.11.14):
“The stance of the Barack Obama administration regarding Syria, Iraq and the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) is likely to change following the Nov. 4 midterm elections in the U.S. Under pressure from the Republicans, Obama might be forced to take a more active military stance in the greater Middle East. It is hard to tell from today whether that will go as far as “boots on the ground,” but keeping in mind distant memories of the Iran-hostages crisis fiasco over 30 years ago under Jimmy Carter and under similar circumstances, there is reason to be worried. Now the stage is not Iran, but Iraq, and perhaps Syria.
[…]
Turkey is sandwiched between two theaters of that small-scale Cold War: Ukraine in the north and Syria in the south. Plus, there is the Kurdish issue and the situation’s negative effects on the Turkish government’s dialogue initiative with the PKK in pursuit of a political settlement. On top of all this, Turkey has borders with both Syria and Iraq totaling nearly 1,300 kilometers.
[…]
It is true that there are a number of discrepancies between President Tayyip Erdogan and President Obama and there are endless U.S. press reports about how Erdogan runs the country in an increasingly single-handed manner […]However, it is not likely that Obama can risk sacrificing the military support from Turkey for his regional projects; and Erdogan is making his moves in full knowledge of that.”
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