TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 243/14 31.12.14
1.Barbaros anchors off shore of occupied Famagusta port
2. Izmir Chamber of Commerce: The production of
halloumi-hellim cheese in Turkey harms the producers in the occupied area of
Cyprus
3. Siber discussed the
hellim/halloumi cheese issue with the “KTSO”
4. An impressive protest by Elcil during the
discussions of “2015 financial year protocol”
5. New investment in occupied
Yialousa by Alarko Holding
6. An increase in passengers and
flights’ traffic at illegal Tymvou airport
7. Reaction statements over
Erdogan’s decision to chair the cabinet meeting
8. Police detained 2 Turkish
journalists for posting critical tweets against Erdogan’s advisor
9. Top judicial board suspended
four prosecutors from their post over their involvement in 2013 graft probes
1. Barbaros anchors off shore of occupied Famagusta
port
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (31.12.14) reports that the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa vessel, which had completed its seismic
research and after the NAVTEX ending, anchored off the shore of occupied
Famagusta port at 20.15 yesterday evening.
According
to the paper, no official statement was
issued whether the vessel will leave or not from the island. Meanwhile,
diplomatic sources say that many different circles are within an intense
initiative for the resumption of the Cyprus talks and next the developments
will come up with the stance of the Greek Cypriot leadership.
Kutlay
Erk, the general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces
(CTP-BG), said that these developments are positive for the negotiation
process, stressing that the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades should
return to the negotiating table. He also said that he has some doubts about the
Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. He is not sure if Eroglu will have an
efficient talk when he goes to the negotiating table, since he is a “candidate”.
On
the other hand, self-styled deputy with the National Unity Party (UBP) Faiz
Sucuoglu said that he does not know how to evaluate the situation. First, he
said that the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades should return to the
negotiating table, because there is not much time before the upcoming
“presidential elections” in April 2015. Since the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis
Eroglu is a “candidate”, the time is limited, he added.
2. Izmir Chamber of Commerce: The production of
halloumi-hellim cheese in Turkey harms the producers in the occupied area of
Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (31.12.14) reports that Ekrem
Demirtas, chairman of Izmir’s Chamber of Commerce (ITO), has said that
halloumi-hellim cheese should not be produced in Turkey and added that the
production of halloumi in Turkey harms the producers in the occupied area of
Cyprus.
In a written
statement issued by ITO, it is said that the halloumi-hellim was one of the
most important topics of Demitas’ illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus
on 22 December. Demirtas noted that the halloumi producers in the occupied area
of Cyprus are carrying out a “big struggle” to protect the name and the trade
mark of this product. He added: “As Turkey we should also support this
struggle. Producing hellim in Turkey,
printing a map of Cyprus on it and selling it causes damage to the Cypriot
producers. This is a trick. We must respect the labor of the Turkish Cypriot
hellim producers. We will offer any kind of support to the Cypriot producers,
including a legal initiative against this”.
Pointing out that
halloumi is the most famous and traditional product of Cyprus, Demirtas noted
that more than 60 firms produce halloumi in the occupied area of the island and
that 17 thousand persons earn their living from this product, starting from the
milk producers until its marketing points.
(I/Ts.)
3. Siber discussed the
hellim/halloumi cheese issue with the “KTSO”
According to illegal Bayrak television (30.12.14) the
“speaker” of the so-called assembly Sibel Siber visited the “Turkish Cypriot
Chamber of Industry” (“KTSO”) and discussed with the officials of the “chamber”
the issue of hellim/halloumi cheese.
Speaking during the meeting, Siber said that the aim of her visit was to listen to the problems
experienced by the “Chamber of Industry” and to exchange views on issues such
as the ongoing efforts to register hellim as a product with protected
designation of origin.
Expressing her desire to see developments in all
sectors of the economy, Siber said that economic development naturally raises
the quality of life in a society.
Drawing attention to the negative
effects of the “isolation” imposed on the Turkish Cypriot “people” as a result
of the non-solution on the island, Siber said that products such as hellim were
common products produced and consumed by both communities.
She said that such issues should
not be used by one community against the other for political purposes. “We saw
how the issue of hydrocarbons has sparked a crisis. All these issues are
related to confidence building measures. If the two communities respect the
fact that products like hellim are common products, then this will have a
positive impact on the negotiations to reach a settlement and building
confidence between the two peoples”, Siber said.
Also speaking, Ali Cıralı, chairman of the “KTSO:
underlined the need to increase production and services in the “TRNC” so as to
enable the “country” to stand on its own feet. “Our efforts are in this
direction and our expectation from the government and parliament is to create
an economy that can stand on its own feet”, Cirali said.
(…)Cirali also thanked Sibel for being the first
“parliamentary speaker” to take action on the hellim issue by sending letters
to both EU and UN officials, which he added had been effective, as he alleged.
4. An impressive protest by Elcil during the
discussions of “2015 financial year protocol”
Turkish Cypriot daily
Afrika newspaper (31.12.14) reports that the
discussions for the “2015 financial year protocol” started yesterday at the
“ministry of finance” with the participation of “minister” Zeren Mungan and the
trade unions of the employees of the “public sector” (KTAMS, Kamu-Sen, KTOEOS,
KTOS, Kau-Is, Kamu-Saglik, Tip-Is and the Turkish Cypriot Midwifes and Nurses
Trade Union).
In statements during
the meeting, Mungan said that their
trouble is “the very serious debts about which the governments until today have
not spoken and which they continuously cover up”. “As of June we have a debt of 12 billion Turkish liras (TL)”, he added
pointing out that 7.5 billion TL is their debt to Turkey.
He admitted: “The
country is turning into a country which can make no investments. And when it is
turned into a country which can make no investments, no possibilities for new
jobs are created, economy does not grow and because of the not growing economy,
you lose the opportunity of increasing the taxes you collect”.
Mungan noted that this is their most fundamental
problem and first they should concentrate on this. He said that
these debts should become payable and for this reason their income should be
increased.
In statements during
the meeting, Sener Elcil, general
secretary of the Turkish Cypriot teachers’ trade union (KTOS), argued that the “government” has no will
and acts upon instructions. He said that he wanted to gift to Mungan the
“underpants of the citizens”. He showed
underpants writing “the underpants of the citizens” and gave it to Mungan
saying: “You want even the underpants of the citizens. Take it and hand it over
to the AKP government”.
Mungan did not accept
Elcil’s package.
(I/Ts.)
5. New investment in occupied
Yialousa by Alarko Holding
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (31.12.14)
reports that Alarko Holding will make a
100 million dollar investment in occupied Yialousa village.
According to statements of Alarko Holding’sCEO Ayhan
Yavrucu, the project is still under
development, but the plan is to build a hotel unit in occupied Yialousa at a “magnificent
coast”, as he stated. The hotel is going to cost between 80-100 million dollars
and its first phase is expected to be completed in 2016.
6. An increase in passengers
and flights’ traffic at illegal Tymvou airport
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (31.12.14)
reports that Serhat Ozcelik, the general manager of “TT Airport business
administration construction businesses and trade firm Ltd”, which is the firm
that administrates the illegal Tymvou airport, gave information about the
passengers and airplanes traffic for 2014 at the illegal Tymvou airport.
Ozcelik stated that there was an increase
in traffic compared to last year, since in 2013 the illegal airport served
2,000,932 passengers and in 2014 it served 3,210,000 passengers. In addition,
in 2013, 21,481 flights were conducted while in 2014, 25,000 flights were
conducted. As he said there was a 15% increase in the flights’ traffic and 10%
increase in the number of passengers served. He also stated that there was an
8% increase of charter flights compared to previous years.
7.Reaction statements over
Erdogan’s decision to chair the cabinet meeting
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(30.12.14) the opposition parties have
maintained that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to chair a meeting of
the cabinet, is a striking reflection of his ambition for one-man rule, as much
as it is a result of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s inability to fulfill the
requirements of his post.
In statements on the issue, the main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy ChairmanHaluk Koc said that an initial process in which Erdogan is partially
taking over Davutoglu’s duties and authority has begun and added that
afterwards this practice will become permanent. “That is to say: a position
called ‘Prime President Minister’ is being invented in Turkey,” Koc said.
Supporting that the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) has turned out to be the state party and its key players have already
engaged in a power game,
Koc called on Davutoglu to use his weight as the Prime Minister and to not turn
into a remote-control Premier. “You are now an impotent element. You just have
your name. You have no effect or duty. These were all taken”, Koc added.
Criticizing Erdogan for violating the Constitution and
the principle of separation of powers, the CHP spokesperson said: “Does the
Constitution tell him to grab the powers of the elected Prime Minister, or does
it tell him to remove justice and abolish the media freedom? What does the
Constitution say to you? You are not implementing what the Constitution says;
you are disregarding it.”
Deputy leader of the Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) Sefkat Cetin in a written statement argued that Erdogan
will grab the government’s power by chairing the cabinet. “Erdogan is putting his intention to install
the de facto presidential system in place by chairing the cabinet meeting,” he stated. “The
Republic of Turkey is neither Erdogan’s nor Davutoglu’s company. They have no
luxury in handing over the powers given to them. The government will enter into
the presidential tutelage if Erdogan chairs the meeting”, Cetin said.
Also, Ertugrul Kurkgu, Mersin Deputy from the People’s
Democracy Party (HDP) slammed Erdogan’s move to hold the cabinet under his
chairmanship. Recalling that there was no extraordinary situation in the
country for which Erdogan could convene the cabinet, Kurkcu said that this
extraordinary situation was surely existent within the ruling party.
Kurkcu stressed that this power given to the President
was even not used by former President Kenan Evren, who perpetrated the infamous
1980 coup d’état.
Also speaking, Deputy
Prime Minister Bulent Arınc following a loud and clear announcement by
President Erdogan said: “I believe that a special importance will be attached
to this meeting by the Council of Ministers, by public opinion and by the
nation. No doubt, this meeting can be held,” Arınc said, while speaking at a
press conference after a cabinet meeting.
“Indeed, we find holding a
meeting of the Council of Ministers as chaired by Mr President appropriate, in
line with this provision of the Constitution,” Arınc said, referring to Article 104 of the Constitution, which
outlines the duties and powers of the President and which is the basis for Erdogan’s
argument and the justification for his intention. “Among the duties and powers
relating to executive functions, the Constitution lists ‘presiding over the
Council of Ministers or calling the Council of Ministers to meet under his or
her chairmanship whenever he or she deems necessary”, Arinc added.
“We hope to get
the use of this [meeting]”, Arınç said, as he emphasized that Erdogan and
Davutoglu have “made the decision together” to hold the January 19 meeting
under Erdogan’s presidency.
(…)
8.Police detained 2 Turkish
journalists for posting critical tweets against Erdogan’s advisor
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (30.12.14) reported that
the journalist and television presenter Sedef Kabas and a prominent journalist
Mehmet Baransu were detained on Tuesday over critical tweets.
Kabas had criticized prosecutors for dropping a
December 17 corruption and bribery investigation that implicated various
high-raking state officials and Baransu had made critical comments on Twitter
about an advisor of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Turkish media reported on Tuesday that the police
detained Kabas after searching her home and seizing her computer.
According to the reports, the prosecutors who dropped corruption
and bribery charges against 53 suspects -- charges that forced four government
ministers to step down following the exposure of a graft probe that shook the
entire country when it went public on December 17 of last year -- filed a
criminal complaint against Kabas over her tweet.
Police raided Kabas's home early on Tuesday upon a
complaint by the prosecutors and detained her after a search of the house.
Speaking to the Radikal daily following her detention,
Kabas stated that she was detained and her home was raided on charges of
“targeting individuals involved in the fight against terrorism.” Kabas said
that her iPad, computer and mobile phone were confiscated by the police
officers who searched her home.
Posting successive tweets on Kabas's detention and the
search conducted at her home, lawyer Celal Ulgen wrote that Twitter does not
share its Twitter users' IP addresses or details about users' identities with
Turkish police or intelligence, adding: “This is why the IT crime units found
another way to deal with Twitter users. They issue search warrants against
those who post tweets and they confiscate their computers and they conduct an
investigation over the evidence [found on the computer]. If the tweet that is
regarded as a crime is not posted via that confiscated computer, there is
nothing they can do”.
Journalist Baransu was also detained early Tuesday
morning over a tweet he posted critical of Erdogan's advisor Mustafa Varank.
Baransu was released pending trial after his testimony at the court that same
day.
Speaking with Today's Zaman, Baransu said that he was
detained after Varank filed a complaint against him over his tweet.
(…)
9. Top judicial board
suspended four prosecutors from their post over their involvement in 2013 graft
probes
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(30.12.14) Turkey’s highest judicial
board has suspended four prosecutors who were all involved in now-dropped graft
investigations last December pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.
Ruling that their remaining in
office would “harm the clout and reputation of the judicial power,” the 2nd
Chamber of the Supreme Judges and Prosecutors Board (HSYK) decided to suspend
Zekeriya Iz, Celal Kara, Muammer Akkas and Mehmet Yuzgec on December 30.
In May, the 3rd Chamber of the HSYK gave the green
light for the prosecution of Oz, Kara, Akkas and Yuzgec. Subsequently, the
decision to open an investigation obtained the final approval of Justice
Minister Bekir Bozdag. At the time, the Chamber also asked for the suspension
of the four from their duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
Upon the completion of the investigation, a decision
will be made on whether the prosecutors will be dismissed from their profession.
Speaking to reporters following the release of the
decision, the head of the Second Chamber, Mehmet Yılmaz, said the five members
of the Chamber voted in favor of suspension, while two members objected.
Yılmaz recalled that Article 77 of the Law on the HSYK
stipulates that the board may suspend a judge or prosecutor, who is being
investigated, as “a temporary caution”, if it maintains that the continuation
of his or her presence in office would harm the clout and reputation of the
judicial power. In this case, the investigation has been completed, meaning the
soundness of the investigation is not in question, but there is still “harm to
the clout and reputation of the judicial power”, Yılmaz said.
“Our decision was made because the prosecutors didn’t
conduct the appropriate legal operations and didn’t conduct impartial
investigations that were also not in line with the Code on Criminal Procedure
[CMK],” Yılmaz told daily Hurriyet.
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