10/12/14

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW C O N T E N T S



TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S


No. 231/14                                                                                        10.12.14
1.Erdogan and Davutoglu discuss Cyprus with Cameron
2.Cicek asked from Jordan support on the Cyprus issue
3. Chairman of Businesswomen’s Confederation asked the support of Muslim countries on the struggle for “TRNC” independence
4. Eroglu’s policy on the Cyprus problem was criticized
5. Sibel: Secret funds of the “presidency” can be used for lobby activities
6. CTP “deputy” participated in the Progressive Alliance Parliamentarian Conference in Lisbon
7. Ozersay called the “Turkish Cypriot authorities” to make a statement on Akkuyu issue
8. Austrian Ambassador to Nicosia visited “GAU”
9. Illegal YDU became member of ECREA and EUPRERA
10. The “law of foreigners and immigration” entered into force
11. “Livestock breeders union”: Our animals have many illnesses because the “government” does not take any measures
12. Data for lyceum graduates and university registers in the breakaway regime
13.Davutoglu: Demirtas would be responsible for every drop of blood during reconciliation process 
14. Debates over the teaching of the Ottoman language in Turkey continue; Reaction statements by CHP’ Deputies and Demirtas
15. Lithuania expressed full support to Turkey’s EU bid
16. Turkey to lift visa requirements for Polish nationals



1.Erdogan and Davutoglu discuss Cyprus with Cameron
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.12.14) reports that the Cyprus problem was on the agenda of the meetings which British Prime Minister, David Cameron held yesterday with Turkish President RecepTayyipErdogan and Prime Minister AhmetDavutoglu. During Cameron’s visit to Turkey, Erdogan hosted a two-hour working lunch for him with the participation of Foreign Minister MevlutCavusoglu.

In statements at a press conference after holding a 1.5-hour meeting with Cameron, Davutoglu said that when the leaders of Turkey and Britain meet, Cyprus is definitely one of the issues which they discuss. Responding to questions, Davutoglu noted that he briefed Cameron on his recent visit to Athens and added:

As two guarantor powers, and Greece as the third guarantor power, we have a common stance in the direction of the commencement of the peace talks on the island the soonest. The commencement of the peace talks the soonest and the settlement, through dialogue, of all problems of the island by the two sides, including the natural gas resources, as well as avoiding unilateral steps, constitutes our common point of view”. 

The Turkish Prime Minister said that Turkey and Britain have a “very deep rooted historic past” and a “very sound cooperation”, arguing that within next years this cooperation will greatly contribute to regional peace and not only to the welfare of their two peoples. Davutoglu described ISIS as a threat to the peoples of the area and the international community and underlined the need for everybody’s cooperation on this issue.

In his statements, the British Prime Minister said that during their meeting they discussed Cyprus and the pressure which Turkey is experiencing on the issue of the [Syrian] refugees. He noted that Turkey is one of the biggest donors for these refugees and added that that they should do whatever they can on this issue.  
(I/Ts.)
2.Cicek asked from Jordan support on the Cyprus issue
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (10.12.14), under the title “Cicek asked from Jordan support for Cyprus, reports that Turkish Parliament Speaker CemilCicek met with Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday.

During the meeting, which was held in Amman, Cicek said that he had very beneficial meetings during his contacts in Jordan. Referring to Jordanian-Turkish relations, he added that that they want to develop their relations more. He also noted that they should strengthen their economic relations more.

Ensour, for his part, highlighted the leading Turkish role in the regional and international political arena.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (online, 09.12.14) reports that Cicek asked from Jordan, which is a temporary member of the UN Security Council, support on the Cyprus issue.

3. Chairman of Businesswomen’s Confederation asked the support of Muslim countries on the struggle for “TRNC” independence
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (10.12.14) report that the Chairman of Turkey’s Industrialists' and Businesswomen's Confederation EmineAtasoy called the Arab countries, the Turkic countries in central Asia and the African countries to support the struggle of the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) for independence. She added: “We, as Muslim countries, should support each other”.

According to a press release issued by the Confederation, Atasoy delivered a speech in a “peace summit” in Ankara with the participation of Ambassadors in Ankara from 150 countries (Arab countries, Central Asia Turkic Republics, African and Europe countries), as well as, Turkey’s powerful civil organizations. 

4. Eroglu’s policy on the Cyprus problem was criticized
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi newspaper (10.12.14) reports that the Cyprus problem was discussed yesterday at the self-styled assembly of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, which approved the “budget” of the so-called presidential office, the “parliament” and the “court of auditors”.

Addressing the “assembly”, FerdiSabitSoyer, self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party, recalled the process prior to the National Unity Party’s (UBP) congress in 2012 and argued that the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu “designed” developments according to his plans for the 2015 “presidential elections”. Referring to the five years of Eroglu’s so-called presidency, Soyer claimed that they have never experienced a period with such explicit interferences by the Turkish Cypriot leader in the internal politics and added that such a period must never be repeated. He described the “road” followed by Eroglu both in the Cyprus talks and in the internal politics as “not being sound”.

HuseyinOzgurgun, chairman of the main “opposition” UBP, accused “prime minister” and chairman of the CTP, OzkanYorganciolu of meeting with Greek Cypriot officials who “do not recognize his title”. Referring to the Cyprus talks, Ozgurgun alleged that the process has been interrupted in spite of what he called Eroglu’s “positive stance”. Ozgurgun criticized the fact that after the interruption of the talks, Yorgancioglu met with “some Greek Cypriots” who do not recognize the “prime ministry of the TRNC”. Replying to CTP “deputy” FaziletOzdefne’s remark that Eroglu had met with the US Vice President Joe Biden who forced him το lower the flag of the “TRNC” and entered the “presidential palace” through the back door, Ozgurgun said that Biden recognizes Eroglu as the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.

HuseyinAngolemli, “deputy” with the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that President Anastasiades withdrew from the negotiations “in the face of the negative developments”.Referring tothe return of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha to its legal owners, Angolemli noted that such a provision was included in the 1977-79 High Level Agreements and added that this issue is on the agenda, but the Turkish side says that Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution. Noting that the Greek Cypriot side says that the exploitation of the hydrocarbon will be realized after the solution, Angolemli argued that both statements are made with the same aim.

Omer Kalyoncu, “deputy” with the CTP, referred to the decision of the UBP and the Democratic Party (DP) to support DervisEroglu in the forthcoming “presidential elections” and noted that after this decision these parties should not say that they want peace. He said that all parties support the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, but it is important to support them by “speaking the language which the world understands”. Recalling that Eroglu had stated that he would continue the Cyprus negotiations from the point at which his predecessor, Mehmet Ali Talat, had left them, Kalyoncu noted: “He said this, but what did he do?”

Mehmet Cakici, “deputy” with the TDP, said that Eroglu’s real intention is to not find a federal solution to the Cyprus problem and added that Eroglu continued negotiating because he could not leave the table. According to Cakici, it is not possible to say that the negotiating process is successfully administrated by Eroglu. He said that the recent five years of Eroglu’s being at the leadership of the community were lost for Turkish Cypriots.
(I/Ts.)

5. Sibel: Secret funds of the “presidency” can be used for lobby activities
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.12.14) reports that SibelSiber, “speaker” of the “assembly” and “candidate of the Republican Turkish Party for the “April 2015 presidential elections” made statements in a meeting of her party.

Siber stated that the most efforts put by lobbies in the international arena for the Turkish Cypriot side, the stronger their position would be at the negotiation table. She also stated that the secret funds of the “presidency” can be used for lobby activities and added that if she is elected she will use these funding for this purpose.

6. CTP “deputy” participated in the Progressive Alliance Parliamentarian Conference in Lisbon
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (10.12.14) reports that ArmaganCandar, “deputy” with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) participated in the Progressive Alliance Parliamentarian Conference which took place in Lisbon between 4-5 of December. 

The conference was organized by the European Parliament Socialist Group in co-operation with the Portugal Socialist Party which hosted the event.

The paper writes that Candar held contacts in the sidelines of the conference where he evaluated the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem and in the Eastern Mediterranean.

7.Ozersay called the “Turkish Cypriot authorities” to make a statement on Akkuyu issue
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi (09.1214) reported that the “presidential candidate” KudretOzersay urged the “authorities” and the related “ministries” to make a statement regarding the nuclear plant that is planned to be built in Mersin/ Akkuyu in Turkey, located only 90 km away from the northern coast of Cyprus. “Cyprus is in no condition to handle a nuclear disaster”, said Ozersay.
Speaking during a TV program aired on Channel Sim,Ozersay evaluated the news regarding the nuclear plant.
Replying to a question,Ozersay noted that there are lots of holes in this project and urged the “authorities” and especially the so-called ministry of environment and natural resources to make a statement regarding the issue.
Stressing the need for the issue to be discussed at the “government level”, Ozersay said that the “minister of environment” has not made any comment on the issue until now.
Addressing the “ministers”, Ozersay asked whether they have contacted Turkey on the issue and added:“If our country is a tourism centre, our health ministry should go directly to Turkey and communicate with them for the sake of our people’s health and food safety”. Ozersay also said that it is not clear what risks are awaiting us and what would happen in case of an accident.

8. Austrian Ambassador to Nicosia visited “GAU”
Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis (10.12.14) reports that Austrian Ambassador to Nicosia Dr Karl Mueller visited yesterday the illegal Keryneia American University (GAU). Dr Mueller visited the campus and was informed regarding the “university” and its education policies.
Self-styled vice chairman of the board of directors of “GAU” Dr AsimVehbi said that aim of Austrian Ambassador’s visit to “GAU” is to know more regarding the “university” and to take steps that will strengthen the bonds between the universities by discussing the higher education system of Austria and “TRNC” (translator’s ntoe: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus).
Dr Vehbi claimed that the interest on “GAU” increases every day, adding that until today they have academic cooperation with approximately 200 international universities. He also added that “GAU”’s international vision is for the “TRNC” to become more known and the “isolation” imposed to them lifted in academic terms.

9. Illegal YDU became member of ECREA and EUPRERA
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin newspaper (10.12.14) reports that the Communication Faculty of the illegal Near East University (YDU) was accepted as member by the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) and by the European Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA).

According to the paper, the dean of the faculty GokceKececi stated that this is one of the important steps taken by the faculty which continues the efforts for co-operation with various universities.

10. The “law of foreigners and immigration” entered into force
Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis (10.12.14) reports that the self-styled interior ministry announced that the “(amendment) law of foreigners and immigration”, which was published in the “official gazette”, has entered into force, adding that the foreigners, who live in the occupied area of Cyprus, can benefit from this “amnesty law” by paying 1,675 TL until the 8th of February 2015.
According to the “announcement”, the “law” embraces all the unregistered foreigners, who are living in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. Unregistered foreigners are the following: foreigners who are married to “TRNC citizens”; single children of the “TRNC citizens” who are older than 18 years old and are not “TRNC citizens”; mothers and/or fathers of the “TRNC citizens” who are not “TRNC citizens”; those who are married to foreigners who have the “white card”; older single children of foreigners who have a “white card”; spouses of the foreigners who are living in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus with a working or student permission; older single children of the foreigners who are living in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus with a working or student permission; students who have a registration right at the “TRNC universities” and spouses, mothers and fathers of registered students.

11.“Livestock breeders union”: Our animals have many illnesses because the “government” does not take any measures
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.12.14) reports that the finding member of the livestock breeders union in the breakaway regime CemalDarbaz, stated that the union is experiencing the worst periods in its history.

Darbaz stated that the “government” did not keep the promises given to the livestock breeders who face many financial problems. He also stated that their animals have many illnesses due to the fact that the “government” does not take any measures to protect them. He said that the animals suffer from many illnesses as Brucellosis and the “authorities” do not take any action. “They just sit there watching”, he stated.

12. Data for lyceum graduates and university registers in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (10.12.14) reports that according to data obtained by the self-styled ministry of education, 2,500 persons in the breakaway regime graduated from lyceum in the academic year 2013-2014.

According to the “ministry” 800 of these lyceum graduates were registered to universities. 

13.Davutoglu: Demirtas would be responsible for every drop of blood during reconciliation process 
Turkish Cypriot daily Sabah (09.12.14-online in English) reported that Prime Minister AhmetDavutoglu, in statements to journalists upon his return to Turkey after his trip to Poland, lambasted the Gülen Movement saying that it is in contact with certain organizations including the PKK, which took up arms against Turkey to carve out an independent Kurdish state in the southeastern region.
“We know about talks and contacts between the Gulen Movement and the [PKK]. The public also has a right to know” Davutoglu claimed.
(…)Touching on the reconciliation process between Ankara and Kurds that started with Justice and Development Party (AK Party) initiatives, Davutoglu said that the reconciliation process includes all actors in Turkey, including the government, in talks with different groups to successfully end the process.
Regarding the security package that was proposed by the government to prevent anti-democratic incidents and to strengthen Turkish security forces in line with EU norms, Davutoglu said that the security package prepared to prevent incidents such as the October 6-7 Kobani protests. He also warned Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) leader SelahattinDemirtas by saying: “Demirtas will be responsible for every [drop of] blood that may be shed from now on”, following Demirtas's statements that the HDP will prevent the security package by taking to the streets in protest if necessary.
(…)
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah (10.12.14- online in English) reported that the Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) İmralı Committee, with the exception of Istanbul Deputy SırrıSüreyyaOnder, visited the Kandil Mountains in Iraq to discuss the details of the meeting held between the committee and Deputy Prime Minister YalcınAkdogan on Monday as well as the meeting between PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan in İmralıprison on November 29 with the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK).
The committee is expected to discuss details of the 'Democratic reconciliation and negotiation draft' which was presented by PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan with the KCK. PervinBuldan, who is one of the members of the İmralı Committee and HDP's deputy chairwoman, has stated that they are visiting the Kandil Mountains to evaluate the conclusions reached at the meetings held between the committee, the government and PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan.
It was reported that the committee will be holding meetings with the government when they return from the Kandil Mountain and convey the messages of KCK's administration pertaining to the draft plan. They will be visiting Ocalan afterwards to discuss the current state of events and the situation of the reconciliation process.
(…)

14.Debates over the teaching of the Ottoman language in Turkey continue; Reaction statements by CHP’ Deputies and Demirtas
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (09.12.14) reported that the Deputy chairman of the parliamentary group of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) AkifHamzacebi, in statements during a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, said that the 19th National Education Council on Sunday should have been a platform to discuss real problems related to education in the country.
Hamzacebi said that Ottoman Turkish can be proposed as an optional subject but the issue has been distorted by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and President RecepTayyipErdogan.
The President, addressing the fifth Religion Council on Monday, apparently contradicted Prime Minister AhmetDavutoglu as Erdogan announced Ottoman Turkish would be a compulsory subject whether critics like it or not, whereas Davutoglu had said the matter is just a suggestion at the moment.
CHP Deputy chairman BurhanSenatalar said THAT the debates on Ottoman Turkish and religious education have overshadowed the chronic problems of the educational system in Turkey, such as crowded classrooms, inequalities in education, the inadequacies of libraries and laboratories, a shortage of teachers and large numbers of teachers waiting to be appointed to schools.
CHP deputy NurSerter told reporters in Parliament that the message the AK Party government wants to give with compulsory Ottoman Turkish, is that they plan to bring the Arabic alphabet back into schools as a compulsory subject despite the alphabet reform of Parliament in 1928. Serter said the suggestion of the National Education Council is a coup of the reform in 1928.
Talking to the media after the opening of the Vocational and Technical Education Quality Improvement Project (METEK) in Ankara on Tuesday, Education Minister NabiAvcı said that the debates on Ottoman Turkish should be conducted in a civilized manner. Avcı also noted that teaching Ottoman Turkish will not be easy as it is a combination of languages.
Avoiding questions by reporters on the differing views of President Erdogan and Prime Minister Davutoglu, Avcı asked the media to pay as much attention to vocational and technical education as they do with Ottoman Turkish.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (09.12.14) reported further that the Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairman SelahattinDemirtas, in an interview on Tuesday with the daily Bugun newspaper, slammed the government plans to teach the Ottoman language in compulsory classes at high schools, saying that nobody, not even the Turkish military, can force his daughter to take the course.
“It is nonsensical to make Ottoman language courses compulsory. You forced children to say the pledge of allegiance [Andımız] for years as well, but you recently stopped that. If you try to teach it [Ottoman language] by force, nobody, even your whole army, can make my daughter enter the course”, Demirtas said.
The practice of reciting the pledge of allegiance by primary and secondary school students every morning had led to resentment among the Kurdish population, as they viewed such acts in schools to be part of broader assimilation policies and ultranationalist ideology that ignore the existence of minority identities in Turkey. The practice was recently stopped by the government.
(…)

15.Lithuania expressed full support to Turkey’s EU bid
According to Turkish daily Sabah (09.12.14-online in English), the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė was on a visit to Turkey and met with President RecepTayyipErdogan on Tuesday.
Accompanied by two Ministers and a business delegation on her visit, Grybauskaitė spoke abouther country's support for Turkey's EU negotiation process.
After the meeting in which two agreements – the Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in the Field of European Integration and the Declaration on the Establishment of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission – were signed, Grybauskaitė and Erdogan held a press conference.
Indicating his satisfaction with Grybauskaitė's visit, Erdogan said that it is a sign of relations with Baltic countries moving forward, echoing the relations between the Ottoman Empire and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Pointing to the two countries' alliance in NATO and common perspective on many regional issues, Erdogan said: “Turkey was among the countries that strongly supported Lithuania's NATO membership in 2004. Contributing to NATO Baltic Air Policing mission in 2006, our country still provides personnel and financial assistance to the NATO Energy Center of Excellence settled in Vilnius. I would also like to express our satisfaction and gratitude for Lithuania's support to our EU membership process” and noted that the two agreements that were signed will render this support stronger and clearer.
Expressing her gratitude for Turkey providing a substantive and permanent support for her country, Grybauskaitė said: “It is important to agree about combatting the challenges in our region, to answer them timely," adding, "Our targets are not easy to deal with”.
Emphasizing her country's support to Turkey's euro-integration process, Grybauskaitė said: “Turkey's EU membership process is an area in which Lithuania can be helpful. ... We are always ready to share our experience”.
Last month, she praised Turkey's democratic and determined attitude by stressing that Turkey is a country that has coped with crises and security issues in its region. “Turkey should have close relations with the EU because Turkey's membership will benefit both sides”, she said.
(…)

16.Turkey to lift visa requirements for Polish nationals
Ankara Anatolia news agency (09.12.14) reported that the Turkish Prime Minister AhmetDavutoglu said on Monday that his government decided to lift visa requirements for Polish citizens, so as to boost interaction between the two nations.
In statements during a joint press conference with his Polish counterpart EwaKopacz, following the two leaders' private meeting and a working dinner in Warsaw, Davutoglu said: “In response, Prime Minister EwaKopacz promised us to increase the frequency of flights between the two countries", said Davutoglu.
He stated that his Polish counterpart also pledged full support to Turkey for Schengen visa liberalization.
“We hope that the air transportation will increase and Turkish citizens will have the chance to freely move throughout Europe with the support from Poland”, Davutoglu added.
Deputy PM NumanKurtulmus, Economy Minister NihatZeybekci and Culture and Tourism Minister Omer Celikaccompanied the Premier during the visit.


----------------------------------------------------

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION