TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 235/14 16.12.14
1. Cavusoglu: We are defending
Turkish Cypriots’ rights over Cyprus’ natural gas deposits
2. Nami: Granting the Turkish
Cypriots 30 million euro per year is a kind of lifting their “isolations”
3. Talat: Eroglu did nothing for
the solution of the Cyprus problem during the past five years
4. Akinci: Let Varosha become a
place for the young people earning their living
5. DogusDerya: There is no difference
between the nationalist language between the two sides in Cyprus
6. European Parliamentarian calls
Akkuyu nuclear plant project an insane and dangerous project
7. Cakici regretted having Solmaz
as their TDP “candidate” in the past “general elections”
8. One hundred fifty three
animals were slaughtered in occupied Karpasia because they contracted Lumpy
Skin Disease
9. Erdogan slams EU criticism of
media, police crackdown
10. Mogherini is 'very surprised'
at Erdogan’s comments on detentions
11. Four more freed in Turkish
'parallel state' operation
12. Turkish columnists on the
detention of journalists in Turkey
13. Jews are ‘leaving Turkey due
to safety concerns’
1. Cavusoglu: We are defending Turkish Cypriots’ rights over
Cyprus’ natural gas deposits
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 15.12.14), Turkey’s Foreign Minister
Mevlut Cavusoglu claimed that the Cyprus negotiations process that began on the
11th of February has unfortunately come to a halt due to the Greek Cypriot side
leaving the table.
In a
statement during the 2015 budget discussions at the Turkish Grand National
Assembly, Cavusoglu alleged that the Greek Cypriot side that is carrying out
unilateral seismic research activities in the Eastern Mediterranean had shown
the appearance of the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa vessel as an excuse to leave the
talks.
“Everyone
is aware of the fact that the Turkish Cypriots have rights over the natural gas
and petrol resources surrounding the island and we are also defending this. The
Greek Cypriots are not denying this fact but to continue unilateral exploration
efforts is to ignore the Turkish Cypriots peoples’ rights”, claimed Cavusoglu.
He
continued stating that Turkey will always protect the rights of the Turkish
Cypriot “people” and added that some workings were taking place with Greece to
guarantee the protection of the Turkish Cypriot “peoples’ rights”.
2. Nami: Granting the Turkish Cypriots
30 million euro per year is a kind of lifting their “isolations”
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (16.12.14) reports that OzdilNami, self-styled foreign minister
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged that they have to fight with
various “statuses” on the issue of lifting the so-called isolations allegedly
implemented on the Turkish Cypriots and said that granting the Turkish Cypriots 30 million euro for seven years
has become fixed and “this is tantamount to a kind of lifting the
isolations”.
Addressing the “assembly” of the regime yesterday, Nami noted that they
have made some innovations on the issue of their lobbying activities. He added
that some improvements have been made
and will continue within the Green Line and Financial Aid Regulations. He said
that they have undertaken some initiatives for selling processed food products
to the government-controlled area of Cyprus.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, Nami noted that the stagnancy, which is
experienced today, will be overcome and argued that solving the problem is possible in case the sides remain faithful to
the convergences of the past and concentrate on the unsolved issues.
Moreover, Nami said that they have undertaken some initiatives for
involving the Turkish Cypriots living abroad more actively [in the Cyprus
problem] and that they are continuing their work on the issue of their
“representation offices”.
Nami said also that his “ministry” held
contacts with the World Bank and the European Development Bank asking for the
breakaway regime to use money granted to Cyprus.He added that they will soon
have the results of this initiative.
(I/Ts.)
3. Talat: Eroglu did nothing for the
solution of the Cyprus problem during the past five years
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (16.12.14) reports that
former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet
Ali Talat has accused Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu of doing nothing for
the solution of the Cyprus problem during the past five years. In
statements to Ada television yesterday, Talat referred to the issue of
expropriation of Turkish Cypriot property in the government-controlled area in
the Republic of Cyprus and said: “We are
not innocent on the expropriation issue. We give title deeds to the people”.
Referring to Eroglu’s stance in the negotiations, Talat argued: “The approach that the Greek Cypriot side
wants many places is not a very correct one. It has been said that some places
have spiritual and cultural importance for the Greek Cypriot people. During the
negotiations they have not exhibited an approach officially saying ‘we want
these places’. This is a fiction of the supporters of Eroglu, who is the leader
of the non-solution, aiming at distancing the Turks of Cyprus from the
solution. MrEroglu closed his eyes to this or he supported it. Thus, a
situation which is not true has been created. The Greek Cypriots did not ask
for these places”.
Talat added that absolutely no progress was achieved during Eroglu’s
term and argued that Eroglu will be defeated in the first round of the
“elections”. “The Turkish Cypriots’ duty is to say good bye to Eroglu, because
there is nothing left for MrEroglu to give to this community”, said Talat and
added: “MrEroglu achieved to pass five years with the non-solution. There has
been absolutely no progress. Very well, will this last forever? I do not think
that it will. In the end, the international conditions are changing. […] I am
not talking only about the Cyprus problem. There is absolutely nothing he can
give in any issue. Therefore, the Turkish Cypriots must first of all get rid of
Eroglu. […]”
Talat argued that the strongest candidate is SibelSiber because she has
a party such as the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) to support her. He noted
that he could not support a candidate who has no vision for the solution of the
Cyprus problem and added that Siber’s
team, which is ready from now, will have “very experienced staff with a vision
for the solution”.
(I/Ts.)
4. Akinci: Let Varosha become a place
for the young people earning their living
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (16.12.14) reports that Mustafa Akinci, independent candidate
for the “presidential elections” in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, has said that his target is to
work for a solution in which both sides will gain, adding that the reasonable
way in Cyprus is to reach an agreement. In statements during visiting some
occupied villages the day before yesterday, Akinci noted: “I am not saying that
I will solve the Cyprus problem in three months, but the natural gas in the sea of the island and the economic crisis in
south Cyprus [Translator’s note: This is how he called the
government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus] have created an opportunity for a solution”.
Akinci argued that Turkey constitutes a 75 million market for “south
Cyprus”, which is in economic crisis, both in the field of tourism and in
trade. He noted that carrying natural
gas to Europe through Turkey will be cheaper and at the same time it will be to
the benefit of all countries in the area, including Turkey and Greece. “The
wise thing to do is to share the wealth which the natural gas will bring, not
to fight”, he added.
Referring to the return of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha to
its legal owners,Akinci said that
opening Varosha under UN control would be to the benefit of both communities.
He said: “Let us open it so that to
become a new place for young people from both communities earning their living.
Let it benefit both sides, let the building contractors of both sides carry out
common projects here, let the kingdom of the snakes and the rats end”.
(I/Ts.)
5. DogusDerya: There is no difference
between the nationalist language between the two sides in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (06.12.14) reports that DogusDerya “deputy” with the Republican
Turkish Party (CTP) stated during the “budget discussion” in the
self-styled assembly, that there is no difference between the rhetoric of the
Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot nationalists. “Fascism is similar to
fascism”, she stated.
She went on and stated that some
events are silenced in the “official history” adding that the history was
created for the benefit of those who wanted to administrate the “country”.
She went on and added that the losers of the Cyprus problem are not only the
Turkish Cypriots but the Greek Cypriots, the Armenians and the Maronites of
Cyprus as well. “The church set abortion
free for the first time in 1974 because of the many women that were raped at
the time”, she stated. She went on and added that the concept of a federal
solution stands against chauvinism while the nationalist rhetoric can bring
war.
The paper, also writes that Zorlu
Tore, “deputy” with the National Unity Party (UBP) reacted against Derya’s statements claiming that the “rape allegations”
made by the Greek Cypriot side are not true. “It cannot be accepted to
declare that the Turkish army raped women in Cyprus”, Torlu alleged.
6. European Parliamentarian calls
Akkuyu nuclear plant project an insane and dangerous project
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper
(16.12.14) reports that Rebecca Harms,
Co-President of the Greens / EFA group stated that the establishment of the
Akkuyu nuclear plant project in Turkey is an insane and dangerous project.
Harms stated that this is an insane project from the
financial point of view as well and added that the Republic of Cyprus, as an EU member must protect its rights
legally.
She said that Turkey is a country that could easilly
use alternative energy sources adding that this solution will not solve
Turkey’s energy problems. She also said that the Akkuyu nuclear plant project
would put the ecosystem into a great danger, as well as all the neighbouring
countries.
7. Cakici regretted having Solmaz as their TDP “candidate” in
the past “general elections”
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 15.12.14), the
self-styled deputy with the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Mehmet Cakici,
speaking about the leader of the newly
established National Justice Party (UAP) and one time “candidate” for the TDP
party from occupied Famagusta for the past “general elections”, FatmaSolmaz,
said that if he had seen her Facebook page earlier, he would not have made her
a candidate; this was an error on their part.
Speaking on
a programme on Turkish Cypriot private channel Genc TV, Cakici spoke out against UAP leader FatmaSolmaz by saying that he did
not share any of her political views.
At the
time, Solmaz was reported as having Turkish ruling AKP party relations and
common views. Cakici said that this was the first time he had encountered
something like this, having been in politics for the past 10 years. He
explained that at the time they believed her to be a person of good standing.
“This was one of the reasons our party fell apart; I wish we had investigated
more thoroughly”, he added.
8. One hundred fifty three animals were
slaughtered in occupied Karpasia because they contracted Lumpy Skin Disease
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (16.12.14) reports that 153 animals were slaughtered in occupied
Karpasia because they contracted the contagious Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
According to the paper, the biggest numbers of sick animals are in
occupied AgiaTriada and in occupied Yiallousa village.
9. Erdogan slams EU criticism of media, police crackdown
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.12.14), Turkey’s
President RecepTayyip Erdogan has slammed the European Union for its
“impetuous” criticism of an ongoing operation which has seen the arrests of
high-profile media members and police officers in Turkey.
An
operation was launched Sunday in Istanbul and other provinces against people
suspected of being affiliated with what the Turkish government describes as the
"parallel state," an alleged group of bureaucrats embedded in the
country's institutions, including the judiciary and the police.
Speaking in
Kocaeli at the inauguration ceremony of a new refinery facility by the Turkish
Petroleum Refineries Corporation, known as the TUPRAS, on Monday, Erdogan said the EU had no authority to
meddle in the internal affairs of Turkey, in response to criticism from
European leaders. "No one has authority to meddle into the steps taken by
the Turkish security. The EU should keep its opinions to itself," the
President said.
Erdogan
responded to comments by Federica Mogherini, the European Commission’s High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European
Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, who described Sunday’s police
crackdown in Turkey as going against European values.
Referring
to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, Erdogan said: "They should look
at their own double standards in failing to punish members of terrorist groups
like the PKK."
He also
criticized Germany for its alleged failure to conclude cases against PKK
members in the country.
Erdogan
also reminded the EU for its failure in extraditing FehriyeErdal, the alleged
murderer of Turkish businessman OzdemirSabancı in 1996. Erdal is a member of
Turkey's outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front. "Those
who seek to return the old Turkey are taking their answers. The violence and
treason will not be left unanswered," Erdogan said.
Later, at
another event in Kocaeli, Erdogan accused EkremDumanli, the editor-in-chief of
Turkey’s Zaman daily, who is among the detainees, of "showing off."
The President
said that the fact that the Zaman daily claimed it knew about the Sunday police
operation beforehand goes to show that they were, in fact, part of an illegal
organization. "They said they were informed about the operation before it
started. They started waiting at the building of their newspapers, with the
hope that they would avoid detention there. They are well aware of the scope of
their treason; that's why they are showing off," he said.
On the same
issue, A.A. (15.12.14) reports that Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister BulentArinc has said that the recent operation in
Istanbul against the "parallel state" was not a political move but
part of a judicial process that followed a complaint filed against the Gulen
movement in 2011.
"It is
not about the executive power but about the judiciary. The use of security
forces is not political but a matter of the judicial process," he told the
press at the Prime Ministry Office following Monday's Council of Ministers'
meeting in capital Ankara.
Furthermore,
A.A. (15.12.14) reports that Turkey's EU Minister, VolkanBozkir, explained
Sunday's police crackdown on senior media figures and police officers in 13
cities across Turkey to EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn in a phone
conversation late Monday.
"Minister
Bozkir mentioned to his counterpart that the judicial process was still
ongoing, that the executive was not involved in this process in accordance with
the principle of the separation of powers," a statement from the Turkish
EU Ministry said.
"Turkey
is a country which observes the rule of law," Bozkir told Mr. Hahn
according to the statement. “Everyone should respect the independence and
impartiality of the judiciary."
"Bozkir
also stated that the detained persons were not investigated because of their
written or oral expressions and also that the freedom of press in Turkey cannot
be harmed," said the statement.
10. Mogherini is 'very surprised' at Erdogan’s comments on
detentions
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 16.12.14), EU Foreign Policy
Chief Federica Mogherini said on Dec. 15 that she was "surprised"
after Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan lashed out at Brussels for
criticising mass detentions targeting media.
"I've seen the reaction from President Erdogan and I'm very
surprised," said Mogherini, pointing out that Erdogan's call for the EU to
"mind its own business" came just a week after she visited Turkey for
talks with him.
Mogherini
said she and her EU colleagues had then had "very constructive" talks
with Erdogan and both sides had understood there was a "chance for a new
start" with a new executive in Brussels and a new government in Ankara.
Members of
the government, she said, even pointed out that Turkish efforts to join the EU
were not so much about economic interests but about the values of democracy and
the rule of law. "I believe it is
in the Turkish interest to be consistent with this commitment," she
added.
"There
is this will to work on this new start otherwise we would not have paid this
visit," she said. "The idea was and still is that of working in a
consistent and coherent way on the EU accession," Mogherini said.
Meanwhile,
the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, told the legislative
body in the French city of Strasbourg that "they are worried" about a
development that "carries a danger". He added: "One has to be
able to present arguments and counter-arguments in freedom without being
intimidated and without the risk of being jailed when one is a
journalist."
Schulz
concluded: "We are going to observe with great concern what is happening
in Turkey".
11. Four more freed in Turkish 'parallel state' operation
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.12.14), Turkish police late Monday freed
four more suspects from the 29 initially detained in an operation against local
media figures and police officials in 13 provinces across the country,
officials have said.
Producer
SalihAsan along with director EnginKoc, and scriptwriters HikmetTombulca and
SamimNoyan have been released. This has brought the number of the suspects
released to eleven. The remaining 18 are still under investigation.
Earlier in
the day, ElifYilmaz, EbruSenvardar and NaciCelikBerksoy, who worked on a TV
series known as "One Turkey" which broadcasts on Samanyolu, were also
released.
In
addition, HuseyinGulerce, a former columnist of daily Zaman, which is allegedly
linked to U.S.-based preacher FethullahGulen, was freed after three hours of
questioning, according to security officials.
All those
detained are allegedly linked with Gulen and his so-called Gulen movement. The
Zaman daily is also allegedly close to the same movement.
Istanbul
Chief Public Prosecutor HadiSalihoglu said Sunday he had ordered the detention
of 31 suspects on charges of forgery, fabricating evidence and forming a crime
syndicate to overtake the sovereignty of the state.
12. Turkish columnists on the detention of journalists in
Turkey
Columnist
MumtazerTurkone, writing in Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 15.12.14),
under the title “How long can Erdoğan suppress the opposition?”, criticizes the
fact that local media in Turkey did not report on raids against the media. He
reports, inter alia, the following: “(…) The
lack of press freedom in Turkey was evidenced not only by journalists being
detained under this operation that intends to silence opposition, but also by
the silence of other newspapers regarding it. In front of the police
department, there were live broadcasting vehicles belonging to media outlets
other than the Zaman group and the Samanyolu TV station, but these were not
active. Their silence was noticeable in their news bulletins after. Media outlets
around the world reported the incident as breaking news and as an attack
against freedom of the press, however Turkish media outlets which are
pro-government or under the government's influence tended to cover it in a
manner analogous to the official statements from the government on the
incident.
In this
way, it is clear that detentions of
journalists as well as the media's news stories and comments on these
detentions are proof that the press is not free in Turkey.”
Columnist
Cafer Solgun, writing in Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 15.12.14), under
the title “Tyranny or democracy”, claims that the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) is ruthlessly using all public institutions,
particularly judicial bodies to eliminate the Hizmet movement. He writes, inter
alia, the following:
“(…)
Pro-government media outlets are trying to distort the facts as they are
ordered to do so, but any sane and conscientious person can see that this
crackdown's sole intention is to intimidate and silence dissident media
outlets, which cannot be accepted or ignored. But it is the truth.
Another
dimension of the truth is that this operation is trying to take revenge for the
graft and bribery investigation of Dec. 17 and 25, 2013 on its first
anniversary.
(…) A President
is normally supposed to be conciliatory, all embracing and constructive. This
is the presidential duty as defined in the Constitution. The only change in
Erdogan's mentality and style in his transition from the prime ministerial to
presidential duty is increased acrimony and combativeness.(…)”
Columnist
SemihIdiz, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 16.12.14)
under the title “A new blow to democracy and press freedom”, reports that
although Zaman newspaper was an avid supporter of the Ergenekon and “Balyoz”
(Sledgehammer) cases against alleged coup plotters in the military, and their
supposed co-conspirators in the civilian domain, it proved that those cases
ended in a fiasco. Many Zaman editors and columnists have already apologized
openly. He added that this, however, does not justify the way that the daily is
now being hounded by the authorities. “It is the principle of the matter that
is important here”, he writes.
Idiz
continues: “(…) AbdulkadirSelvi, a
prominent mouthpiece for Erdogan, who is also the Ankara representative of the
pro-government YeniSafak newspaper, is a case in point. ‘Are those who carried
out this operation aware of how they have contributed to perceptions? What they
have done has achieved nothing other than disgracing Turkey in the eyes of the
world,’ Selvi said in his column on Monday.
‘What has
been done is wrong. How can journalists be guilty if they have not engaged in
violence, or criminality, or produced false documents?’ Selvi added. These
remarks have to be taken with a pinch of salt, given their author's known track
record.
On reading
these remarks, many will have conjectured that he is essentially concerned
about Erdogan and the government’s international reputation, more than anything
else. Perhaps we should not try and second-guess Selvi and those who think like
him, but let their words speak for them.
Suffice it
to say, however, that Selvi’s remarks contrast sharply with the almost
celebratory tone employed by YeniSafak over the Zaman and Samanyolu raids. All
of this is part of the bitter war between Erdogan and FethullahGulen, of
course.
(…) It is
all too easy, therefore, for staunch secularists who oppose both Erdogan and
Gulen to say, “Let them fight it out and finish each other off.” It is,
however, not vengeance but justice, and the rule of law that is important here.
It is also democracy and the freedom of the press that is important here. (…)”
On the
other hand, IlnurCevik, writing in Turkish daily Sabah (online, 16.12.14),
under the title “When journalists get involved in an illegal dirty war”,
reports, inter alia, the following:
“Journalists
are the most important elements of a democratic society. (…) However, when
journalists start getting involved in a campaign of deceit, becoming a
prosecutor and judge, trying to see off their adversaries through crooked
tactics and becoming part of a dirty war, then their title as a ‘journalist’
becomes questionable.
That is what is happening in Turkey today.Gulen
Movement-affiliated journalists, who have been taken into custody, are not
facing a prosecutor because of what they wrote about the government over the
past year but because there is reportedly strong evidence that they were
involved in a plot to "finish off" their rivals in the same religious
movement.
(…)
So the issue is not really "journalists
opposed to the government being thrown into jail" but that people who
allowed others to exploit them through their press identity and allowed
themselves to be used as weapons to frame innocent people are now being asked
to pay for what they have done.
The government has to manage this case
properly and explain to the world what the facts are or, once again, it will be
accused of suppressing the media. (…)”
13. Jews are ‘leaving Turkey due to safety concerns’
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 16.12.14), many people from Turkey’s Jewish community are leaving the country
after increased threats and attacks, a prominent businessman from the community
has written in an article for the Istanbul-based Jewish newspaper Salom.
“We face
threats, attacks and harassment every day. Hope is fading. Is it necessary for
a ‘Hrant among us’ to be shot in order for the government, the opposition,
civil society, our neighbours and jurists to see this?”MoisGabay wrote on Dec.
10, referring to the murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink in 2007.
Gabay, a
professional in the tourism industry, added that increasing numbers of Turkish
Jews are making plans to move abroad with their families, feeling unsafe and
under pressure in the country.
“Around 37%
of high school graduates from the Jewish community in Turkey prefer to go
abroad for higher education ... This number doubled this year compared to the
previous years,” he wrote. It is not only students, who have begun to think
about building a life abroad for their families and children, but also young
businesspeople according to Gabay.
In a recent
interview with Radikal, Gabay also said changes in the law and the recognition
of hate crimes in the Turkish penal code are not sufficient for the protection
of Turkey's Jewish community. “The laws have changed. Hate speech is now a
crime, but when is a lawsuit ever opened over hate speech against our
community? I don't blame the government alone for this. The opposition, the
civil society, the unions and the democratic public sphere should be a shield
for us. They should monitor these incidents. Are they waiting for the shooting
of a Hrant among us?” he said, adding that daily threats have increased due to
the widespread use of social media in Turkey.
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