TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 228/14 05.12.14
1. Eroglu called on Anastasiades to return to the negotiating table and to continue until concluded with a settlement
2. TUSIAD’s President Dincer: The Cyprus problem concerns all the Eastern Mediterranean countries
3. Self-styled military court sends conscientious objector Tufanlı to prison
4. The breakaway regime neglects the historical monuments in the occupied area of Cyprus
5. The American Academic and Scientific Research Center decided to organize international conferences in the breakaway regime
6. Davutoglu: Gender equality triggers suicides
7. Religion courses for primary schools on agenda of the Turkish Education Council
1. Eroglu called on Anastasiades to return to the negotiating table and to continue until concluded with a settlement
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (05.12.14), Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side abandoned the Cyprus talks when they reached the bargaining stage, adding that now the Greek Cypriot side demands the withdrawal of the Turkish seismic research vessel from Cyprus’ AOZ and the guarantee that it will not return again. Eroglu said that to say yes by a big country as Turkey to every condition that the Greek Cypriot side presents is not even a matter of discussion.
Speaking to a meeting with a delegation of the “Buyukcemede municipality”, Eroglu said that if Anastasiades is determined, he can return to the table of negotiating a month after his heart operation.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (05.12.14) reports that Eroglu, in a meeting with a delegation from the Businessmen Association (ISAD) led by Metin Sadi, said: “Even if the talks are suspended, I believe that these will resume again. As I believe, the Greek Cypriot side did not abandon the negotiation table with a sound excuse. We of course would like to wish the Greek Cypriot leader a speedy recovery from his health problems. The important thing is for the negotiations to resume from where they were left off and to continue until concluded with a settlement”.
2. TUSIAD’s President Dincer: The Cyprus problem concerns all the Eastern Mediterranean countries
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (05.12.14) reports that the President of the Turkish Industry & Business Association (TUSIAD) Haluk Dincer said that in case the dispute in Cyprus is not solved, then a normalization in the island cannot be occurred, adding, however, that at the same time it is an issue that does not interest only Cyprus but also Turkey and Greece and in a largest scale all the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean. Dincer also noted: “It is said that there is significant energy reserves in the Mediterranean, but in order to drill them, we see some legal problems”. Noting that this situation constitutes a problem on security of supply for Europe, Dincer said: “Europe desires a diversity of supply; it is in a search of alternative sources from Russia. However, the materialization of these alternatives with the current status quo in the island or the continuation of the Cyprus problem creates serious problems on the transportation both Cyprus gas reserves and Israel gas reserves to Europe”. Dincer also warned the EU that in case the Cyprus problem is not solved, Turkey will halt its accession process to the EU, adding that they expect an initiative on the matter of solving the problem in Cyprus.
Making the statements in a press conference evaluating his contacts in Brussels with EU representatives, businessmen and think-tank organizations, Dincer commented also on Turkey’s accession process with the EU and the blocked chapters. He added that the block by “South Cyprus” (translator’s note: as he refers to the Republic of Cyprus) is for them the most important, because “South Cyprus” blocks the Chapters 23 and 24. “These chapters are the necessary chapters for the first adaptation by the countries, which apply to join the EU”, Dincer said.
3. Self-styled military court sends conscientious objector Tufanlı to prison
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (05.12.14) reports that a “military court case” which started on 5th November 2013 against conscientious objector Haluk Selam Tufanli who refused to participate in the reservist call up in 2011 was finalized as the “judge” Mesut Mesutoğlu ruled either 500 Turkish Lira fine or 10 days imprisonment for Tufanlı in case the fine will not be paid.
Tufanlı rejected to pay the fine and later he was handcuffed by the “police” and was taken to “Nicosia central prison” where he will serve ten days of imprisonment.
A demonstration outside the “martial court” followed with representatives of 10 organizations who called for solidarity with Tufanlı gathered to demonstrate their solidarity for Tufanlı. Tufanlı’s lawyer Oncel Polili said that the next step is to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (05.12.14) reports that Mustafa Akinci, who is an independent candidate for the “April 2015 presidential elections” in the breakaway regime, stated that conscientious objection is a right which must be recognized in the occupied area of Cyprus.
4. The breakaway regime neglects the historical monuments in the occupied area of Cyprus
Under the title “We are eradicating history”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.12.14) reports that historical monuments in the occupied area of Cyprus are collapsing since the “state” is neglecting them.
The paper writes that especially the ancient walls of occupied Famagusta are collapsing and notes that every passing day the situation of the walls, which need to be restored urgently, is getting worse.
Speaking to the paper, archeologist Tuncer Bagiskan and the chairman of Lefka Tourism Association Hasan Karlitas stated that the insensitivity that is shown by the “authorities” must be changed. They also said that many Ottoman historical monuments dated to the Ottoman period in Cyprus are not protected, adding that these are in an even worse condition that the Christian monuments.
5. American Academic and Scientific Research Center decided to organize international conferences in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.12.14) reports that the American Academic and Scientific Research Center (AASRC) which according to the paper is “an esteemed center in the academic circles of U.S.” decided to organize international conferences in the breakaway regime.
Within this framework, the first conference “Irtbıschet 2015- 10th International Conference” themed “International Conference for Global Initiative” will take place in occupied Keryneia between 26 – 28 March 2015.
The conference is aiming to create an opinion platform for academicians from all over the world with the purpose of developing research and study in the areas of management science, information technologies, computer, health, education, political science, social science and engineering.
6. Davutoglu: Gender equality triggers suicides
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (05.12.14) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu linked "mechanical equality" in gender relations in developed countries to higher suicide rates, in a speech delivered on Dec. 4.
"Why is the Gross National Product in most developed countries – I don’t want to name it but in Scandinavian countries and in many other countries – at the highest level on one side [GDP], but the suicide rate is also at the highest level there. Why?” Davutoglu asked, before citing the system of "mechanical equality” in gender relations
Speaking at a meeting hosted by the women’s branch of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Prime Minister stressed the importance of "motherhood" and described his government as a "champion" on the matter.
7. Religion courses for primary schools on agenda of the Turkish Education Council
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (05.12.14) reports that the national education council in Turkey is set to discuss the introduction of religious courses to primary schools and kindergartens across Turkey, raising fresh concerns over the rise of religious conservatism in the country.
The suggestion has been made by teachers’ union Egitim Bir-Sen, which offered to discuss religious courses in primary schools during meetings for the 19th National Education Council in the southern province of Antalya. The council decided to discuss the proposal during its on-going meetings, and if it is approved by the council, it will be included in a non-binding recommendation letter submitted to the Education Ministry, Dogan News Agency reported.
Religious culture and moral knowledge courses are compulsory for every Turkish student from the fourth grade onward. Religious courses are currently not given to first, second and third graders.
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