TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 06/15 10-12.01.15
1. Eroglu on the Cyprus talks:
“We have prepared ourselves for both possibilities”
2. Turkish-Cypriot negotiator
Olgun: Cyprus gas can be a blessing or a curse
3. Nami said that the declaration of the 2nd
NAVTEX was the least that they could do
4. Akinci: A Cyprus settlement gets harder as time passes
5. Cavusoglu will pay an illegal
visit to the occupied area of Cyprus
6. Statistics on the number of
prisoners in the occupied area of Cyprus
7. The illegal Middle East
Technical University in the occupied area of Cyprus has signed an academic
cooperation agreement with the New York –New Paltz Campus
8. Davutoglu’s statements from
Paris: “If Turkey had been integrated into the EU, this cultural tension would
not exist in such extend”
9. Davutoglu participated in Paris marching against terrorism but
noted that Turkey expects same sympathy for mosque attacks
10. Turkish columnist calls on Davutoglu to control the domestic
political climate which is providing a fertile ground for Islamist militarism
11. Kilicdaoroglu: Turkey has become harbor for terrorist sleeper
cells
12. During Latvia’s presidency of
the EU, the 28-nation bloc will open new chapters for Turkey, claims Latvian
envoy in Ankara
13. TUSIAD Business group head does not step back in clash with
Turkish President Erdogan
14. Freedom of press in Turkey in worst downturn of last 60 years
1. Eroglu on the Cyprus talks:
“We have prepared ourselves for both possibilities”
Illegal Bayrak (10.01.15) broadcast that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has
called for the introduction of a timetable in the Cyprus negotiations process,
stating that the talks cannot continue open-ended forever.
Speaking during the visit he paid in occupied
Keryneia, Eroglu claimed that
negotiations in Cyprus had been going since 1968 and alleged that the
Greek Cypriot leadership abandoned the talks by citing poor excuses.
He alleged that the Greek Cypriot side had no
intention of solving the Cyprus problem.
Pointing out that President Anastasiades had announced
his decision to suspend the negotiations just days before the talks could
entered the third phase of give and take, “by citing exploration activities
carried out by the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa research vessel as an excuse,” Eroglu
said that Anastasiades’s predecessor Christofias had resumed talks in 2011-2012
when the Turkish Piri Reis ship was conducting seismic research in the area.
Alleging out that the next few
years will be critical for the Cyprus problem, Eroglu said he believed the negotiations
could be concluded successfully during this period of time. “We have prepared
ourselves for both possibilities” he added.
2. Turkish-Cypriot negotiator
Olgun: Cyprus gas can be a blessing or a curse
Ankara Anatolia news agency (10.01.15) reported that Turkish-Cypriot negotiator Ergun Olgun
stated that oil and gas reserves off Cyprus can hold benefits or risks for the
region depending on how the issue is handled.
"The only way to manage the issue properly is
through cooperation. Only through cooperation this issue can be resolved for
the benefit of both Cyprus and the region," Olgun told the Anadolu Agency
on Friday.
“In October 2014, the
reunification talks were unilaterally suspended by the Greek-Cypriot side after
Turkey issued a Navtex (navigational telex) on behalf of the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus for seismic research off the coast of Cyprus”, Ankara
Anatolia reports and writes that Olgun made the following claims on the
issue: "This is what we have been
trying to explain to the international community: the hydrocarbons issue can be
a blessing or a curse, negotiations are
the only platform for settlement of any dispute”.
He also alleged
that the Greek-Cypriot move to suspend the negotiations and insistence
on unilateralism ran the risk of increasing instability in the region and
scaring away foreign investment. "Such an eventuality is in no one’s
interest and can end up in a lose-lose situation," he said.
He also claimed that the
Greek-Cypriot side is also in pursuit of forming a regional alliance with
Israel and Egypt, both of which have seen worsening of relations with Turkey in
recent years. Olgun alleged that the
Greek-Cypriot efforts to form a "regional bloc against Turkey and the
Turkish Cypriots are very dangerous for the region, as such efforts only serve
to create new polarizations, new conflict zones and new rivalries." He
claimed that the dispute in Cyprus is not a violent conflict and that they
sought to reach a comprehensive settlement through negotiations and dialogue in
a region plagued by instability.
He further said that the solution of the Cyprus
problem through dialogue and cooperation “would also serve as a model for the
region if two different ethnic groups overcome their differences without
resorting to violence”.
"In order to attain this, the Greek-Cypriot side
must abandon unilateral initiatives and agree to collaborate with the
Turkish-Cypriot side for ensuring the welfare and security of both peoples of
the island," he claimed and alleged the following: "If they continue
to take steps to consolidate the status-quo and overlook the legitimate rights
and interests of the other side, it will not be possible to realize unity in
Cyprus."
He said that influential EU countries, in particular
the U.K., should send "the right messages" to the Greek-Cypriot side
that would encourage a compromise deal in Cyprus.
"The U.K. has bases in Cyprus and is a guarantor
state. (...) What it guaranteed in 1960 was a state of affairs based on
partnership of two equal sides. Now it needs to take steps to ensure that such
a partnership is re-established in Cyprus," Olgun said.
3. Nami said that the declaration of the 2nd
NAVTEX was the least that they could do
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris (10.01.15) reports that self-styled minister of foreign affairs Ozdil Nami claimed that while
they were evaluating the developments in recent days, the Turkish Cypriot side
gave an opportunity to the Cyprus President Anastasiades to return to the
negotiating table, but this opportunity was not utilized.
Nami,
in an interview to the paper, under the title “We are not desperate”, with
journalist Osman Kalfaoglu, he said that the proclamation of NAVTEX by Turkey
on behalf of “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus) and the dispatch of Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa’s
vessel to the south of the island again were of the least things that they
could do in the presence of the Greek Cypriot side’s stance.
Stressing
that although war ships were not sent to the area and the drilling by the
Italian-Korean energy consortium ENI-Kogas was not prevented, Nami added that a
drilling could be launched in the region on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot side
after the seismic exploration was done. Nami also said: “The Greek Cypriot side
should not think that we are desperate”.
Nami
noted that Turkey declared the second NAVTEX on the 6th of January
2015 in order to give a message to the Greek Cypriots and to the countries in
the region that the Turkish Cypriots have rights on the natural sources of the
island and should not be treated as if they do not exist.
Nami
said that their aim is for all the countries in the region to discuss within a
framework of cooperation the natural sources and to send the natural wealth in
Europe through Turkey. He added that Cyprus is playing a key role here and the
Cyprus problem should be solved in order for the sides to be able to cooperate.
Nami also said: “Signing an agreement the sides with each other, without a
Cyprus settlement first, is not possible to be done. The solution of the Cyprus
problem is very important for the region. While we try to act with such vision,
the Greek Cypriot side places in the middle of the negotiating table old
concepts. These past topics come as spooky and blow up the negotiations”.
4. Akinci: A Cyprus settlement gets harder as time
passes
Turkish
Cypriot daily Ortam (12.01.15) reports that independent “candidate” for the
upcoming “presidential elections” Mustafa Akinci said that in case he is
“elected”, he will make an effort for a federal solution, adding that the
political will of the Turkish Cypriots will be the basis and be reflected to
the negotiating table. He also said that as time passed a Cyprus settlement is
getting harder.
Speaking
at a conference in Istanbul, Akinci also said that their relations with Turkey
require a new understanding and should be based on mutual respect.
5. Cavusoglu will pay an
illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper
(12.01.15) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will pay an
illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus on Wednesday.
Cavusoglu will exchange views regarding the Cyprus
problem with Turkish Cypriot “officials”, according to the paper.
6. Statistics on the number of
prisoners in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (12.01.15)
reports that according to statistics
given by the so-called “central prison directorate” in the occupied area of
Cyprus,a total of 208 persons were convicted in “prison” during 2014 while 91
are under custody without being trialed. The total number of people under
arrest in “prison” until January 2015 is 299 persons.
According to the statistics, 78 out of the prisoners
were taken into custody for drugs related cases.
Also, the
statistics said that 62 out of the total prisoners are Turkish citizens while
111 are “trnc citizens”. Also the number of foreign citizens who are imprisoned
is 81.
The paper points out to the general problems that exist in the “central prison” in the
occupied area of Cyprus and writes that amongst them is the lack of personnel and the lack of bed capacity.
(AK)
7. The illegal Middle East
Technical University in the occupied area of Cyprus has signed an academic
cooperation agreement with the New York –New Paltz Campus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (11.01.15)
reported that the “Middle East Technical
University campus in north Cyprus” (“ODTU) has signed an academic cooperation
agreement with the New York –New Paltz Campus.
According to the paper, the agreement envisages for the students who study management and
complete the second and fourth year of their studies at the “technical
university”, to obtain a double diploma from both “universities”.
Theagreement provides further the
opportunity to the students to be benefited from student exchange programs such
as the Erasmus program.
(AK)
8. Davutoglu’s statements from
Paris: “If Turkey had been integrated into the EU, this cultural tension would
not exist in such extend”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (12.01.15)
reports that Turkey’s Prime Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu, in statements during a press conference in Paris where he
attended the solidarity rally which was organized in protest against the
terrorist attacks there, referred, inter
alia to the Cyprus problem and said: “If Turkey had been integrated into the EU
after the Cyprus referenda in 2004 and if the EU had not set obstacles to
Turkey, this cultural tension would not exist in such extend. Unfortunately,
exercising politics via this animosity, it has brought the EU in this position.
This is the source of the problem”.
(AK)
9. Davutoglu participated in Paris marching against terrorism
but noted that Turkey expects same sympathy for mosque attacks
Turkish
daily Sabah (12.01.15) reports that Turkish
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu participated in a unity rally in Paris being
held in solidarity for the victims of recent deadly attacks in the country.
On his
official Twitter account, Davutoglu wrote a post in French: "I am in Paris in solidarity with the
French people against terrorism." The Turkish Prime Minister said
Turkey's participation at the unity rally in Paris would give a strong message
to groups that want to blame the recent attacks in France on the Islamic world.
Addressing a press conference before he departure for France to join the rally,
Davutoglu said, "Our participation
in the Paris march is a strong message for groups that want to blame the
Islamic world, especially Muslims who live in Europe."
He said
Turkey is against all kinds of terrorist attacks and highlighted the fact that
Turkish security officials were willing to cooperate with other states to deal
with terrorism threats.
In
addition, the paper also writes that Davutoglu
stated that Turkey expects the same sympathy shown towards the Paris murders
also for the recent wave of Islamophobic attacks on mosques in European countries
such as Germany and Sweden. Davutoglu made the remarks after attending Sunday's
unity march at the Parisian square Place de la Republique.
"As a country long suffered from terror, we will continue to
raise our voice against acts of terror no matter where in the world these are staged," Davutoglu told a press
conference late Sunday at the Turkish Embassy in Paris. "Our presence here
today is significant for the global message to be better understood, as it is a scene of unity and integrity for the
European continent," he added.
"From
Andalusia to the Ottoman Empire, Islam is the most essential element of the
European continent. Those who wish to arouse tension in Europe over an
Islam-Christianity conflict are betraying the European culture," he said.
10. Turkish columnist calls on Davutoglu to control the
domestic political climate which is providing a fertile ground for Islamist
militarism
Under the
title “Keep marching Mr Davutoglu, in Ankara too”, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News
(12.01.15) publishes the following article by Murat Yetkin:
“Millions
rallied in Paris on Jan. 11, in protest at the Jan. 7 killings in which two
terrorists with radical Islamist links killed 12 people in a raid on the French
weekly satire magazine Charlie Hebdo. Some 50 heads of government or state
joined the rally to show their solidarity with the French people against
terrorism. Among them was Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
It was not
clear up until Saturday whether or not he would join the march. The decision
was announced following a call of condolences from Turkish President Tayyip
Erdogan to French President Francois Hollande.
Whatever
might have been the motivation, Davutoglu’s decision to join the protest was
right. His attendance at the rally was important not because of the fact that
Turkey was the first Muslim country to announce that its Prime Minister would
take part in the rally. The opposite would have been wrong, since Turkey is
still an active member of the Western security alliance NATO and the Council of
Europe, (if not the European Union).
The importance comes from its domestic effect. If Davutoglu (or
Erdogan) had not attended the Paris rally, then the perception among the
Turkish people - especially the supporters of the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AK Parti) - would have been that the government “understood”
the root causes of the terrorist act, even if it was not sympathetic to it.
[…] the government managed to give the message
to international public opinion that it is against the terrorist attack, even
though it was committed by Muslims.
[…]
However, the steps that Turkey must take in countering terrorism
sourcing from within radical Islamist movements should not be limited to the
march in Paris.
Before
flying to France, Davutoglu endorsed reports about Turkish support to French
security and intelligence services, along with the services of many other
states, especially the countries of NATO, of which both France and Turkey are
members. Of course, Turkey should help its allies when they are under threat,
just as it expects help from its allies when needed.
What the Turkish government can still do more about is control of
the domestic political climate, which is providing a fertile ground for
Islamist militancy due to the rise of radical Islamism with al-Qaeda and the
Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq on Turkey’s southern
borders. This comes at a time of rising Islamic rhetoric from government
figures, who are operating in a secular, democratic Turkey, under the rule of
law that is still written in its Constitution.
What the Turkish government could and should do more is to impose
tighter measures along its borders against the infiltration of radical Islamist
militants, putting more pressure on their activities in Turkey, including
recruitment. It may be true that Islamophobia is a problem in Europe, but to
make it a propaganda issue in everyday domestic politics will not help weaken
Islamophobia in Europe; rather, it will strengthen anti-Western sentiment in
Turkey, from which radical organizations could benefit.So, Mr
Davutoglu, please continue in Ankara your rally in Paris.”
11. Kilicdaoroglu: Turkey has become harbor for terrorist
sleeper cells
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (12.01.15) reports that Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal
Kılıcdaroglu has claimed that Turkey has become a centre for terrorist
organization "sleeper cells."
“Turkey has
become a centreharbouring terrorist organizations’ sleeper cells. Ministers
have started to make statements saying ‘watch out for sleeper cells’ one after
another,” said Kılıcdaroglu in an interview with daily Hurriyet. “The people
who are saying this did not come to power just yesterday, they are the ones who
have ruled for 12 years,” he added.
Kılıcdaroglu said the government had allowed the country to drift
into a "terror swamp," claiming that the government "built its
foreign policy on supporting terrorist organizations." “For these reasons
[Prime Minister Ahmet] Davutoglu cannot govern the country. At this point
[after] 12 years in power, there is a problem-making government, not a
problem-solving government. The problems they make not only worry their
citizens inside [the country], but are also a reason for anxiety in the modern
world. There are great worries about Turkey,” the CHP leader said.
12. During Latvia’s presidency
of the EU, the 28-nation bloc will open new chapters for Turkey, claims Latvian
envoy in Ankara
Turkish Sabah (12.01.15) publishes an interview with
the Latvian Ambassador to Turkey Atis
Sjanīts who claimed that during Latvia’s presidency of the EU, the 28-nation
bloc will open new chapters for Turkey. He also said that the absolute majority
of the EU countries look forward to having part in the Turkey-EU relationship.
Latvia will hold the Presidency of the Council of the
European Union in the first half of 2015.
Asked if Latvia which has always been supportive on
Turkey's EU bid will help towards opening new negotiation chapters during the
Presidency, Sjanīts stated: “We will
open new chapters because I may reassure you that the absolute majority of EU
countries would like to have dynamics in the Turkey-EU relationship. There is
forward momentum, which means that there are new chapters to open. There is
talk about several chapters, and EU Commissioner Hahn also affirmed during his
visit to Ankara that he will do his best to open new chapters in Latvia's
presidency, and he repeated the same in Riga. […] It is not only related to the
Latvian position but the other 27 members agreeing on that. However, an
absolute majority of countries are very keenly interested in maintaining these
dynamics. Despite some problems that exist for some countries, an absolute
majority thinks that a supposedly frozen relationship with Turkey is out of the
EU's interest. Also one of the issues that we are good at is the visa
liberalization issue, and further progress will be witnessed in our presidency
term. We will try as fast as possible to eliminate the bureaucratic hurdles
[…]”
13. TUSIAD Business group head does not step back in clash with
Turkish President Erdogan
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (10.01.15) reported that Haluk Dincer, the outgoing head of
the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSİAD), has stressed that the
leading business organization generates around 85% of the taxes in the country,
saying its words should be taken seriously amid a recent verbal rift with the
government.
Dincer also
stood behind what he had said earlier regarding the group’s addressee being Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and other Cabinet ministers, not President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, which both politicians have reacted against.
“As TUSİAD members, we have the largest share in production and
creating employment in the country. Some 85% of all taxes are paid by the TUSİAD
members. TUSİAD is an effective - but more importantly, an independent -
non-governmental organization. What TUSİAD’s members say is naturally heard in
Turkey,” he said, speaking in a meeting with reporters in Istanbul on Jan.
9.
In an
interview with Hurriyet on Dec. 29, Dincer had stated that although his
organization has no problem with President Erdogan, “TUSİAD’s addressee is not
the President, but rather the Prime Minister and the Ministers related to our
field.” In response, Prime Minister
Davutoglu vowed not to attend TUSİAD’s general assembly meeting, during which
the new TUSİAD head and administration will be elected, on Jan. 22, 2015,
according to Prime Ministry sources.
Upon a
question about whether TUSİAD is acting as an “opposition group,” Dincer
stressed that TUSİAD is not a political party and emphasized the huge share of
its members in the Turkish economy. |”TUSİAD
acts in line with its founding principles, written in 1971”, he added.
14. Freedom of press in Turkey in worst downturn of last 60
years
Turkish
Today’s Zaman newspaper (11.01.15) reported that the president of the Turkish Journalists' Association, (TGC) Nazmi
Bilgin, said during an event for the Working Journalists' Day on Saturday that
journalism in Turkey is facing its worst downturn in the last 60 years, as
press freedom is hampered with accreditation bans, arrests and dismissals.
Speaking at
the reception at the Ankara headquarters of the TGC, which was established on
Jan. 1, 1946 , Bilgin said some journalists have sold their pens out of small
financial interests. “If only we lived
in a Turkey where a journalist didn't have to worry about tomorrow.” Bilgin
added.
Bilgin
urged his colleagues in attendance to be hopeful for the future and announced
that the TGC had launched a campaign called "Freedom for Press" to
report the instances of interference and pressure on the press in Turkey.
Bilgin also said that while celebrating Working Journalists' Day it is
important to remember there are still jailed journalists in Turkey.
Reiterating the fact that Turkey ranks lower than many developing
countries on lists measuring press freedoms, Bilgin argued that press freedom
is a must in real democracies. Speaking on the government
accreditation ban on some media outlets, Bilgin noted that discriminating
against journalists and media outlets in official press conferences and
official visits means constitutes a violation of the freedom of information.
In addition, also reported that the European Parliament, set to
convene in Strasbourg on Monday (today), is preparing to issue a harsh warning
to Turkey on Jan. 15 about freedom of the press in the country, according to
draft texts by major political groups in the European Parliament obtained by
Today's Zaman (11.01.15).
A
government-backed operation against independent media outlets that took place
on Dec.14 resulted in the detention of dozens of individuals including Zaman
editor-in-chief Ekrem Samanyolu TV network top executive Hidayet Karaca, script
writers, producers and directors and caught the attention of the European
Union. Discussing these events at a
meeting in December, major political groups in the European Parliament agreed
to make a joint decision regarding the issue on Jan.15. Draft texts of the
major groups in the European Parliament take a unified stance, either
condemning or deploring the Dec. 14 operation.
The draft
text of the Social Democrats' statement says that the group “condemns the
recent police raids and the detention of a number of journalists and media
representatives in Turkey” and “stresses that these actions call into question
the respect for freedom of the media, which is a core principle of democracy.”
The group
also underlined that a number of provisions in the Turkish legal framework and
their interpretation by members of the judiciary continue to hamper the freedom of expression, including freedom of the media.
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