TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
08/15 14.01.15
1. Eide says that the deadlock in the Cyprus
negotiations harms the process
2. Nami: Our priority is to establish a new
partnership
3. Eroglu: “I am the candidate that will protect the
expectations, demands and rights of the Turkish Cypriots at the negotiating
table”
4.
Ozersay said that the parameters of the Cyprus problem have changed through the
years
5.
Eroglu met with foreign Ambassadors
6.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a press release regarding the Third
Anniversary of the passing away of Rauf Denktas
7. Columnist says that the Turkish side made no
concession for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations
8.
390 persons benefitted by the “immigration amnesty law”
9.
The system of “e-identity” will start in two months
10. Protest by the workers of a firm which carries out
construction works at the occupied Panagra dam, within the framework of the
water transfer project
11. LSD disease contracted animals in the occupied
village of Genagra; So-called minister calls for joint action
12.
Davutoglu: Islam a European reality, it
is there to stay; Turkey will continue to be a guarantor of Turks and Muslims
in Europe
13.
The Turkish opposition on the Paris attack
14.
Erdogan signals no attendance to US summit if Netanyahu attends
15.
Turkish cleric laments reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack “while millions of
Muslims massacred”
16.
“What’s the meaning of Erdogan’s 16 warriors?”
17.
Turkey multiplied its embassies in Africa during the last nine years
18.
Six and a half years jail sentence sought for ex-AK Party deputy over insulting
Erdogan on Twitter
19.
Police raid Turkish daily publishing selection of Charlie Hebdo’s new issue
1. Eide says that the deadlock in the Cyprus
negotiations harms the process
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.01.15) reports that UN Secretary-General’s
Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth
Eide said yesterday that his worries increase because of the deadlock
experienced in the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem
and argued that this deadlock started harming the process. In statements
yesterday after meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in the
occupied part of Nicosia, Eide described
as “unfortunate” the continuation of the deadlock before submitting his report
to the UN Security Council. Referring to the report, he said: “I will convey to the Security Council my
observations regarding all problems we are facing. Furthermore, I will continue
to warn everybody to do the best they can for returning to the negotiating
table and create the necessary conditions”.
Replying
to a question, he said: “I think that now this situation started harming the
process. We may see the negative developments of this during the next few
months. Therefore, I think that this
situation is an opportunity for the Security Council to call on all sides or
the two sides to return to the table”.
Asked
about the report which he will submit to the Security Council, Eide noted that he will convey to the
Security Council that the sides can make their bit for returning to the
negotiating table, that they could exert more efforts and that in spite of the
mutual concessions given on some issues, they could not lead the sides to
return to the negotiating table.
According to Eide, a new development has happened
lately and the discussion of the hydrocarbons issue at the negotiating table
was accepted. He expressed the view that the proposal of President
Anastasiades for discussing the hydrocarbons in a later stage of the
negotiations is related with the Turkish Cypriot position that the map should
be discussed later. He argued that with this proposal the map and the
hydrocarbons are not related. Noting that the process will show how soon or
later these issues will be discussed, Eide said that in case these issues can
be discussed all these will be debated in a quick process and that it is not so
“dramatic” what will be discussed during the first, third or fourth meeting. He
further expressed the view that the Cyprus problem is a difficult problem, but
not unsolvable and that this [settlement] depends on the two sides’ will and
devotion to the solution.
(I/Ts.)
2. Nami: Our priority is to establish a new
partnership
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.01.15) reports that Ozdil Nami, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the Turkish Cypriot side’s priority is to establish a new
partnership with the Greek Cypriots. According to a statement issued by his
“ministry”, Nami met yesterday with a delegation from the “cooperation board”
between Turkey and the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, headed by Rusat Aydogan.
Speaking
during the meeting, Nami alleged that
the Cyprus problem completed the 50th year of its existence and that
the negotiations for finding a solution to the problem have recently collapsed because
President Anastasiades abandoned the table.
In
his statements, Aydogan claimed that the Turkish Cypriots face many
difficulties in expressing themselves at the international platforms and added
that Turkey has always been supporting the “TRNC” in this process.
(I/Ts.)
3.Eroglu: “I am the candidate that will protect the
expectations, demands and rights of the Turkish Cypriots at the negotiating
table”
Under the title: “I am the voice of the TRNC”, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper
(14.01.15) reports on statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who
has said during an event organized yesterday by the National Unity Party (UBP)
in occupied Famagusta, that he is the voice of the “TRNC”.
Speaking during the gathering organized by UBP in
order to express support to Eroglu’s candidacy, Eroglu referred to the so-called presidential elections which are to
take place in the occupied area of Cyprus next April and said that he is the
candidate that will transfer and support the demands, expectations and rights
of the Turkish Cypriot “people” at the negotiating table.
Supporting that the “president” should be the leader
of all “people”, Eroglu alleged that he
is the “voice of the people of the TRNC” and added that he will work very hard
in order to win the elections from the first round.
Reminding of the fact that he is the one who sat at
the negotiating table with both Christofias and Anastasiades, Eroglu pointed out that it is the
“existence of the TRNC” which strengthened his hands at the talks. He continued
and wondered how those who do not believe to their “state”, who feel disturbed
by the “existence of the TRNC”, will protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot
“people”.
Alleging
that it is President Nicos Anastasiades who has abandoned the negotiating
table, Eroglu added that in spite of the fact that this is something which is
seen by the whole world, still, some persons and especially the
secretary-general of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG)
accuses him.
4. Ozersay
said that the parameters of the Cyprus problem have changed through the years
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (14.01.15) reports that
the candidate for the upcoming “presidential elections” in April 2015, Kudret Ozersay,
in a visit to illegal Girne American University (GAU), discussed the Cyprus
problem with the academic staff.Ozersay noted that there are difficulties
regarding the desires of both sides on the issues of administration and wealth
sharing of the Cyprus problem. He claimed that at the UN report in 2004, it was
stressed that the Greek Cypriot side should be asked itself whether it was
ready to share.
Referring to the parameters of the Cyprus problem,
Ozersay said that certain differences among the federation talks on 1970’s and
1980’s with the talks on federal partnership in the years of 2000 have started
to be forming.
5. Eroglu
met with foreign Ambassadors
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (14.01.15)
reports that Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu met with the Belgian Ambassador Alphonse Creusen and the Dutch
Ambassador Brechje Schwachafer. “Presidential undersecretary” Hasan Gungor,
“negotiator” Ergun Olgun and Eroglu’s spokesman Osman Ertug were also present
at the meeting. No statements were made after the meeting.
6. The
Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a press release regarding the Third Anniversary
of the passing away of Rauf Denktas
The
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued yesterday (13.01.14) a press release
regarding the third anniversary of the passing away of former Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktas. The press release is as follows:
“We commemorate the late Rauf Raif Denktas, the
founding President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with respect and
gratitude on the third anniversary of his passing away. The
late Denktas devoted his entire life to the Turkish Cypriots’ struggle for a
dignified existence, and defended with great sacrifices the cause of the
Turkish Cypriot people for rights, equality and freedom in a common bond of
sentiments and ideals with motherland Turkey. Rauf Denktas exhibited an
outstanding leadership in overcoming all challenges, and therefore occupies an
exceptional place in history with his leadership and statesmanship qualities
appreciated throughout the world. We respectfully commemorate once again the
late Rauf Denktas and express our conviction that the Turkish Cypriot people’s
righteous struggle will lead to a just and lasting settlement in the Island and
turn it into an area of peace, stability and prosperity in the region.”
7. Columnist says that the Turkish side made no
concession for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations
Writing
in her column in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (14.01.15), Turkish
Cypriot columnist Tumay Tugyan reports that the Turkish Cypriot side made no concession and took no step forward
for the resumption of the negotiations aiming at finding a solution to the
Cyprus problem.
Under
the title “Concession”, Tugyan reports, inter alia, the following:
“Anastasiades is currently accused by a
significant part of the Greek Cypriot political parties of making a serious
concession to the Turkish side. Even though this development described as
‘concession’ by the Greek Cypriot politicians has not been taken into
consideration by Turkey or the Turkish Cypriot side, Anastasiades is said to
have received a very big reaction because of this step he has taken. […] Very well, what is this step? [It is] the
statement of 5 January. The statement of 5 January has been made with an
assurance given by the UN Secretary – General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Eide
before the NAVTEX issued by Turkey on 6 January, so that the NAVTEX was not issued.
One of the elements to which the Greek Cypriot side
had been opposing for a long time was the discussion of the natural gas issue
within the framework of the negotiations. […] Anastasiades, however, with his written
statement issued on 5 January, made a serious change of position on this issue
and announced that all issues on which agreement was not reached could be
discussed at the final stage of the negotiations together with the map. Natural
gas is also included in these issues.
As
a result of indirect bargaining with Turkey, Anastasiades had been told through
the UN Secretary – General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Eide that this statement
would be received with satisfaction by Turkey and in case this statement was
made Turkey would not issue a new NAVTEX. Having taken this assurance,
Anastasiades accepted to bring to the negotiating table the natural gas issue,
to the discussion of which they had been opposing until today, and announced
this with a written statement on 5 January. However, contrary to this calculation, this statement could
unfortunately not prevent the issuing of a new NAVTEX and was not enough for
the resumption of the negotiations.
The
latest proposal of the Turkish side on the hydrocarbons issue was the
establishment of a joint committee on this issue. And yes this proposal was not
accepted by the Greek Cypriot side. However, it would be useful not to forget that in a situation in which the
climate is so tensed and the attitudes are so edged, no one will fully go back
from his own position […] If only one of the sides could put aside all its
engagements and say ‘I am sitting unconditionally in the negotiations’.
However, [no one] is saying this and will not say it. Either we like it or not,
diplomacy does not work like that. Therefore,
in order for the reestablishment of the negotiating table both sides should be
able to take some steps forward even if these steps do not a hundred per cent
satisfy the other side and are small. This
step taken by Anastasiades could most certainly be evaluated within this
framework by the Turkish side as a good will initiative for the resumption of
the negotiations. However, the Turkish side did not even find this worthy
of being discussed and continued accusing the Greek Cypriot side with the same
speed. Very well, what kind of step
forward has the Turkish side itself taken for the resumption of the
negotiations? Anastasiades is currently strongly criticized in the south part
of Cyprus because of ‘making a concession’. How about us? Where is our
concession? There is no [concession]! There is no [concession], because we will
not be able to take a step forward. We will always expect for the other side to
come to our own line. We will wait a lot!”
(I/Ts.)
8. 390
persons benefitted by the “immigration amnesty law”
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (14.01.15) reports that
the self-styled ministry of interior announced that all the applications
regarding the amendment “law of foreigners and immigration”, known as
“immigration amnesty law” should be completed the latest by February 8.
The announcement explains that all those who want to
take a working permission or continue to live in “TRNC” accordingly to the
“legal regulations”, can benefit from this “immigration amnesty law”. Until
now, 390 persons have been benefitted from this “law” and can live in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus according to the “legal regulations”.
9. The
system of “e-identity” will start in two months
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (14.01.15) reports that Turkey’s Minister of Transportation,
Maritime Affairs and Communications Lutfi Elvan announced that the “e-identity”
system will be operated in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus within
two months. He added that this system will operate through all the “state
services”.
10.Protest by the workers of a firm which carries
out construction works at the occupied Panagra dam, within the framework of the
water transfer project
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli (14.01.15)
reports that the Kaynarca Construction
Company and its workers, which have completed their works in a dam at
occupied Panagra village after making a subcontract with two other companies
called Binas and ASF, within the framework of the water transfer project,
organized a protest yesterday in front of the worksite they worked in order to
express their protest against the above mentioned two companies.
As
the paper writes, the workers of the Kaynarca Construction Company protested
for not taking their progress payments and stated that they will continue their
protest actions until the two companies will pay them.
(AK)
11.LSD disease contracted animals in the occupied
village of Genagra; So-called minister calls for joint action
Under the title: “LSD panic”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Detay newspaper (14.01.15) reports that a herd
of animals in the occupied village of Genagra has been contracted the
contagious Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
According to the paper, the so-called ministry of
food, agriculture and energy held yesterday an extraordinary meeting with the
participation of all the related organizations in order to examine the LSD
disease spreading and to set up a road map.
According to the paper, speaking after the meeting,
so-called minister Onder Sennaroglu said
that the LSD disease will affect not only the “TRNC” but the whole island and
thus he made a calling to “south Cyprus”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus,
the EU and the international organizations to work together towards the
direction of preventing the spreading of the disease.
(AK)
12. Davutoglu:
Islam a European reality, it is there to stay; Turkey will continue to be a
guarantor of Turks and Muslims in Europe
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (14.01.15) reports thatIslam is a European reality and Muslims
across the continent are there to stay, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
told journalists while returning from Berlin late on Jan. 12.
“There is a settled persuasion that a solution can be
found via accepting that Islam is a European reality,” Davutoglu said,
commenting on the hot debate over rising Islamophobia in Europe. “This was very clear in Mrs. [Angela]
Merkel’s speech today,” he said, in remarks that came hours after a meeting
with the German Chancellor. “However, I doubt how much of this persuasion has
spread among some sections, especially among those with prejudices." “Islam is there to stay in Europe. Everyone
sees this,” he said, adding that today it is impossible to send back Muslims in
Europe as if they are just temporary migrants.
In
addition, Turkish daily Sabah (14.01.15) reports that Davutoglu has underlined
Turkey's commitment to serve as a guarantor of the Turkish people living in
Europe and Germany while speaking at AK Party's parliamentary group meeting
which took place on Tuesday. He
emphasized that Turkish and Muslim people living in Europe should not feel
isolated or abandoned as Turkey will continue to protect and support them.
"We
speak as Europeans when we speak in Europe, Asian when we speak in Asia and to the
grandchildren of Sultan Fatih the Conqueror in the Balkans, the inheritors of a
great legacy" he said.
13. The
Turkish opposition on the Paris attack
The Turkish parties that are represented in the Assembly
reacted against the attack in Paris and the stance held by the Turkish
government on the issue.
Turkish Hurriyet DailyNews (14.01.15) reports that Turkey’s main opposition party Republican
People’s Party (CHP) has called on Islamic countries to adopt secularism in
order to end the roots of terrorism, denouncing last week’s deadly Paris
attacks and stressing that “killing innocent people has nothing to do with Islam.” “We are calling on the entire Islamic
world: Please adopt secularism. It was described as sacrilege until yesterday,
but secularism is the assurance of all faiths; it means no political
interventions on people’s religions," CHP head Kemal Kilicdaroglu told his
parliamentary group on Jan. 13. "Secularism is the antidote to terror,” Kilicdaroglu
added.
Turkish daily Sabah (14.01.15) reports that Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader
Devlet Bahceli, in a speech at the party's parliamentary group meeting on
Tuesday, said that Paris is not the only city where blood is being shed and
called on EU leaders and the public to show the same sympathy when it comes to
chaos in other regions."Of course, we should share the pain of the
Paris attack. But, it is our incontestable right to ask for the same sympathy
from EU leaders for Kirkuk, Mosul, Gaza, Damascus, Baghdad, Tripoli, Sana and
Mogadishu," said the MHP leader.
Turkish Hurriyet DailyNews (14.01.15) reports that the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP)
co-leader Figen Yuksekdag has blamed Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu for
hypocrisy vis-à-vis his reactions against violence committed inside the country
and committed abroad. “Mr Davutoglu goes to the rally in Paris and expresses
his political stance against terror. MrDavutoglu joins
rallies against mass murder gangs if it takes place in Paris. However, in
Turkey, he sets the police on demonstrators who rally against these mass murder
gangs. This is called hypocrisy in Turkish, I don’t know what it is in French,”
Yuksekdag said.
14. Erdogan
signals no attendance to US summit if Netanyahu attends
Turkish daily Sabah (14.01.15) reports thatat a joint press conference with
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said on Monday that the government has yet to decide if representatives will
attend the counterterrorism summit on Feb. 18 called for by U.S. President
Barack Obama.
Erdogan added that if an invitation is extended to
Turkish officials, they would evaluate the summit's necessity, implying that he may not attend if Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu will be present.
15. Turkish
cleric laments reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack “while millions of Muslims
massacred”
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (14.01.15) reports thatTurkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs
head Mehmet Gormez has complained that the world, which has not raised its
voice against the killing of millions of Muslims around the world, is up in
arms about the killing of “just 12 people” in Paris.
“And we are watching the modern world. On the one side, 12 million have been
massacred in the past 10 years in the Islamic world, which has been in severe
pain. But last week in Paris, 12 people were brutally killed in a way that
cannot be approved of by any Muslim. We saw that humanity, which did not
speak up against the massacre of 12 million people, stood up against the murder
of just 12 people. I should note that humanity should come to its senses
immediately,” Gormez said on Tuesday in Edirne.
16. “What’s
the meaning of Erdogan’s 16 warriors?”
Under the above title Turkish Hurriyet DailyNews
(14.01.15) publishes the following article by Emre Kizilkaya:
“Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan undertakes his own myth-making project, as seen in the
controversial dress show of the 16 warriors in the Presidential palace. His
goals, however, seem like these will be more difficult to attain than similar
projects by Ataturk several decades ago.
Turkish social media went into overdrive on Jan. 12
after President Erdogan welcomed Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in the Presidential
palace with actors dressed in knightly attire, ostensibly representing the
military costumes of the 16 states founded throughout history by Turks. Some social media users slammed the show as
“ridiculous,” while others defended it as a historical panorama of “our
forefathers.”
The Presidential
guards command headquarters had reportedly suggested the show during the term
of Abdullah Gul, but his successor, Erdogan, became the first President to
agree to stage it. […]
Clearly,
Erdogan plans and acts to show that he still rules the country, as well as the
government and the ruling party that he left behind – on paper.
[…]
After
moving out of the Presidential mansion of Ataturk to a gargantuan complex that
he ordered built, Erdogan has apparently started to build myth-making
narratives that fit his political and historical vision, just like modern
Turkey’s founder once did. […]
Ataturk’s nationalist myth-making overwhelmingly
succeeded in the building of the Turkish nation-state in the 1920s and the
1930s. Although scientifically problematic on several areas (cf. the Sun
Language Theory that claims Turkish was the forefather of all the languages in
the world), Ataturk’s myth-making
projects on many other levels were well-conceived and carefully built at a time
when international conditions were also ripe for them.
Erdogan’s
first “myth,” on the other hand, was frowned upon and even mocked by many
people, not just because the military dress show looked farcical due to its
rather shoddy implementation. The Islamist/imperialist theory that it is trying
to build is also awfully outdated on a global scale.
[…]
Politics, after all, is a specter, just like seen in
the military dress show at the Presidential palace. Political theory, on the
other hand, requires a deep, intellectual labor.
Shrugging off such criticism, Erdogan will almost surely continue trying to invent traditions for the
New Turkey’s ideological myth-making. However, unlike those by Ataturk, these
attempts are more likely to fail given the present conditions in Turkey and the
world, as well as the poorly conceived and badly performed nature of President Erdogan’s
first ventures in myth-making.
As such, the show of “Erdogan’s 16 warriors” might
only have a legacy as lasting as that of the steppe nomads.”
17. Turkey
multiplied its embassies in Africa during the last nine years
Under the above title Turkish Hurriyet Daily News
(14.01.15) reports that Turkey currently
has some 35 embassies in Africa, second only to France.
About 15 opened in the last few years. The red Turkish
flag flies, for instance, across Mogadishu where Turkish firms are playing the
lead role in post-war construction. In
2005, the number of Turkish embassies in the continent was 12.
18. Six
and a half year jail sentence sought for ex-AK Party deputy over insulting Erdogan
on Twitter
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (14.01.15) reports that an İstanbul prosecutor is seeking a prison
sentence between one and 6.5 years against a former Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) deputy, Feyzi İsbasaran, who was arrested over insulting and
threatening President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Twitter posts.
The indictment against İsbasaran indicated that it has
been technically confirmed that the Tweets in question were posted from a cell
phone and tablet that belong to İsbasaran before these were deleted. İsbasaran
was arrested on Dec. 8, 2013, after posting offensive tweets about the President.
While he was being brought to the courthouse by police officers following his
detention at the police station that same day for "insulting" Erdogan
on Twitter, a group of AK Party supporters attacked İsbasaran.
19. Police
raid Turkish daily publishing selection of Charlie Hebdo’s new issue
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (14.01.14) reports
thatTurkish police raided the printing
press office of Turkish daily Cumhuriyet on Jan. 14, as it prepared to
distribute a four-page selection of Charlie Hebdo’s new issue in an act of
solidarity with the French satirical magazine targeted last week in a deadly
attack that claimed 12 victims. The police also took extreme security measures
ahead of the scheduled publication of the supplement.
Police cars were sent to the printer of the daily in
Istanbul early on Jan. 14 and halted trucks to prevent the distribution of the
Jan. 14 edition. The distribution was eventually allowed after the prosecution
made sure that cartoons representing the Prophet Muhammad were not included in
the selection.
The editor-in-chief of the daily, Utku Cakırozer,
stated earlier that they had decided not to publish a cartoon on the cover
featuring the Prophet Muhammad in tears holding a “Je suis Charlie” banner, in
reference to solidarity protests with the magazine. “When preparing this
selection, we have been attentive to religious sensitivities as well as freedom
of belief, in line with our editorial principles,” Cakırozer said via Twitter
Jan. 13. “We didn’t include the cover of the magazine after a long
deliberation.”
Despite the daily’s decision not to publish the most
controversial cartoons, police extended security measures in the surroundings
of its offices in Istanbul’s central Sisli neighborhood.
An employee of daily Cumhuriyet told the Hurriyet
Daily News on condition of anonymity that the newspaper had received hundreds
of death threats.“
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