TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 11/15 17-19.01.15
1. Olgun
and Ertug criticized the UN report on Cyprus; Criticism to Eide for having a
mild stance
2.
Olgun: Barbaros vessel’s seismic explorations south of Cyprus is an indication
of the Turkish side’s will for a partnership
3.
Nami says that they expect the lifting of their “isolations” from the
international community
4.
Eroglu: I am candidate in order to complete the process which we have started
and continue successfully
5. Cavusoglu: “The observer status of the TRNC must
continue in OIC”
6. Ozersay
met with the British High Commissioner
7. Serdar Denktas: “Our aim is to bring 1 million tourists
for 2015”
8. Dincyurek discussed the water transfer project with
Veysel Eroglu; Eroglu: “On the 20th of July, water will flow from
Turkey to the TRNC”
9. “Turkish
Cypriot Constructors’ Union” will boycott all tender bids opened by the
breakaway regime because these are all submitted to Ankara
10. A decline in trade across the Green Line
Regulation
11. The “No to Nuclear Power Platform” organized a
protest against Akkuyu
12. 12,555 “public servants” in the occupied area of
Cyprus
13. Davutoglu on his contacts in Brussels and Germany;
The Cyprus problem among the matters of discussion
14. Erdogan questions the timing of the government’s
transparency package ahead of elections; first rift with Davutoglu’s government
1.Olgun and Ertug criticized the UN report on
Cyprus; Criticism to Eide for having a mild stance
According to illegal Bayrak television (16.01.15) the Turkish
Cypriot negotiator Ergun Olgun said that
the Turkish Cypriot side was not responsible for the current impasse in the
Cyprus negotiations process and added that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to
sit at the negotiating table without any preconditions.
Speaking to illegal BRT, Olgunclaimed that the preconditions demanded by the Greek Cypriot side for
returning to the talks was in contradiction with the February 2014 Joint
Declaration and was aimed at maintaining the current status quo.
Olgun
alleged that the preconditions set forth by the Greek Cypriots would in some
way legitimize the “Greek Cypriot side’s occupation” of the 1960 partnership
Republic. “We have failed to see the international community; the UN and Mr
Eide take any steps to dissuade the Greek Cypriots from demanding such
preconditions to return to the table. This is a great source of disturbance for
us”, he said.
Commenting
on the UN Special Adviser’s latest visit to the island, Olgun criticized Eide
of adopting a soft stance in the face of Greek Cypriot persistence regarding
the issue of hydrocarbon exploration.
Reminding
that the UN Special Adviser had stated that the issue of hydrocarbons could not
be taken up separately from the Cyprus issue, Olgun said that despite these
remarks, the UN refrained from exerting pressure on the Greek Cypriots to
return to the talks without any preconditions.
Stating
that the issue of hydrocarbon exploration could act as a catalyst for a
settlement,the Turkish
Cypriot negotiator alleged that the natural
gas is the common property of all the inhabitants on the island.
“Both sides
have rights over this gas. The best way to benefit from this natural gas is a
comprehensive solution. If there is not going to be a solution we need to
cooperate on the issue” he said, reminding that the Turkish Cypriot side has a
standing proposal on this issue.
He
said that the current deadlock could be overcome if the UN adopted a positive
stance over the issue.
Asked to comment
on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon’s report, Olgun said that observations
made in article 26 were not accurate.
“The mention
that the Greek Cypriot side pulled out of the talks because of the NAVTEX
issued by Turkey is incomplete. The NAVTEX was issued by Turkey on behalf
of the TRNC. The Greek Cypriot side’s
collocutor on the matter is the Turkish Cypriot side and not Turkey. However
the report does include positive elements too”, he added.
Olgun said that the aim of the activities of the
Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa seismic research vessel was to demonstrate that the
Greek Cypriot side did not possess sole sovereignty over the island of Cyprus
and to encourage it to return to the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(17.01.15) reported that the so-called
presidential office has condemned the statement bythe United Nations (UN)
Secretary General's Special Cyprus Adviser, Espen Barth Eide to the effect that
"the ball is in the Turkish side's court" and has made a proposal.
According to the paper, the so-called presidential spokesman Osman Ertug has asserted that they
[the Turkish Cypriots] vehemently condemn the statement made by Eide, to the
effect that "the ball is in the Turkish side's court."Stating that
the Turkish Cypriot side is at the table, Ertug stressed that the side that has
fled from the table needs to be persuaded.
Eide, who gave interviews to the Turkish media during
the two-day period he spent on the island, indicated that the Greek Cypriot
side, by saying that "we are prepared to discuss, in the final phase of
the negotiations, all the issues on which compromise has not been able to be
reached," had made an overture, and that the Turkish Cypriot side needed
to respond to this.
Commenting
to Kibris newspaper on Eide's statements, Ertug said that "we are
expecting Mr. Eide to correct his statements".
Ertug said:
"We were saddened and disappointed at Mr. Eide's assessing the
affair in this way. We understand that
he wants to see some light for the sake of his own mission. But he should not avoid assessing the facts
correctly just in order to see this".
Ertug
said that there were three very harsh conditions in the statement that
Anastasiades made on 5 January and added that one of these was the recognition
of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, which Turkey would never accept.
Regarding
the issue that Anastasiades had said that the hydrocarbon issue was open and
could be discussed following a solution, Ertug explained that the word
"hydrocarbons" had not been mentioned in the words that Eide had
characterized as an "overture," and that Anastasiadis had said:
"I am prepared to discuss the topics that have been unable to be resolved
in the final phase of the negotiations" but had denied this because of the
reactions that had resulted.
Supporting
that the Turkish Cypriot side is still at the table, Ertug indicated that the
side that has fled from the table needs to be persuaded and added:“This issue
existed during the period of [former Cypriot President Demetris] Christofias as
well. The Piri Reis vessel explored in
the south of the island, but Christofias did not run away from the table. Now Mr Anastasiades, prefers to leave the
table because he is not prepared for partnership and sharing. And he is concocting such a pretext in order
to camouflage this."
(…)
2. Olgun:
Barbaros vessel’s seismic explorations south of Cyprus is an indication of the
Turkish side’s will for a partnership
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (19.01.15)
reports that Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Ergun
Olgunhas alleged that the fact that Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa vessel [illegally]
holds seismic explorations in the south sea of Cyprus [in the Republic of
Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone] is an indication of the Turkish Cypriot side’s
will for a partnership.
“If Barbaros
Hayrettin Pasa was holding explorations in the north, it would have been said
that the Turkish Cypriot side is following a separatist policy”, argued Olgun
in an interview with Havadis claiming
that the existence of Barbaros vessel “is the biggest power that will change
the status quo”.
Commenting on the Greek Cypriot side’s statement that
no negotiations are possible while Turkey’s NAVTEX is valid, Olgun argued: “It will have to think about it tomorrow
when a platform comes there and starts drilling […] I think that the
emergence of this crisis could cause a result that might open the door for
change in Cyprus […]”.
Olgun alleged that the existence of Turkey in the area
with Barbaros vessel for carrying out explorations on behalf of the “TRNC”
[Translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus] is a chance for bringing the Greek Cypriot side back to the
negotiating table and claimed that the
Turkish NAXTEX and the existence of Barbaros “is the only way for changing the
status quo which the Greek Cypriot side preserves for years”.
He alleged: “The NAVTEX and Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa
are the only dynamics in the direction of changing the status quo, de facto
adding power and showing the need for its change. Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa and
the area for which the NAVTEX was announced are confirming this”.
When the journalist told him that the Greek Cypriot
side does not perceive the existence of Barbaros and the NAVTEX in the manner
which the Turkish side wants it to perceive it, Olgun claimed that the reason
for this is that the Greek Cypriots still think that they could preserve what
they have, but “this is becoming more difficult now”.
Asked what kind of change he is referring to with the
NAVTEX and the existence of Barbaros, Olgun
said that Barbaros is in the occupied Famagusta Port at the moment. He
alleged: “We are giving another chance.
Barbaroscannot remain there forever. This is a window of opportunity for a
short period of time. It should be used well. This opportunity is not only for
the south, but it is an opportunity for the UN and [the UN Secretary-General’s
Special Adviser for Cyprus Espen Barth] Eide as well […] With our move, the
Greek Cypriot side is de facto seeing that it is not the only sovereign in an
area which is under its sovereignty”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Nami
says that they expect the lifting of their “isolations” from the international
community
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (19.01.15)
reports that Ozdil Nami, self-styled
foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus, has said that their biggest
expectation is for the international community and mainly the United Nations to
take a step in the direction of the lifting of the so-called isolations and
embargoes allegedly imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.
In an interview with Yeni Duzen, Nami said that their
life should be normalized and added: “It is not our fault that Cyprus is still
divided and no solution has been reached. They should stop forcing the Turkish
Cypriots to continuously paying the price for this. The beginning of this
process will of course have an influence on the Greek Cypriot side’s waking
up”.
Nami alleged that there is absolutely no reason for
the Turkish Cypriots not being able to trade with the EU and the world, that mechanisms for this could very easily be
established and that the existing obstacle is political not legal. “They
must overcome the political obstacles which they themselves have created”, he
argued.
Replying to a question, Nami said that no Turkish
Cypriot politician can give the Greek Cypriot side the promise it wants when it
allegedly says that “I have launched hydrocarbon explorations in Cyprus’
Exclusive Economic Zone, I will continue these explorations, the Turkish
Cypriots should do nothing and promise that they will do nothing in the
future”. He argued that they cannot give such a promise because they are people
“elected” to protect the “legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish
Cypriot people over the natural resources belonging to the entire island”.
Asked
to comment on the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus Espen Barth
Eide’s statement that President Anastasiades has taken a positive step and that
they expect a similar step by the Turkish Cypriot side, Nami described this
statement as “extremely unfortunate”, noting that they had explained to Eide
why they think that the move made by President Anastasiades was not a positive
step. He noted that in
the past the issue of how the natural gas will be administered by the federal
government after the solution had anyway been discussed and therefore it is the
leaders’ job to anyway discuss the way by which the federal government will
administer the matters.
(I/Ts.)
4. Eroglu:
I am candidate in order to complete the process which we have started and
continue successfully
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (19.01.15) reports that
Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, during his visit to the occupied villages
of Mesaoria within the framework of his “election campaign”, said that the Cyprus problem should
progress to an end and the today’s situation cannot be continued any more. He
added: “For this reason, I am candidate in order to complete the process that
we started by listening to the people’s calls and we continue successfully”.
Eroglu suggested what the Greek Cypriot side should do
is to digest that the Turkish Cypriot side is as much sovereign in the island
as themselves and behave accordingly.
Eroglu
noted that although the Greek Cypriot side abandoned the negotiating table,
they still continue to have contacts with foreign diplomats especially with UN
Secretary General's Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide. He alleged: “When they come to us, I say to them
that the Greek Cypriots have abandoned the negotiating table, and you should go
to them. The latest, I had a meeting with Eide. When he started his duties, he
visited me and I warned him on this issue. I said: ‘The Greek Cypriots have a
tactic; they will try to suppress you and they play with time’. As a result, I
was proved right.”
Eroglu
also said that the existence of the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) for years now made them
stronger in the table of the negotiations, adding that they sit at the
negotiating table in equal status because there is the “TRNC”.
5. Cavusoglu: “The observer status of the TRNC must
continue in OIC”
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (19.01.15) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
in his visit to Kuwait has underlined that the observer status of the “TRNC” in
the OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) must continue.
In a report from
the AA news agency, Cavusoglu made the statement following a meeting he had
with his Kuwaiti counterpart Seyh Sabah el-Halid es-Sabah. He pointed out that
Kuwait is an important ‘brother country’ for the stability, security and peace
in the region.
(…)
6. Ozersay
met with the British High Commissioner
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (17.01.15)
reports that the independent candidate
for the April “presidential elections” Kudret Ozersay held a meeting with the
British High Commissioner to Cyprus Ric Todd.
The
meeting took place upon a lunch invitation addressed to Ozersay by Todd.
Ozersay shared with Todd his thoughts regarding “how to overcome the current
deadlock at the negotiations”, writes the paper.
7. Serdar Denktas: “Our aim is to bring 1 million
tourists for 2015”
According to illegal Bayrak television (17.01.15) the
so-called deputy prime minister and “minister for economy, tourism, culture and
sports” Serdar Denkas who visited
Helsinki for the MATKA Nordic Tourism Fair, evaluated to illegal BRT his plans
“for international tourism for the country”.
Noting
that 850 thousand tourists had visited the “TRNC” in 2014, Denktas said that
for 2015 his “ministry” aims to bring 1 million tourists to the “country”.
Stating
that it is the first time the “TRNC” was being represented at a tourism fair in
Helsinki; Denktas explained that along with Helsinki and 4 other fairs that are
taking place at the same time, it would be possible to reach this target.
Denktas added that with the tourists that will be gained from the Scandinavian
regions it will be possible to revitalize the dead tourism season in the
“county”.
“Instead of focusing on taking part in more fairs, we
will be concentrating on building cooperation through sectors and strengthening
online sales”, said Denktas.
The so-called ministeralso said that charter flights
and commercials will continue and added that problems such as environmental
pollution will be dealt with swiftly.
8.Dincyurek discussed the water transfer project
with Veysel Eroglu; Eroglu: “On the 20th of July, water will flow
from Turkey to the TRNC”
According to illegal Bayrak television (17.01.15) the
so-called minister of environment and natural resources Hakan Dincyurek held contacts in Ankara in order to define the road map
for the “project of the century”, which
foresees water being transferred from Turkey to the “TRNC” via underwater
pipelines.
Dincyurek
met Turkey’s Minister for Forestry and Water Works Veysel Eroglu.
During the meeting views were exchanged regarding the
water transfer project.
Evaluating to illegal BRT his contacts in Turkey and
his meeting with the Turkish Minister, Dincyureksaid that the “project of the century’s”
land phase is continuing unhindered but the sea phase is problematic due to
seasonal weather conditions. “In line with the project on the 25th of January,
the dam in Turkey will be filled with water and I together with Veysel Eroglu
will be there to witness the event”, Dincyurek said.
Noting that Eroglu has also announced the date
regarding the completion of the project, Dincyurek
said that “within the framework of the TRNC water transfer project, on the 20th
of July, on the anniversary of the Turkish peace operation, water will flow
from Turkey to the TRNC”.
Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (16.01.15)
reported that Eroglu, in statements
during a press conference held at the Ministry in Ankara on Friday said that
Turkey will begin transferring water to the “TRNC”. "Water will be
supplied to northern Cyprus as part of the northern Cyprus water supply project
on the anniversary of the July 20 Cyprus peace operation".
The water supply project will provide the “TRNC” with
water for the next 50 years.
“The investment cost of the Alakopru and Gecitkoy dams
for the water project are close to 80 million Turkish lira ($36.6 million) and
the project will supply around 130 million cubic meters of water to the TRNC every
year”, Eroglu said.
(…)
In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper
(19.01.15) reports on the same issue and
makes fun on the announcement made by Veyzel Eroglu that the water will be
transferred to the occupied area of Cyprus “on July 2015 at 10:59 a.m”.
The
paper notes that this is not the first time that various lies are said about
the time that the water project will be completed and adds that it obtained
information according to which the project faces a lot of problems. The paper writes that problems occurred in the
efforts to place the pipes under the sea and that help was asked from Sweden to
overcome the problem.
9. “Turkish
Cypriot Constructors’ Union” will boycott all tender bids opened by the
breakaway regime because these are all submitted to Ankara
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (17.01.15)
reports that Cafer Gurcafer, the
chairman of the “Turkish Cypriot Constructors’ Union” stated that the union
will boycott all the tender bids opened by the breakaway regime because as he
said these are all submitted to Ankara.
Gurcafer who criticized strongly the “government”
stated that as of January 16 the union will boycott all tenders and added that
the union will publish this decision to the press. As he said the union will boycott every tender regarding “state
buildings, municipalities, state universities and official institutions”. He
also said that a big demonstration will be organized on January 28 on the issue
and from that date all deed transfers on behalf of the union will be also
stopped.
10. A decline in trade across the Green Line
Regulation
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (19.01.15) reports that
the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade (KTTO) published data regarding the total
trade through the Green Line Regulation.
The trade was estimated at a value of €3.063.923,49 in
2014 and is the lowest recorded since 2005.
The annual trade figures from 2004 to 2013, from
“North Cyprus” to “South Cyprus”, across the Green Line are as follows:
2004
- €470.821,11
2005
- €1.673.459,57
2006
- €3.228.342,97
2007
- €4.125.547,85
2008
- €7.172.115,72
2009
- €6.006.347,89
2010
- €5.909.238,15
2011
- €5.304.725,15
2012
- €4.195.321,18
2013
- €3.928.589,61
2014
- €3.063.923,49
11. The “No to Nuclear Power Platform” organized a
protest against Akkuyu
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
(18.01.15-online in English) the “No to
Nuclear Power’ Platform” organized on Saturday a demonstration in the occupied
part Lefkosia.
Around
200 protesters gathered to stop the nuclear plant from being built in Akkuyu.
Around 4,000 people signed a petition which was handed over to the Turkish
Embassy.
The demonstrators held up banners and placards which
called for the end to nuclear power and chanted slogans as they marched.
12. 12,555 “public servants” in the occupied area
of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (18.01.15) reported that
the number of the “public servants” of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus is almost the same with the number of the public
servants in the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus. The only
difference is that the population in the “South Cyprus” is approximately one
million, and the population (official) in “North Cyprus” is 300 thousands.
The paper reported that 12,555 “public servants” give
services to 300,000 people in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
13.Davutoglu on his contacts in Brussels and
Germany; The Cyprus problem among the matters of discussion
Turkish daily Sabah (16.01.15-online in English)
reported that Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu, speaking to journalists on his flight back from Brussels late on
Thursday, criticized the anti-Turkey campaign on freedom of expression and
press carried out in Europe, arguing that when he asked European officials to
corroborate these baseless claims, none could respond.
Davutoglu, who met with European Commission President
Jean Claude Juncker, the European High Representative for Foreign Affairs
Federica Mogherini and the European Council President Donald Tusk during his visit,
noted that there were thousands of newspapers in Turkey with varying views and
four of the five newspapers with the highest circulation were openly
anti-government.
"Commission members are accosted with such
propaganda. Some are trying to portray Turkey as if it is similar to North
Korea or Venezuela", said Davutoglu.
(…)
He
also criticized the European Parliament's 2014 progress report on Turkey for
being fooled by the anti-Turkey campaign. He said the report, which praised the
government's efforts to further the reconciliation process but ignored the
threat posed by the Gülen Movement, would be returned with a diplomatic note
when it is received. "We presented to each European parliamentarian an
information note. What they produced is one-sided," he said.
He
said that he had asked officials at the European Parliament to name a single
one of the arrested journalists mentioned in the report. "No one could
give me a single name”, added Davutoglu.
(…)
Referring
to his meeting with Juncker, where bilateral ties, Cyprus, Syria and Ukraine
were discussed, Davutoglu described the meeting as "warm," noting
that the Commission’s President was knowledgeable. "The meeting with
European High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini was equally
comprehensive," he said, adding that a new era had begun between the two
sides.
Davutoglu
also said that Europe is gradually becoming more introverted. "We are
faced with a Europe that is focused solely on its internal problems, failing to
lead the world," he said, adding that this withdrawal had more to do with
the certain economic and political problems it faced. "Governments change too often. There is a lack
of visionary leaders, unlike in the 1950s and 1960s," he said. Davutoglu
also noted that he had met with 70 European Ministers during his tenure as Foreign
Minister and said:"The number of
ministers I listened to with interest would be five. There is no one with a
vision, who can describe what the EU will look like in five years. Those who
have the final say on Turkey's membership process are not courageous," he
argued.
Regarding
his meeting last weekend with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Davutoglu said
that it was better than expected. "We decided to increase the frequency of
meetings between delegations. All European countries, left alone, want to
maintain good relations with Turkey. They want to utilize Turkey's strategic
power. However, when they come together they push the brakes on Turkey's
membership process."
(…)
14.Erdogan questions the timing of the government’s
transparency package ahead of elections; First rift with Davutoglu’s government
According to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (18.01.15) Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has
reportedly expressed criticism over a government-sponsored transparency package
covering public institutions, designed to battle misconduct and fraud, saying
it is not the correct time to introduce such a package ahead of this year's
general elections.
“The timing and
content of such a package is very important. It does not seem correct to me
ahead of elections [slated for June 2015],” Erdogan was quoted as saying on
Saturday.
The package announced last week by Prime Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu requires the Deputy Chairman and provincial heads of the
political parties that are in Parliament to present a declaration of assets to
Parliament every other year. Members of the high courts will also be subject to
the same regulation.
Erdogan
criticized the proposal, saying that the party would have a difficult time
appointing provincial and district chairmen. He also said this proposal would
negatively affect the economy and the construction sector in particular.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
