TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 13/15 21.01.15
1. Erdogan’s
message on energy issue; “Turkey will continue until the end to defend the
rights of the TRNC”
2. Nami: By keeping alive our political will, we show
to the world that we are sincere for a solution
3. Olgun commented on the Direct Trade Regulation
4. Ertug: The Turkish Cypriots have the right to trade
directly with the EU countries
5. Statements by Akinci and Ozersay on the opening of
the fenced off town of Varosha
6. Cicek protested against his Iraqi counterpart for
the occupation regime’s title in the OIC
7. A “parliamentary delegation” to carry out contacts
in Brussels next week on the Direct Trade Regulation and the EP’s draft report
on Turkey
8. Siber evaluates to illegal Bayrak the Cyprus
problem and the halloumi/hellim issue
9. The occupation regime attends a tourism fair in
Stuttgart
10. Two more Greek Cypriot football players were
transferred to a Turkish Cypriot team
11. Davutoglu met with Cameron; Turkey to fight
terrorism and racism with the UK
12. EU discusses Turkey's progress report
13. The Turkish Parliament voted against sending
ex-ministers to top court over graft charges
14. New bill prepared in Turkey enables Turkish PM and
Ministers to block Internet without a court ruling
15. Turkish professor resigns over a tweet that mocked
Erdogan’s 16 warriors
16. Turkey and Qatar agree to form cooperation council
to enhance bilateral tie
1.Erdogan’s message on energy issue; “Turkey will
continue until the end to defend the rights of the TRNC”
Under
the title: “We will carry out efforts to use natural gas as a mean for peace”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.01.15)
report on statements by Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has said that “Turkey will continue until
the end to defend the rights of the TRNC against the Greek Cypriot side’s
unjust and intransigent stance”.
Speaking
at the Energy Market Summit in Ankara, Erdogan added that they will not make
any concessions from their policy towards this issue and added that they will
continue to show all necessary efforts in order to use oil and natural gas as
means that will bring peace and prosperity to the region.
Stating
that all benefits to be derived from energy resources should be used as a
source for achieving peace and prosperity and not conflict or destruction, Erdogan said that Ankara is using its entire means
to play a constructive role on the issue. “We are prioritizing this in all
projects we are participating in and planning to participate in”, Erdogan stressed.
AK
2. Nami: By keeping alive our political will, we
show to the world that we are sincere for a solution
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris (21.01.15) reports that self-styled minister of foreign affairs
Ozdil Nami claimed that by keeping alive their political will for the Cyprus
settlement, they have gained a lot of things and showed to the world that they
are sincere.
During a
television programme at the Turkish Cypriot private channel Kibris TV
yesterday, Nami said that the Cyprus talks are not the only issue of the
“foreign ministry”, but they make great efforts to lift the reportedly isolations.
He added that this period they are carrying out meetings with the Turkish
Cypriot Chambers of Trade and Industry particularly on the issue of halloumi/
hellim and on the other hand they are trying to increase the number of their
representatives abroad.
Nami also said
that they are constantly in a close dialogue with Turkey, adding: “We have
parallel contacts and cooperation with every Ministry in Turkey”.
3.Olgun commented on the Direct Trade Regulation
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (21.01.15-online
in English) reported that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ergun Olgun in
statements to the paper yesterday regarding the recent statements on the direct
trade issue, said that he was not unhopeful about the matter.
Olgun
explained that the Direct Trade Regulation (DTR) would not be bound to any
proposal or precondition and argued that it was a regulation which brought to
an end the “injustice” against the Turkish Cypriots. “Therefore it would be
insolent to try and tie this issue with something else”, Olgun alleged.
Noting that the UNFICYP report would be discussed on
the 26th of January, Olgun referred to the paragraph 36 with regards to the
so-called isolations of the Turkish Cypriots.
Referring
to the Cyprus negotiation talks, he said that the Turkish Cypriot side is still
at the table despite the fact that the Greek Cypriot side has left the table
and expressed his hope that the Greek Cypriots will return to the table with no
preconditions.
Stating that the place for a solution is at the table,
he added it was important that the sides had widened their areas of cooperation
in order to give the negotiations some momentum. He added that it was of a great importance the fact that a balance
between the two sides was achieved before a solution so that a sustainable and
viable agreement is reached.
4. Ertug: The Turkish Cypriots have the right to
trade directly with the EU countries
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (21.01.15) reports
that the self-styled presidential spokesman Osman Ertug claimed that the
Turkish Cypriots should be able to trade directly under equal conditions with
the EU from the occupied port of Famagusta and that they expect from the EU to
allow the Turkish Cypriots to trade directly with the EU and to remove the
“obstacles” imposed by the Greek Cypriots.
Replying to a question by the “Turkish Cypriot news
agency – TAK” regarding the statements made by the Cyprus Government Spokesman
Nikos Christodoulides on the issue of the direct trade regulation, Ertug
claimed that the Turkish Cypriots have the right to make direct trade with the
EU member countries. He alleged: “Direct Trade is our right. The expectation of
a compensation from us in exchange of this and to demand the fenced off town of
Varosha, which is part of the comprehensive solution, resembles the shuffle of
apples and pears.”
Recalling that the Direct Trade Regulation was one of
the three regulations, which were prepared after the Annan referendum in 2004
in order to lift the “isolations” imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, Ertug said
that the other two regulations were the Financial Aid Regulation and the Green
Line Regulation. He added that the other two regulations are being implemented
despite some deficiencies, but the Direct Trade Regulation is being prevented
by the Greek Cypriot side. Ertug considers that the EU is responsible to remove
this obstacle, adding that they have a moral obligation to the Turkish
Cypriots.
Referring to the proposal of the Greek Cypriot side to
open the occupied port of Famagusta under the EU control, in which they are
already members, Ertug said that it is not possible to see it as a serious
proposal. He added that “the port of Famagusta has always been open”.
5. Statements by Akinci and Ozersay on the opening
of the fenced off town of Varosha
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (21.01.15) reports that
both independent candidates Mustafa Akinci and Kudret Ozersay for the upcoming
“presidential elections” are in favour of the opening of the fenced town off
Varosha but with different preconditions.
During a program on Turkish Cypriot private channel
Kibris TV, Akinci said that he proposes the opening of the fenced off town of
Varosha under the supervision/control of the UN for the benefit of both communities.
He added that in case he is elected “president” he will seek a compromise in
order to safeguard direct flights from the occupied airport of Tymbou and
direct trade from the occupied port of Famagusta in exchange for the opening of
the fenced off town of Varosha. Akinci noted that his aim, in case of being
elected, is to reflect the factual will of the Turkish Cypriot community on the
negotiating table and in any other platform.
On the same issue, Ozersay, during a meeting with the
Turkish Cypriot Constructors Union, said that the fenced off town of Varosha
should be opened under Turkish Cypriot administration, adding that this step
will have a positive reflection to the economy.
Ozersay said: “I believe that the fenced off town of
Varosha should be opened under Turkish Cypriot administration”, claiming that
they can take a step on this issue without waiting for a solution if only they
knew that they can depend on Greek Cypriot side’s will to take a step further;
as it happened to the Cyprus talks, although they have discussed this issue
several times with the Greek Cypriot side as part of certain proposals, they
could not agree on it. He also said that he is determined to take a step on
this issue, adding that no one can show political leadership with the concept
“stay out of trouble”. He claimed that the opening of the fenced off town of
Varosha to its legal owners under Turkish Cypriot administration may be the
reason to break the stagnation of the current situation.
6.Cicek protested against his Iraqi counterpart for
the occupation regime’s title in the OIC
Under the front-page title: “Cicek expostulated Iraq”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (21.01.15) reports that the Speaker of
Turkey’s Grand National Assembly Cemil Cicek, in statements during the meeting
of the 10th Parliamentary Union of the Islamic Union (OIC) Member States,
protested against the Iraqi Speaker of the Assembly Selim Cuburi who is
visiting Turkey to attend the meeting.
According to the paper, Cicek expostulated Iraq for the Iraqi Speaker’s efforts during last
September to support the efforts of Egypt to remove the title “Cyprus Turkish
State” from the OIC.
Cicek
in his protest against the Iraqi Speaker said: “We found it odd the reason why
you support this stance. We want your stance to be friendly to the TRNC”.
Replying to Cicek’s words, Cumburi said: “The Cyprus problem is complicated. We
should focus in depth towards this issue in order for these complications to be
overcome”.
AK
7.A “parliamentary delegation” to carry out
contacts in Brussels next week on the Direct Trade Regulation and the EP’s
draft report on Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.01.15)
reports on statements by Armagan Candan, so-called deputy with the Republican
Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) who has stated that a “parliamentary delegation” from the Turkish Cypriot side will go to Brussels
next week in order to carry out contacts concerning the references about Cyprus
at the 2014 European Parliament’s report on Turkey and the Direct Trade
Regulation.
AK
8.Siber evaluates to illegal Bayrak the Cyprus
problem and the halloumi/hellim issue
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (21.01.15)
reports that the “speaker” of the
so-called assembly and “presidential candidate” with the Republican Turkish
Party-United Forces, Sibel Siber evaluated to illegal Bayrak television the
Cyprus problem as well as her “work” at the so-called parliament and the
halloumi/hellim issue.
Referring
to the halloumi issue, Siber said that the UN Secretary General’s Special
Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide launched an initiative at the European
Commission on the issue of the registration of hellim as a result of the letter
sent to the President of the European Commission.
“If
the Greek Cypriot side’s application is accepted as it is, this will mean the
end for us. We will be entirely cut off from the production and it will be a
big shock for our economy. For this reason, we cannot sit and wait”, Sibel
said.
Sibel said also that they will continue their efforts
towards expressing the “rightfulness” of the Turkish Cypriot “people” and
defending their rights at every platform.
Referring to the Cyprus issue, Siber said that her aim
is to be the leader that will sign the solution which will defend the rights of
the “people” and stressed the need for a “clear and solution focused policy” to
be followed.
AK
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.01.15)
reports that the occupation regime
participates to “CMT Stuttgart 2015” tourism fair with the participation of 90
countries, which is taking place in Stuttgart, Germany between January 17-25.
According to a statement issued by the so-called
“deputy prime ministry, ministry of economy, tourism, culture and sport”, the
“TRNC” is represented at the fair by “officials” of the tourism sector.
The occupation regime attends the fair with its own
stand writes the paper and underlines that the fair has attracted two thousand
visitors.
The occupation regime has distributed leaflets and
maps in order to promote its tourism, writes the paper.
AK
10.Two more Greek Cypriot football players were
transferred to a Turkish Cypriot team
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (21.01.15)
reports that two more Greek Cypriot
football players were transferred to the Turkish Cypriot Degirmenlik- (Kythrea)
Club.
As the paper writes, the players are Stelios Kittos and Michalis Michail.
In statements to the paper, the two players said that they are professional
football players and it is for that reason they changed their working place and
crossed to the “north”. The players added that they have nothing to be afraid
for and stated that the Degirmenlik club has welcomed them very warmly.
AK
11. Davutoglu met with Cameron; Turkey to fight
terrorism and racism with the UK
Ankara Anadolu news agency (20.01.15) reported that Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey and Britain will stand
shoulder-to-shoulder against challenges such as terrorism and racism.
Speaking during a press conference before attending a
private meeting with his British counterpart David Cameron at the British Prime
Ministerial Office, Davutoglu said the following: "The future of our
continent now faces challenges like terrorism, racism and other type of
challenges”.
Davutoglu also thanked Cameron for U.K’s support to
Ankara in its EU accession process.
Cameron said that he had a lot to talk about with
Davutoglu and praised bilateral economic and business ties. “Trade is growing,
and investment in each other's countries is very positive”, he added.
Cameron also said that Turkey and Britain should stand
together against Russia during the ongoing crisis in Ukraine's east.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah (20.01.15-online in
English) reported that Davutoglu, delivering a speech at the “Merrill Lynch
Turkey Investment Conference” which was organized in London,said that Turkey has successfully passed
all economic and political tests and that it has proved to be a stable actor in
the region and is no longer the “sick man of Europe”.
Davutoglu
noted that Turkey is becoming a strong economic player in the global arena.
“The sick man of Europe was a term that referred to the Ottoman Empire in the
19th century”, said Davutoglu highlighting that the term is now used to refer
to Europe instead. He emphasized that Turkey has become a regional hub and a
global actor, and was successfully able to integrate a stable political vision
over the past 10 years. He also added that Turkey's 2023 goals will be
effective in moving the country forward.
An
agreement between the London Stock Exchange and the Borsa Istanbul was also
signed in London, which will help to increase the liquidity of some of the
capital market instruments as well as give Turkish investment funds the ability
to compete in global markets.
Speaking at the “Istanbul: Regional Center, Global
Actor Forum”, organized by Borsa Istanbul and Turkish Exporters Union, the
Turkish Premiersaid that the
collaboration between Turkey's and the U.K's economies might be a solution for
the European Union.
Drawing attention to the similarities between London
and Istanbul in terms of culture and traditions, Davutoglu said that in order
to comprehend the modern economy, one would have to look at London; in order to
comprehend the traditional economy, one would have to look at Istanbul. "These two traditions together form
the global economy," Davutoglu said.
Davutoglu
added that when he was in Brussels last week, it became evident that Europe
needs to search for new alternatives such as London and Istanbul. “Now the East
and the West need to unite together. The European economy can only become
integrated and improve itself if both of these traditions come together,"
Davutoglu said.
(…)
He also said that in terms of cancelling visa
requirements, Turkey's efforts are important and the country's resources are
not based on oil or natural resources but mostly on human resources. "Our citizens should be able to travel
freely. If they want to travel to Africa then they should be able to do
that," Davutoglu said, stressing
that Turkey has signed visa agreements with more than 65 countries for free
access. Moreover, the Turkish government has plans to create regional centers
in Africa that will be situated between East Asia and Latin America for Africa,
Asia and Europe.
(…)
12.EU discusses Turkey's progress report
Ankara Anadolu news agency (21.01.15) reports that the European Parliament’s Rapporteur
on Turkey's accession has called for opening the chapters on judiciary and
fundamental rightsso that urgent reforms can be implemented in the country.
The
Dutch Socialist Kati Piri’s draft report on Turkey’s progress regarding its
accession into the European Union was discussed at the European Parliament in
Brussels on Tuesday.
The report
called for the opening of EU’s chapter 23 on judiciary and fundamental rights,
and chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security. Piri said the EU must engage
more with Turkey.
The Rapporteur
said that she included chapter 23 and 24, whose opening the EU has long called
for, because reforms on the judiciary, fundamental rights, freedom and security
sectors were needed urgently.
The advancement of other chapters on public
procurement, competition, economic and monetary policy, social policy and
employment, and foreign, security and defense policy was also requested in the
EU’s draft progress report.
The report also encouraged the advancement of EU visa
waiver for Turkish nationals, and exchange programs for students and
academicians.
The
report also supported Turkey’s solution process and said that ''solving the
Kurdish issue in Turkey would positively contribute to stability and protection
of human rights.''
(…)
13. The Turkish Parliament voted against sending
ex-ministers to top court over graft charges
Turkish daily Sabah (20.01.15-online in English)
reported that the Turkish Parliament
general assembly voted on Tuesday against the graft trial for the two
ex-Ministers implicated in corruption investigation in 2013 to top court.
A
secret parliamentary vote has rejected calls for legal proceedings against
former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan and former Interior Minister Muammer
Guler at Turkey's top court in an alleged graft case.
Out of 550 total members, 517 of Turkey's Grand
National Assembly members participated in the secret ballot to decide whether Caglayan
should stand trial at the Constitutional Court, known as the "Yüce
Divan".
In the ballot, 242 voted in favor, while 264 voted
against sending the former Minister to court.
Seven Deputies abstained, while three votes were
declared invalid and one vote was left blank.
In the secret ballot concerning Guler, 241 voted in
favor, while 258 voted against sending the former Minister to court.
The voting for the other two ex-ministers Erdogan
Bayraktar and Egemen Bagis was expected to last until midnight.
Four former Ministers were targeted in an operation,
which was allegedly orchestrated by the Gulen Movement in an attempt to topple
the government. The group which is believed to have infiltrated the
government's key bodies such as the judiciary and the police is accused of
planning a coup by launching December 17 and December 25 operations in 2013.
(…)
14.New bill prepared in Turkey enables Turkish PM
and Ministers to block Internet without a court ruling
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (20.01.15-online in
English) reported that Turkey’s Prime
Minister or any of his Ministers will have the right to block any website
without a court ruling for broad reasons such as “protection of public order,”
according to a new omnibus bill.
The
Prime Ministry and related Ministries will be able to demand that the
Telecommunications Directorate’s (TİB) authority to close websites within four
hours on the basis of national security, protecting public order or preventing
crime, according to a last-minute article submitted to parliament as part of an
omnibus bill about foundations and associations.
The
TİB will be able to decide to block websites or remove related content from the
Internet in a very short period of time, according to the bill submitted by ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) Konya Deputy Kerim Ozkul. A demand by the Prime
Ministry or any Ministry will be sufficient for the TİB to take urgent decision
to block access or remove Internet content in the name of “protecting the right
to life, protecting people’s life and property, national security, public
order, preventing crime, or protecting general health.”
Websites will be blocked four hours after the decision
is sent by the TİB to the content providers or hosting provider and will remain
closed until the content is removed.
Another
regulation that granted similar rights to the TİB was passed in parliament on
September 10, 2014, sparking protests from Internet rights groups.
The
main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) appealed to the Constitutional
Court on September 15, 2014, to annul the changes, arguing that they further
restricted Internet use in Turkey and increased the government’s control of web
traffic. On October 2, 2014, the Constitutional Court ruled as
“unconstitutional” the TİB’s authority to close websites within four hours
without a court ruling.
15.Turkish professor resigns over a tweet that
mocked Erdogan’s 16 warriors
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (20.01.15) reported
that a Dean at Pamukkale University in
western Turkey has resigned after his social media posting that mocked
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “16 warriors,” symbolic figures standing for
16 states founded by Turks in history, attracted online reaction.
“Which Turkish principality is this one wearing a
bathrobe?” asked Professor Hasan Herken, the Medical Faculty Dean of Pamukkale,
in a tweet. He later deleted the tweet.
However,
Herken apparently failed to delete the post soon enough, announcing over the
weekend that he had resigned. The interpretations of his post went beyond his
intentions, the Dean said in a written statement, adding that he did not insult
“the history or moral values of the nation, or the President who represents the
Turkish state.”
(…)
Herken elaborated on his resignation during a phone interview on private
broadcaster CNNTurk on January 16, saying his decision was related to death
threats. “They were threatening to tear me apart. There were threats against my
family, too,” he said, referring to online reactions.
16. Turkey and Qatar agree to form cooperation
council to enhance bilateral ties
According to Ankara Anadolu news agency
(20.01.15-online in English) Turkish
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin
Mohammed al-Attiyah have agreed to establish a joint cooperation committee
called the High-level Strategic Cooperation Council to enhance bilateral ties.
Cavusoglu and Khalid also discussed agreements on
military cooperation.
Addressing a press conference after their official
meeting in Doha, Cavusoglu said: “During the meeting with Foreign Minister
Khalid we decided to establish a joint committee.”
“The delegations from both sides will meet in March.
In April, another meeting will be organized at the Foreign Ministers’ level”, Cavusoglu
said.
Turkey has so far established such cooperation
councils with 18 other countries. Georgia will be the 19th country to join the
council.
Cavusoglu also commented on the bilateral trade and
economic cooperation between the two countries.
“The
bilateral trade volume is not at the level we wish,” he said, adding that
Turkish companies have undertaken important projects, but Qatar also has its
goals for the World Cup (in 2022).
Cavusoglu's visit to Qatar comes just a month after
Qatar’s intelligence chief Jassem al-Thani held talks with Egyptian officials
in Cairo to prepare for an upcoming joint summit between the Egyptian President
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that Cavusoglu’splanned
visit to Yemen on Tuesday was cancelled because of conflicts in the country’s
capital Sanaa.
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