TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
20/15 30.01.15
1.
Prime Minister Tsipras: The violation of Cyprus
Republic’s sovereign rights by Barbaros makes building of confidence more
difficult
2. Eroglu:
The natural gas issue must be discussed at the negotiation table
3. Sibel
and Talat accused Eroglu of being a part of the status quo
4.
Todd: The status quo in Cyprus cannot continue
5.TheTurkish Cypriot Businessmen Council continues its
contacts in Brussels on the registration of halloumi/hellim
6. More about the LSD disease in the occupied area of
Cyprus
7. Kilicdaroglu: “Turkey's 150-year parliamentary
system is being abandoned for the will of one person and not for the benefit of
the country”
8. Survey reveals that almost half of Turks are not in
favor of the presidential system
1. Prime
Minister Tsipras: The violation of Cyprus Republic’s sovereign rights by
Barbaros makes building of confidence more difficult
Under the title “Continuation of the course of
friendship”, Turkish daily Sabah
newspaper (30.01.15) publishes an
interview with the newly elected Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who was
asked whether he could in any way contribute to the solution of the Cyprus
problem and whether he will undertake any initiative and replied the following:
“Finding a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus
problem bears a great importance for the Cyprus people-comprised of Greek
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots- for Greece, the Turkish-Greek relations, the
European Union and the stability in Eastern Mediterranean. On our part, we support the bi-communal negotiations
facilitated by the United Nations and on the basis of the UN Resolutions for a
bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with a single administration, single
citizenship and a single international identity. We must actively support
the increase of mutual confidence in the island. The materialization of this, however, is becoming much more difficult
with activities such as the violation of the Republic of Cyprus’ sovereign
rights in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf through
Barbaros vessel which belongs to Turkey. The ship’s abandoning the area and
leaving all diplomatic channels open for the resumption of the negotiations is
of very big importance”.
Asked what the people in Turkey and Europe should hope
from him, the Greek Prime Minster expressed the belief that the young people in Greece and Turkey have
common values and common hopes and added that these common values “constitute another bridge of friendship between
our peoples”.
“What I want to tell them is that by continuing to
walk on this bridge, they should not stop believing in a future adorned with
peace, honor and friendship between the two peoples. I will not stop believing
in that”, he said.
Responding to a question as regards his government’s
initiatives in the relations with Turkey and whether they will continue the
mutual visits of the two Prime Ministers to Ankara and Athens respectively,
Tsipras said that they have repeatedly underlined the necessity of an active
and multidimensional Greek foreign policy which supports peace and stability in
the region. He recalled that SYRIZA’s
manifesto explicitly says that it actively supports the peaceful resolution of
the disputes with neighboring countries within the framework of the
international law. “This is valid at
the same time for the issue of the continental shelf between Greece and
Turkey”, he pointed out adding that the Greek government will attach
importance on the development of cooperation between Greece and Turkey in the
fields of economy, culture, tourism, education, migration, transportation,
energy and environment.
Tsipras
noted that the only way for being able to take a step forward on the issue of
developing confidence with Turkey is to respect each other’s sovereign rights
and the principle of good neighborhood. He wondered, however, how the two
countries will proceed to the future when, for example, the Turkish violations
of the Greek national airspace tripled in 2014 compared to 2013 and Turkey’s
casus belli decision against Greece is still valid.
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu:
The natural gas issue must be discussed at the negotiation table
Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (30.01.15)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader and candidate for the “presidential
elections” Dervis Eroglu stated that the natural gas issue must be discussed at
the negotiation table.
He made these statements in the framework of his
election campaign in a speech he delivered at occupied Geunyeli village.
Eroglu stated that he is at the negotiation table in
the name of the “people” knowing what the people want: “There was a suspension at
the negotiations because the Greek Cypriot leader left the negotiation table.
The reason was our ship at the sea. But there is an issue for them to
understand. That ship was conducting researchers in our name. The message, that
the Turkish Cypriots also have rights to the wealth underneath the
Mediterranean Sea must be delivered both to the Greek Cypriots and the world.
However, the Greek Cypriots want to give us our rights only after the solution
of the Cyprus problem. We say that this issue must come up before the solution.
But despite our warnings they continue their researchers. The natural gas issue must be discussed at
the negotiation table”, he stated.
3. Sibel
and Talat accused Eroglu of being a part of the status quo
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (30.01.15)
reports that the candidate with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Sibel Siber and the former Turkish Cypriot
leader Mehmet Ali Talat accused Dervis Eroglu of not wanting a solution and of
being a part of the status quo in Cyprus.
Siber, who was speaking in the framework of her election
campaign in occupied Keryneia, accused Eroglu of leading the “country” to
dangerous paths and said that it is CTP’s duty to prevent Eroglu from acting
this way. She said that Eroglu’s defeat would be the status quo’s defeat and
noted that the winner of the election should be the will for solution. She also
stated that CTP has the experience and the experience’s name is Mehmet Ali
Talat.
On his part Talat stated that the Turkish Cypriots need
the solution in every aspect of their lives and said that Eroglu, despite
saying that he would continue the negotiations from the point these were left
during Talat’s “period” in reality he did not acted this way. Talat also said
that if Eroglu was a pro-solution leader, president Nicos Anastasiades would
not have left the negotiation table for whatever reason. He also said that the
world does not criticize Anastasiades because “the world knows and sees”
Eroglu’s intentions.
4. Todd:
The status quo in Cyprus cannot continue
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (30.01.15)
reports that the British High
Commissioner to Nicosia, Ric Todd has said that when the developments happening
in the world, Cyprus’ position and especially the island’s eastern neighbors
are taken into consideration, no one could assume that the status quo on the
island will continue.
In an interview with Havadis, Todd argued that the question which the Cypriots have to answer now is
not whether they prefer the continuation of the status quo or to take the risk
of a solution, but whether they prefer to take the risk of the solution or the
risk of the non-solution. He noted that there are “very strong reasons” for
proceeding towards the solution and at the same time there are also reasons
related to preventing negative developments. “I do not want to seem like threatening for violence, but you cannot be
certain that the incidents happening not very far from you will not come to
Cyprus”, he argued adding that terrorism threatens the entire Europe and no
country is exempted from this.
Todd expressed the UK’s support to the efforts of
Espen Barth Eide, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus, in the
direction of the resumption of the talks and added that they encourage both sides to return to the negotiating table. He alleged that both sides are responsible
for the fact that the negotiations could not resume.
Noting that a
problem of lack of confidence exists between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek
Cypriots, Todd said that the lack of
confidence lies in the foundation of the disagreements at the negotiating table.
(I/Ts.)
5.TheTurkish Cypriot Businessmen Council continues
its contacts in Brussels on the registration of halloumi/hellim
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (30.01.15)
reports that a delegation of the Turkish
Cypriot Businessmen Council (KTIAK), within the framework of its tour in
Europe, held several officials contacts in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague
and afterwards in Brussels where they discussed with several European officials
the issue of the halloumi/hellim cheese.
According to the paper, the delegation which is headed by the “chairman” of (KTIAK), Ilker
Zugurt, the “representative” of the Chamber of Trade in Brussels, Hale Sener
and the “TRNC representative” in Brussels Hasan Varoglu, visited “Belgium’s
Active Businessmen Federation” and New European Business Confederation (UNITEE).
During their meeting with UNITEE, Zugurt signed with UNITEE an agreement for becoming an observer member
of the confederation, while the also held talks with the EU Aid Office for the
Turkish Cypriots.
Speaking during the meeting, Zugurt referred to the
agreement signed with UNITEE for becoming an observer member and described this
agreement as an important step that will help them to lift the “embargoes”
imposed in the “country” and also it will contribute for the better
representation of the “TRNC” abroad.
Adem Kumcu, chairman of UNITTE stated in his turn that
the confederation will contribute to the “lifting” of the so-called embargoes
and to the efforts for finding a comprehensive solution.
Also, in the framework of its contacts in Brussels, the delegation met and exchanged views with
officials of the EU Task Force for the Turkish Cypriots regarding the issue of
the registration of halloumi/hellim.
The
delegation referred during the meeting to the sensitivities of the Turkish
Cypriots concerning the registration of halloumi cheese and underlined that the
Turkish Cypriots have the same rights as the Greek Cypriots on the issue of
halloumi.
Supporting
that halloumi cheese is a common product of all Cypriots, the delegation
proposed for halloumi to be used for the benefit of the two sides and to be
used as a tool for peace.
AK
6.More about the LSD disease in the occupied area
of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (30.01.15)
reports that the chairman of the so-called Turkish Cypriot Veterinary Doctors
UnionUmut Sayili, in a written statement
yesterday, accused the so-called government for preferring to go out to tenders
for the vaccines need to confront the spreading of the LSD disease in the
occupied area of Cyprus, instead of taking the vaccines free of cost from the
EU.
Supporting that the vaccines will cost to the “state” around 500 thousand TL, Sayili
explained that officials of the EU who came to the island to carry out
inspections on the LSD disease, held contacts with the “Veterinary Department”.
According to Sayili, the EU officials conveyed to the officials of the “Veterinary
department” that the EU could provide them around 70 vaccines free of cost.
“The Veterinary Department ignored this proposal and went out to tenders”, said
Sayili.
Meanwhile, in statements during the meeting of the
so-called assembly yesterday, the so-called minister of agriculture Onder Sennaroglu referred to the LSD
disease and said that the vaccines for the disease will arrive to the occupied
area of Cyprus within ten days. He added that their aim is to conclude their
work of vaccination in one month.
AK
7.Kilicdaroglu: “Turkey's 150-year parliamentary
system is being abandoned for the will of one person and not for the benefit of
the country”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.01.15) reported that the chairman of the main
opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıcdaroglu has said that the
main Turkey's 150-year-old parliamentary system is being abandoned for the will
of one person and not for the benefit of the country.
"We
have a 150-year-old parliamentary system experience. Of course, there are
malfunctions, which can be overcome. But why are we suddenly changing a
150-year-old tradition? For someone to be President?" Kılıcdaroglu told a
local TV station in the northwestern province of Bursa on January 29, referring
to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The CHP leader questioned why such an initiative is
being made, saying the government is "tyrannizing society."
"Have you incorporated the idea of bringing a Presidency
into the government program? No. You don't have such a promise, but you have
tyrannized society, you have pressured it", said Kılıcdaroglu, slamming
the government for "silencing" universities, NGOs, and suppressing
the freedom of expression.
"You are imposing a different regime on
society," he added.
Stating that such problems partly derived from the
fact that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu does not perform his role as the Head
of the government, Kılıcdaroglu described Erdogan's apointment of Davutoglu as
the next Head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Prime Minister,
after the presidential elections in August 2014, as "an act that democracy
could not withstand."
8.Survey reveals that almost half of Turks are not
in favor of the presidential system
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (30.01.15) reports
that according to a recent survey
released by the Metropoll research center, almost half of Turks do not want to
replace the parliamentary system with a presidential one, and their proportion
also exceeds those who want a presidential system.
While
42.2% of Turks do not wish for a presidential system, only 34.3% are in favor
of the system. The rest of
the respondents said they do not have an opinion on the issue. The percentage of those who favor the
presidential system has decreased from 43.2% in June 2012, while the percentage
of people against it has since increased from 37.7%.
In the recent survey, 55.2% of the respondents who
identify as supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) are in
favor of the presidential system, while the rate of those who are against is
17.3%. The rate of those who are in favor of the presidential system among the
supporters of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is 10.7%,
while a large majority of them, 73.7%, are against it, according to the survey.
The respondents were also asked whether they believe
the President is neutral, as the President has to be neutral towards all
political parties according to the constitution.
A total of 59%
of respondents said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is not neutral, while only
35% said he is neutral. Meanwhile, the responses to the question on who is
actually leading the AKP were also intriguing. A majority of respondents, 75%,
said Erdogan is leading the AKP, while only 21.1% said Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu is actually leading the party. The results were similar when
respondents were asked who rules the government. A total of 78.6% said Erdogan
leads the government, while only 18.1% named Davutoglu as the Head of
government.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
