TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 04/15 08.01.15
1. BKP condemns Turkey for issuing a new NAVTEX; “Turkey
has blown up the possibility for the resumption of the Cyprus talks”
2. The reason for the tension in Eastern Mediterranean is
said to be Turkey’s wish to take a share from the natural resources of the
area
3. Noble Energy cooperates with Turkish Petroleum for
drilling in the Black Sea
4. Akinci: The natural gas could create a new dynamic for
the solution of the Cyprus problem
5. GAE opinion poll shows that the army and the “police”
are the institutions trusted the most by the people in the breakaway regime
6. Problems exist for the start of the construction works
of the new building of the illegal Tymbou airport
7. An agreement reached between “animal producers and
breeders union” and Yorgancioglu
8. Self-style ministry of health signs a draft deal on
health tourism
9. Ankara strongly condemns terrorist attack on French
magazine
10. Turkey's EU Minister: The EU needs Turkey more than
Turkey needs the EU
11. Erdogan proposes university campuses be called
‘kulliye’
12. Council of Europe says Turkey should take rightful
place in the EU
13. Turkey detains second Dutch journalist
1.BKP condemns Turkey for issuing a new NAVTEX; “Turkey
has blown up the possibility for the resumption of the Cyprus talks”
Under the title: “The possibility for the resumption of
negotiation talks has been blown up”,
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper (08.01.15) reports that the United Cyprus Party (BKP) issuing a
written statement yesterday stressed the need for Turkey to cancel the new
NAVTEX as soon as possible and to withdraw the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa vessel,
supporting that this is a precondition for the resumption of the Cyprus
negotiation talks.
“The policy of tension and demonstration of force is
ineffective and condemned”, said the BKP,adding that the re-launching of
seismic explorations by the Barbaros vessel as well as Turkey’s announcement,
have blown up the possibility for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiation
talks.
The BKP pointed out that the comprehensive
solution and the federal Cyprus is the only way for the Turkish Cypriots to
have rights on the natural gas and to the “administration of Cyprus” and
stressed the need for the sides to proceed the soonest possible at the
negotiating table.
BKP
further said that the “TRNC government” and the “assembly” which licensed
Turkey’s TPAO to continue its explorations works are the responsible for the
blowing up of the talks and for allowing Turkey to continue following the
policy of tension.
BKP
stated also that the Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu and the so-called
coalition government of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP)- United Forces (BG)
and Democratic Party-National Forces (DP-UG) serve the escalation of the
tension and the non-solution.
BKP
condemned and expressed regret over the statements made by the so-called
foreign minister OzdilNami and the “secretary general” of CTP KutlayErk on the
issue.
(AK)
2. The reason for the tension in Eastern Mediterranean is said
to be Turkey’s wish to take a share from the natural resources of the area
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (08.01.15) reports that the reason of the tension created in Eastern Mediterranean on the
hydrocarbons issue is Turkey’s wish to take a share from the natural resources
in the area. A “high ranking Turkish
Cypriot official” told Kibris that Turkey is actually interested in Israel’s
natural gas and not in Cyprus and wants a pipeline to pass through Anatolia for
transferring hydrocarbons from the Leviathan basin, which has 450 billion cubic
meters of natural gas and 600 million barrels of oil.
The source
said: “A deficit in natural gas will exist in Turkey in the near future. It
wants to meet a part of the deficit from Israel’s natural gas. It demands for
the Israeli natural gas to be sent to Turkey through pipelines and from there
to Europe. Thus, it wants to take natural gas in return of gas’ passing fee”.
The source pointed out, however, that it is difficult for this
wish to be materialized because of the stance of Turkey against Israel and the
Republic of Cyprus. International experts say that in order for the Israeli natural gas from
Levantine basin to reach Turkey, it should pass through the continental shelf
of Cyprus and this is why the permission of the Republic of Cyprus is needed.
Diplomatic observers note that in order for this to happen, peace should come
in Cyprus and the relations between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus should be
normalized. This is the reason of the recent increased western interest on the
Cyprus problem, they say.
(I/Ts.)
3. Noble Energy cooperates with Turkish Petroleum for drilling
in the Black Sea
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (08.01.15) reports that Noble Energy, which is carrying out
drilling for natural gas and oil in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in
Eastern Mediterranean, is beginning
drilling in the Black Sea on behalf of Turkey. According to the paper,
Turkish Petroleum (TP) has intensified its drilling activities in the
Mediterranean and Black Sea by establishing partnerships with international
companies. Within this framework the vessel named Noble Globetrotter II passed through the Istanbul Straights the day
before yesterday and reached the Black Sea where it will search for oil on
behalf of Turkey 50 miles from the shore.
Citing
information published in the Turkish media, the paper notes that Noble
Globerotter II platform will carry out explorations in a depth of two thousand
meters in the western Black Sea area and 240 persons will be employed for this
job.
Turkish
Energy and Natural Resources Minister, TanerYildiz,
who watched the ship departing from Istanbul, told reporters that “our first target is to contribute in the
development of the energy resources in order for being able to be included
among the ten biggest economies of the world in 2023”.
Yildiz said
that Turkey continues to work in cooperation with private companies in this
field and added that in 2014 Turkish
Petroleum carried out 226 drilling activities with 28 local and 17 foreign
companies in an area of 310 thousand square kilometres of Turkey’s land and sea.
He noted that during the same period they opened 188 wells, 90 of which were
for exploration and evaluation and 98 for production.
According
to Yildiz, an increase of 9% was observed in the number of the wells they found
in 2014 compared to 2013. He said that
they found oil in 60 wells and gas in two, something which resulted in the
decrease of the imports of Turkish Petroleum by 1.9 billion dollars.
(I/Ts.)
4. Akinci: The natural gas could create a new dynamic for the
solution of the Cyprus problem
Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (08.01.14) reports that independent candidate for the “presidential
elections” Mustafa Akinci stated that the natural gas and the economic crisis
faced by “south Cyprus” as he called the Republic of Cyprus, could create a new
dynamic for the solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that if these issues are
handled with intelligence, the results would be beneficial for both sides in
Cyprus.
Akinci made
these statements during visits he paid to the “Turkish Cypriots public vehicles
managers union” (KAR-IS) and to the illegal “international Cyprus university”
in the framework of his “election campaign”.
During his
visit to “Kar-IS”, Akinci stated that the problems faced by the “union” as
regards their crossing to the free area of the Republic of Cyprus, could be
solved with the solution of the Cyprus problem and added that solution to their
problems can be given in the framework of building confidence measures. He also
stated that the solution of the Cyprus problem should be the main duty and
concern of the elected “president”.
During his
visit to the illegal university, Akinci stated that despite the solution
opportunity that was lost ten years ago, a new opportunity appears nowadays and
efforts must be exerted so this is not lost again.
5. GAE opinion poll shows that the army and the
“police” are the institutions trusted the most by the people in the breakaway
regime
Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (08.01.14) reports that according to the “Keryneia American University’s” (GAU) “Kyrenia
Research Institute” (“GAE”) results of its annual “Expectations Research”, the
army, the “courts of justice” and the
“police” are the institutions trusted the most by the people living in the
breakaway regime.
According
to the survey, asked to list the three main problems that must be solved in the
“TRNC”, 20.02% said “the Cyprus problem”, 18.9% said “health and social
security” and 16.1% replied “unemployment”.
To the question, which institution they trust the most,
22.7% replied “the army”, 13.5% replied the “police” and 9.8% replied the
“courts of justice”.
Asked
about the expectations they have from
the current “government”, 48.9% stated that this is to find a solution to the
Cyprus problem, 26.3% to solve the unemployment issue and 12.5% to carry
out the economic protocol signed with Turkey.
In
addition, 75% of the persons asked
stated that they do not expect the solution of the Cyprus problem to take place
in 2015; moreover 49.6% stated that the Greek Cypriot side is the one
responsible for the non-solution.
To
the question if the natural gas discovered in Cyprus will be helpful to the
solution of the Cyprus problem, 49,1% replied negatively, 37.8% stated that it will help the efforts
for solution, while 13,1% stated that has no opinion on the issue. To the
question if the water transferred from Turkey will be helpful to the solution
of the Cyprus problem, 48,1% said no, 39% said yes and 12,9% stated that has no
opinion on the issue.
As
regards the forthcoming “presidential elections” to be conducted in April, 46%
stated that they will vote for the current Turkish Cypriot leader and
“candidate” DervisEroglu, 30% stated that they will vote for Republican Turkish
Party “candidate” SibelSiber, 17% for independent “candidate” Mustafa Akinci
and 7% for independent “candidate”
KudretOzersay.
According
to the survey, 15.5% of the people are not going to vote in the “presidential
elections” and 40% of the people said no to a “presidential system”, alongside
the undecided of around 30%.
The
survey was conducted in December 20 with a sample of 695 persons from the five
“districts” in the occupied are of Cyprus.
6.Problems exist for the start of the construction
works of the new building of the illegal Tymbou airport
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (08.01.15) reports that the so-called ministry of public works and transportation has announced
that it could not hand over the whole plot of land to the company Tasyapi which
will reconstruct the occupied airport of Tymbou and the airport’s landing
field.
According
to the paper, it was made known that the “ministry” has only allocated the
necessary piece of land for the launching of the construction works and not the
whole plot of land. The total space of land which should be handed over to the
company is 2 million meters squares, writes the paper and adds that only one
part of the military establishment which is located opposite to the illegal
Tymbou airport was handed over to the Tasyapicompany.
As
the paper writes, after the handing over of the one part of the “airport” and
in case that there would not be any problem, Tasyapicompany plans to start the
re-construction of the “airport” on forthcoming March. Concerning the land which was not able to be
handed over yet, the paper writes that tomorrow is expected a “court decision”
regarding the handing over of the hangar space which is used by Istanbul’s
Handling.
In
statements to the paper on the issue, SuatYeldener, “undersecretary” of the
so-called ministry of transportation and public works said that the fields
which were not handed over to the paper are not an obstacle for the company to
start the construction works and added that they will expect for tomorrow’s
decision of the “court” on the issue.
Yeldener
added that within a period of two years, the “military establishment” which is
located opposite to the “airport” will be transferred to another place in the
occupied village of Bekoyu.
(AK)
7. An agreement reached between “animal producers and breeders
union” and Yorgancioglu
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 07.01.15), an
agreement was finally reached at the end of the meeting between the protesting
“animal producers and breeders union” and the self-styled prime
ministerYorgancioglu.
According
to the deal, the “animal producers and breeders” will receive their overdue
payments in two instalments. The first lump of the money will be paid on
Thursday and the second one will be paid on Friday.
8. Self-style ministry of health signs a draft deal on health
tourism
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 07.01.15), the
self-styled health ministry, has signed a draft protocol on health tourism with
Swiss Health Tourism and Education Services and Swiss Turkish Doctors Health
Workers Union.
According
to a press release, the draft agreement aims to develop health tourism in the
“TRNC” (editor’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus) and alternative tourism areas.
Another aim
of the agreement is to bring the changes and developments in health in Europe
to the “TRNC”.
9. Ankara strongly condemns terrorist attack on French magazine
Turkish
daily Sabah (online, 08.01.15) reports that Turkish President RecepTayyip
Erdogan harshly condemned on Wednesday the deadly assault on French satirical
magazine Charlie Hebdo in central Paris.
In a
written statement, Erdogan said: "We strongly condemn the heinous
terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris today that has killed
12 and injured 20 people".
The
President extended his condolences to the "friend and ally" country
France and said he expected the perpetrators to be brought before justice as
soon as possible.
Erdogan stressed that "terrorism has no religion or
nationality and no excuse can be given for it". "It
is of crucial importance that we have a common stance against terrorist attacks
such as the one in Paris today. We have to take a firm stance against hate
speech, intolerance to differences and attempts to present religious and
cultural differences as ground for enmity," he added.
In his
statement, the Turkish President maintained that Turkey will continue its fight
"against all forms of terrorism with determination".
Moreover,
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu strongly condemned the attack on the
French satirical weekly magazine on Wednesday, in which 12 people died. He
said, "Globally, we must act against today's attack in Paris so that
tension does not spread to other areas".
Davutoglu also said, "Attempts to relate Islam to the
terrorist attack would be wrong," and added, "Islam is a religion of
peace."
Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu condemned the attack as well, saying: "We, as
Turkey, condemn terrorism in all forms. It does not matter where it comes from;
we oppose all acts of terrorism. We need to fight against terrorism. There are
two factors that need to be fought in our region and Europe as well – regional
and global counter-terrorism. There is a serious global shortcoming in counter-terrorism."
On the same
issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (08.01.15) reports that Turkey’s Minister of
Culture and Tourism Omer Celik has condemned Wednesday's gang shooting.
"We
openly and unconditionally condemn this attack and its perpetrators regardless
of their identities and nationalities, said Celik as he attended a conference
of commercial counsellors at the Turkish Economy Ministry.
He also
pointed out the way international news agencies broadcast its news which refers
to it as an "attack on magazine publishing caricatures of Prophet
Mohammed."
The
magazine sparked controversy back in 2006 and 2012 for publishing comic
cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
Celik maintained that use of such language by the press would mean
a support to a "wrong effort to manipulate the public perception".
"Each sentence that links Islam and Muslims to this attack and its
perpetrators would serve both Islamophobia and xenophobia," he noted.
Celik cautioned that it would lead to negative perception of the
world of Islam in the eye of Europe, saying "it is exactly what the
assailants aimed at".
The
Minister also called to act against terror in unity and integrity with the
European politicians.
10. Turkey's EU Minister: The EU needs Turkey more than Turkey
needs the EU
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (07.01.15), the EU needs Turkey's membership to
overcome its burdens, Turkish EU Minister VolkanBozkir said on Wednesday.
"We
see our relationship with the EU as a win-win relationship, based on mutual
interests," Bozkir said during a speech on the third day of the annual
Turkish Ambassadors conference, adding that the EU needs Turkey more than
Turkey needs the EU.
"Today,
strong economic markets are not in Europe, but in Turkey," Bozkir added.
"The young population is not in Europe, but in Turkey. There is no
military in Europe, but Turkey has a very powerful army. There is no any other
country that will ensure the EU's energy security."
To gain
membership, Turkey has to successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35
policy chapters, which involve reforms and the adoption of European standards.
So far, 14 chapters have been opened, while 17 remain blocked and another four
have yet to be discussed. "Opening chapters is no longer a problem for Turkey,"
Bozkir said. "Opening chapters is the responsibility of the EU. We will be
glad if they open the chapters, but we will not, if they do not."
11. Erdogan proposes university campuses be called ‘kulliye’
According
to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 07.01.15), Turkey’s President
RecepTayyip Erdogan proposed a new name for university campuses on Wednesday,
saying that it would be better if the Turkish word “kampus,” derived from the
English word “campus,” was replaced with “kulliye,” which is of Arabic origin.
“We just
had a discussion with the Education Minister about the word campus. Should this
be the word? … I thought of revisiting our history and thought perhaps kulliye
would be better. It would be a first in this new period,” he said while attending
a ceremony marking the opening of a new campus for YildirimBeyazit University
in Ankara. He then proposed that the name of the newly opened campus be
“EsenbogaKulliyesi” instead of “EsenbogaKampusu”.
The word
“külliye” is derived from the Arabic word "kull," which means all.
Kulliye was mostly used in the Ottoman times to refer to a complex of buildings
around a mosque that are generally run by a foundation for charitable purposes.
Erdoğan
recently vowed that the Ottoman language would be introduced in schools, saying
it will be taught whether critics “like it or not,” fuelling criticism that he
and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) are trying to undermine
secularism.
During the
same speech, Erdoğan also repeated his criticism to the UN Security Council,
calling for an expansion of the world body to include 20 members who rotate
annually or bi-annually.
“Let the UN
Security Council have 20 members and let the members rotate every year or every
two years,” Erdogan said. He also said that the members should be chosen to
reflect religious and continental representation.
“We will
[say] to the world that the world is bigger than five,” Erdogan said, in
reference to the five permanent members of the Security Council. “Right now,
three continents are being represented [at the Security Council]. Looking from
the aspect of religion, there is not a single Muslim country represented. Then,
what is the UN Security Council good for? I am not represented there. A
Security Council where I am not represented cannot speak on my behalf.”
12. Council of Europe says Turkey should take rightful place in
the EU
Turkish
daily Sabah (online, 08.01.15) reports that ThorbjornJagland, Secretary-General
of the Council of Europe, welcomed Turkey's intention to strengthen cooperation
with the Council of Europe, and to become a major contributor to the
organization's budget, together with the other five large member states –
France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the U.K.
Jagland said in a speech that Europe needs Turkey, and that Turkey
needs Europe. "Turkey should take its rightful place in the European
Union. Europe needs Turkey because Turkey is bordering one of the hot spots for
Europe," he said.
Turkey
wants to be the sixth-biggest contributor of the Council of Europe, Turkey's
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday. He made the remarks in a
welcome address for Jagland, at the Seventh Annual Ambassadors' Conference in
Ankara. "At a time when Europe needs dialogue, mutual understanding and
respect for diversity, the Council of Europe should take a step forward,"
Cavusoglu said, "We are one of the founding members of this organization,
now we would like to be one of the grand payers of the Council of Europe".
He said that Turkey paid 13 million euro annually to the Council of Europe,
adding: "We would like to increase this number to 33 million euros. The
Council of Europe has five grand payers and we would like to be the sixth
one." Turkey also made an active financial contribution to the U.N. budget
between 2013 and 2015. With $63 million, Turkey is the 16th-highest paying
country to the U.N. budget.
Jagland
also questioned the wisdom behind not allowing Turkey into the EU. "Who
can say no to add 70 to 80 million new customers to the internal market?"
he said, adding that Europe was witnessing "very worrying signs" in
terms of economic and social situations. Jagland also said that since Turkey
borders Syria, Iraq and Iran, it is very important for Europe to solve problems
in that region.
On the same
issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 08.01.15), under the title
“Turkey's Constitutional Court must remain free, Council of Europe’s Jagland
says”, reports that Jagland, in an
interview to the paper said that the
separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary
is an indispensable principle in any democracy, adding that the country’s
Constitutional Court must remain free.
Jagland had
meetings with Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu, Constitutional Court President HasimKilic, and the leaders of
opposition parties during his visit to Ankara.
“The media
also plays an indispensable role in a democracy like the independent courts.
The separation of powers, checks and balances is a fundamental principle in any
democracy. Without independent institutions, we always get corruption and
misuse of power. We have seen it recently in Ukraine, in Tunisia and elsewhere
that if you don’t have it, it can even lead to revolutions,” Jagland said.
He said
there were "systematic problems" in Turkey, particularly in the
judiciary, with regard to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. “Most
of the applications and judgments from the court in Strasbourg [The European
Court of Human Rights] are about these issues," he observed.
Jagland
said that he had also discussed issues on gender equality. Asked about Turkey’s
Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu’s recent statement that motherhood should be
a woman’s only career, he said: "This is not my view". "I know
that some hold that view. But I don’t think it can be implemented in practice
in any society because we are dependent on people being a part of the society
and being able to contribute to the economy and society at large,” he added.
Jagland
also stressed that women and men have the same rights under the European
Convention. “These are the basic rights. There is a large appreciation in
societies on how they apply it. But no member country can harm the fundamental
rights of any of the sexes, men and women. My fundamental thinking on that is
that women represent half the population and therefore constitute very
important resources for any society that should be used fully,” he said.
13. Turkey detains second Dutch journalist
According
to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 07.01.15), Turkish authorities on
Wednesday briefly detained a second Dutch journalist in as many days amid
growing concern that media freedom in the country is under threat.
Mehmet
Ulgur, a Dutch citizen of Turkish origin, was arrested at Istanbul airport, the
Dutch Journalists' Association said. He was released after questioning, but
ordered to attend court on January 21.
His
detention follows that of FrederikeGeerdink, a freelance reporter specializing
on Kurdish issues, who was questioned and later released on Tuesday.
The
detentions coincided with a visit to Turkey by Dutch Foreign Minister Bert
Koenders, who said on Tuesday that he was shocked by the first incident.
"Intimidation of journalists is unacceptable," he said.
Ulgur, a
documentary-maker, was taken aside while queuing for a passport check. He was
told to attend a court hearing relating to an incident when he took photos at
the 2013 trial of another Dutch journalist, news portal villamedia.nl reported.
Officials
from Turkey's Justice and Foreign Ministries said Ülgür had been brought in for
questioning and then released.
The
detentions come at a time of political tension between Turkey and the
Netherlands, home to one of the world's largest Turkish diaspora communities.
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