27/2/15

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW



TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S


No. 39/15                                                                                           27.02.15
1. Reactions by Eroglu and Soyer on the Russia-Cyprus agreement
2. Nami called on Muslim countries to take steps to lift the “isolations” imposed to the Turkish Cypriots
3. Eroglu: “The halloumi issue is like the national cause”
4. “Northern Iraq’s minister of education” is illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus
5. Ozgurgun to be candidate for UBP’s leadership in the party’s next congress
6. “International Studies Expo 2015” to take place in the breakaway regime
7.  Demirtas to run in June 7 elections despite HDP’s two-term limit

1. Reactions by Eroglu and Soyer on the Russia-Cyprus agreement
According to illegal Bayrak in Turkish (online, 27.02.15), Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu has strongly criticized the agreement signed between the Greek Cypriot administration (translator’s note: as he refers to the government of the Republic of Cyprus) and the Russian Federation on energy, economy, military and other fields.

In a written statement, Eroglu said that the signed agreement is not binding or has no validity for the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) or the whole of Cyprus. Eroglu claimed that the “Greek Cypriot administration” does not have the authority or the right to sign an agreement and engage in an activity on behalf of the whole of Cyprus. He alleged that the Greek Cypriot administration with this agreement has not only exceeded its authority, but it has also ignored at the same time the delicate balance on the island.

Eroglu also said: “As it is known, the 1960 agreements and treaties which represent this balance clearly state that there can only be military presence of the three guarantor countries on the island, Turkey, Greece and Great Britain. We do not know for exact what military amenities have been granted to the Russian federation. However whatever the provisions of these signed agreements are, these are in violation of the 1960 treaties but in purpose and spirit”.

Eroglu alleged that the timing of the agreements also proved how distant the Greek Cypriot leadership is from the idea of returning to the negotiating table and resuming talks for a comprehensive settlement.

“Countries which sign such agreements with the Greek Cypriot Administration must know that such actions only serve to encourage the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigence and its unjust treatment of the Turkish Cypriot people. These actions also hamper efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement on the island”, Eroglu claimed.

Eroglu also said that Russia, as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and leading world actor, must adopt a more balanced stance towards both sides on the island and added: “We hope that the Russian Federation will act in line with its international responsibilities. We call upon the European Union to acknowledge once again how wrong it was to allow the Greek Cypriots to join the block on their own and to honour its promises to the Turkish Cypriot people in line with the decisions it adopted in April 2004”.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (27.02.15) reports that self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party -United Forces (CTP-BG) FerdiSabitSoyer, commenting also on the latest agreements between Russia and Cyprus, evaluated them as versatile and added that at the same time Anastasiades also signed some agreements with Egypt.
Noting that Cyprus and Turkey need stability, Soyer said that the new political developments show that they are important actors. He added that this reveals once more the necessity for a Cyprus settlement.
(DPs)

2. Nami called on Muslim countries to take steps to lift the “isolations” imposed to the Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (27.02.15) reports that self-styled foreign minister OzdilNami, in his meeting with Ahmed Sulaimani Al-Abbas Oman’s Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry (translator’s note: as the paper reports his name and title), said that the Muslim countries should take steps on the “isolations” imposed to the Turkish Cypriots.

After completing his contacts in Jeddah, Nami met with the Undersecretary of the Ministry in Oman’s capital city of Muscat.

Claiming that the Turkish Cypriot “people” continue their strong commitment to a federal solution in Cyprus, Nami alleged that the “isolation” which prevents the Turkish Cypriots to integrate with the world in every field is a violation to fundamental human rights.

Nami alleged that the “isolation” is continuing despite all the calls to lift it, adding the importance of the Muslim brotherly countries to take a step on this issue. Stressing that commercial relations can be developed between “Northern Cyprus” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) and Oman, Nami briefed Al-Abbas regarding investment opportunities in “Northern Cyprus”.

Al-Abbas, on his part, expressed his wish for the development of trade relations between the two “countries”, adding that the cooperation especially between the “Chambers of Commerce and Industry” of the two “countries” is important.
(DPs)

3. Eroglu: “The halloumi issue is like the national cause”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.02.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader and candidate for the “April 2015 presidential elections” DervisEroglu held a meeting with the “Turkish Cypriot Businessmen council”. The main issue of the discussion was the halloumi/hellim issue and the recent initiatives taken by the “council”  as regards this.

The chairman of the “council”  IlkerZugurt informed Eroglu on the recent trips carried out by the “council”  on January 25 in Holland and Brussels and said that the registration issue on halloumi was the focus of their trips. He stated that they will continue to hold contacts abroad in order to promote their cause and “to explain to business communities in other countries that there are two separate states, economies and democracies in Cyprus”.

On his part, Eroglu thanked the “council”  for being very active persuading the halloumi issue and added that both the EU and the international community have started to have a better understanding as regards the “realities” in Cyprus. “The halloumi issue is very important, is like the national cause”, Eroglu alleged and added that the initiatives on the halloumi issue must continue.
(CS)

4.“Northern Iraq’s minister of education” is illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi (27.02.15) reports that the “minister of education of Northern Iraq” PishtiwanSadiq is paying an illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus upon an invitation from the so-called Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU).

According to the paper, the so-called minister of education OzdemirBerova and the “vice rector” of illegal DAU, Prof.NecdetOsam welcomed yesterday the “Iraqi minister” at the illegal Tymbou airport.
Speaking during the welcoming ceremony, Berova expressed pleasure over Sadiq’s visit and said that at the moment one thousand Iraqi students study at “TRNC’s universities”.

Sadiq stated that he visited the “TRNC” in order for steps to be taken for the improvement of ties and cooperation between the two “countries” in several fields, especially in the field of education. 

Expressing his pleasure over the fact that a thousand students from “Northern Iraq” study at the occupation regime’s universities, Sadiq described the “TRNC as the most popular country in the field of education”. 
(AK)

5.Ozgurgun to be candidate for UBP’s leadership in the party’s next congress
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper (27.02.15) reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun, chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP) announced yesterday that he will be a candidate again for the party’s leadership during the congress to be held next November or December.
Ozgurgun said that he does not know how the politics will be until the party’s congress; he, however, added that there is no reason for not being a candidate for the UBP’ leadership.
(AK)

6. “International Studies Expo 2015” to take place in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.02.15) reports that the “International Studies Expo 2015” is starting tomorrow in the breakaway regime. The fair will take place between February 28 – March 1 in the occupied part of Lefkosia.

 According to the paper, 80 representatives from educational institutions from Europe, USA, Canada and Israel will participate in the fair.  
(CS)
7. Demirtas to run in June 7 elections despite HDP’s two-term limit
According to Cihan news agency (26.02.15), the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair SelahattinDemirtas and HDP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair PervinBuldan will be exempted from a rule in the party’s internal regulation that limits Deputies to two consecutive terms in Parliament.

The issue was discussed at the latest meeting of the HDP’s central executive board earlier this week, during which it was decided to generally implement the rule in the upcoming June 7 parliamentary elections. However, Demirtas and Buldan will be exempted from the rule’s application.

According to the decision, a number of the party’s leading Deputies will not be able to run for parliament for a third time, as no exception will be implemented for them.

Meanwhile, HDP has also announced that it will join forces with the leftist Labour Party (EMEP) in the upcoming general elections in Turkey.
(DPs)

---------------------------------------------------

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs / AM)