TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
22/15 03.02.15
1. Nami
alleges that Prime Minister Tsipras has no right to refer to the international
law because he recognizes the Republic of Cyprus
2. Arinc
evaluates Tsipras’ visit to Cyprus
3. How the
Turkish Cypriot and Turkish press cover Greek Prime Minister Tsipras’ visit to
the Republic of Cyprus
4. Tsipras
met with Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot NGO’s; Statements by Derya and Dagli
5. Siber
explains how she intends to promote the Turkish Cypriot positions if she is
elected
6.
Gurcafer: Arinc's statements do not concern us
7. The
so-called municipality of occupied Galateia village sent an application to
become a member of Cittaslow
8. A Greek
Cypriot cemetery lies within the pasture area for wild donkeys in occupied
Karpasia
9. Data on
hotels occupancy in the occupied area of Cyprus
10. Atasoy
asked for the Arab’s countries support to the “TRNC”
11.
Turkey’s EU Minister due to visit the US for trade discussions
12. Five
years sought for Dutch journalist over ‘terrorism propaganda’
13.
Columnist wonders whether Europe’s future includes Turkey
1. Nami alleges that Prime Minister Tsipras has no right to
refer to the international law because he recognizes the Republic of Cyprus
Under the
title “Nami: Concrete steps should be encouraged”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Havadis newspaper (03.02.15) reports that OzdilNami,
self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged
thatthe criticisms by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras regarding the
activities of the Turkish Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa seismic explorations vessel
in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic zone (EEZ) are “one sided assessments”.
In
statements to Anatolia news agency regarding the Greek Prime Minister’s visit
to Cyprus, Nami claimed that those who
“accept a government comprised only by Greek Cypriots as the government of the
entire Cyprus” have no right to refer to international law. “These are one
sided assessments and are nothing else than reiterating the known official
views”, he alleged.
Touching upon Greek Prime Minister’s reference to the sovereign
rights of the Republic of Cyprus on the issue of natural gas explorations in
Eastern Mediterranean, Nami claimed that the wrong assessments by the
Greek side continue and wished for Prime
Minister Tsipras to abandon soon this kind of approaches which allegedly ignore
the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
Nami said
that it is not possible for peace to come to Cyprus without sitting at the
negotiating table for solving the Cyprus problem and argued that the first
precondition is for the side which abandoned the table to return to the
negotiations.
Nami described as “positive”, Prime Minister Tsipras’ statement as
regards the necessity of finding a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution on
the island, alleging that this is a reply given to the Greek Cypriots, because
“there is an increasing political climate against the federal solution in the
Greek Cypriot side.”
Nami alleged that if Greece sincerely wishes a solution, it should
“fulfill its responsibility on the issue of the Greek Cypriot leader’s
returning to the negotiating table”. He argued
that after the return of the Greek Cypriot side to the negotiating table, the
negotiating process should focus on the issues that remain pending. He claimed
that the Greek side should allegedly stop using the EU and the natural gas as
trump card in the negotiations.
He argued:
“Unfortunately, we see that the Greek Cypriot leaders, instead of having a
constructive approach on these issues, are acting with a mentality, which will
cause difficulties in the negotiations. If there is going to be a comprehensive
solution in Cyprus, both sides should respect each other’s legitimate rights
and interest.”
Nami
expressed the hope that the actions of the newly elected Greek government
support its words on the issue of finding a federal solution in Cyprus and
added that they will closely follow the Greek government’s actions.
(I/Ts.)
2. Arinc
evaluates Tsipras’ visit to Cyprus
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 03.02.15), the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman
BulentArinc said that it is only natural for the newly elected Greek Prime
Minister AleksisTsipras to carry out his first official visit abroad to “South
Cyprus” (editor’s note: as he refers to the Republic of Cyprus).
“Tsipras is not any different from us. When
a new government is formed in Turkey and the new Prime Minister assumes office
he conducts his first official trip abroad to the TRNC (editor’s note: the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus)” he said.
Evaluating the Greek premier’s visit to
Cyprus following yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Arinci claimed that the Turkish
Cypriot side is remained at the negotiating table and is determined on achieving
results at the table for a settlement.
Stating that it is unnecessary to read too
much into Mr Tsipras’ statements during his visit to Cyprus, Arinc alleged that
“there is a separate state in the North of the island with its own
institutions, parliament and sovereignty”. He also claimed that “there is a
common view that all of the island’s resources are the common property of the
people who live on it”.
Alleging that the exploration activities
conducted by Turkey are in line with domestic and international law, Arinc
claimed that the “Greek Cypriot administration” (editor’s note: as he refers to
the Cyprus Government) has used these exploration activities as an excuse to
leave the negotiating table.
Arinc however expressed his view that all
these developments will not harm relations between Turkey and the Greece,
claiming that both Ankara and the “TRNC” desire a settlement on the island.
“The UN is currently trying to restart the
negotiations process. Such statements made by Greek officials during their
first visits abroad are only natural”, he said.
Asked by a journalist to evaluate Tsipras’
statement that Barbaros vessel should withdraw in order the Cyprus talks to
resume, Arinc said that he followed the issue from the news, but it had been
not discussed in the meeting.
3. How the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish press cover Greek Prime
Minister Tsipras’ visit to the Republic of Cyprus
The Turkish Cypriot daily newspapersgave today
extensive coverage (03.02.15) to the
visit of the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the Republic of Cyprus
and the statements he made here yesterday.
Under the
banner front-page title “The solution is important for the Turkish-Greek
relations”, Kibris reports that in
statements during a joint press conference with President Anastasiades at the
Presidential Palace, Prime Minster Tsipras said that supporting the efforts for finding a solution in Cyprus is among the
Greek government’s priorities. On its front page and under the title “Time
of peace has come”, the paper publishes a picture from Prime Minister Tsipras’
meeting with Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot NGOs during which he said that
he is at the same age with the Cyprus problem adding that enough time has
passed and solution should be reached.
Havadis refers to the issue noting that Prime Minister Tsipras emphasized on two
issues during his visit to Cyprus: “Support
to federation, reaction to Barbaros”.
Under the
title “Tsipras went to the gallows”, Afrika
writes that Greek Prime Minister’s visit to Cyprus had caused enthusiasm, but
actually he said nothing exiting. However, he did something “very impressive”, as the paper describes
his visit to the gallows where the British colonialists had hung members of
EOKA organization, which, according to the paper, fought for Cyprus’
independence.
Under the
front-page title “Greek Prime Minister Tsipras in Cyprus”, YeniDuzen refers to Tsipras’ statement that “the solution of the Cyprus problem is a touchstone in Turkish-Greek
relations” and that President Anastasiades words that “the solution will be the return of the current structure into a
bi-communal, bi-zonal federation”.
Kibris Postasi reports on its front page that Prime
Minister Tsipras “attacked Troika” and
when he was asked if he is optimistic on the issue of finding a solution to the
Cyprus problem, replied “of course I am”.
Under the
title “The Prime Minister surprised everybody”, Detay argues that Tsipras
visit “created surprise in many circles” and especially disappointed those who expected that he
would come into conflict with the government of the Republic of Cyprus.
Gunes writes that “Greece and South Cyprus are
on the same frequency” and Diyalog
argues that “There is nothing different”.
Ortam covers the issue under the banner
front-page title “’Our priority is
supporting the solution’”, while Star
Kibris gives emphasis to the statement made by the Greek Prime Minister
that “the solution of the Cyprus problem
is the touchstone of the Turkish-Greek relations”.
The Turkish
newspapers received by our Office today cover the issue as follows:
Hurriyet:
“First contact with the Turkish Cypriots”.
The paper’s correspondent in the
occupied area of Cyprus reports on Tsipras’ visit to Cyprus, the first after
being elected as a Prime Minister, and writes that Tsipras is the first Greek
Prime Minister who carried out direct contacts with the Turkish Cypriots.
Sabah:“ABi-zonal
federal solution message in Cyprus”.
The paper writes that the new Greek
Prime Minister Tsipras, in his first visit abroad, to “south Cyprus”, as it
called the Republic of Cyprus, sent a message of peace and said that a fair and
a sustainable viable solution is the touchstone for Turkish-Greek ties, the EU
and for stability in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean.
(I/Ts.-AK)
4.
Tsipras met with Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot NGO’s; Statements by
Derya and Dagli
Under the title: “The time for peace has come”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
newspaper (03.02.15) reports that the
new Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras within the framework of his contacts in
Cyprus met with representatives of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot NGO’s.
Tsipras held contacts with the Association for Historical
Dialogue and Research (AHDR), the bi-communal Magusa Initiative and the Hands
Across the Divide, the Feminist Workshop (FEMA), the Federal Cyprus Initiative
and the Social Gender Organization.
Speaking during the meeting with the NGO’
representatives, Tsipras said that he wass born a week after the Turkish
invasion in Cyprus in 1974 and added that the time has come for peace in
Cyprus.
Also speaking
on behalf of FEMA, DogusDerya said that Tsipras referred to the establishment
of a common future in the island and gave emphasis to the establishment of this
common future with the communal actions taken by the basis of the society.
Derya added in her statements that the fact that Tsipras is the first Greek
Prime Minister who chose to have direct contacts with the Turkish Cypriots, is
an indicator of a goodwill towards the solution.
On behalf of
the Famagusta Initiative, OkanDagli described Tripras as a sincere and genuine
person. Concerning their meeting with Tsipras, he said that in spite of its
symbolic character, Tsipras wanted for this meeting to take place since he
believes in the NGO spirit and since he is a person coming from NGO’s Tsipras
has expressed his views which are in favor of peace and the solution.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
Postasi (03.02.15) reports that Mehmet Cakici, “deputy” with the Communal Democracy Party (TDP)
in occupied Lefkosia evaluated Tsipras’ visit to Cyprus and his statements and
said that the new Greek Prime Minister wanted to show he will not put forward
new openings on the Cyprus problem, that he wished not to give the impression
of being in favor of the Turks and that he fully respects the decisions of
“south Cyprus”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus concerning the Cyprus
problem.
(AK)
5. Siber explains how she intends to promote the Turkish
Cypriot positions if she is elected
Turkish
Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (03.02.15) reports that SibelSiber, self-styled speaker of the “assembly” of the breakaway
regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and “candidate” in the
forthcoming “presidential elections”, has
said that if she is elected she will be a “president’ who deals both with the
negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and the internal
problems of the “people”.
Replying to
YeniDuzen’s questions, Siber noted that she
will establish an office on international relations. She said on this
issue:
“It will be a very different, very dynamic,
very active office on international relations. Academicians, especially our
influential academicians in international relations, civilian organizations,
experienced staff that worked on the Cyprus issue and diplomats will work in this
office. That is, we will be very
visible. We are not visible now as Turkish Cypriot side. There are two
communities and we are referring to a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation. There is one community which is visible,
because it is recognized, but we are not visible, we are not recognized.
However, being unrecognized is not tantamount to us
being prevented from making ourselves visible. It is difficult, but we will
struggle for the difficulties. What we mean by lobbying, what we mean by
backstage is to be able to explain yourself. No matter how right you are, you
are understood to the extent you are able to explain yourself. For example, you invite here a
correspondent from BBC, host him for two days, show him around and explain your
positions and your situation. Invite newspapers from abroad…”
(I/Ts.)
6. Gurcafer:
Arinc's statements do not concern us
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
Postasi Daily News (online, 03.02.15), the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot
Building Contractors’ Union Cafer Gurcafer responded to Turkish Minister for
Cyprus and Deputy Prime Minister BulentArinc’s statement that Turkey is
responsible for all the Vakif (EVKAF
religious foundation’s) properties in the “TRNC” (editor’s note: the breakaway
regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus).
Gurcafer said that Arinc’s statement did
not concern him and called on Yorgancioglu to shed some light on this. Gurcafer
told the paper that he is not concerned with what Arinc said in his statement
recently and added that “if the TRNC is a state and if the prime minister is
the head of the state, then he should keep his promises”. He also told to the
paper’s reporter MeryemEkinci that they will meet with the “government” today
to ask for the revision of the protocol.
7.The
so-called municipality of occupied Galateia village sent an application to
become a member of Cittaslow
Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper
(03.02.15) reports that the so-called
municipality of occupied Galateia village has sent a letter of application to
the international Organization Cittaslow to become a member.
Speaking to illegal TAK on the issue,
the “mayor” of the occupied Galateia “municipality” CemilSaricizmeli said that
they have fulfilled six main chapters for becoming a full member and added that
their goal is to become a full member.
Together with the so-called municipality
of Galateia, the “municipality” of occupied Lefka exerts also efforts to become
a member, writes the paper and adds that the occupied “municipality” of Trikomo
has become a member of this organization.
(Translator’s note:
Cittaslow is a movement founded in Italy and inspired
by the Slow Food organization.
Cittaslow's goals include improving the quality of life in towns).
(AK)
8. A
Greek Cypriot cemetery lies within the pasture area for wild donkeys in
occupied Karpasia
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (03.02.15), in
its front page, reports that within the area that the Evkaf administration has
rented to the occupied municipality of Rizokarpaso to fence in the wild donkeys
in the occupied peninsula of Karpasia, lies a Greek Cypriot cemetery.
According to the paper, the “municipality”
rent a 409 donum (translator’s note: a land measure of about 920 square metres)
area in occupied Karpasia near to Apostolos Andreas Monastery in a symbolic
price to be used as a pasture area for the wild donkeys.
9.Data
on hotels occupancy in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper
(03.02.15) reports that the “Turkish Cypriot Hotelier’s Union” (“KITOB”)
announced in a written statement that the hotels occupancy in the occupied area
of Cyprus has dropped 19% in January compared to previous month and shows an
increase by 9% compared to the same month of last year.
According to the data, the average rate
of hotel occupancy in January was 38%. The occupancy rate of small hotels was
22.5% while for the five-star hotels was 53%.
(AK)
10.Atasoy
asked for the Arab’s countries support to the “TRNC”
Under the title: “We will not leave alone the TRNC’s people”, Turkish Cypriot daily
YeniBakis newspaper (03.02.15) reports that NezaketEmineAtasoy, chairperson of the Association of Turkish
Confederations (TKT) and of the Turkish Industry Businesswomen and Businessmen
Confederation met with the Ambassador of Turkey at the Kingdom of Jordan,
AmjadAdaileh with whom she discussed the Cyprus problem.
According to the paper, during the
meeting, Atasoy asked for Jordan’s
support towards the “fair struggle” of the Turkish Cypriots and said: “We will
never leave the people of the TRNC alone. We expect the same interest and
support from the Kingdom of Jordan and the other Arab countries”.
Atasoy referred also during the meeting
to the Cyprus negotiation talks and alleged that it is the Greek Cypriot side
which left the talks by using groundless excuses, while the Turkish Cypriot
side as she claimed shows goodwill and exerts efforts towards the direction of
reaching to a solution.
Atasoy underlined the need for all the
Muslim states to support the “TRNC”. She added that she will have the
opportunity to discuss the Cyprus problem in March during her scheduled visit
to Jordan, where she will meet with the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan, Abdullah.
(AK)
11. Turkey’s
EU Minister due to visit the US for trade discussions
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 02.02.15), Turkey’s EU Minister VolkanBozkir is traveling to
Washington where he will hold talks with U.S. officials on negotiations on the
proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the
European Union and the United States.
Bozkir will have talks with the U.S.
administration and members of the Congress on the issue of the TTIP during his
visit to Washington on Feb. 3-6. The Minister will also attend a “National
Prayer Breakfast” organized by members of the U.S. Congress with the
participation of the President Obama, a written statement said Feb. 2.
He
will address the German Marshal Fund about possible outcomes of the TTIP on
Turkey and the country’s Customs Union agreement with the EU.
Ankara says Turkey might freeze its Customs
Union deal with the EU if the planned TTIP does not include Turkey. The
government believes that being left out of the U.S.-EU deal would cost $3
billion to Turkey, so it is pushing the EU to add just one article to the TTIP
deal for the automatic inclusion of countries that already have a Customs Union
deal with Brussels.
Meanwhile, U.S. and EU negotiators began
their latest round of talks yesterday seeking to push through the world’s
biggest-ever free trade deal, which after nearly two years remains bogged down
by public opposition, as Agence France-Presse reported.
12. Five
years sought for Dutch journalist over ‘terrorism propaganda’
According to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 02.02.15), Dutch journalist FrederikeGeerdink, who was briefly
detained in January in the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakır, is
facing a prison sentence of one to five years for allegedly carrying out
“terrorism propaganda,” the Dogan news agency reported on Monday.
Geerdink was temporarily detained on
charges of spreading terrorist propaganda and then released after she was
questioned at the Diyarbakır Police Department's counterterrorism unit for
three hours on Jan. 6. The journalist's detention coincided with the visit in
Turkey by Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders. Koenders was scheduled to meet
with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, on the same day as Geerdink was
detained by the police.
In a
message posted on the Dutch Foreign Ministry's official Twitter account, Koenders
said he was "shocked" by Geerdink's arrest. He said he "will
personally discuss this here in Ankara with my Turkish colleague.”
Later in the day, Geerdink was released
following an interrogation. Koenders later admitted in a speech at Dutch
Parliament that during his visit he had threatened Turkish officials that he
would leave the country unless Geerdink was released.
A
prosecutor has recently finalized an indictment against Geerdink, who works as
a freelance reporter in Diyarbakır specializing on Kurdish issues. The
Diyarbakır 6th High Criminal Court has accepted the indictment, which alleges
that Geerdink has been promoting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
via her social media accounts. In her testimony from her January detention,
Geerdink reportedly denied the accusations, saying that she has not praised any
terrorist activities.
13. Columnist
wonders whether Europe’s future includes Turkey
Columnist SemihIdiz, writing in Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 03.02.15), under the title “Does Europe’s
future really include Turkey?” comments on the latest statements by Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and President RecepTayyip Erdogan on Turkey’s EU
accession process as follows:
“Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was
reported saying, in his televised speech to the nation on Saturday, that
Europe’s future ‘will not be written without Turkey’. One assumes he means that
Turkey is an essential part of Europe and will remain so.
The semi-official Anadolu News Agency also
reported Davutoglu pointing to the obstacles in Turkey’s EU membership and
saying that those adopting anti-Muslim and anti-Turkish stances would not be
able to overshadow either historical realities or Turkey’s willpower.
Davutoglu was pointing in this way to
religious and cultural factors being strewn on Turkey’s EU path as obstacles.
It appears from his remarks that he sees this is a one-way street in which all
the obstacles are on the European side.
He was not reported saying anything to do
with upholding the most basic tenets of democracy, including freedom of
expression and freedom of speech, or defending an independent judiciary and the
rule of law, which are also hallmarks of advanced democracies.
Not much needs to be said about
Islamophobia in Europe and the anti-Turkish sentiments it feeds today. The
debate about this phenomenon is alive in Europe, especially after the recent
attacks in Paris.
This is a problem that exists and which
Europe will have to deal with, not for the sake of Turkey as an EU candidate
country, but because of the millions of Europeans who are Muslims, and who will
obviously not be disappearing simply because the right wing in Europe wants
this to happen.
What
Davutoglu said is therefore truer with regards to these Muslims, than it is
with regards to Turkey. The future of Europe will clearly not be written
without Muslims. There is however a very real chance that it might be written
without Turkey, which today, under the outlook represented by President
RecepTayyip Erdogan, appears further away from its European vocation than at
any time in the past.
It is, after all, Erdogan who is asking
Russian President Vladimir Putin, his fellow anti-European, to admit Turkey
into the Shanghai Five so that it can dump the EU. This alone shows he is less
than enamoured by values to do with democracy and human rights, which are
universal today but have their origins in the Europe much despised by him.
Given Erdogan’s blatantly authoritarian
tendencies, and his majoritarian understanding of democracy, rather than the
pluralistic understanding that is valid in advanced democracies, it is not
clear how Davutoglu will ensure that ‘Europe’s future is not written without
Turkey’, provided, of course, he means this in the positive, and not the
negative sense.
Given Erdogan’s self-avowed intentions for
the future, in which he is the sole leader of a country whose powers rest on
the ballot box, unconstrained by any checks or balances, Turkey is clearly
going to drift further from Europe for the duration that he remains in power.
There is clearly no place in Europe for a
Turkey that seems more determined to limit freedoms than to expand them. The
same applies for a Turkey where corruption allegations against members of the
ruling party are officially buried by means of a co-opted judiciary.
Europe is far from perfect, and ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) supporters like to highlight its
deficiencies with relish in their thinly disguised attempt to exonerate Turkey
of its much more serious and significant shortcomings.
But the values that Europe aspires to and
what it has achieved over the past 70 years in overcoming its shortcomings are
clear. Nothing today is clear, however, about Turkey’s direction if the core
values we are talking about are those that pertain to true democracy. One
cannot help wonder, therefore, if Europe’s future really includes Turkey, as
Davutoglu claims.”
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
