TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
47/15 11.03.15
1.
Reactions on the request of the Turkish Football Federation to open a
“representation” office in the occupied area of Cyprus
2. Serdar Denktas met with Turkish Minister of Youth
and Sports; Serdar: “Turkey is the place for the Turkish Cypriot athletes to
make openings abroad”
3. Denktas carried out contacts in Ankara; He met with
the Turkish Ministers
4.
Eroglu claimed that the demands of the Greek Cypriot side on the territorial
issue are extreme
5. A “parliamentary delegation” carries out contacts
in Strasbourg on the Cyprus problem, the halloumi issue and the DTR
6. Turkey’s YSK announced election calendar for June 7
elections
7. EP member: “Security package will make Turkey more
authoritarian”
1.
Reactions on the request of the Turkish Football Federation to open a
“representation” office in the occupied area of Cyprus
The
main issue in the today’s Turkish Cypriot press is the reaction by the “Turkish
Cypriot football federation” (“KTFF”) and the Turkish Cypriot politicians on
the request of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) from FIFA to establish a
“representation office” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (11.03.15) reports that the General Secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Kutlay Erk
condemned the initiative of TFF at FIFA to open a branch in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus by ignoring the “KTFF” by describing it as
unacceptable. In a written statement, Erk criticizes the mentality that see
“North Cyprus” (translator’s note: the occupied area in the Republic of Cyprus)
as Turkey’s branch. Erk noted that while the Turkish Cypriot youth is trying to
unite with the world, they go through pain by being exploited by their own
leadership for its separatist policies.
Erk called on Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu to stop playing with
the youth’s future, adding that he expects from the TFF to show respect to the
“KTFF”.
On the same issue, Yeniduzen
reports that the administrative board of the “KTFF” announced that they sent a
letter to FIFA saying that they do not approve the opening of a “representation
office” by the TFF in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Meanwhile,
Hasan Sertoglu, chairman of the “KTFF”, said that this
situation is unacceptable, adding that “TFF in every opportunity says that FIFA
does not recognize you (KTFF), we cannot compete with you, not even take a
photo with you because FIFA will punish us. But TFF always say to us that they know that FIFA’s
stance is wrong”. Sertoglu noted that in
their letter to FIFA, they also asked for a meeting with the General Secretary
of FIFA in order to explain the ongoing developments with the Cyprus Football
Association (CFA).
On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (online,
11.03.15) reports that self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu has sharply criticized the request by the TFF to
FIFA to open up a “representation office” in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus.
Speaking before today’s “council of ministers”
meeting, Yorgancioglu said that any proposal, initiative or move which ignored
the “KTFF” is unacceptable.
Noting that such a move is wrong from a political
point of view, Yorgancioglu reminded that the Turkish Cypriots have been for
years waging a struggle not for individual rights but for communal rights.
He also said that he did not find right the
self-styled deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas’ support to the TFF’s move. He
added that he will be taking up the issue with Denktas as soon as he returns
from Ankara.
Meanwhile, Sertoglu has also criticized the support
given to the initiative by Denktas. Reminding that the “KTFF” is the sole
authority and governing body on football in the “TRNC”, Sertoglu criticized the
TFF for taking such a step without consulting the “KTFF”. “We are ready to
cooperate with the TFF under all terms under the condition that it is done
through mutual respect. However they will not be able to achieve anything by
ignoring us”, Sertoglu said.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily
News (online, 11.03.15) reports that Mustafa
Akinci, the independent “presidential candidate”, slammed the TFF’s application
to FIFA for opening a branch in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. He
said that TFF’s initiative to open a branch by ignoring “KTFF” is unacceptable.
In a written statement, Akinci said: “This structure
that forces our young Turkish Cypriots to stay at the tribunes, watching the
international sports activities in which young Greek Cypriots also participate
is unacceptable and unsustainable”.
Noting that he learned about TFF’s move from FIFA
authorities, Akinci said that this should not have been the case. “We are
outside the international law and as long as we remain outside these types of
issues will continue. Therefore we need to work towards a solution
immediately”, Akinci stressed.
(DPs)
2.Serdar Denktas met with
Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports; Serdar: “Turkey is the place for the
Turkish Cypriot athletes to make openings abroad”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (11.03.15)
reports in its sport pages that the so-called deputy prime minister and
“minister of economy, tourism, culture and sports” Serdar Denktas met in Ankara with Turkey’s Minister of Youth and Sport
Akif Cagatay Kilic.
Speaking during the meeting, Kilic expressed pleasure
over the efforts exerted in the “TRNC” for the opening of “a coordination
office abroad” and said: “I would like to say that we are ready to provide any
kind of help towards this issue. We had the opportunity to evaluate the works
that could be done in the future in the field of sports for our youth. (…)”.
Also speaking,
Denktas said that they pay great importance to the cooperation of Turkish
Cypriot and Turkish youth, adding that the newly opened “coordination office
abroad” will give youth the opportunity to implement their projects.
Referring
to the transfer problem of the Turkish Cypriot football players, Denktas
commented on the attempts of the Turkish Football Federation to open a
“representation office” in the “TRNC” and described this proposal as
“gorgeous”.
Pointing
out that the attempt of the TFF to open a representation office is a very
positive development, Denktas said that this is a step he expected long ago and
thanked the chairman of the Turkish Football Federation, Demiroren for this.
Commenting
on the reactions expressed in the “TRNC” by several “football clubs” which did
not find the TFF’s approach on this issue as correct, Denktas said: “As soon as
I return to the TRNC, I will discuss this issue. What I can say right now is
that this attempt is an attempt we have been waiting for years. Occasionally
there are some objections, but we continue our path. Together we can achieve
great projects. Turkey is the place for the Turkish Cypriot athletes to make
openings abroad. (…)”.
(AK)
3.Denktas carried out contacts in Ankara; He met
with the Turkish Ministers
Under the title: “Our economy should be strong”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli (11.03.15) reports that the so-called
deputy prime minister and “minister of economy, tourism, culture and sports” Serdar Denktas, within the framework of his
contacts in Ankara, met yesterday with the Turkish Minister of Economy Nihat
Zeybekci.
Speaking during the meeting,Denktas said that the aim of his visit to Turkey was to exchange views
on how the “TRNC economy” would become more stable and trustworthy in the future
and the steps to be taken in the forthcoming period for the lifting of the
economic and trade obstacles.
Stating
that the “TRNC economy” should be strong in case of a solution”, Denktas stressed the need for the Greek Cypriots to
realize that Turkey is not an enemy for them but an opportunity.
“Irrelevant of
a solution in Cyprus, we need to have a strong economy that can compete with
other strong countries. According to us, the best way to achieve this is to act
together with Turkey on the field of economy” Denktas said.
Also
speaking, Zeybekci said: “We will complete our goals for 2023 together with our
Turkish Cypriot brothers”.
Stressing
that the “TRNC” is also amongst Turkey’s priorities, Zeybekci said that under any circumstances, Turkey
will always be by the side of the Turkish Cypriots.
Pointing
out that Turkey had never made the “rightful cause” of the Turkish Cypriots a
subject of negotiation duringitstalks with the EU, he added that Turkey will
continue to support the development of the “TRNC”
Zeybekci continued and said that Turkey, a
country with a 78 million population would like to see the “TRNC’s 300 thousand
population to fly its own flag as an independent state forever”.
Meanwhile, as part of his contacts in Ankara, Denktas
met also with the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Omer Celik.
Speaking during the meeting, Denktas referred to the
occupation regime’s cooperation with Turkey in the field of tourism and
expressed the wish that they will attract more tourists from Turkey.
In his turn, Celik stated that they always exert
efforts so that the “TRNC” to be benefited from Turkey’s tourism potential and
added that tourism delegations from both “countries” will meet soon in order to
discuss further the strengthening of their cooperation.
(AK)
4.
Eroglu claimed that the demands of the Greek Cypriot side on the territorial
issue are extreme
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris (11.03.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis
Eroglu, during his “election campaign” in the occupied area of Morphou, said
that he is a “candidate” because he wants to conclude the Cyprus talks that he
started and added: “Either we will reach an agreement, or we will not and then
we will declare this to the world.” Eroglu repeated that in case of a Cyprus
settlement, it is important the Turkish Cypriots not to be refugees again and
the existence of Turkey’s guarantees.
Eroglu
claimed that the demands of the Greek Cypriot side on the territorial issue
before the withdrawal of the Greek Cypriot leader from the negotiating table
were extreme. Eroglu alleged that “the Greek Cypriot side demanded the land of
South Mesaoria, from the Famagusta municipality until the village of Mia Milia.
They want to stretch it from Gerolakkos to Morphou. They want also some
villages in Morphou along with the coastline. They want all the peninsula of
Karpasia from Koma Yialou. They want Salamis ruins, the church of Apostolos
Barnabas, Engomi, Limnia, Stylli, Kythrea, Neochorio Kythrea, Trachoni and
Voni”.
Eroglu
said that they will only sign an agreement that will make the Turkish Cypriot
“people” happy. An agreement that the future of the Turkish Cypriots will be in
prosperity, Eroglu added. He concluded by saying that he wishes an agreement to
be found within two years and if it is not, the Turkish Cypriot “people” will
continue to live in security and peace.
(DPs)
5.A “parliamentary delegation” carries out contacts
in Strasbourg on the Cyprus problem, the halloumi issue and the DTR
According to illegal Bayrak television (11.03.15) a delegation from the “assembly” is holding
a series of contacts in Strasbourg.
Evaluating their contacts to BRT, The Republican
Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) “deputy” in occupied Morphou Armagan Candan as part of the delegation, said,
inter alia, that the delegation is holding contacts on the Cyprus issue, the halloumi/hellim
issue and the Direct Trade Regulation.
Explaining
that they held bilateral meetings with various political groups, Candan said
that they are also due to meet at dinner with the cabinet members of the
President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and the advisers of the
members of the European Parliament.
Touching
upon the importance of carrying out contacts at such social environments, he
said that the European Parliament has lately attached great importance to the
Cyprus issue.
Noting
that there are expectations in Europe towards the resumption of the Cyprus
negotiations process, Candan said that they demanded from the European
officials to call on the “Greek Cypriot Administration”, as he called the
Republic of Cyprus to return to the negotiating table.
6.Turkey’s YSK announced election calendar for June
7 elections
Under the title: “Count down for the elections”
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (11.03.15) reports that Turkey’s Supreme Election Board (YSK) announced that the election calendar
has been set into force as of yesterday, as regards the Parliamentary General elections
which are scheduled to take place in Turkey on June 7.
According to this, the political parties which will
participate to the elections should submit to YSK their final list of
candidates until April 7 the latest.
On April 24, the final list of candidate Deputies and
of independent candidates is to be announced.
On May 28, election propaganda will be launched whilst
one part of election restrictions will be set into force.
On June 6, the election propaganda will be
terminated.
Meanwhile, the
paper writes that the Turkish citizens living abroad will be able to cast their
vote at the ballot boxes to open at Turkish representations abroad or at
customs gates.
YSK
has also established for the first time Call Centers abroad in order to provide
general information about the elections to all Turkish citizens.
(AK)
7.EP member: “Security package will make Turkey
more authoritarian”
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (10.03.15) reported that Ana Gomes, a Portuguese Socialist and
member of the Civil Rights, Justice and Home Affairs Committee in the European
Parliamnet, said that Turkey is getting more authoritarian under the Justice
and Development Party (AK Party) government.
Gomes
criticized the AK Party government for its efforts to approve the security
package bill and warned that if the bill is passed through Parliament, it will
turn Turkey into an authoritarian country.
Speaking to the "European Desk" program
aired on Samanyolu Haber on Monday, Gomes said that Turkey has been moving in
the wrong directionsince a corruption scandal broke out on December 17, 2013.
Gomes,
who has consistently supported Turkey's membership bid in the EU, said she was
extremely concerned about developments in Turkey, particularly in the areas of
media freedom, independence of the judiciary and fundamental freedoms.
"Turkey is
just going the wrong way. Indeed, I think it is very significant that
journalists and bloggers are at the forefront of the victims of the repressive
campaign. There are many other very worrying aspects which give the impression
that Turkey, instead of becoming more democratic, is getting more
authoritarian," she went on to say.
Asked about the government's narrative of a “parallel
state” endorsed in the wake of the corruption allegations, Gomes said she was
worried to see so many conspiracy theories thriving in the EU-aspiring country,
stressing that: "Look, I lived
under a dictatorship in my country for 40 years. And I know how dictatorships
need conspiracy theories," she said.
(…)
During the interview, Gomes on several occasions insisted that the Turkish government has
been doing just the opposite of what the Copenhagen criteria have asked from Ankara.
She also cited the resurgence in arrests of dozens of
people for posting tweets critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying
that it is "paranoid" behavior to go after critics, in reference to
the latest case of former Miss Turkey Merve Buyuksarac, who is to be tried for
insulting Erdogan.
(…)
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/
AM)
