TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
49/15 13.03.15
1. Serdar insists that TFF’s initiative is extremely
positive
2. Yorgancioglu: the context of the letter is a political
scandal; Ozersay: We should not oppress our “institutions”
3. A “parliamentary delegation” held contacts in
Strasbourg
4. Akinci calls on for the opening of Apliki and Deryneia
crossing points; he criticized Denktas’ apology
5. Denktas proposed the production of halloumi in Turkey
to be moved to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
6. Onurer: The Republic of Cyprus was established on a
wrong base
7. Eroglu: “The Greek Cypriot side tries to prevent all
our activities”
1. Serdar
insists that TFF’s initiative is extremely positive
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (13.03.15)
reports that the self-styled deputy prime minister and minister of economy,
tourism, culture and sports SerdarDenktas, in a press conference yesterday,
said that it is natural for the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), which is a FIFA
member, to write to FIFA and ask about their opinion, without briefing the
“Turkish Cypriot football federation” (“KTFF”). He added that the problem stems
from the fact that no contacts have been established between the TFF and the
“KTFF” due to discontent between the “federations”. Denktas also said that it
is clear that there is uneasiness between the personal relations of the
Chairman of TFF YildirimDemiroren and the chairman of the KTFF Hasan Sertoglu.
Denktasalso
stressed that the initiative was launched by the TFF upon a request coming from
him and added: “We asked the President of the Turkish Football Federation
YildirimDemiroren to launch an initiative at FIFA. They in return wrote to FIFA
requesting if they are allowed to open a representation office here”.
Denktas also said that there are no serious
problems with the “coalition government” and that he had apologized to Turkish
officials not just for the reactions regarding football but other unjust
criticisms made to Turkey.
Denktas explained: “The perception that the
TFF will take over the duties of the KTFF has been created. There is no such
thing. The KTFF in rash and unexplainable move wrote to FIFA stating that they
are the sole governing body in the North. I met with Sertoglu for an hour and
we discussed everything in detail. I told him that the move was aimed at making
it possible for Turkish Cypriot football players to transfer to teams in
Turkey”. He repeated that the TFF’s initiative is extremely positive from the
point of the football players, who wish to play soccer in Turkey.
Meanwhile, Denktas said that in case there
is an agreement with the Cyprus Football Association, he wants to have an
official reply whether the Greek Cypriot football teams will be able to cross
to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus to play and whether they will give
permission to football players, who are Turkish citizens or one of their
parents is a Turkish citizen.
Noting that his views on this issue are
different from the self-styled prime ministerOzkanYorgancioglu, Denktas said
that there is a lack of information on the context of this initiative.
(DPs)
2. Yorgancioglu:
the context of the letter is a political scandal; Ozersay: We should not
oppress our “institutions”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (13.03.15)
reports that the self-styled prime ministerOzkanYorgancioglu said that it is
natural for Turkey to establish relations with their “institutions”, however,
he stressed, they should be the holders of their own “institutions”. He added
that they have a responsibility towards defending and protecting their own
“institutions”.
Addressing the so-called assembly,
Yorgancioglu criticized again the stance of Denktas on the TFF’s initiative to
open a “representation office” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Yorgancioglu said that he hesitates to tell the context of the TFF’s letter to
FIFA, because it will be a political scandal. He said that he is not sure
whether the Turkish Foreign Ministry was aware or not regarding this letter.
On the same issue, the independent
“presidential candidate” KudretOzersay said that they should show in their
relations with other actors in the world including Turkey the sensitivity that
they show to their relations with the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of respecting their own political
will and not oppressing their “institutions”.
Meanwhile, the issue was the subject of a
heated debate in the so-called assembly yesterday. The opposition National
Unity Party (UBP) “deputy”SunatAtun defended the initiative launched by the
TFF, stating that there is cooperation and collaboration with Turkey in so many
other fields.
The self-styled deputy with the Republican
Turkish Party (CTP)TufanErhurman criticized the TFF for not consulting with or
informing the “KTFF” before launching such an initiative.
While opposition UBP “deputy”NazimCavusoglu
criticized Denktasfor apologizing from Turkey, UBP “deputy”Ersin Tatar said
that the issue could have been solved through dialogue rather than perceiving
it as an insult to Turkish Cypriot identity
(DPs)
3.A
“parliamentary delegation” held contacts in Strasbourg
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(13.03.15) reports that a delegation
from the so-called assembly, composed by the “deputy” of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces
(CTP-BG) ArmaganCandan, the “deputy” of the National Unity Party (UBP) Ersan
Saner and the “deputy” of the Democratic Party-National Forces (DP-UG)
MentesGunduz, held several contacts at
the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg.
According to a statement issued by the
“assembly”, the delegation carried out
contacts with representatives and Euro MPs of the Social Democrat Group, the
Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the Conservatives Group. At the same time,
the delegation held bilateral talks with Kati Piri, the EP’s Turkey Rapporteur
and with ElmarBrok, President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The
delegation stressed during their contacts the need for the Cyprus negotiation
talks to resume after April,without any other delay, on
the basis of the efforts exerted to reach to a viable solution based on the UN
parameters, while at the same time they
informed the EP’s members about the latest developments on the issue of gas and
hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean.
During
its contacts, the delegation referred also to their sensitivities on the
paragraph about Cyprus which is included in the EP’s report on Turkey, to the
importance of the geographical registration of halloumi for the Turkish Cypriot
economy, to the importance of taking forward the issue of the Direct Trade
Regulation in order to be discussed at the EP soon and also to the importance
of continuing the works related with the Committee of Missing Persons without
politicizing the issue.
(AK)
4.Akinci calls on for the opening of Apliki and Deryneia
crossing points; he criticized Denktas’ apology
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (13.03.15) reports that the independent candidate Mustafa Akinci stated that the Apliki and
Deryneia crossing points must be opened the soonest possible. Akinci made these
statements speaking during a meeting in occupied Lefka in the framework of his
“election campaign”.
Akinci
stated that the opening of these two crossing points will be beneficial for
both occupied Lefka and occupied Famagusta and added that the obstacles put on
the issue must be lifted.
Akinci
reiterated that his election campaign is focused on four main points and noted
that the solution of the Cyprus problem is the main and most important among
them. He stated that the issue that occurred as regards the Turkish Football
Federation’s (TFF) initiative to open a “representation office” in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, is a result of the non-solution and added that
the initiative “is a wrong movement”. He
also criticized strongly the so-called deputy prime minister and “minister of
economy, tourism, culture and sports” SerdarDenktas who apologized during his
visit in Turkey for the reactions of the Turkish Cypriots against TFF. Akinci
said that Denktas’ behaviour was wrong and the fact that he apologized
frustrated him.
(CS)
5. Denktas
proposed the production of halloumi in Turkey to be moved to the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 13.03.15), the self-styled deputy prime minister and minister of
economy, tourism, culture and sports SerdarDenktas said that the growth of the
“TRNC” economy is only possible through economic integration. He added that
failure to do this will result in the disappearance of the real estate sector.
Denktas
also said that it has become a necessity for locally produced products to be
sold to Europe via Turkey.
Speaking on a program on “BRT” last night,
Denktas said that he had found the opportunity to hold contacts on the
“2016-2018 government programs” whilst in Ankara and that he had a productive
meeting with the Turkish Economy Minister NihatZeybekci.
Explaining
that they had exchanged views as to how the “TRNC” economy could be developed,
Denktas said that this could only be done through economic integration.
“I also
found the opportunity to discuss the issue of halloumi/hellim with Zeybekci. I
told him it is time halloumi/hellim production in Turkey to be moved to the
TRNC (editor’s note: in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyrpus”, he said.
Also touching upon the issue of incentives,
Denktas said that he had told the Turkish Economy Minister that incentives are
needed to be given to Turkish businessmen who want to invest in the “TRNC” but that
they will need to have a partnership with “TRNC citizens”.
Responding
to a question about the water transfer project, Denktas said that it is not
clear yet as to who will be managing the water. He warned that unless the issue
is clarified soon there is a strong chance that Turkey can step in and decide
to manage the water itself.
6. Onurer: The Republic of Cyprus was established on a wrong
base
Turkish
Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (13.03.15) reports that Mustafa Onurer, the candidate of the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP)
stated that the policy followed by its party is very clear and he stated that
the Cyprus Republic which was established in 1960 was established on a wrong
base and added that the three guarantor countries restrained the sovereignty of
the country.
He went on
and argues that this ill born so-called Republic only lived for three years and
the coup d etat which was driven by CIA caused the rift between the two
communities.
(CS)
7.Eroglu:
“The Greek Cypriot side tries to prevent all our activities”
Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper
(13.03.15) reports that the Union of the Turkish Bar Association which is
illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus upon an invitation by the
Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu, met yesterday with Eroglu.
Speaking during the meeting, the
chairman of the union MetinFeyzioglu stated that they had a constructive
cooperation with the “Turkish Cypriot Bar Associations” in drafting a new “law”
for lawyers and added that they have decided to establish a joint committee
which aims to further develop their existing cooperation.
Also
speaking, Eroglu, referred, inter alia,
to the water transfer project and
pointed out that he was informed by the Greek Cypriot press that the Greek
Cypriot side is preparing to launch a legal process against the water transfer
project from Turkey. “The Greek Cypriots are trying to prevent all our
activities. It is not possible to understand this mentality”, Eroglu added.
Eroglu
stated further that they are ready to cooperate with the union in order to work
together on taking joint “legal” measures on the issue.
(AK)
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
AM)
