TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 50/15 14-16.03.15
1. Nami called the Greek Cypriot
side to return to the negotiating table without preconditions
2. Eroglu: “Barbaros
Hayrettin Pasa vessel has not embarked from Famagusta port”
3. Olgun to give lectures on the
Cyprus problem in UK and Brussels
4.
Seven candidates for the April “presidential elections”
5. A protest by KTOS against
TFF’s initiative to open a “representation office” in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus
6. The Turkish Cypriot
“Movement of a Bright Future” held contacts regarding halloumi in London
7. Erdogan: Turkey does not have a Kurdish problem
1. Nami called the Greek
Cypriot side to return to the negotiating table without preconditions
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.03.15)
reported that the so-called foreign
minister Ozdil Nami said that if the Greek Cypriot side continues to put forward
preconditions for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiation talks as it had
previously done so, then the talks will remain in suspension.
In statements to the paper, Nami noted that the NAVTEX ends on April 6 and said that the Saipem
10000 will be under repair for a period of three months; therefore the Turkish
Cypriot side will not announce a new NAVTEX, as he said, and will not sent the
Barbarros Hayrettin Pasa to the region.
Nami stated that it will be very pleasant if the
leader of the “Greek Cypriot administration”, as he called President Nikos
Anastasiades would return to the table within this period. He, however,
recalled that there was a period of a break in January, but the Greek Cypriot
leader, as he said, has putted forward some preconditions for returning to the
table.
Nami
warned that in case the talks will resume within the period of the three months
break and the Greek Cypriot side will start again its oil exploration
activities, then they will be forced to give the necessary response.
Evaluating the Greek Cypriot negotiator’s Andreas
Mavroyianni recent statements where he said that an opportunity for the talks
to resume will be given due to the fact that the natural explorations will be
taking a recess in April, Nami said: “There was a one week break at the
beginning of January but the Greek Cypriot side did not return to the table.
Despite the statements made on this issue, it is not clarified yet which will
be the official stance of the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration towards
this issue”.
Nami
stated further that there were three alternatives on this issue; either the
sides to move together on the hydrocarbon issue, or to continue with their
activities separately and stop their works simultaneously.
(AK)
2. Eroglu: “Barbaros
Hayrettin Pasa vessel has not embarked from Famagusta port”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris (15.03.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu, commenting on the joint declaration of February 11, pointed out
that they added two words on the article that the federal republic will be
formed by two founding states of equal status.
Continuing
his “election campaign” with a visit to the “Association of Turkish Cypriots
from Paphos”, Eroglu claimed that although Anastasiades has said yes to this
addition at the joint declaration, during the meeting of the National Council
they have decided that the Republic of Cyprus will continue.
Eroglu
repeated that his aim is to solve the Cyprus problem within the next two years.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (14.03.15) reported that Eroglu said that the
seismic research vessel Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa has not embarked from the
occupied port of Famagusta as goodwill gesture from the Turkish Cypriot side in
order the talks to be resumed again for finding a solution to the Cyprus
problem. Eroglu also said that he wishes the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos
Anastasiades to return to the negotiating table.
(DPs)
3. Olgun to give lectures on
the Cyprus problem in UK and Brussels
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (16.03.15-online
in English) reports that the Turkish
Cypriot negotiator Ergun Olgul will meet today with the UNSG Special Advisor
Espen Bath Eide and will leave tomorrow for the UK and Brussels to give a
series of lectures
Olgun
will deliver a speech on Wednesday at a conference which will take place at
Manchester University. On Thursday 19 March he will proceed to Brussels in
order to give a lecture at the European Policy Centre. The lectures will focus
on the Cyprus issue, the current phase of the talks and the steps that could be
taken to resume the talks.
Olgun is expected to return to the island on Friday
March 20.
4. Seven
candidates for the April “presidential elections”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.03.15)
reports that seven persons submitted
their candidacy for the “presidential elections” to be held on April 19 in the
breakaway regime.
These are the independent candidates Mustafa Akinci, Kudret Ozersay, Arif Salih Kirdag and
Mustafa Alas, the candidate of the Cyprus Socialist Party Mustafa Onurer, the
candidate of the Republican Turkish Party and “speaker of the assembly”, Sibel
Siber and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who runs as independent but
is supported by the National Unity Party and the Democratic Party.
The paper writes that the “official list of admission”
will be announced on March 23 and on March 24 the “official propaganda” of the
candidates will be launched.
Following their admission, the candidates explained
the aim and the goals of candidacy:
Akinci stated that only a few days remain until a real
change to take place.
Ozersay stated that the “election” is between
politicians from the 20th century and politicians from the 21st
century.
Kirdag used football terms and said that the ball came
to the penalty position and called on
the “public” to take the shot and make a goal.
Alas said that his candidacy is about sound new
thoughts and ideas.
Onurer said that all the castles in the country have
been conquered and no “official;” has the power
to intervene in any issue.
Siber expressed the hope that democratic elections
will take place.
Finally, Eroglu stated that the next two years will be
very critical as regards the negotiations
and added that he is asking the vote of the public in order to complete
the negotiations.
(CS)
5. A protest by KTOS
against TFF’s initiative to open a “representation office” in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (14.03.15) reported that the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’
Trade Union (KTOS) held a protest demonstration on Friday against the
initiative of the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and the self-styled
deputy prime minister and minister of economy, tourism, culture and sports
Serdar Denktas so that the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to open a
“representation office” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
During
the protest, Denktas discussed with the protesters about the initiative and
told them that he, himself, asked from TFF to open a “representation office” in
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. He explained to them that his aim
was to solve the problem with the football players’ transfers in order their
football clubs to be able to get their money with the transfers. He further
alleged that the public was misinformed.
Sener
Elcil, general secretary of KTOS, said that the reason the TFF wants to open a
“representation office” in “TRNC” is to prevent the meetings between the
“Turkish Cypriot football federation” (“KTFF”) and the Cyprus Football
Association (CFA), as well as to prevent the Turkish Cypriot “people’s” opening
to the world. He added that they should not mingle politics with sports.
Elcil
said that they support the chairman of the “KTFF” Hasan Sertoglu and they will
also try to protect their rights deriving from the Republic of Cyprus.
(DPs)
6. The Turkish Cypriot
“Movement of a Bright Future” held contacts regarding halloumi in London
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.03.15) reported that Anil Kaya, the chairman
of the Turkish Cypriot organization “Movement of a Bright Future” (AYH) held
contacts in London.
According to the paper, Kaya met with Jill Morris, Director
for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and they exchanged views on
the Cyprus problem. He also conveyed to her a file regarding the halloumi-hellim
issue, prepared by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce.
(CS)
7. Erdogan: Turkey does not have a Kurdish problem
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (16.03.15) reports that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated that “Turkey does not have
anyKurdish problem”.
Erdogan said that he made this statement in 2005 to claim
that Turkey does not have any “Kurdish problem,” arguing that the Kurds have
equal rights with the rest of the country. “The
only thing in their eyes is the Kurdish question. What are you talking about?
There is no such thing, there is no Kurdish question. I explained it in 2005 in
Diyarbakır […] We never had a Kurdish problem in this country. But it’s being
kept in the agenda on purpose” Erdogan
said during a speech in the north western province of Balikesir.
In 2005, Erdogan, who was then prime minister, argued that the Kurdish question
was not the problem of Kurds alone, but a problem for the whole country,
including himself.
Erdogan
repeated this understanding in consecutive statements over the weekend, at a
moment when negotiations between the government and the Peoples’ Democratic
Party (HDP) have begun to foster a promising environment for the resolution of
the decades-old problem. There are expectations that the imprisoned leader of
the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will deliver an important message
to PKK officials for the disarmament of the organization in due course. “During his speech, Erdogan selected not to
explain why the government was engaged in peace talks with the Kurdish movement
if there was no Kurdish problem”, Hurriyet notes.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)
