TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
52/15 18.03.15
1. Eroglu: Eide will announce resumption of Cyprus talks
in April’s first weeks; Eide: The
negotiations might resume within a few weeks
2. Davutoglu: We will not allow for the Turkish Cypriots
living in ghettos again
3. Brok hopes that talks in Cyprus resume under better
conditions after the hydrocarbon explorations in the Mediterranean stop for a
while
4. The Turkish Cypriot press continues covering GAE’s
public opinion poll
5. A town twinning protocol signed between the occupied
village of Lapithos and Karpos town in FYROM
6. 172 thousands registered cars in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus
7. The gas will flow through TANAP in 2018; Erdogan and
Putin discussed the “Turkish Stream gas project”
8. A timeline on how many times Erdogan changes mind on
the Kurdish issue
1. Eroglu: Eide will announce resumption of Cyprus
talks in April’s first weeks; Eide: The
negotiations might resume within a few weeks
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (18.03.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu has said that most probably
the resumption of the Cyprus talks will be announced in the first weeks of
April.
In
statements yesterday after meeting with UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser
on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, Eroglu
noted that Eide told him that President Anastasiades intends to return to the
negotiating table, adding that he is still waiting at the table and that the talks might resume even before
the “presidential elections” which will be held on 19 April in the occupied
area of Cyprus.
Eroglu
said also that Eide approaches the issues and the sides with a good will and he
carries out his visits between the sides in a good manner.
In
his statements, Eide said that what he
called as “hydrocarbon crisis” is about to be overcome and it seems that the
negotiations might resume within a few weeks. He noted thatthe conditions might be formed soon and then they will
announce the resumption of the talks. “I
am not doing it now, because there are some things which should be
materialized, but spring will be more hopeful than autumn”, he said arguing
that not only the negotiations could resume, but they could be held in a speedier way than it is planned.
Asked
how the “hydrocarbon crisis” will be overcome, Eide recalled that the Turkish
NAVTEX ends on 6 April and added that the “general picture” is that it will be
possible for the negotiations to resume within a few weeks on the basis of the
positions which the sides had in the beginning. Eide said that a few months after the beginning of the negotiations
they will evaluate the situation saying “this is the point we have come and
these are the possible things to do”.
Pointing
out that “there is a serious international support” to the negotiations, Eide
noted that some difficulties exist and will continue to be there, but when both
sides have the necessary will, there is nothing that cannot be solved. He expressed the belief that both sides want
a solution and said that he is hopeful.
(I/Ts.)
2. Davutoglu: We will not allow for the Turkish
Cypriots living in ghettos again
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (18.03.15) reports that Turkish prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has argued that Turkey will
not allow for the Turkish Cypriots living in ghettos again and alleged that the
Cyprus problem is not a difficult problem, provided that there is a political
will for its solution. According to information acquired from his office,
Davutoglu met yesterday with a delegation headed by ElmarBrok, President of the
European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
During
the meeting Davutoglu has reportedly said: “We will never allow for the Turkish
Cypriots living in ghettos again. The
Cyprus problem is not a difficult problem. On the contrary, it is an easy
problem. Provided that there is political will”.
Furthermore,
Kibris reports that Davutoglu referred again to the Cyprus problem during the
meeting of the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) parliamentary group
yesterday and said: “The 1974 peace operation [translator’s note: This is how
he described the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus] is the most comprehensive
military operation in which the Republic of Turkey participated during its
history. At the most critical moment, at
the very moment which our military forces needed electronic communication, the
communication was cut off. Some people did not want us to go to Cyprus and
protect our brothers of same race and religion, the oppressed people. Then
we needed the dastards. Whoever cut off the communication wanted to send us a
message: ‘Your fate is in our hands’. Now,
forty years later, with the electronic war technology we have acquired through
ASELAN, we declare the following: Our fate is first in our Allah’s hand and
then in our nation’s hand...”
Davutoglu
referred also to the situation in Turkey in relation to the negotiations held
in Cyprus in 2004 and said: “While we were holding the Cyprus negotiations in
2004, we have seen some people who were publishing news in the papers saying
that ‘young army officers are annoyed’ and were calling for a coup over
Cyprus”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Brok hopes that talks in Cyprus resume under better
conditions after the hydrocarbon explorations in the Mediterranean stop for a
while
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (18.03.15) reports that the Speaker of the
Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) CemilCicek
met yesterday with a delegation headed by ElmarBrok, President of the European
Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee at the TGNA premises in Ankara.
In
statements during the meeting, Brok said
that the hydrocarbon explorations in the Mediterranean will stop for a while
and expressed the hope that the negotiations between the sides in Cyprus will
resume under better conditions. He added that, irrespectively of Turkey’s accession
to the EU, the important thing for the Union is to reach a joint agreement on
the energy policy, something which is important for Turkey as well.
Referring
to their visit to Ankara, Brok noted that they discussed the development of
Turkey’s Customs Union at the Ministry of Economy, noting that both sides know
that some deficiencies exist on this issue and that some problems have been
created over time. He noted that they realize that when the EU signs free trade
agreements with third countries, these agreements should not negatively affect
Turkey and pointed out that the EU-Turkey relations are more important now than
they were during the Cold War period. “However, we know the following: out
peoples have realized that they should support more each other”, he added.
Referring to Turkey’s accession negotiations, Brok said
that they are aware of the existence of “some old obstacles such as Cyprus,
[and] the Ankara Protocol”, but problems such as the opening of chapters are on
the table and they hope to achieve progress. He
noted that “new problems” emerged for the negotiations such as Turkey’s
“security package” and the European financial crisis, due to which EU
enlargement seems very difficult for now. “We hope that we will overcome these
problems with the help of our Greek friends”, he said referring to the
financial crisis.
(I/Ts.)
4. The Turkish Cypriot press continues covering GAE’s
public opinion poll
The
Turkish Cypriot daily press today (18.03.15) continues to cover the public
opinion poll held by the Keryneia Research Institute (GAE) regarding the
forthcoming “presidential elections” to be held on 19 April in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus [see Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review,
17/03/2015, Item 6].
YeniDuzen newspaper reports that the poll shows that a
second round will be needed in the “elections” and this second round will be
between the “independent candidate” DervisEroglu and SibelSiber,
who is supported by the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG).
The
paper notes that the poll was conducted on 8 March with a sample of 1,532
persons who replied to seven questions. 46.1% of the participants on the poll
think that the “elections” will have two rounds, 28% said that the race will
end in the first round and 25.5% expressed no view to this question.
In case Eroglu and Siber pass in the second round, 42.8%
said that they will vote for Eroglu and 30.9% for Siber.
Moreover, 26.3% replied that they will not vote. In case Eroglu stays in the
second round with Akinci, the Turkish Cypriot leader will receive 44.2% and the
former occupied Nicosia mayor 26.5%. In this scenario the percentage of those
who will not vote increases to 29.3%. This percentage further increases (41.7%)
in case Siber and Akinci are the opponents in the second round, during which
34.2% will vote for Siber and 24.1% for Akinci.
Asked who they think that the winner of the “elections”
will be, 41.7% of the participants in the poll said Eroglu, 21.7% Siber, 17.8%
Akinci, 2.3% KudretOzersay, 5% Mustafa Onurer and 5% ArifSalihKirdag.
15.5% of the participants expressed no opinion on this issue.
The paper writes that in a poll held on 20 December,
30.9% of the participants replied that they will vote for Eroglu, who increased
his percentage to 32.9% on 8 March. Siber received 19.7% on 20 December and
22.9% on 8 March, Akinci 11.2% on 20 December and 15.8% on 8 March and Ozersay
4.9% on 20 December and 5.1% on 8 March.
(I/Ts.)
5.
A town twinning protocol signed between the occupied village of Lapithos and
Karpos town in FYROM
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (18.03.15)
reports that a “town twinning” protocol between the occupied village of
Lapithos and the municipality Karpos of Skopje town of FYROM was signed at the
building of the so-called Turkish Cypriot municipalities’ association.
The paper writes that the Karpos
municipality is one of the ten municipalities that make up the city of Skopje,
the capital of FYROM.
On the same issue, according to illegal
Bayrak television (online, 17.03.15), speaking at the signing ceremony, the
so-called mayor of the occupied village LapithosFuatNamsoy said that the protocol has been signed as a
result of an initiative launched by the “municipality’s folklore team” which
took part in a festival in FYROM last year. He added: “This is a first. We have
signed numerous protocols with other municipalities in Turkey but this is the
first time we have done so with a municipality outside of Turkey”.
The Mayor of Skopje’s
KarposMuncipalityStevcoJakimuvski for his part said that he was happy to be in
the “TRNC” and to sign the protocol.
(DPs)
6.
172 thousands registered cars in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (18.03.15)
reports that the so-called ministry of public works and transportation held a
two-day “2015 TRNC traffic and road security workshop”, which began yesterday.
Addressing the workshop, the self-styled
minister for public works and transportation Hasan Tacoy said that this kind of
a workshop is the first of its kind in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus and is the first step to prevent traffic accidents and to overcome
problems caused by traffic. He also said that in the “country” (translator’s
note: the occupied area in the Republic of Cyprus) there are 172 thousands registered cars, in a population of 300
thousands. He added that every year, 5-7 thousands new cars are added.
(DPs)
7.
The gas will flow through TANAP in 2018; Erdogan and Putin discussed the
“Turkish Stream gas project”
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 17.03.15)
reported that the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project aims to provide energy supply
security for Turkey and Europe – a key point frequently addressed during the
speeches at the ground-breaking ceremony of the TANAP project, which was
attended by President RecepTayyip Erdogan, Azeri President IlhamAliyev and
Georgian President GiorgiMargvelashvili.
Speaking at the ceremony, Erdogan said
that this project will be known for the peace and security it provides, as
opposed to conflict for which oil and natural gas projects are often
remembered. Referring to the Turkish Stream Project, whose negotiations have
begun after the cancellation of the South Stream Project, Erdogan emphasized
that Turkey will continue to work with other countries on energy. However, he
said the TANAP project is not an alternative project, and likewise, there is no
alternative projects to TANAP.
TANAP
will be operated by the Azeri energy company SOCAR, which currently holds a 58%
stake in the project. Turkey's state-owned energy operator BOTAS owns 30%,
while British Petroleum (BP) undertook 12% of the project with an agreement
signed last week. The TANAP project's operating company will be headquartered
in the Netherlands, and the cost of the project is estimated at between $10
billion and $11 billion.
The Turkish, Azeri and Georgian
Presidents each pushed a button that automatically placed the first pipe of the
project in the ground.
The
TANAP project will deliver natural gas originating from the Shah Deniz 2 gas
field of Azerbaijan to Europe after passing through 20 cities in Turkey and
1,850 km of pipeline, with 19 km under the Sea of Marmara. The project will use
approximately 1.3 million tons of steel pipes, and around 1.1 million tons of
the required steel will be produced by Turkish steel producers – 80% in total.
Moreover, the project is expected to provide employment for more than 15,000
people. Following the agreement signed in June 2012, the project called the
"Silk Road of Energy" has reached the ground-breaking phase and the
start of construction. TANAP will begin from the village of Türkgözü of the
Posof district of Ardahan right next to the Georgian border and terminate in
the Ipsala district of Edirne near the Greek border. From here, it will link up
to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) that will deliver gas to European
countries. In the framework of the project, there will be two outlets for
connecting to the national natural gas network within Turkey – one in Eskisehir
and the other in Thrace.
The
gas will flow through TANAP beginning in 2018. The transport capacity, which
will initially be 16 billion cubic meters per year, will be increased
gradually, first to 24 billion cubic meters and then to 31 billion cubic
meters. TANAP will be the natural gas pipeline project with the greatest length
and radius to be constructed on Turkish territory so far.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online, 18.03.15) reports that Russian
President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Erdogan discussed the
"Turkish Stream" gas project during a phone call, the Kremlin said in
a statement on Tuesday, as Moscow continues to push for its new undersea
pipeline to Europe.
Facing objections from the European
Union, Russia in December abandoned its $40 billion South Stream project which
would have passed under the Black Sea to Bulgaria and carried up to 63 billion
cubic metres (bcm) of gas annually to Europe.
It has now pinned its hopes on Turkey,
hoping to construct a "Turkish Stream" pipeline. Turkish officials have said the plans are
unlikely to progress as quickly as Russia would like, given Ankara's concerns
about overdependence on Russian energy.
However, the Kremlin statement said on
Tuesday that Putin and Erdogan discussed the project during a phone call,
without giving further details. Turkish
Presidential sources also told Reuters that the two discussed developments in
Ukraine, with Erdogan saying he plans to visit Ukraine this week.
8.
A timeline on how many times Erdogan changes mind on the Kurdish issue
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 18.03.15), Turkey’s President Erdogan reiterated on March
17 that Turkey has no “Kurdish problem.” In fact, this is the third time he has
changed his mind on the subject and the second time it has happened on the eve
of the general elections. Here is a timeline of Erdogan’s oscillations on the
question:
December
2002:
When a Kurdish-origin Turkish citizen
asked him to “solve the Kurdish problem”, Erdogan replied by saying: “You
shouldn’t think there is a problem. You should think there is no problem. If
you think that way, the problem will go away. We believe there is no such
problem”.
August
2005
While speaking at a ceremony in the
Kurdish-majority southeastern province of Diyarbakır, Erdogan said: “Great
states should not ignore mistakes made in the past. All problems need a name,
because they are all our problems. But if you insist that we should name it,
the Kurdish problem is not only the problem of one part of my nation, it is a
problem of every one of us, including myself.”
Months later, however, he said the
following: “I made a mistake by calling it the Kurdish problem. I should have
found another wording. Something like ‘the social and economic problems of my
Kurdish-origin citizens.’ These words were quoted in a book by journalist
CengizCandar, who did not note their exact date.
July
2009
Erdogan touched on the issue during an
official visit to Syria, before Ankara and Damascus became archenemies. “Call
it the Kurdish problem, the southeast problem, or anything you want. We have
started a study on the subject,” he said.
December
2010
Addressing parliament, Erdogan said: “73
million of our people are united under the citizenship of the Republic of
Turkey. Citizenship is an ultra-identity. Under this identity, there are
several ethnic elements. As Turkey’s Prime Minister, I defend the Kurdish
problem and I will continue to do it.”
April
2011
During an election rally in the eastern
province of Mus, he said: “There is no Kurdish problem in this country anymore.
I do not accept it. My Kurdish brother can experience a problem in this
country, but there is no Kurdish problem.”
July
2011
While answering journalists’ questions
after a Friday prayer, Erdogan said: “There is no Kurdish problem in this
country. There is a problem of the PKK [the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’
Party].”
March
2015
As Turkey approached another general
election, Erdogan stated on March 15 that “we have never had a Kurdish problem
in this country”. In the heated public debate that followed, he reiterated this
two days later.
Meanwhile, the Turkish government is
continuing to pursue its peace process, in a bid to solve the decades-long
problem.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
AM)
