TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 53/15 19.03.15
1.
Eide: Barbaros vessel not leaving Famagusta Port in spite of the NAVTEX is a
sign of good will
2.
“Diplomatic sources” talk to KIBRIS about the resumption of the Cyprus
negotiations
3. Saner: “Our struggle at the EP
on the issue of missing persons has started to have positive results”
4.
The breakaway regime participates in the “MITT 2015” tourism fair in Moscow
5.
Independent candidate Ulas: Solution is not reached in Cyprus because the
interests of influential players of the world are not satisfied
6. Twelve icons were found in
occupied Gerolakkos village
7. A
cooperation protocol between “YDU” and Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University
8.
Bozkir: Ankara expecting the EU to open chapter 17 soon
9. The European Commissioner for
Energy sent a positive message for the opening of the energy chapter for Turkey
10.
Opinion polls show that AKP reduced its percentages
11.
Transparency International Turkey survey finds rampant self-censorship in media
1. Eide:
Barbaros vessel not leaving Famagusta Port in spite of the NAVTEX is a sign of
good will
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (19.03.15)
reports that UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide has described as “a very
clear sign of good will” the fact that Turkish Barbaros seismic explorations
vessel has not left occupied Famagusta Port in spite of the Turkish NAVTEX.
In statements yesterday, Eide said that he does not expect a new NAVTEX after 6 April, when
the current Turkish NAVTEX ends and noted that with the above development and the interruption of the explorations of
ENI/KOGAS Company for technical evaluations, a new negotiating process will start. “There is a real hope for
Cyprus in front of us, I am very optimistic”, he added.
Eide
noted that immediately after 6 April either the two leaders or he on their behalf
will issue a statement regarding the resumption of the negotiations. He said: “We aim to have a speedy process, because I
have experienced that slow processes lead us nowhere. We aim to speedily
discuss all important issues and, even if we are not able to reach a solution,
to achieve significant progress”.
Referring to the resumption of the negotiations, Eide noted that they will begin with the
governance and power sharing and issues of the property chapter which include a
dimension related with the territory. “If we achieve significant progress
and feel that we are close to the solution, this will change the perceptions”,
he argued adding that then “the hydrocarbon research activities will be
approached differently”.
Eide
noted that all issues in the negotiations are related with each other and
argued that there are some concepts which should be clarified. He added: “For
example, bi-zonality, there is an agreement between the sides on bi-zonality,
but what does this mean for the sides? When we clarify the answer to this,
it will influence both the EU chapter and the property chapter. That is,
actually the issues are related with each other and the progress achieved on
one of them will influence the other chapters”.
(I/Ts.)
2. “Diplomatic
sources” talk to KIBRIS about the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations
Under the title “UN does not want crisis”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (19.03.15) reports that according to “diplomatic sources”, the UN exerts efforts in the
direction of guaranteeing that a “new crisis on the hydrocarbons issue” will
not emerge within the framework of the negotiations for finding a
comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, which are expected to resume in
April, after the “elections” to be held in the occupied area of the island.
The sources told Kibris that UN Secretary-General’s
Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth
Eide will visit the island in the beginning of April and that the statement
regarding the resumption of the talks will be made either by the two leaders or
by Eide on their behalf. The above-mentioned statement will be saying the
date on which the leaders will meet for the first time. It is argued that this meeting could take place before 19
April, when the “elections” in the occupied area of the island will be
held.
The sources said that if there is a political will,
the opportunity will be used to lead the negotiations to the last stage. It is alleged that efforts are exerted for
having a multilateral meeting with the participation of the guarantor powers
for the settlement of the guarantees issue during the period when the
hydrocarbon explorations will be interrupted.
The sources also noted that if the current system of
guarantees is abolished, another system of guarantees will be needed and this
depends on the political will of the sides on the island and the guarantor
powers.
(I/Ts.)
3. Saner: “Our struggle at the
EP on the issue of missing persons has started to have positive results”
Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (19.03.15)
reports on statements by Ersan Saner,
“deputy” with the National Unity Party (UBP) who evaluated to the paper their “struggle” at the European Parliament
concerning the issue of the missing persons, which aims as he claimed to defuse
the “Greek Cypriot’s unfair and groundless propaganda” and alleged that their
efforts have started to have positive results.
According to Saner, the Greek Cypriot’s allegation that the issue of missing persons has
started after 1974 is groundless.He explained that a “parliamentary delegation”
has recently carried out contacts at the EP where they informed the Euro MPs
regarding the issue of the missing persons, submitting at the same time
documents which prove that the missing persons’ issue has started during the
period of 1963-1974. Saner provided as an example the case of the Turkish
Cypriot MP CengirRatip who is missing since 1964.
Accusing
the Greek Cypriot side for misleading the international community towards the
issue of the missing persons,
Saner referred to their contacts at the EP and said that they had the
opportunity during those contacts to convey to the Euro MP’s all the realities
about this matter. Saner added that they have also submitted to all Euro MP’s a
detailed report about the Turkish Cypriot MP CengizRatip and asked for their
support in order for his case to come to the agenda of the EU.
“The
Greek Cypriot side does not have the courage to accuse the Turkish Cypriot side
towards the missing persons in Cyprus”, Saner alleged.
(AK)
4. The
breakaway regime participates in the “MITT 2015” tourism fair in Moscow
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniBakis (19.03.15) reports
that the self-styled deputy prime minister and minister for economy, tourism,
culture and sports SerdarDenktas flew yesterday to Moscow to attend the “MITT
2015” tourism fair, which started in Moscow Expocentre where the breakaway
regime is represented with its own kiosk.
According to a press release by the “ministry”, 37
thousand people visited the fair last year. During the fair, brochures, maps
and DVDs in Russian will be distributed to those who will visit the “TRNC
kiosk”.
Denktas is expected to return to the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus on Sunday.
(DPs)
5. Independent
candidate Ulas: Solution is not reached in Cyprus because the interests of
influential players of the world are not satisfied
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (19.03.15)
reports that Mustafa Ulas, the independent candidate for the “presidential
elections” to be held on April 19, stated that life in the breakaway regime has
become extremely cruel and accused the other candidates of saying lies to the
“voters”.
Ulas,
who was speaking at a conference in illegal Eastern Mediterranean University
(DAU) stated that a solution is not reached in Cyprus because the interests of
influential players of the world are not satisfied. Therefore he said there is no validity on the talks
and the promises made “beyond the Keryneia Door”. He also criticized the
services provided by the so-called government especially in the health and
justice fields.
(CS)
6. Twelve icons were found in
occupied Gerolakkos village
Turkish Cypriot daily HaberalKibrisli (19.03.15)
reports that the so-called police
arrested a person called MentesDurust for having in his possession 12 icons of
historic value.
According to the paper, the icons were found into the
suspect’s car in the industrial area which is located in the occupied
Gerolakkos village. The icons were
confiscated and sent to the so-called antiquities department.
(AK)
7. A
cooperation protocol between “YDU” and Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (19.03.15) reports that
the illegal Near East University (YDU) signed a cooperation protocol with the
Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University. Prior to the signing ceremony, the Rector of
the Manas University Prof. DrSebahattinBalci visited the founding rector of the
“YDU” DrSuat I. Gunsel. During the meeting Prof. Balci noted that “YDU” has
great value in the Turkish world.
According to the signing protocol, they will cooperate
on issues as students and academic staff exchange and organize joint academic,
sport, art, and culture activities.
(DPs)
8. Bozkir:
Ankara expecting the EU to open chapter 17 soon
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (19.03.15) reports that Turkey has given the European
Commission a revised position paper for European Union accession chapter 17,
economic and monetary policies, and expects the bloc to open the chapter in
eight weeks’ time, Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozkir has told Hurriyet Daily
News.
Recalling that France lifted a blockage on some
chapters after François Hollande replaced Turkey-skeptic Nicholas Sarkozy as President,
Bozkır expressed his expectation that
chapter 17 will be opened in two months, just before the parliamentary
elections slated for June 7. “Under normal conditions and in the absence of
political obstacles, this chapter can be opened in eight weeks. We’ll welcome
it if it is opened; if it isn’t, we’ll continue our works as we have been doing
so far. Opening chapters is the responsibility of the EU,” he said.
Turkey
and the union will increase bilateral dialogue in the upcoming term as
President RecepTayyipErdoğan plans a visit to Brussels in 2015.Earlier, Turkish officials estimated that the visit would
occur in April, but Bozkır said it was likely to take place later as both
sides’ schedule is busy for April. The president of the European Parliament,
Martin Schulz, will pay a visit to Turkey on April 7-8, Bozkır said, adding
that a Turkey-EU partnership commission meeting will be held on May 18. As part of efforts to protect Turkey from
damage that will emerge if the EU concludes trade agreements with third
parties, Turkish officials will participate in the meetings of the EU Trade
Committee as an observer, the minister said.
Turkey
and the EU will upgrade their Customs Union agreement to include agriculture,
public procurement and the service sector, he said, adding that the parties
would kick off negotiations on the agreement at the end of 2015 after the
European Council authorizes the European Commission to do so.
9. The European Commissioner
for Energy sent a positive message for the opening of the energy chapter for
Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Milliyet newspaper (18.03.15)
reported on statements by theEuropeanEnergy
Commissioner MarosSefcovic who
after Erdogan’s recent reactions to the EU regarding not opening the energy
chapter, has sent a positive message from the EU Commission regarding its
opening.
According to the paper, Sefcovic said: “We
consider that from the technical point of view, the energy chapter is possible
to open. Because Turkey is ready. It is only a matter of time.
(AK)
10. Opinion
polls show that AKP reduced its percentages
Turkish daily Sozcu newspaper (19.03.15) publishes an
opinion poll conducted by Gezici Research and Polling Company, according to
which the ruling in Turkey Justice and Development Party (AKP) receives 39.3%
in case of elections.
According to Gezici's results, after undecided votes
are distributed between the parties, the AKP receives 39.3 % of the vote, while
the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) gets 29.6 %, the
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), receives 17.7 % of the vote and the Peoples'
Democratic Party (HDP) passes the critical 10 % threshold with 11.4 %. In this
case, the distribution of Deputies at the Assembly will be as follows: AKP:
229, CHP: 146, MHP: 118 and HDP: 57.
In addition, 77.1% of the persons participated in the
poll stated that are against the presidential system proposed by AKP, while
22.9 % are in favor of it. Respondents also stated that they believe that the
presidential system would increase authoritarianism (72 %) and lead to the
territorial partition of the country (76 %).
Moreover, 67.2 % of people in Turkey believe that the
government and the President place pressure on the media and 38.7 % of AKP
voters expressed their discomfort with Erdogan's intervention in
party-political affairs and the government.
The poll was conducted in 36 provinces across Turkey
with 4,860 respondents between 7-8 of March 2015.
In addition, Turkihs daily Today’s Zaman (19.03.15)
also reports about another opinion poll conducted by MetroPOLL, whose results
were announced on Samanyolu Haber TV on Tuesday, according to which there has
been a slide in support for the AKP over the last month.
The president of the company, Professor ÖzerSencar,
said that 1-1.5 % of the AK Party vote had gone to the MHP, adding that in the
event of an alliance between the two ultra-nationalist parties, the MHP and the
Grand Unity Party (BBP), they would receive 21.5 % of the vote. The MetroPOLL
survey, conducted in March with the participation of 2,580 people, found that
after the distribution of undecided voters, the AK Party's share of the vote
stood at 41.8 %, down from 43.1 % in February.
(CS)
11. Transparency
International Turkey survey finds rampant self-censorship in media
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (19.03.15)
reports that a recent survey by
Transparency International Turkey (TI Turkey) has revealed that almost nine out
of 10 journalists in Turkey believe that censorship or auto-censorship is
widespread in the media of the country.
According
to the survey, titled “Research on Impunity in Turkey” and conducted between
Jan. 29 and Feb. 22, featuring the views of some 11,000 members of the media,
86 % of respondents said they believe censorship or self-censorship is a common
practice. More than 60% of respondents said they are absolutely sure that this
is the case in Turkish media. Only 9% said they do not think there is
censorship, while 3% said they are undecided.
An
overwhelming majority of the journalists expressed their conviction that there
is a direct or indirect link between reporting on corruption and the media's
role of serving the public interest. Only 5 % disagreed with the notion, while
3 % remained undecided or said they had no opinion on that.
The
poll also indicated that journalists believe 92 % of news covering corruption
in the government, municipalities, the civil service and the judiciary is
censored, and think that 63 % of articles on the relationship between media
owners and the government are self-censored. In addition, more than half of the articles on
corruption involving private companies or media corporations are censored,
according to the survey.
Almost
three-quarters (73 %) of the journalists who participated in the survey said
they are aware of legislation that protects the right to freedom of the press
and the right to freedom of expression but 88 % of them said these legal
protections are not enough.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)
