TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
58/15 27.03.15
1. Sertoglu: "We are applying to CFA next week"
2. Eroglu declared his political vision
3. Siber: “The unilateral opening of Varosha without
solution will be the reason for a new crisis to arise”
4. Bozkir: The Cyprus problem and the Turkish EU
membership are “twin brothers”
5. The Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council carried out
contacts in Washington
6. Atasoy called the Islamic countries to support the
“TRNC”
7. Increase on the occupation regime’s imports for 2014
8. Erdogan and Obama discussed pressing issues in the
Middle East
9. Turkey supports Saudi Arabia’s military operation in
Yemen
10. Former UNDP head joins opposition CHP
1. Sertoglu:
"We are applying to CFA next week"
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen (27.03.15)
reports that the chairman of the “Turkish Cypriot Football Federation” (“KTFF”)
Hasan Sertoglu has announced that they will apply to Cyprus Football
Association (CFA) next week.
In statements to Al Jazeera Turk, Sertoglu
said that their “government” of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus has not responded to any of “KTFF’s” demands and the
45-day timetable given to them ended on March 27. Sertoglu added: “This issue
is over. The time we gave to the government was for 45 days and the time period
is ending tomorrow (27.03.15). During this 45 days period, not even a single
government member bothered to listen what we had to say. Therefore, as we stated earlier, in order to reach the international
standards and to be able to defend our rights, we are applying to CFA”.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Detay
(27.03.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu, asked to comment
on the problems between the “KTFF” and the Turkish Football Federation (TFF),
said that there is no possibility the TFF to open a representative office in
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and this issue is closed.
(DPs)
2. Eroglu declared his political vision
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.03.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
leader and candidate for the “presidential elections”, DervisEroglu held a
press conference yesterday where he declared his political vision in the
framework of his “election campaign”.
Eroglu said in his speech that his vision is to reach a realistic,
reasonable, and peaceful solution on the Cyprus problem: “The main duty of the
president is to know the past, accurately analyse today and shape our future
correctly, by blending all of these. This duty, in addition to the
Constitutional responsibilities of the President of the TRNC, is the basis of
the ongoing cause of the Turkish Cypriot people for freedom and sovereignty”,
he stated.
He went on
and added that the recent development in the world assigns duties and
responsibilities to the Turkish Cypriot “people” both in connection with the
Islamic world and the Western civilization.
“Our vision has been and will be, in the new period, to act in a
manner that prioritizes concurrently the integration of the Turkish Cypriot
people into the international community as well as its national security”, he
stated and added that settlement of the Cyprus problem should preserve the
peace and should not in the long run set the ground for conflict.
“Hydrocarbon
resources around the island of Cyprus are the common wealth of the two
communities living on the island. It must be well understood that we are
determined to protect our legitimate rights over the said hydrocarbon reserves.
Our attitude entails openness to economic development and cooperation, and it
excludes archaic ambitions which sacrifice regional investment opportunities.
The Cyprus problem must be resolved within two years at the latest, and the
hydrocarbon resources, which are of great significance for the regional peace
and stability, should be transported to the world through Turkey, which is the
most economically viable route”, he claimed.
He went on
and added that he in the “EU norms and ideals” championed by the European Union
such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and respect
for human rights. “Underlying our vision for the settlement of the Cyprus issue
is the unconditional need to build a future partnership on strong foundations
and the attainment of concrete and, in case of need, enforceable security
guarantees for the well-being of the Turkish Cypriot people:, he claimed adding
that the Turkish Cypriot side does not want “the repetition of the painful
experiences of 1963-1974” and claimed that today they are witnessing
provocative statements and racist epithets being used against the Turkish
Cypriot Community by the Greek Cypriots even on religious matters.
“The
continuation of effective and enforceable guarantees that can protect the
Turkish Cypriot community from racial prejudices and ethnic discrimination even
under the worst possible conditions of economic and political crisis is a part
and parcel of our vision. We are sitting at the negotiating table, with courage
and determination, in order to establish an order where the right to live in
peace, scientific thought, free enterprise, all sacred values, and, most
important of all, the right to live with
dignity, are considered indispensable. Regardless of the fact that our partner has
abandoned the negotiating table, we will continue to extend our hand in line
with our beliefs based on the aforementioned values. Naturally, we have the
right to expect the same constructive approach from the Greek Cypriot
politicians, clergymen, opinion leaders and the Greek Cypriot people. The
Turkish Cypriot people are not guests on this beautiful island, but have the
same sovereign rights as their Southern neighbours. We are acting not on
ideological fixations but on a culture of peaceful partnership and of equality,
and we shall continue to do so”, he stated.
(CS)
3.Siber:
“The unilateral opening of Varosha without solution will be the reason for a
new crisis to arise”
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniBakis
newspaper (27.03.15) reports that the “presidential candidate” with the
Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) SiberSibel, in statements yesterday during a luncheon with several
Turkish Cypriot associations, evaluated
the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and supported that the
negotiation talks will restart after April 19.
Referring to the issue of hydrocarbons,
Siber stressed the need for both sides to have benefits from the revenues and
said that this issue should serve for the peace in the island.
As
regards the issue of Varosha, she pointed out that both communities should work
together with goodwill for the redesign of the city. She also said that the
launching of technical projects for the architecture reconstruction of Varosha
(fenced off city) will turn Varosha to become a symbol of peace in Cyprus.
Siber added that the unilateral opening of Varosha without solution will be the
reason for a new crisis to arise.
(AK)
4. Bozkir: The Cyprus problem and the Turkish EU membership are
“twin brothers”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper reports that Turkish EU Minister and Chief
Negotiator VolkanBozkır stated that the Cyprus problem and the Turkish EU
membership are “twin brothers”.
He made
these statements speaking at a seminar organized by the International Relations
Institute under the title “Turkey in Europe: Difficulties and opportunities”
during his official visit to Rome.
Bozkir claimed during his speech that the Cyprus problem is much
easier to be solved than the Syria issue or the Ukrainian crisis. He also said
that Turkey’s EU membership has been progressing together with the Cyprus
problem since both have “a fifty-year past”, as he claimed. “Turkey wants to
solve this problem very much. There are compromised parameters in both sides. Therefore
the Cyprus problem can be solved […] It is very sad that after the demolition
of the Berlin wall which has celebrated its 25th anniversary to have
a capital that is divided by a wall”, he alleged.
He also
said that the Cyprus problem came very near to solution with the Annan Plan in
2004 and added that in case the Cyprus problem is solved then 14 EU chapters
will be opened for Turkey and the country will become an EU member.
Finally he
said that the natural resources of the island belong to the entire island.
(CS)
5. The
Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council carried out contacts in Washington
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Detay
(27.03.15), a delegation from the Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council (TIAK)
carried out contacts in Washington.
In a written statement issued by the
chairman of the board of managers IlkerZugurt, the delegation visited the US
Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who is serving New York’s 17th district.
During the meeting, the delegation conveyed to her a letter on the issue of the
registration of the halloumi product and explained to her their suffering due
to “embargoes”.
The delegation also met with former
Ambassador VinaiThummalapally - Executive Director of the Select USA Investment
Summit – and HakanTasci, Executive Director of TUSKON US (US Representative
Office of the Confederation of. Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey in the
USA).Zugurt said that they made the necessary early negotiations with the
Chairman of the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI) in
order to make a similar agreement with the one they did with the New European
Business Confederation in Brussels, in order to promote the “TRNC”
(translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus) and for the Turkish Cypriots to have business opportunities.
(DPs)
6.Atasoy
called the Islamic countries to support the “TRNC”
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniBakis
newspaper (27.03.15) reports the NezaketEmineAtasoy,
chairperson of the Association of Turkish Confederations (TKT) and of the
Turkish Industry Businesswomen and Businessmen Confederation, delivering a
speech during a summit which took place in Ankara last week-end, referred,
inter alia, to the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and the so-called
embargoes to the “TRNC” and called the Islamic countries to support the “TRNC”
and the lifting of the so-called unfair embargoes, as she called them.
Stressing the need for the Islamic
countries to support the “right cause” of the Turkish Cypriot “people”, Atasoy
said that it is very important the Muslim countries to be by the side of the
Turkish Cypriots and support their struggle.
Referring to the Cyprus negotiation
talks, Atasoy criticized the Greek Cypriot side for its decision to leave the
talks, providing as an excuse the crisis occurred on the issue of the natural
gas.
Atasoy
called the international community to do all necessary in order to persuade the
Greek Cypriot side to return to the negotiating table the soonest and also to
lift all the “isolations” imposed to the Turkish Cypriots.
(AK)
7.Increase
on the occupation regime’s imports for 2014
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(27.03.15) reports that the “trade department”
has announces the 2014 trade figures for the occupation regime.
According to the statement, an increase of 5% has been observed in the
“TRNC’s imports” comparing to last year. The imports for 2014 reached 1,781
million dollars.
Also, the statement said that the
records for December 2014 showed an increase of 4% compared to 2013. The
imports for December 2014 were 154.4 million dollars.
Meanwhile, as the paper writes 66.5% of
the imports of 2014 (January-December 2014) were from Turkey while the 33.5%
from third countries.
(AK)
8. Erdogan
and Obama discussed pressing issues in the Middle East
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
27.03.15) reports that U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Turkish President
Tayyip Erdogan on March 26 about pressing issues in the Middle East, including
the crisis in Yemen, the White House said.
Turkey and the United States support the
Saudi-led military operation against Houthi forces in Yemen, who have taken
over much of the country in an effort to oust President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Iran supports the Houthis.
The leaders also discussed U.S.-led
negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, the White House said in a statement.
The phone call came on a day when Erdogan
complained at a news conference that "Iran is trying to dominate the
region" and must withdraw forces from Yemen, Syria and Iraq.
Obama and Erdogan discussed their
cooperation fighting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants and
"common efforts to bring security and stability to Iraq and Syria,"
the White House said in a statement about the call.
"The two leaders reviewed the
train-and-equip program for vetted members of the moderate Syrian opposition.
They discussed efforts to deepen cooperation to stem the flow of foreign
fighters", the White House said.
Obama "expressed appreciation for
Turkey's continuing support to nearly two million refugees from Iraq and
Syria," the White House said, noting they also discussed the crisis in
Ukraine.
(DPs)
9. Turkey
supports Saudi Arabia’s military operation in Yemen
According to Turkish daily Sabah (online,
26.03.15), the Turkish Foreign Ministry
released a statement on Thursday, expressing Turkey's support for the military
operation led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
"Turkey supports the military
operations against the Houthis led by Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the Gulf
Cooperation Council, based on the request of the legitimately elected Yemeni
President Hadi" the Foreign Ministry stated, adding that the military
intervention would contribute to the reclamation of the legitimate state
authority and prevent chaos and civil war. The Ministry also called the Houthi
militias and their foreign supporters to renounce violence and acts which
threaten peace and security in the region.
The statement condemned the attacks carried
out by Houthi militias against the legitimate Yemeni administration led by
President Hadi, to take over the temporary capital Aden.
(DPs)
10. Former
UNDP head joins opposition CHP
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 27.03.15), Kemal Dervis, a former U.N. Development Program chief
and well-known economist, has promised to join the Republican People’s Party
(CHP) and serve as Deputy Prime Minister responsible for economics if the
social democrats come to power.
“Taking charge in a government with a
social democratic dimension in which the CHP will have a say and working for
social democracy and trying to improve Turkey in terms of social democracy
would be a source of happiness for me,” Dervis said in a meeting with CHP’s
chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu on March 26 in Ankara.
But Dervis said he would not run in
parliamentary elections that will be held June 7, meaning he could only join a
CHP government as a non-deputy Minister. “I have been a social democrat since
the 1970s and a voter of the CHP,” he explained.
Dervis who is currently working as the vice
president of the prestigious U.S. think tank Brookings, served as the Minister
responsible for the economy in the early 2000s and restructured the fragile
Turkish economy through a set of reforms.
(DPs)
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
AM)
