TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 44/15 06.03.15
1. Davutoglu: There is need for a “Ban Ki-moon Plan” for Cyprus
2. Nami will discuss the issue of natural gas in Brussels
3. Ozyigit: Akca interferes in our internal affairs; Elcil: Turkish Cypriots emigrate because of economic packages imposed by Turkey
4. A new public opinion poll shows two round “elections” in April
5. Eroglu: The main reason I run for “presidency is to conclude the Cyprus problem in two years
6. Siber: The Cyprus negotiations will be launched again on April 19
7. Turkish lira hits new record low against dollar
8. Davutoglu stated that AKP will win General Elections in Turkey with a large difference from the second party
9. The Turkish Parliament approves second part of Security’s Bill
10. Turkey blocks 68,000 websites and counting
1. Davutoglu: There is need for a “Ban Ki-moon Plan” for Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibirs newspaper (06.03.15) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that a “Ban Ki-moon Plan” is needed for reaching a solution in Cyprus. In statements at a press conference in New York after meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, Davutoglu noted that they discussed the Cyprus problem during the meeting with the UNSG.
Recalling that the Turkish side had supported the Annan Plan in 2004, Davutoglu added: “I have told Secretary-General Ban that we need a ‘Ban Ki-moon Plan’ before the completion of his duty in order for the Cyprus problem to be solved”.
Davutoglu argued that the Greek Cypriot side should come to the negotiating table and an international conference should be convened for Cyprus as soon as possible. He alleged: “Instead of unilateral actions and provocations on the issue of the natural resources in Cyprus, it would be more useful to negotiate at the table. We will do everything possible for a sustainable comprehensive peace”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Nami will discuss the issue of natural gas in Brussels
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibirs newspaper (06.03.15) reports that Ozdil Nami, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, will deliver a speech in Brussels on the issue of “Hydrocarbons and the Cyprus problem” at a briefing, which will be organized by the Press Club Brussels Europe on 9 March 2015.
The program will begin with Nami’s speech and after that a questions-answers part and a reception will follow. During the briefing Nami is expected to share his views regarding the latest developments in the energy sector in Eastern Mediterranean.
(I/Ts.)
3. Ozyigit: Akca interferes in our internal affairs; Elcil: Turkish Cypriots emigrate because of economic packages imposed by Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibirs newspaper (06.03.15) reports that Cemal Ozyigit, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TRP), has said that the Turkish so-called ambassador to the occupied part of Nicosia, Halil Ibrahim Akca, with his recent statements on the economy of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, has put himself in the place of the regime’s “government”, something which is not correct.
Speaking yesterday to a private television station, Ozyigit described Akca’s statement regarding the regime’s economy as “a kind of interference in the internal affairs of northern Cyprus”. He pointed out that it is the “government’s” duty to make such statements and called on Akca to act knowing what his essential duty is.
Referring to the same issue, the general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot primary school teachers’ trade union (KTOS), Sener Elcil said that Akca’s statements “distorted reality”. Accusing the Turkish officials of “painting a rosy picture”, Elcil noted that the reality is not as they say.
Noting that Akca said that the Turkish Cypriots are getting richer every day, Elcil argued that Akca and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) officials have turned the distortion of realities into their habit. He said that the money of the Turkish Cypriot community is being stolen due to the inflation because they use the Turkish lira.
According to Elcil, 34 thousand out of the 80 thousand employees paying social securities are not “citizens” of the regime. He added that there are at least 30 thousand illegal workers and that the companies which support the AKP are granted tax exemption.
“Moreover, Akca did not say how many Turkish Cypriot young persons have been abandoning the island for many years because of the political pressure under the name of an economic package which they [the Turkish officials] imposed and how many persons have become new citizens in their place”, said Elcil protesting against Akca’s statement. “We do not want either your Akca or your money”, he noted addressing to Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
4. A new public opinion poll shows two round “elections” in April
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (06.03.15) reports that according to a public opinion poll conducted under the coordination of the researcher Muharrem Amcazade with a sample of 1,030 persons, the forthcoming “presidential elections” to be held on 19 April in the occupied area of Cyprus will not end from the first round.
The results of the survey, which was held between 12 February and 2 March 2015 with the method of face to face interviews, are the following for the first round: Dervis Eroglu 27.8%, Sibel Siber 21.8%, Mustafa Akinci 14%, Kudret Ozersay 7.3% and undecided 14.4%. Moreover, 11.1% of the respondents said that they were not thinking to vote.
Asked whether they think that the “elections” will have one or two rounds, 54.4% said that there will be two rounds and 33.4% that there will be one.
Asked which candidates they think that will remain to the second round, 44.5% said that the second round will be held between Eroglu and Siber, 29.7% between Eroglu and Akinci and 7.9% between Siber and Akinci.
Asked which candidate they will vote for if Eroglu and Siber remain to the second round, 36.2% said Eroglu, 35.9% Siber, 16.5% no one of them and 11.4% expressed no opinion or answer.
In case Eroglu and Akinci remain in the second round, 38.5% of the respondents said that they will vote for Eroglu, 28.2% for Akinci and 20% for no one of them. Those who replied that they had no opinion or they did not know were 13.3%.
If Siber and Akinci remain to the second round, 32.8% of the respondents said that they will vote for Siber and 25.5% for Akinci. The percentage of those who replied “no one” increases to 27.1% and those who had no view/answer were 14.6%.
(I/Ts.)
5. Eroglu: The main reason I run for “presidency is to conclude the Cyprus problem in two years
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (06.03.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader and candidate for the “April 2015 presidential elections”, Dervis Eroglu stated that the main reason he runs for the “elections” is to conclude the Cyprus problem in two years.
“No one has the right to ask from the Turkish Cypriots to continue negotiating for the next fifty years”, he said.
Eroglu said that the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades will return to the negotiation table and added that the Turkish Cypriot side will ask then for a time table for the Cyprus talks. He went on and added that in two years it will be made clear if the reaching of an agreement is possible and accused the Greek Cypriot side of having extreme demands in issues like property and administration.
He went on and added that there is already peace in Cyprus and the only thing missing is an agreement. “I want a strong support in order to protect our people and to administrate the Greek Cypriot side towards a conclusion of the talks”, Eroglu said.
(CS)
6. Siber: The Cyprus negotiations will be launched again on April 19
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (06.03.15) reports that the “speaker of the assembly” and candidate for the “April 2015 presidential elections” Sibel Siber stated that after April 19, the Cyprus negotiations will be launched again. She also said that the Turkish Cypriot side will sit on the table in order to reach a solution.
Sibel claimed that the NAVTEX issued by Turkey will be terminated on April 6 and after that the explorations of ENI will be postponed and the platform will go for service. She also said that a new opportunity is opened for the negotiations and that they will continue the negotiations aiming to reach a solution based on political equality.
7. Turkish lira hits new record low against dollar
Hurriyet Daily News (06.03.15) reports that the Turkish Lira has dropped to a new all-time low yet again, seeing TL 2.6 against the U.S. dollar amid the strengthening trend of the greenback and investor concerns about the fate of Turkish economic management.
According to analysts, political pressure on the Turkish Central Bank for a rate cut despite the tumble in the lira in addition to contradictory remarks about economic management has triggered distress in the market, adding to the lira's pain. Efforts by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his economic team to soothe the nerves of investors in New York, who hold more than a fifth of the main Turkish stock index, appeared to have had little immediate effect. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has demanded deeper rate cuts to drive growth, despite stubborn inflation. That has raised concern about the futures of Central Bank Governor Erdem Basci and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan. An anchor of investor confidence, Babacan looks increasingly unlikely to return to office after June's general election.
8. Davutoglu stated that AKP will win the general elections in Turkey with a large difference from the second party
Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (06.03.15) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated that the percentage that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) will receive in the June 7 general elections will be between 48-52%.
Davutoglu, was who speaking in New York where he is paying a three-day visit, stated that there are always surprises in democratic elections; however according to the opinion polls conducted so far, AKP is coming first with the second party receiving only 20-22%.
He also stated that AKP has so far won two general elections, two presidential elections and in two referenda and added that the administration of AKP may have changed, but nothing has changed as regards the power.
(CS)
9. The Turkish Parliament approves second part of Security’s Bill
Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.03.15) reported that the Turkish Parliament’s general assembly approved on Thursday morning the second part of a highly-debated domestic Security Bill.
According to articles of the bill's second part, staff of the Turkish National Police Academy, including the president, dean, institute directors and secretaries, will be dismissed from their posts. Directors of police vocational high schools and training centers along with their deputies and the academic and administrative staff will also be discharged.
Discussions on the 132-article bill began on Feb. 17 after it was approved by the internal affairs commission of the Turkish Parliament on Jan. 22. According to the first part of the approved bill, the police will be able to use weapons against those who attack schools, public buildings and places of worship with Molotov bombs, explosives, flammable, suffocating and other weapons.
10. Turkey blocks 68,000 websites and counting
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (06.03.14) reports that the number of websites blocked in Turkey is approaching 68,000 with the recent addition of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo’s official site, as well as specific pages from the country’s most popular Internet forums.
The latest bans came after the government appealed to a local court, citing blasphemy laws. The Feb. 27 ruling of the Ankara Golbasi Civil Court of Peace came soon after the Telecommunications Directorate (TİB), a government body, filed a criminal complaint. The ruling imposes a blanket ban on the websites of Charlie Hebdo and Turkey’s first atheism association, while blocking individual pages of Eksi Sozluk (Sour Dictionary) and İnci Sozluk (Pearl Dictionary), two hugely popular forums, as well as pages on news website T24, which recently published the controversial Charlie Hebdo cartoons. The court imposed sanctions on a total of 49 websites, ruling that they “humiliated the religious values of the people.”
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
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(CS / AM)
