TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
73/15 22.04.15
1.
Cavusoglu: We want a Cyprus settlement this year
2. Talat
and Sibel support Akinci for the second round of the “presidential elections”
3. Eroglu
visited Ozersay; Ozersay reiterated that he would not direct his voters and
that he would not form a political party
4.
Ozersay’s movement (The Toparlaniyoruz Movement) and several trade unions
expressed their support to Akinci
5. Talat
returns to politics
6. Gezici:
There is a great possibility Akinci to receive 60% of the votes on the second
round of the “elections”
7. Siber in
Istanbul to attend the “Peace Summit”
8. Claims
that crafts of an ancient tomb in occupied Lefka village are stolen
9. HDP vows
to be the 'Sultan's nightmare' in Turkey’s elections
1. Cavusoglu:
We want a Cyprus settlement this year
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(22.04.15), Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hailed US-Turkish
relations on Tuesday amid turmoil in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
“Turkish-American strategic relations are
more indispensable today than ever,” Cavusoglu told reporters during a press
conference with his U.S. counterpart before a bilateral meeting at the State
Department.
“We are at a critical time for our region,”
he said. “Turkey and the United States are the two countries with important
comparative advantages. This is what makes our partnership unique and valuable.
In the past we have proven that by working together on any common vision, our two
countries can overcome any challenges.”
Among the issues that the top diplomats
addressed during Tuesday’s meeting were the ongoing nuclear negotiations with
Iran, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Daesh, and the conflicts in Ukraine and Cyprus.
“I want to emphasize this afternoon the
importance of the ties between the United States and Turkey, particularly the
security relationship at this particular moment,” US Secretary of State John
Kerry said, noting Ankara’s role in Afghanistan, patrols in the Black Sea and
contributions in Iraq.
Regarding
the Cyprus issue, Cavusoglu said: “We want to reach a lasting solution in
Cyprus in this year. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots have the political will
for a solution, and we are waiting at the negotiating table.” Cavusoglu added: “On this, the United States’
active role is very important”.
Following the meeting with the Secretary
Kerry, the Turkish Foreign Minister met U.S. National Security Advisor Susan
Rice.
On the same issue, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 22.04.15) reports that Kerry
said on Tuesday that the division of Cyprus is begging for an international
solution and progress in peace talks is possible this year.
Speaking before a meeting with Cavusoglu at
the State Department, Kerry said the dispute over ethnically split Cyprus had
gone on for too long. "It is begging for international efforts to try to
help bring about a resolution, a lasting settlement," Kerry said. "We believe that the parties can make
real and lasting progress in the year 2015," he added.
(DPs)
2. Talat and Sibel support Akinci for the second round of the
“presidential elections”
Under the
title “Full support to Akinci”, Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper
reports that Mustafa Akinci, who runs
against DervisEroglu for the second round of the “presidential elections” next
Sunday held meetings with the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat
and with the candidate of the Republican Turkish Party SibelSiber, asking for
their support. Both Talat and Siber expressed their full support to Akinci.
During
their meeting Talat called on everyone to vote for Akinci on the second round
“for the sake of the country’s future”, as he said: “We are at a very important turning point. We are in a period in which
there is a chance to reach a new level in the Cyprus negotiations. In the last
5 years we have experienced a barren period regarding the talks. […] We have
met with Akinci today and once again we have seen that our views are completely
parallel. In this regard, I urge our
people to vote for him on Sunday, I
request this from everyone and I promise to do everything I can for Akıncı to
succeed”, Talat stated.
On her
part, Sibel, who failed to pass to the second round of the ‘elections”, also
expressed her support to Akinci’scandidancy.Sibel stated that the political views of Akinci are in parallel to her
views as these where declared during her “election campaign” and said that a
change is needed for the “country”.
(CS)
3.Eroglu
visited Ozersay; Ozersay reiterated that he would not direct his voters and
that he would not form a political party
Turkish Cypriot daily HaberalKibrisli
(22.04.15) reports that the Turkish
Cypriot leader and independent “presidential candidate” DervisEroglu visited
yesterday KudretOzersay, who run as “independent candidate” in the first round
of the “elections” in the occupied area of Cyprus.
Speaking after the 45 minutes meeting,
Ozersay said that he made an evaluation of the “elections” with both
“candidates” Eroglu and Akinci with whom he exchanged views.
Also speaking after the meeting, Eroglu
congratulated Ozersay for his success in the first round of the “elections” and
reminded of the fact that he cooperated with Ozersay for five years since he
was the negotiator.
Recalling Ozersay’s statement after the
first round of the “elections” that he would not direct his votes towards
voting in favor of one or the other candidate, Eroglu said that they have
started working for the second round and pointed out that no much time is left.
Stating
that they will do everything in order to be the winners of the second round of
the “elections”, Eroglu recalled that he is a “candidate” in order to finish
the half-finished left work with Anastasiades. “I run for the elections because
I believe I can solve the Cyprus problem. We will continue the talks from the
point they were left and we have the belief that we will be able to solve this
problem within a time-limit”.
Pointing out that it is the “people” who
will have the final say,Eroglu alleged that if he was to be “elected”, he will
continue with the same determination for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Meanwhile, speaking in a press
conference yesterday morning, Ozersay evaluated the “election results”, spoke
about his future plans and thanked everyone who supported him.
Evaluating
the “election results”, Ozersay described as a great success the percentage he
achieved to receive during the first round of the “elections”, taking also into
consideration that he was an “independent” candidate not being supported by any
political party, and added that he will continue to struggle and keep the
promises he gave to the “people” during the election period.
Recalling his statement prior to the
“elections”: “I’ve entered to this
election in order to win and not to establish a political party. I do not
accept the position of the negotiator and I will not direct my voters. If I
pass to the second round of the elections I will not ask for votes from the
other candidates”, Ozersay said that he would not change his stance.
Stating that he will continue to work
together with the “citizens” for the “rights” of the community and the
“country”, Ozersay said: “This was my
first elections, but will not be the last”.
Announcing
that he spent totally 274 thousand TL during his election campaign, Ozersay
said that he will give further details about his election campaign expenses in
15 days.
(AK)
4.Ozersay’s
movement (The Toparlaniyoruz Movement) and several trade unions expressed their
support to Akinci
Under the front-page title: “The status-quo apparently has been
broken”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.04.15) reports that the
election result for next Sunday’s elections seems to be designated from now
since Mustafa Akinci gains support from all parts of the society.
According to the paper, several NGO’s in the occupied area of
Cyprus like KTOS, KTAMS and DAU-SEN issued yesterday separate written
statements and expressed their support to Akinci.
Meanwhile, the Toparlaniyoruz Movement, (We are gathering Movement!) which is a
movement established and headed by KudretOzersay, has announced that in spite
of the fact that Ozersay said that he will leave his voters free to decide
about who candidate they will vote for, has announced that the movement will
not stay impartial and will support Akinci in the second round of the
“elections”.
(AK)
5. Talat
returns to politics
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (22.04.15),
in its front page with the above title, reports that former Turkish Cypriot
leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that he will take active charge in the politics of
the Republican Turkish Party (DTP) including also the leadership of the party.
In statements to the paper, Talat said that
at the moment the “presidential elections” are being discussed in the party.
After Monday, it will be clearer whether there will be an early general
assembly of the party or not. Talat added that if there is a general assembly,
then he is ready to take active role, in any position within the party
including the leadership.
(DPs)
6.Gezici: There is a great possibility Akinci to receive 60% of
the votes on the second round of the “elections”
Turkish
Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper (22.04.15) reports that Murat Gezici, the director of the Gezici Research Centre, evaluated the
results of the first round of the “presidential elections” and stated that it
is very possible for Mustafa Akinci to receive the 60% of the votes in the
second “election round” and Eroglu to receive 40%.
Gezici
stated that this is because the Turkish Cypriots want an objective and
impartial person to be elected as “president” who will be able to solve the
Cyprus problem. He also said that voters favour Akinci very much because he was
very successful during his 3 terms as “mayor” of occupied Lefkosia and because
he built himself a good reputation as a clear and honest politician during the
time he served as “deputy prime minister”.
As regards
the results of the first “election round”, Gezici stated that during the last
week of the first round of the “presidential elections”, KudretOzersay managed
to take 9-11% of DervisEroglu’s voters. This was as a result of many “mayors”
members of the National Unity Party (UBP) who openly expressed their support to
Ozersai.
(CS)
7. Siber
in Istanbul to attend the “Peace Summit”
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris
(22.04.15) reports that the self-styled assembly speaker of the breakaway regime
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus SibelSiber flew yesterday to
Istanbul to attend the “Peace Summit”, which will be held in Istanbul on
Thursday, April 23.
Siber will also attend the 100th
anniversary of the Battle of Canakkale (Gallipoli) with events to be held from
April 24 to 25.
(DPs)
8. Claims that crafts of an ancient tomb in occupied Lefka
village are stolen
Turkish
Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (22.04.15) sites information according to
which some crafts were stolen from an area known as “kings tombs” in occupied
Lefka village.
The paper
writes that it is not clarified what kind of items were stolen since this is
kept as a secret. According to the same information illegal excavations are
also taking place in Soloi area. Both the “antiquities department” and the
“ministry of tourism” denied these claims.
(CS)
9. HDP
vows to be the 'Sultan's nightmare' in Turkey’s elections
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 22.04.15), Turkey’s
opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has announced its election manifesto
for the June 7 parliamentary elections, promising freedoms in many areas,
particularly targeting women and youth.
HDP co-chairs SelahattinDemirtas and
FigenYuksekdag made promises in several areas, including the economy, foreign
policy, freedoms and rights, the environment and green energy.
"The election manifesto that we
present is the nightmare of the sultan and the dream of all the peoples of
Turkey," HDP co-chair Yuksekdag said in an apparent reference to President
RecepTayyip Erdogan, who presents the upcoming polls as a referendum to switch
from the current parliamentary system to a presidential one.
Demirtas said that the HDP will distribute
cards to all people between the ages of 15 and 25 which will give them 200
Turkish Liras annually for transportation and communication. This card will
also allow free entrance to all museums across the country.
The HDP vowed to lower the voting age to 16
and the age of candidates for parliamentary seats to 18.
The party also pledged to establish a
Women’s Ministry, which would replace the current Family and Social Policies
Ministry. The party will open local kindergartens, which will be free of charge
and provide education in the students’ mother tongue, according to the
manifesto.
The party said the new constitution will be
centred on women and added International Women’s Day on March 8 will be
declared as official holiday.
The minimum wage will be increased to 1,800
Turkish Liras while the minimum retirement pension will also be increased to
1,800 liras, according to the party’s election manifesto.
Speaking on foreign politics, Demirtas said
the border between Turkey and Armenia will be opened unconditionally and the
embargo on Armenia will be lifted. “We will support the solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he said.
On the issue of compulsory religion classes
in schools, Yuksekdag said that they will remove the religion classes from the
curriculum. The compulsory religion classes have been widely criticized by the
Alevi community in Turkey for undermining their identity and beliefs.
On the same issue, Turkish daily Today’s
Zaman (online, 21.04.15) reports that the HDP election declaration has put
emphasis on "democratic autonomy" and "common homeland" as
well as seeking a solution to the Kurdish issue based on peaceful methods
rather than taking up arms.
The party also committed to establishing
"regional parliaments" that will be inclusive of their constituents'
political, economic, social, geographical and cultural diversity, and which
will feature governors who are elected rather than assigned.
The manifesto also stressed that the HDP is
opposed to the transfer to a presidential system and will block any attempts
toward this end. The party also opposes the 10% election threshold that has
prevented their presence in Parliament for years. The party pledged to abolish
the threshold so that all parties may be represented in Parliament in proportion
to the percentage of votes they receive.
(DPs)
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/ AM)
