TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
74/15 23.04.15
1. Eroglu: “Elections are a referendum for the solution”
2. Akinci: “People will materialize change”
3. Erk: I will comply with the decision to support Akinci,
but I do not know whether all members of the CTP will comply
4. “We Are Gathering!” (Toparlaniyoruz Movement): “There
is no decision of the movement towards the one or the other candidate”
5. Various organizations expressed their support to
Akinci and Eroglu
6. Izcan to open a file against a Turkish Cypriot
newspaper which claims that he will gain benefits for his support towards
Akinci
7. A Turkish columnist assesses that Akinci will win in
the second round; He expresses the belief that a “single” Cyprus state is on
the way
8. Cavusoglu: There is a chance for resumption of the
peace talks in Cyprus
9. Turkey recalls Ambassador to Austria over parliament's
Armenia declaration
10. Turkish expats will vote for Turkey’s general
elections between 8-31 May
1. Eroglu: “Elections are a referendum for the solution”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (23.04.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader and candidate for the “presidential elections”
DervisEroglu stated that “Sunday’s elections will be a referendum for the type
of the solution the people want”. Eroglu made these allegations speaking at a
television program.
“People
must decide whether they want to jump into an adventure or go into the future
securely”, he claimed and admitted that he may have committed mistakes as a
politician. “But in the end of the day,
it is all about the state, it is about the future of the Turkish Cypriots”,
he said. He went on and added that the
Cyprus negotiations have been left half-finished and that the reason he chose
to be a candidate was to finalize the negotiations he had started.
Eroglu said
that the low participation in the elections was a reaction against politics in
the breakaway regime and called on the voters to cast their vote and to think
hard about who they will favour.
He also
accused some circles of the National Unity Party (UBP) of not only have not
supported his candidacy but even showed support to other candidates.
He also alleged that Ankara trusts him completely and said that
Turkey knows very well what he does at the negotiations table and never accused
him for his actions. In the contrary he was accused by some left
parties in the “country”.
“I am not
in favor of war, I am in favor of peace”, he claimed and added that an
agreement cannot be reached only in the way the Greek Cypriot side wants to be
formed because this will be the end of the Turkish Cypriots. He also claimed that an agreement that he
will negotiate will be accepted by the “TRNC”.
(CS)
2. Akinci:
“People will materialize change”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(23.04.15) reports that Mustafa Akinci,
candidate in the second round of the “elections” to be held on Sunday in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has
expressed the belief that “people will materialize change” and that “a brand
new page will open” as of the 26th of April in the occupied area of
the island. In statements to KanalSim television, Akinci said that he had
promised that he will be a really impartial and independent “president” and he
will keep this promise.
Responding to a question, Aknci noted that
this is not a race between parties and that they will elect the “president” of
the Turkish Cypriot community. “Even
though the world does not recognize the TRNC, it accepts the president as the
elected leader of the Turkish Cypriots”, he argued noting that his vision
has common points with the one of the Republican Turkish Party’s (CTP)
candidate in the first round SibelSiber and that he had common struggles with
the late CTP leaders, NaciTalat and OzkerOzgur.
Akinci said that during his recent visit to
the CTP after the first round of the “elections”, the party did not submitted
any demand as to which persons will participate in the negotiating team for the
Cyprus problem, but said that “we should also be informed” about the content of
the negotiations. Akinci noted that the
“president” should cooperate with the “government”, which should be a part of
the process, because the cooperation with persons who have been brought up in
the negotiations and the Cyprus problem will especially benefit the
“president”. Furthermore, he described as false the information which some
people are trying to spread around alleging that he will take in his
negotiating team persons such as [the chairman of the United Cyprus Party]
IzzetIzcan and [the member of the Social Democracy Party] DenizBirinci.
Asked to
comment on the arguments set forward by his opponents saying that “Akinci will
confront Turkey, he will put our brothers of Turkish Republic origin on boats
and send them away”, Akinci expressed the view that this rhetoric will not work
adding that “they are using this for 40 years and they think that they will
advance”. He wondered whether a person who wants “reconciliation with
President Anastasiades and exerts efforts for internal peace, will confront
Turkey and added: “In our relations with
Turkey we will be in favor of compromising not conflict seeking and submissive.
There are people who will elect me. The
source of my will is there. I must behave according to the will of the
people both in the negotiations and the relations with Turkey […] I want good relations based on mutual
respect, but I never asked for support from anywhere else except for my people […]”.
Pointing out that their relations with
Turkey are important, Akinci recalled that the Turkish Prime Minister and the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Europe have made statements supporting the
solution in Cyprus. He noted: “If Turkey
will – as it should- continue in the forthcoming period this stance expressed
by this rhetoric in favor of the solution, they will find before them a leader
who exerts efforts to advance this process and will cooperate. What is
important are the visions”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Erk:
I will comply with the decision to support Akinci, but I do not know whether
all members of the CTP will comply
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
newspaper (23.04.15) reports that KutlayErk,
general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), has said that the party decided to support Mustafa Akinci in the second
round of the “elections” to be held on Sunday in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus and added that he will comply with this decision.
“However, I
do not know whether all members of the CTP will comply with it”, he pointed out
arguing that the CTP basis is still offended with Akinci and the group that
supported him. Erk
argued that both himself and the CTP candidate and their basis had been exposed
to behaviours which could be described as an insult by Akinci and his
supporters.
Erk said that they will support Akinci
“because of his mission for solution and peace”, but added that he is not sure
whether the members of the CTP forgot the insults. “I have still not forgotten
them”, he noted.
Erk argued
that the possibility of Akinci winning the “elections” exists, but the
difference with Eroglu will not be as big as it is thought it will be, because
“DervisEroglu is a good politician and is working very well for making up with
all the displeased [voters]”.
Replying to a question regarding the
possible return of former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to the
presidency of the CTP, Erk said that Talat has not yet submitted such demand
and expressed the view that Talat “is an extremely important name for CTP going
towards better days”.
(I/Ts.)
4.“We
Are Gathering!” (Toparlaniyoruz Movement): “There is no decision of the
movement towards the one or the other candidate”
Under the above title, Turkish Cypriot
daily Star Kibris newspaper (23.04.15) reports that the “Toparlaniyoruz
Movement: We are gathering!”, issuing a
written statement yesterday, explained that the support expressed to the one of
the “presidential candidates” by the chairman of the movement SerkanMesutoglu,
through his personal account to the social media, constitutes only his personal
views and do not bound the whole of the movement.
The movement underlines in its statement
that it has announced since its establishment that it will be an NGO that will
follow politics, make criticism and have an effective and objective role in the
society.
The
movement points out in the statement that no decision has been taken towards
supporting any of the “candidates” and underlines that no relevant official
statement was issued in the movement’ official website.
(AK)
5. Various organizations expressed their support to Akinci and
Eroglu
Turkish
Cypriot press reports about the various organizations in the breakaway regime
that expressed their support either to DervisEroglu or Mustafa Akinci for the
second round of the “presidential elections”.
Kibris
(23.04.15) reports that both Shopkeepers Union and TMT expressed their support to Eroglu’s candidacy for the second
round of the “presidential elections”.
Star Kibris
(23.04.15) reports that DEV Is, Tip-Is, KTOEOS, the Feminist Workshop and KOOPSen, expressed their support to Akinci.
In
addition, Havadis (23.04.15) reports that IrsenKucuk, the former leader of the
National Unity Party (UBP) will not support Eroglu’s candidacy. In addition the
“mayor” of occupied Lapithos and former
general secretary of the UBP, FuatNamsoy and “mayor” of occupied
AgiosEpiktitosMehmet Hulusioglu who supported KudretOzersay on the first round,
stated that everyone is free on this round to vote in favor of anyone he or she
wants.
(CS)
6. Izcan to open a file against a Turkish Cypriot newspaper
which claims that he will gain benefits for his support towards Akinci
Turkish
Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (23.04.15) reports that IzzetIzcan, the chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) stated that
he will file a suit against a newspaper
that published information according to which
in case Mustafa Akinci win in the second round of the “elections” he
will put Izcan at the negotiation team for the Cyprus problem.
Izcan said
that these claims are totally wrong and added that they never had such a
conversation with Akinci and nor such a demand was issued by him to Akinci on
this regard.
In addition
Izcan stated that another information issued by the same newspaper according to
which he promised to the Greek Cypriots to lift the “TRNC flag” from
Pentadaktylos Mountains is not true. “This information is totally wrong. I have
never made such a statement neither in the past nor during the election
procedure”, Izcan stated.
(CS)
7.A
Turkish columnist assesses that Akinci will win in the second round; He
expresses the belief that a “single” Cyprus state is on the way
Turkish daily Sabah (23.04.15) under the
title: “What is happening in Cyprus?”
publishes a commentary by columnist HincalUluc who evaluates the first round
results of the “presidential elections” in the occupied area of Cyprus.
Expressing
his personal belief that Akinci will be the winner in the second round, Uluc
supports that if Akinci is finally the winner and the person who will sit at
the negotiation talks with the Greek Cypriots, then the possibility to reach to
a solution is very strong. He supports
also that it is very possible for a “single” Cyprus state to be formed soon,
from the two communities.
Assessing
the “presidential elections”, Uluc underlines in his commentary the fact that
it is the first time in history that there has been no intervention from Turkey
in the “elections” and wonders whether the
reason for this, is that Turkey do not want to intervene in democracy, or that
they are leaving the Turkish Cypriots to their own devices?
Reminding that none of the “presidential
candidates” was able to get 50% of the votes and thus the “election result”
will be determined in the second round on Sunday, with Eroglu and Akinci to run
for the “presidency”, Uluc underlines
how important is the victory of the independent candidate KudretOzersay, who
run forth and received 21% of the votes and supports that Ozersay’s voters will
be those to identify the final result.
Uluc
explained that he had carried out a mini-survey for the second round of the
“presidential elections”.He makes a categorization of the Turkish Cypriot
citizens living in the “TRNC” and supports that there are two categories:
1) The Turkish Cypriots who are citizens
of the Republic of Cyprus since its establishment; 2) and the Turks who are owners of the Turkish passport and who settled
down in Cyprus from Turkey after the “peace operation” in Cyprus, as the
columnist called the Turkish invasion in Cyprus.
Referring
to the above categorization, the columnist writes that he found out that the
Turkish Cypriots of the first category, are in favor of a solution on the
island and support Akinci, since, they consider him to be the one who is more
supporting the solution. Uluc adds that Eroglu would not get as much support
from this group of people.
Conclusively,
the Turkish columnist expresses the belief that Akinci will be the winner of
the second round of the “elections” and writes that his personal view is that a
bi-communal Cyprus state is on the way to be formed soon, since as he supports,
both Turkey and Greece are in favor of a solution in Cyprus.
(AK)
8. Cavusoglu:
There is a chance for resumption of the peace talks in Cyprus
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 23.04.15),
under the title “Turkey, Armenia could mourn together, says FM Cavusoglu”,
publishes an exclusive interview with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut
Cavusoglu by Sabah’s Ankara representative in Washington D.C. Ali Unal.
Cavusoglu, who is currently visiting the
U.S., said Turkey wants to commemorate those who lost their lives in violence
during the waning years of the Ottoman Empire together with Armenia.
(…)
His meeting with U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry lasted two hours, an hour longer than planned. The meeting was
encouraging, Cavusoglu said, explaining that they had an opportunity to discuss
developments in Syria in detail, including who controlled which region and what
can be done to help the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
(…)
Cavusoglu explained the tactical
differences between Turkey and the U.S. in ways to tackle ISIS were narrowing,
and his meetings with U.S. officials were very encouraging. "Turkey and
the U.S. will sign an agreement on sharing information on foreign fighters. Our
Embassy in the U.S. is currently negotiating the deal," he said.
On the
issue of the Cyprus peace talks, Cavusoglu said that he believes there is a
chance the peace talks can resume between the two sides once the “presidential
elections” in “Turkish Cyprus” (editor’s note: the breakaway
regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) come to an end. He added
that the circumstances are suitable for discussions to restart.
(DPs)
9. Turkey
recalls Ambassador to Austria over parliament's Armenia declaration
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 23.04.15), on Wednesday,
Turkey recalled its Ambassador to Vienna Hasan Gogus back to Ankara for
consultations after the Austrian Parliament issued a declaration that labels the
Armenian killings during World War I as genocide.
Turkish Foreign Ministry also released a
statement regarding the issue and blamed the Austrian Parliament for disrupting
the historical and judicial facts and said that Turkey will not forget the baseless
claims of the Austrian Parliament.
"While the joint declaration issued by
the Austrian Parliament emphasizes the sufferings of the Christians and does
not even mention the Muslim people who had lost their lives in World War I, it
has become just another example of discrimination based on religions." the
statement claimed.
The
statement reiterated Turkey's rejection against the genocide statements and
alleged that Austrian Parliament's selective and one-sided approach over the
1915 events has potential to harm the relations between the two countries.
(DPs)
10. Turkish
expats will vote for Turkey’s general elections between 8-31 May
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (23.04.15)
reports that ballot boxes will be set up at 112 representations abroad in 53 countries
and in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus for Turkey’s general
elections to be held on June 7.
According to the decision of the Supreme
Election Board (YSK), the overseas electorate can vote between May 8 and May
31. This time, the Turks living abroad can vote without obtaining an
appointment.
There will not be any ballot boxes in towns
with less than 500 Turks. For this reason, only 2 million 848 thousands and 652
Turk expats will be able to cast a vote from the 2 million 866 thousands 940
eligible registered voters. The most Turkish electorate living abroad are in
Germany and the least in Thailand.
There are 1 million 404 thousands 987
Turkish expats in Germany, 90 thousands
747 in the USA, 311 thousands 796 in France, 84 thousands 559 in the
United Kingdom, 1,852 in China, 28,202 in Saudi Arabia, 10,487 in Greece,
13,591 in Italy, 1,044 in Iran, and 620 in Thailand.
(DPs)
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/ AM)
