TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
62/15 03.04.15
1. Turkey’s
MFA reacts regarding Cyprus’ criminalization on denial of the Armenian genocide
2. Eroglu:
If an agreement is not reached in the Cyprus problem, we will draw our own way
3. Olgun:
The Cyprus talks may resume in the middle of May
4. The
Turkish Cypriots are satisfied with the results of their efforts in the EU
5. Talat
says that in 2009 he opposed to “KTFF’s” becoming a member of the CFA because
“we felt close to the solution then”
6. Support
to the football initiative by the Trade Unions Platform and the Famagusta
Platform
7. The
water from Turkey is expected to the occupied area of Cyprus in July
8. Banning
journalism
1. Turkey’s
MFA reacts regarding Cyprus’ criminalization on denial of the Armenian genocide
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(02.04.15), Turkey has rejected the “Greek-Cypriot administration's” (editor’s
note: as they refer to the Republic of Cyprus) law on banning the denial of the
Armenian genocide in 1915.
Turkish
Foreign Ministry spokesman TanjuBilgic said, in a statement late Thursday, that
the "Greek-Cypriot administration's decision is null and void for Turkey
and not worthy of comment".
"It is without doubt that those who try
to exploit the 1915 incidents at every opportunity by using simple political
ambitions cannot get any result", Bilgic added.
(DPs)
2. Eroglu: If an
agreement is not reached in the Cyprus problem, we will draw our own way
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (03.04.15) reports that Turkish
Cypriot leader DervisEroglu has said
that this is the last chance for the solution of the Cyprus problem and if an
agreement is not reached during this process, they will draw their way together
with the “people”. In statements during a visit to occupied Keryneia within
the framework of his “pre-election” campaign, Eroglu referred to the Cyprus
problem and alleged:
“During the process which will follow the people’s expectations will be
at the table. This is the last chance.
If it does not happen, we will draw our way together with our people. I assume
that as the UN Secretary - General said, the forthcoming period will be the
last game. This game should be played well and we should reach an agreement
which we believe will be lasting in Cyprus. You realize that this agreement
cannot be unilateral. The other side should also take the same step”.
Eroglu alleged that if the Greek Cypriots continue what he called as
their insincere stance within the next period, in a few years he will discuss
the issue with the Turkish Cypriot “people” and if necessary, the Turkish Cypriot side will hold a referendum
alone.
Eroglu reiterated
the view that a time limit should be put in the negotiations and alleged that the sincerity of the Greek Cypriots will be seen from
whether they will accept a time limit or not.
(I/Ts.)
3. Olgun:
The Cyprus talks may resume in the middle of May
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris
(03.04.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ergun Olgun claimed that
there is a strong political will at the Turkish Cypriot side for a Cyprus
settlement and they expect to see the same political will at the Greek Cypriot
side. Olgun said that there is a great instability in the region, adding that
the region will not tolerate a new instability.
Speaking at the television programme
“adaraporu” (island’s report), Olgun said that the Cyprus talks may resume in
the middle of May after the upcoming “presidential elections” in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus. He reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side is
at the negotiating table without preconditions and they expect the Greek
Cypriot side to join the negotiating table without preconditions.
Referring to the UN Secretary General`s
Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide’s statement that in order to have conclusion
of the Cyprus talks, it should be based on structured intensive negotiations
within a natural timetable, Olgun said that the talks cannot continue forever.
He also said that their aim is the end of the year, they perceive it as a
natural timetable, adding that whatever issue you take up, the whole energy
issue, including the hydrocarbon, the Varosha issue, the key issue of the
outcome is a comprehensive solution.
Noting that there is a need for an
agreement in Cyprus, Olgun said that the economy of Cyprus will not be possible
to recover only with a financial recovery package without a Cyprus settlement.
He added: “There is a serious financial crisis in south Cyprus. It is not
possible to solve it with a recovery package. The basic engine of its economy
has been burned.”
(DPs)
4. The Turkish
Cypriots are satisfied with the results of their efforts in the EU
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (03.04.15) reports that Hamza Saner, self-styled deputy with
the National Unity Party (UBP), has said
that the efforts of the Turkish Cypriots in the EU on the issue of their
representation and the missing persons yielded very positive results.
Addressing the self-styled assembly yesterday, Saner noted: “Seeing during our
initiatives that the number of those, who are on our side in the Turkish
Cypriots’ just cause, increases is making us happy”.
Referring to the Cyprus negotiations, Saner expressed the view that a time table should be put in the
negotiations and alleged that it should be known that other alternatives exist
except for the unification of the two communities in a federation.
Addressing the same session, OzdilNami,
self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, said that his
“ministry’ supports the initiatives exerted in the EU and noted that the
contacts they also hold are very important. He pointed out that they will
especially support the efforts on the issue of the “representations”. He noted that they have a project for
gaining representation in the European Parliament, to which they attach great
importance. He underlined the duties that fall upon the relevant “parliamentarian
committee” on this issue.Nami also referred to their efforts for removing
the so-called embargoes and isolation allegedly implemented on the Turkish
Cypriots.
(I/Ts.)
5. Talat says
that in 2009 he opposed to “KTFF’s” becoming a member of the CFA because “we
felt close to the solution then”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (03.04.15) reports that former
Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat
was called to comment on different views he had expressed on the issue of the
Turkish Cypriot “football federation’s” (“KTFF”) becoming member of the Cyprus
Football Association (CFA or KOP). In 2009 Talat had said that “KTFF” cannot
become member of KOP, while in 2013 supported such a development.
Called by Kiblisli to comment on the issue, Talat replied that there were hopes for a solution to the Cyprus
problem in 2009 and because of this he was not positive to “KTFF’s” becoming
member of KOP. “Everything is
evaluated in its own circumstances”, he noted adding that then he had said that
becoming a member of KOP should be out of the question, because this could
influence other federations.
Referring to the current situation, Talat
argued that the “KTFF” should be supported [in its application to become a
member of KOP] because there is no hope for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
He said: “If the solution was seen in the horizon, I could ask the football
federation to wait. We thought that a new arrangement would happen with the
solution. It did not happen”.
(I/Ts.)
6. Support
to the football initiative by the Trade Unions Platform and the Famagusta
Platform
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam
(03.04.15), the Trade Unions Platform (Sendikal Platform) consisting of 28
trade unions announced that they support the initiatives launched by the
“Turkish Cypriot Football Federation” (“KTFF”) to join the Cyprus Football
Association (CFA).
Speaking on behalf of the Platform,
SenerElcil, the General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Trade Union
(KTOS), said that “KTFF’s” initiative is part of the “existence debate”
(varolus) within the Turkish Cypriot community.
On the same issue, OkanDagli on behalf of
the Famagusta initiative also expressed their full support to the initiative of
the “KTFF”, adding that they believe to a federal solution in Cyprus. He also
said that he believes that this initiative in the football will set an example
for the Cyprus settlement.
(DPs)
7. The water
from Turkey is expected to the occupied area of Cyprus in July
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (03.04.15) reports that BirolCinar, Project Director of Turkey’s State Water Affairs (DSI) Department for
the project of transferring water to the occupied area of Cyprus, has said
that, with an optimistic prediction, the water from Turkey could come to the
occupied area of the island in July. In an interview with Havadis, Cinar
noted that he always refrains from giving a specific date for the completion of
this project, because of the weather conditions which cannot be predicted.
Responding to a question, he noted that 25 kilometers of pipelines were
installed noting that 13.6 kilometers are laid on the bottom of the sea and
sunk, while 11 kilometers are in abeyance. The part of the pipeline that will
pass from the sea is about 80-kilometer long.
(I/Ts.)
8. Banning
journalism
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
03.04.15) with the above title, publishes, inter alia, the following editorial
responding to Turkey’s Prime Minister AhmetDavutoglu’s accusations and
sanctions on the media:
“Daily Hurriyet, which has been published
for 67 years, was confronted with a ban by Prime Minister Professor Ahmet
Davutoglu on April 1. Upon Davutoglu’s instructions, the Prime Ministry’s
bodyguards prevented our correspondents from working at the funeral ceremony of
Prosecutor Mehmet SelimKiraz, who was martyred by terrorists.
The ban at the entrance of the square next
to the Eyup Sultan Mosque was implemented against all Dogan Media outlets
including Hurriyet, as well as the representatives of other newspapers. The
decision about the ban was later reiterated by Prime Minister during a press
conference in front of the building of the Eyup District Governor’s Office.
Prime Minister Davutoglu’s discourse is as
thought-provoking as the ban itself. Davutoglu described the publication of
photos related to the terrorist act in the courthouse as ‘immorality’ on April
1. Starting from this point of view, he accused the newspapers that published
these photos of ‘being tools of terrorist propaganda’.
We reject these remarks uttered by Prime
Minister Davutoglu. We are not able to ascertain these remarks and the method
he chose to him. We think that a
democracy with the freedom of the press cannot accommodate a Prime Minister
allocating himself the authority to punish newspapers, correspondents,
photojournalists and cameramen or be busy with the process of accreditation.
This is more reminiscent of practices particular to Third World regimes.
* * *
The serious accusations of the Prime Minister
are related to the debate about where the limits of press freedoms fall in
cases of terrorism, which is one of the most problematic issues in democracies.
Daily Hurriyet reported this reprehensible incident on its front page with a
headline reading “Condemnation of Terrorism,” and published the photo of the
act in a controlled way. In doing so, it carefully considered the balance
between the people’s right to be informed and its own principle of not
propagating terrorism.
One of the most important differences of
the Doğan Group compared to other media groups is in the fact that it
continuously checks the application of its own publishing principles with its
internal mechanisms and shares the results with the public. As such, the Doğan
Publishing Principles Committee evaluated the publications about the incident
and shared the results with the public. We never abstain from engaging in
self-criticism and we appear before our readers with the self-confidence it
provides.
Daily Hürriyet is an independent newspaper.
It draws its power from its readers. Daily Hürriyet should not be confused with
political party newspapers.
* * *
The imposition that we faced on April 1 is
not the first ban that our newspaper has witnessed in its history. Daily
Hurriyet was banned by the military regime after the 1980 coup and has often
been targeted by elected governments, too. A vivid example from the recent past
was the astronomical tax fine that the Dogan Publication Group, which daily
Hurriyet is part of, was exposed to.
(…)
We just want to do journalism. We do not
want to face bans with policemen waiting on street corners, trying to prevent
our colleagues from doing their work.”
(DPs)
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
AM)
