TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
99/15 29.05.15
1.
Akinci to meet with UNSG in New York next week
2. Akinci: The negotiators achieved progress on issues
such as the federal structure and power sharing; There is a long process ahead
3. Akinci met with the Ambassadors of France, Poland
and Slovakia
4. Ozersay claimed that the Cyprus settlement is not
in the agenda of the Greek Cypriot side
5.
Arabacioglu: In case of a solution, the 60% of the population will be displaced
6. Dincyurek delivered a speech at OIC FM’s meeting;
He called the OIC’s member states to carry out investments in the “TRNC” and
lift the so-called isolations
7.
Talat: “The Turkish Aid delegation should be closed”
8. Turkish Cypriot columnist replies to Erdogan on the
issue of the guarantees in Cyprus
9. The occupation regime promotes its tourism in
Germany
10. The occupation regime implements the e-identity
card project
11. Piri interviewed by Daily Sabah: “Reaching a
permanent solution in Cyprus peace talks will aid Turkey's EU bid”
12. Countdown starts for Turkey's June 7th general
elections
13. Turkey’s opposition parties rule out coalition
scenarios with AKP
1.Akinci to meet with UNSG in New York next week
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (29.05.15)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci will meet with the United Nation’s Secretary-General Ban Ki moon
on the 4th of June.
Akinci
will depart for New York on the 2nd of June and is expected to return on the
7th of June.
According to reports, it is believed that the
Secretary-General spoke to both leaders yesterday after their meeting.
The United Nations have openly praised the steps taken
by the two leaders, especially their joint plea to anyone who may have
information on missing persons to step forward without hesitation.
“It
will be the first time that Akinci will be meeting with the Secretary-General
in a private meeting”, the report said.
2. Akinci: The negotiators achieved progress on
issues such as the federal structure and power sharing; There is a long process
ahead
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (29.05.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has said that they have made
a good start in the negotiations with President Anastasiades with the aim of
finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and that they continued well, but they
have a long process ahead of them. In statements yesterday at his office
after returning from the meeting with President Anastasiades in the buffer
zone, Akinci noted that during the
meetings between the negotiators of the two communities progress has been
achieved on some issues. He said that the federal structure and power sharing
are included in these issues, but he will make an announcement when the time
comes.
Wishing the
negotiations to continue in such a positive manner, Akinci added: “Our biggest
wish is for the end to be good. Therefore, there
is progress, we are not at the point we were yesterday, but there is still
distance to be covered”.
Akinci said that
during their meeting yesterday they determined the dates of meetings, which
will be held in June and July, and took new steps with a constructive spirit.
Pointing out that for the first time the two leaders
made a common call on the issue of the missing persons asking anyone who knows
anything on this issue not to keep it secret, Akinci noted that the names of the persons who will
give information will not be disclosed and both leaders made a strong call on
this issue. Akinci underlined that the
issue of the missing persons is a “human crime” and as time goes by the
chances of finding these persons decrease.
Referring to the
opening of crossing points, Akinci said that yesterday they announced the
opening of the points in Apliki and Deryneia areas and added that in the future the opening of more crossing
points might come on the agenda, something for which further examination is
neededand theydecided that this should be carried out by the committees.
Noting that they also decided the interconnection of
the electricity networks, Akinci argued that this decision will relax the
electricity systems in both sides and create a new situation which will benefit
mainly the consumers in both sides. Pointing out that technicians from both sides will
discuss the technical issues, Akinci said that this will be important for the
stabilization of the production, the transfer and the distribution of
electricity and the increase of the quality of the network. He expressed the belief that with the new
practice the power plants will operate in a more efficient and economical way,
and the decrease of the production costs will come onto the agenda. He said
that even if anyof the power plants stops operating there will be no cuts of
electricity supply.
Referring to the issue of the unification of the cell
phones network, Akinci said that political will exists in both sides on this
issue, noting, however, that “we are not at the point of saying that we have
settled this issue”. He
added that they assigned the committees with the duty of establishing how this
will be done and asked the committees to inform them how this problem could be
solved.
Pointing out
that a problem also exists on the radio frequencies issue, Akinci said that they decided to ask the committees to carry out a
technical work on how the frequencies will not intermingle.
Drawing
attention to the fact that half of both communities consist of women, Akinci
noted that in order for the women to play an active role in the solution, they
decided the establishment of a committee on gender equality.
Furthermore,
Akinci announced the names of the members of the Cultural Committee the
establishment of which had been decided in the previous meeting between the
leaders. He said that the Turkish Cypriot members of this committee are the
following: Yasar Ersoy, Zehra Sonya, Kani Kanol, Ruzen Atakan, Umit Inatci,
Musa Kayra, Emin Cizenel, Mehmet Kansu and Yiltan Tasci. He noted that these
members will meet with their Greek Cypriot counterparts at the first
opportunity.
Replying to
questions, Akinci said that emphasis in
the negotiations was given to chapters the discussion of which had started in
the previous [Eroglu] period and noted these are mainly the governance and the
federal structure. He noted that they were not limited to these and added that
they discussed other elements as well.
(I/Ts.)
3.Akinci met with the Ambassadors of France, Poland
and Slovakia
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (29.05.15)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci held separate meetings
with the Ambassadors of France, Poland and Slovakia this morning.
No statements were released to the press before or
after the meetings.
4. Ozersay claimed that the Cyprus settlement is
not in the agenda of the Greek Cypriot side
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibrisli (29.05.15) reports that Kudret Ozersay, in an interview with the
paper, claimed that the Cyprus settlement is not in the agenda of the Greek
Cypriot side. He said that if the life of the Greek Cypriots could continue
without a solution, then the Cyprus problem won’t be the first issue. The negotiations process does not move
forward easily because the two sides comprehend different things from the
solution. Ozersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side had to stop the
activities for the natural gas in order the Cyprus talks to be resumed and
wonders if it is just the Greek Cypriot side to continue its activities.
Commenting on
the issue that it may be a quick Cyprus settlement, Ozersay said that it is
more important how the solution will be than whether it is quick or not. He
stressed that both sides should be able to assimilate the solution. Ozersay
further said: “Behind the solution, there should be a formation of serious
trust. Both sides have different needs for the solution and this issue is very
important”. Ozersay also added that the lack of trust between the two sides is
reflected at the negotiations.
Referring to the
guarantees issue, Ozersay said: “If the Turkish Cypriot side does not touch the
guarantee issue, then the opposite site should also continue in the same way on
the issue. It is important what the Turkish Cypriot side thinks and wants. Of
course, the Greek Cypriot side would have submitted the guarantee issue at the
negotiating table, but it is not an issue that the Turkish Cypriot side
stresses.”
Ozersay
reiterated that he did not promise that he will establish a political party,
adding that parties should serve the community interest and not the personal
one.
(DPs)
5. Arabacioglu: In case
of a solution, the 60% of the population will be displaced
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (29.05.15), the self-styled deputy with the
Democratic Party (DP) and former “minister of national education” Mustafa
Arabacioglu claimed that in case of solution, the 60% of the population in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus will be displaced. He added that in
case of displacement of people from their houses, there would be a reaction.
Noting
that the two leaders live a honeymoon period at this moment, Arabacioglu said
that the atmosphere of peace will not be able to solve the Cyprus problem.
Reminding reportedly Anastasiades’ statement that by saying yes to the Annan
plan they will Hellenise the “north Cyprus” again, Arabacioglu said that with
such mentality how will be an agreement.
(DPs)
6.Dincyurek delivered a speech at OIC FM’s meeting;
He called the OIC’s member states to carry out investments in the “TRNC” and
lift the so-called isolations
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis
newspaper (29.05.15), the so-called
minister of environment and natural resources Hakan Dincyurek, who represented
the occupation regime at the 42nd Session of the Council of Foreign
Minister’s meeting which is taking place in the sidelines of the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Kuwait, has expressed the belief that a
solution on the Cyprus problem is possible to be reached by the end of 2015.
Delivering a speech during the meeting, Dincyurek stated that the Turkish Cypriot
side remained committed to result-oriented and substantive negotiations aimed
at achieving a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem in the framework of
the February 11th Joint Declaration Agreement.
Dincyurek
added that the Turkish Cypriot side also sincerely believes that a solution in
Cyprus supported by Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) is possible to be
reached before the end of 2015.
Calling
on the OIC member countries to increase their support for the Turkish Cypriots,
Dincyurek underlined the need for concrete steps to be taken to end the “unjust
isolation” implemented towards the Turkish Cypriot “people”.
Dincyurek
called further the OIC member countries to evaluate the potential opportunities
and cooperate with the “TRNC” in several fields such as trade, tourism and
higher education. He added that
they will welcome any decision to be taken related with the inclusion of the
“TRNC universities” among the higher education choices of youth of the OIC
member states.
Drawing
attention to the various investment opportunities and choices in the “TRNC”,
Dincyurek said: “we have a wide range of
investment opportunities in our country and we encourage foreign investments. I
would like to invite all of you to visit the TRNC and to personally examine the
various investment opportunities we offer”.
(AK)
7.
Talat: “The Turkish Aid delegation should be closed”
According
to Turkish daily Kibris Postasi (29.05.15), former Turkish Cypriot leader and
candidate for the leadership of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Mehmet Ali Talat said that the “Turkish Aid
delegation” should be closed and an “observation delegation” should be formed
instead.
Speaking
at a television programme at Turkish Cypriot private channel Ada TV, Talat evaluated
the Cyprus talks and the restructuring of the CTP. Referring to the issue of
the “Turkish Aid delegation”, Talat supported the statement of Serdar Denktas,
leader of the Democratic Party, made during his press conference ahead of his
resignation from his post as “deputy prime minister”. Talat agreed with Denktas that as long as the delegation exists several
implementations are restricted. He also added that policies are determined
there and this is wrong.
Commenting
on the issue of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and the opening of new
crossing points, Talat said that the
opening of new crossing points should not get ahead of the comprehensive
solution. He added that these issues carry the risk of decreasing the need
for a solution.
Evaluating
the issue of the maps showing the location of landmines in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, Talat claimed
that the map given to the Turkish Cypriot side is proven to be a false issue.
He added that the people, who did their military service there, had already
cleaned these territories.
Talat
further said that Akinci’s team are friends who know very well the Cyprus
problem, adding that they will support them. He reiterated that if Akinci wants
to benefit from himself, he is ready to provide any kind of help.
(DPs)
8. Turkish Cypriot columnist replies to Erdogan on
the issue of the guarantees in Cyprus
Under the title
“Guarantorship”, columnist Mehmet Levent
replies in Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (29.05.15) to the statement made by Turkish President,
Recep Tayyip Erdogan who had said that Turkey will not abandon its rights as a
guarantor power in Cyprusand that it is not possible to accept the guarantees
of the European Union (EU). The columnist recalls the position of the Greek Cypriot side that the system of
guarantees has bankrupted and should be dissolved. Levent reports:
“This is much more realistic, because
Cyprus, the Cypriots and the State of the Republic of Cyprus suffered
everything which it suffered after 1960 because of the three guarantors:
Turkey, Britain and Greece. They are the ones who are pouring out on us the
mess which we still cannot clean.
[…] They dynamited the 1960 Republic of Cyprus by using in the worst
manner the rights and powers given to them by the Treaty of Guarantees.
They are the
ones who plotted the 21 December 1963! Who organized the coup against the
Republic of Cyprus? The fascist junta of guarantor Greece!
Who showed as an
excuse this coup, interfered militarily in Cyprus and occupied half of the
island? Guarantor Turkey! Who distributed the property of the Greek Cypriots,
whom he sent away, to the population he brought and settle from Turkey?
Guarantor Turkey! Who boasts of changing all the international balances without
withdrawing a single soldier, without giving a handful of land? Guarantor
Turkey! Who does not recognize and
ignores the Republic of Cyprus, which is recognized by the entire world? Guarantor Turkey! And finally who remained
only a spectator to all these disgraces, to these illegal fait accompli, who
said nothing against the island’s being divided in two, like a watermelon, by
Turkey with the use of force of weapons and with costing the lives of thousands
of people and [who said nothing] to the establishment of an illegal state
dependent on Turkey and therefore who became an accomplice to the war and the
crime against humanity that caused bloodshed on the island? Guarantor Britain!
[…]
If now the Greek Cypriot side wants the dissolution of
the system of guarantees and says that it has bankrupted, it is absolutely
right. This is the reasonable and rational thing to do.
Let us now
return to the beginning and to the pearls said by Erdogan regarding the
guarantees. He says that it is definitely not possible for them to accept the EU’s
guarantees in Cyprus, because the EU has not fulfilled its duty. How, he says,
they will trust its justice?
First of all, at
this stage the following reality should be put forward in a definite manner. In case a just solution acceptable by both
sides is reached, Cyprus will not need and should not need any guarantors
after the guarantorship tragedy experienced for 40 years. This is the way to
reason and rationality.
‘How we will
trust EU’s guarantees and justice’ wonders Erdogan! It is very simple. There
should be no [guarantees]. However, if there will necessarily be guarantees, the way your guarantees and justice were
trusted in 1960 and this trust paved the way to the occupation and the invasion
tragedy you have created, in the same way you will trust the EU’s guarantees
and justice. Do not be afraid, no worst trouble can happen to this island
than the one you have built”.
(I/Ts.)
9.The occupation regime promotes its tourism in
Germany
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (29.05.15)
reports that the “deputy prime ministry
and ministry of economy, tourism, culture and sports” has organized an event
for the promotion of the “TRNC” in Germany, called “Road Show”.
Issuing a written statement on the issue, the “ministry” stated that the promotion days
event, is a new strategy followed by the “ministry” which aims to promote the
“TRNC’s tourism and culture” in the German market and especially in three
German towns, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Nuremberg. The “ministry” added that their goal is to
attract more tourists in the “TRNC” with charter flights.
According to the paper, the promotion day’s event took
place on May 18-20 with the participation of more than 200 travel agencies.
The
“ministry” said that they are planning to organize the same event in Azerbaijan
and Turkmenistan as well.
(AK)
According to illegal Bayrak television (28.05.15) the
“TRNC’s electronic identity cards” have
arrived and as of this afternoon, all people who apply for “identity cards”
will be able to receive the new electronic cards at the so-called interior
ministry.
The
e-identity project was realized thanks to a protocol signed between the
“interior ministry” and the Turkish Ministry for Transportation, Maritime and
Communication.
(…)
11.Piri interviewed by Daily Sabah: “Reaching a
permanent solution in Cyprus peace talks will aid Turkey's EU bid”
Turkish daily Sabah (28.05.15-online in English)
reported that the European Parliament
(EP) Rapporteur for Turkey Kati Piri said, inter alia, that she wanted Turkey's
progress report for EU membership to be as inclusive as possible.
In
an exclusive interview to Daily Sabah on Wednesday in Ankara during her visit
to Turkey, Piri referred to her decision to postpone the vote at the EP on
approving Turkey’s report and explained that there was a lack of time for the
political groups in the EP to discuss it."My role as Rapporteur is to represent the
majority of the EP. After I presented my report in January, I spent four months
with the representatives of the other political groups arriving at a common
position before we put it to a vote in the Foreign Affairs Committee. The vote
was widely adopted – there were only five votes against, 47 in favor. There was
a clear position there. It took only one week for the pioneering debate when
all 751 members voted on it," Piri said.
"And it presents another opportunity for members
and groups to make amendments. Thirteen members were handed in and, actually,
there was not enough time to talk with the other political groups to come again
to a common understanding before the vote," she added.
(…)
Pointing
out that she, as the Rapporteur, is always a supporter of opening Chapter 22
and Chapter 23 in the negotiation process between Turkey and the EU, Piri stressed the importance of being constructive in
the accession process and added: "I believe that there is a clear willingness
from the Turkish government, which has said that it wants to get these opening
benchmarks and open these chapters. There is some concern from the EP on these
issues. The logical step would be to open these chapters. This is the call from
the European Commission."
Concerning
the Cyprus issue as a block to Turkey's EU bid, she praised
the newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader for his agenda of wanting to come to a
settlement and said: "I very much hope that on this issue on Cyprus, this
decades-long division of the island, positive steps can be taken here, and I
think there is a good window of opportunity. It will also in the end help
Turkey's EU accession process."
(…)
12.Countdown starts for Turkey's June 7th general
elections
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.05.15) the Turkish citizens are set to vote on
June 7 in the country’s 25th general election, amid a busy national agenda that
includes the process of drafting a new constitution.
Nearly
56 million Turkish citizens will be eligible to vote on June 7 to choose 550
lawmakers into the Turkish Grand National Assembly, representing 85
constituencies in 81 provinces.
Twenty
parties will compete in the elections, including the ruling Justice and
Development (AK) Party, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP),
the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP),
along with 165 independent candidates who will seek votes across Turkey.
The voting will
start nationwide at 08:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) and finish at 05:00 p.m. (1500 GMT).
Turkish nationals living abroad will be able to cast their votes between May 8
and May 31.
Campaign
restrictions began on Thursday, 10 days before the elections and will end on
June 6.
(…)
The
ruling Justice and Development or AK Party, which has been in power over a
decade, will seek to remain at the helm with a single-party government.
(…)The
AK Party will need at least 330 seats to be able to take either the
presidential system or the new constitution to a referendum. It currently has
312, having won over 49% of the votes in the 2011 general election.
The
issue of a potential presidential system has been a hot topic in Turkey for the
past few months. A constitutional amendment or a new constitution would be
needed to establish such an executive presidential system.
Turkey’s current constitution was drafted two years
after a military takeover in 1980 and numerous amendments have been made to it
since then.
Meanwhile,
among the highlights of this year’s election is the question of whether the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) will be able to gain seats in the Parliament.
If the party passes the 10% electoral
threshold, it will be able to win at least 50 to 60 seats, which will be seats
lost mostly for the ruling party due to the nature of the election system,
therefore making coalition a possibility.
It
is the first time that the HDP, following a traditional pro-Kurdish stance but
reaching out with an emphasis on rights and freedoms, enters the elections as a
party rather than independent candidates.
(…)
13.Turkey’s opposition parties rule out coalition
scenarios with AKP
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.05.15) reported
that Turkey’s three main opposition
parties have all ruled out a possible coalition with the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) after the June 7 general election, in the event the AKP
does not get enough votes to form a government on its own.
While
the leaders of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) both said in separate televised interviews that
they had no intention of forming a coalition government with the AKP, the head
of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) previously told the Hurriyet Daily News
that the MHP is not in favor of a coalition.
Speaking live on private broadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday,
the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas said that
his party did not aim to form or support a coalition with the AKP. “Don’t
worry, Turkey will not be left without a government. The CHP’s senior figures
said that they could form a coalition with the AKP. But we do not aim to form a
coalition with the AKP or support it from outside. We want to be a strong
opposition”, Demirtas said.
Speaking also in a private interview broadcast by NTV
on Wednesday, the chairman of the
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu was asked the same question
as Demirtas. He responded by saying that the CHP could never come together with
a party that was involved in corruption. “How could you form a coalition with a
party that has made corruption its slogan? What will I say to those who ask me
how I joined together with them? We have fought against corruption for all our
lives, so how will we come together with people who are corrupt”,Kilicdaroglu
replied.
Meanwhile, in statements to Hurriyet Daily News on May
14, the chairman of the Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahceli said that he was against coalitions
and aimed to secure power as a single party. “Turkey has a tradition of
coalitions. But unfortunately coalitions failed to deliver much to people, and
they were not long-lasting either. We do not favor a coalition. We aim to
establish our own government,” Bahceli said.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/
AM)
