TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 101/15 03.06.2015
1. Akinci argues that the Turkish Cypriots’ rights
have been usurped and they want a solution to take these rights back
2. The contacts of Turkey’s Minister for Transport in the
breakaway regime
3. Turkey and the breakaway regime signed a
cooperation “protocol” in the field of civil aviation
4. The occupied Cyprus ports are being privatized
5. Turkish EU minister warns European Parliament on sensitivities
over the upcoming report on Turkey
6. The applications of Greek Cypriots to the “Property
Compensation Commission” are facilitated
7. The breakaway regime gave new permissions for stone
quarries; Reaction statement by the “KTSO”
8.
Search and Rescue Exercises to take place in the breakaway regime between 9-12
June
9.
HSBC is closing down its branch offices in the breakaway regime
10. International brands to open stores in the new
City Mall to be constructed in occupied Famagusta
11. Commentary tells Erdogan to “Stop Threatening” and to
answer questions about MIT Trucks
12. Prosecutor demands aggravated life sentence for
Turkish journalist sued by Erdogan
13. Reactions grow in Turkey as concerns over possible
government seizure of major dailies
persist
1. Akinci argues that the Turkish Cypriots’ rights
have been usurped and they want a solution to take these rights back
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (03.06.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci has argued that the rights
of the Turkish Cypriots have been usurped in Cyprus and added that they want a
solution by which they will take their rights back and will be equal partners.
In statements
yesterday in Istanbul on his way to New York, Akinci said that what we need in
Cyprus is not to dance tango, but halay folk dance [Translator’s note: It is an
Anatolian folk dance, which is danced with the participation of many people
holding hands]. “We need a process in
which there will be much more participation and we will proceed towards the target
in harmony”, he noted.
Akinci
reiterated that they have started well the negotiations with President
Anastasiades and that the good start is important but not enough. “It should
continue well and its end should be good”, he noted adding that “a very serious
and difficult job, such as forming a text by which a possible solution could be
internalized by both communities and approved by both peoples,is expecting us”.
Akinci said that this should be a new period during
which they will be in dialogue and in harmony with Turkey, but most importantly
the Turkish Cypriot community should come together and become a part of the
process. Akinci pointed out that the parameters of the solution are known and
that there is a framework which was most recently finalized on 11 February 2014.
Asked what the
result of a possible referendum will be, Akinci said that the people will see
and discuss the issue and take their decision accordingly. Referring to the Annan Plan referendum, he alleged thatthe Greek
Cypriot side gave priority to the accession to the EU then believing that it
could impose the solution it wanted and voted no to the plan. He added:
“They soon saw that the EU is not a paradise garden. Even if you are in the EU,
you will be disappointed if you cannot do your homework well”.
Akinci pointed out that there are some public opinion
polls, which show that 52% of the Greek Cypriots who had voted no to the Annan
Plan will say yes to a possible solution.
(I/Ts.)
2. The contacts of Turkey’s Minister for Transport in
the breakaway regime
Illegal
Bayrak television (03.06.15) broadcast that Turkey’s Minister for Transport,
Maritime and Communications Feridun Bilgin is paying a one day visit to the breakaway
regime.
He
first held a meeting with the “parliamentary speaker” Sibel Siber. Self-styled Turkish
ambassador to occupied Lefkosia Halil
İbrahim Akca was also present at the meeting.
Bilgin
stated during the meeting that Turkey has roots and special relations with the “TRNC”
that could not be compared with any other “country”.
He
expressed the belief that through a wide spectrum of projects being realized in
the occupied area of Cyprus, “the country’s economy will further strengthen”.
“We
have entered a transition to the sustainable economy program process which will
increase the prosperity of the TRNC people and will create a sustainable and competitive
economic structure”, he stated.
For
her part, Siber said that their aim was “to increase the living standard of the
people and the prosperity of the country” and expressed happiness of the
cooperation between the two “countries”.
Bilgin
also held a meeting with the self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu and expressed
the desire for the breakaway regime to have “a modern, strong and secure infrastructure
in the fields of communications and transportation”.
Reminding
that the joint committee was established with the aim of identifying the
opportunities and needs of cooperation between the two “countries” in the
fields of transportation and communication, he said the committee is continuing
with its workings.
Yorgancioglu
stressed the importance of works being carried out towards developing the
relations between Turkey and the “TRNC” and touched upon the significance of
investments and information transfer being made by Turkey in the fields of land
and sea transportation. He also expressed the hope that cooperation in the
field of civil aviation will contribute greatly to the development of the
sector in the “TRNC”.
3. Turkey and the breakaway regime signed a
cooperation “protocol” in the field of civil aviation
Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (03.06.15) reports that a cooperation “protocol” was signed
yesterday between Turkey and the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus in the field of civil aviation. The protocol was signed
by the regime’s self-styled minister of public works and transport, Hasan Tacoy
and the Turkish Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication, Feridun
Bilgin.
The protocol provides that in case the breakaway regime’s “civil aviation
authorities” ask, the authorization to
be made by the Turkish civil aviation directorate within the framework of its
own laws for aviation activities in the occupied area of Cyprus will be recognized
by the breakaway regime’s ‘civil aviation department”. According to the
“protocol’ the Turkish civil aviation
directorate will be able to give authorizations which the breakaway regime’s “civil
aviation department’ cannot give such as registrations, licenses, flying
eligibility and pilot licenses etc.
Moreover, the flying schools will be authorized by
Turkey and thus they will fulfill the international standards. Furthermore,
cooperation will exist on issues such as
the visual flight rules (VFR) and balloon flights.
In addition, the obstruction maps for illegal Tymbou and
Lefkoniko airports will be prepared and the “civil aviation” personnel will be
trained in Turkey.
In statements
after the signing of the “protocol”, Tacoy
said that they exchanged views with Bilgin on the issues such as investments,
roads, e-government, maritime, aviation etc. and expressed his satisfaction
with the fact that “motherland Turkey is by our side”.
On his part,
Bilgin said that the economic and financial cooperation “protocol” signed
between Turkey and the breakaway regime is giving its economic results and they
are happy with seeing these results. He argued that the relations between
Turkey and the breakaway regime have a very different meaning and importance
than the relations with any other state.
Asked to comment on a proposal reportedly made by the
Republic of Cyprus within the framework of the confidence building measures as
regards the establishment of a telephone line which will secure coordination
between the civil traffic control centers of Turkey and Cyprus, Bilgin replied
that any situation which will negatively influence the relations between Turkey
and the breakaway regime is out of the question and added that the proposal
will be evaluated within this framework.
Replying to a
question saying that the income secured by the flights in the area granted by
Turkey to illegal Tymbou airport goes to Turkey’s airfields and is not paid to
the Turkish Cypriots, Bilgin noted that in case there is a demand on this
issue, this could be discussed. Commenting on the same issue, Tacoy said that
with the income secured from this field, the breakaway regime’s “Smart Control
System” has been created.
(I/Ts.)
4. The occupied Cyprus ports are being privatized
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (03.06.15) reports that the regime’s self-styled
minister of public works and transport, Hasan
Tacoy has said that the privatization of the occupied Cyprus ports is on the
agenda and added that their priority will be the occupied port of Famagusta.
In statements yesterday during a visit to the occupied port of Keryneia with
the Turkish Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication, Feridun Bilgin, Tacoy noted that their aim is to develop
the breakaway regime’s maritime sector and secure income to the economy.
Pointing out that they are exerting an intensive effort for developing maritime
and its related sectors, Tacoy underlined the importance of promoting
especially the field of transportation and securing income from it. Within this
framework, he noted, they wish to establish a Logistical Support Centre, by
using Turkey’s experience on this issue.
Referring to the
launching of new boats of the so-called “coast guard”, Tacoy said that this is
important for the security of the coasts and added that the “coast guard” has 18 vessels and that the security
of the coasts increased with five trailers granted by Turkey.
Tacoy noted that
they will spend 500 thousand euro for
the maintenance of breakwaters at occupied Keryneia Old Marina and its
surrounding area, adding that they have launched preparation together with
experts from Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
5. Turkish EU Minister warns European Parliament on sensitivities
over regarding the upcoming report on Turkey
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (03.06.15) reports that Turkish European Union Affairs
Minister Volkan Bozkir has sent letters to senior European Parliament figures,
urging them to consider proposals to amend an upcoming report on Turkey,
warning that Ankara has “sensitivities over three topics in particular.”
A
planned vote on approving the report on Turkey on May 21 was postponed because
of lack of time for political groups in the European Parliament to discuss
proposals for amendments.
In
letters sent to European Parliament President Martin Schulz, Foreign Affairs
Committee Chairman Elmar Brok, and the leaders of party groups in the
parliament, Bozkir expressed Turkey’s concerns about some amendment proposals
in the report, which will be voted on in June.
He
stressed that any mention in the report regarding the European Parliament’s
April 15 Resolution recognizing the 1915 mass killing of Ottoman Armenians as
genocide, or any call to exclude the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
from the EU’s list of terrorist organizations, would “not be acceptable” for
Turkey, diplomatic sources said.
In
his letter dated June 1, Bozkir also said that any call to block opening new
negotiation chapters for Turkey, or to lift financial assistance to Turkey,
would make the report “unacceptable” for Ankara.
Bozkir
added that the report should not include a “one-sided perspective that could
negatively influence the on-going talks for reunification of Cyprus”, according
to the sources.
6. The applications of Greek Cypriots to the
“Property Compensation Commission” are facilitated
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (03.06.15) reports that the applications of Greek Cypriot refugees for their occupied property
to the “Property Compensation Commission” established by Turkey is being
facilitated. The “supreme court” has
given its approval to Greek Cypriots, who possess property which had been mortgaged
until the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, or to their legal inheritors, to
transfer or sell their occupied property to the “Commission” in case they prove
that the debt has been paid and secure the annulment of the mortgage by
applying to the “competent district courts” in the occupied area of Cyprus.
This decision was taken after a Greek Cypriot refugee
from occupied Vasilia village applied to a “court” in the occupied area of
Cyprus and succeeded to annul the mortgage for his occupied property by proving
that this mortgage had been paid.
The
above-mentioned refugee applied to the “Commission” in 2011 demanding
compensation for his property in Vasilia, but the “Commission” and the
“interior ministry” did not approved the conclusion of the application arguing
that the property had been mortgaged on 27 March 1974. The authorities of the
occupation regime were not satisfied with the documents submitted by the
refugee proving that he had paid the mortgage and put as precondition the
signing by the bank [the Bank of Cyprus in this case] of a document saying that
the mortgage has been cancelled. The bank refused to do it for political
reasons and the Greek Cypriot applied to the “court” in occupied Keryneia,
which ruled that the mortgage was lifted. The “attorney general” of the regime
appealed against this decision, but the appeal was rejected.
(I/Ts.)
7.The breakaway regime gave new permissions for
stone quarries; Reaction statement by the “KTSO”
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (03.06.15)
reports that the “Turkish Cypriot
chamber of industry” (“KTSO”) issued a written statement yesterday reacting
over the new permissions which were given by the so-called ministry of
environment and natural resources in order for new stone quarries to open in
the “TRNC”.
The
“KTSO” expressed in the statement its worries over the preparation by the
“ministry” of a new “regulation” as regards the stone quarries, without
consulting the stakeholders. The “chamber” condemned strongly the “ministry”
for its new implementation and points out that it is unacceptable and
destructive for the environment and the “country’s economy” the opening of new
stone quarries.
The
“chamber” calls also the “government” to suspend its works and the new “regulations”
as regards the stone quarries and at the same time to take into consideration
the “stakeholders’ opinion”, the situation that exists in the EU and the
“country’s structure”.
(…)
8. Search
and Rescue Exercises to take place in the breakaway regime between 9-12 June
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper reports
that the “Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli 2015 Search and Rescue Exercises” will take
place in the breakaway regime on 9-12 June.
The search and rescue exercises which are carried out
co-jointly with Turkey will take place in the St Hilarion mountain region and off the
coast of Famagusta. It will incorporate land and sea rescue exercises with the
participation of civil and military aspects, writes the paper.
In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi
newspaper (03.06.15) reports that the breakaway regime bought three 42-Herktor
picket boats.
(CS)
9. HSBC
is closing down its branch offices in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (02.06.15)
reports that the British HSBC Bank is closing down its three out of its four
branch offices operated in the breakaway regime. It will sell the forth one,
located in the occupied part of Lefkosia to the Turkishbank.
According to the paper, the bank has agreed with the
Chinese ICBC to sell its other three branch offices to Turkey.
(CS)
10.International brands to open stores in the new
City Mall to be constructed in occupied Famagusta
Under the title: “Foreign
brands to come to the TRNC under the label of Mersin”, Turkish daily Sabah
newspaper (03.06.2015) reports about the
first “City Mall shopping center” which is planned to be constructed in
occupied Famagusta and writes that the “TRNC” has found the way for lifting the
“embargoes” for the international brands, in order to be able to open a store
in the mall.
According to the paper, the international brands that would like to open a store in the “TRNC”,
will show their branch offices in Mersin and with this way, they will not have
any problem to make investment in the “country” which is not recognized.
The
paper writes that the City Mall project will be implemented by the Electrokur
firm and will cost 15 million euro. The City Mall will consist of 60 stores and
9 cinema halls.
(…)
11. Commentary tells Erdogan to “Stop Threatening” and
to answer questions about MIT Trucks
Turkish
daily Cumhuriyet (02.06.15) published an article by Can Dundar under the title:
“Stop Threatening, Answer These 20 Questions!”:
“1. On the plane taking him back from a visit to
Germany on 12 May, President Erdogan told correspondents: "Nobody can
slander MIT [National Intelligence Organization] by saying it sent arms to
al-Qa'ida and place it under suspicion. If
those who make the allegations have any dignity, they need to prove their
allegations." He also said that
"humanitarian aid" was being sent to the Turkmens in Syria.
(http://www.yenisafak.com.
tr/gundem/o-gorusmedenimvardi- 2140531)
Then
why did he give instructions for a suit to be filed [against Cumhuriyet] when
video footage proved that MIT was indeed sending arms?
2. The day Cumhuriyet published the said report
on 29 May, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told AFP in Kayseri that "the
aid was for the Free Syrian Army [FSA] and the people of Syria."
(http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/
gundem/29154186.asp)
The
next day, at the rally in Ankara, he corrected himself, saying, "That aid
was going to the Bayirbucak Turkmens in Syria."
(http://www.milliyet.com.
tr/davutoglu-o-yardimlarbayirbucak/ siyaset/detay/ 2066874/default.htm)
What
happened in the meantime that the Prime Minister changed his mind?
3. Yasin Aktay, Davutoglu's Deputy and AK Parti
[Justice and Development Party] member of parliament from Siirt, said in Siirt
on 18 May: "Those weapons were going
to the FSA."
(http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/
gundem/29036154.asp)
He
was wrong, too?
4. If the weapons were meant for the Turkmens,
why was the delivery made through the Reyhanli Gate which was under al-Nusrah's
control at the time, and not through a border gate closer to the Turkmens?
5. Is it not a crime for state officials to lie
to their people? To the Assembly? To the world?
Is it not a crime for them to threaten journalists who decipher the
lie? Which is the bigger crime?
6. Regardless of whom the weapons were going to,
if the procedure was a crime according to national and international law, would
it be right to expect journalists to be part of the crime? In fact, would the journalist not be guilty
if he refrained from publishing the true story?
7. Was the footage censored because it reflected
the truth or because it did not?
8. If it was "humanitarian aid," why
was it done in secret? In other instances, humanitarian aid was delivered with
great fanfare. If medicine and blankets
were being delivered, why was this considered a "state secret"? Why
was the footage banned and why was the delivery not displayed with pride?
9. The Adana Prosecutor's Office has launched an
investigation on the ground that we published "fake footage that does not
reflect the truth." If it does not
reflect the truth, then why was an investigation launched on the ground that
state secrets were revealed? If it was a
secret, then why is being called "fake"?
10. The same prosecutor's office has launched
another investigation on the ground that we "revealed information that
should have remained secret." The
information was supposed to remain a secret according to whom? For whom?
For the people? For MIT? For ISIL?
Who decided on what ground that keeping this information a secret, and
not deciphering it, serves state interests?
11. Can the stamp of "state secret" be
used to cover up a crime? If an act is a
crime, then can the fact that it is a secret be enough to clear it? For example, if a coup plan is revealed, then
can it not be publicized because of the stamp of "state secret" on
it? In such a case who would have
committed the crime or those who reveal the coup plan?
12. Let us assume that the weapons went to the
Turkmens and not to the FSA; if it were a legitimate transfer of arms in line
with national and international law, why did you feel the need to conceal and
lie about it? Why did the publication of
the footage disturb you?
13. If, during the course of the delivery, the
weapons exploded as a result of an accident -- as in Reyhanli -- who would have
assumed responsibility for the casualties?
Would a new organization be found once again, and the responsibility
laid on it?
14. Prime Minister Davutoglu said: "It is nobody's business what was in the
TIR [International Highway Transport truck]." Does he not owe an
explanation to the Assembly to whom it must report and to his people whose
lives are endangered during the delivery?
15. Does MIT have the duty or function to carry
out international arms deliveries? Has
this duty been determined by law?
16. Does the fact that the weapons were going to
the Turkmens and not to ISIL change the reality that this was an illegal
operation? Does it make the operation
legal? Does the identity of the
addressee legitimize the delivery of weapons by the state?
17. If this was a state decision, then why were
the Governor's Office, the Prosecutor's Office, the Gendarmerie, and even the
head of the MIT Regional Office unaware of it?
18. When the TIR's were caught, MIT wrote to the
Prosecutor, "The goods are ours, deliveries are being made between units
within Turkey." Is it ordinary practice for a state institution to submit
false documents and lie to another state institution?
19.
This entire scandal, the capture during delivery, the attempt to hide the
members' identity when the army conducted a search, trying to stop the TIR,
failing to do that, summoning the help of the governor, the pitiable picture
shown to the world -- do not all these prove MIT's great incompetence? Has the
state's intelligence organization been entrusted to these cadres?
20.
And the last question: Why did Hakan
Fidan really resigned? Did the cadres
who were disturbed by the illegalities in MIT played a role in the deciphering
of this operation?
12. Prosecutor demands aggravated life sentence for
Turkish journalist sued by Erdogan
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (03.06.15) reports that a Turkish prosecutor has demanded
aggravated life sentence along with a life sentence and 42 years jail term for
daily Cumhuriyet's editor-in-chief Can Dundar as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has filed a criminal complaint over a critical news report, after he said they
would pay a "heavy price."
On
June 2, scores of Cumhuriyet editors and columnists appeared on the newspaper's
front page, proclaiming that all of them were responsible for the report in tandem
with a social media campaign, #CanDundarYalnizDegildir (Can Dundar is not
alone).
Continuing
his tough stance on the matter, Erdogan filed an individual criminal complaint
against Dundar and Cumhuriyet on June 2, claiming that the story "included
some footage and information that are not factual."
The
criminal complaint, filed to Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office to be sent to Istanbul
where Cumhuriyet is based, argued that the newspaper "joined the
actions" of the followers of U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen,
Erdogan's former ally, whose followers in the judicial and security organs are
now described by the government as "the parallel organization."
"By
publishing the fabricated footage and information that were leaked to him by
the parallel organization, [Dundar] joined the actions of the organization
members who searched the trucks and plotted with fabricated evidence to create
a perception in the scope of a planned setup as if the Republic of Turkey has
been helping terrorist organizations," the complaint said.
The
plaintiff accused Dundar of both "trying to manipulate justice" with
fabricated material and "violating confidentiality" by publishing the
story. Erdogan's lawyer Muammer Cemaloglu also requested the prosecutor launch
a public law suit following the investigation.
13. Reactions grow in Turkey as concerns over possible
government seizure of major dailies
persist
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (03.06.15) reports that as both domestic and
international reactions are growing over a government whistleblower's claim
that a plan is under way to detain many journalists and judicial members, and
even to seize Turkey's major newspapers as part of an operation to shut the
voice of the opposition, the concerns that the claims are true have gained
strength with more tweets posted by the whistleblower on Tuesday.
With
just a week before the country's June 7 parliamentary election, prominent
Twitter whistleblower Fuat Avni claimed early on Monday that there will soon be
a mass detention of journalists and members of the judiciary as part of
government efforts to muzzle media outlets that are free, independent and
critical. The whistleblower claimed said some 200 people will be detained in a
major sweep that was ordered by embattled President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who
is reportedly furious over the publication by the Cumhuriyet daily of photos of
weapons being transported to radical groups in Syria by trucks run by Turkey's
intelligence organization.
Among
those critical journalists planned to be detained are Zaman Editor-in-Chief
Ekrem Dumanli; Today's Zaman Editor-in-Chief Bulent Kenes; Today's Zaman
Managing Editor Celil Sagir; Today's Zaman columnist Emre Uslu; Turkish Review
magazine's Editor-in-Chief Kerim Balci; Bugun TV Ankara representative Faruk
Mercan; Bugun daily's Washington bureau chief Adem Yavuz Arslan; Bugun daily
columnist NazliIlicak; former Taraf daily Editor Yasemin Congar; former Taraf
daily Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Altan; and Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Can Dundar.
The
politically motivated investigations not only include journalists but also the
corporate entities of the Zaman, Samanyolu and Bugun media outlets. Zaman is
the country's largest circulated national daily.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)
