TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 109/15 13-15.06.2015
1.The
so-called ministry of interior revealed the damage of the fire in Varosha
2. Akinci: “We need to stop seeing each other as
enemies and start seeing each other as partners”
3.Turkish Cypriot daily describes the fire in the
fenced off occupied city of Varosha as a “blow to Akinci”
4. Turkey’s MFA responded to President Anastasiades’
statements
5. The “TRNC’s foreign ministry” objected to the EP’s
Progress Report and the references on the Cyprus problem
6.Turkish Cypriot columnist: Turkey is the key of the
solution in Cyprus
7. CTP-BG held its 25th general congress; Talat
elected in the party’s leadership
8. Burcu: “The date and venue of the culture event of
Anastasiades-Akinci has not yet been identified”
9. The occupation regime’s “new economic grant
program” announced
10.
Stone quarries are fading away Pentadaktylos Mountain
11.
A research on kidney’s disease history among the Turkish Cypriots was presented
at a congress in London
12. Erdogan met with Putin in Baku; Energy issues, the
Syria crisis and other international issues were discussed
13.
Turkish parties leaders refused to respond to Erdogan’s call prior to
government’s forming
1.The so-called ministry of interior revealed the
damage of the fire in Varosha
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
(15.06.1) the “ministry of interior” revealed the damage caused by the fire
which started in Derinya and moved onto the fenced off city of Varosha.
In a statement to illegal TAK news agency, the “ministry”
said that the fire destroyed an area of 1000m wide and 600m long. Dry grass and
weeds as well as a number of trees were burnt down in this area.
Also in the area were 28 unused houses, 5 apartments
and 2 semi-finished apartment blocks which were not affected by the fire.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
The “presidential undersecretary” Gurdal Hudaoglu who
was at the scene following developments closely, said that the fire mainly
burned wild shrub and damaged several derelict buildings in the area.
The fire broke out shortly after noon and spread
quickly due to strong winds. The fire was putted under control on Friday at
around 8pm with the help of two water-dropping helicopters from the British
military bases as well as a fire fighting plane which arrived from Turkey.
2.Akinci: “We need to stop seeing each other as
enemies and start seeing each other as partners”
According to illegal Bayrak television (13.06.15), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci,
speaking about the fire which broke out in Deryneia, within thefence off city
of Varosha,said that the cause of the fire was unknown and added that the most
important thing was to find how the fire broke out.
“I do not want to fuel any speculations as I have yet
to receive any information as to how the fire started. There might be different
views as to how the fire broke out. The important thing is for the truth to
come out” Akinci said in response to various claims in social media and
newspapers that the fire had been started deliberately.
Akıncı said that he had followed developments closely
with his staff from the very beginning and had been in contact with the “chief
of police” throughout the whole incident.
Pointing
out that the Greek Cypriot side had offered assistance to help put out the
fire, Akıncı said: “Of course we shall resort to our means to put out such
fires. But let me be clear that if needed we would have without hesitation
asked for help from the UN and the Greek Cypriot side. Let me all remind you
that from the very first day of my election, I have upheld the view that the
other side is not our enemy but our partners for a common future”.
Akıncı
said that for years both sides had evolved through a culture of mistrust and
conflict. “Our culture to assist each other has not developed enough. We need
to change the way we look at things. They (Greek Cypriots) too are hesitating
to accept help when experiencing such incidents. This needs to change. We need
to stop seeing each other as enemies and start seeing each other as partners.
These are my views but I believe it will take time to see things change in
practice. At this point the
important thing is that the fire was put out before it led to a disaster”, he
said.
Akıncı had given instructions for assistance to be
sought from the Greek Cypriot side, the British bases, and the United Nations,
if Turkish Cypriot firefighting teams could not cope.
3.Turkish Cypriot daily describes the fire in the
fenced off occupied city of Varosha as a “blow to Akinci”
Under the banner
front page title “Varosha blow to Akinci”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika
newspaper (14.06.15) reports that the
fire in the occupied fenced off city of Varosha has once more brought the
Turkish Cypriots face to face with the bitter reality, which is: “We have no
political will! The word of the president of the republic who is the Chief
Commander is not influential. The word of the Turkish Generals is influential!”
The paper writes
that in spite of the fact that the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus have
not rejected Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci’s proposal for help in
extinguishing the fire, no help was asked from the Republic of Cyprus and the
regime’s authorities applied to Turkey once more. According to Akinci’s “national security adviser”, retired colonel
Halil Sadrazam, the proposal for help from the authorities of the Republic of
Cyprus was rejected by the self-styled government of the breakaway regime.
According to
Afrika, Sadrazam expressed the belief that “those who, in spite of Mr Akinci’s
warning, rejected the fire extinguishing teams of south Cyprus which were ready
to help considering the fire as a natural disaster, have committed a mistake”.
The paper notes that Sadrazam turns a blind eye to the
line drawn by the army General, ignores the goal scored by the General and
“thaws the ball” to the “government” and the “state”.
(I/Ts.)
4.Turkey’s MFA responded to President Anastasiades’
statements
According to the official website of the Turkish
Foreign Ministry (www.mfa.gov.tr),Turkey issued a written statement
rejecting the Greek Cypriot leader, as it called President Nikos Anastasiades’
recent remarks that a new Turkish government may “directly affect” the Cyprus
negotiations process.
Following is the statement:
“The
statements of the Greek Cypriot Administration leader Nikos Anastasiades, which
appeared in Turkish media on 12 June 2015, that tried to link the negotiation
process for a comprehensive settlement on the island with the efforts to form a
government in Turkey, are astonishing.
The
GCA leader should first and foremost utilize the available opportunity for the
settlement and focus his efforts on concluding the negotiations carried out within the framework of the Good Offices
Mission of the UN Secretary General together with the President of TRNC Mr
Mustafa Akıncı.
We
consider it a deliberate tactical ploy to question Turkey’s commitment to the
goal of a fair, lasting and viable solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis
of the political equality of the two sides and the new partnership to be formed
by the two equal Constituent States, the general framework of which was set forth in the
Joint Statement agreed on 11 February 2014 by the two leaders in Cyprus. Turkey
has a long State tradition; it has always scrupulously fulfilled the
requirements of its international commitments and will continue to do so.
In
this context, Turkey wishes that a comprehensive and viable settlement is
reached in Cyprus as soon as possible and the island of Cyprus and the Eastern
Mediterranean becomes an area of peace, stability and cooperation. Turkey
maintains its support to the efforts exerted in this direction as it has always
been the case”.
5.The “TRNC’s foreign ministry” objected to the
EP’s Progress Report and the references on the Cyprus problem
The so-called foreign ministry (http://mfa.gov.ct.tr/tr/) published in its website a statement concerning the Resolution
of the European Parliament (EP) regarding the European Commission’s 2014
Progress Report on Turkey which was adopted in the EP Plenary on 10 June 2015.
The statement reads the following: “It is amply clear that the calls and the
false allegations put forth in the Cyprus paragraphs of the Report negate the
prevailing positive atmosphere on the island. Besides, many of the assessments
contained in the Report are not acceptable.
We noted the positive expressions regarding the strong
support towards the reunification of Cyprus on the basis of a fair,
comprehensive and viable settlement in accordance with relevant UN Security
Council Resolutions and the hope that the election of Mr Mustafa Akıncı as
President will open a new window of opportunity in the negotiation process. However, it is crucial to remind all
parties concerned that support of the European Union to the negotiation process
must be fair and balanced for a fruitful progress. Bearing in mind that the
maintenance of the positive atmosphere created by the new session of talks on
the Island is extremely important, it is necessary to underline that the
support and positive calls of the relevant international actors interested in
the Cyprus problem will greatly contribute to the conclusion of the negotiation
process with a comprehensive settlement.
We
expect that the European Union refrains from taking positions unilaterally on
platforms where the Turkish Cypriot side is not represented. Instead of engaging in such negative moves which do
not contribute to the resolution of the Cyprus issue, the European Union should take constructive steps in a way to encourage
both leaders for the ongoing negotiation process. We, once more reiterate the
demand of the Turkish Cypriots for the right of representation at the European
Union”.
6.Turkish Cypriot columnist: Turkey is the key of
the solution in Cyprus
Under the title
“The key of the solution is not in
Turkey, the key of the solution is Turkey”, columnist Serhat Incirli writes
in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.06.15) thatit is naivety to
believe that Turkey wants a solution in Cyprus by saying that “Turkey wants a
solution”. Incirli reports, inter alia, the following:
“It is naivety to believe that Turkey ‘wants
a solution’ by saying that ‘Turkey wants a solution’. The Cyprus problem can be
solved by ‘convincing’ or ‘satisfying’ Turkey. How can Turkey be convinced?
This is something you will know! This is what I have been and I am trying to
say from the very beginning. You may have established an ‘authority’ in the
TRNC or in the Turkish side of Cyprus. You clean the roads, you rip off the
weed. You may do jobs similar to these. You
may even sit at the negotiating table. However, ‘you cannot talk’. Please, let
us not deceive each other. […]
If we want a solution, the first thing we should do is
to declare this to the whole world ‘on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot
community’. How? You will go
to New York through Larnaka under very strict security measures, since you
cannot go with the THY. You will declare your will for a solution at the UN
General Assembly. Who will provide your security until you deliver this speech,
though? You should eat or drink nothing until that moment. I do not know, have
I made myself clear? Or tomorrow morning
you will say ‘I resigned from the TRNC presidency, my real capacity is ‘leader
of the Turkish Cypriot community, I am ready to sign the agreement representing
the community’. In short, if doing all these is a dream, which it is, then do
not pump anyone with hope in vain. ‘If Turkey is not convinced, there will be
no solution’. […] The will of the Turkish Cypriot community goes until a certain point.
The municipalities may clean weed, but they cannot even administrate the water.
[…]
My dear friends,
brothers, solving the Cyprus problem in
the line of the UN parameters is tantamount to Turkey losing 99% of the
advantages it currently has regarding the island. Let no one deceive me by
saying ‘Turkey wants a solution my dears! Why
should Turkey approve an agreement by which it will lose its army and
population on the island as well as its absolute domination over the half of
the island? Why it should have [such an agreement] ratified? […]
I have said it
fifty times, but let say it again: Turkey
must be convinced, must be satisfied. How it will be convinced? Either with
money, or with the gas or with the EU membership or by force. You know! And
a last word: The key of the solution is
not in Turkey, the key is Turkey!”
(I/Ts.)
7.CTP-BG held its 25th general congress; Talat
elected in the party’s leadership
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
(15.06.15) the Republican Turkish
Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) held its 25th general congress on 14 June 2015 in
the occupied part of Lefkosia.
835 delegates out of the 1008 delegates cast their
votes on Sunday in order to elect CTP’s new leader and renew its party
assembly.
Mehmet
Ali Talat was elected as the leader of CTP. Talat received 727 votes whilst Oduncuoglu got 93
votes. 15 votes were counted as void.
Speaking after his election, Talat thanked the
delegates and said that the party assembly and the central administrative
committee must be formed as soon as possible.
“Renewing and rejuvenating the party was top of my
list in order to carry the party further”, said Talat and added that it was
their debt to society to bring faith back to CTP.
8.Burcu: “The date and venue of the culture event
of Anastasiades-Akinci has not yet been identified”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (14.06.15)
reported that the “presidential
spokesman” Baris Burcu has said that the date of the cultural event that Akinci
and Anastasiades will attend in the “north”, has not yet been identified.
Speaking to illegal TAK news agency,Burcu said that the leaders had agreed to
attend an event together in the “north”; however the date, time and venue of
the event has not yet been identified and when it is necessary, an announcement
would be made.
The Greek Cypriot press had claimed recently that the
leaders would be attending a showing of Euripides ‘Hippolitos’ at the Salamis
Antique Theatre on July 8th. However this has not been confirmed.
9.The occupation regime’s “new economic grant
program” announced
According to illegal Bayrak television (12.06.15) the “deputy prime ministry, and ministry of
economy, tourism, culture and sports”, as well as the “ministry of food,
agriculture and energy” have announced its 2015 financial grant program.
A
total of 13 million Turkish Liras in financial assistance and grants has been
allocated to various tourism, industrial and agricultural programs carried out
within the framework of a “protocol” signed between the Turkish and the “TRNC”
governments in 2010 and technical support provided by the Cukurova Development
Agency.
While
4 million TL has been allocated for agricultural and rural development, 4
million TL has been allocated for developing the country’s tourism potential
and 5 million TL to increase the competitiveness of the “TRNC’s economy”.
Organizations and businesses will be able to apply for
the programs from 7 to 9 of September.
Around
32 million TL in financial assistance and grants were provided for 206 projects
between 2012-2014. That amounts to a total of 64 million TL in investments.
Speaking during a meeting at the “prime ministry”, so-called
prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu underlined the importance of choosing
carefully as to whom the financial assistance and grants are given to.
(…)
10. Stone
quarries are fading away Pentadaktylos Mountain
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper ((14.06.15)
reports about the stone quarries operating in the occupied Pentadaktylos
Mountain, which according to the paper, “is carelessly slayed by the stone quarries”
to the point that Keryneia will be seen by Lefkosia in a short time.
The paper writes that the way the stone quarries are
operating are destroying the balance of nature and polluting the environment.
It also writes that the area that has been grazed is up to 2 million 651 thousand square meters
and that thousands of trees have been cut in the region for the quarries to be
able to carry on with their work.
Also, according to Havadis newspaper, there are 16 stone
quarries, one of which belongs to the “state” that produce sand and stones,
one that produces dry sand, 10 that
produce mosaic,2 that produce gypsum,
and 7 that produce material for house building.
(CS)
11.
A research on kidney’s disease history among the Turkish Cypriots was presented
at a congress in London
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (15.06.15), Dr Deren Oygar, the “clinical chief
of nephrology state hospital” Burhan Nalbantoglu general hospital in the
occupied part of Nicosia, represented the “TRNC”, (Translator’s note: the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) at the 52nd
European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association
(ERA-EDTA) Congress, which was held in London.
During
the congress, Dr Oygar presented a research on the kidney’s disease history
among the Turkish Cypriots.
(DPs)
12.Erdogan met with Putin in Baku; Energy issues,
the Syria crisis and other international issues were discussed
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (13.06.15) reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met
with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday in the Azerbaijani
capital of Baku, where the two leaders attended the inauguration ceremony of
the first European Games.
Notably absent at Friday's ceremony which cost more
than $95 million, were leaders from the European Union.
Erdogan praised the inauguration ceremony at the start
of his meeting with Putin and noted that Azerbaijan had invested a considerable
sum. However, he criticized the fact that leaders from the European Union did
not attend the event, even though the name of the organization is the European
Games.
Putin joked in response, telling Erdogan with a smile
that Turkey represented the entire EU as a candidate to join the bloc.
(…)
Erdogan was accompanied by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu,
Energy Minister Taner Yıldız, Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın and former
Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım at the meeting with Putin. The Russian
leader was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials.
Citing
presidential sources, the Doğan news agency said that the two delegations
discussed bilateral relations and international issues.
Putin
and Erdogan stressed that cooperation between the two countries in several
sectors, particularly in the field of energy, which should be strengthened and
that trade volume should be increased. The situation in Syria, Ukraine and
Crimea and that of Crimean Tatars were also discussed, Dogan said.
13. Turkish
parties leaders refused to respond to Erdogan’s call prior to government’s
forming
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (15.06.15) reports that
senior executives of opposition parties have indicated unwillingness to respond
positively to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s expected invitation to hold
separate meetings with the leaders of the four parties that have entered
parliament.
“We will discuss this issue there,” main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu briefly responded on
June 14 when asked whether he would accept such invitation. Speaking to his
inner circle, however, Kılıçdaroğlu said he did not find such meeting
“appropriate or necessary,” sources said.
“Erdoğan’s intention is also against the Constitution.
A President should give the mandate for forming a government. An option for a
government comes out of parties represented at parliament. The President’s
intervention has no meaning,” Kılıçdaroğlu was quoted by the same sources as
saying.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli
will make his final decision after consultations with his inner circle, sources
said. “We haven’t yet made an assessment. Let’s see the invitation first, then
it would be assessed,” MHP Deputy Group Chair Oktay Vural said on June 14. Although personally not warm to the idea of
holding such a meeting with Erdoğan, Bahçeli will still take his inner circle’s
conviction into consideration.
Neither the CHP nor the MHP recognize the legitimacy
of the presidential palace and a June 10 meeting between Erdoğan and former CHP
leader Deniz Baykal took place at the official Foreign Ministry residence.
Neither co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party
(HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş or Figen Yüksekdağ, intend to give an affirmative
response in the event of such an invitation from Erdoğan, according to sources.
En route from Baku to Istanbul on June 13 after
attending the opening ceremony of the first European Games in the Azerbaijani
capital the previous day, Erdoğan said he planned to invite the party leaders
to talk with him before Deputies are sworn in at parliament and before granting
the mandate to form a new government to the AKP,. According to the paper, this
is yet another move contrary to state customs.
In addition, the paper writes that speaking to
journalists en route to Istanbul from Baku, Erdogan said that going to the
ballot box once again might be inevitable.
“If everything takes place in its natural course and a
coalition is formed then there would be no problem,” he replied, when asked
whether any “surprise” could be expected throughout the first 45 days.
“But if the party that came first in the election
cannot achieve [forming a government] and neither can the second one ... then
going to the ballot box again as per the constitution would be inevitable. I
don’t call this a snap election, but a re-run,” he added.
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