TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
117/15 25.06.2015
1. Burcu: The agreed issues in the negotiations are
the majority; The issue of guarantees will be discussed
2. Yildirim’s visit to the occupied area of Cyprus
caused a crisis
3. Talat appoints Kalyoncu
to form new “cabinet”
4. Turkish Cypriots see the illegal Turkish settlers
as one of the biggest obstacles for the solution of the Cyprus problem
5. “The military zone obstacle”
6. Gagauzian “president”
visits the breakaway regime
7. The unemployment in the occupied area of Cyprus has
been increased by 23%
8.
Emine Dizdarli appointed as “ombudsman”
9.
Election of parliament Speaker to test waters for coalition talks –all parties
except AKP announced their candidates
10.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Cavusoglu confirms efforts for normalization of ties
to Israel
11.
Turkish, Russian officials discuss Middle East in Ankara
12.
“Gezi” salutes mark opening of Turkey’s new parliament
1.Burcu: The agreed issues in the negotiations are
the majority; The issue of guarantees will be discussed
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (25.06.15) reports that Baris Burcu, spokesman of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, said yesterday that the agreed issues in
the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem are the majority.
Speaking for the first time to the press after his appointment, Burcu
recalled that the Turkish positions on which agreement has not been reached are
written in red and the Greek positions on which agreement is not reached in
blue. Noting that the leaders will be meeting on 29 June for the fourth time, Burcu said that they have prepared the most
comprehensive document after the Annan Plan.
Burcu described as “AA Documents”, that is “Akinci –
Anastasiades documents”, the comprehensive document
produced in the end of all the work that has been done, adding, however, that
it is not possible to say that agreement has been reached on all chapters, in
spite of the fact that a comprehensive document was produced.
Burcu said that Akinci carries out the negotiating
process in three dimensions: The first is “the cultural transformation of the commitment
and the will of the communities to peace”. The second is the confidence
building measures and the third is “a comprehensive solution for the creation
of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal structure based on political equality”.
Burcu noted that
the language of peace used by Akinci in this process, the emphasis he gives on
[Cyprus being the two communities’] common country and his statements that the
Greek Cypriots should be seen as future partners not enemies, are very
positively received by the people and this could be seen in the support offered
to the social activities of the leaders.
Burcu said that
in spite of the fact that there is no timetable in the negotiations, all issues are on the table and a speedy
and productive process is foreseen. He noted that on the chapter of the “territory”, they worked only on the criteria for
territorial adjustments and no maps or percentages were discussed. On the
chapter of “security and guarantees” only the issue of internal security was
taken up, he added noting that no detailed screening on the issue of
guarantees was carried out because they have no right to make any arrangements
on this agreement without having the signature of all parties concerned. He said that everybody’s common wish is for
a meeting to be held in September in New York on the issue of guarantees rather
than on an “interim agreement”.
Responding to a
question, he said that the issue of
guarantees will be discussed, but “after the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek
Cypriots cover certain distance on certain chapters”. He noted that the
territorial adjustments, the percentages and even the treaty of guarantees will
come on to the agenda, adding that “these are not taboos”. “They are not
untouchable issues, but the discussion of these issues has been postponed a
little within the framework of being more productive and showing more respect
to the international law”, he added.
Burcu argued that they share a common vision with
Turkey for the solution and that President Anastasiades made use of the newly
created climate and contributes positively to the process by developing a
common language and a vision focused on the solution.
He argued that holding a multi-party meeting in New
York in September is the wish of all sides that expect a solution to be
reached, but there is no agreement or timetable on this issue.
Referring to the
stance of Akinci regarding the confidence building measures (CBM), Burcu said
that the CBMs should create confidence and there is no need to commit new
mistakes, new points of conflict for the sake of new CBMs. He noted that the
sides considered appropriate to form a common list of CBMs instead of separate
measures. He added that the measures should provide equal and maximum benefit
to both communities, and be speedily applicable and practical.
Asked to comment on the fact that the issue of the
occupied fenced off city of Varosha is not discussed within the framework of
the CBMs, Burcu responded that the issue is generally evaluated and has not
entered under any chapter of measures. He noted that Varosha is an important issue but cannot
open from the one day to the other. “A
feasibility study should be held first and a team could be formed for this, but
the developments experienced in the process are creating the hope that we could
acquire overall possibilities without needing this”, he added.
Referring to the
fundamental aim of the process, Burcu said: “The fundamental aim of the
negotiating process is a bi-zonal, bi-communal united Cyprus based on political
equality being an EU member, taking as basis the prosperity, happiness and
safety of both communities. This is our fundamental aim. We are very relaxed on
the issue of the ground of the negotiations, because president Akinci accepted
and supported all the agreements reached until today and stated that he would
continue on their basis”.
(I/Ts.)
2.Yildirim’s visit to the occupied area of Cyprus
caused a crisis
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (25.06.15) under the
front-page title: “immodest”, reports on
the illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus of the president of the
Turkish Fenerbahce football club and writes that his contacts in the “TRNC”
have caused a crisis.
According
to the paper, Yildirim who had an appointment to meet with Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci with the precondition that he would also meet with the
chairman of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot football federation (“KTFF”) Hasan
Sertoglu, has been postponed by Akinci, since Yildirim didn’t go to the appointment with Sertoglu
and neglected to inform him. Yildirim met only with the chairman of the
Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) Mehmet Ali Talat.
Issuing
a written statement after the above developments and after meeting with
Yildirim, Talat condemned Yildirim’s stance and said that this do not comply
with seriousness. “The fact that the Turkish officials who are coming from
Turkey do not respect and take into consideration the Turkish Cypriot
organizations and do not show the necessary care to their ties with these
organizations, is an unacceptable situation. The incident occurred with the
chairman of the KTFF is a great misbehavior”, Talat said.
Commenting also on the issue, Sertoglu in a separate statement described Yildirim’s stance as a great
immodesty and explained that in spite of the fact that they arranged an
appointment in order to meet with the chairman of Fenerbahce, he did not come
to the meeting. Sertoglu said that his
stance by Yildirim is a great disrespect to both the Turkish Cypriots and the
Turkish Cypriot organizations. He also thanked Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci
for the sensitivity he has shown on the issue. Sertoglu thanked also Talat
for his stance adding that Talat was deceived.
A reaction over Yildirim’s misbehavior was also
expressed by the “Turkish Cypriot Football players association”. Issuing a
written statement, the “association” described Yildirim’s stance as
disrespecting and inappropriate.
Meanwhile, the paper writes that Yildirim is allegedly visiting the “TRNC” in order to undertake efforts
to buy a bank and a “university” in the “TRNC”. According to the paper, it was made known that Yildirim visited
yesterday the “Central Bank headquarters” with the aim to lift the
“bureaucratic obstacles” and a regulation that exists in the “TRNC”, which
prevents the Turkish clubs to establish “banks” and “universities” in the
“country”.
Moreover, Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (25.06.15) invoking reliable sources reports
that Yildirim has visited the “TRNC” with the aim to establish a bank under the
name (FB) or to buy the bank called Deniz Bank which belongs to Kani and Erhan
Kanioglulari.
(AK)
3.Talat appoints Kalyoncu
to form new “cabinet”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (25.06.15) reports that the newly elected leader
of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Mehmet Ali Talat has appointed CTP “deputy”
Omer Kalyoncu to form the new “cabinet” of the breakaway regime.
Talat
stated that the party assembly had agreed to give the duty to Kalyoncu. After
Kalyoncu holds the necessary discussions, he will hand over the list to the
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for his endorsement. Talat also indicated
that Kalyoncu would be meeting with the political parties next week.
4.Turkish Cypriots see the illegal Turkish settlers
as one of the biggest obstacles for the solution of the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (25.06.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Democracy Association, established in 1972 in London
by “progressive, democratic and patriotic” Turkish Cypriots living in Britain, held its 25th general assembly
on 21 June in London and discussed the latest developments on the Cyprus
problem.
In the decision
of the general assembly it is said that the
Association “sees as one of the biggest obstacles in front of a lasting peace
in Cyprus the accumulation of population from Turkey in the north part of
Cyprus, as a result of the continuing status quo” in the island.
“The policies of transfer of population
which are being implemented in many variations are on the one hand negatively
influencing the lasting solution to the Cyprus problem and on the other are
eliminating the will of the Turkish Cypriot community by turning it into a minority
in its own country”, the decision says adding:
“The sovereign
powers, which on the one hand say that ‘we want peace in Cyprus’ and on the
other threaten the communal existence of the Turkish Cypriots by imposing on
them assimilation policies, and are de
facto colonizing 37% of Cyprus’ territory, must understand that they cannot
carry out together two understandings, policies in Cyprus which are completely
opposite to each other”.
The decision
under the title “peace will be the common gain of the Cypriots” asks for the
non-solution in Cyprus to end the soonest.
(I/Ts.)
5.“The military zone obstacle”
Under the above
title, Turkish Cypriot columnist Tumay Tugyan refers in daily Yeni Duzen
newspaper (25.06.15) to the statement recently made by President Anastasiades
to CNN-Turk television saying that “we
cannot implement some confidence building measures because Turkey has named
some areas as ‘military zones’”.
The columnist
reports: “Is it true? Unfortunately it
is. Some agreements reached between the leaders with the aim of creating
confidence, are facing the military zone obstacle. In the end, it will be
settled and solutions will be produced with the approval of the military. However,
the essence of the issue is not whether it will be settled or not. The issue is
that a problem of authority is seriously experienced in areas which are de facto
under the control of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). […]”
Noting that this
is a situation experienced for decades, the columnist wonders what would happen
if the authorities of the breakaway regime attempted to make any arrangement in
the fenced off military zones in spite of the objections of the Turkish
occupation army.
“Are these fenced
off areas not a part of your state the establishment of which you declared on
15 November 1983 and you insist today that should be a politically equal
founder of a possible agreement”, asks Tugyan and recalls that “a serious part of the TRNC territory is surrounded with wires of
the TAF”, which according to “article 10” of the occupation regime’s
“constitution” provides the “defense of the country”.
“And you have absolutely no say on these areas”, she notes and concludes:
“The
constitutional ground is the defense of the country. If the issue is the
defense of the country, your country is defensed in your name, not in spite of
you. Do not do this. This is
arbitrariness. These lands either belong to the TRNC and are TRNC lands or
belong to the TAF and are TAF lands. If we agree on the first one, the TRNC
authorities are obliged to claim a say on these lands. If we say ‘no the situation is the second one’, then we have to confess
the name of this in the literature without being ashamed. I am sure that
the evaluation of both different situations will take us to a point much more
advanced from our current ambiguous situation and will create more healthy
grounds for the solution of both the military zone trouble and of the Cyprus
problem”.
(I/Ts.)
6. Gagauzian “president”
visits the breakaway regime
Illegal
Bayrak television (24.06.15) broadcast that the “president” of Gagauzia Irina
Ulah who is in the breakaway regime as guest of the founding Rector of the illegal
Near East University Suat Gunsel met with by the “speaker of the assembly”
Sibel Siber today.
Speaking
during the visit Ulah, who is heading a delegation, said that the aim of her visit
to the TRNC is to expand relations between the two “countries”. Ulah invited Sibel to visit Gagauzia and stated:
“We should develop economic relations, mainly in the field of agriculture”.
On
her part, Siber welcomed the delegation from Gagauzia and stressed the importance of developing
relations between Gagauzia and the breakaway regime.
7. The unemployment in the occupied area of Cyprus
has been increased by 23%
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli (25.06.15) reports that according to the “April 2015
monthly activity report” prepared by the “department of labor” of the so-called
ministry of labour and social insurance, the unemployment rate in the “TRNC”
has been increase by 23% compared with the same period of last year.
According to the paper, the number of registered unemployed persons last year was 850 while
this year is 1051. According to the figures, there is an increase of 23% to the
unemployment rate.
Also,
according to the same figures, the number of the active registered men who applied
to the “department of labor” for work was 505, while the women were 546.
(…)
(AK)
8.
Emine Dizdarli appointed as “ombudsman”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (25.06.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci appointed “supreme
court judge” Emine Dizdarli as “ombudsman”.
Dizdarli will take over as “ombudsman” in the new
judicial year.
9. Election
of parliament Speaker to test waters for coalition talks –all parties except
AKP announced their candidates
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (25.06.15) reports that the
race for the election of the parliament Speaker, a road marker for the shape of
next government, heated up with political parties announcing their nominees on
Wednesday.
The Republican People's Party (CHP) has nominated its
former party leader and Antalya Deputy Deniz Baykal for the post of parliament Speaker,
following the CHP's Central Executive Board (MYK) decision on Wednesday morning
under the chairmanship of CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has named
Ekmeleddin İhsanoglu, the former head of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) who ran for President in August 2014, as its choice for
parliament Speaker.
The People's Democratic Party's (HDP) chose Dengir Mir
Mehmet Firat as the candidate for the post of parliament Speaker.
To the surprise of many, the Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) has not yet announced its candidate for parliament Speaker,
whereas in previous elections for the post, the party had acted first in the
announcement of its candidate.
In a televised program on CNN Turk on Wednesday,
veteran journalist Taha Akyol, highlighting that the election process of the
parliament Speaker will provide a hint of how the new government will be
formed, argued that if the AK Party supports the CHP's candidate Baykal to be
elected as Speaker, it would imply that the AK Party and the CHP will form the
new government.
Rumors
have also emerged that the AK party seeks to add 18 Deputies from other parties
to its ranks in order to obtain a single majority in the Parliament.
10. Turkey's
Foreign Minister Cavusoglu confirms efforts for normalization of ties to Israel
Turkish Sabah newspaper (25.06.15) reports that Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has confirmed claims by Israeli media that after
years of sour relations Turkish and Israeli diplomats have come together at a
meeting in Rome; however, he said Turkey's demands for normalization of ties
with Israel are clear. "One of our three demands [an official apology by
Netanyahu] has been met. The other two demands – compensation to the families
of victims [who were killed by Israeli Defense Forces in international waters]
and removal of the blockade on Gaza – should be met in order to normalize
relations," said Cavusoglu.
According to the Israeli Haaretz daily, Foreign
Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu held a meeting with Israeli
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dore Gold in Rome seemingly to resume talks about a
reconciliation agreement between the two states after ties have remained frozen
for over a year.
11. Turkish,
Russian officials discuss Middle East in Ankara
Turkish Today's Zaman newspaper (25.06.15) reports
that top Turkish and Russian diplomats held a meeting in Ankara on Wednesday to
discuss ways to address the challenges in the Middle East. Turkish Foreign
Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
and Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov
held “consultations on the developments in the Middle East, particularly the
situation in Syria and Iraq” on June 24 in Ankara, according to a statement
from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Though not seeing eye-to-eye in certain developments
in the Middle East, especially concerning Syria, both Ankara and Moscow are
careful not to harm bilateral ties over disagreements about regional issues.
Turkey backs moderate Syrian rebel groups in their struggle against the regime
of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Russia maintains an unyielding stance
supporting Assad.
12. “Gezi”
salutes mark opening of Turkey’s new parliament
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (25.06.15) reports that two
years after the massive Gezi Park protests shook Turkey’s political and social
landscape, four Deputies have sworn in to the new parliament by saluting the
ground-breaking movement.
During the oath-taking ceremony in parliament on June
23, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputies Ali Haydar Hakverdi, Gamze Akkus
İlgezdi and Hilmi Yarayici raised their left fists in the air on the rostrum in
honor of Gezi.
During the oath-taking ceremony, two MPs from the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were also in the spotlight in relation to
Gezi.
The Gezi protests had begun in 2013 as an effort to
stop bulldozers from razing the central Istanbul park, one of the few green
spaces left in the city’s Taksim neighborhood, to build a shopping mall.
Analysts say Gezi sowed the seeds for alternative political movements to
develop and affected Turkey’s largest parties. The main opposition CHP
organized primary elections to select its Deputy candidates, which paved the
way for the nomination of grassroots-supported figures such as Hakverdi. The
HDP, meanwhile, entered parliament on a left-wing platform that included a
number of protester demands, despite the skepticism of some of its leading
figures toward elements of the Gezi protests during their infancy.
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TURKISH
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