TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 103/15 05.06.2015
1. Akinci argues that the solution in Cyprus is close
2. Akinci: “We must use well the window of
opportunity”
3. Ulucay: The “Property Compensation Commission”
experiences economic difficulties
5. The “KTSO” demands the opening of a new crossing
point in occupied Mia Milia
6. New optical readers at the
checkpoints
7. Yorgancioglu denied allegations related with the
privatization of the occupied Famagusta port; More reactions by political
parties and trade unions
8. Erdogan vows to continue
Kurdish peace process after parliamentary elections
9. Demirtas rules out coalition
with AKP after election
10. “The day after the election”
1.Akinci argues that the solution in Cyprus is
close
Under the title
“The solution is close”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.06.15)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa
Akinci gave positive messages yesterday on the issue of reaching a solution to
the Cyprus problem after his half-hour meeting with the UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon in New York. In statements to the press at the UN headquarters,
Akinci argued that with the existing climate and what he called as the wish of
the Turkish Cypriots for a lasting and viable solution, a mutually acceptable solution could be reached in months not
years.
“I am leaving
here today with a positive climate. I
believe that this positive climate will help in reaching a solution in Cyprus
within the forthcoming months”, he said.
Akinci noted
that the leaders discussed various issues and convergences, but the sides have
agreed that certain issues such as the
territory and the guarantees will be discussed towards the end of the process. “It
is not correct that the territory issue will be discussed on 17 June”, he
added.
Referring to his
meeting with the UNSG, Akinci said that Ban was satisfied with what he heard
from him.
Akinci alleged that Turkey has always contributed
positively to the negotiations on the Cyprus problem and argued that what we
need is Greece to gather its strength the soonest and contribute positively to
the process like Turkey. He
said that during his visit to Ankara and the meetings he has held with the
Turkish President and the Prime Minister, he saw that they approach positively
a possible agreement on the island and support the process. Noting that in spite of the fact that the
forthcoming elections in Turkey are an internal matter, Akinci expressed the belief that whoever
wins the commitment and the contribution to the solution process in Cyprus will
continue.
Akinci further
noted that they [the leaders] will try to hold more productive negotiations and
make everybody’s life easier by working on more productive confidence building
measures.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said also that he asked for
the UNSG’s support on the issue of the minefields, adding that they need the help of the UN Mine Action
Service (UNMAS) for correctly establishing the minefields.
Reiterating that
we need to give hands and dance the Turkish halay or the Greek syrtaki dances,
Akinci noted that what we need is for everybody, not only the sides in Cyprus,
but the UN, the EU, the guarantor powers and the entire international community
to advance towards a solution in harmony by holding hands.
Replying to a
question, Akinci said that it is the first time that two leaders who had voted
yes to the Annan Plan are at the negotiating table and pointed out that his
vision for a solution continues to exist, expressing the hope that the same is
valid for President Anastasiades as well.
Referring to the hydrocarbons issue, Akinci said that
he sees this issue as a “valuable property” which will bring benefit to all
sides on a “win-win principle”. He argued that the wisest thing to do is to be prepared for the future
instead of quarrelling for something the quantity of which is unknown. He
added: “In parallel to using these
resources in the financing of a possible solution, we could carry them to
Europe with a pipeline through Turkey together with Israel’s gas. And this is
the most appropriate method”.
(I/Ts.)
2.Akinci: “We must use well the window of
opportunity”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (05.06.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci has said that they have
achieved progress on core issues in the Cyprus negotiations and reiterated that
with the sides’ political determination and the necessary international
support, a just and lasting solution in Cyprus could be reached within months.
Addressing a working
breakfast organized by the International Peace Institute (IPI), Akinci recalled that when he had been mayor
of the occupied part of Nicosia, they worked together with the Greek Cypriot
mayor of the divided capital to reach a result for the benefit of the
inhabitants of the city. “We have found in our common needs the answer to
the question of what prevents us from working together”, he said adding that the starting point of their successful
projects was the common need. “The
question we must ask on the Cyprus problem is whether there is a mutual need
for a solution”, he argued.
Akinci referred
to the benefits of finding a solution in Cyprus and said that transferring the Cypriot and Israeli
natural gas to Europe with pipelines though Turkey could constitute a “win-win
scenario for the benefit of all actors in the area”. “This scenario is the most efficient and the
most applicable scenario today. With the continuous interests and the support
of the international community we can turn this into reality”, he argued.
(I/Ts.)
3.Ulucay: The “Property Compensation Commission”
experiences economic difficulties
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibrisli newspaper (05.06.15) reports that Teberruken Ulucay, self-styled minister of interior of the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the “Property Compensation
Commission” established by Turkey experiences economic difficulties.
Speaking
yesterday at the “assembly” of the regime, Ulucay noted that 170 cases have been completed in 2014-2015,
but “no concrete step could be taken for
securing contribution to the Commission from our own resources”.
Referring to the
same issue, Ferdi Sabit Soyer,
self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), recalled a decision
taken by the European Court of Human Rights saying that “the person who uses a
property for 30 years has also rights on it” and expressed the view that within
this context, the “Commission’s” work should be taken into consideration
seriously. Noting that advancing this
work is a precondition, Soyer
underlined that resources are needed for this.
(I/Ts.)
4. So-called minister Ulucay stated that there are
40 thousand foreign “legal” workers in the “TRNC”
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (05.06.15)
reports that the so-called minister of
internal affairs, Teberruken Ulucay, in statements yesterday during the meeting
of the “assembly”, replied to Faiz Sucuoglu’ statements in the “assembly” as
regards the issue of the “citizenship law”.
Ulucay stated that the 40 thousand “legal” workers in
the “TRNC” would have the right to apply to grant the “TRNC’s citizenship” as
soon as they fill the 15th year of their stay in the “country”.
Sucuoglu in his turn, compared in his speech the
figures and conditions that exist in the “south” with those in the “TRNC” as
regards the issue of granting “citizenship” and alleged that “south Cyprus”, as
he called the Republic of Cyprus, ranks second in the EU, among the countries
which grant the most citizenships and added that if it continue in this way,
then the “TRNC” should “grant 1,700 citizenships” annually in order to cover
this percentage.
Referring to the precondition of the 15 years, which
is related also with the working “permission” and is necessary for someone to
have the right to apply for granting the occupation regime’s “citizenship”,
Sucuoglu argued that this period is too long since in all other countries is
5-10 years.
(AK)
5.The “KTSO” demands the opening of a new crossing
point in occupied Mia Milia
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (05.06.15)
reports that the “chairman” of the
“Turkish Cypriot chamber of industry” (“KTSO) Ali Cirali, in statements
yesterday after visiting the mukhtar of the occupied village of Mia Milia, Asim
Egemen, has asked for the opening of a new crossing point, in the Mia Milia
village.
Cirali who exchange views with Egemen towards this issue, stated,
inter alia, that the opening of a crossing point in Mia Mila, would be a better
alternative than that of the Agios Dometios crossing point for the dispatching
of goods and products of the companies which sell to the “south” within the
framework of the Green Line Regulation (GLR).
Cirali
further said that the opening of a crossing point in Mia Milia would be an
important alternative as well for the citizens who want to cross to the “south”
with cars.
(AK)
6. New optical readers at the
checkpoints
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (05.06.15) reports that optical readers
at crossings in the breakaway regime have been established as of yesterday.
Self-styled
interior minister Teberruken Ulucay who went to the Ayios Dometios crossing
point examined the optic readers and said these were being implemented at all
crossing points from Illegal Tymbou airport to the “ports and borders”. At a
meeting at Ayios Dometios crossing point with the UN it was discussed that the
number of immigration officers for the Republic of Cyprus to be increased to
two as the queue of cars crossing into the south is more.
7.Yorgancioglu denied allegations related with the
privatization of the occupied Famagusta port; More reactions by political
parties and trade unions
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (05.06.15)
reports that the so-called prime
minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu has stated yesterday that the “government” has not
discussed yet the issue of privatization of the “Famagusta port” and added that
it has not come in the “government’s agenda”. “There is nothing concrete to say
about the privatization of the port of Famagusta”, Yorgancioglu said.
Meanwhile, the
reactions continue in the occupied area of Cyprus after the latest
statement made by the so-called minister of transportation and communications
Hasan Tacoy that the issue of the privatization of the “port” is in the agenda
of the “government”.
Issuing
a statement on the issue, the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG)
underlines that the party, as a liberal socialist party,opposes to the
privatizations, since, it considers them a dimension of the economic change in
the framework of the globalization.
The
party underlines that the privatization of the institutions which belong to the
state is contrary to the social principles of a “state”.
On the same issue, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) TozunTunali in a
written statement yesterday said that everyone should be aware of the fact that
nobody can make the “Famagusta port” a present without the approval of the
“assembly”.
Tunali
expressed their strong reaction over the latest statement made by the so-called
minister Tacoy as regards the privatization of the “port” and added that they
will follow closely the issue, pointing out at the same time the strategic
importance of the “port”.
Tunali called also the “coalition parties” in the
“government”, the CTP and DP not to sign this mistake and called the opposition
parties to undertake responsibility and transfer the issue to the “assembly”
for discussion.
Moreover, the
general secretary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Abdullah Korkmazhan, said in
his turn, that the party opposes to the privatization policies and underlined
that they will not permit the “CTP-BG-DP-UG coalition government” to proceed
with the privatization of the “Famagusta port”.
Accusing
the so-called government for not making any investments at the “port”,
Korkmazhan pointed to the negative effects of the possible privatization of the
“port”, and underlined the need for the Turkish Cypriot community to be self-administrated.
Strong reactions over the issue were expressed also by
several trade unions in the occupied area of Cyprus.
The
Cyprus Turkish Public Servants Trade Union (KAMU SEN), the Turkish Cypriot
Civil Servants Union (KTAMS), the Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions’ Federation
(Turk-Sen) and other trade unions issued yesterday separate written statements
to condemn the possible privatization of the “Famagusta port”.
(AK)
8. Erdogan vows to continue
Kurdish peace process after parliamentary elections
Ankara Anatolia news Agency (05.06.15) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has
said that the "solution process" with the banned Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) will continue irrespective of Turkey's upcoming June 7 election
result.
Addressing a rally in Turkey's eastern Bingol province
Erdogan said: "We initiated the solution process with our people and for
the sake of our people. We will sustain it likewise." He added: "There is no relation between the solution process and
election results."
He again slammed the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democracy
Party (HDP) for its alleged collaboration with the PKK. "They are trying
to threaten the people and [are doing] politics by saying: 'If we do not enter
the parliament, there will be chaos.' They cannot do anything. The government
stands by our citizens with all its power and opportunities. We did not
initiate the solution process with them [the HDP]," Erdogan said.
9. Demirtas rules out
coalition with AKP after election
Turkish Today’s Zaman newspaper (05.06.15) reports
that pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic
Party (HDP) Co-chair Selahattin Demirtas has said that his party may consider
forming a coalition with the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP)
but will never engage in any alliance with the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) if the HDP passes the 10 % election threshold.
He stated that those supporters of the Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) also don't want revived conflicts between the Turkish
Armed Forces (TSK) and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), adding:
"The society wants peace. I think the MHP will also feel obliged to have
dialogue on the Kurdish settlement process -- which aims to seek a solution to
the country's decades-long Kurdish problem.
When asked whether his remarks about the MHP might be
construed as a coalition formula that will include the MHP if this party adopts
a positive stance over the course of the talks on the Kurdish issue, Demirtas
responded: "My remarks on this subject should not be construed as a
possibility of coalition [with the MHP]. However, the MHP cannot desire the
renewed conflict and war. None of the MHP supporters opts for this. I believe
the MHP will feel obliged to prefer the path for peace. This is because of the
society's demand for peace. So, no one should get into panic by questioning
what will happen if the AKP [AK Party] loses power."
However, CHP parliamentary group deputy chairman Akif
Hamzacebi has ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition with the HDP. Posting
a tweet on the issue on Monday, he wrote, "We have no idea of forming a
coalition either with the HDP or with any other political party."
10. “The day after the
election”
Under the above title Turkish Today’s Zaman newspaper
(05.06.15) publishes the following article by Orhan Kemal Cengiz:
“When I place recent surveys for the June 7 election
in front of me, I guess it is highly likely Turkey will heave a sigh of relief
on June 8. This is because almost all
surveys show the Justice and Development Party (AKP) losing some of its votes
and, more importantly, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) passing the national
election threshold of 10 %.
I have seen different surveys conducted by seven
different companies. In only one of them does the AKP appear to be able to form
a government on its own. In others, it appears that no single party will be
able to form a single-party government; a coalition is required or the AKP will
have to convince deputies from other political parties to join it. The last alternative
of course is to seek support from other political parties for a minority
government.
In all of these alternatives,
though, one thing is certain: Recep Tayyip Erdogan's dream of changing Turkey's
parliamentarian system into a presidential one and being the first President
under this system will fade away. The second thing that is certain is that the AKP will lose its absolute
power and freedom to act on its own in Parliament when it comes to enacting
laws and other parliamentarian activities.
However, the AKP losing power does not guarantee that
this country will achieve peace. During the campaigning process, all the three
opposition parties that will be in Parliament after the June 7 election
declared that they would not partner with the AKP for a coalition. If we accept
these solemn declarations at their face value and not as a political maneuver
in any way, then a crisis will be knocking on Turkey's doors.
During this entire campaign, Erdogan has acted as
though he is still the leader of the ruling AKP. Can he change his position
after the election and act as though he is an impartial President, as defined
in the Constitution? For example, if the AKP cannot form a government, would
Erdogan allow Republican People's Party (CHP) leader, as the chairman of the
main opposition party, to try to form a coalition government? Or would he
insist that only a person from the AKP can try and form a government? And
finally, would Erdogan try to opt for an early election if the AKP cannot form
a government within 45 days after the election? […]
The other question, of course, is whether Erdogan can
maintain his grip over the party after a serious defeat in the election. This
depends of course on the extent to which the AKP loses votes. In just a few
surveys the AKP appears to receive below the psychological threshold of 40 %. If
it really goes below 40 % then we might witness a significant rift in the party
and a serious debate over the role of Erdogan as guardian of the party.
In short, we are heading for an election that promises
surprises and changes. […]”
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)
