TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
121/15 01.07.2015
1. Akinci asks EU’s assistance to prepare the Turkish
Cypriots for the period after the solution
2.Davusoglu alleges that the Greek Cypriots and the
world are responsible for the non-solution in Cyprus
3. Davutoglu: “Turkey is ready to do all it can to
back crisis-hit Greece”; Bozkir: “Greece financial crisis to affect Turkey”
4. CTP-BG to carry out contacts with Turkish Cypriot
political parties today for forming a coalition “government”
5. Soyer: "Our public debt is worse than
Greece's"; Yorgancioglu: “We succeeded to balance the budget for the first
time”
6. Two British citizens lost the houses they bought in
occupied Karavas because the construction company owned money to the bank
7. Increase
on the persons who visited the breakaway regime
8. Reports
that the Palestinian “culture representative” of the breakaway regime in
Kirgizstan enjoys financial privileges
9.First
graduates of the Theological Hala Sultan College
10. Election for Speaker of Turkey's Parliament goes
to third round
11.
Erdogan’s Spokesman: “Turkey won't act unilaterally in Syria, but will protect
border”; Turkish military sends more forces to Syrian borders
1.Akinciasks EU’s assistance to prepare the Turkish
Cypriots for the period after the solution
Turkish Cypriot
daily Havadis newspaper (01.07.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met yesterday with the President
of the EU Commission, Jean-Claude Junker in Brussels and asked from him to take the relations of the
EU with the Turkish Cypriots forward in order to help in the preparation of the
Turkish Cypriots for the period after the solution of the Cyprus problem.
In statements
after the meeting, Akinci said that in parallel to this, he underlined the importance of the solution to become primary law of
the EU in order to prevent it from being worn through at EU courts. He
expressed the view that there are ways to include the agreement in the EU law
and that the EU will help on this issue.
Akinci noted
that he briefed Junker about the negotiating process held on the island and
discussed with him how the relations with the Turkish Cypriots could be
advanced. Arguing that right after the solution the Turkish Cypriots will find
themselves in the EU, Akinci said that
they should not remain limited to what is happening until today in their
relations with the EU Commission, but “the Turkish Cypriot community and its
institutions should be prepared for the EU membership”.
Akinci said that
Junker will meet with Turkish Cypriot officials during his visit to Cyprus this
month.
Reiterating that
the EU should develop its relations with the Turkish Cypriots, Akinci added: “I
think that they must start to better contribute to the situation of the Turkish
Cypriot community and start thinking how they will contribute to the future
solution. These include not only better developing the relations with the
Turkish Cypriots at every level and preparing the Turkish Cypriot community for
the future as a partner of the EU, but turning it into a part of the Union…”
Akinci argued that the EU has a duty in the formation
of a Turkish Cypriot founding state which should be competitive within the EU.
Asked how he
sees the interfering of the EU in the solution process, Akinci replied that it would not be correct if the EU
representative was in the process, adding that they want the EU to stand by the
process and contribute to it by helping in technical matters. “There is
definitely not a demand for the EU to substitute the UN”, he noted.
Responding to a question on the issue of halloumi
cheese, Akinci said: “I can say that during the meeting of the leaders
yesterday, we came close to a formula which both sides will accept.We requested
from the negotiators to further clarify the details”. He added that the EU wants a formula which will make
both sides happy and expressed the view that progress will be achieved on this
issue within the forthcoming days. “Perhaps a clearer situation will emerge on
this issue by the time the president of the Commission comes to Cyprus”, he
said.
Akinci met also
with Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (01.07.15) reports that for the
first time a Turkish Cypriot leader was received by the chief of protocol of
the European Commission’s Protocol Service. The former Turkish Cypriot leader
had been received by employees of the above-mentioned service. According to the
paper, Akinci said that during Junker’s visit to the island a “tripartite
meeting” will be held.
(I/Ts.)
2.Davusoglu alleges that the Greek Cypriots and the
world are responsible for the non-solution in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (01.07.15) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has alleged that “if the Cyprus
problem has not been solved yet, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are not responsible
for this”. “Those who are responsible are the Greek Cypriot administration,
which did not respond to the peace efforts of the Turkish Cypriots, and the EU
and the international community which back them”, he claimed addressing the
parliamentary group of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) yesterday at the
Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA).
Davutoglu argued
that their policy did not lead Turkey into adventures and alleged:
“We have raised the esteem of our country
with honorable foreign policy. We have demolished all taboos in the Cyprus
problem and proved the rightfulness of our cause. We have put the EU process
into a correct direction while everyone was saying that ‘it has been congested,
it has ended’. If we are not at the point we wish today in the EU process,
after 14 years, I can easily say that the responsible for this is not Turkey,
but the EU which lacks of strategic vision. We have always done what was
necessary and we will continue doing so. If the Cyprus problem has not been solved
today, the responsible for this is not Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. The
responsible for this is the Greek Cypriot administration which did not respond
to the peace efforts of the Turkish Cypriots and the EU and the international
community which back it. If peace has not yet been achieved in Iraq, Turkey has
never been the responsible for this. We have always exerted efforts for peace
in the entire Middle East and mainly in Iraq. […]”
(I/Ts.)
3.Davutoglu: “Turkey is ready to do all it can to back
crisis-hit Greece”; Bozkir: “Greece financial crisis to affect Turkey”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (30.06.15) reported
that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
addressing the Justice and Development Party (AKP) group in Parliament on Tuesday,
stated that Turkey will do all it can to support neighboring Greece as it deals
with its acute financial crisis.
“We are ready
to do whatever we can in terms of cooperation in tourism, energy and trade,”Davutoglu
said.
“Turkey will
also move on to convene a high-level cooperation council with Greece to discuss
the mutual steps against the crisis in Greece once the new government in Turkey
is founded”, Davutoglu added.
Meanwhile, according to the paper, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said late on
Monday that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has spoken with his Greek
counterpart, Nikos Kotzias, upon the latter’s request.
The
two Ministers exchanged views on Greece’s economic crisis and bilateral
cooperation between the two Aegean neighbors, according to the state-run
Anadolu Agency, which noted that Kotzias’ recent tour of the Balkans was also
discussed.
A separate statement by the Greek Foreign Ministry
underlined that the conversation took place “in a very warm atmosphere”.
Also, Turkish
daily Sabah (30.06.15-online in English) reported that Turkey’s European Union
Minister Volkan Bozkır in statements to
Ankara Anatolia said that the financial crisis in neighboring Greece will
surely going to affect Turkey.
Bozkır
said that Turkey has been
closely watching developments in Athens and added that Turkey desires a solution for Greece's financial crisis.
He
stated that there is nothing on the table for providing financial aid to Greece
and added that there has been no request (from Athens).
4.CTP-BG to carry out contacts with Turkish Cypriot
political parties today for forming a coalition “government”
According to illegal Bayrak television (30.06.15) the
Republican Turkish Party–United Forces (CTP-BG) will start visiting political
parties tomorrow with the aim of forming the new coalition “government”.
The General Secretary of the CTP-BG Tufan Erhurman
announced that the CTP-BG will first visit the National Unity Party (UBP).
Following this, a visit will be carried out to the
Social Democratic Party (TDP) and finally to the Democratic party-National
Forces (DP-UG).
Meanwhile, the Central Executive Board and the Party
Assembly of the CTP-BG convened yesterday.
The “draft government program” was discussed and the
issue of forming a coalition “government” was taken up during the meetings
which were headed by the leader of CTP Mehmet Ali Talat.
No statement was issued before or after both meetings.
Speaking to illegal TAK News agency on the issue,
Talat explained that the views of the Central Executive Board and the Party
Assembly on the “draft government program” were taken up during the meetings.
He said that the program is being edited according to
the views expressed at the meetings and added that the draft program will be
finalized either today or tomorrow.
5.Soyer: "Our public debt is worse than
Greece's"; Yorgancioglu: “We succeeded to balance the budget for the first
time”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (30.06.15)
reported that the Republican Turkish
Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) “deputy” Ferdi Sabit Soyer has said that “north
Cyprus’ public debt” has exceeded the 150% of the GDP and stated: “Our
situation is worse than Greece”.
Speaking during a radio program where he evaluated the
latest developments, Soyer also commented on the negotiations and pointed out
that the two negotiators will be meeting three times a week, something which
indicated major developments, as he said.
“After Akıncı’s election as the new president and with
the resumption of the talks, hopes have increased. This has been a good start,
but we are still at the beginning. I think all this intensified work is aiming
for a summit in September”, Soyerargued.
Meanwhile, illegal Bayrak Television (30.06.15)
broadcast that so-called prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu, addressed the
“nation” live on BRT and briefed the public regarding the “government’s
actions” in the last three months.
Noting that there will be a change in the “government”
and that “deputy”Omer Kalyoncu will be taking over the “prime ministerial
position” soon, Yorgancioglu explained that his “government” worked on several
issues which had never been taken up by any other former “government”.
Stressing
that his “government” succeeded to balance the budget for the first time where
local income met local expenditures,Yorgancıoglu said that they were able to
pay 6 months of wages without getting any additional financial assistance from
Turkey.
Explaining that his “government” was also successful
in making the “parliament function”more efficiently, he said that with 113 “laws”
in 22 months, the majority of the “laws, legal changes and amendments” were
made during his “government’s period”.
The “premier” also provided detailed information about
the works carried out by all the “ministries”.
6. Two British citizens lost the houses they bought
in occupied Karavas because the construction company owned money to the bank
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (01.07.15)
reports that two British citizens, Gary Joseph Wedhams and Terence Harold
Bushel bought two houses in occupied Karavas village and despite paying 250
thousand sterling pounds to the construction company that built the houses, the
residences were seized by the bank to which the construction company owned money.
According to the paper, the two British citizens
bought the houses in 2005 from the Mustafa Kader Property Development LtD which
borrowed money from the Akfinans Bank putting various estates under mortgage.
Akfinanns Bank seized the houses because the money were not paid back to the
bank and sold them to other persons.
The paper writes that in 2009 Wedhams had to visit
England and departfrom the breakaway regime.On his return he was not able to
enter the house. He went to the so-called police and found out about the
developments. The paper writes that the Wedhams filed a case on the “court” and
it was ruled that the construction company will pay to him 58 thousand sterling
pounds as compensation.
(CS)
7. Increase
on the persons who visited the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (01.07.15)
reports that there was a 17.7% increase on the persons who visited the
breakaway regime for the first quarter of 2015.
According to information obtained by the paper,
298,345 persons visited the breakaway regime in the first four months of 2015,
while 205,670 persons visited the breakaway regime in the same period last
year.
(CS)
8. Reports
that the Palestinian “culture representative” of the breakaway regime in
Kirgizstan enjoys financial privileges
Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (01.07.15)
reports thatthe Palestinian “culture representative” of the breakaway regime in
Kirgizstan, who was recently granted the “TRNC citizenship” enjoys financial
privileges.
According to the paper, his monthly salary is 5,700
dollars and in addition the renting of his Mercedes car and his drivers cost
400 dollars per month.
The issue became known after the instructor of the
“state people’s dancers”, Serhat Kozogly went to Kirgizstan for the
organization of a “TRNC culture week” in May and came across this man who as he
stated he is not aware of the Turkish Cypriot culture and not even speaks
Turkish.
(CS)
9.First
graduates of the Theological Hala Sultan College
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (01.07.15)
reports that the first graduates from the Theological Hala Sultan College have
graduated this year.
According to the paper, the Theological College, which
is located in occupied Mia Milia village, has started operating four years ago.
Commenting of the issue, the chairman of the Efkav Foundation Hikmet Kaynarca,
stated that he is proud of this development adding that the establishment of a
Theological school in the breakaway regime was a great demand for a long time.
(CS)
10.Election for Speaker of Turkey's Parliament goes
to third round
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (30.06.15) reported
that Turkey’s 550-seat Parliament failed
in the first two rounds held on June 30 to elect a new Speaker, as no candidate
managed to receive 367 votes, which is the minimum number of votes required for
election.
(…)
The
first round started at 3 p.m. and 545 Deputies voted. The AKP candidate and
incumbent Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz received 256 votes, the Republican
People’s Party (CHP) candidate and its former chair Deniz Baykal received 125
votes, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) candidate and former Organization
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) head Ekmeleddin İhsanoglu received 81 votes.
And lastly the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) candidate and former AKP Deputy
and founding member Dengir Mir Mehmet Fırat also received 81 votes.
The
AKP now has 258 seats in Parliament; the CHP has 132 seats, while the MHP and
HDP both have 80 seats.
In
the second round, the number of votes for AKP nominee Yılmaz remained the same,
while CHP nominee Baykal's votes increased to 128. Both the MHP's İhsanoglu and
the HDP's Fırat lost one vote each and dropped to 80.
A
third round of voting will be held on July 1, with the winner requiring 276
votes. In the fourth and final round, the candidate with the most votes will be
elected asSpeaker.
Last week, the CHP declared that the selection of a Parliamentary
Speaker had no connection to the formation of a future coalition government,
but AKP maneuvers suggest otherwise amid moves to shape a power-sharing deal.
The HDP announced that its candidate, Fırat, will not
voluntarily withdraw in the third round on July 1 to support another candidate.
However, the June 30 rounds indicated that İhsanoglu and Fırat are likely to be
eliminated in the third round, paving way for a fourth round face-off between
Yılmaz and Baykal, which would turn eyes on the MHP and HDP to see whom they
will support.
Just when the second round of voting was set to begin
on June 30 afternoon, a surprise statement which could give a clue about July 1
vote’s result came from MHP leader Devlet Bahceli.
Speaking to the private CNNTurk news channel, Bahceli
said that his group would not move in the same bloc with the HDP in the fourth
round of votes, signaling his 80 lawmakers would either vote for the AKP’s
Yılmaz or abstain.
“If the HDP announces tomorrow its support for Deniz
Baykal, then we would never vote for Deniz Baykal,” said Bahceli.
Observers suggested that Bahçeli’s statement raised
the prospect for Yılmaz’s eventual victory.
Founded in August 2001, the AKP won three consecutive Parliamentary
elections in 2002, 2007 and 2011 and was able to form a single-party government
after each of the elections.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan already made public
that he has no intention of giving the mandate to form a government to the AKP
before the new Parliament elects a Speaker.
(…)
11.
Erdogan’s Spokesman: “Turkey won't act unilaterally in Syria, but will protect
border”; Turkish military sends more forces to Syrian borders
Turkish
daily Sabah (30.06.15-online in English ) reported
that Turkey's Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın said at a news conference on
Tuesday that Turkey will not take unilateral action in Syria, but will act to
protect its borders.
Kalin stated that any
security measures Turkey will take at its Syrian frontier will be entirely
aimed at protecting its own border security, and it was not correct to
interpret Turkey's security measures as a step towards war.
"To
interpret our border security measures as 'Turkey is going to war'... is not
very rational," Kalın said after local media carried reports that Turkey
was considering the making of a buffer zone across the border, where Kurdish
YPG forces and the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) vie
for control.
(…)
Kalin
rejected accusations, made by Kurdish groups that Turkey has collaborated with the
ISIS group.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (30.06.15) reported that the Turkish military has
reinforced its presence on its borders with Syria amid a fresh political debate
between the government and the opposition on taking military action in its
neighbour.
Agencies reported that heavy
weaponry and armoured vehicles from the 5th Armoured Brigade and personnel were
sent to the south eastern province of Kilis on June 30.
Rocket
batteries were placed in the hills of Karkamıs in the south eastern province of
Gaziantep, clearly overlooking the Syrian side and intensifying the military’s
gaze across the border.
The alarm came after ISIL
militants were observed planting mines between Karkamıs and Carablus on the
Syrian side. The militants used caterpillars to dig ditches, apparently to
prevent armoured vehicles crossing the border.
Turkish
soldiers have also dug ditches on the Turkish side of the border in the
Nusaybin town of Mardin, right across from Qamishli in Syria.
The
posturing comes at a time when Turkey’s political parties are locked in talks
to form a coalition government, after the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) lost its Parliamentary majority in the June 7 general election.
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