TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
137/15 23.07.2015
1. Akinci: The ongoing negotiating process is the last
chance
2. Akca bids farewell with fond memories
3. Self-styled minister of foreign affairs Colak briefed
foreign politicians on the Cyprus talks
4. Harmanci met with the Mayor of Eastern Goteborg
5. Koenig: The developments in the Cyprus problem are
very positive
6. Siber met with the newly appointed representative of
the breakaway regime to Helsinki
7. The Turkish army cuts off occupied Arsos village’s
water supply
8. PKK claims responsibility for killing of suspected
ISIL fighter; Turkey’s Cabinet mulls security measures against PKK and ISIS
terrorists; HDP leader warns of more deadly attacks in Turkey
9. Turkish columnist was fired due to criticisms on
Erdogan; Twitter is temporarily banned
1.
Akinci: The ongoing negotiating process is the last chance
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(23.07.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has argued that the ongoing negotiations process is the
last chance for finding a federal solution in Cyprus and that he is saying
this “very clearly and openly”. In statements yesterday during a meeting with
Turkey’s Disabled War Veterans’ Association, Akinci said: “The current Greek Cypriot leader comes from the same generation with
me. If we are not able to do it, the generations which will come after us will
discuss other things, not federation and things like that. The Greek
Cypriot side should also understand this very well and I hope that they do
understand it. Let us make use of this
last chance in the best manner. What we want is our equality, freedom and
security. These three elements are extremely important and must be included in
an agreement”.
Reiterating the view that if the coup of
the 15th of July 1974 had not happened, Turkey would not have
invaded Cyprus, Akinci claimed:“What is left is that we could not lead the
constitutional order to a result which would be acceptable by the international
community. Therefore, we are still holding negotiations, discussions. This is
the only reason. Now we are at the stage of negotiations again. A more optimistic situation exists. It
existed ten years ago, but it did not happen. The one side accepted it and the
other side rejected it. […] Let us make use of this last chance in the best
manner. […] We have shared the pain in the past, we had mutual loses, we have
become refugees, but we are obliged to live together on this island. Geography
forced us to live together on this island. Neither they can throw us into the
sea nor can we throw them. Therefore, the wise thing to do is to share the
goods of this island. Let the young generations share these goods, but our
equality, freedom and security are extremely important elements and must be
included in an agreement”.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Akca bids farewell with fond memories
According to Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 23.07.15), the outgoing Turkish “ambassador”
to the occupied part of Nicosia Halil Ibrahim Akca held a farewell reception
last night where he said that he hoped for the Turkish Cypriots to reach a fair
and permanent solution which harbours their rights and end their reportedly
isolations.
Akca, who has been appointed as the
General Secretary of the Economic Cooperation Organisation and will take over
his new position in August. Akca said that he has been always excited about his
position in Cyprus and has worked with great seriousness in trying to make the
“north” stronger and more prosperous.
Akca touched on a phrase of the former
Turkish Cypriot leader RaufDenktas who had said that he had the ‘Lala Mustafa
Pasa’ virus; that whenever someone says Cyprus, he will feel butterflies in his
stomach and he will miss his friends here.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the newly
appointed Turkish “ambassador” DeryaKanbay is expected to arrive illegally to
the island next week.
3.
Self-styled minister of foreign affairs Colak briefed foreign politicians on
the Cyprus talks
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen
(23.07.15) reports that self-styled minister of foreign affairs EmineColak said
that there is a more positive atmosphere at the negotiation process compared to
the past and the Cyprus problem, which has been continuing for years now,
should reach a solution.
Speaking during a meeting with foreign
politicians who are currently in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
due to the celebrations of the 41st anniversary of the Turkish
invasion to Cyprus, Colak briefed them on the ongoing Cyprus talks and the
latest stage reached in the Cyprus problem.
Colak also said that the Turkish Cypriot
side is working for a solution on the base of a bi-communal, bi-zonal
federation.
(DPs)
4.
Harmanci met with the Mayor of Eastern Goteborg
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(23.07.15) reports that Mehmet Harmanci,
mayor of the occupied part of Nicosia, met yesterday with OzgurTasbas, mayor of
Eastern Goteborg in Sweden. Harmanci briefed Tasbas, who is Vice Chairman
of Hisingen Municipality, on the latest
developments as regards the Cyprus problem and occupied Nicosia municipality’s
social and cultural projects.Harmanci noted that a positive climate was
created by Mustafa Akinci’s election to the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot
community, that Akinci supports this climate with his pro-peace stand. Harmanci
further said that he is optimist about the process.
(I/Ts.)
5.
Koenig: The developments in the Cyprus problem are very positive
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(23.07.15) reports that the outgoing US
Ambassador to Nicosia, John Koenig has said that the developments in the Cyprus
problem are very positive and added that both leaders show real commitment for
achieving progress in the direction of finding a comprehensive solution on the
island. In statements to Kibris yesterday after paying a farewell visit to
the Turkish Cypriot leader, Koenig said that he would depart from the island on
Sunday and expressed the hope to return for vacations after a solution is
reached.
(I/Ts.)
6.
Siber met with the newly appointed representative of the breakaway regime to
Helsinki
According to Turkish Cypriot daily
YeniDuzen (23.07.15), self-styled assembly speaker SibelSiber met yesterday
with the newly appointed “representative” of the breakaway regime to Helsinki
HusnuDuba.
During the meeting, Duba said that he
will try to perform his duty the best way possible to represent the Turkish
Cypriots abroad.
Siber, for her part, said that the
Turkish Cypriots abroad experience difficulties due to the lack or
insufficiency of lobbying activities abroad. Siber noted that great
responsibility falls on experienced diplomats who have studied or worked abroad
and added that proactive diplomacy and bilateral social relations are extremely
important.
(DPs)
7.
The Turkish army cuts off occupied Arsos village’s water supply
Under the title “The army commander cut
off the water”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (23.07.15) reports that tension was created between the Turkish
occupation army and the inhabitants of occupied Arsos village. The commander of
the battalion, major Erdogan turned off the valve, depriving the inhabitants of
the village from the water they have been using for 41 years.
Inhabitants of occupied Arsos complained
to Afrika that their animals and gardens remained without water.
RasitOzsaglam, mukhtar (head) of the
village, turned on the valve but was “harshly reprehended” by the commander,
who said to him: “Am I the water department? If I said that the water is cut
off it is cut off”.
It
is said that the commander cut off the water in order for the occupation
soldiers not to remain without water.
(I/Ts.)
8.
PKK claims responsibility for killing of suspected ISIL fighter; Turkey’s
Cabinet mulls security measures against PKK and ISIS terrorists; HDP leader
warns of more deadly attacks in Turkey
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 23.07.15), the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has
claimed responsibility for the killing of an Istanbul man that had allegedly
fought for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the latest
reprisal from the group following the July 20 Suruc massacre.
MurselGul, a soap salesman, was killed
on July 21 in a set-up by suspected members of the PKK in the Karayolları
neighbourhood of Istanbul’s Sultangazi district.
In an announcement claiming
responsibility for the attack, the PKK’s youth wing, the Patriotic
Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H), said Gul had fought for ISIL against the
Kurdish-led People’s Defence Units (YPG) in northern Syria and had an important
position within the organization.
Meanwhile, masked members of the PKK
also allegedly shot dead 33-year-old EthemTurkben at his home on July 22 in the
southern province of Adana on the grounds that he was an ISIL sympathizer.
Moreover, Turkish daily Sabah (online,
23.07.15) reports that Interim Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with the Cabinet yesterday in Ankara to discuss
further security measures to be taken following the deadly terror attack in
Suruc that killed 32 victims and left nearly 100 civilians wounded. It has
further been reported that national security topped the agenda of Wednesday's
meeting and further strategies in efforts to tackle the Islamic State of Iraq
and al-Sham (ISIS) were discussed.
Following
the cabinet meeting, government spokesperson BulentArinc stated that an
integrated border security system will be built on the Turkish-Syrian border,
and security measures will be tightened. Turkey has detained 600 people with
suspected ISIS links and has arrested 102 so far, Arinc said, reaffirming
Turkey's determination on fighting the terrorist organization.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 23.07.15) reports that Peoples’
Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas has warned that Turkey is
at risk of more suicide bombings due to intelligence and security negligence,
after the killing of 32 activists in an attack believed to be linked to
extremist jihadists in Syria.
9.
Turkish columnist was fired due to criticisms on Erdogan; Twitter is
temporarily banned
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online,
23.07.15) reports that the mainstream Turkish
daily Milliyet announced on Wednesday that it parted ways with columnist
KadriGursel over a tweet in which he criticized President RecepTayyip Erdogan
for being responsible for the presence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL) in Turkey.
The daily's human resources department
announced in a statement on Wednesday that comments by Gursel over a suspected
ISIL attack in the Turkish border town of Suruc were against the ethics of
journalism and the publication rules of the daily. “We parted our ways with Mr
AhmetKadriGursel for his stance which damaged our co-working environment as of
July 22, 2015,” the daily said.
Gursel, who is the chair of the
International Press Institute (IPI)'s Turkish National Committee, in a tweet
early on Wednesday criticized world leaders' calling Erdogan to deliver their
condolences over the Suruc bombing that left 32 people dead. “It is shameful
that foreign leaders call the person who stands as the number-one reason of the
ISIL terrorism in Turkey and convey their condolences over Suruc bombing,”
Gursel tweeted without giving Erdogan's name.
The boss of the Milliyet daily,
businessman Erdogan Demiroren, is believed to have played a critical role in
the decisions by the owners of the daily.
Demiroren,
a close associate of President Erdogan, has fired many journalists and forced
prominent figures to resign. Critics believe the patronage relationship between
media owners and the government operates against media freedom and narrows the
space for critical voices.
Meanwhile, the paper also reports that
Twitter was banned once again in Turkey, albeit this time only temporarily, as
a court ruled to lift the ban after the micro-blogging site removed images
related to a suicide bomb attack that took place in Turkey's southeast, on
Monday.
Several Internet service providers had
blocked access to Twitter on Wednesday morning in line with a local court
ruling to prevent the distribution of images of the attack. Internet users in
Turkey had reported having problems accessing social media website Twitter
since the early hours of the day, according to Reuters.
A government official said Turkey had
asked Twitter to remove 107 posts that contained images of the aftermath of the
bombing. Twitter had removed 50 of the URLs and was working to remove the
remaining problematic posts.
Access to Twitter was blocked after a
court in Suruç ordered the removal of images of the blast and its aftermath.
Facebook and YouTube avoided a ban after quickly complying with the court
order, according to a statement from the Internet Service Providers Union
(ESB).
According to Turkish media outlets, the
ban was issued for 106 Twitter posts, 53 news portal websites, 11 Facebook
posts and one YouTube video.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
AM)
