23/7/15

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW




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.

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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/ AM)