TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 150/15 11.08.2015
1. Akinci: We are trying to reach an agreement that can be ratified by the people with ease
2. Denktas: Global compensation exchange conditions should be pursued for the property issue
3. Colak alleges that no illegal Turkish settler will be sent back after an agreement is reached on the Cyprus problem
4. They quarrel over the occupied Greek Cypriot Mimoza Hotel
5. Talat: A positive result will come out of the referendum
6. Volkan daily and right-wing politicians continue to express their concerns on the property issue
7. Sucuoglu to Bloomberg: The number of tourists from Turkey increased by 25% in the first half of 2015
8. Turkey strikes 17 PKK targets in southeast
9. AK Party, CHP leaders meet in coalition talks
1. Akinci: We are trying to reach an agreement that can be ratified by the people with ease
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (11.08.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, in a meeting with the “Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council” headed by its chairman Ilker Zugurt, said that the agreement to be reached on the Cyprus problem should inscribe freedom, equality and security. He also added that they will try to reach an agreement that the people will be able to ratify with ease.
During the meeting, Zugurt said that they have absolute confidence in Akinci regarding the Cyprus problem and added: “We have some concerns. For us the security of the Turkish Cypriots is very important. Our only guarantee is Turkey. Turkey’s guarantee is very important”.
Zugurt noted that they found it unacceptable and they are against even to send one back of those who obtained the “citizenship” of the breakaway regime coming to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus from Turkey or third countries after 1974 (translator’s note: after the Turkish invasion to Cyprus). He explained that the issues of political equality and rotating presidency with an agreement suited to the UN parameters are for them one of the issues that cannot make concessions to.
Akinci, for his part, stressed that three elements are important for them, freedom, equality and security and added that these three elements should be registered for sure in an agreement. Akinci clarified that he wants this not only for themselves but also for the other community. He also said that this road is drawn with the UN parameters, adding that this structure is very clear.
Reiterating that the issue of guarantees is an international agreement of the guarantee agreement, which will be discussed the very last, Akinci said that this issue will be discussed when the time is appropriate.
Noting that the agreement should satisfy the people and not only the leaders, Akinci said that the people will decide for the agreement in a referendum and added that with the consent, it could come into force.
(DPs)
2. Denktas: Global compensation exchange conditions should be pursued for the property issue
Illegal Bayrak television (10.08.15) broadcast that Serdar Denktas, the leader of the Democratic Party National Forces (DPUG) commented on the recent developments regarding the Cyprus negotiations and argued that that global compensation exchange conditions should be pursued for the property issue in case of a possible solution.
Conveying his party’s views on the negotiations process, Denktas specifically touched upon the property issue. Stating that many issues on the property issue were not detailed, he demanded that the property criteria of the Turkish Cypriot side be determined through participation of persons with different views.
Claiming that the right of user was the only new element of the property issue at the negotiations; Denktas said that there was an effort to define the right of user as an individual property right.
Referring to the claims that Rauf Denktas had accepted the individual property right, the DP leader said that the property right had only been accepted through the condition of global compensation exchange.
Also evaluating the CTP-BG/UBP “coalition government”, Denktas said that it was made to form and added that there was no expression of reform at the “government” program except the public reform.
“The government program is similar to the previous ones and contains nothing new and therefore we gave vote of no confidence to this government structure” he added.
3. Colak alleges that no illegal Turkish settler will be sent back after an agreement is reached on the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (11.08.15) reports that Emine Colak, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged that no illegal Turkish settler will be sent back to Turkey after an agreement on the Cyprus problem is reached. In an interview with the paper, Colak said that the people must be briefed on the negotiating process.
Referring to the EU’s role in the process, Colak argued that “the EU is not an actor” in the solution process. She said: “The EU is not a side at the table. The Greek Cypriots are. […] The EU representative is there to offer technical support. He is there with the aim to consult and express opinion when there is a question as regards the EU Law and mechanisms. He is not in the position to take decisions. It is wrong to say that the EU is a side there. There is no problem for maintaining a representative there. On the contrary, it is useful”.
Replying to a question on the settlers illegally brought from Turkey after the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, Colak alleged that no one will be sent back. She argued that the persons who have come to the island and were granted “citizenship” by the breakaway regime according to its own “laws” could not be sent back. “The component states will decide themselves regarding their own citizens. That is, the Turkish Cypriot founding state will itself determine the situation regarding the citizenships after the solution. There could be no situation such as throwing away or sending back its own citizens”.
Referring to the territory issue, Colak said:
“The territorial adjustment has not come onto the agenda yet. However, is it possible for a territorial adjustment to take place? Yes it is. Of course, it is our leader’s priority to keep this at the minimum level. Very well, will this not take place at all? This cannot be guaranteed. The territorial adjustment was a part of the Annan Plan as well. Percentages were discussed. The way of changing the border was discussed. It will be discussed this time as well, but keeping this at the minimum level is important. The fewest people are displaced the better. If you ask me whether this will be zero, I can tell you that this may not be zero”.
Colak alleged that the bilateral agreements signed by the Republic of Cyprus with third countries are negatively influencing the climate and claimed: “Without agreeing on all issues, no agreement will be reached. Everything will remain as it is until the agreement is accepted. Therefore, no agreement should be made with any country until the comprehensive solution. This is a precondition of the process. That is, it is not possible. […]”
(I/Ts.)
4. They quarrel over the occupied Greek Cypriot Mimoza Hotel
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (11.08.15) reports that the occupied Greek Cypriot Mimoza Hotel in Famagusta, which has been under the possession of the so-called providence fund, was given to businessman Suat Gunsel for the sum of two million and ten thousand sterling pounds during a tender yesterday.
Under the title “We could not share the Greek Cypriots’ property”, Afrika writes, inter alia, the following in its “Letter from Afrika” column:
“It was one of the most attractive and popular hotels in Cyprus. Mimoza Hotel […] After sending away the Greek Cypriots, it remained to us. As we waste everything else, we destroyed this as well. Like Mare Monte, Rebecca and Park Hotels. It was decomposed in our hands because of the sharing quarrel. It has been unexploited for four years. It was taken away from Cafer Gurcafer, who had leased it for sixteen years. In spite of the fact that Gurcafer said that he had faced a big injustice, no one paid attention to him. The assets of the hotel were sold by auction. […] Gurcafer, who rose up against the situation, crossed over to the south [Translator’s note: The government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus] and applied to a court there. The pretext he used would cause Turkey a big headache. He was plaintiff of the Turkish authorities because they leased to him the plundered property of a Greek Cypriot in the occupied territories and lead him to make an investment of many million sterling pounds. This case is still going on, but its result may be very painful.
Let us come to the recent developments. The Providence Fund has recently invited a tender for Mimoza Hotel which was unexploited for four years. However, no one made an offer for this tender. Suat Gursel, YDU’s [Translator’s note: It is the illegal Near East University] founding rector, was called out at the last moment. According to information which we acquired from Cafer Gurcafer, everything ended within fifteen minutes. Two million and ten thousand sterling pounds. The hotel was sold to Mr Suat for this price.
Cafer Gurcafer applied to the court yesterday for taking an interim order and stop this sale. The case will be examined tomorrow. Gurcafer said that prior to this he had applied to Mehmet Ali Talat and Omer Kalyoncu. His only demand from them was for the Mimoza file to be examined by the prime minister office’s auditing council. Gurcafer believes that it will be understood that he had been unjustly treated.
Mimoza Hotel is one of the most evident examples of how we cannot share the plundered property of the Greek Cypriots and how we quarrel among us. Just like the Mare Monte!”
(I/Ts)
5. Talat: A positive result will come out of the referendum
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (11.08.15) reports that the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Mehmet Ali Talat evaluated the recent developments in the breakaway regime and the negotiations and said that a positive result will come out of a referendum in case a solution plan is agreed on the Cyprus problem.
Talat said that both the Greek and the Turkish Cypriots have no other choice than to solve the Cyprus problem. “The conditions have changed now and I do not think that either AKEL or DYSI will say no to a referendum. A ‘yes’ vote will come out from the referenda in both sides”, Tatat stated.
He went on and said that things within the CTP are much better and that there are no arguments or fights between the party’s members.
Refereeing to the “coalition government” formed between CTP and the National Unity Party (UBP), Talat stated that if Huseyin Ozgurgun, the current chairman of UBP is re-elected in the forthcoming UBP elections no issue for the “government will occur.
(CS)
6. Volkan daily and right-wing politicians continue to express their concerns on the property issue
Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (11.08.15) alleges that EU diplomats, who have visited recently the occupied villages in Karpasia peninsula with some Turkish Cypriots, lied to those who came from Turkey and settled in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus that they will give them money when they will get out from their houses.
The paper claims that the EU diplomats promise them that they will give money according to the number of persons, adding that they will give reportedly 30 thousands euro per person.
According to the paper, some EU officials with some Turkish Cypriots, who said that they are members of the “property committee”, started to visit villages in the occupied peninsula of Karpasia. It is also reported that these persons said that the villages in occupied Karpasia will be given to the Greek Cypriots within a “canton region”.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (11.08.15) reports that former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu’s spokesman Osman Ertug, attending a programme at ADA TV, commented on the property issue. Addressing those who have the view that Turkey should pay on the issue of compensations as a possibility; Ertug claimed that they have a wrong attitude and added that in the whole world the compensations are paid by those who declare the war. Ertug went on and claimed that although the Turks did not declare the war accepted to pay compensations. Reminding that the demand of the Turkish side at that period for a limit return, compensation and exchange was an opening that gained appreciation by the UN General Secretary, Ertug claimed that the effort to lower this now to individuality is dangerous.
On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (11.08.15) reports that the self-styled deputy with the National Unity Party (UBP) Ersin Tatar, evaluating the property issue as one of the thorniest issues in the Cyprus talks, said that the title deeds of the land that will remain to them in the “North” are essential. He explained that the title deeds of the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) should be valid. Otherwise, he claimed that the foundation of the “state” will be torpedoed.
(DPs)
7. Sucuoglu to Bloomberg: The number of tourists from Turkey increased by 25% in the first half of 2015
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (11.08.15) reports that Faiz Sucuoglu, self-styled minister of tourism of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the number of tourists from Turkey who visited the occupied area of the island increased by 25% in the first six months of 2015 comparing to the same period of 2014. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Sucuoglu argued that their biggest problem in the Turkish market is their “image”. Sucuoglu departed yesterday for Istanbul and Adana in order to hold contacts.
He said that 1,2 million tourists visited the occupied area of Cyprus in 2014, 800 thousands spent the night in a hotel. The regime obtained an income of 650 million dollars in the same period. Sucuoglu noted that by the end of 2016 they expect their income from tourism to increase by 24% and reach 800 million dollars. He added that they expect an increase of 5% in the number of tourists for the same period.
Referring to the occupancy rate of the hotels, Sucuoglu noted that during the summer months the occupancy rate is around 90% and decreases to around 40-50% in winter. He said that the hotels’ bed capacity was 13,453 in 2006 and increased to 19,387 in 2015.
Referring to the various sectors’ contribution in the breakaway regime’s GDP in 2014, he said that tourism and trade’s percentage was 21%, agriculture’s 8,2%, industry’s 9,3% and constructions’ 8,9%.
(I/Ts.)
8. Turkey strikes 17 PKK targets in southeast
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (11.08.15) reports that Turkish war planes overnight carried out a new wave of air strikes against targets of the PKK in the country's southeast, the army said Tuesday.
The strikes appeared to be in retaliation for a succession of PKK attacks in Turkey on Monday that killed six members of the security forces. Turkish war planes have for over two weeks bombed targets of the PKK in their strongholds in the remote mountains of northern Iraq as well as southeastern Turkey.
On Monday, four Turkish police officers were killed in a roadside bombing in the southeastern Sırnak province while a Turkish soldier was killed in a rocket attack on a military helicopter. Meanwhile, in Istanbul a senior police officer in charge of the city's bomb disposal department was killed in clashes that followed a suicide bombing.
The Marxist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) -- which the government has on occasion linked to the PKK -- claimed another attack in Istanbul, a shooting on the US Consulate, which caused no casualties. In new violence overnight, a Turkish soldier was killed in a gun attack by PKK terrorists on a military post in Sırnak.
9. AK Party, CHP leaders meet in coalition talks
Turkish daily Hurriyet (10.08.15) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister and chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ahmet Davutoglu met with the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu as part of a bid to form a coalition government ended late Monday.
The meeting between the two leaders took place at the Prime Ministry in Ankara and lasted for over 4 hours. The AK Party's Culture Minister Omer Celik and Haluk Koc, the CHP's deputy chairman and spokesman, were also present at the meeting.
"The two leaders made various evaluations in the broadest spectrum in a move not to leave the country without a government," Celik told reporters in Ankara. "Nothing is agreed unless everything is agreed," Celik added.
He said the leaders would make a final decision on Thursday or Friday over formation of a possible AK Party-CHP coalition government.
Koc said his party's aim was to facilitate "the formation of a coalition responsibility" which he said would contribute into "overcoming multidimensional issues". Monday's meeting came after the two parties ended a series of "exploratory" talks over forming a coalition that began on July 24 .
Earlier talks between the AK party and the CHP have lasted for 35 hours during five separate sessions until August 3.
In the case that the August 23 deadline expires without a government, either President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or the parliament may decide to hold a new election. If Erdogan issues the decision, the polling is supposed to be held in the first Sunday following a 90 day period starting from the end of the first deadline. In the current set of circumstances, this scenario suggests renewed polling in November.
However, if the parliament makes the decision for a new election, then the Supreme Election Board can reduce the 90 day period by as much as half.
The last coalition talks in Turkey were made 16 years ago, when the Democratic Left Party (DSP) of the late Premier Bulent Ecevit failed to win the majority at the general election on April 18, 1999.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio
(CS/ AM)
