TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 163/15 28.08.2015
1. Akinci calms property fears
2. Colak argues that we have a unique opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem
3. Akinci met with Turkish deputy Foreign Minister Koru
4. Burcu: There will be territorial adjustments, but after meeting the needs of those who will be displaced
5. Ozyigit: The guarantees should be discussed after the solution
6. Sources say that important progress was achieved by the negotiators
7. Columnist: The property issue will be solved individually, not globally, because the owners of the properties are the individuals, not the states
8. The assistant of the Turkish Cypriot CMP estimates that they will have a result in few weeks in the area behind the “central prisons”
9. “KIB-TEK director” said that their aim is to have a connected electrical ring in 2016
10. A tax specialist claims that the “TRNC” is the base for money laundering
11. Durust: We aim to have 100 thousand students
12. Celebrations for the Victory Day are cancelled
1. Akinci calms property fears
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 28.08.15), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said that property disputes as and when the Cyprus problem is settled will not be solved through methods reported by some newspapers and media.
Commenting on various reports in the press that Greek Cypriots have been knocking on the doors of “TRNC citizens” and harassing them regarding their properties, Akinci repeated that property cases will be solved through a bi-communal ‘property commission’ based on various criteria.
“If these reports are true and people have been harassing current users and owners of properties in question, then this is not the correct or right thing to do. This is not how property disputes will be solved. As we have repeatedly announced to the public, the fact that the individual’s right to property is being respected does not mean individuals can go knocking on people’s doors and settling the issues on their own. If that is how it has been understood then it has been misunderstood”, he said.
He reminded that the property commission to be established will be comprised of an equal number of Turkish and Greek Cypriots who will decide how to settle the dispute on the basis of the criteria determined in the solution agreement. “This means individuals will apply to the commission but the commission will decide on the basis of the criteria”, he added.
Akinci also reminded that the settlement to be reached will be of a bi-zonal character which meant that most property cases will be settled through a method of compensation.
Responding to a question as to how “TRNC citizens” should respond to Greek Cypriots knocking on their doors, Akinci said that this is not a reason to treat people badly. He drew attention to the fact that the crossing points have been opened for the past 12 years and that there has been no major incident involving members of the two communities with the exception of a few minor isolated incidents during that time.
“What happens if someone comes to your home and knocks on your door? You invite them in and serve them coffee, chat with them and then kindly see them off. That’s all that you need to do. Therefore I would like to use this opportunity to once again repeat myself. These issues are not to be settled in this manner so there is no need for anyone to feel concerned or worried”, he added.
2. Colak argues that we have a unique opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem
Illegal Bayrak television (28.08.15) broadcast statements made by Emine Colak, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime, to Anatolia news agency. Colak said that there has not been a negotiations process in Cyprus as intensive as the current one since the Annan Plan 11 years ago.
She noted that it was the first time that the leaders of the two communities were in such harmony and so many confidence building initiatives had been launched. “As a result we currently have a unique opportunity that we have not seen since the 2004 UN sponsored Annan Plan”, she argued.
Pointing out that there were a number of factors which made the current process so promising, Colak said that the leadership shown by both Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı and President Anastasiades since the resumption of the process was the most important of these factors.
She argued: “Both leaders are showing incredible leadership in the process. The UN Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide too has displayed an incredibly positive and constructive stance, winning the trust of both sides. People on both sides have been crossing over the divide since 2003 which may have also allowed the two communities to warm up to each other. The Greek Cypriots seem more supportive of a settlement today than they did back in 2004, which is also very encouraging. We hope that the Turkish Cypriots will continue to support the settlement process as they did back then”.
Explaining that there was progress in the talks but that it was too early to say anything, Colak said that the leaders were currently trying to establish principles and criteria for settling the property dispute. She added that discussions on chapters such as the guarantees and territory were more likely to be left to the end of the process because of their sensitive nature.
“The most important principle in the talks is that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed to”, she said.
Stating that the Greek Cypriot side was extremely concerned about the continuation of Turkey’s guarantees, Colak expressed the view that it was important to achieve a balanced formula which will address everyone’s concerns and needs.
3. Akinci met with Turkish deputy Foreign Minister Koru
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (28.08.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met yesterday with the Turkish deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru, who is currently in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus as part of a project on strengthening the “foreign ministry’s” information technology infrastructure.
During the meeting, Koru said that they have established a secured information technology in the infrastructure of the “foreign ministry”, adding that they will develop more their cooperation in the coming period. He also said that Turkey’s election period will not affect their contribution to the “TRNC” and they are ready for every kind of support.
Akinci, for his part, said that he is pleased to see that the information technology project is near completion, adding that with this information technology system they will have a more secured and easier access to their “representation offices” abroad.
Referring to Turkey’s elections period, Akinci said that he wishes the results to bring stability. He added that while it is an intensive period of negotiations in Cyprus, both Turkey and Greece have elections periods. Akinci further said that they will continue to be in close consultation with Turkey regarding the Cyprus talks, adding that the aim of all sides is that a new structure, in which everyone can say “yes” with mind at peace, can be emerged.
Stating that although Turkey is continuing to contribute to the process, Greece, which is one of the guarantor countries remains passive due to its political and economic situations, Akinci said: “I believe that it would be useful if Greece contributed more to the negotiations process”.
Meanwhile, Akinci will brief the “assembly” of the breakaway regime on September 17 about the latest developments of the Cyprus talks.
(DPs)
4. Burcu: There will be territorial adjustments, but after meeting the needs of those who will be displaced
Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (28.08.15) reports that Baris Burcu, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader, has said that there will be territorial adjustments for the solution of the Cyprus problem, but the main principle for this will be before that to make the necessary investments for the displaced people being able to rebuilt a regular life and to meet their vital needs. In statements to Detay, Burcu noted that a system in which both sides concerned will gain will be built on the property issue.
Noting that the territorial adjustments have not been discussed yet, Burcu expressed the view that “no one should be victimized” during the territorial adjustmenst and added that two things could be said on this issue. He argued that a wrong perception has been created in the society on the property issue, adding that this is the impression that if two claimants exist for a property, the one will fully gain, while the other will be victimized. Pointing out that this is not correct, Burcu said: “We are referring to a system in which the rights of everyone on that property and the rights he acquired from that property’s use will be met either as a property or as an exchange or financially. That is, we are referring to a system in which both sides will gain”.
Burcu drew attention to the fact that the solution in Cyprus will have a cost, which should be covered through various sources. He argued that the European Union has an important duty on this issue and recalled the promises given by the President of the EU Commission, Jean Claude Junker at the lunch they had with him during the latter’s recent visit to the island.
Burcu further said that the EU has “psychological and ethical responsibility in Cyprus”. “We are open to every contribution of the EU in the solution process of the Cyprus problem. In any case we are demanding this”, he said.
(I/Ts.)
5. Ozyigit: The guarantees should be discussed after the solution
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.08.15) reports that Cemal Ozyigit, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), has claimed that “the guarantees should be discussed after a possible solution [to the Cyprus problem] together with the abolition of the trust crisis”.
“It is not very correct to discuss this as long as the trust crisis exists”, he argued in statements to Anatolia news agency. He said that the Greek Cypriots may not need Greece’s guarantees for their security, but the “Turkish Cypriots still have some problems on the security issue”. He argued: “Some painful incidents have been experienced years ago. It is essential for these painful incidents not to be repeated. Therefore, we say that the guarantees should be discussed after a possible solution with the abolition of the trust crisis”.
Referring to the “rotating presidency”, Ozyigit described it as “one of the fundamental parameters of the political equality”. He alleged: “The length of time of the rotating presidency could be discussed but everyone will see that a Turkish Cypriot, as politically equal community, will be able to be at the head of a federal Cyprus which will be established”. He further pointed out to the importance of ensuring the formation of the council of ministers and the decision taking mechanism.
Ozyigit said that the territory and the property is the thorniest aspect of the negotiations. He argued that both the pre-1974 owners of the properties and their up-to-now users have rights on them, something on which, he alleged, decisions of international organizations and courts exist. He noted that in case of a conflict, the decision of the Property Commission will be taken as basis and added:
“We think that there will be no serious trouble. The following should also be said: The issue of where especially the people who live in these properties for 41 years will go, the people who live at some villages along the borders which possibly will be returned, the issue in which houses and when they will be settled is extremely important. We have to understand these people, we have to respect them, because a new way of life has been formed for 41 years”.
Noting that they trust Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci and his team, Ozyigit said that in an agreed solution everyone will be able to say that the property in which he stays belongs to him.
(I/Ts.)
6. Sources say that important progress was achieved by the negotiators
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.08.15) reports that the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami have discussed the issue of the citizenship in their meetings held during the past two days prior to the meeting of the two community leaders on 1 September. Today they are expected to discuss the chapter of property and the criteria to be implemented on this issue.
Citing a well-informed source, Kibris writes that the negotiators achieved progress on all issues which they have discussed. The source said that during the meetings held until today, progress was achieved on the issues of establishing a property commission as well as the categories and the kinds of the properties.
Noting that the negotiators’ meetings are preparatory for the meeting between the leaders on 1 September, the source underlined that the negotiations will continue in the direction of the leaders’ instructions. The source argued that no surprising development happened in the issues discussed until now.
(I/Ts.)
7. Columnist: The property issue will be solved individually, not globally, because the owners of the properties are the individuals, not the states
Writing in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (28.08.15), columnist Unal Findik comments on the recent developments regarding the property issue and statements made by Nazim Cavusoglu, candidate for the presidency of the National Unity Party, who alleged that the so-called state officials should continuously repeat that the “title deeds” granted by the breakaway regime [for the occupied Greek Cypriot properties] are valid.
Noting that the “title deeds” given by the breakaway regime are only valid in the occupied area of Cyprus, Findik points out that “there is an entire world” outside the occupied area and as long as the Turkish Cypriots do not enter into the legal system of the world, this debate will go on. Arguing that this result cannot change of no matter how often statements are made, he writes, inter alia, the following:
“[…] Experts on the issue say that ‘even if the TRNC is recognized, this is not sufficient for the recognition of these title deeds’. The approval of the property owners should definitely be taken for this. This is possible only with the satisfaction of the property owners as individuals. The solution of the property problem is possible with the solution of the Cyprus problem. Solution is tantamount to agreeing with our Greek Cypriot partners on every issue. That is, it is tantamount to be able to agree on all six fundamental chapters of the problem which have been determined and discussed for many years.
The property problem is one of these six chapters. It should and will be solved. It will be solved individually, not globally, because the owners of the properties are the individuals, not the states. You may have established a system of your own in the north, you may have divided into plots and distributed as you wished the Greek Cypriot properties which remained in the north and now you may think how to legalize this system. This, however, is not possible. Even if you owned all the properties left by the [Turkish Cypriot] refugees in the south, this would not be possible, because the Greek Cypriot properties remained in the north are around 1,5 million donums [Translator’s note: A land measure of around 1000 square meters] and the Turkish properties that remained in the south are around 500 thousand donums. Moreover, there are hundreds of [Turkish Cypriot] refugees from the south who possess points of equal value which you have given to them. How you will legalize this injustice? […]”
(I/Ts.)
8. The assistant of the Turkish Cypriot CMP estimates that they will have a result in few weeks in the area behind the “central prisons”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (28.08.15) reports that Murat Soysal, assistant of the Turkish Cypriot member in the Committee on the Missing Persons (CMP), has said that they found nothing yet during their excavations in the area behind the “central prisons” in the occupied part of Nicosia and added that they estimate that they will have a result within few weeks. He noted that this is a broad area and that they are working to find the remains of 40-50 Greek Cypriots, as they received the information that they had been buried there in 1974.
“The excavations are continuing and we believe that we will reach a result”, Soysal said adding that the excavations will be held at two points and that they are digging only at the one point now, without beginning their work at the other point. He said that the area in which the excavations are made with the permission of the Turkish occupation army has been randomly chosen and described as positive the fact that the area is a military zone because “the geographical structure of the area has not changed very much and this increases the chances of reaching a result”.
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.08.15) reports that Soysal said that excavations are currently being carried out at nine different places. He noted that the remains of two persons were found yesterday in occupied Agios Georgios in Keryneia, adding that it is believed that these remains belong to two Turkish Cypriots missing since 1963. He said that they are also working in occupied Lapithos and in occupied Famagusta where the remains of a Greek Cypriot and a Greek Cypriot woman were respectively found. He added that they are carrying out excavations in the areas of Aradippou and Koutrafas villages in the government-controlled area of the island.
Soysal referred also to other places in which the CMP is working and called on people who know anything as regards places of burial to contact the Committee.
(I/Ts.)
9. “KIB-TEK director” said that their aim is to have a connected electrical ring in 2016
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (28.08.15), in its front page, reports that the self-styled director of the electricity authority in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus (KIB-TEK) Salih Gurkan, speaking to the paper, evaluated the latest developments regarding the efforts to connect the electrical rings between the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus and the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and added that their aim is 2016.
Gurkan explained that the electrical connection will be done from the points of the two connections in the occupied village of Morphou and Mia Milia. He noted that their aim is to complete the works for the Mia Milia line in the beginning of September, adding that then they will inspect the technical quality of the second ring as they did also with the first ring. He also said that they will be given support from an expert company regarding this, adding that accordingly to the report results, they will do improvements and adjustments.
(DPs)
10. A tax specialist claims that the “TRNC” is the base for money laundering
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (28.08.15), in its front page under the title “the financial police is at a dead end”, reports that tax expert Goksel Saydam, who was one of the “police trainer”, said that the “financial crime investigation unit of the police” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, which was established in 2011 in order to fight the financial crime has a lot of difficulties due to “legal gaps” and “legal deficiencies”.
Saydam said that because the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) is not recognized in the international arena, it has become the base for money laundering. He also said that black money, which is being cleaned through shell companies, finance terrorists and that the “financial police” stands by its hands tied up due to “legal deficiencies”.
(DPs)
11. Durust: We aim to have 100 thousand students
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (28.08.15), the self-styled minister of education Kemal Durust met yesterday with the deans and representatives of the illegal universities in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
In a statement to the press prior the meeting, Durust said that they come together in order to evaluate the upcoming academic year. He explained that their aim is to have 100 thousand students, adding that they are very close to their target with the 80 thousand students during the academic year 2015.
Durust also announced that they will try to grant scholarships also to the same number of students who study abroad apart from Turkey and “TRNC”, in cases that comply with the criteria.
(DPs)
12. Celebrations for the Victory Day are cancelled
Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (online, 28.08.15) reports that the celebrations for the Victory Day on August 30 have been cancelled due to recently terrorist incidents. It is reported that it will be celebrated with only wreath-laying ceremonies and congratulations messages. The announcement was published in the official gazette with the signature of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
(DPs)
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
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(DPs/ AM)
