TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
175/15 15.09.2015
1. Akinci: We insist on the rotating presidency, it is an
inevitable result of political equality
2. Eide: The leaders are very strongly committed to the
solution process
3. Twenty six categories of properties have reportedly
been determined on the property issue
4. Gungor: “The IPC continues its works normally”
5. Russian Ambassador to Cyprus: We will never accept
NATO’s guarantees in Cyprus
6. Turkish Naval Forces: “Possible research/drilling
activities of the Greek Cypriot sector will be prevented”
7. Turkey’s Chief of General Staff in the occupied area
of Cyprus for contacts
8. Eroglu interfered in UBP crisis, blames Ozgurgun
9. Efforts on UBP’s election congress to be postponed for
May 2016
10. 5,789 teachers for 47,423 students in the occupied
area of Cyprus
11. Nokta raided, distribution halted over mocked-up
selfie of Erdogan
12. Erdogan to visit Brussels to discuss PKK and refugees
13. Turkey sees rise in voters ahead of November 1 poll
14. Deputy PM Turkes objects to expulsion from MHP
1. Akinci:
We insist on the rotating presidency, it is an inevitable result of political
equality
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(15.09.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has alleged that the rotating presidency is “an
inevitable result of political equality” and that the Turkish Cypriot side
insists on this. In statements yesterday in the occupied area of Cyprus
after meeting with President Anastasiades within the framework of the Cyprus
talks, Akinci pointed out that the solution to be reached will be a bi-zonal,
bi-communal federal structure based on political equality, Akinci argued: “If we say that a Turkish Cypriot will never
be able to become head of this structure, it means that there is no political
equality.We insist on this issue. This issue is on the agenda.We think that it
will be concluded with reconciliation. There is no decided situation on this
issue. We hope that it will be positively concluded”.
Akinci
expressed the belief that “a way out could be found” on the guarantees, if an
agreement is reached by which both sides will be satisfied on issues such as the
territory, the property, the governance and power sharing, the EU and the
economy. He noted that the guarantees are not an issue that can be solved
by the two communities during the negotiating process and added:“The three
guarantor countries should agree with the two communities. There is no new
offer on this issue yet. If we approach a serious reconciliation point on the
other fields, I believe that a way out could be found on this issue”.
Noting that yesterday they met for the
ninth time with President Anastasiades, Akinci
said that there are not at the point they had been in the beginning, that they
have proceeded positively and that they are carrying out a process during which
they do not accuse each other and do not repeat their own positions. He
said that yesterday they reviewed once more the point they have reached as a
result of the work of the negotiating delegations. “We were not focused on one
point. I think that we had a constructive meeting”, he added.
Recalling the statement made after the
meeting by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Espen Barth Eide, Akinci
said that the negotiators will meet more often and as of November the leaders
also aim at entering into an intensive working tempo. Replying to a question,
Akinci said that they did not determine any number of meetings, because they
have visits abroad as well.
Referring to the parliamentary elections
that will be held in May 2016 in the Republic of Cyprus, Akinci noted:“I
referred to May because of the elections in the south. Of course, if not everything is finished by then, it will not be the
end of the world. However, there are elections and these elections are
tantamount to new sensitivities. Ending the soonest this process that we have
started is both Mr Anastasiades’ and my wish”.
Noting that their target is to achieve a
solution, Akinci said that he is not
pessimistic and that progress has been achieved. He added: “There are
difficult chapters, such as the property. I think that it would be correct to
expect the developments on these chapters to be slower. […] In May 2016
parliamentary elections will be held in the south. We prefer to reach a
comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem before that date, because the
elections are tantamount to a sensitive period, even though they are not
presidential elections...”
Replying to a question regarding the
incidents during the recent visit of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) and AKEL
left-wing part to the Maratha, Aloa and Sandalaris villages, Akinci said:“Taking lessons from the pain of the past is
extremely important for the future. Painful events had been experienced. The Maratha-Aloa-Sandalaris events were a
massacre, a painful event in our history which we will remember with sorrow. Unfortunately,
these happened. We have to recognize the
pains of the Greek Cypriot community also. They also have experienced pains.
And the issue is to build a new future by taking lessons from these. This
is what we are trying to do. While we are continuing the efforts for a
solution, we try to know each other’s pains, to understand what the other
community feels. […]”
Noting that
when the time comes it would be appropriate to establish a “reconciliation
committee” like the one in South Africa, Akinci said that before BKP’s and
AKEL’s visit, it would perhaps be better if a dialogue had been established
with the people who have certain sensitivities and the ground had been prepared. He added:
“However, I do not think that the job
done was wrong. It is of course nothing done with bad intentions. It is
obvious that a little bit more careful preparation must be done in order for
such situations not to be experienced again”.
Replying to a question regarding Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States
Department of State, Victoria Nuland’s visit to Cyprus, Akinci said that they
have no other agenda to discuss with Nuland and added that the USA supports the
solution process and it is natural for the USA to show interest in it. He
added: “We will have the opportunity to
tell her how the issue is developing from our point of view. Of course, we what
to share with her the sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriot people. […] There is the energy issue in Eastern
Mediterranean. This is an issue to which America attaches value and I also
consider it to be important. […]”
(I/Ts.)
2. Eide:
The leaders are very strongly committed to the solution process
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(15.09.15) reports that the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Espen Barth Eide met with the Turkish
Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci after the community leaders’ meeting at the
buffer zone within the framework of the Cyprus talks.
In statements after the meeting, Eide said that he feels that the leaders
are strongly committed to the negotiating process and that he had a “good and
constructive meeting” with Akinci. He noted that they went through the
negotiations held during the past four months and evaluated the situation in
all the chapters.
Pointing out that the leaders met nine
times until today and the negotiators 40 times, Eide said that the leaders think that this is not a good period for
revealing certain details of the negotiations, because we are at a “strategic stage” regarding “the point we stand and
what we have to do in the next few months”.
Noting that two sentences in the statement
issued after the leaders’ meeting were very important, Eide said that the next
few months are very important for the process, that we have no time to lose and
that things are going well he added, though, that they realize that great
effort is needed in the forthcoming period for “achieving full agreement from
strategic point of view”.
Asked when the briefing of the people will
start regarding what is happening in the negotiations, he replied that the
issue is continuously on the agenda of the leaders, who have not taken any
decision on it.
(I/Ts.)
3. Twenty
six categories of properties have reportedly been determined on the property
issue
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
newspaper (15.09.15) reports that 26
categories of properties have been determined during the Cyprus negotiations on
the property issue. Citing information by a reliable source, the paper
writes that the situation is still being
examined and this number might increase.
According to the paper, the Turkish Cypriot side has submitted a
“technologic formula” for determining the affected properties. This proposal concerns a software program,
which will ensure a speedy progress on the property issue and determine the
category to which the property belongs. The program will reportedly be used
by the Property Commission which will be established after the solution and
includes questions prepared by property experts and lawyers.
(I/Ts.)
4.Gungor:
“The IPC continues its works normally”
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper
(15.09.15) reports that the “chairman”
of the “Immovable Property Commission” (“IPC”) GungorGurkan, in statements to
the paper, disclaimed the reports published in the Greek Cypriot press saying
that the “commission” suspended its works and said that the “commission”
continues its activities normally.
Gurkan
went on and said that the number of the applications at the “commission” have
been slightly reduced after the two
leaders had launched discussions on the property issue and added that still
there are new applications at the “commission”.
“The Immovable Property Commission continues its works and thus accepting
applications”, said Gurkan and added that in
spite of the economic difficulties they have, they are exerting efforts to
solve these problems. He added that
according to info they have, compensations will be paid in the forthcoming
weeks for several cases.
(AK)
5. Russian Ambassador to Cyprus: We will never accept NATO’s
guarantees in Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (15.09.15) publishes an interview with the
Russian Ambassador to Cyprus StanislavOsadchy who stated that Russia supports
fully the two leaders in Cyprus for reaching a solution on the Cyprus problem.
Osadchy
stated that Russia assured that it will support and accept any solution
approved in referendum by the two sides in Cyprus. He also stated that any
decision taken by the two communities in Cyprus must be met with respect.
He said
that a big progress has been made at the negotiations adding that the good
relations between the two Cypriot leaders contributed in a positive way. He
also expressed the hope that the two leaders will do everything possible for
reaching an agreement.
Asked if
the current guarantees system should be continue or come to an end, the Russian
Ambassador stated that this issue will be solved with the participation of the
countries involved. However, he stressed that Russia will never accept a
guarantees system in which NATO will play a determined role.
(CS)
6.Turkish
Naval Forces: “Possible research/drilling activities of the Greek Cypriot
sector will be prevented”
Turkish daily Aksam newspaper
(14.09.15-online in Turkish) reported
that according to the new strategic document of the Turkish Naval Forces,
Turkey will not make concessions and permit possible drilling works of the
“Greek Cypriot sector”, as the Republic of Cyprus is called, in the
Mediterranean.
The report writes: “The unilateral efforts of the Greek Cypriot administration to take up
the jurisdiction of the island, have broadened the dimension of the Cyprus
problem. We will prevent any possible research/drilling activities which will
be carried out within our marine spaces and to the areas which were declared to
the international community”.
(AK)
7.Turkey’s
Chief of General Staff in the occupied area of Cyprus for contacts
Under the front-page title: “Crucial visit”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Diyalog newspaper (15.09.15) reports that the Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General HulisiAkar
will pay an illegal visit today to the occupied area of Cyprus for a series of contacts.
According to a statement issued by the
“presidency”, Akar will have separate
meetings with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci and afterwards with
the “speaker” of the so-called assembly SibelSiber and the so-callled prime
minister Omer Kalyoncu.
(AK)
8. Eroglu interfered in UBP crisis, blames Ozgurgun
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (15.09.15) reports that DervisEroglu former
Turkish Cypriot leader and former chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP)
issued a statement regarding the crisis within UBP blaming the current chairman
Huseyin Ozgurgun without naming him for
the developments within the party. The party has seven candidates for its
forthcoming election congress.
Eroglu
denied various rumors surfaced in the media recently according to which he is
behind the many candidates for the party’s leadership arguing that he takes
nobody’s side on the election run adding that his main concern is the interest
of UBP, a party he served for 39 years. “For me who will win the election run
is not important; what is important is for UBP and the people to win”, he
stated.
He also
expressed his concerns as regards the new system for electing the party’s
chairman which provides that the new leader is elected directly by the party’s
members and not by the central committee like in the past.
Finally he
stated that the “country” is going through a very critical role and is crucial
the UBP to fulfil its role and mission.
(CS)
9. Efforts on UBP’s election congress to be postponed for May
2016
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (15.09.15) reports that a new crisis occurred
in the National Unity Party (UBP).
The paper
writes that 8 members of the Party’s Central Committee came together and
conveyed a proposal to the party’s
leader Huseyin Ozgurgun according to which
the party’s election congress which is planned to be held on October 31
should be postponed for May 2016.
According
to the proposal this will safeguard the loyalty of the new party members
enrolled to UBP for the party’s election congress and will allow better
preparation to be made for the congress.
(CS)
10. 5,789
teachers for 47,423 students in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen (15.09.15)
reports that the so-called ministry of education of the breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus announced that the number of the
primary and middle-school teachers in the “public schools” is 4,766 for 38,147
students. As for the private sector, the numbers are 1,113 teachers for 9,276
students.
According to data by the “ministry”, the
69.43% of the students are “TRNC citizens”, the 26.28% are Turkish citizens,
and the rest of 4.29% are citizens of a third country.
(DPs)
11. Nokta
raided, distribution halted over mocked-up selfie of Erdogan
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online,
14.09.15) reports that police have raided the Nokta newsweekly magazine on
accusations of "propagating terror" and "insulting President
RecepTayyip Erdogan” through its latest edition depicting a smiling Erdogan
taking a selfie with the flag-draped coffin of a soldier in the background,
causing concerns over freedom of the press.
Nokta Managing Editor Murat Capan was
detained on Monday in the raid by the Istanbul Police Department's
counterterrorism unit and referred to the court for arrest. Capan was detained
while lawyer Veysel Ok and journalist EvinBarisAltintas from the Platform for
Independent Journalism (P24) were at the weekly's office to show solidarity. He
was released later in the day. The judge reportedly refused to arrest the
editor on charges of spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization but
released him on probation on charges of insulting Erdogan.
The cover depicted a grinning Erdogan in
shirtsleeves taking a selfie in front of a coffin draped in the red Turkish
flag. The image was a clear reference to the escalating violence between the
security forces and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists that have killed
more than 100 security personnel in past weeks. It was also an implicit criticism
of comments Erdogan has made on military deaths.
Nokta Editor-in-Chief CevheriGuven
announced on Monday that police officers raided the magazine's office on the
instructions of an Istanbul prosecutor at midnight. Guven emphasized that
circulation of the 18th edition of the weekly was also banned despite being
printed and sent to distribution offices. Copies of the weekly that have
already been distributed will be recalled.
However, the raids seem to have backfired
as many Twitter users shared the cover in question, and it has circulated
exponentially in social media. A large number of Twitter users condemn the
crackdown and consider it to be an attempt by the government to muzzle media
outlets that are critical of it.
Speaking to the Cihan news agency after the
raid, Guven stressed that police are carrying out a "witch hunt" by
visiting newsstands across the country to prevent the magazine from being
accessed by readers.
"There
is no court order for the raids or for banning distribution of the weekly. As
journalists we harshly criticized Erdogan over his recent remarks posing next
to a coffin and praising being a martyr as something that requires being happy
[for the families]. When Erdogan was speaking, the father of the martyr was
weeping on bended knee. We wanted to criticize Erdogan with such an image. It
has been ordinary thing for Nokta to criticize politicians during its long
history," Guven said.
Erdogan has been widely criticized for
comments made at the funeral of a soldier killed in clashes. "How happy is
his family and all his close relatives, because Ahmet has reached a very sacred
place," he was widely quoted across media as saying.
After the raid and detention of Nokta
editor Capan, reactions to the controversial practice have mounted as Council
of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks wrote on his Twitter
account: "@noktadergi: ban, raids & arrest worsen already worrying
situation for freedom of expression in Turkey. Authorities must keep the media
free."
The Contemporary Journalists Association
(ÇGD) also issued a written statement on Monday and said: "No one is
untouchable or immune to criticism. As long as the media criticizes the ruling
powers, it means it is doing its job well."
The Press Council also described the
crackdown on Nokta as a major blow to freedom of the press. Issuing a written
statement on Monday, the council said: "Such controversial practices prior
to the election disregards the right to information. The council calls for
keeping the channels of democracy and tolerance open without fearing news and
views."
Media Ethics Council (MEK) President
HalitEsendir also posted a tweet on Monday and lambasted the raid: "I
strongly condemn the raid. Where is freedom of the press?"
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called the
government-ordered police action targeting the magazine as an "unbearable
attack on free press."#Turkey hitting hard on @noktadergi: office raided,
issue seized, Twitter account blocked, editor detained!! Unbearable attack on
#freepress," tweeted RSF's Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk on Monday.
12. Erdogan
to visit Brussels to discuss PKK and refugees
According to Turkish daily Sabah (online,
15.09.15), President RecepTayyip Erdogan will pay a visit to the European
capital of Brussels on October 4 where he will meet with European Parliament
President Martin Schulz, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and
EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy to touch upon issues including PKK
terror and the refugee crisis affecting Turkey and Europe.
Erdogan is expected to give precedence to
long-awaited European co-operation in EU countries where the terrorist
organization is dominant. Ankara has so far experienced contradicting actions
and remarks coming from the EU regarding the PKK. Whereas the EU, from time to
time, offered collective help in the fight against terror, some countries have
refused to extradite arrested PKK terrorists.
Another issue of utmost importance to
Ankara is the refugee crisis. Home to more than 2 million refugees, Turkey has
been the primary country by far in bearing the refugee burden, spending over $6
billion. Erdogan will reportedly convince the EU to include Turkey in the
refugee quota solution.
13. Turkey
sees rise in voters ahead of November 1 poll
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(14.09.15), Turkey’s early election slated for November 1 has seen a
considerable increase in the number of registered voters, the country’s Supreme
Election Board has revealed.
The board
says that more than 54 million people are registered to vote in Turkey while
almost 2.9 million people will be able to cast their votes outside the country.
Around 53.7 million people were eligible to
vote in Turkey’s 7 June general election.
The difference between two general
elections is 310,620 in Turkey while this difference is 28,227 for voters
outside the country.
Turkish nationals living abroad will begin
casting their votes between October 8-25 at embassies, consulates and border
gates.
In Turkey, the elections will start on
Nov.1, at 8 a.m. (0600GMT) and finish at 5 p.m. (1500GMT).
The November 1 polls will take place nearly
five months after an inconclusive election on June 7 saw no party win an
overall majority.
Twenty-seven
political parties will participate in the November election, including the AK
Party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) as well as the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).
Political parties have to submit their
nominees to the board by September 18 and the board will announce the list of
parliamentary candidates on September 28.
Turkey is divided into 85 constituencies in
81 provinces for a total of 550 MPs.
The election board will print more than 75
million voting papers.
14. Deputy
PM Turkes objects to expulsion from MHP
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(14.09.15), Turkish Deputy Prime
Minister TugrulTurkes has objected to his expulsion from his own Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) after he accepted an offer to join the country's interim
cabinet.
The central disciplinary committee of the
MHP expelled Turkes from the party on September 5 on disciplinary grounds
because he accepted the offer in defiance of his party's instructions not to
participate in the interim administration.
The Ankara Deputy, TugrulTurkes, is the son
of MHP founder AlparslanTurkes. He was the first Turkish Parliamentarian to
accept Prime Minister AhmetDavutoglu's invitation to join the caretaker
government.
In a letter
of protest to the central disciplinary committee of the party, the Deputy Prime
Minister objected to his expulsion and wanted the party’s decision to be
declared null and void. "I made my party to be in power. I did not commit
a disciplinary act. No one can assert that," he said in the letter.
"It cannot be accepted as a
disciplinary act anywhere in the world for a person, who serves as a Deputy, to
accept a constitutional and national duty," he added.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
AM)
