TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
177/15 17.09.2015
1. Akinci
will meet with Anastasiades and Moon in NY
2. Akinci:
We have to ensure a just solution to the Cyprus problem
3. Foreign
delegations attended new “judicial year’s” opening ceremony in the occupied
area of Cyprus; Oneri: Files regarding corruption do not come before
“justice”
4. Colak
discussed the Cyprus talks with Nuland and Eide
5. Turkish
Cypriot daily reveals details from the discussions of the working groups on the
“economy” chapter
6.
Statements by Hadjirousos to Kibris: ““The Maronites want a separate region”
7. Turkish
MFA asks Azerbaijan’s support for “TRNC” to obtain the observer status at
TURKPA
8. TDP’s
delegation held contacts in Turkey
9. Tsipras
interviewed by Hurriyet; “Turkey and Greece should trust Anastasiades and
Akinci for the solution of the Cyprus problem”
10.
“National Unity Party is sinking into chaos”
11.
Increase in the occupancy of the hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus
12. Erdogan
attacks 'dishonourable' magazine over 'selfie'
13.
Turkey's opposition parties slam probe into Dogan Media Group
14.
Davutoglu: HDP must show stance against PKK terror
1. Akinci
will meet with Anastasiades and Moon in NY
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 17.09.15), the Turkish Cypriot Mustafa Akinci will be in New York
between September 28 and October 4.
During his visit to New York, he will meet
with the Greek Cypriot leader NicosAnastasiades and the UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-Moon. He will also have meetings with high officials.
2. Akinci:
We have to ensure a just solution to the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(17.09.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci has said that we have to ensure a just solution to the
Cyprus problem and that justice is “an element needed in every issue” and “we
have to ensure justice here as well”.
Addressing yesterday the opening ceremony
of the new “judicial year” 2015-16 in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, Akinci pointed out the importance of the Turkish Cypriot “people”
believing in a just solution and added:“When the Turkish Cypriot people are
going to the ballot box in the referendum, they
should go having in their heart the feeling that ‘yes, this is a just solution,
it will not lead us back to the pre-1974 conditions, we can build a future in
peace and tranquillity now by taking our rights in a just structure, but by
also seeing the rights of the other community and by recognizing it. Our
duty is to ensure this. Justice is the most necessary thing in every
issue”.
Recalling that 18.000 civil cases had been
filed in 2014, Akinci noted that 12.000 of these cases were transferred to 2015
and in the first half of 2015 another 12.000 cases were added to them. “How
will these cases end”, he wondered.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli
newspaper (17.09.15) reports that Akinci met with a delegation of jurists
visiting the occupied area of Cyprus on the occasion of the new “judicial
year”. Akinci told them that they want to find a just and lasting solution to
the Cyprus problem in which both communities will be happy and the pain of the
past will not be repeated. He argued
that the Turkish Cypriot community is probably the only community in the world,
which said “yes” to a plan and to entering into the EU, but remained outside
the EU because another community voted “no”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Foreign
delegations attended new “judicial year’s” opening ceremony in the occupied
area of Cyprus; Oneri: Files regarding corruption do not come before
“justice”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (17.09.15)
reports that the opening ceremony of the new “judicial year” 2015-16 in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus was held yesterday. Addressing the
ceremony, SafakOneri, “chairman” of the “supreme court” of the breakaway regime
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, said that the participation was
very high for the first time, as delegations from Turkey and other countries
attended the ceremony.
The paper writes that SerdarOzguldur, chairman of Turkey’s Court of Jurisdictional Disputes,
ZerrinGungor, chairman of Turkey’s Council of State, Ismail RustuCirit, first
chairman of Turkey’s Court of Cassation, AsifKhosa, member of Pakistan’s
Supreme Court, Dr.AtaySuroy, member of Kosovo’s Constitutional Court,
FatosLulo, member of Albania’s Constitutional Court and RecepKomurcu,
representative of Turkey’s Constitutional Court were among those who addressed
the opening ceremony.
In his speech, Oneri noted also that they
would not be able to refer to a “just state administration” in case they do not
rip-off bureaucracy, populism, partisanship and favoritism. Referring to the
files regarding corruption in the occupied area of Cyprus, Oneri wondered why
these files have not come before “justice” in spite of the fact that many years
passed.
(I/Ts.)
4. Colak
discussed the Cyprus talks with Nuland and Eide
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen (17.09.15)
reports that the self-styled foreign minister EmineColak met separately
yesterday with Victoria Nuland, US Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs, and Espen Barth Eide, the UN Secretary-General’s Special
Advisor on Cyprus.
According to a press release by the
“ministry”, Colak, evaluating the UN-led negotiation process aiming to reach a
comprehensive agreement in Cyprus during her meeting with Nuland, said that
this is the most intensified negotiation process between the two leaders since
the Annan plan that this constitutes a great opportunity, and that efforts to
result a positive outcome at a short time are continuing.
At the meeting between Colak and Eide, the
latest stage on the intensified Cyprus talks between Akinci and Anastasiades
was discussed. During the meeting, Colak said that the support of the “foreign
ministry” to the process will continue and that the “ministry” is well aware of
its responsibilities.
(DPs)
5. Turkish
Cypriot daily reveals details from the discussions of the working groups on the
“economy” chapter
Under the title “They stuck in the
‘taxation’”, Turkish Cypriot daily YeniBakis newspaper (17.09.15) reports that
according to secret information it has obtained, disagreement exists in the working groups within the framework of the
Cyprus talks regarding the taxation in the transitional period government to be
established after the solution of the Cyprus problem. The Turkish Cypriot
side wants a different VAT rate for a period aimed at increasing the
competiveness of its economy sectors, which have not been developed due to the
so-called embargoes and isolation allegedly implemented on the Turkish
Cypriots. The Greek Cypriot side is reportedly rejecting this, fearing that it
could create problems.
Another
issue of disagreement, notes the paper, is the distribution of the federal
government’s income. The Turkish Cypriot side thinks that 6% of
this income should be given for infrastructure projects in the “founding
states”, while the Greek Cypriot side insists that the sum to be transferred
should be calculated over the current income and not the general total, because
there is the possibility of the federal government being left with no money due
to its expenses.
The
administration of the “public debt” is also an element which has been revised
upon an objection by the Turkish Cypriot side. The
limitation of the indebtedness of the “founding states” by the federal
government was revised because of the need of the Turkish Cypriot “founding
state” of having more financing. It has
been agreed that this limitation will be suspended for a period because the
Turkish Cypriot founding state needs to make many investments.
According
to the paper, convergence has to a great extent been reached on the powers of
the federal state’s Central Bank. It was agreed that the cooperatives, on which the working
groups were not agreeing in the past, will
be bound to the federal government’s Central Bank. The working groups have
jointly decided that the entire banking
sector, including the financing institutions which are not banks, will be subject to Central Bank’s control
and regulation.
(I/Ts.)
6.Statements
by Hadjirousos to Kibris: ““The Maronites want a separate region”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(17.09.15) under the above title, reports on statements by the representative of the Maronite religious group in the House of
Representatives AntonisHadjirousos, who in statements to the paper, said, inter
alia, that the Maronites who live in Cyprus, in a possible solution of the
Cyprus problem, demand the unification of the four Maronite villages and also
to be administrated by the federal state to be, as a region.
Moreover, according to the paper, the
Maronite religious group, in a possible solution to be, would prefer to remain
under the authority of the “Greek Cypriot founding state” due to the religious
and language proximity.
Hadjirousos
stated to the paper that they have already conveyed their demands to the two
leaders and the negotiators and also to the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General in Cyprus,Espen Barth Eide. He also added that they had informed
him that all the relevant parties will discuss their demands in the next stages
of the Cyprus negotiation talks. He also added that besides the Maronites,
Armenians and Latins are expecting for their status to be clarified and determined
after the solution.
(AK)
7. Turkish
MFA asks Azerbaijan’s support for “TRNC” to obtain the observer status at
TURKPA
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (17.09.15)
reports that Turkish Foreign Minister FeridunSinirlioglu, in an official
meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart ElmarMemmedyarov in Baku yesterday,
said that they expect Azerbaijan’s support in order for the status of observers
at the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries (TURKPA) to be given
to the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus).
(DPs)
8.TDP’s
delegation held contacts in Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper
(17.09.15) reports that a delegation of
the Social Democracy Party (TDP), headed by its chairman CemalOzyigit, held a
series of contacts in Turkey and attended also the congress of the Justice and
Development Party (AKP).
According
to the paper, the delegation evaluated during its contacts in Turkey, the
recent incidents and attacks in the country, the latest developments on the
Kurdish peace process and the latest developments on the Cyprus problem.
The TDP
delegation met with the co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP),
AyhanBilger at the party’s headquarters and afterwards with the general
secretary of the Republican People’s Party (CTP) GurselTekin.
During the meeting with HDP, Ozyigit
condemned the racist-fascistic attacks that took place a few days ago against
the HDP’s offices in several provinces in Turkey and expressed their support to
the HDP. Ozyigit also underlined the need for all disputes and problems
experienced in Turkey to be solved via dialogue. On the Cyprus problem, the TDP delegation exchanged views with the HDP
delegation about the Cyprus negotiation talks and briefed them on the recent
developments.
Also, during the meeting with CHP, Ozyigit stressed the importance of the
CHP’s stance towards the efforts taking place in the island for reaching a
solution. Ozyigit also expressed the wish that the peace processes both in
Turkey and Cyprus, move forward and end positively.
The TDP’s delegation returned to the
occupied area of Cyprus after the completion of the AKP congress.
(AK)
9.Tsipras
interviewed by Hurriyet; “Turkey and Greece should trust Anastasiades and
Akinci for the solution of the Cyprus problem”
Turkish daily Hurriyet (17.09.15)
publishes an interview by the Greek
outgoing Prime Minister and leader of Syriza Alexis Tsipras, to the paper’s
correspondent in Athens, YorgoKirbaki.
Asked
to evaluate the recent developments on the Cyprus problem, Tsipras described
the election of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci as a positive
development and added, inter alia, the following: “With the aim of the
re-unification of the two people in the island, there is an opportunity and
sincere efforts for a progress to be achieved. Leaving the past behind, there
is also a chance for establishing a framework and moving forward to the future.
Akinci speaks about “Cypriotism”. And the (Greek Cypriot leader in the south)
-Translator’s note: [As the President of the Republic of Cyprus,
NicosAnastasiades is called by the paper] is in the same direction. And there
is an important condition for all these. And this condition is that Turkey and
Greece trust Akinci and Anastasiades, so that a progress can be achieved at the
negotiation talks”, Tsipras said.
To the question: “What will the
Greek-Turkish ties be if the Cyprus problem is solved?”,Tsipras replied as
follows: “We will enter into a different era. There is no reason for tension
between Turkey and Greece and to be in a situation of a cold war. Disagreements
exist. But these disagreements could be solved by international law. If there
is good-will and we all realize that the cooperation and the mutual progress is
of our interest, then a lot of things could change in the region”.
Tsipras explained also in the interview
the reasons for deciding to go to the polls and his optimism for the result of
the ballot boxes.
(AK)
10. “National Unity Party is sinking into chaos”
Under the
above title, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (17.09.15) reports that
the crisis in the National Unity Party (UBP) continues following a suggestion
of five members of the party’s central committee to postpone the forthcoming
election congress of UBP for May 2016. The paper notes that the suggestion is
seen positively, however the final decision will be taken by the central
committee of UBP.
All the
seven candidates who will run for the party’s leadership in the congress,
including the current UBP leader Huseyin Ozgurgun agree to postpone the
congress but disagree on the new date, writes the paper adding that the main
problem is the number of the registered UBP’s members who will have for the
first time the right to vote directly for the new leader of the UBP.
(CS)
11. Increase
in the occupancy of the hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (17.09.15)
reports that the self-styled ministry of tourism announced that the hotel
occupancy rates for August was at 75.3% in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus.
According to “ministry’s” statistic data,
there was an increase of 6.4% in the total hotel occupancy rate of hotels in
January-August, compared to last year.
On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 16.09.15) reported that the “ministry” also
announced that there was an increase of 10.1% for January to August 2015 in air
and sea travel for the same period when compared to the figures of last year.
In August, charter flights from Poland, Slovenia, UK, Iran, France, Italy,
Denmark, Hungary and the Czech Republic brought tourists to the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus.
12. Erdogan
attacks 'dishonourable' magazine over 'selfie'
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(17.09.15), Turkey’s President RecepTayyip Erdogan on Wednesday hit out at the
magazine that ran a mocked up front page showing him taking a “selfie”
photograph in front of a soldier’s coffin.
The image produced by Nokta led to the
magazine’s Istanbul offices being raided by police Monday and every copy
seized.
Speaking in a live interview on state
broadcaster TRT, Erdogan said: “I have never taken a selfie in my life... and I
am not so dishonourable as to turn my back on a martyr’s coffin. But those who
made this cover are dishonourable, shameful.”
The
President said that he would do “what is necessary” to pursue those responsible
for the image, which shows him in shirt sleeves as a flag-draped coffin carried
by soldiers passes behind, and said that he had instructed his legal team.
Asked about freedom of the press to include
him in a mocking image, Erdogan said that no-one was entitled to breach an
individual’s freedom in the name of media freedom. He described the image as an
“attack” on himself.
The Turkish penal code makes insulting the
President a crime punishable by up to four years imprisonment.
Turning to the renewed Kurdish conflict,
Erdogan defended the military operations against PKK terrorists in Cizre, a
town near the Syrian and Iraqi borders in southeast Turkey. The town was placed
under an eight-day curfew that ended over the weekend.
Erdogan said that the local governor
enforced the curfew, which effectively cut the town off from the outside world,
for the “peace of people” and to allow the security forces to “easily” conduct anti-terror
operations.
“Why is this curfew declared?” he asked.
“The streets are banned during certain hours. If someone goes out, he is a
terrorist”.
He said police and soldiers had been
attacked “villainously” by the PKK before the curfew was put in place.
“The world is not sincere in this issue,
has always stayed away from us and unfortunately partially supported them [the
PKK],” Erdogan said.
13. Turkey's
opposition parties slam probe into Dogan Media Group
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
17.09.15), under the title “Daily Hurriyet cannot be silenced, CHP leader
says”, reports that the leader of the
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu has said that daily Hurriyet
cannot be silenced with politically-motivated probes and attacks.
“If the right to get informed is limited in
a country, then we can’t talk about democracy in that country. Hurriyet is the
most important newspaper in the world of the press. If the aim of this
investigation is to silence Hurriyet and its writers, they should know that
they are not powerful enough to accomplish it,” Kilicdaroglu said during a live
interview on private broadcaster CNNTurk late Sept. 16.
Kilicdaroglu
slammed the Justice and Development Party (AKP) over what he described as a
three-pronged strategy to intimidate independent media. This strategy,
Kilicdaroglu said, involves financial instruments, direct calls to put pressure
on journalists, and finally, criminal investigations.
“When they want to silence a newspaper,
they instruct the pro-government media to declare that newspaper and its owner
as terrorist. ‘This is a terrorist, this is a terrorist,’ their headlines say,
coupled with the photos of journalists. They think that everyone will believe
in it,” Kilicdaroglu added.
According to Kilicdaroglu, if the AKP
cannot succeed in the first two tactics, it moves to the “third method,” which
is criminal investigations. “If a prosecutor launches a probe over a story
published by their tabloids that investigation is not even legal. It is only a
shame for democracy,” he said, while stressing that Hurriyet is a newspaper
“various people with all kinds of political views read”.
On the same issue, Devlet Bahceli, leader
of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Republican People’s Party (CHP)
deputy leader BulentTezcan have both condemned the investigation launched into
the Dogan Media Group over news reports accused of “making terrorism
propaganda”.
The oppression on media outlets, their
employees and their owners waged by the current government has become
unbearable, Bahceli told reporters after a meeting at the MHP headquarters in
Ankara on Sept. 15.
OktayVural, a deputy head of the MHP's
parliamentary group, criticized AKP deputy AbdurrahimBoynukalin, who gave a
fiery speech in front of daily Hürriyet on Sept. 6, threatening journalists.
"How can there be such a parliamentarian? He is threatening people,"
Vural said, inquiring whether any prosecutor has done anything regarding the
threats. "Their goal is to silence the media," he added.
14. Davutoglu:
HDP must show stance against PKK terror
According to Turkish daily Sabah (online,
17.09.15), Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu said that the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) is only a political
rival to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) , not an enemy, but if
the party fails to take a stance against the PKK terror it will become the
enemy of the nation in Turkey.
Speaking in a live TV interview on Wednesday,
Davutoglu said that the anti-terror operations against the PKK conducted by the
Turkish military are aimed to preserve public safety and democracy. "The
PKK terrorists had a major defeat during the operations into their shelters and
arsenals. Even the group itself admitted suffering two- thirds of
destruction", he added.
When
asked about the future of the talks with the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah
Ocalan as part of the reconciliation process, Davutoglu said that the previous
talks did not help Turkey reach a peaceful environment and added that fighting
against an armed uprising by the PKK while maintaining the reconciliation
process in the same time would be dysfunctional.
The
prime minister also called on residents living in Turkey's Kurdish-majority
provinces in the east and southeast to support democracy by standing against
the PKK.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
LF)
