TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
170/15 08.09.2015
1.
Sinirlioglu: The guarantor powers should interfere in Cyprus in order for the
“new order” to be sustainable
2. Self-styled minister of
health will meet Turkey’s Minister of Health in Ankara
3. Durust met with “Abkhazia’s education minister”
4. Ozgurgun: “If we do not
come to power in the first elections, I will quit from my duties”
5. Reliable sources of a Turkish
Cypriot columnist say that Ozersay intends to announce the establishment of his
party very soon
6. Narin
Sefik to be appointed “chief justice” of the breakaway regime
7.
No Turkish Cypriot political party attended the opening ceremony of a monument
for all Cypriot missing persons built by a well-known Turkish Cypriot writer
and peace activist
8.
Violence escalated between PKK and the Turkish army in southeastern Turkey
9. Erdogan dismisses delay
of snap polls, signals openness to idea of coalition gov’t
10. Davutoglu: “Turkey will
be cleaned of terrorists at any price”
11. Turkish opposition
reacts against the clashes between PKK and the Turkish army
12. HDP offices attacked by
protesters
13. Prosecutor launches
probe into Hurriyet for ‘insulting Erdogan’
14. Turkey deports VICE News
journalists
1. Sinirlioglu:
The guarantor powers should interfere in Cyprus in order for the “new order” to
be sustainable
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (08.09.15)
reports that Turkish interim government’s Foreign
Minister Feridun Sinirliogluhas argued that the sustainability of the solution
which will come up in Cyprus and the new order which will be established here
can be secured with the guarantor powers’ interfering in the issue again.
Responding to a question yesterday during his joint press conference with
Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci in the occupied part of Nicosia,
Sinirlioglu claimed:
“The Turkish
Cypriot people’s security need is there. The security of the Turkish Cypriot
people is above everything for us as Turkey. The sustainability of the solution
which will come up and the new order which will be established here can be
secured with the guarantor powers’ interfering in the issue again. This issue
is discussed at the negotiations”.
In his statements, Akinci wished for Greece to contribute to the negotiating process in
Cyprus as guarantor power “just like Turkey contributes”. “I hope that
after the 20 September elections, Greece will find itself in this position”, he
added.
Sinirlioglu
said that they observe that political will exists in both sides for the
advancement of the process which proceeds positively and for the materialization of the common future
which the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot “peoples” will construct
together.
Sinirlioglu
argued that Turkey as guarantor power will continue offering any kind of
support for making use of the positive atmosphere in the ongoing negotiating
process and for progressing towards the solution without wasting any more time.
Sinirlioglu alleged that both Turkey’s and the “TRNC’s”
basic target is for a just and lasting solution to be reached the soonest
securing the political equality and the “legitimate rights” of the Turkish
Cypriots.
Noting that they will continue their “cooperation” in
all fields and mainly their efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus
problem, Sinirlioglu claimed:
“Our
expectation is for this process to reach a solution the soonest in which the
political equality of both sides on the island will be secured and the Turkish
Cypriot people will feel safe. We hope that the Greek Cypriot side will
this time respond sincerely to the Turkish Cypriot people, who have many times
put forward their will for a solution”.
Referring to his meeting with Akinci, Sinirlioglu said
that they discussed their effort to further increase the prosperity of the
Turkish Cypriots and added that they will continue to work together on these
issues. “The water provided by Turkey
and will soon start flowing, will be a strategic gain for the TRNC”, he argued.
On his part, Akinci said that they have evaluated the
negotiating process, which “is passing through important thresholds” and which
they are carrying out “in consultation with Turkey”.
Akinci
argued that Turkey and the “TRNC” sincerely want a solution and their target is
to submit to the people for approval a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal structure
accepted by both sides and formed by two founding states as mentioned in the 11
February 2014 agreement.
Recalling that elections will be held in Greece and
Turkey on 20 September and 1 November respectively, Akinci wished for both
countries to enter into a period of peace and stability after the elections.
Replying
to a question as regards information published in the Greek Cypriot press that
the Turkish Cypriot side might vote “no” to the solution in a possible
referendum, Akinci said that the discussions for the “no” and the “yes” votes
started too early and added that there is no text to which “yes” or “no” could
be said. He recalled that according to the 11 February
2014 joint declaration, the text to be submitted to the approval of the people
should be agreed by the leaders.
He argued: “Our target is firstly to establish a
structure which both sides would easily digest and will not lead us again to
periods experienced in the past and in which we will live in equality, freedom
and safety. And after establishing this structure, when we submit it with a clear conscience, I have absolutely no doubt
that our people will approve it. The approach that the Turkish Cypriots will
say no is an extremely speculative approach […]”
Asked what Turkey’s stance will be on the
compensations to be paid on the property issue and on the acceptance of a new
state formed by the Republic of Cyprus, Siniriloglu replied that the
negotiations are held by the “TRNC president” and the “negotiator appointed by
him”. He noted that the negotiations are held in consultation and coordination
with Turkey and concluded: “However, these issues are among the fundamental
issues of the properties. Our stance on these issues is not and cannot be
different. All we want is the achievement of a just and viable solution. Its
parameters are there. We offer any kind of support for the success in this
direction of our negotiating team under the leadership of the esteemed president”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Self-styled minister
of health will meet Turkey’s Minister of Health in Ankara
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (08.09.15), the self-styled minister of health
Salih Izbul is flying today to Ankara as guest of Turkey’s Minister of Health
Mehmet Muezzinoglu.
According
to a press release by the “ministry of health”, Izbul will meet with the
Turkish Minister tomorrow morning, and they will discuss cooperation issues on
the health field.
Meanwhile,
Izbul will also invite Muezzinoglu in the inauguration ceremony of the oncology
centre in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
(DPs)
3. Durust met with “Abkhazia’s education minister”
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (08.09.15)
reports that the so-called minister of
education Kemal Durust met with the “minister of education of Abkhazia”, Adgur
Kakoba and his accompanied delegation.
The
so-called deputy with the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG)
Mehmet Caglar and the Turkish Ambassador in “Abkhazia”, Inor Gitsbo attended
also the meeting.
According to the paper, during the meeting, Durust stated that the “TRNC” is ready to
cooperate with “Abkhazia” in the field of “universities”. He also thanked
so-called deputy Caglar for arranging the meeting and stated that they are
ready to support the mutual cooperation agreement between the “universities” of
both “countries”, which both struggle as he said for “independence”.
For
his part, Kakoba underlined that “Abkhazia” is not a recognized country and
stressed the need for an “agreement” to be reached between the “TRNC” and
“Abkhazia” regarding the mutual recognition of their “universities”.
Also speaking, Gogua stated that the “TRNC” and
“Abkhazia” have common problems deriving from their non-recognition and
underlined the need for them to cooperate in the fields of culture and
politics.
4. Ozgurgun: “If we do
not come to power in the first elections, I will quit from my duties”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris (08.09.15) reports that the leader of the National
Unity Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun, attending a television programme at Turkish
Cypriot private channel Ada TV yesterday morning, criticized the candidates for
the UBP leadership that their aim is to hit the integrity of their party and
they do not contribute to the in-party democracy.
Ozgurgun
gave the first signals that in case he does not bring the UBP in power in the
first “general elections”, he will resign from his duty.
Commenting
also on the Cyprus issue, Ozgurgun said that the decisions that the two parties
took in their own parties are valid. He also said that the sine qua non for the
UBP is that they will not make concessions on the issues of the two founding states,
the equality of the two “people”, the continuation of the de facto guarantees
and the active presence of the Turkish occupation forces. He stressed that
these are their red lines and the UBP’s views on this are clear.
(DPs)
5. Reliable sources of a
Turkish Cypriot columnist say that Ozersay intends to announce the
establishment of his party very soon
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (08.09.15)
reports that the paper’s columnist Gokhan Altiner writes in his column today
that according to information he acquired from sources close to Kudret Ozersay,
the latter plans to form a political party together with a very close friend of
him.
Altiner supports that he is hundred per cent sure that
Ozersay will announce the formation of his party after the National Unity
Party’s (UBP) congress which is scheduled to take place on October 31. He
further added that a possible name for Ozersay’s party is “Reform Party”.
(AK)
6. Narin
Sefik to be appointed “chief justice” of the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot Kibris Postasi newspaper (08.09.15)
reports that “supreme court judge” Narin Ferdi Sefik is being appointed “chief justice”
following the retirement of Safak Oneri.
7. No
Turkish Cypriot political party attended the opening ceremony of a monument for
all Cypriot missing persons built by a well-known Turkish Cypriot writer and
peace activist
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (08.09.15)
reports that Turkish Cypriot writer and
peace activist Leyla Kiralp has built a monument for her late husband Ahmet
Mustafa and all Cypriot missing persons at her village, Mari in the
government-controlled area of the island. Mustafa had been assassinated at
Tohni village on 14 August 1974.
Kiralp told Kibris that she built the monument with
money she earned from a book and that no
Turkish Cypriot political party responded positively to her invitation to
attend the opening ceremony. She said that only representatives from Greek
Cypriot AKEL left-wing party attended the opening ceremony, while Greek Cypriot
DISY right-wing party sent flowers. She noted that she had also invited Turkish
Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci.
(I/Ts.)
8. Violence
escalated between PKK and the Turkish army in southeastern Turkey
Ankara Anatolia news agency (08.09.15) reports that at
least twelve police officers were killedand others wounded in a roadside bomb
attack staged by the PKK terrorist organization on Tuesday, security sources
said.Police were escorting customs officials during their work commute in
eastern Igdir province when PKK members detonated the explosives, according to
sources.
The incident comes after Sunday's bomb attack by PKK
that resulted in 16 soldiers being killed in Hakkari, in what was the deadliest
such attack since the PKK renewed its armed offensive at the end of July.
9. Erdogan dismisses
delay of snap polls, signals openness to idea of coalition gov’t
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (08.09.15) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has strictly dismissed the possibility of postponing the early elections
scheduled for Nov. 1 due to the ongoing spiral of violence in the country,
while he has also indicated his openness to the idea of a coalition government
if the results of the snap polls don’t offer a chance for single-party rule.
“I
wish the picture which appeared after the June 7 election doesn’t appear
[again] because it leads Turkey to lose blood,” Erdogan said late on Sept. 6,
when asked about his prospects for the results of the Nov. 1 election.
“Look
at what they are saying: ‘Elections may not be held.’ Look at that approach.
You are supposed to believe in democracy and you display such a stance as
saying ‘Elections may not be held.’ Could there be such nonsense? The only way
out is the ballot boxes,” Erdogan said, in an interview with A Haber news
channel, as he underlined the steadiness of Turkey’s fight against attacks
would also be secured by an election.
“The
election will of course be held. No matter what the conditions are, it will be
held,” he said.
Meanwhile,
Erdogan, who has constantly argued a coalition government would lead to
instability, acknowledged conditions after the Nov. 1 vote might force parties
to agree on a power-sharing government.
“I
wish there will be no quest for a coalition. But if such a will [for a coalition]
is manifested [by the people during the Nov. 1 election], then everybody should
bear the result of such manifestation,” Erdogan told A Haber.
10. Davutoglu: “Turkey
will be cleaned of terrorists at any price”
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (08.09.15) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu speaking at a news conference in Ankara the day after the attack by
PKK he stated said: "These mountains will be cleaned of terrorists. Whatever
happens these will be cleaned”.
Davutoglu
said that Turkish security forces had
taken the control of the area around the highway and evacuated the casualties. "The
goal is clear -- to establish public order and the dominance of the legitimate
security forces in every corner and every centimetre of Turkey," Davutoglu
said.
11. Turkish opposition
reacts against the clashes between PKK and the Turkish army
The
Turkish press (08.09.15) reports about the Turkish opposition’s reactions
regarding the clashes between PKK and the Turkish army which were escaladed
recently.
Today’s
Zaman reports that main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy
Chairman and spokesperson Haluk Koc has condemned the attacks stressing that
despite the PKK attacks, public peace will be established in Turkey. Koc said
Turkey does not belong to any particular community and the nation should raise
its voice louder and louder to be able to live together as brothers.
The
leader of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, has
said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice and
Development Party (AK Party) are responsible for the recent attack in Daglica.
Releasing a written statement condemning the fatal bomb attack, Bahceli
said: “The separatist PKK terrorist organization struck at the heart of the
Turkish nation once again. Our police officers and our soldiers have been
victims of malicious attacks since July 20.” Commenting that the death toll of
the attack is not yet certain, Bahceli said the number of slain soldiers “might
be horrific," adding, “Although there has not yet been any official
statement that can satisfactorily eliminate our question marks, it is clearly
understood that the number of martyrs is at a horrific level.”
In
addition Turkish Hurriyet Daily News
reports that the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP)
has offered its condolences over the killing of an undisclosed number of
Turkish soldiers on Sept. 6 in a major attack in the south-eastern province of
Hakkari while it reiterated its call for a mutual silencing of arms both by the
PKK and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
“Turkey
is rapidly sliding into a disaster. The fire is growing. Each passing hour and
each passing day is drawing all of us closer to the opening of wounds which are
difficult to heal and living with great polarization and disintegration,” said
the HDP’s Central Executive Board (MYK) on Sept. 7.
12.
HDP offices attacked by protesters
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (07.09.15-online in
English) reported that dozens of buildings belonging to the pro-Kurdish
People’s Democratic Party’s (HDP) local branches were attacked in several
cities across Turkey after the General Staff confirmed that 16 soldiers were
killed in a terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) ambush on Sunday.
In Nigde, a group of nearly 500 protesters, who
gathered in the Cumhuriyet square, attacked HDP Nigde provincial branch
building with stones. Similar attacks were staged in the Manavgat, Antalya,
Mersin, Sakarya, Corlu and Kayseri province, with protesters stoning the
party’s local headquarters and hanging Turkish flags on the buildings.
(…)
13. Prosecutor launches
probe into Hurriyet for ‘insulting Erdogan’
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (08.09.15) reports that a Turkish prosecutor has launched a
probe into daily Hurriyet for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
İdris
Kurt, deputy chief prosecutor in Istanbul’s Bakirkoy district, initiated the
process himself Sept. 7 over claims that daily Hurriyet “twisted Erdogan’s
words to conduct a perception operation.”
Speaking
on the pro-government A Haber TV station about the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’
Party’s (PKK) deadly attack on a military convoy in the southeastern province
of Hakkari on Sept. 6, Erdogan was asked by the presenter: “You said in the
inauguration of a metro line that you ‘wanted 400 Deputies’ [for the AKP]. It
is said that these words played a role in the coming of this conflict period.” In
response, Erdogan said: “If a political party could have gotten 400 Deputies or
[a parliamentary majority] to write a new constitution, the situation would be
different today.” As headline, Hurriyet
tweeted, “Daglica comment from Erdogan: ‘This would not have happened if 400 Deputies
had been given,” while reporting the full text of the interview, leading to
accusations among pro-government social media users.
In
addition, On Sept. 7, daily Hurriyet filed a criminal complaint against
protesters and their leader Abdurrahim Boynukalin, a parliamentary deputy and
the head of the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) youth organization.
14. Turkey deports VICE
News journalists
Turkish
Today’s Zaman newspaper (08.09.15) reports that Jake Hanrahan and Philip
Pendlebury, two VICE News journalists who were arrested in southeastern Turkey
last week on charges of having links to a terrorist organization and later
released from prison, have been deported from Turkey, according to Turkish
media reports.
Hanrahan
and Pendlebury were reportedly sent to Dusseldorf after formal procedures were
completed by the Adana Migrant Administration office.
Tahir
Elci, head of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, had said on Friday that it was expected
that the two Britons would be deported after formal procedures were completed.
They were being held at a local migration administration office.
Hanrahan
and Pendlebury, a correspondent and cameraman, respectively, were detained in
Diyarbakir where renewed fighting between Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and
Turkish security forces has killed scores of people recently. A Turkish court
freed the two British journalists but ruled to keep their assistant, Iraqi
national Mohammed Ismael Rasool, in custody pending an investigation, after
assessing an appeal from the trio's lawyers.
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