TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
197/15 17-19.10.2015
1.
The water transfer project inaugurated in Turkey
2. The water transfer project inaugurated in the
occupied area of Cyprus
3.
Seventeen organisations demonstrated against the water project
4.
How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the opening ceremonies of Anamur dam and
Panagra dam
5.
Reports about the price of the water transferred from Turkey
6. Turkish Cypriot columnist: They even brought people
from Turkey; we were like guests at the ceremony in occupied Panagra
7.
Colak: The Turkish Cypriots expect a considerable grant from the Obama
administration”
8.
Akinci met with EU Commissioner Cretu
9. Afrika refers to allegations that an agreement has
been reached on the population in case of a federal solution
10. A Turkish Cypriot real estate agent alleges that
they could pay the compensations for the occupied Greek Cypriot properties
11.
A Pakistani Minister is illegally visiting the occupation regime
12.
Illegal GAU university attended international events abroad
13.
Merkel says Germany ready to support Cyprus and help Turkey
14.
Erdogan: The EU woke up late to Turkey’s role on migrants
1.
The water transfer project inaugurated in Turkey
Illegal Bayrak television (17.10.15)
broadcast that the Anamur leg of the water
project was inaugurated on Saturday with a ceremony attended by Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Turkish
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, “prime minister”Omer Kalyoncu, the Turkish
Minister of Forestry and Water Works Veysel Eroglu as well as other Turkish
government and state officials.
Delivering a speech at the inauguration
ceremony in Anamur, Mersin, Davutoglu
praised the project. He said that motherland Turkey and the “TRNC” were now
joined physically with a bridge of water.
Expressing his belief that the two “peoples”
on the island can live together side by side, the Turkish Prime Minister said
that water pumped to Cyprus will serve as a catalyst for peace on the island. “We
hope that the water will bring not just life but also peace” he said.
He
said that Turkeysincerely supports a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement
in Cyprus and added: “Let this become
the first step and symbol for a beacon of stability in the region”. “We shall
continue to do all we can for the prosperity of the TRNC” he added.
Akinci
said that the water will
transform Cyprus into a green island, will increase production and will help
develop the “TRNC economy”. “Such a
development will allow the TRNC to stand on its own feet…this will be vital for
a settlement in the future. It will allow the Turkish Cypriots to become more
competitive within the EU. The project and the technology used is the first of
its kind. […] We could establish an
energy corridor combining the natural gas of neighbouring countries marketing
via Turkey. This is the most feasible way as experts have expressed. More
importantly we can increase the capacity of the water with the current
technology and perhaps share it with our Greek Cypriot neighbours or other
countries in the region. So we can truly speak of this water as a water of
peace” he said.
Erdogan
for his part said that the project, the first of its kind in the world, was a source of
pride for Turkey. He said that the water will bring an end to the “country’s”
water shortages and will be enough to meet the island’s water needs for the
next 50 years.
2. The
water transfer project inaugurated in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (18.10.15)
reports that speaking at the opening
ceremony of Panarga Dam in occupied Myrtou, in the framework of the
inauguration ceremony for the water project transferred from Turkey,
Turkish President Erdogan stated that
they would, if requested, also provide water to the Republic of Cyprus: “If the people in the south say ‘we also want
to benefit from this water’, we will name this water ‘Peace Water’ and carry
them water because what actually matters to us is humans.”
Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akıncı “prime minister” Omer Kalyoncu Turkish Minister of
Forestry and Water Affairs Veysel Eroglu, “ministers and deputies” were present
at the opening ceremony.
Expressing his pleasure to inaugurate the pipeline
project with the people of Cyprus, Erdogan said: “I commemorate our soldiers
and the mujahidin, who sacrificed themselves for the survival, rights and
freedom of the Turkish Cypriots on these lands with grace. I wish a long and
healthy life to our veterans who are still with us.” He also said that he had
closely followed every phase of this project, and added: “Today, we are proud
and joyful to deliver our promise. This project, including its treatment
facility and distribution lines, cost TL1.6 billion. I wish it will bring
prosperity to our countries and our region.”
“As a guarantor country and the Homeland,
Turkey is sincere about finding a solution to the Cyprus problem in the
negotiations, which recently gained impetus,” Erdogan said and he alleged the
following: “During the efforts so far, we have always been one step ahead. We
have always acted sincerely and on good will. Nobody can ignore this fact; It
has always been the Turkish Cypriots, who wanted a fair, permanent and
sustainable peace in the Island. Today, we continue to defend that the Cyprus
problem be resolved in a comprehensive way that will ensure the political equality
and legitimate rights of the Turkish Cypriots because we view this issue from a
much wider perspective. Solution in Cyprus will contribute to peace and
stability in Eastern Mediterranean.”
“We will
continue to work to successfully conclude the negotiation process and we will
continue to provide any and all kinds of support so that the Turkish Cypriots
have a more prosperous future,” President Erdogan said and further stated: “It
should be our priority to ensure that the Turkish Cypriots grow more prosperous,
develop economically and stand on their own feet.”
In statements during the inauguration ceremony for the
water project which took place in Gecitkoy [Panagra Dam] in the occupied area
of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, stated, inter alia, that
the water from Turkey is a “breath of fresh air” which will contribute to the
future of Cyprus, the solution and the peace process.
Stressing the need for the water from Turkey to be
well managed, Akinci said that the Turkish Cypriot “people” and their
organizations should find the most rational and constructive way to manage the
water.
Reminding that in 1988 a ceremony took place for the
transferring of water from Turkey to the “TRNC” via balloons, Akinci recalled
that former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel said that Turkey was planning to
transfer water to the “TRNC” via pipelines after two years. “This project was a
difficult project, but the will existed.The late Demirel had not the luck to
attend, but Erdogan is here”, Akinci said.
Pointing out that President Erdogan is behind this
project, the one who supported it and made it become a reality, Akinci thanked
Erdogan for his contribution.
Akinci also stated the following: “Now, they share the
water with us. This is not only water. It is also a contribution to the future
of Cyprus. If it is evaluated together with the energy resources in the Easter
Mediterranean, imagine the natural gas to pass via a corridor from Cyprus to
Turkey and from Turkey to be transferred to Europe. And think about the
electricity networks which interconnect south Cyprus to interconnect us with
Europe via a cable which will pass from Turkey. New horizons will open with the
viability of this engineering map. I consider that in the way that we could share
this water with the south, we could come to the position to be able to share it
with the Middle East as well. This project has been launched as a dream. If my
vision about the Eastern Mediterranean could become a reality, this would be
beneficial for all regional countries. The ties of the Turkish Cypriots with
the Greek Cypriots, the ties of Turkey together with Greece and the EU will
enter a new path. All these issues are very important issues and will have
positive in effects our region”, added Akinci.
Describing the water project as a milestone and a
first of its kind, Akinci further said that the water from Turkey will change
the color of the island. “In real terms, Cyprus will become a green island”,
Akinci said.
(AK)
3. Seventeen organisations
demonstrated against the water project Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (17.10.15)
broadcast that 17 organisations held a
demonstration outside the “Turkish embassy” to occupied Lefkosia to protest against
the water project transferred from Turkey and against the Turkish President
Tayyip Erdogan.
Among
the organisations protested were the New Cyprus Party (YKP), the United Cyprus
Party (BKP), the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Trade Union
(KTOEOS), the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers’ Trade Union (KTOS), the
Feminist Initiative and others.
The demonstrators held black
balloons and placards which read : “The water you have brought will not clean
the blood of the lives you have taken”.
The
Chairman of the KTOS Sener Elcil read out a short statement after which the
demonstrators held a minute silence in memory of the people who died in the
bombing in Ankara last week.
The
joint statement said that the “project of the century was the disaster of the
century” and the water project would bring an ecological disaster with it. It
went on to say that they were there to protest as well as mourn those who lost
their lives.
The
100 black balloons were left to the sky after which the demonstrators left
peacefully.
4. How the Turkish
Cypriot press covered the opening ceremonies of Anamur dam and Panagra dam
The
main issue in the Turkish Cypriot newspapers on Sunday (18.10.15) was the
opening ceremonies of Anamur dam in Turkey and the Panagra dam in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus within the framework of the “water supply
project”.
The
Turkish Cypriot papers covered in their front pages the ceremonies with the
following titles:
KIBRIS:
“The water of peace”.
HAVADIS:
“The running water for peace and prosperity”
VATAN:
“We gave the name Peace Water and we will give to the South too”
AFRIKA:
“The 3rd operation in the island”. It is the only paper, which
reported on the protest demonstrations against the water project in its front
page instead of the opening ceremonies.
YENI DUZEN:
“Rally in Anamur, opening in Camlibel (occupied village of Myrtou”. The paper
reported that the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan turned the opening
ceremony at the Anamur dam to a rally for the upcoming elections in Turkey.
Erdogan criticized harshly the domestic policies in Turkey against the
opposition.
HALKIN SESI:
“Let it be the water of peace”
KIBRISLI:
“The centennial missing is finished”. The paper reported that the strong links
between the motherland and the child-land have connected eternally.
STAR KIBRIS:
“Thanks Motherland”
DETAY:
“1453 soul came to our rescue”
DIYALOG:
“Now, we are united”
KIBRIS POSTASI:
“The water was dedicated to the ‘peace hope’…”
YENI BAKIS:
“A flow to the solution”
(DPs)
5. Reports about the
price of the water transferred from
Turkey
Illegal
Bayrak television (16.10.15) broadcast that the head of the “Municipalities Water and Sewerage Enterprises” BESKİ
and head of the “Turkish Cypriot
Municipalities Union” Ahmet Benli
said that managing and operating the water are two separate things and
added that “in democracy the management is always the people and the operating
is always the states or the private sectors”.
Touching upon the pricing of
water, Benli said that currently 15 cents is paid for from its source, 25 cents
for it to be distributed by the state and goes for 45 to 50 cents as the real
price of the water.
Noting
that once the water from Turkey arrives and is distributed there will be a
major difference in water prices, Benli warned that after calculating all the
expenses involved in obtaining the water, the real price of the water may be
higher than 60 to 80 cents.
He
also said that according to their sources the amount of water used by the
population of the breakaway regime in
2015 is 38.8 million cubic metres.
Giving
information about the reason behind BESKI’s establishment Benli said that their
main aim was to show the “people” how successful they could be and give a new
dynamism and morale to the public.
(TR.
Note: BESKI was established with the aim of administrating the water which came
from Turkey to the occupied area of the island.)
6. Turkish
Cypriot columnist: They even brought people from Turkey; we were like guests at
the ceremony in occupied Panagra
Under the title “Not being able to administrate even
the ceremony, not only the water”, columnist Sami Ozuslu in Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (19.10.15) refers to the ceremonies held on Saturday
at Anamur in Turkey and in occupied Panagra village area in the occupied part
of Cyprus regarding the project for bringing water from Turkey to the occupied
area of the island.
Ozuslu
writes that he was offended by the way the ceremonies were held and explains:
“[…] Let us continuously say that we want the
administration of the water, we could
not administrate even the ceremony organized in our own country! Let me say
it in another way: We participated in
absolutely no point of the ceremonies organized for the water. Neither in
Anamur nor in Panagra. In fact, we
understood that the president and the prime minister went [Translator’s note:
he means Mustafa Akinci and Omer Kalalyoncu] to Anamur when the TRT started its
live broadcasting. And we saw that ‘our people’ were also there! When they went
there and how they arrived? No one knew it. The Turkish Cypriot press has once
more been treated as being ‘third class’ [press]. Was it only in Anamur? No, the ‘boss’ at the ceremony in Panagra were
also the employees brought from Turkey.
They have organized everything.
We were almost like ‘guests’. In any
case, the presenter of the ceremony behaved in this manner. While called
Erdogan ‘our president’, he announced Akinci as ‘the TRNC president’. I do not
know about you, but I was offended. […]
The
ceremony held in Anamur was turned into a rally of the AKP with the pretext of ‘the opening ceremony of the
water’. […] Davutoglu, who makes
known his views in every occasion, without deviating from his ideology, declared to friends and enemies that ‘they
united the TRNC and the island of Cyprus with Anatolia through pipelines
forever’. Davutoglu talked like a Grand Vizier whose country is a bed of
roses and not like a responsible prime minister of a country in which more than
100 people died about a week ago. […]
Perhaps
many of us do not realize it, but even participants from Turkey were brought
for the ceremony at Panagra! Those who would go from here were probably
not considered to be sufficient. A person who talked to Kanal SIM said that ‘I
came from Adana for the ceremony’. Not only water came with pipelines.
Together with the water, the organizers of the ceremony also came, a presenter
came, and persons providing security came.
Even ‘persons to shout slogans’
came!
I do
not know about you, but I was offended by this. The water came, let us rejoice,
let us be happy, yes.
[…] However, if we will suffer in this
manner after the water comes, no! […] And
if my president and my prime minister will become a side dish at pre-election
rallies, if they will be forced to put up with religious and racist slogans
shouted without showing any respect to their political line and stance and if
they will not be able to reject this, no!
We
were not able to administrate not only the water, but even the ceremony for the
water! This was the clearest message given on 17 October 2015. I do not know about you, but I was very, very
offended”.
(I/Ts.)
7. Colak: The Turkish
Cypriots expect a considerable grant from the Obama administration”
Turkish
daily Hurriyet (online, 18.10.15) reported that the Turkish Cypriots expect a
considerable amount of grant from the Obama’s administration for the Cyprus
settlement. The paper reports that while US Secretary of State John Kerry’s
arrival to the island in the coming month is expected, it is also hoped that
Washington’s support for the compensation that the Turkish Cypriot side will
pay to the Greek Cypriots on the property chapter of the Cyprus talks.
The
paper also reports that a financial contribution is expected for the solution
of the Cyprus problem, which will witness an intensification of the Cyprus
talks in the coming months, from the USA which was the architect of the
declaration signed by both Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides in February 2014.
The
self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus EmineColak evaluated, in the paper, her contacts in her
recent visit to Washington with officials from the US Congress and the US
Administration. Colak said: “We are obliged to be in harmony and synergy with
Turkey. We cannot solve the Cyprus problem without Turkey. However, without the
Turkish Cypriots we cannot quit without solution”. She asked Ankara’s support
on this issue. Noting that three issues have remained for solution, Colak said
that these issues are the property, the territory and the guarantees.
Colak
said that the position of the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) on the property issue is that
the solution should be harmonize to the bi-zonality, which will respect the
property rights. She added: “The TRNC will gear the choices for exchange and
compensation from the return formula, which will turn the demography in the
north in favour of the Greek Cypriots for the solution of the property problem.
The Turkish Cypriot side wants to exchange 400 thousands donum land which
belongs to the Turkish Cypriots in the south (translator’s note: the government
controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus) in equivalent to 1.5 million donum
land of the Greek Cypriots in the north (translator’s note: the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus).” In addition to this, it is planned that the fenced
off town of Varoshia as well as the green line land property will be left to
the Greek Cypriots. The paper reports that the Turkish Cypriot side aims to
find financial support from international institutions and the US
Administration for the compensations for the remaining property of the Greek
Cypriots.
On
the guarantee issue, the Turkish Cypriot side wants at least the treaties of
guarantee and alliance of 1959 to stand until Turkey joins the EU.
(DPs)
8. Akinci met with EU
Commissioner Cretu
Illegal
Bayrak television (17.10.15) broadcast that the EU Commissioner for Regional Policies Corina Cretu met with the Turkish
Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci as part of her contacts on the island.
Speaking
to reporters after her meeting with Cretu, Akinci said that he had found the opportunity
to convey to the EU Commissioner his views and positions regarding the Cyprus
problem. “She was already informed of
the process and she told us how much she appreciated our efforts”.
Akinci
also said that he had shared his thoughts with the EU Commissioner regarding
the protest staged by the Lefkosia “mayor” Mehmet Harmanci, “not just as the
TRNC president but also as a former mayor”.
“The
EU’s stance was totally against the spirit of the current atmosphere prevailing
on the island. There have been two municipalities in the capital Lefkosıa since
1958 and the Lefkosia Turkish Municipality is a local administration engraved
in the 1960 Constitution. Instead of posing to the press with both Mayors in
the UN controlled buffer zone she chose to take a photo with the Greek Cypriot
Mayor of Lefkosia, posing in front of a wall dividing the capital with Turkish
and TRNC flags flying in the background. This didn’t look good. I conveyed to
her that what she did was not right and that it would have been much better if
she, in line with the current atmosphere, had posed with both Mayors at a more
suitable location” he argued.
Pointing
out that Ms Cretu was greatly disappointed when she heard these words, Akinciclaimed
that the EU Commissioner had promised to make up for her mistake.
9. Afrika
refers to allegations that an agreement has been reached on the population in
case of a federal solution
Under the title “220 thousands the maximum”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (19.10.15) refers to allegations that the sides have “reached a certain agreement on the
problem of the population from Turkey [living] on the island that constitutes
one of the most fundamental issues of the negotiations” for finding a
solution to the Cyprus problem.
According to the paper, the fate of the Turkish
settlers has started to be clarified in the negotiations. Arguing that during
the Annan Plan period the Greek Cypriots had accepted 42 thousand Turkish
settlers to become citizens of the federal state, the paper claims that “the Greek Cypriots have started behaving more
generously now”.
“This number
has been increased and raised to 220 thousands together with the Turkish
Cypriots”, argues Afrika adding that “if
100 thousand Turkish Cypriots exist, it was accepted that the people from
Turkey will be 120 thousands”.
It is said that priority
for the citizenship of the federal state will be given to those settlers who
were born in Cyprus or are married to a Cypriot. According to Afrika’s
information, those who remain outside
this number will be granted the right to reside and work on the island based on
certain criteria.
(I/Ts.)
10. A
Turkish Cypriot real estate agent alleges that they could pay the compensations
for the occupied Greek Cypriot properties
Under the title “’There will be no compensations
problem’”, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (19.10.15) reports that Hasan Sungur, chairman of the Turkish
Cypriot so-called real estate agents’ union, has alleged that if the Turkish
Cypriots sell half of the Turkish Cypriot properties in the
government-controlled area of the island, they could pay the compensations to
the Greek Cypriots for their properties which are currently under Turkish
occupation.
In statements to the paper, Sungur said that the Greek
Cypriot properties in the occupied area of the island are around one million
and 350 thousand donums [Translator’s note: A land measure of around 1000
square meters], and the Turkish Cypriot properties in the government-controlled
area are 450 thousand donums.
Sungur argued that 30%-40% of the so-called title
deeds given by the breakaway regime for the occupied Greek Cypriot properties
are given as “equivalent” for property abandoned in the government-controlled
area, while 60% for allotted property, for “fighters” etc.
He said that today you can buy a property in occupied
Arsos, Trimithounta or Melusha villages for 1000 Turkish liras (TL) per donum,
“if it is not a Turkish property”, but three kilometers away, in Athienu
village, one donum is 95 thousand -100 thousand sterling pounds.
He alleged:
“If we sell half of the Turkish properties in the
south (and in any case those who have taken equivalent property in this side
renounced their rights and the properties passed to the state) we will pay the
compensation of the Greek Cypriots. I am not a politician or a negotiator. We
definitely have no compensations problem.”
Replying to a question, Sungur said that on Sunday a
delegation of real estate agents from Ankara (TEMFED federation) will visit the
occupied area of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriots will explain to them why they
should invest in the occupied area of Cyprus. He noted that TEMFED has brotherly relations with the Russian Real
Estate Agents’ federation and will help them to directly reach the Russian
market.
(I/Ts.)
11. A Pakistani Minister is
illegally visiting the occupation regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (19.10.15)
reports that the Minister of Law, Human
Rights and Assembly’s foreign Relations of the Pakistani Government, Imtiyaz
Shahid has arrived illegally in the occupied area of Cyprus the other day,
upon an invitation by the “British University of Nicosia” (“BUN”).
According to a statement issued by Hasan Ali Bicak,
“rector” of “BUN”, the Pakistani Minister carried out a series of “official”
contacts in the “TRNC” with the aim to develop more the friendly ties between
the two “countries”.
Expressing pleasure over Shahid’s visit to the “TRNC”,
Bicakli said that their prior aim, is to further develop the cooperation
between the two “countries” in the fields of higher education.
The Pakistani Minister, who is expected to depart from
the occupation regime on October 25, will give also a conference at the illegal
university on the issue of “Human Rights”.
(AK)
12. Illegal GAU university
attended international events abroad
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (19.10.15)
reports that the “deputy chairman” of
the “administration board” of the illegal American University of Keryneia (GAU)
Asim Vehbi has represented the occupation regime in an international platform.
According to the paper, Vehbi attended a conference called “Congress of the International Union
of Military Science”.
The
conference took place in Helsinki, Finland with the participation of around 150
experts in the field of military science from 21 countries.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli
(18.10.15) reported that the illegal GAU
university attended also the 22nd International Seminar on Urban Form (ISUF
2015), hosted in Rome by the Faculty of Architecture of 'Sapienza' University.
The occupation regime was represented at the forum by
Dr. Alessandro Camiz, member of the academic staff of the “faculty of
architecture, design and fine arts” of the illegal GAU.
(AK)
13. Merkel says Germany
ready to support Cyprus and help Turkey
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (19.10.15) reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that her country is
ready to extend support to Cyprus while helping drive forward Turkey’s European
Union accession process.
Merkel
held a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul
on Sunday, after the two had a meeting on a number of issues, including the
Syrian crisis and influx of refugees. The Chancellor made it clear that Germany
would offer assistance to Ankara in exchange for Turkish help in stemming the
flow of refugees to Europe.
Asked by reporters how Cyprus
could be convinced to give the green light to Turkey’s path to the EU, Merkel
said that Germany will offer support to Cyprus. “Of course, the consent of all
member states is required for accession. Of course we will offer our support to
Cyprus” Merkel said.
Reporting on the same issue,
Hurriyet Daily News (19.10.15) reports that Merkel has pledged to give support
to four Turkish demands on which Ankara has insisted in return for agreeing to
a migrant action plan with the European Union.
“There are four elements.
Germany is ready to give support on these issues,” Merkel said Oct. 18 during a
joint press conference with her Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu.
Davutoglu
said Turkey was ready to work with Germany and the EU on the migration crisis
and would take all measures to prevent human trafficking. However, Ankara is
focused on four issues, the Prime Minister said: the opening of negotiation
chapters, visa liberalization, the transfer of 3 billion euro from the EU to
Turkey for migrant support and the invitation of Turkish leaders to EU summits.
Davutoglu
stressed the “fair share of the burden” on the migration problem and welcomed
Merkel’s approach on the issue, while noting that the figures were of secondary
importance.
Davutoglu expressed Turkey’s
expectation for the implementation of visa privileges for Turkish nationals by
2016, in return for a readmission agreement which would pave the way for the EU
to send migrants back to Turkey. “In
terms of the migration crisis, we seek to contribute a new vision to relations
between the EU and Turkey and get out of its frozen situation,” he said.
“We agreed on accelerating the
opening of negotiation chapters 17, 23, 24,” he said.
Expressing
support for the Turkish demands, Merkel
especially highlighted that they would work to open Chapter 17, and said they
would “discuss” details on Chapters 23 and 24. The German Chancellor also
reiterated her country’s longstanding hesitations about Turkey’s prospective
membership in the Union and said, “Turkey’s full membership is an open-ended
issue.”
The
two leaders also discussed Syria, with Turkey informing the German Intelligence
information.
14. Erdogan: The EU woke
up late to Turkey’s role on migrants
Hurriyet
Daily News (18.10.15) reported that Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed on Oct. 16 that the European Union had
“woken up too late” to Turkey’s importance in stemming the flow of refugees
from Syria and accused it of “insincerity” in talks on Turkish membership.
Erdogan
said NATO member Turkey’s proximity to Syria and its key role in handling the
refugee crisis had strengthened its case for EU membership.
“The
West and Europe’s security and stability is contingent on our security and
stability. They have accepted this now. In the talks I held in Brussels last
week they accepted all this. It can’t happen without Turkey,” he said at a
meeting of the W20, an offshoot of the G20, which Turkey is chairing this year,
aimed at boosting the role of women in the global economy.
“So
if it can’t happen without Turkey, why don’t you take Turkey into the EU? The
problem is clear but they are not open. They are not clear. They say ‘We made a
mistake on NATO, let’s not make the same mistake on the EU.’ That is the
problem,” Erdogan added. “We have spent
$8 billion [on refugees] until now. How much support did the world give us?
$417 million,” he stated.
Erdogan
also questioned whether Brussels had really started treating Ankara’s
long-standing membership application seriously.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)
