TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 188/15 03-05.10.2015
1. Akinci met with UNSG Ban Ki-moon
2. Akinci met with Kerry
3. Akinci evaluated his contacts in New York: “The very
fact that they were held during the UN General Assembly Session is a gain’
4. Kibris: Akinci and the UNSG discussed the missing
persons and the Deryneia crossing point
5. Colak expects from ECO member countries to lift the
reportedly international isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots
6. Sinirlioglu discussed Cyprus with Eide and Kerry in
New York
7. Ozgurgun: Chance of Cyprus settlement is zero
8. Talat: “May 2015 is a logical timetable”
9. The “founding director” of the illegal YDU University
held contacts in Ukraine
10. Kalyoncu: We have the last word as regards the water
issue
11. The KTTO proposed the model of “public-private
partnership” for the administration of the water from Turkey
12. Columnist: “I have started to seriously worry that Turkey’s
policy is to annex Cyprus”
13. Sucuoglu held contacts in Ankara
14. Turkish Cypriot businessmen who make huge
endorsements in the UK ask for facilitation to invest in the breakaway regime
15. Erdogan slams Russia for ‘grave mistake’ in Syria
before key visit to Europe
16. Turkey summons the Russian Ambassador over airspace
violation
17. Turkey’s main political parties announced their
manifesto for November 1 elections
18. Erdogan reacts after Turkey’s election body rejects
polling station changes
1. Akinci
met with UNSG Ban Ki-moon
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 03.10.15), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said that the property issue needs to be solved in a manner
which will not upset the social order in the “country”.
Speaking to reporters following his meeting
on Friday with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Akinci described his
meeting with the UN Secretary General as effective and productive. “We
discussed the progress achieved in the talks with the UN Secretary General”, he
said.
Stating that he had found the opportunity
to convey the Turkish Cypriot side’s views regarding the stage reached in the
talks, Akinci said that important
progress had been reached on the chapters of power sharing and governance,
economy and EU matters. He said that the UN Secretary General also shared his
views on the level of progress achieved.
Pointing out that the talks will be
focusing on the thorny issues of property, security and guarantees over the
next few months, Akinci reminded that he had reached an agreement with his
Greek Cypriot counterpart NicosAnastasiades on establishing a joint property
commission made up of a specific number of Turkish Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and
a foreign member to deal with property cases after a settlement is reached.
“The decisions of this commission will be based on the criteria to be
determined and set by the two sides. Our negotiators will be negotiating and
determining what these criteria will be. I am hoping that we will achieve
positive results in a short period of time”, he added.
Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side
is sensitive on the bizonality of a settlement to be reached; Akinci reminded
that this principle is included in the 11 February 2014 declaration. He expressed the view that compensation
will play an important role in the creation of a post-settlement property
regime. “This is why the financing and funding of a settlement has become
important more than ever”, he added.
Akinci highlighted the importance of
reaching a win-win solution in which none of the two sides will be able to
establish dominance over the other. Stating that a settlement will not only
benefit Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots but the whole region as well,
Akinci reminded that the two sides had agreed to speed up the negotiations
process in November.
Reiterating his view that a solution is
possible in a matter of months, Akinci said that a settlement can be reached
before the parliamentary elections in Cyprus in May if both sides pushed
harder. “This could be possible if we work hard in November, December and
January. The critical issue here is the criteria that we will determine and
agree upon”, he added.
Pointing
out that the criteria on property will be a test; Akici said: “We are talking
about a bizonal, bi-communal settlement. Each community will make up the
majority of the population in their own respective constituent state. This has
been a UN parameter since 1992. I believe that we can find principles that can
safeguard and guarantee this.”
Responding to a question regarding the
issue of hydrocarbons, Akinci said that hydrocarbon reserves discovered in the
Eastern Mediterranean can work as a catalyst for a settlement in the
island.
Self-styled foreign minister EmineColak,
Turkish Cypriot negotiator OzdilNami, Akinci’s spokesman BarisBurcu and the
self-styled foreign ministry undersecretary ErhanErcin were also present at the
30 minute meeting which took place at the UN General Headquarters.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretariat issued a
statement following the meeting between Akinci and Ban.
The statement issued by the UN Secretary
General’s Spokesperson’s Office said that the UN Secretary-General and Mr
Akinci discussed the significant progress made by the Turkish Cypriot and the
Greek Cypriot leaders since the resumption of the negotiations aimed at
achieving a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.
“The Secretary-General welcomed the
positive and constructive spirit demonstrated by the leaders, as well as their
commitment to intensify the pace of the leaders’ meetings in the months to come
in order to reach a settlement as soon as possible. The Secretary-General and
Mr Akıncı also discussed the involvement of the Guarantor Powers in the
process”, the statement read.
It also said that the Secretary-General
assured Mr Akıncı of his personal and the United Nations’ steadfast commitment
of continuing to facilitate the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek
Cypriot leaders in the talks.
2. Akinci
met with Kerry
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 03.10.15), John Kerry has expressed the wish to visit Cyprus in
November, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said on Friday after meeting
the US Secretary of State in New York.
Akinci said that Kerry had expressed
continuing US support for a Cyprus solution based on a bizonal,
bizonalbicommunal federation. He also
said that Kerry had expressed his wish to visit Cyprus in November.
Akinci briefed Kerry during the 45 minute
meeting on the Cyprus negotiations and reaffirmed his determination to reach a
solution as soon as possible with the Greek Cypriot leader NicosAnastasiades.
Meanwhile, self-styled foreign minister
EmineColak, Turkish Cypriot negotiator OzdilNami, Akinci’s spokesman
BarisBurcu, the self-styled foreign ministry undersecretary ErhanErcin and the
“representative” of the breakaway regime in New York Mehmet Dana were also
present at the meeting.
3. Akinci
evaluated his contacts in New York: “The very fact that they were held during
the UN General Assembly Session is a gain’
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper
(05.10.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has said that his contacts in New York had a “concrete
gain” and added that the very fact that they were held in the period of the UN
General Assembly Session was a gain by its own. Akinci completed his meetings
in New York the day before yesterday.
Evaluating his contacts, Akinci underlined
the importance of holding contacts during such an intensive period as “the president
and officials” of the unrecognized “TRNC state”. He said that they had the
chance to convey their views and found support.
Akinci recalled that they met with the UN
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the US Secretary of State John Kerry, the
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the High Representative of the European
Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the
European Commission, Federica Mogherini and foreign Ministers of many
countries. He argued that this was the first time they had very comprehensive
and high level contacts and this is a result of the “decisive stance of the
Turkish Cypriot people on the issue of the solution” of the Cyprus problem.
According
to Akinci, it could be said that the international community’s interest in the
solution of the Cyprus problem increases. He added that while the negotiations
are advancing in the direction of the UN parameters, they started searching for
resources to finance the solution and described this as “very important development”.
Replying to a question, Akinci said that they have not directly discussed the issue
of the financing of the solution with the General Secretary of the Organization
for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), IyadEminMedeni, but he said that he had told him
that the property issue will mainly be solved through compensations and that
financing will be needed. Akinci noted that they will discuss this issue in
detail with Medeni in the future and expressed
the belief that the Islamic world will contribute in the financing of the
solution.
Describing his contacts in New York as
“productive”, Akinci said that the officials they met see that there is a
window of opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem, but they are
worried on the issue of making use of this opportunity. Akinci noted that the
Greek Cypriot side is against putting a timetable in the negotiations, but the
negotiations could not be prolonged. He
added that in his contacts he saw that the view that a solution should be
reached and a referendum should be held before the parliamentary elections of
May 2016 in the Republic of Cyprus was widely spread.
Referring on the property issue, Akinci said that they are determining the
criteria at the moment and when they settle this issue they will have covered a
lot of distance and the issues of territorial adjustments, property and
guarantees will remain. He noted that they will pass to the security and
guarantees if they reach a result by moving fast on these chapters just like
they did in the first three chapters. He
expressed the view that the important thing is to find a formula in which the
Turkish Cypriots will feel safe, but the Greek Cypriots will not feel
threatened.
(I/Ts.)
4. Kibris:
Akinci and the UNSG discussed the missing persons and the Deryneia crossing
point
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(05.10.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has briefed the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on the
issues of the missing persons and the opening of the Deryneia crossing point.
According to Kibris, Akinci told the UNSG that from now on the Turkish occupation army will
be giving faster and easier permission for investigations of places where
missing persons are thought to be buried in areas considered as military zones.
It is hoped that due to facilitating the investigations in about 30 places
of burial of missing persons in military zones the remains of more missing
persons will be found, writes Kibris.
On the other hand, Akinci told the UNSG that the existing road [called VehitGuner Street
by the Turkish Cypriots] will be used when the Deryneia crossing point will be
opened.
Diplomatic
sources say that these two issues have been successfully settled as a result of
“silent diplomacy” carried out by Akinci with Turkey’s civilian and army
officials. If no obstacle comes up, the Deryneia crossing point is expected to
open by the end of the year.
The sources said that the army officials
changed their stance on the issue of the Deryneia crossing point when Akinci
explained to them that because of the deadlock on that issue the Turkish
Cypriot side will be weakened in the negotiations for solving the Cyprus
problem and that this harms the interests of the Turkish Cypriots. The issue
was on the agenda of the illegal visit which the Chief of the Turkish General
Staff, General HulusiAkar paid to the island last month. Before that Akinci had
discussed the issue with the Turkish Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu and FeridunSinirlioglu respectively. According to
Kibris’ sources, General Akar gave the order to the commanders of the Turkish
occupation army in Cyprus that Akinci “has the final say” on this issue.
(I/Ts.)
5. Colak
expects from ECO member countries to lift the reportedly international
isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 03.10.15), self-styled foreign minister EmineColak, who is continuing
her contacts in New York, delivered also speeches at the meetings of the
Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) and the Islamic Cooperation
Organisation (OIC). She also met with the Turkish Foreign Minister
FeridunSinirlioglu.
According to a press release by the
“foreign ministry’s information department”, Colak, who addressed the OIC
Annual Coordination meeting, drew attention to the war and conflict waging on
in the Middle East. She said that the world could not stand by and watch the
region fall into pieces.
Also delivering a speech at the
extraordinary meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers in New York, Colak
touched upon the ongoing Cyprus negotiations process, the water project from
Turkey as well as higher education and tourism in the “TRNC” (editor’s note:
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus).
She said
that the “TRNC” is expecting member countries of the Economic Cooperation
Organisation (ECO) to help take steps towards lifting the reportedly
international isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.
Stating that the “Turkish Cypriot State”,
which shared a common history and culture with ECO member countries, remained
committed to the Economic Cooperation Organisation’s aims, Colak asked for the renewal of the “TRNC’s ‘observer status’” within
the organisation first granted in 2012.
Reminding that the negotiations aim at
reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem have resumed since May
this year, Colak argued that a solution in Cyprus, if both sides remain
committed, can be found not in several years but a matter of months.
6. Sinirlioglu discussed Cyprus with Eide and Kerry in New York
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (03.10.15) reported that the Turkish Foreign
Minister FeridunSinirlioglu held a meeting with Special Adviser of the
Secretary-General on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide on the sidelines of the 70th UN
General Assembly in New York.
Following
the meeting, Eide stated that the conditions for the solution of the Cyprus
problem are much more convenient than before and added that the following
months will be important for the negotiations. Referring to the property issue,
he stated that he does not think that money will be offered by the IMF, adding
that the EU and USA are studying the options for economic support after a
settlement in Cyprus is found.
The paper
also reports that Sinirlioğlu held face-to-face talks with his U.S. counterpart
John Kerry on Thursday amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West
over Syria. The paper writes that the Cyprus problem was on the agenda of the
meeting between the two men. Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said that the
closed-door meeting in New York focused on recent developments in Syria,
including Russia's airstrikes to bolster the regime of President Bashar
al-Assad.
(CS)
7. Ozgurgun:
Chance of Cyprus settlement is zero
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
Postasi Daily News (online, 05.10.15), the party leader of the National Unity
Party (UBP) and partner of the “coalition government” of the breakaway regime
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus Huseyin Ozgurgun, in a written
statement recently, said that the water project from Turkey to the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus could be an issue that would affect the
“coalition government”.
Ozgurgun said that he met with the leader
of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Mehmet Ali Talat and discussed this issue
several times. He added in fact that the “coalition partnership” is going well
but the water project is such that it can affect it. Ozgurgun said that Turkey has spent billions on this investment and
therefore has a right of saying in the project; he doesn’t think that being
obstinate to Turkey is the right path.He said that listening to their views and
cooperating with them on the matter would be more beneficial.
Ozgurgun further said that he discussed
with Talat the scenario if the “local councils” do not accept this formula
because at present the “local councils” distribute water and collect money in
return. If, however, the “local councils” form a consortium they will also be
able to participate in tender.
Meanwhile, illegal Bayrak television
(online, 05.10.15) reports that Ozgurgun,
evaluating the ongoing negotiations process to the Anatolian Agency, said that
the problem is mainly a mentality issue. “If an agreement will be found in
Cyprus, it should be with the natural desire of the two sides however this
natural desire is not possible today”, Ozgurgun argued.
“As long as the Greek Cypriots keep seeing
Cyprus as a Greek island we cannot solve the problem by dealing with details”,
he added.
Stating
that Turkish Cypriots are seeking a solution on the basis of equality, he said
the two side’s possibility of reaching an agreement is zero.
8.Talat:
“May 2015 is a logical timetable”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
newspaper (05.10.15) under the title: “May
2015 is a logical timetable”, reports on statements by the chairman of the
Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) Mehmet Ali Talat who evaluated
to the paper the latest developments on the Cyprus problem.
Referring to the property issue, Talat said that in spite of the fact that
there is nothing new at the negotiation talks, he is still optimistic for the
progress of the talks.
Stating that during his term in “presidency” and the negotiation talks he carried
out with former President DemetrisChristofias, no progress was achieved on the
property issue due to the unchanging stance of the Greek Cypriot side, Talat
said that after 2010 and the Demopoulos case; the Greek Cypriots were obliged
to abandon their positions. “The progress being achieved during the negotiation
talks between Anastasiades and Akinci is of course much more than ours. We
haven’t been able to make any positive step on property. And this because the
Greek Cypriots, prior to the announcement of the Demopoulos’ cases, supported
that ‘all the decisions belonged to the owner of the property’”.
As
regards the issue of guarantees, Talat said that the worries expressed by the
Greek Cypriots towards the issue of guarantees are groundless.
He added that he considers the discussion of the issue at the current phase of
the talks as not beneficial. Talat went
on and stated that the main and the most important guarantee is the trust
between the two communities and proposed to leave behind the system of
guarantees.
Commenting on the latest statement by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci who has said that the solution is possible until May 2016, Talat said
that Akinci’s timetable is very logical, otherwise, as he said, the solution
process will prolong.
(…)
Evaluating also the rumors that a “no”
will come up from the Turkish Cypriot community in possible referenda on the
Cyprus problem, Talat said that all these allegations are groundless and were
exaggerations.
(AK)
9.
The “founding director” of the illegal YDU University held contacts in
Ukraine
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
(05.10.15) reports that according to a
statement issued by the “Cyprus health tourism council”, the “founding
director” of the illegal YDU University, AhmetSavasan together with
representatives of the “health and education sectors” from “north Cyprus”,
attended the “MTEC Kiev-Medical Travel Exhibition and Conference” which took
place in Kiev, Ukraine.
According to the statement, Savasan and his accompanied delegation met
with Ukraine’s Minister of Health OleksandraPovlenko and other
parliamentarians.
Savasan
and Povlenko discussed during their meeting the possible steps that could be
taken for the mutual development of Ukraine and the occupation regime’s cooperation
in the fields of health and tourism.
Also, Savasan and Povlenko discussed and agreed during the meeting that
Ukrainian doctors will be sent to the “faculty of health sciences” of the
illegal YDU University in order to provide academic information and have access
to the innovative practices and implementations that exits at the “YDU
hospital”.
Within the framework of his contacts in
Ukraine, Savasan also met with the
chairman of the Health Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine, parliamentarian
Olga Bogomolets with whom he discussed a possible road map that could
develop the cooperation of the two “countries” in the fields of health and
tourism.
(AK)
10. Kalyoncu: We have the last word as regards the water issue
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (05.10.15) reports that the self-styled prime
minister Omer Kalyoncu referred to the issue of the administration of the water
that will be transferred from Turkey and stated that the breakaway regime will
have the last word on the issue.
Kalyoncu
claimed that there is not an argument between the breakaway regime and Turkey
as regards the water and noted that there is definitely not a “water crisis”.
“We will use the water, therefore we will be the ones to manage it”, he stated,
adding that there is a discussion between the breakaway regime and Turkey
but not an argument.
Kalyoncu
was asked to comment on rumors that the “Turkish embassy”, in the occupied area
of Cyprus exerted pressure on the “government” for the water administration but
stated that he refuses to comment on rumors in order not to give them gravity
and importance. “In the end we will take the decision”, he said. He also denied
reports that Turkey does not trust the Turkish Cypriots to administrate such a
huge and expensive project.
(CS)
11.The
KTTO proposed the model of “public-private partnership” for the administration
of the water from Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper
(05.10.15) reports that the Turkish
Cypriot Chamber of Trade (KTTO), in a written statement concerning the issue of
the “administration” of the water to be transferred from Turkey to the occupied
area of Cyprus, supported that the quarrels concerning the administration of the
water, might cause a political crisis in the “country”.
Supporting
that the cost will be very high for the Turkish Cypriot community to pass on to
the public sector the monopoly of the administration of the water, the KTTO
proposed the model of partnership of the public and private sectors.
The Chamber called all the involved
parties to undertake their responsibilities in order for the discussions
towards the administration of the water to end soon. The Chamber added that the
political, economic and ecological benefits of the water to be transferred from
Turkey should be taken into consideration.
The Chamber added in the statement that
it is ready to provide any kind of support for solving the issue of the
administration of the water for the benefit of the community.
(AK)
12. Columnist:
“I have started to seriously worry that Turkey’s policy is to annex Cyprus”
Under the title “Is the TRNC being closed
down?” Turkish Cypriot columnist Sami Ozuslu writes in Turkish Cypriot daily
YeniDuzen newspaper (05.10.15) that the
privatization of the administration of the water to be brought from Turkey to
the occupied area of Cyprus will be tantamount to integration and annexation of
the occupied area of the island to Turkey.
Ozuslu writes, inter alia, the following:
“The debates on the water have once more
brought seriously onto the agenda the Turkey-TRNC relations and their
international repercussions.
Those who
approach the issue only with the mentality that ‘our state and municipalities
cannot administrate the water, and that they will go bankrupt’ are either not
seeing the danger which is approaching, or they have another road in their
mind. The name of this road is integration! That is annexation!
The elements of the deep state which had drawn
the Cyprus Recoupment Plan, aimed at binding the whole of Cyprus to Anatolia.
[…] Very well, however, have Ankara’s aims not changed since 1950’s? Is the
policy of binding Cyprus to Anatolia still continuing? Is the Cyprus leg of the crashed into the wall in every field foreign
policy of RecepTayyipErdogan’s and AhmetDavutoglu’s Turkey to ‘definitely bind
at least the half of it which we occupy, if not the whole of it’? I have
honestly started to seriously worry about this. […]”
The columnist notes that the water issue seems to be the “clue” of
“a very critical strategic plan”. “Talking about a clue is actually
nugatory. Perhaps it would be more
correct to talk of the ‘last blow’, because we are very close to the end now”,
he says adding that after taking a few more steps they could declare to the
world that they have completed the integration.
Wondering what will the need for the “TRNC”
be after that, the columnist argues that the security of the Turkish Cypriots
is ensured by the Turkish General Staff, they carry out their foreign relations
through the Turkish embassies, they travel using Turkish passports, they use
the Turkish Lira, their “central bank” is directed by a person appointed by
Ankara, their post code is “Mersin 10, Turkey” and their budget’s road map is
drawn by the three-year “protocols” signed with Turkey.
Moreover, Ozuslu reports that the
“municipalities” are directly bound to Turkey’s so-called aid delegation in the
occupied area of Cyprus and this delegation decides which projects will be
implemented every year. “The mayors have
many times heard that ‘if you build a mosque there, the pavement project will
be ok’”, notes the columnist adding:
“We have given them the airlines; we have
given as a gift the only operational airport. The capital of Turkey has already
taken over the country in the field of tourism to a great extent. Now let us
hand over the water and the electricity and let it all be over. […] No function is left for the TRNC anymore.
If it is closed today, nothing will change in our lives. […]”.
(I/Ts.)
13. Sucuoglu held contacts in Ankara
Illegal
Bayraktevivion (02.10.15) reported that the self-styled minister of tourism
FaizSucuoglu held contacts in Ankara.
As part of
his contacts he met with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister TugrulTurkes and Turkish
Minister of Culture and Tourism YalcinTopcu.
The
economic development of the breakaway regime and the cooperation opportunities
in the field of tourism between the two “countries” were discussed during the
meetings.
Speaking
during the visits, Sucuoglu asked for support to declare 2016 as the “North
Cyprus” year in Turkey in order the breakaway regime to be promoted more
effectively in Turkey.
On his
part, Turkes expressed his readiness to support the promotion, branding and
development of the “TRNC’s” tourism sector.
Responding positively to the request to declare 2016 as the “North
Cyprus” year in Turkey, he said that his “ministry” is ready to make the
necessary contribution for the realization of the project if the breakaway
regime is ready.
Turkish
Minister Topcu expressed the desire “for the TRNC to reach to its rightful
place within the international community”.
Also
expressing support to the proposal to declare 2016 as the “North Cyprus” year
in Turkey, he said: “I will do my best to make sure it is discussed and
approved at the Council of Ministers meeting.”
BRT also
broadcast that Sucuoglu met with the Governor of Ankara Mehmet Kılıçlar. The water transfer project from Turkey was on
the agenda of the meeting.
In
addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (05.10.15) reports that
Sucuoglu also met with the chairman of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination
Agency (TIKA) which will offer education to the personnel of the new
archeological museum of the breakaway regime. TIKA will also provide assistance
for the restoration of ancient works.
14.Turkish Cypriot businessmen who make huge endorsements in
the UK ask for facilitation to invest in the breakaway regime
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (04.10.15) reported that Turkish Cypriot
businessmen who live in the UK and, as alleged, make 50 billion sterling
endorsements per year ask for facilitation to invest in the breakaway regime.
Speaking
during a reception at the Turkish Cypriot British Chamber of Commerce, the
Chamber’s chairman MuhammetYasarata claimed that there are 300,000 Turkish
Cypriots living in the UK for the time being who own 100,000 residences and
added that the companies of the Turkish Cypriots who live in the UK make 50 billion sterling endorsements per year. He
also stated that it is their priority to make investments in the breakaway
regime but added that this must be facilitated by the “state”.
(CS)
15. Erdogan
slams Russia for ‘grave mistake’ in Syria before key visit to Europe
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
04.10.15) reported that Turkish
President RecepTayyip Erdogan dubbed Russia’s bombing campaign in Syria
“unacceptable” before embarking on a visit to Europe, where he will hold
critical meetings with EU leaders that are expected to be dominated by the
fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Europe’s
growing migration crisis.
“As Turkey, the steps that Russia is taking
at the moment and the bombing campaign in Syria have no acceptable side”,
Erdogan told reporters at a press conference at the airport on Oct. 4 before
departing for a two-day state visit to Belgium.
“Russia is
at the moment making a grave mistake. This may be a sign of a step that will
take it to loneliness in the region. The fact that it is taking these steps
despite Turkey saddens us,” he said, adding that he conveyed his reaction to
Russian President Vladimir Putin over the telephone “a few days ago”.
Moscow’s commencement of bombing raids in
Syria could bring Russian warplanes to the very borders of NATO member Turkey,
which is itself being used as a base for U.S. and allied air strikes. The
dangers of unintended clashes and uncertainty over Russia’s intentions have
raised concerns in Western capitals.
Tensions over Turkey’s stalled EU bid, a
Turkish government corruption scandal and a cancelled visit by Erdogan as Prime
Minister in 2011 mean that Erdogan will not be getting the red carpet welcome
in Europe.
His visit comes only days before the
official annual progress report is due to be published on Turkey’s EU
membership bid and weeks before the country holds a snap election on Nov. 1.
The EU has been especially critical of the
crackdown on the media in Turkey, which languishes far down global press
freedom rankings. Scores of people have been investigated on accusations of
insulting Erdogan, who remains nonetheless Turkey’s most popular politician.
The President will visit Strasbourg, where
he will attend a mass rally to “condemn terror”, as a spiral of violence has
gripped Turkey since a two-and-a-half year long de facto non-conflict ended in
July with renewed fight between security forces and militants of the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
As part of his bilateral visit, he will
hold talks with Belgian King Philippe and Prime Minister Charles Michel as well
as with the presidents of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate.
On the EU front, Erdogan will hold both
separate meetings with European Council President Donald Tusk, European
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and European Parliament President
Michael Schulz.
During a dinner meeting, Erdogan will join
Tusk, Juncker and Schulz, with the meeting effectively turning into “a quartet
mini summit.”
Concerns over Russia’s latest moves in
Syria are likely to top the agenda of the mini summit.
Sources say the EU side may use the
meetings as an opportunity for bargaining over Turkey-EU relations by asking
the candidate country to shoulder further burden through accelerating
implementation of the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement in turn for facilitating
the ongoing visa liberalization process.
16. Turkey
summons the Russian Ambassador over airspace violation
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 05.10.15) with
the above title reports that Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday has
summoned the Russian Ambassador to the Ministry over an airspace violation.
According to a statement by the Ministry,
Russian fighter jets have violated Turkish airspace on October 3. "A
fighter aircraft belonging to the Russian Federation violated Turkish airspace
at 12:08 [0908GMT] south of the Yayladagi/Hatay region", the statement
read.
"The
Russian aircraft exited Turkish airspace into Syria after it was intercepted by
two F-16s from the Turkish Air Force, which were conducting patrols in the
region."
Yayladagi lies to the north of a region
where Syrian government forces are facing rebel groups not linked to ISIS.
The Russian
Embassy in Turkey has admitted that Russian aircraft violated Turkish airspace,
the paper reports. "Such an incident actually took place," Embassy
spokesman Igor Mityakov said.
"As far as I know, explanations about
this matter were given to a military attaché at the Turkish Embassy in
Moscow," Mityakov said.
Foreign Minister FeridunSinirlioglu
telephoned Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to complain about the incident
and the Russian Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry. Acting
Undersecretary AhmetMuhtar Gun protested "strongly" about the
incursion to the Ambassador and demanded it never happen again.
Gun
said that Russia would be held responsible for any "undesired
incident" resulting from a future violation. Sinirlioglu also spoke to
Turkey's NATO allies about the incident.
17. Turkey’s
main political parties announced their manifesto for November 1 elections
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 05.10.15), the Peoples’
Democratic Party (HDP), launching its snap election manifesto, has pledged to
restrict the power of the Turkish President to a “symbolic level,” lifting the
controversial discretionary fund recently granted to Turkey’s head of state.
The party would make legislative amendments
to strengthen the separation of powers, HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas said
at the launch on October 2. The party unveiled its new slogan “With purpose,
peace. With purpose, HDP”, as Demirtas vowed that from now on the Kurdish
movement would move forward with “politics and peace.”
“I can only thank those who exerted
positive efforts for the benefit of the people, and who placed stone after
stone going forward. But from now on we’ll go on our way with the HDP,” he
said, in an apparent reference to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The HDP co-chair again vowed to cross the
10% election threshold in the snap poll to be held Nov. 1. “They said we would
be below the threshold [in the last election in June]. But we’ll bury the
palace [presidency] under peace,” Demirtas said.
At the same event, HDP co-chair Figen
Yuksekdag voiced the slogan, “We’ll not let you be dictator,” in reference to
the party’s June 7 election campaign motto, “We’ll not let you be President,”
addressing President RecepTayyipErdogan’s ambition to change Turkey to an
executive presidential system.
Meanwhile,
the HDP will lift the economic embargo on trade with Armenia to develop
bilateral relations, support efforts for the reunification of Cyprus, and
pursue Turkey’s EU membership process, Yuksekdag said.
Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency
(04.10.15) reports that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has unveiled the
election manifesto of his Justice and Development (AK) Party ahead of Turkey’s
Nov.1 polls.
From the
manifesto titled "Turkey's Roadmap with Peace and Stability,"
Davutoglu introduced the his party's main campaign themes, such as state
protection of human dignity and democracy, equal citizenship, the drafting of a
new constitution plus measures towards a people-oriented economic development.
"The AK Party manifesto is a reformist
manifesto which cares about human dignity. It [the manifesto] is inclusive and
aims at the growth of the Turkish economy," Davutoglu said.
Davutoglu stressed the need for a new
civilian constitution in lieu of the post-1980 constitution currently in force,
saying that a new healthier political system requires a new constitution that
will focus more on fundamental rights and freedoms.
As
expected, Davutoglu revealed the other significant part of the election
manifesto as the government's fight against any kind of terrorism, the PKK and
the so-called ‘parallel state’.
He described AK Party as the
"architect, enforcer and engine of the solution process" – referring
to the early 2013 government initiative that aimed at ending the decades long
conflict with the PKK.
Saying that the AK Party will work to make
peace prevail on Turkish land, Davutoglu added: "We will never give up
until terrorists bury their guns."
The manifesto announced by Davutoglu also
brings forth equal citizenship as a "principle of human dignity".
"No Turkish citizen will not be exposed to any discrimination based on
people's faith, color, gender, language, race, political view, philosophical
mindset or lifestyle," Davutoglu said.
The Turkish
Premier also mentioned the introduction of a presidential system, which
featured prominently in the AK Party's June 7 election program, saying that his
party believed it was the “effective and dynamic governing system” that their
"New Turkey" vision necessitates, in order to prevent the
“re-occurrence of past political instabilities”.
Moreover, Turkey’s opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has said it is
ready to form a post-election coalition with all parties except for the
People’s Democratic Party “which is an extension of the PKK”.
MHP leader Devlet Bahceli was speaking as
his party launched its election manifesto in Ankara on Saturday ahead of
Turkey’s Nov. 1 polls.
He said
that in a case where the Nov. 1 contest threw up a similar stalemate to that
seen after the July 7 general election, the MHP is ready to work with the
Justice and Development (AK) Party or Republican People’s Party (CHP).
However, despite being ready for coalition,
Bahceli said that their "aim is MHP’s single-party government”.
After June’s election, the MHP had said that its four principles for
working a governing coalition included: the end of the PKK ‘solution process’;
probing the 17 and 25 December 2013 corruption cases; the protection of the
first four articles of Turkey’s constitution; and the withdrawal of the
President to “legal limits”.
The MHP's election manifesto – called You
Know Best, Turkey – is a five-pronged strategy focusing on social and
administrative reforms, the economy, the struggle with poverty, counter-terrorism,
and anti-corruption. Its slogan in the upcoming election will be: “Vote for the
future of the country.”
Bahceli vowed that his party would “scrap
the roots of separatist terror,” referring to the PKK. The MHP has been against
the so-called ‘solution process’ which aimed to end the decades-long conflict
between Turkish state and PKK terror organization through peaceful means.
On foreign
policy, Bahceli said the aim of the party is to ensure peace and stability in
the region and to strengthen relations with neighbours.
On the same issue, Turkey’s main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu also announced on
Wednesday his party’s election manifesto and introduced candidates for the
upcoming Nov. 1 general election.
The
opposition leader presented the election manifesto called “Turkey First,” a
five-pronged strategy focusing on the economy, education, the judiciary,
politics and society. Kilicdaroglu said there was no other
political party except the CHP that revealed Turkey's problems.
For foreign
policy, Kilicdaroglu said: "Foreign policy has to be turned around 180
degrees". He said that foreign policy should be established according to
the country's interests. The leader reiterated the motto: "Peace at home,
peace abroad".
Regarding Turkey's issues for the Kurdish
community, Kilicdaroglu stated that the CHP was the only party that could
provide peace and said the centre of “social reconciliation" is the Grand
National Assembly, Turkish parliament.
The CHP promised to resolve Kurdish issues
in a transparent and democratic way based on equal citizenship.
18. Erdogan
reacts after Turkey’s election body rejects polling station changes
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
05.10.15) reports that Turkey’s President RecepTayyipErdogan has branded the Supreme Election Board (YSK) wrong after it
rejected calls for the relocation of ballot boxes in several eastern and
southeastern districts, saying it would be responsible for any undesired
consequences.
“This is where the YSK is on the wrong
track. It is the district election authorities which determine the voting
neighbourhoods in the districts. The YSK is not really interested in this,”
Erdogan said Oct. 4 at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport before departing for France’s
Strasbourg to attend an “anti-terror rally”.
“I hope we will not come across the
problems we encountered during the June 7 elections. If so, the YSK will be
responsible for them,” Erdogan said.
In a majority of votes, the YSK rejected
calls for the relocation of ballot boxes in several districts.
The YSK’s decision came after a number of
local election councils in eastern and southeastern Turkey asked that polling
stations be moved in certain neighbourhoods due to security concerns in the upcoming
election amid deadly renewed conflict between security forces and militants of
the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/ AM)
