TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 191/15 08.10.2015
1.
HalkinSesi: Turkey has accepted to pay 40% of the cost of the compensations for
the properties in case of a global exchange
2. Colak:
The Turkish Cypriots could become a bridge between the Islamic world and the
United Cyprus
3. The
“Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry” held contacts in London
4. Talat:
The water from Turkey is not a natural resource, it is a strategic product
5. Kalyoncu
announced that he will go to Ankara to discuss the issue of the management of
the water
6. The
“Turkish Cypriots' Living Abroad” demand to be given the right to vote in a
possible referendum for the solution of the Cyprus problem
7. Bora:
“The recognition of the TRNC will bring the real viable solution”
8. KTOS
accused Turkey of imposing its education system in the occupied area of Cyprus
9. Turkes
will attend an international symposium in the occupied area of Cyprus
10. “GAU”
and “UKU” have enrolled 15,000 and 10,000 students
11. Kaya
Artemis Hotels Group is constructing a new hotel in the place of an old olive
factory in the occupied area of
AgiosGeorgios
12. Turkish
Cypriot Artists and Writers Union”will organize an action for the opening of
the fenced off Varosha
13. Erdogan
discussed the delays in the opening of chapters 15, 17, 23, 24 and 30 in
Brussels and warned Russia on energy ties
14. Erdogan
in a two-day visit to Japan
15. Voting
begins for Turkish citizens living abroad
16.
Digiturk joins government-ordered ban on critical media
17. Turkish
daily: “Tension with Russia may further weaken Turkey’s hand in trade”
1. HalkinSesi:
Turkey has accepted to pay 40% of the cost of the compensations for the
properties in case of a global exchange
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper
(08.10.15) reports that Turkey has
accepted to pay 40% of the cost of the compensations for the solution of the
property issue in Cyprus in case of a global exchange of properties takes place
and the ownership of the Turkish Cypriot properties in the
government-controlled area of the island passes to the Turkish side.
“It has been known that the acceptance by
Turkey to cover 40% of the compensations has excited very much the leader of
the Greek Cypriot administration NicosAnastasiades”, claims the paper
adding:“According to information obtained by HalkinSesi, it is claimed that
Turkey has accepted to cover 40% of the property compensations in case a global
exchange of property takes place and the ownership of the Turkish properties in
south Cyprus passes to the Turkish side.
Accordingly,
a global exchange of properties will take place in the property which is
one of the most complex issues of the Cyprus problem and as soon as the compensations are paid, the ownership of the Turkish
properties in south Cyprus will pass to the Turkish side.
In this case Turkey will cover 40% of the
compensations as regards the properties and will activate the banking system
with the aim of securing financial support to the issues which will come up
regarding the property.
It is
further claimed that all these and the details of the issue were told by
President RecepTayyip Erdogan to President Mustafa Akinci. Among the
information which we obtained is that during his meeting with Akinci, Erdogan
explained Turkey’s stance for overcoming the property problem and offered
support”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Colak:
The Turkish Cypriots could become a bridge between the Islamic world and the
United Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(08.10.15) reports that EmineColak,
self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, has said that in
case of a successful result in the negotiations for solving the Cyprus problem,
the Turkish Cypriots could become a bridge between the United Cyprus on the one
hand and the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Organization
for Economic Cooperation (OEC) on the other. In statements to Kibris, Colak noted that the details of the
agreement to be reached between President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot
leader Akinci and the constitution will be decisive on this issue.
Evaluating her contacts in New York, Colak
said: “There have been at least as much contacts as in the past. We have
materialized successful diplomatic contacts”.
Colak
argued that the foreigners are approaching more favorably the Turkish Cypriot
demands for meetings after the change of the climate with Akinci’s election and
the intensification of the negotiating process. Colak reiterated the Turkish allegation that
the Turkish Cypriots have been isolated for many years not only economically
but from the point of view of holding contacts abroad and argued that the
stance recently adopted by the Turkish Cypriots encouraged the foreigners to
meet with them.
According to Colak during their contacts in
New York they acted together with Akinci and “talked the same language”,
something which she described as important. “The more you reflect the consensus
within your own community the better result you take from the meetings.
Moreover, your position during the foreign contacts becomes stronger”, she
argued.
Referring to her meetings with OIC and OEC
officials, she said: “We have started
exchanging ideas on how these established contacts could proceed in case of a
solution. The Greek Cypriots are currently not in the Islamic
organizations, but we have established contacts as observer member, we were
given the memberships and participated in the meetings. Holding these is an
experience for us. We will develop our relations with these organizations. In case a solution is reached, we can build
the bridge with these organizations. Whether the interlocutor will be Cyprus
under the federal structure or it will be our function as founding state will
be determined by the details of the agreement which will come out from the
negotiations and the constitution which will be formed”.
Colak said
that she also met with HerveLadsous, Deputy UN Secretary – General responsible
for the UN Peace Force Operations, and exchanged views on the work
of the UNFICYP, the negotiations and the duties of UNFICYP from now on.
She noted
that their status as observer at the OEC was extended for three years and that
she met with Halil Ibrahim Akca, the general secretary of the organization. She said
that during their contacts she gave the message that the negotiations for
finding a solution to the Cyprus problem are intensified, that progress is
achieved and that in spite of the fact that difficult issues exist, the two
leaders are determined and serious for reaching a successful result.
(I/Ts.)
3. The “Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry” held contacts in
London
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (08.10.15) reports that the “Turkish Cypriot
Chamber of Industry” held contacts in London and adds that halloumi issue was
one of the main topics of the agenda.
The
“chamber’s” chairman Ali Cirali who headed the delegation held contacts focused
on the halloumi/ hellim issue and on issues related to the progress of industry
in Cyprus after a solution.
The
delegation met with the “TRNC representative” in London OyaTuncali, the Turkish
Ambassador to London, EmirhanYorulmazlar and the chairwoman of the Turkish
English Commerce and Industry Chamber Emma Edhem.
According
to the paper, Cirali talked during the meetings about the application to have
halloumi/ hellim designated as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and also
exchanged views on the “embargo”.
(CS)
4. Talat:
The water from Turkey is not a natural resource, it is a strategic product
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(08.10.15) reports that Mehmet Ali Talat,
chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and former Turkish Cypriot
leader, has said that they had agreed
with former President Christofias that the water which will come from Turkey
has a strategic importance and that the administration of the water should be
under the authorities of the federal government in order for preventing the two
communities from quarrelling.
Talat
argued that the water which comes from Turkey is not a natural resource and added:
“It is a strategic product.
Therefore, during our period we had agreed on the issue of the administration
of the water being in the federal government”.
Talat said
that the international agreements, which had been regularly made by “both
sides” [Translator’s note: By the term “both sides” he means the
Republic of Cyprus on the one hand and the breakaway regime that was
unilaterally and illegally declared by the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey in 1983]
and are not in contrary to the Founding
Agreement to be reached, will be valid in the federal state. “We expect
this to be in this way. He claimed: “Therefore, the agreements reached between
the TRNC and Turkey will continue being valid, that is they will be binding for
the federal government. There is no problem from the international law’s point
of view”.
(I/Ts.)
5.Kalyoncu
announced that he will go to Ankara to discuss the issue of the management of
the water
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen
newspaper (08.10.15) reports that the so-called prime minister Omer Kalyoncu,
in statements last night to the Kanal T, described as very important the water
to be transferred in the occupied area of Cyprus from Turkey.
“The issue of the management of the water will
be solved through dialogue. Turkey’s support is very important. We consider
that BESKI, which was established by the municipalities, can succeed towards
the management of the water. All these will be discussed on the table with
Turkey. The officials of both countries have goodwill”,
Kalyoncu said.
He
further added that he expects to go to Ankara in order to discuss the issue of
the management of the water.
(AK)
6.The
“Turkish Cypriots' Living Abroad” demand to be given the right to vote in a
possible referendum for the solution of the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen
newspaper (08.10.15) reports that the “Platform
of the Turkish Cypriots' Living Abroad Union” which organized a workshop the
previous days in the occupied area of Cyprus under the title
"Constitutional Rights Workshop" in its final declaration demands for
“legal regulations” to take place in order for the Turkish Cypriots who live
abroad to have the right of “vote and be elected”.
The Platform organized yesterday a press
conference where it presented the results of the workshop.
Speaking on behalf of the Platform, NesimTuzmen asked for an amendment to the
“law for elections and referenda”, so that the “TRNC citizens” to be able to
have the right of “vote and be elected”.
Stressing
the need for the “TRNC citizens” abroad to have the right to vote in a possible
referendum for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Tuzmen demanded also for the
“TRNC citizens” abroad to have the right of “representation” in the “TRNC
assembly”.
Tuzmen announced also that the Platform has also decided to strengthen its
ties with the “TRNC” and at the same time to develop and protect the
“constitutional rights” of the Turkish Cypriot’s living abroad.
Tuzmen
proposed finally the mixed model of Italy-Estonia as a formula to solve the
problems that might be arisen if they would be given finally the right to vote
in the countries they live abroad.
(AK)
7.Bora:
“The recognition of the TRNC will bring the real viable solution”
Under the above title, Turkish Cypriot
daily Vatan newspaper (08.10.15) reports that YilmazBora, chairman of the so-called Cyprus TMT fighters' association alleged that the
recognition of the “TRNC” will bring the real viable solution which is sought
for years on the Cyprus problem.
Referring to the statements made by the Greek Prime Minister
Alexis Tsipras during the UN’s General Assembly who has described the “41
years’ division of Cyprus as a shame”, Bora accused Greece of being the
responsible for the division of the island.
Bora accused also the Greek Cypriots and Greece for the
incidents occurred in Cyprus during the years 1963-1964 and during 1974. He
further argued that a viable and fair solution on the Cyprus problem is
possible only if the “realities experienced in the past” will be taken into
consideration.
(AK)
8. KTOS accused Turkey of imposing its education system in the
occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (08.10.15) writes that the Turkish Cypriot
Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS) held a meeting with the Communal Democracy Party
(TDP) and asked for the party’s support towards the problems faced in education
and Turkey’s interference on this field.
Elcil
accused Turkey of trying to impose its puritanical education system on the
Turkish Cypriots and said that as far as it concerned them this will not pass.
He stated that a secret protocol was signed between Turkey and the breakaway
regime aiming to establish a very old fashioned educational system in the
occupied area of Cyprus and added that KTOS is against this.
On his part
TDP leader CemalOzyigit stated that his party fully supports KTOS’ struggles
and called on the current “government” of the breakaway regime to leave its
post and others to take the “power” if it is not able to find solutions in
various problems that appear in the breakaway regime.
(CS)
9. Turkes
will attend an international symposium in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (08.10.15)
reports that the “Near East University” (YDU) in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus will organize an international symposium on the Ottoman era
in Cyprus between 9-11 October.
According to the paper, Turkey’s Deputy
Prime Minister TugrulTurkes and the Chairman of the Council of Higher Education
(YOK) in Turkey Prof. Dr YektaSarac will also attend the symposium.
10. “GAU”
and “UKU” have enrolled 15,000 and 10,000 students
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (08.10.15)
reports that the “founding rector and chancellor of the board” of the illegal
Girne American University (GAU) SerhatAkpinar said that 15 thousand students
have been enrolled for the academic year 2015-2016 in their “university” in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
The paper also reports that “International
Cyprus university” (“UKU”) in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus has
registered 10 thousand students for the new academic year.
11.Kaya Artemis Hotels Group is constructing a new hotel in the
place of an old olive factory in the
occupied area of AgiosGeorgios
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (08.10.15) reports that a firm group which is
related to the Kaya Artemis Hotels Group is constructing a new hotel in the
occupied area of AgiosGeorgios in occupied Keryneia.
According
to the paper, an old olive oil factory was located in the area that the new
luxury hotel is to be erected and adds that is getting prepared for the new
building.
(CS)
12. Turkish
Cypriot Artists and Writers Union”will organize an action for the opening of
the fenced off Varosha
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper
(08.10.15) reports that the “Turkish Cypriot Artists and Writers Union” will
organize an action aiming to draw attention to the war taking place in the
Middle East and to remind for the need
of a political will for opening the fenced off city of Varosha.
According to a statement issued by the
Union’s chairman UmitInatci, the action will take place in Palm Tree hotel in occupied Famagusta on Saturday October 11.
(CS)
13. Erdogan
discussed the delays in the opening of chapters 15, 17, 23, 24 and 30 in
Brussels and warned Russia on energy ties
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 08.10.15),
under the title “President Erdogan: EU remembers the value of Turkey as a
result of the refugee crisis”, reports that President RecepTayyip Erdogan, speaking to journalists accompanying
him during his trip to Japan on Wednesday, said
that the refugee influx caused by the continuing Syrian crisis had once again
highlighted Turkey's crucial importance to Europe and that EU leaders had been
reminded of this fact. Erdogan, who visited Strasbourg and Brussels and met
with top EU leaders and Belgian officials during the first half of the tour,
said he was very pleased with the visits. "We met with our compatriots in
Strasbourg and were very glad to attend the anti-terrorism meeting".
The refugee
crisis topped the agenda during meetings with European Parliament President
Martin Schultz, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission
President Jean-Claude Juncker. Erdogan said: "We also discussed Turkey's
membership negotiations and talked about the delays in the opening of chapters,
especially chapters 15, 17, 23, 24 and 30."
Juncker agreed with the need to accelerate
the pace of the talks, with special emphasis on the visa liberalization
process. Erdogan said: "I saw that they intend to complete it before
2017".
Schultz, Tusk and Juncker seemed more eager
to cooperate than before, said the President, adding: "They all admit the
burden Turkey is shouldering, especially concerning the refugees. They agree
that the EU needs to share the weight, which they will resolve after
deliberations among themselves."
Erdogan expressed his optimism over the
improvement in Turkey's relations with the EU. "My meetings with Schultz,
Tusk and Juncker, who are the most senior EU officials, were very positive.
They agree Turkey's importance is constantly rising. They are also very
sensitive on the threat of terrorism," said Erdogan, who noted that their
stance toward the PKK terrorist organization was clear. "They are aware
Turkey's stability is very important for the EU. They know that a stable Turkey
will be more effective on every issue, including the refugee crisis."
When asked
whether his visit to Brussels could be seen as historic, Erdogan said: "We
can't know how sincere they are. It could also be tied to the fact that they
need Turkey. EU member countries are now involved in calculating how few refugees
they are forced to admit. Our aim was never to admit the refugees so that they
could travel onto Europe. Our efforts are a good indication for the EU."
President Erdogan said repeated Russian
infringements of Turkey's airspace in the past few days were incompatible with
the close links the two countries have and added that the Russian
administration was close to losing Turkey as a friend.
When
asked if he would be talking to Putin to prevent the violations from
deteriorating into clashes, Erdogan said: "I don't believe Russia would do
such a thing. NATO's emergency meeting showed how seriously they took the
matter." He said the violations occurred after he talked with Putin, and
he did not believe it meaningful to call Putin again under such circumstances.
When
asked about the close commercial ties between the two countries, Erdogan argued that trade ties were a
matter that both sides needed to be sensitive about."If Russia doesn't
build the Mersin Akkuyu Nuclear Plant, someone else will. They have already
invested $3 billion there. So, it is Russia that needs to be careful there.On
the issue of our natural gas imports, we are their top natural gas customer.
Losing Turkey will be a major loss for Russia. If necessary, Turkey can get the
gas from elsewhere. So, Russia needs to assess these issues carefully. There is
a high-level cooperation council mechanism between the two countries. The
council's end would be wrong for Russia too."
14. Erdogan
in a two-day visit to Japan
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(07.10.15), Turkey's President has kicked off a two-day official trip to Japan,
using his visit to a prolific Ottoman style mosque to highlight Islam as a
religion of peace.
During his visit, Erdogan will meet with
Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and attend a meeting coordinated
by the host country and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey.
Moreover, Turkey will cooperate with Japan
on 5G technology, which makes use of the Internet faster.
According to the information gained from
Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), a joint
declaration will be signed between the agency and Japan's Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications.
The joint declaration will be mainly about
increasing cooperation on 5G issues. It will also include the strengthening of
social and economic ties between the two countries via science and technology.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the
Turkish Presidential Office said that during the visit, Erdogan will attend a
meeting held with the coordination of Japan and the Foreign Economic Relations
Board of Turkey (DEIK) business organization.
The visit comes as trade between the
countries, and investment by Japanese companies in Turkey, has experienced a
dip in past years.
NurettinPekaruni, DEIK’s Japan-Turkey
Business Forum chief, told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday that the trade volume
between the countries stood at $3.6 billion as of the end of 2014 -- mostly in
favour of Japan.
"While the trade volume between these two
countries stood around $4.5 billion in 2011, it fell to $3.8 billion in
2013," Pekarun said. "The economic relations mainly rely on Japanese
exports to Turkey."
So far in 2015, Turkey's exports to Japan
stand at around $225 million, and its imports at $1.95 billion.
15. Voting
begins for Turkish citizens living abroad
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 08.10.15)
reports that Turkish citizens living abroad have started casting their ballots
at airports and customs gates, almost a month before the election in Turkey,
which will take place on November 1.
Between May 8 and 31, over a million
Turkish citizens living abroad in 54 countries casted their ballots in the June
7 General Elections.
There are 2,866,979 Turkish citizens abroad
who are eligible to vote. Nearly twice as many overseas Turks had
turned out to vote in the June 7 general election than they did in last
August's presidential election.
Elections in Turkey have the second-highest
voter turnout among developed democracies, according to a report released by
the Washington-based Pew Research Centre.
On the same issue, illegal Bayrak
television (online, 08.10.15) broadcast that voting started this morning in the
occupied area of Cyprus for the snap elections.
94,816 eligible Turkish voters will be able
to cast their votes at the illegal Turkish embassy in the occupied part of
Nicosia.
16. Digiturk
joins government-ordered ban on critical media
According to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 07.10.15), joining two other similar platforms that earlier banned
critical media in a government-backed move, digital satellite platform Digiturk announced on Thursday that it
stops the broadcast of TV channels Bugun TV, Kanalturk, Shaber and Samanyolu,
which are known for their critical stance towards the government.
Turkcell TV+, an online TV streaming
service from Internet provider Superonline, and Tivibu, another service
provided by TTNet, earlier announced that they
removed the channels in question from their platforms by order of the Ankara
Public Prosecutor's Office on the suspicion that these channels support a
terrorist organization.
Even children's channel Yumurcak TV was
removed, prompting anger from some users who were perplexed at the idea that a
children's TV channel could be supporting terrorism.
Digiturk brought the same explanation in
its statement on Thursday, saying that the channels were removed from the
platform “due to legal obligation.”
17. Turkish
daily: “Tension with Russia may further weaken Turkey’s hand in trade”
According to Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 07.10.15), the Russia-driven
military tension that developed along Turkey's borders with civil war-battered
Syria earlier this week has created unease in Turkish business circles with
experts pointing to further risks in the already unbalanced trade relations
with their northern neighbour.
Just one day after the latest conflict
began,Russia's state-owned Gazprom said
it had halved the yearly amount of gas that is planned to flow through the
long-awaited Turkish Stream pipeline project, which will supply gas to both
Turkey and Europe. Even though energy analysts opt not to establish a
direct link between the two incidents, they express concern over Turkey's high
dependence on Russian energy resources.
Turkey made $5.9 billion worth of exports
to and $25 billion in imports from Russia. The northern neighbour was Turkey’s
seventh biggest export partner and its largest import partner in 2014.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/ AM)
