TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 215/15 12.11.2015
1.Colak: All aspects of the
solution in Cyprus must be discussed
2. Denktas: “The TRNC must be
defended at the negotiations”
3. A “parliamentary delegation”
is holding contacts in Brussels
4. Burcu argues that President Anastasiades has not
exerted sufficient efforts on the cell phones issue
5. The debates for the administration of the water
from Turkey are continuing; Fears that Turkey will stop giving money
6. The so-called foreign ministry’s archives are
reportedly sent to Turkey for digitalization with TIR vehicles; No safety
measures were taken
7. The EU Vice President held contacts in Turkey;
Davutoglu called the EU to take necessary steps for the opening of new chapters
8. EU Minister Dedeoglu disappointed with the EU and
Turkey’s progress report
9. A total of 2,545 ISIL suspects detained in Turkey
since 2013
10. Three CHP Deputies to run for the party’s
leadership against Kilicdaroglu
11. TOBB’s delegation visited Egypt; The visit marks
the first high rank visit since 2013
12. Turkish columnists face charges for “insulting
Erdogan” and “leading terrorist organizations”
1. Colak:
All aspects of the solution in Cyprus must be discussed
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.11.15)
reports that the self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime Emine Colak held contacts with high ranking
officials of the European Parliament and the European Commission in Brussels.
Explaining to the European officials the desire of the
Turkish Cypriots for reaching a solution under a federal roof, Colak stated that all aspects of the
solution in Cyprus must be discussed at the negotiations. As she said, the
discussion of the economic, financial and social dimensions of the solution are
also important and must be addressed.
Colak
met with Elmar Brok,Member
of the European Parliament and the current Chairman of the European Parliament
Committee on Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, Colak stated that it is
important the Europeans to be informed about the positions of the Turkish
Cypriot side by Turkish Cypriot “officials”.
Colak
also met with Corina Cretu, the
European Commissioner for Regional Policy and informed her about the progress
on the Cyprus negotiations. Colak also said that the Turkish Cypriots are
determined for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and added that the two
sides in Cyprus must have the political will for a solution to be reached.
Colak added that the European Union must also fulfill its responsibilities
towards the efforts for the solution.
(CS)
2. Denktas:
“The TRNC must be defended at the negotiations”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.11.15)
reports that the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) Serdar Denktas evaluated
the progress of the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem and
expressed his expectations from the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci
saying: “The TRNC must be defended at
the negotiations”.
Denktas
stated that Akinci should carry out the negotiations defending the “TRNC” the
way the Greek Cypriots defend the Republic of Cyprus. He also stated that the world must respect the
decision that the Turkish Cypriots will take in a possible referendum after the
negotiations are completed, no matter what this decision would be.
Denktas
also said that the statements made two days ago by Akinci, who said that the
“TRNC” will be one of the two equal constituent wings of the new partnership in
case of a solution, are extremely important, especially if you compared them with the approach of
the Greek Cypriots on the issue.
(CS)
3. A
“parliamentary delegation” is holding contacts in Brussels
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (12.11.15)
reports that a delegation from the
“assembly” is holding contacts in Brussels.
The delegation consisted of the Republican Turkish
Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) “deputy” Armagan Candan, the National Unity Party
(UBP) “deputy” Ergun Serdaroglu and the Democrat Party (DP) “deputy” Hasan
Tacoy.
Speaking to illegal Bayrak, Candan, stated that the delegation have been having contacts
with various European officials since Monday, informing them about the progress
oΝ the
Cyprus negotiations and about the efforts made by the Turkish Cypriots to speed
up the harmonization process with the EU. He also said that they held contacts with members of
the European Parliament and members of the European Commission on the halloumi/
hellim issue. He added that the European Union is pleased on the developments
taking place for the opening of a new barricade in Deryneia.
Referring to Turkey’s EU progress report and the
paragraph about Cyprus, Candar stated that it is not very different compared to
last year’s report, since it is stated that ΤΗΕEU supports the negotiations and evaluates positively
the negotiations’ progress.
In the framework of its visit, the delegation also met
with the “TRNC representative “ in Brussels, Gizem Alpman, the Permanent
Representative of Turkey in Brussels Selim Yenel and the Turkish Ambassador
Hakan Olcay.
(CS)
4. Burcu
argues that President Anastasiades has not exerted sufficient efforts on the
cell phones issue
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (12.11.15)
reports that Baris Burcu, spokesman
of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, has argued that the Turkish Cypriot side has taken all necessary steps
on the issue of the use of the cell phones in the entire island and added that
they expect from President Anastasiades to show the “same determined stance” as
Akinci.
In statements to Halkin Sesi on this issue, Burcu
alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side is working with “a great devotion and
meticulousness” to fully implement its responsibilities for the decisions taken
within the framework of the Confidence Building Measures (CBM) and added that
“unfortunately, on this specific issue the efforts exerted by Mr Anastasiades
gave no results”.
Burcu is quoted to have said:
“The leaders have taken many decisions on the CBM
issue and made a joint statement. It is
natural that some practical difficulties may exist for materializing these
things in the today’s environment of the non-solution. The important thing
is for the sides to work with good determination in order for these
difficulties to be overcome. President Mr Akinci has workedwith a great
devotion and meticulousness for the Turkish Cypriot side to fully implement its
responsibilities for the decisions within the framework of the CBM. The Turkish Cypriot side has taken all
steps regarding the cell phones issue. We hope that Mr Anastasiades will work
in the same determination and will as Mr President for overcoming this problem
deriving from the Greek Cypriot side. Unfortunately, the efforts exerted until
today by Mr Anastasiades on this issue have not given the sufficient result. It
means that somewhere no sufficient effort was exerted. […]”
The paper argues that Akinci is “very annoyed” because
he cannot see by the Greek Cypriot side similar “courageous steps” as the ones
allegedly taken by the Turkish side.
(I/Ts.)
5. The debates for the administration of the water
from Turkey are continuing; Fears that Turkey will stop giving money
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (12.11.15)
reports that Omer Kalyoncu,
self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus, has said that the
“government” of the regime had sent to officials in Turkey a file which
includes their views on the issue of the administration of the water sent to
the occupied area of the island from Turkey through undersea pipelines. In
statements to the paper, Kalyoncu noted that they are expecting Turkey’s reply adding that there has been no
development yet and they expect to sit
at the negotiating table after the new government in Turkey is formed.
He
noted that in the meantime they have prepared a “draft-law” regarding the
establishment of a “water board”, but it has not been approved by the “council
of ministers” yet. He
said that they were waiting for the congress of their minor “coalition
partner”, the National Unity Party (UBP), to end in order to discuss the issue
and reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, the paper writes also that from some days now the water has stopped
flowing in to the dam in occupied Panagra village. The director of the
project at Turkey’s State Water Affairs Department, Birol Cinar has said that they are cleaning the pumps and the water
will start flowing on 14 November.
Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(12.11.15) reports that some
“municipalities” members of BESKI company, which has been established by the
Turkish Cypriot “municipalities’ union” demanding the administration of the
water, have started fearing that these debates on the administration of the water
will negatively influence their investments funded from Turkey.
Turkish Cypriot columnist Basaran Duzgun writes in his
column in Havadis today that the reason for the issue being discussed only at
the backstage right now is the absence of a government in Turkey and recalls
that Ankara had stated that it is in favor of the privatization of the
administration of this water, while the self-styled government supports the
establishment of a “Water Board” and the administration of the water by BESKI.
Noting there
are signs that “interesting developments” will happen, Duzgun argues that
these signs are the following: 1) Especially the occupied “municipalities”
having “mayors” from the UBP and some
self-styled mayors from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) will either leave
BESKI or will “remain indifferent” for its work. 2) The main problem will
be experienced within the “government. There are manyhigh ranking UBP officials who do not approve the plan put forward
by the CTP, the major “coalition partner”.
“There are members of the cabinet who even say that
the water issue might bring the end of the government”, writes Duzgun
concluding that the debates issue might be turned into a “war” with big
casualties.
(I/Ts.)
6.The so-called foreign ministry’s archives are
reportedly sent to Turkey for digitalization with TIR vehicles; No safety
measures were taken
Under the title: “Scandal
for the transferring of archives”,Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper
(12.11.15) reports on the agreement signed between the Turkish Foreign Ministry
and the so-called foreign ministry on August 25 in the field of information
technologies, which envisages the digitalization of the archives and all the
documents (military, civilian, confidential and similar” belonging to the
so-called foreign ministry.
According to the paper, an unbelievable scandal came
to light concerning the works which are taking place in this framework. The paper writes that all the documents
are sent to Turkey into containers with TIR vehicles, without taking any safety
measures.
The paper adds that another scandal which came to
light is that “prisoners” from the
“central prisons” are among those who transfer into the containers the confidential
documents and archives of the “ministry”.
The paper underlines that it is remarkable that the occupation regime authorities’ did not took
any safety measures for the transferring of the archives which are considered
of great importance for the “state” and accused them for putting them into a
great risk.
(AK)
7.The EU Vice President held contacts in Turkey;
Davutoglu called the EU to take necessary steps for the opening of new chapters
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.11.15) reports
that one day after the European Union
released its progress report on Turkey for 2015, the European Commission Vice
President Frans Timmermans paid a visit to the Turkish capital on November 11.
Timmermans
first met with Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu and discussed a
prospective joint action plan to tackle the refugee crisis in Europe and speed
up Turkey’s accession process to the European Union.
Sinirlioglu
was reported to have told Timmermans that Turkey was ready to open chapters 17,
23, 24, 26 and 31 in the EU accession process.
He added that Turkey expected the Schengen visa
liberation process to begin in July 2016, rather than the planned 2017, while
this would also make the readmission agreement enter into force at the same
time.
Timmermans
then attended the “EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan” meeting, which Sinirlioglu,
Turkish EU Minister Beril Dedeoglu and the European Neighborhood Policy &
Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn also attended.
Timmermans
also met with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The meeting was conducted
behind closed doors and lasted around 50 minutes.
According to Prime Ministry sources on Wednesday, Davutoglu said that full EU membership will
be one of the most important priorities of the new Turkish government. "Being a full EU member is one of the
most important priorities of the new government. We expect the EU to take the
necessary steps in this regard through opening new negotiation chapters,"
Davutoglu said.
Noting
that it was not "possible" to understand why multiple chapters that
would benefit both sides including energy, monetary policy, and justice have
yet to be opened, Davutoglu said that Turkey was ready to "make an all-out
effort" to achieve progress in its accession bid.
Timmermans
noted the progress made in negotiations over visa liberalization and
readmission and said that EU members had a common understanding to further
relations with Turkey, adding that this opportunity should not be missed.
(…)
8.EU Minister Dedeoglu disappointed with the EU and
Turkey’s progress report
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.11.15) reports
that Turkish EU Minister Beril Dedeoglu
has been left apoplectic after Brussels suggested “an inappropriate proposal”
to Ankara that linked Turkey’s EU accession process with a solution to the
refugee crisis.
Dedeoglu,
nonetheless, also said criticism directed at Turkey in the European
Commission’s latest progress report indicated “a breaking point in a positive
sense.”
“During the
meetings, we were grappling with the refugee issue and chapters. We didn’t have
a progress report on our agenda. During a dinner … a young person from the
commission attempted to match the progress report to the refugee issue.
Something like ‘We could soften the content of this progress report if we sort
out the refugee issue,’ was said. I swear I can’t even remember how I
chided him; I guess I took advantage of being a non-diplomat. I behaved like
saying: ‘Release it, who’s afraid? We are what we are.’ Mr. Commissioner told
me ‘I guess you were a tough professor,’” Dedeoglu told daily Hurriyet after
the release of the report on November 10.
“That issue has never come up again; I want to
underline that,” she said.
Acknowledging
that she found the report “weighty,” Dedeoglu, said: “Yes, one feels sorry when
reading some things. You don’t want to hear them. It is not very difficult to see
the motive behind some of the [findings] which are truly exaggerated. We know,
but in the end we, as citizens, want to live in a better country. Between the
lines of the report, there are methods for being able to do this.”
Dedeoglu cited the criticism concerning appointments
involving the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) as an example of
“unfair criticism.”
“Although more replacements took place along 2012 and
2013 when compared to this year, those were not documented by the EU in a progress
report at the time”, she said.
In
its report, the EU criticized Turkey about the dramatic curtailing of press
freedoms, as well as significant shortcomings affecting the independence of the
judiciary.
“Turkey
should become engaged in a reform process that would lessen such criticisms”,
the Minister said adding: “I believe that the criticisms in the
progress report indicate a significant breaking point in regards to Turkey’s
future – in the positive sense”.
The
European Commission also called on the Turkish government to resume a
long-stalled process aimed at ending the three-decade conflict between security
forces and militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “I
consider it as a well-intended initiative. I regard this as a nice warning,”
Dedeoglu said regarding the call by the EU.
“The
way to get out of an environment of violence is this and similar processes of
dialogue. This reform process cannot be realized without language that will
ease conflict. Such a way will probably be followed”, she said.
9.A total of 2,545 ISIL suspects detained in Turkey
since 2013
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.11.15) reports
that according to police sources, a
total of 2,545 suspects have been detained in anti-terror operations against
ISIL since 2013, adding that of those, 810 have been foreign nationals.
One-third of all suspects detained as alleged members
of the Islamic State and Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Turkey since 2013 have
been foreigners, said the police.
The
police officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the Turkish
security forces detained 230 suspects in 2013; 78 were put behind bars and, of
those, 12 were foreigners.
In
2014, the number of ISIL members detained in operations across the country was
615. This included 240 foreigners; 87 of the total were jailed, and, of those,
21 were foreigners.
In
2015, a total of 1,700 suspected ISIL members have been detained, and this
figure includes 492 suspects who were foreign nationals. Of the total, 419 were
sent to prison, including 95 foreigners.
The officials did not reveal any details about which
countries the foreign nationals came from.
(…)
10.Three CHP Deputies to run for the party’s
leadership against Kilicdaroglu
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (11.11.15) reported that following the hugely disappointing result
obtained by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in the recent
general election, there have been calls in the party for an extraordinary
congress to be held for a change of leadership.
Three
party figures have already announced they will run for chairman in the congress
that will convene by January. 9 at the latest, should the dissenters manage to
get the support of enough party delegates.
Even if the dissenters are unable to get the support
of delegates for an extraordinary congress, the party is required to hold a
congress in the coming months.
The
party only slightly increased its votes in the early election on Nov. 1,
leaving the party, which expected to get up to 30% of the vote, highly
disappointed.
The
CHP received 25.3% in the general election, up from 24.9 in the election on
June 7.
The
party will now be represented by 134 Deputies in Parliament after it won 132
seats in the last election.
(…)
CHP
spokesperson Haluk Koç said in a press meeting on Tuesday that the CHP will be
ready to hold its ordinary congress by the middle of January when the party's provincial offices have completed
their congresses. He said 12 provinces and 149 districts have already held
their congresses.
The three candidates who will run for chairman argue
that Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, the current leader of the party, failed to put up a
performance that could win over voters.
Muharrem
İnce, a CHP Deputy who last year unsuccessfully ran for chairman in an
extraordinary congress after the AK Party's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was elected as
President by popular vote, is one of the candidates.
The
second figure running for chairman is Umut Oran, who also previously ran
against former CHP chairman Deniz Baykal for the party's top post. Oran was a
CHP Deputy before the June election but was not listed on the CHP ticket as a
deputy candidate in the last two general elections.
The
third CHP figure who will join the race is Mustafa Balbay, a Deputy who is a
journalist by profession.
According
to reports in the media, Baykal, a senior CHP figure, is also considering
running for chairman if the current candidates cannot manage to agree to join
forces to back a single candidate.
11.TOBB’s delegation visited Egypt; The visit marks
the first high rank visit since 2013
Turkish daily Sabah (12.11.15) reports that the chairman of the Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rıfat Hisarcıkoglu, accompanied by three
experts, paid a visit to Egypt on Monday. The visit was interpreted as the
first high rank visit to the country since relations were strained following
the ousting of the democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi by
Abdelfattah el-Sissi in 2013.
According
to the information obtained by Daily Sabah, Hisarcıklıoglu attended the Islamic
Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture's (ICCIA) 21st board and 31st
general assembly meetings as Hisarcıklıoglu currently holds the Vice-chairman
post in ICCIA.As the Vice-chairman of Association of European Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (Eurochambres), Hisarcıklıoglu also attended the
EU-Africa Energy forum. The delegation held talks with the Chairman Ahmed
al-Wakil and officials from Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce
regarding the trade relations among the two countries. TOBB sources stated that
Hisarcıklıoglu visit to Egypt was related with his titles in ICCIA and
Eurochambres.
The
visit was carried out on the knowledge of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu, and the delegation was reportedly greeted by
Turkey's Charge d'Affaires in Cairo, Ali Rıza Güney. The last visit which can
be classified as high rank from Turkey to Egypt was carried out in 2013 by main
opposition Republican People's Party Deputies and former Ambassadors Faruk Logoglu
and Osman Koruturk upon the invitation of the Sissi administration.
Although
the relations among the two countries are at a historic low in diplomatic terms
due to the coup in Egypt and Turkey's reaction, trade among the two countries,
especially Turkish exports, have recently been on an increasing trend.
In
2005, the trade volume among the two countries was lower than $500 million while
in 2010, it increased to $3 billion with Turkish investments in Egypt amounting
to $1 billion. This positive environment was stalled as the Mubarak regime was
overthrown with the protests started in late 2010 as part of the Arab Spring,
and the coup staged by Sissi further harmed the relations.
The
two countries were participants in the Syria talks carried out in Vienna on
October 30, and Turkey's Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın described the
involvement of Egypt to the talks, along with Iran, as a positive development.
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (11.11.15) reported
that two separate probes have been launched against Cengiz Candar, Radikal news
portal columnist, for his seven articles allegedly insulting President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
“The personal rights of my client, President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, were abused by accusation via press including insults,” said
Erdogan’s lawyer, Ahmet Ozel, in his petition.
In a notice from a prosecutor’s office, seven articles
of the columnist, which were published between July 26 and August 19, were
cited.
Separately, Hurriyet newspaper columnist Ertugrul Ozkok
ruled out in his November 11 article claims that he was called to testify by
the prosecutor’s office.
Pro-government broadcaster A Haber claimed a day
earlier that upon an Istanbul public prosecutor’s invitation to Ozkok to
testify with a similar accusation of insulting Erdogan, the columnist allegedly
went abroad.
Ozkok completely ruled out the claims in his column.
Meanwhile, according to Turkish daily Sabah
(11.11.15-online in English) an Istanbul court issued on Wednesday an arrest
warrant for the Gulen Movement-run Zaman daily Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı
upon the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Office's request.
Ekrem Dumanlı has been charged with "leading an
armed terrorist organization and plotting to overthrow the elected Turkish
government".
The court's decision came late on Wednesday as part of
an ongoing probe against the Selam-Tevhid organization- a group accused of
wiretapping senior government figures including the Prime Minister, the Head of
Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, Cabinet Ministers, and journalists,
through serving state officials.
(…)
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/ AM)
