TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 216/15 13.11.2015
1.Akinci alleges that the
connection of the GSM networks is prevented by the Greek Cypriots
2. Colak
continues her contacts in Brussels
3. Famagusta Initiative accuses the occupation regime
of unwillingness on the opening of the Deryneia crossing point
4. So-called foreign ministry issued a written
statement on the opening of Deryneia and Lefka/Apliki crossing points
5.
Hudaoglu: “The TRNC is defended at the negotiations”
6. “KTIAK”’s delegation held contacts in Berlin and
Hamburg
7. Yilmaz:
If there are mutually good intentions, permanent peace can be reached in Cyprus
8. Data about the number of Turkish Cypriot immigrants
9.
YSK released the official results of November 1 snap elections
10. Turkish government’s new Cabinet expected to be
announced next week
11. Silvan district of Diyabakir turned into a
battlefield; A curfew has been imposed since the day after the elections; HDP’s
Deputy attacked
12. Police raid media critical to the government
13. Former HDP Deputy was banned to leave Turkey due
to speeches she delivered in the past
14. Turkish columnist expresses the view that the AKP
government aims to control all media in Turkey for getting a positive result on
a presidential system referendum
1. Akinci alleges that the connection of the GSM
networks is prevented by the Greek Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot illegal Bayrak television (13.11.15,
online) broadcast that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has said that in spite of the fact that they had agreed
on many chapters with the Greek Cypriot side during the negotiations, the issue
of establishing a connection between the GSM networks is “locked by the Greek
Cypriot obstacle”. In statements during one of his meetings today, Akinci noted that they have found out that
a law of the Republic of Cyprus prevents the cooperation with the operators in
the occupied area of the island and alleged that if there is a will the law
should be amended the soonest, otherwise this situation could negatively
influence the people’s psychology for the solution.
“We long for a political spring in Cyprus, a
geographic solution”, argued Akinci adding that efforts are exerted to reach a solution having as starting point the
“reality” of the two communities and the two areas, which already exist in the
island.
Noting that the Joint Statement of 11 February refers
to the bi-communality and bi-zonality, Akinci expressed the view that this
reality is the basis of the negotiating process. Akinci argued that the water
brought from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus, the natural gas found in
the island’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the interconnected electricity
system are “elements which will contribute to the peoples’ being able to live
together”. He alleged that this view is considered to be positive and
constructive not only by Turkey, but by “other areas of the world as well”.
Finally, he
noted that their aim is to complete the negotiations before May 2016 and that
he is not pessimistic on the issue of the solution, but because of some
negative things that came up, he does not want to draw a “rosy picture”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Colak
continues her contacts in Brussels
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.11.15)
reports that the so-called foreign minister Emine Colak participated in a round
table meeting of the “Foundation of European Studies”, in the framework of her
contacts in Brussels. In the meeting Colak gave information about the latest
developments of the Cyprus problem and the halloumi/ hellim issue. She also
explained the positions of the Turkish Cypriot side.
The paper writes that Colak held various meetings in
Brussels. Among others she met with Ivo Vajgl, Slovakian member of the Alliance
of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group (ALDE), Ilhan Kucuk, who is member
both of ALDE and of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs
(AFET), Reimer Boge, German Deputy of
the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats), Vierros
Villeneuve Permanent Representative of
Finland in Brussels and Frank Engel,
member of the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats).
(CS)
3. Famagusta Initiative accuses the occupation
regime of unwillingness on the opening of the Deryneia crossing point
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (13.11.15)
reports that the Famagusta Initiative
has accused the “government” of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus of behaving unwillingly on the issue of the opening of
the crossing point in Deryneia area, on which the leaders of the two
communities had agreed a long time ago.
In a statement signed by Okan Dagli, the Initiative
argues that the Republican Turkish Party
(CTP) – National Unity Party (UBP) self-styled governmentinsists on undertaking
no initiative on the issue of the opening of crossing points.
Dagli noted that no concrete steps have been taken
until now on the issue of materializing the confidence building measures (CBM),
according to the joint declaration. He said that the Initiative and the people
living in the area are disappointed especially on the issue of the opening of
the Deryneia crossing point.
Dagli accused the self-styled government of not
announcing any timetable and of issuing no “serious statement” especially on
the issue of the Deryneia – Famagusta crossing point, for which the UN had confirmed that no problem is
left and the only thing needed for the opening of the crossing point is the
completion of the infrastructure.
Describing
as “thought provoking” the self-styled government’s unwillingness on the
opening of crossing points, Dagli warned that in case no step is
taken on the issue about which the people of Famagusta and the area are “very
sensitive”, they will show the necessary
reaction without taking into consideration political parties or political
tendencies, just like they did during the protest held in May.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
(13.11.15) points out that the
Initiative is actually criticizing the stance of the major “coalition partner”,
the CTP. According to the paper, the statement notes, inter alia, the
following:
“The stance of the CTP president Mr Mehmet Ali Talat
who since the issue of the opening of Famagusta-Deryneia crossing point came
onto the agenda tried to throw the ball to the military authorities has created
a negative effect on us. Another example of the government’s unwillingness is
the fact that the Prime Minister Mr Omer Kalyoncu said absolutely nothing on
the issue in front of this stance by Mr Talat, who in speeches on various
occasions, is still putting forward his lack of political will and
unwillingness, in spite of the fact that every kind of technical problems have
been overcome”.
The paper writes also that Gurdal Hudaoglu, Akinci’s adviser, stated yesterday that there is no
political problem for the opening of new crossing points and that the routes
are known. He noted that the technical infrastructure should be completed
quickly.
(I/Ts.)
4.So-called foreign ministry issued a written
statement on the opening of Deryneia and Lefka/Apliki crossing points
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (13.11.15)
reports that the so-called foreign ministry issued a written statement
concerning the Deryneia and Lefka/Apliki crossing points.
The
statement said, inter alia, that an important progress has been achieved
towards the works for the opening of the Deryneia and Lefka-Apliki crossing
points, that the works for sweeping the mines continues and that they held
contacts with various EU officials in order to obtain the necessary financial
sources.
The
“ministry” said in the statement that the opening of the two crossing points is
a priority issue for the “government” and pointed out that that the
“government” has shown a strong political will in order to achieve the opening
of the crossing points the soonest possible.
The “ministry” dismissed also some claims published in
the press concerning this issue and supported that those reports published
derived from the lack of knowledge towards this matter.
The
statement recalled that an agreement has been reached between the two leaders
in the framework of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) towards the opening
of Deryneia and Lefka-Apliki crossing point and added that the “government” has
launched works in both areas without any delay, after the technical committees
discussed this issue.
According to the statement, all related organizations are in full cooperation will international
organizations concerning the issue of finding the necessary financial resources
that will be used for the infrastructure and the broadening and the asphalt of
the road.
The
statement added that in spite of the fact that the works for the cleaning of
mines in the area which are carrying out in cooperation with UN’s experts were
expected to be completed by the end of December, due to their coordinated
efforts, they are expected to be completed in November.
As the statement said, the process of certification
which is necessary to be done in accordance to the international
implementations for Deryneia and Lefka areas in order to be able to be opened
for civilian uses, is still continuing.
(AK)
5.
Hudaoglu: “The TRNC is defended at the negotiations”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.11.15)
reports that Gurdal Hudaoglu,
"presidential under-secretary", of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci, stated that the rumors spread by some circles lately that the “TRNC is
not defended at the negotiations”, or that “the TRNC will be a patch of the Republic
of Cyprus” are not true.
He stated that the new state that will emerge after a
solution is reached, will be established by the two constituent states. As the
Greek Cypriots should not say that the Republic of Cyprus will be turned into
something else, the Turkish Cypriots should not say this about the “TRNC” as
well, he stated. There is not such a thing. He also said that the Turkish Cypriots will be reflected politically
equal with their administration, mechanism and institutions.
Hudaoglu also stated that within 4-5 days the official
reports of the negotiations will be translated in Turkish so that the members
of the “assembly’ or any other related “institution” to have access to the
documents. Hudaoglu criticized some
“deputies” who stated that there are hidden issues as regards the negotiations
and also said that there are not informed about the negotiations progress. He
said that they can have access to the information they want soon.
(CS)
6.“KTIAK”’s delegation held contacts in Berlin and
Hamburg
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.11.15) reports
that a delegation of the so-called
Cyprus Turkish Businessmen’s Council (KTIAK) headed by its “chairman” Ilker
Zugurt, which is currently in Berlin and Hamburg for a series of contacts, met
the other day with the German Deputy with the Social Democrat Party (SDP), Dr.
Karl Heinz Brunner.
According to the paper, the delegation explained to Brunner the political and economic
situation in the “TRNC”, while at the same time they had the chance to exchange
views on the recent developments on the Cyprus problem.
Speaking during the meeting, Brunner said that “great
things could be achieved with small steps” and pointed out to the importance of
the works that the NGO’s in Germany can do abroad.
Stating
that they are informed about the latest developments on the Cyprus problem,
Brunner said that the “TRNC” should be ready for after the solution period. He
then stressed the “need for the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot governments”
to have equal seats in the federation to be formed in a possible solution and
added that the USA and the EU will provide financial contribution to the
country after the solution.
Brunner stated further the following: “The TRNC for years now has not
experienced the EU’s gaming rules, it has experienced Turkey’s gaming rules.
For this reason, the TRNC, prior to the solution, should make the necessary
preparation in all issues. The NGO’s in the country and the politicians should
do all necessary towards this issue”.
Stressing
the need for the two communities to focus on the connective elements in the
island, Brunner added that the financial issue or the military issue could be
solved under the auspices of NATO.
The so-called Cyprus Turkish Businessmen’s Council
invited Brunner and other German Deputies to visit Cyprus.
(AK)
7. Yilmaz:
If there are mutually good intentions, permanent peace can be reached in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (13.11.15)
reports that a reception was held for
the 32nd“establishment” of the breakaway regime at the Ankara Swiss
Hotel in Turkey.
Speaking during the reception, the Speaker of the
Grand National Turkish Assembly Ismet Yilmaz,
stated that if there are mutually good intentions in Cyprus, permanent peace
can be reached in the island. “This is our desire”, he stated. He went on
and alleged that in the past the Turkish Cypriots experienced many difficulties
and injustices; however he said things are much improved nowadays due to
Turkey’s assistance.
Speaking on the same event, the “TRNC ambassador to
Ankara”, Fazil Can said that “if Turkey is strong then the TRNC is also
strong”. He also referred to the project of water transfer from Turkey to the
occupied area of Cyprus and said that it demonstrates the economic and
technological power of Turkey.
(CS)
8. Data about the number of Turkish Cypriot
immigrants
Under the title “60 thousand immigrants in 41 years”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (13.11.15) reports about the number
of Turkish Cypriots who immigrated from Cyprus during the last century and
publishes statements by Osman Kasapoglu, the General Coordinator of the Union
of Turkish Cypriots living abroad.
According to Kasapoglu, around 30 thousand Turkish Cypriots have emigrated from Cyprus between
1917-1955; however, after 1974 the numbers of the immigrants increased and
during the last 41 years 60 thousand Turkish Cypriots immigrated from the
island. Kasapoglu also claimed that if the number of Turkish Cypriots who
immigrated since 1917 is calculated, then the
number of Turkish Cypriots living abroad will reach 600 thousands. He also
said that despite this number, there are only 50 thousand Turkish Cypriots who
are holders of the “TRNC identity”.
The paper also writes that the majority of the Turkish
Cypriots immigrated mostly to the UK and Turkey, followed by Australia and
Canada. Less people immigrated to the USA and even less to some European
countries, like Germany, Holland and Italy.
(CS)
9.YSK
released the official results of November 1 snap elections
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.11.15) reported
that the Head of Turkey’s Supreme Election Board (YSK) Sadi Guven has announced
in a press conferencethe official results of the November 1 snap elections,
noting that the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Republican People’s Party
(CHP), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
obtained 317, 134, 59 and 40 seats, respectively.
Polling stations were established in 54 countries and
113 representation offices around the globe, Guven said, noting that over 85%
of eligible voters participated in the elections.
Guven noted that fewer problems were encountered
during the elections as the number of invalid votes diminished, more observers
were trained and no electricity cuts were reported.
According to the announcements, the AKP won the
highest number of seats in the parliament with 317 Deputies. It was followed by
the CHP (134), HDP (59) and MHP (40).
A total of 16 parties attended the elections.
10. Turkish government’s new Cabinet expected to be
announced next week
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily news
(13.11.15) Turkey’s ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) has put the final touches on its timeline to form a new
government, as the country’s top election body released the final results of
the November 1 snap elections, confirming that the AKP had regained its
parliamentary majority.
Accordingly, members
of the National Assembly will take their oaths on November 17 and President
Recep Tayyip Erdoran will give the mandate to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to
form the new government on the same day.
The
new Cabinet is expected to be announced on November 18, on the anniversary of the formation of the very
first AKP government by its then-leader, former President Abdullah Gul, in
2002. Prominent party members have attached importance to this date,
interpreting it as a “return to the foundational spirit” of the party.
The
last round of ongoing talks between the Presidency and Prime Ministry regarding
the new Cabinet will be held on late November 17.
The
Cabinet is likely to include: Binali Yıldırım, Numan Kurtulmus, Faruk Celik,
Omer Celik, Mehmet Ozhaseki, Ali Babacan, Cevdet Yılmaz, Bekir Bozdag, Nihat
Zeybekci, Nurettin Canikli, Tugrul Türkes and Cemil Cicek, if he is not elected
as Parliament Speaker.
Unlike
previously, Erdogan will not wait for the election of the new Parliament
Speaker, which will take place on November 22, while the oldest parliament
member, Deniz Baykal, will preside over the first session.
The candidates for Parliament Speaker are İsmet Yılmaz,
İsmail Kahraman and Cemil Cicek.
As is custom, members of the Parliament Speaker’s Office
will be elected in parallel to the procedure for forming the government.
While the new assembly is electing its Speaker on
November 22, the AKP will also be working to form various parliamentary
commissions. As the preparation of the 2016 Central Governance Budget Law will
not be possible within such a short period of time, the AKP will draft a
“temporary budget” for the first quarter of 2016 and Parliament will begin
deliberations over the 2016 Central Governance Budget Law in January, although
these deliberations are customarily held in December.
11.Silvan district of Diyabakir turned into a
battlefield; A curfew has been imposed since the day after the elections; HDP’s
Deputy attacked
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (12.11.15) reported that as an ongoing curfew imposed on November 2
is still in place, thousands of residents have started to leave the tense
district of Silvan in the southeastern Diyarbakır province, after the ongoing
intense clashes between the Turkish security forces and the Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) have turned the district into a battlefield with many houses
destroyed and eight people killed.
Gunshots
can constantly be heard in Silvan due to the ongoing clashes in the city, where
six civilians, a soldier and a police officer have been killed since the curfew
was imposed.
In
the latest fatal attack, the terrorists targeted an armored police vehicle in
the district on Wednesday, killing one policeman and injuring another. The
media reports say a group of terrorists attacked the vehicle along the
Diyarbakır Highway with rockets.
Local
residents are suffering from a lack of food and water because of the days-long
curfew amid the continuing violence.Locals are concerned about their lives. In
three neighborhoods -- Mescit, Tekel and Konak -- where the clashes intensify,
the Internet and telephones are not working. There are armored police vehicles
and tanks on almost every street in those neighborhoods. Thousands of people
living in there have left their homes feeling that they are no longer safe.
Nearly 20,000 locals are believed to have left the
district so far since late July. Most of those went to provinces such as Batman
Mersin, İstanbul and İzmir. However, the Dogan news agency says the number of
migrated locals stands at 10,000.
(…)
The Diyarbakır Governor's Office released a written
statement on Wednesday, stating that five PKK militants have been killed during
the ongoing operations in Silvan. The governor's office stated that the Silvan
District Governor's Office has been distributing food and bread to the
residents living in the three neighborhoods where the clashes are, adding that
those locals whose houses were damaged have been also provided accommodation by
the district governor's office.
Meanwhile, as the paper points out, Peoples'
Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chairwoman Figen Yuksekdag and several other
pro-Kurdish lawmakers went to Silvan to carry out examinations in the district.
Hundreds of HDP supporters as well as the lawmakers gathered in front of the
Silvan Municipality's building on Thursday to march in the three neighborhoods
that are under curfew. However, they were stopped by a police intervention. The
police used tear gas and water cannons against the lawmakers and protesters. Yuksekdag
and the other Deputies -- İdris Baluken, Hüda Kaya, Ahmet Yıldırım, Çağlar
Demirel, Nursel Yıldırım, Ertuğrul Kürkçü and Altan Tan -- resisted the police
intervention. However, the police did not allow the group to march to the three
neighborhoods despite the efforts of the Deputies to convince them otherwise.
Speaking to the press following the police
intervention in Silvan, Yuksekdag said: “There is currently barbarity taking
place here.” Yüksekdag stated that some of the lawmakers were exposed to
physical violence by the police during the intervention and warned that tension
is escalating in the district. She also said that the attacks are taking place
not only in the three neighborhoods under curfew, but also in other parts of
the district. She added that there are many locals who were injured in the
attacks.
Calling the operation conducted in Silvan “an
extermination campaign,” Yuksekdag said that the Justice and Development Party
(AK Party) government has lost its legitimacy due to its violent policies.
Protests were held against the curfew in Silvan in
various parts of Turkey on Thursday. A group of students held a protest at the
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in İstanbul's Şişli district on Thursday. The
police intervened in the protest to disperse the students. A
number of students were detained by the police.
(…)
12.Police raid media critical to the government
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (12.11.15) reported that the police broke into the newsrooms of the
Zaman and Today's Zaman dailies and the Aksiyon weekly magazine, part of the
Zaman Media Group, in the Yenibosna neighborhood of İstanbul late on Wednesday,
with helicopters hovering above and water cannon and riot police in front of
the building.
The
raid came amidst rumors that the media group was among the government's targets
after another critical media group was seized late last month. The police raid
on the three critical media outlets was carried out over claims that the Ozgur
Bugun daily -- which was launched after trustees were appointed to the Bugun
daily's administration in a controversial decision -- was being printed at a
printing house belonging to the Zaman daily.
Although police were expected to search only the
printing house of the daily based on a court decision to that effect, they
returned to the building after an "anonymous call" and searched the
newsrooms of Zaman, Today's Zaman and the Aksiyon weekly, journalists in the
building said.
The Zaman daily's lawyer, Ali Odabası, said there was
no court warrant to search the Zaman building, adding that the police came to
the daily over a complaint by the Bugun daily's lawyers that the Ozgur Bugun
daily was being printed at Zaman headquarters.
(….)
13. Former HDP Deputy was banned to leave Turkey
due to speeches she delivered in the past
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.11.15) reported
that former Peoples’ Democratic Party
(HDP) Deputy Sebahat Tuncel was briefly detained at passport control in
Istanbul Atatürk Airport ahead of her flight to Brussels.
Tuncel, who is also theSpokesperson for the Peoples’
Democratic Congress (HDK), was transferred to the prosecutor’s office in
Bakırköy after testifying at the airport.
Announcing
her detainment on her Twitter account, Tuncel said a ban on leaving the country
was imposed on her due to the speeches she delivered between 2010 and 2013. “The issuance
of a warrant before a service of summons is a political decision by the public
prosecutor,” Tuncel tweeted.
Tuncel
was released following her testimony while the ban on leaving the country remains
in effect.
14.Turkish columnist expresses the view that the
AKP government aims to control all media in Turkey for getting a positive
result on a presidential system referendum
Under the title: “Is
the slaughter of critical media for a presidential system?”,Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (13.11.15)
publishes a commentary by columnist Orhan Kemal Cengiz, who writes the
following:
“Polling
companies keep asking participants the same question over and over again:
‘Would you say yes if there was a referendum on the presidential system?’
Adil
Gur, the owner of the A&G research company, declared that according to its
survey in December 2014 and January 2015, 70% of respondents said no. He
concludes that the Turkish public is against the presidential system.
A report by another polling company, Konsensus, says the same thing in different
words: ‘We have been asking this question since 2010. Turkish people do not
want a presidential system. In September 2014, 67 % of respondents said they
are against a presidential system. Also, 55 % of Justice and Development (AK
Party) voters are against this system’.
ADY
AR polling company said its February and April surveys show that 65-70% of the
public is against the presidential system.
Metropoll,
a survey company, says it has asked the same question of its respondents 10
times in the last three years. The last survey was in September and the support
for a presidential system was 32%.
I am giving you these numbers to show a simple fact. The people in Turkey are definitely against
a presidential system. Even the majority of AK Party supporters oppose this
kind of governmental system.
The
Turkish public may not know so many practical details about such a governmental
system. But they instinctively know that if Turkey replaces its parliamentarian
system with a presidential one, it would only mean in practice a one-man
system, an open dictatorship.
Actually, what
the AK Party is offering as a presidential system is merely the introduction of
a sultan into a system bearing the name of a President. The President in a
presidential system envisaged by certain authorities of the AK Party would even
has the power to create his own laws. Well,
as you may know, the presidential system in the classical sense of the word is
based on the rigid separation of powers. In the AK Party's case, there is no
separation, only the unification of powers.
Not only because of what this so-called Turkish style
presidential system envisages on paper, but also realities in Turkey show that this President, who of course would be
the incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, would become a dictator in
practice. No media would exist that could or would limit him, and no judiciary
would dare to inspect his actions and decisions.
As you may well be aware, before the June 7 election,
the presidential system was the number one item on the agenda. Since the AK
Party lost a significant portion of its votes in that election, we did heard
barely a murmur about the presidential system during the November 1 election
campaign.
However, after this month's election we have suddenly
started to hear AK Party spokespeople talking about a presidential system. The Spokesperson
of the President even talked about holding a referendum on the presidential
system.
When
all surveys show that the people in Turkey are strongly against the
presidential system, how do AK Party figures dare to suggest the holding of a
referendum on this subject? They must be thinking that public opinion will
change from a negative one to a positive one on presidential system. But how?
Just
look at the recent onslaught on the media, the seizing of the İpek Media Group,
attacks on Zaman and others in this context.
If
they have all the media on their side, could they get a different result on a
referendum on the presidential system? I believe somebody in power thinks so”.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/ AM)
