TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 223/15 24.11.2015
1.
Turkey shot down Russian-made jet for airspace violation near Syrian border
2.
Akansoy: “White card” will be given to 40,000 persons within five years
3.
Ozyigit describes as “very important” the return of the occupied fenced off
city of Varosha to its legal owners
4. Turkish seasonal workers
will enter the occupied area of Cyprus only with their identity cards
5. Workers at the “municipality”
of occupied Yialousa protested over their economic difficulties
6. A new “state hospital”
will be built in the occupied part of Nicosia
7. Two candidates to run for TDP
leadership and the party’s 5th ordinary congress
8. Illegal
“GAU” university opened a campus in Sri Lanka
9.
EU, Turkey leaders to meet on migration on November 29
10. Top US commander is visiting
Turkey amid joint anti-ISIL operations
11. Turkish military board to convene under PM Davutoglu
1. Turkey
shot down Russian-made jet for airspace violation near Syrian border
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (24.11.15) reports that two
Turkish F-16's shot down a Russian-made SU-24 jet on Nov. 24 near the Syrian
border after it violated Turkish airspace, presidential sources said.
Turkey
shot down the jet after it failed to heed the warnings within the rules of
engagement. Initial reports said the jet belonged to Russia, but presidential
sources later clarified that the jet's nationality was unknown.
The Turkish Armed Force also stated that the jet of
“unknown nationality” had been warned 10 times within five minutes about its violation of the
border.
Meanwhile, a Turkish official told Reuters that two
warplanes approached the Turkish border and were warned before one of them was
shot down.
The jet crashed into tents in Latakia’s Yamadi village
near the Syrian border where Turkmens are currently staying, according to
Turkmen sources. Two pilots were seen landing with the aid of parachutes, the
witnesses said.
One of the pilots was killed and the other was
captured by Turkmen forces in the region CNN Turk reported, citing local
sources.
Russian helicopters are currently searching the area
to reach the pilots along with the wreckage of the jet, Dogan News Agency
reported.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu spoke with Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi
Akar and Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu regarding the incident, the Prime
Minister's Office said. Turkey will consult with NATO and the United Nations on
the developments at the border with Syria, the PM's Office added.
However, the Russian Defense Ministry said the downed
Russian jet, which was at an altitude of 6,000 meters, did not violate Turkish
airspace, adding that the fate of the pilots was unclear.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit
Ankara on Nov. 25 for bilateral talks. Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said
the meeting would take place as planned.
2. Akansoy:
“White card” will be given to 40,000 persons within five years
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (23.11.15)
reported that Asim Akansoy, self-styled interior minister of the breakaway
regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that within the
framework of granting the permanent “residence permit document” called as
“white card”, the regime will at a first
stage give this “white card” to around ten thousand persons.
In an interview with Havadis, Akansoy said that 40,000 persons will be “white card” holders within
five years and added: “From now on the criteria regarding the citizenship
will be essential. […] Becoming a citizen will not be so easy […] The persons who will take a white card as
of the day we will start giving it, must have a continuous work permit for six
years. Now citizenship is granted because of marriage and to persons who
are continuously working in the island for 12 years with a work permit and have
no criminal activity”.
Admitting
that there are many persons working “illegally” in the occupied area of Cyprus,
Akansoy said that registering the “illegal workforce” is a very important issue and pointed out that they cannot control the people
working illegally.
(I/Ts.)
3. Ozyigit
describes as “very important” the return of the occupied fenced off city of
Varosha to its legal owners
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.11.15)
reports that Cemal Ozyigit, chairman
of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), has
said that opening the occupied fenced off city of Varosha and transferring it
to its legal owners is very important for Famagusta and the area. Addressing
the 5th regular congress of his party in occupied Famagusta, Ozyigit noted that they are in solidarity
with the organizations which struggle having this aim and mainly with the
Famagusta Initiative. Ozyigit added: “Varosha will open. My building
contractors, my workers will definitely be there during its reconstruction, my
shopkeepers and businesspeople will also have a say in the settlement to come.
This is an indispensable condition for us”.
Ozyigit argued that the Cyprus problem passes through
a “very intensive and critical period” and pointed out that their duty is to offer their support to
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and his team for reaching a just
solution, which will protect the rights and the interests of both communities.
(I/Ts.)
4. Turkish seasonal
workers will enter the occupied area of Cyprus only with their identity cards
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris (24.11.15) reports that the so-called council of ministers
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
announced that the Turkish citizens, who are going to the occupied area of
Cyprus, with the purpose to work as workers of cutting citrus fruits or forest
workers will be able to enter in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
only with their identity cards and not their passports until June 1, 2016.
According
to the decision, the Turkish workers will be granted a “working permission” for
maximum six months and the decision has been in effect since November 1, 2015.
(DPs)
5.Workers at the
“municipality” of occupied Yialousa protested over their economic difficulties
Under the front-page title: “Last stop at the embassy”, Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper
(24.11.15) reports that the workers at
the “municipality” of occupied Yialousa village organized yesterday a protest
in front of the “Turkish embassy” in the occupied part of Lefkosia in order to
express their dissatisfaction for the fact that they are unpaid for the last
three months.
According to the paper, a group of seven persons marched yesterday from occupied Yialousa to
the occupied part of Lefkosia in order to protest for the bad economic
situation they experience.The workers said that they decided to apply to the
“Turkish embassy” asking for finding solutions to their problems due to the
indifference of the “state”.
(AK)
6. A new “state hospital”
will be built in the occupied part of Nicosia
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis (24.11.15) reports that the self-styled economy, finance,
budget and planning committee of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus approved by a majority vote the 289 million 854 thousand
700TL “health ministry’s budget”.
In
his speech at the “committee”, the self-styled minister of health Salih Izbul
announced that a new “state hospital” will be built in an area of 300-400 donum
behind the facilities of “BRT” in the occupied part of Nicosia. He added that
the “hospital” will have 1,000 bed-capacity and will be constructed as a health
complex. He noted that their aim is for the “hospital” to open in 2017.
(DPs)
7.Two candidates to run for
TDP leadership and the party’s 5th ordinary congress
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (24.11.15)
reports that the 5th ordinary
congress of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) will take place on December 6.
The
chairman of the party Cemal Ozyigit and the party’s chairman in the “district”
of occupied Famagusta Mustafa Emiroglulari applied to run for the party’s
leadership.
During the congress of the party, the “central
committee” and the leader of the party will be elected.
(AK)
8.Illegal “GAU” university
opened a campus in Sri Lanka
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.11.15)
reports that the illegal American
University of Keryneia (“GAU”) in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
has announced that Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YOK) has approved the
de facto opening of the “GAU Sri Lanka campus”.
According to the paper, Serkat Akpinar, “founding
rector” of the illegal “GAU”, accompanied by a delegation, attended the
graduation ceremony which took place at the campus in Sri Lanka. Amongst the
participants were the Turkish Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Tunca Ozcuhada and
several high level officials from Sri Lanka.
Issuing
a written statement, the illegal “GAU” pointed to the importance of the
“university campuses” abroad for the promotion of the “TRNC” and underlined
that the voice of the Turkish Cypriot community is heard abroad through
education.
(AK)
9. EU,
Turkey leaders to meet on migration on November 29
Turkish Today’s Zaman daily (24.11.15) reports that European Union and Turkish leaders will
meet in Brussels on Sunday to discuss migration issues and improving relations between
the EU and Ankara, the chairman of the summit Donald Tusk said on Twitter on
Monday.
“The EU badly needs Turkey's cooperation to stem the
flow of migrants to the 28-nation bloc as wars in Syria, Iraq and Africa have
triggered a flood of an estimated 1 million refugees seeking a safer and better
life in the rich EU only this year”, the paper writes.
"I
call an EU-Turkey summit on Sunday 29 November at 16:00. Purpose: Re-energize
our relations and stem migration flow," Tusk said. "My decision
follows a positive recommendation by the (European) Commission and phone call
this evening with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu."
Tusk, who chairs meetings of European Union leaders,
agreed on November 12 to hold a meeting in Brussels with Turkish President Tayyip
Erdogan once an agreement on stemming migration flows was finalized. Tusk said
at the time it was almost certain to take place in November. Since then
negotiations have continued, officials and diplomats have said.
10. Top US commander is visiting Turkey amid joint
anti-ISIL operations
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (24.11.15) reports that the vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Paul J.
Selva will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart during his visit to Turkey
on Nov. 24-25, sources have told the Hurriyet Daily News.
Selva will meet Yasar Guler, the
deputy chief of Turkish General Staff, to
discuss joint efforts to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
and planned anti-ISIL coalition operations.
A
possible joint military operation to establish a “terror-free zone” in the area
between Mare and Jarablus in northern Syria is also said to be on the agenda of
the two commanders.
11. Turkish military board to convene under PM
Davutoglu
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (24.11.15) reports that the Supreme Military Council (YAS) will convene on November 26, chaired
by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Members
of the Council including Chief of General Staff General Hulusi Akar, the Defence
Minister, Force Commanders, Army Commanders, the Gendarmerie Forces Commander, Navy
Commanders, and four star Generals, will participate at the top defence
meeting, which is held twice a year.
The gathering comes as Turkey and the U.S. are in talks
ahead of a possible operation between Mare and Jerablus in northern Syria,
aiming to create a “terror-free zone,” and also amid increasing attacks on
Turkmens in Syria by Russian air strikes.In
its winter gathering, the YAS typically discusses the military’s combat capacity.
It last convened for a regular meeting in August to decide on appointments and
retirements in the top echelons of the Turkish Armed Forces.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)
