TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 224/15 25.11.2015
1. Akinci: “The only way out for
the lifting of the sport embargoes is through the solution of the Cyprus
problem or the recognition of the TRNC”
2.
Eide: The possibilities created by the solution will finance the cost of the
solution
3. Ozgurgun: “The 90% of the
issue of the administration of the water is solved”
4.
Employees of occupied Yialousa “municipality” asked Turkey’s so-called
ambassador in Nicosia to solve their problems
5. The occupation regime attended
a forum of the OIC
6.
Arrangements in the “public transportations”
7. Erdogan: Turkey downed
fighter jet within the rules of engagement
8. Erdogan, Obama speak over
the phone on the recent downing of the Russian jet
9. Davutoglu; Turkey has the
right to respond if Turkish airspace is violated
10. Turkey submits letter to
UN explaining the downing of a Russian jet
11. Lavrov cancels Turkey
trip after jet downing
12. Russian battleships are
near to Latakia shore
13. Economy consequences
after the Russian jet crisis
14. “The Russian jet and the
Turkish presidency”
15. Davutoglu unveils the new
Cabinet members of the 64th Turkish Government
16. New AK Party Cabinet
staffed by Erdogan loyalists
1. Akinci: “The only way out
for the lifting of the sport embargoes is through the solution of the Cyprus
problem or the recognition of the TRNC”
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (25.11.15) under
the title: “We cannot overpass the sport
embargoes without the solution process”, reports on statements by the Turkish
Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci who in a press conference yesterday referred to
the “sport embargoes” and said, inter alia, that without a solution on the
Cyprus problem, it is difficult to lift the “sport embargoes” imposed on the
“TRNC”.
Pointing
out that because of the “embargoes” neither Turkey nor any other team can play
friendly games with the “TRNC”, Akinci added that the only way out is the
solution of the Cyprus problem or the recognition of the “TRNC” by the entire
world.
Supporting that the stance of the “Greek Cypriot
administration” towards the issue of “sport embargoes” is the same for the last
42 years, Akinci added: “The reason for this derives from the fear of the
recognition of the TRNC”.
Referring also to the mobile telephone-GSM issue,
Akinci said that this issue has been chocked up due to some legal obstacles. He
added that with goodwill people can change the laws and thus the issue to be
solved.
(…)
(AK)
2. Eide:
The possibilities created by the solution will finance the cost of the solution
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.11.15)
reports that Espen Barth Eide,
Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus, met separately yesterday with President Anastasiades and the Turkish
Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. In statements after the meetings Eide said
that during the meeting between the
leaders to be held today, they will evaluate the negotiations and determine how
many times they will meet in December.
Eide noted that they had a very good meeting with
Akinci yesterday and added that they discussed how to organize the meetings to
be held in December within the framework of the negotiations.
Eide
said that “this format of the negotiations is a good experience” and it is
believed that it facilitated the interrelated discussion of the issues.
According to Eide, progress has been reached in the direction of an agreement on some
fields during the negotiations and they understood how it would be better to organize
some other fields.
Referring on today’s leaders’ meeting, Eide noted that
they will discuss the announcement they will issue adding that the process is
being carried out by the leaders and they decide what and when will be said.
Replying to a question regarding the financing of the
solution, Eide pointed out that first
the donors should know what they will be financing and added that they have
nothing concrete as to which amount of money will be needed, because especially
the property and the key issues have not been concluded. He noted that
there are some countries which want to finance the solution adding that
resources could also be found by private companies. He further expressed the belief that the possibilities which the
solution will create will cover the cost of the solution.
(I/Ts.)
3. Ozgurgun: “The 90% of the
issue of the administration of the water is solved”
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (25.11.15)
reports that the chairman of the
National Unity Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun, in statements to illegal BRT last
night, evaluated the issue of the administration of the water transferred from
Turkey to the “TRNC” within the framework of the water transferred project and
said that 90% of the issue is solved. He also added that the “municipalities”
will take part to this work jointly and added that the capital will be also
included to this work.
Expressing the belief that the remained 10% of the
issue will be solved soon via dialogue with Turkey, Ozgurgun said that the “coalition partners” in the “government” do not
have any disagreement or problems towards this matter.
(AK)
4. Employees
of occupied Yialousa “municipality” asked Turkey’s so-called ambassador in
Nicosia to solve their problems
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.11.15)
reports that a group of employees of
occupied Yialousa “municipality”, who have not received a salary for two months
due to the “municipalities’” financial problems, visited the occupied part of
Nicosia yesterday and met with Turkey’s so-called ambassador, Derya Kanbay.
The employees had started a march from occupied Yialousa to the occupied part
of Nicosia having the support of occupied Yialousa’s “mayor”, Mesut Yikici and
some other “mayors” of the area. Kanbay
expressed support to the solution of their problems.
Yikici
and the “municipal’ employees union (BES) stated that they will not accept a
solution package prepared by the self-styled ministry of interior and labor and noted that the package provides for a decrease of
personnel and salary cuts of 25%. Yikici said that the “municipality” faces a
debt problem of 22 million 500 thousand Turkish Liras, something which is above
their power to overcome, but they are continuing their efforts. He noted that
the number of their personnel is 122, five of which are temporarily employed.
(I/Ts.)
5. The occupation regime
attended a forum of the OIC
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (25.11.15)
reports that the “trade department”,
represented the occupation regime at the forum of the Committee of Standards
and Metrology (SMIIC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which
took place in Istanbul.
According to a statement issued by the “trade department”,
the occupation regime was represented at
the event by the “director” of the “trade department” of the “ministry of
economy, industry and trade”, Nalan Nazli and the economist Mehmet Uluc.
Experts
from several countries such as the occupation regime, Turkey, the United Arab
Emirates, Senegal, Kirgizstan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Indonesia, Cameroun,
Bangladesh, Jordan, Dubai and Libya also attended the event.
(AK)
6. Arrangements
in the “public transportations”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper
(25.11.15) reports that the self-styled council of ministers adopted yesterday
the “regulations” on the “public transportations”. Self-styled prime minister,
Omer Kalyoncu, said that according to these “regulations”, if the drivers, who work in the “public transportations”, are not
“citizens” of the breakaway regime, they must have continuously worked in the
occupied area of Cyprus for at least six years with “work permit” and possesses
a “TRNC driving license” for five years.
(I/Ts.)
7. Erdogan: Turkey downed
fighter jet within the rules of engagement
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (25.11.15) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has interfered
in one of the two Russian jets which violated the Turkish air space within the
rules of engagement, adding that Turkey did not bear enmity for its neighbours.
“Despite
all warnings, a fighter jet of unknown identity was interfered within the rules
of engagement. The jet unfortunately insisted on its violation despite it had
been warned ten times and our F-16’s downed one of the jets as a result of the
intervention,” Erdogan said adding that everyone should respect Turkey’s right
to defend its borders.
8. Erdogan, Obama speak
over the phone on the recent downing of the Russian jet
Turkish
Sabah daily (25.11.15) reports that Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
spoke with his US counterpart Obama over the phone on the recent downing of a Russian
jet late Tuesday.
According
to the statement released by the Turkish Presidency, US President Obama
reiterated the commitment of the US and NATO to Turkey's right to defend its
sovereignty and borders. "Both
Presidents expressed their common will to take measures to prevent any
incidents alike and to de-escalate current tensions between Turkey and
Russia," the statement added, further stating that the two leaders
also emphasized their determination to continue joint anti-terror operations
against DAESH.
9. Davutoglu; Turkey has
the right to respond if Turkish airspace is violated
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (25.11.15) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey has the right
to take "all kinds of measures" against border violations.
"We would like the
entire world to know that we will take all necessary measures and make any
sacrifices when it comes to the lives and dignity of our citizens and for the
security of our borders while our country is in a circle of fire."Davutoglu
said and added that Turkey had exercised its "international right and
national duty" by downing the plane which the authorities say was flying
over the country's southern Hatay province.
10. Turkey submits letter
to UN explaining the drowing of a Russian jet
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (25.11.15) reports that Turkey has submitted a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
explaining the downing of a Russian jet early Tuesday [24 November] after it
violated Turkish airspace.
The
letter that was also sent to the Security Council and obtained by Anadolu
Agency, said that two SU-24 warplanes approached Turkish airspace in the
Yayladagi region before Turkish authorities warned the planes via
"emergency" channel and asked them to immediately change their
headings.
"Our rules of
engagement are well known and reiterated to all parties on numerous occasions.
Turkey will not hesitate to exercise its rights emanating from international
law to protect the security of its citizens and borders in compliance with the
established rules and regulations," it added.
11. Lavrov cancels Turkey
trip after jet downing
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (25.11.15) reports that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday that he cancelled
his planned visit to Turkey November 25 after Turkish fighter jets downed a
Russian warplane and also recommended Russians travelling to Turkey to suspend
their plans.
“The
critical mass of terrorist incidents on Turkish soil, according to our
estimates, is no less of a threat than in Egypt,” Lavrov said in televised
comments.
Meanwhile, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s envoy to Ankara yesterday after Turkey shot
down a Russian military plane due to an alleged airspace violation, a Turkish
diplomat has told Hurriyet Daily News, while Turkey’s defence attaché in Moscow
was summoned to the Russian Defence Ministry.
Russian
Ambassador Andrey Karlov was in Istanbul for the cancelled visit of Lavrov,
when the Ministry summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires in Ankara. The
undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry lodged a complaint about the Russian
aircraft’s violation of Turkish airspace during the meeting.
12. Russian battleships
are near to Latakia shore
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 24.11.15) reported that a Russian battleship
passed through the Dardanelles en route to the Mediterranean, minutes after
Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian fighter jet due to an airspace violation.
A
Russian warship named “Yamal” entered the Dardanelles Strait off north-western
Turkey at 10 a.m. on Nov. 24, shortly after Turkish jets shot down a Russian
SU-24 near the Syrian border for reportedly violating Turkish airspace at 9.24
a.m. The “Yamal” had crossed the 36-mile strait by 1 p.m. and continued its
route toward the Mediterranean.
On
the same issue, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (online, 25.11.15) reported that
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Russia is sending an air
defence system to Syria and a warship to the Mediterranean. One of the two
warships is “Moskova”, which has an advanced air defence system, similar to
S-300.
It
is also reported that Russia has broken off military contact with Turkey.
Furthermore,
according to Ankara Anatolia news agency (25.11.15), the chief of the Main
Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces
Lt.Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said that the “Moskova warship”, will go to the shore
zone of Latakia, in Syria”. The Russian Defence Ministry warned that all
potentially dangerous targets will be destroyed.
(DPs)
13. Economy consequences
after the Russian jet crisis
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (25.11.15) reports that in a deeply worrying turn of events on Tuesday, Turkish tour operators
were biting their nails after Turkey's downing of a Russian fighter jet
provoked Moscow to urge citizens to avoid Turkey trips, potentially meaning a
major blow to the country's nearly $4 billion in revenue from Russian visitors
per year.
For
many years, millions of Russian tourists have been the primary source of
tourism revenue for Turkey. In 2014 alone, 4.48 million Russian tourists
visited Turkey, bringing in revenue of nearly $4 billion, official figures
showed. Turkey hosts some 40 million tourists who generate $34.3 billion in
revenue every year.
On Tuesday, many Russian
users shared tweets suggesting that Russian tourists boycott Turkey and Russia
stop buying Turkish-made products.
In addition, the paper
writes that Turkey’s stocks fell 4.39% and its debt insurance costs rose on
November 24 after it shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border,
while other emerging assets also struggled in the face of a strong dollar and
weak commodities.
Turkey’s
main stock exchange, the BIST 100, closed the day at 76.242,98 points, which
neared the low levels of October ahead of the Nov. 1 elections, although the
general declining trend rebounded a bit as the markets reacted to the appointment
of former Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek as the new economy tsar in the newly
announced cabinet, according to analysts.
14. “The Russian jet and
the Turkish presidency”
Under
the above title, Mustafa Akyol writes the following in Turkish Hurriyet Daily
News (25.11.15):
“
[…] this plane incident also highlighted something else regarding Turkey’s
domestic politics. The technical statement about the downing of the Russian jet
came from the Chief of Staff, as usual and expected. However, the first political statement, which would
normally come from the Prime Minister’s office, rather came from the President’s
office. As many took it, this was yet another sign that President Tayyip Erdogan’s
much-anticipated “Presidential system” is now already in practice, as a de
facto reality.
Yesterday,
by the way, an important meeting took place in Ankara: Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu visited Erdogan, to consult with him on the new Cabinet.It is no secret that this meeting had been delayed, for
Erdogan was not fully satisfied with the Cabinet members Davutoglu had in mind. In the end, the list was announced, and
it proved to have the Erdogan mark all over. Ali Babacan, the boss of the
economy since 2002, was excluded in spite of Davutoglu’s known insistence in
keeping him in his seat.
In
other words, while the downed Russian jet may put Ankara and Moscow politically
at odds, one could say that Turkey is gradually heading toward a Russian-style
presidency. We truly live in interesting times.”
15. Davutoglu unveils new
Cabinet members of the 64th Turkish Government
Turkish
daily Sabah (25.11.15) reports that Turkish
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced the Cabinet members of Turkey's 64th
government on Tuesday, after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan authorized him
to form the government on November 17.
The Cabinet is as follows:
Prime
Minister: Ahmet Davutoglu
Deputy Prime Minister: Numan Kurtulmus
Deputy
Prime Minister: Mehmet Simsek
Deputy Prime Minister: Yalcın Akdogan
Deputy Prime Minister: Lutfi Elvan
Deputy Prime Minister: Tugrul Turkes
Minister
of Justice: Bekir Bozdag
Minister
of Family and Social Policy: Sema Ramazanoglu
Minister of EU Affairs: Volkan Bozkır
Minister of Science, Industry and Technology:
Fikri Isık
Minister of Labour and Social Security:
Suleyman Soylu
Minister of Environment and Urban Planning:
Fatma Guldemet
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mevlut Cavusoglu
Minister of the Economy: Mustafa Elitas
Minister
of Energy and Natural Sources: Berat Albayrak
Minister of Youth and Sports: Akif Cagatay
Kılıc
Minister of Food, Agriculture and Animal
Husbandry: Faruk Celik
Minister of Customs and Trade: Bulent Tufekci
Minister of Forestry and Waterworks: Veysel
Eroglu
Minister of Interior Affairs: Efkan Ala
Minister of Development: Cevdet Yılmaz
Minister of Culture and Tourism: Mahir Unal
Minister of Finance: Naci Agbal
Education Minister: Nabi Avcı
Minister
of Defence: İsmet Yılmaz
Minister of Health: Mehmet Muezzinoglu
16. New AK Party Cabinet
staffed by Erdogan loyalists
Turkish
Today’s Zaman (25.11.15) writes that the
new Cabinet reveals President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's hegemony over the
administration, with the exclusion of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's
long-time ally, former economy chief Ali Babacan, from the helm of the economy
causing a stir.
The Cabinet, which was
announced on Tuesday by Davutoglu, includes many controversial figures,
including Erdogan's son-in-law Berat Albayrak, former minister and new Minister
of Transport Binali Yildirim, who is a close ally of Erdogan's, and new Interior
Minister Efkan Ala.
Turkish
media reports suggested a chasm between Erdogan and Davutoglu regarding who
should lead the economy. Babacan -- reportedly favoured by Davutoglu and who
had presided over Turkey's economy for the past 13 years -- was left out of the
Cabinet, another indication that Erdogan has put his stamp on the new
government.
However it was the
appointment of Erdogan-loyalist figures, such as Erdogan's son-in-law,
Albayrak, to the position of Minister of Energy and Natural Resources that
indicated Erdogan's complete control over the formation of the Cabinet. Albayrak,
37, who has no real experience as a policymaker and who previously made
headlines with his unexpected nomination to run on the AK Party ticket in the
June election, was, even back then, rumoured to be in line to control the
country's finances despite his lack of experience and his controversial
statements about the economy.
Mevlut
Cavusoglu was re-appointed to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, after a
hiatus of six months, during which Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu
controlled Turkey's foreign policy.
Former
Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Yildirim was
re-appointed to his position on Tuesday after spending the summer on the side-lines
due to the AK Party's three term election limit. There is no love lost between Yildirim and Davutoglu, the former
being known as Erdogan's point man in the Cabinet. Yildirim was also touted as
the next AK Party leader at the annual party congress. Yildirim was reported to
have tested the waters for a potential run against Davutoglu with Erdogan's
support but later decided against the idea.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/
AM)
