TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 227/15 28-30.11.2015
1.
Davutolgu: If the Cyprus problem is solved soon, Turkey’s EU accession will
stop being a dream and will become a reality
2. Turkey-EU agree on refugee
action plan; Statements by Davutoglu and Juncker
3. Burcu: “Russia is not
following the principle of equality
4.
Former Turkish Cypriot negotiators praised Akinci’s behavior towards German and
Russian FMs
5. Akinci reiterated that the
current Cyprus negotiation process is the last chance to solve the Cyprus
problem
6. Akinci supports the Turkish journalists Can Dundar and
Erdem Gul
7. “Turkish Cypriot mayor”
in the occupied part of Nicosia carried out contacts in Brussels
8. Colak asked for explanations
by the US on the lifting of weapons’ embargo
9. CMP member Kucuk: All the
missing persons are in Cyprus
10.
The “Cyprus International Cooperation and Investment Summit in the Way for
Peace” was held in the occupied area of Cyprus
11.
Developments on tourism in the breakaway regime
12. Diyarbakır Bar Head killed in
a gun attack; Statements by Erdogan
13. Opposition party leaders
condemned Elci’s killing
14. The International community
condemned the killing of Elci
15. Three more journalists to
appear in court over insulting Erdogan
16. Kilicdaroglu: “Arrest of
journalists is a black spot in Turkish history”
17. Turkey allows French jets to
use Turkish airspace and Incirlik base for airstrikes against Daesh
1. Davutolgu:
If the Cyprus problem is solved soon, Turkey’s EU accession will stop being a
dream and will become a reality
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (30.11.15)
reports that the Turkish Prime Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu stated that if the Cyprus problem is solved soon the accession
of Turkey to the European Union will become a reality.
Davutoglu made these statements during an EU Summit in
Brussels where it was announced that Chapter 17 on economy will be opened on
December 14 and visa-free travel for Turkish citizens is expected to be
implemented in October 2016.
Davutoglu
stated that the Cyprus negotiations are proceeding really well and added that
in case the Cyprus problem is solved in the coming months, the EU-Turkish
relations will also be improved dramatically. “If we can solve the Cyprus
problem in a few months then Turkey’s EU membership will not be a dream, it
will be a reality”, Davutoglu stated.
(CS)
2. Turkey-EU agree on refugee
action plan; Statements by Davutoglu and Juncker
Ankara Anatolia news agency (29.11.15) reported that the European Union and Turkey agreed on
Sunday to speed up the country’s EU accession process if Ankara takes steps to
stem the flow of refugees coming into Europe.
Chapter
17 on economy will be opened on December 14 and visa-free travel for Turkish
citizens is expected to be implemented in October 2016 if Ankara meets certain
criteria specified in an agreed roadmap.
The
European Union will also give 3 billion euro ($3.1 billion) in funding to meet
the needs of more than 2 million Syrian refugees in the country.
"These 3 billion euro are not given to Turkey.
[This amount] is given to Syrian refugees; the main philosophy is burden
sharing," Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at a joint press
conference with the European Council President Donald Tusk and the European
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker following a summit in Brussels on
Sunday.
"I
can guarantee that Turkey will be completing and fulfilling all the promises
mentioned in the joint action plan," Davutoglu said.
"Our ultimate target is to prevent human
smugglers, prevent all type of criminal activities against refugees and
regularize this flow as much as possible," he added.
Davutoglu
added that a summit would be held twice every year and that Turkey's accession
process to the EU would be accelerated.
“This
is a historic day and a historic meeting. A summit has been held with Turkey
after 11 years”, said Davutoglu. He added that a calendar for a visa
liberalization had been put forth.
Donald
Tusk, the European Council President and chairman of the summit said that the
migration issue was the main reason of the summit.
“Our agreement
sets out a clear plan for the timely re-establishment of order at our shared
frontier”, said Tusk, adding that they expected a major step towards changing
the rules of the game when it came to stemming the migration flow coming to the
EU via Turkey.
“We will also step up our assistance to Syrian
refugees in Turkey through a new Refugee Facility of 3 billion euro,” Tusk
said.
“The EU is committed to provide an initial 3 billion
euro of additional resources. The need for and nature of this funding will be
reviewed in the light of the developing situation,” read a part of the document
released by the European Council on its website after the meeting for which the
parties had agreed upon.
"The
Cyprus settlement is an important step," Juncker said in his statement and
added: "I am quite optimistic after having visited Cyprus; things are
moving in the right direction."
(…)
3. Burcu: “Russia is not
following the principle of equality
According to illegal Bayrak television (28.11.15) the so-called “presidential office” has
said that Russia is not “following the principle of equality” with the refusal
by its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to cross to the “TRNC” for a meeting when
he visits the island next Wednesday.
So-called
presidential spokesman Barıs Burcu said in a written statement issued on
Saturday that in response, the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı has
refused to join Lavrov and the “Greek Cypriot leader”, as the President of the
Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades is called, for lunch at a venue in the buffer zone.
“The
Russian Foreign Minister did not follow the principle of equality– that is, he
was not going to meet Akıncı before the lunch like he is scheduled to do with
Anastasiades”, Burcu said. .
(…)
Burcu
said that the Turkish Cypriot side was intensifying efforts to find a solution
based on political equality and had increased diplomatic contacts and Russia
had not shown “sensitivity” to this, unlike other foreign officials such as the
British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, the German Foreign Minister Frank
Walter Steinmeier, the President of the EU Council Donald Tusk and the
President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Junker, who had all visited Akıncı
at the “presidential palace”.
“We conveyed
our sincere thanks to the Russian Foreign Ministry for the invitation and
expressed our desire to attend. However, we also informed the Russian officials
that Mr. Akıncı would be unable to attend unless Mr. Lavrov meets with him as
he will with Mr. Anastasiades. We were informed on Thursday the 26th of
November that Mr. Lavrov would not be crossing over to the TRNC to meet with
Mr. Akıncı”, Burcu said in the statement.
(…)
4. Former
Turkish Cypriot negotiators praised Akinci’s behavior towards German and
Russian FMs
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (30.11.15)
reports that former Turkish Cypriot negotiators, Ergun Olgun and Osman Ertug
expressed their support to the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci’s behavior
towards the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the German Foreign
Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier.
Olgun
and Ertug issued a common statement in which they praised Akinci’s behavior
noting that “it was based on principles”. According to the statement, Akinci
said that he aimed for a solution of the Cyprus problem which will safeguard
the freedom, the safety and the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot
“people”. “His behavior was on line with this aim”, Ertug and Olgun stated.
(CS)
5. Akinci reiterated that the
current Cyprus negotiation process is the last chance to solve the Cyprus
problem
According to illegal Bayrak television (28.11.15),
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı in statements during a visit paid to him
by the “Antakya Civilizations Choir”, touched upon the latest developments on
the Cyprus problem.
Akıncı
reminded that both he and his Greek Cypriot “counterpart”, as he called
President Nicos Anastasiades are of the same generation and warned that their
failure to settle the Cyprus problem could push younger generations to opt for
the permanent division of the island.
Underlining
the importance of using culture and art to build peace, Akıncı said: “We are
working hard for a solution in Cyprus. We are hopeful. I’m not pessimistic
about this issue. Of course we are cautiously optimistic. It’s neither possible nor right to paint a bright
picture of the current situation. There is much we need to overcome as there
are problems dating back all the way to 1963. There are also other deep-seeded
and entrenched issues”.
Pointing
out that both sides shared the common view that the current process is a last
chance to settle the Cyprus problem, Akıncı said that the Turkish Foreign
Minister was not the only one to express this view.
“The children and youth especially in the south are
being raised very differently. Greek
Cypriots above a certain age are closer to a solution. We can see this from a
research conducted. The situation on our side is different. This is the exact
point where we see the importance of education. This is why we have agreed to
establish a technical committee on education to spread the culture of peace,
the culture of a federation and multiculturalism”, Akıncı added.
Also receiving the choir, so-called prime minister
Omer Kalyoncu said that the “two peoples” on the island are not of an
aggressive nature despite a violent history.
(…)
6. Akinci supports the Turkish journalists Can Dundar
and Erdem Gul
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika (30.11.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci sent a message in the social media regarding the arrest of prominent
Turkish journalists Can Dundar and Erdem Gul of the Turkish daily Cumhuriyet.
In
his message, Akinci expressed his solidarity towards Dundar and Gul. He wrote:
“It is essential to be human, to have the right to report on democracy, human
rights, thoughts and the freedom of expression… Above all, I am a human being
and I express my solidarity to Can Dundar and Erdem Gul and to all the
journalists who were disposed in the name of the freedom…”
(DPs)
7. “Turkish Cypriot
mayor” in the occupied part of Nicosia carried out contacts in Brussels
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 30.11.15), the Turkish Cypriot “mayor” of
the occupied part of Nicosia Mehmet Harmanci held various high level contacts
in Brussels.
According
to information released by the “municipality” in the occupied part of Nicosia,
Harmanci discussed the latest phase reached on the Cyprus problem, how
international actors can contribute to the municipalities in the occupied part
of Nicosia and at the government controlled part of Nicosia that have been
affected the most by the division of the island and which subjects the “Nicosia
Turkish municipality” will be able to request technical support on projects
that are continuing with the EU and the Nicosia Municipality.
“A
while back the European Regional Policy Commission Corina Cretu, who had come
to the island, had received wide spread reaction because she did not treat the
two mayors equally on the island as stated in the protocol. Now Ms Cretu met
with the Turkish Municipal mayor Mehmet Harmanci at her office and was informed
in detail about the LTB projects’”, said the statement.
It
also noted that the proposal regarding the joining of the two “municipality
markets” and encouragement of joint projects between the two “peoples” was
welcomed my Ms Cretu as a wonderful beginning and she expressed the belief that
this will contribute to the development of the economy of the two “peoples”.
Ms Cretu also said that if
an agreement is reached on the island then the “North” (editor’s
note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) will be able to easily benefit from the
funds but added that if there is a delay in the solution process then a special
grand project can be prepared for the “north” of the island.
The
statement also noted that Harmanci also met with the President of the European
Parliament Committee on Regional Development Iskra Mihaylova and informed her
of the legitimacy of the “Turkish municipality” in the occupied part of Nicosia
and the problems that are being experienced due to the unequal dispersing of
grant funds to the two “municipalities”.
On
the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (30.11.15) reports that Harmanci,
during his contacts in Brussels, met also with Normund Poppens, Deputy
Director-General of the DG Regional and Urban Policy at the European
Commission. They discussed the legal status of the “Turkish municipality” in
the occupied part of Nicosia and whether it can benefit from the Structural
Funds.
In
a meeting with Cllr Gordon Keymer, President of the Conservative party to the
Committee of the Regions, Harmanci explained to him the legal status of the
“Turkish municipality” in the occupied part of Nicosia and stressed that they
should have the right to take more grants from the budget. According to the
paper, Keymer said that he wants to visit the occupied part of Nicosia during
his visit to Cyprus in April, 2016 and he was invited also by the “Turkish
municipality” during his visit.
Harmanci
also met with Alfonso Alcolea Martinez and Klaus Hullmans, Administrators of
the Committee of the Regions.
Harmanci
had also a meeting with the Norwegian Ambassador to Brussels Ingrid
Schulerud. He also had separate meetings
with various Deputies of the European Parliament, i.e. Frank Engel, Alyn Smith,
Victor Bostinaru and Ska Keller. During the meetings, Harmanci claimed that the
“Turkish municipality” in the occupied part of Nicosia has the same rights to
take equally grants, but there is unfair treatment in the implementation
between the Nicosia municipality and the “Turkish municipality”. He asked from
the EP Deputies to convey his message to the European Commission that they
should prepare a more equal budget. The EP Deputies responded positively to his
request.
(DPs)
8. Colak asked for
explanations by the US on the lifting of weapons’ embargo
According to illegal Bayrak television (30.11.15), so-called foreign minister Emine Colak said
that they had demanded information from US officials about the content of the
decision signed on Wednesday by the US President Barack Obama through the US
National Defence Authorization Act, which includes an amendment allowing the
sale of US defensive weapons to the Republic of Cyprus.
“We
demanded information from the US with the aim of clarifying the issue. We will
inform the public following the necessary consultations” Colak said.
The amendment,
co-sponsored allows the sale of US defensive weapons, under the condition that
the Secretaries of Defense and State submit a report to Congress assessing the
impact of the embargo on Cyprus’ national security and counter-terrorism
efforts.
The
embargo, which dates back to 1992, bans the export of defensive weapons to the
Republic of Cyprus.
9. CMP member Kucuk: All
the missing persons are in Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis (30.11.15), under the title “The excavations on the
military area have launched”, publishes an interview with the Turkish Cypriot
member of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) Gulden Plumer Kucuk
to the paper’s journalist Baykan Gurses Ozdag.
Replying to the claims that
some missing persons were transferred to Turkey during the conflict, Kucuk said
that “all the missing persons, who are included in the list of the missing
persons, are in the island. According to our information, they all were seen
and that they are in the island. Under
no circumstance, there is any missing person outside of Cyprus.”
Kucuk
claimed that according to their databases all the missing persons are in the
island, adding that they have not any data that some missing persons are in
Turkey. She explained that from 2006 until now, from the 2001 total missing
persons, the 1020 have been exhumed and the 614 were identified.
Referring
to the excavations in military areas in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, Kucuk said that there are currently 30 suspected burial sites in the
military areas in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. She explained
that permission was given to them to start excavations. She added that they
think they can excavate the 10 sites and within 3 years, they will be able to
excavate all the remaining military areas.
(DPs)
10. The
“Cyprus International Cooperation and Investment Summit in the Way for Peace”
was held in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.11.15)
reported that Omer Kayloncu, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has argued that when solution
comes, has argued that Cyprus will have
very “special advantages” both in tourism and in the exploitation of the
natural gas and oil resources and the natural wealth as it is the only country
which is member of the European Union.
Addressing the “Cyprus International Cooperation and
Investment Summit in the Way for Peace” held in the occupied area of Cyprus of
Cyprus, Kalyoncu said that the “law” provides incentives to local and foreign
investors and that they gave an
“investment incentive document” to 448 investors who will invest 5 billion 862
million 570 thousand and 64 Turkish Liras and provide jobs to 31 thousand
856 persons.
The president of the European Business Club, Zbignew Roch said that after the solution
in Cyprus there will be a need for investments and “good projects”. He
noted that they would evaluate these issues during the summit.
The
rector of illegal American University of Keryneia (“GAU”), Asim Vehbi said that 13
“universities” exist in the occupied area of Cyprus in which 85 thousand
students are being educated and noted that this is an important number
taking into consideration the population of the occupied area of Cyprus. He
further expressed the belief that the summit will bring new investments and
cooperation in the field of education.
(I/Ts.)
11. Developments
on tourism in the breakaway regime
The Turkish Cypriot press reports today (30.11.15)
that the breakaway regime is evaluating
its tourism goals after the recent developments that led to the crisis between
Russia and Turkey.
Yeni Duzen reports that the self-styled minister of tourism Faiz Sucuoglu stated that they are now
searching for other tourism markets and will try to bring tourists from
Lithuania, FYROM and Azerbaijan. He went on and added that some Russian
tourist operators continue to prefer the “TRNC” and expressed the belief that
in a few days the situation will get back to normal.
In addition, Havadis reports that the “ministry of tourism” is preparing a “reform package” which is
aimed to be applied in 2016, according to which the bed capacity of the hotels
in the breakaway regime will be increased from 19,800 to 27,000 and the tourism budget will increase to 165,855,000
Turkish Lira.
Finally, Kibris writes that Sucuoglu held meetings with Turkish investors as regards the
development of occupied Vokolida area. The paper notes that despite the
fact that the region appeared to have much potential in 2003, only two hotels
out of the thirteen that were constructed were completed, the Kaya Artemis
Hotel which was constructed in 2007 and the Noah Ark Hotel in 2011.
(CS)
12. Diyarbakır Bar Head killed
in a gun attack; Statements by Erdogan
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.11.15) reported that Tahir Elci, a human rights
activist and the Head of the Bar Association in the southeastern province of
Diyarbakır, was killed in a gun attack following a press statement on November
28, while two policemen were also killed during a clash just meters away.
Interior
Minister Efkan Ala said in a press meeting that attackers shot at security
forces from a taxi after the press meeting, killing one policeman.
One policeman was heavily wounded in the attack, while
Elci, who was at the scene, was killed during the clash, Ala said.
Cengiz Erdur, the wounded policeman, later succumbed
to his injuries in hospital.
Four inspectors were appointed to shed light the
incident, Ala said.
An initial forensic report said Elci was killed by a
single bullet to the back of his neck fired from long range.
Commenting
on Elci’s assassination, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech during
a visit to the northwestern province of Balıkesir said the following: “This
incident shows how righteous Turkey is in its determination in struggle against
terrorism”.
The
Diyarbakır Bar said in a tweet that it was an assassination.
Elci
and accompanying lawyers has just finished issuing a press statement to condemn
Special Forces teams for damaging the base of Diyarbakır’s famous Four-Legged
Minaret when gun shots rang out.
“We
don’t want guns, clashes and operations in this historical area, which has been
a cradle to many civilizations and a common ground for humanity. We say that
wars, clashes, guns and operations should be kept out of this area,” Elci said
in his press statement, just minutes before being gunned down.
(…)
13. Opposition party leaders
condemned Elci’s killing
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (30.11.15) reported
that the co-leader of the Peoples’
Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtas has said that the Turkish society
is unfortunately unable to mourn together and pledge loyalty to the legacy of
prominent lawyer Tahir Elci, who was shot dead on November 28 in southeastern
Diyarbakır and described by Demirtas as a “peace envoy.”
“What matters is how we live, not how we were killed.
We have seen a lot of grievances in our lands; we have seen blood and we have
seen wars. Peace will of course come to our lands. Elçi’s last words are a flag
of peace which we will claim,” HDP co-leader Demirtas said on November 29, as
he addressed a crowd gathered in Diyarbakır to lay Elci, the President of the
Diyarbakır Bar Association, to rest.
“Tahir
Elci said ‘peace’ until his last breath,” Demirtaş said. “What killed Tahir was
not the state, but statelessness. In Ankara, there is a governance
and mentality which doesn’t feel this grievance in their hearts. How can we
keep together a society which cannot even unite in grief? Because we know there
are tens of millions who say ‘It serves him right’ for our ‘peace envoy’
president. Tahir’s legacy is weighty but our people will not forget their
historical responsibility while carrying this weighty burden,” he said.
In a written statement released on November 28, the HDP called the killing of Elçi (whose
surname means “envoy” in Turkish) a “planned assassination” and urged people to
protest. “We doubt that this
political murder will be fully clarified. We have reasonable doubt since
numerous grievances have been experienced in our lands. We couldn’t lay them to
rest with relief, believing that the perpetrators would be captured because
this state has never been the state of all of us. Everybody used the state as
if it was their own property,” Demirtas said.
Also,
releasing a written statement late on November 28, main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıcdaroğlu recalled that Elci was shot
while he and other activists were giving a press statement calling for an end
to violence and protesting the destruction of a historic mosque in Diyarbakır’s
Sur district during clashes between security forces and the Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK) militants.
“In his last remarks, he was shouting: “We don’t want
armed conflict or operations in this ancient region which has served as the
cradle for a lot of civilizations, in this joint home of humanity.’ Those who
took him from among us targeted our common values, which Tahir Elci also
pointed out,” Kılıcdaroglu said.
(…)
Speaking
to reporters on the same day, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet
Bahceli said the killing of Elci “saddened the entire [Turkish] society.”
“There is use in the government’s multidimensional
investigation and finding murderers, if the attack was planned to escalate
tension in an already very tense environment in Turkey,” Bahceli said. “Failure is not possible if something does
not exist anyway. There is no security in the southeast,” he replied, when
asked whether he was convinced that there had been “a security failure.”
14. The International
community condemned the killing of Elci
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (29.11.15) reported that the killing of Diyarbakır Bar
Association President Tahir Elçi on Saturday after he was caught in the
crossfire between the security forces and members of the Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) has also been condemned by the international community.
Federica
Mogherini, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy, defined the killing as horrific and asked Turkey to resume the Kurdish
settlement process, in a press conference held on Sunday.
In her speech, Mogherini
said: "Revising the Kurdish settlement process has turned into a vital
issue for Turkey, the region [the Middle East] and the European Union".
Also, the
British Ambassador to Turkey, Richard Moore tweeted shortly after the killing
of Elci: "I got shocked and depressed by the murder of my friend Tahir
Elci. A good and brave man cut down. A human rights defender over many
decades".
The
US Embassy also expressed shock over Elci's death, calling him a
"courageous defender of human rights."
"Our condolences go to his family, that of the
policeman killed and to all of Turkey. A terrible loss," the Embassy posted on Twitter.
15. Three more journalists to
appear in court over insulting Erdogan
Turkish daily Today’s
Zaman (29.11.15) reported that three
journalists from the “Birgun daily” will appear in court on Tuesday for charges
of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and could face jail terms of up to
four years.
Managing
Editor Berkant Gultekin, Responsible Manager Can Ugur and journalist Barıs İnce
will stand trial at the İstanbul Courthouse in Caglayan due to a news report
published by the daily in February.
(…)The three
journalists are facing a jail sentence of one to four years.
(…)
16. Kilicdaroglu: “Arrest of
journalists is a black spot in Turkish history”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.11.15) reported
that Turkey’s main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kilicdaroglu has said the recent arrest of two
prominent journalists is a “black spot” in the country’s democratic
history.
In statements on November 29 upon his visit to the
office building of daily Cumhuriyet in Istanbul, Kilicdaroglu expressed support
to the two journalists arrested.
Kilıcdaroglu’s supportive visit came as Cumhuriyet
Editor-in-Chief Can Dundar and Ankara Bureau Chief Erdem Gul were arrested over
the daily’s coverage of a story on Syria-bound trucks full of weapons, which
were purportedly owned by the Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MİT).
17. Turkey allows French jets
to use Turkish airspace and Incirlik base for airstrikes against Daesh
Turkish daily Sabah (29.11.15) reported that Turkey allowed French fighter jets to use
its airspace for airstrikes against Daesh, according to the agreement reached
between Turkish and France military officials on Sunday.
Turkey
also agreed to allow the French military to use the Incirlik airbase in
emergency cases.
According to the agreement, French aircraft carrier
Charles de Gaulle will also be able to receive logistic support from the Tasucu
harbor located in Turkey's southeastern Mersin province.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/ AM)
