TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
245/15 23.12.2015
1.
Cavusoglu: On Cyprus talks, a progress has been made even in the difficult
issues
2.
Kibris: There is no planned five-party meeting for Cyprus in Davos
3.
Sahali says that Turkey does not send resources for agriculture because the
regime has not kept its “promises”
4.
Statements by Demirtas prior to his visit to Moscow; He replied to Davutoglu’s
criticism
5.
Bahceli condemned Demirtas over visiting Moscow
6.
Davutoglu: “Syria cannot be part of Russia’s imperial plans”
7.
Investigation launched into HDP’s Demirtas for “inciting riot”
8.Cumhuriyet’s
journalist faces three years in jail for publishing Erdogan’s MİT-trucks
complaint
9.
Germany is reportedly withdrawing its Patriot missile systems from Turkey
1.
Cavusoglu: On Cyprus talks, a progress has been made even in the difficult
issues
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (23.12.15)
reports that Turkey’s Foreign Minister
Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that the Cyprus talks are progressing and a progress
has been made even in the difficult issues.
Cavusoglu, who took the floor at the
general assembly of Turkey’s Parliament, noted that important developments
involving Turkey in the foreign policy have occurred recently, Cavusoglu said:
“Fortunately, they are not all negative. For example, an agreement to bring
together the two sides in Libya was signed. A political process, which we
support, has begun. The negotiations in Cyprus are progressing; even a progress
in the difficult issues has been made”.
Cavusoglu concluded by saying that they
want to benefit from the criticisms of Turkish Deputies, because it gives them
strength.
(DPs)
2.
Kibris: There is no planned five-party meeting for Cyprus in Davos
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(23.12.15) reports that the United
Nations (UN) denied that efforts are being exerted for organizing an unofficial
five-party conference for Cyprus in Davos during the World Economic Forum
between 20 and 23 of January 2016.
In a written reply to Kibris’ question
on the issue, the Office of the UN’s
spokesman in Cyprus noted that President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot
leader Akinci have been invited to Davos, but the issue of holding a
five-party conference has not come onto the agenda.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Sahali says that Turkey does not send resources for agriculture because the
regime has not kept its “promises”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(23.12.15) reports that ErkutSahali,
self-styled minister of agriculture, natural resources and food of the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the deficit of his “ministry”
for 2015 was around 100 million Turkish Liras, including the costs of the cereals.
In an interview with Kibris TV, Sahali
recalled that one third of the budget is
covered by Turkey and noted that because the “economic protocol” for the period
2016-2018 has not been signed yet with Turkey, the items as regards the
payments with Turkey’s aid are shown as zero.
Sahali said that covering the old debts
would be possible, but this will happen only by implementing the reforms
included in the “economic protocol” for the period 2013-2015.
Sahali
argued that the necessary will and effort has not been exhibited on the issue
of fulfilling the requirements of the “protocol” and added that Turkey does not
accept to send resources “without a return”. Admitting that they are deprived of the
resources send by Turkey and took no steps towards making a structural reform, Sahali said that they are waiting for
Turkey’s resources to meet their needs, but resources are not coming because
the promises given to Turkey have not been kept.
(I/Ts.)
4.Statements
by Demirtas prior to his visit to Moscow; He replied to Davutoglu’s criticism
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(22.12.15) reported that Selahattin
Demirtas co-chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), has argued that
residents in the southeastern Anatolia region have embraced the idea of
“autonomy” as a way of resisting a “dictatorship” that has been imposed on them
by the Turkish government.
The
issue is not about the battle between security forces and “some 15-20 members”
of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Demirtas said at a press conference on
December 22 ahead of a visit to Moscow.
“If
the issue was about 15-20 PKK members, wouldn’t it have been resolved in such a
long time by vandalizing? The government is deceiving particularly Turkey’s
west. The region has embraced autonomy. The people are standing behind
autonomy, they should see this well. In these [military] operations, especially
the HDP’s Kurdish grassroots are forced to obey. They made a coup after June 7,”
Demirtas said, referring to the parliamentary elections on June 7 which was
followed by a snap election on November 1 as the vote didn’t produced a
single-party government and coalition talks failed.
“Turkey’s west especially needs to
understand this. The thing that you despise by saying ‘ditch’ and ‘barricade’
is actually a resistance against the coup. Should people act like lambs to the
slaughter in the face of all pressures?”
Demirtas
also responded to criticism levelled by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on his
visit to Moscow who questioned timing of his visit, when Ankara is at
loggerheads with Moscow over the downing of a Russian warplane.
“The
Prime Minister is questioning our visit to Russia. He asks ‘Why didn’t he go
there a year ago?’ I went to Russia last year too. Such ignorance,” Demirtas
said, adding that the visit was planned before the crisis with Russia erupted.
He
also said that the party’s executives had contacted Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary FeridunSinirlioglu about the visit and received “an
informational note” to make use of during the visit.
5.Bahceli
condemned Demirtas over visiting Moscow
Turkish daily Sabah (22.12.15) reported that the leader of Turkey's
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli has accused the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) of collaborating with
the country's enemies.
Bahceli’s remarks came during his
party's group meeting at the Turkish Parliament on Tuesday. He was speaking
after details emerged of a planned visit by the HDP's co-chairman, Selahattin
Demirtas, to Moscow this week.
"The
HDP is working with Turkey's enemies and does not see a drawback in leaning its
back to countries whose aims are clear, so as to take their support for
autonomy and Kurdistan," Bahceli said.
Bahceli also accused HDP politicians of
"scattering enmity, blessing ditches and praising PKK militants" and
called on Turkish prosecutors to investigate them.
The
MHP leader also voiced his backing for the ruling Justice and Development (AK)
Party "as long as [Prime Minister Ahmet] Davutoglu is sincere in fighting
terrorism and discord".
"Do not be worried, the MHP will
not leave the political will alone... Do not stop, do not be fearful, eradicate
these traitors from mountain, rock, plain and city and retrieve Turkey from
this bottleneck unharmed," Bahceli added.
6.Davutoglu:
“Syria cannot be part of Russia’s imperial plans”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(23.12.15) reports Turkish Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated on December 22 that Syrian soil will not become
part of Russia’s “imperial goals”, adding that those who oppress the Syrian
people will have to face Turkey.
Addressing his parliamentary group,
Davutoglu said: “Russia has to approach
other peoples with friendship and mutual respect by abandoning Soviet-style
lies and allegations. Syrian soil is not and will not be part of Russia’s
imperialistic goals”. He also condemned Russia’srecent military attacks in
Aleppo and Idlib that killed dozens of unarmed civilians.
“The
Syrian people are friends and brothers to us. We have always tried to stand by
them in every of their problems. Afterwards, those who tyrannize, those who
take on Syrians will have to face us,” Davutoglu said.
“We strongly condemn the Russian Air Force’s strike in the morning of December
20 on the centre of Idlib”, Davutoglu added. “This is shameful for humanity.We observe these attacks with dismay.
It’s obvious that civilians were [targeted] during these attacks.”
Questioning
the presence of Russia on Syrian soil, Davutoglu stated: “What is the basis of
your presence in Syria? Why are 90 % of your air operations targeting civilians
and moderate opposition groups? Why are you bombing the Turkmen mountains,
Idlib, Aleppo and innocent civilians even though you say you are there to fight
DAESH?”
Davutoglu
also called on the international community to move against attacks on civilians.
Davutoglu also criticized a Resolution
adopted by the U.N. Security Council last week, saying it lacked a realistic
perspective while acknowledging that Turkey regarded the move as a positive
development for a peaceful solution to Syria’s unrest.
7.Investigation
launched into HDP’s Demirtas for “inciting riot”
Turkish daily Sabah (22.12.15) reported
that the Diyarbakır Chief Public
Prosecutor's Office launched on Tuesday an investigation into the Peoples'
Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, the Democratic Regions
Party (DBP) co-chair KamuranYuksek, the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK)
spokesperson ErtugrulKurkcu, and the Democratic Society Congress (DTK)
co-chairs HatipDicle and Selma Irmak over their remarks in a press meeting held
on Dec 18.
The press meeting was organized at the
administrative center of the DTK, a network of Kurdish parties and civil
society organizations.
Demirtas,
along with other four people are being accused of "supporting ditches [dug
in southeastern in Turkey] and barricades as well as those behind them"
and "encouraging people to stage riots."
The
Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office will also send a summary of
proceedings to the Ministry of Justice demanding a "permit for investigation"
and an "abolishment of legislative immunity" for HDP Deputies
Demirtas, Kurkcu and Irmak, in line with 83th article of the Constitution.
8.Cumhuriyet’s
journalist faces three years in jail for publishing Erdogan’s MİT-trucks
complaint
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (22.12.15) reported that Cumhuriyet daily journalist
AlicanUludag faces up to three years in prison for publishing a copy of the
criminal complaint lodged by President RecepTayyip Erdogan against Cumhuriyet
editors Can Dundar and ErdemGul regarding an alleged transfer of arms by the
National Intelligence Organization (MİT) to Syria.
Uludag pointed out on Twitter that he
recently gave a statement at the Ankara Police Department saying he covered the
petition concerning the investigation six months ago and noting that the
Anadolu news agency (AA) had also reported on the complaint.
He emphasized that public prosecutor
KursatKayral did not even allow Uludag to fully defend himself.
9.Germany
is reportedly withdrawing its Patriot missile systems from Turkey
Ankara Anatolia news agency (23.12.15)
reports that sources from the Turkish
port of Iskenderun [Alexandretta] said that a Danish ship with the German
patriot missile systems left Turkey on Tuesday. The ship is headed to Germany.
The
German government has previously said that the mandate of the mission would end
on January 2016.
Germany had deployed Patriot batteries
in the southern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras in January 2013, as part of a
NATO mission to counter possible threats from Syria.
Germany provided two of five NATO
batteries and around 250 personnel for the mission.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK
/ AM)
