TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
248/15 30.12.2015
1. Akinci: If there are no Turkey’s guarantees, the
Turkish Cypriots will vote “no” in the referendum
2. Atun: All CTP, DP and UBP signed a “protocol” with
Turkey for implementing the BOT model in the water administration
3. Tacoy
called on the “government” to resign
4.
Ozersay is establishing a party in January
5. Erdogan: “HDP’s call for autonomy is ‘treason’”
6. Yuksekdag: “We want autonomy not only for Kurds”
7. Kilicdaroglu: “Turkey is going through one of its
most major crises in history”
8. Erdogan held contacts in Saudi Arabia; Turkey and
Saudi Arabia agree to boost economic, military, energy ties
9. Data on Turkey’s tourism shows serious decline on
arrivals from Russia and Europe
1. Akinci: If there are no Turkey’s guarantees, the
Turkish Cypriots will vote “no” in the referendum
Under the title “I have to give people what they
want”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (30.12.15) reports that Turkish
Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has said
that according to surveys, the Turkish Cypriots will vote “no” in a possible
referendum for a solution which does not include Turkey’s guarantees. In
statements last night to all Turkish Cypriot television channels (BRT, KIBRIS
TV, Genc TV, Sim TV, Kanal T, Ada TV, Diyalog TV and As TV), Akinci expressed the view that the issue of
guarantees should be discussed at a five-party conference with the
participation of the two communities and the guarantor powers after all the
other matters “are cleared up” and the territory issue is “led to its end”.
This
should happen “after the picture on the other issues has almost come to light”,
he argued and added: “We see
that the continuation of Turkey’s guarantees is necessary. This is our
position. I have to give people what they want”.
Noting that the Greek Cypriots see Turkey’s guarantees
as a threat, Akinci pointed out that a formula should be found so that the
Greek Cypriots will not see this as a threat.
Asked whether there was an agreement on the property
issue, Akinci replied that as on every
other chapter, progress has been achieved on the property as well. He
noted: “The property is an issue on which people are very sensitive. Political
equality, governance and power sharing are also important for us. Progress has
been achieved on these as well. Three of the six chapters are the Economy, the
EU, and Governance and Power Sharing and the other three are the Property, the
Territory and the Guarantees. We have
touched upon every one of them, but on the territory, for example, the map, the
percentages and names of villages were not discussed. Therefore, we cannot say
that it has really been discussed”.
Noting that 22 chapters have been agreed regarding the
categorization of the affected properties, Akinci said that the criteria are
still being discussed and added:
“Not everything
has ended in full sense. If an agreement is reached on the criteria in the
property, the possibility of the other issues passing more easily will increase.
[…]”
Referring
to the rotating presidency, Akinci said that no agreement is reached on this
issue and added that this is important for the Turkish Cypriots because “it is
one of the important indicators for our political equality”.
Touching upon the return of the refugees to their
homes, Akinci said that their target is
for the least possible people to be displaced and noted: “I want to convey
the following message to the people: We have some targets on the property
issue. One of them is for the least
possible of our people to be displaced, because one principle is that returning
to the pre-1974 period is not possible, as this is not in harmony with the
conditions of life. Life is showing us the future, that is, many different
lives have been built within 41 years both in the north and in the south.
Therefore, if some people are exhibiting the understanding that we will
massively bring the people living here 41 years ago, this will not happen,
because not all of these people are still alive and we have to look at the
future, as their children built a new life”.
Arguing that the criteria on the property issue should
be clear, Akinci said:
“There could be
no condition such as that someone will be displaced without having any
alternative and an appropriate choice. In any case, we are proposing for such
situations to be experienced in a very limited number in the north. […] The following understanding comes onto the
agenda in the Greek Cypriot side: The first owner of the property, that is, the
pre-74 owner of the title deed will have the first say and the negotiating team
has accepted this. This is a misunderstanding.The first holder of the title
deed will have the right to file application first. And when, within one
year, he will say that this property belongs to me, I want compensation or I
want exchange or I want to live in it, the situation of the people living in it
will be examined. Demopoulos case gave to us this right at the ECHR. He will
have the right to apply, but the person living in [the property] will also have
a right. No agreement has been reached
yet on these issues, they are being discussed”.
Akinci
said that there could be exchange of properties, but there will not be so many
returns [of property]. He
added:
“If less people
come, it means that more compensation will be paid. Because we have established this, financing is being searched in the
international arena with the help of Mr Espen Barth Eide during this period
when the international interest is intensive. The foreigners, who paid a
visit here, gave positive messages […]”
Akinci noted that different criteria will be discussed
for the issue of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha.
Asked whether President Anastasiades shares the same
views with him on the property issue, Akinci replied: “If Anastasiades said yes
to everything, we would have finished the chapter of the property. We are discussing the criteria. Both we and
they are preserving our positions, but there has been rhetoric lasted for
years, which has slowly slowly started remaining to the past”.
Expressing the belief that the issue of the rotating
presidency will be overcome and that progress will be made on the property
issue, Akinci claimed that bi-zonality
is one of the UN parameters, according to which the Turkish Cypriots should
have the majority of properties and population in the “north” and the Greek
Cypriots in the “south”.
Referring to the energy issue, Akinci reiterated that
the natural gas could become a project by which both sides will gain, instead
of being turned into an issue of tension.
Replying
to a question, Akinci expressed the belief that the “cross voting” will be beneficial
from the point of view of bringing the two communities closer to each other.
Referring
to the reactions against the rotating presidency within the Greek Cypriot
community, Akinci argued that this principle was
included in the Annan Plan and the Turkish Cypriots want it.
Replying to a question on the issue of the population,
Akinci alleged that it is not possible
for the population of the two communities to become equal and added: “There is
no ratio such as four to one […] We have asked the number of the citizens from
the ministry of interior. We saw that the ratio is close to four to one. What
the Greek Cypriot side wants to do is for this ratio not to be spoiled by
granting citizenship to people coming from Turkey and Greece. In any case, we
have no such intention […]”
Akinci
argued that an agreement has been reached on the issue of all existing
“citizens” to become “citizens” of united Cyprus and that there is no list like
in the Annan Plan.
(I/Ts.)
2. Atun: All CTP, DP and UBP signed a “protocol”
with Turkey for implementing the BOT model in the water administration
Under the title “’The problem experienced on the water
issue will be solved’”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (30.12.15)
reports that Sunat Atun, self-styled
minister of economy, industry and commerce of the breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has
said that they are continuously discussing with the “coalition partner”, the
Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the issue of the water transferred from Turkey
and added: “It will soon be clarified on
which position the CTP will be, but there was no need for coming to this point.
I think that this issue will soon be solved”.
In statements to a television program, Atun noted that the “governments” of the
breakaway regime have committed to Turkey that the distribution of the water
will be conducted through the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. He said that the then “prime minister” and
leader of the National Unity Party (UBP), Irsen Kucuk had signed a “protocol”
on the issue with the then Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Talip Atalay and that
this “protocol” was signed afterwards by the CTP-DP “coalition government”.
Recalling that the Turkish Cypriots say that “they
should finally grow up”, Atun wondered whether there is a grown up person who
does not keep his promises.
He expressed the view that there is no serious
difference in the opinion of the two “coalition partners” (the CTP and theUBP)
and that there is no problem on the issue of the distribution of the water by
private companies.
Recalling that BESKI Company established by the
“municipalities” also demands the administration of the water, Atun said that
the ‘municipalities’ will focus on the rest of the main services and only on
the issue of hiring people and the salaries.
(I/Ts.)
3. Tacoy
called on the “government” to resign
Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (30.12.15)
reports that the generalsecretary of the Democratic Party (DP) Hasan Tacoy,
called on the “government” to resign.
Tacoy stated that both the actions and non-actions of
the “government” in various issues did not solve any problems faced by the
“citizens” and added that the “government” must resign opening the door to new
opportunities and other political parties. He also stated that the Republican
Turkish Party (CTP) and the National Unity Party (UBP) which are part of the
“coalition government” cannot agree on
anything and this is very obvious because the economic protocol with Turley is
not signed yet and because there is a big crisis regarding the administration
of the water project.
Tacoy also accused CTP of not honoring its signature
as regards the agreement signed a few years ago regarding the administration of
the water project with Turkey.
(CS)
4.
Ozersay is establishing a party in January
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (30.01.15)
reports that Kudret Ozersay stated that he has completed the efforts of forming
a political party and he will announce the establishment of the new party
between 4-8 of January 2016.
“We will announce the formation of the new party, our
vision and our proposals for solving various problems in the first days of
2016” Ozersay stated.
According to the paper, Ozersay has been visiting
various villages in the occupied area of Cyprus since July where he announced
his intentions of forming a party, aiming to get support.
(CS)
5.Erdogan: “HDP’s call for autonomy is ‘treason’”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.12.15) reported
that Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has said that the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) call for autonomy
in southeastern Turkey is “treason”.
Speaking in a press conference at Istanbul’s Ataturk
Airport on December 29 ahead of a flight to Saudi Arabia, Erdogan said: “What this co-chair did is clearly total
provocation and treason. The co-chair in question made delusional statements
after his visit to Russia last weekend,” he added.
Erdogan
slammed Demirtas’ statements in which he said: “From now on, Kurds will be the
political will in their own region... Perhaps, Kurds will have their own
independent state, the federal state, and cantons and autonomous regions as
well.”
Recalling the Constitution’s 14th article, Erdogan
questioned the HDP’s attempt to make statements on founding a state in Turkey’s
east and south-east “within Turkey’s existing unitary structure.”
“The 14th
article of our Constitution is against these sorts of attempts. This is the
time when the masks have been taken off and the real faces exposed. How dare
you talk about establishing a state in the southeast and in the east within
Turkey’s existing unitary structure,” Erdogan said, addressing Demirtas.
“You
cannot take such a step. The national will, our security forces, the armed
forces, the police and village guards will not allow such a thing,” he added.
The 14th article states that “none of the rights and
freedoms embodied in the Constitution shall be exercised in the form of
activities aiming to violate the indivisible integrity of the state with its
territory and nation”, said Erdogan.
(…)
Erdogan
further recalled the HDP promised to be a political party of Turkey ahead of
the June 7 parliamentary election, saying “they have never believed in the
power of Parliament.”
“It
was revealed before the June election that [the HDP] is not a party of Turkey,”
Erdogan said.
Making remarks on the possible forging of a new Constitution,
Erdogan said that a new Constitution based on societal reconciliation was
expected.
“There is an expectation of a new Constitution based
on societal reconciliation. Almost all political parties promised to make
contributions to this end at rallies [in the run-up to the November election],”
Erdogan said.
He also noted that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
would meet main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroglu
and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahceli in a series of
meetings starting on December 30 in preparation for the forging of a new Constitution.
Davutoglu, however, ostracized the HDP, the third
largest party in parliament, refusing to meet it because it “supports
violence.”
6.Yuksekdag: “We want autonomy not only for Kurds”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.12.15) reported
that HDP co-chair Figen Yuksekdag has
argued that the recent call for self-governance supported by their party, was a
key to a substantial unification of Turkey’s peoples.
Speaking at a parliamentary group meeting on December
29, Yuksedag defended self-governance
for the entire country, not only for southeastern Anatoliaand recalled that the
Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation on Dec. 28 over
remarks by the HDP’s other co-chair, Selahattin Demirtas, on autonomy.
“No
investigation is opened when the President speaks yet our co-chairs and party
fellows face investigations for defending autonomy,” Yuksekdag said.
“Autonomy
is a right. Not only for Cizre, Silopi and Nusaybin, but it is also a right for
Istanbul, Rize, Mersin and Ankara too. We will go on defending this demand,”
she added.
“This
resistance will end with victory, and everybody will respect the people’s will.
Kurds will, from now on, be the political will in their own region. During
these days when a historical breaking point is emerging, our people will decide
whether [to live in] a dictatorship or freedom and whether to live under one
man’s tyranny or in autonomy,” Demirtaş said in a speech delivered at the
opening of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) conference held in
southeastern Diyarbakır over the weekend.
The DTK is a multi-party-based group that brings
together a number of Kurdish groups and democratic organizations.
“There
is a need to highlight peace and resolution more and more”, Yuksedag said. “We
have not put forth this text as an unchangeable and static text,” she said,
referring to a declaration embraced at the DTK conference which favored
autonomy.
“It
is a dynamic text which is open to all kinds of contributions and changes.
Come, let’s hold a dynamic discussion. The text which was released by the DTK
and to which we agreed is the foundation of the unification of the peoples of
Turkey in the 21st century,” she added.
7.Kilicdaroglu: “Turkey is going through one of its
most major crises in history”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.12.15) reported
that the Republican People’s Party (CHP)
leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu has argued that the 92-year-old Republic of Turkey
has actually been passing through one of its most major crises, citing five key
problematic areas as “terror, economy, education, societal peace and law.”
Addressing the last weekly parliamentary group meeting
of his party in 2015, Kilicdaroglu
dubbed 2015 “very significant” in regards to Turkey’s political history and
said: “General elections were held
consecutively [in 2015]. Between the two elections, almost 400 of our citizens
were victimized by terror. While Turkey didn’t have any fundamental problem
earlier, five fundamental problem areas have emerged in 2015”, he said, listing
these areas as “terror, economy, education, societal peace and law.”
(…) “Societal peace has been undermined, law has been
slaughtered and justice is over. A political power which has been ruling the
country for 13 years brought the country to this point”, Kılıcdaroglu said
referring to the ruling AKP.
“At
the moment, the Republic of Turkey is experiencing one of its most major
crises. We have entered into this process,” he said.
Arguing that justice was not prevailing in Turkey, Kilicdaroglu
claimed that nobody has security of life and property. “Journalists are imprisoned just because they did accurate reporting;
32 journalists have been jailed, could such a democracy, such law exist? Which
rule of law? There is rule of sovereigns, but not of law,” he said.
8.Erdogan held contacts in
Saudi Arabia; Turkey and Saudi Arabia agree to boost economic, military, energy
ties
Turkish daily Sabah (29.12.15) reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi
Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud discussed on Tuesday bilateral
relations and regional issues during a meeting in Riyadh.
President
Erdogan and King Salman also discussed economy, trade, and energy-related
issues, in addition to the recent events in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, while
agreeing on the strengthening of bilateral relations and highlighting the
overlap in both countries' opinions on regional issues, including
anti-terrorism policies.
The
two leaders underscored that a solution for the Syrian conflict cannot include
Bashar al-Assad.
After the meetings held at Al Yamamah Palace among the
delegations, President Erdogan also had meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Naif and Crown Attorney Mohammed bin Salman.
Presidential
sources said that during the meetings, the two leaders emphasized the
importance of coordination between the two countries in dealing with regional
issues during critical times, also highlighting the friendly and strategic
partnership between the two states.
The sources said that in this context, Turkey and
Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on the establishment of a High-Level
Strategic Cooperation Council.The Council
will deal with security, military, economy, trade, energy and investment
between the two countries.
(…)
9.Data on Turkey’s tourism shows serious decline on
arrivals from Russia and Europe
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.12.15) reported that according to data revealed by
the Tourism Ministry on December 29, Turkey saw a dramatic drop in the number
of foreign arrivals from Europe and Russia in the first 11 months of the year,
while the number of total foreign arrivals saw only a slight decline (around
1.36%) in the mentioned period compared to the first eleven months of 2014.
A
total of 34.8 million foreign people visited the country in the first eleven
months of 2015, according to data.
The
decline in the number of European (with the exception of German) and Russian
tourists was mainly due to economic problems in the Russian market and
escalating security concerns in Turkey, according to sector representatives.
The
number of Russian arrivals decreased by 18% to 3.6 million in the first eleven
months of the year.
Turkey also saw around 26% of decline in the number of
arrivals from Italy, 18.5% of decline in arrivals from France and around 15% of
decline in arrivals from Spain in the first eleven months of the year compared
to the same period of 2014. The number of arrivals from Japan also decreased by
more than 37%, with only 100,000 Japanese visiting in the January-November
period of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, according to data.
The number of visitors from the Gulf countries and
Iraq increased by an average of 30% in the first eleven months of the year
compared to the same period of 2014.
Germany
became the largest source of foreign arrivals to Turkey in the first eleven
months of the year, with around 15.5%, followed by the Russian Federation with
around 10.4% and Britain with around 7%, according to data.
While Germany remained to be top source of visitors,
with around 15% share in the total number of foreign arrivals into Turkey in
November, Georgia and Bulgaria climbed reaching second and third with 9%and
7.5%, respectively.
Turkish
tourism sector players expecting a continued decline in the number of Russian
tourists visiting Turkey in 2016 unless the current diplomatic crisis between
the two countries is resolved, will launch a promotional campaign in Europe
under the leadership of the Tourism Ministry to overcome the potential losses,
according to leading sector representatives. The sector also plans to focus on
the China and India markets in the medium-term.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK
/ AM)
