TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
16/16
26.01.2016
1.
CHP’s foreign relations committee continued its contacts in the occupied area of
Cyprus
2.
Akinci met with the Dutch Ambassador in Cyprus
3.
Colak met with the President of the European Women
Council
4.
Toros called the “government” to speed up its works for the Turkish Cypriot
community harmonization with the EU acquis
5.
Research shows that the Turkish Cypriots believe that the Cyprus problem is
their biggest problem and blame the Greek Cypriots for the
non-solution
6.
Columnist warns that Cyprus may become a huge construction site after a
resolution
7.
The remains of 86 persons were found in occupied Maratha and Santalaris
villages
8.
The self-styled government has reportedly completed its work on the
administration of the water from Turkey
9.
Familiarization seminars on the EU acquis communautaire in the occupied area of
Cyprus
10.
A budget of 1.3 million euro for financing the development of
SMEs
11.
Self-styled ministry of tourism attended a tourism fair in
Manchester
12.
Historical sites from the occupied area of Cyprus are promoted within the “World
Heritage Turkey’s promotion project”
13.
A 52 year old woman died in the occupied area of Cyprus from “Swine
flu”
14.
EU confident 3 billion euros will be delivered to Turkey
soon
15.
Turkish Interior Minister: HDP responsible for PKK’s
activities
1.
CHP’s foreign relations committee continued its contacts in the occupied area
of Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the delegation from
CHP’s foreign relations committee, which is currently in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus for a series of contacts, met yesterday with so-called
prime minister Omer Kalyoncu, the former Turkish Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali
Talat and Dervis Eroglu and the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot political
parties.
During
the meeting with Kalyoncu, the chairman of the committee Ozturk Yilmaz, who is
leading the delegation, explained that they are visiting Cyprus in a crucial
period where the Cyprus negotiation process is in progress, in order to support,
as he said, the Turkish Cypriots in their effort to find a viable solution.
Also
speaking, Kalyoncu stated that the prolonged Cyprus negotiation process
progress well and added that all the involved parties are very excited from
this.
Explaining
that it is not easy to reach to a solution on the Cyprus problem, Kalyoncu said
that there are still three important chapters, the property, the territory and
the issue of guarantees and security where no agreement has been reached yet.
Kalyoncu
also said that the issue of security and guarantees is of vital importance for
the solution of the Cyprus problem and the Turkish Cypriots taking into
consideration the incidents of the past, as he said.
Also,
in statements during the meeting with CHP’s delegation, the former Turkish
Cypriot leader and leader of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CHP-BG)
Mehmet Ali Talat, pointed out to the special interest the Turkish opposition
parties show on the Cyprus problem and said that he is pleased from CHP’s
delegation visit.
Talat
said, inter alia, that the Cyprus problem is “on the rails of the solution”. He,
however, added that it is difficult to predict when the final text of the
agreement will be ready.
Supporting
that the Greek Cypriot side have started realizing that it needs the solution
more than before, Talat added that the Greek Cypriots realized that the solution
will bring economic prosperity in the island and the opening of the fenced off
city of Varosha.
Talat
also added that it is the first time that all the involved parties on the Cyprus
problem are so optimistic for the solution.
On
his turn, Yilmaz said that his party wishes for a fair and viable solution of
the Cyprus problem to be found, based on the political equality of both sides in
the island. He said that it is out of question for the Cyprus problem to be
utilized for political purposes and added he will inform CHP’s leader
Kilicdaroglu about the progress of the talks.
Moreover,
during the meeting with the delegation, the former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis
Eroglu, said, inter alia, that before becoming clear that the Greek Cypriot side
has good will for the solution, the solution of the Cyprus problem will not be
easy.
Referring
to the issue of the water crisis, Eroglu expressed the wish that the crisis will
be overpassed soon and said that the solution of the problem will come with the
signing of the economic protocol.
On
Turkey’s EU bid, Eroglu said that he does not agree with the position that
Cyprus is an obstacle for Turkey’s EU accession process.
Also
speaking, Yilmaz said that they are in the “TRNC” to personally see the level of
progress in the ongoing negotiations process.
Stating
that the Cyprus issue is a national cause for his party, Yilmaz expressed the
CHP’s support to the ongoing talks.
CHP’s
delegation met further with Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic
Party-National Forces (DP-UG) and Huseyin Ozgurgun, leader of the National Unity
Party.
Speaking
during the meeting, Denktas referred to the importance of the delegation’s visit
in the “TRNC” especially in this “crucial period”, while, on his turn, Ozgurgun,
referred to the strong ties they have with the CHP.
(AK)
2.
Akinci met with the Dutch Ambassador in Cyprus
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 26.01.16), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci met this morning with the Dutch Ambassador in Nicosia Brechje
Schwachöfer. The latest developments on the Cyprus issue were discussed at the
meeting held at Akinci’s office.
Akinci’s
special adviser for political affairs Meltem Samani and the coordinator
responsible for foreign relations Deniz Birinci were also present at the
meeting.
No
statement was issued before or after the meeting
3.
Colak met with the President of the European Women
Council
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the self-styled minister
of foreign affairs Emine Colak met with the President of the European Council of
Women (ECICW) Cosima Schenk, and the President of the National Council of
Turkish Women and Vice-President of the European Council of Women Fatos Inal and
their accompanying delegations. ECICW is visiting the breakaway regime upon an
invitation of the “Turkish Cypriot Women Council”.
During
the meeting, Colak referred to the Cyprus negotiations and stated that issues
like how to make the solution of the Cyprus problem viable and how to make the
two communities, which are separated for so long, to start living together, are
essential after reaching the solution of the Cyprus problem.
She
also stated that everyone has the right to be heard but this is very difficult
for a “country” that is not recognized and added that they are exerting great
efforts in order to be heard in the international community. “We cannot
participate in International activities. And if we try to participate obstacles
are put in front of us”, she stated.
She
also said that the decision-making bodies, the “government” and the political
parties are the areas that required more participation by
women.
(CS)
4.
Toros called the “government” to speed up its works for the Turkish Cypriot
community harmonization with the EU acquis
Turkish
Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the chairman of the
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade (KTTO) Fikri Toros, in exclusive statements to
the paper, said that the “government” acts slowly towards the legislation of the
“laws” for the Turkish Cypriot community’s harmonization with the EU acquis and
warned that if it does not speed up its works, the threats after the solution
will be much more than the opportunities.
Stating
that the solution of the Cyprus problem will bring economic potential, Toros
stressed the need for the “government” to implement more quickly the EU
harmonization “laws” in order to be able to utilize the economic
potentials.
Toros
warned further that the Turkish Cypriot community will have to confront a lot of
dangers in case it does not speed up its steps for its harmonization with the
EU. “The works continue very slowly. This is not satisfactory. We are worrying
for this. If the process is not speed up, the threats that will have to face the
first day after the solution of the Cyprus problem will be much more than the
opportunities. I say this openly. Everybody should understand this”, added
Toros.
He
further called the “government” to establish a mechanism in order to speed up
the works for the legislation of the “laws” without any other
delay.
(AK)
5.
Research shows that the Turkish Cypriots believe that the Cyprus problem is
their biggest problem and blame the Greek Cypriots for the non-solution
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the “Research
Institute” of occupied Keryneia (GAE) has announced the result of a research
conducted in 2015 regarding the short-term political, economic and social
expectations of the Turkish Cypriots. The research was conducted on 20
December with the participation of 941 persons (48% women and 52% men) in five
occupied districts with the aim of comparing the results with similar surveys
conducted in 2013 and 2014.
According
to the results, 30.29% of the participants said that the most important
problem that should be solved is the Cyprus problem, which had been the most
important problem in the surveys since 2013, but the number of the participants
who described the Cyprus problem as the most important problem of the “country”
increased by 10% in 2015. The percentage of those who believe that this
problem will be solved this year is only 27%.
The
reply to the question “who is responsible in case of a non-solution to the
Cyprus problem” has not changed during these three years.
Every year the Greek Cypriots are considered to be responsible in case of a
non-solution, but the number of those considering the Greek Cypriots as the
primary responsible for the non-solution increased by 8% in 2015 and reached
57.4%. Turkey is following in the second place as it is considered
responsible by 12.6% of the participants. This percentage fell by 5%
comparing to the last year’s survey. On the contrary, the percentage of
those who consider Greece responsible for the non-solution increased to 4.5% in
2015 from 2% last year. Moreover, 6.6% of the participants in the survey
consider the Turkish Cypriot side responsible in case of a non-solution to the
Cyprus problem.
The
results show that 50.7% of the participants do not believe that the natural
gas and oil will contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Furthermore, 48.3% of the participants do not believe that the water which
had been transferred to the occupied area of the island from Turkey will
contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Asked
what their biggest expectation from the current self-styled government of the
regime is, the replies were the following: 42.9% to solve the Cyprus problem,
22.8% to solve the unemployment problem, and 19.2% to implement the economic
“protocol” with Turkey.
The
views as regards the continuity of the self-styled government have not changed
since 2013, as the majority relates this continuity to Turkey’s stance. 39.5%
of the participants in 2015 said that the “government’s” continuity depends on
Turkey’s stance and 34.6% on the “government’s” actions and work.
Asked
which institution they trust the most, the participants replied: 41.5% the
army
(this percentage was 22.69% in 2014), 8.82% the “courts” and 1% the
media, the “universities”, the political parties, the “departments of the state”
and the “police”.
The
participants drew a pessimistic picture as regards their economic situation.
65.9% replied negatively to the question as to whether they believe that their
earnings or income will increase in 2016. This percentage was 63% in 2014 and
68.6% in 2013. Only 22.7% of the participants replied positively to the above
question.
Asked
“which of the following statements describe best the economic situation of your
family”, 47.7% of the participants said that they can barely get on, 23.6% that
they were forced to get a loan and
13.3% that they could save money.
31.5%
of the participants in the survey work in the private sector, 15.5% in the
“public sector”, 19.1% were pensioners, 16.9% were housewives, 10,4% students
and 6.6% were included in the “others” category.
32.7%
of the participants in the survey were university graduates, 2.3% were holders
of a postgraduate diploma, 35.5% were lyceum graduates, 12.2% high school
graduates, 15.9% primary school graduates and 1.3% are non-graduates from any
school.
18.1%
of the participants in the survey said they have no salary, 3.5% said their
salary varies between 500 and 1000 Turkish Liras (TL), 22.5% between 1001 and
2000 TL , 30.1% between 2001 and 3000 TL, 18.1% between 3001 and 4000 TL and
7.7% more than 4000 TL.
(I/Ts.)
6.
Columnist warns that Cyprus may become a huge construction site after a
resolution
Columnist
Barcin Yinanc, writing in the Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
26.01.16), under the title “Turkey’s secret agenda on the Cyprus deal”, warns
that Cyprus may become a huge construction site after a resolution in the
following commentary:
“‘The
visit has achieved the objectives we set at the outset … To meet the Turkish
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, who can take on board the positions of the
Greek Cypriot side’, said Greek Cypriot Progressive Party of Working People
(AKEL) head Andros Kyprianou on his return to the island after visiting Turkey
over the weekend. ‘The second objective was to hear from their side and possibly
to try to diagnose what might be hidden behind their words’, Kyprianou
added.
In
other words, he was trying to decipher Turkey’s ‘secret agenda’ for any possible
Cyprus deal.
If
you ask me, the most evil secret agenda Ankara might have is to see the whole
island become a huge construction site after a resolution. In fact, I was very
concerned to read in daily Hurriyet that Turkish Cypriot contractors have
already inked a deal with their Turkish counterparts to rebuild the ‘ghost town’
of Varosha, as hopes of finding a peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue increase
thanks to accelerated talks between the leaders of the Turkish and Greek
communities on the island.
Cyprus
is known to Turks as the ‘green island’. But I’m not sure how green it will
remain if TOKİ, Turkey’s notorious housing agency, made its entry to the island.
If I were a Greek Cypriot, I would rather accept a limited number of Turkish
soldiers on the island than accept a flood of Turkish construction
companies.
But
in all seriousness, if Turkey has any secret agenda, the only one I can think of
would be satisfying its need to be part of an international success story. It
badly needs one, which is why it is acting with utmost precaution on Cyprus and
seems to have learned from past mistakes.
One
of the lessons learned from the past is the need to leave the two sides alone at
the negotiation table. That might sound to be too good to be true, and obviously
nobody can expect Turkey to shut down its ‘radars’ on Cyprus and simply tell
both sides to call when they have reached an agreement. Indeed, I’m sure Turkey
is keeping a close eye on the process and asking to be informed of all the
details. But no doubt it is doing its utmost not to damage the perception that
the process is a ‘local’ one, not an ‘international one’ (as was the case with
the Annan process). It seems that even NGOs have been asked to stay away from
the process.
Another
lesson drawn by Turkey from the past is the need to reach out to all
stakeholders on the island, especially on the Greek side. The Annan process
showed that Greek Cypriots were not ready to accept any solution other than the
one promised by their leaders. In that respect, inviting the Greek Cypriot
opposition leader to Turkey could be seen as an effort to try to reach out to
all stakeholders on the island.
Obviously,
no matter what it does, Turkey cannot convince the Greek Cypriots on certain
issues, such as the issue of ‘guarantees’. I was in Greek Cyprus ahead (editor’s
note: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus) of the Annan
referendum, and was surprised to hear some Greek Cypriots declare they would say
‘no’ because 300 Turkish soldiers would have remained after the solution (though
actually that number was supposed to decrease over time). ‘But even if you say
“no” you will end up living with thousands of Turkish soldiers on the island’, I
had replied at the time.
Even
on the guarantees issue, the Turkish side is now looking for a formula that can
satisfy both sides. That was also conveyed to Kyprianou, as he said it was his
impression that ‘Turkey wants to play a role in security matters, but in a
different way than today under the system of guarantor powers. I hope to see
whether the possibility of a different approach “accepted by both communities”
is possible’, he added, according to the Cyprus media.
It
seems that a solution on Cyprus stands out as one of the rare instances where
the Turkish government is not drawing ‘red lines’. As I have said, that likely
stems from the need to have a ‘success story’. Indeed, this would be a rare
thing, especially nowadays in the current international
setting.”
7.
The remains of 86 persons were found in occupied Maratha and Santalaris
villages
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
Member of the Committee of the Missing Persons announced that the remains of 86
persons were found during excavations that took place in the occupied Maratha
and Santalaris villages.
According
to the Committee, excavations are continuing to take place in occupied Mia
Milia, Dikomo, Karakoumi, Epicho and Petra villages. The excavations are taking
place in areas that there is information that can lead to findings of new
evidence. For example in occupied Mia Milia there is information about the
remains of a Greek Cypriot and in occupied Dikomo about the remains of three
Greek Cypriots.
In
addition excavations are taking place in Athalassa in the free areas of the
Republic for the remains of three Turkish Cypriots, writes the
paper.
(CS)
8.
The self-styled government has reportedly completed its work on the
administration of the water from Turkey
Under
the title “Now is the gentlemen’s in Ankara turn”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis
newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the self-styled government has completed
its work for the solution of what is described as “water crisis” and concerns
the administration of the water transferred from Turkey to the occupied area
of Cyprus through undersea pipelines. According to the paper, self-styled prime
minister Omer Kalyoncu signed and sent to Ankara a “TRNC document for further
consultation”.
Noting
that the ball is in Ankara’s field now,
the paper writes that some provisions of the “document” are the
following:
-
The bid document will be prepared within three months.
-
The bid will be completed within the following nine months.
-
Within this (one year) period the Water Affairs Department of Turkey [DSI] will
provide the water to the “municipalities”.
-
The tenders will be invited by the “Central tender
Committee”.
-
Two separate bids will be invited: One for the drinking water and one for the
water for agricultural use.
-
The “municipalities” will continue collecting the
revenues.
-
The “municipalities” will be actively involved in the administration of the
water both for the entire “country” and the separate
areas.
-
The price of the water will not exceed 4.5 Turkish Liras.
-
During the first year the DSI will offer services without aiming at any profit.
-
A fund will be established with the income of the DSI from the water and this
money will be used for covering the debts of the “municipalities”.
(I/Ts.)
9.
Familiarization seminars on the EU acquis communautaire in the occupied area
of Cyprus
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.01.16), the European Commission
Representation in Cyprus is organizing a series of seminars with the aim of
introducing the EU acquis communautaire to the Turkish
Cypriots.
The
4 day “Familiarization Seminars on the Community Acquis” started with sessions
on the European Legal Network, EU Migration and Internal Affairs Policies,
Foreign Policy and Security, Prevention of Corruption, Social Policies and
Employment subjects.
Delivering
the opening speech of the seminar, the self-styled foreign ministry
undersecretary Erhan Ercin pointed out that the European Commission has launched
the information seminars on the EU acquis communtaire during a time when efforts
towards solving the Cyprus problem are being intensified. “It is difficult to
harmonize with the EU acquis communautaire. If these information seminars were
held before then the Turkish Cypriot people would have been more prepared for
the EU”, said Ercin.
He
stressed the desire to move the EU harmonization process forward by using time
effectively and added: “The EU countries created the acquis communautaire on the
basis of a common understanding for the benefit of its citizens. EU values are
important for raising prosperity and creating a truly functioning social justice
system”.
10.
A budget of 1.3 million euro for financing the development of
SMEs
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.01.16), the TAPS project carried out
jointly by the EU and the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Development Centre
(KOBIGEM) which operates under the “ministry of economy, industry and commerce”
was promoted to the press with an event on Monday.
TAPS,
which is short for Technical Assistance Private Sector, is a technical support
program aimed at building the capacity of local stake holders and to enhance the
competitiveness of the private sector.
The
project which has a budget of 1.3 million euro and which is aimed at small and
medium sized enterprises has been active since November last year.
Speaking
at the press conference, the Head of the TAPS project team Jean Claude Duplouy
said that the project which will continue for 17 months has a budget of 1.3
million euro. Stating that developing and strengthening the private sector of a
country is very important, Duplouy said that he is extremely pleased to be
working with small and medium sized enterprises in “North Cyprus” (editor’s
note: the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus).
The
General Coordinator of KOBIGEM Ebru Kaptan Sertoglu, for her part, said that
they are pleased to be working with the EU for the second time. She said that
the project, as in the past, will act as a bridge between the “state” and civil
society organisations.
The
self-styled minister of economy, industry and commerce Sunat Atun, speaking also
at the event, said that he is pleased to be announcing a new SMEs policy. He
said that the “government” has been supporting the grant program for small and
medium sized enterprises since 2010.
11.
Self-styled ministry of tourism attended a tourism fair in
Manchester
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (26.01.16), the self-styled ministry of
tourism attended the tourism fair “Destinations and Holiday and Travel Market”,
which was held between January 21 and 24 in Manchester,
UK.
Brochures
regarding general information of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, nature walking trails and bicycle route maps were
distributed during the fair.
(DPs)
12.
Historical sites from the occupied area of Cyprus are promoted within the
“World Heritage Turkey’s promotion project”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris (20.01.16) reports that the Turkish Tourism and Promotion
Platform (TUTAP) has included in its promotion activities many historical sites
from the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus within the framework of the
World Heritage Turkey’s promotion project.
The
President of TUTAP Fikret Yildiz, in a statement to illegal Bayrak television,
said that their aim is to bring 2 million tourists in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus during the tourism season 2016-2017.
Yildiz
explained that the “TRNC tourism” will be promoted in all the promotion
activities being held in the Turkic speaking countries with the contribution of
TURKSOY and in all the tourism fairs that they will attend.
Yildiz
further said that the historical sites from the occupied area of Cyprus that
will be included in the “World Heritage Turkey’s project” and can be counted as
“World Heritage” are the Lala Mustafa Pasa mosque (editor’s note: the Saint
Nicholas's Cathedral in occupied Famagusta town), the Selimiye mosque (editor’s
note: St. Sophia Cathedral in the occupied part of Lefkosia), Bedesten (editor’s
note: Church of St. Nicholas in the occupied part of Lefkosia), Salamis ruins,
the Bellapais Abbey, St Hillarion Castle and the Keryneia castle. He added that
these historical sites will be promoted in every platform that Turkey is
promoted.
(DPs)
13.
A 52 year old woman died in the occupied area of Cyprus from “Swine
flu”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (26.01.16) under the title: “First death from
the swine flu”, reports that a 52 year old woman passed away yesterday in the
occupied area of Cyprus because of the H1N1 virus, known as “swine flu”.
According
to the paper, the woman was diagnosed with the symptoms of the “swine flu” on
January 11 and since then was hospitalized at the “hospital” of the illegal YDU
university.
In
statements on the issue, so-called minister of health Salih Izbul called the
“citizens” not to panic.
Meanwhile,
23 more people have gone yesterday to the hospital with suspicions of suffering
from “swine flu”.
(AK)
14.
EU confident 3 billion euros will be delivered to Turkey soon
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 25.01.16), the European Union
assured Turkey on Jan. 25 that a package of three billion euros for Syrian
refugees will soon be released, also stressing the need to further stem the
influx of irregular migrants from Turkey to Europe before a key summit to take
place on Feb. 18 in Brussels.
“The
talks are ongoing. I am very confident that the amount that was decided before
will be there in very reasonable timing,” EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica
Mogherini said at a press conference in Ankara after high-level political
meetings with senior Turkish officials.
Mogherini,
European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut
Cavusoglu and Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozkir came around the same table as
part of enhanced political dialogue between Ankara and Brussels following the
Nov. 29 joint statement. The EU delegation later met with President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
“Today’s
high-level political dialogue is an essential element of our overall framework
of dialogue and cooperation. It provided us with the opportunity to discuss
issues high on both of our agendas in a comprehensive manner and that will feed
into the preparation of the next EU-Turkey Summit,” read a joint statement
issued after the Jan. 25 meetings.
One
of the most urgent issues is the delivery of a financial aid worth 3 billion
euros to Turkey to step up support for Syrian and other refugees in Turkey in
exchange for the Turkish authorities cutting the illegal flow of migrants to
Europe. Italy has blocked the release of the money because of an internal
disagreement within the EU. Mogherini said that she wanted to play down “this
dramatic approach” over the issue, emphasizing that the funds were “not pocket
money”.
“We
are doing the preparatory work for spending this money in an appropriate way.
Because again it’s not pocket money, it’s money that goes to projects. The
commission is carrying out all the assessments of the needs for the projects,”
she said.
Cavusoglu
also sought to urge calm over the delay. “We don’t take it personally … But any
delay is affecting the daily life of the refugees, their schooling and their
medical needs,” he said.
The
joint statement reiterated its commitment to provide the financial assistance.
“The EU confirmed its commitment to expand significantly its overall financial
support by creating a EUR 3 billion Refugee Facility for Turkey. The need to
finalize and swiftly move forward the implementation of the Refugee Facility in
cooperation with Turkey, in line with the needs assessment, was underlined,” it
stated.
Turkish
and EU officials also reviewed the results of recently intensified efforts to
stem the number of refugees traveling from Turkey to Europe before a crucial
summit between Turkey and eight like-minded countries in February.
“The
need to achieve further results in stemming the influx of irregular migrants and
in fighting criminal smuggling networks was underlined. Turkey and the EU agreed
to step up their cooperation to reinforce the interception capacity of the
Turkish Coast Guard and acknowledged the importance of maintaining a system of
coordinated reporting on migration and refugee flows,” the joint statement read.
Meanwhile,
Turkish and EU officials also exchanged views on the ongoing fight against the
outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in a number of towns in south-eastern
Turkey. “We had the opportunity to discuss problems in southeast Turkey. The EU
condemns all sorts of terrorist attacks,” Mogherini said, calling for an
“immediate ceasefire” of PKK attacks while calling for the resumption of peace
talks that collapsed last summer.
“The
EU also continues to be committed to fight against the presence in Europe of the
PKK, which is on the official EU terrorist list, with a view to preventing PKK
terrorist attacks. The EU stressed the importance of an urgent return to the
solution process and attaches the utmost importance to achieving a peaceful and
sustainable solution for the benefit of all the people of Turkey,” the joint
statement said.
15.
Turkish Interior Minister: HDP responsible for PKK’s
activities
Turkish
daily Sabah newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the Interior Minister of Turkey
Efkan Ala stated that the pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party (HDP) is
responsible for the continuation of the military operations in south eastern
provinces of Turkey between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the
Turkish military.
Ala
stated that the party’s Deputies should stand up to PKK and call on the
militants to abandon their guns and return to peace talks. However the Deputies
of HDP do not act in this way and therefore they are responsible for the
continuation of the attacks and the non-end violence, he claimed. He went on and
argued that Turkey has changed and is far more democratic than in the 1980s and
1990s, but PKK has not changed, insisting on old practices and ways. Finally he
stated that unless PKK militants abandon their arms, the peace progress cannot
be launched again.
In
addition, the paper reports that tanks rolled through the ruined streets of the
Cizre district of the south-eastern province of Sirnak yesterday as military
operations against PKK continue. Official statements indicate that 446 PKK
militants have been recently killed during military
operations.
(CS)
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
AM)
