TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
04/16 08.01.2016
1. Akinci:
“We are continuing our efforts for solving the Cyprus problem productively and
with determination”
2. Bozkir:
EU must keep its promises to Turkey
3. MHP accuses
the Turkish Cypriot negotiation team of being insufficient in knowledge about
EU law issues
4. “Turkish
embassy” to the breakaway regime strongly criticized CTP for its reaction on
the water management issue
5. Talat
and Akansoy responded to the statement by the illegal Turkish embassy in the
occupied part of Lefkosia
6. More
about the scandal with the illegal Tymbou airport; Accusation statements
between Ertugruloglu and the “ombudsman”
7.
Self-styled minister of tourism will hold contacts with Turkish officials in
Ankara
8. New
casino to be constructed in occupied Galatia village
9. YKP to
be represented at the EL meeting in Berlin
10. The
annual inflation rate of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus at
7.78%
11. Russia
cancels nuclear training deals with Turkish universities
12. Twitter
files lawsuit against Turkish fine over “terrorist propaganda”
1. Akinci: “We are continuing our efforts for solving the
Cyprus problem productively and with determination”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (08.01.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci made a brief statement to the press upon his return to
the occupied area of Cyprus after a 4-hour meeting he held with President
NicosAnastasiades at the UN buffer zone.
Akinci
stated that negotiations will continue on 14th January and added that the Cyprus negotiations are continuing
productively and with determination with the aim to find a lasting solution. He
also stated that following Davos visit, he will meet with Anastasiades on 29
January.
(CS)
2. Bozkir:
EU must keep its promises to Turkey
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 08.01.16), the
responsibility for re-energizing Turkey’s accession process will belong to the
European Union even in the event that the ongoing Cyprus talks fail to produce
a breakthrough, Turkey’s EU Minister VolkanBozkir has alleged, asking the bloc
to keep its promises toward Ankara.
“In the event that the Cyprus problem
cannot be resolved, the removal of the blockages imposed on chapters by the
Greek Cyprus (editor’s note: as he refers to the Republic of Cyprus) without an
EU Council decision or in the absence of a legal basis belongs to the EU”,
Bozkir told a group of reporters traveling to Eskisehir with him on Jan 7.
“A letter
signed by Donald Tusk [President of the EU Council] and Jean-Claude Juncker
[President of the EU Commission] and sent to our Prime Minister stands as a
commitment to the opening of these five chapters. They don’t say that these
chapters can [only] be opened if the Cyprus problem is resolved”, he said.
The letter Bozkir referred to was sent to
the Turkish government as an annex to a Nov. 29, 2015, joint statement between
Turkey and the EU and cited five chapters the EU Commission promised to prepare
for opening in the first quarter of 2016.
The five chapters are under a Greek Cypriot
veto, and there are concerns that the failure of Cypriot reunification talks
would also have a negative impact on the Ankara-Brussels relationship.
“Our
position in keeping the Cyprus issue unrelated to our EU accession process
remains. We will not allow any kind of involvement of the Cyprus problem in our
accession process. There is this commitment of the EU. But in the event the
Cyprus problem is resolved, then all these chapters will absolutely be opened
automatically,” he said.
The joint statement reached by Turkey and
the EU also opens new avenues for the intensification of political and economic
dialogue, the Minister said, announcing that Turkish and EU leaders would first
come together on Jan. 25 in Turkey. EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, EU
Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement Johannes Hahn, Turkish Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Bozkir will come together in a four-way meeting.
“We’ll meet more frequently afterwards,” Bozkir said, adding that Turkey’s
Foreign Minister would also increase the number of visits to EU-related meetings.
Another top
meeting will be held in the field of energy as the Turkey-EU high-level Energy
Cooperation Council will meet in Istanbul on Jan. 28-29.“This meeting will not
only focus on the TANAP [Trans-Anatolian Pipeline Project] and the Turkish
Stream but also on potential projects for the transportation of reserves from
Turkmenistan, Qatar, Iran, northern Iraq and off Cyprus,” he said.
In the meantime, Turkey and eight EU
countries with similar policies on migration issues will come together at a mini
summit on Feb. 18 in Brussels.
3. MHP
accuses the Turkish Cypriot negotiation team of being insufficient in knowledge
about EU law issues
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (08.01.16)
reports that the Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) Deputy Chair UmitOzdag said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci should display a more inclusive stance at the negotiating table and that
the guarantee issue should not be discussed.
Commenting on the Cyprus talks, Ozdag said
also that Akinci should exchange views with different sectors of the community
and added that Akinci should also carry more extensive briefings regarding the
negotiations.
Ozdag
accused the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team of being insufficient in knowledge
on the international law and the EU law. He added that as MHP, they have their
concerns on the guarantee issue. He stressed that the guarantorship is one of
the essential issues for them.
On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 08.01.16) reports that Ozdag also criticized the ongoing
talks in Cyprus, claiming that the process aimed at abolishing the “Turkish
Cypriot State” by simply continuing the Greek Cypriot State under the title of
Cyprus.
Citing his recent contacts in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, Ozdag suggested that Akinci is not informing
the relevant parties about the reunification talks and for even not taking
appropriate notes of his meetings with the Greek Cypriots.
(DPs)
4. “Turkish embassy” to the breakaway regime strongly
criticized CTP for its reaction on the water management issue
Turkish
Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper (08.01.16) reports that the “Turkish
Embassy” to the occupied area of Cyprus issued a statement strongly criticizing
the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the
major “coalition partner”, of the “government” on its reaction on the issue of
the administration of the water transferred from Turkey to the occupied area of
Cyprus with pipelines.
CTP’s party
committee has rejected a few days ago an agreement reached between “officials”
of the breakaway regime and Turkey’s technical committee on the issue of the
administration of the water. The agreement is supported by the other “coalition
partner”, the National Unity Party (UBP). The reason for the rejection of the
agreement by the CTP is said to be the fact that “it gives opportunity for
privatization”, writes the paper.
“It is not
a party’s committee but the council of ministers that decides over the issue”,
the statement stressed adding that the “state” must behave in a more
responsible way. The statement also argued that “false, incomplete and
distorted information and comments were recently made regarding the water from
Turkey which has created confusion and raised questions within the public”
According
to the statement the water transfer project had been carried out as a result of
a framework agreement signed between the government of Turkey and the breakaway
regime and an initial understanding had been reached in the economic and
financial cooperation protocol signed on the 4th of December 2012 that the
water pumped from Turkey would be run on the basis of a build-operate-transfer
model.
The
statement also drew attention to the fact that the project had cost around 1.6
billion Turkish Liras to complete and that an additional 600 million Turkish
Liras was required to complete infrastructure to make distribution possible.
“Within
this framework, the model proposed by Turkey was that the water’s
administration and inspection should be carried out by the TRNC while its
management should be carried out by the private sector which will build and
complete necessary investments and facilities. The draft of the
intergovernmental agreement prepared on the basis of this understanding was
sent to the TRNC authorities on the 7th of April 2015” the statement read.
The
statement also explained that a consensus had been reached on the draft on the
24-25th of December 2015 following several amendments.
“However on
the 26th of December, the draft agreement in question was discussed and rejected
at the Republican Turkish Party’s Assembly. This was followed by false reports
in the press that an agreement had not been reached with Turkey on the water
issue. This has only caused confusion within the public” it said.
The
statement also added that the right address to solve this issue was not the
CTP’s party assembly but the “council of ministers”.
It ended by
stating that Turkey was expecting the “TRNC government” to take a decision on
the issue so that the project can move onto the implementation phase.
5. Talat
and Akansoy responded to the statement by the illegal Turkish embassy in the
occupied part of Lefkosia
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 08.01.16), the leader of the Republican Turkish Party CTP) Mehmet Ali
Talat has said that the statement issued by the illegal Turkish embassy in the
occupied part of Lefkosia regarding the administration and management of the
water from Turkey has not contributed to solving the problem.
Commenting on the issue, the CTP leader
said that it was only natural that the CTP party assembly brought the issue to
its agenda after it emerged that there were important differences between the
draft agreement agreed upon by the technical delegations from the two
“countries” and the CTP party assembly’s policy on the water issue. “The result
is that the CTP party assembly rejected the document prepared. While the CTP
party assembly is extremely grateful to Turkey for bringing much needed water
to the country, it has made it clear that the decision as how the water will be
managed must be based on our will. How the CTP will take decisions only
concerns the CTP,” he added.
The CTP leader also pointed out that the
CTP is a political party that acts on the basis of collective decision making
mechanisms and that the fact that the CTP is in “government” did not constitute
an obstacle for the party to wield power over its decision making bodies’
authorities.
On the same issue, self-styled minister of
interior and labour and CTP “deputy” AsimAkansoy has also responded to the
statement through his social media account.
Akansoy described the statement as
unfortunate and unnecessary. Stating that he supported the idea from the very
beginning that relations with Turkey should be constructive and based on mutual
respect, he added that his party had neither the intention to deceive the
public or to run away from its political responsibilities.
Akansoy also drew attention to the
importance looking at the bigger picture when taking decisions on matters such
as the water issue. He said that decisions cannot be taken solely by taking
into consideration economic factors, adding that the “administration of the
country” should be in the hands of the Turkish Cypriots in all dimensions.
Akansoy also pointed out that restructuring
the “TRNC economy” is important but that undertaking economic reforms on its
own will not be enough to achieve the desired political, economic and
administrative transformation which the Turkish Cypriot “people” sought.
Stating that there will always be members
of the party with differing views and opinions, Akansoy said that the attacks
which he describes as a political lynching campaign on party members are
totally unacceptable. He added that the CTP is well aware of its political
responsibilities and that it attaches great importance to the water issue.
He further said that his party believes
that the water should be managed through an administrative model in which the
Turkish Cypriots will play a decisive and determining role. Defending the decision
taken by the CTP party assembly, Akansoy said that his party will not abandon
its principles for the sake of the water issue nor any other issue. “I believe
that the written statement issued by the ‘Turkish Embassy’ is unfortunate. Yes
the cabinet is important but as a member of cabinet what really matters for me
is the decision taken by the party assembly”.
6.More
about the scandal with the illegal Tymbou airport; Accusation statements
between Ertugruloglu and the “ombudsman”
All
Turkish Cypriot dailies cover extensively the issue which came yesterday to
light after the statements made by EmineDizdarli “ombudsman” in the occupied
area of Cyprus, concerning the decision approved by the so-called council of
ministers to provide to a foreign company the control-inspection services of
the T&T airport company which is responsible for the management of the
illegal Tymbou airport.
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(08.01.16) under the front-page title: “Quarrel for the 11 million dollars”,
reports that the so-called minister of
transportation TahsinErtugruloglu and Dizdarli came face to face yesterday and
issued separate accusation statements towards this issue.
Ertugruloglu
argued in his statement that Dizdarli has made a mistake since it made statements
without investigating the issue, while Dizdarli responded that she had acted in
accordance with the “laws” and its “provisions”.
Ertugruloglu
clarified also that the “state” will pay nothing for the amount of 11 million
and 250 thousand dollars to the foreign company which will provide
control-inspection services to the T&T airport company and added that all
the cost will be paid by T&T.
Meanwhile, Havadis writes that according to allegations published by Turkish daily
Hurriyet, after the decision of the so-called ministry of transportation and
the approval of the decision by the “council of ministers” to provide to the
foreign company the control services of the T&T airport company, the amount
of the 11 million dollars was paid by Turkey to two private companies called
Diamond Green Administration and Consultant Services Ltd and the Taahhut
Incorporate Company which are known for the close ties with the AKP and Turkish
President RecepTayyip Erdogan.
Commenting on the issue in a written
statement, IzzetIzcan, chairman of the
United Cyprus Party (BKP) spoke about a huge economic scandal and corruption
and said that this issue is a “product” of the wrong policies followed by the
“coalition government” of the UBP-CTP.
He
added that it is very well known that the two private companies have close ties
with AKP officials and said that the two companies were also involved in the
past in corruption cases.
(AK)
7. Self-styled minister of tourism will hold contacts with
Turkish officials in Ankara
Turkish
Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (08.01.16) reports that the self-styled minister
of culture and tourism FaizSucuoglu is going to Ankara today to hold contacts
with the Turkish Minister of Tourism MahirUnal and with the deputy Prime
Minister, Responsible for Cyprus Affairs TugrulTurkes.
According
to the paper, Sucuoglu will first meet with Turkes. Later he and Unal will discuss how the tourism relations
between the breakaway regime and Turkey can be further strengthened. They will
also discuss how the “Russian crisis”, will affect tourism and what measures
can be taken.
(CS)
8.New
casino to be constructed in occupied Galatia village
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(08.01.16) reports that the “municipality” of the occupied Galatia village has
signed yesterday an agreement with a company called TEL-ZA Construction Ltd,
which won the tender for the construction of a casino in the area.
According
to the paper, the project for the construction of the casino is financed by
Turkey Aid Committee and the “municipality”.
The cost of the project is estimated to
be 470 thousand TL and it is expected to be completed by April.
(AK)
9.YKP
to be represented at the EL meeting in Berlin
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (08.01.16)
reports that Murat Kanatli, member of the Executive Committee of the New Cyprus
Party (YKP) will be attending the European Left Party (EL) meeting in Berlin on
January 8-10.
YKP will attend the meeting under the
observer status.
(AK)
10. The
annual inflation rate of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus at
7.78%
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 07.01.16), the annual inflation rate for the “TRNC” (editor’s note:
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus) has been set at 7.78%.
According to figures released by the
so-called state planning organisation (DPO), the salaries of “public sector
employees” will receive a 4.6% raise to reflect the rise in inflation over the
last 6 months.
The “DPO” noted that according to December
2015 and the month before that; there has been a 1.31% increase.
The first three products to show a major
price increase are the “state lottery ticket”, aubergines and Turkey’s State
Lottery tickets. The first three products to experience a drop in prices are
cabbage, broccoli and grapefruit.
There has been a rise in clothing and shoe
prices as well.
11. Russia
cancels nuclear training deals with Turkish universities
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(07.01.16), Russia’s National Research
Nuclear University (MEPhI) has cancelled planned training programs with four
Turkish universities, which had been part of a multibillion nuclear power plant
development deal between the countries that is now under threat following
Turkey’s Nov. 24 downing of the Russian jet.
Ankara University had a direct deal for
raising the manpower for Turkey’s first planned nuclear plant, Akkuyu, in the
southern province of Mersin, while Hacettepe University and Istanbul Technical
University (İTÜ) had separate deals in the educational, scientific and social
fields.
NiyaziMeric, the head of the Ankara
University Nuclear Sciences Institute, told Anadolu Agency that his school and
MEPhI had signed a deal on April 13 to offer exchange and double masters
degrees to their students.
As part of the deal, the students would
have studied for six months in Ankara before spending one year at Moscow’s
MEPhI. Some 1,000 engineers who were to work at Akkuyu would have been educated
in both countries, Meric said, adding that the university would now be looking
for new partners in nuclear education.
Tension between Moscow and Ankara has been
high since Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian warplane on Nov. 24 for violating
Turkey’s border with Syria. Since then, Russia has announced a raft of economic
sanctions on Turkey and cancelled many joint projects, but Akkuyu has not been
officially halted.
12. Twitter
files lawsuit against Turkish fine over “terrorist propaganda”
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 08.01.16), micro-blogging
site Twitter filed a lawsuit in an Ankara court on Jan. 7, seeking to annul a
fine issued by the Turkish authorities over the site not removing content
Turkey said was “terrorist propaganda”, a source familiar with the matter
told Reuters.
The legal challenge argued that the 150,000
Turkish Lira ($50,000) fine was against the law, the source said. Turkey
temporarily banned the site several times in the past after it failed to comply
with requests to remove content. Twitter was not immediately available for
comment.
This was
the first time the Turkish government has ever fined the popular site, though
it had temporarily banned Twitter several times after it failed to comply with
requests to remove content.
“The due date for the payment of this fine
expired Jan. 5. But we stand behind our decision and we’ll now take whatever
measures are necessary,” Turkish Transport, Maritime and Communication Minister
BinaliYildirim said in a press conference in Ankara on Jan. 6.
Contrary to some prior moves by Ankara, he
added that it was “out of the question” to close down social media platforms,
stressing that the government “just wants them to act in line with the law.”
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs
/ AM)
