TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 20/16 30-31.01/01.02.2016
1. The so-called foreign
ministry on UNFICYP extension
2.
Colak calls on Qatari businessmen to invest in the occupied area of Cyprus
3.
Colak says that she worries about the energy summits held by Cyprus and Greece
and the statements made by Foreign Minister Kasoulides
4. Candan evaluated their
contacts in Brussels
5. Figures on the number of
foreign workers in the occupied area of Cyprus
6. Akansoy: “6,238 rural plots of
land were distributed”
7.
Excavations will take place in
TekkeBahcesi Mosque in the occupied part of Lefkosia
8.
Turkish Cypriot daily says that Turkey is selling 13 times more goods to the
Turkish Cypriots than the goods it purchases from them
9. The breakaway regime
participated in the Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel
Exhibition in Istanbul
10. Turkey’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs: A Russian fighter jet violated Turkish airspace on Friday.
11. Spanish Ambassador:
Spain's non-removal of Patriot missiles shows proof of solidarity with Turkey
12. Turkey’s EU Minister
heads to Paris, Brussels for official meetings
13. Chilling’ police
‘insult’ circular aims to quell criticism of state officials, say pundits
14. Nobel laureate Pamuk
chides EU for ignoring Turkey’s rights record
15. Many hotels in Turkish
resorts up for sale amid tourism woes
1. The so-called foreign
ministry on UNFICYP extension
Illegal
Bayrak television (30.01.16) broadcast that the so-called foreign ministry has issued a statement on the decision
to extend the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus for a further 6
months.
In
a statement issued evaluating the decision, the “ministry” said that “the
unanimously adopted resolution extending UNFICYP’s mandate welcomed the
progress reached in the current negotiations process, the prevailing positive
momentum and praised the leader’s determination to reach a comprehensive
settlement of the Cyprus problem”.
“It
is however, as stated by international circles interested in the Cyprus
Problem, obvious that the current positive momentum in the talks cannot be
maintained for ever. Therefore reference in the resolution to the need for any
political or financial assistance of the international community towards
achieving that goal is welcomed” the statement read.
2. Colak
calls on Qatari businessmen to invest in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.02.16)
reports that EmineColak, self-styled
foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, has visited Doha, the capital city of Qatar
for “official” contacts, during which he said that the possibilities for
businessmen will increase with the solution of the Cyprus problem and called on
the businessmen to invest in the occupied area of the island.
During her visit Colak was, inter alia, accompanied by
the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, FikriToros and the
member of the administrative council of the Turkish Cypriot “chamber of
industry”, CavlanParalik.
Colak began her contacts the day before yesterday by meeting with the “TRNC citizen”, Taisir
Mustafa and visited the newly
established Middle East Modified Butimen Company, which is a partnership of
the Qatari businessmen Khalifa Al Jassim
and Ahmad Al Shabi.
During a lunch hosted in her honor by the
above-mentioned businessmen, Colak briefed them on the negotiating process in
Cyprus and on the existing investment possibilities as well as the possibilities
which will exist after the solution. During the lunch, Toros and Paralik also
invited the Qatari businessmen to invest in the occupied area of Cyprus and
referred to methods by which the existing trade relations between Qatar and the
breakaway regime could be broadened.
In the evening the
self-styled representative of the regime in Doha, AytugPlumer hosted a dinner
in Colak’s honor. AhmetDemirok, Turkey’s Ambassador to Doha and other foreign
ambassadors participated in the dinner.
During the second day of her visit, Colak met with
Demirok at the Turkish embassy and afterwards visited Dr. Khalid Ibrahim Al Suladi, administrator of Katara Cultural
Village.
Yesterday Colak
also met with Sheikh Faisal Al Thani, chairman of Qatar Businessmen Association
and told him that the investment possibilities in Cyprus will increase with the
positive climate which will be created in case a solution to the Cyprus problem
is reached.
(I/Ts.)
3. Colak
says that she worries about the energy summits held by Cyprus and Greece and
the statements made by Foreign Minister Kasoulides
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (01.02.16)
reports that EmineColak, self-styled
foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, has described as “worrying” the statements
made by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides regarding the immediate return of
the occupied fenced off city of Varosha on the first day of the solution of the
Cyprus problem, the return of some territories and the withdrawal of Turkish
occupation troops. Talking to Star Kibris, Colak argued that the issues put
forward by the Foreign Minister are being discussed at the negotiating table
and added:
“Everyone may have personal wishes and views. And
these views may be expressed. The issue
of Varosha and the other issues are on the table. Negotiations are continuing.
For this reason, making such statements in during the ongoing negotiating
process is not helpful to the solution.
Now, because the negotiations are being held, no one is at the position
of putting preconditions. I find this statement timeless and unnecessary”.
Referring
to the recent tripartite meeting held in Nicosia and the agreement on the
energy issue, Colak argued that they are worried
about agreements and discussions regarding the energy issue, which could
exclude the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, before a solution to the Cyprus
problem is reached. She added: “It is
difficult to say that the statements made after the agreement include concrete
steps. However, we think that their
statement that they are open for cooperation with other sides as regards the
hydrocarbons is meaningful. We are
seeing with concern any initiative which could exclude the Turkish Cypriots and
Turkey on the energy issue. For the time being general expressions are
being used, there is no concrete step. The
important thing is how the expressions used during this meeting will be
implemented”.
Colak argued that the
steps taken before the solution of the Cyprus problem by all sides should not be
influencing the negotiating process and claimed: “They should feel at least
partly the sensitivity we are feeling”.
(I/Ts.)
4. Candan evaluated their contacts in Brussels
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi newspaper
(31.01.16) under the title: “Brussels
discussed the issue of the Turkish language to become an official EU language”,
reported that a “parliamentary delegation” composed by ArmaganCandan, “deputy”
with the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG), Ergun Serdaroglu
“deputy” with the National Unity Party (UBP), HasanTacoy, “deputy” with the
Democratic Party (DP) and ZekiCeler “deputy” with the Social Democracy Party
(TDP) participated in the meeting of the European Parliament in Brussels on
January 24-27 and held a series of contacts.
Evaluating to the paper their contacts in Brussels, Candan said that they held a series of
contacts at the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the EU
Commission where they discussed Turkey’s EU bid the Cyprus problem and EU’s
financial contribution for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Candan
added that during their meetings in Brussels, they discussed also with the EU
officials the issue of their representation at the European Parliament after
the solution and the preparations that needed to be done toward this issue.
Candan reminded of a decision of the Council of the EU dated on June 2014, envisaging that four months
after the solution to be, there will be elections for the European Parliament
in the island for the election of 4 Greek Cypriots and 2 Turkish Cypriots
MPs.
Candan
referred also to the gesture of the President of the Republic of Cyprus for the
Turkish language to become an official EU language and said that this issue had
a positive echo. He also stressed the need for the “foreign ministry” to
undertake steps towards this matter.
Candan
said further that during their contacts, they stressed the need for steps to be
taken prior to the solution for the Turkish Cypriot’s representation at the EP.
He recalled that there are two empty seats at the EP belonging to the Turkish
Cypriots and argued that they could achieve their representation to the EP
under the observer status.
(AK)
5. Figures on the number of foreign workers in the
occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.02.16)
reports on figures given by the “work
permits’ centers” of the so-called ministry of labor and interior, according to
which between the period of October 2014-September 2015, a total of 47 thousand
798 foreign workers had been either granted a work permit in the “TRNC” or
their work permit has been extended.
The above figure includes also the work permits given
to the foreign students in the occupied area of Cyprus, writes the paper.
Also, according to the data, an increase of 10.32% has been observed during the above mentioned
period on the numberof foreign workers with work permit in the “country”,
since, comparing with the period of October 2013-September 2014, the numbers of
foreign workers was 43 thousand 323 persons.
(AK)
6. Akansoy: “6,238 rural plots of land were
distributed”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (20.11.15)
reports on statements by the so-called
minister of interior AsimAkansoy who has said that according to the “low-cost
housing law”, the “TRNC’s authorities” has distributed until today totally
6,238 rural plots of land.
Akansoy
added that the “authorities” had signed sales contract with 2, 198 persons
while he added that only 1,857 residences were constructed in these plots.
(AK)
7. Excavations
will take place in TekkeBahcesi Mosque
in the occupied part of Lefkosia
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (30.01.16)
reported that excavations will take
place on the TekkeBahcesi Mosque in the occupied part of Lefkosia, where
according to information the remains of a number of missing persons, Greek and
Turkish Cypriots are buried.
According to the paper, there were difficulties before
reaching the decision for the excavation in the mosque area; however some
families of missing persons had information that the bodies of their relatives
were brought in the area in 1963 after the AgiosVasilios events and gave a
struggle for the excavations to take place in TekkeBahcesi Mosque.
Speaking to the paper, the chairman of the Cyprus
Missing People’s Union, FuatNalcioglu, accused the Autonomous Committee on the
Missing Persons of drifting apart from its humanitarian mission and of been
politicalized. “They see the issue as just a job”, he stated.
(CS)
8. Turkish
Cypriot daily says that Turkey is selling 13 times more goods to the Turkish
Cypriots than the goods it purchases from them
Under the title “We sell one and buy 13”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (01.02.16) reports that Turkey exported to the occupied area of Cyprus goods the worth of which
was 783 million US dollars in 2015, while the regime exported to Turkey goods valued at 58 million dollars.
According to data given by Turkey’s Exporters’ Council
(TIM), the imports of the regime from Turkey reached 1 billion 3 million 487
dollars in 2014. The imports of the regime from Turkey were 995 million 290
thousand dollars in 2011, 972 million 388 thousand dollars in 2012 and 999
million 600 thousand dollars in 2013.
(I/Ts.)
9. The breakaway regime
participated in the Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel
Exhibition in Istanbul
Illegal
Bayrak television (29.01.16) broadcast that the breakaway regime participated in the Eastern Mediterranean International
Tourism and Travel Exhibition (EMITT) in Istanbul held between the 28th and
31st of January
Self-styled
minister of tourism Faiz Sucuoglu attended the opening of the exhibition.
According to Bayrak Turkish Minister of
Culture and Tourism Mahir Unal visited the stand and met with Sucuoglu.
Unal said that Turkey and
the breakaway regime will walk together and that Turkey will continue to
provide all necessary support to the occupied area of Cyprus. The Turkish minister also reminded that he
will be paying a visit to the breakaway regime with a delegation in February.
Sucuoglu
stated that the usual 52 meter square of the breakaway regime stand had been
expanded to 208 meter squares this year, in order to promote tourism.
Stating
that not enough importance had been given to advertisements and promotions in
Turkey in the past, Sucuoglu said that they were carrying out an extensive publicity
campaign in Turkey this year, hoping to benefit from this in the coming months.
In
addition, speaking to Bayrak Sucuoglu
stated that he is optimistic and hopeful for the tourism sector this year and
also announced that Corendon Airways will be re-launching charter flights to the
breakaway regime as of the 1st of May this year. He also said that tickets were
already on sale in the Netherlands and Belgium.
10. Turkey’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs: A Russian fighter jet violated Turkish airspace on Friday.
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (01.01.16) reports that an official statement released on Saturday said that a Russian craft --
a SU-34 fighter-bomber -- was repeatedly warned by Turkish air radar units in Russian
and English.
"A Russian SU-34
fighter jet violated Turkish airspace yesterday (Jan. 29, 2016) at 11.46 a.m.
local time in Turkey [0946 GMT]," the statement read.
The
Turkish Air Force has declared an 'orange alert' in key bases around the
country, military sources have said.
Speaking
to reporters at Istanbul Ataturk Airport before his departure for Chile,
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the violation of Turkish airspace, which he
also described as NATO airspace, was a result of Russian attempts to escalate existing
tension in the region. "Russia will have to bear the consequences if the
violations continue," he said.
Erdogan
said the Turkish Foreign Ministry had made contact with Russia to arrange a
meeting with President Vladimir Putin to discuss the incident, but added that
Ankara had yet to receive a response.
11. Spanish Ambassador:
Spain's non-removal of Patriot missiles shows proof of solidarity with Turkey
Turkish
daily Sabah newspaper (01.02.16) reports that the Spanish Ambassador to Ankara Rafael Mendivil Peydro said that Spain,
which co-sponsors the Alliance of Civilizations with Turkey, has shown its
commitment to friendship and solidarity with Turkey by maintaining its
deployment of Patriot missiles in the country.
Despite
the decision by the U.S. and Germany to withdraw Patriot missiles from Turkey,
given their assessment of the downgraded threat level from Syria, Spain as
another NATO member has maintained deployment of their Patriot missiles within
Turkey. According to the Spanish Ambassador to Ankara, this is a proof of
Spain's friendship and solidarity toward the Turkish people. Speaking to Daily Sabah, Ambassador Peydro
underlined that Spain has long been a strong supporter of Turkey's EU accession
process, while reminding that there is a long way to go, and that some issues
will not be easy to solve.
12. Turkey’s EU Minister
heads to Paris, Brussels for official meetings
Ankara
Anatolia news agency (31.01.16) reported that Turkey’s EU Minister and its Chief Negotiator, Volkan Bozkir, will be
holding official meetings in Paris and Brussels between Feb. 3 and 5, a
statement by the EU Ministry has said.
In
Paris, the Minister is scheduled to meet with French Secretary of State for
European Affairs Harlem Desir in a working lunch, as well as members and chiefs
of France’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and EU commission. Bozkir will also give
an address to French Deputies.
Following
his day-time meeting, Bozkir will join French businessmen at a dinner hosted by
Turkey’s Ambassador to France, while Desir is also expected to be in
attendance.
After his visit to Paris,
Bozkir is scheduled to visit Brussels to meet with European Commissioner for
Euro and Social Dialogue Valdis Dombrovskis and European Commissioner for International
Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica.
Bozkir will also get together with Turkish citizens living in Belgium at a
meeting organized by the Belgian branch of the Union of European Turkish
Democrats (UETD).
13. Chilling’ police
‘insult’ circular aims to quell criticism of state officials, say pundits
Turkish
Today’s Zaman newspaper (01.02.16) reports that political commentators have warned that a recent circular by the
National Police Department, which has alarmed the police departments of all 81
provinces across Turkey and regards “insult crimes” against senior state
officials, particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, aims to quell all
criticism of the President and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government
officials.
According
to a report published in the Cumhuriyet daily on Saturday, the National Police
Department sent the circular on Jan. 6, in which it warned the Turkey's police
departments to take immediate legal action against individuals who engage in
“any insult crime” against Erdogan and other senior state officials.”
The circular in question
includes three orders: “When senior state officials are insulted, suspects will
be detained immediately and the necessary legal proceedings will be launched
against them;” “Counterterrorism and intelligence units [of police departments]
will be informed to conduct detailed examinations of the suspects;” and “Those
investigated suspects will be held in custody at events attended by senior
state officials.”
The
circular also reminds the police departments that an individual who insults
senior state officials will face four years in prison and this sentence might
increase by one sixth under the Turkish Penal Code's (TCK) Article 299, which
is frequently being used as the basis for cases involving charges of insulting
Erdogan.
14. Nobel laureate Pamuk
chides EU for ignoring Turkey’s rights record
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (31.01.16) reported that Orhan Pamuk, accused the European Union of turning a blind eye to the
state of democracy and media freedom in Turkey because of its cooperation in
the migration crisis.
“They
have forgotten all their values,” Pamuk said in an interview, referring to the
EU, adding that the fight against the Islamic State [Iraq and the Levant] group
and the migrant crisis had “tied Europe’s hands.”
Pamuk
criticized the 28-nation bloc for ignoring Turkey’s recent record in freedom of
expression. “They are looking to us as they looked to Saudi Arabia once upon a
time: If (Turkey) is doing what we want, we don’t care what they do at home.”
Pamuk lamented recent
developments in Turkey, including the detention of leading opposition
journalists Can Dundar and Erdem Gul on charges of revealing classified
information.
15. Many hotels in
Turkish resorts up for sale amid tourism woes
Turkish
daily Today's Zaman (31.01.16) reported
that as many as 1,318 hotels have been
put up for sale along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts after Russian
sanctions along with security concerns hit Turkey's tourism industry hard.
The
Mediterranean resort of Antalya has the highest number of tourism facilities --
410 -- that are listed for sale, followed by the provinces of Mugla, which has
349 for sale; Izmir, 203; Aydin, 162; Balikesir, 139; Canakkale, 35 and
Denizli, which has 20 in total listed.
The
total sale price of the 410 hotels in Antalya amounts to TL 30 billion, while
the remaining 908 have sale prices of a total of TL 8.8 billion.
Denizli
Colossae Thermal Chairman Abdurrahman Karamanlioglu said a number of hotels in
resort towns were left on the brink of bankruptcy after Russia imposed
sanctions against Turkey after the latter downed a Russian warplane in November
last year.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)
