TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 29/16 12.02.2016
1.
Eide: “90% of the property issue is solved; The
implementation of the solution is being discussed”
2. Durust to President Anastasiades: “Nobody has the
right to disturb our people”
3.
A report on the “Negotiations process and the Turkish Cypriot economy in a
Federal Cyprus” was presented
4. Cakici responded to Erdogan’s demand on the
“citizenship” issue; “Citizenship will be granted in accordance with laws”
5. The Turkish Cypriot press reveals the text of the
“agreement” on the administration of the water from Turkey
6.
Kalyoncu argues that they should abide by Turkey’s conditions on the water
issue
7. Wastewater is being carried to the occupied area of
Cyprus from Turkey due to an infrastructure problem
8. Akim stated that he prefers the transferring of
electricity from “south Cyprus” instead from Turkey
9.
The U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus met with Harmanci
10.
The Counsellor of the German Embassy visited the “EMU”
11. Erdogan: “Minutes revealing refugee talks with EU
leaders were not a source of shame but provided absolution”
12. Turkey’s Interior Minister announced an end to
operations in southeastern Turkey
13. Pro-government newspapers Yeni Safak and Yeni Akit
were attacked
1. Eide: “90% of the property issue is solved; The
implementation of the solution is being discussed”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.02.16)
reports thatEspen Barth Eide, UN
Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, has said that important progress has been achieved in the negotiations
for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and that even the property, which
he described as the “most difficult issue”, has been solved by 90%.
In statements to Selim Sayari, NTV’s correspondent in
the occupied area of Cyprus, Eide noted that four out of the six chapters of the Cyprus problem have been completed
to a great extent. He said that the
chapters of the territory and the guarantees have not been completed and no
agreement is reached yet on them, adding that agreement on these issues will be
reached in the end of the process.
He noted: “We will launch an important technical work
on the constitution, the economy and the implementation of the solution. We are
at an important point. […] The leaders
have covered a distance more than 90% on the property issue. The calculation of
percentages is always difficult. Sometimes, the 10% could be more difficult
that the 90%. We have a model on the property. We are trying to complete it. I
do not believe that the property will take long, but significant resources are
needed”.
Eide avoided giving a date for the solution of the
problem, but having as starting point statements by the two community leaders, said that a solution could be reached
within 2016 and its implementation could begin this year.
Arguing that the economy of the federal Cyprus will be
in a better situation than the economy of the two zones, Eide said that money is needed in the beginning for the necessary
investments to be made. He added that during the past few months he has
been looking for ways on the financing of the solution and argued that it is possible to have a package comprised
of international aid and investments by the private sector.
Noting that experts from the IMF, the World Bank and
EU institutions are working on the estimation of the cost of the solution, Eide
expressed the view that the international interest which is being shown for
Cyprus is a “blessing”, adding that all 15 members of the UN Security Council
had expressed their support to the solution in Cyprus, which could be a “source
of inspiration” for the problematic areas in the region.
Referring to the natural gas found in Cyprus’
Exclusive Economic Zone, Eide noted that
with the solution, Cyprus will become an energy center in the area and that
both leaders know that the natural gas will bring a “very good income to the
federal state”.
Replying
to a question on the recent statement by the community leaders, Eide expressed
the view that these statements have no relation with the forthcoming elections
in the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus and added:
“The leaders
are not troubled by the elections. Whatever the result of the elections is,
both of them will preserve their positions. We must be focused on the
negotiations. Both leaders and their delegations are working very
decisively. They are progressing for turning the disagreements into an
agreement. This does not mean that they will agree on everything. The political
leadership in Ankara strongly supports the solution. The situation is also the
same in Athens. The third guarantor power Britain has been exerting efforts for
the solution for years […] I think that
I will be the last special adviser. I said this meaning that the solution will
be reached. If this chance is wasted, the view that another mediator will not
come prevails. If the two leaders
cannot reach a solution in spite of this positive climate, this strong international
support they have, I do not think that the same opportunity could be found in
another five or ten years. I still believe that I will be the last mediator and
I hope that there is a good reason for this”.
Meanwhile, Kibris also reports that Eide met with Turkish Cypriot leader
Musrtafa Akinci yesterday and discussed the program of the negotiations during
the next months.
After the meeting, Eide was asked to comment on President Anastasiades statement on the
rotating presidency. He replied: “If
you read what he said, you will clearly see that Anastasiades simply said that
the one side has one view and the other has the opposite view and that this is
negotiated”. He noted that the
leaders are expected to discuss this issue during their meeting tomorrow.
He also said that this is nothing new as it was a known position and added that
when the negotiations start there is no consensus on some issues, but they
advance issue by issue and when everything ends, they reach an agreement on all
issues.
Eide
expressed the view that it would be well for the leaders to discuss how they
will behave in their relations with the people and whether there is an issue to
be shared with the people. He
said that as one of the persons who know what is happening in the negotiations,
he can see that things are going well, but those
who read the newspapers of the two communities could be completely confused as
to whether agreement exists on any issue. Eide noted that he sympathizes with the readers of the newspapers, that this
is an issue which should be solved and that the leaders will discuss how they
could cope with this issue.
Finally, in an
interview with Turkish Cypriot Havadis newspaper (12.02.16), Eide said that during the talks the sides
are discussing the implementation of the solution including when every single
step will be taken and the preparations on the constitution of the united
Cyprus. Eide noted that they want to be ready when they come to the final
stage and the difficult issues are overcome.
Eide
noted that “intensive diplomacy” is being carried out at the backstage as
regards the issues of security and guarantees. He noted that consultations are
held with Athens, Ankara, London, the UN Security Council and other interested
sides and expressed the view that the guarantees will not be a difficult issue
to be settled, because of the
positive course of the negotiating process, the trust between the sides and the
positive stance of the guarantors.
Replying to a question, Eide said that the sum of 20 billion euro which is said that will be
needed for financing the solution is an exaggerated sum. “We will need
resources in the beginning. Subsequently the solution will be financing
itself”, he added.
Asked
whether the implementation of the solution is being discussed, Eide replied:
“Yes, I can say that it has started to be discussed”.
(I/Ts.)
2.Durust to President Anastasiades: “Nobody has the
right to disturb our people”
Under the above front-page title, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (12.02.16) reports that the
so-called minister of education Kemal Durust, in statements to a televised
program broadcast by Genc TV in the occupied area of Cyprus, commented on the
recent statements made by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos
Anastasiades.
“I
am of the opinion that we should not allow Anastasiades’ statements to affect
our people. He, in every place he goes for his election campaign says to the
people with Girne origin [Translator’s note: meaning the refugees from
Keryneia] that ‘We will take Keryneia back’ and to the people with Guzelyurt
origin [Translator’s note: meaning the refugees from occupied Morfou] ‘We will
take Morfou back’. Nobody has the right to annoy our people for political
purposes. We will not allow this to happen”, Durust said.
Claiming that the occupied Morfou is completely
different today than Morfou the Greek Cypriots “left” in 1974, Durust called
President Anastasiades to visit and tour occupied Morfou in order to understand
this. “He will see that Morfou has been developed by four times, in spite of
the fact that Morfou is the least developed area in the TRNC. And with the
university investment to be carried out there, the development will be
increased more. Similarly, we will carry out investments in Trikomo as well. In brief, there was a remarkable
development in our places within the borders of the TRNC since 1974”, Durust
alleged.
He
further called President Anastasiades to read well the recent statements made
by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has called the Turkish Cypriots
to “Stand tall in Cyprus, do not step back” and who has allegedly said that
“Morfou should not be given to the Greek Cypriots”.
Commenting
on Erdogan’s statement, Durust said that this statement made them feel
comfortable and relaxed.
(…)
(AK)
3.
A report on the “Negotiations process and the Turkish Cypriot economy in a
Federal Cyprus” was presented
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 12.02.16), the presentation of the
“Negotiations process and the Turkish Cypriot economy in a Federal Cyprus”
report which was prepared by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) was
given in the occupied part of Lefkosia yesterday.
The report was prepared with
the aim of determining the necessary opportunities, support and permanent
conservations needed to be given in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing,
constructing, trade, tourism, higher education, transportation and
communication for the institutionalisation and competitiveness after a
comprehensive solution.
Delivering
an opening speech at the event the Chairman of the KTTO Fikri Toros said that
Cyprus will be at a turning point in the near future and added that they
evaluated this process as critical and important.
A
member of the Board of Directors of the Union of Chambers and Commodity
Exchanges of Turkey Faik Yavuz, for his part, said that Cyprus is at the
beginning of an important process and added that the report prepared by the
KTTO will contribute to this process.
The
self-styled minister of finance Birikim Ozgur during his address stressed that
the “government” is continuing to work towards social and economic development
of the “people”. Explaining that a certain time is needed for preparing the
public finance and economic sectors to the European Union and solution
circumstance, Ozgur said that there is a path that needed to be followed in
order to survive with the new structure and added that in this regard the
report will make contributions for reaching a common idea and target.
Illegal Turkish “ambassador”
to the occupied part of Lefkosia Derya Kanbay, in his speech, noted that new
conditions, which will result from a federal state to be established after a
referendum, will occur and said: “Since the new conditions will be based on the
EU acquis this report will be useful”. He also stressed the importance of
pursuing and implementing the right economic policies.
Self-styled
prime minister Omer Kalyoncu, for his
part, reminded that the negotiations process which aims to establish a federal
Cyprus is continuing and expressed the need for all institutions to give the
necessary support to the leaders and their negotiators. Stressing the need
for further strengthening the economy, he said that having a strong economy
will be one of the issues safeguarding freedom and security.
Expressing the need for
passing the “laws from parliament” which will enable harmonization with the EU,
Kalyoncu stressed the importance of working together with the civil society
organizations during the process.
4. Cakici responded to Erdogan’s demand on the
“citizenship” issue; “Citizenship will be granted in accordance with laws”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (12.02.16) under the title: “Citizenships will be
granted in accordance with laws”, reports that Mehmet Cakici, “deputy” with the
Social Democracy Party (TDP) in the occupied part of Lefkosia, in statements
yesterday in the so-called assembly, referred, inter alia, to the “citizenship”
issue and said that the demand coming from Turkey on the issue of the “TRNC’s
citizenships”, constitutes a meddling to their internal affairs.
“It
is the state that decides to whom it will grant citizenships, nobody else has
the right to demand and decide for this”, Cakici added.
Supporting that “citizenships are granted according to
the laws and the authorities of the state”, Cakici replied to the recent statements made by Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan who called the Turkish Cypriots to grant more “citizenship” and
said that “the TRNC is granting citizenship in accordance with its rules and
law”.
Cakici expressed also strong criticism to the
“government” for its policies towards the water issue, the privatization of the
illegal Tymbou airport and the “citizenship issue”.
(AK)
5. The Turkish Cypriot press reveals the text of
the “agreement” on the administration of the water from Turkey
Under the title “The biggest treason”, Turkish Cypriot
daily Afrika newspaper (12.02.16) publishesthe text of the agreement between
Turkey and the breakaway regime on the administration of the water transferred
from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus. The full text of the agreement
is also published in other Turkish Cypriot newspapers.
Arguing that the Turkish Cypriots have been “sold
out”, Afrika reports thatonly the
signature of self-styled prime minister Omer Kalyoncu and Turkish Deputy Prime
Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs Tugrul Turkes is left for the
“agreement”.
According to the provisions of the agreement, the administration of the water is
monopolized. In the article 7of the “agreement” it is said that “the part
of the provided water which will be used as drinking and utility water isoperated by a single administrator in
the TRNC”. Article 8 provides that no
other institution or organization of the private or “public” sector could be
given the right to administrate the water during the period in which the
administrator is given the right to administrate the water.
Moreover, only Turkey will have the right to sell the
water to third countries. Also, the
installations of the “municipalities” will be handed over to the private
company which will administrate thewater. The company will be paying as cost of use 10% of the turnover from the
water sale to the “finance” ministry” and not to the “municipalities”.
The article 13of the “agreement” says that the immovable properties needed for the
activities of the enterprise will immediately be expropriated by the “TRNC
government” and will be given to the administrator without asking anything to
be paid by the latter.
Article 11 provides that the private company which
will administrate the water will be exempted from any “legal obligation” and it
will not be needed to take a “work or residence permit” for its high ranking
personnel.
(I/Ts.)
6.
Kalyoncu argues that they should abide by Turkey’s conditions on the water
issue
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (12.02.16) reports that the self-styled prime
minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
Omer Kalyoncu, evaluating the water
issue to the paper, said that Turkey, which has carried the water to Cyprus,
put forward its conditions. Kalyoncu added that they do not have the luxury to
talk so much regarding the water issue.
Kalyoncu
further said that he thinks that at the stage they have reached on the issue
regarding the administration of the water coming from Turkey, there are not a
lot of things that they can do. He explained that the one who brings the water
to the island it is obvious that will also exert its conditions and without
these conditions a delivery will not be made to the “government”.
Noting
that there is a water problem in the “country”, Kalyoncu said: “This water was
transferred here by the Republic of Turkey. When we established this
government, we found the water issue in our hands. Since that day, we have been
trying to solve it. The current situation is clearer now. I believe that we
should now conclude this issue after we carried out the necessary contacts.”
Kalyoncu also argued: “I am
not a person that supports privatization, however, this water has come until
here and this water will be delivered to us with certain conditions.
Those who bring the water here have manifested also their conditions. (…) For
this reason, regardless of who is in the ‘government’ will not have more luck.
(…) Therefore, we should finally close this issue.”
(DPs)
7.Wastewater is being carried to the occupied area
of Cyprus from Turkey due to an infrastructure problem
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (11.02.16) reported thatTurgut Aybak, chairman of the Mersin
Waterworks Authority (MESKİ) said during a provincial coordination committee
meeting on Thursday that due to an infrastructural problem, wastewater from
three neighborhoods in Mersin's Anamur district is being directed into the
Alakopru [occupied Panagra Dam], one of the dams that were constructed as part
of Turkey's water pipeline to the “TRNC”.
“The
Akine, Sarıagac and Ormancık neighborhoods have a broken water purification
system. In other words, wastewater is being deposited into the reservoir of the
dam that carries water to the TRNC”, Aybak added.
8.Akim stated that he prefers the transferring of
electricity from “south Cyprus” instead from Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (12.02.16)
reports that Ismet Akim, “chairman of
the administration board” of the Turkish Cypriot “electricity authority”
(“KIB-TEK”), condemned strongly the latest statement made by the so-called
minister of finance Birikim Ozgur who has said that they want to transfer
electricity from Turkey and stated that they wouldn’t prefer this option from an
economic point of view.
Recalling that Ozgur has not taken into consideration
the reports they had prepared in the past towards this issue, Akim stated the
following: “I prefer south Cyprus. And
this because, we breathe in the same atmosphere and we are getting wet from the
same rain. The distance between us is trivial. (…).
(AK)
9.
The U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus met with Harmanci
Turkish
Cypriot daily Ortam (12.02.16) reports that Mehmet Harmanci, mayor of the
occupied part of Nicosia, met yesterday with the U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus
Kathleen Ann Doherty. During the meeting, the projects of the “municipality”,
the joint work with the Nicosia Municipality and the Cyprus problem were
discussed.
According
to a press release by the “Nicosia Turkish Municipality”, they exchanged views
on what should be done after the Cyprus settlement and on which stage the
Cyprus talks have reached.
Harmanci,
commenting on the projects that are being carried out within the walls in the
occupied part of Nicosia, said that the opening of Paphos Gate will contribute
positively to the development of the area.
(DPs)
10.
The Counsellor of the German Embassy visited the “EMU”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli (12.02.16) reports that Peter Neven, Counsellor
of the German Embassy to Cyprus, visited yesterday the “rector” of the illegal
Eastern Mediterranean university (“DAU”) in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus Prof. Dr Necdet Osam. Prof. Dr Ahmet Sozen was also present at the
meeting.
According
to a press release by “DAU”, during the visit Dr Osam briefed Neven regarding
the “university”, adding that they are open for the necessary initiatives on
the issue of academic cooperation between Germany and “DAU”.
(DPs)
11.Erdogan: “Minutes revealing refugee talks with
EU leaders were not a source of shame but provided absolution”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (11.02.16) reported
that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
admitted the validity of minutes from his negotiations with European Union
leaders on Syrian refugees that were recently leaked to the press, saying that
the statements did not cause shame but provided “absolution.”
“Some
try to attack us by [giving] the minutes of these meetings,” Erdogan said
during his speech at the general assembly of the Turkish Statistics Institute
(TÜİK), referring to a November 19 meeting with European Council President
Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, where he
allegedly threatened to flood Europe with migrants if a deal was not reached
with the EU.
“You must have
read what we said there. We defended the rights of our country and of Syrians,”
Erdogan said, adding that the published minutes were “not a source of shame but
provided absolution”.
“In the past we
have stopped people at the gates of Europe; in Edirne we stopped their buses.
This happens once or twice, and then we’ll open the gates and wish them a safe
journey, that’s what I said,” Erdogan told the audience.
Erdogan reiterated his anger with the United Nations,
which demanded that Turkey open its borders to a new wave of Syrian refugees
from Aleppo due to increased attacks by the Syrian regime and Russia.
A Greek
news website published minutes of Erdogan’s November 2015 meeting with Juncker
and Tusk on Feb. 8, which was largely picked up by Turkish media outlets as
documents of a “bargain.”
In
the minutes, Erdogan said Turkey could open its borders with Greece and
Bulgaria, and send the refugees to Europe in buses, if a deal was not reached.
(…)
The minutes also include Erdogan stressing that he is
“not representing a third world country,” in response to Juncker’s comments
that he was welcomed “like a prince,” in Brussels.
Allegedly,
Juncker also reminded Erdogan of the postponement of Turkey’s Progress Report,
which harshly criticized the current situation the of rule of law and free
speech, until after the country’s November 1 elections, arguing that the delay
contributed to the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) election victory.
Erdogan
singlehandedly rejected Juncker’s argument, saying that the report was an
“insult,” and did not reflect the “real Turkey.”
12.Turkey’s Interior Minister announced an end to
operations in southeastern Turkey
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (11.02.16) reported
that Turkey’s Interior Minister Efkan Ala has announced an end to operations
targeting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Cizre district of
the southeastern province of Sırnak.
“Today, operations have just ended... Operational
activities in Cizre ended successfully but search activities will continue from
now on. Curfews will also continue for a while as is the case in Silopi,” Ala
said on February 11.
“We believe
that it [the operation] will be completed in Cizre within a few days. In Sur,
it may take one or two weeks longer but there too, 85-90%[of the operation] has
been completed. In Cizre, the cleaning of ditches and holes and clearing of
mines has reached 99%,” he said.
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (11.02.16) reported that the İstanbul headquarters of the
pro-government Yeni Akit and Yeni Safak newspapers were simultaneously attacked
with firearms and Molotov bombs early on Thursday.
The two dailies' buildings were separately targeted by
unidentified assailants, and no casualties were reported.
Speaking
during a Turkey Young Businessmen Confederation (TÜGİK) meeting on Thursday,
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly condemned the attacks on the
pro-government dailies but declined to describe as attacks two previous violent
protests outside the Hurriyet newspaper, referring to them instead as
“scuffles.”
“Attacks were staged against the buildings of Akit and
Yeni Safak this morning. I strongly condemn the attacks. In the past, the
windows of another newspaper were shattered during a scuffle -- not in an armed
attack,” Erdogan said.
The
US Embassy in Turkey also posted consecutive tweets on Thursday declaring
support for Yeni Safak and Akit.
"Violence
against journalists is always unacceptable. A free and diverse press is essential
to a democratic society," the first tweet said.
"We defend Yeni Safak & Yeni Akit's right to
print & report without fear of reprisal, as we do every journalist's,"
the Embassy added.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also condemned the
attack and called on Turkish officials to solve the case and punish the
perpetrators.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/AM)
