TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 34/16 19.02.2016
1. Colak
describes as “surprising” the EU Commission’s decision regarding the Task Force
for the Turkish Cypriot Community
2. Denktas:
Negotiations reached a dangerous and threatening point
3. Turkish
“ambassador” met with the association of the settlers from Black Sea
4.
Self-styled minister Sucuoglu met with an IMF delegation
5. Sucuoglu
says that the regime is expecting 200 thousand tourists from 12 countries in
2016 only from charter flights
6. A “water
platform” established in the occupation regime to prepare an action plan
7. The
“Entrepreneurship project” to be implemented in the occupation regime; Atun:
“Priority will be given to disadvantaged areas such as Morfou and Karpasia”
8.
Antiquities were found in occupied Keryneia
9. “The
first international bicycle tour” is starting today in the breakaway regime
10.
Cavusoglu urges US to cut ties with PYD/YPG terrorist organization
11. Turkey
continues to shell PYD positions in Syria's Azaz; Turkish military hits PYD
targets in northern Syria with missiles
12. Turkey
informs P5 and the EU on Ankara bomber’s alleged PYD link
13. Turkey
Rapporteur Kati Piri interviewed by Turkish daily; She accused the EU of insincerity
14.
Commentary: “Turkish people feel US is helping killers”
15.
Commentaries on the Ankara bomb attack
1. Colak
describes as “surprising” the EU Commission’s decision regarding the Task Force
for the Turkish Cypriot Community
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(19.02.16) reports that EmineColak,
self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, has described as
a “gesture and a message” the recent decision taken by the EU Commission to
transfer the Task Force for the Turkish Cypriot Community - the
Commission’s team in charge of the application of the EU’s aid program to the
Turkish Cypriot community and of assisting the Turkish Cypriots to prepare for
the reunification of Cyprus - to the
Secretariat General’s Structural Reform Support Service (SRSS), which will
coordinate all Commission’s efforts in facilitating the process for the
reunification of the island.
In statements to illegal Bayrak television,
Colak said: “This is actually a surprise.
We had not heard it before. However, with a sudden decision it was bound to the European Commission’s
President. […] I think that this is a
new and important step. Yes, primarily
it is a gesture and a message. It is actually an appreciation of the fact that this issue has been taken seriously at
the highest level, that importance and appreciation is attached to the level
which the negotiations have reached and that we need to work even harder”.
Colak also noted that it seems that the
Commission will exert efforts to keep its promise to offer more effective
support to the process. She argued that “at least this focus of interest is a confirmation of the impression that the
ongoing process in Cyprus is really heading towards a result”. “In this sense it is satisfying”, she
added.
Referring to the efforts of the Turkish
Cypriot community to harmonize with the EU, Colak said that they are not at the
desired level and are not made at the desired speed.
Meanwhile, the self-styled foreign ministry
of the regime also commented on the issue expressing the expectation that the
above-mentioned decision will give “a new momentum to the support offered by
the European Commission to the existing negotiating process through giving the
opportunity for the timely realization of the necessary preparations of the
Turkish Cypriot community” for the EU.
(I/Ts.)
2.Denktas: Negotiations reached a dangerous and threatening
point
Turkish
Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (19.02.16) reports that SerdarDenktas, the
chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), in statements to the illegal Bayrak
television,evaluated the Cyprus negotiations and claimed that “they have
reached a dangerous and threatening point”.
“The issue
of (Turkish) guarantees is in danger. There is neither political equality nor
equality regarding the sovereignty”, Denktas stated adding that no concessions
are seen to be made on the issue of property as well. “Therefore we do not
consider the negotiations to progress positively”, Denktas stated.
(CS)
3.Turkish “ambassador” met with the association of the settlers
from Black Sea
Turkish
Cypriot daily (19.02.16) reports that the “ambassador” of Turkey to the
breakaway regime DeryaKanbay held a meeting with the association of the
settlers from the Black Sea.
During the
meeting, Kanbay told the association’s chairman BakiAygun that the “embassy” is
always ready to offer any kind of assistance and support to the association.
On his
part, Aygun stated that the 10,000 members of the association are always
working towards promoting the culture of the Black Sea to the occupied area of
Cyprus.
(CS)
4. Self-styled
minister Sucuoglu met with an IMF delegation
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(19.02.16) reports that FaizSucuoglu,
self-styled minister of tourism of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, met yesterday at his office with a delegation of the
International Monetary Fund (IFM) headed by Rachel Van Elkan.
According to a statement issued by
Sucuoglu’s “ministry”, the development of tourism in the economy, the tourism
models after the solution of the Cyprus problem and the contribution that could
be made to occupied north Cyprus’ tourism were discussed during the 1.5-hour
meeting.
Noting that they had a very productive
meeting with the IMF officials, Sucuoglu
said that they decided to work together on the issue of how the IMF could
contribute to the “country’s” tourism.
Expressing his satisfaction with the visit
of the IMF delegation, Sucuoglu further
noted that they will meet again with the IMF soon.
(I/Ts.)
5. Sucuoglu
says that the regime is expecting 200 thousand tourists from 12 countries in
2016 only from charter flights
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(19.02.16) reports that FaizSucuoglu,
self-styled minister of tourism of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the regime is expecting 200 thousand
tourists from 12 countries in 2016 through only the charter flights. In
statements to Kibris, Sucuoglu noted that this year tourists from the
Netherlands, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Iran, Slovakia,
Turkey, Lithuania, Estonia and Slovenia will visit the occupied area of Cyprus
with these charter flights.
Referring
to the reservations from Britain, Sucuoglu said that these were doubled this
year comparing to last year and that the newly established in London
“Independent Turkish Cypriot Tour Operators’ Union” has created a momentum in
the sector.
Sucuoglu said that they will continue the
advertisements abroad and pointed out that after their advertisements “more
reference to north Cyprus” started in Turkey and in Britain. He added that within the forthcoming days
they will decide to start advertisements in Germany.Referring to the tourism
fair in Germany, Sucuoglu said that he will have “serious contacts” there and
that he will meet with tour operators.
He further noted that Corendoncompany has
relations with all the hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus, and launched a
serious advertising campaign. Subsequently, intensive reservations started, he
said.
Noting that
they are working with the stakeholders for establishing a “tourism
organization”, he said that next week they will hold a “tourism council”.
Sucuoglu
noted that they are in continuous contacts with the European Union and the
World Bank and that they want financial support especially for their Eco
tourism projects.
Sucuoglu further said that two big tour
operators, who carry tourists from Iran to Turkey, held contacts with him and
that Iranian tourists might visit the occupied area of Cyprus for resting after
shopping in Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
6.A
“water platform” established in the occupation regime to prepare an action plan
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(19.02.16) reports that a “water
platform” which was established recently in the occupied area of Cyprus by
several trade unions, NGO’s and political parties, organized yesterday a
meeting in order to determine an action plan against the agreement to be signed
between Turkey and the occupation regime in the water supply.
The
“water platform” discussed during the meeting their principles and an action
plan to be prepared and share it with the “public” concerning their actions.
Speaking on behalf of the “platform”, IfranCelik, “chairman” of the “olive
producers union”, explained that the “platform” is against the draft agreement
prepared by Turkey and the “TRNC” concerning the water management and supply.
Pointing
out that the water should not be privatized since it is a basic and human
right; Celik added that it should provide supply to the people and for
agriculture use in the lowest price.
The “water platform” is composed by
Dev-Is, BES, KTAMS, EL-Sen, Turk-Sen, KTOEOS, KTOS, BASIN-SEN trade unions, the
Turkish Cypriot political parties: New Cyprus Party (YKP), United Cyprus Party
(BKP), Social Democracy Party (TDP), Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP), the
Famagusta Initiative, the Feminist Association, the “municipalities” of the
occupied part of Lefkosia, Lefka, and Gialousa, the Kibris Pir Sultan Abdal
Cultural Association and other organizations.
(AK)
7.The
“Entrepreneurship project” to be implemented in the occupation regime; Atun:
“Priority will be given to disadvantaged areas such as Morfou and Karpasia”
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(19.02.16) reports that the so-called
ministry of economy, industry and trade presented yesterday a project called
“entrepreneurship project” which is to be carried out by the “Entrepreneurship
Center” with the cooperation of Turkish Economy Bank (TEB) and the financial
contribution of the Turkish Aid Committee, in the framework of the program
KOBIGEM (“Credit programs with low interest for the tradesmen and Services sector”.
As the paper writes, in the framework of the implementation of
the project which is to be carried out under the slogan “new projects for
the TRNC’s future”, the “TRNC” will
provide incentives, such as free education and consultancy to persons who would
like to establish a business in the “TRNC” and the amount of 100 thousand TL as
a grant aid.
Speaking during a meeting organized with
the participation of representatives from the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade
(KTTO), the “Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry” (KTSO), “the businessmen
association”, “the young businessmen association”, the “women businessmen
association” and others, so-called minister of economy, industry and trade SunatAtun, said, inter alia, that within
the framework of the project, priority will be given to disadvantaged areas
such as occupied Morfou and Karpasia.
Atun
explained further that the “entrepreneurship project” has been already
implemented in Turkey with great success and added that the “TRNC’s economy”
needs to be strengthened as well.
(AK)
8.Antiquities
were found in occupied Keryneia
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(19.02.16) reports that during
construction works and excavation in an area in occupied Keryneia, an ancient
tomb and 20 antiquities belonging to the Hellenistic-Roman period were found.
According to the paper, “archeologists”
and “officials” of the so-called antiquities and museum department carried out
inspections in the area and launched excavations.
In statements on the issue, FuatAzimli,
“director” of the “antiquities department” said that they will give more
details on the issue after completing their work.
(AK)
9.“The first international bicycle tour” is starting today in
the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(19.02.16) reports that the “first
international bicycle tour of northern Cyprus” is starting today in the
breakaway regime.
According to the paper, 11 teams from 5 countries are
participating in the tour which is taking place between 19-21 of February.
Athletes from Turkey, Bulgaria, Germany
Kazakhstan, Serbia and Germany will participate in the tour which has a
5,000 dollars prize.
(CS)
10. Cavusoglu
urges US to cut ties with PYD/YPG terrorist organization
According to Turkish daily Sabah (online,
19.02.16), Turkey’s Foreign Minister
Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday criticized the United States for making conflicting
statements regarding the YPG/PYD and urged the US to cut its ties with the
terrorist group.
Cavusoglu’s comments came during an
official visit to Georgian capital Tbilisi, where he slammed the US for
cooperating with the YPG and PYD, which are affiliated with the PKK, recognized
as a terrorist organization by Turkey, EU and the US "Resorting
to terrorist groups like the YPG in the fight against Deash in Syria is above
all a sign of weakness", Cavusoglu said and added that the US, which is
Turkey's ally must immediately stop this mistake.
Cavusoglu also underscored that Turkey will
contribute actively in fight against Daesh terrorists.
The United States said it is not in a
position to confirm or deny Turkey's charge and said that it 'has been careful
to press the YPG/PYD and other Kurdish elements against Daesh militants and not
to target Turkey'.
11. Turkey
continues to shell PYD positions in Syria's Azaz; Turkish military hits PYD
targets in northern Syria with missiles
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(18.02.16), the Turkish military is continuing to shell PYD positions in
Syria’s Azaz district located in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Turkish
security sources confirmed to Anadolu Agency Thursday.
The latest round of shelling comes a day
after a deadly bomb attack killed 28 people and injured dozens others in the
Turkish capital of Ankara.
Turkish
military has been shelling PYD and PKK positions in northern Syria
intermittently for six consecutive days in retaliation to artillery fire from
PYD forces based around Azaz. Turkish security sources said artillery shells
began pounding Azaz again on Thursday evening.
Furthermore, HDN (online, 19.02.16) reports
that the Turkish military hit Syria’s
Democratic Union Party (PYD) targets in northern Syria with Stinger and I-HAWK
missiles, a major change from previous operations that only included shelling
targets.
The Turkish Armed Forces fired about five
missiles stationed in the Kırıkhan district of the southern province of Hatay
on Feb. 18 around 10 p.m. at the PYD targets in Syria’s Afrin province.
The army has also continued to fire
missiles at PYD positions in northern Syria early Feb. 19.
12. Turkey
informs P5 and the EU on Ankara bomber’s alleged PYD link
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 19.02.16), Turkey has
informed world leaders, including the United States and Russia, that the deadly
Ankara car bombing was perpetrated by Syria’s Democratic Union Party’s (PYD)
military wing, in an obvious message that they should no longer cooperate and
support the Syrian Kurdish group.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary
FeridunSinirlioglu held separate meetings with the Ambassadors of the five
permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (P5), the U.S., Russia, the
United Kingdom, France and China as well as with envoys of Germany, the
Netherlands (the current term president of the EU) and the EU Delegation in
Ankara.
Earlier in the day, both President
RecepTayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced that the
attack was conducted by a Syrian national and alleged he was a member of the
People’s Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the PYD.
Davutoglu
told reporters that he instructed the Foreign Ministry to provide all necessary
information about the Ankara incident, including evidence that supposedly
proved that the YPG was behind the bombing.
13.Turkey
Rapporteur Kati Piri interviewed by Turkish daily; she accused the EU of
insincerity
Under the title: “The EU is not
sincere”, Turkish daily Hurriyet (19.02.16) reports on statements by European Parliament’s Turkey Rapporteur Kati Piri, who
in an exclusive interview to the paper, condemned strongly the EU for the
bargaining with Turkey on the refugee action plan.
Supporting
that the European Commission’s decision to postpone the announcement of its
progress report until after the November 2015 elections, has brought the
Commission in a very bad and weak position, Piri referred also to Turkey’s EU
negotiation process and accused the EU of being insincere towards the issue of
the opening of new chapters for Turkey. “In spite of the fact that the EU was
not in favour of the opening of new chapters with Turkey during the recent
years, suddenly it supports the opening of new chapters and this is not sincere
at all. (…)”.
Piri
expressed also concerns over the freedoms in Turkey and the fact that the
Turkish government did not move to any reforms and
stressed that Turkey’s EU process is totally related with the EU values. “If we speed up the process, of course it
is necessary for Turkey to be developed. Whilst some EU countries connect the
refugee problem with the process, they prove that they do not care at all about
the standards and the values of the Union and they at the same time turn
the process into a political one”, Piri said and added that the EU gave a pretty bad signal by
connecting it so directly to migration.
(AK)
14. Commentary:
“Turkish people feel US is helping killers”
Columnist IlnurCevik, writing in Turkish
daily Sabah (17.02.16), argues in the following commentary that the US cannot
impose their will on Turkey and that the US provides weapons to the PYD to
fight the Syrian opposition forces:
“Those of us who believe in Turkish-American
relations and who have received an award from the Turkish Atlantic Council in
the past for our services to enhancing these relations are watching in alarm as
Turkish public opinion progressively turns against the United States.
The
Americans tried to impose their will on Turkey in the 1960s to prevent Turkish
intervention in Cyprus and the famous Johnson letter and then in the 1970s when
the American Congress imposed an arms embargo on Turkey that eventually
paralyzed our U.S.-supplied air force after Turkey intervened in 1974 in Cyprus
(editor’s note: Turkish invasion to Cyprus in 1974 allegedly to save the
Turkish Cypriots but the Turkish army still occupies the half island) to save the Turkish Cypriot community that
was being slaughtered by Greek Cypriot hordes who had toppled the Makarios
administration. Since then, the Turkish people have been looking up at the U.S.
with mixed feelings of suspicion and respect for a superpower ally.
Many Turks did not like what they saw and
heard as the Americans established a dominance in Northern Iraq in the Kurdish
territories in the 1990s. Along with Turkey, Britain and France, the Americans
helped to create a safe zone and a no-fly zone in northern Iraq that prohibited
Saddam Hussein's forces from entering or flying planes. The operation called
Provide Comfort also unfortunately allowed the Americans to court the PKK
terrorists who were holed up in the Qandil Mountains in Northern Iraq. That is where
many Syrian Kurds also joined the ranks of the PKK to launch terrorist attacks
inside Turkey. Even today the American role in all this is still being
questioned by many Turks.
When it comes to recent times, Turks
continue to hear contact between the PKK and the U.S. despite the fact that
Washington repeatedly says it regards the PKK as a terrorist organization.
Today, however, the picture is quite
different. The so-called Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its fighting
unit People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria are being openly
supported by the US. The PYD and its sidekick the YPG have been borne out of
the PKK and are being used by the PKK to infiltrate its militants into Turkey
from northern Syria to terrorize cities and towns in southeastern Turkey. What
is sad is that the arms and especially the ammunition captured by the PKK
terrorists are American made. These are the arms and ammunition the U.S. gave
to the PYD and YPG to fight DAESH terrorists.
What is even sadder is the fact that while
the PYD has been misleading the Americans, saying that it aims to destroy
DAESH, they have joined forces with the Assad regime, just like the Russians
and the Iranians, to fight the Syrian opposition forces. The recent fight in
the Azaz region just near the Turkish border is between the YPG forces and the
opposition army. DAESH does not exist in the area. The YPG forces are also
advancing on Tal Rifaat to take the city from Syrian opposition forces and thus
strengthen the encirclement of Aleppo by the Assad forces. So the YPG and the
PYD are in fact aiding Assad and are not at all fighting DAESH. All the
Americans can do is to tell the PYD not to get carried away with expansionist
ideals and get back to the fight against DAESH. Give them arms, provide them
with logistical support and training and then try to tame the monster you have
created. The Turkish public is watching this charade in anger and has started
to question the value of our strategic alliance with the U.S. Can anyone blame
them?”
15. Commentaries
on the Ankara bomb attack
Columnist Murat Yetkin, writing in Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 19.02.16), under the title “Difficult
questions on the Ankara attack”, argues that “the Ankara attack may have
considerable consequences for Turkey’s relations with its Western allies,
mainly the U.S. It is even possible that Turkey opts to revise its relations
with the U.S. and the EU if they continue to back the PYD.
But
lingering questions about the lack of intelligence or police measures still
have no satisfying answer, which might also signal certain consequences within
the Turkish government, especially in the security bureaucracy.”
Columnist IsmetBerkan, writing in Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 19.02.16), under the title “Politics is also
a way to fight terror”, believes that “increasing security is an unavoidable
method to fight terror but it is not the only weapon to use against terror”. Berkan reports that “Turkey currently is at
war with three terror organizations at the same time. First and foremost is
the PKK. It is followed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the
Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C). (…) There are developments that Turkey can
control in the Syrian internal war; but there are also developments that are
totally beyond the control of Turkey.
With each passing day, we witness a
decrease in the number of developments Turkey can control.”
Berkan further writes: “At the final
analysis, the Syrians should be able to determine their fate themselves and
that they should be able to do so in an environment devoid of violence. If the
current regime is not toppling due to the strong foreign support it receives,
one needs to see that. At any rate
Turkey’s priority cannot be Syria; the priority is Turkey and our security. And
we need to prioritize three fundamental threats with routes in Syria”. Berkan believes that Turkey should be open to
the negotiation table.
Furthermore, columnist Lale Kemal, writing in Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 18.02.16), under the title “Turkey should return to its senses to
overcome serious challenges”, argued
that at the end of the day, the terrorist groups have now sent the message that
no part of Turkey is beyond their reach. She added that these attacks have also
marked the resumption of unstable years for Turkey.
Kemal concluded: “Turkish stability was
also undermined in parallel with the Turkish government and President
RecepTayyipErdogan's departure from democratic reforms, drifting Turkey towards
authoritarian rule. This has also weakened the ability of the Turkish security
and intelligence apparatus to be vigilant against terrorist groups as they have
simultaneously been focusing on various dissenting groups critical of the
government's policies”.
Columnist
BulentKenes, writing in Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 18.02.16), under the title “On war”, reported that “Turkey's interests start from its borders. The security
of Turkey and Turks is maintained within Turkey's borders. Any move beyond this
will bring to the country disaster. This is my advice.”
The following columnists, writing in
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 19.02.16), are supportive of the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) and defend the policies of the Turkish government.
Columnist CemilErtem, under the title
“Ankara terrorist attack is a milestone for Turkey”, writes that “Turkey is
aware that this recent terrorist attack is a result of a new war on sharing,
which has been declared against itself and the whole of the world must realize
it. Turkish intelligence units and security forces have unearthed that the PKK
and the YPG perpetrated the terrorist attack in Ankara - which corroborates
Turkey's argument that the YPG is a terrorist organization that is an affiliate
of the PKK. This substantiation indicates that the Ankara attack is a milestone
for Turkey. Turkey will never accept the
organization and deployment of the YPG on the Syria border and will strengthen
its redlines regarding the issue. This is a clear warning to the U.S. and the
EU. As I stated above, this is a war on sharing against Turkey.
However, the process that we are going
through is not a classical war on sharing, but a multidimensional one that has
military, political, diplomatic, economic and commercial aspects. Therefore, it
is a historical process that will determine the 21st century, rather than a
cyclical situation.”
Ertem,
strongly believes, that in order to overcome this threat, Turkey aims to switch
to a presidential system and highlight a new state tradition with a strategy.
Turkey's objective of a transition to a presidential system and a new
Constitution will be the first steps toward a stronger and more democratic
country.
Columnist IlnurCevik, under the title
“Backers of the PKK and PYD shoulder the responsibility”, writes that the
international community should quit condemning terror attacks and instead take
concrete steps to end the growing atrocities. He argues that “the PKK has been carrying out its terrorist
campaign in towns and cities and it is only normal that it would try to hit
Turkey in the heart in view of the intensified counterterror campaign carried
out by the government in the southeastern regions of Turkey. The fact that the
target was the service buses that transport military personnel from the military
headquarters shows that the PKK is taking revenge for the mounting PKK
casualties in view of the successful counterterror campaign carried out by the
special units of the police and the military.”
Cevik believes that “it is time Turkey hit back at the PKK masterminds and if necessary at
those in northern Syria who are actively supporting the Kurdish terrorists”.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/AM)
