TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA
REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 40/16
27-29.02.2016
1. Erdogan stated that he does not respect, neither obey the
Constitution ruling on arrested journalists Gul and Dundar
2. Opposition parties reacted over Erdogan’s remarks on top court
ruling
3. Akinci: “The issue of missing persons is our common
pain”
4. World Bank delegation visited illegal Tymbou airport
5. Kalyoncu is going to Ankara to sign the water
agreement
6. Tufekci held a series of contacts in the occupied areas of Cyprus;
Turkey and the occupation regime signed two different
“agreements”
7. Durust met with Turkes in Turkey and discussed the further
promotion of the occupation regime’s university
8. Nisantasi University of Turkey will open a campus in occupied
Morfou
9. Colak attended an event in London
10. Erdogan due to Africa to strengthen strategic partnership
11. Turkey’s Diyanet Head supports the reopening of Halki
Seminary
1.Erdogan stated that he does not respect, neither obey the
Constitution ruling on arrested journalists Gul and
Dundar
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily news (28.02.16) reported that Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has harshly criticized the recent Constitutional
Court ruling that paved the way for the release of two journalists arrested on
terror and espionage charges, saying he “does not accept or respect” the
decision and vowing not to “obey” it.
“I’m not in a position to agree with this decision. I’m saying
this very clearly: I don’t concur with the decision and I have no respect for
it,” Erdogan said on February 28 regarding the top court’s ruling on
Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief Can Dundar and Ankara bureau chief Erdem
Gul.
Dundar and Gul were released early on February 26 after 92 days in
jail on terrorism and espionage charges, hours after the country’s top court
ruled that their pre-trial arrest violated their rights. Following the decision,
the Istanbul 14th Court of Serious Crimes ordered their release but subjected
them to an overseas travel ban.
“The media cannot have limitless freedom ... These stories have
included all kinds of attacks against this country’s President,” Erdogan told
reporters at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport before leaving on a trip to
Africa.
“I need to repeat that this case is not linked to freedom of
expression whatsoever. This is an espionage case,” he added.
(…)
President Erdogan also stressed that the trial, which is scheduled to
start on March 26, is not over yet. “This is not a decision of acquittal, this
is a release order,” he said.
Erdogan filed an individual criminal complaint against Dundar and
Cumhuriyet on June 2, 2015, claiming that their reports “included footage and
information that is not factual”.
The plaintiff accused Dundar of “trying to manipulate justice” with
fabricated material and “violating confidentiality” by publishing the story.
The legal complaint came soon after Erdogan had said the journalists
would pay a “heavy price.”
“This slander and illegitimate operation against the MİT are, in a
way, an act of espionage. This newspaper [Cumhuriyet] is involved in this
espionage activity too … The person who wrote this as an exclusive report will
pay a heavy price for this,” he said during an interview with public broadcaster
TRT late on May 31, 2015.
2. Opposition parties reacted over Erdogan’s remarks on top court
ruling
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.02.16) reports that Turkey’s
opposition parties have expressed their fury over remarks made by President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said he had “no respect” for a recent Constitutional
Court decision on two arrested journalists.
“Next week, an appeal against the local court’s decision to
release [the two journalists] will be discussed. The President says: ‘The local
court should insist on its decision.’ This is a direct order for those who will
next week discuss the appeal. The statement [by Erdogan] is beyond advice, it is
an instruction. We define these remarks as the ‘second Feb. 28 coup,’” Ozgur
Ozel, the Deputy parliamentary group chair of the main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP), said at a press conference on February 28, referring to
the “February 28 process” which eventually led to the notorious military
intervention of Feb. 28, 1997, often described as a “post-modern
coup.”
Moreover, Erkan Akcay, the Deputy parliamentary group chair of the
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said: “These remarks [by Erdogan] are yet
another blow on the Republic of Turkey, its institutions and its rules and they
are encouraging anarchy and unlawfulness”.
Caglar Demirel, the Deputy parliamentary group chair of the Peoples’
Democratic Party (HDP), said they didn’t “recognize” Erdogan’s remarks.
“Today, the decision about Can Dundar and Erdem Gul is a joyful one.
Describing this as a coup is a shame for Turkey,” Demirel
said.
The Constitutional Court has long been targeted by the AKP over its
rulings given to individual complaints. The court’s public visibility has grown due to a series of
high-profile rulings it has delivered, such as its April 2, 2014, lifting of the
government-supported block on access to Twitter.
3. Akinci: “The issue of missing persons is our common
pain”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.02.16) reports that the
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akicni commented on the missing persons issue and
noted: “This is our common pain”.
Akinci, who issued a written statement, stated that there is no doubt
that the Committee on Missing Persons maintains its works with utmost
sensitivity within the framework of their established rules. “As the Turkish
Cypriot side, we will surely continue our positive attitude about all issues
concerning the missing people, just like we did regarding the 30 possible burial
sites in the military areas. It is certain that the information that came to the
agenda lately regarding the 100 missing Greek Cypriots, who were allegedly
buried in Assia and were later replaced, will be carefully evaluated. I have
already spoken with the Turkish Cypriot member of the CMP regarding this
matter”, Akinci stated and added:
“As the Leader of the Turkish Cypriots, and as a human being, I am
committed to our previous call and I once again would like to emphasize that I
would like all necessary action to be taken as rapidly as possible so that all
missing persons, regardless of whether they are Greek or Turkish Cypriot, are
found and the pain of their relatives is relieved at least to some extent”,
Akinci stated.
(CS)
4. World Bank delegation visited illegal Tymbou airport
Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (29.02.16) reports that a
delegation from the World Bank, which is working on the economic situation both
in the occupied and the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus, is
examining the illegal airport in Tymbou. The delegation was briefed as to
whether the “airport” will be able to offer international services after a
possible solution is reached to the Cyprus problem.
According to the paper, the World Bank officials studied the new
airport project, the foundation of which has been laid by TT Airports.
In statements to Milliyet, Serhat Ozcelik, general director of the TT
Airport, said that they have started building an airport in the middle of the
island having the latest technology. Referring to the new “airport”, Ozcelik
noted: “The field, which is serving 3.5 million passengers now, will be
offering services to nine million passengers”. He alleged that the illegal
airport is now safer than the Larnaka International Airport.
Gunay Cerkez, owner of Korman Constructions Ltd, which is the
contactor of the project, told Milliyet that they are planning on completing
the new illegal airport within one year. He said that the terminal building
of the “airport”, which is 20 thousand square meters, will be increased to
120 thousand square meters.
(I/Ts.)
5. Kalyoncu is going to Ankara to sign the water agreement
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.02.16) reports that the
self-styled prime minister Omer Kalyoncu is going to Ankara on Wednesday, March
2 upon an invitation of the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Kalyoncu will sign the agreement reached with Turkey on the water
issue on behalf of the breakaway regime.
(CS)
6. Tufekci held a series of contacts in the occupied areas of
Cyprus; Turkey and the occupation regime signed two different
“agreements”
According to illegal Bayrak television (26.02.16), Turkish
Minister of Customs and Trade Bulent Tufekci has arrived in the “TRNC” for an
“official visit”.
Within the framework of his contacts, Tufekci first met with the
so-called minister of finance Birikim Ozgur.
Following the meeting, the two men signed a “memorandum of
understanding” on the creation of a “joint customs committee” between the
so-called finance ministry and the Turkish Ministry of Customs and
Trade.
Later, Tufekci met with the so-called minister for economy,
industry and trade Trade Sunat Atun.
After the meeting, the two “ministers” signed a protocol regarding
the protection of consumers in the “TRNC”.
Speaking after the ceremony, Atun referred to the globalization
and development and noted that the “TRNC” had to keep up pace with the
world.
Explaining that market management was finding direction through
consumers and not through states, Atun said that with the signing of the
“protocol”, the consumers will be able to access purchases of goods and services
easier and shy away from risky purchases.
He added that they aimed to increase trade in the “TRNC” through the
cooperation with Turkey.
Tufekci for his part said that that Turkey would continue to
contribute to the development of trade in the “TRNC” and gave the signing of the
consumer protection protocol as an example of this.
Tufekci met also with so-called prime minister Omer
Kayloncu.
Speaking during the meeting, Tufekci emphasized that Turkey is
always by the side of the Turkish Cypriots and is taking every possible
initiative on every platform to promote and make the “country”
recognized.
Touching upon the statements made by the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu while on a visit to Athens, that “there may be two separate states and
peoples but that it was only logical to make plans as though the countries were
of a single geography and that both countries would benefit from this”,Tufekci
pointed to the importance of this statement and said: “The good dialogue to be
created between Turkey-Greece, Turkey-EU and the Cyprus federal state to be
formed, will be a source of stability in the region and will contribute to
peace”. He added that the latest messages given by the two leaders on the island
regarding the Cyprus negotiations process has been very
pleasing.
Kalyoncu for his part said that he was very pleased with the stance
adopted by Turkey regarding the Turkish Cypriots.
Pointing to the fact that if a solution is reached in Cyprus,
relations with Turkey will continue, Kalyoncu said that the foundation to be
laid now will contribute to the formation of a strengthened foundation for
future relations.
Touching upon the Cyprus issue, Kalyoncu said that despite the Greek
Cypriot side rejecting the 2004 Cyprus plan, the road to the EU was closed for
the Turkish Cypriots and not vice versa.
“Let’s hope that we will reach an outcome at the end of this term”,
said Kalyoncu and expressed the belief that relations between Turkey and the
“TRNC” will continue to prosper in the future.
7. Durust met with Turkes in Turkey and discussed the further
promotion of the occupation regime’s university
According to illegal Bayrak television (27.02.16), the so-called
minister for national education Kemal Durust, who carried out contacts in Turkey
this week, met with the Turkish Minister in charge of Cyprus Affairs Deputy
Prime Minister Tugrul Turkes.
Evaluating his contacts to the BRT, Durust said that Turkes had
informed him that he was very pleased with the agreement reached between the two
“countries” on the water issue.
He added that during the meeting, the projects that are yet to be
completed were taken up and that additional funds were sought for in order for
technological advancements to be made at schools.
Explaining that he had requested from the Turkish Minister a meeting
that would address all of the problems being experienced at the “universities”
in the “TRNC”, Durust said that in May, a meeting will take place in the
occupied part of Lefkosia where all the “rectors” of the “universities” in the
“TRNC” will discuss how higher education can further prosper in the country.
Durust also said that a separate initiative had also been taken in
order to promote in Turkey more efficiently the “universities” in the
“TRNC”.
8. Nisantasi University of Turkey will open a campus in occupied
Morfou
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (29.02.16) reports that
self-styled minister of education Kemal Durust stated that the Nisantasi
University, “which is one of the biggest and most respected universities of
Turkey”, as he stated, will open a campus in occupied
Morfou.
According to a statement issued by Durust’s “office” the new illegal
university will be established the latest in September and will offer education
to 500 students. Durust also stated that the new university will contribute to
the development of business and services in the area.
He went on and added that initiatives will be launched so that local
business and investors build dormitories and housing for the students.
Durust also stated that returning Morfou to Greek Cypriots is out of
question after all these investments and struggles that took place in the area.
(CS)
9. Colak attended an event in London
According to illegal Bayrak television (27.02.16) the so-called
foreign minister Emine Colak went to London and took part in the sneak preview
and reception given for the short film titled: “Weekend” that was directed by
Turkish Cypriot national Talat Gokdemir.
According to information given by the “TRNC’s London representation
office”, the event was realized at the Yunus Emre Culture Center and Colak
who was in London attended the event.
Delivering a short speech during the event, the “TRNC’s London
representative” Oya Tuncalı said that there was a variety of successful Turkish
Cypriots in the field of culture, arts and business in London and added that it
was their duty to contribute and promote the achievements of Turkish Cypriots.
“It is our aim to further strengthen the ties that Turkish Cypriots living in
London have with the TRNC” said Tuncalı and added that successful Turkish
Cypriots aid in the promotion of the “TRNC”.
10. Erdogan due to Africa to strengthen strategic partnership
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.02.16) reported that Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit four West African countries next week,
in a new sign of Ankara’s desire to be a major influence in the
region.
Erdogan was scheduled to begin his visit in Ivory Coast on February
28, before continuing to Ghana and then to economic powerhouse Nigeria. He will
wrap up the trip in Guinea on March 3, his office said in a statement released
over the weekend.
The visit is aimed at deepening Turkey’s “strategic partnership with
Africa and developing relations with members of the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS),” the statement said. It will be the first time a
Turkish President has visited Ivory Coast and Guinea, it
added.
Erdogan, who in January last year visited Ethiopia, Djibouti and
Somalia, is spearheading a drive to expand Turkey’s presence in
Africa.
Turkey has more than tripled the number of embassies it has in Africa
since 2009, while national flag carrier Turkish Airlines has dozens of
destinations on the continent.
Bilateral trade between Turkey and all of Africa was worth $23.4
billion in 2014, while bilateral trade with sub-Saharan countries has increased
tenfold since 2000, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Turkey is also moving to increase its presence outside its
traditional sphere of influence in the lands of the Ottoman Empire, as Erdogan
visited Chile, Ecuador and Peru this year.
While announcing the tour at a press conference on Feb. 26,
Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said that Erdogan was also planning to
visit Somalia “within this year” as part of an East Africa
tour.
“During this visit, we will have a chance to see the ongoing
projects in education, healthcare, infrastructure, the airport and port projects
on site. Moreover, as you know, we have built our biggest embassy in the world
in Somalia. The construction is almost completed. During his visit, Mr.
President will inaugurate this embassy,” Kalın said.
11. Turkey’s Diyanet Head supports the reopening of Halki Seminary
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.02.16), the
Head of the Directorate General of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) Mehmet
Gormez, in statements during an interview with private broadcaster CNN Türk
on February 28, said, inter alia, that no religious minority group in Turkey
should have to look abroad to educate its religious clerics and expressed
lukewarm support for the reopening of the Halki Seminary [Translator’s note:
Theological School of Halki].
“In principle, no religious minority group living on this land should
need other countries to educate its own clerics,” Gormez said when asked about
whether he supported the reopening of the Halki Seminary, a historical Greek
Orthodox school in Istanbul.
Halki Seminary, a property of the Orthodox Church, was founded in
1844 on the island of Heybeliada in the Marmara Sea off Istanbul. It has been
closed since 1971 as a result of that year’s Private University
Law.
Gormez also commented on demands from minority religious
representatives to receive a share of the Diyanet budget for their places of
worship.
“Even a religious minority formed of just three people should have
the same rights as the majority in terms of freedom of religion and providing
their own religious education. This is not a requirement of democracy or modern
times, it is a requirement of Islam,” he said.
Gormez also addressed the question of the relationship between
politics and religion, describing it as a “dilemma.”
“When religion is above politics, politicians start to define
themselves against religion; but when politics is above religion, holy values
are used as instruments,” Gormez said.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/AM)
