TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA
REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 47/16
10.03.2016
1. Colak says that they must prevent Turkey’s report from allegedly
becoming worse on the Cyprus problem
2. Cavusoglu: “Cyprus problem should not be made a pre-condition in
Turkey’s EU accession process”
3. Delegation of the “assembly” held contacts in
Strasbourg
4. Milliyet: PKK’s plans to penetrate in “universities” in the
occupied area of Cyprus are revealed
5. Turkish Cypriot politicians say they have a security weakness
6. “KTSO” held a meeting with the ambassadors of the Netherlands and
Italy
7. Turkey and Ukraine boost ties amid growing tension with
Russia
8. The Turkish Parliament receives official appeal that seeks to lift
HDP Deputies' immunity
9. The Turkish government approves $5.9 billion on defense
projects
1. Colak says that they must prevent Turkey’s report from
allegedly becoming worse on the Cyprus problem
Under the title “We must prevent the report from becoming worse”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.03.16) reports that Emine
Colak, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged that the changes which the
European Parliament (EP) demands in Turkey’s report on the Cyprus problem are
worrying and added that they have conveyed to “the persons concerned” their view
that the wording to be used should protect and support the ongoing negotiations
in the island.
In statements at a lunch with Turkish Cypriot journalists in
Strasbourg where she held contacts with both EP and Council of Europe officials
upon an invitation by the EP’s office in Cyprus, Colak argued that “those who
brought these proposals and the side which supports them are dominant and
influential” and added that in spite of the fact that a chapter on the
guarantees exists in the negotiations, the draft-report provides for the
withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army from Cyprus.
She alleged: “Taking out this expression could be evaluated as
optimism, but it could not be included in the report. The actual issue for us
is to prevent the report from becoming worse than it is now and minimize to the
possible extent the factors which will both spoil the existing good climate and
the outside factors”.
Evaluating her meetings, Colak said: “The persons we had contacts
with are interested on the Cyprus problem and ask the details of the process and
how we predict the next stages. They listen to our stance as Turkish
Cypriots. And the most important thing is perhaps that they ask how they could
support us”.
Colak said that within the framework of her contacts she met with
Johannes Hahn, Commissioner Responsible for European Neighborhood Policy and
Enlargement Negotiations, Gabriella Battaini – Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General
of the Council of Europe, Gianni Pittella, President of EP’s Friends of Turkey
and Socialist Group, Rebecca Harms, Co-president of the Greens’ Group and Kati
Piri, EP’s Reporter on Turkey.
Evaluating the EP’s draft-report on Turkey, Colak said that they
asked from their interlocutors the report to be written with a perception that
appreciates and encourages the existing situation on the island instead of
remaining the same as two years ago.
Referring to the points which the Turkish side wants to change in the
report, Colak argued: “Reference is made to the 10th Protocol
in the draft report. This protocol included some measures to the Cyprus’
accession in case of a non-solution in 2004. We shared our view that while
reference is made to something aimed at the solution and the future, there will
be no use of talking about the 10th protocol and it would be better
if this was not included in the report. We made a call on every official we
met that we should at all events protect and support the
process”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Cavusoglu: “Cyprus problem should not be made a pre-condition
in Turkey’s EU accession process”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.03.16) reports that the
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu made statements on Cyprus during a
Foreign Affairs, Justice and Interior Ministers meeting in Ankara on March
9.
Noting that Turkey’s expectations on visa liberalizations and the
necessity of opening new chapters for the European Union accession had been
delivered to the Belgian Ministers, Cavusoglu said that the Cyprus problem
should not be made a pre-condition in Turkey’s EU accession process. He went on
and added that until the solution of the Cyprus problem is not reached, Cyprus
should not be allowed to block important issues and the EU and argued that
pressure should be exerted for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
“We see the unfair accusations targeting Turkey. It is as if this
money is given to Turkey. It is as if Turkey is begging for money,” Cavusoglu
said, referring to the recent deal signed between Turkey and the EU to settle
the migrant crisis.
(CS)
3. Delegation of the “assembly” held contacts in
Strasbourg
The illegal Bayrak (09.03.16) broadcast that a “parliamentary
delegation” consisting of Republican Turkish Party (CTP) “deputy” Armagan
Candan, National Unity Party (UBP) “deputy” Hamza Ersan Saner, Democrat Party
National Forces (DPUG) “deputy” Hasan Tacoy and Social Democratic Party (TDP)
“deputy” Zeki Celer is visiting Strasbourg.
During its contacts at the European Parliament, the delegation
discussed the report on Turkey which will be voted on at the European
Parliament, the Cyprus problem and the issue of the Turkish language becoming an
official EU language.
Candan said that they held meetings with MPs from different political
groups at the European Parliament and added that they conveyed the demands of
the Turkish Cypriots from the EU and the European
Parliament.
Reminding that the final discussions on Turkey’s report were being
held, Candan said paragraphs related to Cyprus on the report were more
comprehensive than before.
Saner on his part criticized the European Parliament for associating
Cyprus with the report on Turkey. He also said that no progress had occurred on
the Free Trade Regulation which was promised by the EU to the Turkish Cypriots
before the Annan Plan referendum.
Tacoy said it was important to enable Turkish Cypriot representation
at the European Parliament and expressed his views on the issue of the Turkish
language to become an EU language.
Celer stated that there were important sections in Turkey’s report
which were so important for the Turkish Cypriots and added that they will
continue to give support to the report to pass from the EU Parliament as it
is.
4. Milliyet: PKK’s plans to penetrate in “universities” in the
occupied area of Cyprus are revealed
Under the banner front-page title “Warning for PKK in Cyprus”,
Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (10.03.16) reports that the plans of the
Kurdistan’s Workers’ Party (PKK) to penetrate in illegal universities in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus have been revealed.
According to Safa Karahasan, the paper’s correspondent in the
occupied area of Cyprus, an urgent high level security meeting was held with
the participation of the so-called security forces commander of the breakaway
regime, Major General Erhan Uzun, the self-styled general director of the
“police” Suleyman Manavoglu and the administrations of the illegal universities.
During the meeting it was said that the PKK is organizing meetings
under the name of art, theater and music activities trying to create groups of
20-25 persons.
The paper writes that the measures to be taken were determined in
the meeting, where it was noted that around 70 meetings of the PKK had
been organized in the occupied area of Cyprus in 2015. The organization’s
structuring was explained with slides and pictures in the meeting where it was
pointed out that the organization’s militants are registered as students with
false documents. The “university officials” were warned that they should
urgently do whatever is necessary on this issue.
The paper writes that the “authorities” of the breakaway regime were
alarmed after the bomb attack in Istanbul, after which it was found out that the
perpetrator of the attack, a woman named Berna Yilmaz, member of the DHKP-C
organization, had been born and raised in the occupied area of Cyprus.
According to Milliyet, during the meeting it was noted that an
organization named DEMGENC, which acts in Turkey, has been organized in the
occupied area of Cyprus as well and some of its members are students
in the illegal universities. It was said that PKK members started making
propaganda under the slogan “We are constructing free areas” and established a
“Communal Solidarity Network Association” in the occupied area of Cyprus.
Some “university officials” pointed out to the necessity of cleaning
up the “universities” from these students, adding that in the past the
“authorities” were telling them to accept such
students.
Major General Uzun has reportedly said that the “rotten apples in the
universities should be cleaned” and added “I will also clean my own rotten
apples”.
(I/Ts.)
5. Turkish Cypriot politicians say they have a security weakness
Under the title “We have security weaknesses”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibrisli newspaper (10.03.16) reports that the terror attacks in Turkey and
some other places of the world have created concerns in the occupied area of
Cyprus as well. The allegation that the breakaway regime’s “security forces”
had been warned on the issue by MIT “exploded like a bomb”, writes the paper
adding that in spite of a statement by the “police” declaring false the above
allegation, the security measures in front of some buildings such as Turkey’s
so-called embassy in the occupied part of Nicosia and the self-styled assembly
were increased. In addition, last night fully equipped anti-riot forces
were patrolling in front of these buildings and in Dereboyu, the most crowded
boulevard in the occupied part of Nicosia.
The self-styled deputy with the Democratic Party (DP) Mentes
Gunduz told Kibrisli that many statements are made on security issues and
added: “I said that we have security weaknesses and the TRNC is not
the old TRNC anymore. Therefore, every team is obliged to do its duty”.
Moreover, the self-styled deputy with the National Unity Party (UBP)
Zorlu Tore argued that they do not know “when and where terror will
occur”, adding that terror attacks could be held in the occupied area of
Cyprus as well. He claimed that no one can do anything from outside, but the
attack could come from the inside.
Furthermore, the self-styled deputy with the Social Democracy Party
(TDP) Huseyin Angolemli told Kibrsli that they should be careful and
anything could happen any time in the occupied area of Cyprus. He recalled
that “we are a part of the Middle East” and that “many refugees came here as
well”.
(I/Ts.)
6. “KTSO” held a meeting with the ambassadors of the Netherlands
and Italy
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.03.16) reports that a
delegation of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO) paid a visit to the
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Lefkosia Brechje Schwachofer and to the
Ambassador of Italy to Lefkosia Guidi Cerboni.
According to a statement issued by the “KTSO”, the “chamber” pays
visits to foreign representations in Cyprus aiming to improve its relations with
EU countries and institutions.
The issue of halloumi/hellim and the progress of the Cyprus
negotiations were discussed during the meetings.
(CS)
7. Turkey and Ukraine boost ties amid growing tension with
Russia
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (10.03.16) reports that Turkey and
Ukraine have deepened political, military and economic ties through consecutive
high-level visits following the Turkish military’s downing of a Russian warplane
in November 2015 and the deterioration in ties between Ankara and Moscow.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was in Ankara on March 9 for a
high-level strategic cooperation council meeting as the guest of President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, only three weeks after Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
paid a snap visit to Kiev.
On the same day as Davutoglu was in Kiev to hold talks with Ukrainian
Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukrainian Chief of General Staff Viktor
Muzhenko met with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hulusi Akar, in a sign of
intensified military and defense relations. The situation of the Crimean Tatars
was discussed in detail during the meetings.
The main reason why Poroshenko was in Ankara was the holding of the
fifth session of the high-level strategic council between Ukraine and Turkey.
The two Presidents chaired the council meeting with the participation of their
countries’ Foreign, Defense, Trade and Energy Ministers in order to shape a new
phase in bilateral political and economic relations. The two sides were
scheduled to sign agreements to boost trade and increase mutual investment.
Poroshenko will also hold meetings with Turkish business
representatives on March 10, while he will encourage Turkish investors to remain
in Ukraine despite the ongoing political crisis with Russia. Turkey and Ukraine
currently enjoy bilateral trade worth $4.5 billion.
8. The Turkish Parliament receives official appeal that seeks to
lift HDP deputies' immunity
Ankara Anatolia news agency (10.03.16) reports that the Turkish
Parliament has received Wednesday the official appeal that seeks to lift the
legislative immunity of the co-chairs of the opposition Peoples' Democratic
Party's (HDP), along that of three other Deputies.
Parliamentary sources told AA that the Prime Ministry Office
submitted a motion to life the parliamentary immunity of HDP Co-Chairs
Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag and of party Deputies Selma Irmak, Sırrı
Sureyya Onder, and Ertugrul Kurkcu.
The Ministry of Justice sent a related summary of proceedings on
Friday.
The office of the Parliament Speaker then forwarded the motion to the
joint parliamentary commission on constitution and justice, which will decide
whether the general assembly should vote on lifting the
immunity.
If put to a vote, the motion to lift the HDP MPs' immunity requires
an absolute majority, i.e. 276 votes.
9. The Turkish government approves $5.9 billion on defense
projects
Turkish daily Sabah (10.03.16) reports that Turkish Prime Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu said that the Turkish government has approved new defense
projects totaling $5.9 billion, $4.5 billion of which will be designated to
domestic production projects. He made the comments after a meeting with the
defense industry.
In the first two months of 2016, Turkey's defense industry exports
increased 35% and, according to the Prime Minister, mass production of the
national infantry rifle will begin this year. Davutoglu also said that research
developments regarding the production of a joint fighter aircraft have been
revised.
The defense industry has seen a sharp increase in developments since
the early 2000s, and today the sector's total exports have reached almost $2
billion. Moreover, in the last few years, national projects, including a
warship, battle tank and warplane, have attracted international
attention.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/AM)
