TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
76/16
23-25.04.2016
1.
Akinci said that 2016 will be a vital year for a Cyprus settlement
2.
Siber said that they will develop the bonds with the Turks in
“Kosovo”
3.
Asil Nadir back to the breakaway regime
4.
Dagli: “Open Varosha in the framework of the CBMs”
5.
Ozyigit argued that the “government” works towards “making
legal regulations” for the massive “granting” of new
“citizenships”
6.
Turkish columnist argues that Turkey abandoned its demands for
granting “TRNC” citizenships
7.
Tunali: “The most correct way for the granting of the state plots
of land is with the opening of tenders”
8.
Tusk: “Turkey is the best example for refugee treatment”
9.
Dutch journalist detained in Turkey for “insulting” Erdogan
1.
Akinci
said that 2016 will be a vital year for a Cyprus settlement
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.04.16) reported that Turkish
Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci
said that they are going through a very important and vital period in
Cyprus, adding that it will be difficult to say 100% 2016 will be a
solution year; however, it will be a vital year that they will work
insistently.
Speaking
at a festival held at the occupied village of Rizokarpaso, said that
they will try to work with all their strength to create an agreement
which will be voted by both communities. He noted that of course,
they act by thinking both for themselves and the other community,
adding that otherwise, it is not possible to meet in a joint point.
Akinci
also stressed that it is not possible to make sacrifices on their own
rights, equalities, freedoms and securities, but when they obtain
these, they will also respect the rights of the other community.
“Otherwise, it will not be possible to speak of justice, peace and
prosperity”, he added.
Moreover,
Akinci also attended the “St George Festival” in occupied
Kormakitis. Noting that Turkish Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Maronites
and other communities are living together in Cyprus, Akinci said that
with the cooperation of all they can establish a better future in the
island.
Akinci
further said that they want peace not only in Cyprus but also in the
region, Middle East and in the world, adding that he is hopeful to
reach a solution within 2016. He reiterated that he sees this
negotiation process as the last opportunity for their generation.
(DPs)
2.
Siber
said that they will develop the bonds with the Turks in “Kosovo”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris (25.04.16) reports that self-styled assembly
speaker of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus Sibel Siber participated in the national holidays of Turks
in “Kosovo” (translator’s note: Cyprus does not recognize the
unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo).
According
to a press release by the “assembly”, “Siber visited Kosovo
upon an official invitation accompanied by the deputies Arif Albayrak
and Huseyin Angolemli”. The Turks in “Kosovo” have celebrated
for the last eight years April 23 as a national holiday.
Meanwhile,
the “minister of public administration” Mahir Yagcilar and the
“deputies” Fikrim Damka and Muferra Sinik said: “It is the
first time that we host in our country the TRNC assembly speaker and
we are very pleased with this”. They added that “they wish to
develop the relations between the Turkish Cypriot people and the
Kosovo Turkish community”.
Siber,
for her part, said that when you examine the Kosovo Turks and the
Turkish Cypriots, they have gove similar historical process. She
added that “Kosovo people live in peace, are satisfied from this
structure and wish to live within cultural harmony”.
Noting
that they have joint cultural values, Siber said that they will try
to develop their bonds on the social, cultural and trade fields. She
stressed also the importance of both communities to “recognize”
one another.
(DPs)
3.
Asil
Nadir back to the breakaway regime
Under
the title: “Nadir returned to the country”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris newspaper (24.04.16) reported that convicted businessman and
executive board chairman of Kibris Media Group, Asil Nadir arrived on
Saturday in the breakaway regime.
According
to the paper, Nadir was welcomed at the illegal Tymbou airport by the
so-called deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas and received a VIP
treatment.
Nadir
who was jailed in the UK for stealing millions from his business
empire, was extradited to Turkey and released on Friday. He stayed in
a Turkish prison for 24 hours and then he returned to the occupied
area of Cyprus.
Nadir
stated upon his arrival that everything will go on well. He also said
that despite having a lot to say, it would be more useful not to say
a word.
(CS)
4.
Dagli:
“Open Varosha in the framework of the CBMs”
Under
the front-page title: “Open
Maras to revive the economy”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis
newspaper (24.04.16) reported on statements by Dr. Okan Dagli,
activist and member of the “Famagusta Initiative”, who in
exclusive statements to the paper, said, inter alia, that it is wrong
to wait the solution of the Cyprus problem to open “Maras”
(Translator’s note: fenced off city of Varosha”.
Dagli
expressed the view that Varosha should open in the framework of the
Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and added that this step will
revive the “country’s economy”.
Stressing
the need for the implementation of the “Revitalization project for
Famagusta” the soonest possible, Dagli said that the first thing it
should be done is the removal of “Maras” from the framework of
the “military zone” and secondly to be returned to its legal
owners and open.
Referring
to the advantages of a possible opening of Varosha, Dagli explained
that a project is already prepared on how Famagusta will be developed
as a whole after the opening of Varosha.
Stating
that it’s being two years that the feasibility study which is
necessary to be done for the “fenced off city of Varosha” is into
the agenda, Dagli recalled that this issue was discussed during the
US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit in the island and the proposal
was rejected by the Turkish Cypriot leadership.
(AK)
5.
Ozyigit
argued that the “government” works towards “making legal
regulations” for the massive “granting” of new “citizenships”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli (24.04.16) reported that the chairman
of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit, in exclusive
statements to the paper, referred, inter alia, to the formation of
the new coalition “government” between the National Unity Party
(UBP) and the Democratic Party (DP) and argued that the “government”
has been formed under the order of signing and implementing the
soonest possible the economic “protocol”.
Referring
to the “citizenship” issue, Ozyigit also stated that efforts are
exerted for the preparation of a “legal regulation” towards this
issue.
“They are exerting efforts to make legal regulations for the
massive granting of citizenships. This is due to the fact that in the
framework of the government program, a law came into effect some time
ago, envisaging the granting of the white card. At the moment,
amendments will be made on this law so that to bring in front of us a
new draft law for the granting of new citizenships”, explained
Ozyigit.
He
also warned that if the “government” proceeds to the “granting”
of massive new “citizenships”, not only the “political will of
the Turkish Cypriot “people” will change but also this will most
probably affect or blow up the Cyprus negotiation process.
Referring
to the Cyprus problem, he said that it is out of question for a
“two-state” solution to be found on the Cyprus problem and added
that the basis of the solution should be a bi-zonal, bi-communal
solution. Ozyigit expressed also the belief that the negotiation
process will be intensified right after the parliamentary elections
to take place in the Republic of Cyprus on May 22.
(AK)
6.
Turkish
columnist argues that Turkey abandoned its demands for granting
“TRNC” citizenships
Under
the title “Turkey
abandoned its demands for citizenships”,
the editor in chief of the Turkish Cypriot Kibris Postasi newspaper
(25.04.16) Rasih Resat, writes in his daily column that Turkey which
previously insisted on granting of “citizenships” and even
invited the “speaker of the assembly” Sibel Siber to Ankara to
discuss the issue, changed its mind after it was persuaded that it
would be wrong and it would have a cost.
Noting
that the new “coalition government” between the National Unity
Party and the Democratic Party, will not have to deal with the
“citizenship” issue that put a strain to the Republican Turkish
Party, Resat writes that the meeting held between the Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci and the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, on
the framework of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
meeting held in Istanbul, was very fruitful towards this direction.
Resat
writes: “Akinci explained to Erdogan his reservations on the issue
of citizenships. These reservations refer to the loss of a
significant gain at the negotiation table. This was that all the
current TRNC citizens, without looking from where they came from,
where they were born or how they entered the country, will become
citizens of the new Federal State which will be a member of the EU
[…]. How would it be right, to put in danger the situation of
around 230 thousand TRNC citizens who have been accepted on papers
[…] for adding 25-30 more?”.
The
columnist further adds that as long as these details were explained
to President Tayyip Erdogam, he abandoned his demands and gave
instructions towards this direction.
“Now,
what is going to happen for the persons who are expecting the
citizenship?”, writes Resat and adds that those who will not be
granted the “TRNC citizenship” will continue to live in the
breakaway regime in case a solution is reached and may be granted the
citizenship of the Federal State’ he stated, in accordance with the
EU laws.
(CS)
7.
Tunali:
“The most correct way for the granting of the state plots of land
is with the opening of tenders”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.04.16) reported that the chairman
of the Social Democrat Party (SKP) Tozun Tunali,
in a written statement, said
that after 1974 a lot of “plots of land” belonging to the “state”
were given to several “deputies” and banks in the occupied area
of Cyprus as a “present” even though they had no right of
disposal and argued that the most correct way for the “granting”
of “state’s plots of land” is with the opening of tenders.
Tunali
condemned also the “people” for not reacting towards this fact,
since, as he said, they consider this procedure as a routine one.
Stressing
the need for not permitting this procedure to continue, Tunali
expressed the belief that the most democratic way for the “granting”
of “plots of land” is through open tenders.
(AK)
8.
Tusk:
“Turkey is the best example for refugee treatment”
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 23.04.16) reported that European
Council President Donald Tusk has praised Turkey’s treatment of
refugees, saying “it is the best example for the whole world.”
“Today
Turkey is the best example for the whole world for how we should
treat refugees,” Tusk said on April 23, during a joint press
conference with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and German
Chancellor Angela Merkel in the southern province of Gaziantep.
The
European leaders were in the Turkish province on the Syrian border
for the inauguration of the Turkey-EU Syrian Refugees Assistance
Program. They visited a camp near Gaziantep on the Turkish-Syrian
border, where they spoke to some of the 5,000 people, including 1,900
children, who reside in the camp.
“No
one has a right to lecture Turkey on what it should do,” Tusk said.
“I am really proud that you are my partner and I am absolutely sure
that we will succeed… We have no other way!”
Tusk
said that since the March agreement between the EU and Turkey “we
have seen a sharp reduction of the illegal migration flow across the
Aegean Sea.”
The
President of the European Council further said that beyond the
cooperation on the migration crisis, Turkey and the EU had
revitalized their relations and agreed on a roadmap to visa
liberalization for Turkish citizens. “The
way I see It, Turkey has made good progress ahead of decisions to be
taken this summer, provided that Turkey meets all the agreed
benchmarks,” Tusk said.
European
Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans also thanked the Turkish
people for their commitment to accommodate what he called “an
enormous influx of refugees.”
“We
as Europeans should state very clearly today here that you are not
alone on this,” he said. “Europe is committed to fulfilling the
agreements we have reached,” he said, adding that the EU Commission
was in contact on a day-to-day basis with Turkish authorities to
fulfil all elements of the agreement.
“By
the end of July, I think we can reach the level of over 1 billion
euro [$ 1.12 billion] of projects to ensure a better future for
Syrians in Turkey,” Timmermans said.
Meanwhile,
Ankara stood on its ground over the contentious issue of visa-free
travel for its citizens, warning the EU leaders it would stop taking
back migrants from Europe if the bloc failed to keep its word. “The
issue of the visa waiver is vital for Turkey,” Premier Davutoglu
said at the press conference.
Davutoglu
said that the key to tackling the migrant crisis lay in “closer
cooperation, and for us part of that closer cooperation is the visa
liberalization... Those two go hand in hand.”
Merkel
replied that she “intends to fulfil the agreement, provided Turkey
brings the results” to the table.
Ankara
must meet 72 conditions to earn the visa waiver and is believed to
have fulfilled about half.
Asked
what Turkey would do if the EU tries to delay the visa part of the
accord, Davutoglu said that Ankara would stop taking back migrants.
“If
that was to happen then the readmission agreement will also not enter
into force,” he said.
On
the same issue, Turkish daily Sabah (online, 25.04.16) reports that
German
Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that she wants to establish
safe zones in northern Syria near the Turkish border to resettle
refugees.
9.
Dutch
journalist detained in Turkey for “insulting” Erdogan
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 25.04.16), a Dutch
journalist was detained on April 23 in the Kusadasi district of the
Aegean province of Aydin for allegedly insulting Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan via her Twitter account.
Police
detained journalist Ebru Umar after she tweeted an extract from a
recent piece she wrote for Dutch daily Metro critical of Erdogan.
“Police at the door. No joke,” tweeted Umar, who also holds
Turkish citizenship.
The
Dutch Foreign Ministry announced it was in “close contact with”
Umar following her detainment. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte
tweeted he had contacted the journalist on April 23, as well as
mentioning the Embassy’s assistance on the issue.
Also
on April 23, a German newspaper reported that a Greek photographer
who was working for it was turned back by Turkish authorities at
Istanbul's main airport.
The
Bild daily reported that Giorgos Moutafis was prevented from
continuing to Libya on the evening of April 23. He had to take the
next plane back to Athens, on the morning of April 24.
It
quoted the photographer as saying he had been told at passport
control that his name was on a list of people who weren't allowed to
enter Turkey, but wasn't given a reason why.
The
reported incident comes days after a journalist with a German public
broadcaster was prevented from entering Turkey. Chancellor Angela
Merkel said that she discussed that case during a visit to Turkey on
April 23.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/AM)
