TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA
REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 81/16
04.05.2016
1. Ozgurgun: Turkey’s decision to lift the visa requirement for all
EU citizens is not tantamount to recognizing the Republic of Cyprus
2. Ozersay warns that the Turkish Cypriots will be sidelined due to
Turkey’s decision to lift the visa requirement for all EU citizens
3. Talat on Ankara’s relaxation on visa
requirements
4. Ali Erel: “Turkey played its last card on the visa issue”
5. Turkey to abolish visas for Greek Cypriots as part of EU
deal
6. Statements by Ozgurgun and Denktas on the economic
“protocol”
7. Sibel met with the chairman of the Australian-Turkish Chamber of
Commerce
8. Azeri MP in the breakaway regime
9. Turkish PM stresses AKP’s ‘common cause’ amid speculations of
rift
10. Turkey marks World Press Freedom Day amid rising concerns over
liberties
11. Bank of China gets green light in
Turkey
12. The illegal “YDU” signed a cooperation agreement with a Yemen
University
1. Ozgurgun: Turkey’s decision to lift the visa requirement for
all EU citizens is not tantamount to recognizing the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (04.05.16) reports
that Turkey’s decision to conditionally lift the visa requirement for the
citizens of all EU member states has created a “bomb effect” in both
sides of the Republic of Cyprus. Commenting on the issue in statements to
illegal Bayrak television, Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled prime minister
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the island, has alleged that
Turkey’s decision is not tantamount to recognizing the Republic of Cyprus.
Ozgurgun claimed: “This issue is on the agenda for a very long time
and now it was decided. It would be wrong to create the perception that with
this decision ‘Turkey is recognizing the south’. These are rights mutually
recognized for the citizens within the framework of an agreement between Turkey
and the member states. […] For recognizing a country establishing diplomatic
relations with that country and the mutual opening of embassies is needed. There
is no such decision here”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Ozersay warns that the Turkish Cypriots will be sidelined due
to Turkey’s decision to lift the visa requirement for all EU citizens
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (04.05.16) reports
that Kudret Ozersay, leader of the People’s Party (HP), has warned
about the danger of the Turkish Cypriots being “sidelined”, if they do not “do
their duty”, due to Turkey’s decision to lift the visa requirement for the
citizens of all EU member states, including the Republic of
Cyprus.
In a statement issued yesterday, Ozersay argued that the Turkish
Cypriot side and especially its leadership has the duty to explain to the
Turkish officials that this is not just a simple “visa facility” and that it
will bring the “erosion” of some political principles. “We should explain
that if we do not do this, at the other side of the negotiating table we will
find an interlocutor who is controlling the situation instead of looking for a
solution and who is being strengthened every day that passes”, claimed
Ozersay alleging that if the Turkish Cypriots do not do these soon “we will
experience again the danger of being sidelined”.
According to Ozersay, with this Turkish decision all European
citizens will be entering into Turkey without a visa, while the Turkish citizens
will not be able to enter into countries which are not participating in the
Schengen Area, like Cyprus, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Ozersay described
the decision as “lifting of a psychological obstacle”, like it happened in
the case of the abolition of the so-called “visa paper” by the breakaway regime
for the Greek Cypriots who wish to cross over to the occupied area of the
island.
Ozersay alleged that with the decision Turkey shows that it could be
flexible on some issues in Cyprus, such as the opening of the ports for example,
in return of some rights or privileges for its citizens, without the Turkish
Cypriots gain anything. “This situation annoys the Turkish Cypriots”, said Ozersay and
added: “In brief, we are facing the danger of some arrangements in which the
Turkish Cypriots will not be included, they will be sidelined. It should be
said that this possibility is worrying when it is especially assessed with
the fact that recently Turkish officials met with officials of south Cyprus
without the Turkish Cypriot side being aware of it”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Talat on Ankara’s relaxation on visa
requirements
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (04.05.16) reports that
Mehmet Ali Talat, the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP)
commented on Ankara’s relaxation on visa requirements for EU citizens that
would also apply to the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus.
Talat stated that the decision was “good and normal”. He also stated
that he is not aware about what is going to happen as regards the passing
through out Cyprus, noting that this is a decision to be made by the Greek
Cypriot side. “Right now those Turkish citizens who have a Schengen visa can
pass to the south. From this point of view TRNC citizens originated from Turkey
can also pass to the south. However, the decision will be taken by the Greek
Cypriot officials”, Talat argued.
He went on and added that this decision is generally a positive step
towards Turkey’s EU accession and an initiative that should have been taken by
Turkey long ago.
(CS)
4. Ali Erel: “Turkey played its last card on the visa issue”
Under the above title, Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper
(04.05.15) reports on statements by Ali Erel, member of the “supervisory
board” of the Cyprus-EU association and former chairman of the Turkish Cypriot
Chamber of Commerce, who commented on Turkey’s decision to conditionally lift
the visa requirement for the citizens of all EU member states and argued that
Turkey played its last card on this issue.
Expressing the personal belief that visa requirements will eventually
not be lifted for the Turkish citizens, Erel added that even if this happens,
the lifting of the visa implementation by Turkey for the Republic of Cyprus will
automatically mean the solution of the Cyprus problem and the recognition of the
Republic of Cyprus.
“Lifting visa requirement means the acceptance of the official
documents of a state and thus the acceptance of this state”, Erel said, adding
that with Turkey’s current policies, this is not possible to happen.
Erel went on and argued that Turkey is using the agreement on
migrants signed with the EU as a weapon in its hands.
(…)
(AK)
5. Turkish official: “Turkey to abolish visas for Greek Cypriots
does not amount to Turkish recognition of Cyprus”
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (04.05.16) reports that a Turkish
official has said that “Greek Cypriots will no longer require visas to visit
Turkey under an EU-Turkey agreement on visa liberalization, however this does,
not amount to Turkish recognition of Cyprus”.
Turkey’s cabinet approved waiving visas for EU citizens once Europe
relaxes its own visa requirements for Turks, according to a decision published
in Turkey’s Official Gazette on May 3, only a day before the EU’s executive arm
presents its third visa-liberalization progress report.
The move is one of the 72 criteria required by Brussels for Turkey
for the visa liberalization.
The Turkish official confirmed on May 3 Ankara’s relaxation of visa
requirements for EU citizens would also apply to Greek Cypriots. “This doesn’t
mean the recognition of Cyprus. If the EU abolishes visas for Turkish citizens,
then we will also abolish visas for the remaining EU countries,” the official
said. “Right now, Greek Cypriots can already travel to Turkey, but we are
issuing their visa on a separate paper. With this new arrangement they won’t
need a visa.” Accordingly, Turkish citizens will also be able to enter Greek
Cyprus provided that they do not transit from the occupied area of Cyprus, he
stated.
In addition, Turkish daily Sabah (04.05.16) reports that the European
Commission is expected to declare today that Turkey has met all criteria for
visa liberalization, but some EU sources say conditional approval is on the
table. In comments to Daily Sabah Turkey's EU Deputy Minister Ali Sahin, said
that Ankara will not accept conditional approval under any
circumstances.
“There is only one condition in this process, which is the EU-Turkey
Readmission Agreement signed in 2013 and approved in the Turkish Parliament,"
Sahin said, adding that Turkey has fulfilled all the criteria and the ball is
now in the EU's court. "Turkish people want to trust and believe in the EU. The
process functions as a confidence vote in the EU. In the event of an unexpected
result by the European Commission, the Turkish people's trust in the EU will be
shaken”, he stated.
Concerning any problem that could arise from EU members such as the
Republic of Cyprus, Sahin said that no negative stance is
expected.
Believing that visa liberalization will create a positive atmosphere
concerning Cyprus, Sahin said visa liberalization could positively influence
Greece and Cyprus' tourism.
When asked what will happen if the European Commission decides
against dropping the visa requirement, Sahin said: "We never think of a negative
decision, but it should not be forgotten that the EU needs Turkey as much as
Turkey's needs the EU."
6. Statements by Ozgurgun and Denktas on the economic
“protocol”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.05.16) under the
front-page title: “No problem with the protocol” reports on statements by the
so-called prime minister, Huseyin Ozgurgun and the so-called deputy prime
minister and “minister” of finance Serdar Denktas on the economic “protocol”
which is expected to be signed with Turkey.
In statements to illegal BRT, Ozgurgun, said, inter alia, that they
will experience no problem on the economic “protocol” and stated that their wish is to sign the economic “protocol” the
soonest possible. He added that they will have high level contacts in Turkey
and sign the “protocol”. “I consider that together with motherland, we will
implement the protocol healthily and we will pass to a new era with positive
results”, Ozgurgun alleged.
Also, in separate statements to Kibris TV, Denktas said that they
will visit Turkey this week in order to discuss the economic “protocol” and
added: “We will finish this work in a very short period of time. We will sign
the economic financial protocol within 48 hours”.
(…)
(AK)
7. Sibel met with the chairman of the Australian-Turkish Chamber
of Commerce
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.05.16) reports that the
“speaker” of the so-called assembly Sibel Siber met yesterday with the chairman
of the Australian-Turkish Chamber of Commerce, Nevin Huseyin.
In statements during the meeting, Siber said, inter alia, that after
the UK, Australia is the second place in the world where the most Turkish
Cypriots live and pointed to the importance of the “state” to keep warm ties
with the expats.
Also speaking, Huseyin said that there are around 50 thousand Turkish
Cypriots living in Australia and called Siber to support them in order to solve
their problems.
(AK)
8. Azeri MP in the breakaway regime
Illegal Bayrak television (03.05.16) broadcast that independent
Azerbaijani Deputy Ganira Pashayeva who is visiting the breakaway regime as a
guest of the TMT visited the “speaker of the parliament” Sibel Siber, “prime
minister” Huseyin Ozgurgun and the former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu
yesterday.
Speaking during the visit, Siber said that Azerbaijan carries special
importance for the breakaway regime and touched upon the significance of
relations between the two “countries”.
Ozgurgun noted that he had worked together with Ms Pashayeva at the
European Council and said that she was a Deputy who was always interested in and
supports the breakaway regime. He also gave the message that further relations
will be established with the Azeri people.
Speaking during the visits, Pashayeva stressed that the “TRNC” has a
special meaning for the Azeri people. Stressing that mutual visits to be
realized were important for the development of relations between the two
“countries”, she said they always “stood by the Turkish Cypriots in their
struggle, particularly at the European Council and other foreign
representations”. Touching upon the issue of “embargoes”, Pashayeva said the
Turkish Cypriots will for a solution had come to light and added that the
continuation of embargoes is not right and fair.
9. Turkish PM stresses AKP’s ‘common cause’ amid speculations of
rift
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (04.05.16) reports that amid speculations
of a rift within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has stressed the party’s “common cause,” after the
AKP’s highest decision-making body moved to strip him of the authority to
appoint provincial officials.
“I can turn away from any job position, but I won’t break the hearts
of my friends, with whom we share a common cause,” Davutoglu said at a
parliamentary group meeting of the AKP on May 3.
“I’ll step aside if necessary. I could turn away from any job
position that people think that a mortal cannot leave. But I will never break
any of my friends’ hearts in this holy movement,” he added. “I wouldn’t allow
this clean movement and its clean-hearted staff - the only hope of the oppressed
all over the world - to become sad,” Davutoglu also vowed.
The decision of the AKP’s 50-seat Central Decision and Executive
Board’s (MKYK), which was passed with the support of 47 members on April 29, is
widely considered to be among the clearest signs yet of tensions between
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a founding leader of the party who is pushing
for an executive presidency, and Davutoglu, who would be side-lined if Turkey’s
parliamentary system is replaced.
10. Turkey marks World Press Freedom Day amid rising concerns over
liberties
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (04.05.16) reports that Turkey has
silently marked World Press Freedom Day, a day dedicated to defending
independent media and paying tribute to journalists who have suffered
consequences due to their journalistic activities, amid rising concerns over
diminishing editorial freedoms in the country.
Members of the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS)
gathered in front of Galatasaray High School on central İstiklal Avenue in
Istanbul for a press briefing. TGS chair Ugur Guc read a joint statement
and stressed that all rights and freedoms, in addition to freedom of expression,
have been suspended in Turkey.
“We are being threatened, insulted, beaten and arrested for
reporting. But despite these [obstacles] we do not give up on attempting to
reveal the truth,” Guc said, stressing they took to the streets on World Press
Freedom Day in spite of attempts to make journalism a crime. He also called for
the release of imprisoned journalists.
In addition, Hurriyet also reports that Public prosecutor Evliya
Calıskan has said “espionage” charges against daily Cumhuriyet journalists Can
Dundar and Erdem Gul, who are on trial for reporting on Turkish intelligence
trucks allegedly transporting weapons to rebel groups in Syria, are “unfounded.”
However, Calıskan still demanded 25 years in jail for editor-in-chief
Dundar and 10 years in jail for Ankara bureau chief Gul for “revealing state
secrets,” Cumhuriyet reported.
11. Bank of China gets green light in
Turkey
Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.05.16) reports that Bank of China,
one of the world’s largest financial institutions, has received permission to
operate in Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek revealed on
Tuesday.
In an exclusive interview with AA Simsek said that the bank applied
to Turkey’s banking watchdog, the BDDK, in January for a license. The BDDK’s
last meeting green-lighted the bank’s entry into the Turkish
market.
Simsek said Bank of China was the seventh largest bank globally,
adding that its presence in Turkey is a clear sign of foreign investors’
interest in the domestic market. The bank is expected to start operations within
nine months in Istanbul, in line with Turkish banking law
requirements.
12. The illegal “YDU” signed a cooperation agreement with a Yemen
University
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (04.05.16) reports that
the illegal Near East University (“YDU”) signed a cooperation “agreement
with” the University of Science and Technology of Yemen.
According to the paper, the “agreement” envisages academic
cooperation between the two “universities”, common projects, exchange of
students and academic staff and common researches and publications.
The “agreement” was signed by Dr. Irfan S. Gunsel, “member” of the
“board of trustees” of the illegal YDU and Pr. Dr. Hameed M.Y. Aklan, Rector of
the University of Yemen.
(AK)
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(CS/AM)
