TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA
REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 96/16
25.05.2016
1. Akinci: “The Turkish Cypriot people will not remain stranded in
the buffer zone”; He accuses President Anastasiades of overreacting
2. Ertugruloglu condemned President Anastasiades’ stance and accused
him of “playing games”
3. CTP criticized Anastasiades on the dinner incident: “This is a
stereotype behavior of the Greek Cypriot side”
4. Reference to Cyprus in 65th Turkish government’s
program: “The Turkish Cypriots must take their just place internationally”
5. New Turkish PM signals shift in foreign policy: More friends than
enemies
6. Backstage of Ministers’ replacement
7. Erdogan: Turkey will not take further steps on implementing the
refugee readmission agreement with the EU
8. Cavusoglu: We are not bluffing, EU deals may be
frozen
9. Turkish columnists on Yildirim’s Council of
Ministers
10. The “New Rising Movement” denied allegations that it would become
the “party of the Turkish settlers”
11. CTP will reportedly go to its general congress with a “single
candidate”; Sources indicate Erhurman
12. The “KTKD” was represented at the CECIF general assembly meeting
13. MHP announces snap congress after top court
ruling
1. Akinci: “The Turkish Cypriot people will not remain stranded in
the buffer zone”; He accuses President Anastasiades of overreacting
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.05.16) reports that
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci described as “meaningless and
unmeasured reaction” the fact that President Anastasiades did not participate in
the dinner hosted by Turkish President Erdogan for heads of states and
governments within the framework of the Humanitarian Summit of the United
Nations in Istanbul, on the ground that Akinci was also invited.
In statements after his return yesterday to the occupied area of the
island, Akinci alleged that he met with the UN Secretary-General in Istanbul
within the framework of their efforts for finding a solution in Cyprus.
Claiming that the aim of their meetings with the UNSG is always the solution and
bringing better days to the island, Akinci argued:
“Yes, the Turkish Cypriot people are in favor of a solution and
will strive as hard as they can, but the Turkish Cypriot people will not remain
as people stranded only in the buffer zone in Cyprus. Everyone must understand
this and behave accordingly. As Turkish Cypriot people will we meet with the UN
and the General Secretary of this organization only and only in New York? Will
we meet with the UN officials only at the buffer zone in
Nicosia?”
Commenting on the fact that President Anastasiades did not
participate in the dinner hosted by Erdogan in Istanbul, Akinci alleged:
“It is really meaningless not to digest our presence there.
Instead of acting with emotions and reactively, we should proceed in the right
direction with reason and sense”.
Akinci explained that he did not participate in the UN’s Humanitarian
Summit, but in the dinner upon Erdogan’s invitation and recalled that he also
met with the UNSG in Istanbul.
When called to comment on the perception created that his visit to
Istanbul had been kept as a secret, Akinci argued that the UNSG’s program was
very busy, that the possibility of his meeting with the UNSG was finalized later
and that is why it seemed to have happened suddenly.
Asked whether the meeting planned between the leaders on 27 May will
be realized in the light of the latest developments, Akinci said that from their
point of view there is no reason for the meeting not taking place and added that
they will go and if the meeting does not happen “those who created this
situation” will surely explain to them why this happened. He noted that when he was departing from Istanbul he did not
receive such information and that the only thing they were informed about was
the annulment of the meeting of the Greek Cypriot side with Espen Barth Eide,
the UNSG’s special adviser for Cyprus.
Replying to the allegations that President Anastasiades participated
in the UN Humanitarian Summit only after ensuring guarantees that Akinci would
not go, Akinci reiterated that he did not visit Istanbul for the Summit, which
took place in an area considered to belong to the UN, and that after Erdogan’s
invitation he attended a dinner to which heads of states and governments were
invited. “I responded positively to an invitation in a situation for which
no one would have the right to say anything”, he argued and wondered:
“What was expected? What could be more natural than the Republic of Turkey
inviting the TRNC president in an event which its President was organizing?” […]
I went there knowing that I would meet with the UNSG. I did not go only for the
dinner”.
Akinci was asked why President Anastasiades was annoyed because this
time he has allegedly met with the UNSG as “head of state” and whether President
Anastasiades was avoiding the solution. Akinci replied that he did not want to
make an “excessive interpretation” on this issue and expressed the view that
excessive reactions are meaningless and that the Greek Cypriot side’s
reaction on this issue was “unmeasured”.
Alleging that they will do whatever they can for a solution by
defending the equality, freedom and security of the Turkish Cypriot “people”
until the end and by taking into consideration the “reasonable sensitivities” of
the other community, Akinci claimed:
“This does not mean that the Turkish Cypriot people will not even
participate in a dinner organized and hosted by a President who says that he
recognizes them. And that they will not have a meeting there with the UNSG. This
intolerance is a situation which we could not accept”.
Asked whether his participation in Erdogan’s dinner was a “bomb for
the negotiating process”, Akinci wondered why this should be a bomb and why it
should sabotage the negotiating process. “Why our presence there causes so much
annoyance? […] This is an issue which should be evaluated as helpful to the
negotiating process and not as sabotage. I would like to be together with Mr Anastasiades there just like in
Davos. His place was separated there. He is explaining why he did not come, but
I do not think that his explanation could be very consistent, because they are
making a wrong evaluation”.
Akinci said that they had met with the UNSG in January in Davos for
the last time and added that they had a useful meeting in Istanbul during
which they evaluated the developments happened since their last meeting.
(I/Ts.)
2. Ertugruloglu condemned President Anastasiades’ stance and
accused him of “playing games”
Under the title: “This is a game by Anastasiades”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (25.05.16) reports that the so-called
foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu, in statements to a televised program
broadcast by ADA TV in the occupied area of Cyprus, condemned President Nikos
Anastasiades reaction after the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci was
invited to Istanbul to attend a dinner hosted by Erdogan, and alleged that
“Anastasiades reaction is very natural in behalf of the political line he
personally follows”.
Ertugruloglu said that he does not consider right the Greek Cypriot
leader’s reaction and claimed that not only Anastasiades but also all the other
Greek Cypriot leaders in the past, had the approach that: “I am the President
of the Republic of Cyprus, the only recognized by the world” and the approach
that the “president” being elected by the Turkish Cypriots is the leader of the
Turkish Cypriot community.
Ertugruloglu expressed also the view that Anastasiades’ behavior will
not affect the negotiation process for a period more than a week and argued that
the international community will not give the opportunity to Anastasiades to
sabotage the process for a long period, since, as he claimed he does not have a
“rightful excuse”.
Ertugruloglu alleged also that Anastasiades attitude towards this
issue is nothing else but a “trick he plays” in order not to be criticized in
the “south.
(AK)
3. CTP criticized Anastasiades on the dinner incident: “This is a
stereotype behavior of the Greek Cypriot side”
Illegal Bayrak television (25.05.16) broadcast that the general
secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhuman criticized
President Anastasiades for not attending the dinner with the Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci and claimed that this is “stereotype behavior of the
Greek Cypriot side”.
Erhuman made these statements participating in a program of BRT.
“I wish that he attended the dinner, break the stereotype behavior
and give a sincere picture with Akinci like he did before”, Erhuman stated.
4. Reference to Cyprus in 65th Turkish government’s
program: “The Turkish Cypriots must take their just place internationally”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.05.16) reports that
reference to the “TRNC” and the solution process in Cyprus was made in the
program submitted by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s 65th
government. Support to the solution process was expressed in the program,
which also argued that the “the Turkish Cypriot people must take their just
place in the international field”.
Noting that the 65th government will continue to promote
the foreign policy they developed based on healthy values with a long term
perspective by taking into consideration the world’s and the country’s
conditions, the program adds:
“During our governments’ term we have defended with determination the
cause of the Turks of Cyprus and we will continue strengthening this cause.
One of our basic priorities is the Turkish Cypriot people being able to take
their just place in the international community. We will continue the steps we
have been taking until today with determination for strengthening the TRNC’s
economic infrastructure and increasing its prosperity. We will continue our
constructive contribution as a guarantor country for a negotiated, just and
lasting solution in Cyprus based on the essential founding will of the two
peoples, their political equality and the fact that they are joint owners of the
island, and will support the UN in its efforts in this direction”.
(I/Ts.)
5. New Turkish PM signals shift in foreign policy: More friends
than enemies
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (25.05.16) reports that Turkey’s new
Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, has signaled a comprehensive shift in foreign
policy based on “earning more friends than enemies,” suggesting Ankara could
restore ties with countries like Israel, Egypt and Russia in the near future.
“Turkey has a lot of problems. We have regional problems. The
conflicts taking place in our region and the EU, Cyprus, Caucasus increase the
importance of our country in our region. We are aware of it. So what will we do?
Very simple: We’ll increase the number of our friends and we’ll decrease the
number of our enemies,” Yildirim told ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmakers
in his first group meeting on May 24 after his cabinet was approved by President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On the ongoing unrest in Turkey’s southern neighbor, Yildirim called
the civil war in Syria a “meaningless war,” a description Turkish senior
officials have not been using. “This meaningless war caused the lives of
hundreds of thousands of our brothers,” he said, recalling that Turkey had
opened its border and shared its food with 3 million Syrians since 2011.
Yildirim recalled that the real leader of the AKP was Erdogan and
that his government’s priority was to fix the “malfunctioning system” through a
constitutional amendment.
Calling on the three political parties represented in Parliament to
support the AKP’s efforts to renew the Constitution, in what he called a
“historic opportunity,” Yildirim said: “Let’s come all together and make this
new Constitution which is also your promise to the Turkish people. Be part of
this honor. But if you drag your feet, we know what we’ll do. Our mind is clear
and our road is bright. We’ll do what is necessary.”
6. Backstage of Ministers’ replacement
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (25.05.16) reports that Turkish Prime
Minister Binali Yildirim unveiled his new cabinet on May 24 after lengthy
midnight consultations with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, switching nine
ministers but keeping most key figures in their jobs.
Erdogan will chair the first cabinet meeting at the presidential
palace on May 25 in the first confirmation that Yildirim intends to pursue
a “low profile”.
The new 26-seat government features nine new ministers and four
re-seated ministers, while the number of female cabinet members dropped from two
to one, with Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya becoming the only minister in the family and
social policies portfolio.
Volkan Bozkir’s departure from the EU Ministry was a surprise, given
that he is an experienced diplomat who recently made a positive contribution in
brokering the migrant deal with the EU. However, the deal that also included
visa waivers for Turkish citizens was strongly criticized by Erdogan, who
underlined that Turkey would not negotiate with the EU over the terror clause in
the visa liberalization deal. Omer Celik, one of the closest aides to Erdogan,
also criticized the EU in strong words in his capacity as the deputy leader and
the spokesperson of the AKP.
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu will also continue as the top
diplomat in the new era and will focus more on restoring foreign
policy.
Akdogan and Ünal were involved in the Kurdish peace process until
early 2015 and their departure from the government is seen as a reflection of
Erdogan’s continued disturbance with a February 2015 deal between the government
and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), known as the Dolmabahce
Contract. The peace process has since fallen into tatters among heightened
conflict in Southeast Anatolia.
The new government illustrates a degree of balance in regards to the
management of the economy. Despite expectations, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet
Simsek kept his position, which will provide assurances to foreign markets. On
the other hand, Nihat Zeybekci returns to the cabinet as an Economy Minister who
will likely focus on the production-based growth nature of the Turkish economy.
As Yildirim said in a group speech on May 24, the government will not take steps
backward on financial discipline but will also concentrate on production and
employment.
7. Erdogan: Turkey will not take further steps on implementing
the refugee readmission agreement with the EU
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (25.05.16) reports that speaking at
the U.N. humanitarian summit in Istanbul Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said that Turkey will not take further steps on implementing the refugee
readmission agreement with the European Union until progress is made on visa
liberalisation for Turkish citizens.
A readmission process between the EU and Turkey, entered into in
October 2014, makes it possible to return undocumented, illegal refugees who
enter Europe via Turkey and vice versa.
Erdogan asked why Turkey, which is an EU candidate country and part
of the bloc's customs union, would have to fulfil 72 requirements. Erdogan
reiterated that Turkey, which has already spent billions of dollars on Syrian
refugees since the beginning of the crisis, does not need the EU's money. "At
the end of the day [the aid] doesn't come to Turkey, it is provided to refugees
in camps mostly to improve their living conditions --Turkey is not asking for
favours," Erdogan said. "What we want is honesty, Turkey is supposed to fulfil
criteria, what criteria are these, what do you mean by criteria?" he
said.
Erdogan said that the funds promised by the EU under the terms of the
refugee deal had not yet been released. He also expressed his disappointment
over the lack of attendees at the critical humanitarian summit saying: "It is
upsetting that none of the G7 states' leaders, except Germany's Merkel, attended
the humanitarian summit."
8. Cavusoglu: We are not bluffing, EU deals may be
frozen
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (25.05.16) reports that Turkish
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu stated that Turkey is not “bluffing” or
uttering “threats” when it says it could suspend all agreements signed with the
European Union, including an agreement on the readmission of people residing in
the EU without authorization. The EU needs to be “fair” to Turkey, Cavusoglu
said.
“Treating Turkey like this, in the shape of a fait accompli, after
Turkey has displayed its sincerity and determination by taking these very
important steps, is not realistic. We will agree, we will implement [the deal].
Everybody should keep their promises, otherwise – this is not a bluff or a
threat – we will set aside all the agreements we signed, including readmission,
if you do not keep your word,” he said.
"While there is no definition of ‘terror’ which is accepted in the
world, telling Turkey, which is fighting against all kinds of terror, ‘You have
to make this definition now regardless,’ is not a realistic demand,” Cavusoglu
said in remarks aired live on public broadcaster TRT Haber.
9. Turkish columnists on Yildirim’s Council of
Ministers
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (25.05.16) publishes a column by Ahu
Ozyurt who writes the following under the title “A cabinet for all seasons”:
“[…} At the end, we are all faced with almost the same type of
government, yet the speed of action will most likely change. […]
Keeping Mehmet Simsek as a Deputy Prime Minister is a guarantee for
international investors. But do not be fooled by this; there will be more, not
less, pressure on the Central Bank to cut interest rates after this. Despite the
fact that the markets outside of Turkey are getting edgy as the FED signals a
rate hike in June, Turkey’s top economic brass may be forced to bend the
rules.
President Erdogan has decided to shape the system in a way that
enables his presidency. His choice to put an engineer and an old friend at the
top of the party is a deliberate choice to keep the ranks in check. The cabinet
will be more in charge of the implementation process rather than policy making.
[…]
Keeping Mevlut Cavusoglu as the Foreign Minister is also the stamp of
President Erdogan. Foreign policy will be shaped by the president from now on.
There will no more be separate talks or phone conversations with the White
House. It will be much easier to manage rapprochement with Israel and
non-reaction to U.S.-PYD discussions under these circumstances. There will be
less noise in Ankara as there will not be the “cadre of advisers” that
constantly call up reporters and spin the story. […]
Binali Yildirim is a lucky politician. He has an easygoing manner and
his public proximity is much higher than Davutoglu’s. He speaks in easy words,
in a slow way that almost forces us to pay attention. He can have fun with
himself and he does not forget where he came from. His sympathy among the public
will eventually be much higher than Davutoglu and that gives him enough power to
challenge the President when necessary.
Under the title “Unenthusiastic thoughts about the new government”,
Mustafa Akyol writes the following in Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (25.05.16):
“[…] Thanks to certain rumors I hear from Ankara and Twitter feeds I
follow on the web I read yesterday: “The cabinet was prepared days ago. It was a
list cleansed of all the names close to Gül and Davutoglu.”
Wow. The hierarchy not only purges Gül and Davuoglu, as you can see,
but also “names close to them.” For they have hurt themselves by showing loyalty
to these key names in the party, whose loyalty to the great leader proved
insufficient. So now, they find themselves on the side, no matter how
successful, how efficient they may have been in their jobs. […]
This culture – or cult – of the great leader was quite visible also
in the party congress last week where the ruling party announced its new chair.
But the new chair was just a chair, not “the leader,” and everybody, including
himself, made sure to emphasize this fact. […]
But I will not kill myself to see who gets which ministry and what
their vision is. For whoever comes to any position of power, I know who will
actually be ruling Turkey, from the most macro- to the most micro-level
management: The great leader – who would actually have done all of us, including
himself, a great favor, if he did not aspire to be this great.
“
10. The “New Rising Movement” denied allegations that it would
become the “party of the Turkish settlers”
Under the title: “We are not a separatist movement”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (25.05.16) reports that the “New Rising
Movement” (“YDH”), issued a written statement yesterday, denying allegations and
accusations against it, saying that its possible transformation into a political
party “would be very dangerous for the TRNC, since, it would be the party of the
Turks coming from Turkey”.
The statement rejected and condemned these allegations and pointed
out that the “movement” has been established above politics, adding that among
its founding members were also “TRNC citizens”. It underlines that it is not a separatist movement and pointed out
that they have decided to become a party in order to serve and solve the
problems of the Turkish Cypriots, having in mind that the Turkish Cypriot
“people” deserve a better “administration”.
(AK)
11. CTP will reportedly go to its general congress with a “single
candidate”; Sources indicate Erhurman
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (25.05.16) invokes close
sources to the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) and writes that
the party’s administration has decided to go to the party’s general congress in
the forthcoming November with “a single candidate”, in order not to give the
image that the party is not united.
CTP’s backstage indicates at the moment that the “single candidate”
will be the party’s general secretary Tufan Erhurman.
Meanwhile, in statements to illegal BRT the other day, Erhurman said
that he will make a statement in the forthcoming days to clarify this issue.
“There are four other persons besides me that could undertake this post. We all
want to go to an eventless general congress with a single candidate. We will
continue our consultations”.
(AK)
12. The “KTKD” was represented at the CECIF general assembly
meeting
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (25.05.16) reports that the
“Turkish Cypriot Women Council Union” (“KTKD”) was represented by its chairman
Latife Birgen at the general assembly of the European Centre of the
International Council of Women (CECIF) which took place in Moscow.
(AK)
13. MHP announces snap congress after top court
ruling
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (25.05.16) reports that the
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will hold an extraordinary congress in July,
deputy leader Semih Yalcin announced on May 24, hours after Turkey’s Supreme
Court of Appeals approved a local court’s decision for the MHP to hold a
congress.
The court ruling only required the party to hold a congress to change
its regulations, but MHP leader Bahceli fired a swift counter salvo, with his
deputy Yalcin announcing that the party would hold a congress to elect a new
party leader.
Yalcin said the extraordinary congress will be held either on late
June or early July, and Bahceli will be seeking
re-election.
Turkey’s top appeals court approved a local court’s ruling that
allows the MHP to hold an extraordinary congress called by several hundred of
its members to try to oust its veteran leader.
The MHP was originally scheduled to hold its next party congress in
March 2018.
Polls suggest the removal of Bahceli could lead to a surge in support
for the party, the fourth largest in Parliament after the Nov. 1, 2015, snap
elections in which the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) replaced it as the third
largest party. According to polls, such a surge may weaken President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s chances of securing strong parliamentary support for the
introduction of a full presidential system.
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