TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA
REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 83/16
06.05.2016
1. Davutoglu stepping down as Turkish PM AKP to hold snap
congress
2. Erdogan on Davutoglu’s resignation: “It’s his own
decision”
3. Opposition leaders call resignation decision a
‘coup’
4. Who will take Davutoglu’s position?
5. Press Release of the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding the
legislative proposal of the European Commission about the visa Liberalization
for Turkish Citizens
6. Bozkir: “The lifting of visa requirements does not mean the
recognition of the Greek Cypriot sector”
7. Akinci may be invited to the UN World Humanitarian Summit in
Istanbul
8. Akinci speaks on visa issue
9. TDP and SDP evaluated the visa issue
10. Sinirlioglu: it is our joint responsibility to determine the
current stage of the negotiations
11. Talat: “Turkey’s ties with the TRNC are not progressing well in
recent years”
12. Human remains were found by the CMP in the military zone in the
occupied part of Agios Dometios
13. Turkish daily reports about the damage caused in occupied
Pentadaktylos range mountains after stone quarries
14. Turkey’s HDP, civil society launch campaign against lifting
immunities
1. Davutoglu stepping down as Turkish PM AKP to hold snap
congress
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (06.05.16) reports that Turkish Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has announced his decision to leave the chairmanship of
the Justice and Development Party (AKP) at an extraordinary convention on May
22, underlining that the real reason behind his departure was not his failure as
premier but differences with his colleagues over principles.
“My term [as Prime Minister] was one of success. With this decision,
there is no feeling of unsuccessfulness or regret over what I have done. I did
my job properly and with honor,” Davutoglu said at a press conference after the
AKP’s central-decision making body decided to hold an extraordinary convention
on May 22.
“The fact that my term lasted far shorter than four years is not a
decision of mine but a necessity,” he said, hinting at recently surfaced
in-house tension with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the main reason for his
sudden departure. But Davutoglu vowed that he would not permit AKP opponents to
weaken the government, instead calling on all his colleagues to stand united.
“Our party is on the verge of a new era. This is the time of unity.”
Davutoglu’s farewell-like statement was full of emotion and a long
summary of his 20 months as prime minister, as well as hints about the reason
for his resignation despite his self-described success.
Davutoglu was careful in his remarks about the role of Erdogan in his
resignation but blamed some of his party colleagues without naming them.
“I am of the opinion that a change in the party chairmanship would be
much better than reshuffling the MYK [Central Decision-Making Body] of the AKP.
That move would create more tension inside the party,” he said.
Davutoglu explained that an in-house move that had removed his
authority to appoint AKP provincial and district heads was the turning point in
his decision to step aside, noting that he had been upset by the way the move
was made.
It was right for many to question his decision to leave the
chairmanship despite the fact that he was a successful Prime Minister who
fulfilled all his pre-election promises on time, Davutoglu said. “Especially
after six months of the elections in which our party received 49.5% of the votes
and the support of 24 million voters. Why is the AKP’s leader leaving while all
three opposition leaders who lost the elections are still there?” he
added.
“Well, why have I taken such a decision? Life teaches many things,
but I have my principles that I have never left since my academic days,”
Davutoglu said. […]
Davutoglu said he would continue to serve for the AKP as an ordinary
MP and stressed that he would never become involved in any effort to undermine
the unity of the party and he would never permit any plots against Erdogan.
“Whatever will happen, I will continue my relation with our President
… until my last breath. The honor of our President is my honor. His family is my
family. No one should dare to initiate new plots,” he said.
Erdogan handed the leadership of the AKP to Davutoglu on Aug. 28,
2014, asking him not to be a “trustee Prime Minister.” “I followed this during
my tenure ,” Davutoglu said.
2. Erdogan on Davutoglu’s resignation: “It’s his own
decision”
Turkish Milliyet newspaper (06.05.16) reports that Turkish President
Tayyip Erdogan commented on Ahmet Davutoglu’s resignation and said: “It’s his
own decision.”
Erdogan said, “Let's hope for the best. He offered that suggestion.
He said he would not run for leadership.”
3. Opposition leaders call resignation decision a
‘coup’
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (06.05.16) reports that leaders of both
the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Peoples’ Democratic
Party (HDP) have called the resignation decision of Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu a “coup” by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Davutoglu’s resignation should not be perceived as an internal party
issue; all democracy supporters must resist this palace coup,” Kilicdaroglu said
at a news conference at his Republican People’s Party (CHP) headquarters in
Ankara.
“Mr. Davutoglu came to the prime ministry seat as a result of the
nation’s will but he was forced to leave it due to the will, not of the 23.5
million people who voted for him, but of one person,” he said, calling his rival
successful for winning two elections: one on June 7, 2015, which failed to
produce a government, and the following one on Nov. 1, in which the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) swept almost half the country’s votes.
Selahattin Demirtas, the co-chair of Kurdish-problem focused Peoples’
Democratic Party (HDP), had similar criticism. “It is seen that even 99.9%
homage is not enough for the palace,” he said. “The people have elected you
and the person at the palace wants to decide on who will rule this country. This
is called a coup,” Demirtas said. “What did Davutoglu say [before]? ‘It is the
people to decide who will run the country.’ Come on and repeat it. Is it the
people who elect or the one at the palace?” he asked.
Naci Bostanci, the vice-chair of the AKP’s parliament group,
explained that the unusual turn of events was no reason for panic. “We can
understand the excitement in politics deriving from an extraordinary congress
decision at the ruling party. However, this is not the first time a party has
made such a decision,” he said adding that “those who expect instability or
crisis out of this will be disappointed.
Meanwhile, Sezgin Tanrikulu, a CHP Deputy and a former Deputy leader
of the party, reacted to his leader’s sympathy for Davutoglu.
4. Who will take Davutoglu’s position?
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (06.05.16) publishes an article by
Abdulkadir Selvi who writes about the persons that may take the position of
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, after his resignation yesterday.
“[…] Five names are now being uttered for the post-Davutoglu period:
Bozdag, Yildirim, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, Health Minister Mehmet
Muezzinoglu and Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus.
It is still not yet known which of these names President Erdogan will
point out.
In the Erdogan–Davutoglu era, there was a “strong leader-hardworking
prime minister” model. However, there will be a new model in the relationship
between Erdogan and the person who takes Davutoglu’s post.
Some suggest that a “technocratic” Prime Minister will be named,
while others say “harmony” will be the dominant factor. The truth is that we
will move to a de facto presidential system. […]”.
5. Press Release of the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding the
legislative proposal of the European Commission about the visa Liberalization
for Turkish Citizens
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release
regarding the legislative proposal of the European Commission about the visa
liberalization for Turkish citizens. The statement is as follows:
“The EU Commission published today (4 May) the third progress report
prepared in accordance with the Visa Liberalization Roadmap to enable Turkish
citizens to travel within the Schengen area without visa.
The report points out that Turkey has made a considerable progress in
a short time especially in terms of legislative achievements and operational
measures and puts forward a legislative proposal to include Turkey in the list
of “the Countries Exempted from the Schengen Visa” under the related EU
Regulation.
In the aforementioned legislative proposal, the Commission
communicated to the European Parliament and the EU Council that Turkey has made
impressive progress, on addressing the Visa Liberalization Roadmap benchmarks
and proposed the lifting of visa requirements for Turkish citizens to the
Schengen area at the end of June 2016.
We welcome the report of the EU Commission. Due to the legislative
proposal, the EU internal approval process has now begun for the decision on the
visa-free travel for Turkish citizens. While the decision making process in the
European Parliament and the EU Council will continue, in the meantime Turkey
will maintain its efforts within the framework of the Roadmap.
This outcome which is a result of our decisive and dedicated efforts
is satisfactory. Today, Turkish citizens are at the closest possible so far to
visa-free travel to the EU. The visa-free travel of Turkish citizens to the EU
will undoubtedly contribute to further deepen our economic and cultural ties.
Visa liberalization will not only acquire a new dimension in our relations but
also reinforce our multidimensional and half-century-old relations with the EU
and the interaction and communication between the people of Turkey and the EU.
We wish that the approval process for the visa liberalization
decision for Turkish citizens, initiated within the European Parliament and the
EU Council will be completed successfully and visa requirements will be lifted
in the Schengen area by the end of June 2016 as agreed during the third
Turkey-EU Summit.”
6. Bozkir: “The lifting of visa requirements does not mean the
recognition of the Greek Cypriot sector”
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (06.05.16) reports that Turkey’s EU
Minister Volkan Bozkir has voiced optimism for overcoming possible resistance at
the European Parliament over approval of lifting visa requirements for Turkish
citizens, after the European Commission said on May 4 that Ankara has met most
of the necessary 72 criteria, inviting member states and EU lawmakers to endorse
the move by June 30.
“The most difficult leg of this affair will be the European
Parliament. The Commission’s proposal will first go to the Committee on Civil
Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. After their approval, it will go to the
plenary. Every moment will require great effort. Perceptions at the Parliament,
which we don’t deserve, will have to be broken,” Bozkir told reporters in Ankara
on May 4.
He also recalled that he will be visiting Brussels and Strasbourg
next week.
“We will meet with European Parliament President [Martin Schulz],
some group leaders and influential parliamentarians. If we can explain some
things to them by establishing a mechanism for the flow of information, then
answers to questions that may arise will also be shaped. I believe there is no
point that we cannot overcome,” Bozkir said.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet (06.05.16) reports that Bozkir,
in statements to Turkish journalists in Ankara, reiterated, that the lifting of
visa requirements for the “Greek Cypriot sector” as he described the Republic of
Cyprus does not mean its recognition.
Bozkir also said that Chapter 33 will definitely open by the end of
June and before the end of the Presidency of the Netherlands.
Referring to the Cyprus negotiation talks, he said that the process
continues and added that if the Cyprus problem is solved, in total 14 chapters
will open for Turkey. “But, even if the Cyprus problem is not solved, the EU had
promised to establish a mechanism and open them”, Bozkir alleged, adding, that
they watch closely the developments on the Cyprus problem.
(AK)
7. Akinci may be invited to the UN World Humanitarian Summit in
Istanbul
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (06.05.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci is expected to be invited in Turkey for the UN World
Humanitarian Summit 2016 that will be held in Istanbul between 23-24 May, where
Cyprus President Anastasiades will also attend.
Osman Kalfaoglu, writing in the paper, reports that Akinci may be
invited by Turkey to participate in this summit. Citing diplomatic sources,
Kalfaoglu reports that efforts are being carried out by Turkey in order Akinci to be invited in Istanbul,
however, this has not been finalized yet.
Moreover, the paper reports that Turkey sent a special invitation to
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to attend the summit in person, adding that
the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus, Espen Barth
Eide, will also be in Istanbul, but he will not attend the summit under his UN
capacity.
The paper reports that the possibility is being born for a diplomatic
mobility on the Cyprus issue, where the involved sides in the negotiation
process will be in Istanbul during the UN summit.
The diplomatic sources argue that in case the Greek Cypriot political
parties AKEL and DISI get above the 60% of the total vote in the parliamentary
elections that will be held on May 22, Anastasiades will not object to hold
diplomatic contacts on the Cyprus issue.
It will become clear in the coming days whether Akinci will be or not
in Istanbul for the summit. The paper also reports that it is not the first time
that the sides in Cyprus were invited in international summits hosted by
Turkey.
(DPs)
8. Akinci speaks on visa issue
Illegal Bayrak television (05.06.16) broadcast that the Turkish
Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci has said that “there could be no solution to the
Cyprus problem that excludes the Turkish Cypriots”.
Akinci evaluated the latest decision by Ankara to lift visa
restrictions to EU citizens as well as the EU Commission’s recommendation to the
same for Turkish nationals wishing to travel to EU
countries.
Pointing out that the visa issue was not something new and was a
decision dating back to 2013, Akinci said that the correctness of decisions
could sometimes be only understood after time has passed.
“As Turkey achieves progress in its EU membership process there will
no doubt be actions or moves which will become inevitable. While Turkish
football teams are prevented from playing friendship matches with Turkish
Cypriot teams we have seen examples where Turkish teams play official matches
with Greek Cypriot teams. So even though Turkey states that it does not
recognize the Greek Cypriot side sometimes it is faced with such inevitable
situations” he said.
Akinci added that the same dilemma applied for the visa
issue.
“Even though Turkey does not recognize south Cyprus diplomatically it
is forced to indirectly acknowledge its existence” he said, reminding that Greek
Cypriots were previously allowed to enter Turkey on the condition that they paid
a visa fee.
Akinci also said that as and when the new practice comes into force,
Greek Cypriots will be able to travel to and from Turkey without a
visa.
Also touching upon claims that the Turkish Cypriots were being
sidelined and excluded from the solution process, Akinci said that the comments
made were pure exaggeration as that a solution to the Cyprus problem without the
consent and active involvement of the Turkish Cypriots was out of the
question.
“A solution to the Cyprus problem is only possible through the joint
consent of the stakeholders on the island. That is a solution is only possible
through the consent of Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots via a referendum
to be held on both sides” he added.
Akinci also stated that contrary to claims, the Turkish Cypriot side
is the main actor at the negotiating table.
9. TDP and SDP evaluated the visa
issue
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (06.05.16) reports on
statements by the chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit
who stated, inter alia, that Turkey should undertake steps towards Cyprus in
order to normalize its ties with the EU and progress. “The real normalization in
Turkey’s ties with the EU is only possible with a comprehensive, fair and viable
solution of the Cyprus problem”, he added.
In a written statement, Ozyigit evaluated the European
Commission’s proposal to lift the visa requirements for the citizens of Turkey
and recalled that the decision envisages also that Turkish citizens will be able
to travel visa-free to the “southern part” of Cyprus.
Ozyigit added that the recent developments prove once again the need
and the importance of the solution of the Cyprus
problem.
Ozyigit pointed out also that the return of the fenced off city of
Varosha to its owners under the control of the UN, the opening of the illegal
Tymbou airport for direct flights and of the occupied port of Famagusta for
direct trade, and in parallel with these, the opening of Turkish ports and
airports for the Republic of Cyprus vessels will reflect positively to the
efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Ozyigit stressed also the need for the negotiation process to be
intensified right after the parliamentary elections to be held in the Republic
of Cyprus and reiterated their expectation for a fair and viable solution to the
Cyprus problem to be found by the end of 2016.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli (06.05.16) reports
that the vice-chairman of the Social Democrat Party (SDP) Turgut Ceyda,
evaluated in a written statement, Turkey’s decision to lift visa requirement for
all EU countries which are included in the Schengen zone, and described the
decision as right.
Supporting that he considers that the officials of the Turkish
government had evaluated well the political and economic advantages of such a
decision, Ceyda added that the comments made on behalf of some Turkish Cypriots
concerning “motherland-daughter land”, are very natural.
(…)
10. Sinirlioglu: it is our joint responsibility to determine the
current stage of the negotiations
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (06.05.16) reports that
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met yesterday with the Undersecretary of
the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Feridun Sinirlioglu and his
accompanied delegation, who is currently in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus. Sinirlioglu was also accompanied by the illegal Turkish “ambassador” to
the occupied part of Nicosia Derya Kanbay.
During the meeting, the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami,
Akinci’s spokesman Baris Burcu and Akinci’s undersecretary Gurdal Hudaoglu were
also present. No statement was issued prior or after the
meeting.
Meanwhile, Sinirlioglu also visited the self-styled foreign minister
of the breakaway regime Tahsin Ertugruloglu.
Speaking during the meeting, Ertugruloglu said that the open-ended
negotiation process is not a healthy approach and added that “the result of the
current negotiations process, in 2016 will either be a new partnership or it
will become clear, once and for all, that this will never happen and we will
look into what we can do in the future.”
Ertugruloglu further said that the consultation of the “daughter
land” (translator’s note: he refers to the breakaway regime in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus) with the motherland (Turkey) to defend their joint
national case in the ongoing Cyprus talks is natural. Claiming that the
negotiation process has been continuing for 50 years, Ertugruloglu said that the
Turkish Cypriots do not deserve to be exposed in such treatment.
Sinirlioglu, for his part, said that it is their joint responsibility
to determine the current stage of the negotiations. He explained that he is in
the “TRNC” to discuss the negotiation process and to congratulate the new
“government”.
(DPs)
11. Talat: “Turkey’s ties with the TRNC are not progressing well
in recent years”
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (05.06.16) reports that
the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) Mehmet
Ali Talat, in statements to Kanal SIM, referred, inter alia, to their ties with
Turkey and argued that Turkey’s ties with “northern Cyprus” on the political
level are not progressing well during the recent years. “The main responsibility
for this belongs to Turkey due to its political approach”, Talat said.
Referring to the establishment of the coalition “government” between
the National Unity Party-Democratic Party (UBP-DP), Talat said that it is Turkey
which gave the green light for this coalition to be and underlined that Turkey did not followed the tradition to visit
the “TRNC” yet.
Commenting on the recent developments in Turkey after the crucial summit between Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, and the decision of the
latter not to be candidate for the AKP’s leadership at the general congress to
be held on May 22, Talat said that in spite of the fact that it is an
internal issue of Turkey, it is very important the new formation to be in Turkey
and how its ties will be with the “TRNC”.
(…)
(AK)
12. Human remains were found by the CMP in the military zone in
the occupied part of Agios Dometios
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (06.05.16) reports that the
Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) is continuing its exhumations in 7 areas in
the north and 2 in the south with 9 different teams. The officials of the
Turkish Cypriot member of the CMP discovered immediately findings in the
exhumation that took place the previous day in the military zone in the occupied
part of Agios Dometios. It is believed that the human remains belong to a Greek
Cypriot or a Greek soldier.
(DPs)
13. Turkish daily reports about the damage caused in occupied
Pentadaktylos range mountains after stone quarries
Under the title “The slaughter continues», Turkish Cypriot daily
Diyalog newspaper (06.05.16) reports about the damage that was created in
occupied Pentadaktylos mountains due to the stone quarries works that take
place for decades.
According to Diayalog, a European official that is not named stated
to the paper that many complains were issued to the EU regarding Pentadaktylos
and stated that if the same complains of an environmental catastrophe were
taken place in an EU country, severe punishments would have been applied.
(CS)
14. Turkey’s HDP, civil society launch campaign against lifting
immunities
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (06.05.16) reports that more than 250
civil society organizations (CSOs), professional chambers and associations have
released a joint declaration against a government-led bill which would strip
some parliamentarians of their immunity from prosecution, with the
Kurdish-problem-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the main target of the
bill, marking the declaration as a starter for a campaign against “the palace’s
coup.”
The joint declaration was released on May 5 upon a call by the
Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) and the Democratic Society Congress (DTK)
with support from 254 CSOs from eastern and southeastern
Turkey.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/AM)
