TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
117/16
24.06.2016
1.
Akinci says the property issue will be discussed on 1 July
2.
Denktas on the Cyprus problem
3.
Turkish Cypriot politicians say Turkey should have accepted to help in Troodos
fire on the Republic of Cyprus’ terms
4.
Racism escalated in the occupied area after the Troodos fire; Experts say
central coordination is of vital importance during
fires
5.
No trained personnel for fire engines; fire extinguisher in the “TNRC” soon; a
meeting on fire at Akinci’s office
6.
Self-styled ministers’ contacts in Turkey
7.
Azerbaijan delegation is visiting the breakaway regime
8.
Occupied Galateia “mayor” in Portugal to receive certification document for
participation to “Cittaslow” movement
9.
Cavusoglu: Turkey may hold referendum over EU
accession
10.
Turkey says visit by German politicians to Incirlik base ‘not
appropriate’
11.
HDP calls on international community for solidarity after campaigners’
arrests
12.
Russia invites Turkey to economy meeting in Sochi
1.
Akinci says the property issue will be discussed on 1 July
Turkish
Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (24.06.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot
leader, Mustafa Akinci has said that during the 3,5-hour meeting he had
yesterday with President Anastasiades, within the framework of the Cyprus
talks they continued the discussion of the federal powers and that during
their next meeting on 1 July they will start negotiating the property issue.
In
statements yesterday in the occupied area following his meeting with President
Anastasiades, Akinci noted that both sides believe that the convergences and
the agreements reached until today are valid and that this was reaffirmed
yesterday. He added, however, that this does not mean that discussion on
these issues could not be held and convergences could not be improved. He
pointed out that what is important is not changing the reached agreements and
“not going backwards”.
Referring
to the property issue, Akinci said that in spite of the convergences, there are
3-4 issues on which disagreements still exist.
Referring
to the chapter of the powers of the federal government, Akinci noted that three
subchapters exist and that one of them is the federal powers themselves.
Pointing out that power on issues such as education, health, culture and
agriculture will belong to the two founding states, Akinci said that agreement
had anyway existed on the federal powers and further convergences were achieved
yesterday. He added that the issue would be overcome during the meetings of
the negotiators.
Akinci
noted that he told President Anastasiades that the Turkish Cypriots
share the “pain of the Greek Cypriot people” caused by the fire on the Troodos
Mountains and the death of two persons during that fire and expressed his sorrow
for the fact that the communities could not cooperate even in front of such a
big disaster.
“We
underlined that this is not merely a disaster as far as forests and the
environment are concerned and that it is evident that the disappointment it will
cause in our communities and the blow on hope are very important”, he argued.
Pointing
out that the reason for all these is the Cyprus problem, Akinci
said:
“I felt the need to underline that this problem creates some political
sensitivities which prevent cooperation between the two communities even during
such big disasters and that such political obstacles should be overcome”.
Akinci
recalled that the two communities had established a “crisis committee” and
added that they decided to discuss again how this committee will be activated in
such cases of crisis and how the infrastructure for cooperation will be
prepared in a manner acceptable by both sides.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Denktas on the Cyprus problem
Turkish
Cypriot daily reports that the self-styled deputy prime minister and minister of
economy Serdar Denktas, was commenting on claims, that the “government” supports
the non-solution of the Cyprus problem and stated that their vision for the
solution was clear and they had no intention of interfering in Akinci’s
efforts and causing the collapse of the Cyprus talks.
He
made these statements speaking at the ‘assembly”.
However,
he stated that the “government” believed that the “TRNC” must be included in the
solution’s document. “If there is no TRNC then our vote will be negative”, he
stated. He also said that if the “government” saw a weakness as regards the
issue of sovereignty and political equality of the Turkish Cypriot side, its
stance towards both this document and the referendum would be negative.
He
finally alleged that they realized that the Greek Cypriot side has no interest
in a for solution and that its main aim is to dominate the Turkish Cypriots and
the whole island.
(CS)
3.
Turkish Cypriot politicians say Turkey should have accepted to help in
Troodos fire on the Republic of Cyprus’ terms
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.06.16) reports that Erkut
Sahali, “deputy” with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), has argued that
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci had exerted a great effort to create an
opportunity from the crisis during the recent fire on the Troodos Mountains.
Addressing the “assembly” yesterday, Sahali expressed the view that this
opportunity had been wasted “by both the north and the south”, as he
described the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the island and the
Republic of Cyprus respectively. He noted that coordination in extinguishing
the fire was very important, but the actions taken “were focused on political
positions and not on the solution of the problem”.
When
Mentes Gunduz,
“independent deputy” in occupied Morfou area, asked him how Turkey could have
accepted to help in extinguishing the fire under the conditions put [by the
Republic of Cyprus], Sahali recalled that help was also given by Israel and
Europe and that all of them acted according to the instructions of the center in
charge of managing the crisis.
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (24.06.16), Mehmet Cakici,
“deputy” with the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that if the aim of the
Turkish side was to offer help in extinguishing the fire on the Troodos
Mountains, it should have complied with the terms set by the Republic of Cyprus.
Speaking also at the “assembly”, Cakici noted that the aim should have been
to offer help and that if there is a will, help should be offered properly
and procedures and requests should be respected.
Yeni
Duzen reports also that Serdar Denktas, self-styled deputy prime minister
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, replied to the above
comments alleging that the views of all those who argue that the Greek Cypriots
were right in conditionally accepting Turkey’s offer for help with a four day
delay “are to be damned”. Noting that tension was created during the
discussion of the issue at the “assembly”, the paper writes that Denktas said
that there was a problem, if they blamed themselves for something on which they
were right.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Racism escalated in the occupied area after the Troodos fire; Experts say
central coordination is of vital importance during fires
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (24.06.16) reports that the
“unfortunate diplomacy” during the recent fire on the Troodos Mountains caused
escalation of racism on the island once again. According to the paper, even
those who support peace and solution to the Cyprus problem within the Turkish
Cypriot community have reacted against the Greek Cypriot side, which
conditionally accepted Turkey’s offer for help.
Nationalists
started shouting again that “we cannot live with the Greek
Cypriots”,
writes the paper, which cites a statement made by Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci
that their “soul was burning” and wonders why Akinci did not visit the
Troodos Mountains with President Anastasiades and why a three day mourning has
not been declared in the occupied area of Cyprus, since the Turkish Cypriots
argue that the Troodos Mountains also belongs to them, as Pentadaktylos
Mountains belongs to the Greek Cypriots as well.
Meanwhile,
in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(24.06.16), Sami Ozuslu also comments on the fire under the title “Let your
diplomacy go bankrupt”. Ozuslu recalls the fire on Pentadaktlylos Mountains
in 1995 when the breakaway regime rejected the help offered by the Republic of
Cyprus. He writes that in 2016 Turkey offered help to the Republic of Cyprus to
extinguish the fire on the Troodos Mountains and President Anastasiades first
said no but later told them to come.
He
notes: “However, this did not happen, because ‘diplomacy’ was activated.
The result: On the one hand Troodos burned, is gone. On the other hand,
however, the expectations for a solution in this country have been turned into
ashes”.
Ozuslu
adds that one friend of his, who is an experienced captain pilot, told him
that the pilots of firefighting airplanes do a dangerous job and that many
firefighting helicopters and airplanes crash whilst extinguishing fires. “He
stresses that it is of vital importance for the pilots to be managed by a single
center in an operation in which tens of helicopters and airplanes
participate”, says Ozuslu noting that his experienced pilot friend told him
that in this way the aircrafts’ missions are planned and it is ensured that they
fly as safely as possible.
According
to Ozuslu, the pilot said: “Of course this coordination would be conducted in
the south since the fire was in the south and the airports of Larnaka or Paphos
would be used. Anyone who would participate in such an effort should have
complied with the rules and the instructions. The Turkish planes should
have also participated in this. What would be the meaning of landing at Tymbou
and throw water randomly here and there on the Troodos Mountains? Flights
without coordination could create danger for the other airplanes. Unfortunately,
this mentality leads us nowhere”.
(I/Ts.)
5.
No trained personnel for fire engines; fire extinguisher in the “TNRC” soon;
a meeting on fire at Akinci’s office
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (24.06.16), under the title “The most painful
confession”, reports that the so-called director of the forestry department
until yesterday Cemil Karzaoglu said that the vehicles were ready, but there was
no qualified personnel. He added that in terms of personnel there was no
readiness to deal with a fire disaster. He explained that no trained personnel
could drive the fire engines.
Karzaoglu
further said that they could not even rent the helicopters, which were supposed
to offer services during the period June 15 - October 15. He added that in 2010,
16 surveillance cameras were bought for 950.000 euro in order to observe the
area from occupied Lefka until the occupied Karpasia cape, however they closed
the system because no personnel was familiar with this
technology.
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (24.06.16), the self-styled
minister of tourism and environment Fikri Ataoglu announced that a fire
extinguisher plane or a helicopter would soon be deployed from Turkey to the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. He added that at this moment there were
two helicopters and one plane at three points in Turkey, which could act
immediately in case of fire in the “TRNC”.
Meanwhile,
according to illegal Bayrak television (online, 24.06.16), a high level meeting
was held this morning upon a call made by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci at his office.
Self-styled
prime minister Hüseyin Özgürgün, self-styled deputy prime minister and the
minister of finance Serdar Denktas, respective “ministers”, the commander of the
“Cyprus Turkish Security Forces” (editor’s note: Turkish occupation forces in
Cyprus) Major General Erhan Uzun and “officials” from the relevant
“institutions” or “government departments” attended the meeting.
Preparations
for possible fire hazards, lowering the risk of fire particularly in forest
areas to the lowest possible level were taken up during the meeting.
Establishing
coordination with the aim of responding to possible fires immediately and
effectively is also expected to be evaluated in detail and finalized during
today’s meeting.
(DPs)
6.
Self-styled ministers’ contacts in Turkey
The
Turkish Cypriot press reports today (24.06.16) on contacts held by three
self-styled ministers in Turkey.
Vatan
writes that the “minister of foreign affairs” Tahsin Ertugruloglu met with the
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. No statements were made after the meeting.
The
paper also reports that the “minister of public works and transportation” Kemal
Durust met with the Turkish Minister of Transportation, Maritime and Aviation
Ahmet Arslan. Speaking after the meeting Durust stated that the breakaway regime
would be strengthened further with the aid of the “motherland”.
In
addition, Havadis writes that the “minister of health”, Faiz Sucuoglu, is
travveling to Istanbul today in order to hold contacts with Turkish officials
regarding the plans for constructing a new hospital in occupied Lefkosia.
(CS)
7.
Azerbaijan delegation is visiting the breakaway regime
Turkish
Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (24.06.16) reports that a delegation of the
“Azerbaijan-Cyprus friendship committee”, headed by its chairman Orhan
Hasanoglu, visited the “mayor” of occupied Famagusta, Ismail
Arter.
According
to the paper, issues regarding Azeri students who study in the breakaway regime,
especially in the Famagusta region, as well as efforts to strengthen relations
between the two “countries”, politically and socially, were discussed during the
meeting.
Hasanoglu
stated that on the occasion of the celebrations for the 25th
anniversary establishment of the Azerbaijan, celebrations would also be held in
occupied Keryneia. He also expressed the hope that the “peoples of the two
countries” get to know each other’s history and added that the history of
Azerbaijan should be included in the history books of the
“TRNC”.
(CS)
8.
Occupied Galateia “mayor” in Portugal to receive certification document for
participation to “Cittaslow” movement
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (24.06.16) reports that the “mayor” of occupied
Galateia village Cemil Saricizmeli, went to Portugal in order to receive the
flag and the certification document for the village’s participation to the
“Cittaslow” movement.
This
is the third village in occupied Cyprus which became member of “Cittaslow”,
following occupied Ayios Sergios and occupied Lefka.
“Cittaslow”
is a movement founded in Italy and inspired by the Slow Food organization. It is
part of the Slow Movement and their motto is “international network of cities
where living is good”.
(CS)
9.
Cavusoglu: Turkey may hold referendum over EU
accession
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (23.06.16), Turkey could hold a referendum on
whether it should continue its bid to join the European Union if the accession
process does not move forward, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said
on Thursday.
"We
[get] our power from the nation. If the EU negotiation process [does not move
forward], as President Erdogan tried to say, then we may ask the public whether
we should continue negotiations," Cavusoglu told at a news conference in Ankara
on Thursday.
Cavusoglu's
comments came one day after President Erdogan said Turkey too could hold a
“Brexit style” referendum on its process to join the EU. "But we believe that
common sense would dominate the meetings", Cavusoglu said. "We want to continue
our way with the EU, especially as regards visa-free travel deal; we want
something that is our right."
Cavusoglu
said Chapter 33 on financial and budgetary provisions would be opened on June 30
with the participation of First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans
Timmerman and Turkey's EU Minister Omer Celik.
10.
Turkey says visit by German politicians to Incirlik base ‘not
appropriate’
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 23.06.16), Turkey’s
Foreign Minister has said that a visit by German politicians to Incirlik Air
Base, one of the centres from where the U.S-led anti-Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant (ISIL) campaign is managed in southern Turkey, was “not appropriate”.
“It
is not appropriate for non-military delegations and politicians to visit the
Incirlik Air Base,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on June 23,
during a joint press conference with his Maltese counterpart in Ankara.
German
news website Spiegel Online reported that a German Defence Ministry official had
told a closed parliamentary panel that Turkey had blocked a visit by Ralf
Brauksiepe, a Deputy to German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, to the
Incirlik Air Base.
A
spokesman for the German Defence Ministry also confirmed the claim, according to
Reuters. “Turkish officials do not currently approve of the travel plans”, a
Ministry spokesman said, confirming a report published by Spiegel.
“There
is no written statement on the reason,” he added, according to AFP.
Brauksiepe
had planned to visit the Incirlik base along with some German lawmakers next
month, the spokesman said, adding that Berlin still hoped the trip could go
ahead.
11.
HDP calls on international community for solidarity after campaigners’
arrests
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 23.06.16), the
co-leaders of Turkey’s Kurdish-problem focused opposition party have called on
the international community for solidarity, after two journalists and an
academic were arrested on charges of disseminating terrorist
propaganda.
Since
a fragile peace process and a two-and-a-half-year de facto ceasefire were
shattered in July 2015, the pressure on daily Özgür Gündem has multiplied, as
well as the arrests, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, co-chairs of the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), said on June 23.
“This
is another violation of freedom of the press and freedom of expression in
Turkey, with which the AKP [the ruling Justice and Development Party] leadership
seeks to suppress any democratic opposition to their reign. In light of this
latest example of the AKP regime’s unlawful and limitless assault against any
form of dissent, we call upon the international public to stand in solidarity
with all forces struggling for democracy and freedom in Turkey,” said Demirtas
and Yuksekdag.
“Since
the negotiations for a democratic and political solution to the Kurdish conflict
were terminated, the pressure on the newspaper staff has increased, as have
arrests,” they remarked.
“Since
it was founded on May 14, 1992, this newspaper [Özgür Gündem] has been subject
to continuous violations of press freedom by all Turkish governments to date
because it has been critically reporting on the Kurdish conflict and documenting
anti-democratic measures in Turkey,” argued Demirtas and Yuksekdag, while
recalling that in April 1994, the paper was closed down following a court
ruling.
Three
prominent figures, internationally-acclaimed human rights defender Şebnem Korur
Fincancı, who is the president of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV),
Erol Önderoğlu, Turkey’s representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and
journalist Ahmet Nesin, were arrested on June 20 after supporting a campaign in
solidarity with Özgür Gündem, which was started on May 3, World Press Freedom
Day.
A
total of 44 prominent journalists and thinkers - including Hasan Cemal, Şeyhmus
Diken, Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Ayşe Düzkan, Can Dündar and İhsan Eliaçık - served as
one-day editors-in-chief during the solidarity campaign. Some 37 of them have
been investigated so far.
12.
Russia invites Turkey to economy meeting in
Sochi
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 23.06.16), Moscow has
invited Ankara to an economy meeting scheduled for July 1 in Sochi, a Russian
government official said on June 23, marking the first such move after relations
between the two countries soured over a downed jet last
year.
Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister Vassily Nebenzia said that the country expected Turkey
to attend the Black Sea Economic Cooperation meeting (BSEC) in Sochi along with
Ukraine, another country Russia has poor relations with.
“We
invited all ministers and are expecting everyone, including Turkey and Ukraine,
but there is still no answer. I think it will become clear [who will
participate] this week or the beginning of next week at the latest,” Nebenzia
told the Russian Ria Novosti news agency. He
also stated that the format of the meeting was not conducive to bilateral talks,
although he voiced Moscow’s readiness to hold talks with Turkish Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
On
the same issue, Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (24.06.16), under the title
“The first invitation from Moscow to Ankara”, reports that the Turkish
Foreign Ministry will examine the invitation.
(DPs)
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