TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
118/16
25-27.06.2016
1.
The Turkish Cypriot side is reportedly annoyed by the use of the “provinces”
concept outside the negotiations and “founding states” concept in the
negotiations
2.
Akinci argues that the Turkish Cypriots should continue seeing their future in
the EU
3.
Ozgurgun and Denktas on BREXIT
4.
The Turkish Cypriot opposition on Bretix
5.
Turkish government on Brexit
6.
Turkey and Israel reached deal to normalize ties; Abbas welcomed the
deal
7.
Ertugruloglu suggested including the guarantor states of Turkey, Greece and the
UK in the Cyprus talks
8.
Akinci condemned the attack against Turkish Cypriot youth in Agia Napa; Afrika
reportedly supports that there is misinformation about the
incident
9.
Statements by Turkish Cypriot politicians about the return of occupied
Morfou
10.
Measures at preventing forest fire in the occupied area of
Cyprus
11.
Sucuoglu: We aim to have the inauguration ceremony for the new hospital on the
first trimester of 2017
12.
The number of the illegal universities to be increased from 13 to 15 by next
year
13.
German Minister says will visit base in Turkey after Ankara
criticism
14.
Pope refutes Turkish criticism on ‘genocide’; Turkey says Pope’s genocide words
show ‘unconditional commitment to Armenian narrative’
15.
Four more journalists face probe over ‘editor-in-chief on duty’ campaign for
Turkish daily
16.
Police fired tear gas in Istanbul to disperse LGBT Pride
activists
1.
The Turkish Cypriot side is reportedly annoyed by the use of the “provinces”
concept outside the negotiations and “founding states” concept in the
negotiations
Under
the title “’What is discussed at the table is ‘founding states’”, Turkish
Cypriot Havadis newspaper (26.06.16) reports that “the Turkish Cypriot side
is feeling annoyed by the use of the ‘founding state’ concept at the negotiating
table and the ‘province-canton’ concept outside the negotiating table” for
finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
The
paper writes: “Even though Greek Cypriot officials and the Greek Cypriot
press are recently broadly using the ‘federal provinces-cantons’ expression
instead of the ‘founding states’, it is noted that the concept used both on the
Joint Declaration which is the basis of the negotiations and in the agreement
papers which came up during the negotiating process is the ‘founding state’ and
not the ‘federal province’.
It
is also noted that in the intensified negotiations the cooperation agreements
which will be made between the two equal founding states themselves and between
these states and the federal government are being discussed.
According
to diplomatic sources
who are closely watching the negotiating process, while the negotiators are
intensively working as regards on which issues the two founding states will make
agreements between themselves and the federal government, the leaders will
discuss the result which will come up in the efforts exerted by the negotiators
and give to the issue its final shape.
In
the deliberations concerning in which areas cooperation agreements will be made,
the starting point is the fundamental principle that the joint federal
government established by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots will not be able
to dominate over the founding states as a higher organ and it will not be able
to interfere in the powers of the founding states.
The
diplomatic sources drew attention to the fact that in federations the federal
governments are not ‘the highest organ’,
but the federal government is based on the principle of equality with the
founding states and of not having hierarchy between them.
The
diplomatic sources, who noted that in the speculative news published in the
Greek Cypriot press it is alleged that ‘it is accepted that the federal
government is the highest organ’, said that this and similar news have
absolutely no relation with the agreements reached at the negotiating
table”.
The
paper cites statements made by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on 13 June
during a meeting organized by the “Cyprus Academic Dialogue” on the “Life in
Federal Cyprus” and writes that Akinci had then expressed his view on this issue
and argued that in federations the powers are not concentrated only in the
federal government, but they are divided between the federal government and the
founding states and the full cooperation between all the organs of the
federation is needed in order for the federal government to function as
required.
The
sources referred to a reply given by President Anastasiades to journalists’
questions after his last meeting with Akinci and argued that the President of
the Republic said that “we have made significant progress on the issue of the
internal cooperation between the federal government and the federal
provinces”.
The sources argued that “the province concept” used in this statement is not
included in the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014, which is signed by
President Anastasiades and expressed the annoyance of the Turkish Cypriot side
because of the use of the “province concept” outside the negotiations and
the “founding state concept” in the negotiations.
The
paper refers also to the provisions of the Joint Declaration on this
issue.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Akinci argues that the Turkish Cypriots should continue seeing their future
in the EU
Under
the title “The Turkish Cypriot people should continue seeing their future in the
EU’”, Turkish Cypriot Kibris newspaper (27.06.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci has said that the whole of Cyprus will be influenced by
the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union (EU) and added that
the Turkish Cypriot “people” should continue seeing their future in the EU.
In
a statement as regards the result of the recent referendum in the UK, Akinci
argued that not everything is perfect in the EU, but “for us taking part in
the EU with our communal and institutional rights is tantamount to becoming a
part of mainly the international law and the EU law”.
Recalling
the relations which both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots have with
the UK for many years, Akinci noted that “Cyprus as a whole will definitely be
influenced by the development”. “It is absolutely necessary to quickly work
as TRNC on [establishing] what especially the negative economic influences of
this [development] will be and how they could be compensated”, he added
arguing that the future of the EU has suffered a serious blow because other
member states may attempt to leave and secessionist tendencies in the UK itself
may be strengthened.
Akinci
said that the Turkish Cypriots have to work for reaching the EU standards of
living and that “it is our duty towards the future generations to exert efforts
in order to turn the TRNC into a place in which modern democratic norms are
valid and value is attached to human life”.
Akinci
reiterated that their target is for the Turkish Cypriot “people” reaching the
place they deserve in the international and EU law and live in political
equality, freedom and security.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Ozgurgun and Denktas on BREXIT
Turkish
Cypriot Kibris newspaper (27.06.16) reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled
prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, has said that they respect the UK’s decision to leave the EU, noting
that “thousands of our brothers live in the UK”. In a written statement on the
result of the recent referendum in the UK and the BREXIT decision, Ozgurgun
noted that “questioning of the fundamental values on which the EU has been built
in a country which has been an EU member for 43 years caused great
disappointment”.
“The
EU which our people want is not an EU in which islamophobic, racist anti-Turkish
and anti-Turkey statements dominate”,
he argued noting that one of the priorities of his “government” is to
“objectively” brief the “TRNC people” on the EU and develop an EU policy, a new
EU vision and an “EU communication strategy” with the participation of all the
stakeholders.
Ozgurgun
alleged that instead of the values of the human rights, democracy and the rule
of law, the EU is correlated to islamophobic, anti-refugee and racist movements
and policies during the last years. He further claimed that the accession of
the Republic of Cyprus into the EU did not prevent the development of racist
movements in the Greek Cypriot community.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot Kibris newspaper (25.06.16) reported that Serdar Denktas,
self-styled deputy prime minster of the breakaway regime, referred to the same
issue and said that everyone should respect the people’s decision. “We have to
evaluate whether there are positive or negative effects on us”, he noted adding:
“However, the obligation to abide by the EU Court of Justice decisions will
be abolished within two years. We also know that the possibility of being saved
from sequestering the properties of the British citizens who own property in the
TRNC and similar problems is there. Of course we have to examine all
these”.
Denktas
alleged that his late father Rauf Denktas had predicted that the EU would
collapse one day and now he is proved to be right.
(I/Ts.)
4.
The Turkish Cypriot opposition on Bretix
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (27.06.16) reports that the chairman of
the People’s Party (HP) Kudret Ozersay, commenting on Brexit stated that the new
relation that will be established between the EU and UK after the recent
developments, will create some opportunities for the breakaway regime.
“If
we undertake an initiative and exert efforts without any delay it is possible to
overcome the problems we are facing regarding the exports of citrus fruits, he
stated.
He
went to add that the 1994 European Court decision can be lifted adding that this
decision was the basis of all the trade restrictions, which were transformed
into a kind of embargo of the “TRNC products” to the EU country-members.
He
added that before 1994, potatoes and citrus fruits from the breakaway regime
were sold to the UK with the presentation of some certificates. “If, without
any delay we put on a strategy and follow some diplomatic initiatives with the
help of Turkey, we can turn the current uncertainty into a chance”, he stated
adding that this is an opportunity that cannot be lost by the Turkish Cypriot
side.
In
addition, Kibris (25.06.16) wrote that evaluating Brexit, the Republican Turkish
Party (CTP) stated that the referendum results should be received as a lesson by
everyone and added that the EU must re-evaluate its social and economic
policies.
(CS)
5.
Turkish government on Brexit
According
to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 27.06.16), Prime Minister Binali
Yıldırım said on Friday that Turkey stands by the unity of the EU as it is an
important factor for the stability of the union and the region after the Brexit
vote in the United Kingdom.
Speaking
to reporters after the Friday prayer in Ankara, PM Yıldırım underlined that
Turkey supports a unified and strengthened future for the EU, saying, "This is
an important issue for peace within the union and the stability of the
region."
"The
EU must leave a mentality that isolates itself from the other countries in the
region. They should be in search of a more embracing vision and a future," the
Prime Minister added.
Commenting
on the Brexit decision, Yıldırım said, "I hope that this decision is a right
step for the people of Britain."
Yıldırım
added that the addressee of the Brexit decision is the EU, and that the union
must revisit its plans for the future. "It
shows that its inclusivity is not at an ideal place which encompasses all the
members. With the referendum, such dissatisfaction has also been revealed.
Turkey has been a country working towards becoming a member in the EU. We, too,
have shared our observations and findings on the same matters with the
authorities," he stated.
Yıldırım
also criticized the British Prime Minister David Cameron's rhetoric during the
Brexit campaign, which included Turkey's EU accession process. Cameron had made
comments implying that Turkey is far away from joining the union in the near
future. "With this decision, British voters have also shown Cameron that his
thoughts on Turkey were not right," he said.
Responding
to a question on whether Turkey will hold a referendum on resuming the talks on
accession to EU process, Yıldırım answered that there is nothing more natural
than allowing people to decide, once the process is completed on full
membership.
On
the same issue, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu, speaking to reporters
Friday, said that the European Union is in need of serious introspection after
Britain's decision to withdraw from the bloc. He added that all EU "policies
have been unsuccessful", pointing to integration, expansion, security and
economic-related policies as examples.
The
EU, the Foreign Minister added, has failed to address the rise of several
negative trends such as extremism, Islamophobia, racism and
xenophobia.
He
said that Britain's withdrawal hinders the EU's capacity to be a powerful global
actor and that Ankara would have preferred it stayed in the
bloc.
Cavusoglu
said that this development underscores Turkey's importance for EU stability and
security.
Turkish
EU Minister Omer Celik also commented on Britain's decision to leave the union,
saying it could create a domino effect, triggering racial segregation and civil
wars across Europe. "This
referendum could not only trigger the same exit reflex in several other
countries, but it could also lead to extremely dangerous processes such as
racial segregation and civil war just like we have seen long before World War
II," Çelik told a news conference in Ankara on Friday.
The
Minister argued that the U.K. vote to leave the bloc was related to mainstream
politicians caving to a far right movement.
Moreover,
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 27.06.16) reports that
Brexit will not affect Turkey’s exports to the EU and the U.K., Customs and
Trade Minister Bülent Tüfenkçi has told Anadolu Agency, adding that what matters
most in trade was mutual interests.
Tüfenkçi
also said the EU could increase its power by granting membership to Turkey,
which he noted had fulfilled most of the criteria outlined in its accession
negotiations. “We
are expecting a sincere approach from the EU while we have been sincerely
working to fulfil the criteria in our EU accession process,” he
said.
6.
Turkey and Israel reached deal to normalize ties; Abbas welcomed the
deal
Turkish
daily Sabah newspaper (online, 27.06.16) reports that Turkish and Israeli
authorities reached a consensus in Rome over the weekend after an exhausting
six-year diplomatic struggle, meaning that the Gaza blockade will be lifted.
A deal between the two countries is expected to help solve problems in the
region.
Ankara
has succeeded in receiving an apology from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, compensation for the Mavi Marmara raid victims and the lifting of the
Gaza blockade after six years of diplomatic struggle.
Under
the agreement, Turkey will deliver humanitarian aid and other non-military
products to Gaza and make infrastructure investments in the area. Along with
new residential buildings, Turkey will complete the construction of a 200-bed
hospital in Gaza.
The
senior Turkish official said that concrete steps will be taken to address the
energy and water crisis in Gaza as part of the deal. The amount of electricity
and drinking water to Gaza residents will increase and new power plants will be
constructed.
The
Turkey-Israel agreement will make it possible for Turkey to launch major
projects in the West Bank including the Jenin industrial
zone.
The
Turkish official also said that there are no references to Hamas in the
agreement and added that Turkey will continue supporting the Palestinian
state and the people of Palestine. "The agreement represents a diplomatic
victory for Turkey, which assumed a principled and determined stance after the
Mavi Marmara attack", he said.
On
the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (27.06.16) reports that Turkey's
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone call with Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas late Sunday on a recent push for normalization in
Turkish-Israeli ties.
Erdogan
told Abbas that Ankara reached a deal with Tel Aviv on improving humanitarian
conditions in Gaza, according to Turkish presidential sources who spoke on
condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the
media.
Abbas
said his government welcomed the developments, the sources
added.
Meanwhile,
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 27.06.16) reports that
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has extended an invitation to
the embassy’s chargé d’affaires, Amira Oron, for the iftar to be hosted on June
27, Hürriyet Daily News learned from reliable sources.
Oron
accepted the invitation
and will attend the iftar, officials from the Israeli Embassy in Ankara said.
The event on June 27 is the ninth such iftar the ruling AKP has hosted at their
headquarters.
Israel,
which had already offered its apologies - one of Ankara’s three conditions for a
deal - for the deadly raid on the Mavi Marmara activist ship, agreed
to pay $20 million to the bereaved and injured, an Israeli official told
Reuters news agency.
7.
Ertugruloglu suggested including the guarantor states of Turkey, Greece and
the UK in the Cyprus talks
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (27.06.16), all Greek Cypriots are trying to do
is leave the current negotiation process hanging, self-styled foreign minister
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Tahsin
Ertugruloglu argued.
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency, Ertugruloglu claimed that the whole negotiation process was
based on “inequality”. He
referred back to the Annan Plan, which was a United Nations proposal to resolve
the Cyprus dispute, through restructuring of the divided island as a federation
of two states under the name "United Republic of Cyprus".
"It
does not suit the Greek Cypriot side’s interests to say yes to a proposal such
as the Annan Plan. They know that they won’t approve an agreement which puts the
Turkish Cypriots on an equal basis with them. They also know that saying no a
second time will not benefit them either. Therefore, their policy is to avoid
going to another referendum, and just leave this process hanging, by suspending
it now and then. We should not let this happen. It is clear that the current
process is no longer sustainable”, he argued.
“Despite
attempts to prove otherwise, we are dealing with a process where the Greek
Cypriot side is recognized as Republic of Cyprus, whereas the Turkish Cypriot
community is being portrayed as an ethnic minority within this Republic, whose
political identity and sovereignty are being refused. We are not sitting on
equal terms”, he added.
He
further argued that the proposal of uniting the island as a bi-zonal,
bi-communal federation “would carry the possibility of leaving the future of
Turkish Cypriots at the mercy of the Greek Cypriot side” if the sensitivities of
the Turkish Cypriot side were ignored.
Ertugruloglu
suggested including the guarantor states of Turkey, Greece and the United
Kingdom in the process, saying meetings should also be held with these
countries.
“Turkey’s
guarantorship is indispensable to us. It is something which is not even open to
discussion”, he said, adding that the tell-tale sign of guarantorship is
Turkey’s right to unilateral intervention.
“We
are the equal owners of the Cyprus Island. We are not a nation that will be
brought under the yoke of the Greek Cypriots, or left at their mercy. Our only
assurance and guarantor in this matter is of course our motherland [Turkey],” he
claimed.
8.
Akinci condemned the attack against Turkish Cypriot youth in Agia Napa;
Afrika reportedly supports that there is misinformation about the
incident
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.06.16) under the title: “The attackers
should be arrested and stand trial”, reported that Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci condemned the attack which took place on Friday night in Agia
Napa against five Turkish Cypriots and asked for the necessary measures to be
taken in order for the attackers to be punished.
Issuing
a written statement on the issue, the so-called presidential office condemned
the incident and demanded that the Greek Cypriot officials arrest those
responsible as soon as possible and bring them to justice.
The
statement said that the incident and the legal process launched had been
followed closely by the Turkish Cypriot members of the Bi-communal Technical
Committee for Crime and the Prevention of Crime since the early hours of the
morning.
It
added that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to pursue the matter until the
attackers are caught and tried.
Pointing
out those incidents seriously harm relations between the two communities, the
statement added: “the material compensation of our citizens is not enough on its
own. The attackers must be caught and tried. It is the responsibility of the
Greek Cypriot administration to ensure that similar attacks are prevented in the
future”.
Also,
on the same issue and under the title: “This is the reality about the attack
against our youth in Agia Napa”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper
(27.06.16) reports that according to information acquired by the paper, the
incident which occurred in Agia Napa did not happen the way the Turkish Cypriots
youth described it. The paper argues that the Turkish Cypriot youth were not
attacked because they are Turkish Cypriots but because they run riot and caused
troubles while they were being entertained in a night club.
According
to the paper, after showing a rowdy behaviour, they were asked politely by the
security staff of the club to leave. While they were driving away from the club,
they reportedly started throwing bottles against the security guards of the club
and that was the reason the incidents occurred. The paper points out that the
incident occurred was immediately evaluated by the “north” as “racism by the
Greek Cypriots” against the Turkish Cypriots, without researching the incident.
Referring
to the statement issued by the so-called presidential office, Afrika
newspaper condemned the statement providing that the “presidential office”
reacted without considering necessary first to verify the information it
acquired.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (27.06.16) reports that the chairman of
the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit condemned in a written statement
the attack against the Turkish Cypriots which took place in the free areas
of the Republic of Cyprus and stressed the need for the punishment of those
responsible the soonest possible.
Pointing
out that similar incidents occurred in the past, he called President Nikos
Anastasiades and the Greek Cypriot officials to arrest the attackers and punish
them, and otherwise as he argued, similar incidents will be experienced again in
the future.
Supporting
that those incidents cause damage to the ongoing Cyprus negotiation process, he
called both communities to undertake steps and strengthen the peace powers in
order to avoid similar incidents in the future.
(AK)
9.
Statements by Turkish Cypriot politicians about the return of occupied Morfou
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (27.06.16) reports that former Turkish Cypriot
leader, Dervis Eroglu stated that the investments taking place in occupied
Morfou show that the issue of Morfou’s return to the Greek Cypriots must be
taken off the negotiation table.
Eroglu
made these statements speaking at the “orange festival” that took place during
the weekend at the area.
Eroglu
went on and added that the area is developing fast and that three new
“universities” will be established in the region soon.
In
addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (27.06.16) reports that
“independent deputy” Mendes Gunduz, stated that the issue of occupied
Morfou’s return to Greek Cypriots has been discussed since 1974. However, he
said that the recent developments on the Cyprus talks made him lose any hope
that a solution could be reached. He made these statements speaking to
Kibrilsi newspaper.
Gunduz
stated that the talks in Cyprus are conducted in a different way, compared to
the talks in Brussels or Strasbourg, since, as he said, there is a great
difference between the issues that are discussed “behind the doors and in front
of the doors”.
He
went on to add that big investments started to be made in the occupied Morfou
area,
like the construction of a new hospital and the establishment of a new
“university” and added that motivation must be offered to young people who
started returning to occupied Morfou to live again in the area. He also said
that residences must be built in the area to support young persons who want
to live in occupied Morfou.
(CS)
10.
Measures at preventing forest fire in the occupied area of
Cyprus
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.06.16), a series of measures aimed at
preventing forest fires in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus were
agreed upon at the “high level meeting” held on Friday following the devastating
fire that ripped through the Troodos Mountains over the past
week.
Preventative
measures against the risk of forest fires were put on the table at a meeting
attended by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, self-styled prime minister
Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas, relevant
“ministers” and other “government officials” at Akinci’s office.
Speaking
after the meeting, Akinci said that the meeting has been productive and useful
in terms of assessing the “TRNC’s” response capabilities in the event of an
outbreak of a big fire.
Pointing
out that their assessment has revealed that there is a lack of vehicles,
manpower and a coordination centre to tackle a large scale forest fire, Akinci
said that legislation dating back to 2013 will be put into force immediately.
He
said that a series of decisions have been taken to repair or upgrade existing
fire fighting vehicles.
Explaining
that there are 16 cameras to monitor the “TRNC’s forests”, none of which is
functioning, Akinci said that steps will also be taken to ensure that the
cameras become operational.
Reminding
that it was announced that a fire fighting helicopter from Turkey would be
stationed on the island, Akinci said that keeping such a helicopter on standby
on the island is important
not only because it will give people a sense of security but will also allow a
quick response to a possible fire.
Akinci
added that changes will be introduced to exercises held for natural disasters to
accommodate drills for forest fires. In addition, Akinci said that more frequent
inspections will be held along the mountain range; particularly in areas were
picnic fires are not allowed and that public service announcements will be made
to raise public awareness.
Akinci
called on the public to be more careful when lighting picnic fires, particularly
during the hot and dry summer months.
11.
Sucuoglu: We aim to have the inauguration ceremony for the new hospital on
the first trimester of 2017
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (27.06.16) reports that the self-styled
minister of health Faiz Sucuoglu who completed his contacts in Istanbul
stated that the construction of the new hospital of the breakaway regime was the
main issue during his talks in Turkey.
He
stated that they aim to have the inauguration ceremony for the new hospital
in the first trimester of 2017.
(CS)
12.
The number of the illegal universities to be increased from 13 to 15 by next
year
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.06.16) reports that the number of the illegal
“universities” which are operating in the occupied area of Cyprus will be
increased from 13 to 15 as of next year, while, the number of “universities”
will be increased to 20 as of the next five years.
In
statements to the paper on the issue, Prof. Dr Mehmet Hasguler, member of the
so-called higher education planning evaluation, accreditation and coordination
council ("YODAK") in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, evaluating the
remarkable increase on the number of “universities” in their “small country”, as
he called the occupation regime, argued that this is worrisome and underlined
that what is important is not the number of the “educational institutions” but
the quality of the education they provide.
The
paper writes that the number of “students” at the illegal universities in the
“TRNC” has reached to 84, 663 from a total of 60 different countries.
(…)
(AK)
13.
German Minister says will visit base in Turkey after Ankara criticism
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 26.06.16), German Defence
Minister said June 26 that she would personally visit an air base in Turkey
after Ankara barred a German political delegation from making the trip next
month.
Germany’s
Defense Minister, Ursula von der Leyen, told the German “Bild am Sonntag”
newspaper that she would go to the İncirlik Air Base in southern Turkey which is
used to launch coalition air raids against the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL) jihadists in Syria and Iraq.
She
blasted a decision announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu June
23 that Germany’s State Secretary for Defence, Ralf Brauksiepe, and other
lawmakers would not be welcome at İncirlik for a July visit because it would be
“not appropriate”.
“I
have never experienced anything like this. It goes without saying that the
leadership of the defence ministry should be able to visit German soldiers in
the field”, she said. “That is why I will be travelling to İncirlik in the
coming days to discuss the situation on the ground with our soldiers.”
A
German Defense Ministry spokesman declined to provide further details on von der
Leyen’s travel plans.
The
Minister said she would also use her visit “to explain to Turkey what it means
to have a military under parliamentary control”.
“These
are the same members of parliament who raised their hands for the Patriot
mission of the German military to protect Turkey from Syrian missiles,” she
said, referring to a three-year deployment of NATO anti-missile systems in
southern Turkey that ended last year.
Cavusoglu
refrained from linking the government’s denial of the visit with the genocide
resolution, although German media reported that Turkey had said it blocked the
visit because of the Armenia vote.
14.
Pope refutes Turkish criticism on ‘genocide’; Turkey says Pope’s genocide
words show ‘unconditional commitment to Armenian narrative’
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 26.06.16), the
Vatican has refuted Turkey’s remarks that Pope Francis had a “Crusader
mentality” after he used the word “genocide” to describe the mass killings of
Armenians by Ottoman forces a century ago.
“The
pope is on no crusade. He is not trying to organize wars or build walls but he
wants to build bridges,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told
reporters. “He has not said a word against the Turkish people.”
The
Pope on June 24 denounced the World War I killing of Armenians as genocide,
prompting Turkey’s anger.
“Sadly
this tragedy, this genocide, was the first of the deplorable series of
catastrophes of the past century,” the pope said at the presidential palace in
Yerevan.
Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli said on June 25 that it was “very
unfortunate” the Pope had used the word, adding: “It is unfortunately possible
to see all the reflections and traces of a Crusader mentality in the actions of
the papacy and the Pope.”
On
June 26, at the last main event of his three-day trip to Armenia, Pope Francis
again made reference to the killings, paying homage to “the many victims of
hatred who suffered and gave their lives for the faith.”
Moreover,
HDN (27.06.16) reports that Ankara has criticized Pope Francis’ description
of the mass killing of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 as genocide, saying it shows
his “unconditional commitment to the Armenian
narrative”.
“The
fact that Pope Francis went to the ‘genocide monument’ during his visit to
Armenia between June 24 - 26, made unfortunate statements on the 1915 incidents,
made unacceptable references to the 1915 incidents in a joint statement with the
Armenian Catholicos, and made statements proven to be lies and slander while
returning, showed Pope Francis’ unconditional commitment to the Armenian
narrative. This does not comply with historical facts or the law regarding the
1915 incident,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a
statement.
15.
Four more journalists face probe over ‘editor-in-chief on duty’ campaign for
Turkish daily
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 26.06.16), four more
journalists are set to testify at a local court on June 27 over charges of
“making terror propaganda” after supporting a solidarity campaign with Turkish
daily Özgür Gündem, less than a week after the arrests of three campaigners
sparked outrage from Turkish and international human rights advocates.
Journalists
Faruk Balıkçı, Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Nadire Mater and Yıldırım Türker will appear
before a court at the Çağlayan Courthouse in Istanbul at 10 a.m. on June 27 in
order to testify in a probe launched against them for “making terror
propaganda,” news portal Bianet has reported.
They
are charged over their reports during their one day of service as
editor-in-chief of Özgür Gündem as part of the daily’s “Editor-in-Chief on Duty”
campaign.
A
total of 44 prominent journalists - including Hasan Cemal, Şeyhmus Diken and
Ayşe Düzkan - served as one-day editors-in-chief during the campaign. Some 37 of
them have been investigated.
16.
Police fired tear gas in Istanbul to disperse LGBT Pride
activists
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 27.06.16), Turkish
police detained 19 people and fired tear gas in central Istanbul on June 26 to
disperse dozens of LGBT activists attempting to gather to mark the annual Gay
Pride week after authorities banned their march.
A
German lawmaker and a member of the European Parliament were also briefly
detained while police chased activists into side streets and blocked them from
gathering and reading out a statement, saying it was banned.
Organizers
called off the annual Gay Pride march, carried out largely peacefully since
2003, after authorities refused to permit the event, deploying instead hundreds
of riot police near Taksim Square.
Volker
Beck, a member of the German Bundestag and a veteran gay rights activist, was
among those briefly detained. Two other German citizens were also detained.
“They
did nothing wrong. They were put into a police car,” he told Reuters as police
officers once again tried to force him into a taxi telling him he should hold
his news conference in his own country.
Beck
said Turks in Germany freely demonstrated in the streets of Berlin, Hamburg and
other German cities for or against the German and Turkish governments.
“It
is a fair and democratic right in Turkey as well as Germany and I cannot
understand that such threatening of an MP can happen in front of the police,” he
said.
In
another instance, police issued a death threat against Alberto Tetta, an Italian
journalist who was covering the crackdown. Tetta said that as he was showing
his press pass, a police officer told him, “Don’t report anything negative about
Turkey, or I will shoot you.”
The
Istanbul Governor’s Office last week said the march had been banned out of
concern for public order.
Security in the city is already tight after a series of bombings in recent
months blamed on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
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