TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
103/16
03.06.2016
1.
Akinci: “The Cyprus problem will be solved at the negotiating table, not in the
court corridors”
2.
The “economic protocol” is signed; Privatizations begin in the occupied area of
Cyprus
3.
Ozgurgun says they put four criteria for the religious services in occupied
churches after consulting with Akinci
4.
Denktas claimed that it is natural for Turkey to implement projects in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
5.
Twenty Turkish Cypriot organizations condemn the effort by the “coalition
government” to establish a “youth coordination office”
6.
Turkish Cypriot columnist: “Why should we be uneasy by the religious
services?”
7.
Turkey calls Germany’s approval of ‘Armenian genocide bill’ null and
void
8.
Turkey’s MFA described German Parliament’s resolution as
disgraceful
9.
Turkey and Kenya set target to increase trade volume to $1
billion
10.
Leading Turkish tourism player expects $15 bln loss in revenue in
2016
1.
Akinci: “The Cyprus problem will be solved at the negotiating table, not
in the court corridors”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (03.06.16) reports that President
Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci decided yesterday that
their next meeting within the framework of the Cyprus talks will take place on 8
June.
Under
the title “The leaders are meeting again on 8 June”, the paper writes that the
decision was taken during a face to face meeting between the leaders within the
framework of an activity for the World Children’s Day held at the buffer zone.
When
the Turkish Cypriot leader was leaving the activity, he was asked to comment
on a proposal reportedly submitted by the Republic of Cyprus to the Council of
Europe regarding the occupied Greek Cypriot properties. Akinci replied
that they are making the “necessary assessments” and argued that it is not
correct for such things to happen at the ECHR while the negotiating process is
going on.
“The
solution of the Cyprus problem will be found at the table, at the negotiations
which will resume and not at the court corridors”, he claimed and added:
“We wish that, as the two leaders announced on 15 May, we will be able to
successfully conclude the negotiations by the end of this year and these problem
to belong to the past. While the Cyprus problem remains unsolved, such issues
will somehow be on the agenda. If this is not today, it will be tomorrow.
[…] Difficulties and problems will be developed on these issues. We, however,
wish the development of good relations between the sides, the development of
possibilities for cooperation between the sides. The path of reason is one. And
this path tells us to launch negotiations the soonest and reach a solution. The
fact that we took this decision today in an activity with children is
meaningful. Because we do not want the children to live what we have experienced
in this island. We must create a future in peace, equality, tranquility and
security for these beautiful children regardless of their religion or
language”.
(I/Ts.)
2.
The “economic protocol” is signed; Privatizations begin in the occupied
area of Cyprus
Under
the title “The protocol is ready”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(03.06.16) reports that the “council of ministers” approved yesterday the
so-called “2016-2018 Structural Transformation Program” and send it to the
“assembly”. Addressing the “assembly” before the meeting of the “cabinet”,
self-styled “deputy prime minister”, Serdar Denktas replied to the criticism and
read out some articles in the “protocol” regarding the “state planning
organization” (“DPO”), the “electricity authority” (“KIB-TEK”), the
telecommunication authority” and the “judiciary” and explained the changes that
had been made.
“DPO”
will not be dissolved.
On the contrary, its capacity will be increased and in cooperation and
coordination with the “ministry of finance”, it will be preparing medium-term
plans.
The
necessary contribution will be given for strengthening the “judiciary”,
the “institutional capacity” of the “judiciary” [such as personnel, buildings
and equipment] will be re-examined and “specialized courts” will be
established.
The
target as regards the occupied ports is that the “ports’ authority” and the
“port services” are separated from each other, the necessary investments to be
made in the ports and the ports’ operation to be materialized with the
“public private partnership” (PPP) model.
For
the infrastructure and the services of the “telecommunications authority”
the “public sector” will play a regulatory role and the administration will
be carried out in cooperation between the private and the “public” sector.
An
“energy department” will be established with the aim of regulating and
supervising the energy sector.
The right of operating the electricity distribution system will be transferred
within the framework of a “public - private cooperation” with the aim if
increasing the quality of the service.
Turkish
Cypriot daily Hadavis newspaper (03.06.16) refers to the same issue under
the title “The privatizations period is starting” and reports that a
timetable is included in the “protocol” for the privatization of the
above-mentioned sectors.
According
to this timetable, the production, transfer and distribution of electricity
will be separated by June 2017. The necessary ‘”legal amendments” will be
made for separating “KIB-TEK” into three companies. By June 2017 the
transfer of the operation right of the “telecommunication authority” will also
be concluded. By the end of 2018 the “ports’ authority” and the
“ports’ services” will be separated and the occupied ports of Keryneia (the
tourism port and the ancient port) and occupied Famagusta port will be
privatized.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Ozgurgun says they put four criteria for the religious services in
occupied churches after consulting with Akinci
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (03.06.16) reports that Huseyin
Ozgrugun, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, has argued that his “government’ fully
supports the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem held by
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci with the support of Turkey. In
statements to a television channel yesterday, Ozgurgun said, however, that he
does not see much hope for a solution in 2016, alleging that President
Anastasiades is giving messages to the voters for the presidential elections to
be held after two years and does not think of taking serious steps on the Cyprus
problem. “Anastasiades sees himself as a world leader, the problem is anyway
here”, he alleged.
Referring
to the religious services held by Greek Cypriots in churches in the occupied
area of the island, Ozgurgun said that these services increased by four times
during the past three years and added that they possess information that the
religious services have been “politicized”.
He noted that the procedure for securing “permit” for these religious
services was rearranged and four criteria were put after consultations with
Akinci. He argued that problems were experienced as regards these services
and added: “200 services within a year are tantamount to one service every 36
hours. The security is not even enough for them, because security measures
should be taken. We possess information regarding the fact that the services
have been politicized. We felt the need to make arrangements. We consulted with
our president as well and put four explicit criteria”.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Denktas claimed that it is natural for Turkey to implement projects in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Demokrat Bakis newspaper (03.06.16) reports that self-styled
deputy prime minister, Serdar Denktas, addressing the “assembly” before the
meeting of the “cabinet”, commented also at the crisis, which was created in
Istanbul with the participation of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in the
dinner hosted by Turkey’s President within the framework of the UN World
Humanitarian Summit.
Denktas
argued: “We could be invited by Turkey in sports activities as Akinci was
invited by Turkey in the summit in Istanbul. Here, the obstacle is not Turkey
but the international community”.
Criticizing
the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades who abandoned the negotiating table as a
reaction to Akinci’s invitation to Istanbul, Denktas alleged: “He does not see
us as equals; he abandoned the negotiating table and put forwards conditions in
order to return. Let him go and complain in any place he
wants!”
Denktas
further claimed that there are a lot of Turkish students in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus and it is natural for Turkey to implement projects there
for its students and citizens.
(DPs)
5.
Twenty Turkish Cypriot organizations condemn the effort by the “coalition
government” to establish a “youth coordination office”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (03.06.16) reports that 20 organizations, among
them and the youth organization of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that
the agreement, which was signed on March 12th, 2014, during the
“coalition government” of CTP-DP (Republican Turkish Party and Democratic Party)
between Turkey and “TRNC” regarding the establishment of a youth coordination
office of the “ministry of youth and sports” is a step towards the assimilation
of the Turkish Cypriots.
In
a joint statement, the 20 organizations said that the agreement was not
implemented due to reaction, but now the newly “coalition government” of UBP-DP
(National Unity Party and Democratic Party) is trying to put it into effect.
They added that this agreement overlooks the rights of their institutions.
According
to this agreement, the “departments of sports and youth” will be dysfunctional,
all the projects and implementations will be determined by this “coordination
office”, the chief and the personnel of this “office” will be appointed by
Turkey, a diplomatic immunity will be given to all the officers coming from
Turkey, the management of all youth campus and sport facilities, as well the
ones that will be built will be transferred to this “office”, the “TRNC” will be
obliged to give all the data that this “office” wants and the “TRNC” will not be
able to impose any obstacles to the projects or works of this
“office”.
The
joint statement signed by the 20 organizations reads that in order to leave a
legacy to the future generations, they should be the boss of themselves.
(DPs)
6.
Turkish Cypriot columnist: “Why should we be uneasy by the religious
services?”
Under
the title “Why should we be uneasy by the religious services”,
columnist Ali Baturay in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(03.06.16) comments on the reaction of the breakaway regime to the religious
services held by Greek Cypriots in churches in the occupied area of Cyprus.
He writes, inter alia, the following:
“The
UBP-DP government and some circles nourished by the non-solution are feeling
uneasy by the fact that the Greek Cypriots are often holding religious services
in places of worship in northern Cyprus. The initiative of limiting the
services of the Greek Cypriots in northern Cyprus as soon as the new government
came on duty is an unnecessary effort and not human. Let us take a look at
why our officials are uneasy by the religious services.
[…]
Why
should the Greek Cypriots holding a service should be a provocation? They come
quietly, hold their services and go.
The Turkish Cypriots are tolerant people, why should holding a service in a
church by some people be a provocation? In any event it is not. If there
is excessive demand for services which we could call ‘serious and systematic’,
what will happen? Who is harmed by the excessive demand? How do they use
religion for politics by holding service in the north? Excuse me, but I am
ignorant on this issue […] That is, when the Greek Cypriots hold a religious
service in the north, how this is turned into politics? Are the religious
services influencing the negotiations negatively? What kind of logic it is
to burden the religious services with the meaning that ‘the north part of Cyprus
is also ours’? Of course, the north and the south part of the country, every
part of it belongs to us as individuals. Do we have to love our half country
because it has been divided into parts? Have the Greek Cypriots lost the
spiritual rights over the churches (I skip the property right despite it could
not be skipped) because the churches remained in the north? Have they stopped
being churches, when they remained in the north? Have the mosques remained in
the south stopped being our mosques? […]
Is
there a better confidence building measure than creating an environment in which
people will be quietly praying, while the leaders are intensively looking for
confidence building measures?
By preventing this now, it means that you are actually preventing
rapprochement. […]
‘Don’t
you see what the Greek Cypriots are doing and you are continuously accusing our
side’, they say. Can I not see them? We see them as well […] but it would be a
much bigger mistake to retaliate by limiting the religious services because they
commit these mistakes.
Since
we know what we want and behave decisively, our job should not happen with
retaliation, enmity and hatred. […] If the issue is the Greek Cypriots, it is
both the Greek Cypriots who come to the casinos and leave millions and those who
quietly come, hold their religious services and go. While you say nothing to
those who bring money, why you are uneasy by those who come to exercise their
worship? […]”
(I/Ts.)
7.
Turkey calls Germany’s approval of ‘Armenian genocide bill’ null and
void
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 02.06.16), the Turkish
government has described the Bundestag’s approval of the Armenian genocide bill
“null and void”.
“The
fact that the German Parliament approved distorted and baseless claims as
genocide is a historic mistake. The German Parliament’s approval of this bill is
not a decision in line with friendly relations between Turkey and Germany. This
decision is null and void for Turkey", Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş
said. "This is an issue that scientists and historians need to reach a
conclusion on, not politicians or parliaments. As Turkey, we will surely give
the necessary response to this decision in all platforms,” he
added.
The
Turkish President said the decision would affect relations between Germany and
Turkey, adding that Ankara's first step would be to recall its Ambassador for
consultations. Erdogan
said that Turkey would discuss the issue and make a final decision after these
consultations.
Prime
Minister Binalı Yildirim said that Ankara can "not accept" such a decision.
“This decision approved in Germany is a mistaken one. There is no shameful
incident in our past. This is not a decision that Turkey could ever approve”,
Yıldırım said.
Turkish
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu took to Twitter to criticize the vote.
“The
way to close dark pages in [Germany's] own history is not to defame the history
of other countries with irresponsible and baseless parliament decisions”,
Cavusoglu tweeted.
The
main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has also dismissed the decision
as "null and void". “We are deeply saddened by the German Federal Parliament’s
approval of the bill that defines the 1915 incidents as genocide. We strongly
condemn this. The decision is null and void for us,” CHP Deputy Chair Ozturk
Yilmaz said.
The
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has also condemned the approval of the bill.
“Although the German government does not want to accept it, the Turkish nation
has a taintless, glorious and noble history. The Nationalist Movement Party
condemns the distorted decision of the German Federal Parliament and waits for
the urgent correction of this serious mistake,” MHP leader Devlet Bahceli
said.
Meanwhile,
HDN reports that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the opposition Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) signed the joint declaration. The Kurdish issue-focused
opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) did not join the statement.
“We
strongly condemn the Resolution that is based on groundless Armenian
allegations. The Resolution has no historical or legal validity,” read the joint
statement.
8.
Turkey’s MFA described German Parliament’s resolution as
disgraceful
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (02.06.16), Turkish Foreign Ministry has
slammed German Parliament’s Resolution calling the deaths of Ottoman Armenians
in 1915 as genocide, describing the move as
“disgraceful”.
In
a written statement posted on its official website Thursday, the Ministry said:
"This Resolution is an example of ignorance and disrespect for the law,
politicizing history, preventing free discussion on historical issues and trying
to impose the self-created taboo of Armenian narrative as an indisputable
fact".
According
to the statement, achieving reconciliation on 1915 events is possible only
through dialogue, empathy and a fair point of view. “With this understanding,
Turkey tries to honour the memory of the Ottoman Armenians, shares their
sufferings, preserves Armenian cultural heritage and takes significant steps for
paving the way for reconciliation between the two neighbouring nations. In this
respect, there is nothing that Turkey will learn from the Parliament of the
Federal Republic of Germany", the Ministry said.
The
Turkish Ministry also called on Germany to not politicize a historical event,
which occurred 101 years ago, and take a fair and objective stance, which is a
requirement of European law to which it is a party. “In
this sense, we would like to remind once again the legally-binding observations
of the ECHR to the effect that the Armenian narrative do not reflect the
absolute truth and can be discussed freely; the opinions questioning the
Armenian narrative are under the absolute protection of the freedom of speech;
and no parallels can be drawn between the events of 1915 and the
Holocaust".
Turkey's
Ambassador to Germany Huseyin Avni Karslioglu had been recalled for
consultations under the circumstances, the statement added.
"We
expect that Germany, as our ally and as a country with which we cooperate
closely for the future of Europe, will take into consideration our opinions and
sensitivities to which we attach vital importance, for the sake of the future of
both our bilateral relations as well as Turkey-Europe relations," it
said.
Also,
German chargé d'affaires in Ankara, Robert Dolger, was summoned to the Turkish
Foreign Ministry on Thursday, according to Ministry sources who wished to remain
unnamed due to policy reasons. Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary
Levent Murat Burhan conveyed Turkey's uneasiness over the Bundestag Resolution,
the sources said.
9.
Turkey and Kenya set target to increase trade volume to $1
billion
According
to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 02.06.16), Turkey’s President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, in a joint press conference in Nairobi with his Kenyan
counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, said that Turkey and Kenya aim to raise the
volume of trade from the outstanding $144 million to $1 billion a year.
Erdogan said that the two countries have the potential to achieve this
target.
Erdogan
said that to achieve the new trade volume target and achieve strategic
partnerships in many fields including trade, energy, healthcare, education,
infrastructure and superstructure projects, Turkey has given full support to
eliminating all the barriers that prevent the fostering of business relations
between the two countries. Erdogan said the agreements on double taxation and
preferential trade, which aim to eliminate the biggest hardships in conducting
business, will be concluded in August through the visit of Kenyatta to Turkey.
During the business forum, Erdogan invited Kenyan businessmen to visit Turkey
with their President. Erdogan also said that Turkey will make efforts to further
strengthen business ties, by creating opportunities for Turkish business people
to invest in Kenya, such as the Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT) business model,
which will result in the increase and sustainability of investments.
While
further enhancing cooperation in the fields of health, education and railway
systems, Erdogan said that the two countries can engage in strategic
partnerships in energy as well.
10.
Leading Turkish tourism player expects $15 bln loss in revenue in
2016
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 02.06.16) reports that Turkey’s
losses in tourism revenue may increase up to $15 billion over this year due to
rising security concerns and the Russian crisis, according to a leading
sector representative.
“Our
country’s loss in tourism revenue may increase up to $15 billion over this year
and the decline in tourist numbers by 30% compared to 2015,” said the head of
the Tourism Investors Association (TYD), Murat Ersoy, in a press meeting on June
1.
The
number of foreign arrivals visiting Turkey slumped by 28% in April to 1.75
million compared to the same month of 2015, marking the steepest decline since
May 1999, according to data by the Tourism Ministry.
The number of foreign people visiting Turkey decreased by 16.5% to 5.82 million
in the first four months of this year compared to the same period of 2015, data
also showed. In the first three months of 2016, tourism revenue decreased to
$4.07 billion with a 16.5% drop, according to data that was released by the
Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜİK) on April 29. Tourism revenue was $31.5
billion in 2015, an 8.3% decline compared to the previous year.
The
main problem for the sector is that many foreign tour operators are focused on
alternative markets, creating new competitors for Turkey, according to Ersoy. He
said the total revenue of leading tour operators in the region came mainly from
Turkey and Egypt, but with rising security concerns in these two markets they
have started to turn their eyes to alternative markets.
“These
companies have faced the risk of losing some 60% of their revenue so they
started promoting new countries in a bid to diversify their markets. This will
lead to the creation of some permanent competitors for Turkey. We can overcome
these cloudy days by finding new markets,” he said.
According
to Ersoy, Turkey will continue to see a decline in tourist numbers until Eid
Ramadan, but the number of tourists visiting Turkey will start to increase after
this date, mainly from Muslim countries.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs
/ AM)
