TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
146/16
03.08.2016
1.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterates its threats against Cyprus over the
hydrocarbons
2.
Yildirim: “The guarantees are not even an issue of negotiations”
3.
Akinci announced that the “presidency” has donated 50 thousands euro to the
CMP
4.
Cemal Volkan has become the Deputy Commander of the “Cyprus Turkish Security
Forces”
5.
Volkan claims that arrested journalist’s house is the headquarters of FETO in
the breakaway regime
6.
Atun: 15 million TL subsidiary grants will be allowed for the industrial,
tourism and agriculture sectors
7.
“Deputy assembly speaker” Alanli carries out contacts in
Azerbaijan
8.
Havadis on the Greek Cypriots who do not pay the traffic penalties they get from
breaking the speed limits
9.
Erdogan has strongly accused the West of supporting
terrorism
10.
Survey finds 88% of Turkish citizens favouring death
penalty
11.
Kurdish names, new provinces proposed for Turkey's
southeast
12.
CHP leader will not attend Erdogan’s democracy rally in
Istanbul
13.
HDP is left out of inter-party meetings
1.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterates its threats against Cyprus over the
hydrocarbons
Under
the title “Warning by the Turkish Foreign Ministry to south Cyprus for the
hydrocarbons”, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (03.08.16)
reports that Tanju Bilgic, spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Affairs Ministry,
has alleged that an important part of parcel number six of the Republic
of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is in what he described as Turkey’s
continental shelf.
In
a written statement issued yesterday, Bilgic recalled that the Turkish Foreign
Ministry had announced on 25 March that parcel number six [in Cyprus’ EEZ] is
located within the borders of Turkey’s continental shelf and that foreign
companies have expressed interest for this parcel within the framework of the
third round of licensing recently announced by the Republic of Cyprus. He went
on and claimed: “It is not possible for foreign companies to carry out
explorations and drilling activities in areas of our jurisdiction in the sea
without permission”.
Bilgic
said that during the Cyprus negotiations, which are continuing in an intensive
manner with the aim of finding a just, lasting and comprehensive solution in the
island, it was agreed that the natural resources are within the competences
of the federal government if a solution is reached. He argued: “The fact
that the Greek Cypriot side, which should see the Turkish Cypriot side as its
equal future partner, continues to behave as the sole owner of the island and
insists on unilateral actions in this field, is worrying. We are reiterating
our call on the companies and the countries which could carry out hydrocarbon
explorations in Greek Cypriot administration’s so-called EEZ based on illegal
and invalid licenses, to take into consideration the Turkish Cypriot side’s
legitimate, equal and indispensable rights over the entire island, and to act
with common sense. On the other hand, we reiterate that Turkey will take
any kind of measures to protect its rights and interests in its continental
shelf”.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Yildirim: “The guarantees are not even an issue of negotiations”
Under
the above title Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (03.08.16)
reports that Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim referred to the issue
of guarantees in Cyprus and alleged that “this is not an issue of negotiations”.
Replying to questions of Genc TV in Ankara, Yildirim claimed: “This matter is
not an issue of negotiations. That is, whatever the conditions are, Turkey will
continue guarantying the security of our brothers there”.
Yildirim
also said that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci should undertake more
initiatives in the Cyprus negotiations.
The
Turkish Prime Minister further claimed that the Turkish Cypriots want more than
anyone a solution to be found in Cyprus, because of the “unjust treatment which
they suffer all these years” and the “fact that the Greek Cypriots use the
island’s resources alone”.
He
further argued that they provide for a federation model as a solution in Cyprus
in which equality and justice will prevail, while on the contrary the Greek
Cypriot side “behaves as the sole owner of the island and usurps the rights of
the Turkish Cypriots” in the EU and other platforms.
“The
Greek Cypriots are those who actually should be ready for a solution. Instead of
cornering the Turks of Cyprus […] they should say what and how much they will
share”, he alleged.
Referring
to the coup attempt in Turkey, Yildirim thanked the Turkish Cypriots for the
solidarity and support they showed to Turkey after 15
July.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Akinci announced that the “presidency” has donated 50 thousands euro to the
CMP
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 03.08.16), Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci has announced that the “presidency” has donated 50 thousand euro
to the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus for research to be carried
out on the 1963, 1964 and 1974 periods to discover possible burial places of
missing persons in Cyprus.
In
order for the missing persons in Cyprus to be located, a project has been
developed by the Missing Persons Committee to research archives in Cyprus and
abroad.
Akinci
said that apart from the current budget that has been set up for the team to
carry out the research, there is a need for an additional budget and added that
with this aim the “TRNC presidency” has donated 50 thousand euro to be used for
this purpose.
Emphasizing
the fact that the Missing Persons issue is a humanitarian one, Akinci said that
he was pleased with the efforts carried out to find missing persons and the new
initiatives that were being taken. He also called for unnecessary accusations to
come to an end.
Akinci
said that all sides are working in sincere cooperation, obstacles placed in
front of excavation works carried out in military areas have been removed and in
order for all archives to be researched steps were taken. “This issue is just
one of the bleeding wounds of the two peoples on the island; we aim to ease the
pain of the people by finding all of the missing persons”, Akinci
noted.
He
further said that in addition to the works and projects carried out by the
Missing Persons Committee, archives belonging to the “TRNC”, Turkey, the Greek
Cypriot National Guard, Greece, the Greek Cypriot Police, the Red Crescent, the
UN and the
UN’s
1963/1964 and 1974 periods will be opened.
4.
Cemal Volkan has become the Deputy Commander of the “Cyprus Turkish Security
Forces”
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 02.08.16), Staff Colonel Cemal
Volkan, who was appointed as the Brigadier General by the “higher evaluation
council”, has become the Deputy Commander of the “Cyprus Turkish Security
Forces Command” (editor’s note: the Turkish occupation forces in
Cyprus).
The
“higher evaluation council” convened under the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci on Tuesday.
According
to a press release by Akinci’s office, the “higher evaluation council” convened
to discuss the appointment of the Brigadier General as the Deputy Commander of
the “Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Command”.
Self-styled
prime minister Hüseyin Ozgurgun, “Security Forces Commander” Major General Erhan
Uzun and the “Deputy Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Command”
Brigadier General Erdinç Korkuter attended the meeting.
5.
Volkan claims that arrested journalist’s house is the headquarters of FETO in
the breakaway regime
Turkish
Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (03.08.16) wrıtes that the headquarters of the
Fetullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO) in the breakaway regime is located
in occupied Bellapais, at the house of journalist Nazli Ilicak who was arrested
on July 26 for connections with FETO.
The
paper cites information according to which important members of FETO held
meetings at the house, adding that even Fatih Yarimbas, former chairman of the
“Civil Defense Organization” also participated in the meetings. Yarimbas was
also arrested after the July 15 coup.
Volkan
also writes that prior to July 15, on 12-13 of July, meetings were organized
again in this house and a lot of security measures were taken.
(CS)
6.
Atun: 15 million TL subsidiary grants will be allowed for the industrial,
tourism and agriculture sectors
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 02.08.16), the self-styled minister for
economy and energy Sunat Atun announced the “government’s” targets for the
economy sector; particularly the development plans it has for the
industry.
Atun
said that the “government” (editor’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus) aims to simultaneously support the industrial,
agricultural and tourism sectors and strengthen the investments made in these
areas.
He
said that a total of 15 million TL subsidiary grants will be put aside for the
industrial, tourism and agriculture sectors.
Atun
further said that co-finance grant programs, investment credits, funding for
small medium sized enterprises and financial support for tradesmen will
continue.
Referring
to self-styled prime minister Hüseyin Özgürgün’s visit to Ankara, Atun said
that due to this visit the largest 3 year “budget” in history has been received
and signatures been placed for a 3 billion 250 million TL “budget”. He added
that a large amount of the yearly “budget” to be received will be spent on
investments, support for the real sector and infrastructure
work.
7.
“Deputy assembly speaker” Alanli carries out contacts in
Azerbaijan
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 02.08.16), the self-styled deputy speaker
of the “parliament” of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus Hüseyin Avkıran Alanlı, who is currently carrying out contacts in
Azerbaijan, met with the Rector and Vice Rectors of the Azerbaijan State
Pedagogical University.
Speaking
during the meeting, Alanlı stressed that the “TRNC” and Azerbaijan as two
sister “countries”, should exert more efforts towards developing their relations
socially and in the field of politics and education.
Pointing
out that there are many Azeri students studying at “TRNC universities”, he said
“it is very important for our countries – which have strategic importance in the
region – to continue to develop their relations not only in the field of
education but in other fields also”.
8.
Havadis on the Greek Cypriots who do not pay the traffic penalties they get
from breaking the speed limits
Under
the title “Those who were fined are not coming back”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Havadis newspaper (03.08.16) reports that 13,113 Greek Cypriots who crossed to
the occupied area of Cyprus with their vehicles were fined for breaking the
“law” as regards the speed limits in the breakaway regime.
According
to the paper, 9,495 Greek Cypriots were fined by the “police” for the year 2015,
while 3,618 Greek Cypriots were fined for the first five months of 2016. The
paper notes that the majority of the Greek Cypriots do not pay the penalties
since they have to cross again to the occupied area of Cyprus in order to do so.
Havadis writes that the police cannot do anything on the issue and notes that
due to this development the number of vehicles who cross to the occupied area is
reduced, since the Greek Cypriots prefer to cross on foot.
(CS)
9.
Erdogan has strongly accused the West of supporting
terrorism
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (02.08.16), Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan criticized EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini for comments she
made in the immediate aftermath of a recent coup attempt last
month.
"Mrs
Mogherini should have first come to Turkey. Now I ask: 'What would be the
reactions if the Italian parliament was bombed?,'" Erdogan told Italian TV
channel Rainews24 late Tuesday. "When an incident happens in Belgium or in
Paris, when five or 10 people get killed, all of them are crowding together,
aren't they? They wonder what has happened,” he said. “A coup was staged against
the democracy in Turkey and now we have 238 martyrs. Unfortunately no one from
Europe, EU or the [European] Council came to Turkey", Erdogan said as he called
on Mogherini to express empathy for the Turkish state and its people in the wake
of the crisis.
"What
would Mogherini say as an Italian? Would she say, 'They did well. How will the
judicial process go on? I am concerned about it'", Erdogan
said.
His
comments follow Mogherini’s remarks, who just days after the unsuccessful
overthrow of the Turkish government, demanded Ankara adhere to the country’s
Constitution as it investigates those behind the attempted putsch. “We need to
have Turkey respect democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms,” she said
at a meeting of 28 EU Foreign Ministers, alongside U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry.
"All
viruses inside the Turkish Armed Forces, police and judiciary and all state
establishments should be removed," Erdogan said as he slammed the attitude of
western governments toward Turkey following the overthrow
attempt.
"Does
the West take the side of democracy or coup? I think that they take the side of
coup", he said.
Regarding
concerns about a possible reinstatement of the death penalty for those involved
in the failed takeover, Erdogan reiterated his stance that the decision would be
left up to Turkish lawmakers but he cited a strong desire by the Turkish public
for capital punishment.
"We
don't have death sentence in Turkey. The U.S., Japan, China, India, Indonesia,
Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, Taiwan, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Dominican
Republic, Cuba, Bahamas sill have the death sentence. Only the EU member
countries don't have it. Do our people have a demand for it? Yes," he
said.
"Now
almost 75% of public opinion polls show it", Erdogan added, while emphasizing
that Parliament's decision is above all.
Meanwhile,
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 02.08.16) reports that Erdogan slammed
the U.S. administration on Tuesday for not extraditing the head of the Gülenist
Terror Organization (FETÖ), Fethullah Gülen, who lives in self-exile in
Pennsylvania.
Speaking
in Ankara during a high level meeting with international investors, "What kind
of partners are we if you request documents when we ask for a terrorist?"
Erdogan asked the U.S. administration who has been asking for evidence to
extradite Gülen.
Suggesting
that the July 15 failed Gülenist coup attempt had international linkages,
Erdogan said: "The coup attempt had domestic actors, but its scenario was
written abroad, however, they left this nation out of their
equation."
Erdoğan
also criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel for not taking the necessary
steps in the fight against FETÖ and other terrorist groups. "I gave 4,000 files
to Chancellor [Merkel] regarding terror organizations, there was no response
back," he said and added that the German judicial processes did function fast
enough to tackle terror problems.
Erdogan
added that Turkey's western allies lacked support after the coup attempt by
siding with the plotters. "Unfortunately, the West supports terror and sides
with coup plotters," he said.
Criticizing
the U.S. administration for harbouring the FETÖ ringleader Fethullah Gülen,
Erdogan said, "The main [financial] sources of Gülenists are charter schools
operating within the U.S."
10.
Survey finds 88% of Turkish citizens favouring death penalty
According
to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 03.08.16), a recent MAK Consultancy
public survey released on Tuesday found that nearly 90% of respondents support
the death penalty for those involved in the coup attempt. Eighty-eight
percent of respondents support the death penalty and indicated that the
attempted coup was an unforgivable incident.
A
majority of the respondents also believe that the U.S. betrayed Turkey by not
cooperating in the extradition of U.S.-based FETÖ leader Fethullah
Gülen.
In addition to participants' distrust of the U.S., the poll found that some
respondents believe there were foreign powers behind the coup attempt, primarily
the U.S.
According
to the MAK survey, which was conducted with 5,400 participants in face-to-face
interviews on the coup attempt, 70% of respondents said that President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan played a major role in overcoming the coup attempt. Some
participants said that following the FaceTime call from Erdogan for citizens to
go to the streets, his efforts to preserve democracy in Turkey played a vital
role in preventing the coup from succeeding. Despite claims that the state of
emergency is complicating people's daily lives, the survey found a similar 88%
of participants saying that there have been no limitations on their daily lives
due to the state of emergency.
11.
Kurdish names, new provinces proposed for Turkey's
southeast
According
to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 03.08.16), the government presented
a draft bill to Parliament yesterday to rename two provinces and downgrade them
to district status and convert two districts into provinces in southeastern
Turkey. Cizre and Yüksekova will be new provinces and Şırnak and Hakkari
will be downgraded to districts and renamed Nuh and Çölemerik, respectively, if
Parliament approves the draft bill.
The
move about the region embattled with a campaign of violence by the PKK terrorist
organization and resulting clashes with security forces that has stunted
economic growth, is both an incentive to increase funds to Cizre and Yüksekova
and appeal to the predominantly Kurdish population who already refer to Hakkari
as Çölemerik, its original Kurdish name. The proposition was first announced by
then Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu earlier this year. He had said at the time
that the government sought to promote expanding Cizre and Yüksekova, which he
said were more suited to economic growth. Unlike small towns and districts,
provinces receive larger grants to promote development from the central
government.
12.
CHP leader will not attend Erdogan’s democracy rally in
Istanbul
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 02.08.16), main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu will not
attend a rally organized by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan commemorating the
victims of the failed coup attempt of July 15.
The
CHP leader will send a party delegation to attend the “Democracy and Martyrs
Rally”, to be held in Istanbul on Aug. 7.
13.
HDP is left out of inter-party meetings
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 02.08.16) reports that the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Figen Yuksekdag has said that
political reconciliation cannot be created by excluding the will of some 6
million citizens, lashing out at the ruling and other opposition parties
which have reached a common ground of solidarity against the July 15 coup
attempt with the initiative of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Saying
that it was HDP which had made the first call for a leaders’ summit in the wake
of the coup attempt,
Yuksekdag, during her party’s weekly group meeting, said the party was
being excluded from the recent inter-party meetings. “All meetings, summits
formed were made with political actors other than the HDP. If I say summit, do
not get me wrong. The highest summit they can reach is the [presidential]
palace, there is nowhere beyond it. They are trying to create reconciliation by
ignoring us, the will of some 6 million citizens. They will not succeed. We do
not disappear when they ignore us,” said Yuksekdag.
The
HDP co-chair also argued that all regulations carried out by distancing the
country from a democratic method and mentality would pave the way for another
coup, referring to the state of emergency that was put in force by the
government after the failed coup bid.
“By
arranging the military for themselves, by replacing Hakkari’s and Şırnak’s
provincial status with Yüksekova and Cizre, by reshaping the state institutions
according to their will, they cannot change reality,” said Yuksekdag, adding
that they believed it was a right move to put the army under political rule but
civil politics should also be put under democracy and tied to a “democratic
program”.
Yuksekdag
also said the democratic resistance against coups started before the night of
July 15. “We have learned to fight against thousands of pro-coup methods by
experiencing them. By relying on our own power, we will not give in to the
state of emergency regime that is imposed on us under the name of an anti-coup
stance and to the palace coup”, said Yuksekdag.
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