TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA
REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 180/16
21.09.2016
1. Akinci: “The isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots should be
ended”
2. Havadis paper reports that Ban may invite the two leaders in a
meeting like Greentree
3. Ozyigit: The guarantee system should be
continued
4. The New Cyprus Party expressed worries over a possible standstill
at the negotiations
5. The KTTO and Turkey’s TOBB prepared an action plan for the Turkish
franchises in Cyprus after the solution
6. Wastewater is discharged in the sea without refining it
first
7. Erdogan at UN Assembly: “We cannot lose more time for a political
solution in Syria”
8. The Turkish government submitted motion to Parliament to extend
military operations in Syria and Iraq
9. Turkish Foreign Ministry reshuffles 16 Αmbassadors
1. Akinci: “The isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots should
be ended”
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (21.09.16) reports that
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said that the isolation imposed on the
Turkish Cypriots for half a century should be ended, adding that they should
build a new future in which they will live within equality, freedom and
security.
In a statement during his flight to New York, Akinci argued that the
Turkish Cypriot “people” have been imprisoned in this small place, have been cut
off from the world and isolated from the international community.
Akinci further said: “This is a huge injustice to our community. It
is about time to get out from this position and to take the place we deserve.
The isolation for half a century should be ended and we should build a new
future in which we will live with equality, freedom and security. We can do
this. We are going to New York with this determination and political will. We
hope that our determination won’t be unreciprocated”.
(DPs)
2. Havadis paper reports that Ban may invite the two leaders in a
meeting like Greentree
Under the title “A Greentree model meeting on the agenda”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (21.09.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci went to New York in order to meet with President Anastasiades and
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon within the framework of the Cyprus talks for
finding a comprehensive solution.
It is expected at the New York contacts to plan how the negotiations
will be shaped and to prepare the ground for a multipartite meeting, where the
chapter of Security and Guarantees will be discussed.
The paper reports that both leaders will ask from the UN General
Secretary in line with the aim to reach a solution within 2016 to get involved
more in the Cyprus talks. According to diplomatic sources, the Secretary General
may invite Akinci and Anastasiades abroad for a meeting similar to the Greentree
meeting. It is expected that this option will be discussed in detail at the New
York meeting.
(DPs)
3. Ozyigit: The guarantee system should be
continued
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (21.09.16) reports that
Cemal Ozyigit, leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), has said that TDP’s
view on the guarantees issue is clear and added: “The Turkish Cypriots have
taken a series of lessons from painful incidents of the past. For this reason, a
system of guarantees should be continued in a way until the concerns of the
communities on security will be eliminated to the
minimum”.
Evaluating the Cyprus talks, Ozyigit said that he is optimistic about
the solution of the Cyprus problem and added that all issues except territory
have been discussed. “Thereby, there is serious progress on the four chapters
from the six”, he noted.
Noting that it is the first time that reciprocal proposals have been
submitted by the sides on the guarantee issue at the negotiation process,
Ozyigit argued that in case the trilateral meeting in New York proceeds into a
five-partite meeting or a similar intensified process, then the solution is
around the corner.
Referring to the “TRNC citizens”, Ozyigit claimed that both the
“TRNC citizens” and their brothers from Turkey (a total of 220 thousand) will
become citizens of the Federal Cyprus at the moment of the solution.
Ozyigit said that he does not believe that the recognition of the “TRNC” will come
into the agenda in case the Cyprus problem is not solved, but with each
passing day the “TRNC” becomes more dependent on Turkey.
(DPs)
4. The New Cyprus Party expressed worries over a possible
standstill at the negotiations
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (21.09.16) under the
title: “YKP: “We are worrying about the interruption of the talks”, reports
that the New Cyprus Party (YKP) in a written statement, evaluated the latest
developments in the Cyprus negotiation talks and expressed their worries over a
possible interruption of the current negotiation process aiming at reaching to a
comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.
“The United Nations should not allow the talks to come to a
standstill. It should discuss with the parties involved on both sides all the
problems that may exist and exert efforts and open the path for a solution”, the
statement said.
The YKP added also that from the statements made so far, it was
understood that no agreement was achieved on the fundamental issues. Stating
that only a general evaluation was made by the two leaders on the issues related
with the guarantees, the territory and the security issue, the YKP warned that
there are still red lines.
Underlining that the YKP does not want to see the negotiations coming
to a standstill, it called on both leaders to work with determination and
goodwill in order for the negotiation process to yield a positive outcome.
(AK)
5. The KTTO and Turkey’s TOBB prepared an action plan for the
Turkish franchises in Cyprus after the solution
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.09.16) reports that the
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade (KTTO) and the Turkish Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) prepared an “action plan” in order for the Turkish
firms and franchises in the occupied area of Cyprus to be able to buy the
dealership for the whole of Cyprus in a possible solution of the Cyprus problem.
According to the paper, the representatives of the Turkish firms
which are operating in the occupied area of Cyprus, in cooperation with the
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade and the TOBB continue their works towards the
“action plan” prepared, in order to avoid becoming victimized in a possible
solution of the Cyprus problem.
The “action plan” envisages that all “protocols” which were signed so
far between the Turkish firms and their representatives in the “TRNC” will be
revised so that the area of recognition will include the whole of Cyprus and not
only the “TRNC”.
According to the paper, in a meeting which took place last March,
the TOBB has asked all exporters and industrialist who have branches and
franchises in the “TRNC” to amend the framework of the implementation of their
“protocols”.
While this process is still in progress, the paper writes that the
final decision will be received by the Turkish exporters and industrialists and
their franchisers in the “TRNC”.
The paper writes also that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade
and the TOBB have signed a protocol last February called: “Action plan for the
development of cooperation between Turkey and Turkish Cyprus’s business world
and the development of the economy in general”.
(AK)
6. Wastewater is discharged in the sea without refining it
first
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (21.09.16) reports that the
“Chamber of environmental engineers” announced that the wastewater treatment
plants, which operate in the occupied areas of Keryneia, Trikomo and Famagusta
discharge their wastewater in the sea without refining it.
The “Chamber of environmental engineers” feels responsible to share
with the public this incident because their health is also in danger. The paper
publishes photos with the water pollution.
(DPs)
7. Erdogan at UN Assembly: “ We cannot lose more time for a
political solution in Syria”
Turkish daily Sabah (20.09.16) reported that President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called on world leaders at the United Nations to work
towards an immediate political solution to resolve the crisis in
Syria.
Speaking at the 71st United Nations General Council, Erdogan said:
"We cannot lose more time to realize the political resolution process and end
the root of the problem, which is the fighting in Syria, terror and atmosphere
of cruelty."
Erdogan also voiced his disappointment over Western organizations'
and governments' reluctance to help tackle the refugee
crisis.
Reiterating that Turkey has done its share to help refugees by
spending over 25 billion dollars, Erdogan also criticized the UN and EU for not
fulfilling their pledges on providing funds for refugees.
"Turkey has spent over $25 billion while the United Nation, the
platform I am speaking now, only delivered $525 million. There was no support
from the European Union, and UNICEF only sent $178 million and that is it",
Erdoğan told the Assembly.
"The West may not, but we will keep on admitting them [Syrian
refugees], because we are human beings," Erdogan said, lashing out at other
world leaders.
Stating that Syrian people were under the governance of a tyrant,
brute and terrorist while also fighting against the relentless attacks of terror
organizations, Erdogan said the international community failed to carry out its
humanitarian duties in Syria.
"Turkey's incursion into northern Syria in early September had led to
establishing peace, balance and stability in a region taken over by
hopelessness," he also said, stating that the Syrian regime encourages civilians
to either surrender or die.
Supporting that Turkey has no interest in Syrian territory and no
plans to stay there, Erdogan added: “We respect Syria's territorial integrity.
Syria belongs to Syrian people, nobody must have any other plans for
it."
He also accused the European Union of not keeping its promises over
Turkey's EU membership.
Erdogan also demanded international action against the leader of FETÖ
terror group Fetullah Gülen, the mastermind of July 15 coup
attempt.
"I am calling, from this podium, to all our friends, to swiftly take
the necessary measures against the Gülenist terrorist group for their own safety
and the future of their nations", he told the UN General
Assembly.
Gülen's "terrorist network" that threatens the national security of
not only Turley but also other countries, he added.
"It is evident from our experience that if you do not fight the
Gülen network at this stage, it may be too late
later."
Erdogan also said that he takes pride in the Turkish nation for
repelling the coup attempt and showing a very noble
stance.
8. The Turkish government submitted motion to Parliament to extend
military operations in Syria and Iraq
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (21.09.16) reported that the
Turkish government submitted a comprehensive motion to Parliament on September
20 to extend the one-year mandate authorizing the deployment of the Turkish army
into Iraq and Syria and allowing the deployment of foreign troops on Turkish
soil, providing the necessary legality for Turkey’s contribution to the
international coalition’s efforts to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL).
The motion, based on Article 92 of the Constitution, gives permission
for the use of Turkish troops in Iraq and Syria for cross-border operations
against members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), while also
allowing foreign forces to be deployed in Turkish military bases and to transit
through Turkish territory in operations against ISIL.
In 2014, the government merged two existing motions on Syria and Iraq
into one, arguing that the threats posed by terrorist organizations were based
in both countries’ territories.
“Developments in the neighboring regions of Turkey’s southern land
frontiers, and threats derived from ongoing clashes, have increased,” read part
of the motion signed by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.
The proposal also recalled that PKK elements are continuing their
presence in northern Iraq, stressing that both ISIL in northern Syria and the
PKK have carried out attacks against Turkey. The motion underlined the
continuation of Turkey’s activities as part of the international coalition that
was established for the struggle against ISIL and other terrorist organizations.
The mandate will be extended on October 2 after a Parliamentary
debate on October 1.
(…)
9. Turkish Foreign Ministry reshuffles 16
Αmbassadors
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (20.09.16) reported that sixteen
Turkish Ambassadors have been reshuffled, according to a decree published in the
Official Gazette on September 20, according to Anadolu
Agency.
According to a Ministry decision dating back to June 23, the EU
Ministry Undersecretary Rauf Engin Soysal was appointed as Turkey’s Permanent
Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE). Ambassador Ahmet Altay Cengizler was appointed as Turkey’s Permanent
Representative to UNESCO.
Turkey’s Ambassador to Dublin Necip Egüz, Ambassador to Bangkok Osman
Bülent Tulun, Ambassador to Berlin Hüseyin Avni Karslıoğlu and Permanent
Representative to UNESCO Hüseyin Avni Botsalı were recalled to the Foreign
Ministry headquarters in Ankara.
According to a Ministry document on July 26, Ambassador Ali Rifat
Köksal was appointed as Turkey’s Ambassador to Tajikistan’s Dushanbe, Ambassador
Nuri Kaya Bakkalbaşı was appointed as Ambassador to Costa Rica’s San José,
Ambassador Murat Lütem was appointed as Ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador
Haydar Kerem Divanlıoglu was appointed as Ambassador to Myanmar’s Naypyidaw,
Ambassador Murat Karagöz was appointed as Ambassador to Jordan’s Amman, and
İsmail Sefa Yüceer was appointed as Ambassador to Gambia’s
Banjul.
In addition, Ambassador to Singapore Hakkı Taner Seben, Ambassador to
Naypyidaw Murat Yavuz Ateş, Ambassador to Amman Sedat Önal and Ambassador to
Banjul Ergin Soner were also recalled to the Foreign Ministry
headquarters.
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