TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
189/16
01-03.10.2016
1.
Ozgurgun: “We can never permit discussion of Turkey’s active and effective
guarantees”
2.
Ozgurgun held contacts in Turkey
3.
Ertugruloglu: “If the negotiations fail we will look for new options, including
annexation with Turkey”
4.
CHP Deputy claims that the Turkish public is distracted from the Cyprus
negotiation process
5.
Atun announced that Turkey and the occupation regime will prepare a “protocol”
on the transferring of electricity from Turkey to the occupation
regime
6.
Threats against Elcil because of his European Citizen Award
7.
Economic dependency on Turkey is reportedly decreasing
8.
HDP Deputy shares through social media pictures of Turkish army’s atrocities
against women in southeastern Turkey
9.
Izcan said that criminality is out of control in the breakaway regime
10.
The “solidarity movement” asked for explanations from the so-called government
11.
New political party has been established in the occupied area of
Cyprus
12.
Sami Ozulu is the new chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Journalism
Union
13.
An official of the British High Commission confirmed that no change has been
made on the procedure for the expats’ right of driving in the Republic of
Cyprus
14.
Erdogan sends strong messages to EU and the US
15.
Turkey imposed curfews on 13 villages in southeastern
Turkey
16.
Police detain FETÖ leader Gülen's brother in İzmir in anti-terror
operation
17.
Cavusoglu due to Brussels to attend a conference on Afghanistan
1.
Ozgurgun: “We can never permit discussion of Turkey’s active and effective
guarantees”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (03.10.16) 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 can never permit
discussion on Turkey’s “active and effective guarantees” in Cyprus. In
statements to Turkish state TRT television, Ozgurgun described
Turkey’s guarantees as their “thickest red line”.
Alleging
that the Turkish Cypriot side has many times proved its will for an agreement in
Cyprus, Ozgurgun claimed that the Greek Cypriot side has always said “no” to the
agreements, which the Turkish Cypriot side approached positively.
Referring
to the guarantees, he alleged:
“The
Turkish Cypriot people can never abandon motherland Turkey’s active and
effective guarantees. The public opinion polls show that this support is around
90%. The Greek Cypriot side should know this. […] My government and I
[…] will definitely not permit Turkey’s guarantees to be
discussed. We will not give concessions from Turkey’s active and
effective guarantees, we will not permit its discussion. This is our thickest
red line which should be underlined, because the issue of security requires much
more importance in the modern world of today. […]”
Ozgurgun
further claimed that bi-zonality should clearly be preserved and the fact that
the Turkish Cypriot “people” are equal to the Greek Cypriots should not be
forgotten. “If the Greek Cypriot side accepts this, the solution will be found
immediately”, he alleged
and claimed that the Greek Cypriot side does not accept this. “Let us see
things from the opposite side. If we accept what the Greek Cypriot side wants, a
solution will immediately be found”, he argued.
Replying
to a question regarding the tripartite meeting in New York, Ozgurgun said
that
he does not see a lot of agreements and that the negotiations will
continue from the point they remained. He argued that when elections take place
in either of the sides, problems are experienced in the negotiations. Recalling
the presidential elections of 2018 in the government-controlled area of the
island, Ozgurgun alleged that entering into the pre-election climate would
prolong the negotiations.
Ozgurgun
also claimed that the Greek Cypriots “have the mentality” that they are the
internationally recognized state which is an EU member, that the Turkish
Cypriots are a minority and that they discuss with the Turkish Cypriots only for
giving them minority rights. He alleged that because of this mentality the
Greek Cypriots think that the natural gas and everything else belong to them and
say that “I cannot discuss it with the minorities”. “What are you going to agree
with this mentality”, he wondered arguing that the natural gas belongs to
both communities of the island. He alleged: “They [the Greek Cypriots] try to
turn this issue into a fait accompli. If such a thing happens, the necessary
measures will be taken. We should not permit for the rights of the Turkish
Cypriots to be usurped”.
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (01.10.16) reported that in statements
to Turkish A Haber, Ozgurgun commented on the tripartite meeting held in New
York and claimed that he does not see hope for a solution by the end of 2016
in an environment in which the Greek Cypriot side does not abandon its
“demands”. “If you surrender it will happen”, he alleged after
referring which the demands of the Greek Cypriots are. “However, neither
Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriots will accept such a thing”, he
added.
Ozgurgun
claimed that the Turkish Cypriots do not need an agreement which will be
materialized by “giving everything by force”.
He argued that the Greek Cypriot side is in the same way obliged to an agreement
and that the Greek Cypriot side’s rights are not more than the ones of the
Turkish Cypriot side.
Noting
that the Greek Cypriots accept to meet with Turkish Cypriots abroad only as two
communities under the auspices of the UN, Ozgurgun alleged that looking at the
negotiations within this framework, it is not right to have many
hopes.
Ozgurgun
once more criticized the statement made by UNSG’s special adviser on Cyprus,
Espen Barth Eide, who had said that “guarantees are outdated”. He argued that
Eide had no right or competence to issue such a statement on the guarantees and
described this statement as “inconsistent and wrong”.
Ozgurgun
further alleged that the Turkish Cypriots were forced to launch the negotiations
in 2008.
He argued that this decision and behaving as if the Turkish Cypriots were
obliged to reach an agreement is wrong. “We beg no one for an agreement
and we are not going to give everything away because we need an agreement”, he
added.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Ozgurgun held contacts in Turkey
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (03.10.16) reports that Huseyin
Ozgurgun, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, has visited Turkey to attend the opening
ceremony for the commencement of the work of the Grand Turkish National
Assembly. During his visit in Ankara, Ozgurgun met with Deputy Prime
Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Tugrul Turkes, Minister of Forests and
Water Affairs, Veysel Eroglu and Minister of Economy, Nihat Zeybekci. During
the meetings, Ozgurgun discussed the ongoing projects and investments in the
occupied area of Cyprus as well as investment issues as regards the water
transferred from Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Ertugruloglu: “If the negotiations fail we will look for new options, including
annexation with Turkey”
Turkish
daily Hurriyet daily (01.10.16) published an interview by self-styled foreign
minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu who held various contacts in Washington.
Ertugruloglu
stated that if the current negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem
fail, the Turkish Cypriot community will start looking for other options,
including the annexation with Turkey.
He
said that he has no hopes that a solution will be reached in 2016 and added that
this opinion is not connected only with the current solution procedure. “Because
is not possible to leave the table with an agreement on the basic of equality at
a negotiating process which is not being conducted on a basis of equality”, he
claimed.
He
stated that due to the 2018 presidential elections, in which the Greek Cypriots
will be focused on as from the first months of 2017, only around five months for
negotiations remain. Therefore, he said, during this remained period, either we
will leave the table reaching an agreement or we will agree upon the
non-agreement.
Ertugruloglu
stated that despite all the issues Ankara faces at the international arena,
Ankara continues to show its sensitivity and determination on the Cyprus
problem. “Because Ankara knows this very well: A Turkey that will lose in the
Cyprus issue, it will not be able to remain standing in any other issue. I have
no worries over this. Ankara will continue to be well and sound”, he
stated.
(CS)
4.
CHP Deputy claims that the Turkish public is distracted from the Cyprus
negotiation process
Under
the title: “Warning for the (Cyprus) negotiation process”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Vatan newspaper (03.10.16) reports that Aytun Ciray, Izmir Deputy with the
Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Turkey warned that there is an effort of
distracting the public opinion in Turkey from the “crucial developments” that
are taking place on the Cyprus problem.
According
to the paper, Caray, who issued a warning to the Turkish Foreign Ministry,
stated that the public opinion is distracted by the “very sad” internal issues
of Turkey, as a result of the 15 July failed coups, the deep economic crisis,
PKK attacks and the Syria issue.
He
went on adding that an agreement was signed between the Republic of Cyprus and
Israel for gas exploration and that even the guarantees of Turkey at the island
are put in danger during the talks. He also referred to the results of the
referendum of the Annan Plan and claimed that after the results the Greek
Cypriot side put obstacles in front of Turkey’s EU bid.
(CS)
5.
Atun announced that Turkey and the occupation regime will prepare a “protocol”
on the transferring of electricity from Turkey to the occupation
regime
Under
the front-page title: “Electricity is coming from Turkey”, Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (03.10.16) reports that the so-called
minister of economy and energy Sunat Atun, in statements during a meeting he
held with the “chamber of electrical engineers”, announced that he will meet in
the next days with the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Berak
Albayrak in order to prepare a “protocol” concerning the illegal transferring of
electricity from Turkey to the “TRNC” via undersea cables.
Underlining
the increasing needs of the occupation regime every passing day on energy, Atun
said that he will exert efforts together with the Turkish Minister to prepare a
“protocol” for the transferring of electricity from Turkey and added that as
soon as it is prepared, it will be signed by the “ministers” of the two
“countries”.
He further said that the transferring of electricity from Turkey to the “TRNC”
with undersea cables will contribute to “human health, the environment and the
renewable energy”.
(AK)
6.
Threats against Elcil because of his European Citizen Award
Under
the title “Let us clean up the supporters of the Greeks”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Afrika newspaper (03.10.16) reports that fascist attacks took
place through the social media against Sener Elcil, general secretary of the
Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Trade Union (KTOS), who has been granted the European
Citizen Award. According to the paper, except for insults there have been
threats against Elcil’s life.
Some
persons wrote: “Just like Erdogan cleaned up the FETO supporters, let us
clean up these supports of the Greeks” or “Kick him out of the TRNC”.
A settler from Turkey named Abdullah Iskey said: “I have named my dog at home
Sener Elcil. The dog has not been eating for two days. It seems that it is
offended”.
(I/Ts.)
7.
Economic dependency on Turkey is reportedly decreasing
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (03.10.16) reports that the
donations and credits taken from Turkey for the breakaway regime’s “public”
current expenditure have seriously decreased during the past few years.
Citing
data obtained from the “ministry of finance”, the paper writes that Turkey’s
monthly aids and credits were 140 million 175 thousand Turkish liras (TL) in
2011 and decreased to 53 million 374 thousand TL in 2015.
According
to the donation and credit “protocols” signed for 2016, Turkey has committed
to give the breakaway regime one billion 404 million 380 thousand 406,46 TL this
year.
The
“donations protocol” for 2016
provides for total donations of 927.895.149,55 TL, which are distributed
as following:
1.
Investments: 432.775.234,65 TL
2.
Real Sector Support: 177.000.000,05 TL
3.
Defense: 307.119.914,85 TL
4.
Incentives Fund: 11.000.000,00 TL
The
“credits protocol” for 2016
provides for total credits of 476.485.256,91 TL, which are distributed as
following:
1.
Contribution to the “budget” deficit: 200.000.000,00 TL
2.
“Public” Sector (Other): 76.485.256,91 TL
3.
Reform Support Fund: 200.000.000,00 TL
(I/Ts.)
8.
HDP Deputy shares through social media pictures of Turkish army’s atrocities
against women in southeastern Turkey
Under
the title “Behold the skills of the army the guarantees of which you
want”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (02.10.16)
published on its front page three pictures which Sirri Sureyya Onder, Member
of the Turkish Parliament with the Peoples’ Democracy Party (HDP), has shared
through social media. The pictures show the bodies of naked dead women on
the streets of Kurdish cities [in southeastern Turkey]. The paper notes that
these pictures “freeze one’s blood” and that Onder strongly criticized the women
organizations which remained silent to this “savagery”. He
wrote:
“The
supporters of women rights, who have reacted because they suffered men violence
due to the fact that they were wearing shorts in a bus, their representatives,
the feminist groups remained silent for the women killed in Yuksekova, [and] in
Varto and their bodies were exhibited in the middle of the streets. Because, for
these liberal fascists the most important is always the identity [of the
victim]”.
(I/Ts.)
9.
Izcan said that criminality is out of control in the breakaway regime
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (02.10.16) reported that Izzet Izcan, the
chairman of the United Cyprus Party blamed the so-called government for the rise
of the crime rate in the breakaway regime.
Izcan
said that the increase in rapes and robberies is an indication that the
situation is out of control in the breakaway regime. He also accused the
“government” of following a wrong policy as regards issues on population, labor
and “citizenships”, arguing that this is one of the reasons that led the crime
rate to escalate.
“All
these are a result of the weak and hideous governing”, he
stated.
(CS)
10.
The “solidarity movement” asked for explanations from the so-called government
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (02.10.16) reported that the “solidarity
movement” in the occupied area of Cyprus in a written statement condemned the
“decision” taken by the so-called council of ministers in the breakaway regime
on September 29, regarding the rending of a 20 thousand squares meters plot of
land belonging to the “state” to the “founding rector” of the illegal “Near East
university” Suat Gursel for a period of 49 years.
According
to the paper, the plot of land is located near to the sea in occupied
Keryneia area and it is considered as one of the most beautiful areas in the
“country”.
In
the light of this development, the “solidarity movement” described the
“ministerial council decision” as worrisome
and asked from the so-called government to make statements on the issue. “It
is worrisome the fact that one of the most beautiful public areas to be given as
bribe”, said the “solidarity movement” in its statement.
(AK)
11.
New political party has been established in the occupied area of
Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (03.10.16) reports that the founding meeting
for the transferring of the “Rebirth movement” operating in the occupied area of
Cyprus into a political party took place yesterday.
According
to the paper, Erhan Arikli has been elected as the “founding chairman” of the
“Rebirth Party” and Turan Buyukyilmaz as “general secretary”.
Commenting
on the social media about the “founding of the party”, Arikli thanked the
Turkish settlers who are mainly the supporters for the support and said that
they came to “power” with their support.
(AK)
12.
Sami Ozulu is the new chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Journalism
Union
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (02.10.16) reports that Sami Ozulu was
elected as the new chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Journalism
Union.
The
elections for the Union’s new board were held on Saturday.
(CS)
13.
An official of the British High Commission confirmed that no change has been
made on the procedure for the expats’ right of driving in the Republic of
Cyprus
Under
the front-page title: “Expats turned away at border”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Cyprus Today newspaper in English (01.10.16) reported that an official of the
British High Commission in Cyprus has confirmed that “non-Cypriots are free to
drive the TRNC’s registered vehicles” in the free area of the Republic of
Cyprus. The issue came to light after a “misunderstanding” led to expats
motorists being turned away by officials in Agios Dometios crossing point in
Lefkosia.
In
statements to the paper, the British High Commission Vice-Consul Christina
Smith said that the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus had confirmed to her
that there had been no change to procedures. “We were informed that there was a
misunderstanding at the crossing point about the application of UN regulations
but this has now been resolved and people are free to cross”, Smith said.
(…)
14.
Erdogan sends strong messages to EU and the US
Turkish
daily Hurriyet Daily News (02.10.16) reported that Turkey’s President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan addressing the Parliament for the start of the legislative year
on October 1st, stated that the EU must decide whether it wants to
continue on its path with or without Turkey, describing the ongoing impasse
between Ankara and Brussels as "the end of the game".
"If
the EU wants to admit Turkey as a full member based on an objective assessment,
there is no obstacle to that. We are ready. But if they have no intention of
admitting us and think they can continue stalling the process through
unreasonable demands, they are wrong. They should know that that game is over”,
Erdogan said, adding: "It's the EU's choice whether to continue on its path
with or without Turkey. They will make that choice themselves. They should not
try to throw this responsibility on our shoulders through their cunning
tactics”.
(…)
"October
is important in terms of our relations with the EU. As you all know, the
visa-free regime that the European Union promised to Turkey is supposed to enter
into force this month," Erdogan said, claiming that Brussels was attempting to
make Turkey compromise "in the fight against
terrorism."
"Let
me be clear on this: This attitude is an explicit manifestation of the fact that
the European Union does not want to keep its promise to Turkey. Let me be
clearer still: Let them decide!" he added.
Erdogan
also slammed the U.S. for the "inconsistency and disjointedness" of its policies
on the Middle East,
as one part of the Obama administration continues to insist on allying with
Syria's Democratic Union Party (PYD), an organization that Ankara regards as an
associate of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"We
are making efforts to continue our relations with the U.S. in the spirit of our
traditional alliance.
However,
we have been witnessing grave signs of inconsistency and disjointedness in U.S.
policies in our region, particularly in recent times," Erdogan said.
"A
section of the U.S. administration insists on working jointly with the
PKK/PYD-YPG [People's Protection Units] terrorist organization in Syria and
Iraq, while another section tries to pursue policies that are sympathetic to our
sensitivities," he added.
"This
situation is apparently caused by the upcoming presidential elections in the
U.S., so we will continue to work to solve this problem without harming the
vital interests of our country," Erdogan said.
15.
Turkey imposed curfews on 13 villages in southeastern
Turkey
Turkish
daily Yeni Safak online in English (01.10.16) reported that the Turkish
authorities have restored an open-ended curfew on 13 villages, located in Lice
and Hani towns in Diyarbakır province, ahead of a sweeping operation to wipe out
terrorists, linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) operating in the
mountainous area nearby, according to the Governor's office.
The
new measure came into effect at 05:00 (local time) and remain in place until
further notice, the statement said.
The
Governor said that the security forces will launch a major operation to search
for terrorist groups operating in the hills near the town of Lice and Hani,
contain their local collaborators and destroy the terrorists' weapon positions
as well as targets used by terrorists as shelter, bunker and facilities.
People
will not be allowed to go outside their homes until a second notification. "It
is important for citizens to follow the ban for the security of their lives and
property," the government's statement said.
16.
Police detain FETÖ leader Gülen's brother in İzmir in anti-terror
operation
Turkish
daily Sabah (02.10.16) reported that Kutbettin Gülen, the brother of Fetullah
Gülen, the mastermind of the failed July 15 coup attempt, has been arrested by
Turkish police in an anti-terror operation in İzmir province on charges of
"being a member of an armed terrorist organization."
Gülen
was detained after anti-terror police started searching for him after receiving
a tip-off that he was staying at the home of a relative in the Gaziemir district
of the western province of İzmir.
Kutbettin
Gülen was dismissed from a printing house operating under Kaynak Holding after
the state appointed trustees to the company in 2015 for its links to the
Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).
Fetullah
Gülen has five brothers: Seyfullah and Hasbi, who are dead, and Mesih, Salih and
Kutbettin. He also has two sisters, Nurhayat and Fazilet. Their current
whereabouts are not known.
In
July, the police arrested Gülen's nephew Muhammet Sait Gülen in the eastern
province of Erzurum. Another nephew, Ahmet Ramiz Gülen, was arrested in August
in the southeastern province of Gaziantep.
(…)
17.
Cavusoglu due to Brussels to attend a conference on Afghanistan
Turkish
daily Sabah (online in English-02.10.16) reported that Foreign Minister
Mevlut Cavusoglu is set to attend the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan that
will be co-hosted by the European Union and Afghanistan on Oct. 4-5.
The
international community will also attend efforts to secure financial aid until
2020 to rebuild the war-torn nation. As a close partner of Afghanistan with deep
historical, political and economic ties, Turkey has been participating in the
conference series on rebuilding Afghanistan since its commencement in
2002.
The U.S. Special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson,
recently stated in Washington that the upcoming Brussels conference is to
compile pledges of over $3 billion a year toward Afghanistan's development
support.
The
conferences affirm the international communities' commitment to support
Afghanistan's development; and further assembly meetings where financial support
toward the war-torn country will be discussed. In addition to bilateral
assistance, Turkey is also taking part in the efforts of the international
community to support Afghanistan's reconstruction, as the Central Asian country
undergoes a transformation period.
The
recently released statement by the Foreign Ministry indicates that Minister
Cavusoglu is also to announce Turkey's development assistance pledge for the
period of 2018-2020 during the Brussels Conference.
Afghan
President Ashraf Ghani and EU President Donald Tusk will host the event. More
than 70 countries along with 25 international organizations are expected to
attend the conference. It has been further noted that U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry, and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will also attend the
conference on Tuesday.
