TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
212/16
04.11.2016
1.
Briefings by Akinci on the Cyprus problem prior to Switzerland
2.
The occupation regime’s “government” does not allow technical experts to
accompany Akinci to Switzerland
3.
Celik: Talks on the issue of Guarantees is out of question for
Turkey
4.
Cavusoglu wishes the talks in Switzerland to become an important opportunity for
a solution in Cyprus
5.
Turkish Deputy Minister of Interior is visiting the occupied area of Cyprus for
security inspections
6.
Columnist views the Turkish Cypriots’ option on a possible Cyprus
settlement
7.
Turkish settlers want a “balanced population” in Cyprus and more “citizenships”
to be granted by the regime
8.
The Turkish occupation army demanded the return of a building for security
reasons
9.
New investments in transportation will take place in the breakaway regime in
2017
10.
Self-styled minister of labor attended the OIC conference for
women
11.
The breakaway regime was included in the map2heal health internet
platform
12.
Celik: Turkey vows to extend state of emergency ‘until threat is fully
eradicated’
13.
Cavusoglu demands Switzerland to take measures against
PKK
14.
Cavusoglu: Turkey may suspend migrant deal before end of 2016 if EU fails with
visa-free regime
15.
Erdogan: Germany is harbouring terrorists
16.
Opposition HDP co-chairs and Deputies detained in police
raids
17.
Eight killed and more than 100 wounded in attack in
Diyarbakır
18.
CHP leader: Turkey is ‘drifting in a dangerous
direction’
19.
Minister calls on Turkish mothers to ‘change lullabies’ to emphasize Erdogan’s
‘2071 aims’
20.
US dollar reaches new record high against Turkish Lira at
3,1375
1.
Briefings by Akinci on the Cyprus problem prior to Switzerland
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (04.11.16) reports that both
President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will make
statements tonight to TV stations prior to their departure to Switzerland where
they will continue the Cyprus talks between 7 and 11 November.
Akinci’s
statements will be broadcast by the Turkish Cypriot TV stations. Akinci will
reply to the questions of journalists from seven TV stations.
The press conference will start at 21.30 [20.30 Cyprus Time].
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.11.16) reports that this
morning Akinci was also expected to brief the political parties represented in
the “assembly” as regards the Cyprus talks.
(I/Ts.)
2.
The occupation regime’s “government” does not allow technical experts to
accompany Akinci to Switzerland
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.11.16) reports that the
“government” of the occupation regime in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus has not allowed experts on technical issues to accompany Turkish Cypriot
Akinci to Switzerland within the framework of the Cyprus talks, in spite of the
fact that Akinci asked this in writing.
The
paper notes that the “government” has banned these experts from accompanying
Akinci by giving them an oral instruction. “The Geneva Summit which will be
held in three stages between 7-11 November, was endangered because of the
arbitrary ban to travel abroad brought by the government for the technical
experts”, reports Kibris pointing out that this stance of the “government”
came after the support expressed to Akinci for the negotiations by “prime
minister” Ozgurgun and “deputy prime minister” Denktas following their recent
meeting with him. The paper writes that a few days ago it had been stated that
President Anastasiades would be accompanied by experts from the land and surveys
department, the population registry and the city planning bureau.
According
to information cited by Kibris, during the first two days of the talks in
Switzerland, the unsolved issues on the first four chapters will be discussed in
an effort to achieve the biggest possible progress. In the second stage,
the criteria as regards the “adjustment of the administrative borders” will
be discussed and in case an agreement is reached on the criteria, the
negotiations will pass into the third stage and the last phase. In this
stage, the date of the five-party conference will be simultaneously
determined and announced, for the discussion and conclusion of the security
and guarantees chapter, in order for being able to work on the map of the
“border adjustments” based on the agreed criteria.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Celik: Talks on the issue of Guarantees is out of question for
Turkey
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 04.11.16), Turkey’s Minister for EU
Affairs and Chief Negotiator Omer Celik has said that the issue of Guarantees is
not open to discussion from Turkey’s point of view.
Pointing
out that a new and good atmosphere has been achieved in Cyprus, Celik said that
Turkey welcomes developments regarding the Cyprus problem.
Speaking
at a press conference following his contacts in Athens, Celik argued that Ankara
has always adopted a positive and constructive stance regarding the Cyprus issue
and added: “Both sides have explicitly stated that they have achieved
significant progress on a wide array of issues. The issue of security and
guarantees will ultimately be taken up at a multiparty conference with the
participation of the three guarantor powers. The talks seem to be moving along
in a positive atmosphere. This is the nature of negotiations but we can’t say
everything is complete until we have finalized the
talks”.
Reminding
that the Greek Cypriots, contrary to the Turkish Cypriots, had voted
overwhelmingly against a settlement in the last referendum held in Cyprus in
2004, the Turkish EU Affairs Minister said: “There is a new process. It seems
that a new spirit has been achieved and we welcome this. We shall see the
outcome in the near future”.
Responding
to a question regarding Greece’s objection to the continuation of guarantees in
Cyprus, Celik said that from Turkey’s point of view, this issue is not open
to discussion. “We will not enter into such a discussion and will not allow it
to become an issue of discussion”, he added.
4.
Cavusoglu wishes the talks in Switzerland to become an important opportunity
for a solution in Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.11.16) reports that Turkish Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has wished that the negotiations to be held
next week in Switzerland on the Cyprus problem to constitute an important
opportunity for finding a solution in the island.
In
statements yesterday in Bern during a joint press conference with his Swiss
counterpart,
Cavusoglu said that during their meeting they discussed the developments in
Cyprus, Iraq and Syria and agreed to meet more often.
Noting
that they prefer to sincerely and openly discuss on all the above-mentioned
issues, Cavusoglu added: “We are not obliged to agree on every issue. The
important thing is the continuation of the dialogue. Our meeting today was
important from this point of view”.
The
Turkish Minister said that they appreciate Switzerland’s mediation efforts and
its objective and balanced stance in the international developments and added
that this is why many international meetings are held in this country. Recalling
that Switzerland will host the negotiations on the Cyprus problem next week,
Cavusoglu said: “I hope that the negotiations here will constitute an
important opportunity for a solution in Cyprus”.
(I/Ts.)
5.
Turkish Deputy Minister of Interior is visiting the occupied area of Cyprus
for security inspections
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (04.11.16) reports that the Turkish Deputy
Minister of Interior Sabahattin Ozturk, is paying an illegal visit to the
breakaway regime.
According
to the paper, the Turkish Deputy Minister is having contacts and inspections as
well as feasibility studies “for the security measures systems of cities and the
police security measures”.
(CS)
6.
Columnist views the Turkish Cypriots’ option on a possible Cyprus
settlement
Turkish
Cypriot columnist Metin Munir, writing in Turkish daily T24 newspaper (online
only, 01.11.16), under the title “Turkish Cypriots' Options”, penned the
following commentary:
“The
Cyprus question cannot be resolved unless one of the two sides changes its
position radically. Which side can this be?
Turkish
Cypriots have two options in front of them:
-
To meet the Greek Cypriot demands for the return of land to a large extent and
continue as one of the two parts of a federal country and an EU
member.
-
To refuse the Greek Cypriot demands and exist for ever as a country that is not
recognized and does not have a passport or an address.
Both
options carry risks.
Living
with Greek Cypriots side by side on a united island runs the risk of falling
under their rule once again, as it was the case before 1974, being crushed under
Greek Cypriots' superior economic power, and one day facing violence at the
hands of Greek Cypriots once again.
The
risk that comes with maintaining the status quo is to be condemned to living in
a place between heaven and hell, to live with an uncertain future, and
ultimately disappear under Turkey's heavy demographic and business
pressure.
Even
to be annexed by Turkey.
There
are two significant costs involved in living side by side with Greek Cypriots in
a federal structure:
-
To return some of the ‘TRNC’ [translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] land to the Greek
Cypriots.
-
Sometime after a settlement is reached, to give up on Turkey's guarantee and its
military presence on the ‘TRNC’.
The
Turkish Cypriots will give up land and property and in return, will become, once
again, stakeholders in the Republic of Cyprus.
I
am aware that I am oversimplifying the matter.
However,
the heart of the matter lies in these simple but difficult
options.
*
The
Turkish soldiers who landed on the island in 1974 (translator’s note: he refers
to the Turkish invasion in 1974 in Cyprus) transferred a large part of the
wealth owned by Greek Cypriots to the Turkish Cypriots. Tens of thousands of
acres of land, coastlines, factories, houses, cars, banks with safes full of
money.
Some
80% of the ‘TRNC land’ belongs to the Greek Cypriots who hold the relevant title
deeds.
By
using those Greek Cypriot assets as capital, Turkish Cypriots became richer or
at least raised their living standards.
However,
those assets were not ours then nor are these ours now. It is imperative that
some of those assets are returned.
Peace
cannot be achieved with Greek Cypriots without accepting this
reality.
What
will the Greek Cypriots give, you might ask.
The
Greek Cypriots will hand over to the Turkish Cypriots some share of the
governance of the Republic of Cyprus. The Turks will become partners in the
governance of the country as they were in 1960. The island will be governed
jointly. The presidency will rotate; Turkish and Greek Cypriots will sit side by
side in the national assembly and the senate. The Central Bank and all other
significant institutions will be governed jointly.
(…)
In
short, Turkish Cypriots will give up land and property and in return, will
become, once again, stakeholders in the Republic of
Cyprus.
The
Greek Cypriots will give up their monopoly within the Republic and the Turkish
Cypriots will agree to living in a smaller area under a more limited and
temporary guarantee of the Republic of Turkey.
Can
this trade-off materialize?
I
am not optimistic.
The
Greek Cypriots got used to the idea of sharing the government with the Turkish
Cypriots. However, Turkish Cypriots are still not very keen on the idea of
making concessions about the guarantees or land. The biggest reason for this is
the justified mistrust they feel toward Greek Cypriots.
As
far as the Greek Cypriots are concerned, a settlement is a step on the path to
controlling the entire island once again like they did before 1974. They know
that.
In
this case, is there any chance for this question to be
resolved?
Mustafa
Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades will start looking for the
answer to this question in a week's time in the Swiss town of Mont Pelerin.
Perhaps for the last time.”
7.
Turkish settlers want a “balanced population” in Cyprus and more
“citizenships” to be granted by the regime
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (04.11.16) reports that Erhan
Arikli, chairman of the Revival Party (YDP), has denied that they are the
“settlers’ party” and alleged that they are the party of those “considered as
the ‘Others’ and are oppressed”. In statements yesterday during a visit to Yeni
Duzen’s headquarters, Arikli expressed his “cautious support” to Turkish
Cypriot leader Akinci in the negotiations for solving the Cyprus problem and
said: “If the territorial concession is kept at the minimum level and our
people do not become refugees again, if Turkey’s active and effective guarantees
are protected, and if bi-zonality is preserved, we will say yes to such a
solution”.
Asked
whether their view on the territory issue is that “not even a span of territory
should be given”, Arikli replied that “we do not have such a view”.
Referring
to the issue of the “citizenships”, he said that they see it on the basis of the
“balances of population” on the island and alleged: “Steps in the direction
of the protection of the balance of population should be made in the island.
Therefore, first the Turkish Cypriots living abroad should be encouraged to
return to the island. As a second step, the practice of incentives for
births should be launched. If, in spite of this, the necessary population
balance is not ensured, new citizenships should be given according to
criteria. We do not support the practice of massively granting citizenships,
which was implemented in the past. However, the persons who have become 20
years old and became illegal because of various reasons should be established
and be granted the TRNC citizenship. The TRNC identity should be annulled
for persons who bear this identity, but do not carry out any of their duties, do
not come to the country and do not pay their taxes”.
(I/Ts.)
8.
The Turkish occupation army demanded the return of a building for security
reasons
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (04.11.16) reports that the health centre which
was operating in an area in the occupied part of Lefkosia called “Domuzcular”,
was closed down upon a demand of the Turkish occupation
army.
According
to the paper, the self-styled deputy minister of health Kemal Deniz Dana stated
that the health center was in a building that belongs to the army and the health
services had to move to another place because the army asked for the return of
the building.
According
to the paper, the Turkish occupation army asked the building back “for security
reasons”.
(CS)
9.
New investments in transportation will take place in the breakaway regime in
2017
Turkish
Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (04.11.16) reports that the self-styled
minister of transportation and public works, Kemal Durust, stated that big
investments will take place in the breakaway regime in 2017 in the field of
transportation.
Durust
stated that among the projects planned is an overpass pedestrian bridge in
occupied Gionelli, and eight escape hatches that will reduce traffic. This
project will be launched in one month and will cost 11 million Turkish
Lira.
In
addition he said that the road starting from the Gionell round about and goes
until Keryneia and Mia Milia will be paved with asphalt. Moreover the works for
the completing of the road from Gerolakos to Mia Milia, which was not finished
for some years now, will be speeded up.
Finally,
he stated that the infrastructure to ease the way for the 4G system for mobile
phones will be strengthened and steps towards the “privatization” of ports will
take place as well.
(CS)
10.
Self-styled minister of labour attended the OIC conference for women
Turkish
Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (04.11.16) reports that the self-styled minister
of labor and social security, Hamza Ersan Saner, attended the OIC’s 6th
Ministers meeting on “The role of women on development of OIC member countries”.
The
meeting took place in İstanbul with the participation of 56 OIC member
countries. It was organized between 1-3 November 2016 under the auspices of the
Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Policies with participation of the Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Addressing
the event, Saner provided information about the position of women in politics
and the work place in the breakaway regime. He said that according to a report
prepared by the World Bank for the “TRNC”, men with 62.1% participation in the
work place were close to the EU average of 64.9%.
He
however added that the participation of women which was 35.9% was far below the
EU average of 50.8%.
“18.1%
of women who do not work are housewives. A lack of advanced child care and
geriatric care service in the country as well as wage discrimination for women
in the private sector are the two main obstacles for the participation of women
in the labour market” Saner said.
Stating
that mainly men dominated politics in the “TRNC”, he said the representation of
women in “parliament” was only 10%.
Saner
also provided information about the work carried out by the “ministry of labor
and social security” and the “TRNC parliament” for increasing the employment of
women.
Saner
also stressed the importance of the support of the OIC countries to the “just
cause of the Turkish Cypriots”, as he stated.
(CS)
11.
The breakaway regime was included in the map2heal health internet
platform
Turkish
Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (04.11.16) reports that the breakaway regime was
included in the https://map2heal.com/
internet platform which provides information about doctors and medicine services
in Turkey. This is a very big opening for the efforts that the breakaway regime
is making regarding “health tourism”, the paper notes.
Speaking
during a television program, “minister of tourism” Fikri Ataoglu, stated that
this is a very positive development for tourism in the occupied area of Cyprus
and added that their aim is the increase of health tourism in the coming years.
(CS)
12.
Celik: Turkey vows to extend state of emergency ‘until threat is fully
eradicated’
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 04.11.16), the
Turkish government has signalled a long-term implementation of the state of
emergency, with EU Minister Omer Celik saying it will continue throughout the
struggle against coup plotters and describing it as the only mechanism to “fully
eradicate the threat posed by the Gülenists”.
“We
have no luxury to take risks and leave the issue be resolved on its own. It’s
clear that we should continue until we are sure they are fully rooted out. The
state of emergency is an essential mechanism to this end. You can’t fight them
with any other mechanism,” Celik told journalists accompanying him on his trip
to Athens on Nov. 2 and 3.
On
ongoing discussions about reinstating the death penalty, which could severe ties
between Ankara and Brussels, EU Minister Celik echoed the government’s line but
underlined the importance of “following the process” and stressed that political
and technical work on the issue would continue for some more
time.
“At
the end of the day, the people are the boss of the politician. Politicians need
to heed the people’s demands,” he said, while criticizing the EU’s “weak
support” for the Turkish government after the coup
attempt.
“The
EU left Turkey alone after the coup attempt. This had an impact on the people’s
approach [to voicing the death penalty]. It has been months since the coup
attempt and the president of the European Commission has still yet to visit
Turkey. It should be remembered that one of the most important reasons why the
Turkish people have supported the EU process was in order to guard against
potential coups and the tutelary regime,” Celik argued.
He
also addressed recent developments on negotiations over Brussels granting visa
liberalization to Turkish nationals in return for implementing the Readmission
Agreement on refugees, a process that has been stalled due to disagreement on
the definition of terrorism. “They have sent us a new paper. We are analysing
this. Next week we’ll have a meeting with our Interior, Justice and Foreign
Ministers. If the paper still insists on a change to our anti-terror laws, we
won’t accept it. The process will be dead if there is no new picture. Then we’ll
annul the Readmission Agreement,” Celik threatened.
On
Turkey’s EU membership negotiation process, Ankara’s rising pressure on freedom
of the press is among the reasons why the opening of new accession chapters has
been stalled.
“They
talk about freedom of the press, freedom of expression. We tell them, ‘You are
talking without knowing the content of these cases. We show no hesitancy. Let’s
open chapters 23 and 24 and discuss these issues openly and in a concrete way”,
Çelik said.
Chapters
23 and 24 on the judiciary, freedoms and other key issues, are currently under
blockage by Cyprus.
13.
Cavusoglu demands Switzerland to take measures against
PKK
According
to Turkish daily Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.11.16), the Turkish Foreign
Minister has demanded Thursday that Switzerland and other countries either take
measures against PKK terrorists or extradite them.
Speaking
in a joint press conference with his Swiss counterpart Didier Burkhalter in
Bern, Cavusoglu argued: “Our demands from Switzerland and other countries with
regards to [the fight against] terrorism are totally within the scope of
international law”.
"We
want measures taken against the PKK [...], or extradition of those terrorists
within the framework of international law," he said, adding Turkey had demanded
that the terrorists receive "necessary" punishment.
Cavusoglu
said it was Turkey's "natural right" to ask Switzerland to take measures against
people and institutions linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization
(FETO).
He
added that the Turkish community in Switzerland was under "great pressure" due
to their condemnation of the terrorist acts of the PKK and the
FETO.
Burkhalter,
for his part, said Switzerland paid "great" attention to the relations with
Turkey. "It is very important for us to maintain a political dialogue [with
Turkey], as well as mutual relations, and to work together on the issues both in
Turkey and in the region," he added.
14.
Cavusoglu: Turkey may suspend migrant deal before end of 2016 if EU fails
with visa-free regime
According
to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 04.11.16), Turkey might cancel its
refugee deal with the European Union before the end of December if the
28-nation-bloc does not soon lift visa restrictions for Turkish citizens,
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.
In
an interview published on Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung on Thursday,
Cavusoglu said that the Turkish side is waiting for an answer regarding the
process in these days and if it does not come soon, Turkey will suspend the
agreements with the EU even before by the end of the
year.
Asked
when Turkey might take such a step, he said: "We won't wait until the end of the
year. Actually, we had been talking about October".
Cavusoglu
argued that Turkey had already offered solutions for the deadlock but it will
not make concessions on its anti-terrorism laws.
"We
have already made many concessions, but I see no possibility of changing the
anti-terror laws. European countries did not experience a coup attempt, they are
not fighting against Daesh, PKK and Gülenist terror group (FETÖ) at all fronts,"
Cavusoglu concluded.
15.
Erdogan: Germany is harbouring terrorists
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 04.11.16), Turkey’s
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lashed out at German Chancellor Angela Merkel on
November 3 over her criticism of the detention of daily Cumhuriyet journalists,
saying that “Germany harbours terrorism”.
“They
are giving us advice. But it is us who are concerned about your stance. You are
aiding terror! That terror will hit you like a boomerang. We have no
expectations from you, but you will be remembered by history for harbouring
terror,” Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara.
“We
are concerned that Germany, which has been taking members of terrorist
organizations such as the [outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party] PKK and the
[Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front] DHKP-C under its protection,
will now become a backyard of [the Fethullahist Terror Organization] FETÖ,” he
added.
“Terror
is like a scorpion. Eventually it will bite the one who is carrying it. I don’t
see a bright future for Germany. It has become a place where terrorists take
refuge. There are racist attacks against Turks in Germany. It is unacceptable
that Germany protects terrorists,” Erdogan said.
Turkish
authorities’ actions against freedom of opinion and the press are “highly
alarming,” Merkel said on Nov. 2, referring to the detention of senior staff of
daily Cumhuriyet.
Merkel
added that Germany will “pay close attention” to the investigation of the
journalists, noting that Germany’s Ambassador to Turkey visited Cumhuriyet’s
offices on Nov. 1 “to underline again how important the issue of freedom of
opinion and press freedom is to us”. “Of course, such an issue also plays a
central role in questions regarding membership talks with the European Union,”
she added.
16.
Opposition HDP co-chairs and Deputies detained in police
raids
Turkish
dail Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 04.11.16) reports that Figen
Yuksekdag and Selahattin Demirtas, the co-leaders of the opposition Peoples’
Democratic Party (HDP), and 10 lawmakers from the party were detained early on
Nov. 4 in a move that threatens further instability for the
country.
The
detentions were conducted as part of “terrorism” investigations carried out by
prosecutor’s offices in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır and Şırnak and
the eastern provinces of Hakkari, Van and Bingöl.
“The
authorities are at my door of my house in Diyarbakır with a subpoena decision”,
Demirtas tweeted early on Nov. 4 before he was detained by anti-terror police.
Demirtaş’s lawyers, HDP Deputy head Meral Danış Beştaş, HDP Deputy Ahmet
Yıldırım from the eastern province of Muş, as well as many other party members
showed up at his house for support.
Demirtas
was sent to a courthouse in Diyarbakır with a demand for his arrest following
his detention. Yuksekdag was also dispatched to a court with a demand for her
arrest.
Yuksekdag
was detained at her home in Ankara. The police broke down the door of her house
in Ankara, prompting her to react strongly to the police officers. “What do
you think you’re doing by entering my house like bandits?” Yuksekdag said, as
police tried to prevent video footage from the raid being recorded.
In
addition to Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ, Şırnak lawmakers Ferhat Encü and Leyla
Birlik, Hakkari lawmakers Selma Irmak and Abdullah Zeydan, Diyarbakır lawmakers
İdris Baluken, Nursel Aydoğan, Ziya Pir and İmam Taşçıer, Ankara lawmaker Sırrı
Süreyya Önder and Mardin lawmaker Gülser Yıldırım were taken into custody by the
police. Faysal Sarıyıldız and Tuğba Hezer Öztürk could not be detained by
Turkish authorities because they are currently abroad.
Pir
was released on condition of judicial control.
Tension
rose during detentions as police tried to force lawmaker Baluken to get inside
the police vehicle, while people around reacted to the incident. “Get your hands
off me! I represent thousands of votes. You can’t shove my head and take me like
that,” said Baluken, before entering the police car and being detained.
According
to a written statement from the Directorate General of Press and Information of
the Prime Ministry, the lawmakers were detained for failing to appear in
response to summons by prosecutors asking for testimony in a terrorism
propaganda case.
The
constitutional immunity from prosecution was lifted for all parliamentarians in
a vote in May, although the HDP was affected most severely by the move, with a
large number of its MPs facing cases for alleged terrorist
propaganda.
“As
known, those who refuse to respond to summons by prosecutors asking for their
testimony in probes and hence break the laws are taken into custody so as to
take their testimony. The constitutional amendment on lifting the parliamentary
immunity of parliament members passed with 376 votes at the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey in May without a need to hold a referendum,” read an
announcement from Turkish authorities.
The
Diyarbakır Chief Prosecutor’s Office said in a written statement that the
detention and search warrants were issued due to “strong suspicions based on
solid evidence”.
There
was an ongoing investigation on accusations of “being a member of an armed
terror organization and terrorist propaganda,” the statement said, adding that
the political immunity of the lawmakers had been lifted by
parliament.
Anadolu
Agency said the detentions were ordered because the politicians refused to
testify in probes that were launched against them over crimes against the
constitutional order after they attended a meeting of the Democratic Society
Congress (DTK) in Diyarbakır between Dec. 26 and 27, 2015.
Justice
Minister Bekir Bozdağ criticized HDP lawmakers for not appearing to give
testimony which left no any other means than summoning them by force. “[The
prosecutor] summons and they did not go; what other solution is left? The only
means left is to summon them by force,” Bozdağ said Nov.
4.
“What
should be criticized is not the justice, it is the ones who violate the
constitution and state of law while saying they are respecting the law, [as well
as violate] the necessity of the democratic state of law and the constitution by
failing to heed the summons [of the prosecutors],” he
said.
Bozdağ
stated that everyone is equal before the law and that the MPs were taken within
the scope of the law. “What
is happening is that Turkey is a state of law and everyone is equal before the
law,” he said. “The law that is implemented for everybody is also implemented
for the lawmakers. Why do you feel uncomfortable with
equality?”
Strict
security measures were taken around the HDP building in Ankara, with the police
setting up barricades on the roads leading to the building and deploying water
cannon.
Meanwhile,
a nationwide internet blackout blocked access to internet-based applications
WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook on Nov. 4. Many people complained that
applications had slowed down and that it was only possible to access information
with VPNs. The ban on these applications has not been confirmed by officials
yet.
Prime
Minister Binali Yıldırım said the internet connection issues were part of
measures taken for “security purposes” and that they were temporary.
The
first statement from the HDP came from HDP spokesperson Ayhan Bilgen, who said
that the detentions are the “footsteps of a regime of oppression and fascism”.
“We view the stance against all of our administrators who have been detained
until this point or called to testify as an attempt at liquidation,” said Bilgen
in a statement. “We view this is a political lynch attempt, a siege and the
footsteps of a regime of oppression and fascism.”
The
HDP has been holding a meeting since the start of detentions.
The
detentions were also on the agenda of the European Union, with the bloc’s
Foreign Affairs Head Federica Mogherini saying that the EU was “extremely
concerned” by Turkey’s arrest of leaders and MPs. “Extremely
worried for arrest of @hdpdemirtas & other @HDPgenelmerkezi MPs. In contact
with authorities. Called EU Ambassadors meeting in Ankara,” Mogherhini tweeted.
European
Parliament’s Turkey rapporteur Kati Piri also criticized the detentions. “Very
bad news from Turkey. Again. Now HDP members of parliament are being detained”,
Piri said on her Twitter account.
17.
Eight killed and more than 100 wounded in attack in
Diyarbakır
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 04.11.16), at least
eight people were killed and more than 100 people were wounded in an attack
by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern province of
Diyarbakır early on Nov. 4.
Prime
Minister Binali Yildirim said that two police officers and five civilians were
killed in the attack, while a suspected PKK militant was also killed.
According
to Diyarbakır Governor’s Office, the PKK claimed responsibility for the
attack.
The
explosion hit an auxiliary building of the police department in the Bağlar
district of Diyarbakır at around 8 a.m. on Nov. 4. The Diyarbakır Governor’s
Office said in a statement on Nov. 4 that the cause of the blast was thought to
be a bomb-laden vehicle.
The
building was formerly used as a school for police cadets and is located around
200 meters away from Diyarbakır’s E-type prison.
A
broadcast ban on media outlets was imposed following the explosion.
18.
CHP leader: Turkey is ‘drifting in a dangerous
direction’
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 04.11.16), the main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) chair Kemal Kilicdaroglu has reacted
to the detention of 12 opposition Democratic Peoples’ Party’s (HDP) Deputies,
including its co-chairs, saying the actions are sending Turkey “in a dangerous
direction”.
Speaking
in Izmir on Nov. 4, Kilicdaroglu said that all the actions were being made in an
attempt to prepare the foundation to introduce a presidential system in Turkey,
adding that those who “came with elections should go with
elections”.
The
CHP leader also lashed out at the government’s new venture to participate in
overseas operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to
fight terror. “They do not take any action against Kandil that is just nearby,”
referring to the northern Iraqi area from where outlawed Kurdistan Workers’
Party’s actions are spearheaded.
The
first opposition reaction to the HDP lawmakers’ detentions had come from CHP
Deputies who highlighted that the detentions constituted a “coup” in Turkey.
CHP
Deputies Sezgin Tanrikulu and Ali Seker were the first Deputies from the party
to deliver the party’s negative reaction to the detention of their
co-parliamentarians.
Seker
described the detentions as a new blow to Turkey, while Tanrikulu said that it
was “not only a coup, but also a mission to divide the country. The Grand
Parliament has been bombed once again”.
19.
Minister calls on Turkish mothers to ‘change lullabies’ to emphasize
Erdogan’s ‘2071 aims’
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 03.11.16), Turkey’s
Forestry and Water Affairs Minister Veysel Eroglu has called on mothers to
change the lullabies they sing to their children in order to emphasize the
government’s “aims for 2071,” state-run Anadolu Agency has
reported.
“You
will no longer say to your children: ‘Go to sleep and grow.’ You will say:
‘Sleep and rise, my son. The target is 2071. You will realize the footsteps of
the Great Turkey,’” Eroglu said
at an opening ceremony in the Black Sea province of Amasya on Nov. 2, adding
that “women have some missions.”
“Turkey
is a great and strong country, but there is only one way to survive in this
region. That way is securing a stronger economy, stronger institutions and a
stronger army. We are succeeding in these great targets, with God’s blessing.
But we shouldn’t forget that if a country has no such aims, it is erased from
history. This nation’s children will succeed in these three targets, which were
identified by our President,” he added.
The
first target is to make Turkey become one of the 10 great economies in the world
by 2023, Eroğlu said.
“There
is also a target that belongs to the youth: The year 2053 will be the 600th
anniversary of the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul. The youth will carry Turkey one
step further in this year. We believe in they will plant our flag further,” he
added.
“Newly
born babies will convert Turkey to become a global power by 2071, which is the
1,000th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert … I want to emphasize this
especially. Turkey has fortune, my brothers and sisters,” Eroğlu
said.
20.
US dollar reaches new record high against Turkish Lira at
3,1375
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 04.11.16), the U.S.
dollar reached a new record high against the Turkish Lira at 3,1375 on Friday
morning amid pressure on global markets regarding the upcoming U.S. presidential
elections and rising concerns on geopolitical developments in the
region.
Analysts
indicate that survey results, news flow and statements regarding the U.S.
presidential election may be determinative in investor decisions. The inland
real effective exchange rate to be announced, and non-farm payrolls date and
unemployment data to be announced in the U.S. will also be
monitored.
Analysts
also estimate that the record high of 3,1379 U.S. dollar/Turkish Lira is in a
state of resistance and will be in state of support in possible drops to
3,1240-3,1100.
As
currencies of developing countries continue to lose value against the U.S.
dollar, the Turkish Lira also reached a high of 3,1237 on Thursday but dipped
later to 3,1101 by the end of the day.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
