TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 91/17 13-15.05.17
1. Erdogan met with the UNSG
2. Erdogan and Tsipras agreed to continue their efforts on the Cyprus issue
3. Denktas was released from hospital after facing a health incident
4. The new leadership of the Communal Liberation Party
5. Columnist describes Wednesday 17 May as critical day for the Cyprus problem
6. Columnist: The statistical data on the number of the population in the occupied area is not giving the impression of being trustworthy
7. KTOS presented the report it prepared after it examined 20 school books
8. More on the water transferred from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus; Complaints about the price of the water
9.Occupied Famagusta is reportedly under the threat of staying without water
10. Ankara’s office of Chief Public Prosecutor requested an investigation for two journalists in the occupied area of Cyprus
11. All “citizens” will reportedly be able to have an access to occupied Louroudjina village under the same “rules”
12. CMC mining waste continues to cause environmental disaster in occupied Lefka area
13. Erdogan and Xi discussed third nuclear plant
14. Erdogan: Turkey maintains it has been at forefront in fight against Daesh
15. Economy Minister met booking.com officials on ban
1. Erdogan met with the UNSG
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (14.05.17) reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met in Beijing with the UNSG Antonio Guterres. The closed-door meeting lasted one hour.(I/Ts.)
2. Erdogan and Tsipras agreed to continue their efforts on the Cyprus issue
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 13.05.17), under the title “President Erdogan asks Greece to extradite Turkish coup soldiers”, reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 13 held a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Beijing on the side-lines of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation organized by the Chinese government.Erdogan voiced Turkey’s discontent with the Greek decision not to extradite Turkish soldiers who requested asylum from Greece after they fled to the country following the July 2016 coup attempt, widely believed to have been masterminded by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organiztion (FETÖ).
During the meeting, Erdogan said that it wasn’t “appropriate for those involved in the coup to stay in Greece”, while asking the necessary steps to be taken on the issue.
Other topics discussed in the meeting between Erdogan and Tsipras included lowering tensions in the Aegean and the importance of dialogue in the solution of possible problems.
Tsipras congratulated Erdogan on the results of the April 16 constitutional referendum, in which “yes” votes emerged as the winner, and said that Greece supports Turkey’s European Union process.
The leaders also agreed to continue their efforts on the Cyprus issue.
3. Denktas was released from hospital after facing a health incident
Turkish Cypriot daily Demokrat Βakis newspaper (15.05.17) reports that “deputy prime minister and minister of economy”, Serdar Denktas was released after he was hospitalized for two days.Denktas was rushed to the hospital after experiencing chest pain and difficulties in breathing and was diagnosed with high blood pressure and heart failure.
The doctors suggested him to stay at home for a few days, writes the paper.
(CS)
4. The new leadership of the Communal Liberation Party
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (14.05.17) reported that the new leadership of the Communal Liberation Party (TKP) was determined during a meeting of the party’s assembly, under the leadership of the party’s chairman Mehmet Cakici.According to the paper, Tozun Tunali, Seval Oyaltan, Mehmet Davulcu, Tahsin Mertekci and Mustafa Emiroglu were elected as the party’s deputy chairmen.
In addition, Sonay Adem was elected as the party’s general secretary.
(CS)
5. Columnist describes Wednesday 17 May as critical day for the Cyprus problem
Writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (15.05.17), columnist Mete Tumerkan argues that the future of the negotiating process for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem will be determined during the meeting between the community leaders on Wednesday, 17 May. Under the title “Wednesday is a critical day”, Tumerkan reports that the Turkish Cypriot side believes that the negotiations came at a junction where political will and determination should be exhibited, the issue cannot be prolonged in July and a solution framework could come up by the end of June if political will exists.The columnist alleges that the Greek Cypriot side is not in a rush for finding a solution, wants the continuation of open-ended the negotiations and does not consider June to be the final date. According to the columnist, this is because the Greek Cypriot side wants the commencement of the drillings for hydrocarbons in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and to see the reactions of the Turkish side prior to examining the continuation of the International Conference for Cyprus which started in Geneva last January. He claims:
“Actually, the intention of the Greek Cypriot side is not to secure the continuation of the negotiations. The intention is to lead them to such a stage so as to ensure that the Turkish sides leaves the table. This is why the continuation of the process until July is important for the Greek Cypriot side. […]
The work of the two negotiators within the period until Wednesday and the result of this work is important. Especially from the point of view of clarifying the intentions. The work carried out by the negotiators until then will determine what the result of the meetings to be held on Wednesday between the leaders will be […]”.
(I/Ts.)
6. Columnist: The statistical data on the number of the population in the occupied area is not giving the impression of being trustworthy
Writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (15.05.17), columnist Sami Ozuslu reports that all the statistical data in occupied the northern part of Cyprus are “far from giving the impression of being trustworthy”. Under the title “How many our population is”, the columnist recalls that former Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs Cemil Cicek had rebuked the then “prime minister” Irsen Kucuk by saying “you do not even know your population”, because replying to a question on the number of the population in the occupied area, Kucuk had said that they were “crowded”. The columnist continues:“A population census was held afterwards, but we still do not know our population. Are there some who know? Of course there are. However, only they know. Neither those elected in this country, nor those who have been appointed and perform a duty master the details of the population. I have seen this once more the day before yesterday. An official who performs duty in the state complained that they do not have the necessary information for ‘planning’. He was not lying. No one believed the official numbers published by the state. Even the administrative personnel at the state!
All the statistical data in the northern part of Cyprus are far from giving the impression of being trustworthy. Did you refer to the per capita income? It varies according to by how many heads you divide it. Is it 320 thousand, 520 thousand or 850 thousand? You should divide according to which population information is correct. If you know, please divide. And tell us also the real per capita income. And other information. […]”
(I/Ts.)
7. KTOS presented the report it prepared after it examined 20 school books
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.05.17) reported that Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers Trade Union (KTOS) issued in a press conference the report that it has prepared regarding the examination of text books in the breakaway regime.KTOS handed the report both to the so-called ministry of education and culture and the press as well.
According to KTOS’s report, there are 105 nationalist expressions found in the 20 books examined that need to be evaluated or changed. Speaking during a press conference, KTOS’s general secretary Saner Elcil said that the organization is always ready for dialogue with the “ministry” which, as he said does not take steps towards facings the problems the education field is facing.
(CS)
8. More on the water transferred from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus; Complaints about the price of the water
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (14.05.17) reported that within the framework of the “water transferred project” from Turkey to the occupation regime, the works towards transferring the water from Turkey for agriculture use in the “TRNC” were speed up.According to the paper, the so-called government has approved the “project concerning transferring water for agriculture purposes”, all tender procedures were completed and the tender will open soon.
At the first stage of the project, a 6 km tunnel will be constructed for energy saving. At the second stage, lines will be installed in order for the water to be transferred thought the tunnel to the agriculture land. As the paper writes, the “interlocutors of the project” from Turkey, will be visiting the occupation regime next week in order to announced more details about the “project” and announce also the date for the opening of the “tender”.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (15.05.17) under the front page title: “The water is very expensive” reports that the price of the water transferred from Turkey to the occupation regime is very expensive and adds that the 28 “municipalities” are not charged with the same tariff on the price of the water which is transferred in their water reservoirs. According to the paper, the selling price of the water which is transferred to the “municipalities” starts from 2.30 TL per ton. The highest price of the water is implemented for the “municipality” of the occupied part of Lefkosia which pays 4.90 TL while the lowest price is for the “municipality” of occupied Louroudjina.
The paper underlines the fact that the promises given that “the price of the water will be fixed for all the regions of the country” were not fulfilled.
(AK)
9. Occupied Famagusta is reportedly under the threat of staying without water
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (15.05.17) under the front-page title: “Famagusta may stay without water at any time”, reports that due to the lack of maintenance experienced during the recent years in the potable water reservoir in occupied Famagusta, the city is under the threat of staying without water, while the “people’s health” is also under serious threat.In statements on the issue, Ece Balci, “regional chairman” of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) in occupied Famagsta, stated that the water reservoir in occupied Famagusta is being dilapidated and as a result of this the inside of the reservoir is full of garbage. Stating that the last time the water reservoir has been cleaned was two years ago, Balci called the “officials” to undertake measures and fix this situation.
(…)
(AK)
10. Ankara’s office of Chief Public Prosecutor requested an investigation for two journalists in the occupied area of Cyprus
Under the title “The octopus tentacles… have reached us”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (14.05.17) on its front page, reported that upon request of Ankara’s Office of Chief Public Prosecutor, there was an investigation of the police of the breakaway regime for an article that journalist Kubilay Ozkirac wrote in Afrika paper.According to the paper, Kubilay Ozkiray, who is writing for Afrika newspaper, was called last week at the “police station” and was interrogated. The interrogation was launched due to a request from Ankara’s Office of Chief Public Prosecutor regarding an article of Ozkirac published in Afrika on June 17, 2016, under the title “Views from Turkey”.
Meanwhile, the paper further reports that upon a request again from Ankara’s office of Chief Public Prosecutor in previous months, Afrika’s journalist Sener Levent was also interrogated by the “police” for his article “The Kurds and us”.
According to the column “A letter from ‘Afrika’”, two “police officers” went to Afrika paper the previous months and pressed a charge against Sener Levent, with instructions from Ankara. The crime was that he insulted Tayyip Erdogan in his article “The Kurds and us”.
The column further wrote: “In which article of our penal code did they attribute this case? … In the article to ‘insult, humiliate and humble the elders of foreign states’… Don’t they are ashamed of? Erdogan is our foreigner? From when do we have become foreigners for a Turkish President? I count him as our President and I accept him as such…
(…)
Is he not held accountable for all the incidents that occurred here?
Does not the ECHR always accept him as interlocutor?
I wonder if we should open a file against those who count him as foreigner.
(…)
You will understand that the situation got out of hand…
Besides, they say we do not have any more differences...
Besides, they say we are like ‘inseparable’... (Translator’s note: he uses a known phrase in Turkish, ‘flesh and nail’)...
Besides, we are also foreigners!
Is it possible?”
(DPs)
11. All “citizens” will reportedly be able to have an access to occupied Louroudjina village under the same “rules”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.05.17) reports that the so-called government with a new “decision” announced the other day, has lifted all obstacles referred into the “police bulletin” concerning the access to occupied Louroudjina village by the citizens of third countries.The “undersecretary” of the so-called prime ministry Metin Beyoglu, stated, inter alia, that according to the new “regulation”, the same rules will be followed from now on for all “citizens” who would like to have an access to the occupied Louroudjina village. According to the new “regulation”, the precondition that the citizens of third countries who would like to visit the occupied village of Louroudjina should first inform the “police” providing their personal data, will be lifted.
Commenting on this issue, the “mayor” of occupied Louroudjina village described this development as “very positive” and said that “this would be the revival of Louroudjina”.
(AK)
12. CMC mining waste continues to cause environmental disaster in occupied Lefka area
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (15.05.17) reports that the “environmental and promotion association of Lefka”, in a written statement called the so-called government to undertake its responsibilities and duties in order to find a solution to the environmental disaster experienced in occupied Lefka due to the CMC (Cyprus Mining Cooperation) waste.In statements on behalf of the “association” Ahmet Hizli, said, inter alia, that the problems experienced in the occupied Lefka area due to the CMC waste waters have been prolonged, adding that its been 49 years now that they demand for a problem to be found on this issue. He further asked for an “audit committee” to be established soon in order to implement the timetable which was set up for the implementation of the “agreement” signed in the past for cleaning up the mining waste in the area.
Hizli further called the “representatives” of all NGO’s in the area to carry out a meeting during the next days in order to discuss the issue and prepare a road map.
(…)
(AK)
13. Erdogan and Xi discussed third nuclear plant
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 14.05.17) reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping and leaders from different countries in Beijing before the One Belt One Road (OBOR) international summit on Saturday. According to presidential sources, President Erdogan and his counterpart Xi Jingping agreed on the acceleration of the construction of the third nuclear power plant in Turkey.Moreover, Erdogan and Jingping's meeting, the fourth in recent months, predominantly featured discussions on economic relations. In addition, the construction of the third nuclear power plant in Turkey was also discussed while intentions to accelerate the process were reiterated.
Meanwhile, former Energy and Natural Resources Minister Ali Riza Alaboyun announced in October of last year that the country's third nuclear power plant will be built in the İğneada district in the north-western province of Kırklareli.
14. Erdogan: Turkey maintains it has been at forefront in fight against Daesh
According to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 14.05.17), President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking to journalists on Sunday on the side-lines of the summit in Beijing on China's new Silk Road plan, dismissed claims that Turkey had been slow to respond to terrorist group Daesh, declaring that Turkey had been among the first that pointed to the threat posed by the group and had taken immediate action.The fight against Daesh could perfectly be carried out by the U.S. and Turkey with support from NATO allies and regional partners, especially Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon and Jordan, argued Erdogan. "We don't need a terrorist group."
Turkey proved that this was a fact by freeing Jarablus, al-Bab, al-Rai and Dabiq, Erdogan said. "We now say that we can prove it in Manjij and Raqqa as well."
Erdogan said that Turkey continued to train internationally recognized opposition group the FSA and would like to expand the program. "There is no need for the SDF. We have been saying this since the beginning. Unfortunately, they failed to heed our proposals."
Erdogan, after concluding his visit to Beijing late yesterday, is expected to fly to Washington D.C. to meet with Trump.
When asked about his previous remarks that the meeting with Trump will be decisive in determining the future of Turkey-U.S. ties, Erdogan said that preliminary talks held by Presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Chairman Hakan Fidan, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar last week had been with American officials but not with Trump. "They did not meet with Trump, apart from a passing encounter."
He said that Bozdağ had presented U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions with further proof that the fugitive imam Fetullah Gülen was directly implicated in last year's failed coup attempt. Other Turkish officials had met with relevant American officials to solely discuss developments in Syria.
Erdogan reiterated that his meeting with Trump tomorrow would be decisive for the future of bilateral ties. "If we are strategic allies, both sides should act the part. If the alliance is to weaken, we need to take steps to take care of ourselves. We cannot allow this alliance to harm Turkey's interests. I need to emphasize this fact."
