TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 85/17 05.05.17
1. Akinci: The intention of the Greek Cypriot side to launch drillings in July could cause new tensions
2. Afrika: Instead of saying that there could be tension, Akinci should concern himself with preventing it
3. Measures for the increased number of traffic accidents in the breakaway regime
4. Turkey, Russia, Iran ink deal on safe zones in Syria
5. Main opposition CHP leader slams dissidents amid works on party’s future road map
6. Opposition HDP to hold extraordinary congress to elect new co-chair on May 20
7. The occupied “Louroudjina-Tymbou road” is completed
8. The inflation rate in the occupied area of Cyprus for the first four months of 2017 has reached to 6.54%
1. Akinci: The intention of the Greek Cypriot side to launch drillings in July could cause new tensions
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (05.05.17) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci has claimed that the intention of the Greek Cypriot side to launch new drillings in July could cause new tensions in the area.According to a statement issued yesterday by his “office”, addressing a meeting at the Istanbul University, Akinci said that a federal solution will be in favor of everyone and alleged that in order for a solution to be possible, the mentality of the Greek Cypriot side should change, as it “faces difficulties” on the issue of power sharing.
Akinci argued also that establishing a confederation or a unitary state is easier than establishing a federation and claimed: “Even though it is difficult, we are exerting efforts for a federal solution, which is the only one that could be accepted by all sides concerned and we will continue our constructive stance with our entire good will during this short period of time that exists until July”.
Akinci also reiterated the view that the “negative influence” from the election campaign for the 2018 presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus started to become evident early and that this harms the negotiations. He reiterated the allegation that the drillings planned for July could cause tensions and that the Turkish Cypriots say on every occasion that the energy resources should become a reason for cooperation and not for tension. He alleged also the following:
“If this negotiating process does not succeed for reasons which are not due to us, the Turkish Cypriots will continue our way as TRNC with our identity as a democratic and secular society. Just like we do not want to become a province, Turkey does not need a new province”.
Finally, Akinci argued that the solution of the Cyprus problem will positively influence the relations between Turkey and the EU, in which increasing tension is observed recently.
(I/Ts.)
2. Afrika: Instead of saying that there could be tension, Akinci should concern himself with preventing it
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (05.05.17) comments on the statement made by Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci, who has alleged that the intention of the Greek Cypriot side to launch new drillings in July could cause new tensions in the area, and writes, inter alia, the following in its “Letter from Afrika” column:“[…] What does tension mean? Could a war happen? Will bloody conflicts happen? Who will create this tension? Who will cause this war, if such a war happens? He [Akinci] should inform us about this. The Greek Cypriots will launch natural gas drillings, he says. Can they not start? What right does Turkey have to interfere in this? Why does it put forth threats? What is Mr Mustafa suggesting? Is he saying to the Greek Cypriots ‘do not carry out these drillings’? Instead of warning them, is it not possible for him to warn Turkey? If you also have rights on this gas, then sit and agree with the Greek Cypriot side like a man. Why do you invite Turkey to create new tensions?
Because there is no solution, should the Greek Cypriots not carry out drillings? Even though there is no solution, you do whatever you want in Morfou and he cannot? And when they ask you, you say: ‘Life cannot stop because there is no solution’. Life cannot stop for you and why should it stop for him?
Instead of Akinci continuously say every now and then that ‘tension could happen’, he should concern himself with preventing it. If his aim is to intimidate the Greek Cypriots and impose the Turkish conditions on them, this is another thing!”
(I/Ts.)
3. Measures for the increased number of traffic accidents in the breakaway regime
Under the title: “389 persons were traffic victims during the last 10 years”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.05.17) reports that Zeki Ceker “deputy” with the Socialist Democracy Party (TDP) suggested the establishment of a “crisis safety center” at the ‘assembly” regarding the increased number of traffic accidents in the breakaway regime.According to Ceker, 1,887 persons have lost their lives since 1975 and during the last ten years 389 persons died due to traffic. For every person that dies five other persons face severe injuries, he stated adding that 14 persons lost their lives since the beginning of 2017.
He further said that since the opening of the barricades, 664 Turkish Cypriots lost their lives in the occupied area of Cyprus and one Turkish Cypriot in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.
Speaking at the same “assembly meeting”, Erkut Sahali, “deputy” with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stated that the traffic infrastructure of the breakaway regime cannot meet the needs of the increased population and accused the “government” of not taking measures for improving the roads.
(CS)
4. Turkey, Russia, Iran ink deal on safe zones in Syria
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (05.05.17) reports that Turkey, Russia and Iran signed a memorandum on a Moscow-backed plan to create safe zones in Syria to bolster a fragile truce.“Over the past two days, the participants in the Astana talks reviewed the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the cessation of hostilities,” Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said of a frail truce brokered by Moscow and Ankara in December.
“As a result the guarantor countries agreed to sign a memorandum on the creation of de-escalation zones in Syria.”
An Arabic-language version of the Russian draft proposal seen by AFP calls for the creation of “de-escalation zones” in rebel-held territory in the northwestern province of Idlib, in parts of Homs province in the center, in the south, and in the opposition enclave of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.
The aim is to “put an immediate end to the violence” and “provide the conditions for the safe, voluntary return of refugees” as well as the immediate delivery of relief supplies and medical aid, the document said.
The Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan described the plan as a “new concept” and distinct from Turkey’s previous proposals for terror-free safe zones.
5. Main opposition CHP leader slams dissidents amid works on party’s future road map
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (05.05.17) reports that main Turkish opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has slammed dissident voices among the party’s cadre, amid works on a road map for the upcoming presidential election, in a bid to “hold 49% of the ‘no’ votes together.”“Nobody should exceed the level of criticism and say ‘I can say whatever I want publicly.’ I will show the door to whoever harms the party. It is that simple,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in an interview with private broadcaster NTV late May 3.
“I will eliminate them from the party. They can form their own parties. For example, they can form a gossip party where they can gossip all day long,” he added.
His comments came after former CHP leader Deniz Baykal urged Kılıçdaroğlu to commence a process to determine the presidential candidate of the party and said “either be the candidate or step out.”
Baykal also suggested former President Abdullah Gül to be the candidate of the referendum’s opposition front, the 49% of the electorate that said “no” on April 16, likening it to Greece’s Panhellenic Socialist Movement’s (PASOK) model in 1981. He also suggested Meral Akşener, a former member and dissident name from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Kurdish issue-focused People’s Democratic Party’s (HDP) Ahmet Türk to be a part of the “49% campaign.”
The suggestion stirred debate within the CHP, emerging dissident voices from the party to call for Kılıçdaroğlu’s resignation as leader.
When asked about the opposition members, Kılıçdaroğlu spoke harshly against them. “I can say it easily that all our friends within our party can express their thoughts freely. They can criticize everybody including the leader. We do that. But nobody should see themselves above the party,” he said, defending the disciplinary proceeding.
Kılıçdaroğlu hinted that party commissions would determine the road map of the party’s future, adding that Baykal’s statements over the presidential candidate were not received well by CHP cadres.
Kılıçdaroğlu suggested that the party could focus on a strategy to unite 49% of the voters who said “no” to the charter changes, adding that the opposition segment of the electorate also voted against a partisan presidency.
“The president should be impartial and give confidence to every segment of the society. If the president pursues its ties with a political party, then they cannot be the president,” he said.
“They [candidate] should believe in the founding values of Turkey, the strength of the Parliament and the principles of democracy. There are many people who meet these criteria,” he said, dismissing the question over the possibility of his own candidacy.
6. Opposition HDP to hold extraordinary congress to elect new co-chair on May 20
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (05.05.17) reports that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) will hold an extraordinary congress on May 20 to fulfill the party’s legal procedures and elect a new co-chair to replace jailed Figen Yüksekdağ, who lost her seat in Parliament after being convicted on terrorism charges.According to the party constitution, if one of the co-chairs is unable to act due to any reason, first an alternative chair is appointed to act in the chair’s place, and within 45 days after the appointment the party needs to hold an extraordinary congress to choose a new co-leader.
Stripping Yüksekdağ of her seat in Parliament is against the Constitution and relevant legal precedents, HDP deputy co-chair Meral Danış Beştaş said.
The party made the necessary appeals to the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the decision, she told daily Hürriyet.
“We know that we’ll win these cases. It is only because of a legal obligation that we will hold a congress,” she said.
Yüksekdağ lost her seat in the Parliament in February 2017 after being convicted on terrorism charges. The decision came after the Supreme Court of Appeals approved a lower court decision finding her guilty of making “terror propaganda” on Nov. 27, 2013.
Along with Yüksekdağ, Selahattin Demirtaş, the other co-chair of the party, and 8 other Deputies have been under arrest.
7. The occupied “Louroudjina-Tymbou road” is completed
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (05.05.17) under the title “The 43 years aspiration has been fulfilled”, reports that after 43 years, the road project for occupied Louroudjina-Tymbou has been completed and the citizens will be able to have access to occupied Louroudjina village without passing the military control by the occupation regime’s army. The works for the 17 km road which connects the occupied Louroudjina village with the illegal Tymbou airport will be covered by a tunnel, the first one in the occupied area of Cyprus, writes the paper.In statements to the paper, so-called minister of transportation and communication Kemal Durust, stated, inter alia, that the occupied Louroudjina-Tymbou road will “end the 43 years nostalgic” and will bring Louroudjina closer to the “TRNC”. “Both our neighbours coming from the south and also our citizens here in the TRNC will be able at any time to visit the village without passing the military control”, Durust said. He further explained that the tunnel which will be completed in parallel with the “New Ercan project”, will be connected with the terminal of the illegal Tymbou airport.
