5/2/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW



TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
                                                                                                          05/02/13

1. Davutoglu expressed Turkey’s desire to host next Islamic Summit-reference to Cyprus
2. Ozersay participated in a conference in Brussels about the Cyprus problem
3. More discussions at the “assembly” for the “citizenship”
4. Investments will be completed in four years in illegal Tymvou airport
5. CTP’s women branch participated to Socialist International meeting in Lisbon
6. More on Turkey’s new ship for seismic explorations
7. Ozyigit condemns the so-called government for TOMA vehicles
8. The project for transferring water from Turkey to occupied Cyprus continues
9. Turkish President: “Shanghai group not alternative to Turkey's EU aspiration”
10. Erdogan said that it is Europe that needs Turkey and not the other way around
11. More on the “Imprali  talks”: Ocalan reportedly  to tell  PKK militants to leave Turkish ground
12. Turkey: One hundred ten pilots of Air Force forces quitted from their position

1. Davutoglu expressed Turkey’s desire to host next Islamic Summit-reference to Cyprus
Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.02.13) reports that speaking during the foreign ministers' meeting ahead of 12th OIC Leaders' Summit; Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu expressed Turkey’s desire to host the next Islamic Summit.
“[…] we are renewing our strong desire and commitment to host the Thirteenth Islamic Summit in Turkey. I regret to remind you that although it is a founding member, Turkey has never had the opportunity to host his brothers and sisters at an Islamic Summit. We expect the widest support of all brotherly member countries for our bid to host the next Summit Conference," Davutoglu said.
He also made the following reference to the Cyprus problem:
“[…] 2013 is the 50th year of the emergence of the Cyprus problem. The last UN negotiation process for a comprehensive settlement initiated in 2008 did not yield a result simply because of the unwillingness and intransigence of the Greek Cypriot side, despite the dedicated efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side.
Like the Turkish Cypriots, Turkey as a guarantor state, remains committed to the settlement aim. I would like to express our gratitude to the distinguished members of the OIC for their clear message of support to the rightful cause of
On Israel, Davutoglu said the following:
“[…] we strongly condemn Israel for its continued expansion of illegal settlements. Time, and again Israel have proven that it fails to read the change happening not only around it, but also in the way its actions are perceived by the international community. The latest report by the UN Human Rights Council qualifies the illegal settlements as a 'creeping annexation' of the Palestinian land. As it did after the recognition of Palestine as an observer state by the UN General Assembly, Israel has rejected again this report and attempted to depict it as another 'unilateral action' by the Palestinian side. The fact, however, is that Israel has now been rendered by the international community a 'pariah' status for its expanding illegal settlements," Davutoglu noted. Israel must stop its provocative and unlawful settlement policy and accept revitalization of the peace process, which will yield freedom and sovereignty to the State of Palestine on its pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital forever”.

2. Ozersay participated in a conference in Brussels about the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot Haber Kibris internet site (
www.haberkibris.com) broadcast on February 4, 2013 that Kudret Ozersay, the former advisor of the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, participated recently in a conference in Brussels where he evaluated the latest developments of the Cyprus problem. The date of the conference is not mentioned.

Ozersay delivered a speech in the conference organized by the European Policy Centre and stated that "another 45 years of peace negotiations" will take place unless a settlement to the island's dispute is found soon.

He went on and claimed that there were two preconditions of any successful settlement: both communities must "deem the status quo to be unacceptable and international actors must be motivated to change the status quo too".

3. More discussions at the “assembly” for the “citizenship”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (05.02.13) reports that the so-called minister of interior and local administration Nazim Cavusoglu, in statements yesterday during the meeting of the so-called assembly, referred, inter alia, to the issue of the so-called citizenship of the occupation regime and replied to the criticism of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) “deputies” on the issue.

In his statements Cavusoglu alleged that during the period that CTP-BG was in power, a total of 6500 “citizenships” were granted. He said that they were granting the “citizenship” to everybody who was applying without even taking into consideration the place of their work.

Replying to Cavusoglu statements, Sonay Adem, “deputy” with CTP-BG said that during the period of power of CTP, the “council of minister” granted the “citizenship” only to 67 persons.
AK

4. Investments will be completed in four years in illegal Tymvou airport
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.02.13) reports that Ersan Saner, self-styled minister of public works and transport of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that they have signed a new “agreement”, additional to the “transfer agreement” of the illegal Tymvou airport. In statements yesterday to Kibris TV, Saner noted that a climate of uncertainty had been created upon statements made by opposition parties that they would annul the “transfer agreement” if they came to “power”. Saner said that because of these statements, the Turkish company which won the tender demanded this additional “agreement”.

Replying to allegations by the opposition parties that Turkish Tasyapi Company, which won the tender, would abandon the illegal airport and go away before the completion of four years, Saner pointed out that the company will submit a working program to the regime, noting in writing when each investment will start. There will be very heavy conditions, if the investments are not made in time, he added.
 
Saner said that if the conditions are not fulfilled, they have the right to annul the “agreement” and added that all investments will be completed in four years. “We have taken 116 million Euros in advance for four years. And after the four years, 47.8% of the turnover will remain to us”, he concluded. 
(I/Ts.)

 5. CTP’s women branch participated to Socialist International meeting in Lisbon
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (05.02.13) reports that the Women Branch of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) composed by the chairman of the Women Organization of CTP, Sibel Sorakin and the Secretary of foreign relations, Fazilet Ozdenefe, participated at the meeting of the council of Socialist International which took place in Lisbon, Portugal between February 1-2.

As the paper writes, during the meeting of the council the “crisis” as well as issues related to “women” were discussed.

Delivering a speech during the meeting, Ozdenefe said that “north Cyprus” is still disconnected from the world and that the Turkish Cypriots continue to live under “isolation”.

Stating that the Turkish Cypriot women who are isolated and have economic difficulties continue to struggle for their existence and identity, Ozdenefer said that the current “right wing government” avoids implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
AK

6. More on Turkey’s new ship for seismic explorations
Turkish daily Cumhuriyet newspaper (05.02.13) reports that Turkey will pay 83 million US dollars per year to the personnel of the ship named “Polarcus Samur”, which according to statements made by Turkish Minister of Energy Taner Yildiz, they purchased for 130 million US dollars for carrying out seismic explorations and they will name “Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa”.  The paper notes that the 85-meter long ship had been under the flag of Bahamas.

Cumhuriyet points out that the issue of carrying out seismic explorations had come onto the agenda in Turkey after the explorations launched by the Republic of Cyprus in Eastern Mediterranean. After this development, Turkey communicated with Polarcus Company, which is based in Dubai and carries out explorations in international seas.

According to information published on Polarcus’ webpage, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) started negotiations with Polarcus on 10 December 2012 in the direction of signing an agreement for making a long-term cooperation. After the completion of the talks, they agreed for the sum of 213 million US dollars, which includes the issue of gathering, processing and managing seismic data for three years as well as the service to be offered on the ship. The ship will carry out seismic explorations in the Black Sea first and in the Mediterranean afterwards. 

The ship has a landing strip for a helicopter and could gather two and three dimension seismic data. The ship, which was built in 2011, could record data with eight 6.300-meter long geophone cables. If needed, it has the capacity of using six cables, which are 8.400 meters long and four cables which are 12.000 meters long. Before going to Turkey, the ship had been carrying out explorations in the North Sea.

According to Cumhuriyet, at Tuzla shipyard, Turkey is also building another ship for seismic explorations for oil and natural gas. It had been stated that this ship would take the place of Piri Reis and cost 100 million Euros.
(I/Ts.) 

7. Ozyigit condemns the so-called government for TOMA vehicles
Under the title: “He called for resistance”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (05.02.13) reports on statements by Cemal Ozyigit, general secretary of the Communal Democracy Party who in a written statement yesterday accused the so-called government which has announced that it will buy one TOMA vehicle (Riot control vehicle).

Referring to the issue, Ozyigit supported that the announcement of the “government” that will buy a riot control vehicle (TOMA), is an indicator that the “government” will increase its fascistic pressure and that it will continue to insist on imposed packages which aim to the communal annihilation.

Ozyigit accused the so-called government for its decision to buy a TOMA vehicle instead of a fire-fighting helicopter, saying that the so-called government ignores the fact that every year thousand of hectares of land are destroyed from fires.
AK

8. The project for transferring water from Turkey to occupied Cyprus continues
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (05.02.13) reports that 60% of the Alakopru Dam in Turkey and two kilometers of supply pipes have been completed within the framework of the project for transferring water from Turkey to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus with undersea pipes. According to the paper, the construction of the 80 kilometer undersea pipe line will start within this month.
(I/Ts.)

9. Turkish President: “Shanghai group not alternative to Turkey's EU aspiration”
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper 905.02.13) reports that Turkish President Abdullah Gül said that membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is not an alternative to become a full member of the European Union.

“We are engaged in negotiations for full membership in the EU. However, it is a fact that the negotiations are not at a desired level due to some prejudice [of EU member countries towards Turkey]. The prime minister expressed his resentment [due to the prejudice]. The SCO is not an alternative to the EU,” Gull stated during a press conference he called with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic.

"Turkey wants to successfully conclude the accession talks with the EU," he said, adding that EU nations may then hold referenda on whether Turkey should become a member.

The SCO is a mutual-security organization that was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The other countries, with the exception of Uzbekistan, had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organization.

Membership in the SCO was brought to the agenda in late January by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan when he said Turkey is seriously considering seeking membership in the organization as Turkey's future in the EU looks increasingly dim.

According to Gul, however, who spoke for the first time about Turkey's aspirations in the 27-nation bloc after the prime minister's remarks, Turkey is decisive in completing its EU membership process with “success.” “Turkey wants to adopt and implement EU criteria,” he added.

10. Erdogan said that it is Europe that needs Turkey and not the other way around
Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.02.13) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the European club needed Turkey if it wanted a key role in global affairs.

"The European Union should get strength from Turkey if it wants to be a global economic and political power. Today, the EU needs Turkey, not the other way round," the Turkish premier told a joint press appearance with his Czech counterpart Petr Necas in Prague, the Czech capital, the first stop of Erdogan's three-nation European tour.

Erdogan claimed that Turkey was one of the few countries which came closest to meeting the Maastricht criteria, even if the country was not an EU member and it was under no obligation to comply with the conditions which EU members need to meet in order to adopt the single EU currency.

“The Turkish premier slammed the Union over problems which his country faced in its accession talks, accusing the EU of rejecting to acknowledge Turkey as a nation that would add a vision to the EU both politically and economically”, according to Ankara Anatolia.

11. More on the “Imprali  talks”: Ocalan reportedly  to tell  PKK militants to leave Turkish ground
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (05.02.13) reports that Jailed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan might order PKK militants to pull out of Turkish territories over the next 10 days, Turkish media reported on Monday. 

According to a news story that appeared in Turkish Taraf daily, PKK leader Öcalan, who is currently jailed on İmralı Island in the Sea of Marmara, south of İstanbul, is expected to urge PKK militants based in the rural areas of southeast and east Turkey, to withdraw beyond the country's borders.

The Turkish government has been carrying on negotiations with Öcalan since November of last year. Government officials have repeatedly said the primary purpose of the talks is to disarm the PKK. Although much skepticism has been directed at this possibility, the talks have continued so far without interruptions, in spite of fears that the execution of three PKK women in Paris might harm the talks.

Meanwhile, there were various reports indicating that National Intelligence Organization (MİT) officials, who are currently talking to Öcalan on İmralı, will meet PKK chiefs from the Kandil Mountains, where the organization is based. This round of talks with PKK leaders will take place in the northern Iraqi autonomous region's capital of Arbil, some agencies reported. MİT Undersecretary Hakan Fidan will be conducting the talks, according to the reports.

12. Turkey: One hundred ten pilots of Air Force forces quitted from their position
Turkish Medya Turkunu website (http://www.medyatutkunu.com) reports today, that 110 pilots of the Turkish Air Force forces quitted from their position in the last thirty days and notes that no pilots will be left to operate the Turkish war planes.
The site reports that 80 pilots quitted during the previous week and that 30 more issued their resignation in the two days. The pilots served the mandatory 10-year service and were allowed to leave. The pilots left either for financial reasons or most importantly because they are involved to lawsuits and investigations against them due the Sledgehammer Coup Plan or other cases.