TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No.
106/13
6/6/13
1.
Ninth day of “Gezi Park protests”
2. Davutoglu reacts
against US criticism on protests
3. Taksim talks start
before Erdoğan returns
4. Crowd attacks
supporters of Gezi Park protests in Erdoğan’s homeland
5. Twenty-eight persons detained for inciting Gezi protests on Twitter
5. Twenty-eight persons detained for inciting Gezi protests on Twitter
6. Eleven foreign
nationals detained for role in Gezi Park protests
7.
Abant Platform, close
to Gulen’s community, expressed strong criticism to AKP government
8.
Portrait of protesters conducted by Bilgi University shows that they
are young and libertarian
9. Tunisian National
Front refuses to participate in a dinner with Erdogan
10. Tunisian National
Front refuses to participate in a dinner with Erdogan
11. Füle to visit
Turkey amid growing criticism of the government
12. Turkish columnists
on the Gezi Park protests
13. Turkey revives
hopes on Black Sea sources
14.
Eroglu: Annan Plan was
a plan to create unrest; Varosha is part of a comprehensive solution
15. More plots of land
were illegally distributed to companies and private persons in the
occupation regime
16.
Period of uncertainty begins in occupied Cyprus
17. DP is renamed into
DP-UG
18. Israeli exports to
Turkey increased by 44%
1.
Ninth
day of “Gezi Park protests”
Turkish daily Hurriyet
newspaper (06.06.13) reports that the ninth day of the Gezi Park
protests saw more police violence in the center of Ankara in the
afternoon, despite the government’s repeated instructions to the
security forces to exercise restraint. Police again used tear gas and
water cannon to quell protesters, most of whom were members of unions
who had called for a strike in solidarity with the Gezi Park
demonstrations.
The
Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), the Public Workers
Unions Confederation (KESK), the Turkish Doctors’ Union (TTB) and
the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) as
well as members of left-wing political parties and members of civil
society organizations were all present at the Kızılay square.
A
greater police presence compared to the last two days was noted near
the square. Tensions arose as a group unrelated with the unions tried
to set up tents on Kızılay Square, according to claims. Police
chased protesters in the main arterial roads of the town such as
Sakarya, Ziya Gökalp and Atatürk Avenues. Some detentions have
reportedly been made following the sudden crackdown.
Police
also fired tear gas and used water cannons against another group of
demonstrators that gathered at Kuğulu Park. Two journalists working
for the Ulusal Channel, Ankara bureau chief Mustafa Kaya and
cameraman Serkan Bayraktar, were taken into custody, the private
broadcaster reported.
In
addition, Turkish
daily Hurriyet newspaper (06.06.13) reports that
Ethem
Sarısülük, a Turkish activist who was wounded in the head during
Taksim Gezi Park clashes in the capital city of Ankara, has succumbed
to his injuries, a representative of the Turkish Medical Association
(TTB) said during a press meeting in Ankara.
Sarısülük, whose brain
death was declared earlier, became the third person killed in
protests, the representative said after a meeting with Deputy Prime
Minister Bülent Arınç.
Two
other people have so far died in the protests. Abdullah Cömert, a
22-year-old youth branch member of the Republican People’s Party
(CHP), was killed in Antakya on June 3 during the clashes, while
20-year-old Mehmet Ayvalıtaş was hit and killed after a car driver
ignored warnings to stop
for protesters in “Ümraniye’s 1 Mayıs” neighborhood on the
night of June 2.
2.
Davutoglu
reacts against US criticism on protests
Turkish
daily Hürriyet
Daily News (06.05.13) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoğlu has reproached his U.S. counterpart over four different
statements that had come from Washington criticizing the police
crackdown on Turkish protestors. Davutoğlu expressed his reaction to
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry saying, “These sorts of
incidents happen everywhere and they are considered unexceptional.
Then why are they regarded extraordinary when happening in Turkey?”
Following
the fourth statement from Washington since last week, most recently
on Tuesday from Vice President Joe Biden urging Turkey’s government
to respect the rights of its political opponents, the Turkish foreign
minister had Tuesday called his U.S. counterpart by phone to respond
to criticisms over a violent crackdown against anti-government
protesters.
The
minister told Kerry about the nationwide demonstrations in Turkey,
and said, “There is not a second class democracy in Turkey.” “In
democracies, these protests may happen. There is a right to
demonstrations in Turkey. We respect peaceful demonstrators, but
there are ones who abuse,” Davutoğlu told Kerry, citing those
harming public property, according to the diplomat.
The minister recalled the
protests on Wall Street in the U.S and said similar incidents were
regarded as ordinary, but the ones in Turkey were considered
extraordinary.
Meanwhile, U.S. State
Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said that both ministers had a very
positive relationship; however the U.S. State of Secretary could not
remain indifferent when there were serious concerns.
Kerry did not attempt to
categorize Turkey, Psaki said, adding that the support of officials
for the peaceful protests would help to appease the situation.
In
addition, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (06.06.13) reports that the
United States has issued a travel alert on Turkey, asking its
citizens to be vigilant as nationwide protests continue across the
country.
An
updated statement the US State Department released on Wednesday
alerts US citizens traveling to or residing in Turkey to the
continuing public demonstrations taking place throughout the country.
It said there have been numerous reports of violence, injuries, and
at least two confirmed deaths related to clashes between protestors
and police.
3.
Taksim
talks start before Erdoğan returns
Under
the above title, Turkish daily Hürriyet Daily News
(06.06.13) reports that talks on a solution on the future of Taksim
Gezi Park begin in Ankara between representatives of NGOs and Deputy
Premier Bülent Arınç with all eyes fixed on the arrival of PM
Erdoğan from a North African tour.
As
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan returns from a series of
official visits abroad it remains to be seen whether he will tend to
assume a milder tone concerning the ongoing unrest all over the
country, while Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç had been in
charge in a bid to reduce the tension.
As
had been announced on June 4, when he held a meeting with President
Abdullah Gül, Arınç hosted June 5 members of the Taksim Platform,
who had objected to the Taksim Square Pedestrianization Project from
the beginning.
The group conveyed their
demands to Arınç:
Gezi
Park should remain a park with no construction within, this decision
should be officially announced and the Atatürk Culture Center should
not be demolished; law enforcement officers and bureaucrats who led
to rising
violence that resulted in the killings of three citizens and wounding
of thousands should be investigated and removed from office – in
particular the governors and police chiefs of Istanbul, Ankara and
Hatay – use of tear gas and similar materials should be banned; all
protesters in custody should be immediately and unconditionally
released; it should be announced that none of those protesters will
be prosecuted; and all de facto obstacles and bans against use of the
freedom of assembly in all squares and public zones of Turkey –
particularly Taksim Square and Kızılay Square, which are the venue
for May 1 gatherings – as well as barriers to freedom of expression
should be removed.
During
the meeting, which took place upon the deputy prime minister’s
invitation, Arınç maintained the stance he displayed during a press
conference on June 4, thus he once more affirmed that the initial
protests were righteous. Yet, he once again avoided offering a clear
apology, sources present at the meeting told the Hürriyet Daily
News.
When
Arınç suggested that it was now time to end the protests, the
platform members responded by saying that they were not authorized to
make such a call, the same sources said, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
“Even
if we say so, these protests will not end. We came here as their
spokesperson. We did not start the process, neither can we end it,”
they stated.
The
platform has further voiced the need for “binding promises” from
the government for the protests to close. As an answer to that, Arınç
guaranteed that the government would discuss the matter.
“At
the moment, the operation in Gezi Park has stopped. We will handle
the subject extensively at the Cabinet meeting upon Mr. Prime
Minister’s return. We will discuss [it] as the government. We will
re-evaluate there at the Cabinet meeting. Like I said, at the moment,
the operation has stopped and we will discuss and debate the matter
with our prime minister, the mayor, all sides, and by running the
process like this, we will come to a conclusion,” Arınç replied.
A
statement read out by the Taksim Platform, following the meeting with
Arınç, made clear that the content of the rising reaction against
the government should not be limited to objections to plans to build
a replica of Ottoman-era barracks where Gezi Park is located.
Particularly through the third bridge over the Bosphorus plan, the
third Istanbul airport plan, the Canal Istanbul project, plans for
the Atatürk Forest Farm (AOÇ) and hydroelectric power plants
(HESs), the government has been “attacking the people’s
ecological values,” the platform said.
While
assessing the unrest in the country, the government should be well
aware of “the stance against the war policy for our country and the
demands for peace, the sensitivity of our Alevi citizens, the
rightful demands of victims of urban transformation, the voices
rising against conservative male politicians controlling women’s
bodies, the resistance against the requirements on universities,
judiciary and artists, the demands vis-à-vis seizure of rights of
all the working class including Turkish Airlines (THY) workers, the
struggle against all sexual orientation and gender identity
discrimination, and requests for removal of obstacles to citizens’
access to education and health services,” it said.
4.
Crowd
attacks supporters of Gezi Park protests in Erdoğan’s
homelandAnkara
Anatolia news agency (05.06.13) reports that for the first time since
the beginning of the countrywide protests which started over the
demolition attempt of Istanbul’s Gezi Park, a crowd attacked the
supporters of the demonstrations June 5 in the Black Sea town of
Rize, homeland of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
A
catastrophic rampage was avoided after a tremendous escalation of the
tension over the course of two hours with the joint intervention of
the town’s Mayor Halil Bakırcı, deputy governor and police chief.
A
group of 25 to 30 members of the Turkish Youth Union (TGB) were
staging a protest in support of the Taksim Gezi Park demonstrations
when a crowd gathered and began to respond to their slogans. Tension
peaked as members of the crowd started to violently attack the small
group. After the police’s intervention, the small group took refuge
inside a building as the larger crowd blocked a central avenue and
started to chant slogans.
The
crowd attacked the TGB members again while they were being taken out
of the building by the security officers. Police resorted to tear gas
to prevent the protesters from attacking the group members. A woman
was also injured during the incidents, Anatolia
news agency reported.
5.
Twenty-eight
persons detained for inciting Gezi protests on Twitter
Turkish
daily Today’s Zaman (06.06.13) reports that Turkish
police have detained 28 people for "spreading untrue
information" on social media and provoking protests.
İzmir
police detained 28 people on Tuesday and Wednesday for allegedly
spreading false information and provoking
protests on social media.
The
false statements included that the police were shooting at protesters
and that a police tank had crushed protesters. Teams from İzmir's
Smuggling and Anti-Organized Crime Department held simultaneous
operations in 38 locations and detained 24 people on Tuesday evening.
Four people were apprehended on Wednesday morning, and police are
searching for 10 others. The detained individuals are accused of
“inciting the people to enmity and hate.”
The
families of the detainees have rejected the accusations. The mother
of detainee E.Ö. said the family brought her daughter to the police
station after police asked for her. She stated that her daughter had
only re-tweeted a call for help in an İzmir neighborhood during the
protests.
Main
opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İzmir branch head Ali
Engin was in front of the police station with the detainees'
families. Engin said the İzmir Police Department owes an apology to
the people of İzmir. “This is a menace. All the families are
uneasy,” he said.
Meanwhile,
the Information Technology Reporters' Association (BMD), issued a
press statement regarding the protests in Gezi Park and criticized
negative comments about social media on Wednesday. The BMD statement
came after Erdoğan expressed his dismay at social media over the
weekend because of misinformation circulating about the protests.
6.
Eleven
foreign nationals detained for role in Gezi Park protests
Turkish
daily Radikal (05.06.13) reports that eleven
foreign nationals were detained June 5 on accusations that they were
helping provoke the Gezi Park protests.
Four
Americans, two British nationals, two Iranians, one Indian, one
French citizen and one Greek were among those detained overnight for
allegedly provoking protesters during the ongoing events. Officials
have not yet confirmed the detentions. Radikal said all the nationals
possessed diplomatic passports and that four were students who were
residing in Turkey as part of Erasmus, an exchange student program.
7.
Abant Platform, close to Gulen’s community, expressed strong
criticism to AKP government
Under
the title: “Strong criticism to the government by the Community”,
Turkish daily Cumhuriyet newspaper (06.06.13) reports that the Abant
Platform, which is known to be an organization with close relations
to Fethullah Gulen’s community, [Translator’s note: the
Abant Platform’s has been established in 1988 by the Journalists
and Writers Foundation (GYV), and it has tried to bring together
people from different cultures, ideologies and religions to find
common solutions to common problems] issuing a written statement
yesterday, expressed strong criticism to AKP government concerning
the latest protests which are taking place all across Turkey for Gezi
Park.
The
Abant Platform expressed in the statement their worries over the
latest incidents in Turkey and especially over the disproportionate
use of violence by the police, the spreading out of the incidents and
calls the AKP government to give up from implementations which
constitutes interference and violation of the way of life of the
people.
AK
8.
Portrait of protesters conducted by Bilgi University shows that they
are young and libertarian
Istanbul T24 website
(05.06.13) publishes an opinion poll conducted by Istanbul Bilgi
University regarding the identity of the protestors in Turkey.
The report is as follows:
“The survey conducted
by Istanbul Bilgi University in 20 hours on 3,000 protesters revealed
the following results: Some 70 percent of the protesters do not feel
any affiliation to any political party, in contrary to what the prime
minister had claimed. Another result of the survey shows that the
real issue that caused the Gezi Park manifestations is Prime Minister
Erdogan’s authoritarianism… The protesters define themselves
mainly as “libertarians.” Yet another result of the survey is
that “respect to freedoms” is the most important thing the
protesters expect to obtain at the end of their action.
The results of the first
survey conducted on the people’s uprising, which has been going on
since last Friday and is described by many as one of the most
important turning points in the history of the Republic, have been
published. According to the report of Habervesaire.com, the results
of the survey prepared by Istanbul Bilgi University lecturers Esra
Ercan Bilgic and Zehra Kafkasli, and answered online by 3,000 people
in a total of 20 hours, reveal clear clues as to the identity and
demands of the masses that rose against the government.
According to the first
results that were published, the people who hit the streets are not
members or supporters of a particular political party, contrary to
what was claimed by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Some 39.6 of the
protesters are between the ages of 19 and 25, 24 percent are between
26 and 30, and 75.8 percent participated in the demonstrations by
going out on the streets. Some 53.7 percent have never taken part in
any mass action, and 70 percent do not feel any affiliation to any
political party. While 14.7 percent are undecided, only 15.3 percent
feel close to a political party.
The subjects were asked
what reasons prompted them to support the protests and to what
extent. The subjects were instructed to tick up one option for each
reason, namely “strongly agree,” “agree,” “undecided,”
and “disagree.”
According to that, those
who strongly agree that what prompted them to support the protests
was the prime minister’s authoritarian attitude ranked first with
92.4 percent.
The rate of those who
strongly agreed that the trigger was the disproportionate use of
police force against the protesters stood at 91.3 percent. Some 91.1
percent strongly agreed that the violation of their democratic rights
caused them to support the protests. The rate of those who strongly
agreed that the media’s silence was the decisive factor was 84.2,
and those who strongly agreed that the demolition of trees made them
support the protests stood at 56.2 percent.
The rate of those who
said that they joined the protests with the directive of the
political movement they belonged to was a mere 7.7 percent.
The subjects were asked
which of the characterizations they associated with and to what
extent. For every characterization, the subjects were asked to tick
one of the choices as in the previous question: “strongly agree,”
“agree,” “undecided,” and “disagree.”
According to that
question, the protesters think that among all the characterizations
“libertarian” defined them best.
The rate of those who
strongly agreed with the characterization “libertarian” stood at
81.2 percent.
This was followed by 64.5
percent who strongly agreed with the premise “I am secular.”
The rate of those who
disagreed with the premise “I am apolitical” was 54.5.
Among those who supported
the protests, the rate of subjects who disagreed with the statement
“I am an AKP [Justice and Development Party] voter stood at 92.1
percent.
The rate of those who
disagreed with the option “I am a conservative” was 75.0 percent.
Subjects were asked what
they wished to obtain as the result of their protest by marking one
of the options “strongly agree,” “agree,” “undecided,”
and “disagree.” The rate of the answers the subjects “strongly
agreed” with were as follows:
- “Police violence must
stop,” 96.7 percent.
- “From now on freedoms
must be respected,” 96.1 percent.
- “A new political
party should be established,” 37 percent.
According to the
results, the rate of those who are in favor of a “military
intervention” is very low. Those who strongly agree with that idea
is 6.6 percent, and those who agree is 2.3 percent. Those who
disagree with the idea of a coup make up a sweeping majority with
79.5 percent.
9.
Tunisian
National Front refuses to participate in a dinner with Erdogan
Turkish Cypriot daily
Afrika newspaper (06.06.13), reports that the Tunisian National
Front, which is considered as he biggest opposition power in the
country, boycotted the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Hamma Hammami, leader and spokesman of the Front, has stated that “we
have been invited to the dinner with Erdogan, but we refused to go,
because we do not participate in dinners with despots and
conspirators”.
Hammami called on the
Tunisian popular forces to gather for a massive protest in front of
the Turkish embassy to Tunisia. He said that the message of the
protest would be that “Erdogan is not wanted on Tunisian land and
to remind that he is the leader of an oppressive and reactionary
government”.
Reacting against the
Tunisian government, Hammami said that “the violent oppression and
interferences in Turkey are a proof of the failure of the Islamists,
whom the West is continuously presenting as ‘democratic Islam’”.
He then urged the free Tunisians to support the Turkish people.
(I/Ts.)
10.
Tunisian
National Front refuses to participate in a dinner with Erdogan
Turkish Cypriot daily
Afrika newspaper (06.06.13), reports that the Tunisian National
Front, which is considered as he biggest opposition power in the
country, boycotted the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Hamma Hammami, leader and spokesman of the Front, has stated that “we
have been invited to the dinner with Erdogan, but we refused to go,
because we do not participate in dinners with despots and
conspirators”.
Hammami called on the
Tunisian popular forces to gather for a massive protest in front of
the Turkish embassy to Tunisia. He said that the message of the
protest would be that “Erdogan is not wanted on Tunisian land and
to remind that he is the leader of an oppressive and reactionary
government”.
Reacting against the
Tunisian government, Hammami said that “the violent oppression and
interferences in Turkey are a proof of the failure of the Islamists,
whom the West is continuously presenting as ‘democratic Islam’”.
He then urged the free Tunisians to support the Turkish people.
(I/Ts.)
11.
Füle
to visit Turkey amid growing criticism of the government
Under the above title
(06.06.13) reports that the European Union Commissioner for
Enlargement Stefan Füle was due to arrive in Turkey on Thursday amid
growing criticism of the way the Turkish government has handled the
riots that started in Taksim and later spread all across the nation.
The
commissioner went
to İstanbul to attend a conference titled “Rethinking Global
Challenges: Constructing a Common Future for Turkey and the EU
Conference” which was scheduled months ago but will definitely be a
good opportunity for the EU to convey its concerns on the recent
developments in Turkey, an EU source told Today's Zaman. A meeting
with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who will also participate
in the international conference, is also on the cards but that has
not been confirmed yet, the EU official told Today's Zaman on the
condition of unanimity.
The
European Commission and the European Parliament (EP) have harshly
criticized the heavy-handed reaction of the Turkish police against
protesters and have condemned the violence. Political groups in the
European Parliament agreed to debate the recent events both in the
Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) on Wednesday and also in a
plenary session that will be held in Strasbourg next week. The EP is
expected to discuss whether to have an “urgent resolution” on the
situation in Turkey.
Füle
will also be meeting with Turkish Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin and
EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bağış on the sidelines
of the two-day meeting.
If
their meeting takes place, Füle is expected to discuss with Erdoğan
the recent events in Turkey and share the concern of Brussels on the
preliminary reactions of the police against protestors. Turkey's
embattled EU accession process will also be one of the main topics
and Füle is expected, once again, to give his support to revitalize
the frozen accession talks.
After a three-year
freeze, the EU is preparing to open another chapter for Turkey
towards the end of the Irish presidency. Chapter 22, “Regional
Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments,” is due to be
opened on June 26 at an intergovernmental conference in Brussels.
The
last chapter with Turkey was opened at the last day of the Spanish
presidency almost exactly three years ago on June 30, 2010. Since
then, not a single chapter has been opened due to French and Greek
Cypriot objections.
While Croatia, which
started its accession talks on the same day as Turkey on Oct. 3,
2005, will be the 28th member of the EU on July 1, Ankara will only
be able to open its 14th chapter out of 35. Turkey has been able to
close only one chapter so far, namely science and research which
occupies only a few pages in the 120,000-page EU acquis.
12.
Turkish
columnists on the Gezi Park protests
Various
columnists
commented on the developments in Turkey during the last few days.
Under
the title “The one-man show has ended”, Emre Uslu
wrote in Zaman (06.06.13):
“[…]
the [Justice and Development Party] AKP, particularly in recent
years, has adopted a strategy promoting him as the leader of the
Muslim world. Strategy has been put in place since Turkey's “one
minute” crisis with Israel emphasizing [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan's
role as leader and his appeal to the Arab street above all have
generated excitement among his followers about his leadership
abilities.
It seems the reason the
AKP has formulated its strategy around the character of Erdoğan is
largely to capitalize on the vulnerability of the opposition: its
comparatively weaker leaders. Rather than putting issues before the
people, AKP strategists bring the charismatic prime minister before
them, highlighting the differences between Erdoğan and the
opposition party leaders. This serves...to the easy manipulation of
political discourse to suit the ruling party.
"Turning
politics into a one-man show necessitates playing with hot and
divisive issues that drive wedges into society. The abortion issue is
one such issue, dividing people sharply into two camps: liberals who
support abortion and the larger segment of society on the one hand,
making up around 70 percent of the population, and conservatives who
would join the AKP and Erdoğan on the other. By enlivening such
issues and using Erdoğan's charm to manipulate political discourse
the AKP strategists strive to forge a more conservative society and
to galvanize those conservative elements around Erdoğan... It seems
the AKP strategy to build their future around the performance, the
outlook, the vision of Erdoğan is in fact a fatal strategy, one that
not only enhances a perception of Turkey as a conservative nation but
is a risk to its wellbeing also. It is a strategy that turns politics
into a one-man show. […]
The protests in Gezi Park
in İstanbul are just an outcome of this one-man show. The protesters
are not particularly against the AKP government, they are not against
Abdullah Gül for instance, and there are AKP supporters among them.
What they are against is Erdoğan and his bossy language in politics.
The
nature of the protests indicates that the AKP strategists failed to
sees the rising public anger toward Erdoğan as they try to promote
Erdoğan as the one and only true politician. While the AKP
strategists underlining there is no alternative to Erdoğan,
therefore, building their strategy to remove all political
alternatives from the scene and keep the opposition weak, the Gezi
protests mobilized peoples' anti-Erdoğan sentiments.
This is an absolute
disaster for Erdoğan and his team. They need to alter their
strategy. Either they need to carve out a friendlier and welcoming
leader who plays the role of Mother Teresa and expect Erdoğan to
play such a role successfully, or they need to find a new legitimate
target for Erdoğan to fight against to mobilize the AKP supporters
around him one more time. […] I think it would not be a mistake to
predict: the one-man show has ended.”
--------------
Under
the title “The Battle of Taksim and beyond”, Burak Bekdil wrote
in Hurriyet (05.06.13):
“[…] Once again, Mr.
Erdoğan looked amusingly unconvincing when he tagged hundreds of
thousands of protesters as “looters, marginal and members of
illegal organizations;” or when he blamed nationwide protests on
“foreign enemies who envy Turkey.” But for the deaf, useful and
disposable idiots, Mr. Erdoğan once again clarified his
understanding of democracy: Dissent is legal only when expressed at
the ballot box! (His words).
The
past four days were no doubt “scary” for Mr. Erdoğan and his
men, although one government MP shrugged off the protests, saying
“they think they can start a revolution with their drunken heads.”
Honorable members of parliament; the drunken heads made the headlines
all around the world except Turkey where “top news channels”
preferred to broadcast cooking programs at the same moments their
foreign colleagues were covering the protests in every detail.
Self-censorship could not have been exposed better.
[…]
The
Battle of Taksim was a psychological victory for the protesters. Now
they are more confident than before that in the next battle the
police will have to kill them, not just spray them with tear gas –
unless of course the police launched a discreet witch-hunt in the
days ahead and arrested thousands of dissidents on charges of being
members of various unheard of terrorist organizations. We know from
his own statements that there is hardly a very thin line between what
dissent and terrorism mean to Mr Erdoğan. […]
-------------
”On
the other hand, one of Erdogan’s supporters and assistant, Yalcin
Akdogan, who is writing under the pseudonym Yasin Dogan, wrote the
following in Yeni Safak (05.06.13) under the title "Opportunists
and Fallen Masks":
“Different
circles seeking to take advantage of the incidents in Taksim all have
different agendas. Everybody wants something different…
On
the one hand there are regular people enraged for such reasons as
"trees, shopping malls and police violence." […] On the
other hand there is the CHP [Republican People's Party] and its
supporters who failed to cope with the government at the ballot box
and who are now trying to topple the government by gathering all the
marginal elements in a status quo bloc. Among them are illegal
organizations known for their actions that verge on terrorism, and
for the law and order problems they are creating.
Some
are trying to bring down the government, harm it and weaken it.
Others are trying to teach the government a lesson or warn it. It
can be seen that those who are over-critical of the government,
especially just recently, have succumbed to the thrill of "let
us slap them a few times while we are at it."
What is really sad about
this business is the way certain liberal/left-wing/democrat persons
who are criticizing the government for shortcomings in democracy or
style and manner, are acting in unison with a bloc that fights
against just these ideals and values, and they are applauding them.
Those circles delivering
an environmental message or criticizing the government's style did
indeed perform a function at one stage of this process. The other
stage of this process sees a different band that is trying to bring
down the elected government by engaging in political schemes and
provocation. They are opposed to the core to the 12 Sept referendum,
to the new constitution and to the [Kurd] solution process. This
bloc, which is neo-nationalist and to some degree fascist, would
drown our veteran democrats in two inches of water given half a
chance.
While these veteran
democrats are criticizing the government with not being democratic
enough and with not taking progressive steps, these neo-nationalist
are subjecting the government to flak calling them traitors. It is
nothing short of irony to see these two different mindsets working
side by side on diametrically opposed pretexts.
All of them are waging a
fight at the center of which they have placed Tayyip Erdogan. Some
people cannot stand his political existence. Some want to scratch
his charisma and rattle him. Those people who are tagging on to the
status quo's coattails saying, "They have become large in
number, too" are reacting in such a way as to be setting a trap
for themselves.
Some
of the statements made by Selahattin Demirtas warning his own people
plus the warnings made by Devlet Bahceli are the kind that will go
down in history. [..]
There are plenty of
opportunists with personal interest or seeking to gain political
ground by benefiting from all the smoke. They will be noted as a
disgrace and a scream.
The CHP for its part is
going to pay the price both legally and politically for the damage,
the provocation and the plot.
The
games of those who want to organize politics by propagating fear are
plain for all to see. Let nobody assume that it is not known or
understood who is trying to do what, or what kind of underhanded
manipulation is being attempted. This affair has removed the masks
so that everybody's
true face can better be seen.”
13.
Turkey revives hopes on Black Sea sources
Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (06.06.13) reports that an official has said that the
hopes of Turkey’s state-run oil researcher, Turkish Petroleum
Corporation (TPAO), for potential Black Sea sources, have been
revived again after years of failed attempts, adding that the company
was currently in talks with two global oil explorers for the region.
Erdal
Coskun, TPAO’s exploration manager, said during a two-day Black Sea
Oil and Gas Conference that ended yesterday, the following: “TPAO’s
operations in the Black Sea leave a great deal to be desired
considering Turkey has a 1,650-kilometer coast. But we’re hopeful
to obtain results with the new deals with other oil explorer
companies and thanks to the better-than-expected performance of
Turkey’s new seismic vessel, ‘Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa,’ which
began operations in the region a few months ago”, he added.
Turkey’s
exploration activities in the Black Sea basins date back to the early
1970s, but the country, desperately searching for energy, has
fostered its operations there only in the last 10 years. TPAO had
established several joint venture projects with giant international
companies including Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Petrobras and BP but failed
to accomplish significant discoveries.
International actors’
interest in the region has freshened with a mouth-watering discovery
by Romania in the Neptune block in the Black Sea, Coskun told the
Hurriyet Daily News on the sidelines of the conference.
TPAO and oil giant Royal
Dutch Shell have already begun to explore jointly for oil in the
Black Sea with a deal reached in February. According to the deal,
Shell is bearing the cost of deep-sea operations while drilling is
jointly funded.
Coskun said that now two
other partnerships in the region were in the pipeline for TPAO.
“We’re
currently negotiating with two companies for two different wells. One
of them is entering the region for the first time, but we had a
partnership in the Black Sea with the other one,” Coskun said,
without giving any further details about the names.
In
his remarks Coskun also praised Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa’s
performance in the region and said the seismic vessel, which conducts
two- and three-dimensional seismic surveys, might serve in Shell’s
own operations as well. After completing its duty in the Black Sea,
the vessel will go to off-shore fields of
Cyprus
in the Mediterranean Sea to explore for energy.
----------
Erdal
Coskun added further, that the companies TPAO will jointly apply with
for the rights to explore for oil and gas off the coast of Lebanon
have been determined and the consortium will place its bid in
November.
Encouraged by Cyprus’
and Israel’s impressive oil and gas reserve findings, Lebanon has
decided to get its share from Mediterranean sources and kicked off
the bidding process for offshore oil and gas licenses.
A total of 52 companies
from 25 countries submitted applications during the pre-qualification
round.
“The process is going
smoothly for Turkey,” TPAO vice president Yurdal Oztas told the
Hurriyet Daily News.
Neither manager specified
the name of the firms Turkey has partnered up with.
The Lebanese authorities
will finalize their decision by next February, Coskun said.
14.
Eroglu:
Annan Plan was a plan to create unrest; Varosha is part of a
comprehensive solution
Turkish Cypriot daily
Star Kibris newspaper (06.06.13) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu has argued that the Annan Plan was not a solution plan
for Cyprus and that in the contrary it was a plan which would create
unrest. Replying to the questions of Akademi Politik magazine, Eroglu
argued that the important thing right now is what has been discussed
with the Greek Cypriot side during the ongoing process since 2008.
He noted: “The
fundamental issue we put emphasis on is to make an agreement having
as starting point the existing realities in Cyprus. Otherwise new
areas of conflict will come up and what you call agreement will be
returned into a document which creates the ground for conflict”.
Replying
to a question on the Annan Plan, Eroglu alleged: “The Annan Plan
belongs to the past. Of course, it is possible to be benefited from
all the documents prepared until today, from all the framework
agreements. However, as it is written in the Annan Plan itself, it
has ceased to exist because it was rejected by one of the sides in
the referendum. In spite of the fact that the current President of
the Greek Cypriot Administration Nikos Anastasiades had carried out a
‘yes’ campaign during the referendum process for the Annan Plan
in 2004, now he is in a position of being the main opponent of the
Annan Plan. The National Unity Party under my leadership in 2004, had
carried out a campaign for the ‘no’ vote. In my view, the Annan
Plan is not a solution plan. On the contrary, it was a plan that
would create unrest”.
Eroglu
alleged that two “states” exist now in Cyprus, even though the
“TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, is
recognized only by Turkey and claimed: “No one can change this
reality. Two states are living side by side at the moment. We will
see. I repeat: A solution is possible having as starting point the
existing realities in Cyprus”.
Asked to comment on the
proposal as regards the return of the occupied fenced city of Varosha
to its legal Greek Cypriot owners and the opening of the occupied
Famagusta port under the auspices of the EU, Eroglu alleged:
“The issue of Varosha
has come many times onto the agenda in the one way or the other, but
at the moment for us it is an issue that should be included in the
comprehensive solution. The view put forward by motherland Turkey on
the issue of the opening of the ports is the lifting of the embargo
imposed by the Greek Cypriots for a port in the TRNC in return for
the opening of a port in Turkey for the Greek Cypriot side. If they
come to this point, it will happen, if not, no conclusion could be
reached”.
(I/Ts.)
15.
More plots of land were illegally distributed to companies and
private persons in the occupation regime
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (06.06.13) the
so-called council of ministers,
during its last meeting before the “early elections”, has leased
“state plots of land to several companies and private persons in
the occupied area of Cyprus.
Particularly, the
“council of minister” distributed plots of land to the following
companies and private person:
|
Firm’s
name
|
Location/place
|
Date
of the meeting of the “ministerial council”
|
|
Adil
Construction
|
Occupied
Kythrea
|
22.05.13
|
|
Kaya
Touristic Installations
|
Occupied
Karakoumi
|
27.05.13
|
|
“TRNC
School Driver’s Union”
|
Kermiya/Agios
Dometios
|
27.05.13
|
|
Tufekci
Ltd
|
Occupied
Gastria
|
29.05.13
|
|
Coskun
Gungor
|
Occupied
Rizokarpaso
|
27.05.13
|
|
Cuvalcioglu
and Sons Ltd
|
Occupied
Neapoli
|
27.05.13
|
|
Haluk
Mut-Vural Mut
|
Occupied
Ortakoy-Mintzeli
|
27.05.13
|
|
“Keryeia
American University” (GAU)
|
Occupied
Keryneia
|
29.05.13
|
|
Nephews
Tourism Ltd
|
Occupied
Trikomo
|
29.05.13
|
|
ASOK
LTD
|
Occupied
Mia Milia
|
22.05.13
|
AK
16.
Period
of uncertainty begins in occupied Cyprus
Under
the title “Uncertainty”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(06.06.13) reports that after the collapse of the National Unity
Party (UBP) self-styled government, as a result of the approval of a
“motion of census” yesterday at the regime’s assembly, a period
of uncertainty started as regards the establishment of a “government”
that will lead the “country” to the early “elections” of the
28th
of July. According to the paper, “serious uncertainties” continue
as regards the way by which the new “government” will be
established until 28 July. The Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the
Social Democrat Party (TDP) and the Democratic Party – National
Forces (DP-UG) have already launched a process during which they will
determine their stance.
Self-styled prime
minister Kucuk was expected to submit his resignation today to the
Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu, who after that should consult with the
political parties and assign a party leader or an “MP” with the
establishment of the “government”, provided that Eroglu is
convinced that this party leader or “MP” will be able to secure a
“vote of confidence’ by the “assembly”.
After
the “motion of census” was adopted, Hasan Bozer, self-styled
speaker of the “assembly” said that there was no time limit for
Kucuk to submit his resignation to Eroglu and added that the person
assigned by Eroglu with the duty of establishing a “government”
should do this within 15 days. The names of the “ministers”
should be approved by Eroglu and the “assembly”, he said adding
that the program of the “government” should be submitted to the
“assembly” within seven days. The discussion and the vote of
confidence lasted for three days, he noted and expressed doubts as to
whether the ‘government” and the “assembly” will be able to
carry out their duty in a sound manner until the “elections”.
(I/Ts.)
17.
DP
is renamed into DP-UG
Turkish Cypriot daily
Star Kibris newspaper (06.06.13) reports that an extraordinary
congress of the Democratic Party (DP) was held yesterday during which
the party was officially renamed into Democratic Party – National
Forces (DP-UG). This name had been decided after the eight “MPs”
who resigned from the National Unity Party (UBP) joined the DP.
Slogans such as “Real change is starting now”, “TRNC is
regenerated”, “New administration, new mentality, new policy”
and “A new era begins” were shouted during the congress.
Addressing the congress,
the general secretary of the party, Bengu Sonya said that are only 53
days away from coming to “power” and that they will come out as
the first party from the “elections” of 28 July.
The new logo of the party
is similar to the old one. The only change is that the expression
“National Forces” is added under the torch and the initials “DP”,
in the place of “DP” and “1992”.
Addressing the congress,
Ahmet Kasif, leader of the eight “MPs” who resigned from the UBP,
said that their party would come first in the “elections” and
argued that fear has ended now in the occupied area of Cyprus, where
the freedom of expression has started.
(I/Ts.)
18.
Israeli exports to Turkey increased by 44%
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (06.06.13) reports that according to
an analysis conducted
by economists at the Israel Export and International Cooperation
Institute (IEICI), exports of Israeli goods to Turkey reached a new
high in the first quarter of 2013, following a sharp increase of 44%
from the same quarter last year.
The
institute economists note that this is the first rise in exports
since the last quarter of 2011.
According to the figures,
the main export industry is chemicals and oil distillates, which made
up about 75% of all exports to Turkey in the first quarter. Total
chemical and oil distillate exports recorded a sharp increase of 67%
from the first quarter last year, totaling some 420 million dollars.
