TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
106/16
08.06.2016
1.
Eide: A general evaluation of the current stage of the negotiations will be made
today
2.
The agreement for the establishment of the “Youth coordination office” was
approved under arguments
3.
Afrika: “Youth coordination office” puts in danger the future of Turkish Cypriot
youth
4.
Foreign observers, Turkish Cypriot and Turkish “officials” watched the “2016
search and rescue exercise”
5.
Efforts to include “TRNC” in the “World Heritage Promotion
Project”
6.
Kaleagasi stressed the need for a solution of the Cyprus problem the soonest
possible
7.
“Turkey does not recognize TRNC’s driving license”
8.
Turkish leaders condemn Istanbul bomb attack
9.
Cavusoglu: Turkey would cancel the readmission agreement if the EU does not
grant visa-free travel to Turkish citizens
10.
Columnist Demirtas argues that as of mid-2016, Turkey’s rise has come to an
end
11.
Erdogan approved bill to lift immunity of Deputies
12.
The occupation regime was represented at IRSA general assembly in
Kirgizstan
13.
The “Turkish Cypriot-Kirgiz Business Cooperation Forum” took place in
Kirgizstan
1.
Eide: A general evaluation of the current stage of the negotiations will
be made today
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (08.06.16) reports that Espen Barth
Eide, UNSG’s special adviser in Cyprus, held a two-hour meeting yesterday
with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in the occupied part of Nicosia
prior to the meeting expected to be held today between the community leaders
within the framework of the Cyprus talks.
Eide
described his meeting with Akinci as “constructive and
comprehensive”.
Recalling that he had earlier held a meeting with President Anastasiades,
Eide said that he saw the two leaders determined to find a solution to the
Cyprus problem within 2016.
Noting
that both of them expressed the view that there is no time to waste, he pointed
out that the next few weeks should be scheduled in the most productive manner.
Referring to today’s meeting, Eide said that they will evaluate the stage at
which the negotiations have come and what has been achieved during the past
year.
The
UN official noted that during the next few weeks the issues on which
agreement has not been reached should be determined so that these issues to be
discussed at the highest level. “This means that the leaders are ready to
discuss these issues at the most direct manner”, he added.
According
to Eide, a lot of progress has been achieved in the negotiations, but it should
not be concealed that there are still many things to be done. Eide noted that
during the last few weeks he observed that the determination of the leaders was
increased, “because they saw that there will be no solution in case they do not
exhibit determination continuously”.
Asked
why President Anastasiades demands that the convergences and the points of
disagreements should be clearly put forward in spite of the fact that these are
included in a written document,
Eide replied that the leaders possess a document consisted of hundreds of
pages in which the agreed issues are written with black letters and on the
issues of disagreement the Turkish views are written with red letters and the
Greek views with blue. He noted that there should be a “general common
understanding” as regards the point to which the negotiations have come after a
year of discussions and that this will help in using time more fruitfully.
(I/Ts.)
2.
The agreement for the establishment of the “Youth coordination office” was
approved under arguments
Turkish
Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (08.06.16) reports that the agreement
between the breakaway regime and Turkey for the establishment and the activities
of the “Youth coordination office” was approved by the “committee of the
assembly”.
According
to the paper, the “attorney general” was also present during the meeting of the
“committee” who stated that it is dangerous for comments to be made regarding
the content of the agreements, since this was an agreement “between two
governments” which has the approval of the “council of ministers”. On the
contrary, the opposition parties expressed the view that the agreement is
against the “constitution” but the “attorney general” refrained from commenting
on the issue.
In
statements after the approval of the agreement, Asim Akansoy “deputy” with the
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stated that the future of the country was
mortgaged. “Politics and democracy were modified today. And we have handed the
key”, he stated.
(CS)
3. Afrika: “Youth coordination office” puts in danger the future
of Turkish Cypriot youth
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (08.06.16) reports about the
establishment of the “Youth coordination office” and writes that the issue
carries great similarities to the Celal Hordan case, the latter being a
“charlatan” who arrived from Turkey in the 1950s and was placed as the head of
the “youth organization”.
The paper notes that Turkish Cypriots still have memories of paying
two schillings for every Greek word they used, during that time.
“Turkey which seized our airports, our soil and our water with the
help of its cooperators here is giving now the final stroke taking over our
electricity, our telecommunications and our ports”, Afrika notes, adding that
Turkey aims to transform the (secular) Turkish Cypriot youth into a religious
oriented community.
In addition, the paper writes that the “We are rejecting platform”,
organized a press conference yesterday to inform people about its objections
regarding the establishment of the “Youth coordination office”.
Speaking during the press conference, the “deputy” with the Social
Democracy Party (TDP) Zeki Celer stated that the “Youth coordination office”
puts the future of the Turkish Cypriot youth in danger and asked for the help of
the people in order the establishment of the “Youth coordination office” not to
be approved by the “assembly”. He went on and added that the “sports and youth
offices” of the breakaway regime will stop operating and all the actions and
activities related to young people like camping and sport events will be put
under the jurisdiction of the “Youth coordination office” which will have a
Turkish head and Turkish personnel.
(CS)
4.
Foreign observers, Turkish Cypriot and Turkish “officials” watched the “2016
search and rescue exercise”
According
to illegal Bayrak television (onlie, 08.06.16), the “Martyr Lieutenant Caner
Gönyeli 2016 Search and Rescue Exercise” is continuing on its third day in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
Yesterday,
search and rescue units successfully carried out the onshore part of the
exercise at the occupied St. Hilarion area. The main maritime leg was held off
the occupied coast of Famagusta this morning.
Both
civilian and military personnel took part in the exercise, the maritime section
of which covered the sea under “TRNC” control as well as international waters
which fall under Turkey’s area of responsibility for search and
rescue.
A
briefing was held yesterday at the main headquarters of the “Cyprus Turkish
Security Forces” (editor’s note: the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus) in the
occupied village of Bogazi regarding the exercise.
The
briefing was attended by the Commander of the “Cyprus Turkish Security Forces”
Major General Erhan Uzun, his deputy Brigadier General Erdinc Korkuter, the
family members of Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli as well as other military
“officials” from Turkey and the “TRNC”.
Speaking
at the briefing Major General Uzun said that professional and well trained
personnel, good organisation, coordination and cooperation between different
units are vital for the success of search and rescue operations which are a race
against time.
Commander
Uzun, who briefed participants, on the details of the exercise said that Turkish
and “TRNC” rescue teams are always ready to take part in such operations if the
need emerges.
Following
the briefing, the onshore exercise was held at the “101 Evler (houses) area” of
St. Hilarion.
The
exercise was watched by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı, the self-styled
speaker of parliament Sibel Siber, self-styled prime minister Hüseyin Özgürgün,
former Turkish Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and Derviş Eroğlu, the illegal
Turkish “ambassador” to the occupied part of Lefkosia Derya Kanbay, the
Commander of the “Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus” Lieutenant General İlyas
Bozkurt, the Commander of the “Cyprus Turkish Security Forces” Major General
Erhan Uzun, the Commander of the Turkish Coast Guard Rear Admiral Hakan Üstem, a
number of “deputies” and guests.
10
observers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Qatar, Iran and South Africa were
also present at the exercise.
5.
Efforts to include “TRNC” in the “World Heritage Promotion
Project”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (08.06.16) reports that self-styled minister of
tourism and environment Fikri Ataoglu, who is currently in Ankara with a
delegation, met yesterday with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Tugrul Turkes and
discussed issues on tourism.
Ataoglu
met also with the chairman of Turkey’s Tourism and Promotion (Publicity)
Platform (TUTAP) Fikret Yildiz. During the meeting, Yildiz said that they have
already started working on adding Cyprus (translator’s note: he refers to the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) to the “World Heritage Promotion
project”, adding that they will try to include the “TRNC” in the organization’s
event which will be held on July.
Ataoglu,
for his part, said that they are trying to double their target of bringing two
million tourists to “North Cyprus”. Ataoglu invited also the Turkish citizens to
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, adding that the “TRNC promoting
days” will take shape during the summer season in the metropolitcan
municipalities in Turkey. He concluded by saying that it was agreed that “TRNC”
will be included on the catalogue that the Platform will prepare.
(DPs)
6.
Kaleagasi stressed the need for a solution of the Cyprus problem the soonest
possible
Turkish
Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli newspaper (08.06.16) reports that Bahadir
Kaleagasi, International Coordinator and Representative of the Turkish
Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) in the EU, evaluated in a
written statement Turkish-EU ties and the visa-free process.
Referring
to the visa-free process, Kaleagasi expressed the belief that it is not possible
from the theoretical point of view the visa-free travel for the Turkish citizens
to be implemented by the middle of July, since as he stated, Turkey and the EU
should reach to a common point towards this issue.
On
Turkey’s EU bid, Kaleagasi stressed the need for the EU negotiation process to
be intensified and to exert efforts to lift the political, social and other
obstacles.
Supporting
that a solution on the Cyprus problem should be found the soonest possible,
Kaleagasi said: “After lifting the Cyprus obstacle, Turkey-EU negotiation
process will be intensified and the political and economic benefits from this
development will be tremendous not only for Turkey but also for the island of
Cyprus. All necessary things should be done for the solution in Cyprus. In any
circumstance, the winner in Cyprus will be Turkey”.
(AK)
7.
“Turkey does not recognize TRNC’s driving license”
Under
the above title, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (08.06.16)
reports that the “driving license” granted to a Turkish settler by the
“TRNC”, the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, was
not recognized in Turkey.
The
settler named Koray Celebi had filed an application to the “embassy of Turkey”
asking to turn this “TRNC driving license” into a Turkish license. The
application was rejected by the “embassy”, which replied that as of 1/1/2016
Turkey issues new type of licenses and according to the new legislation, a
driving license granted by a foreign country, which is not member of the
Convention on Road Traffic and does not have a bilateral agreement with Turkey
as regards the mutual recognition of driving licenses, cannot be turned into a
Turkish document.
(I/Ts.)
8.
Turkish leaders condemn Istanbul bomb attack
According
to Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (online, 08.06.16), Turkish leaders in
Turkey have condemned a car bomb attack in Istanbul that killed 11 and wounded
another 36 on June 7.
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has visited hospitalised victims of the attack and said: “The terrorist
organisation’s discrimination between police, civilians or soldiers doesn’t
concern us. Those who become martyrs are human. We are deeply in sorrow.
There is a price to pay for everything, and they will pay the price for the
blood they shed.”
Turkish
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim: “Terrorist organisations planning to kill
innocent citizens in the first days of Ramadan showed once again that they are
the enemy of humanity and all humanitarian values.
The Republic of Turkey will never ever abandon its fight against
terrorism.”
Main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu: “The
terror attack which was carried out on the second day of Ramadan targeted our
law enforcement agency which is discharging its duties to achieve a secure
Turkey.”
Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli: “Acts of terrorism will not succeed
in disturbing national unity and damaging the ties of
brotherhood.”
9.
Cavusoglu: Turkey would cancel the readmission agreement if the EU does not
grant visa-free travel to Turkish citizens
Under
the title “Ankara to EU: No visa-free travel, no readmission agreement”, Turkish
daily Sabah newspaper (online, 07.06.16) reports that Ankara is firmly behind
its stance that the readmission agreement will not go into effect so long as the
28-nation bloc does not grant visa-free travel to Turkish citizens according to
the agreed schedule by July 1.
Foreign
Minister Mevlet Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey would cancel the
readmission agreement if the EU does not grant visa-free travel to Turkish
citizens. In a live televised interview, Cavusoglu argued that the decision
taken in the German Federal Parliament concerning the 1915 Armenian incidents is
a pre-planned move. Stating that Parliament has delayed voting for the very same
draft until now, Cavusoglu indicated that the German coalition changed its mind
to prevent collateral damages. "Here, the big parties in the coalition, as well
as, their leaders are responsible for that. It is not possible to attempt to
punish Turkey. First of all, this draft is neither binding nor forceful but they
are trying to send a message to Turkey," he added.
Regarding
the process of visa-free travel and Readmission Agreement negotiations,
Cavusoglu said that Turkey is willing to apply both agreements, stressing that
Turkey has fulfilled 67 of the 72 required criteria.
The Minister added that the agreements have taken yet another turn, expected to
be discussed once more on Tuesday between both parties. The Foreign Affairs
Minister emphasized that an agreement regarding the five criteria is necessary,
saying that "Otherwise, if the EU does not grant visa-free travel, we will
suspend the Readmission Agreement. This is not a threat; the two agreements have
to be applied together."
Stressing
Turkey's expectations regarding the terror law of the EU, Cavusoglu said: "We
would not take any steps to support or to incite those terrorist who explode
bombs even within the month of Ramadan," said Cavusoglu. Indicating that the
current attitude of the EU damaged the trust of Turkey's general public towards
the union, the Minister indicated that Turkey is still willing to cooperate in
the fight against terror.
10.
Columnist Demirtas argues that as of mid-2016, Turkey’s rise has come to an
end
Columnist
Serkan Demirtas, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online,
08.06.16), in its following commentary under the title “An end to Turkey’s rise
as an emerging power?” argues that Erdogan’s star has started to
fade:
“The
first decade of the 21st century highlighted Turkey’s rise as an emerging power
in an always unstable region from Eurasia to the Balkans and the Middle East to
North Africa. Consecutive reform packages on democracy and human rights helped
Turkey attain historic gains by launching full membership negotiations with the
European Union in 2005, granting the country important credibility around the
entire world.
Turkey
was introduced as a model country for those in the Muslim world who were seeking
a magic formula to ensure sustainable development. In this period, the Justice
and Development Party-led (AKP) democratization process has proven that a Muslim
country with secular roots can in fact bring about change. That was the message
then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, now the President, delivered to the
world in a keynote statement in a visit to Egypt in 2011.
A
stable political environment under AKP governments introduced an unprecedented
economic jump with an average annual growth rate not less than 5%. Turkey’s
economic and political performance introduced favourable conditions for foreign
direct investments with so many important global corporations choosing Turkish
soil in their relocation or investment plans. Turkey’s income per capita reached
$10,000 in the same period with prospects that it could be doubled over the next
decade.
On
foreign policy, Turkey’s ability to talk with all parties in the region allowed
the country to play the role of an honest broker between Israel and Syria,
Israel and Palestine as well as Iran and the world powers. It launched
trilateral mechanisms in the Balkans and Caucasus to weather differences between
regional countries. As a result of an active foreign policy, Turkey was elected
as a temporary member of the U.N. Security Council in a sign of its successful
performance in the international arena.
Efforts
to resolve the decades-old Kurdish question through peaceful means and to write
the country’s first civilian constitution were all launched in this period.
Today’s
Turkey, however, is far from this picture. Turkey stands as a highly isolated
country in its region with not many friends and is vulnerable to growing
security challenges, while its recent rhetoric about a change in foreign policy
has been greeted only cautiously by the world.
The
return to military means for the resolution of the Kurdish question makes a
foreign policy change almost impossible, as the issue has undeniable links with
the ongoing turmoil in Syria.
The
Syrian unrest has caused two major problems for Turkey: It has to shelter and
take care of the 3 million Syrians that have cost a fortune for the Turkish
economy, apart from social and political problems. Second, the major by-product
is the terror attacks posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
inside Turkey that, along with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), have turned
the entire country into a potential target. Hundreds of civilians and security
officers have lost their lives in scores of such attacks in different parts of
Turkey.
Due
to the growing security problems as well as the ongoing spat with Russia, the
number of foreign tourists has shown a sharp decrease, depriving the Turkish
economy of a lucrative source of revenue. Many big foreign corporations have
either passed into the wait-and-see position or suspended the launch of new
projects at a moment when the Turkish Lira is steadily weakening against leading
currencies.
The
image of the country in the Western world has never been poorer with concerns
about the authoritarian inclinations of the Turkish leadership. Even true
friends of Turkey are no longer hesitating in expressing their concerns that
“The way Turkey is going is not right” but can hardly find a sound response from
the Turkish capital.
As
of mid-2016, suggesting that Turkey’s rise has come to an end, amid little
optimism that it could soon be reversed, would not be
wrong.”
11.
Erdogan approved bill to lift immunity of
Deputies
According
to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 08.06.16), Turkey’s President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday approved the bill to lift immunities of Deputies
facing charges, shortly after petitions filed by opposition lawmakers were
turned down by the Constitutional Court.
After
President Erdogan's approval, the decision will be published in the official
Gazette and will come into effect immediately. Within the 15 days following the
announcement, the dossiers situated in Parliament, the Prime Ministry and the
Ministry of Justice will be sent to the assigned prosecution
offices.
As
of May 15, the number of dossiers for the lifting of immunity reached 667 and
138 parliamentary Deputies had dossiers drafted against them. A total of 51
dossiers were drafted on CHP Deputies, 50 on HDP Deputies, 27 on the Justice and
Development Party (AK Party), nine on the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and
one for the independent Deputy Aylin Nazlıaka. A total of 405 dossiers were
drafted against Deputies from the HDP, 192 from the CHP, 46 from the AK Party,
20 from the MHP and five dossiers against the independent Deputy
Nazlıaka.
12.
The occupation regime was represented at IRSA general assembly in
Kirgizstan
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (08.06.16), the occupation regime
was represented at the 25th general assembly of the
Interregional Standardization Association (IRSA-BASB) which took place in
Bishkek, capital of Kirgizstan.
The
meeting was hosted by the Center of Standardization and Metrology and the
occupation regime attended also an international workshop for the Administration
of the TS EN ISO-50001 Energy system and Renewable Energy.
(AK)
13.
The “Turkish Cypriot-Kirgiz Business Cooperation Forum” took place in
Kirgizstan
Turkish
Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (08.06.16) reports that the “Turkish
Cypriot-Kirgiz Business Cooperation Forum” kicked off in Kirgizstan’s capital
Bishkek.
According
to a written statement issue by the “information office”, in his opening
speech at the forum, the “TRNC Bishkek representative” Tayseer Al Shanableh,
pointed out to the importance of the cooperation between the Turkish Cypriot and
the Kirgiz “people” especially in the business world.
Among
the participants of the forum were the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber
of Commerce Fikri Toros, Turkey’s Ambassador to Bishkek, Metin Kilic, the former
Prime Minister of Kirgizstan Feliks Kulov, the former Foreign Minister of
Kirgizstan Felik Askar, the Pakistani Ambassador Qazi Habib Ur Rahman, the
General Director of the American Chamber of Commerce, Zarina Chekirbaeva, the
official Representative of Kirgizstan in the Eurasia Business Union Lenara
Niyazbekova and other members of the business world.
(AK)
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