TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA
REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 124/16
05.07.2016
1. Yildirim stressed that their only condition in Cyprus is to create
an equal, fair, bilateral state
2. Ozgurgun says that “elections” are “at the door” in 2017
3. “DAU” graduates are described as “terror supporters” because they
criticize the AKP
4. The illegal “UKU university” signed a cooperation “protocol” with
an Iranian University
5. Turkish opposition reacts to plans of granting citizenship to
Syrians
6. Turkey denies reports it will allow Russia to use İncirlik
airbase
7. Turkey to celebrate Islamic holiday of Eid
al-Fitr
1. Yildirim stressed that their only condition in Cyprus is to
create an equal, fair, bilateral state
Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (05.07.16) reports that Turkey’s
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, stressing that Turkey continues to be
constructive on the Cyprus issue and will continue to be, he said: “The
negotiations for a permanent peace in Cyprus are continuing. On this issue,
Turkey has always been constructive and it will continue to be in the future
too. We have only one condition here, to create an equal, fair, bilateral
state”.
Speaking to the press after a weekly cabinet meeting on July 4, Yildirim
echoed Erdogan’s foreign policy messages. He said: “We are expanding the circle
of friendship, strengthening the circle of peace around us in order to raise
Turkey’s credibility”, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online,
04.07.16) reported.
“We are resolute about further developing our realistic, friendly and
peaceful relationships – from Russia to Israel, Egypt to Syria, Iraq to Iran,
and EU countries to the United States. We will continue to do so”, he said,
describing the situation in Syria as “unsustainable.”
On ties with the EU, Yildirim said that Ankara’s opening of Chapter 33
as part of accession talks was “very important” and added: “We have started to
open chapters. We have found a better ground on which we can talk about these
issues”.
(DPs)
2. Ozgurgun says that “elections” are “at the door” in 2017
Under the title “Signal for elections by the prime minister”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.07.16) reports that Huseyin
Ozgurgun, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that “the moment we enter into 2017,
the elections are close, at the door”.
Addressing a meeting of the National Unity Party (UBP) women’s
organization at Goneyli, Ozgurgun noted that UBP should be prepared for this
and “it is candidate for coming to power alone” in the next “elections”. He
said that the UBP is already the first party, but they have to work better. “The
elections are not far away”, he added and expressed the belief that more women
will become “deputies” and “ministers” from the UBP.
(I/Ts.)
3. “DAU” graduates are described as “terror supporters” because
they criticize the AKP
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (05.07.16) reports that
architecture students who graduated on 28 June from the illegal “Eastern
Mediterranean University” (DAU) in the occupied area of Cyprus have sent
a message to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government in Ankara by
opening a placard saying “we will build again the towns you have demolished and
burned”. Under this message the names of districts such as Sur, Nusaybin,
Cizre, Silopi and Yuskekova were written.
The graduation ceremony at the “DAU” has become an issue on the
agenda of the media in Turkey under the title “terror”. Mainly the Akit
newspaper and its television station have accused the students of “supporting
terrorism”. Akit TV said that “DAU” has become a “nest of terror” and described
the students as “supporters of terrorism”. Other pro-AKP Turkish media also
attacked the graduates who opened the placard. Akit newspaper covered the
issue under the title “Scandalous placard at a graduation ceremony” and said
that “under the placard the names of districts such as Sur, Nusaybin, Cizre,
Silopi and Yuksekova, in which terrorist PKK organization has been buried in the
pit it had dag, were written”.
(I/Ts.)
4. The illegal “UKU university” signed a cooperation “protocol”
with an Iranian University
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (05.07.16) reports that
the “International Cyprus University” (“UKU”) signed a cooperation protocol with
the Iranian Gorgan University of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources
(GUASNR).
The “protocol” was signed by the “rector” of the illegal “UKU”, Prof.
Dr Halil Nadiri and the rector of the GUASNR, Dr Ali Najafinejad. It envisages
among other, exchange of students and academic staff between the two
“universities”, common researches and projects and cooperation in the education
field.
(…)
(AK)
5. Turkish opposition reacts to plans of granting citizenship to
Syrians
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (05.07.16) reports that Turkey’s
opposition parties have harshly criticized a newly announced plan to grant
citizenship to Syrians living in Turkey, claiming that the move is aimed at
bringing political gains to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in
its bid for a constitutional change in the country.
“This is a very serious issue… It is also a statement showing how bad
Turkey is being governed. I would not react to them taking professors, artists,
athletes and entrepreneurs. But the President says ‘whoever demands.’ Ghettos
have been formed now,” said Republican People’s Party (CHP) chair Kemal
Kılıçdaroğlu.
“First of all, [it] would change the demographic structure in
southeastern Anatolia. In a political meaning, 3 million people equals a 10%
vote,” Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy chair Semih Yalçın
said.
“Creating new constituents based on a cheap labor force would only
deepen biases against refugees and hate crimes. It is an operation that would
produce a crucial change in representation rate,” Peoples’ Democratic Party
(HDP) Kars Deputy Ayhan Bilgen said.
6. Turkey denies reports it will allow Russia to use İncirlik
airbase
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (05.07.16) reports that Turkey
denied reports that it would allow the Russian air force to use its Incirlik
airbase.
Speaking in a press conference in Ankara, Foreign Minister Mevlüt
Çavuşoğlu said he did not make such comments on Russia using the airbase, adding
that he was referring to renewed cooperation with Russia on Syria and the fight
against Daesh.
"We will cooperate with everyone who fights Daesh. We have been doing
this for quite a while, and we opened İncirlik Airbase for those who want to
join the active fight against Daesh," Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu said in an
interview on state broadcaster TRT Haber on Sunday.
7. Turkey to celebrate Islamic holiday of Eid
al-Fitr
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (05.07.16) reports that Muslims in
Turkey, along with other Muslim populations around the world, are preparing to
celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr on July 5, marking the end of 30
days of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Turkish authorities declared a nine-day public holiday starting
from July 2 for Eid al-Fitr.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)
