TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
CONTENTS
No. 146/15
05.08.2015
1. Akinci briefed the media representatives on the Cyprus talks
2. Veysel Eroglu to illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus
3. Atun due to Turkey to discuss new business opportunities
4. “Turkey’s aid committee” published a report on the economic
situation in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
5. New trade union under in the occupied area of Cyprus
6. The first “heart transplant surgery” took place in the occupied area of
Cyprus
7. Foreign folk-dancing teams to attend the “International Folk-dancing
Festival” in occupied Pergamos
8. Erdogan to open world’s largest Islamic-Ottoman social complex in
US
9. Hulusi Akar takes over as Turkey's new Chief of General Staff
10. 7.5 years in prison sought for 18 Turkish journalists
11. EU urges Turkey over scale of its response to PKK attacks
12. CHP and HDP seek to reduce tension, call on PKK to stop violence
1. Akinci briefed the media representatives on the Cyprus talks
According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 05/08/15), the Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci briefed this morning the representatives of media on the
Cyprus talks. He reminded them what he did at the negotiation process since
he took office.
Noting that a number of concrete steps have been taken on the Confidence
Building Measures (CBMs) issue, Akinci explained that these CBMs included
the sharing of information regarding minefields, the lifting of using “visa slips”
at the crossing points, the interconnecting of power grids, island wide network
coverage for mobile phones, ending radio frequency clashes and the opening
of new crossing points.
He also pointed out that the technical committees on cultural heritage and
gender equality is working intensively and reminded that he attended with the
Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades some events.
Stressing that the main goal of the negotiations is to reach a comprehensive
solution on the Cyprus problem, Akinci said that speculation reports are
published in the Greek Cypriot press from time to time and asked them not to
rely on them.
Akinci, who said “Our aim is to achieve results and not to torpedo the
process”, added that the parameters of the solution have been discussed for
years and they are clear. “We remain committed to a bi-zonal, bi-communal
federal settlement” he said, reminding that this is what he has been defending
ever since running for the “presidency”.
Stating that much progress has been achieved on the chapter of governance
and power sharing, Akinci said that they have not yet reached an agreement
on the issue of rotational presidency, and added: “This issue is an
indispensable part of our political equality”.
Also pointing out that the issues of property and guarantees have been
discussed for years, Akinci said that property is the last thing on the list to be
discussed.
On the issue of guarantees, he said that this issue has to be discussed with
the participation of all three guarantor powers. “Of course, all these issues will
be discussed when the time comes. Our freedom, political equality and
security are extremely important for us. Any agreement to be reached will
safeguard all three elements”, he added.
Commenting on various press reports that certain parts of the “TRNC’s
population” will be shipped back to Turkey, Akinci said that these reports are
totally fabricated as the settlement to be reached will also safeguard the
human rights of all residents on the island.
On the issue of territory, Akinci said that only criteria to be applied to the
territory issue have been discussed during the talks, adding: “We have not
discussed any percentages, maps, villages, places or areas under the chapter
of territory”.
Finally, he also reminded that the process is a UN led process but the support
of the European Union is also needed.
(DPs)
2. Veysel Eroglu to illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus
Under the title: “Eroglu is coming”, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam
newspaper (05.08.15) reports that the Turkish Minister of Forestry and
Water Affairs Veysel Eroglu will pay an illegal one-day visit to the
occupied area of Cyprus on Friday, in order to carry out contacts and
inspections on the works which are taking place in the “TRNC” for the
water to be transferred from Turkey.
According to information acquired by illegal TAK, Eroglu is expected to
carry out contacts with “government and state officials” and also will
carry out inspections in the areas where works are taking place for the
installation of water pipelines.
Meanwhile, on the same issue, Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (05.08.15)
reports that the “project of the century”, as the water transfer project
from Turkey is expected to be completed either on August 30 or on
October 29.
The paper adds that Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan will attend the inauguration ceremony which is planned to take
place after the completion of the project.
Also, referring to the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(05.08.15) under the title: “Last month for the water”, reports that only
2,5km were left for the installment of water pipelines under the sea and
the works are expected to be completed by the end of this week.
Invoking reliable sources, the paper writes that the water is expected to
come to the “TRNC” in one month the latest.
The paper writes also that Turkey’s National Security Council website
reports that Turkey and the “TRNC” continue their contacts for the
transferring of electricity from Turkey to the “TRNC” which is to take
place after the completion of the water transfer project. According to the
website, the transfer of electricity with cables, will strengthen the
“TRNC’s hand” and will also facilitate the solution.
(AK)
3. Atun due to Turkey to discuss new business opportunities
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.08.15) reports that the self-styled
minister of economy, industry and trade Sunat Atun, in statements during a
press conference yesterday presented the new “government program”.
Atun stated, inter alia, that among their goals is to find new markets in order to
lift all the obstacles towards the employment in the “country” and to carry out
works towards the increase of the national income.
Atun explained that in order to meet their goals, they will focus in three
markets which are two new centers in Turkey, three new countries in the
Middle East and “south Cyprus”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus. He
added that they have already launched works and undertook initiatives
towards these markets and pointed out to the need for the restructure of the
Green Line Regulation.
Stating that they will focus their work towards the increase of the national
income and to seek out solution on the employment problem which is one of
the most important problems of the “ministry”, Atun added that they pay great
importance in developing their sectors of services and products in order to
achieve having an access in new foreign markets.
Meanwhile, according to illegal BRT (05.08.15-online in Turkish) Atun
departed today for Turkey to carry out a series of contacts.
Within the framework of his contacts in Turkey, Atun is to meet with Turkey’s
Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci with whom is expected to discuss the
cooperation between Turkey and the “TRNC” in the economy sector.
Moreover, Atun will carry out contacts with businessmen in Ankara and Konya
in order to exchange views concerning new business opportunities. The paper
adds that Atun will also discuss with Turkish businessmen the possible steps
to be taken towards increasing the market share and developing trade ties
with Turkey.
Atun will be accompanied during his contacts in Turkey by a delegation of
Turkish Cypriot businessmen.
(AK)
4. “Turkey’s aid committee” published a report on the economic
situation in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (05.08.15) reports that the “directorate of the
aid committee” of Turkey’s illegal “embassy” in the occupied part of Nicosia
published a “report on the economic situation of TRNC in 2014” signed by
former Turkish “ambassador” Halil Ibrahim Akca.
According to the report, the per capita income in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus is 15 thousand dollars, where the economy of “TRNC”
(translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus” ranks among the top of the “world middle income group”. The
economy of the Turkish Cypriots ranks at the 120th position among the “low
income countries”.
Noting that the major problems of the economy are that the “future of the
country is at the negotiating table” and that the “interaction with the world is
limited”, Akca added that even the implementation of qualified measures for a
reform did not safeguard progress.
According to the report, while the “local growth rate” reached to 4.3% level
from 1.1%, the budget deficit decreased from (-) 411 million TL to 355 million
TL.
The report refers that in a population of 289 thousands 252 persons, they
export 134 million dollars and import 1.784 million dollars in a year. The
66.5% of the imports are from Turkey.
The number of tourists, who visited the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus in 2014, reached 1 million 366 thousands 77.
The unemployment rate is announced as 8.3% in 2014, where the youth
unemployment rate is 20.3%.
It is also reported that while the aid from Turkey was 282 million dollars in
2002, it reached to 600 million dollars in 2009. However, with the effect of
fiscal discipline, the aid from Turkey dropped to 469 million dollars in 2014.
(DPs)
5. New trade union under in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.08.15) reports that a new trade
union called Ozel-Sen has been established in the occupied area of Cyprus.
According to the paper, the known lawyer Baris Mamali is the founder of the
new trade union which aims to protect the rights of the workers in the private
sector, and to provide better conditions and developments in the worker’s
lives.
(AK)
6. The first “heart transplant surgery” took place in the occupied area of
Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.08.15) reports that the first “heart
transplant surgery” took place at the “state hospital” Dr. Orhan Nalbantoglu in
the occupied part of Lefkosia.
The paper describes this step as a big step for the “country’s health sector”.
(AK)
7. Foreign folk-dancing teams to attend the “International Folk-dancing
Festival” in occupied Pergamos
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (05.0815) reports that folk-dancing
teams from foreign countries, that is Turkey, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia,
Poland, Serbia and Russia will attend the “International Folk-dancing Festival”
of the occupied municipality of Pergamos.
The festival has been launched last night and will be completed on August 8.
(AK)
8. Erdogan to open world’s largest Islamic-Ottoman social complex in
US
According to Turkish daily Sabah (online, 05.08.15), Turkey’s President
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will reportedly open the world's largest
Islamic-Ottoman social complex in Maryland, U.S. during his upcoming
expected visit to America.
Erdogan recently stated that he will visit the U.S. on a diplomatic
mission before attending the G20 meeting on November 15-16 which will
take place in Turkey's southern province of Antalya.
During his visit to the U.S., Erdogan is also expected to attend the opening
ceremony of "Maryland Kulliye", an Ottoman architectural concept which
designates a complex with a central mosque and a series of ancillary
buildings - such as a library, hospital, and public fountain - surrounding it.
9. Hulusi Akar takes over as Turkey's new Chief of General Staff
Turkish daily Sabah (05.08.15) reports that the Commander of Turkish Land
Forces, Hulusi Akar, was appointed as the new Chief of General Staff on
Tuesday, on the second day of Turkey's Supreme Military Council
meetings.
Salih Zeki Colak filled Akar's position as the new Commander of the Turkish
Land Forces. Air Force Commander General Ali Ozturk was made a member
of the Supreme Military Council and his position was given to General Abidin
Unal.
Deputy Chief of Staff Yasar Guler will also continue to serve as General,
making him the strongest candidate for Chief of Staff in 2019 after Hulusi
Akar.
Aegean Army Commander Galip Mendi was assigned as the new
Gendarmerie General Commander in place of the retired Galip Abdullah Atay.
3rd Army Commander Umit Dundar was appointed as the new Aegean Army
Commander.
Navy Commander Admiral Bulent Bostanoğlu's term of office was extended
for one year. Continuing his duty as the Naval Commander with the rank of
vice admiral, Veysel Kosele raised in rank to admiral.
The final decision will be made public after Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan's approval.
10. 7.5 years in prison sought for 18 Turkish journalists
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 04.08.15) with the above title
reports that the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office has prepared an
indictment against 18 journalists who are accused of “making
propaganda for a terrorist organization”, asking the court to jail them for
up to 7.5 years each.
The journalists, including daily Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Can Dundar, have
been charged after the investigation into the publication of photos on April 1,
showing Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz’s captivity in the hands of militants.
Kiraz was killed on March 31 following an eight-hour standoff that began after
Safak Yayla and Bahtiyar Dogruyol, two members of the outlawed
Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), took him hostage in
Istanbul’s Caglayan Courthouse.
The indictment claimed that the journalists tried to portray a terrorist
organization as “strong and capable enough for any action.” Dundar, on the
other hand, said his newspaper “intended to portray the dark and ugly face of
terrorism; not to legitimize it”.
Besides Cumhuriyet, journalists from dailies Millet, Sok, Posta, Yurt, Bugun,
Ozgur Gundem, Aydinlik and BirGun were described in the indictment as
suspects, along with a note that they had pleaded not guilty.
In April, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had lambasted media organizations
for their coverage of the hostage crisis, accusing them of treason for being the
“partners of the terrorists” who were involved in the killing of the late
prosecutor.
It was not the only time that journalists, particularly Dundar, have drawn the
ire of the Turkish President.
In June 2015, Erdogan personally filed a criminal complaint against Dundar
over another critical news report by Cumhuriyet, asking him to be jailed for
life, hours after he said the journalist would pay a “heavy price” for printing
photos of National Intelligence Organization (MİT) trucks allegedly shipping
weapons and ammunition to jihadists in Syria.
11. EU urges Turkey over scale of its response to PKK attacks
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 04.08.15), the
European Union has expressed “deep concern” about recent violence
between the Turkish government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK) and urged Ankara to issue a “proportionate” response to
avoid endangering the peace process.
In a phone conversation with Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozkir, EU
Commissioner
for
European
Neighborhood
Policy
and
Enlargement
Negotiations Johannes Hahn said that the Union “acknowledged the
commitment of the Turkish authorities to stepping up the fight against ISIL
[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] and reaffirmed the EU’s strong support
for these efforts,” a written statement from the Commission read.
“At the same time, the commissioner expressed the EU’s deep concern about
recent developments which have a negative impact on the Kurdish-Turkish
settlement process,” Hahn was quoted as saying.
“The EU acknowledges that Turkey has the right to prevent and react to any
form of terrorism, which must be unequivocally condemned. We count on
Turkey to live up to its important and strategic role for the whole region, by
refraining from any action that could further destabilize the region,” he said,
without specifically citing the PKK.
Hahn also spoke to Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin
Demirtaş on July 31 and told him that “all parties should re-commit to the
peace process and work now on a broad and inclusive political solution.” The
cease-fire should be commenced once more for the benefit of all Turkish
citizens, Hahn said.
12. CHP and HDP seek to reduce tension, call on PKK to stop violence
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 04.08.15), with the
tension across the country rising following clashes between terrorists and
Turkish security forces, two of Turkey’s opposition parties met to seek
ways to calm the situation and issued calls for the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) to end its attacks.
The calls came after Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal
Kilicdaroglu met with the co-leaders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP),
Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, on August 4.
Saying the leaders of the two parties have discussed how to stop the
bloodshed in the country, CHP deputy parliamentary leader Engin Altay told
reporters, “We want everybody to feel at ease. Turkey will never ever be
divided”. Terrorism can never be acceptable, he said, calling on all parties to
take a united stance against it. “No peace can be demanded with weapons in
hand,” he stressed. “The PKK should immediately drop weapons and adopt
the language of peace. And the state should do its part. In order to let profreedom voices be heard, the PKK should absolutely drop weapons.”
Altay added that the CHP will do its share to bring peace to Turkey, and
appreciated Demirtas over his genuine calls on the PKK.
HDP deputy parliamentary group leader Idris Baluken blamed President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) for
causing tension in the country in the name of becoming a single-party
government again.
“The weight of politics reduces at times of such conflicts. That’s why we have
discussed that weapons should be silenced. Both sides should remove their
hands from the triggers of their weapons. The operations should cease and
the PKK should end its attacks,” he said.
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio
(DPs/ AM)