Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-12-15

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu's public address

[02] Eroglu: "We closed the door to distinctions between Turks and Cypriots"

[03] "After Geneva referendum?"

[04] British Shadow Minister for Europe: "The efforts exerted for the solution of the Cyprus problem are hopeful"

[05] "Embargoed!" group to protest outside the Cyprus High Commission in London

[06] "TRNC" faces difficulties in paying 13th salary

[07] Broken artefacts found in the archaeological site of Soloi

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Turkey's Davutoglu meets UN Secretary-General

[09] Austrian Foreign Minister: "Relations between Turkey and the EU are at a cross road'"

[10] "Ankara fails to open new EU chapter during Belgian presidency"

[11] ECHR rules against Turkey on the case of a pro-Kurdish party's closure

[11] Turkish and Spanish businesspeople meet in Turkey

[12] Foreign direct investment inflow to Turkey down by 17.9%

[13] Column views European Foreign Ministers' 'strong support' for Turkey's EU bid

[14] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu's public address

Eroglu said that the Cyprus talks are going through a very important stage. He said the talks are held to establish a new partnership, and "nobody could impose a so-called Cyprus republic on the Turkish Cypriot people". He reiterated that the policy followed in the Cyprus talks is very clear and that the Turkish Cypriot side is looking for a permanent and fair peace agreement. However, he said, no one should expect from them or Turkey to accept a settlement which recedes from the active and effective guarantees established by the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance.

Eroglu said that Turkish Cypriots could not be forced to depend on Greek Cypriot administration, without having their own status. "Thus, we agree with the evaluation of the UN which considers that Cyprus negotiations cannot continue forever", added Eroglu.

He also noted that the discussion on the property issue began and that he presented a new proposal in September. However, Eroglu said Greek Cypriots repeated their known views in their proposal, thus, it was not possible to record any progress in that topic.

Eroglu alleged that the UN Secretary-General took action when no progress was recorded, even though 16 meetings between Cypriot leaders and 22 meetings between special representatives took place from May to November on the property issue. He said the "TRNC" welcomed the results of the meeting in New York on November 18, adding that the Turkish Cypriots will continue to negotiate with "good will" until the oncoming meeting in Geneva, which he described as important.

Stressing that the interest in the talks faded in both sides, Eroglu said that specific progress was necessary, and that the Greek Cypriot side should be encouraged in this. He said it is the international community which should encourage the Greek Cypriot administration for a solution.

Commenting on the "TRNC economy, Eroglu said that a 4% growth is expected this year. He also urged the Turkish Cypriots not to despair despite the harsh times they are going through and promised to succeed in "establishing a free, self administered area which will safeguard their existence."

[02] Eroglu: "We closed the door to distinctions between Turks and Cypriots"

The president of the association Sancar thanked Eroglu for his support and said that half of their members came from the Karaman region after 1571 and the rest after the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Eroglu also stated that all the Turks of Cyprus came from Anatolia and that they transferred their culture to the island, thus giving a different cultural wealth to Cyprus. He said that they do not differentiate between Cypriots and Turks and that such distinctions can be a matter for political debate.

[03] "After Geneva referendum?"

"We will be faced with a referendum before the elections in Turkey and the Greek Cypriot side," argued Serdar Denktas who also said that it will be a meeting which will accept as basis issues like the single sovereignty and cross-voting. He also alleged that the plan is to ensure that the people, who are fed up, will vote in favour of any plan without evaluating it.

[04] British Shadow Minister for Europe: "The efforts exerted for the solution of the Cyprus problem are hopeful"

In statements in London, Wayne David said that solution of the Cyprus problem is in the hands of the communities. He said that "the solution to be found is between the leaders in Cyprus and the leaders in the North."

Wayne David expressed his country's support to the efforts to find a solution. He said everyone should be supportive adding that the leading role belongs to the Cypriots.

(AK)

[05] "Embargoed!" group to protest outside the Cyprus High Commission in London

Protesters will wear armbands and will distribute leaflets. A campaign will also be launched entitled "50 Dark years-this is the reality", to counter celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus.

(AK)

[06] "TRNC" faces difficulties in paying 13th salary

Moreover, the Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (15.12.10) reports on the reaction by Trade Unions regarding the possibility of not receiving their salaries. KTAMS argues that not paying the 13th salary will create a big chaos, while KTOS supports that there will be an increase in bankruptcies, and a social collapse. TURK-SEN warns that if the salaries are not paid, the "administration" should resign, while DEV-IS threatens that they will go on strike. KAMU-IS argues that not paying the 13th salary will be a blow to the economy since, according to KAMU-SEN, the 13th salary is expected as a fresh flow of capital in the market.

[07] Broken artefacts found in the archaeological site of Soloi

Following this incident, the so-called police and the "Museum and Antiquities Department" began investigations in the area.

The illegal excavations at Soloi brought to the surface a dish, a jug and glasses, all of great value. However, some of the artefacts are broken. The police is continuing investigations.

(AK)

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[07] Turkey's Davutoglu meets UN Secretary-General

[08] Austrian Foreign Minister: "Relations between Turkey and the EU are at a cross road'"

Spindelegger also stated the following: "Relations between Turkey and the EU are at a cross road. There are a lot of problems between Turkey and the EU. It is necessary that these problems are solved. One of these is the Cyprus problem. The Cyprus problem is at a critical phase. We should find a formula to solve it. We should discuss this problem with Turkey in an open dialogue. On the other hand, we cannot say at this stage that the negotiations will be suspended. We must find a balanced compromise for the final declaration of the EU Foreign Ministers".

(AK)

[09] "Ankara fails to open new EU chapter during Belgian presidency"

The European Commission was not satisfied with the preparatory work for benchmarks that would enable the opening of the chapter, Turkish diplomatic sources told the HDN. According to experts who wished to remain anonymous, Turkey was unwilling to assume strict obligations on the issue of state aid due to its economic programme, especially in the period leading to next year's general elections.

The paper further reports:

"In October, Ankara ratified the EU-required law on 'Monitoring and Supervising State Aid,' which sets out general conditions and rules for authorization, implementation, monitoring and recovery of state aid in accordance to bilateral agreements between Turkey and the European Union."

Citing an anonymous source, the paper says the European Commission was not satisfied "with the inventory of state aid that had been given so far, including details such as where it had been spent".

Sources also noted that Ankara needed to establish a "State Aid Monitoring and Supervision Board" under the auspices of the Undersecretary of the Treasury, but no one has yet been appointed to the board.

The earliest the competition chapter could now be opened would be in January 2011, during Hungary's EU term presidency. The Belgian presidency will be the second, after Finland, to conclude without Turkey opening a single new negotiating chapter. Belgium wants to include a note in the declaration of the upcoming EU Summit saying the preparations for the competition chapter with Turkey were almost ready.

According to diplomatic sources, two chapters --on public procurement and competition policy-- could potentially be opened in the near future. Other chapters are blocked for political reasons due to the Cyprus dispute."

[10] ECHR rules against Turkey on the case of a pro-Kurdish party's closure

As HDN reported, in March 2003, the Turkish Constitutional Court dissolved HADEP and placed a five-year ban from politics on several of its members for "spreading terrorist propaganda" and aiding and abetting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

In its decision released Tuesday, the European court said the Constitutional Court violated Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights in its decision to dissolve the party. The European court ruled that members of the party "did not incite hatred, revenge, recrimination or armed resistance" by referring to the ongoing conflict between the Turkish military and the PKK as a "dirty war". The ruling is subject to appeal.

"Even if HADEP advocated the right to self-determination of the Kurds, that would not in itself be contrary to democratic principles and could not be equated with supporting acts of terrorism."

HADEP's closure in 2003 was one in a wave of pro-Kurdish party closures since the PKK took up arms against the Turkish state in the 1980s. Most recently, the Democratic Society Party (DTP) was shuttered in December 2009 for links to the PKK.

[11] Turkish and Spanish businesspeople meet in Turkey

Delivering a keynote speech at the opening of the meetings, Zeynel Abdin Erdem, president of the Turkish-Spanish Business Council, said Turkey is among Spain's top-10 list of strategic trade partners. This, he said, is a sign that commercial relations would develop further in the future. Erdem said the trade volume between the countries quintupled in the last ten years to reach 7.8 billion USD in 2009, adding that the figure is expected to stand at 9 billion USD this year.

[12] Foreign direct investment inflow to Turkey down by 17.9%

According to a Treasury bulletin, foreign direct capital inflow also dropped 31.9% in January-October period to 3.88 billion USD, from 5.7 billion USD in the same period last year.

Considering the capital outflow of 22 million USD, net capital inflow totalled 3.73 billion USD, a 27.8% decline in net capital inflow.

Real estate expenditure was the only item in 10-month foreign direct investment inflow to Turkey. Real estate investments amounted to 1.99 billion USD. It was 1.46 billion USD in first ten months of last year.

[13] Column views European Foreign Ministers' 'strong support' for Turkey's EU bid

Summarizing the key points of the op-ed that carried the headline "Europe, Look Outward Again", Idiz says: "there is a growing notion in Europe that a rising Turkey is going to be increasingly important for the EU as time goes on. It is equally clear that the four foreign ministers are worried about Turkey's highly apparent drift away from Europe, and indeed the West as a whole. (?) It is clear that the four foreign ministers are looking to the future,. They are trying to chart a course for the 'Old [and apparently tired] Continent,' whose future does not appear as secure and made as some would like to think.

Contrary to what many in Europe may want to believe, the article continues, the EU is not a 'done deal' yet that stands in front of us as a monolithic structure providing ideal targets and benchmarks for 'others' to aspire to." The rise of essentially anti-EU ultra-right wing sentiments, on the other hand, is merely symptomatic of atavistic fears that fuel regressive tendencies, says Idiz, arguing that "there is a growing concern among European policy makers that without an anchor in the EU, Turkey will drift away from Europe, and perhaps the West as a whole", which is considered detrimental to Europeans interests.

The article adds: "The four ministers appear therefore to be telling Turkey's European opponents that historically speaking they are making a serious mistake. (?) they are telling an increasingly sceptical Turkish public, which has clearly lost faith in Europe, that anti-Turkish sentiments are not a fully crystallized European fact. (?) , the ministers are right to worry about the direction Turkey is taking and the potential negative long-term fallout for Europe as a result."

"Those who senselessly burn bridges today that will be needed tomorrow, may not see this. There are, however, many influential people who clearly do, and they want their positions to be noted publicly for the future, even if doing so will not fetch them much popularity in parts of Europe today.", the article concludes.

[14] Highlights

Kurdish issue / Ocalan's messages to Gulen community

Cuneyt Ulsever of Hurriyet says he is puzzled with Ocalan's "unexpected move" to have his lawyers meet with Zaman columnist Huseyin Gulerce, one of the leading figures of the Gulen Movement, as the PKK "committed violence against the community" and accused the pro-Gulen groups in the Security Directorate of carrying out operations against the Assembly of Communities of Kurdistan [KCK].

Taraf columnist Kurtulus Tayiz claims that on 6 December, Ocalan "clearly" informed his lawyers that Kurds were "ready for an alliance with the Gulen movement." Noting that Ocalan called for the start a dialogue for a possible "cooperation," Tayiz says that Ocalan even said that "his proposal can be conveyed to the Gulen Movement writing." The columnist laments that Kurdish politicians Selahattin Demirtas and Ahmet Turk seem to be resisting Ocalan's policy of rapprochement by conveying "anti-democratic messages."

In his article in Vatan, Rusen Cakir writes about the meeting he held with Ocalan's lawyers on 13 December. Noting that they discussed several issues, including Ocalan's "warm messages to the Gulen Movement" and the non-action process that will end in June 2011, Cakir says: "Ocalan's lawyers insistently said that the PKK's 'non action' decision was different to previous ones. They were hopeful about a solution because of the systematic talks between the state officials and Ocalan." The columnist adds he informed the lawyers that Ocalan should order the abolition of the PKK proxies like the TAK [Freedom Hawks of Kurdistan] and the Revolutionary Headquarters and have the organization destroy its explosives if he wants to convince the government that he is sincere in efforts for a solution. Cakir adds that he also told the lawyers that Ocalan should avoid making statements that would undermine the Peace and Democracy Party and the Kurdish politicians.

CHP Congress/intra-party opposition

Hurriyet's Yalcin Dogan criticizes former leader of the Republican People's Party [CHP] Deniz Baykal for supporting the "sheet list" formula for the election of the new party administration. Recalling that he always used "bloc list" to select the members of his administration when he was the party leader, Dogan says: "Baykal is trying to obstruct [his successor] Kilicdaroglu by defending just the opposite of what he did in the past." Stressing that party grassroots also criticize Baykal's attitude, the columnist adds: "Kilicdaroglu is aware of the fact that bloc list is not a democratic way, but he has the right to name his team while preparing for the elections." He concludes by calling on all party members to support Kilicdaroglu.

Murat Yetkin of Radikal asserts that the speech delivered by CHP leader Kilicdaroglu during the budget debate in Parliament on 13 December was based on the corruption claims against the ruling Justice and Development Party [AKP]. The columnist says that he finds Kilicdaroglu's decision to "attack the government via economic and ethical issues, meaningful." He asserts that the CHP leader might have tried to remind the intra party opposition prior to the party congress that the struggle should be waged against the AKP government. According to Yetkin, the CHP leader 's speech also gave an idea about the policy he will pursue to weaken the AKP administration. This will be a new process for Prime Minister Erdogan as well, he adds. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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