Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-02-06

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister alleged that the Republic of Cyprus is not a state but an administration

[02] Erdogan: Being denied EU membership not end of world

[03] Eroglu to Cairo for the OIC meeting; He met with Gul today

[04] Illegal Turkish settlers are establishing a political party in the occupied area of Cyprus

[05] The occupation regime granted the "citizenship" to four more persons; Unverdi on "migration amnesty law"

[06] Settlers of the Turkish Midyat town live in the breakaway regime

[07] Turkey reportedly blocked Israeli NATO steps

[08] US government reportedly to pursue a legal case against the organization claimed responsibility for bomb attack on the US embassy

[09] Top Council of Europe official says Turkey must work on press freedom

[10] Turkey wants to build a pipeline to import natural gas from northern Iraq

[11] Arabacioglu the candidate of DP for the forthcoming "elections" in the "municipality" of occupied Lefkosia

[12] Buffavento castle in occupied Keryneia in a bad condition

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister alleged that the Republic of Cyprus is not a state but an administration

Erdogan made the following allegations: "They admitted south Cyprus and now they are paying the price. [The president of Cyprus, Demetris] Christofias said the other day that they went bankrupt. Now [the EU] will have to support [Cyprus],". He went on and claimed that membership of some countries had nothing to do with the European acquis as they were admitted for "pure ideological sake" and alleged that Cyprus was one of them. He also called upon countries that pushed for a two-state solution to "embrace their promises."

"To begin, south Cyprus is not a state, it's an administration. There is no such thing as Cyprus as a country. There is the Greek Administration of South Cyprus and there is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the north of the green line," Erdogan alleged.

In addition, Turkish daily Today's Zaman newspaper (06.02.13) reports that speaking to journalists who accompanied him to Prague, Erdogan stated that Turkey only refused to comply with the [additional protocol to the] Ankara Agreement, which necessitates opening ports and harbors to the "Greek Cyprus Administration", a country that according to Erdogan Turkey doesn't recognize, but the EU has completely ignored the timeline scheduled out for Turkey's membership process, as he alleged.

"There is a timeline that has been agreed on; this has to happen in six years, thus within 12 years. When you look at it, none of these are followed properly. They have been keeping us engaged all this time." He said for Turkey to sign the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement, the Turkish Parliament has to ratify it first. "And such ratification necessitates a constitutional majority. There is a risk here. This will come up later for us as a price to pay."

[02] Erdogan: Being denied EU membership not end of world

He explained to Turkish journalists accompanying him in Prague on Tuesday, that his interest in joining international organizations such as the Shanghai Five or the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) are part of his approach to gain a larger market for Turkey and Turkish products.

Speaking about Turkey's EU process, he claimed that Turkey was currently continuing to fulfill its obligations rising out of EU membership negotiations. However, he noted that Turkey's membership process began in 1959 and was accelerated in 1963. "And we have been patient all this time. How far we have come? When you look, there is the customs union [1996] and the Helsinki summit [1999], when Turkey was given candidate status] and the official start of Turkey's negotiations. We can call these three important steps. Except these three, they only engaged us. Has any other country been treated like this? No. This is in essence disrespect to Turkey. What is more natural than us expressing this situation?"

He further said: "But is the EU a sine qua non for Turkey? Let me say that too, it is not something we can't do without. It is not the end of the world if they don't accept us to the EU. And the world is still here. We are still continuing on our path in a stable manner."

Erdogan said that when Turkey was officially approved as a candidate country, it had taken a great effort. "We had one open and closed chapter. Then the governments in France and Germany changed. No chapters were closed. There are 13 chapters [being negotiated] opened in total still," he said. He noted that although former President Nicolas Sarkozy promised him that he would be supportive of Turkey's EU membership prior to his election, he became an obstacle in the way of full membership. "With Mrs. Merkel, we opened two chapters during her term in office, but no chapters were closed again. It doesn't have any significance if there are no chapters being closed."

He also said that it was his responsibility as the prime minister of a country of 76 million to tell his people and the world about the situation regarding the EU process. "And the world has to know about this." He said the Shanghai Five or ASEAN were not alternative searches, emphasizing that none of these international organizations constitute an alternative to another.

Erdogan also criticized the Turkish opposition, for not being supportive of the EU process initially. He said the opposition has criticized the government that Turkey's membership in the Shanghai Five might be problematic as a NATO member.

Finally, Erdogan said that his government is determined about completing the EU process.

[03] Eroglu to Cairo for the OIC meeting; He met with Gul today

Eroglu went to Cairo upon an invitation by the general secretary of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

As the paper writes, Eroglu is represented at the OCI meeting as the "president" of the occupation regime. Also, in the framework of the OIC meeting, Eroglu will carry out contacts with the "secretariat" of the OIC as well as with representatives of member states of the OIC.

Eroglu's contacts and his participation in the meeting is expected to contribute to the further development of the ties of the occupation regime with OIC's member states, writes the paper.

Eroglu is expected also to call OIC member states to further develop their bilateral ties with the breakaway regime and to take concrete steps for the lifting of the "unjust embargoes".

Eroglu and his accompanied delegation which is composed by his "special representative" Osman Ertug, the "Director" of the "Department for relations" with the OIC Kemal Koprulu and Gunes Onar from the Turkish Cypriot side's negotiation team were welcomed by Egyptian states officials and the Turkish Ambassador to Cairo.

Meanwhile, the paper writes that the Greek Cypriot-Greek lobby failed to prevent Eroglu's visit and contacts to Cairo.

Eroglu is expected to return to the occupied area of Cyprus on February 8 after completing his contacts.

Meanwhile, the website www.gundemkibris.com (06.02.12) reports in its latest news that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu continues his contacts in Cairo.

According to the report, within the framework of his contacts in Cairo, Eroglu met in the morning with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

[04] Illegal Turkish settlers are establishing a political party in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the paper, the target of "HAK" is at the first stage to enter into the race of the "municipal elections" to be held in the occupied part of Lefkosia, by supporting an "independent candidate" and afterwards to become "an alternative political party" in the "general elections" and the "presidential elections" planned for 2014.

Citing statements by a "reliable source", Star Kibris writes that "HAK" will not be turned into a political party, but it will participate in a new formation, which is on the way. The source said that the new formation will be a "mass party", which will be embracing "all peoples without taking into consideration political views and different ethnic origin".

(I/Ts.)

[05] The occupation regime granted the "citizenship" to four more persons; Unverdi on "migration amnesty law"

According to the "official gazette" of the occupation regime which was published yesterday, the occupation regime's "citizenship" was granted to the following:

-Hakan Moral born in Terme district in Turkey

-Ali Topuz, born in Cayeli, Turkey

-Emil Guzelis, born in Istanbul, Turkey

-Kemal Taukcuoglu, born in Saudiye, Turkey.

The paper underlines the fact that in spite of the reactions expressed against the "UBP government", still it continue the "granting" of the occupation regime's citizenship since it has decided to "grant" the "citizenship" in every meeting of the "council of ministers".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (06.02.13) reports that the so-called minister of labour and social security, Serife Unverdi, in statements yesterday while meeting with a delegation, referred, inter alia, to the issue of the illegal workers and said that since last February when they implemented the "migration amnesty law", a total of 10.000 persons were benefited from this "law", since they applied for legal registration. She added that the "law" was implemented in order to exclude illegal workers.

AK

[06] Settlers of the Turkish Midyat town live in the breakaway regime

According to Bayrak, during a meeting the delegation held with the self-styled finance minister Irsen Tatar, Dagdelen said that the aim of their visit is develop relations between Turkish Cypriots and migrants from Midyat living in the breakaway regime.

Tatar on his part stated that "integration" is very important and added that "people who moved to the island from Midyat were now TRNC citizens".

"Calling on everyone living in the TRNC to unite in order for a brighter future for the TRNC subjected to unjust embargoes and isolation, Tatar alleged.

Midyat is an originally an Assyrian town in the province of Mardin in Turkey.

[07] Turkey reportedly blocked Israeli NATO steps

Erdogan was speaking on the possibility of cultural differences as the cause of the European Union's five-decade delay, when he said it was possible that the union was "hesitant because the members will not be able to do everything they want when Turkey gets in," likening the situation to that of NATO".

"Are we not in NATO with these countries?" Erdogan asked, recalling that Turkey is the only country in the pact with a Muslim population.

"We, as Turkey, would stop wrong steps [in NATO]. Thus, we saw such steps towards Israel's inclusion in NATO. We prevented that," Erdogan said. "We have our own red lines. For us, to be involved in NATO with Israel is never considerable. To be with such a cruel understanding would conflict with our structure, history and culture."

[08] US government reportedly to pursue a legal case against the organization claimed responsibility for bomb attack on the US embassy

He made these statements speaking at the opening of a conference on Turkish-US ties hosted by the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization (USAK). The conference was titled "Obama's Second Term: Realism, Change and Continuity in Turkey-US Relations,"

"We can open a case against the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C). It might be a secret indictment," he said, stressing that Turkish and American officials have been working together to develop the best evidence to hold up in court in an effort to go after the terrorist organization.

Recalling that US law allows authorities to go after conspirators beyond American borders, the ambassador said the US can step up international cooperation in prosecuting the DHKP/C terrorist organization. "The DHKP/C is not ashamed of it [the attack]. They brag about it. Your government has a lot of evidence [against the group]. We can use that evidence to build a case that will hold up in the courtroom," he said.

In addition, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (06.02.13) reports that speaking on the conference Ricciardone stated that Turkish-US relations deepened even further after the attack on the US Embassy in Ankara last week, adding that "terrorism cannot damage the relationship between the two countries".

Ricciardone stated that the relationship between the two countries was much more mature and stronger than ever. "Not only in the terms of military alliance but we are engaged to each other in many other terms, including economy," said the US ambassador.

"I am more optimistic regarding the relationship between Turkey and the US than I was when I first arrived in Turkey a few years ago," said Ricciardone.

[09] Top Council of Europe official says Turkey must work on press freedom

He said that despite steps taken by the government in past years to expand the boundaries of freedom of expression, there seem to be more steps, especially mentality-wise, adding that Turkey should make an effort to comply with the Council of Europe's standards given that the number of cases pending against Turkey in the ECtHR in the field of freedom of expression stands at 450.

"This is simply too much," commented Jagland, speaking at the High Level Conference on Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Turkey on Tuesday, referring to the high figure.

At the conference in Ankara, held as part of a joint project Turkey and the Council of Europe which started more than a year ago, in order to enable Turkey to raise its standards in judicial verdicts regarding freedom of speech and media freedom, Jagland underlined in his opening speech that freedom of expression is the founding pillar of democracy and that the need for action is evident in Turkey.

This is still a major issue for Turkey, considering that two-thirds of all cases in which the ECtHR ruled against Turkey so far are, related to freedom of expression.

Since a previous conference, held 14 months ago in Ankara, Turkey and the Council of Europe have started working together to address the main challenges in law and in practice related to freedom of expression identified by the court in its judgments concerning Turkey. Jagland, who also praised Turkey's efforts to bring the country's legislation in line with CoE standards, expressed his hope that the fourth reform package -- which Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin affirmed at the conference would be brought before Parliament soon -- would include the necessary legislative amendments. "What is needed is a complete overhaul of the Counterterrorism Law [TMK], as well as amendments to the Turkish Penal Code [TCK]," the secretary-general added.

Some of Turkey's cases before the court refer to the offence of "praising a crime or a criminal" and "disseminating propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization", while other cases relate to punishing defamation against certain national values and state bodies. Referring to a previous judgment of the court, "Freedom of expression may offend; it may even shock," he noted.

For Jagland, protecting journalists and freedom of expression is protecting democracy. He noted that according to the case law of the court, politicians should accept that their words and actions are open to a higher degree of scrutiny by both journalists and the public at large. "They should therefore be cautious when they initiate criminal or civil defamation cases. This can have a serious chilling effect on freedom of expression and the media," he cautioned, seemingly in reference to statements by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan targeting some media outlets.

[10] Turkey wants to build a pipeline to import natural gas from northern Iraq

It is expected that this natural gas will be cheaper than the one purchased from Iran and Russia. At the same time, it is noted that a new pipeline is also needed in addition to the existing "Crude Oil Pipeline" between Turkey and Iraq.

According to the paper, analysts say that building pipelines for oil and natural gas is strategically not possible without the approval of Iraq's central government. Hurriyet writes that the USA supports that an "independent energy agreement" could lead Iraq to partition.

According to paper's information, the "new package" of Turkey is being prepared in view of Prime Minister Erdogan's forthcoming visit to the USA. The package will be "multidimensional" and include cooperation in various fields, not only in energy.

Turkey's needs in oil and natural gas, are by 92% and 98% respectively depended on imports, says the paper.

(I/Ts.)

[11] Arabacioglu the candidate of DP for the forthcoming "elections" in the "municipality" of occupied Lefkosia

In statements on the issue, the chairman of DP Serdar Denktas said that Arabacioglu was informed about the party's decision and accepted to be candidate of DP with pleasure.

AK

[12] Buffavento castle in occupied Keryneia in a bad condition

The paper writes that a German tourist called Joachim Etzold who had visited the Buffavento castle, had a conduct with the paper and expressed his reaction and disappointment over the view his saw.

In statements to the paper, Etzold describe as a "betrayal to the history" what he saw at the Buffavento castle and stressed the need for the historical monument to be protected, calling the "officials" to take measures the soonest.

AK

EI/ http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article