, vice president of the AKP, said it was not possible for
people who believe in democracy to accept the coup in Egypt. "We should
see it as a blow that was delivered directly to the people of Egypt.
Furthermore, Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.07.13) reports that
Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal
K1l1?darolu has condemned the Egyptian military's overthrow of
elected President Mohamed Morsi.
"Military coups cannot be accepted. I hope that democracy will come
[back to Egypt]," K1l1?darolu said on Thursday in comments on
Morsi's removal.
On the same issue, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 04.07.13)
reports that Turkish political parties in a joint declaration on Thursday
condemned a military coup that ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.
A statement from Parliament's Human Rights Commission on Thursday was
signed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP), opposition Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) and opposition Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).
"The ruling power which was usurped by unauthorized powers should be
given back to the [Egyptian] people. All democratic individuals and
institutions across the world should stand against such moves, which
have the potential for human rights violations," the statement said.
Today's Turkish press has seen the Egyptian army's overthrow of the
President Mohamed Morsi as a military coup. Some dailies compare the
Egypt coup with February 28 post-modern coup. Turkish dailies, that our
office received, covered the issue in their front pages as follows:
HURRIYET, under the title "Resist", writes that the army overthrew Morsi,
but the President had called on Egyptians "to resist" the military
coup. The paper also writes that Turkey had "stepped in for democracy"
saying that the Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu as well as EU Minister
Bagis had urged European countries and the countries in the region to
protect democracy.
MILLIYET, under the title "He asked a settlement at the last minute",
writes that the Egyptian President Morsi, who was harsh in his speech
two nights ago, proposed a coalition government.
SABAH, under the title "Egypt's February 28", compares the Egyptian
military's move to a military memorandum in Turkey on 28th of February,
1997, which forced an elected government to resign. "The army deposed
the elected president by force of arms while Morsi called on his
people to stand up to the intervention saying he did not recognize this
'post-modern coup'," the paper reports. The daily added: "Ankara warned",
quoting Davutoglu "in all democracies elected governments leave office
through elections".
CUMHURIYET, under the title "Army got out to the streets", reports that
Morsi proposed coalition and the opponents asked his resignation.
ZAMAN, under the title "Morsi proposed compromise, but the tanks were
in the street", reports that Morsi's offer to form an interim coalition
government was not taken into account.
[02] Support to Turkey by Lithuania EU term presidency
Under the above title, Turkish daily Milliyet (04.07.13) reports that
Lithuania's Ambassador to Ankara Kestutis Kudzmamas, said that Lithuania
during its EU term presidency will support Turkey on the opening of new
chapters. He added that during their Presidency they will endeavour for
the process of the chapters 22, 17 and 19.
[03] The Shah Deniz decision: More gas for Europe
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 04.07.13) publishes, inter
alia, the following commentary by G?nther H. Oettinger, European
Commissioner for Energy:
"Just a few days ago, we got long awaited news from Azerbaijan: the Shah
Deniz Consortium ? companies operating the Shah Deniz 2 gas condensate
field ? decided to select the pipeline bringing gas from Azerbaijan to
Europe. The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) was chosen as the European
distribution pipeline for gas coming from the field. This is a historical
decision, as it signals that substantial volumes of gas will come to
Europe from a Caspian country. For Europe it means 10 billion cubic
meters of natural gas a year starting before 2020. (?)
Azerbaijan is a door opener in this process. But there are further
major sources in the Southern Gas Corridor, linking the EU to Turkey,
the Eastern Mediterranean, Iraq, Azerbaijan and other countries.
With a real strategic vision, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev,
along with Turkey, has committed to building a large scalable pipeline,
called TANAP, to the European border. It will initially bring gas from
Shah Deniz 2, and eventually from other fields in Azerbaijan, to the
European market. What we see today is just the beginning. A decision to
have TAP built first and to bring more gas later means that the route to
Austria ? currently Nabucco West ? is still on the table. The question
is not either one or the other, in the medium term both are needed. This
is certain: we will need more gas in 2020, and Caspian gas is a good
response to this need.
More importantly than the choice between Tap and Nabucco is the opening
of the Southern Corridor. With an effective and functioning internal
energy market, with the necessary infrastructure and reverse flows
in place, once the gas enters the EU, it can be transported anywhere
in Europe. With the internal energy market, gas interconnections,
championed by the European Commission, will secure the ability of gas
to reach member states who have just one or only a few suppliers, such
as Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. It is in this sense that the European
Commission has been working for the past years. Our main priority is to
tackle the most vulnerable countries. On Bulgaria, for instance, Europe
must work harder to assist the government make the long-term strategic
energy decisions necessary for its energy security.
The commission is also working with Serbia and Bulgaria to build a
connection between these two, and Romania is now connected to Hungary and
Bulgaria. The North-South initiative, spearheaded by the commission,
has put in place many small interconnectors that create a web of
interconnection in South East and Central Europe. But more is still
needed, to bring competitive prices to Southern Europe.
I want to see thorough development of the resources in the eastern
Mediterranean. Cypriot's government efforts to develop a Liquefied Natural
Gas (LNG) export facility on the island are part of that endeavour. From
Greece, we need a swift liberalized pipeline system up to Ukraine.
And what's in it for Azerbaijan?
What Azerbaijan has realized, and what is often missed elsewhere,
is that Europe is a safe bet. European rules are stable, the returns
constant and valuable. Azerbaijan is committing its future to Europe.
For Europe, the decision of the Shah Deniz Consortium marks a real
breakthrough in terms of securing Europe's energy supplies for the
future. In a world of global energy markets and growing competition
for resources, we will continue promoting Europe's energy interests and
engaging in comprehensive partnerships with key supplier countries. We
trust that our efforts will ensure secure energy supplies for European
households and businesses and will enhance Europe's competitiveness."
[04] Erk alleged that the Greek Cypriot side not ready for negotiations;
he started meetings with the five permanent UN members ambassadors
Under the title "We are ready (for the talks) but the Greek Cypriots
are not", Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.07.13) reports
that the self-styled minister of foreign affairs Kutlay Erk, commented
on the launching of the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus
problem the coming October.
Erk stated that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready and eager for the Cyprus
talks, however he claimed that the Greek Cypriot side "which is inside
an involution", as he said, is not yet ready. He said that they want
the negotiations to be continued from the point they were left, adding
that they want the talks to be "meaningful". "We want the negotiations
to have a result. We are ready", he stated.
He went on and said that he started holding meetings with the ambassadors
of the five permanent UN members ambassadors to Lefkosia and added that
until now he met with the USA and the Russian ambassador to whom he
delivered the Turkish side views on the talks as well as their readiness
for the launching of negotiations.
Referring to the opening of Varosha, Erk said that the issue is part of
a comprehensive solution. On natural gas, Erk said that this is the new
"trend" regarding the talks, adding that the previous one was that Cyprus
becoming an EU member would have been a catalyst for the solution.
[05] "Election" campaign started in the breakaway regime: Parties state
their positions
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (03.07.13) writes today about the election
campaign that was launched in the breakaway regime for the forthcoming
28 July 'elections and reports about meetings of the political parties
in which their positions are stated.
The chairman of the Turkish Republican Party (CTP) Ozkan Yorgancioglu who
made speeches in occupied Lefkosia, Famagusta, Morfou and Trikomo, stated
that safeguarding the justice in the island, taking measures for dealing
with unemployment and protecting the interests of the labour forces is
among the main goals of the Party. He also said that the solution of
the Cyprus problem and a viable solution, based in the equality of the
two communities and to a federal bi-communal state is the party's duty.
The chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) Serdar Denktas, who was speaking
in a meeting of his party in occupied Morfou, criticized strongly the
"governments' of UBP and CTP and said that it is not the time his party
to come into power.
Kibris writes that Mehmet Cakici, the leader of the Communal Democratic
Party (TDP) in a meeting held by his party in occupied Morfou, stated that
only TDP can break off the "agley and rancid order" in occupied Cyprus and
called on the 'electorate" to make a comparison among the various political
parties. He also said that the Turkish Cypriots must be masters in their
own house in order for the economy to be improved.
Finally, the chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan which
visited the headquarters of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Trade Union
(KTOS) said that they see the "elections" as a tool for their struggle
for a fair solution, noting that when a people comes to the point to
have its existence put in danger, must find ways for cooperation and
for creation common fronts.
In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (03.07.13) writes that the
chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP) Irsen Kucuk who was speaking
at a television program, called on the "electorate" to vote for his party
and accused CTP that if it comes to power, it will make 300 persons from
"Lefkosia municipality" to lose their jobs and will also fire 400-500
persons who work at "civil service".
[06] "Council of ministers" cancelled a lease given to Hasiploglu's son
by the Kucuk regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (04.07.13) reports on a meeting
held by the self-styled council of ministers of the breakaway regime
yesterday and notes that among the decisions taken was the cancelation of
a lease for a plot by the sea in favour of the son of the former "minister
of health" of the National Unity (UBP) "government Ertugrul Hasipoglu.
The paper writes that the "council of ministers" cancelled the decision
which was taken by the "government" of Irsen Kucuk about a month ago,
according to which a newly established company "nephew Ltd" belonging
to Oguzhan Hasipoglu, rented a 25-donum plot located by the sea aiming
to be used for the building of touristic facilities.
The paper notes that the name of the company' owner is not mentioned
in the decision, but Afrika have reliable sources that this person is
Oguzhan Hasipoglu, who is known to be the owner of 229 companies in the
breakaway regime and who plays a very active role in selling property
to foreigners in occupied Cyprus.
[07] Turkish court cancelled project of Ottoman barracks on Taksim square
Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 03.07.13) reports that a Turkish
court has cancelled an Istanbul building project backed by Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan which provided the trigger for nationwide
anti-government demonstrations last month, a copy of the court decision
showed.
Authorities may well appeal against cancellation of plans for a replica
Ottoman-era barracks on 0stanbul's Taksim Square. But the ruling marked a
victory for a coalition of political forces and a blow for Erdoan, who
stood fast against protests and riots he said were stoked by terrorists
and looters.
Can Atalay, a lawyer for the Chamber of Architects which brought the
lawsuit, said the administrative court ruled in early June at the height of
the unrest that the plan violated preservation rules and unacceptably
changed the square's identity. It was not clear why it had only now been
released.
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