Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-12-20

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: Turkish Cypriot side's main target is the establishment of a new partnership with the powers given by "two sovereign peoples"

[02] Ertug says they do not accept as a reply to their proposal the "document" sent by the Greek Cypriot side on the joint declaration

[03] Nami: the sides are very close to the final point for a joint text on the Cyprus problem

[04] Davutoglu discusses with UN Secretary-General the last Greek Cypriot proposal on the joint declaration

[05] Afrika argues that it obtained the Turkish proposals submitted by Davutoglu to the UN during his recent illegal visit to Cyprus

[06] Kibrisli quotes UNFICYP Spokesman as saying that "Turkish embassy in Nicosia is Davutoglu's home"

[07] Dismissals of Turkish police departments

[08] Turkish daily claims that four Ministers submitted their resignations

[09] Columnist observes the corruption probe in Turkey

[10] Ruling AKP burning bridges with Gulen movement

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: Turkish Cypriot side's main target is the establishment of a new partnership with the powers given by "two sovereign peoples"

Eroglu claimed that the Cyprus problem could not be solved through letters and added that the sides should sit at the negotiating table for finding a solution. He alleged that the Greek Cypriot side "continues the exchange of letters in order to gain time".

Asked what he felt when he read the Greek Cypriot proposal that was received yesterday morning, Eroglu replied that the proposal contained "delicate tactics". He said that they were expecting the Greek Cypriots to say "yes" or "no" to the proposal submitted by the Turkish Cypriots, but the Greek Cypriot side submitted its own proposal instead of doing this. "?If the aim is to play games, we will do this", he argued.

Eroglu went on and said that there are some circles within the Turkish Cypriot community who express the view that many problems they face are derived from the Cyprus problem. "This is a wrong view", he argued noting that there are many independent states, members of the United Nations, which face a lot of problems. "Therefore, it is wrong to relate everything to the solution and this gives to the Greek Cypriots the chance to play games before coming to the table", he alleged.

Asked whether the deadlock on the issue of the joint statement could be overcome, Eroglu replied that it could be overcome. He alleged: "If the Greek Cypriots looked with good will the text which we have put forward and gave a reply, the negotiations would start immediately. They do not have good will".

Responding to a question as to whether referendum could be held in March, Eroglu alleged that this depends on the Greek Cypriot side's stance at the negotiating table and added that he does not think that the Greek Cypriots "would come to the point of an agreement within three months".

When reminded of self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami statements that a solution could be achieved and asked whether Nami is part of his team or he acts separately, Eroglu said that Nami is the "minister of foreign affairs". "I told him that his primary duty is to explain our just cause to the world. Of course he is interested with the negotiations", he argued and added: "There are some things which I do not adopt. Mr Nami had been Mr Talat's special representative for five years. He has some habits remained from that period and some friendships established then. To which extent this is right should be debated. Holding meetings within my knowledge is something, holding meetings and exchanging messages outside my knowledge is something else. There is news coming in this direction?"

Responding to a question regarding Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu's recent illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus, Eroglu said that during this visit they "further clarified" their work "with Davutoglu's contribution". Eroglu said that they were relaxed from seeing that their actions are adopted and supported by Turkey.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ertug says they do not accept as a reply to their proposal the "document" sent by the Greek Cypriot side on the joint declaration

In statements to Kibris, Ertug noted that the last proposal of the Turkish Cypriot side had been prepared with the participation of the "government" and the "main opposition" party at Eroglu's office and added that Turkey has also supported this proposal.

Ertug claimed that the UN also supported this proposal, which had been conveyed to the Greek Cypriot side through UN Secretary-General's special adviser for Cyprus, Alexander Downer by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu during their meeting last Saturday at the Turkish so-called embassy to the occupied part of Nicosia.

Ertug argued that the Turkish Cypriot side and the UN do not intend to carry on this "writing exercise" forever and alleged that the counter proposal made by the Greek Cypriot side is a "tactic for the ball remaining in Turkish Cypriot side's field".

Commenting on rumours that the Greek Cypriot side is preparing to implement a Plan B in case its proposal was not accepted, Ertug alleged that this is a new tactic for gaining time.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Nami: the sides are very close to the final point for a joint text on the Cyprus problem

He argued that as Turkish Cypriot side they had made the last corrections for taking a result on the issue of the joint text and they were waiting for the reply of the Greek Cypriot side. He alleged: "We are at a satisfactory point. The Greek Cypriot side has no reason to reject this. When we submitted the last proposal text, the UN and the other related sides found it positive".

Noting that "serious progress" has been achieved on the issue of the joint text during the last couple of months, Nami argued: "We are waiting for a yes answer now. In this manner, the back bone on the issue of governance and power sharing will come up and the negotiating process will advance more quickly".

He also claimed: "The text includes clear expressions on the issue of sovereignty, citizenship, internal citizenship, the EU principles, bi-zonality, bi-communality and reconciliation has been reached? Debates on the commas should end".

Nami said that in case an agreement is reached on the joint text, the sides will not be able to follow a separatist policy and the quarrel for the meanings will cease to exist. Describing the text as a "historical document", Nami said that "the meaning of the single sovereignty will clearly come up".

Replying to a question, Nami said that in case no agreement is reached on the joint statement, the UN Secretary-General will undertake an initiative and put forward his own text. "While doing this, he will take into consideration the relevant UN resolutions and he will launch the negotiating process", he added.

Responding to another question, Nami said that the Turkish side would have no objection to the single sovereignty, if this issue is based on the correct ground. "At this stage, single sovereignty is based on the correct ground. In federations, sovereignty is an element which is shared. No one could see the single sovereignty as belonging to him. Otherwise the balance in the federal structure will be spoiled".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Davutoglu discusses with UN Secretary-General the last Greek Cypriot proposal on the joint declaration

(I/Ts.)

[05] Afrika argues that it obtained the Turkish proposals submitted by Davutoglu to the UN during his recent illegal visit to Cyprus

Afrika reports that the Turkish document submitted to the Greek Cypriot side includes the following: the federal state will consist of two federate states and no one of them will dominate over the other. The power of granting citizenship and work permit will belong to the central federal government. Those who comply with the criteria will be granted citizenship or work permit and those who do not will leave the island.

"In this situation, the fate of the people from Turkey on the island depends on the federal government after the solution. At the last stage it will be determined how many persons will remain here and how many will leave", writes Afrika adding that the document includes also "confidence building measures", for which it could obtain no details.

However, according to Afrika's assumptions, these measures includes the return of occupied closed city of Varosha to its legal owners, the opening of the port of Famagusta for the Turkish Cypriots conducting international trade under the control of the EU, the beginning of direct flights from illegal Tymvou airport and the opening of the Turkish ports to Greek Cypriot vessels and airplanes.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Kibrisli quotes UNFICYP Spokesman as saying that "Turkish embassy in Nicosia is Davutoglu's home"

The paper reports that commenting on Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's meeting with the UN Secretary-General's special adviser for Cyprus, Alexander Downer last Saturday at the Turkish so-called embassy to the occupied part of Nicosia, Bonnardeaux said: "Mr Downer will of course meet with the Turkish Foreign Minister and Foreign Minister of a country member of the G-20 at his home. The Embassy of Turkey to Nicosia is Mr Davutoglu's home. This meeting should not be exaggerated. Mr Downer's duty is meeting people".

Asked to comment on information published in the Turkish Cypriot press regarding the preparation of a "new map" on the Cyprus problem by the UN, Bonnardeaux has reportedly noted that issues such as preparing new maps was not UN's duty. "There is no new plan", he noted pointing out that the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots will decide on how a possible new agreement will be. He said that what was published in the press were actually the convergences achieved during the period 2008-2012.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Dismissals of Turkish police departments

Moreover, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 19.12.13), under the title "Summary dismissal of police chiefs is judicial interference", reported that senior police officials, including Istanbul Police Chief Huseyin Capkin, were removed from their posts on Thursday amid an ongoing investigation into alleged bribery linked to public tenders, while jurists said their removal amounted to an attempted cover-up and a "blatant intervention" into the judicial investigation.

Following the detentions of the Ministers, the government began to dismiss all police chiefs involved with the corruption probe.

Following the removal of 11 police chiefs from their posts in Istanbul on Wednesday due to their involvement in the corruption raids, which the authorities have called "misconduct," the Ankara governor also removed 18 police chiefs in a similar fashion and reappointed them to lower positions.

[08] Turkish daily claims that four Ministers submitted their resignations

According to the paper, during the meeting the four Ministers, Muammer Guler, Egemen Bagis, Erdogan Bayraktar and Zafer Caglayan submitted in written their resignations to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (19.12.13) reports that Deputy leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Huseyin Celik, refutes claims that three ministers, whose sons have been detained as part of the ongoing bribery probe, resigned, speaking at a televised interview on Thursday evening.

[09] Columnist observes the corruption probe in Turkey

"When Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan summoned his Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan to his residence, many political observers in Ankara believed the meeting could end up with Caglayan's dismissal from the cabinet or resignation. Caglayan's son was arrested during a corruption operation on Dec. 17, together with the sons of two other ministers; Environment and Urbanization Erdogan Bayraktar and Interior Minister Muammer Guler. The leaks, possibly from prosecutor's office and police, to Turkish media claim that those ministers, plus Turkey's European Union Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis have been involved in facilitating the 'business' of Reza Zarrab in Turkey by taking bribes and abusing their offices. The 'business' is to transfer Zarrab's money from gold trade over Turkey to Iran via the government-controlled Halkbank, providing a short-cut to Turkish citizenship to Zarrab (now he is R?za Sarraf and under arrest) and his entourage, facilitating Schengen visas for them (including Zarrab's relatives), allegedly from Italian channels, and the amount of the total bribery is reported in Turkish media to be as high as 142 million Turkish Liras, nearly $70 million.

If true, this is the biggest corruption probe in Turkey ever. Despite snubbing by Erdogan and his deputy Bulent Arinc, there are pictures in the Turkish press, showing six steel money cases, a money counting machine and money log book of $3 million worth of accounts, which were reportedly found in the house of Baris Guler, the Interior Minister's son. Reportedly, $4.5million in cash was found in shoe boxes in the house of Halkbank's General Manager Suleyman Aslan, who is also under arrest.

Apparently the prosecutors, who are now under fire of Erdogan and his ministers, carried out the whole probe for more than a year in total secrecy, told no one, including their superiors, which was actually legal under a 2005 law passed by Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) votes in Parliament, which has been the basis to carry out coup-conspiracy cases against Erdogan, like Ergenekon and Balyoz between 2008 to 2013. During that, more than a year, they used police units to track down their targets, eavesdropping on telephone calls between Zarrab and ministers, took pictures of Zarrab' and his people's visits to their homes and offices. Also the sons of ministers...Turkish daily Taraf published a conversation between Interior Minister and his son; the father warns his son to be careful against eavesdropping and speaking of a certain policeman who might be after the son, he as the head of police force allegedly says "If he goes too far, I can always get a testimony from you and send that p..p to elsewhere."

That is what exactly is happening nowadays. Erdogan is very upset that the policemen did not inform the Interior Minister (who could in theory inform his son to take precautions) and that was a conspiracy against the "success" of his AKP government, by forces he did not elaborate. Erdogan said, "They could not give us harm in Gezi (the wave of protests in early2013 summer) and now they are using such psychological warfare tactics". But the purge as a punishment from the government also removed Huseyin Capk?n, the powerful chief of Istanbul police on Dec. 19, who had played a key role in suppressing the Gezi protests under heavy criticism of police brutality.

Erdogan seems to focus on a plot against himself by defaming his ministers, rather than serious allegations of corruption. He thinks in such a way that if he sacks a minister because of a fault, it would be taken by the people as his personal fault and he doesn't want to "sacrifice" his comrade ministers.

So, Caglayan appeared to not be the only one in Erdogan's residence. It was announced to be a meeting to overview economy. There is actually a point there, since such corruption allegations, despite being snubbed by Erdogan, have the potential to affect foreign investors, even domestic ones. Erdogan wants to give the impression that such "plots" could no way allow him from business as usual and force him for a cabinet change. That puts him in a dilemma. On one hand he has to give three new minister names to President Abdullah Gul to replace those whom he had nominated as candidates for the March 30 local elections. On the other hand, he knows keeping the other three, or four who are under serious allegations of corruption in the cabinet and put further pressure on police and judiciary could further damage his image in and outside of Turkey.

Soon, a cabinet reshuffle might not be enough to save the Turkish situation."

[09] Columnist observes the corruption probe in Turkey

"When Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan summoned his Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan to his residence, many political observers in Ankara believed the meeting could end up with Caglayan's dismissal from the cabinet or resignation. Caglayan's son was arrested during a corruption operation on Dec. 17, together with the sons of two other ministers; Environment and Urbanization Erdogan Bayraktar and Interior Minister Muammer Guler. The leaks, possibly from prosecutor's office and police, to Turkish media claim that those ministers, plus Turkey's European Union Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis have been involved in facilitating the 'business' of Reza Zarrab in Turkey by taking bribes and abusing their offices. The 'business' is to transfer Zarrab's money from gold trade over Turkey to Iran via the government-controlled Halkbank, providing a short-cut to Turkish citizenship to Zarrab (now he is R?za Sarraf and under arrest) and his entourage, facilitating Schengen visas for them (including Zarrab's relatives), allegedly from Italian channels, and the amount of the total bribery is reported in Turkish media to be as high as 142 million Turkish Liras, nearly $70 million.

If true, this is the biggest corruption probe in Turkey ever. Despite snubbing by Erdogan and his deputy Bulent Arinc, there are pictures in the Turkish press, showing six steel money cases, a money counting machine and money log book of $3 million worth of accounts, which were reportedly found in the house of Baris Guler, the Interior Minister's son. Reportedly, $4.5million in cash was found in shoe boxes in the house of Halkbank's General Manager Suleyman Aslan, who is also under arrest.

Apparently the prosecutors, who are now under fire of Erdogan and his ministers, carried out the whole probe for more than a year in total secrecy, told no one, including their superiors, which was actually legal under a 2005 law passed by Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) votes in Parliament, which has been the basis to carry out coup-conspiracy cases against Erdogan, like Ergenekon and Balyoz between 2008 to 2013. During that, more than a year, they used police units to track down their targets, eavesdropping on telephone calls between Zarrab and ministers, took pictures of Zarrab' and his people's visits to their homes and offices. Also the sons of ministers...Turkish daily Taraf published a conversation between Interior Minister and his son; the father warns his son to be careful against eavesdropping and speaking of a certain policeman who might be after the son, he as the head of police force allegedly says "If he goes too far, I can always get a testimony from you and send that p..p to elsewhere."

That is what exactly is happening nowadays. Erdogan is very upset that the policemen did not inform the Interior Minister (who could in theory inform his son to take precautions) and that was a conspiracy against the "success" of his AKP government, by forces he did not elaborate. Erdogan said, "They could not give us harm in Gezi (the wave of protests in early2013 summer) and now they are using such psychological warfare tactics". But the purge as a punishment from the government also removed Huseyin Capk?n, the powerful chief of Istanbul police on Dec. 19, who had played a key role in suppressing the Gezi protests under heavy criticism of police brutality.

Erdogan seems to focus on a plot against himself by defaming his ministers, rather than serious allegations of corruption. He thinks in such a way that if he sacks a minister because of a fault, it would be taken by the people as his personal fault and he doesn't want to "sacrifice" his comrade ministers.

So, Caglayan appeared to not be the only one in Erdogan's residence. It was announced to be a meeting to overview economy. There is actually a point there, since such corruption allegations, despite being snubbed by Erdogan, have the potential to affect foreign investors, even domestic ones. Erdogan wants to give the impression that such "plots" could no way allow him from business as usual and force him for a cabinet change. That puts him in a dilemma. On one hand he has to give three new minister names to President Abdullah Gul to replace those whom he had nominated as candidates for the March 30 local elections. On the other hand, he knows keeping the other three, or four who are under serious allegations of corruption in the cabinet and put further pressure on police and judiciary could further damage his image in and outside of Turkey.

Soon, a cabinet reshuffle might not be enough to save the Turkish situation." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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