Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-04-24

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] Ozersay is concerned about the changes in the "Immovable Property Commission"

[02] Eroglu: UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman to visit Cyprus due to Ban's busy schedule

[03] Erk: "We have to be the ones leading the negotiation process"

[04] Levent: The Turkish Cypriot community must definitely participate in the EP elections

[05] Turkish Cypriot EP candidate Birinci will have Schultz's support for her campaign

[06] Erdogan pays tribute to people who died in 1915

[07] First reaction on Erdogan's 1915 message

[08] Turkish fuel retailer starts talks to buy Israeli gas

[09] US Ambassador Ricciardone to keep working on Turkey after retirement

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ozersay is concerned about the changes in the "Immovable Property Commission"

Ozersay, who had actively participated in the efforts for the establishment of the above-mentioned "commission", argued that there is no problem in re-examining the steps that had been taken in the way of harmonization with the international law on the issue of the "commission", but some changes published in the press worry him "both in the context of their possible reflexions in the negotiating process and of their possible evaluations by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)".

Expressing his concern in his social media account, Ozersay said: "The Immovable Property Commission law and regulation has been prepared as a result of a long lasting effort taking into consideration the decisions of the ECHR. When I look at some publications regarding some possible changes on this issue, I cannot resist from saying 'please let us not turn this issue into infertile political discussions, into a topic of personal interests and let us avoid steps which will harm the approaches that the Turkish Cypriot side supports within the context of the property issue in the negotiations'. I will share my view with the public from here after examining the changes".

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (24.04.14), the well-known Turkish Cypriot lawyer, Mustafa Asena was asked to comment the decision of the "cabinet" providing for giving the right to the Turkish Cypriots to apply to the "commission" for their property in the government-controlled area of the island. Asena drew attention to the problems which exist on the property issue and said: "This arrangement is not for the good of the Turkish Cypriots. I think that this is an arrangement which tries to zero the properties of the Turkish Cypriots which remained in south Cyprus".

Asked whether this arrangement will invalidate the "waivers" which the Turkish Cypriots had been forced by the occupation regime to sign for their properties in the government-controlled area of the island, Asena replied that these "waivers" had been invalid before, because the international law does not include any provision saying that the property of a person could be taken away from him with such "waivers". Secondly, he said, since there is no other recognized state in the occupied northern part of Cyprus than Turkey, Turkey is the one which took these "waivers". "And because Turkey seems to be an occupier according to the international law, you cannot take the property of a citizen in a country which you occupied or to which you came to secure peace", he added.

Replying to another question, Asena said that the "Immovable Property Commission" cannot establish the value of the property in the government-controlled area of the island. "The commission does not function, they are only making advertising", he noted.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu: UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman to visit Cyprus due to Ban's busy schedule

Evaluating his contacts in New York, Eroglu stated that these were fruitful and added that during his meeting with Ban he explained his views as regards the negotiations. As he said, the screening process has been completed and that now they will continue with special issues; therefore a program is needed. He said that some of the issues put on the table were accepted and some other were not accepted. Eroglu said that he conveyed to Ban his view that in order for the negotiations to come to a result must continue in this way and added that the Turkish Cypriot side continues the talks with good intentions and with a cooperation spirit.

Replying to criticism that his meeting with Ban lasted only for half an hour, Eroglu stated that the meeting was not a summit meeting, noting that it was important that the UN Secretary General who has such a busy schedule found the time to see him. He went on and added that Ban treats the two sides in Cyprus equally. He also said that the Varosha issue was not mentioned during the meeting.

Eroglu also referred to the two Cypriot negotiators who are going to South Afrika this evening and stated that Andreas Mavroyiannis and Kudret Ozersay will exchange views with persons who helped solving the conflict in the country. He said that it will be useful to benefit from these people's experience.

In addition Kibris Postasi Daily News also reports that Eroglu met with the president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Richard Haas during his visit to New York. Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay was also present at the half an hour meeting where Eroglu and Haas discussed the Cyprus problem, the negotiation process in the framework of regional developments, changes in Eastern Mediterranean region and the impact of the Ukraine crisis. Eroglu met also with members of the New York based Turkish Cypriot Society during the last day of his New York visit. After completing his contacts Eroglu spoke to TRT Turk and TRT News in New York.

[03] Erk: "We have to be the ones leading the negotiation process"

Issuing a written statement for the 11th anniversary of the opening of the check-points and the 10th anniversary of the Annan Plan referendum, Erk said: "Turkish Cypriots who voted "yes" by 65% did not give up their vision for a solution. However, Turkish Cypriots still suffer because of the isolations. On the other hand the leaders' statements are delaying the process further."

Erk also stated that leader's statements were the products of their delaying tactics and that this did not give any hope to people. "We are aware of the plans that are being prepared outside our will in Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East but we have to be the ones leading the process", said Erk.

He urged all the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots who want peace to go to the streets together and put pressure on the leaders. "Brotherhood of the communities does not have plan A, plan B, plan C. federal solution in Cyprus should happen as soon as possible".

[04] Levent: The Turkish Cypriot community must definitely participate in the EP elections

Levent said: "A climate is created as if the people are not interested. This is very wrong. We should have been passionately concentrated on these elections. We need voices which will be able to reflect the real will of the Turkish Cypriots in Europe and the world. I see that our voice in the world now is not our voice? This voice is the voice of Ankara, of Turkey and of our politicians who follow them?"

Levent noted that if he is elected, the Turkish language will become one of the official European languages, adding that this has been said during meetings he had held with EU officials.

Levent said that it is extremely important for him the Greek Cypriots to vote for a Turkish Cypriot candidate and the Turkish Cypriots to vote for a Greek Cypriot candidate. "That is, to what extent nationalism which existed in the minds has been overcome? It will be possible to see this also in these elections", he argued.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkish Cypriot EP candidate Birinci will have Schultz's support for her campaign

The paper notes that the European Parliament President Martin Schulz who was impressed by Birinci's candidacy proposed to her to hold together her election campaign, during a meeting they had in Paris. According to the paper, Birinci accepted Schultz's proposal.

Explaining the reasons behind her decision to run for the elections Birinci stated that she wants to give an end to the antidemocratic fact that the Turkish Cypriots as a community are not represented in the European Parliament, despite the fact that there are EU citizens. The second reason is to give a message that the time of peace has arrived, with the establishment of a common list of Turkish and Greek Cypriots EP elections candidates.

The paper further writes that Birici, who speaks Greek, makes an effort to get to know Greek Cypriots and to get them know Turkish Cypriots and participates quite often in television programs, sending the message that "together we can make it".

[06] Erdogan pays tribute to people who died in 1915

Erdogan released the message on Wednesday ahead of the anniversary of the events of 1915, which led to an unknown number of people dying in civil strife after the Ottoman Empire approved a deportation law for Armenians in April 24 of that year.

Erdogan said: "Armenians who lost their lives in the events in the early 20th century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences to their grandchildren."

"In Turkey, expressing different opinions and thoughts freely on the events of 1915 is the requirement of a pluralistic society as well as of a culture of democracy and modernity," said Erdogan in the statement released in Turkish, English, French, Armenian and several other languages.

Erdogan said that any conscientious, fair and humane approach to the Armenian issue was required in order to bring forth an understanding of all the suffering experienced during the period, regardless of religion or ethnicity.

"It is a humane and scientific duty to view this tragic history from the perspective of fair memory. It should not deter reciprocal humane attitudes and the establishment of sympathy between the Turkish and Armenian people that incidents which had inhumane results, like the 1915 relocation, occurred during the First World War when millions of people from all religions and nationalities lost their lives. What was experienced during the First World War is our mutual pain," said Erdogan.

Erdogan stated that Turkey is open to reconsidering its approach to the issue, and added: "Some may perceive this climate of freedom in Turkey as an opportunity to express accusatory, offensive and even provocative assertions and allegations. Even so, if this will enable us to understand historical issues with their actual aspects and to transform resentment to friendship again, we will consider different discourses with empathy and tolerance and expect a similar attitude from all sides."

Erdogan also called for Turkish and Armenian societies not to derive enmity from history and create new antagonisms.

"The spirit of the age necessitates dialogue despite differences, understanding by heeding others, evaluating the means for compromise, denouncing hatred, and praising respect and tolerance. It is with this understanding that we have opened our archives to all researchers. Today, hundreds of thousands of documents in our archives are at the service of historians," he said.

Turkey calls for academic research of the 1915 events to be carried out by a commission of Turkish, Armenian and international historians, the Turkish Prime Ministry said in a written statement on Wednesday ahead of the anniversary of the events.

[07] First reaction on Erdogan's 1915 message

"There is no point of evaluating [the statement]. This is too much torture for this nation," Bahceli told reporters when asked about the statement.

The CHP, however, welcomed Erdogan's move, but asked why the government had finally chosen 2014 for such a statement after years in power.

Erdogan is abusing history for political reasons, CHP deputy chair Faruk Logoglu said, adding that they shared the sorrow and pain of the descendants of those who lost their lives under the circumstances of 1915.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.04.14) reports that Washington has welcomed the statement released by the Turkish Prime Minister on April 23 in which he offered condolences to the descendants of Armenians killed during World War I.

"We welcome Prime Minister Erdogan's historic public acknowledgement of the suffering that Armenians experienced in 1915," said Jen Psaki, the U.S. State Department spokeswoman.

"We believe this is a positive indication that there can be a full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts, which we hope will advance the cause of reconciliation between Turks and Armenians."

Moreover, columnist Murat Yetkin in HDN (24.04.14), under the title "The first call for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation", writes that "yesterday was the first time that a Turkish Prime Minister has issued a statement on the eve of April 24, offering condolences, sharing the grief of the grandsons and granddaughters of those who lost their lives, also saying that the deportation had caused 'inhumane consequences'.

In his statement, Erdogan carefully made a distinction between the Ottoman Sultanate government of the time and the Republic-era governments, making a point of saying that the establishment of the Turkish Republic on the 94th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Parliament was actually against the wrongdoings of the final Ottoman governments, including their welcoming of invading armies.

Perhaps it is not the exact wording that most Armenians in Armenia, Turkey and elsewhere have been waiting for. But it clearly states a shift in the mentality in a positive direction.

There is particular stress on the notion of a "common future" between Turkish and Armenian peoples in the statement. That is a call for historic reconciliation. It could be a new start for getting the historical conflict solved for the benefit of both peoples."

Columnist Barcin Yinanc, in HDN (24.04.14), under the title "Deconstructing Turkish PM's statement on Armenian tragedy", writes that "one of the firsts is that it is the first time a Turkish PM has issued a statement about the 'issue'. It is not a statement issued as a counter reaction to the statements made all over the world. In a way, it has perhaps started a tradition whereby we might have a statement each year on the eve of April 24.

Of course it does not name the 'issue.' But Turkey now officially recognizes the 'pain'of the Armenians. And obviously, the statement talks about the pains suffered by all at that time, since it wants to refrain from singling out the Armenians. This is the result of an effort to show that Armenians were not targeted just because they were Armenians, but that they got a share of the suffering at the time. (?)

By issuing an official statement and accepting the commemoration efforts as normal; Turkey for the first time officially recognizes April 24, as the day of remembrance. (?)

While the statement implies that Turkey is ready to listen with tolerance to all discourse, even that of genocide, it sends a warning to the Armenian diaspora about their planned activities for next year when it says 'using the events of 1915 as an excuse for hostility against Turkey and turning this issue into a matter of political conflict is inadmissible'."

[08] Turkish fuel retailer starts talks to buy Israeli gas

Turcas is in talks with Istanbul-based Enerjisa, which is owned by Turkey's Sabanci Holding and German utility E.ON, to buy the gas from the Israeli field, according to the stock-exchange filing.

Industry sources said in October last year that Turcas was among a few other Turkish energy firms in talks with Israeli firms over the potential for a pipeline to carry Israeli gas to Turkey. The sources said the political rift between the two former allies was holding up progress. Such a project could be worth $3.5 billion, observers have earlier said. It would entail construction of an undersea section to Turkey's southern coast and a link to central Turkey.

[09] US Ambassador Ricciardone to keep working on Turkey after retirement

Ricciardone has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism from circles close to the Turkish government since the Dec. 17, 2013, graft probe.

Ricciardone, who will start his new job in late September, also said in a statement released by the institution that he would return to Turkey in November with his new title during the sixth annual Atlantic Council Energy and Economic Summit in Istanbul.

Diplomatic sources said a potential new Ambassador to Ankara was John Bass, currently the executive assistant to Secretary of State John Kerry and former Ambassador to Tbilisi. A senior State Department official also confirmed that "Bass could be nominated to be the next ambassador to Turkey."

Bass would need to obtain U.S. Senate approval before being assuming to the post. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

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