Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-09-07

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] Akinci: "Everyone will continue to remain a citizen of this country and will become EU citizen"

[02] TDP: The rights of the current users of the properties in dispute would be protected

[03] Talat: Turkish army's sensitivities should be taken in consideration on the opening of Deryneia crossing point

[04] Burcu: No discrimination can be made among the "citizens" of the breakaway regime

[05] Burcu denies Greek Cypriot press reports that the inhabitants of the occupied area are against the solution; Reference to van Nuffel's role in the talks

[06] Ozersay: The road that will be obtained by mid-December will be determinant

[07] Turkish interim government's Foreign Minister Sinirlioglu arrived in the occupied area of Cyprus

[08] Tunali: "Illegal plots of land had been granted to partisans for years"

[09] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Cyprus expelled from the Nationalist Action Party

[10] Figures on the number of the working labor in the occupied area of Cyprus

[11] The "tourism ministry" took part in the TourNatour 2015 in Dusseldorf

[12] Tatar: "All candidates for the party's leadership will unite against Ozgurgun"

[13] Erdogan on post-election violence: Situation would be different if one party had secured 400 seats

[14] Families of fallen soldiers say AK Party election loss cause for rising violence

[15] Pro-government protesters pelt daily Hurriyet building with stones

[16] Turkey to rebuild nine mosques in Gaza

[17] "Re-elections in Turkey amid the escalating Kurdish problem"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: "Everyone will continue to remain a citizen of this country and will become EU citizen"

Akinci said that they will walk the path towards a settlement in patience and added: "Of course there will be tough negotiations and everything is not a bed of roses. This is a difficult path and let it not be forgotten that this is a path we have been travelling on for the past 47 years. We however believe that the time has come to settle this dispute once and for all" he said.

He also said that everyone will have a chance to discuss and debate the final solution plan before it is put to a vote, and added that the settlement agreement will be brought to life only after receiving the approval of both communities in a simultaneously held referendum.

Akinci also called on everyone living in occupied Akanthou and the surrounding areas to be at ease as no one will be deported or shipped back to Turkey in the event of a settlement.

"Everyone will continue to remain a citizen of this country and will become EU citizens as and when we take our place in the new partnership as the Turkish Cypriot constituent state. Everyone should know and believe this" he added.

[02] TDP: The rights of the current users of the properties in dispute would be protected

In a written statement issued Ozyigit said that there is a need to build a new order in Cyprus which will safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots. He said that the Turkish Cypriots had suffered great injustices over the years on various issues as a result of the non-solution of the Cyprus problem and because they had been left out of international law and that the only way to fix this is through a political settlement on the island.

Stating that the positive atmosphere achieved in the talks is disturbing various circles in the country, Ozyigit said that certain groups are deliberately spreading speculative reports particularly on the property issue to create confusion and strike fear into the hearts of the people.

Ozyigit also reminded that the rights of the current users of the properties in dispute would be protected, as the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci stated recently.

[03] Talat: Turkish army's sensitivities should be taken in consideration on the opening of Deryneia crossing point

Asked to comment on whether he compares or not the opening of Deryneia crossing point with the one in Ledra Street, Talat said: "What's for to compare? The civil administration is obliged to take into consideration the sensitivities of the army. Institutionally this should be turned into a state decision. I am not informed clearly regarding the difficulties that the army raises. However, it is natural the evaluations between institution-to-institution to be continued. It is not correct to perceive this as an obstacle by the army. The views between the army and the civil authority may differentiate. (?)"

Talat also said that the army looks the issue from the security point of view, and the civilians look it differently and they even think that this is an exaggeration. However, through conversation the problem will be solved. Talat added that another route may exist in Deryneia and that there are a lot of alternatives.

(DPs)

[04] Burcu: No discrimination can be made among the "citizens" of the breakaway regime

Referring to the property issue, Burcu alleged that the Greek Cypriot side has "a 41-year long ideological obsession" saying that "the property right is untouchable and cannot change". He added: "However, according to us and the international law, yes the individuals have property rights. However, a new situation has come up which will protect, at least this much, the rights of those we call 'the users', who were forced to use this property because of incidents that happened outside their will. This is the agreement reached between our esteemed president and esteemed Anastasiades?"

Burcu argued that the "non-solution" lobbies, both in the occupied area and in the government-controlled area of the island, oppose to this agreement for different reasons and are "causing a storm out of nothing using speculative news". However, he added, there is absolutely no reason for "both the former owners and the current users" in the occupied area and the government-controlled area of the island to be worried. He noted that the decision of the leaders on the property issue is for the benefit of both sides.

Referring to the "state which will come up after the solution", Burcu said: "In our view, on the very first day after both communities say yes to a plan in a referendum, a new federal state and two founding states, with a new parliamentarian order and a new political rights regime will come up. This is how the situation looks like when we see it from our window".

Burcu claimed that in the Greek Cypriots' point of view, the impression that the Republic of Cyprus will evolve and continue to exist could be created, because another reality is that the new situation and state will not apply again to become member of the UN and the EU. He said that this situation may seem "contradictory", but it is called "positive ambiguity".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Burcu denies Greek Cypriot press reports that the inhabitants of the occupied area are against the solution; Reference to van Nuffel's role in the talks

Responding to a question on information published in the Greek Cypriot press saying van Nuffel "is actively participating in the negotiations and submits proposals", Burcu noted that van Nuffel participates in the negotiations very rarely and added that he has been invited 2-3 times.

Moreover, Burcu denied a report published in Greek Cypriot "Politis" newspaper saying that 60% of the inhabitants in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus are currently saying "no" to a possible solution of the Cyprus problem. Noting that "Politis" based its information on "sources close to Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci", the paper writes that it has asked Burcu whether there is any public opinion poll in this direction. Burcu replied that they have no data or a public opinion poll in this direction and they have not shared something like that with "Politis" newspaper or with the Greek Cypriot leadership.

Referring to the issue, Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), told Yeni Duzen that the will of the Turkish Cypriots for a solution is still strong, but they have to work more and the synergy that existed during the Annan Plan period should be created again. He argued that the community needs more information and motivation and as a party they will more actively support the process.

Meanwhile, columnist Hasan Hasturer comments on the issue in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (07.09.15) under the title "Let no one be surprised if a no vote comes out for the solution from the north!!!"

Hasturer notes that he was one of those voted "yes" in the referendum for the Annan Plan and expresses the view that "we are approaching to a big opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem". He writes: "The majority of our people are aware of this, but instead of the preparation for welcoming the solution with hope, enthusiasm and excitement, fear is continuously increasing, especially in relation with the property. If the Turkish Cypriots are not prepared for the referendum by being given information and value to our people, the historic opportunity may be turned into a road accident with the Turkish Cypriots saying no this time. Let no one be surprised if 'no' to the solution comes up from the north!!! This is a friendly warning?"

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ozersay: The road that will be obtained by mid-December will be determinant

The seminars will deal with the thorny issues such as property, territory, and security where the two sides have struggled to agree, along with those areas where convergence has been achieved. Professor Ozersay will assess the impact of Cyprus' EU membership on the established UN parameters for a settlement. Ozersay will speak on the 11th and 12th of September.

Meanwhile, Ozersay, evaluating the Cyprus talks and the property issue in statements to Ankara Anatolia news agency (06.09.15), said that within the framework of the UN parameters a ceiling limitation should be put to the total properties that will be returned by drawing attention that the criteria being obtained for the majority of the population and the clear property will not be sufficient by standing alone. He added that the application is similar to the one in the Annan plan.

Ozersay stressed that it is important to reach the "target" by May before the general elections in the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus.

(DPs)

[07] Turkish interim government's Foreign Minister Sinirlioglu arrived in the occupied area of Cyprus

(I/Ts.)

[08] Tunali: "Illegal plots of land had been granted to partisans for years"

Stressing the need for the long-decades status quo to change, Tunali said that the "country" and the "people" are ready for this change. He also said that the problem exists in the "country" derive from the fact that the "international law does not knock the door of the Turkish Cypriot people".

Referring to the illegal "granting of plots of land", Tunali said that the politicians are the responsible ones for the chaos which has been created in the "country" since they remained silent.

Pointing out that "the Turkish Cypriot people do not trust the politicians and this policy any more", Tunali added that the Turkish Cypriot woke up and are ready to ask for explanations.

Stating that his party will struggle for the change, Tunali said that they trust the "people" and added that the "people's power" will bring the change.

(AK)

[09] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Cyprus expelled from the Nationalist Action Party

Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.09.15) reports that the central disciplinary committee of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has expelled its Ankara Deputy Turkes from the party on Saturday [5 September] after he accepted an offer to join the country's caretaker Cabinet.

Turkes was the first MP to accept Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's invitation to join his interim government. He was assigned as the Deputy Prime Minister of the new Cabinet that was formed on Aug. 28. in the run-up to the Nov.1 election. He was referred to the disciplinary board of the party on Aug. 26 after he accepted the Deputy Prime Minister post in defiance of his party's instructions not to participate in an interim administration.

According to party sources, Turkes did not submit a written or verbal statement within the one-week legal period given after the notice of his referral.

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (06.09.15) reported that the Grey Wolfs organistaion in the breakaway away regime stated that it supports MHP decision to expel Turkes from its ranks.

The paper also reports that the house of Turkes's father which is located in thje old walled city in the occupied part of Lefkosia is in a very bad condition and needs restoration urgently since it is considered to be a danger from persons living in the area.

(CS)

[10] Figures on the number of the working labor in the occupied area of Cyprus

Supporting that the cheap labor is an alternative for the "country" because of the bad economic conditions in the "TRNC", Tulga said that the cheap labor comes from third countries.

Tulga stated further that a decrease has been observed in the number of workers of Turkish origin. According to Tulga, totally 50,000 workers of Turkish origin returned back to Turkey during the past two years.

Meanwhile, the paper publishes figures about the number of the worker's labor in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

According to the figures, in 2008, a total of 28, 740 workers of Turkish origin had a working permission in the occupied area while in 2014 this number reached 27,987. Also, the number of the workers from third countries in 2008 was 2, 650 in comparison with 2014 that was 5,753.

The distribution of "legal workers" in the occupied area of Cyprus according to their origin for 2014 is as follows:

-46, 715- "TRNC" citizens

-27, 987 ? Turkish citizens

-5,753, citizens of third countries

As regards the number of the workers from Turkey, the figures are the following:

-2008 29,740

-2009 25, 503

-2010 27, 792

-2011 27, 211

-2012 27,996

-2013 27, 383

-2014 27,987

(?)

(AK)

[11] The "tourism ministry" took part in the TourNatour 2015 in Dusseldorf

According to a press release by the "ministry", their aim was to promote the natural beauty of the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus to the German public and increase the flow of German visitors in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

Brochures promoting the natural paths, bicycle roads, water sports and the cultural sites were distributed during the fair.

(DPs)

[12] Tatar: "All candidates for the party's leadership will unite against Ozgurgun"

Speaking in an exclusive interview to the paper, Tatar stated, inter alia, that the five candidates who announced their candidacy for the party's leadership, have agreed to take joint action and combine against the party's chairman and candidate Huseyin Ozgurgun.

Tatar said that the five candidates have also agreed to merge and support the one that will go to the second round against Ozgurgun. He explained also that in case Ozgurgun will not succeed to pass to the second round, then, the candidate that will gain the majority of votes will be declared as the party's leader.

(AK)

[13] Erdogan on post-election violence: Situation would be different if one party secured 400 seats

"How can you explain the damage caused by those [pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP)] who entered Parliament with 80 Deputies even more than they did when they were weaker in Parliament? You know we witnessed the Oct. 6-7-8 incidents [sparked by Kobani protests]. We witnessed the Suruc and Diyarbakir incidents. There is no need to seek the culprits elsewhere. These are all a result of the terrorism menace put on the stage in our country. They are generating interests from terrorism. This is what they do. If a political party had been able to secure 400 Deputies to make a new Constitution, the situation would be very different today," Erdogan said on Sunday night during a live interview on a pro-government news channel.

His statement was a response to a question on claims that politicians' harsh statements and his earlier statements indirectly calling for 400 Deputies for the ruling party ahead of the elections lie behind recent environment of clash and terror incidents.

His remarks, which came as news of a clash that reportedly killed many soldiers appeared in the Turkish media, are a reminiscent of his frequent calls for vote for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) he founded.

"And now we have the elections on June 7. Are you ready to make Turkey embrace a new Constitution, the presidential system and a more powerful settlement process [to address the Kurdish issue]? Then, brothers, give us 400 Deputies and let this issue be solved peacefully," Erdogan said during one of the rallies.

During the controversial interview on Sunday night, Erdogan also admitted that the PKK gained more power during the settlement process that was launched in 2012 during his prime ministry.

"They evaluated the settlement process to stockpile weapons. They made a serious amount of weapon stockpiling," Erdogan said.

[14] Families of fallen soldiers say AK Party election loss cause for rising violence

The families of both soldiers question why the PKK has resorted to violence again following a two-and-a-half-year-long cease-fire -- the result of a settlement process launched with it by the AK Party several years ago to resolve Turkey's terrorism problem -- and they associate the surge in PKK violence with the election loss of the AK Party that also foiled the ambitions of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to make a system change in Turkey from the current parliamentary system to presidential system in which he will enjoy more executive powers.

Salih Ipek, a relative of Beycur who was one of the victims, said the reason for the recent violence in the country is the AK Party's election loss that was made possible by the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) passing the election threshold. A relative of the other fallen soldier, Avci, who requested to be referred to as only A., voiced a similar view about the rekindling of violence in the country.

"Do you know why the clashes have begun? The government got a good slap on its face on June 7. The nation gave it a slap on the face, saying, 'You are giving way to the PKK.' The government saw the public's reaction. The government was puzzled when it got its face slapped and saw its vote falling. It immediately ordered the military to begin operations [against the PKK]. But the bodies of fallen soldiers have begun to come again. We also had our son killed," said Avci.

[15] Pro-government protesters pelt daily Hurriyet building with stones

The group attacked security personnel at the outer gate of Hurriyet's office in the Bagcilar district and forced their way to the door, which they pelted with stones. Protesters, who chanted pro-government slogans, retreated when a police unit arrived in the scene.

Hours before the incident, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants had attacked two military vehicles in the south eastern province of Hakkari, killing several Turkish soldiers.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a television interview that two armoured military vehicles were targeted by PKK militants near the district of Daglica, bordering Iraq and Iran. He said an official statement would be made but indicated that several soldiers were killed in the attack. "It was an attack on armoured vehicles with land mines," Erdogan said. "The information from our Chief of General Staff is very saddening."

He said Turkey's security forces would respond in a "different and determined" manner.

In addition, Today's Zaman newspaper (07.09.15) reports that a new wave of acts of intimidation as well as detentions against the critical media in an effort to muzzle them from exposing unlawful government practices prior to the Nov. 1 snap election has been launched, with an investigation into columnist Yavuz Baydar and the detention of Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink on Sunday.

Prosecutors have filed a case against Today's Zaman columnist Yavuz Baydar, who also writes regular columns for the Bugun daily, for allegedly "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in two of his recent columns.

Dutch journalist Geerdink, who has been working in Turkey since 2006 and has lived in Diyarbakir since 2012, was detained by the authorities on Sunday for the second time, Dutch news agency ANP reported.

[16] Turkey to rebuild nine mosques in Gaza

The procedure for full confirmation of the projects that will be carried out by the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) was completed last week, Israeli officials told the Hurriyet Daily News.

The Diyanet will supervise rebuilding efforts under the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM), a temporary agreement between the Palestinian Authority and Israel that is intended to facilitate the import of essential construction materials into the territory following the cease-fire.

Accordingly, nine mosques will be rebuilt: Muslim Mosque, Safa Mosque, Hamza Mosque, Zuhair Mosque, Hassan al-Bana Mosque, Badr Mosque, al-Bukhari Mosque, Sultan Abdul Hamid Mosque and al-Tawheed Mosque.

Meanwhile, a project for the construction of the Khanyonis Slaughterhouse in Gaza by the Prime Ministry's Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has also recently been fully confirmed by the GRM.

[17] "Re-elections in Turkey amid the escalating Kurdish problem"

"If stability also means predictability in both economy and politics, it is not valid for Turkey at all times. It would have been very difficult for an observer to predict both the current political scene and the Kurdish issue as a major problem in Turkey six months ago. [?]

In the first half of March 2015, the predictions regarding the Kurdish problem were on the most optimistic track. Actually, President Tayyip Erdogan was no longer calling it a problem; he was calling it the "brotherhood project" and the Kurdish "peace" process was about to come to a happy end. [?] on March 21, two members of the Turkish parliament on the HDP list were going to read a letter from Ocalan calling on the PKK for an immediate decision (supposedly by giving a deadline, allegedly April 15) to abandon arms and its armed struggle, which he had started in 1984 and which has claimed some 40,000 lives so far.

Both Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu were eager to get it done as soon as possible, thinking it would further boost AK Party support, especially by appealing to Kurdish voters in the June 7 election, only three months away. Erdogan was also hoping such appreciation could bring him a constitutional shift from a parliamentary system to a presidential regime in Turkey and was asking for 400 seats in the 550-seat parliament in order to be able to do that.

[?] Then, it was not 100 % clear whether the Peace and Democracy party (HDP) would get into parliament under its own emblem, instead of by-passing the 10 % threshold by showing independent candidates for parliamentary seats.

[?] Then came HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas's key speech ? the shortest one ever - on March 17 in the Turkish parliament, telling Erdogan they would not let him be the President he wanted to be.

There was no mention of a date for the PKK congress over abandoning arms in Ocalan's speech on March 21, Erdogan denied there was any agreement in Dolmabahce, and actually he was upset with the government taking pictures with the HDP, and the entire setting of the elections was changed.

The HDP got 13 % and 80 seats. The AK Party got 258, unable to form a one-party government.

Davutoglu could not form a coalition with Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the CHP, under discouraging remarks by Erdogan and the anti-Kurdish dialogue stance of the National Movement Party (MHP), and Erdogan decided for a re-election, for the first time in Turkey, on Nov. 1st.

Now after six months, the PKK has resumed its acts of terror and almost daily attacks, in which many police and military officers and civilians have been killed. In reciprocating military and police operations every other day some more PKK militants and again civilians are also killed.

Murat Karayilan, one of the main PKK figures in Kandil HQ, recently said this was just the beginning and if Erdogan and the "AK Party state" continued to "punish Kurds" for not giving him the kind of presidency he wanted, the PKK would escalate its campaign - that means threatening more acts of terror. The government's joining of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is somehow limiting its air strikes against the PKK, because of American criticism claiming it weakens ground resistance against ISIL in both Iraq and Syria. [?]

The roles in the Kurdish issue have dramatically changed in the last six months with no guarantee they could change once again. It is the same for politics, too. Erdogan wanted a re-election hoping it could bring a majority to the AK Party in parliament and de facto executive powers to the President, despite any change in the Constitution. But all the polls show the June 7 picture - no single AK Party government - could be repeated.

Recent work by www.radarpolitika.com showed the only a drop in HDP votes in east and southeast Turkey could change that picture on the AK Party's behalf, since most of the HDP seats in parliament are from those provinces, despite the fact only half of its votes are from there. The Radar analysis claimed the security situation in the east and southeast might deter voters (AK Party voters, too) from getting to the ballot box on Nov. 1, but only the HDP would dramatically suffer from that, since the AK Party are able to get votes across the country. The same analysis also claimed that if the security policies right now cause a decrease in overall turnout, the CHP is the party which could benefit more out of it because first it doesn't get much votes from the east and southeast, and secondly its dominantly secular and modernist grassroots would go to the polls in order to not allow Erdogan to rule the country without effective checks and balances." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(CS/ AM)

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