Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-01-03

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] Guterres will reportedly participate to the Cyprus talks in Geneva

[02] Hectic Cyprus diplomacy ahead of Geneva talks

[03] Ozgurgun: The Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey have a B-plan in case of failure of the Cyprus talks

[04] Sabah daily on Ozgurgun's visit in Ankara

[05] Yildirim calls on citizens to be cautious on social media; Turkey to extend state of emergency for another three months

[06] Turkish fashion designer is 'deported' from the occupied area of Cyprus accused of "insulting Turkey and the Turkish nation"

[07] "CTP has been shaken with resignations"

[08] Denktas says that the "ministry" pressed charges against KTOS for its 2017 calendar

[09] The Turkish settlers' party calls for participation in a demonstration against KTOS

[10] A protest letter for "renting land" for "Santa Claus village"

[11] Police arrest 6 more over Istanbul nightclub attack

[12] Yildirim to visit Baghdad to end the diplomatic crisis between the two countries

[13] Turkey's main opposition parties on constitutional change package

[14] A recession on the Green Line trade

[15] Turkey's Trade Ministry: Turkish trade deficit shrank 11.7% in 2016

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Guterres will reportedly participate to the Cyprus talks in Geneva

Citing sources close to the UN, journalist Ulas Baris writes that Guterres will also participate in the international conference which will start on 12 January. After the beginning of the negotiations on 9 January, the UNSG is expected to make a statement to the press.

It is noted that Guterres has been briefed in detail on the Cyprus problem both by UN officials and the UNSG's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Hectic Cyprus diplomacy ahead of Geneva talks

Self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun had talks in Ankara on Jan. 2 with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m ahead of a crucial meeting on Jan. 9 and 10 in Geneva, in which leaders from both communities will try to hammer out a path for the unification of Cyprus. Self-styled foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu was also in Ankara last week for consultations.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is expected to visit New York before the weekend and meet the U.N.'s new Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, according to Turkish officials. Even if Cavusoglu cannot make the visit, Ankara will get in contact with Guterres before the Geneva talks, a Foreign Ministry official told the Hurriyet Daily News.

Greece's Foreign Minister initially asked for a meeting with the new Secretary General, after which the Turkish Foreign Ministry approached the U.N.

[03] Ozgurgun: The Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey have a B-plan in case of failure of the Cyprus talks

Speaking to the Anadolu News Agency, Ozgurgun noted that despite the current developments, he truly desires a settlement to the Cyprus problem and claimed: "But we must make one thing clear. The Greek Cypriot side has been stalling a settlement in Cyprus for years. How much longer will this be tolerated? If these talks fail, I'm almost certain that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey will have something to say on the matter. They certainly have a B-plan".

Arguing that Cyprus has always been a national cause and of great strategic importance for Turkey, Ozgurgun alleged that the Greek Cypriots have not abandoned their goal of uniting the island with Greece. He also argued that Great Britain too had no intention of leaving the island. "There are two sovereign British bases on the island which control and monitor this geography. No one is talking about them", he added.

Commenting on the issue of security and guarantees, Ozgurgun said that they did not agree with the argument that the Cyprus problem will be solved with the withdrawal of the Turkish Armed Forces from the island. "On the contrary the situation would get worse" he claimed, adding that any demilitarization of the island should include the withdrawal of 20 thousand or so Greek troops stationed in South Cyprus (editor's note: as he refers to the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus) and dissolution of the 20 thousand strong Greek Cypriot National Guard.

"There is one clear point everyone needs to understand. That is that the Turkish Cypriot people will never abandon Turkey's active and effective guarantees. This is out of the question and not even open to debate. We will not let anyone touch the guarantees, not even an inch. We are in full harmony with Turkey on this issue", he added.

Ozgurgun also expressed his view that it was unlikely a settlement could be reached in 2017 as there were serious differences in the positions of the two sides on the most crucial issues of territorial adjustment and security

Meanwhile, Ozgurgun returned to the occupied area of Cyprus last night after completing his contacts with Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Evaluating his contacts to "BRT", Ozgurgun said that he had found the opportunity to convey his messages of condolences personally to both the Turkish Prime Minister and President regarding the recent terror attack on a nightclub in Ortakoy, Istanbul.

Noting that he had found the opportunity to discuss both the Cyprus problem and bi-lateral relations between the two "countries", Ozgurgun said: "We discussed the healthy implementation of the economic and financial protocol. I'm extremely pleased with the meetings. We were once again reassured of Turkey's strong support to the TRNC".

Ozgurgun also stated that there were no problems with the implementation of the protocol signed in August last year and added: "There are targets which we need to meet. There are mutual steps which need to be taken which we reaffirmed. I am pleased to see that there are no problems and obstacles. We shall continue on our way in a determined manner".

[04] Sabah daily on Ozgurgun's visit in Ankara

Sources from the Turkish Prime Ministry confirmed that during the meeting that lasted more than two hours, Yildirim and Ozgurgun and their delegations talked about the latest developments of the peace negotiations and the implementation details of the "2016-2018 Turkey-KKTC economic and financial cooperation protocol".

According to the protocol, Turkey will grant a transfer of TL 1.2 billion ($340 million) to the "TRNC" in financial aid every year, while asking the "TRNC government" to initiate several reforms to restructure "state institutions" in order to have a sustainable economy.

Moreover, implementation of the energy project that aims to connect the "TRNC power network" with Turkey, via an underwater cable network, was also discussed between them.

Following the meeting with Yildirm, Ozgurgun met with President Erdogan. In a meeting that lasted just over an hour, the two discussed the current stage of the peace talks and the upcoming Geneva talks.

In the meeting, President Erdogan reportedly confirmed that he will attend the five-party Cyprus conference that will be held in Geneva on Jan. 12 and assured Turkey's support to the "TRNC government" in the upcoming negotiations.

On the other hand, Ozgurgun underlined that there was no discrepancy between Turkey and the "TRNC" in critical issues such as Turkey's effective status as a guarantor state.

[05] Yildirim calls on citizens to be cautious on social media; Turkey to extend state of emergency for another three months

"I request from our citizens and the youth to not share posts which could constitute a crime and they should be wary of not being a tool of terrorist organizations," he said.

Yildirim has announced that the Turkish Parliament will vote this week to prolong the implementation of the state of emergency for another three months.

"Our Parliament will discuss and vote for the prolongation of the state of emergency this week", Y?ld?r?m told his parliamentary group on Jan. 3.

Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20, 2016 after the deadly failed coup attempt. The upcoming Parliament vote will be for the third term of the state of emergency.

[06] Turkish fashion designer is 'deported' from the occupied area of Cyprus accused of "insulting Turkey and the Turkish nation"

According to the paper, Sansal arrived in the occupied area of Cyprus for the New Year. He had purchased more than one houses in the occupied area of the island and has been staying in occupied Karmi village since a long time.

On 11 May 2015, he was arrested at the illegal Tymbou airport for possessing drugs and was sentenced to spending one month in prison. According to the paper, Sansal's "deportation" had been decided then, but the decision was annulled by the then "minister of interior". Yesterday, however, after the complaint filed as a result of his video, the "ministry of interior" decided to "deport" him.

During his arrival in Turkey, Sansal was lynched and beaten up by many persons waiting him at the airport. The Turkish police saved him from lynching and put him under custody.

Under the title, "'Deportation' tension", Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (03.01.17) reports that "legal circles" in the occupied area of Cyprus described the development as "dangerous" and "illegal" and notes that the "deportation" caused tension in the society. According to the paper, Sansal said the following in the video he shared:

"2017 entered into all of you. Can you write to me the name of misery Abidin? Are you still celebrating the New Year, while so many journalists are imprisoned, while so many children are abused and raped, while so many improprieties and briberies are taking place, while your fanatics in the streets are distributing filth to you? I will drink all the alcohol which is in the bar, at home. I will not give you a single drop. I will transfer all my dollars to Switzerland. I will not give you a single cent. I am in Cyprus. The New Year entered in northern Cyprus. After a while I will go to Nicosia. I will celebrate there. I am not even kissing you. Continue celebrating in so much filth, so much disgrace. Get drowned in shit Turkey".

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (03.01.17) refers to the issue on its front page and reports that "Turkey's fascism expanded" to the occupied area of Cyprus and that the nationalist circles' "hysteria for lynching escalates". The paper publishes the names of the eight persons who complained against Sansal to the "police". Journalist Nazmi Pinar and former "minister" Kenan Akin, wanted for the murder of Greek Cypriot Solomos Solomou in Deryneia in 1996, are included in this group.

Commenting on the issue, Afrika's publisher, Sener Levent writes that Turkey is living an insanity, which has reached the occupied area of Cyprus a long time ago. "Barbaros Sansal's arrest and immediate deportation to Turkey for an innocent video indicate very seriously the dangers", notes Levent wondering whether the people are seeing these dangers. He argues that things will be difficult, if the political parties and organizations remain silent to this development, as they did in the case of the calendar for 2017 issued by the primary school teachers' trade union (KTOS).

(I/Ts.)

[07] "CTP has been shaken with resignations"

According to the paper, the tension started with the election of occupied Famagusta's former "mayor" Oktay Kayalp to the post of CTP's district chairman and reached different dimensions after Gulle and Adem failed to be elected in the party committee.

In their statement of resignation, the three former CTP members say that it is not possible for them to proceed ignoring and covering up the differences which are coming up in their worldviews and that in parallel to their ideological and political differences, ethically they cannot accept what is happening.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Denktas says that the "ministry" pressed charges against KTOS for its 2017 calendar

Addressing yesterday the "assembly", Denktas said that KTOS' calendar describes as "fascist" TMT organization [Translator's note: The Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT) is a terrorist organization established in the 1950's accused of the murders of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots]. He argued that TMT occupies an important place in Turkish Cypriots' history and many of its members, especially in the rural areas, were members of KTOS. Therefore, he alleged, the trade union described as "fascists" its own members.

Meanwhile, National Unity Party's (UBP) "deputy" Zorlu Tore also referred to the issue speaking at the "assembly" yesterday and asked an investigation to be conducted against KTOS' officials, accusing them of aiming at dividing and provoking the "people". According to Tore's claims, the calendar includes distorted information and deficiencies.

(I/Ts.)

[09] The Turkish settlers' party calls for participation in a demonstration against KTOS

YDP's general secretary, Bertan Zaroglu issued a written statement yesterday alleging that the Turkish Cypriots declared their "state" on 15 November 1983 and live happily for 33 years. Criticizing KTOS' calendar, Zaroglu claimed that steps which will harm the "Turkish Cypriot people's independence" are being taken today and especially the children and young people are being influenced by these. Noting that they cannot remain silent to this, Zaroglu alleged that "the Turkish Cypriot people and the TRNC are not unprotected".

(I/Ts.)

[10] A protest letter for "renting land" for "Santa Claus village"

In a written statement, the organization stresses that the above mentioned land is a protected land according to a "Karpassia zone degree" and the "territorial physical plan" and no constructions can be built there. It is also mentioned that the land shelters a highly biological diversity of natural habitat.

(DPs)

[11] Police arrest 6 more over Istanbul nightclub attack

On Monday, eight people were arrested by anti-terror police from Istanbul. These suspects are currently testifying, the official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

It was unclear who the 14 suspects were but they did not include the lone gunman who carried out the attack at the Reina nightclub in the city's Ortakoy district early Sunday.

Authorities have released security camera images of the alleged killer, who shot dead a police officer and civilian outside the venue on the European shore of the Bosporus before entering and opening fire on revellers.

[12] Yildirim to visit Baghdad to end the diplomatic crisis between the two countries

"Our Prime Minister will go to Iraq on Thursday in order to open a new page [in relations] with the Baghdad government," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting on Jan. 2.

Y?ld?r?m is expected to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi in Baghdad before traveling to Arbil where he is expected to meet Massoud Barzani, President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government.

Ties between Iraq and Turkey have severely soured over Baghdad's reaction on the latter's establishment of a military training camp in Bashiqa, near Mosul, to train local Sunni groups against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The visit was announced last week by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who held a lengthy phone conversation with al-Abadi.

[13] Turkey's main opposition parties on constitutional change package

The Republican People's Party (CHP) made the arguments in a 24-page statement appended to the parliamentary commission report on the bill package, which is set to reach the plenary session of the parliament soon.

The bill proposing a set of constitutional changes, including a switch to a presidential system of governance, is backed by the ruling AK Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), while the CHP has come out against it.

In its statement, the CHP said that the amendment in fact does not aim to change the governmental system, but to change the main mechanism of the democratic Republic of Turkey.

"The new changes aim to gather all power in a single person," the opposition said, stressing that it aims at the monopolization of executive power as well as in the state system.

It ignores checks and balances, the party further said.

The party also stressed that all executive power would be under the control of the President as the changes allow him to control Parliament.

The main opposition claimed the changes would violate Turkey's constitution and impasse Turkey's democratization.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 03.01.17) reports that Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahceli has announced that he will vote in favour of government-sponsored constitutional amendments that introduce an executive presidential system in Turkey both at Parliament and in a subsequent referendum.

"We will say 'Yes' in the Parliament vote to the constitutional amendment proposals approved at the Parliamentary Constitutional Commission. And we will repeat it in the referendum," Bahceli told reporters on Jan. 3.

The MHP has 39 seats at Parliament and its support is necessary for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which needs at least 14 extra votes to take the constitutional amendment package to a referendum.

Bahceli's statement was not a surprise as the draft was written with the cooperation of the MHP.

The draft will be submitted to the General Assembly on Jan. 9 and is expected to be approved in late January.

On the other hand, the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) will release its own constitutional draft in the following days as the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) constitutional offer was prepared without the full consent of HDP lawmakers, the party's group deputy chair, Ahmet Y?ld?r?m, has said.

"We will present our own constitution in a day or two. Our constitution will address today's need of international political balances, social and individual liberties, and will not make it exclusive", Ahmet Yildirim said at a press conference in Parliament on Jan. 2.

"The constitutional charter was passed in the parliamentary committee with a fait accompli. This Constitution was prepared by a restricted group and does not represent Turkey's social structure and political environment. In addition, not all AKP lawmakers feel satisfied with this," Y?ld?r?m said.

Y?ld?r?m also criticized the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for not opposing the government's exclusion of the HDP from the constitutional talks, adding that the CHP had also been excluded from the crucial process.

[14] A recession on the Green Line trade

According to data by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the highest trade volume was in 2008 with 7.170,8 million euro and dropped to half in 2015, 3.933,9 million euro.

Following are the spread of values (million euro) of trade through the Green Line per year:

2005: 1.673,5

2006: 3.228,3

2007: 4.125,5

2008: 7.170,8

2009: 6.006,3

2010: 5.909,9

2011: 5.304,4

2012: 4.195,3

2013: 3.928,6

2014: 3.911,2

2015: 3.933,9

(DPs)

[15] Turkey's Trade Ministry: Turkish trade deficit shrank 11.7% in 2016

Overall exports in 2016 slipped to $142.6 billion from $143.8 billion in 2015, while imports fell to $198.6 billion from $207.23 billion in 2015, according to the data.

Also, Turkey's trade deficit narrowed by 11.7% year-on-year in December to $5.56 billion, data also showed.

Exports rose 9.3% in December to $12.8 billion and imports climbed 2.2% to $18.4 billion, it added.

In November 2016, exports rose to $12.85 billion, a 9.92% increase from November 2015, while imports increased by 6.25% to $16.96 billion. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(DPs / AM)

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