TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
235/15 10.12.2015
1. Akinci
is in Istanbul for a conference on the Cyprus issue
2. Turkey’s
Assembly Speaker reiterated Turkey’s support to the “TRNC”
3. Colak
carried out contacts in Brussels
4. Eide met
with Cavusoglu in Ankara
5. Ozyigit:
“Ozgurgun’s statements not in accordance with political severity”
6. Tenders
for the Deryneia and Apliki crossing-points are now open
7. Denktas
made statements on the “citizenship law”
8. The
“Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry” participated in SIAL Middle East 2015
9.
Erdogan’s spokesman: Israeli gas a likely option for Turkey if demands met
10. Turkey
urges citizens to leave Iraq, excluding Iraqi Kurdistan
1. Akinci
is in Istanbul for a conference on the Cyprus issue
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 10.12.15), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci attended a conference
in Istanbul on the Cyprus issue.
The conference titled “The Cyprus
negotiations process and its future in light of the new international dynamics”
is organized by the Kadir Has University. Akinci briefed the participants on
the latest developments in the ongoing Cyprus negotiations process. He is
accompanied by his aide-de-camp Major Hasan Efendi and his executive secretary
CenkGurcag. They will return to the occupied area of Cyprus tonight.
2. Turkey’s
Assembly Speaker reiterated Turkey’s support to the “TRNC”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (10.12.15), in
its front page under the title “We always support you”, reports that the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National
Assembly Ismail Kahraman, who paid an illegal visit yesterday to the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus reiterated
that Turkey will always stand by the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus). He added that he was in the “TRNC” as part of a long
standing tradition of Turkish officials to conduct their first “official visit”
abroad to the occupied area of Cyprus.
Kahraman, who met with the Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci, the self-styled assembly speaker SibelSiber and the
self-styled prime minister Omer Kalyoncu, expressed his hope that the Cyprus
talks will be concluded successfully and that Turkey and the “TRNC” will
continue together.
Akinci, for his part, expressed his
satisfaction for Kahraman’s visit. He added that a new era has begun for Turkey
with the EU and it is agreed that because of this a reform period will be
launched. He expressed his hope for democracy, stability, prosperity and peace.
Noting that the new negotiation process
which started with Turkey’s support in Cyprus will be concluded in success,
Akinci stressed that Cyprus will become an island of peace once a settlement is
reached so that they can give a better future for the younger generations.
On the same issue, illegal Bayrak
television (online, 10.12.15) reports that Akinci drew attention to the strong
ties and relationship that exist with Turkey.Akinci added that the “TRNC” must be administratively, economically,
democratically and socially stronger if it is to exist as an equal partner in
the event of a settlement.
Speaking during the visit, Siber said that
they always felt Turkey by their side and that they received great support from
Ankara in overcoming any difficulties or problems they experience.
Speaking during both visits, Kahraman
expressed his country’s readiness to support the “TRNC” in any way possible.
(DPs)
3. Colak
carried out contacts in Brussels
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 10.12.15), self-styled foreign minister EmineColak is continuing with
her contacts abroad. After completing her contacts in Istanbul, she moved on to
Brussels where she attended the 10th anniversary reception of the Turkish
Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) office at the Royal Museum of Art and
History in Brussels.
In the opening speech, KTTO’s Brussels
Representative LaleSener said that the KTTO Brussels office was opened 10 years
ago with the aim of representing the Cyprus Turkish “people” and Turkish
Cypriot businesses in the EU capital as well as to contribute to the
integration process of the Turkish Cypriots into the European Union within the
framework of the vision for a solution.
Speaking also at the reception, the head of the KTTO FikriToros said that
the main purpose behind the establishment of the chamber’s representation
office in Brussels was to follow up on Turkish Cypriot business interests and
cooperate for the “TRNC’s” economic development and EU integration process.
Pointing to the importance of the
implementation of the Direct Trade regulation and picking up the pace of the
harmonisation process, Toros said that
there is a need to narrow the economic gap between the two sides before a
solution is found to the Cyprus problem.
Colak, for her part, pointed to the
significance of the KTTO Brussels office and noted that there is a need for
further cooperation between the Turkish Cypriots and the European Union.
Within the
framework of her contacts in Brussels, Colak met also with high level officials
from the European Parliament.
4. Eide
met with Cavusoglu in Ankara
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 10.12.15), the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser to Cyprus Espen
Barth Eide who is in Ankara for a series of contacts met with the Turkish
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The Turkish Foreign Minister who issued
messages on social media after the meeting said that he had held a good meeting
with the UN Special Envoy. “We had a good meeting with the UNSG’s Special
Adviser on the current and upcoming period of the negotiations process”,
Cavusoglu tweeted through his official account.
As part of his contacts in Ankara, Eide
also met with the Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary FeridunSinirlioglu.
Earlier Eide had met with the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
5. Ozyigit: “Ozgurgun’s statements not
in accordance with political severity”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.12.15) reports that the chairman of the Social Democratic Party
(TDP) CemalOzyigit criticized the statements of the chairman of the National
Unity Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun who speaking at the “assembly” said that it
is the “TRNC parliament” that decides about the negotiator of the Cyprus talks
and not the “people”; therefore the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci could
be stripped off his negotiation duties, if necessary. Ozgurgun has also accused
Akinci of not providing the self-styled deputies with information regarding the
negotiation.
Ozyigit stated that Ozgurgun’s statements
are not in accordance with political severity and said that Akinci provides the “assembly” with all the necessary
information about the negotiation progress every week. He accused Ozgurgun that
this kind of statements serves other purposes and said that some circles are worrying because there is
a real progress on the negotiations. “The Turkish Cypriots are in favor of a
lasting and just solution. The community took a decision, it is in favor of peace and this is the reason why it
elected Mustafa Akinci”, he stated.
(CS)
6. Tenders for the Deryneia and Apliki
crossing-points are now open
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper (10.12.15) reports that the
self-styled foreign ministry of the breakaway regime announced that tenders for the opening of Deryneia
and Apliki crossing-points have been opened as of yesterday.
According to the statement, the tenders were opened by the UN
Development Program. The works for the
crossing-points opening must be conducted within two months.
According to the self-styled foreign ministry’s information department,
work on opening the Deryneia and Apliki crossing-points within the framework of
a series of confidence building measures agreed upon by the two leaders on the
28th of May is continuing at a speedy pace.
The statement said that the bi-communal technical working group
instructed to carry out work for the opening of the crossing points had carried
out the necessary technical inspections and work. It said that the
infrastructural work that will allow the opening of the crossing points will be
financed by the European Commission.
“The UNDP which will be managing these funds as of today has launched
the tender phase for the projects for areas within the TRNC leading to the
crossing-points”
The statement also said that the conditions of the tender and
applications are available on the UNDP’s website.
(CS)
7. Denktas made statements on the
“citizenship law”
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (10.12.15) reports that the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP)
SerdarDenktas made statements on the new “citizenship law” of the breakaway
regime and stated that he is not in favor of the approach to grant
“citizenship” to anyone that works in the breakaway regime, however he said the
persons who were born in the breakaway regime or arrived while they were babies
must not be treated in an unfair way. Denktas made these statements speaking
during a television program.
“We cannot avoid the rights of
those who have lived in Cyprus for 25-30 years, they delivered their children
[…] embraced the Cypriot culture and received an education here”, he stated
adding that the children of the [Turkish] workers are even having the status of
the foreign students at universities despite been born and lived in the
occupied area of Cyprus. “These children are our children and this issue is a
violation of human rights”, he argued.
(CS)
8. The
“Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry” participated in SIAL Middle East 2015
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (10.12.15)
reports that the “Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry” (“KTSO”) participated
for the first time in the SIAL Middle East 2015 exhibition in Abu Dabi, UAE,
with 10 companies.
According to a statement by the press officer
of “KTSO” HuseyinEzgin, the 10 companies exhibited their products in the fair,
which among them were coffee, halloumi/hellim, lemon juice, eggs, potatoes,
poultry and pomegranate.
The chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of
Trade Ibrahim Caglar expressed his satisfaction that “North Cyprus” can
participate in more exhibitions and added that they, as a Chamber, will always
support the international expansion of “North Cyprus”.
(DPs)
9. Erdogan’s
spokesman: Israeli gas a likely option for Turkey if demands met
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 10.12.15)
reports that after positive signs by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on
possible improvements in Turkish-Israeli relations and gas trade, Presidential spokesman Kalin at a press
conference on Wednesday signalled a
possible gas trade and restart of relations between the two countries if Israel
fulfilled Ankara's conditions. The statement also rules out a possible gas
trade between the two states. Underscoring that Turkey put forth three
conditions to restart relations with Israel, Kalin affirmed that Israel has so
far fulfilled only one of them when it apologized for the Mavi Marmara
incident.
"Our second and third conditions are yet
to be met. And those conditions are compensation for the Mavi Marmara and
lifting the embargo on Gaza", Kalin said, adding that there is "no
possibility" of bridging relations with Israel unless it meets Turkey's
demands.
Opposing the existence of Hezbollah in
Syria seems to be another mutual interest for Turkey and Israel.
Kalin went on to reflect on Russian
airstrikes that have supposedly targeted DAESH camps and militants. "Only
9% to 10% of Russian airstrikes in Syria targeted DAESH, while the remaining
90% targeted moderate opposition forces", Kalin argued.
10. Turkey
urges citizens to leave Iraq, excluding Iraqi Kurdistan
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 10.12.15), Turkey on Dec.
9 called on its citizens to leave all areas of Iraq, excluding Iraqi Kurdistan,
due to increased security risks, the Foreign Ministry said.
The Foreign Ministry warned against
non-essential travel to several provinces in Iraq including Basra, Najaf, Anbar
and Kirkuk and said: "We strongly advise those whose stay is not essential
to leave those provinces as soon as possible."
"The scope of our travel warning to
Iraq has expanded to include all provinces except for Dohuk, Arbil and
Sulaymaniyah", all of which are in the northern region of Iraqi Kurdistan,
the Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
The Foreign Ministry also called on
citizens living in the Iraqi Kurdish region to stay away from areas where
operations are taking place against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
(ISIL) and to obey warnings and guidance from the Iraqi Kurdish administration.
Meanwhile, the paper reports that
MasoudBarzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq’s
north, received a warm welcome in Ankara for key talks as Turkish jets bombed
outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in the neighbouring country.
Barzani’s first stop in Ankara was the
headquarters of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT). FeridunSinirlioglu, the undersecretary of the
Foreign Ministry, welcomed the Kurdish leader at Esenboga Airport. A KRG flag
was on the table during the meeting, along with the Turkish and the Iraqi
flags, a rare implementation in the mutual meetings.
Moreover, Turkish daily Sabah (online,
10.12.15) reports that President RecepTayyip Erdogan met also with Barzani on
Wednesday in Ankara to discuss bilateral relations and recent regional
developments.
According to presidential sources, the meeting
was mainly focused on the cooperation on combatting terrorism in the
region. Erdogan underscored Turkey's
determination in fighting against both Daesh and the PKK terror organizations
and the country's cooperation with the international U.S.-led coalition against
Daesh. Both leaders elaborated on creating an environment in the region where
Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs could peacefully live while pointing out the
importance of easing sectarian tensions.
Furthermore, the paper also reports that
after a meeting with Erdogan, Barzani also met with Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu late Wednesday. After the meeting, the Turkish Premier said in a
statement that the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
FeridunSinirlioglu and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief
HakanFidan will pay an official visit to Baghdad on Thursday.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs
/ AM)