TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 238/15 12-14.12.2015
1. Akinci argued that if
they failed to reach an agreement then the division would be permanent
2. Davutoglu argues that
there are strong signals for the removal of Cyprus’ veto on EU chapters
3.
Colak refers to an “unprecedented foreign support” to the Cyprus
negotiations
4.
Ozyigit: Derogations are a must for a bi-zonal solution
5.
The regime granted “citizenship” to 1506 persons in 2015; In six years 19547 foreigners
applied to purchase property in occupied Cyprus
6. The EU to provide 32 million
euro to the Turkish Cypriot community
7. CTP represented at the SDP
general congress in Berlin
8. Tension escalates as
Russia fires warning shots at Turkish vessel
9. Erdogan: Pilot’s mistake
must not hurt Turkey-Russia ties
10. Turkish officials in
Brussels for the opening of Chapter 17
1. Akinci argued that if
they failed to reach an agreement then the division would be permanent
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris (12.12.15) reported that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci said that if they failed to reach a solution on the Cyprus problem, then
the division would be perpetuated. He argued that the Cyprus problem had
reached a saturation point, a d that if they were unsuccessful again, then the
division would be permanent.
Asked
whether there would be an agreement before the elections in May 2016, Akinci,
in an interview to the Turkish channel NTV, said that from the six chapters currently
discussed, they were in a position to close the first three. He added that most
differences are observed in the chapters of property, guarantees, territory and
especially governance and power sharing. He stressed that they had not yet
reached mutual agreement on the issue of rotating presidency.
Referring
to the guarantee system, Akinci explained that if any person asked in the
street in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, they would say that they
wanted the continuation of Turkey’s guarantees. He said that there was still a
lack of trust between the people, adding that the Greek Cypriots also wanted
guarantees but through the EU or the UN Security Council, however, this was not
a sufficient guarantee for the Turkish Cypriots.
(DPs)
2. Davutoglu argues that
there are strong signals for the removal of Cyprus’ veto on EU chapters
Turkish
Hurriyet Daily News (12 .12.15) reported that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu argued that there were "strong signals" that the
Republic of Cyprus would remove its veto
on five negotiation chapters Ankara has demanded the opening of in a bid to
accelerate Turkey's EU accession process.
"There
is a new era and a window of opportunity [between Turkey and the EU]. I hope
everyone will capitalize on this," Davutoglu told reporters at a press
conference following the meeting of the Reform Action Group on Dec 11.
Davutoglu
admitted the blockage of these chapters but stressed there were strong signals
the veto would be removed. "We will hopefully open Chapter 17 on Dec 14.
This will be the second chapter opened in the last five years. At this pace, we
can only conclude the accession process in the next century," he said.
"But we are working as if all chapters were to open tomorrow and we will
close all opened chapters in a short span of time," he stressed.
3. Colak
refers to an “unprecedented foreign support” to the Cyprus negotiations
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.12.15)
reports that Emine Colak,
self-styled foreign affairs minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus, has
argued that the conditions and many other factors are “favorable” for the solution
of the Cyprus problem, adding that the negotiations have gained acceleration
and depth.
In statements to illegal TAK news agency, Colak described the foreign support to the
negotiating process as “unprecedented”. She said that the foreign interest existed in 2004 as well, but now it
seems higher as the EU is expressing its discomfort because Cyprus is a member
with an unsolved political problem and it is more willing to get rid of this
“anomaly” and the “contradictions” it creates. “Therefore, it seems that the
time for the solution has come”, she argued.
Pointing out that the negotiations will further
intensify in the forthcoming months, Colak expressed the belief that the
solution will have a positive effect on the interests of many countries.
Colak said that they are in continuous contact with
the EU, even though this communication is not at the desirable level. She added
that they try to make use of the European support in the best possible manner
by overcoming the “boundaries” of the Europeans and the “obstacles” allegedly
put by the Greek Cypriots.
Referring
to Turkey’s role in the solution of the Cyprus problem, Colak said that there
is a very special relation with Turkey and Ankara’s “support and decisiveness”
for a solution in Cyprus continue and have recently being intensified. “It is a true and hopeful factor that Turkey’s role
is very big and important in the solution in Cyprus”, she claimed.
Responding to a question, Colak said that discussions on the property and territory issue have
been taking place for a month and the assumptions that this chapter would be
the most difficult one have been verified. “My assumption and observation is
that progress is being made, even though in small steps, that is, negotiations
are advancing, they are not retrogressing, they are not being frozen”, she
said noting that even this alone is hopeful.
(I/Ts.)
4. Ozyigit:
Derogations are a must for a bi-zonal solution
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (13.12.15)
reports that the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit
stated that derogations are a must for a bi-zonal solution.
He said that in order for the bi-zonal and bi-communal
structure of the solution to be protected, population numbers
in the “north and south” must be subject to certain limitation.
He said that two of the four freedoms that the Greek
Cypriots insists on are the freedom of settlement and the freedom of obtaining property.
“Derogations on these issues are necessary conditions”, he stated.
(CS)
5. The
regime granted “citizenship” to 1506 persons in 2015; In six years 19547
foreigners applied to purchase property in occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (14.12.15)
reports that according to the annual report for 2015 of the self-styled
ministry of interior and labor of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
the Republic of Cyprus, the regime
granted “citizenship” to 1.506 persons this year and received 1.745 such
applications. The paper writes that 736 of these persons were granted the
“citizenship” because of their spouse, 240 cases were approved by the
“ministry”, 451 with the status of a spouse and children of those who have
become “citizens” with the “ministry’s” approval, 17 persons with a decision by
the “council of ministers” and 35 with the status of a spouse and children of
those who have become “citizens” with the “cabinet’s” decision.
Moreover, it is
reported that the “ministry of labor” granted 47.798 work permits during the
period 1 Juanuary-30 September 2015 and that the “working permit center”
has acquired an income of 15.501.713 Turkish liras (TL).
The
report also notes that 19.547 foreigners have applied to purchase property in
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus during the past six years. It is said that 16.927
of these persons eventually purchased property. During the first ten months of
2015, 1.317 foreigners applied to buy property in the occupied area of Cyprus.
During the same period, 3,992 persons were born and
1.091 deaths were recorded. Furthermore, 2,197 businesses were registered and
608 working places closed down. Meanwhile, 34,551 shotguns, 11,458 air guns and
1,674 pistols were registered in the occupied area of the island by 31 October
2015.
Finally, during the above-mentioned period, the regime distributed 234 rural plots of
land in occupied Gialousa (33), Trikomo (48), Milia (6), Kondea (44), Afanya
(46), Dikomo (44) and Fotta (13) villages.
(I/Ts.)
6. The EU to provide 32
million euro to the Turkish Cypriot community
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.12.15)
reports that the European Commission
approved on Friday the new financial assistance program for the Turkish Cypriot
community, worth 32 million euro.
The
approval of this fund constitutes the continuation of the successful Aid
Programme promoting the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community,
improving contacts between the two communities and bringing the Turkish
Cypriots closer to the EU.
Since
2006, the EU has invested 400 million euro under the Aid Program for the
Turkish Cypriot community to
support local small businesses, develop or improve key infrastructures and
prepare the Turkish Cypriot community for the implementation of the EU (body of
laws) in the perspective of the reunification of Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
(13.12.15) reported that Ali Cirali,
chairman of the so-called Turkish Cypriot chamber of Industry, commenting on
the approval of the new financial assistance program, described it as very for
the development of the Turkish Cypriots’ dairy industry.
Referring
to the preparations for the geographical registration of halloumi/hellim
cheese, Cirali said that a lot of preparatory work still needed to be
completed.
(AK)
7. CTP represented at the SDP
general congress in Berlin
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.12.15)
reported that Armagan Candan, “deputy”
with the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) represented his party
at the general congress of the German Social Democratic Party (SDP) which took
place in Berlin.
The refugee crisis, the fight against terrorism and ISIL,
the developments in Syria and other global issues where on the agenda of the
congress.
CTP
was the only party from Cyprus represented at the congress.
(AK)
8. Tension escalates as
Russia fires warning shots at Turkish vessel
Turkish
Today’s Zaman newspaper (13.12.15) reported that tension between Turkey and Russia entered a new phase after a Russian
warship fired what Moscow called warning shots at a Turkish fishing boat in the
Aegean Sea. The Turkish military attaché in Moscow was summoned over the
incident, leaving diplomatic efforts to resolve dispute in shambles.
The
Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that one of its warships, the destroyer
Smetlivy, used small arms fire to ward off a Turkish fishing boat and prevent a
collision in the Aegean Sea.
The
incident, which occurred on Sunday morning, is likely to heighten tensions
between the two nations, which are at odds over Syria and the Turkish shooting
down of a Russian military jet last month.
9. Erdogan: Pilot’s
mistake must not hurt Turkey-Russia ties
Turkish
daily Sabah newspaper (14.12.15) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that relations between
Ankara and Moscow must not be affected by “a pilot’s mistake .”
“We
wouldn’t have liked not to come across such a [situation], but looking at it from
another perspective a mistake has been made in our sovereign area. Who made
this mistake? Not the manager, of course. It is the pilots who were negligent
and did not hear the warnings,” Erdogan told reporters aboard the presidential
plane returning to Turkey from the Turkmenistan capital Ashgabat.
He
was referring to the two pilots inside a Russian Su-24 warplane that was shot
down by Turkish F-16 fighter jets after violating Turkish airspace along the
border with Syria.
Stating
that Turkish pilots are obliged to take action within the rules of engagement
in such situations, Erdogan said a “mistake” on the Russian side should not lead to such negative consequences on
bilateral relations.
“An
incident that occurred due to mistake of a pilot, who did not listen to the
warnings, should not affect the relations of two nations, particularly not
strategic relations. The effect of the incident on bilateral relations really
saddens us,” he added.
The
Turkish president was in Turkmenistan to join an international conference attended by a
number of regional leaders with close ties to both Moscow and Ankara.
Stating
that he held bilateral meetings with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly
Berdymukhamedov, Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Iranian First Vice
President Eshaq Jahangiri, and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Erdogan
said they had all asked what could be done to solve the crisis. “We are not in favour of tension. We want to
continue our strategic partnership and relations with Russia in the same way as
we have up to now. We have worked together successfully for the past 10 to 11
years. We want to continue this,” he stated.
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS / AA)