TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
230/15 03.12.2015
1. Akinci: “We have a rough road to pass but I think that
we can see a light at the end of the tunnel”
2. Turkey submits in writing its demand to administrate
the water in the occupied area of Cyprus; Disagreements between CTP and UBP
3. Cavusoglu discussed the Cyprus problem with Kerry
4. Izcan criticized Akinci on the Lavrov meeting
5. The breakaway regime brings tourists from Lithuania
6. TDP officially joins Socialist International
7. Davutoglu said that the aborted meeting between Lavrov
and Akinci has nothing to do with Russian-Turkish relations
8. Turkish EU Minister Bozkir to visit Brussels and
discuss ties with EU
9. Erdogan: No one can ‘slander’ Turkey with ISIL oil
sales allegations; Turkey agrees to take LNG supply from Qatar; Turkey and
Qatar agree to visa-free travel between the two countries
10. Turkish government is ‘not worried’ about Russian
trade sanctions, seeks alternative markets
11. German Minister visits Turkey for talks on deployment
of 550 personnel, arms
1.Akinci:
“We have a rough road to pass but I think that we can see a light at the end of the tunnel”
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper
(03.12.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci, in statements yesterday during a meeting with the
“Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Union”, referred, inter alia, to the Cyprus problem
and said that the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots are the leading
actors for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
“We
are the ones who will find a solution and live with it. What is important is
that we, as Cypriots should be the ones to get rid of this problem. And we will
be reinforced by the support of external powers”, Akinci stated.
Akinci
also stressed the need not to experience the incidents of the past again and
said: “It is for this reason that the solution to be should be guaranteed”, he
added.
Pointing
out that the parameters of the solution are definite, Akinci said that it will
be a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation system. He
also expressed optimism that a way out will be found despite the difficulties.
Supporting that they do not have the
luxury to put all other issues on hold until after the solution, Akinci
explained that they should find solutions to their internal problems and
prepare for the post solution period.
Underlining that the time has come to
solve the Cyprus problem, Akinci recalled that the Cyprus negotiation talks
have being going on since 1963. He stressed the need for both sides to show
political will and assured that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to show
determination for a solution.
Reiterating that their road
is rough and that they would have to overcome a lot of difficulties at the
negotiation table since they have come to the point of discussing the most
crucial aspects of the Cyprus problem, Akinci said that the picture is not dark
and added that he considers that they can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Referring to the recent
“visit” of Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in the occupied area of
Cyprus, Akinci said that
Turkey reiterated its support to the efforts exerted in the island for a
solution on the Cyprus problem.
(AK)
2. Turkey
submits in writing its demand to administrate the water in the occupied area of
Cyprus; Disagreements between CTP and UBP
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper
(03.12.15) reports Turkey has submitted
in writing its proposal regarding the administration of the water, which
had been brought to the occupied area of Cyprus from Anatolia through undersea
pipelines.
The paper’s general editing director, CenkMutluyakali
writes in his column that this proposal
was a demand for an “additional economic protocol”. Turkey asked the
self-styled prime minister, Omer Kalyoncu to sign it, but he asked to be
allowed to evaluate it.
The
proposal was submitted to Kalyoncu and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci during the recent illegal visits of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu and other Turkish Ministers to the occupied area of Cyprus.
Turkey demanded the following in its
written proposal:
- The
water will be administered by Turkey’s State Water Affairs Department (DSI)
until a new formula is produced.
- DSI will administrate both drinking water
and water used for agricultural purposes.
- If
DSI wishes, it may invite tenders for the administration of the water by a
private company in Turkey.
- In
return, Turkey will cover the expenses for the infrastructure investments.
- The “municipalities” will be given a
share of the revenues after expenses are subtracted.
- The sale price of the water is not determined.
It is said that the price will be calculated taking into consideration the
investment, operation and restoration costs and the profit.
“The
‘additional protocol’ demand means that ‘Turkey will administrate the water’
and that it expresses the intention of ‘making the privatization through
Turkey’s Water Affairs Department’”, notes Mutluyakali adding that the obvious
conclusion is that “Turkey says ‘we will administrate the water’”.
Meanwhile, YeniDuzen (03.12.15) also
reports that TufanErhurman, general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party
(CTP), has denied information published yesterday that an agreement had been
reached on the privatization of the water administration during Davutoglu’s
contacts in the occupied area of the island.
Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis
newspaper (03.12.15) reports that the
administration of the water remains a “serious problem” between the CTP and its
“coalition partner”, the National Unity Party (UBP) on the one hand and between
the breakaway regime and Turkey, on the other.
Describing as “surprising” the written
proposal submitted by Turkish officials who have visited the occupied area of
the island, the paper writes that the CTP-wing
of the “government” had prepared and sent to Turkey a “draft law” for an
“autonomous water authority”. This
“draft-law’ has not even been discussed by the AK Party government, notes
the paper, adding that the Turkish delegations which have recently visited the
island submitted a proposal saying that the water should be administered by
DSI’s office in the occupied area of Cyprus.
CTP does not accept privatization, while Turkey does not accept the establishment of
a company named “BESKI” by the “municipalities” in the occupied area of Cyprus
to administrate the water. The other “coalition partner”, the UBP and its “mayors” have reportedly
changed their mind on the issue of the establishment of BESKI and insist on
implementing the “build-operate-transfer” model. The tendency within the UBP
“mayors” is that they should leave BESKI.
Today UBP’s “parliamentary group” and
“mayors” will hold a meeting to decide on the issue. Their stance is expected
to be on Turkey’s side.
(I/Ts.)
3. Cavusoglu discussed the Cyprus problem with Kerry
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (03.12.15) reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
met with the US Foreign Minister John Kerry on the sidelines of the NATO
Foreign Ministers meeting.
According
to a tweet posted by Cavusoglu, the two
Ministers discussed the Cyprus problem, Syria, ISIL, and the cooperation
for the fight against terrorism.
(CS)
4. Izcan criticized Akinci on the Lavrov meeting
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (03.12.15) reports that the chairman of the
United Cyprus Party (BKP) IzzetIzcan
criticized the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for not meeting with the
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“Akinci
shot his own foot at a time when the Cyprus negotiations are progressing well”,
Izcan stated, criticizing Akinci for his behavior. He also said that the “TRNC”
is not recognized by anyone and according to the UN it is an illegal state. He
further wondered why Akinci participated in the UN General Assembly with the
status of Turkish Cypriot leader while NicosAnastasiades participated as the
President of the Republic of Cyprus. “Why did Akinci participate in that
meeting then?”,Izcan stated.
Finally, he
noted that former negotiators Ergun Olgun and Osman Ertug who are pro status
quo, supported Akinci’s decision while pro-solution people did not approve
Akinci’sbehavior.
(CS)
5. The breakaway regime brings tourists from Lithuania
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (03.12.15) reports that the self-styled minister of Tourism FaizSucuoglu met with 15 tourist
operators and travel agency officials from Lithuania aiming to co-operate for
bringing tourists from Lithuania to the breakaway regime in the coming days
According
to the paper, the visit of the Lithuanian tourist agents took place upon an
invitation of the True Travel Director AydinKaracay who stated that Lithuanian tourists will travel to the
“TRNC” with Turkish airlines for the time being but later charter flights will
be conducted to the occupied area of Cyprus
In
statements after the meeting Sucioglu said that the cooperation between the
“TRNC” and Lithuania is continuing and
added that they aim to have tourists coming to the occupied area of Cyprus for
12 months since the warm climate allows tourists to visit Cyprus throughout the
year.
(CS)
6. TDP officially joins Socialist International
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (03.12.15) reports that the Socialist Democracy Party (TDP) officially joined Socialist International during a meeting of
the organization in Angola.
Socialist
International Chairman George Papandreou, following the approval of TDP
welcomed the Turkish Cypriot Party to the organization.
On his
part, the chairman of TDP CemalOzyigit said that this was a very important
development for the party which had participated up to the point in the Socialist International meetings as an
observer.
(CS)
7. Davutoglu
said that the aborted meeting between Lavrov and Akinci has nothing to do with
Russian-Turkish relations
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 03.12.15), Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in an interview to
HABERTURK during his illegal visit in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, said that the aborted the meeting between Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci had anything to do
with Russian-Turkish relations.
Davutoglu said: “It is not true that Lavrov
rejected a meeting with Akinci because of Turkey-Russia relations. What
happened is that Akinci rejected a meeting with Lavrov because he demanded to
meet in the buffer zone.”
Noting that the British Foreign Secretary
Phillip Hammond had visited Cyprus twice and the German Foreign Minister Frank
Steinmeier had visited Cyprus once, Davutoglu said that the US Secretary of
State John Kerry will also be arriving on the island. “These people crossed
over to the TRNC (editor’s note: the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus)
and met with Akinci at his office but the Russian Foreign Minister proposed to
meet at the buffer zone as he did not think it would be proper to cross over to
the North. Therefore, the meeting was rejected by President Akinci”, said the
Turkish Premier.
“If the Turkish Cypriot side attends the
Cyprus negotiations process with an equal status then foreign dignitaries
visiting the island must visit President Mustafa Akinci at the presidential
palace, which is the correct behaviour”, Davutoglu argued and added that the issue had nothing to do
with Turkey.
8. Turkish
EU Minister Bozkir to visit Brussels and discuss ties with EU
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(03.12.15), EU Minister and Chief Negotiator VolkanBozkir will pay a two-day
working visit to Brussels on Thursday and Friday. The visit will take place
after Turkish and EU leaders agreed on a deal on Sunday under which Turkey will
take steps to slow the flow of migrants into southern Europe in exchange for aid
and renewed talks on EU membership.
During his visit, EU Minister Bozkir will
meet with EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Energy
and Climate Action Miguel Arias Cañete, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and
Rural Development Phil Hogan, the Commissioner for education, culture and
sport, TiborNavracsics and Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign
Affairs Committee ElmarBrok.
Bozkir is expected to inform EU officials
about the new reform program of Turkey's new government that gained a vote of
confidence recently with the aim of accelerating Turkey's EU membership bid. A
further step that needs to be taken to implement the refugee deal is also
expected to be discussed.
Turkey is willing to accelerate the EU
negotiation process therefore the EU's principle decision to open Chapter 17 on
economic and monetary policy for negotiation on Dec. 14 or Dec. 15 after a
two-year hiatus was welcomed by Ankara. Turkey is expecting the EU to open six
more chapters sometime in 2016.
9. Erdogan:
No one can ‘slander’ Turkey with ISIL oil sales allegations; Turkey agrees to
take LNG supply from Qatar; Turkey and Qatar agree to visa-free travel between
the two countries
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 03.12.15)
reports that Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan has taken aim at Moscow for
“slandering” Ankara with “false accusations” over Turkey’s any involvement in
illegal oil trade with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), hours
after renewed claims were made by the Russian authorities.
“Nobody has the right to slander Turkey,
especially by saying Turkey buys ISIL oil”, Erdogan said during a speech at a
university in the Qatari capital Doha yesterday. “Turkey has not lost its moral
values to the extent of purchasing oil from a terrorist organization,” he
argued.
Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency
(02.12.15) reported that Turkey's
Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) and Qatar's national oil company signed
a memorandum of understanding for long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply
on Wednesday.
According to Turkey's Energy and Natural
Resources Ministry, the agreement calls for regular supply of LNG by Qatar.
Turkey's total LNG consumption is 55 bililon cubic meters. The country imports
8.4% of its LNG from Algeria and 2.8% from Nigeria. The amount of LNG to be
supplied is not specified at present and the details will be stated in the
long-term agreement at a later date.
In addition to this, Turkey and Qatar have signed a visa-free travel agreement, Erdogan
announced on Wednesday. "As of now, visas between Turkey and Qatar are
removed," Erdogan told reporters in the gulf state, adding that people from both countries will
now be able to visit each other much more easily.
The Turkish President said that the
visa-free agreement was a "last second" decision, for which he
thanked the Qatari Emir, "my dear brother Sheikh Tamim [bin Hamad
al-Thani]".
Erdogan and
al-Thani also chaired the Turkey-Qatar High Strategic Committee’s first meeting
in the Qatari capital of Doha during which 15 bilateral agreements were signed.
Erdogan said that the visa-free agreement was the 16th agreement between the
two countries.
Turkey and Qatar agreed to cooperate in
several sectors, including education, environment, science and technology,
maritime and energy.
Before the committee meeting, Erdogan noted
that the Turkey-Qatar cultural year had been successfully carried out. "We
will maintain good relations in the coming years. “Also, Turkish and Qatari
armies conducted their first joint military drill. Some of our soldiers, who
will be deployed to a military base that will be established in Qatar, have
started their duties”, he added.
.
10. Turkish
government is ‘not worried’ about Russian trade sanctions, seeks alternative
markets
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 03.12.15), Turkish
officials have said that they are not overly worried about Russian trade
sanctions against Turkish goods, adding they are in search of alternative
markets as the loss of the Russian market is not in intolerable amounts.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on
Dec. 1 signed a government order approving a raft of sanctions to be imposed on
Turkey over the downing of a Russian warplane last month. The order, published
on the government’s official website, included a list of agricultural products
Russia will no longer import from Turkey as of Jan. 1, 2016.
“We’ll take some immediate measures to
overcome the expected losses from the Russian sanctions… Turkey doesn’t have
any problems with selling its fresh fruits and vegetables. Turkey can export
these products to other markets than Russia. We have alternative markets. We’ll
recall our products that are waiting at Russian customs, and sell what we have
in our hands to alternative markets… There is nothing for our people to worry
[about]. The same applies to the tourism sector. One door shuts, another one
opens,” Turkish Prime Minister AhmetDavutoğlu said in a televised interview on
late Dec. 1.
Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek also
said the government doesn’t plan to revise its 2016 budget over the possible
effect of the tension with Russia. “Our trade with Russia is just at around 1%
of our gross domestic product [GDP]. This is not an intolerable amount as we
can compensate this loss by increasing our trade with other countries,” he
said, as quoted by daily Hurriyet on Dec. 2.
“We have already been in search of
alternative markets. At this point, we can overcome the losses through other
markets, such as European Union members. Our trade volume with the EU has
regressed for the last couple of years and we can now find the chance to revive
our ties in the light of new developments,” Simsek said.
11. German
Minister visits Turkey for talks on deployment of 550 personnel, arms
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily
News (online, 03.12.15), only two days after Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet
approved plans for Germany’s participation in the military campaign against
jihadists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the country’s
Defence Minister is set to visit Turkey for technical talks on Germany’s
support for the U.S.-led anti-ISIL coalition.
German Defence Minister Ursula von der
Leyen will visit Turkey and have talks with her counterpart IsmetYilmaz on Dec.
3, German Ambassador to Ankara Martin Erdmann told reporters on Dec. 2.
Although no official decision has been
taken yet, German and Turkish officials have been working on finalizing a
Memorandum of Understanding on the basis of Germany’s proposals, diplomatic
sources told the paper.
The bilateral talks are being conducted as
part of anti-ISIL coalition efforts, and have no relation to NATO’s involvement
in the region, the same sources stressed on condition of anonymity.
Last week, a German military delegation
visited Turkey’s İncirlik Air Base in the southern province of Adana in order
to check the availability of reconnaissance jets. If agreed, two reconnaissance
jets will initially be sent to İncirlik as well as an aerial refuelling
aircraft and a frigate for protecting France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft
carrier, which will navigate in the Mediterranean.
In addition, 550 of the 1,200 German
military personnel are planned to be deployed on Turkish territory, the
diplomatic sources said. They also underlined that those 550 personnel will not
be fighters, but will rather be technical personnel including pilots,
refuelling crews and ground personnel for maintenance. The remaining military
personnel are thought to be for the protection of the French aircraft carrier.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
AA)