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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-02-21Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 37/13 21/2/13[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS
[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS[01] Erolgu will ask for recommencement of the negotiations in AprilTurkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (21.02.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has said that after the second round of the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus, he will send a letter congratulating the newly elected President and asking for the recommencement of the Cyprus talks. In statements during a press conference yesterday, Eroglu noted that the Turkish side insists on the recommencement of the negotiations in April and on putting a time limit in the process.Eroglu said that it makes no difference for them who will win the elections. He reiterated the allegation that the Cyprus problem has been discussed since 1968, that all aspects of the problem have been discussed until now and that a time limit should be put in the negotiations. Erolgu noted that Turkey shares the same view with him on this issue, which he discussed with the Turkish President Gul in the sidelines of the recent summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Cairo. Eroglu said that UN Secretary-General's special adviser for Cyprus, Alexander Downer will come to the island in March in order to meet with the two leaders and wished for a date for the recommencement of the negotiations to be determined during this visit. Eroglu argued that the priority of the new Cyprus government will be the economic problems, but the Turkish Cypriot side thinks that the Cyprus negotiations should start before the end of April. He alleged: "Now, the economic situation may be the only pretext of Anastasiades or Malas. I am concerned that Downer might change April to May, but in any case the commencement of the negotiations is absolutely necessary in order to reach an agreement". Eroglu said that the first thing he will do after the second round of the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus is to congratulate the newly elected President of the Republic both on the phone and in writing. "Afterwards I will send a letter for the beginning of the negotiations", he added. Recalling that he had met twice in the past with the chairman of Democratic Rally Party (DISY), Nikos Anastasiades, Eroglu said that former President of the Republic, Glafkos Clerides had also attended their dinner at president Anastasiades' home in Limassol and added: "He transfers his experience to Anastasiades. During our meeting Anastasiades has drawn a reconciliatory picture. I hope that he is the same at the negotiating table. During the dinners at our house it was not possible for us to enter into many details on the Cyprus issue, but their hospitality was very good, especially his wife's. I thank them again. Of course, the social relations are one thing and the negotiating table is another?" Noting that reference is made to loose federation by president Anastasiades, Eroglu said that "Anastasiades might have different things in his mind" while saying this and added that as long as the content of this term is not clarified, it would be difficult to say what he thinks about it. Everything will be seen at the negotiating table, he added. Responding to a question on President Christofias' statement that the Greek Cypriot side is ten steps in front of the Turkish Cypriot side in the solution of the Cyprus problem, Eroglu alleged that this is not true and that the Greek Cypriot side had rejected three solution plans submitted until today. Noting that the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus are important for them, Eroglu said, inter alia, the following: "One of the two candidates will come out [as winner] from the ballot box. Whoever wins in the south [Translator's note: as he described the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus] makes no difference for us. When Christofias had been elected, he was received with satisfaction, with hope for peace and solution in the Turkish Cypriot side, but as you see Christofias has also completed his five years and goes. Whoever is elected makes no difference. In the end, he will be the person elected by the Greek Cypriot people. He will be at the table having in the forefront their interests?" Asked to comment on the fact that while Turkey interferes with the "elections" in the occupied area of Cyprus Greece does not do this in the government-controlled area of the island, Eroglu alleged: "A Minister from Greece had visited them before. I do not want to comment why he had come, but it's up to a government's preference to decide whether this is correct or not". Noting that Nikos Anastasiades seems to have more chances to win the elections, Eroglu said that this "does not mean that Anastasiades' job will be easier on the issue of establishing a coalition", because "the results of the elections and the numbers which have come up show that this will be more difficult and that he will need more than one coalition partner". Eroglu said that they closely follow "step by step" the elections in the Republic of Cyprus and the statements during the campaign. Eroglu described as "very interesting", the support offered by the Democratic Party (DIKO) and the church to Nikos Anastasiades, who, he recalled, is a person that voted in favor of the Annan Plan in 2004. He also called as interesting the statements made by Anastasiades during his election campaign. He argued that Anastasiades "exhibits a negative stance" on the issue of the indispensable conditions of the Turkish side, the continuation of Turkey's active and effective guarantees, bi-zonality, the establishment of two founding states based on a new partnership and putting a time limit in the negotiations. He noted that the other candidate, Stavros Malas exhibits a stance in parallel to the one exhibited by President Christofias at the negotiating table. "We hope that the words said during the elections campaign are not reflected on the negotiating table", he argued. Eroglu said that after the presidential elections, he will evaluate the situation with his negotiating team, the "parliamentary platform", the "people's council", his "advisory committee" and the political parties. (I/Ts.) [02] Turkey has reportedly prepared a plan B if Kucuk fails to win at the UBP congress; Turkish settlers were called to Turkey for instructionsUnder the front page title: "Here is the plan 'B' if Kucuk fails to win", Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (21.02.13) reports that representatives of 12 organizations and associations of Turkish settlers paid a one-day visit to Ankara yesterday, upon an invitation by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for Cyprus Affairs, Besir Atalay.According to the paper, the organizations and associations of Turkish settlers were called to Ankara to take instructions, since, as the paper writes, Ankara has already prepared an action plan in case that Kucuk will fail to be elected at the forthcoming UBP congress which is to take place on Sunday. The paper underlines that the action plan envisages for "early elections" to take place in the occupied area of Cyprus in the possibility that Kasif will be the winner of the UBP congress, adding that in this "elections", the Turkish settlers either they will participate with a form or a separate party they will establish, or under the umbrella of Kucuk's team who will resign from UBP. The paper continues in its column "Letter from Afrika" and writes that Atalay undertaken this initiative to invite the "organizations and associations" of Turkish settlers in Ankara, since, during his latest visit to the "TRNC", when he came to mediate into the "elections" in favour of Kucuk, he left from the island uncomfortable. The paper points out also that a very well know fact is that Prime Minister Erdogan sees as great weakness the fact that the "Turkish settlers" are not represented with "deputies" at the so-called assembly and adds that it is for this reason they went into action towards this direction. Underlining also that Eroglu's term will finish in two years; the paper writes that AKP will have to put up with Eroglu until then, but still, within this period, it has some neutralized plans. The idea of bringing someone else besides Eroglu as a negotiator at the talks, is also on the table, writes the paper. (AK) [03] Akca alleged that the declaration of the breakaway regime a successTurkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (21.02.13) reports that the "ambassador" of Turkey to occupied Lefkosia Halil Ibrahim Akca, stated that the declaration of the "TRNC" and of the "independence" of the Turkish Cypriots is a great success.Akca was speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the TMT organization which changed its administrative board recently. Akca went on and said that there might be problems in the breakaway regime, however the point that was reached should not be underestimated. "We can reached even more successful points starting from here", he added. [04] "Famagusta Initiative Organization" sent letters to the two candidates for the presidency of the Republic of CyprusTurkish Cypriot daily Havadis (21.02.13) reports that the "Famagusta Initiative Organization" has sent a letter to the two presidential candidates of the Republic of Cyprus.According to the paper, the "Famagusta Initiative Organizations" in its letter proposed a formula for Maras-Port- within the walls city [Translator's note: "Maras is the occupied fenced off city of Varosha] with the aim to get out of the deadlock of the non-solution. In the light of this formula, the "Famagusta Initiative", asks for efforts to be taken for Famagusta to be set under the control of the UN, for the opening of occupied Famagusta port under the supervision of the EU. The "Famagusta Initiative" underlines that with mutual steps to be taken and with the appropriate implementation of the formula submitted for (Maras-Port-within the walls city), the Turkish Cypriots will gain the potential to overpass the unjust treatment they received since they are not able to be integrated with the world, and also, with the return of Maras (Famagusta) to its legal owners, the Greek Cypriot community's 38 years of pain will also be abolished. (AK) [05] Turkish constructive firm on its investments in occupied CyprusTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.02.13) reports that the Turkish Bulut Constructive Firm gave information about its construction and investments in occupied Cyprus.Speaking during a press conference, the chairman of the firm's board, Temel Bulut, stated that the construction of a building started in 2010 and located at occupied Lefkosia Keryneia road is continuing. He also said that the hotel in occupied Agios Epiktikos consisting of 130 villas, with a capacity of two thousand persons, also continues. [06] Eleousa church and monastery in occupied Karpasia lacks of careUnder the title: "Tourist's haunt", Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (21.02.13) reports that the Eleousa church and monastery which is located west of Rizokarpaso and in the east of Yialousa village in the peninsula of Karpasia, is a place which attracts the interest of a lot of tourists, however, as the paper points out, it is a place which for years lacks of care.The paper points out also that the monastery which is near the church is totally be razed and it publishes photos of the church showing its bad condition. (AK) [07] Bagis continues his contacts in FranceAnkara Anatolia News Agency (20.02.13) reports that Turkey's EU minister Egemen Ba 1 who is having contact in Paris, alleged that European Union members are attaching great importance to the peace process currently ongoing between the Turkish government and the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)."France and EU countries give importance to the process aimed at the
laying down of arms. They attach importance to the increase of serenity
inside Turkey," EU Minister Egemen Ba 1 told reporters after meeting
with French officials.
France's new Socialist Party government had announced last week that it
would assist Turkey in opening one of the five chapters once blocked by
Paris for Ankara's long-stalled EU membership talks. The announcement
was welcomed by Turkish officials despite the fact it hinted that the
other four chapters would remain deadlocked.
Ba 1 said that he had discussed with his French counterpart Bernard
Cazeneuve the 22nd chapter on regional policies that France agreed to
unblock and exchanged opinions on the other chapters waiting to be opened.
Turkey's EU minister also met with French Interior Minister Manuel Valls
and discussed the Jan. 9 murder of three Kurdish women in Paris. "He
assured me that they were pursuing a lot of effort for a quick and
transparent trial and were sharing all the information [they found] with
the Turkish intelligence and security officials," Ba 1 said. Both
countries agreed to increase their cooperation in the fight against
terrorism, he added.
Meanwhile, a French diplomat told French media that they were expecting
a gesture from Turkey in exchange for having lifted their veto on one
of the five chapters blocked by Paris. Cazeneuve has vowed to adopt a
more positive position regarding Turkey and expressed his expectation
that Ankara would bring more momentum to the cooperation among the two
countries, the official said.
The Turkish minister said that the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO),
Turkey's state oil firm, had "stepped up efforts in Central Anatolia" and
found traces of shale gas in the central provinces of Ankara, K1rehir
and Konya. Ankara's search for shale gas deposits in previous months
has focused on the southeastern province of Diyarbak1r, where TPAO is
drilling exploratory wells in a joint project with Shell.
Y1ld1z said efforts to find shale gas are necessary as Turkey's energy
needs are growing, and it continues to import around 97 percent of its
natural gas from abroad. He downplayed hopes that the discovery of a
natural gas deposit on Tuesday in 0stanbul's Silivri district, would
go far towards meeting Turkey's appetite for 46 billion cubic meters
of natural gas a year. "It would be misleading to say this will bring a
solution to our energy needs. The feasibility studies on the [Silivri]
well haven't been finished."
Taking the example of Merty Energy, the private company behind the Silivri
gas find, Y1ld1z suggested that private companies could play a central
role in energy exploration if they are "more attentive" to opportunities
in Turkey. Stating that Turkey's economic prosperity was tied to new
energy discoveries, he said a discovery "may mean massive profits for
a company, but I think a sense that this is for all of Turkey would be
a better management attitude."
Private and state explorers are unsure of how much extractable shale gas
Turkey holds, with one Reuters report suggesting that reserves could
vary from 20 trillion cubic meters (cbm) of gas to a much more modest
6-7 billion cbm. Reuters suggested this week that several international
energy companies may be on the verge of signing on to the search for
Turkish shale gas.
Experts have suggested that even if significant gas reserves are found,
it would take until 2016 to develop the infrastructure to exploit them.
The stalemate that had developed between the government and the BDP
over the composition of the delegation was solved following Ocalan's
intervention, and the group will now depart for Imral1 within days of
the conclusion of the necessary procedures.
The names were announced through a written statement by the BDP, following
an hour-long meeting on Wednesday in a bid to end the uncertainty over who
would conduct the second meeting with Ocalan. The statement said that Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo an had refused to allow BDP co-chairperson
Selahattin Demirta and independent deputy, Ahmet T?rk, to visit ?calan on
this occasion.
Recalling the message delivered by Ocalan via his brother, Mehmet Ocalan,
stating that he was expecting to meet one of the co-chairpersons in the
second delegation, the BDP statement said the three names had been chosen
by ?calan himself in a bid to avert the deadlock. It viewed Ocalan's
proposals as valid and said the party had notified the Justice Ministry
in line with the list.
Because Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin was attending the meeting of
the anti-terror board under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister
Beir Atalay, the BDP's request was sent to Ergin's chief advisor,
Adnan Boynukara.
Meanwhile, Erdogan said they will discuss the names on the sidelines
of tonight's anti-terror meeting. "The justice minister will probably
make a statement tomorrow [Feb. 21]," he told reporters during a press
conference held in Ankara with his Libyan counterpart, Ali Zeidan.
"Ahmet T?rk and Ayla Akat Ata visited 0mral1 island on Jan. 3, which
is considered to be the beginning of the peace process between the
government and the PKK. The process is aiming at disarming the PKK and
solving the Kurdish question. Erdogan publicly slammed T?rk for attacking
the Turkish military's operations against the PKK in the aftermath of the
first visit to 0mral1, causing a rift. Erdogan also vetoed Demirta
for his sharp criticism of the government, and also refused permission
to fellow co-chairperson, G?ltan K1anak, for her embracing of PKK
terrorists a couple of months ago", writes the paper.
According to Hurriyet, the three names officially assigned by the party
for the latest visit have different qualifications. Pervin Buldan
is the wife of Sava Buldan, who was killed in unsolved murder in
1994. Altan Tan represents the conservative wing of the BDP and is known
as a religious Kurdish politician. ?nder, however, is an ethnic Turk
of Turkoman descent. As a movie director, artist and former columnist,
?nder was also a political activist in late 1970s, who was later tortured
during his time spent in prison imprisonment. Tan and ?nder have been
members of Parliament since 2011.
The campaign is titled "10 million signatures for freedom." The union
announced on Wednesday that its campaign for the collection of signatures
across Turkey ended on Tuesday and that it will present the signatures to
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Head of Memur-Sen's Konya office,
Latif Selvi, said that 562,725 signatures were collected in his province, a
record for petitions in Konya. He stated that a country trying its
coup-plotters should no longer maintain such a ban, which is also not
compatible with Turkey's current Constitution, he noted. "Turkey should get
rid of such restrictions against to civil servants. After we present the
signatures to the Prime Minister, it will be the government, Parliament and
political parties' turn to do their job and eliminate this ban. We call on
all political parties to contribute to the efforts to rid the country of
this problem," he stated.
The ban on wearing headscarves has long been an issue of debate in
Turkey. The headscarf ban in Turkish universities, which was introduced
after the Feb. 27, 1997 coup, was eased after the Higher Education
Board (Y?K) sent a circular to universities in 2010 asking them to admit
headscarf-wearing students. The unofficial ban on the use of headscarves
is also in practice in government offices, where employees are told to
leave their hair exposed.
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
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