Turkish cypriot and turkish media review content s no. 180/15 22. 09. 2015

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (22.09.15, online) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci briefed Turkish Cypriot civilian organizations today on the ongoing negotiating process aimed at reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Akinci said that the process is being held within the framework of the joint declaration between President Anastasiades and former Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu and the high level agreements of 1977-79. Noting that the joint declaration describes the existing situation as unacceptable having negative consequences on both communities, Akinci said that all issues are on the negotiating table and the chapters are interdependently discussed.

Akinci noted that united Cyprus will be a member of the EU with a single international legal identity and a single citizenship. The powers of the government, he added, will be determined in the constitution and there will be two founding states, which will not interfere into each other’s powers. He said that the solution will be bi-zonal and at the same time the principles on which the EU is founded will be protected.

Akinci reiterated that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and that after an agreement is reached between the leaders, this agreement will be submitted to a referendum. He said that the leaders will be meeting as often as it is necessary as of November. He argued that they will achieve a successful result if they reach an agreement and submit it to a referendum before the parliamentary elections in the government-controlled area of Cyprus in May 2016.

Referring to the natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akinci argued that if they are not used wisely they could constitute a threat, but if they are used wisely “they can produce solutions, there can be a contribution to solutions”. Noting that the amount found in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone is not very big, but Egypt’s and Israel’s resources are very rich, he argued that all experts agree that after a solution is found in Cyprus, all these will be transferred to Turkey and Europe through an energy corridor.

Pointing out to the importance of improving the relations between Turkey and Israel, Akinci argued that the trade relations between the two countries continue. He claimed that some Turkish companies have met with President Anastasiades.

Noting that they achieved progress on the chapter of governance and power sharing, Akinci said that they have not agreed on the issue of the rotating presidency. Akinci expressed the belief that the Greek Cypriot side will agree on this point and noted that this was included in the Annan Plan and was approved in the process that followed. He added:

“I said that I see it as a result of our political equality. We will have an equal number in the Senate. There will be some special laws which will require autonomous majority. I am optimistic that we will ensure a solution which will include our political equality. There will not be a serious problem. There are principles on which we must emphasize: The political equality, living freely and living in security”.

Referring to the issue of guarantees, he said that this is one of the six chapters in the negotiations, it concerns the guarantor powers as well and will be discussed by all five parties together (the three guarantor powers and the two communities). He said that this issue has been left for the very end. He added:

“Let us build the structure we want to be guaranteed. Some guarantees will be discussed within this structure itself. […] The five parties will come together and discuss this issue. It is meaningless to bring this issue onto the agenda in a speculative manner from now. Greece says ‘I am not interested’. Britain says something like ‘I am not interested, but my bases will continue to exist’. The stance of these two countries is important. The sensitivity of the Turkish Cypriot people is important. The Turkish Cypriot people must feel secure. Formulas in which all sides will be secure and not feel that they are threatened can be discussed”.

Referring to the property issue, Akinci said that the territory and names of villages or percentages have not been discussed. He noted that no map has been put onto the table. He said that there was an attempt to put a map on the table, but they did not accept it. “This issue will come onto the agenda, but it did not come yet”, he added pointing out that progress was achieved on the governance and power sharing, the EU and the economy.

“There are still three important and thorny chapters: the property, the territory and the security-guarantees”, he said adding that there was a categorization on the property issue and that 22 categories of properties were determined.

Noting that confusion was caused by a statement they had made, Akinci pointed out that some persons tried to use this statement saying that the Greek Cypriots’ property right was recognized and all of you will be thrown out. He said that what was recognized is something which had been recognized for years. “The reason for the establishment of the Property Compensation Commission derives from the recognition of the individuals’ property right”, he argued adding that there are five ways of using this right: compensation, exchange, alternative property, or partial return.

He added: “[…] There is a new development helping the solution. While time does not contribute to the solution, the time that passes helps. 75% says that I will either sell [the property] or I will be compensated. This was an issue solved by time. If 160 thousand persons had really migrated from the north, a part of those who migrated are not alive 41 years later. Their children are around 50 years old. They have established a totally different life in the south and are not thinking of returning to the north. They want compensation and exchange. Just like we want for the property we have left in the south. […] If we are able to solve the property issue, in case we form criteria which will ensure that the Turkish Cypriots will be the majority in the sense of population and property in the north, we will have eliminated a very important obstacle. The devil will be hidden in the criteria. A commission will be established. […] The individuals will not settle this issue between them […]”

(I/Ts.)

2. Akinci is leaving for New York on September 28th

Illegal Bayrak television (22.09.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will be leaving for New York on Monday 28th of September for meetings with UNSG Ban Ki Moon and to hold contacts within the framework of the UN General Assembly meetings.

Under the title “We attach great importance to Cyprus”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.09.15) reports that Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Tugrul Turkes has said that undertaking the duty of the minister responsible for Cyprus is important for him and added that he is proud and happy because he is of Cypriot origin. In statements yesterday during his illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus, Turkes recalled that he paid his first visit abroad after undertaking his duties to the occupied area of Cyprus as it is the custom in Turkey. He added that this is a gesture to show the big importance they attach to “Cyprus and the problems of its people”.

Referring to the situation in the occupied area of Cyprus Turkes alleged that the “coalition” between the two biggest parties is a “good sign of democracy” and added that they could not do this in Turkey and therefore they will hold elections.

During his visit, Turkes met with Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, the “speaker” of the “assembly”, Sibel Siber, self-styled prime minister, Omer Kalyoncu and the two former Turkish Cypriot leaders, Dervis Eroglu and Mehmet Ali Talat.

Akinci said that he is pleased with the fact that a person of Cypriot origin was appointed responsible of Cypriot affairs and wished for Turkes’ candidature in the elections to be successful. Pointing out to the importance of tranquility and stability in Turkey, Akinci said that Turkey’s becoming strong and that developing in peace and democracy is of great importance for the Turkish Cypriots.

Both Siber and Kalyoncu also wished success to Turkes in the elections and expressed the hope for him to continue being at this duty and meet them more often.

In his statements, Talat told Turkes that Cyprus is an important place for Turkey due to the Cyprus problem and all the other economic, social and political activities and expressed his satisfaction with Turkes’ visit, describing him as “a Cypriot”.

Finally, Eroglu told Turkes that there has always been a “good dialogue” between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. He noted that they have always been showing Turkey “as “the motherland” to the youth, but “recently some “different voices” are heard. He wished for the new “authorities” of the regime to act realizing that “some things cannot happen without Turkey” and that no one at the negotiating table can act saying that “let a solution be reached regardless of what kind of a solution will be or let me solve the problem and the world to applaud me”. He said that he will submit a note to Turkes regarding his view on the Cyprus problem.

Turkes replied that because Eroglu is a person who closely knows the issues concerning the Turkish Cypriots, he believes that his “sensitivities’ will be taken into consideration.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.09.15) reports that the Grey Wolves in the occupied area of Cyprus protested against Turkes, because he resigned from the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and joined the Justice and Development Party (AKP). They held placards accusing him of selling their “cause” and betraying his father Alpraslan Turkes’ name [Translator’s note: Alparslan Turkes is the founder of MHP and the Grey Wolves].

(I/Ts.)
4. Kutlay Erk lambasts visiting Turkish Minister Turkes

Illegal Bayrak television (22.09.15) reports that the former general secretary of the Republican Turkish party (CTP) Kutlay Erk has made condemning statements on his personal social media account with regards to the Turkish Minister for Cyprus Tugrul Turkes who paid a visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus yesterday for contacts.

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (22.09.15) reports that a panel entitled “Sustainable Transportation and Mobility in the European Union and in the Turkish Cypriot Community”, within the framework of the European Commission’s “European Mobility Week” activities was held yesterday at the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce.

The opening speeches were delivered by the Head of the EU Programme Support Office Michela Foresti and the self-styled undersecretary of the transportation ministry Suat Yeldener and the self-styled foreign minister Emine Colak.

Addressing the panel, Colak said that transportation is important in many areas of life and the efficiency of transportation influences the understanding of the commercial life, the quality of daily life, the environment, as well as the aesthetic of urbanism.

Explaining that they see such activities which aim at the increasing of sensitivity to the EU as part of the aim to the EU harmonization, Colak added that the EU harmonization is not only amending the laws but also internalizing the rules of the EU and understanding the standards of the EU.

Noting that adopting the philosophy and understanding of the EU is an urgent need, Colak explained that the “EU harmonization group” is established and continues its work towards this direction.

Noting that the process, which started for the full accession of Cyprus as a whole to the EU, is progressing well, Colak said that this process encourages great hopes for everyone. She also said that undertaking the EU requirements as tasks and taking advantage of the EU is also a part of the job.

(DPs)
6. Talat and Ozgurgun discussed with Harmanci the water transfer project

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (22.09.15) reports that the leader of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) Mehmet Ali Talat met yesterday with the “mayor” of the occupied Lefkosia municipality, Mehmet Harmanci with whom he discussed the issue of the water to be transferred from Turkey to the occupation regime.

According to information given by the press office of the (CTP-BG), Talat stated during the meeting that a new independent and autonomous organization will be formed for the control of the water to be transferred from Turkey and for the other water resources.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Gunes newspaper (22.09.15) reports that the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun met also yesterday with Harmanci.

According to statements issued by the UBP’s press office, Ozgurgun emphasized the importance of the water transfer project and said that the water to be transferred from Turkey to Cyprus is a great project which could benefit not only the Turkish Cypriots but the whole of Cyprus.

Referring to the administration of the water, Ozgurgun said that preparatory work should be made and added that this issue should be solved between Turkey and the “TRNC”.

(…)

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (22.09.15) reports that the number of human remains found at the excavation, which is carried out in a military area behind the “new prison” in the occupied part of Nicosia, reached twenty.

Murat Soysal - Assistant to the Turkish Cypriot Member of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) – said that they think that the human remains belong to the Greek Cypriot soldiers which were inside the first truck.

Soysal said that despite finding the remains of twenty people the excavations are carried out, following information for the place. He stressed that on this site Greek Cypriot soldiers, who died in the war, were transferred with two trucks and buried there. He added that the remains found belonged only to the one truck and they continue their efforts to find the remains from the second truck.

(DPs)

8. Sertoglu: “Our membership to KOP is in a blockage”

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.09.15) under the title: “They said that they cannot make us a member”, reports that the chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot Football Federation" ("KTFF") Hasan Sertoglu has stated yesterday during a meeting he held with sport media representatives in the occupied area of Cyprus that the process towards their membership to Cyprus Football Association (CFA or KOP) has reached to a blockage.

Turkish Hurriyet newspaper (22.09.15) reports that Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), which failed to form a single-party government in the June 7 election for the first time after winning three consecutive elections since November 2002, has presented its candidates for the Nov. 1 snap elections with a mass gathering in Ankara.

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (22.09.15) reports that the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has bitterly criticized both President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu for the stances they displayed during a mass “anti-terrorism” rally aimed at supporting the on-going offensive against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), calling the president “irresponsible” and the prime minister “unauthorized.”

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (22.09.15) reports that a probe has been opened into 94 people for participating in the Gezi Park protests more than two years after the events, with the suspects facing up to six years in prison.