Browse through our Interesting Nodes on Religion in Cyprus
TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 01/12 31.12.11-02.01.12 C O N T E N T S
[01] Eroglu said that they could even change the name of the occupation regime if there is no Cyprus settlement until June 2012
[02] Eroglu's message to the Turkish Cypriots in Australia
[03] Bagis: "2012 will be a tough year"
[04] Kucuk stated that land drilling will be launched in occupied Famagusta in 2012
[05] Turkey's Energy Minister says that in 2012 they will launch drilling on land in the occupied area of Cyprus
[06] Ersan Saner states that illegal Tymbou airport is to be given to a private firm for 20-25 years;
[07] Izcan said that "TRNC is an antidemocratic country"
[08] Salih Cosar states that after the Turkish Garanti Bankasi, the Turkish Is Bankasi decides to accept for mortgage occupied Greek Cypriot properties granted to Turkish Cypriots as "property of equivalent value"
[09] Kibris is the most popular newspaper with 83.9% according to a KADEM opinion poll
[10] "CHP leader slams government for foreign policy failures"
[11] Erdogan met with Haniyah
[12] Turkish exports hit record $134.6 billion in 2011
Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on the Cyprus problem, by Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bagis on Turkey's EU bid, by Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz that Turkey is to launch land explorations in the occupied area of Cyprus during 2012, by so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk who evaluated 2011, by so-called minister of transportation Ersan Saner on the privatization of the illegal Tymbou airport as well as two surveys conducted by KADEM in the occupied area of Cyprus, are some of the main topics covered by the Turkish Cypriot press over the weekend.
New Year's messages by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish President Abdullah Gul, the meeting of Erdogan with Ismail Haniyah, Prime Minister of the Palestinian administration in Gaza, are covered over the weekend in the Turkish dailies. The prediction that the year 2012 will be a difficult year for Turkey if Sarkozy re-elected and when Cyprus will take over the EU term-presidency is also reported. Many commentaries on the bombing at Turkey-Iraq borders are also published.
[01] Eroglu said that they could even change the name of the breakaway regime if there is no Cyprus settlement until June 2012
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (01.01.12) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu stated that their aim is a permanent solution to be found by June 2012 but added that if the position of the UN Secretary General is that a solution cannot be reached, then they will have to continue their road as regards amending the "constitution", changing the internal regulations of the self-styled assembly and "filling the lacks on democracy."
Eroglu made these statements in an exclusive interview to the production director of Kibris Media Group, Resat Akar, where he evaluated 2011 and referred to the aims of the Turkish Cypriot side for the year 2012.
Asked if there is a chance the occupation regime to be named "Turkish Cypriot state", as it is referred at the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Eroglu stated that the name can be changed into "North Cyprus Turkish state", or into "Turkish Cypriot state", and added that the latter was both used at the OIC and at the Annan Plan.
Referring to the negotiations for the Cyprus problem, Eroglu said that the property and the territory issues were discussed and added that these are two different issues for which views and criteria were exchanged.
He went on and added that President Christofias asked for the return of Morfou, the Karpasia area and part of Mesaoria. According to Eroglu, Christofias asked for the return of 100 thousand persons. Regarding the remaining 75 thousand [Translator's note: according to Eroglu's estimation for the amount of refugees caused by the 1974 Turkish invasion], they will either have their property returned or they will be compensated for it. Eroglu also alleged that Christofias told him that if Morfou is not given back, there is no point to continue with the negotiations. Eroglu said that there was a deadlock in this issue between him and Christofias and that he told Christofias that the time has not come yet for a map to be discussed.
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (31.12.11) runs a New Year's message from Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, which was broadcast on the Australian State Radio's Turkish-language service for Turkish Cypriots living there.
In his message, Eroglu said that the aim of the Turkish Cypriots is to sign a Cyprus agreement in the first quarter of 2012 and to be approved in a referendum by July 2012, so that they can assume the EU presidency together with the Greek Cypriots. He also said: "We believe that such an agreement will be an example for the Middle East and will provide serious benefits for the region, the two motherlands Turkey and Greece, the EU and the world."
Eroglu claimed: "We don't want our future to be uncertain and to be subject to such unfair embargoes. The existence of two separate people, two separate areas, two separate religions and two separate sovereign states in Cyrus is a fact."
Turkish news agency Ankara Anatolia (AA, 1.01.12) reported from Istanbul that Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, replying to questions of AA correspondent, said that Turkey could not record a great progress on opening of chapters due to political obstacles in the EU accession process, but it took important steps on some important issues such as law of obligations, Turkish commercial code, environment, agriculture and food security in 2011. But the most important reform in 2011 was parliamentary election, he said.
Bagis said 2012 would be a tough year for Turkey, stating that French president, who would run for the presidential election in France in 2012, has started to use Turkey's EU accession process as a political tool.
He also said that after the French elections, the Republic of Cyprus will undertake the EU Presidency, thus raising obstacles for Turkey's EU bid. "The Greek Cypriot administration will assume rotating term presidency of the EU as of beginning of July. Unfortunately, we will face a term presidency of a half state," Bagis alleged and reiterated Turkey's allegations that they wish to see until July a common state, which will undertake the EU Presidency.
Asked whether a new chapter could be opened during term presidency of Denmark, Bagis said "If it is opened on Turkey's conditions, we will welcome it." But there was a crisis in EU and opening of a new chapter would not be on Turkey's conditions, he said. Additionally, he accused the Republic of Cyprus of behaving as a spoiled child regarding the opening of the negotiations chapters and pointed out that not opening the chapter of Education and Culture, which is very plausible, constitutes an injustice.
Bagis also highlighted that they currently attach importance to reforms and reiterated that EU needs Turkey on several matters. "We grew 8.9 percent in 2010 and nearly 10 percent in 2011," he said adding that he believed Turkey would be a shining star of Europe after 2013.
Under the title "Preparations for land oil explorations has started", Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (31.12.11) reports that the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk stated that land oil exploration will be launched in occupied Famagusta in 2012.
Kucuk made these statements speaking during a press conference where he evaluated 2011 and referred to the goals of the occupation regime for the year 2012.
The self-styled prime minister stated that the necessary equipment arrived in the occupied areas and the oil exploration will commence soon.
Referring to other issues, Kucuk said that there will be no early elections in 2012.
Under the front-page title "Turkey goes ashore", Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (02.01.12) reports on statements by Turkey's Energy Minister, Taner Yildiz who said that after the sea exploration [Translator's note: which took place in the "waters" of the occupation regime within the framework of the "agreement" signed between the occupation regime's "government" and the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO)], they will start exploratory drilling on land in 2012.
Taner Yildiz made the above statements at the Turkish National Assembly (TBMM) while replying to a question of Erkan Aksay, MP with the MHP (Nationalist Movement Party from Turkey's Manisa province.
Taner Yildiz went further and said that the main goal of Turkey is to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. Saying that projects towards the launch of drilling on land in the occupied area of Cyprus have already completed, Yildiz added: "In 2012, alongside sea exploration, we will drill the first well in land? Turkey's only goal is to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots".
Taner Yildiz added also that the "agreement" signed between the occupation regime's "government" and TPAO, foresees that TPAO has license to conduct oil drilling research in seven areas of the breakaway regime, 6 offshore and 1.
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (02.01.12) reports on statements by the so-called minister of transportation and communication, Ersan Saner who has stated that a tender is to be opened within the first months of the new year (2012) for the illegal Tymbou airport, in order to be given to a private firm for a period of 20-25 years with the model of build-operate-transfer.
In statements to Ankara Anatolia' correspondent, Zuleyha Karaman, Ersan Saner said that the increasing number of travellers which are travelling to and from the illegal Ercan has reached two millions, and this, according to Saner has caused some problems. Saner said that in order for these problems to be solved, they decided to re-design the airport in order to provide the necessary services to the travellers.
Re-design and construction work of the illegal Ercan airport was planned to be given to a private firm, which would also operate the "airport" for a period of 20-25 years, said Saner and added that the preparations for the tender are in the final stage and expected to open during the first months of 2012.
Saying that the aim is the illegal Ercan airport to become an international airport with the best services, Ersan Saner reiterated his proposal to the "Greek Cypriot administration" [Translator's note: as he called the Republic of Cyprus] to commonly use the "smart" building which is located at the illegal Ercan airport in order to control together the airspace of the Republic of Cyprus.
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (02.01.12) under the above title writes that the first reaction by a politician to reports that police in the breakaway regime of the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus subjects people to torture, came from Izzet Izcan general secretary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP)
Izcan, in a press release, said that it is clear that people in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus are subjected to torture by the police of the breakaway regime. He added that "because TRNC is not a democratic regime there is continuously systematic torture".
Izcan also said that "a state of terror is applied in TRNC", adding that the implementation of this torture is protected by the "deep state".
Izcan said that "policemen" who are found to have committed torture should be suspended from their duties and be punished.
Under the front page title "Very important", Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (02.01.12) reports on statements by the former "minister of economy and finance", Salih Cosar who has said, inter alia, that the acceptance of the "properties of equivalent value" for mortgage, is an important implementation not only from an economic perspective but also from political one.
Evaluating to the newspaper the decision of the Turkish Garanti Bank (Garanti Bankasi), which operates in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, to accept for mortgage [Greek Cypriot] properties granted to Turkish Cypriots by the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the island, as "property of equivalent value" for property they abandoned in the government-controlled area of the island, Salih Cosar said that this implementation would speed-up the economy and would provide incentives to the industry.
Salih Cosar went on saying that after the decision of Garanti Bank, Isbank (Turkiye Is Bankasi) has also announced that it would accept as mortgage [Greek Cypriot] properties granted to Turkish Cypriots in the occupied area of the island, as "property of equivalent value".
Turkish daily Kibris (31.12.11) publishes the first part of an opinion poll conducted by KADEM research firm, on mass media in the occupied areas of Cyprus according to which Kibris daily is the most popular Turkish Cypriot newspaper.
According to the results of the opinion poll, Kibris is the most read newspaper with 83%, followed by Havadis with 22.9%, Yeni Duzen with 19.8%, Afrika with 18.2%, Halkin Sesi with 12.8%, Haberdar 7.8%, Star Kibris 6.6%, Kibrisli 6.5%, Vatan 5.5%, Volkan 4.8%, Gunes 3.9%, Demokrat Bakis 3.5% and Ortam with 2.3%.
Kibris' columnists are also among the most popular columnist in the occupied areas. The production director of Kibris Media Group, Resat Akar is the most read columnist with 35.9%, followed by Kibris news assistant manager Serhat Incirli with 31.2% and Hasan Hasturer of Haberdar with 28.3%.
The opinion poll was conducted by KADEM using a sample of 1000 persons over 18-year old in December 2011.
In addition, Turkish daily Kibris (01.01.12) publishes the second part of KADEM's opinion poll according to which illegal BRT is the most popular TV station with 59.4%, followed by Genc TV with 40.6%, Kibris TV with 29.7%, Kanal T with 27%, Ada TV with 22.4%, Kanal Sim with 18.8% and AS TV with 6.6%.
Again, the program hosted by the production director of Kibris Media Group, Resat Akar, is the most popular TV program watched by 33.3%, followed by "Harun Denizkan ile GAK TV" program with 23.5%.
Under the above title, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (30.12.11, online) reports on statements by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who slammed the Turkish government last Friday for what he called "an utter failure in foreign policy."
He especially took aim at Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who has been credited with engineering the "zero problems with neighbours" policy and is the author of the much-hyped book "Stratejik Derinlik" (Strategic Depth). "We have reached the point where we are in a quarrel with almost all of our neighbours. We have zero neighbours today. What kind of foreign policy is this? We are being increasingly isolated in the region. The balance of power is shifting against Turkey. Where is the strategic depth here, if there is any?" Kilicdaroglu asked of a group of reporters during a press briefing held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Ankara.
The CHP leader also criticized the government's engagement with Iran, saying Iranian influence is expanding at the expense of Turkey in the Middle East. "We made it easy for Iran to operate in other countries. With recent policy overtures, we have opened Syria wide to Iranian influence. Our relations with the Iraqi central government are not going well, either," Kilicdaroglu explained.
He accused the government of losing touch with the reality on the ground. "The government stays indifferent to criticisms raised by journalists on these issues," he added.
Stressing that Iran is gaining influence in the region by using religion, Kilicdaroglu said the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government's cozying up with Iran did not bring any benefit to Turkey. "We have recently heard threatening remarks from Iran, saying that Tehran will strike NATO's radar installation base in Kurecik [in the southern province of Malatya]. Is this friendship?" he demanded. "The winds in Syria are turning against Turkey. Iran may have been supplying arms and munitions to Syria," the CHP leader warned.
As for the gas drilling in the eastern Mediterranean by Greek Cypriots and Israel, Kilicdaroglu said he is concerned with the government's indifference on the issue. "They [government officials] issued harsh remarks against this before, but nothing actually happened," he said, likening it to the government's position on the genocide denial bill in France. "The ink was not even dry on the bill passed in the French parliament [when] the government minister came out and invited French companies to invest in Turkey," he said, referring to Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan's remarks last week. Caglayan said he welcomed French investment in Turkey despite the row over the genocide denial bill.
The CHP leader was also critical of the approval by the Turkish government for the passage of the Russian South Stream pipeline through its territorial waters. "Turkey effectively killed the [rival] Nabucco project with this act. We shot ourselves in the foot. We are now more dependent on Russia than ever before. We sacrificed Turkish interests," he lamented.
Kilicdaroglu also questioned a deal made with Russia over the price of natural gas supplied to Turkey. "Will the discount be permanent or temporary?" he asked. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz refused on Thursday to disclose by how much the world's largest natural gas producer had agreed to cut its prices for Turkey.
The CHP leader asked the government to explain why it did not renew its contract for gas supplies that come through the Western Pipeline. "This was the most lucrative deal for us. Why didn't we renew it? Is it possible the government wanted to provide this profitable business to the companies it favours? Why did the undersecretary of the Energy Ministry rush to Moscow, and then later the minister himself? We are awaiting explanations from the government on these issues," he stated.
Asked about his reaction to an incident Wednesday night in which Turkish warplanes mistakenly killed 35 smugglers and other villagers in an operation targeting the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Iraq, Kilicdaroglu said the buck stops with the government. "The government should explain and offer an apology. The minister should be sent to the region right away. The military says it acted on intelligence supplied to them. Who gave this intelligence? How can you claim to be a regional power in the Middle East when your country is experiencing intelligence chaos? Turkey has become a country where foreign agents roam freely," he remarked.
Turkish News agency Ankara Anatolia (AA, 01.01.12) reported from Istanbul that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Isma'il Haniyah, prime minister of the Palestinian Government in Gaza, at his residence in Uskudar, Istanbul.
According to an AA correspondent, during the meeting which lasted two hours and 35 minutes, Erdogan told Haniyah that "Turkey welcomes the efforts that have lately been intensified to bring about unity and solidarity between the Palestinians." Erdogan also expressed the hope that the efforts to restructure the PLO Temporary Leadership will be concluded as soon as possible.
During the meeting, in addition to the exchange of views with regard to regional issues, Haniyah and his delegation conveyed to the Turkish side information concerning the problems they have been experiencing as a result of the embargo imposed on the Gaza Strip. Haniyah also thanked Erdogan for his efforts toward the solution of the Palestinian problem and the lifting of the embargo targeting the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, Health Ministers of the sides discussed during the meeting the possible assistance Turkey can extend to Palestine on the subject of health.
Under the above title, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (02.01.12, online) reports that Turkey's Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan announced today that the country's exports reached $134.6 billion in 2011.
Caglayan said Turkish exports were up 18.2% in 2011 compared with the previous year. "It is a record in the history of the Turkish Republic," Caglayan told reporters in Ankara, noting that exports in December 2011 had increased by 4.5% and hit $12.1 billion when compared with the same month of 2010. Caglayan also added that the new data indicates Turkey has returned to pre-economic crisis levels of exports. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio
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