Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-24.04.18
No. 78/18
Contents
2. “Ankara does not trust Akinci”
3. Reaction by the “non-parliamentary parties” on Cavusoglu’s visit
4. Three foreign students were arrested for taking pictures of the fence off Varosha city
5. The “3rd international conference on Banking and Finance Perspectives”
8. Erdogan set to visit Uzbekistan and South Korea to discuss investments and projects
9. Azerbaijani President Aliyev set to pay official visit to Ankara
1. Akinci describes as “speculations” the information regarding the discussions during his meeting with Cavusoglu
Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (24.04.18) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has described as “speculations” the information published in the Turkish Cypriot press regarding the content of the discussions during the meeting held on Friday in the occupied area of Cyprus with the participation of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and the leaders of the political parties represented in the “assembly”. Under the title “What happened to the ‘transparency’ principle?” the paper writes that addressing yesterday the celebrations on the occasion of the “Children’s Day” in the occupied part of Nicosia, Akinci refrained from making a detailed statement on the issue and the information that during the above-mentioned meeting they discussed the confederation and the two-state solution for the Cyprus problem. The paper recalls that no official statement has been made on this issue, adding that this causes “increase of the ‘speculations’ on the issue”.
The paper reports that yesterday Akinci alleged that the Turkish Cypriots had always pursued the protection of their rights and living in equality, freedom and security. “Today we are at the same point. We do not demand anything beyond our rights”, he claimed and accused the Greek Cypriot side of committing “big mistakes” for many years and of not knowing where to stop.
“If the island is still divided, these are situations created by the Greek Cypriot leadership, which did not know where to stop”, he alleged and claimed that today they also do not demand anything more than their rights and to live in equality, freedom and security on this island.
Arguing that while they seek for what is reasonable on these lands, they should be “very careful”, Akinci added: “During this period, through which we are passing, we do not have the luxury of being divided. We do not have the luxury to quarrel with each other for this course. During the past few days some speculations are being made […]. I would not like to refer to these on such a day, but because of the importance I attach to the issue, I could not leave it not underlined even on such a day […]”.
(I/Ts.)
2. “Ankara does not trust Akinci”
Under the above title, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper’s (24.04.18) editor-in-chief, Sener Levent reports that the fact that during the meeting held last Friday in the occupied area of Cyprus Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci had indisputably rejected the proposal regarding the solution of confederation for the Cyprus problem caused Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s displeasure. Levent notes the following:
“[…] Akinci, they say, went to the dinner with Anastasiades without securing Ankara’s approval. And Ankara is very angry for this. Mevlut Cavusoglu was so annoyed that, because of this, he annulled the press conference he would have held before coming to the island. He was offended when he came to the island. Can you think about it? Our leader will go to dinner with the Greek Cypriot leader. And he takes Ankara’s approval for this as well. […]
Ankara does not trust Akinci anymore. With its actions it reveals that it does not trust him. Why does Cavusoglu ask for the bilateral contacts to stop in Cyprus until the 24 June elections in Turkey? He will demand this, they say, from Guterres in New York! Why? What relation do our solution negotiations have with the elections in Turkey? Is Cavusoglu worried that he will not be able to adequately care about the situation in Cyprus during this election period? Or is he afraid that Akinci will again take a step without asking them? Is he trying to prevent Akinci from acting alone because he has lost his trust in him?
Our relations with Turkey are exactly at this point. And Akinci saw this. Moreover, I think that he also saw the dangers which are expecting us. Even if Akinci succeeds in stopping Ankara’s dreams for two states until 2020, he will not be able to prevent them from that point on. Ankara has prepared from now its team, which will be able to do what Akinci did not do. If Akinci does not put the two states on the table, Kudret Ozersay will. I do not think that Akinci will be a candidate again in 2020. Even if he is, he will not be able to win […]”
(I/Ts.)
3. Reaction by the “non-parliamentary parties” on Cavusoglu’s visit
Under the title “They impose the non-solution!”, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (24.04.18) reports that the Turkish Cypriot political parties, which are not represented in the “parliament” reacted in the efforts of searching a model for the Cyprus settlement other than the federal solution. The issue came into the agenda once more with the illegal visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in the occupied area of Cyprus.
Salih Sonustun, general secretary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), said that Turkey is hiding behind of some things and supports a secessionist structure in the island. “This Turkey’s policy coincides with the policy of the governments established in the TRNC”, he noted, adding that Akinci, however, has begun to go out of the manifest he gave to the community. “We should never go out from the federal Cyprus. We should stand against the separatist policies of Turkey and Akinci”, Sonustun said.
Alpay Durduran, secretary of foreign affairs of the New Cyprus party (YKP), argued that Turkey’s statements from time to time on confederation is an effort to “create a stir”. He further said: “They are making these statements, as if there are many alternatives to solve the Cyprus problem” and referred to the UN Resolutions for the Cyprus settlement.
Sonay Adem, general secretary of the Communal Liberation party – New Forces (TKP-YG), said that they are trying to bring into the agenda the non-solution by removing from the agenda the federal solution, which has been accepted by the whole world as the solution model for Cyprus. He added that this is unacceptable. He further noted that moving away from the federal solution model, which is accepted by the whole world and especially the five permanent representatives of the UNSC, means that the Cyprus problem will remain unsolved for 50 years more.
(DPs)
4. Three foreign students were arrested for taking pictures of the fence off Varosha city
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (24.04.18) reports that three students, one from Poland and two from Leetonia were arrested for taking pictures of the fence off Varosha city.
The students were kept “under arrest” for three days and were brought in front of a “military court” yesterday where they admitted that they took pictures. They will be brought in front of a “military court” again today. The students’ names are Vladislaus Filipous, Rihards Ostravskis and Kaja Viktoria.
According to a post of journalist Esra Aygin, in social media, the so-called foreign minister Kudret Ozersay took the initiative to meet with the students and to arrange for them to meet with Polish officials from the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.
The paper further reports on the issue under the title: “The revenge of the snakes in Varosha”, and writes that persons who are taking pictures of the city are put under arrest despite the fact that pictures of the city are taken by satellites and nothing remains a secret anymore at the area. The paper also reminds that a delegation of the European Parliament is planning to visit Varosha on the first week of May and wonders if “a permission will be granted” to them for this reason.
(CS)
5. The “3rd international conference on Banking and Finance Perspectives”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.04.18) reports that the “department of banking and finance” of the “Eastern Mediterranean university” (“DAU”) is organising the 3rd international conference on “Banking and Finance Perspectives” (ICBFP-2018) that will take place between 25-27 of April 2018.
The conference will host around 150 specialist academicians on banking and finance issues from 23 different countries.
The paper also reports that the opening speech will be made by self-styled minister of economy and energy Ozdil Nami and the keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Philip Molyneux, University of Sharjah, UAE, on “Developments in Banking Research and Areas for Future Study”.
(DPs)
6. International scale short film festival will take place in the breakaway regime between 18-22 of May
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (24.04.18) writes in the “Afrika’dan mektup” (Letter from Afrika) column that an international scale short film festival will take place in the breakaway regime between 18-22 of May.
The festival is organized by the “Cyprus Independent Film Association” and around 110 countries will participate in it and more than 3,000 will compete in the festival . According to the paper, USA, UK, France, Russia and other countries from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and Australia will participate in the festival.
(CS)
7. Turkey seeks approval for polling stations in Germany; German Foreign Minister: “Campaigning for a foreign country’s election is not allowed in Germany”
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (23.4.18, https://aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkey-seeks-approval-for-polling-stations-in-germany/1126057), Turkey has made a formal request to Germany for setting up polling stations at Turkish consulates for the June 24 early polls, officials said on Monday.
Around 1.4 million Turkish immigrants living in Germany are eligible to vote in Turkey’s parliamentary and presidential elections.
If German authorities positively respond to Ankara’s request, Turkish immigrants will cast their ballots from June 4-17 at the Turkish Consulates and other polling stations, officials have said. In the case of a second round of voting for presidential elections, Turkish citizens will be able to cast their votes from June 30 to July 4, according to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
In March last year, more than 697,000 Turkish immigrants in Germany went to the polls in Turkey’s constitutional referendum that proposed a transition to a presidential system. The voter turnout was 49%.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (23.04.18, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/german-fm-says-he-hopes-dispute-with-turkey-over-election-campaigns-doesnt-repeat-130730) reported that German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on April 23 said he hopes a dispute between Germany and Turkey over elections campaigning in Germany doesn’t repeat. “[Such as dispute] isn’t beneficial for either side,” Maas said, speaking on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Toronto.
Maas said a foreign country’s election campaigning is not allowed in Germany three months before the elections. He said rules apply to all countries, and is not specific to Turkey. “Our stance in this regard is firm. Campaigning for a foreign country’s elections in Germany is not allowed after three months are left before the elections,” Maas said. “That’s true, and that applies to everyone, regardless of where they come from,” he added.
Maas said he hopes, however, that the ban will not lead to a new dispute with Turkey. “I do not want that, and I do not wish that to anyone involved,” he said.
However, to Maas’s disappointment, a dispute could erupt between the two countries if the European country Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to as a planned campaigning ground on April 22 turns out to be Germany. “Our preparations abroad are most likely complete by now. I will not name the country where, but I will be addressing Turkish citizens at an indoors gym with a capacity to hold around 10-11,000 [people],” Erdogan said. “Most likely, we will be gathering Europe there and, God willing, we will make our address,” he added.
On the other hand, according to the German news agency DPA, Maas and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu are set to attend the U.N. General Assembly High Level Meeting in New York on April 24 and 25. There, the two top diplomats are set to hold a bilateral meeting for the first time.
8. Erdogan set to visit Uzbekistan and South Korea to discuss investments and projects
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (23.04.18, https://www.dailysabah.com/business/2018/04/24/erdogan-set-to-visit-uzbekistan-south-korea-discuss-investments-projects) reported that Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to pay official visits to Uzbekistan and South Korea next week.
The visits, set to take place on April 29-May 3, will focus on regional ties, while the economy is set to be the main topic on the agenda. Erdogan, who will first go to Tashkent, will meet Uzbekistan's President Shevket Mirziyoyev.
According to a report in the Turkish daily Hurriyet, Erdogan's agenda will be the investments to be made in Uzbekistan after the country's decision to open out its economy. The Turkish President gave the first sign of huge investments in Uzbekistan during Mirziyoyev's visit to Ankara in the recent months.
"I hope we will achieve this with our common projects in the field of tourism. We will carry out a giant project for ski tourism there with a Turkish contractor," President Erdogan said.
Besides the cultural and tourism investments, investment infrastructures in agriculture and the food industry, construction materials, food processing and agricultural machinery, automotive main and subindustry, textile, pharmaceutical industry, chemistry and mining will be among the other topics to be discussed during President Erdogan's contacts in Uzbekistan. Erdogan's second stop will be South Korea, one of the world's largest economies. The Turkish President, who will be hosted by South Korean President Moon Jae-in will evaluate regional issues and bilateral relations with his counterpart.
Erdogan, who will also attend the Turkey-South Korea Business Forum in Seoul, is expected to meet with giant companies in the country, including Samsung, LG, Hyundai, LG, Hyundai, Daewoo, Daelim, Hanwha, Seoyon, which produces interior parts for many automobile companies, and Hana Investment Bank. Many of these giant companies with annual market volumes totalling a trillion of dollars have serious investments in Turkey.
9. Azerbaijani President Aliyev set to pay official visit to Ankara
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (23.04.18, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/azerbaijani-president-aliyev-set-to-pay-official-visit-to-ankara-130777), Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is set to pay an official visit to Turkey on April 24, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
The Turkish presidency said the official visit would take place on April 24-25 in a statement released on April 23.
During his visit, Aliyev is expected to hold the seventh Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting together with his Turkish counterpart President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Aliyev’s visit will be his first foreign trip after his fourth re-election on April 11.
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(DPs/ AM)
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