1
TURKISH PRESS
AND OTHER MEDIA
No. 25/10 06-08.02.10
A. NEWS ITEMS
1. Talat evaluates his contacts in Brussels
2. More on Eroglu’s contacts in the UK; They are getting ready to file lawsuits for the Turkish Cypriot missing people
3. Eroglu argues that judiciary is the only issue on which agreement was reached in the Cyprus talks; Statements prior to his return from London
4. Ozdil Nami alleges that the Turkish Cypriot side will do its share for a concrete progress in three chapters to be achieved by March
5. Turkey’s Education Minister holds contacts in occupied Cyprus
6. Reports say that Turkey looks positively at the election of Ertugruloglu to the post of the chairman of the UBP in the place of Eroglu and that Talat seems to have completed his mission for Turkey
7. Serdar Denktas says the DP will not support Eroglu in the “elections”
8. Turkish Cypriot associations in Germany will launch a campaign for gathering fifty thousand signatures to be conveyed to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs
9. Yeni Volkan alleges that the occupied closed city Varosha will soon be returned to its legal Greek Cypriot owners
10. Huge investment in occupied Galateia village by a Turkish Cypriot who lived in the UK
11. The chairman of the illegal DAU chairs the “Think-Tank Forum of the Islamic Countries”
12. Davutoglu’s intensive diplomacy traffic in Munich
13. Turkey’s Erdogan met with the US Defence Secretary in Ankara
14. Gul to be the first Turkish President in 15 years to visit India
15. Highlights of 2009 Media Monitoring Report in Turkey
A. NEWS ITEMS
1.Talat evaluates his contacts in Brussels
Illegal Bayrak television (06.02.10) broadcast the following from occupied Lefkosia:
“President Mehmet Ali Talat said that the future of the Turks of Cyprus lay with becoming part of the European Union, integrating with the rest of the world and settling the Cyprus Problem.
The President, who completed his contacts in Brussels, returned to the TurkishRepublic of Northern Cyprus last night. Speaking upon his arrival at Ercan [illegal Tymvou] Airport, the President evaluated his meeting with the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek. Explaining that it had been three years since he had met the President of the European Parliament, Talat said that he had briefed the President of the European Parliament on the Turkish side’s positions and expectations regarding the ongoing negotiations.
Talat said that he had also conveyed to Buzek his expectations from the European Parliament and listed these as the declaration of Turkish as an official language by the European Parliament, the establishment of TRNC-EP Joint Parliamentary Committee and the direct representation of the TRNC at the Parliament as envisaged in the Annan Plan. Stating that they had discussed ways of easing the international isolation of the Turks of Cyprus during the meeting, the President explained that the Greek Cypriot Administration’s EU membership posed a serious obstacle in achieving this.
Touching upon his other contacts, the President said that he had discussed with the Director General for Enlargement Michael Leigh issues concerning the implementation of the Green Line Regulation as well as direct trade. As for his meeting with the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Turkey, Dutch MEP Ria Oomen Ruijten, the President said that he had conveyed the Turkish Side’s objections and concerns regarding areas in Turkey’s report concerning Cyprus. Talat expressed the view that the inclusion of issues being negotiated in the talks in the report was dangerous.
The President also described the conference he delivered in Brussels titled “A turning point in the Cyprus negotiations” as useful and productive.”
Furthermore, Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.02.10) reported the following:
“The Turkish Cypriot president foresaw on Friday his country's future in integration with the world. President Mehmet Ali Talat of the TurkishRepublic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said the secure future of Turkish Cypriot people lied in integration with the world and accession to the European Union (EU).
‘We can ensure this future by settling the Cyprus problem’, Talat told reporters on his way back from Brussels, Belgium. Talat defined his talks in Brussels fruitful, and said European Parliament's (EP) President Jersy Buzek was willing to visit the island.
President Talat also met Michael Leigh, the director general of the EU for enlargement, and EP's Turkey rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten. During his meetings with EU executives, Talat debated implementation of direct trade regulation and the Green Line Regulation and expressed his concerns over the paragraphs of a draft EP resolution regarding Turkey which referred to Cyprus problem. ‘Ratification of such a report by the EP, which wants to contribute to settlement of Cyprus problem, will hamper its impartiality’, Talat said. However, he did not think the EU could be impartial because it included only the Greek Cypriot side of the island, he said.
Talat also delivered a speech on Cyprus controversy during a breakfast at the European Policy Centre on the sidelines of his visit to Brussels.”
Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.02.10) reported the following from Brussels:
“President Mehmet Ali Talat of the TurkishRepublic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) warned that EU institutions had further complicated efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue by being involved in the process without having detailed information about the issue.
Speaking at a meeting at the think-tank organization, the European Policy Centre, in Brussels, President Talat reacted strongly to the European Parliament's draft about Turkey in which the European Parliament called on Turkey to start withdrawing its soldiers from the island, open Maras [closed Varosha area] region to the Greek Cypriots and to resolve the issue of Turkish citizens who settled in northern Cyprus.
‘The EU institutions have failed to keep their promise to lift isolations on Turkish Cypriot people who voted in favour of the Annan Plan in the twin referendum on the island. EU institutions have complicated efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue by being involved in the process without having detailed information about the issue. Foreign interventions must be unbiased and they should encourage the parties to find a solution. But the EU is not constructive about the Cyprus issue. The EU accepted the Greek Cypriot administration as a full member before the Cyprus issue was resolved. Therefore, it does not have the right to play a political role in the Cyprus issue now. If it really wants a solution, it should urge Greek Cypriots to contribute to a solution and lift isolations on the TRNC’.
‘More than 90 percent of Turkish Cypriots expressed their confidence in the EU in a public survey in 2002. This rate, today, dropped sharply since the EU failed to keep its promises. Also, Greek Cypriots occupied two seats allocated by the European Parliament for Turkish Cypriots’, he said.
‘It was not the Turkish army which led to the Cyprus issue. Turkish army dispatched troops to the island because there was a problem. If we reach a solution, Turkey will withdraw its troops from the island’, he said.
President Talat also gave the message they were not planning to halt the process of intensified talks because of the upcoming presidential election in the TRNC in April.”
2.More on Eroglu’s contacts in the UK; They are getting ready to file lawsuits forthe Turkish Cypriot missing people
Illegal Bayrak television (06.02.10) broadcast the following:
“Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu is continuing his contacts in London. Today, Mr Eroglu embarked on his contacts with a visit to the AliDegirmenciogluTurkishSchool. Later, he came together with Turkish journalists at a lunch. In the afternoon, Mr Eroglu attended a meeting organized by the London based Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce.
Yesterday, the TRNC Premier came together with Lord Magginis and Lord Sheih, both of whom are members of the House of Lords. Evaluating his meetings, Mr Eroglu said he was happy to have had the chance to come together with friends from the House of Lords who he said had asked important questions about the Cyprus issue. ‘It is pleasing to see people, who see the realities of the Cyprus issue, express their sensibility on the Cyprus issue’, he added.
Following his contacts at the House of Lords, Mr Eroglu then attended a program at the London Turkish Radio in Wood Green and later inaugurated a business owned by a Cypriot Turk in Edmonton. Many guests, including TRNC London Representative Kemal Koprulu, Mayor of Enfield Eleftherios Savva as well as a large number of Turks of Cyprus living in London attended the inauguration ceremony. In the evening, Mr Eroglu came together with Cyprus Turkish Businessmen in London at a dinner.”
Meanwhile, illegal Bayrak television (05.02.10) reports the following:
“Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu has said that he is asking the support of his people, not the European Union or the Greek Cypriot Leader, in April’s Presidential elections in the TRNC.
The Prime Minister was addressing a crowd of Turks living in Britain at a meeting organized in Wood Green by the London-based Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce.In his speech, Prime Minister Eroglu underlined the need to take the realities on the island into consideration while negotiating a settlement to the Cyprus problem.Criticizing those who branded him as ‘intransigent’ for saying that he would not cede an inch of land, the Premier asked ‘is there a Prime Minister in any country who accepts to give land? Am I guilty of rejecting to strip away our land’?
Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot Leader Christofias was portrayed as an ‘angel of peace’ when he came to power after Papadopoulos, he said ‘it shouldn’t be forgotten that Christofias was in support of Papadopoulos’ during the 2004 referenda.The Premier stressed that Turkey is not an occupying force in Cyprus and that it is the Greek Cypriots who have an occupying administration on the island, adding that the United Nations is keeping a close eye on this issue.He also complained that the European Union committed a crime by accepting the Greek Cypriots into the Block, a move which he said, was the reason behind the continuation of the Cyprus problem.
Responding to a question, Mr Eroglu said he would continue the negotiations with the Greek Cypriot Side with the aim of bringing about an agreement that will satisfy the Cyprus Turkish People, and not the Greek Cypriot Leader.”
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (06.02.10) reports that Mr Eroglu also stated that they are getting ready to file lawsuits forthe Turkish Cypriot missing people and for the Turkish Cypriot properties in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.
3. Eroglu argues that judiciary is the only issue on which agreement was reached in the Cyprus talks; Statements prior to his return from London
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (08.02.10) reports that Dervis Eroglu, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of Cyprus, has responded to statements reportedly made by President Christofias regarding the forthcoming “elections” in the occupied areas of the island and alleged that trying to direct the will of the Turkish Cypriot “people” is “a shame and wrong”.
In statements to journalists in London, Mr Eroglu was asked how he will deal with the issues on which agreement has been reached during the Cyprus talks. He said: “There is only one issue on which agreement has been reached and this is the issue of the judiciary. If this has been accepted, I accept it, I am not going to say let us negotiate it again.” Mr Eroglu argued that no agreement has been achieved on issues such as the governance and power sharing, the EU, the economy, the property, the territory and the guarantees. “Therefore, they have agreed on almost absolutely no issue, in order for me to come and reject the issues which are agreed.”
Mr Eroglu reiterated his view that “the reality of the state” should be the starting point at the negotiating table and alleged: “If a person who lives in the TRNC does not see that he lives under the roof of a state, he cannot be successful at that negotiating table.”
Mr Eroglu said that President Christofias exerts efforts to present the “TRNC” as a community and not as a state and added: “If both sides accept that they are equal, an agreement can be reached at the negotiating table.”
Mr Eroglu noted that if he is “elected”, he will be the head of the negotiating team of the Turkish Cypriot side, but he could make some changes of persons in this team.
Mr Eroglu noted that the officials of Turkey must state to the world that they support the person who carries out the negotiations and this is why they do it. He said that this does not mean that they support Mr Talat in the “elections”. He said: “However, those who are in the government in Turkey must state in front of the outside world that they support the person who sits at the negotiating table. Otherwise, Turkey might face the accusation that it does not want a solution.”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (08.02.10) reports that Mr Eroglu returned to the island last night.
In addition, illegal Bayrak television (07.02.10) broadcast the following:
“Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu has completed his London visit.He is expected to return to the Republic tonight. Yesterday the Prime Minister came together with Turkish journalists at a working lunch. Speaking here, the Prime Minister answered journalists’ questions regarding the Cyprus negotiations process.
He informed them that the Turkish side was continuing at the negotiations process with good will but added that the Greek Cypriot side was still continuing with its no campaign. Noting that the Turkish side had been greatly disappointed with the outcome of the Annan plan, Eroglu said ‘the side that said no was rewarded. But the Cyprus Turks are now evaluating the messages that are coming from abroad quite well. They only trust themselves and motherland Turkey’.
Upon being asked a question about whether his party was at the extremes and claims that Turkey will never support such a party, Prime Minister Eroglu retorted ‘neither I nor my party are at the extremes, as the Prime Minister I must stand up for our statehood’. Noting that the reality that the TurkishRepublic of Northern Cyprus exists cannot be ignored Mr Eroglu added that ‘if a person cannot understand that the place he is living in has its own statehood then that person cannot be successful during the negotiations process’. ‘If I were at the negotiating table I would see myself as an equal to the Greek Cypriot side. I too have a state. Christofias is trying to create an atmosphere that we are a community and nothing more’ said the Prime Minister.
Explaining that he would continue to support President Mehmet Ali Talat during the Cyprus negotiations process, Mr Eroglu said ‘we have extended our support but that does not mean that we will allow him to do everything’.
Noting that it was only natural that Turkey supported and defended President Talat at the negotiating table against the rest of the world, Eroglu clarified ‘this does not mean that Turkey will be supporting Talat during the Presidential elections’.
Upon being asked a question regarding who will become the prime minister and party leader if he were to be chosen as President, Mr Eroglu replied ‘I am running for the Presidential seat, I’m sure there are some friends who want to become the party leader but I cannot think about this now. When the time comes we will sit down and discuss this’.
Upon being reminded that Demetris Christofias had expressed his support for Mehmet Ali Talat for the upcoming presidential elections, Mr Eroglu replied ‘the Turks of Cyprus will choose who will become president. It is rude to interfere in the peoples’ choice’.”
(I/Ts.)
4. Ozdil Nami alleges that the Turkish Cypriot side will do its share for a concrete progress in three chapters to be achieved by March
Under the title “No one has the luxury to leave from the table”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (07.02.10) publishes an interview by Ozdil Nami, special envoy of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat.
Replying to questions on the Cyprus problem and the progress achieved at the negotiations so far,Mr Nami alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side will do its share for a concrete progress in three chapters to be achieved by March.
Mr Nami also alleged that the Turkish side is waiting for a reply by the Greek Cypriot side on a proposal submitted for the re-launching of the negotiations on Monday --a proposal which was conveyed to President Demetris Christofias by Presidential Commissioner, George Iacovou, as Mr Nami said-- and added that no one has the luxury to leave from the table of the negotiations.
Noting that the chapter over property is considered to be the most difficult one, Mr Nami said that the issue is very complicated and alleged that a formula is necessary to be found on the issue.