Turkish Cypriot press review 10.02.2010

Statements by Hasan Ercakica on the Cyprus problem and the withdrawal of EDEK from the government, the application of the Orams couple to demolish the villa they built in Laptihos, visits of Mehmet Ali Talat to political parties asking for their support in the “elections” and other internal issues are the main topics covered by the Turkish Cypriot press today. 

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.02.10) reports that Hasan Ercakica, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat, has evaluated the withdrawal of socialist party EDEK from the government of the Republic of Cyprus and argued that “the extremists or the opponents of peace in the Greek Cypriot side” could not endure the progress in the negotiating process. In statements during his weekly press conference yesterday, Mr Ercakica alleged that in spite of the fact that this development could cause some delay in the short term, in the long term it should make it easier for the Greek Cypriot side to take some decisions in the Cyprus talks. He alleged that EDEK has for many years been exhibiting a stance against the solution and in favor of the continuation of the status quo on the island. Mr Ercakica claimed that progress has been achieved in the negotiations and we have reached to points where decisions should be taken now. He alleged that when we came to the point of talking decisions, the status quo in the Greek Cypriot side snaps and that the “political storm” which is experienced now is a sign for this.    

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (10.02.10) reports that Adnan Polat, President of the Turkish Galatasaray Football Club and Adnan Sezgin, General Director of the club, who visited the occupied areas of Cyprus, met the night before yesterday with Dervis Eroglu, Huseyin Ozgurgun, Kemal Durust, Ilkay Kamil and Hamza Saner, self-styled prime minister and “ministers” of foreign affairs, sports, interior and tourism respectively. In statements to the press after the meeting, Mr Eroglu said that they will feel honored because Galatasaray will make investments in the occupied areas of Cyprus and added that the investments, which Galatasaray will start, will be a message to the other clubs. Mr Eroglu described as “unacceptable” the so-called sports embargo implemented on the breakaway regime by FIFA and alleged: “I hope FIFA gives up the shameful sports embargo it implements on us. And the investments of Galatasaray will be a message”.

In his statements, the President of Galatasaray, Mr Polat said that the reason for which they visited the occupied areas of Cyprus is to make “sporting investments”. “We want to give the message to the whole world that an embargo in sports is a shame”, he argued. Asked what they will do if the Greek Cypriots react against the fact that Galatasaray will make investments in the occupied areas of Cyprus, Mr Polat answered: “If the Greek Cypriots react, we will show the necessary stance. I do not think that the Greek Cypriots will be annoyed from the fact that Galatasaray will come and make sports facilities. On the contrary, it seems to me that they will be satisfied. Let the Greek Cypriots come also and make sports…” 

Under the title “The Greek Cypriots acted before the ECHR”, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (10.02.10) reports that the government of the Republic of Cyprus has been panicked after the application of Turkish Cypriot Nazire Sofi to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The paper writes that the government of Cyprus will return to Mrs Sofi her house in Larnaka and pay to her 540 thousand euro as compensation.

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (10.02.10) refers to the issue under the title “The match is 1-1 on the property issue”.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.02.10) refers to the issue under the title “New period in the property issue”.

Under the title “Turgay Avci is also in Ankara today”, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (10.02.10) reports that Turgay Avci, leader of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), is visiting Ankara today in order to have a meeting with Cemil Cicek, Turkish State Minister responsible for Cyprus. The paper writes that “the climate is warming up” 79 days before the so-called elections in the occupied areas of Cyprus and that after Tahsin Ertugruloglu, “MP” with the National Unity Party (UBP), Mr Avci has also been invited to Ankara. The paper notes that Mr Avci confirmed the invitation, but he did not want to refer to the names of the persons he will meet. Avci stated the following to Star Kibris: “As ORP we know that we cannot even breathe without the motherland. You should wait for the reason and the results of my visit”.

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (10.02.10) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat started visiting the political parties in the occupied areas of Cyprus in order to ask for their support in the forthcoming “presidential elections”. Within this framework Mr Talat met yesterday with the Social Democracy Party (TDP) and the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) and asked for their support. Mehmet Cakici, leader of the TDP, said that this week the organs of the party will convene and decide whether they will support Mr Talat or another candidate who is in favor of the solution of the Cyprus problem. Turgay Avci, leader of the ORP said that the vision of his party for the solution is in parallel with Turkey’s policy regarding Cyprus. “We will evaluate the demand for providing support in our competent organs”, he noted.

Under the title “He is sounding out the ground”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.02.10) reports that during the meetings with the DTP and ORP, Mr Talat stated that he will be an independent candidate in the “elections” on 18 April.  Responding to a question after his meeting at the TDP, Mr Talat said that he will announce his “candidature” in the light of the contacts he will be holding within the next few days. Responding to another question, Mr Talat noted that they have not yet determined the time for the recommencement of the Cyprus talks, which were interrupted after the visit of the UN Secretary-General to the island and explained that the representatives of the leaders are working on this issue. He added: “However, some developments happened in the Greek Cypriot side. EDEK withdrew from the government. DIKO is also making an evaluation. Therefore, we do not know if this situation will have an influence [on the talks]. We will see this, but there is no date yet”.

Moreover, referring to Mr Talat’s “candidature” and the statements made in London by the Turkish Chief negotiator with the EU, Egemen Bagis, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (10.02.10) reports that Ankara has put Mr Talat into a difficult situation because it did not give him the support he was hoping for. Referring to Mr Bagis’ statement that Ankara is ready to work with whoever is “elected” by the Turkish Cypriots, the paper writes that Turkey is giving the message that it is ready to work with Mr Eroglu. 

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.02.10) reports that ambassador Nezihi Ozkaya, chief advisor on Cyprus at the Turkish Prime Minister’s office, is illegally visiting the occupied areas of the island. Mr Ozkaya met yesterday with the self-styled prime minister Dervis Eroglu. The so-called ambassador of Turkey to the occupied part of Lefkosia, Sakir Fakili, was also present at the meeting. No statements were made after the meeting. 

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (10.02.10) reports that the Orams couple filed an application yesterday at the “ministry of interior” in order to demolish the villa they have illegally built on the property of Greek Cypriot Meletis Apostolides in occupied Lapithos village. The self-styled minister of interior stated to the paper that in this manner the Oramses have fulfilled the decision of the British Court of Appeals, but he will not implement this decision. He said: “The Orams couple did what they should do on their part by asking for a permit for the demolition of the villa in accordance with the court decision. The responsibility has now moved out from them and came to the government and the state of the TRNC”. Mr Kamil said that the breakaway regime is challenging the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the British High Court and the Greek Cypriot Courts.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.02.10) reports that the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot consumers’ association, Hasan Yilmaz Isik met yesterday with the self-styled minister of economy and energy, Sunat Atun and asked from him to convince Turkey for printing a “TRNC” currency unit which will be indexed with euro.

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (10.02.10) (CTP) publishes information about the candidates of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) in three “municipalities” for the forthcoming “municipality elections” in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. According to the paper, Semavi Asik, Ahmet Benli and Fatma Ekenoglu, former “speaker of the assembly”, will be the “candidates” of the CTP for the Lefkosia, Kioneli and Morfou “municipalities” respectively.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (10.02.10) reports that 1016 persons graduated from the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University (“DAU”) during a graduation ceremony that took place yesterday. According to the paper, the graduates come from 25 countries.  With yesterday’s ceremony the number of the persons who graduated from DAU reached 30 thousand.