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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-08-23
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No.159/13
23/08/2013
[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS
[01] Survey shows that occupied Famagusta's inhabitants want return of
Varosha to its legal owners and opening of Famagusta port
[02] Erk alleges that the Greek Cypriot side tries to create an
"artificial agenda" on the issue of occupied fenced Varosha
[03] Eroglu said that if a precondition comes up in the Cyprus talks,
then a problem may occur
[04] Efforts for establishing a "coalition government" continue; "All
roads lead to Ankara"
[05] "YDU" became a member of the European Law Faculties Association
(ELFA)
[06] Turkey recalls US 'red lines' on Syrian crisis
[07] Erdogan breaks into tears over slain young Egyptian girl
[08] UAE drags feet on huge energy project in Turkey
[09] Columnist argues that the attack against Ihsanoglu was due to
internal political gains out in AKP
[10] Turkey's constitution commission unable to agree on Article 4
[11] Turkish daily Sabah files suit against columnist
[01] Survey shows that occupied Famagusta's inhabitants want return of
Varosha to its legal owners and opening of the Famagusta port
Under the title "Varosha must be returned to is legal owners", Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.08.13) reports that the Initiative for
Famagusta announced yesterday the results of a survey according to which
73% of the inhabitants of occupied Famagusta expressed their support to
the opening of Varosha and Famagusta port for international trade the
soonest and the return of the occupied fenced city of Varosha's to its
legal owners.
Representatives of the initiative held yesterday a press conference at
the Home for Cooperation in the buffer zone in Nicosia and announced
the results of the survey regarding Varosha and the port of Famagusta.
Speaking on behalf of the Initiative, Okan Dagli said that the majority
of the participants in the survey expressed the view that the "proposal
as regards Varosha and the ports" would positively influence the
comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that this result
refutes the position that "the opening of Varosha would decrease the
belief in a solution".
Dagli recalled that the Initiative for Famagusta was established
three years ago in the area of Famagusta, taking into consideration
the non-solution in Cyprus and having the aim of producing a "Peace
Project". He said that it would be impossible to produce a solution to
the problem in a process during which the communities do not participate,
cannot cooperate in various fields and cannot hold contacts. Dagli noted
that the area of Famagusta could potentially contribute in inter-communal
cooperation and approach in the economic, social and cultural fields.
Dagli argued that the people living in Famagusta's north and south wish
a solution more than the people living in other areas and expressed
the view that this is shown by the results of the referendum [in 2004]
and the bi-communal activities.
Noting that the demilitarization of occupied fenced Varosha and its
return to its legal owners under UN administration would pave the way
for economic, social and cultural cooperation, Dagli said that this
cooperation could play the role of catalyzer in the solution of the
Cyprus problem.
Dagli went on and argued: "We find deficient and insufficient the
statements by the Greek Cypriot leadership that says 'make a gesture by
returning Varosha to us' or by the Turkish Cypriot leadership that says
'Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution'. Both Famagusta port
and Varosha have potentials that could pave the way for cooperation
and economic development of the two communities without waiting for
a solution?"
Dagli said that the survey was conducted between 31 July and 5 August 2013
by "Kibrisim Call Centre" under the coordination of Muharrem Amcazade
among people living in Famagusta area. The survey was conducted through
telephone interviews with the participation of 403 persons older than 18.
According to the paper, 73% of the participants in the survey said that
the port of Famagusta and Varosha must open for international trade
and the settlement of its legal owners the soonest. Only 4% of the
participants said they definitely oppose to this development.
When asked to express their position on the view that "if a solution
to the Cyprus problem is not found, the port of Famagusta and Varosha
should remain in their current situation", 50% said they do not agree
with this view, 3% said they definitely agree and 37 % said they agree.
Asked what they expected from the opening of Varosha and Famagusta port
to international trade, 4% said that this will cause deterioration of
their economic problems and unemployment, 2% said that it will have no
influence, and 90% said the situation as regards the economic problems
and unemployment in the area will be improved.
Asked about the influence of the opening of the port of Famagusta
and Varosha for international trade on the relations between the two
communities, 59.3% of the participants in the survey said that it will
have positive influence, 23% argued that it will have negative influence
and 13% expressed the view that it will have no influence.
Asked about the influence of the same development on the Cyprus problem,
58% of the participants in the survey said that this will have positive
influence on the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, 15%
noted that this will have negative influence and 11% said that it will
have no influence.
(I/Ts.)
[02] Erk alleges that the Greek Cypriot side tries to create an
"artificial agenda" on the issue of occupied fenced Varosha
Under the title "They do not prefer peace", Turkish Cypriot daily Star
Kibris newspaper (23.08.13) reports that Kutlay Erk, self-styled minister
of foreign affairs of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus, has alleged that the demand of the Greek Cypriot side
as regards the return of occupied fenced Varosha to its legal owners is a
"postponing tactic" [for the solution of the Cyprus problem].
In an interview with Star Kibris, Erk argued that in spite of the fact
that in various platforms, the Turkish side has expressed the view that
Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem,
the Greek Cypriot side exerts efforts to allegedly create an artificial
agenda within the country and abroad with "scenarios" it prepares.
Erk claimed that the Greek Cypriot side puts forward some issues having
the intention of postponing the problem. Citing statement allegedly made
by former Foreign Minister Nikos Rolandis that Varosha had been proposed
seven times by the Turkish side to the Greek side which rejected this
proposal, Erk went on and alleged: "Now the Cyprus problem has been
turned into an issue of exploitation in Cyprus' internal politics. The
people are told 'be patient, you will take your rights'?"
Erk argued that the reason for bringing the issue of Varosha onto the
agenda prior to the resumption of the negotiations in October is an
effort exerted by the Greek Cypriots to camouflage their lack of will for
a solution by creating the ground for an infertile debate on this issue.
Erk claimed that the Greek Cypriots are satisfied with the current
status quo on the island and with being internationally recognized as
the representative of Cyprus. He argued that the Greek Cypriots are not
ready to share power with the Turkish Cypriots.
Erk alleged that it is as if the Greek Cypriot side sees that war will
happen in the future and in order to win this war it cooperates with
many countries such as Israel and China and secures to Russia and France
the possibility of using military bases. He reiterated his allegation
that peace and stability in Cyprus and in the region are threatened by
"the revival of the plans of permitting to the Russian Federation"
to use the airbase in Pafos.
(I/Ts.)
[03] Eroglu said that if a precondition comes up in the Cyprus talks,
then a problem may occur
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (23.08.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu, during a meeting with a delegation from Buca
municipality of Izmir's province, in Turkey, claimed that the Turkish
Cypriots support the continuous relations with Turkey in d?tente, which
was reportedly safeguarded with Turkey's invasion in 1974, and try to
live as two brother countries without problems.
Noting that the geography around Cyprus has some serious problems,
Eroglu claimed that the occupation regime continues its existence in
tranquillity and confidence due to Turkey's guarantees.
Moreover, according to illegal Bayrak television (online, 22.08.13),
Eroglu, commenting on the latest developments of Cyprus talks, reminded
the decision of the talks' resumption in October, which was taken during
the dinner with President Anastasiades in May, because September is the
month of the UN meetings.
Eroglu also said that Anastasiades reportedly is working on the method
of participation in the negotiations and that he is going to send
a letter to the UN and to EU on his preparatory work. Eroglu noted:
"If a precondition comes up, then a problem may occur" and reiterated
his opinion that the fenced off town of Varosha is not a separate issue,
but part of a comprehensive solution.
[04] Efforts for establishing a "coalition government" continue; "All
roads lead to Ankara"
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.08.13) reports that the
central administrative committee and the council of the Republican
Turkish Party ? United Forces (CTP-BG) discussed in detail last night
the negotiations, which were held with the Democratic Party ? National
Forces (DP-UG) for establishing a "coalition government" and resulted in
disagreement. Noting that no decision was taken last night, the paper
writes that the CTP-BG felt the need to take the views by its members
and its regional organizations. The party organs will convene again on
Monday and determine their strategy as regards the establishment of a
"government" in the light of the decision to be taken by the members of
the party.
CTP-BG's chairman, Ozkan Yorgancioglu said that they would take the
decision that concerns their future by discussing with the basis of
their party and that they would not meet with any other party at this
stage. Yorgancioglu noted that they will evaluate all alternatives,
including the alternative of returning the duty of establishing a
"government" to Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu.
Meanwhile, Kibris reports also that after the failure to agree with the
CTP-BG, DP-UG's council convened last night and gave to its chairman,
Serdar Denktas the authority to hold meetings for establishing a
"coalition government" with the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Social
Democracy Party (TDP).
Denktas issued a statement yesterday noting that they could not agree in
the sharing of the "ministries" with the CTP-BG, as Yorgancioglu rejected
his proposal for giving to DP-UG one of the "ministries" of finance or
interior. Denktas said that they discussed the main principles first and
reached "consensus to a great extend". Noting that in spite of the fact
that their disagreement on the Cyprus problem continued to exist from
the very beginning, the DP-UG clearly stated that it would not sabotage
the new negotiating process, but it would not accept the "United Federal
Cyprus" expression which is contrary to its policy. It was decided that
the issue would be discussed by the leaders of the parties.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (23.08.13) reports
that the CTP-BG could not dare to start negotiations with the UBP after
its discussions with the DP-UG were interrupted, because of the voices
heard in the basis of the party saying that establishing a "government"
with the UBP is "impossible".
Under the title "All roads lead to Ankara", Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam
newspaper (23.08.13) reports that "the picture of a new government"
came to light with the insistent statements by former Turkish Cypriot
leader Talat in favour of a CTP-UBP "coalition government" and with
the recent visit of the future leader of the UBP, Huseyin Ozgrugun to
Ankara. Noting that the CTP-BG "came to the point to which Talat has
been referring for days", the paper writes that "CTP-BG's reaching this
point through tortuous ways, created the impression in the community
that a scenario was played" and "this scenario was influenced by the
Ankara wind which blows through Talat".
Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (23.08.13) reports that
the negotiations for establishing a "coalition" will continue between CTP
and UBP. Huseyin Ozgrugun stated that at this stage the decision of the
CTP-BG's council is important and added that "the UBP will not leave the
country without a government". He said that the UBP is ready to discuss
the establishment of a "government" with the CTP and pointed out that
during the two preparatory meetings they had held recently with the CTP
they said that everything could be discussed, but now the situation has
reached "a different point". He said that in case the CTP goes to the
UBP for establishing a "coalition", their priority would be to agree
on principles.
(I/Ts.)
[05] "YDU" became a member of the European Law Faculties Association
(ELFA)
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (23.08.13), the faculty of law
of the illegal Near East University ("YDU") announced that it has become
member of the European Law Faculties Association (ELFA).
"YDU", in a statement, said that the European Law Faculties Association
(ELFA) was founded in 1995 in Leuven by more than 80 Faculties of
Law located in different universities across Europe, adding that the
organisation now has more than 200 members from countries within the
E.U. and beyond.
[06] Turkey recalls US 'red lines' on Syrian crisis
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 23.08.13),
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Aug. 22 that a "red line
was crossed" in Syria, calling for international action after reports
of a massacre involving chemical weapons. The phrase was an apparent
reference to President Barack Obama's statement last year that chemical
weapon usage represented a "red line" for the U.S.
Davutoglu visited the British and German capitals for talks, mainly to
ask for Europe to increase pressure on Egypt. However, Syria topped the
agenda due to the latest report of a massacre by regime forces, he stated.
"All red lines have been crossed, but still the U.N. Security Council
has not even been able to take a decision. This is a responsibility for
the sides who still set these red lines, and for all of us," Davutoglu
told reporters at a joint conference with his German counterpart Guido
Westerwelle in Berlin.
Last year, Obama issued his "red line" to the Syrian regime, saying he
would ensure that Damascus suffered "enormous consequences" if chemical
weapons were used, or even if they were being prepared for deployment.
The main Syrian opposition group claims that as many as 1,300 people
were killed in a chemical weapons attack on rebel areas near Damascus
on Aug. 21.
Davutoglu said the U.N. Security Council had been too hesitant in the
face of the bloodletting in Syria. "If we don't manage to pass sanctions,
we will lose the power to create a deterrent. If we don't act decisively,
even worse massacres will follow," he said.
Phone conversation with Kerry
Speaking in London, Davutoglu also told reporters that he had held
phone discussions with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, upon the
latter's request.
"When we started these visits, Egypt was the priority on our
agenda. However, developments have made Syria an even more urgent
matter. With Mr. Hague, we shared the information that we had in our
hands and evaluated our perspectives," Davutoglu told reporters after
his meeting with his British counterpart.
"We tried to develop a common perspective on the policy that could be
put in practice. We share the same opinions on Syria. We discussed the
issue in the same way with Mr. Kerry as well," he added.
[07] Erdogan breaks into tears over slain young Egyptian girl
Under the above title, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 22.08.13)
reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan broke into
tears on a televised program aired on Ulke TV late on Thursday when
senior Muslim Brotherhood politician Mohammad al-Beltagy's letter to his
daughter, who was killed by the Egyptian security forces in a crackdown
in Cairo on Aug. 14, was read at the end of the program.
Speaking on a wide array of issues ranging from the recent alleged use
of chemical weapons in Damascus to the surging number of Syrian refugees
crossing the border to Turkey, Erdogan broke into tears at the end of
the program when a video was aired in which Beltagy's letter to his
daughter following her death was read.
Erdogan, who could not speak for a few minutes, said the video reminded
him of the difficult days of the late 1990s, when he was banned from
politics and sent to prison.
Erdogan said he could rarely meet with his children during his busy and
turbulent political life. He said his daughter one day complained about
the situation.
Commenting on the recent alleged use of chemical weapons in the suburbs
of Damascus, Erdogan slammed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for
perpetrating massacres against his own people.
Noting that more than 100,000 people were killed since the beginning
of the uprising against the regime, the Turkish Prime Minister said the
Syrian president is bent on destroying everything in the country.
Erdogan said Turkey now hosts 500,000 Syrian refugees and has spent
more than $2 billion to meet the needs of the refugees accommodated in
a number of camps across south and southeast Turkey.
Erdogan also lambasted the Iranian leadership for its unwavering support
for the Syrian regime, saying that Tehran didn't appreciate enough
Turkish support for Iran in the international arena just a few years ago.
Emphasizing Turkey's rejection of any sectarian-based policy, Erdo an
told reporters that he expressed his distaste and disappointment over
Iran's policies in the region to Iranian officials, including Iran's
Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei during his visit to the country.
The Turkish Prime Minister did not hide his exasperation over the
inertia that has engulfed the international community when he vehemently
criticized the United Nations for its inability to issue a strong
condemnation of the chemical attack, let alone conducting an immediate
investigation at the site.
Erdogan also argued that the simmering political conflict in Egypt could
be part of an international plot to detract international attention from
enduring atrocities in Syria.
As for the release of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Erdogan
said it could have been pre-planned following the military coup that
toppled Egypt's first democratically elected leader, Mohammed Morsi.
"It always happens in the same way. We also witnessed it during military
coups in our country. It seems the roadmap [for Mubarak's release]
was drawn up by the military junta following the coup," Erdogan said.
According to the paper, as 2014 -- an election year with local,
parliamentary and presidential elections -- nears, polls have been
increasingly conducted to measure how many votes political parties in
Parliament would get if an election is held today.
Erdogan said his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would get
more than 50% of votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections, three
different polls show.
He said three different surveys, which were conducted upon request of
the ruling party, indicate that AKP respectively would get 51.4%, 51.9%
and 51.5% of votes if an election is held today.
The poll results suggest that, Erdogan says, his party still has a strong
popular mandate despite mounting criticism against his government policies
over the past months.
[08] UAE drags feet on huge energy project in Turkey
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 23.08.13),
the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which promised in January to invest
$12 billion in Turkey's Afin Elbistan power plant, appears now to be
dragging its feet on the huge project. The UAE could not keep up progress
on the project as it had sought a Turkish partner but couldn't find one,
sources familiar with the matter said.
Energy-hungry Turkey signed a landmark deal with the UAE to
develop its coal fields in the south with a giant project worth
nearly $12 billion. The deal was made between the Abu Dhabi-based,
government-controlled TAQA and Turkey's state-run electricity company
EUA^ in January.
After the intergovernmental agreement had been made, some progress
was seen on the way to establish a partnership scheme. While 35%
of the project was given to EUA^, the remaining 65% was held by the
TAQA. After the partnership scheme had been established, the host country
agreement was supposed to be made. The TAQA, however, decided to seek a
Turkish partner at this stage to give up to 14% of its 65% of share in
the project. The TAQA intended to ask its potential Turkish partner to
make a financing contribution of around $1.7 billion. Potential Turkish
partners do not look favourably on an "immediate" financing contribution,
according to the sources.
The TAQA have met some Turkish companies to build a partnership, but
these companies are hesitating to provide the required money.
[09] Columnist argues that the attack against Ihsanoglu was due to
internal political gains out in AKP
Under the title "News Analysis: Attack against OIC chief is a road
accident", Serkan Demirtas, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News
(online, 23.08.13), argues that Celik and Bozdag, two prominent figures
from the AKP, seem to be after internal political gains out of their
attack against Ihsanoglu, as following:
"Senior ruling party officials' strongly-worded criticisms against the
secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, are still one of the most-debated issues in the
capital and elsewhere, as this sort of a campaign against a Turkish
international figure has never been witnessed in the past.
When digging to find out the reasons of this campaign, it has been
revealed that along with some communication problems between the foreign
policy decision-makers and senior party officials, a number of internal
political motivations played an important role in what a senior government
official described as 'a road accident'.
Here is how all this happened: Ihsanoglu was elected as the
secretary-general of the 57-member OIC in 2005 as a result of the Turkish
government's intense work with Abdullah Gul, as the Foreign Minister
of that time, playing the most crucial role. Ihsanoglu, who spent more
than two decades as the founding Director General of the Research Centre
for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), a subsidiary body of the
OIC, was born in Egypt and has a deep knowledge of this country. His
election as the head of the OIC, whose headquarters is based in Jeddah
and therefore is under Saudi Arabia's influence, was one of the most
important early successes of the Justice and Development Party (AKP).
That's why deputy leader of the AKP, Huseyin Celik, and Deputy Prime
Minister Bekir Bozdag's fierce reaction against Ihsanoglu created a
shocking effect on many people, including Ihsanoglu himself.
Celik, via his Twitter account, and Bozdag, in a televised interview,
lashed out at Ihsanoglu on Sunday (Aug. 18), while the latter called
on the OIC chief to resign due to inaction of his international body in
the face of a brutal crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood protestors.
The Hurriyet Daily News learned that Celik and Bozdag's reactions were
the reflection of a foreign policy meeting held in Istanbul on Saturday
(Aug. 17) under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At
that meeting, foreign policy decision-makers reviewed options to mobilize
the international community against the junta regime in Egypt and of
course whether or not to make an appeal to the OIC. After deliberations,
it was concluded that an appeal to the OIC for an extraordinary meeting
would be useless, as many of member countries have already declared
their support to the coup plotters and the necessary majority for such
a reunion would never be provided.
But this conclusion of that meeting on Saturday could not be effectively
spread among the AKP's senior officials, which brought about a
communication mistake and therefore this road accident, according
to sources.
Following these public criticisms, the Daily News learned that Ihsanoglu
phoned Erdogan and other senior Turkish officials to ask the reason for
such statements. Ihsanoglu once again reiterated the OIC's position with
regard to developments in Egypt and stressed that there was no appeal
for a meeting from any member country.
Ihsanoglu for President?
Celik and Bozdag, two prominent figures from the AKP, seem to be after
internal political gains out of their attack against Ihsanoglu. But
the political dimension of this attack is not limited to these two
politicians' daily profits. In Ankara, there are rumours floating about
that an early attack against Ihsanoglu could have a perfect connection
with the upcoming presidential elections, as high-level international
personalities are always regarded as potential contenders for the
presidency.
Yet another frequently mentioned dimension of this attack is the fact
that slamming Ihsanoglu would also reflect unease towards President
Abdullah Gul's foreign policy approaches, which are not always parallel
with those of the government."
[10] Turkey's constitution commission unable to agree on Article 4
According to news portal World bulletin (online, 22.08.13), the
parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation Commission, which convened on
Wednesday to discuss Article 4 of the Turkish Constitution, which states
that the first three articles of the constitution cannot be amended and
their amendment cannot even be suggested, could not come to an agreement
during their five-hour meeting.
The four political parties in the parliamentary commission are seeking
consensus on the issue of non-amendable articles in the constitution. The
parties could not reach an agreement during Wednesday's meeting and
the issue was postponed for discussion during a meeting on Friday. The
Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) are against any discussion over the articles while the Justice
and Development Party (AKP) and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP)
say a new constitution cannot be drafted without discussing the articles.
Speaking about the commission meeting, Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek
said on Thursday that the discussions over Article 4 will continue in an
upcoming commission meeting, adding that consensus over this issue carries
great importance for the success of the constitution drafting process.
Pointing to the difficulty of the parliamentary Constitutional
Reconciliation Commission in coming to an agreement on the first four
articles of the constitution, AKP Deputy Chairman Mustafa Sentop, speaking
with Today's Zaman, criticized the tough stance adopted by the CHP and
the MHP regarding possible changes to the first three non-amendable
articles of the constitution.
"Even the Sept. 12 coup plotters [the drafters of the current 1982
Constitution] were not as rigid in their stance over the first three
articles as the CHP and the MHP currently are. The generals placed
these articles under protection in terms of principles but opened the
door for slight changes to the text, wording and expressions in the
articles. However, what we observe today is that the CHP and the MHP are
adopting a more rigid view of not amending the articles and a tougher
stance than the five generals in the Sept. 12 coup junta," Sentop said
Criticizing the attitude adopted by the CHP in the last two weeks in the
process of drafting a new constitution, Sentop said the CHP members in
the parliamentary commission behave as though they are from two different
political parties. Requesting that the CHP revise its members appointed to
the commission, Sentop said: "After a CHP representative in the commission
agreed on an article along with members from the other three parties,
another CHP member says he objects to the article. If a political party
is sincere about drafting a new constitution, it should appoint serious
and sincere representatives to the constitution-making commission."
Speaking to reporters following the commission meeting on Wednesday,
CHP Konya deputy Atilla Kart said that the CHP will never discuss
changes to the first three articles of the constitution. Stating
that all the political parties in the commission have expressed their
views regarding changing those articles during the five-hour meeting,
Kart said: "The first three articles of the constitution carry symbolic
meaning. Therefore, the CHP will not be involved in any kind of discussion
over changes to these three articles. We will also not allow others to
discuss it."
MHP deputy Faruk Bal told Today's Zaman that the attitudes of the parties
in the commission are all very different from each other, stating that
the MHP will not allow the first three articles to be changed.
[11] Turkish daily Sabah files suit against columnist
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 23.08.13) with the above title
reports that Turkish daily Sabah has filed a compensation lawsuit worth
50,000 Turkish Liras against prominent journalist Cengiz Candar for his
views expressed on international web page Al-Monitor on press freedom
in Turkey.
Candar's definition of daily Sabah in his piece, "Sabah, the biggest
daily controlled by the state," spurred the daily to file the complaint,
Candar wrote yesterday in his column in daily Radikal.
The daily Sabah's accusations during the Gezi Park unrest against the
columnists writing for Al-Monitor moved Candar to write a column on
press freedom in Turkey for Al-Monitor, which was published on July 5.
"Al-Monitor has been hit by its share of the defamation campaign. Of
course, along with Al-Monitor, those who regularly write for it from Turkey
are also targeted, with my own name at the top of the list. [...] one of
the media organs under government control decided Al-Monitor also belonged
there. A website called Medyagundem said to be under the supervision of
Sabah, the biggest daily controlled by the state, accused Al-Monitor on
June 28 of being a "subcontractor of the Zionist lobby." Candar wrote July
5. Medyagundem, linked to the daily Sabah, had accused Al-Monitor of being
"a Zionist media."
"There is a website called Al-Monitor... Obviously, it is a costly
operation. You can find local language articles in English on this
site. Its selection of news and articles is meticulously made and is
highly professional. Its main theme is the news and analysis that will
serve the interests of Israel and the global Zionist network... Works of
anyone who is a sworn enemy of Islamists and conservative administrations
and actors are translated immediately into English... Some of its Turkish
writers are interesting. This team that complains about their own country
to the West in an Islamophobic, Zionist media organ has not come together
by coincidence ..."
Candar said compensation cases were the new method of those who are
seeking new ways to repress the opposition in Turkey.
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