Turkish Forum

Category: Main Issues

  • Our View: Erdogan’s visit underlines stalemate

    Our View: Erdogan’s visit underlines stalemate

    Erdogan on his visit to the north on Monday

    TAYYIP ERDOGAN made his first visit to the north as the new president of Turkey on Monday, but there was nothing to suggest there would be much of a change in Ankara’s policy on Cyprus. Ankara will carry on paying lip service to the need for a settlement, calling on the Greek Cypriot side to show commitment to a deal while pursuing plans to make the north another province of Turkey.

    Erdogan said during his visit that within the next two or three months all the work to bring water from Turkey to Cyprus will have been completed and also announced plans to supply the north with electricity; his objective was to double the income per capita of Turkish Cypriots in the next 10 years. These are costly projects, which are designed to further increase the north’s dependence on Turkey and eventually make it part of the mainland, although Erdogan put a different spin on the issue, saying the water would be for the whole of Cyprus, as long as Greek Cypriots “took the hand of peace we are offering them.”

    As regards the Cyprus talks, he repeated the tired rhetoric about the viable and fair settlement “in a new co-operation based on UN parameters”, stressing the need for political equality and repeating that Turkey would never allow the Turkish Cypriots to become a minority. His only comment that sparked a direct response from the Cyprus government spokesman, Andreas Christodoulides, was his call on Greece to become involved in the peace talks. Greece did not have Turkey’s responsibilities as it was not occupying Cyprus territory, the spokesman said.

    Other than this the two sides carried on the familiar blame-game, Erdogan accusing the last two Cyprus presidents of not having the political will for a settlement and being insincere; he also called for the placing of a time-frame on the talks. Christodoulides hit back by pointing out Turkey’s declarations in favour of a settlement were “devoid of meaning as in practice Ankara’s policies demonstrate just the opposite.” The Greek Cypriot political parties focused on lambasting Erdogan’s “illegal visit”, once again showing that for them the rhetoric is more important than the substance.

    Meanwhile, the new Special Advisor of the UN Secretary-General, Espen Barth Eide arrives in Cyprus in a couple of days on his first visit. He will be reassured to know that the talks are in a stalemate and the two sides are engaging in the familiar blame-game for the lack of progress. And Erdogan’s one day visit to the north served to underline that there are no plans to change anything.

     

      Küfi Seydali

     

    COMMENT (John Mavro)

    Why is anyone surprised with the outcome of the Erdogan visit?

    Unlike the morons on this side that pose as ”politicians”, Turkey has always maintained a consistent policy on the Cyprus ”problem”. Whether this policy is right or wrong is irrelevant. What is however, is that irrespective of changes in government or leadership, Turkey maintains its long term strategy intact.

    Whereas on this side we have a myriad of ”political parties” and ”politicians” who do not even KNOW what they want. We hear the usual outrageous garbage from the usual suspects and super patriots about:

    – we want a change in strategy, after forty years of ”talks”
    – we want a federation BUT with the right content! Of course no one knows what the ”right content” is
    – we want a ”European” solution – whatever that means
    – we want to return to the 1960 constitution! After Makarios and the rest of the fools did their utmost to destroy it.
    – we must veto Turkey’s EU accession negotiations! Yes, a joke of a country, totally bankrupted, and whose entire population will fit in a large European town, will stand in the way of Turkey.
    – etc

    Turkey’s president at least is being honest in setting out his parameters for a solution. Which parameters are consistent with the past forty years.

    So why the hysteria on this side?

    If anything, the blame can be placed on the useless Anastasiades and his amateur ”advisors” who raised all sorts of unrealistic expectations about some form of an ”opening” by Erdogan on his visit here. Surely these clowns should know that a serious leader does not change national policy at a whim?

    However, there were some winners from the fallout of the Erdogan visit.

    The well known super patriots, Papadopoulos, Omirou, Lillikas, Perdikis, Lyssaridis, Syllouris and even the retarded AKEL chief Kyprianou will now feel ”vindicated” about Turkey’s ”intransigence” and ”provocative” stance. And also be happy that NO solution is within sight, with de jure partition around the corner.

    When in reality, Erdogan is merely doing his job and looking after the interests of the country his is president of.

    And that the only grossly provocative and insulting behavior towards all sensible individuals is that of these idiots who have made a lucrative and rich career out of the non-solution of this tired, old Cyprus ”problem”

     

  • CYPRUS: Erdogan’s demands ‘against UN resolutions’

    CYPRUS: Erdogan’s demands ‘against UN resolutions’

    Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in northern Nicosia on Monday

    TURKISH PRESIDENT Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday it would be impossible for his country to accept a solution that did not entail two states and political equality as he called on Greece to adopt a more positive approach in reunification talks as a guarantor country.
    “Political equality is a must,” he said during a news conference in the Turkish occupied northern part of the island, his first official visit since he was elected president of Turkey.
    “Everyone must know that Turkey will never accept a Greek Cypriot government turn Turkish Cypriots into a minority,” Erdogan said.
    The government condemned the visit and said the comments the Turkish president made were not in line with UN resolutions.
    “We also consider unacceptable the frequent call for the involvement of Greece in the dialogue in an effort to equate the responsibilities for the ongoing occupation in Cyprus for which Turkey is solely responsible,” government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said in a statement.
    The spokesman also pointed out that Turkey’s pronouncements regarding its desire to contribute to reunification were nothing but empty words.
    “The repetition of statements such as ‘Turkey will always be one step ahead,’ remain, so far, devoid of any content since in practice the policies that Ankara follows demonstrate just the opposite,” Christodoulides said.
    The Turkish president said his country supported a fair, viable and comprehensive solution and it was impossible for them to accept unfair proposals.
    “We fully support the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side for a bicommunal (federation), political equality, two founding states, in a new co-operation on the basis of the UN parameters,” Erdogan said.
    Turkey hoped efforts made since 2008 would yield results, he added.
    “Everyone should understand that the current window of opportunity will not remain open forever. Nobody has the right to use the time given by the UN and keep the Turkish side and the international community waiting,” Erdogan said.
    He also announced that Turkey will supply water to the north in two to three months, followed by electricity.
    The Turkish president said the water was not only for the north but for the whole of Cyprus “as long as they (Greek Cypriots) take the hand of peace we are offering”.
    Erdogan also denied having received a letter from President Nicos Anastasiades, which had been taken to Ankara by Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos last week.
    But the government spokesman told the state broadcaster later on Monday that they knew “the letter had been delivered to the recipient”.
    Anastasiades’ letter was made up of two short paragraphs, one congratulating Erdogan for winning the first direct presidential elections in Turkey and the second expressing hope that he would make a personal contribution to achieve a Cyprus problem solution which would benefit all interested parties.
    All the Greek Cypriot political parties condemned Erdogan’s visit.

      Küfi Seydali

    Comment:

    Greek Cypriot Government Spokesman said;

    “Turkey is solely responsible” for the Cyprus problem!

    Well, it wasn’t Turkey who destroyed the “Cyprus Republic” as created by the London-Zurich agreements of 1960. It wasn’t Turkey who massacred the Turkish Cypriots and held them prisoners for 11 years (1963-1974). It wasn’t Turkey who toppeled Makarios and declared ENOSIS (Union with Greece) in 1974 (See Makarios speech to the UN in 1974).

    So, to claim that Turkey is solely responsible is a bad joke and shows how insincere the Greek Cypriot politicians are. With this attitude, a solution to the 50 years old Cyprus problem will remain a pipe dream.

    Küfi Seydali

  • Armenian Australian church leader ‘was a KGB spy’

    Armenian Australian church leader ‘was a KGB spy’

    Phillip Dorling

    A highly respected Australian church leader was a KGB spy, according to newly released Russian intelligence archives.

    Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand, was listed as a KGB agent, codenamed “Zorik” in the papers of former KGB archivist and defector Vasili Mitrokhin, which were released by the UK’s Churchill College Archive last month.

    Born in Syria in 1946, the late Archbishop Baliozian arrived in Australia in 1975 to serve as Vicar General of the diocese of the Armenian Church before being appointed as Primate of Australia and New Zealand in 1982.

    A highly respected religious leader and a well-known figure in Chatswood, Sydney, Archbishop Baliozian was strongly committed to ecumenism, working for cooperation and greater unity between Christian churches.

    He was the first president of the National Council of Churches in Australia from 1994 to 1997 and president of the NSW Ecumenical Council from 2005 to 2007. He represented the Armenian Church at the World Council of Churches.

    Archbishop Baliozian was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1995 “in recognition of service to the Armenian community” and the Centenary Medal in 2001, again for community service.

    However, Mitrokhin’s papers on KGB espionage operations in Australia allege Archbishop Baliozian was recruited by Soviet intelligence in 1973 while undertaking theological studies in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, then part of the Soviet Union.

    According to Mitrokhin’s notes of Soviet state security files, Aghan Baliozian went on to work as a KGB agent while studying and teaching in Jerusalem in 1974, and maintained “ongoing communications in three countries”. He continued contact with the KGB after he transferred to the Armenian Church in Australia, according to the papers.

    However, Mitrokhin’s papers also suggest that his performance in Australia was considered unsatisfactory. The third department of the KGB’s foreign intelligence directorate, responsible for operations in Australia, concluded Archbishop Baliozian had “insufficient operational training” and eventually discontinued his employment.

    The precise terms of Archbishop Baliozian’s separation from the KGB are not recorded in Mitrokhin’s notes and it is not known whether he had any further dealings with Soviet intelligence in the 1980s.

    Mitrokhin’s notes of KGB files record Soviet state security’s extensive efforts to recruit clergy as agents and informants, especially in churches with a significant presence in the former Soviet Union.

    British intelligence historian Christopher Andrew, who collaborated with Mitrokhin on two books, claims that, during the Cold War the KGB recruited a number of representatives on the World Council of Churches, mainly from the Russian Orthodox Church but from other denominations as well, in successful efforts to influence the Council’s policies.

    Archbishop Baliozian died in September 2012. More than 600 people attended his funeral at the Armenian Apostolic Church in Chatswood, including three archbishops from Jerusalem, India and Armenia.

    Many NSW political figures paid tribute to the archbishop, with Liberal MP Jonathan O’Dea applauding his commitment to inter-religious dialogue as well as his abilities as an orator.

    “Always approachable and gregarious, the archbishop was captivating as a speaker… He would simply speak from the heart, capturing the attention of young and old in his congregation and developing a strong and loyal following,” Mr O’Dea told the NSW Parliament.

    m.smh.com.au, August 12, 2014

  • Australian FM: Armenian Case not Genocide

    Australian FM: Armenian Case not Genocide

    Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
    Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

    Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop informed the Australian Turkish Advocacy Alliance (ATA-Australia) that it was Australian foreign policy not to define the Armenian case as genocide, and that it was unconstitutional for Australian territories to promulgate their own foreign policy.  The Foreign Minister’s policy affirmation was in response to the inquiry of Barrister and ATA-Australia Sydney President Ertunc Ozen in the wake of a New South Wales parliamentary resolution wrongfully defining the Armenian case as genocide.

    ATAA and ATA-Australia commenced cooperation last March when Australian Turks hosted ATAA past president and current Trustee Gunay Evinch to speak on best practices in public advocacy. Evinch, gave the example of the case of Movsesian, explained that the United States Supreme Court let stand a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision invalidating a California law that had defined the Armenian case as genocide, because it was U.S. federal policy not to define the Armenian case as genocide, and to encourage further research, debate, discussion and dialogue on the matter.  Evinch stated the Australian constitution provided similar protections.

    ATAA – ATA-Australia collaboration is a part of a broader Anglo-Turkish Diaspora Cooperation Program  in which Turks in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand share best practices based on a common jurisprudential and political heritage.  ATAA hosted ATA-Australia at the Turkish American National Leadership Conference and Washington DC  Gallipoli Memoriallast April.

  • CYPRUS: Diplomatic Scandal during Cyprus talks

    CYPRUS: Diplomatic Scandal during Cyprus talks

    Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades said ” we discuss only what I want”. He then threw his glasses, started smoking and then left the meeting. His team, the Turkish team and UN observes looked on in total amazement.

    Rum lider müzakere masasında kontrolünü kaybederek, ‘Benim istediğim olacak’ diye bağırmaya başladı, gözlüğünü fırlattı, sigara yaktı, masa yumrukladı, heyetini bırakıp gitti.

     

    KIBRIS Rum yönetimi lideri Nikos Anastasiadis, BM denetimindeki müzakere masasında kontrolünü kaybederek diplomatik bir skandala imza attı. KKTC Cumhurbaşkanı Derviş Eroğlu ile buluşan Anastasiadis, kendi istediklerinin kabul edilmesi gerektiğini belirterek, önce bağırmaya başladı, gözlüklerini fırlattı, kapalı mekânda sigara üzerine sigara yaktı ve masayı yumrukladı.

    KKTC, Rum ve BM heyetlerinin şaşkın bakışları altında yaşanan skandal, başkent Lefkoşa’da BM denetimindeki ara bölgede müzakerelerin yapıldığı binada meydana geldi. Anastasiadis, Eroğlu’nun ‘Geçmişte varılan anlaşmaların kabul edilmesi’ talebi üzerine sinirlendi. Kontrolünü kaybeden Anastasiadis, “Bugüne kadar kabul edilenler beni ilgilendirmez, sadece benim kabul edeceğim konular görüşülmeli” diye bağırmaya başladı. Masadan kalkan ve sigara yakan Anastasiadis, Rum ve Türk eski liderler Dmitris Hristofyas ve Mehmet Ali Talat’ın anlaşmaya vardıkları konuları ‘yok’ saydığını söyledi. Giderek daha fazla sinirlenen Anastasiadis, gözlüklerini fırlattı, bir sigara daha yaktı ve masaya yumruğunu vurdu.

    HEYETİNİ BIRAKTI GİTTİ

    KKTC heyeti ise, soğukkanlı bir şekilde Anastasiadis takip etti. Rum ve BM heyeti Anastasiadis’i sakinleştirmeye çalıştı ancak başarılı olamadı. Sinirli bir şekilde masa çevresinde dolaşan Rum lider, ardından kendi heyetini geride bırakarak müzakerelerden ayrıldı.

    BM GİZLEMEYE ÇALIŞTI

    BM, Türk ve Rum müzakere heyeti, yaşadıkları şokla bir süre sessiz kaldı. Müzakereleri yürüten BM’nin Kıbrıs misyon şefi Lisa Buttenheim, Türk ve Rum heyetlere, “Bu odada olanlar bu odada kalsın, gizli kalsın, bilinmesin” dedi. Rum liderin kontrolünü yitirmesi müzakerelerin kesilmesi anlamına gelmedi. BM, planlandığı şekilde Türk ve Rum liderlerin 15’er gün arayla yeniden buluşacağını duyurdu.

      Küfi Seydali

     

  • Güney Kıbrıs, Lynn Pascoe’nin atanmasına karşı

    Güney Kıbrıs, Lynn Pascoe’nin atanmasına karşı

      Küfi Seydali

     

    BM Genel Sekreteri Ban Ki Moon’un Kıbrıs Özel Danışmanı olarak Siyasi İşlerden Sorumlu eski yardımcısı Lynn Pascoe’yu atamasına Kıbrıs Rum tarafının karşı çıktığı bildirildi.

      Ban Ki Moon

    Simerini gazetesi: “Lefkşa Pascoe’ya Olumsuz Bakıyor – Partiler De Karşı” başlıkları altında verdiği haberinde, Pascoe’nun BM Genel Sekreteri’nin Kıbrıs Özel Danışmanlığına atanacağı yönündeki iddiaları hatırlatarak Rum hükümeti ve siyasi partilerin bu atamaya karşı çıktıklarını yazdı.

    Gazete, Rum hükümetinin, Pascoe’nun “Türk dostu olması” bir yana,  Annan Planı’nın oluşumunda rol almasından ötürü atanmasına tepki gösterdiğini belirtirken Rum hükümetinden bir kaynağın gazeteye Pascoe’nun söz konusu görev atanmasının “hiçbir ihtimal dahilinde olmadığını” söylediğini iddia etti.

    Gazete, Pascoe’nun 2008 yılında dönemin Cumhurbaşkanı Mehmet Ali Talat’ı ziyaret etmiş olduğunu da hatırlatarak, Rum siyasi kaynakların, tıpkı Alexander Downer gibi Pascoe’nun da “kuşkulu bir seçim olacağı” yorumlarında bulunduklarını vurguladı.

    Habere göre Rum Vatandaşlar İttifakı Hareketi Başkanı Yorgos Lillikas dün bir televizyon kanalında yaptığı açıklamada, Pascoe’nun bu göreve atanmasının kesinlikle engellenmesi gerektiğini söyledi.

    Gazete, elde edilen bilgilere göre, adı 2010 yılında yine aynı görev için geçen Pascoe’nun da bu görevi üstlenme konusunda kararsız olduğunu savundu.

    Fileleftheros gazetesi ise: “BM: Lynn Pascoe Mükemmel Çözüm” başlığı altında verdiği haberinde, Birleşmiş Milletler’in, Pascoe’nun, Ban’ın Kıbrıs Özel Danışmanı olarak atanmasına kesin gözüyle baktığını ve Pascoe’yu mükemmel bir seçim olarak gördüğünü iddia etti.

    Bu sebepten ötürü BM’nin Güvenlik Konseyi’nin bazı beş daimi üyesine yönelik istişare girişimi gerçekleştirdiğini belirten gazete, Kıbrıs Rum tarafının Pascoe’nun atanmasına tepkinsin BM’nin planlarını bir derecede etkilemesine karşın BM’nin kararını değiştireceği anlamı taşımadığını vurguladı.

    Gazete, Kıbrıs Rum tarafının Pascoe’nun atanmasına tepkisinin en büyük sebebinin Pascoe’nun 2004-2005 yıllarındaki tutumu olduğunu, o dönemde Annan Planı’nın en koyu destekçilerinden olan Pascoe’nun referandum öncesi ve sonrasında Kıbrıs Rum tarafına yönelik “tehditler savurduğunu” iddia etti.

    TAK

    COMMENT by Küfi Seydali

    Rumlar Downeri sevmedi, Türk dostu diye istemediler! Adam harcandi, gitti! Baska is buldugu, masal! Simdi de Poscoe’ yu Türk dostu oldugu icin ve de Annan Planin’ da rol oynadigi icin, istemiyorlar! Simarik Rumlarin her istedigi oluyor demek! Peki, Rumlarin Rum dostu olarak kabul edebilecekleri baska bir aday söz konusu olursa, Kibris Türkleri de onu red edebilirler mi? edemezlerse, neden edemesinler? Ve, böyle yamuk ve Rumcu BM adaylari ile neyi görüsecegiz? Aslinda, Rumlarin yapmak istedikleri baska; BM’ i aradan cekmek ve isi AB ve dostlari Joe Biden‘e birakmaktir. Inshallah Kibris Türkleri bu aptal oyuna gelmezler ve pis oyunlarini bozarlar!