Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-08-19

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Gul and Talat after their meeting in Ankara.

[02] Rauf Denktas strongly criticizes Talat for letting MP Pourgourides cross over to the occupied areas of Cyprus without showing his identity card.

[03] VOLKAN threatens the Greek Cypriots not to hold a religious ceremony at the Saint Mamas church in the occupied town of Morfou.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[04] KIBRIS Columnist: "Tense meeting in Ankara".

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Gul and Talat after their meeting in Ankara

In a statement after the meeting, Mr Abdullah Gul said that there is no B plan in Cyprus, and that what needs to be done is being done by the Turkish side aiming at the lifting of the "isolation" of the Turkish Cypriots.

Mr Gul alleged that Turkey will always support a comprehensive solution in Cyprus and claimed, inter alia, the following: "The EU has made certain promises. Those promises must be kept. The UN Secretary -General has drawn up a report. That report must be debated at the UN Security Council. These are obviously very justified expectations. Both Turkey and the 'TRNC' have supported a comprehensive and lasting solution. We see that the other side is taking certain steps to undermine this situation. Obviously, these are tactics. '".

Responding to a question Mr Gul said that their representatives in the EU member countries and especially in Brussels have been intensively working and added: "Undoubtedly, September will be more intensive, but with your permission I am not in the position to say that we shall discuss this or that in this or the other manner".

Furthermore, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat recalled that September will be a critical month in terms of the relations with the EU and added that the Turkish Cypriots are in harmony with Turkey and have no disagreement. He also added that they are cooperating in order to put an end to the so-called isolation of the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Mr Talat said that the beginning of the negotiations for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem by December was extremely important from their point of view. Mr Talat added:

"Leave aside the negotiations, at the beginning of September the EU has some decisions to take regarding lifting the economic isolation. The steps that will be taken in this regard will seriously affect our stand on the future of the solution process. 'Our priority at the moment is the Council of EU to approve without any changes the relations between the Turkish Cypriots and the EU as envisaged by the EU Commission. This is very important for us. We must insist on it".

[02] Rauf Denktas strongly criticizes Talat for letting MP Pourgourides cross over to the occupied areas of Cyprus without showing his identity card

Mr Denktas described as "a sad incident" the fact that the Greek Cypriot MP crossed over to the occupied areas of Cyprus without showing his identity card and added that a "prime minister should not violate the laws of his own country".

Mr Denktas has reportedly claimed the following: "Some things are done in order to satisfy the Greek Cypriots. By doing certain things the Greek Cypriots are showing to us that there is no state. We have not been able to explain the existence of our state and show with our actions that we have not abandoned our state. They are undermining our political and legal existence with little holes. The water which leaks from here is damaging the foundations of our state. The state affairs cannot be settled with personal friendships in an environment where the cease fire agreement is still valid. The incident is very sad".

[03] VOLKAN threatens the Greek Cypriots not to hold a religious ceremony at the Saint Mamas church in the occupied town of Morfou

The paper supports that "great concern and tension has been created among the Turks", because of the religious ceremony that Morfou Bishop Mr Neofytos is planning on doing at the occupied Saint Mamas church, which is used as a museum by the occupation regime.

In a clear manner of provocation sawing seeds of hatred, the paper publishes a picture of Turkish Cypriots allegedly murdered by Greek Cypriots in Paphos on 9 March 1964 and a destroyed Turkish Cypriot cemetery and wonders: "Are those who did these going to come to Morfou and organize a religious ceremony? Let them not come because we will not be responsible for the incidents that will be caused".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[04] KIBRIS Columnist: "Tense meeting in Ankara"

"The meeting in Ankara was held in a tense atmosphere, where the planning of the steps the Turkish side wants to take and the evaluation of the critical developments that might take place in September was discussed. Although there was consensus between the sides as regards the Turkish side's taking the initiative by new openings, no identity of views was reached as regards the kind of steps to be taken. During the meeting there was discussion on four points:

1. Turkey's signing of Customs Union (CU) agreement with the Republic of Cyprus. The EU says that it is a must that Turkey, a candidate country should sign this agreement with a member country, Cyprus. In my opinion Turkey will establish a link between its signing of the CU with Cyprus to that of the removal of the `isolations´ experienced by the Turkish Cypriot side. Turkey will say to the EU 'We are ready for a CU but the isolations on the Turkish Cypriot side must be removed' that is a kind of bargaining process will start.

2. Opening of Varosha

This issue was not on yesterday's agenda due to the fact that 'president' Denktas and 'foreign minister´ Serdar Denktas have strong objections on the opening of Varosha. They are trying to exploit the fact that on this issue not only the political authority but the military authority as well has a say. The ruling Justice and Development Party in Turkey is convinced that Varosha should be opened. However, the stance of the generals is not clear yet.

3. Excavation of the mass graves

The Turkish side is warm to the excavation of the graves and ascertaining the fate of the missing persons provided that the principle of reciprocity is observed. As a matter of fact Mr. Talat gave a positive reply to the UN Secretary-General regarding latter's letter to both sides on the subject. The only condition put forward by the Turkish side is that equal number of graves from both sides should be opened. It is possible that important developments could take place during the coming days on this issue.

4. Police force and the Turkish Cypriot Airlines (KTHY)

Placing the police force under the political authority and the KTHY issues were also discussed in Ankara. The KTHY issue almost settled. As for the police force to be placed under the civilian authority there is deference of views both between the Turkish Government and the Office of the Chief of the Staff and between the coalition partners, the RTP and the DP in Cyprus. This issue as well was on the agenda yesterday but no identity of views was reached.

Another issue which was discussed in Ankara yesterday was the opening of three new crossing points that is; Ledra Street, Derinya and Lefka. The opening of these crossing points was accepted in principle and it was decided that the necessary work should be done to this end.

During the coming days we will see together to what extend the decisions taken at the tripartite summit in Ankara will be put into practice. The important point regarding this summit was that different views as regards the Cyprus problem were openly put forward. The sides which until now avoided expressing their differences openly and preferred to keep a low profile have started to raise their voices.

And this was another important result of the Ankara meeting'"

/SK

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