Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-10-13

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu meets EP President Jerzy Buzek

[02] Ozgurgun: Morfou is indispensable for the Turkish Cypriots

[03] The Turkish Cypriot press on the British Court of Appeals verdict

[04] Sonya: A naive opening

[05] Soyer says it is not possible to talk about democracy in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[06] Kucuk agrees that population in the occupied areas has increased

[07] Co-operation agreement between KTOS and LIZDA

[08] Ministers in U-turn over Karpaz campus

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[09] Turkish and French Foreign Ministers meet; Davutoglu defines the Cyprus problem as a political obstacle in Turkeys EU process

[10] EU Energy Commissioners contacts in Turkey

[11] Turkey aims to open competition chapter in December

[12] American-Turkish Council annual conference

[13] Turkey not to attend OECD conference in Israel

[14] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu meets EP President Jerzy Buzek

Eroglu noted that the unjust international embargoes on the Turkish Cypriots were also discussed during the meeting, calling on the EU to take the necessary steps to lift the embargoes. Eroglu also reiterated the Turkish Cypriot sides sincere determination to a settlement.

For his part, Buzek said he was glad to see that Eroglu agreed that the basis of negotiations is the UN Security Council Resolutions on the Cyprus issue and added that the aim of his visit to Cyprus was to encourage an early agreement, which he said, is to the benefit of the whole of Cyprus as well as of the EU. He also called on the two sides to be open to different views during the talks.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (13.10.10) reports that the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek was received by Ferdi Sabit Soyer, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), and had meetings with leaders of Turkish Cypriot political parties.

According to the paper, Ferdi Sabit Soyer stated that he conveyed to Buzek the views of his concerning the need for a federal solution in Cyprus. Soyer said that during the meeting views were exchanged on issues concerning the Direct Trade Regulation and the representation of Turkish Cypriot to the European Parliament. Soyer added that they both expressed the wish for a solution in Cyprus based on the UN parameters, adding that the mutual political unity in Europe should to be implemented in Cyprus as well.

(AK)

[02] Ozgurgun: Morfou is indispensable for the Turkish Cypriots

Noting that with such statements Christofias does not convey the correct messages to the Greek Cypriots, Ozgurgun said that Christofias should be preparing his people for a settlement and a joint future with the Turkish Cypriot side. However, he added, with his provocative statements he complicates the conditions for a solution, because the Greek Cypriots develop fruitless expectations.

[03] The Turkish Cypriot press on the British Court of Appeals verdict

Following are the front-page headlines of the papers:

KIBRIS: They have not been flying anyway! The paper writes that the final decision concerning the case of the direct flights was announced and adds that Turkish Cypriot and CTA Holidays lost the case.

HALKIN SESI: Bad news for the TRNC from the UK

VATAN: A rejection once more from the British Court

YENI DUZEN: Has the road for direct flights closed?

GUNES, VOLKAN, AFRIKA: The British Court of Appeals rejected KTYH appeal.

STAR KIBRIS: Send the bill to the TRNC

HABERDAR: KTHY returned from the appeal

BAKIS: The government has killed (CTA) the English has buried them.

CYPRUS TODAY: Airsick

(AK)

[04] Sonya: A naive opening

Sonya argued that the Greek Cypriot side would never enter an agreement which would ensure economic benefits for the Turkish side, and those who think that they will have economic gains from the opening of the closed city of Varosha or that the whole of Cyprus will benefit, are mistaken. He said turning over Varosha before a comprehensive solution, as part of an interim or partial agreement, will never be accepted and added: it is clear that this idea came from Christofias, this is already a formula for an interim agreement.

[05] Soyer says it is not possible to talk about democracy in the occupied areas of Cyprus

In a written statement issued yesterday, Soyer said the fact that the National Unity Party (UBP) government did not allow the foreigners to demonstrate is unacceptable and an obvious discrimination. Soyer noted that if the decision whether people will use or not their right to demonstrate and the freedom to express their problems is taken according to their place of birth, language, religion and nationality, then it is not possible to talk about democracy in a place.

Moreover, lawyer Baris Mamali, chairman of the Movement for the Superiority of Ideas and Law, said that not allowing the Britons to demonstrate was illegal and a violation of international agreements on human rights, which should be implemented even if they are in contradiction with the constitution.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Kucuk agrees that population in the occupied areas has increased

In an interview with Kibris, Kucuk noted that the citizenship was granted to only seven persons since they became government. He pointed out that they employed extra 300 teachers during the past two years and that problems with medicines emerged in hospitals because of the continuous increase of the population. Very serious problems exist in the country and radical measures are needed, said Kucuk adding that they are considering to put an end to entries [of people from Turkey to the occupied areas of Cyprus] using the identity card and implement the use of passports. He noted that he asked the ministry of interior to inform him about the number of the registered workers and those who have the right to acquire citizenship.

Kucuk said: The entrances and the exits in the country should seriously be controlled. Firstly, we stopped granting the citizenship in order to have some discipline. This issue has been neglected for years. Once, the issue of white card had come onto the agenda. This was a correct step. If necessary, more serious measures must be taken.

Kucuk said that another evidence of excessive population is that after 17.00 o clock the emergency department in hospitals overflows with workers. If we do not know our population, we cannot make our investments, he said.

Referring to the issue of the illegal Turkish Cypriot airlines, Kucuk recalled previous statements that the new company would start operating in March 2011 and said that in this situation it is not possible for us to continue paying the salaries, but we will find a solution. He noted that last month there was money to pay the personnel, but could not be done because the bank confiscated the money for security reasons.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Co-operation agreement between KTOS and LIZDA

The agreement envisages an exchange programme of active union members, assessment of educational systems, and exchange of publications and experiences regarding the revision of history books and of history classes in schools.

The general secretary of KTOS, Sener Elcil, and the Chairman of LIZDA, Ingrida Mikisko will oversee the agreement.

[08] Ministers in U-turn over Karpaz campus

Cyprus Today broke news that the 191-donum campus was located in a special protection area, where development is not allowed, back in August. Last week, Mr Kamil said the government would grant all the necessary permissions. But on Monday, ministry undersecretary Hasan Islamoglu admitted that anew 18.5-donum site had been offered to GAU, out of the special protection area. It follows talks with European Union bosses about the Karpaz, which is the subject of an EU environmental project, Natura 2000.

Mr Islamoglu said: The [new] plot is on public land [and] it is away from the special environmental protection area. After approval from the university, the decision will be published in the Official Gazette, probably in two or three days.

There had been controversy over the GAU Karpaz campus bid, with the potential overturning of the ban on development setting a precedent for further construction. Mr Islamoglu and told Cyprus Today that the government wanted to develop former Greek Cypriot land in order to prevent its return. There were also claims that the decision of the Council of Ministers to agree to the recommendation of Agriculture and Natural Resources Minister Zorlu Tore instead of the Tourism, Environment and Culture Minister, Kemal Durust, broke TRNC laws.

Project manager for the EU Support Office Alessandra Viezzer told Cyprus Today the Commission had raised the matter recently with the Turkish Cypriot government on more than one occasion. Each time, it was verbally confirmed by the Turkish Cypriot leadership that the construction plans had been changed and a new location would be identified, said Mrs Viezzer, adding that they were expecting written confirmation from the government.

The European Commissions Representation in Cyprus had warned the TRNC government not to go-ahead with the campus plan. It has already provided 5.2 million euros of funding for the preparation of management plans for the six potential Natura 2000 areas in North Cyprus, including the Karpaz Special Protection zone, and six other areas including Alagadi, Akdeniz and the Southern Karpaz.

The Biologists Association said the site change was a positive development. General Secretary of the association Niyazi Turkseven said that the union wanted the country to develop, but stressed this development should be sustainable.

It is wrong to open a protected area for development. However, we are happy with the governments decision and want to see the project go-ahead according to existing rules and regulations. First of all, an environmental impact report should be sought. It should respect the environment, said Mr Turkseven.

The universitys main thrust behind the project is to provide input to the economic, social and cultural development of the people living in the region. The campus will be composed of departments such as marine studies, aviation, tourism and archaeology.

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[09] Turkish and French Foreign Ministers meet; Davutoglu defines the Cyprus problem as a political obstacle in Turkeys EU process

Speaking during a joint press conference, Ahmet Davutoglu referred to Cyprus and said that despite their (Turkeys) efforts for peace, Turkey and the people of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were still being punished. It is impossible to understand it, said Davutoglu. We have suggested to hold a peace conference --like the one in 2004-- within the next few months and covering all parties, but we have not received a response, Davutoglu noted.

Davutoglu expressed the hope that talks will yield positive results, and the problem will be solved, and the path of Turkey-EU relations will be opened.

As A.A. reported, regarding Turkeys EU membership process, Davutoglu said that Turkey can record a great progress in the process if political obstacles --which are not related with EU negotiations-- are not put before Turkey. He added that he meant the Cyprus issue. Davutoglu said that Turkeys decision for EU membership is a strategic target for the whole country. He noted that Turkeys efforts to fulfil reforms are known, adding that the recent constitutional reform is an indication.

According to A.A, Davutoglu asked his French counterpart for more support of Turkeys European Union membership. We have extended a request for stronger French support in the opening of more chapters in our membership negotiations, as well as in easing visa procedures. We want the same visa procedures for the Balkan countries, nothing less, nothing more," Davutoglu said. He added that Turkey and France shared similar interests and positions in many issues, especially in energy, adding that the two ministers also discussed issues such as Irans nuclear programme, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and relations with Central Asian countries.

The Turkish minister said French President Nicolas Sarkozy was expected to pay a visit to Turkey within 2 to 3 months, after France assumes the rotating presidency of the Group of Twenty (G-20).

Kouchner, on his part, said the two countries were engaged in what France regarded as a necessary cooperation in the fight against terrorism, adding that Turkey's intelligence chief had recently paid a visit to France.

The French minister said France is ready to help Turkey open three more chapters, competition, social policy and employment, and public procurement. Turkey has passed through a process of a constitutional referendum and you have general elections ahead. EU will become a reality for Turkey if you make necessary reforms. The ball is in your court, he said.

Kouchner was also received by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. No statements were made after the meeting.

[10] EU Energy Commissioners contacts in Turkey