Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-06-17

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu's accusation that the Greek Cypriot side backs down from agreed issues

[02] Ozgurgun said that the Cyprus settlement must be based on UN parameters and Turkey's guarantee

[03] Reportedly, Erdogan to visit occupied Cyprus on the anniversary of the Turkish invasion to the island

[04] Rauf Denktas comments on the Turkish elections

[05] Former Turkish Minister says that talking about turning "TRNC" into Turkey's 82nd province is treason

[06] Turkish Cypriot athletes want to compete in the free area of the Republic of Cyprus

[07] "TRNC consulate opened in Essen"

[08] TMT continues preparations for international symposium

[09] Illegal GAU to build new campus in occupied Rizokarpasso

[10] Trade Unions Platform to protest today

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[11] Turkey calls for immediate end to Syrian crackdown

[12] Gul said Turkey to vote for Palestine recognition in the UN

[13] Bahceli closes doors to reconciliation with AKP, BDP leaders

[14] Erdogan withdraws lawsuits against journalists

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu's accusation that the Greek Cypriot side backs down from agreed issues

Eroglu said that the meeting yesterday lasted for one hour and they discussed their July meeting in Geneva. He noted that Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Cyprus, conveyed some issues to the sides and afterwards they discussed the chapter of Governance and Power Sharing. He said they listened to President Christofias' views and expressed their counter views. He noted that they asked in writing the views which President Christofias expressed yesterday on Governance and Power Sharing. Eroglu said that the representatives of the leaders will meet today in an effort to increase convergences on the issue of internal security and powering sharing.

"If we cannot reach an agreement on the main issues, it will be meaningless to agree on the details", Eroglu argued and added that, at first, they accept Downer's view that intensified negotiations on the core issues should be carried out after the Geneva meeting in an effort to reach an agreement. He said, however, that there is no decision on the form of this process.

Eroglu claimed that President Christofias seems to have some hesitations on this issue, but after the Geneva summit they will start searching whether the intensified negotiations will be carried out three or five times a week. Eroglu said that after the elections in Turkey, they do not consider a different negotiating process for the period following the Geneva summit. He noted that the change in the negotiations might be the intensification of the process.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozgurgun said that the Cyprus settlement must be based on UN parameters and Turkey's guarantee

Alleging that the Turkish Cypriots had been subjected to violent attacks by the Greek Cypriots, Ozgurgun also claimed that "peace had been restored on the island in 1974 thanks to the timely intervention of the Turkish Armed Forces [Turkish invasion in Cyprus]".

Ozgurgun also emphasized that "motherland Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces [Turkish occupation forces] continued to maintain peace on the island as a guarantor power".

Illegal BRT also reports that Ozgurgun said that "the Turkish Cypriots have been forced to live under embargoes for many years by the international community", adding that the world should hear the voice of the Turkish Cypriots and end the "embargoes" they are imposing on them.

Commenting on the 2004 referendum, Ozgurgun claimed that the Greek Cypriot side's rejection of the Annan Plan was clear proof of the Greek Cypriot side's intransigent attitude.

Noting that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and his negotiating team are working extremely hard towards reaching a settlement, Ozgurgun said: "We, as the Turkish Cypriot side, are negotiating in good faith and good will. However, the Greek Cypriot side is harming the process by rejecting all proposals put on the table".

[03] Reportedly, Erdogan to visit occupied Cyprus on the anniversary of the Turkish invasion to the island

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah (17.06.11) reports on the trips of Erdogan after the June 12 general elections. According to the paper, after his landslide victory on last Sunday's elections, Erdogan is to make his first trip abroad to Egypt. Erdogan is expected to give messages to Egyptians and other nations to encourage them in their democratic drive.

[04] Rauf Denktas comments on the Turkish elections

[05] Former Turkish Minister says that talking about turning "TRNC" into Turkey's 82nd province is treason

Akarcali claimed that the Turkish Cypriots are "a special colour, a special voice and beauty in the Turkic world", and added that turning the "TRNC" into a province would be as engaging in futile as turning all flowers into the same colour and making them having the same smell.

Akarcali criticized the statement made by the Turkish Democracy Foundation that the occupied part of Cyprus should become Turkey's 82nd province if a solution is not reached at the Cyprus negotiations, and said that "this kind of statements is mostly useful to the Greek Cypriots". He argued that the Greek Cypriots use these statements internationally for their benefit.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Turkish Cypriot athletes want to compete in the free area of the Republic of Cyprus

In statements after the meeting, Koutsokoumnis expressed CFA's satisfaction with the visit of Lefka Turkish Sports Club and its application to join CFA. He said that the rules and the regulations regarding becoming a CFA member were explained to the Turkish Cypriot delegation during the meeting and added that these conditions will be translated into English and sent to Lefka Sports Club. Koutsokoumnis said CFA is ready to accept Lefka or any other Turkish Cypriot football club in case they file application to join the Association. He noted that CFA has no red lines as long as the rules and regulations are implemented. He said that the CFA will make a positive discrimination in favor of Lefka taking into consideration that the first year will be difficult.

In his statements after the meeting, Mukellef said that they were received "sincerely and warmly" and that they visited CFA in order to find out the pros, the cons and the conditions of becoming a member of the Cyprus Football Association. He said that the CFA will look whether Lefka had been member of the Association in the past and added that if there was no membership, their application will be accepted immediately. He noted that the conditions for joining CFA are not harsh.

The paper writes that a second meeting will be held between the sides probably in July, after Lefka Sports Club studies and examines the English translation of the rules and regulations which will be sent to it by CFA.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (17.06.11) reports that the so-called football federation of the breakaway regime started considering to annul the license of Turkish Cypriot football player Mustafa Yasinses, who has signed a contract with Greek Cypriot Alki Football Club without obtaining permission by the so-called Turkish Cypriot federation.

The paper writes that confusion was created after Tekin Birinci, manager of the football player, leaked the text of the agreement to the press.

Gunes reports also that another Turkish Cypriot football player, Lefka's goalkeeper Mehmet, is preparing to transfer to a Greek Cypriot club. According to Gunes, Mehmet is examining a proposal of 80 thousand Euros from a Greek Cypriot team. Under the title "Is he going to Omonia?", Gunes reports that Mehmet does not want to reveal the name of the team which made this proposal to him, but most probably is Omonia Lefkosia. Mehmet stated that he is determined to utilize this chance and play in the free area of the Republic of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[07] "TRNC consulate opened in Essen"

[08] TMT continues preparations for international symposium

The chairman of the association Vural Turkmen, informed Tatar on the symposium which will take place between October 31 - November 5 this year and said that around 40 participants from other countries have already applied to attend the symposium, namely Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Bosnia- Herzegovina.

Tatar said that documenting the island's history and discussing it academically will light the way for future generations and also noted the importance to share with the international press "how their just fight was realized."

[09] Illegal GAU to build new campus in occupied Rizokarpasso

Speaking at a press conference on introducing the project, "GAU rector" Serhat Akpinar stated that at the beginning, they aim to begin operation with five or six hundred students and in the future to reach two thousand students.

[10] Trade Unions Platform to protest today

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[11] Turkey calls for immediate end to Syrian crackdown

Replying to questions of reporters regarding his meeting with Hasan Turkmani, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's special envoy, Davutoglu said: "I told Turkmani that we want to see in Syria what we want for our country. We attach great importance to prosperity, democracy and human rights. These issues are also important for the Syrian people."

Davutoglu said that Turkey has a clear message for Syria. "We want a stable and prosperous Syria. We think that a comprehensive reform process including al-Assad's commitments should be fulfilled for a stable and prosperous Syria. But first violence must end there. Syria should show its determination in making reforms to the Syrian people and the international community with concrete steps", he said.

Davutoglu quoted Turkmani as saying that Syria was doing its utmost to take under control violence in Syria and thanked Turkey for its assistance to Syrian people who took shelter in Turkey.

Davutoglu said that they would keep following developments, and Turkey took necessary measures to meet the needs of more than 10.000 people waiting in Syria near the Turkish-Syrian border.

Davutoglu said that they had full confidence in Syrian Government's sincerity.

Also, recent developments in the Middle East including Syria have been discussed at a meeting presided by Davutoglu in Ankara.

National Security Council Secretary-General Serdar Kilic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu and Turkish Ambassadors in the USA, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Italy, North African and Middle Eastern countries as well as Turkey's Permanent Representatives to the UN, NATO and the EU attended the meeting.

Davutoglu told reporters prior to the meeting: "The Middle East has been going through a remarkable transition process. We needed to hold consultations with our Ambassadors. Therefore, we invited them to Ankara."

Davutoglu added that "Turkey never had a secret agenda throughout its history. Turkey never had a secret aim against any country. Our foreign policy aims at increasing mutual political dialogue in the region, completing transition process in a healthy way, concentrating on economic relations and preventing the cultural, sectarian and ethnic differences from destroying cooperation areas."

Asked about the possibility the Turkish military could enforce a buffer zone on Syrian territory to protect civilians, former advisor to Erdogan Nabi Avci said that Turkey had no plan for a military intervention in Syria.

But he said that Turkey constantly reminds the Syrian Government that intervention could become part of the international community's agenda, and urged Damascus to make rational choices. "We are trying our best for the last chance for the Syrian regime," he said.

[12] Gul said Turkey to vote for Palestine recognition in the UN

"We hope that an independent Palestine [is] established based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital," Gul was quoted as saying by Japanese newspaper Nikkei. "We are among the strongest supporters of Palestine," he also said.

Israel and the United States have objected to the idea of UN recognition. The US has urged the Palestinians and Israel not to take unilateral steps that could jeopardize a final peace settlement. Gul said there is "no doubt that Turkey would vote for the Resolution".

[13] Bahceli closes doors to reconciliation with AKP, BDP leaders

He implied that he would not shake hands with the leaders of the two parties in Parliament at the opening ceremony of the new legislative year. "We have no problems with the leaders of political parties. But I will think long and hard before extending my hand to the Prime Minister. I don't find it appropriate to shake hands with him," Bahceli told the Hurriyet Daily News on Thursday. Bahceli said he would think twice about shaking hands with the Prime Minister unless he offers an apology to the MHP for remarks he uttered against his party during the electoral campaigning.

In the run up to the elections, the leaders of Turkey's political parties exchanged harsh remarks and criticism. Bahceli also said he would not shake hands with the BDP leader in Parliament either. He had been praised for peace-building efforts when he shook the hand of Ahmet T?rk, the former leader of the now-defunct pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), after the general elections of 2007. The DTP is the precursor of the BDP. "I shook T?rk's hand. I do not think you will be able to see a similar scene this year. I don't think there will be an atmosphere [in Parliament] conducive to us shaking hands. They [BDP officials] said many things after the election results were announced. We have to take this into consideration," he noted.

In response to a question about a sex tape scandal that shook the MHP ahead of the elections, the MHP leader said he expects the Prime Minister to find out who is responsible for recording the tapes and putting them online.

[14] Erdogan withdraws lawsuits against journalists

Erdogan drew anger when he filed lawsuits against cartoonists who had drawn pieces critical of him, such as one strip that depicted him as a cat entangled in a ball of string.

Speaking during his victory speech after the Justice and Development Party (AKP), won Sunday's elections, the Prime Minister said he wanted to make peace with the people he might offended during the election campaign. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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