Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-07-01

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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 statements after yesterday's negotiations

[02] Eroglu: "We have also made a concession by accepting federation"; Yeni Duzen: Eroglu has forgotten who made the proposal for a federation

[03] Eroglu briefs political party leaders prior to Geneva

[04] Izcan called on Turkish Cypriots to resist for their existence

[05] Ozkan Yorgancioglu: "The country is under attack"

[06] Demands for foreign investments in occupied Cyprus are in an increase

[07] The Unions' Platform meets with an MEP

[08] Tension was once more created in the "assembly"

[09] The parents of "DAU" students may ask help from the Republic of Cyprus

[10] Three more statues were excavated in the ancient city of occupied Salamina

[11] The breakaway regime will participate in an international bicycle race in Germany

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[12] Gul's contacts in order to solve the crisis in Parliament; MHP denies meeting

[13] Turkish economy grows by 11% in first quarter

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu's statements after yesterday's negotiations

The two leaders also instructed their special representatives Kudret Ozersay and George Iacovou to meet this Saturday to conclude discussions on the issues.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Eroglu expressed the belief that a convergence paper could emerge from Saturday's meeting between the special representatives.

Stating that his team had put forward converging proposals at today's meeting, Eroglu said he believed the Greek Cypriot side will seriously take up these proposals.

Touching upon the Geneva meeting, Eroglu said that it is possible that the UN Secretary General will put forward several ideas towards motivating the two sides towards a solution.

Responding to a question on Greek Cypriot press reports concerning the return of Famagusta [closed off area of Varosha] Eroglu said that such an issue was not on their agenda. "Maras is part of a comprehensive solution. The issues are inseparable. I don't believe Maras will be on the agenda in the coming days" he added.

Responding to another question, Eroglu repeated his position: "We support the intensification of the talks after the Geneva meeting. The expected intensification of the talks after the second summit meeting did not take place because of the elections in south Cyprus. Perhaps a more intensive negotiations process awaits us after next week's meeting. Everyone has understood that the process can't go on like this anymore. I believe the problem can only be solved through timeframes and deadlines".

[02] Eroglu: "We have also made a concession by accepting federation"; Yeni Duzen: Eroglu has forgotten who made the proposal for a federation

Addressing the opening ceremony of occupied Trikomo Festival the night before yesterday, Eroglu commented on the Greek Cypriot side's position that it had made a concession by accepting the proposal for a federation in Cyprus and claimed: "While the TRNC reality exists, we also have made a concession by accepting the federation. I believe that now we could reach somewhere with a mutual give and take at the negotiating table for an agreement, because the Turkish Cypriot people have rights for centuries on these lands".

Referring to the Geneva summit, Eroglu said: "We are thinking of departing from Geneva with views and decisions with which we will be able to see our future. We want to learn from the Secretary-General what will happen in case an agreement is not found".

Eroglu said that they will not give to the Greek Cypriot side the opportunity it waits in Geneva and added that the agreement in Cyprus will be viable if lessons are taken from the pre-1974 period and if the current realities are not ignored. He alleged that they want a lasting agreement and not an agreement which will last only for three years, like it happened in 1960.

Alleging that the Greek Cypriots have rejected all the proposals for an agreement that were tabled during the past 48 years, Eroglu said that "the patience of the Turkish Cypriot people has ran out" and reiterated the demand for a timetable and intensification of the process. "As long as a time limit is not set, it is not possible for the Greek Cypriots to be motivated for an agreement", he alleged.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (01.07.11) refers to Eroglu's statements under the title: "'We also made a concession by accepting the federation'". The paper notes that Eroglu has forgotten who made the proposal for a federation in Cyprus and implies that this proposal was made by the Turkish Cypriot side.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Eroglu briefs political party leaders prior to Geneva

All political party leaders expressed their support to Eroglu for the summit to be held in Geneva on 7 July and put forward different views regarding the process.

The leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) and self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk said that Eroglu briefed them on the preparations regarding the negotiations to be carried out in Geneva under the UN Secretary-General. He noted that in Geneva the process would be evaluated and decisions would be taken for the period to follow. Kucuk said that they could not see the progress they expected on the core issues of the Cyprus problem, but achieving progress on some issues of secondary importance was a success.

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Ozkan Yorgancioglu described as an "important summit" the meeting on 7 July in Geneva and said that the agreements reached on 23 May and on 1 July should be taken as basis during this summit. He noted that the foundations of this process had been laid by former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and added that the CTP would closely follow the process. He said they told Eroglu that they would support him in all positive steps he would take on 7 July for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Mehmet Cakici said that they were not satisfied with the attitude shown until now by the two sides during the solution process. He noted that the process proceeds "with the speed of a turtle" and it had come to a deadlock. He alleged that President Christofias made no serious openings and caused disappointment. Cakici noted that policies for finding a solution should be produced while going to Geneva, especially on the property issue, and added that they should remain committed to the agreements of 23 May and 1 July 2008 on the issue of governance and power sharing. Cakici expressed the view that after the Turkish parliamentary elections, Turkey would make some openings in Cyprus, such as the occupied closed city of Varosha and on EU's Direct Trade Regulation for the Turkish Cypriots and the mutual opening of ports.

The chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) Serdar Denktas argued that the Turkish Cypriot side became "a little bit concessive" in order for showing a proactive behaviour and not upsetting the negotiations. He said that they told Eroglu that things were heading to a point where the Turkish Cypriot side would not be able to protect its red lines.

The leader of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) Turgay Avci described as "very useful" the fact that after a long time they were briefed prior to the Geneva summit and they were able to express their views. He argued that Eroglu would go to Geneva to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and added that the ORP wants a new bi-zonal partnership in Cyprus which will be established by two founding partners and based on the political equality of the two "peoples". Referring to the recent statement made by Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Cyprus, Avci argued that the Turkish Cypriot "people" could not wait and would not wait for another 30 years for a solution in Cyprus. Avci noted that a will for finding a solution in Cyprus the latest by 2012 should be exhibited and in case this does not happen, the Turkish Cypriots should say that they would follow a different road.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Izcan called on Turkish Cypriots to resist for their existence

In his statements to a dinner party last night, Izcan said that the BKP will continue exerting efforts for the "country" to be more organized in general and to become stronger.

Referring to the problems experienced, Izcan accused the Turkish Governments for trying to change entirely their demographic structure by increasing the population and for trying to abolish their culture. He also accused the Government of Ankara for trying to usurp their assets and seize their organizations.

Izcan went on saying that the Turkish Cypriots who are convicted to unemployment, to migration from the country and to annihilation will disappear if they do not discard Ankara's oppression. "Our primary duty is to escalate the national existence struggle and to protect our country", he added.

(AK)

[05] Ozkan Yorgancioglu: "The country is under attack"

In his statements during the meeting, Yorgancioglu stated, inter alia, that the "country" is going through a difficult period adding that all sections in the "country" are "under a great attack".

Yorgancioglu further said that they are aware of the difficulties being experienced and stressed the need for measure to be taken in order to solve their problems. He then referred to the need for those measures not to be opposed to people's interest and underlined that the attack is directed against the identity of the Turkish Cypriots.

Yorgancioglu explained that in this framework, CTP-BG has launched a series of contacts with trade unions and with businessmen in order to discuss the necessary measures to be taken against this attack.

Speaking also during the meeting, Ahmet Kaptan, chairman of KTAMS, explained that together with CTP-BG are fighting shoulder to shoulder for the solution and a federal Cyprus and stressed the need for all sides in the "country" to cooperate and do the necessary to overpass the economic difficulties.

Kaptan accused also the so-called government for not proceeding to a social dialogue with the trade unions.

Referring to the approval by the "council of ministers" of the "social Insurance draft bill", Kaptan said that the relevant "draft bill" was prepared by Turkey's AKP and that the UBP accepted it without any questions.

(AK)

[06] Demands for foreign investments in occupied Cyprus are in an increase

Kucuk noted that a marina, which is an investment by a third country, and which is of a capacity of around 300 yachts will be soon inaugurated, adding that due to the appropriate geographic conditions of the area, more marinas could be constructed. On his part, GGYB chairman Metin Ozbek said that they are interested in constructing a marina in the occupied area of Cyprus.

[07] The Unions' Platform meets with an MEP

[08] Tension was once more created in the "assembly"

When the session begun, representatives of the Platform stood up, turned their back and started applauding. The "speaker" of the "parliament, Hasan Bozer reacted to this protest, described it as insult to the Turkish Cypriot "people" and interrupted the session for a while. Buran Atakan, chairman of Hava-Sen, trade union of the employees of the bankrupted "Turkish Cypriot airlines", shouted that the "assembly" does not represent the Turkish Cypriots and called on the "government" to resign.

The "assembly" interrupted its session for half an hour after the protest of the Platform, but when it convened again, another protest was held, this time by 4-5 women members of the "Feminist Workshop".

Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (01.07.11) reports that the women shouted slogans such as "We cannot be prevented from entering into the parliament", "No to AKP", "No to privatizations", "UBP resign", and "Cyprus will not become Recepistan" [Tr. Note: Country which belongs to Recep Tayyip Erdogan].

Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (01.07.11) refers to the issue under the title: "They turned their asses to the parliament where the will of the people is represented", while daily Vatan (01.07.11) writes that "those who turned the parliament into this situation should be ashamed".

(I/Ts.)

[09] The parents of "DAU" students may ask help from the Republic of Cyprus

The parents also said that they do not trust Doga College and that they have to decide what road they will follow after their legal struggle. They added that the self-styled ministry of national education has to register their children in an equal school; otherwise they will ask help from the Republic of Cyprus for the future of their children, who are citizens of the Republic of Cyprus.

[10] Three more statues were excavated in the ancient city of occupied Salamina

Speaking at a press conference, "DAU rector" Prof. Dr Abdullah Oztoprak, referring to a marble statue of a woman unearthed in the excavations in the same place ten days ago, said that in a ten-day period four statues were found.

The member of the "Salamis excavation team" Dr Ayca Ozcan, inter alia, said that the summer period of the excavations is expected to be concluded on July 25. Ozcan added that their aim is to complete the ongoing excavation work held in the cold section or cooling room of the city's Roman Baths this year and to restore it, contributing to the world cultural heritage.

[11] The breakaway regime will participate in an international bicycle race in Germany

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[12] Gul's contacts in order to solve the crisis in Parliament; MHP denies meeting

President Gul also invited late on Wednesday Turkey's main opposition party and pro-Kurdish independent deputies to discuss possible solutions to the latest crisis.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kilicdaroglu said that the President expressed unease with the long periods of detention for individuals on trial in the country. "He said that he also voiced his concerns about this issue before. He said he would contribute to a solution to the issue and that he would take my opinions into consideration," the CHP leader said.

Pro-Kurdish independent deputies who were endorsed by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) also announced last week that they would boycott the Parliament to protest six of their jailed Deputies. Gul will also meet with Mardin independent Deputy Ahmet Turk and Diyarbakir independent Deputy Serafettin Elci on Friday.

Also, as Ankara Anatolia news agency reports (30.06.11), Devlet Bahceli, the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), rejected Gul's invitation for a meeting.

Bahceli, who explained why he turned down the invitation, said, "it was very ugly and inappropriate to both show MHP in the same category as the parties responsible for oath-taking and boycott crisis and consider MHP as a part of ongoing political crisis."

"MHP did not accept the invitation because it believes that President Gul takes position to distract attention of the public and because it is not a part of the ongoing crisis at the Parliament," Bahceli said and added:

"Mr. President's persuasiveness, his qualification to solve problems impartially and his cohesive speciality broke down because of his role-sharing with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his mission which he carries out by placing AKP on his priority."

[13] Turkish economy grows by 11% in first quarter

According to the statistics, the Turkish economy was the world's fastest growing economy in the first quarter of 2011 (Q1). Turkey was followed by Argentina with 9.9% and China with 9.7%. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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