Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-08-24

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The two leaders resumed Cyprus reunification talks

[02] Eroglu's advisor says the Cyprus negotiations are not going well

[03] Cakici criticizes the Turkish "ambassador" and announces boycott to products of some businessmen

[04] The breakaway regime will reportedly discuss a proposal for the opening of fenced town of Varosha to tourists

[05] Tourism in occupied Cyprus to be promoted in Turkey

[06] Kibris is the most popular newspaper in the occupied area according to a KADEM opinion poll

[07] AYH conveyed letters to the US State Department for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton

[08] Rauf Denktas suffered a brain haemorrhage and he will be operated today9. Statements by Davutoglu from Libya

[10] Turkey's trade volume with Iraq increased

[11] Turkey to develop own warplane as of 2015

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

Main issues in today's Turkish newspapers are the meeting of the Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu with the Libyan Interim Transitional Council Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil in Benghazi, the statements by the Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yildiz that Turkey's TPAO might resume oil exploration in Libya after security is restored, as well as the upcoming meeting of the Libya Contact Group in Istanbul. Moreover, the meeting of President Christofias with the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu in the framework of the ongoing peace negotiations in Cyprus, reports that Turkey will develop its own warplane, an announcement by the Turkish General Staff that around 100 PKK militants were killed during the air offensive on PKK camps in the north of Iraq between August 17 and 22, and other internal issues are also covered by the press.

[01] The two leaders resumed Cyprus reunification talks

Eroglu told reporters after the five-and-a-half-hour meeting at island's UN-controlled buffer zone that during yesterday's meeting they discussed governance and power-sharing as well as oil and natural gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean. Eroglu said they were set to meet again on Friday, adding that the two leaders had agreed to hold an out-of-schedule meeting on September 14.

[02] Eroglu's advisor says the Cyprus negotiations are not going well

Olgun claimed that the island of Cyprus and the sea around it has two owners and argued that an agreement should be reached as to how this property will be shared. "The behavior of the Greek Cypriot side as if this wealth belongs to them is illegal", he alleged.

Olgun argued that the priority of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey now is to take a result from the negotiations and that is why "they have not shown a hard reaction" against the Republic of Cyprus's efforts as regards the island's resources.

Commenting on the "Swiss Model", which has been brought on to the agenda recently by Eroglu's representative Kudret Ozersay, Olgun said that this concerns sovereignty and added that various models have been brought onto the agenda during the negotiations. He noted that we could hold up as example or be inspired by other cases in the world. Olgun assessed also the Taiwan and Belgian models.

According to Olgun, the founding states in the Swiss model are sovereign to the extent that their sovereignty is not limited by the federal constitution and use all the rights which are not left to the federal government. He said that a federal partnership has a single international representation and sovereignty.

Olgun noted that the Taiwan Model is very different than the Swiss Model and added that this model concerns the way in which the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, will hold its commercial, social and cultural relations in case a solution is not reached on the island.

Referring to the Belgian Model, Olgun noted that federal representatives represent the partnership in the EU and added that this representation comes up after reconciliation between the two sides. However, he said, the representatives of the founding states take over and negotiate on specific issues.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Cakici criticizes the Turkish "ambassador" and announces boycott to products of some businessmen

"The people did not demand from him to come to Cyprus and become Kemal Dervis. Everyone should remain within the framework of his duties", he noted.

Cakici reiterated that they want their relations with Turkey to be relations between states and added: "We do not want the ambassador to be governor. We will work all together to keep our economy standing on its own feet. We are thankful for the aids that come, but a state exists here and its organs should be respected".

Cakici said that they appreciate ISAD's view that the implementation of the sliding scale of salaries should start again. He stated that they will start a boycott against the products of businessmen who keep their personal interests above the interests of the community.

Meanwhile, in his statements Metin Sadi, chairman of ISAD, said that some things could be done so that the population to grow economically and gave the example of Dubai. Noting that 350 thousand Turkish Cypriots live in Britain, Sadi added: "We do not need population. Why we do not bring back these citizens of ours? Problems such the military service are not problems that could not be solved, they are very simple".

(I/Ts.)

[04] The breakaway regime will reportedly discuss a proposal for the opening of fenced town of Varosha to tourists

"A Proposal to open up Maras ? once the most famous resort on Cyprus ? to tourists is expected to be discussed next month.

The Turkish Cypriot Tourist Guides Association (KITREB) has submitted the proposal to the government and representatives are due to meet with Tourism, Environment and Culture Minister Unal Ustel...

KITREB wants tourists to be allowed to visit what has been an out-of-bounds military area.

Hasan Karlitas, leader of the organization, said: 'Until a solution [is found], it would be a constructive step forward and a goodwill gesture to open the closed part tourist visits.

There was no restriction in and out of the fenced-off area of Maras, both for the locals and tourists during the late 1990s and the beginning of 2000s.

Many local people used to go to the beach at Derinya, located to the south. Tourists accompanied by tourist guides used to visit certain parts of Maras, and it was prohibited only to take photos at the town, as today.'

'Various sightseeing tours were organized almost every week. Nevertheless, we had to stop the sightseeing following the ban on entering the area due to political reasons,' he added.

'Many tourists have been asking whether they can visit Maras,' he continued.

'Some sightseeing is still organized in the area that is open to tourists ? the Palm Beach, located next to the fenced-off area of the town.

'There is a great interest among tourists to visit and know about this area.'

Mr Karlitas believes allowing tourists to enter would not only revitalize the sector, but also prove that even in its present condition Maras remains of social, political and economic value..."

[05] Tourism in occupied Cyprus to be promoted in Turkey

During the programmes, Ustel will talk about the history, the culture and the natural beauties of occupied Cyprus. Moreover, he will give touristic information and invite the Turkish people to spend their vacation in occupied Cyprus.

Meanwhile, the paper reports on statements by Ayse Donmezer, former self-styled minister of economy and tourism and current "programme director" of the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers Union (KITOB). Donmezer gave information on 2011 tourism season in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. Comparing the number of tourists at the end of July 2010 and 2011, Donmezer said that the number of people coming from Turkey increased by 7.6% during this period and the number of people coming from foreign countries increased by 30.4%. Particularly, in the first seven months of 2011, the increase in the number of tourists from foreign countries was as following: 3% from Germany, 2% from the Netherlands, 3% from Iran, 3% from Azerbaijan, 3.5% from Italy and 1% from Russia. However, a decrease was seen in tourists coming from the UK (from 47% to 35%) due to the economic crisis.

Moreover, Donmezer, stated that tourists began visiting occupied Cyprus after the establishment of charter flights with 13 different destinations: Turkey, the UK, Iran, Azerbaijan, Poland, Slovenia, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and Denmark. In this framework, the occupancy rate of five-star hotels with casino reached 60% and of those without a casino reached 50%. She added that while the average occupancy rate of the hotels in 2010 was 36%, this percentage reached 47% in the first seven months of 2011. She said that the occupancy rate will further increase.

[06] Kibris is the most popular newspaper in the occupied area according to a KADEM opinion poll

The opinion poll was conducted by KADEM Research Company in August 2011, in 174 villages and 394 places like coffee shops and party organisations.

According to the poll, Kibris is the most popular paper with 83.9%, followed by Yeniduzen with 18.1% and Havadis with 16.6%.

As regards the Turkish mainland newspapers sold in the occupied area, Sabah is the most popular with 20.1%, followed by Hurriyet with 11.6%.

The most popular television channel is NTV Sport with 24.8%, followed by Show TV with 23.1% and Bayrak with 23.0%.

[07] AYH conveyed letters to the US State Department for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton

A delegation of AYH headed by Kaya started a nine-day visit in the United States on 13 August 2011. The Turkish Cypriot delegation completed its contacts and returned to the occupied area of Cyprus yesterday.

According to the paper, the US State Department organized visits for the AYH delegation to Washington DC, Annapolis, Maryland, and Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania. The aim of the visit of the AYH delegation to the US was reportedly to exchange views on the NGO's and their important role in the development of the society.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Rauf Denktas suffered a brain haemorrhage and he will be operated todayTurkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (24.08.11) reports that Rauf Denktas, former Turkish Cypriot leader, suffered a brain haemorrhage and he will be operated today. Denktas receives treatment at the Gulhane Military Medical Academy.

[09] Statements by Davutoglu from Libya

Speaking at a joint press conference with Libyan Interim Transitional Council Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil in Benghazi, Davutoglu said that the political directors of the Libya Contact Group would meet in north-western province of Istanbul in a few days.

"In the Istanbul meeting, we will discuss the needs of Libya one by one", Davutoglu said.

"NATO support to Libya's security would continue until security is established in that country. What is crucial is Libya's security and the establishment of stability as well as securing Libya's territorial integrity. We do not desire any portion of Libya to be without security and stability", Davutoglu stressed.

"The people of Libya are in urgent need of financial resources. All of Libya's frozen assets must be put into the service of the Libyan people", Davutoglu noted.

"As Turkey and the Libyan Contact Group, we will support the Transitional Council under the leadership of Mustafa Abdul Jalil", Davutoglu said. In response to a question on Turkey's assistance to the Interim Transitional Council, Davutoglu said that Turkey provided 300 million USD including 100 million USD loan to the Council. Turkey also sent medicines and food to Libya, Davutoglu also said.

[10] Turkey's trade volume with Iraq increased

Turkey's trade volume with Iraq was worth 940 million USD in 2003. This figure jumped to 6 billion USD in 2009 and Iraq is now among Turkey's partners to which Turkey sends most exports.

More than half of over 2,000 foreign companies operating in north of Iraq are from Turkey. A huge number of Turkish companies present in north of Iraq are involved in the construction sector. Around 20,000 Turkish citizens work in north of Iraq. 75 percent of all products sold in north of Iraq were made in Turkey.

Iraqis consider Turkish products as ones with high quality and prefer them over other products made in different countries.

Daily flights from Istanbul to north of Iraq carry dozens of Turkish businesspeople to the region. Turkish businesspeople can also travel to Iraq in buses from Diyarbakir, Cizre and Silopi.

Dozens of Turkish companies attend fairs and exhibitions in north of Iraq, including in Irbil.

Turkey's Ziraat Bankasi, Is Bankasi and Vakifbank have each opened a branch in Irbil. Shopping malls in Irbil employ many Turks. Kurds living in the region have great sympathy for Turkey and the Turks.

Many new homes built in north of Iraq have stones and marbles that come from Turkey.

[11] Turkey to develop own warplane as of 2015

The national war jet project will bring together the whole Turkish defence industry and companies like Havelsan, Roketsan and Aselsan.

TAI will be the leading company in the national war jet project. Turkey will begin manufacturing jet engines as of 2015. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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