Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-11-10

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 / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ozersay says the map and the members will not be discussed unless a date for a mult-party conference is determined

[02] Bagis reiterated Turkey's view regarding the opening of its ports to Cyprus vessels

[03] Fule expressed concern over rising tension between Turkey and Cyprus

[04] Reactions against the "draft bills" on social insurance and immigration continue

[05] CHP accuses AKP of turning prisons into concentration camps

[06] Turkey calls for dialogue on Tehran's nuclear activity

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

Reports about the new earthquake in Van province in Turkey, statements by the chairman of the Republican People's Party Kemal Kilicdaroglu, that prisons in Turkey are concentration camps, reports about the ceremonies marking the anniversary of Ataturk's death, statements by the Turkish EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis that European countries must cooperate with Turkey against PKK and other internal issues, are some of the main topics in today's Turkish dailies.

[01] Ozersay says the map and the numbers will not be discussed unless a date for a multi-party conference is determined

Speaking to TAK, Ozersay said that it is a reality that there has been rapprochement in some important issues in New York. "It is not a coincidence that the UN Secretary-General said that 'encouraging progress has been noted' in this meeting. However, I cannot say that this carries the meaning that 'the Cyprus problem has been solved, it has finished'", said Ozersay and added that from now the process will be more difficult and critical. "The decisions that the Turkish Cypriot side or the Greek Cypriot side will have to take from now on will be much more difficult," he said.

Asked to give a date for a possible multi-party conference, Ozersay replied that the timeframe is not yet clear and said that it is the wrong impression to think that the Turkish Cypriot side's objective is multi-party conference. "For us, a multi-party conference is not the purpose, but a medium to take the process into a successful end. The Turkish Cypriot side is not ready to pay a price, just to be able to hold such a conference. Not for the modality of this conference, or for any other subject," he said.

Ozersay also reiterated that at this point there are no negotiations for maps and numbers. He pointed out that it has been written in UNSG's March and August reports that the two sides have agreed to discuss the issue "at the last stage," and added: "Everyone should now that until [a date] is defined for a multi-party conference, maps and numbers will not be negotiated."

Asked to elaborate why those chapters are left to the end, he said when there were discussions that some areas would be given [back] or that people who have settled in certain areas would be displaced, the economy of these areas had frozen. "We will not allow this. If, however, we enter the last stage of the process by defining a multi-party conference, of course maps and numbers will come onto the agenda. [...] The land chapter is directly related with security and cannot be separated from those subjects. Maps and numbers, including all unsolved issues, will be figured out at the multi-party conference stage. As a matter of fact it is natural and necessary this conference to be conducted with the participation of the guarantors. This is why we are talking about a 4 or 5 party conference. In the island, along with the solution, a new partnership will be established, a new state of affairs will emerge; however the guarantor countries must give their consent, being the main actors of the system that will guarantee this [the new state of affairs]", said Ozersay.

Commenting on the citizenship issue, he claimed that the Greek Cypriot side tries to present it as a different chapter, and said that discussing the issue at the Greentree meeting does not turn the citizenship into a separate chapter, but it falls under the administration and power sharing chapter. He also said that it is no coincidence that the Secretary-General referred to the citizenship in his latest statement as an issue and not as a chapter. Moreover, he added that the two sides have different opinions on the matter and clarified the position of the Turkish Cypriot side: "We insist upon the citizenships that have been given until today to be valid in the new partnership."

Ozersay commenting on the possibility to postpone or freeze the negotiations he claimed that this is not an option for the Turkish Cypriot side and added that after 4 meetings with the UNSG it is obvious what must be done. He argued that, as a diplomat continuously says, what should be done after four meetings with the UNSG is to prove whether or not the Cyprus problem could be solved. He said that they believe that the UNSG has shown a determined stance towards the negotiations, something which makes them happy and claimed that the latest meeting in Greentree shows that the open-ended negotiations logic was left behind and that they came closer to the last stage of the process.

Ozersay referring to the future of the negotiations said that the direct talks and shuttle diplomacy will continue in order to support the negotiations. He also said that during the last Geneva meeting, the increased role of the UN towards this direction came into being.

[02] Bagis reiterated Turkey's view regarding the opening of its ports to Cyprus vessels

Turkish news portal ABHABER.com (online, 09.11.11) publishes the full text of Bagis' speech at the IES. The extracts of his speech on the energy issue and the Cyprus problem are the following:

"(?) Another important point to be discussed in evaluating possible contributions of Turkey's EU membership, concerns the issue of energy.

Thanks to its unique location, we are Europe's energy corridor for Central Eurasian, Caucasian, and Caspian oil and gas resources. Over 70% of the crude oil and natural gas reserves of the world are located in Russia, the Caspian and Middle East regions surrounding Turkey. The EU's current energy dependency rate exceeds 50% and is expected to reach 70% by 2030.

As part of big scale energy projects like Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project and Nabucco pipelines, Turkey will significantly strengthen EU's energy security by diversifying its energy supplies.

Being the 7th largest country in terms of geothermal potential, and the 8th largest in terms of hydroelectricity, Turkey is one of the richest countries in the world in renewable energy resources. Therefore, Turkey's accession will considerably help the EU increase the share of renewable resources in its energy consumption. However, we cannot explain to ourselves why the Energy Chapter is being blockaded by the Greek Cypriots when Turkey has this potential.

(?)

Some member states should stop hiding behind the Greek Cypriots. We cannot accept an attitude that links Turkey's membership to the EU with the settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Accession of the Greek Cypriots in the EU has been an historical mistake of the EU, a mistake that was against international law and EU legislation. Following the referendum on Annan Plan, EU declared that 'ought to be put an end to the isolation of Turkish Cypriots, who evidently proclaimed that they visualized their future in the EU'. However the EU did not keep this promise and direct trade regulation did not enter into force. Following all these inconsistent policies, EU has just stand for the deadlock.

EU neither contributed to the solution of the Cyprus issue, nor prevented it from increasingly overwhelming Turkey's accession process. Besides, a vicious circle is created due to the negative interaction between the Cyprus issue and the deadlock in the accession process. No steps are taken regarding the direct trade regulation, which is the only way to overcome this dead end.

We want a solution in Cyprus. We continue to be sincerely committed to the comprehensive settlement process. We hope that a comprehensive solution acceptable to all parties will be found before July 2012 and United Republic of Cyprus will assume EU Presidency.

As a guarantor power, we will not allow any infringement of the Turkish Cypriots' rights over the natural resources of the island, especially when the comprehensive settlement is at stake."

[03] Fule expressed concern over rising tension between Turkey and Cyprus

Commissioner Fule and Minister Bagis agreed that defining a positive agenda as set out in the Progress Report is the way forward to provide new momentum to EU-Turkey relations. They also concurred that this positive agenda is not to replace, but to complement the accession process. Mr F?le repeated that Turkey continues to be a key country for the EU and that the accession process remains the most effective tool to frame the relations of the European Union with Turkey.

In the talks with Bagis, Fule highlighted various elements of the positive agenda such as intensified dialogue and cooperation on political reforms, alignment with the EU acquis under negotiation chapters, visa, mobility and migration, as well as addressing important trade issues which should be discussed in more detail during the upcoming visit of himself and the Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, to Istanbul on 17 and 18 November. Both partners agreed that with political support of the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament work should start to put the positive agenda into practice.

As regards the constitutional reform in Turkey, Commissioner Fule praised the ongoing efforts to ensure an inclusive, participative process and encouraged its continuation.

In the course of the meeting, the Commissioner raised with Minister Bagis the concerns of the European Union about the recent tensions in relations between Turkey and Cyprus. As regards the talks on a comprehensive settlement for Cyprus, both parties welcomed the encouraging progress the Secretary-General of the United Nations reported during the recent meeting in New York of 30 and 31 October. Commissioner Fule also referred to the recent arrests of Turkish intellectuals, noting that both the Turkish anti-terror legislation and its interpretation raise concerns in the European Union. Minister Bagis explained the Turkish position on this matter.

[04] Reactions against the "draft bills" on social insurance and immigration continue

The discussion of the draft "bills" was postponed for today after the marathon speech of Mehmet Cakici, the chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), last Thursday.

The paper writes that reactions will take place inside the "assembly", by the "deputies" of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and TDP and outside by the parties' youth organizations, Trade Unions' platforms and other organizations.

CTP's youth organization will light a "reaction fire" at the Kugulu Park in occupied Lefkosia while the TDP's youth organization will light candles in order to "bring light to a dark day".

Reporting on the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (10.11.11) writes that the Trade Unions are organizing a demonstration today at the Kugulu Park where, since yesterday evening 20, professional organisations members of the Chamber of craftsmen artisan started a protest with tents. Today they will distribute leaflets to the persons passing by the tent.

The paper also writes that the "public" in occupied areas reacts against the "draft bills" because they will increase unemployment, underground economy activities and crime.

[05] CHP accuses AKP of turning prisons into concentration camps

"After a visit to jailed deputies in Silivri Prison, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), says the judicial system in Turkey is 'under the control of the political authority, and the prison in Silivri is a 'concentration camp'

Leader of CHP Kemal Kilicdaroglu paid a visit to Silivri Prison on the last day of the Feast of Sacrifice yesterday to see CHP's 0
zmir deputy Mustafa Balbay and Zonguldak deputy Mehmet Haberal.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the jailed deputies at Silivri Prison near Istanbul, main opposition leader Kilicdaroglu said the venue was a concentration camp in 21st century Turkey.

'In countries where there is no logic and wisdom, where there is no developing concept of democracy and freedom, those who speak out about their opinions are being held in concentration camps,' Kilicdaroglu said. 'People elected by the votes of the citizens are held in these camps.'

Kilicdaroglu said there was no equal distribution of justice and that the judicial process in Turkey was under the control of political authority. (?)

Criticizing that journalists, scientists, researchers and writers are held in prisons, Kilicdaroglu said the only common denominator of all of them is opposition to the government.

'The price of opposing the government is being held in the concentration camp at Silivri. This is a shame of democracy. This doesn't suit Turkey. If this process is mentioned in the European Union progress reports, if the speaker of Parliament complains about it, and if some government ministers complain about it, then it should be questioned: Why can't you end this process? Turkey must recover from this democracy shame.' (?)"

[06] Turkey calls for dialogue on Tehran's nuclear activity

Iran and the Western powers should engage in a new round of dialogue to solve their problems over Tehran's controversial nuclear program, according to Ankara, which is openly against military action in the region.

Turkey's advice came on the day when the United Kingdom and France called on tougher sanctions against Iran in the light of the U.N. nuclear watchdog's latest report, which that said Iran appeared to have worked on designing an atomic bomb.

"We are constantly advising both sides to solve their problems peacefully and through dialogue," a senior Foreign Ministry official told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday. Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has expressed Turkey's views and recommendations to his Iranian counterpart Ali Akhbar Salehi and EU's Catherine Ashton in his meetings.

The issue will also be on Turkey's agenda next week when French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe will pay a visit to Turkey on November 17 and 18.

The official said Turkey was still evaluating the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report and that it was still too early to comment on its content. "We have two main principles: We are against the proliferation of any sort of these weapons of mass destruction in our region and in the world. Secondly, we believe these problems must be solved peacefully as one can see it in our past efforts," the official recalled. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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