Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-01-23

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

[01] Eroglu will reportedly ask for timetable and a date for international conference in New York

[02] Cakici and NGOs on the 2nd Greentree summit

[03] Infrastructure works for oil drilling in occupied Cyprus will reportedly start on Wednesday

[04] Trade Unions' Platform, five parties and other organizations will hold a rally on 30 January against "privatizations" in occupied Cyprus

[05] Governor of the autonomous republic of Gagauzia is in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[06] Murdoch's News Corporation plans bid to buy Turkish media group

[07] "The 'three term' pressure in ruling party"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

Turkish dailies report today that French Senate will vote a bill which criminalizes the denial of Armenian genocide in 1915. There are also few small reports on the 2nd summit at Greentree between the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and President Demetris Christofias over the weekend. Cumhuriyet daily, Saturday edition, reports that the last warning of the late Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas to Eroglu was to be very careful when he refers to a multiparty conference.

[01] Eroglu will reportedly ask for timetable and a date for international conference in New York

Moreover, under the title "Eroglu: The target is international conference", Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (22.01.12) reports that in exclusive statements to the paper Eroglu alleged that they will take additional steps and do everything to "force" President Christofias for an agreement. "We still preserve our hope. We will try to fulfil the duty which is in our share", said Eroglu claiming that they will show flexibility on the issues they could do so in an effort to overcome the deadlock.

Eroglu argued: "The aim of the second Green Tree summit is to secure convergences and determine the date of a multilateral summit, that is, a summit in which the guarantor powers and we will participate. In case we take this date, we will come to a point much closer to the solution. Our target is to return to the island with the date of a multilateral conference in our bag".

Meanwhile, under the title "The Greek Cypriot leader tensed the UN", Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (23.01.12) argues that the statements made by President Christofias in a period when the sides were making their final preparations for the meeting at the Green Tree "tensed the UN". Mete Tumerkan, correspondent of Havadis in New York, cites information by UN officials, who have reportedly said that President Christofias was trying to trivialize the summit, but this will not be permitted. A high ranking UN official, who asked to remain anonymous, told Havadis that this summit is important and that the actual target is to enter into the final stage of the negotiations and get a result. "The UN is determined to assist the sides on this issue", the official said. Commenting on the statements made by President Christofias before the summit at the Green Tree, the official noted: "What he said was not a surprise for us. There is nothing new".

Furthermore, the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu reacted to the statements made by President Christofias in London and upon his arrival in New York. In statements to Havadis (23.01.12), Eroglu alleged that President Christofias started losing hope and acting with "a psychology that accuses everyone".

Eroglu claimed the following: "I see his statements and I am really saddened. He continues to consider that he has the authority to speak on behalf of entire Cyprus. We cannot accept this. Christofias cannot represent the Turkish Cypriots and speak on their behalf. Meanwhile, he makes statements as if he had settled all issues with Mr Talat and I have made steps backwards, as if I have drawn back the agreements which had been made. These statements are not correct. His target is to deceive the Turkish public opinion. We cannot permit this. We have come here to achieve reconciliation. I hope that Christofias shows the same will. If agreement had been achieved in their meetings with Talat, it would have been announced in that period. There are no such things".

Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready for the Green Tree summit from every aspect and will try to take some steps to achieve an agreement. "Of course, it is our right to expect the other side to take some steps as well", he added. He said they know that the UN Secretary-General wants very much a solution in Cyprus and therefore he expects him to exert efforts for convergence between the sides by submitting some bridging proposals.

Eroglu called on President Christofias to abandon his so-called intransigent stance and stop lying. He accused President Christofias of being a leader who is afraid of his people and of acting having in mind not to agree on any issue while going towards the presidential elections. He reiterated that there are six chapters in the negotiations and that no one of these chapters has closed during the negotiations between President Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat. "We are trying to settle and close these", he argued.

Eroglu said that the UN Secretary-General is trying to solve the Cyprus problem within the framework of his good offices mission and added: "However, if it will not be possible to have a solution with this mission, I think he should see and accept this and determine a new attitude".

Meanwhile, Havadis (23.01.12) reports also that Eroglu held yesterday a telephone conversation with the EU commissioner responsible for the enlargement, Stefan Fule. Eroglu told Fule that the Turkish Cypriot side went to the summit with the intention of carrying out a "give and take" and it is ready to take the necessary steps in case there was a response from the other side. Eroglu reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots have expectations from the EU on the issue of the lifting of their so-called isolation without this to have any relation with the negotiations. According to the paper, Fule told Eroglu that the summit in New York is a turning point and that the process might collapse in case of an unsuccessful result.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cakici and NGOs on the 2nd Greentree summit

Claiming that no results have been obtained at the 1st Greentree summit because both the Turkish Cypriot side and the Greek Cypriot side did not go with constructive proposals, Cakici said: "Our wish and our expectation is that both leaders will go to the 2nd Greentree summit with challenging proposals for an early and constructive solution. Besides, their responsibilities also entail this."

Moreover, Kibris reports that "Cyprus NGO network", in a press release, asked from all the concerned sides related to the Greentree summit, to take serious and encouraging steps towards a Cyprus settlement.

Accusing the Turkish Cypriot leadership of not informing sufficiently the civil organizations prior to the summit and recalling the principle of "political equality", "Cyprus NGO network" argue that the Turkish Cypriot side should be seen as a "political equal partner" in the island.

[03] Infrastructure works for oil drilling in occupied Cyprus will reportedly start on Wednesday

According to the paper, the area will be handed over to TPAO the latest by 18 February. A team of fifty persons will build a road, put wires and open a well in the area. The land oil drilling is expected to start on 28 February.

[04] Trade Unions' Platform, five parties and other organizations will hold a rally on 30 January against "privatizations" in occupied Cyprus

In a joint statement after a meeting on Saturday, these organizations said that their action will continue until the conditions for the Turkish Cypriots to administrate themselves are created. They also decided to establish a "Big Action Committee" and to carry out various activities until 30 January.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (23.01.12) reports that members of El-Sen, trade union of the employees at the so-called electricity authority (KIB-TEK), continue to implement their decision of not working near Teknecik Electricity Power plant at occupied Trapeza area (in Keryneia), in spite of the decision of the "council of ministers" to prohibit strikes. Yesterday there was a breakdown at the power plant and no one interfered to fix it because of the above-mentioned decision. As a result of this, a blackout happened in many areas.

Moreover, because of the strike for an indefinite period of time in the "telecommunication authority", telephones did not work from time to time yesterday and there was no internet connection in the entire occupied area of Cyprus.

The deputy technical director of KIB-TEK, Gurcan Erdogan issued a written statement yesterday noting that the electricity supply stopped in the occupied areas of Famagusta, Lefkosia, Trikomo and Karpass. He argued that the manner by which the breakdown happened showed that there is a high possibility of this being a result of sabotage.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (23.01.12) reports that because of the stance of the "government", which does not abandon its decision for privatizations and ignores the call of the trade unions for a dialogue, the situation in the occupied area of Cyprus became unbearable. Noting that Ankara insists on the passing of the "privatization draft-law" no matter what it takes, Afrika writes that the trade unions refrain from "taking aim at Ankara".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Governor of the autonomous republic of Gagauzia is in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[06] Murdoch's News Corporation plans bid to buy Turkish media group

The Turkish group is currently owned by Cal1
k Holding, a business conglomerate run by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's son-in-law.

The value of Sabah-ATV is estimated to be between $700 million and $1 billion, according to the WSJ report. The WSJ said US media giant Time Warner Inc. and private-equity firm TPG Capital are also interested in Sabah-ATV.

News Corporation, which owns a number of media outlets -- including the Daily Telegraph, New York Post and Fox Broadcasting Company -- in many countries, also holds the majority share of popular television station Fox TV in Turkey.

[07] "The 'three term' pressure in ruling party"

"The expectation is high that a change will occur in the Cabinet after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) convention in fall as the party prepares for the convention amid inner-party debates over ban on being elected for a fourth term.

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is preparing for its ordinary congress in fall amid inner-party debates over ban on being elected for a fourth term and the presidential elections in 2014.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may give important clues for the 2014 election and the post-election era; he may also present his preferences for the party's new top administration. The expectation is high that a change will occur in the AKP administration and the Cabinet. But in deeper 'corridors' of the party, the 'three term' anxiety dominates.

Many deputies and some ministers share the concern this situation will put the AKP in trouble in the future.

Clause number 132 of the AKP statute admits one person to serve as a deputy for a maximum of three terms. If this clause is not changed, the AKP cr?me de la cr?me will empty to a great extent in the next general elections. Because he has been elected as a deputy in 2002, 2007 and 2011, Prime Minister Erdogan will also have a ban based on the three-term clause. Is it only him? The number of deputies that fall into this category of banned ones reaches 73 and includes Cabinet members and party administrators.

Speaker of Parliament Cemil Cicek; former Speakers of Parliament Koksal Toptan and Mehmet Ali Sahin; Deputy Prime Ministers Bulent Arinc, Ali Babacan, Besir Atalay and Bekir Bozdag; Ministers Faruk Celik, Mehdi Eker, Sadullah Ergin, Egemen Bag1

, Hayati Yazici, Taner Yildiz, Nihat Ergun, Fatma Sahin, Binali Yildirim, Recep Akdag, Suat Kilic and Idris Naim Sahin; former Ministers Vecdi Gonul, Faruk Nafiz Ozak and Nimet Cubukcu ? none of these can be candidates in the next general elections.

The party administration is also becoming emptied. AKP Deputy Presidents Abdulkadir Aksu, Haluk Ipek, Bulent Gedikli, Reha Denemec, Huseyin Celik, Ahmet Edip Ugur, Omer Celik, Huseyin Tanriverdi and Salih Kapusuz are banned from running for office. Also, AKP Deputy Group Chairmen Nurettin Canikli and Mustafa Elitas cannot become candidates.

There are some names in the Cabinet who are not affected by the ban. These are Ahmet Davutoglu, Omer Dincer, Erdogan Bayraktar, Zafer Caglayan, Cevdet Yilmaz, Veysel Eroglu, Mehmet Simsek and Ismet Yilmaz.

When the picture is like this, there is increasing pressure for Erdogan and his close aides to prevent the staff who have created the AKP from staying out of politics. Many deputies and some ministers share the concern this situation will put the AKP in trouble in the future. They are making an effort to have this clause changed in the fall congress. Erdogan, on the other hand, who used to defend that article, has not shown his true colours yet.

Another issue debated in the party is the presidential elections. While there are few doubts over the candidacy of Erdogan for the post, especially after a recent bill blocking the way of a possible candidacy of President Abdullah Gul, there are questions about the party and the country in the post-election era.

Science and Technology Minister Nihat Ergun said over the weekend that the country will have 'indeed a semi-presidential system' after the presidential elections, an opinion shared by many in the ruling party.

The candidates will hold rallies, give promises to the people, everybody will know what the next president thinks, said Ergun, adding that the authority given to the president by the constitution will create a new type of leader. The minister added that no one will oppose the candidacy of Erdogan and he will 'suit the Cankaya Presidential Palace.'

The inner-party politics in the ruling party will continue to shape the Turkish politics for some time." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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