Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-03-01

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/>

CONTENTS

[01] Ozersay seeks for support in Berlin

[02] Eroglu reiterates that the negotiations will be meaningless after 1 July

[03] Kucuk comments on his meeting with Downer and the rumours that the passports of the Republic of Cyprus would be prohibited by the regime

[04] Strong criticism to Downer by Avci; Avci expressed full support to Eroglu

[05] KTOS and Talat commented on Downer's contacts

[06] Yorgancioglu: "Eroglu causes difficulties in the negotiations on the issues of cross voting, rotating presidency, property and territory"

[07] DP is trying to re-define the grounds for the Cyprus talks

[08] Bagis said that they will ignore the Republic of Cyprus as EU President

[09] Employees in occupied Cyprus reportedly prefer to employ workers from third countries instead from Turkey

[10] Eroglu admits that Turkish military units issue the permits for entering into the fenced off town of Varosha

[11] Turkey and Turkmenistan signed a series of cooperation agreements

[12] Turkish, Azerbaijani, Iranian FMs to gather for tripartite meeting

[13] "Jailed Kurdish deputy risks seat in parliament"

[01] Ozersay seeks for support in Berlin

According to a statement issued by Dervis Eroglu's office, Ozersay is expected to discuss issues such as the role of the EU and the UN in the negotiating process in Cyprus, what stance could be followed for having a successful result by the end of March and for holding a multilateral conference and what could be done for the "encouragement of the Greek Cypriot leadership", which "entered into a pre-election climate". A possible failure in the negotiations and potential problems which would be caused from this, including the Greek Cypriot side's EU term presidency, [as the Republic of Cyprus's EU term presidency is described], are among the issues which will be brought onto the agenda by Ozersay.

The member of Eroglu's negotiating team Gunes Onar accompanies Ozersay during his contacts in Germany.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu reiterates that the negotiations will be meaningless after 1 July

Addressing yesterday a seminar in the occupied area of Cyprus on the "International Violations of Human Rights" organized by the so-called "Turkish Red Crescent of North Cyprus" and the International Humanitarian Law Islamic Forum, Eroglu alleged: "An agreement should be achieved by 1 July. If the Cyprus problem is not solved by 1 July, I think that it should be accepted that a solution to the Cyprus problem is not possible in this manner with the Greek Cypriot side. We have tried all methods for 44 years".

Noting that the UN Secretary-General will evaluate a report to be prepared by his special envoy to Cyprus Alexander Downer and decide whether to convene an international conference, Eroglu argued: "I on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people and Christofias on behalf of the Greek Cypriot people will participate in this multilateral conference in which Turkey, Greece, and Britain will also participate. The UN Secretary-General will preside to this meeting. The Greek Cypriot side opposes to this mentality. In any case the negotiations, which we are holding, are carried out in a search of a Cypriot solution. They have asked for this. However, when it does not suit them, [they say that] the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the 27 members of the EU, the guarantor powers, and himself as President of the Republic of Cyprus should participate. Because of the membership of the Greek Cypriot side neither the EU nor the UN could be impartial".

Eroglu reiterated the view that 1 July 2012 is a natural time table for the solution of the Cyprus problem and argued that the UN Secretary-General has also pointed out to the difficulty of reaching a solution after this date. He said they do not expect from the Greek Cypriot side to make any openings after July because of the EU term presidency of the Republic of Cyprus and the presidential elections in 2013. He alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side has always been not one but two steps ahead by submitting proposals on every chapter, but these proposals are not accepted by the Greek Cypriot side.

Referring to the cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel, Eroglu argued that this could cause some new problems and alleged that especially after finding natural gas in the Mediterranean, the Greek Cypriot side has increased its so-called intransigence at the negotiating table.

Arguing that a new conflict might happen due to the developments in the oil and natural gas explorations, Eroglu alleged that an agreement on the island could be reached by a mutual give and take, but the Greek Cypriot side wants only to take and does not prepare its people for an agreement and lies to them as if the developments happened after 1974 never happened.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Kucuk comments on his meeting with Downer and the rumours that the passports of the Republic of Cyprus would be prohibited by the regime

Referring to his recent meeting with Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Kucuk said that Downer asked to meet with him to brief him on the "talks in New York". Recalling that Downer will submit a report on the negotiations in the end of March, Kucuk said that he could meet for a third time with Downer during this process.

Asked to comment on the reaction by some organizations against Downer and their demand as regards the prohibition of Downer's entrance into the occupied area of Cyprus, Kucuk noted that the prohibition of Downer's entrance is out of the question, but it is their duty to warn him "in case some developments happen". "If we need to warn him, we do this", he said.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Strong criticism to Downer by Avci; Avci expressed full support to Eroglu

Noting that the ongoing negotiations in Cyprus for finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem are in a critical stage, Avci stated that they watched with great surprise the latest statements by Downer. Avci added also the following: "It is obvious that one-sided statements by a personality whose duty in Cyprus is to listen to the views and interests of both sides, to mediate in the negotiations and contribute to find a fair and a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, do not contribute to the negotiation process".

Avci continued and said that Downer's statements contribute to nothing else but to the weakening of the "president", as he called the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

Avci argued also that it was the "Greek Cypriot administration", as he referred to the Republic of Cyprus, which said "No" during the 2004 referendum and remains an observer to the "embargoes" which are allegedly imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.

Avci reiterated further its party's full support to the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who is their negotiator at the table.

(AK)

[05] KTOS and Talat commented on Downer's contacts

In a written statement issued yesterday, Elcil noted that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu sees 1 July 2012 as a milestone for the division in Cyprus and added that Eroglu "pressed the button" for separatist organizations and political parties to issue statements [against Downer]. "As of 1 July, the mentality, which submits separatist proposals at the negotiating table and blows the process up, will apply make-up on the separatist status quo and put it in front of us talking about a new state, a new constitution, democratization, civilian authority", he said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (01.03.12) reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat has also commented on Downer's contacts. Writing in his profile on the Facebook, Talat said: "What is the drawback in Downer briefing the civilian society? Downer is doing the right thing. The UN and the UN team, which is assigned with the duty of contributing to peace, should be supported. They should be encouraged to make more briefings. Our people must definitely have the possibility to evaluate every point of view. The field should not be left to the enemies of peace".

Talat argued that there are signs that we have returned to the pre-2004 period and that "the ghosts who were wondering around in the Greek Cypriot side before 2004 have passed" to the occupied northern part of the island now. He said: "Someone has pressed the button and the known organizations got into action: The UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor should be banned from crossing over to the north, they say. Soon the fluster that money is distributed will be revived?"

(I/Ts.)

[06] Yorgancioglu: Eroglu causes difficulties in the negotiations on the issues of cross voting, rotating presidency, property and territory

In his address under the title "The Cyprus problem and the contribution of the businesspeople to the solution", Yorgancioglu said that these days are extremely important and sensitive for the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey and described the ongoing process as "very vital".

Yorgancioglu noted that as soon as the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu was "elected", he sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General stating that he would continue the negotiations from the point Talat had left them, but he caused serious difficulties in the negotiations by changing stance on the issues of cross voting, the rotating presidency, the property and the territory.

Yorgancioglu argued that because of the Republic of Cyprus's EU term presidency on 1 July 2012 and the presidential elections in 2013, the negotiations could be interrupted for a long period of time and expressed the view that the interruption will be very negative for the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.

Yorgancioglu said that a solution to the Cyprus problem is needed for the development and sustainability of the Turkish Cypriot economy. Noting that the occupied northern part of Cyprus has a competitive advantage in the fields of tourism and education, he expressed the view that it is not possible to make use of this advantage because of the non-solution and instability on the island. He noted that the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is also the reason for the lack of direct flights to the occupied part of Cyprus and the fact that the Turkish Cypriots are not included in the Bologna process.

Noting that Turkey and the Turkish businesspeople will not be able to secure benefits from a possible crisis in the relations between Turkey and the EU, Yorgancioglu added that the only condition under which benefits could be secured is the solution of the Cyprus problem. "That is why the Republic of Turkey should encourage Mr Eroglu to behave constructively and creatively in the solution negotiations", he argued.

(I/Ts.)

[07] DP is trying to re-define the grounds for the Cyprus talks

Speaking on Bayrak on Wednesday, DP leader Serdar Denktas said that his party will launch the initiatives by Monday next week.

Denktas expressed the view that current negotiations are heading towards an inconclusive end. He claimed that the reason for this was the insistence on maintaining negotiations on the basis of the UN Security Council resolution dating back to 1964.

"In case the talks fail to achieve an outcome, the Turkish Cypriots will need to go to a referendum in order to bring an end to the uncertainty about their future. Our initiatives on that will seek motherland Turkey's support", Denktas said.

Morever, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (01.03.12), Bengu Sonya, general secretary of DP, in a written statement yesterday, reiterated what Serdar Denktas said on their initiatives for a referendum, adding that what they ask with the referendum is to be the masters in their own house.

Sonya also said that the main reason that DP supported Dervis Eroglu in the last "presidential elections" was his stance on the cross-voting issue in the Cyprus talks.

[08] Bagis said that they will ignore the Republic of Cyprus as EU President

When asked about Turkey's stance towards the Republic of Cyprus which will undertake the rotating presidency of the EU in July, Bagis said that "Turkey would ignore the Greek Cypriot administration".

Bagis said: "We hope there will be a united Cyprus till July", adding that "if there was not a united Cyprus till that date, Turkey would pursue its relations with European Commission, European Parliament and EU member states, but ignore the rotating president."

"EU candidate countries contact with EU president only if a chapter is opened to negotiations or during council partnership meetings", said Bagis.

He also said: "Turkey has 52 years of relationship with the EU, thus, six months is not a long time for Turkey."

[09] Employees in occupied Cyprus reportedly prefer to employ workers from third countries instead from Turkey

Also, according to the same data, a total of 175 persons from Turkey have entered into the occupied area of Cyprus with preliminary "working license" as of January 2012.

In statements on the issue, some Turkish workers told the paper that the employers in the "TRNC" prefer now to employee foreign workers from third countries such as Pakistan and Turkmenistan, instead of workers from Turkey, since they are cheap labour.

(AK)

[10] Eroglu admits that Turkish military units issue the permits for entering into the fenced off town of Varosha

"The eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus is the last divided nation in Europe, with the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots located in the north and south, respectively. The Greek Cypriot administration [editor's note: the Republic of Cyprus] is recognized as the sole representative of the island by the United Nations, while it has been a full member of the European Union since May 2004. The TRNC, declared in 1983, is recognized only by Turkey.

Against this background, the UN has been continuing efforts, which I will describe as hopeless, to reunite the two communities under a federal Cypriot state based on the political equality of the two parties.

Unsurprisingly, the Greek Cypriot administration, which enjoys international recognition as a state, has long been dragging its feet to agree on a solution that will reunite the island based on political equality for both communities. The Greek Cypriot administration, instead, insists on a solution that will make the Turkish Cypriots its subordinates.

There are strong signs emerging at the moment that the current peace talks to reunite Cyprus will be the last ones and that if they fail, it may become inevitable for the Turkish Cypriot administration to draw a new roadmap to strengthen its existence as a state.

President [editor's note: Turkish Cypriot leader] Dervis Eroglu spoke with a group of Turkish journalists he hosted last weekend at his residence in Lefkosia, the Cypriot capital, which has been divided between the two communities, telling them that the Cyprus peace negotiations cannot continue for 100 years.

'If the talks fail this time, the Turkish Cypriots will decide their own future. July 1 marks the end of peace talks. I will tell my people at that time that we should stick to our state [TRNC]. And we will design policies to strengthen the existence of the state in the north,' he said firmly.

Eroglu, however, fell short of telling the Turkish journalists what these policies would be.

Eroglu referred to the start of a six-month-long EU term presidency of the Greek Cypriot administration when he said July 1 was the end of peace talks.

Turkey has already stated that it will freeze its relations with the EU if Greek Cypriots assume the term presidency in the absence of a resolution of the Cyprus dispute.

Since there are only four months left before the Greek Cypriot term presidency begins, it seems that it will take a miracle to find a solution to unify the island.

Kudret Ozersay, the chief Turkish Cypriot negotiator in talks with the Greek Cypriots under the auspices of the UN, joined our lunch with Eroglu and pointed out that efforts to reunite Cyprus have been continuing for 44 years now -- since 1968.

'The solution is an exception; it has never happened. But there exists a situation where the Cyprus question has not been resolved for 44 years,' he added.

If the current Cyprus peace talks collapse, there is nothing the Greek Cypriots will lose because they are the ones recognized internationally as the state in Cyprus.

The Turkish Cypriot administration draws a gloomy picture over the fate of the ongoing talks.

People in the streets of Lefkosia, Famagusta and in the resort town of Girne [editor's note: occupied town of Keryneia] have long been frustrated over the uncertainty of their future status and because they have been suffering from EU and UN embargoes as a result. The repercussions from the long-lasting isolation can be read on the faces of the people with whom I talked -- hopelessness. They need to have a status to bring life to the northern section of the island.

Both the Greek and the Turkish Cypriots have been allowed to visit each other's territories. This also increases Turkish Cypriots' misery as they see how developed the southern Cypriot side is in comparison to the north.

From Girne, we, as a group of journalists, reached Gazimagusa [editor's note: occupied town of Famagusta] on the eastern coast of Cyprus in the Turkish section after an hour-long drive. Adjacent to Gazimagusa is Maras [editor's note: fenced off town of Varosha], a ghost city closed to habitation since 1974. Once a famous resort town, the tall buildings visible from Gazimagusa have turned into ruins. Entry into the city requires obtaining permission from either the UN or from the Turkish military.

Maras is kept closed and is to be handed over to the Greek Cypriots if there is a solution.

We asked Eroglu whether he can issue a permit for us to enter this ghost city. His answer was quite striking since he told us that Turkish military units issue the permits. Here you are -- the system of military tutelage is still at work in the northern half of Cyprus.

Mainland Turkey has taken considerable steps to bring the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) under civilian democratic control, though it has a long way to go to fully end the system of military tutelage. But it is hard to say that this process has also been initiated in northern Cyprus.

During our travel from Lefkosia, Girne and finally to Gazimagusa, we saw some of the many Turkish military garrisons. There are estimated to be around 30,000 to 60,000 Turkish troops deployed in the Turkish section of the island. Maintaining such a high number of Turkish troops there is quite costly for Turkey, and their number should definitely be reduced. This is because a future military conflict is highly unlikely on the island."

[11] Turkey and Turkmenistan signed a series of cooperation agreements

Gul noted that the Turkmen president was accompanied by a large delegation of cabinet members on his first trip abroad since his re-election on February 12, which he said had shown the importance Turkmenistan attached to the relations with Turkey. "Turkey was the first country to recognize Turkmenistan 20 years ago when the country proclaimed independence. And we are proud to witness the progress Turkmenistan has made since then," Gul said.

Gul said nearly 700 Turkish companies had undertaken contracts worth of $24 billion over the past two decades in Turkmenistan, adding that Turkish companies won tenders worth of $8 billion in the past two years.

Prior to the press conference, Gul and Berdimuhamedow presided the penning of a series of cooperation agreements between Turkey and Turkmenistan in areas such as trade, tourism, sports, fight against terrorism, water works and training of diplomatic staff.

The two Presidents also signed a declaration marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, for his part, said that they focused on how political, commercial, economic and cultural relations would be enhanced in their meetings.

The two countries could improve cooperation in fighting against extremism, terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crimes, the Turkmen president said.

Turkish companies operating in Turkmenistan contributed to development of the country, he said.

Berdimuhamedow said that trade volume between the two countries reached 4 billion U.S. dollars in 2011 and the figure increased by 25% in 2011 when compared to the previous year.

Touching on rich hydrocarbon reserves of Turkmenistan, Berdimuhamedow said that the two countries should also boost cooperation in the energy sector.

[12] Turkish, Azerbaijani, Iranian FMs to gather for tripartite meeting

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi are reportedly planning to discuss issues of common interest to all three states. The Foreign Ministers are aiming to implement joint projects for peace and prosperity in the region.

March 7's discussions will follow a number of meetings between the Foreign Ministers to discuss regional issues, including the peaceful settlement of ongoing explosive conflicts in the region and the need to build a favourable climate to achieve this.

During the meeting the current situation in the South Caucasus is also expected to come to the fore. The three States are going to discuss ways to deepen cooperation over building prosperity through economic growth and sustainable development. Moreover, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran are willing to consolidate their cooperation in the fight against terrorism, organized crime and the trafficking of people, drugs and weapons.

The Iranian administration has summoned Cavansir Ahundzade, Azerbaijani ambassador to Iran, to provide clarification over Azerbaijan's recent $1.6 billion weapons purchase from Israel. During the meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Erakci, Ahundzade said the aim is to liberate the occupied territories of Azerbaijan [Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent territories], rather than use those arms against a third country, including Iran. Ahundzade also mentioned that Azerbaijan is committed to improving bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Iran.

[13] "Jailed Kurdish deputy risks seat in parliament"

Parliament has not yet received a formal notification of the ruling, Parliament's Secretary-General Irfan Neziroglu told the Hurriyet Daily News. The sentence may strip Aktas of his parliamentary seat as it makes him ineligible for deputyship. He would lose his seat as soon as the ruling is read out in the General Assembly.

"Parliament cannot afford such a development. The announcement of the ruling should have been postponed to the end of this Parliament's term," BDP deputy group chair Hasip Kaplan said yesterday.

He argued that there was no legal obstruction to Aktas' election at the time of the polls and that he could not now be tripped of his seat. Under Article 83 of the Constitution, the execution of sentences against parliamentary members is suspended until their deputyship comes to an end.

BDP-backed independent lawmaker Levent Tuzel also argued that the implementation of the ruling against Aktas should be suspended until the end of the legislative term and urged Parliament to lift restrictions on free speech.

Aktas was elected from prison as an independent from Van in last year's elections. He is awaiting trial for involvement in the Kurdistan Communities' Union (KCK), the alleged urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Due to a previous conviction, he is banned from being member of any political party until 2014.

A Diyarbak1
r court recently sentenced him for spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization, the PKK, over a speech he made at a 2006 Nevruz festival. The Appeals Court upheld the sentence. Even though Aktas had gained judicial immunity as a parliamentary deputy, his trial continued because the charges pertained to "crimes against the state" which are exempt from parliamentarian privileges. The court has to send the ruling to Parliament via the Justice Ministry and then the Prime Minister's Office.

In a separate development yesterday, squabbles erupted in Parliament after BDP deputy Altan Tan described the single-party rule in the early years of the Republic as a "Kemalist dictatorship". Deputies of both the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) were infuriated. Tan refused to apologize, saying he did not insult any historic person but made a "political assessment" about the time. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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