Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-03-13

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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] Eroglu will reportedly discuss in Ankara Downer's report and Turkish side's stance during Cyprus' EU term presidency

[02] Elcil argues that Eroglu's allegation that he wants a solution in Cyprus remains groundless as a result of statements made by Turkish officials

[03] BKP: AKP wants to make the division permanent in Cyprus

[04] New statements by Talat on the Cyprus problem

[05] Turkey's Yildiz stated that they ordered a vessel to conduct three dimension researches in the Eastern Mediterranean

[06] "Turkey to drill off gas in Cyprus, says TPAO"

[08] Swedish Bishop visited the "religious affairs department"

[09] Two self-styled deputies to Paris for the PACE meeting

[10] Tatar: "The economic integration with Turkey is inevitable"

[11] Illegal HAK reacts to the establishment of a party for illegal settlers in the occupied area of Cyprus

[12] Self-styled assembly voted in favour of the establishment of a Cukurova university campus

[13] Environmental disaster in occupied Mia Millia

[14] "French investments flow to Turkey"

[15] "Greek Cyprus: less than others"

[16] "Annexing Cyprus"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu will reportedly discuss in Ankara Downer's report and Turkish side's stance during Cyprus' EU term presidency

According to Gunes, the report to be prepared by Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, is among the issues which are expected to be emphasized. The paper cites "political observers", who note that the explorations of the Republic of Cyprus for oil and natural gas and the so-called embargoes which are allegedly implemented internationally on the Turkish Cypriots will also be discussed.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (13.03.12) refers to Eroglu's contacts under the title: "The negotiations are being frozen". The paper writes that the Turkish side will determine its stance during the six-month period following 1 July, 2012, when the Republic of Cyprus will be holding the EU term presidency.

The paper reports that in spite of President Christofias' statements regarding the continuation of the negotiations after 1 July, 2012, Turkey does not seem very willing to do so and exerts efforts so that the negotiations are frozen with an initiative by the UN.

The paper notes: "A Cyprus summit is being organized today in Ankara on this issue. Dervis Eroglu who will be going today to Ankara at the invitation of Abdullah Gul, will discuss with Gul, Erdogan and Davutoglu the steps, to be taken from now on".

He will return to the occupied area of Cyprus tonight.

During his contacts in Ankara the Turkish Cypriot leader will be accompanied by self-styled foreign minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, his special advisor Kudret Ozersay, the property expert Selden Hoca and the member of his negotiating team Gunes Onar.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Elcil argues that Eroglu's allegation that he wants a solution in Cyprus remains groundless as a result of statements made by Turkish officials

Elcil wondered whether it is true that 210 thousand persons will stay in the Turkish Cypriot constituent state (in case of a solution) and that a list of 55 thousand persons who have been brought from Turkey and settled on the island will be included in this population. Elcil asked also to be informed of the criteria according to which these persons have been determined.

Referring to statements made by Turkish officials, Elcil said: "The statements by officials from Turkey, which is a guarantor power, include threatening behaviours as regards 1 July, rather than putting forward openings towards the solution of the problem".

Pointing out that one day these officials refer to a Taiwanese model for the occupied part of Cyprus, the other day for annexation to Turkey and now for the existence of two "states", Elcil criticized this situation and argued that Eroglu's statements that they want solution in Cyprus remain groundless under these conditions.

(I/Ts.)

[03] BKP: AKP wants to make the division permanent in Cyprus

In a statement issued yesterday, Korkmazhan noted that the Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis continues making statements, which insult the Turkish Cypriots, which are against the solution and which sabotage the efforts for finding a solution. He added: "The AKP government and the Turkish Cypriot side, which say that they want a solution by 1 July but do not do whatever is needed for this, are preparing the ground for turning the northern part of Cyprus into Taiwan, something which they call as Plan B. By playing with time, they aim at the collapse of the negotiating process after 1 July and the promotion of their separatist targets".

Korkmazhan accused Eroglu of sitting at the negotiating table just for the sake of negotiating and of preventing progress with its separatist stance and with making steps backwards even on issues which had been agreed in the past.

Noting that it is not possible to find a solution with Eroglu, Korkmazhan said that those who want the collapse of the negotiations, the elimination of the ground for a federal solution and are make separatist proposals such as the Taiwanese model, prepare the ground for the annihilation of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Korkmazhan argued that the cooperation and the unity of the pro-solution and pro-peace forces is more necessary now than ever before and called on these forces to establish a pro-peace and pro-solution front.

(I/Ts.)

[04] New statements by Talat on the Cyprus problem

Talat alleged that both sides are implementing the "put to sleep and blaming the other side policy" and argued that "even if this game ends 0-0, the Turkish side will lose", because it will still not be recognized and the "isolation" will continue. Talat said that the only thing that will save the Turkish Cypriot side is the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Talat argued that in case the UN accuses the Turkish side for a possible failure in the negotiations, the Turkish Cypriots will lose the prestige which they allegedly gained until today and this might be reflected even in the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Replying to a question on the attitude of UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer towards the Turkish side, Talat said that Downer is doing the right thing, that his duty is to lead the talks to success and he has to exert every effort for achieving this. "In this context, meeting with political parties, trade unions, the civil society is a part of his duties", he added.

Talat argued that chaos exists in the occupied area of Cyprus, that the economy is in a bad situation and that the people are worried about the future. He expressed the view that their duty is to save the people from this uncertainty for the future by finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Talat referred once again to the issue of cross voting and noted that this is a system that will be used only in the election of the rotating president.

Asked to comment on the recent statement by Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis that he was offended (by the reaction of the Turkish Cypriots to his earlier statements), Talat said that this was normal and that the sensitivities of everybody should be taken into consideration. Talat noted that he could not understand why such statements were made and added: "There are no sympathizers of the Greeks here. There are only people who think differently about the future of the Turkish Cypriots. However, all these unrests show that there is a serious lack of communication".

Replying to another question, Talat said that he should be more active in politics and that he should contribute in the debate for finding ways out of this chaos towards which the Turkish Cypriots are heading.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkey's Yildiz stated that they ordered a vessel to conduct three dimension researches in the Eastern Mediterranean

In his statements, Yildiz said that the energy reservoirs in the region should induce not war but peace. He also added that they do not believe that this issue will be considered as an element of stimulation that will encourage the war between the countries.

Referring to Turkey's seismic research activities, he said that they had ordered a vessel that will conduct three dimension seismic researches in the Mediterranean.

(AK)

[06] "Turkey to drill off gas in Cyprus, says TPAO"

"We're starting drilling in northern Cyprus in the coming days... We have started shipping our equipment there," TPAO chief executive Mehmet Uysal told Reuters yesterday, adding that drilling would start before the end of March.

[07] Cakici: Kucuk's vision is integration with Turkey

"I will not be surprised if they say that the TRNC should become the 82nd province [of Turkey]", noted Cakici and accused Kucuk of not being able to defend his own "state". He argued that Kucuk could abandon his "state" and "country" for the sake of remaining in his post.

Cakici said that Kucuk's vision is to be integrated with Turkey and added: "We are waiting the solution of the Cyprus problem from two sides that had said no. The integration with Turkey does not lack in Irsen Kucuk's vision.

One of his visions is to be integrated [Translator's note: with Turkey]. This is one of the options of this front, but they hide it. I think that this is what is in their mind. When I look it from Egemen Bagis' point of view, he could have thought strategically. He could have said it with the aim of frightening the Greek Cypriots?"

(I/Ts.)

[08] Swedish Bishop visited the "religious affairs department"

According to the paper, the Swedish Bishop is the first Christian leader to visit the "religious affairs department".

Weiderud stated that the visit is taking place in the framework of the efforts of the Swedish church to organize its activities in the island and for organizing an ecumenical religious council in Sweden.

[09] Two self-styled deputies to Paris for the PACE meeting

The "deputy" with the National Unity Party Ahmet Eti and the "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party Mehmet Caglar are in Paris for the meetings.

They will return to the occupied area next Thursday.

[10] Tatar: "The economic integration with Turkey is inevitable"

Stating that the prosperity of the "TRNC" will increase if they manage more seriously the financial sector of the "country", Tatar stressed the need for legal regulation to take place in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Tatar went on saying that in order to increase the "TRNC's dignity" they should regulate first their budget so that to create a "country" which will be able to stand on its own feet. Tatar added also the following: "We cannot run up our debts, we cannot mint, everything is provided from Turkey".

Tatar stated also that the economic integration with Turkey is inevitable since the "embargoes" and the isolation of the "TRNC" continue.

(AK)

[11] Illegal HAK reacts to the establishment of a party for illegal settlers in the occupied area of Cyprus

Commenting on the issue, Ulas referred to the 14th article of the European Convention of Human Rights stating that it is not right to establish such a party that will have as a base only the origin of the people.

Ustal further stated that the initiative to establish such a party is nothing else but an effort by certain persons to exploit the "council".

(AK)

[12] Self-styled assembly voted in favour of the establishment of a Cukurova university campus

According to the paper, the "bill" was approved with 29 votes.

[13] Environmental disaster in occupied Mia Millia

Speaking to the paper, inhabitants of occupied Mia Millia village expressed their concern over this stating that the sewages overflowed through the village.

Also speaking, Oktay Kayalp, "mayor" of occupied Famagusta "municipality" stated that they diverted the running waters to Canakkale dam, however, there is a great environmental disaster, as he said.

(AK)

[14] "French investments flow to Turkey"

French airport operator Aeroports de Paris (ADP) announced yesterday it had acquired 38% of the leading Turkish operator, TAV, which runs Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. ADP said it would pay $874 million (667 million Euros) for the holding, which values the Turkish company at $2.3 billion.

"I see this transaction as tying the knot for our eldest daughter," said Hamdi Akin, the chairman of TAV.

TAV runs Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Europe's eighth-busiest, as well as terminals in Georgia, Tunisia, Latvia and FYROM, and it has a contract to build and run an airport in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The purchase will help ADP's earnings in 2013, the French company said.

The agreement with TAV's three biggest shareholders also included a separate acquisition of a 49% stake in a construction company, TAV Yatirim Holding A.S., for $49 million, said Sani Sener, chief executive of TAV.

The two groups directly or indirectly run a total of 37 airports worldwide that serve around 180 million passengers a year. ADP also owns 8% of Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

[15] "Greek Cyprus: less than others"

"Turkey's application for membership in the EU has virtually ground to a halt, blocked by Germany and France, to the delight of the Greek Cypriots, who from July 1, 2012, will assume the presidency of the Council of the EU for six months, adding insult to injury to Turkish pride.

Or so it seems, even to many euro-friendly Turks, some of whom are beginning to think the attractions of possible membership in the EU are no longer worth the pain of prolonged rejection, let alone the psychological discomfort of having to watch from the sidelines as the Greek Cypriots sit at top table playing top dog. The Turkish government for its part is contemplating suspending relations with the EU, as if the threat of such action can make any difference. Given that the principle of equal rotation of the presidency of the Council is deeply embedded in the EU treaties,

Cyprus will assume the reins of power, and the only question is what the nature of that power is and how the Turkish side should respond.

Some commentators regard the presidency as an illusory institution, a moveable feast of fudge and compromise designed to make the smaller states of the EU feel good through the exercise of pseudo-power. Others regard its function as primarily clerical, determining agendas and facilitating dialogue. In actual fact, the main function of the presidency is to play second fiddle to the Commission in setting the EU's legislative program for six months. Foreign affairs used to be part of its role, but this has now been siphoned off to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs by the Lisbon Treaty. When he was Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger famously asked rhetorically:

'Who do I telephone for a European position in a crisis?' The President of Cyprus is not the answer.

In truth, the rotating presidency, prestigious for a small and divided country like Cyprus though it is, impedes rather than enhances a state's ability to promote its interests because it must not appear to be doing so, although the Cypriots will no doubt become the exception that proves the rule. But the reality about equality within the EU, paraphrasing George Orwell in "Animal Farm," is that all states in the EU are equal but some are less equal than others, as the current crisis in the Eurozone proves, as if proof were needed.

The Turkish side has a choice as to how to respond. The emotional, some would say irrational, response would be to suspend relations with the EU.

Alternatively, Turkey could take a rational and pragmatic view, like the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) does in the European Champions League, and engage with Cyprus not by suspending relations with the EU but by dealing with the presidency of Cyprus pragmatically and adopting a minimalist position in light of the limited nature of the role of the presidency.

Suspending relations with the EU would serve no discernible Turkish interest except feed false pride. Suspending non-recognition of Cyprus, on the other hand, would serve Turkish interests in many ways. First it would be novel and imaginative and could enable the Turkish Cypriots to press the EU for economic engagement as envisaged by Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty. This would place the Greek Cypriots trembling on a wedge: If they stall they would be shown up as promoting their own sectarian interests, and if they go along with it they will set a trend for future presidencies.

Although suspending non-recognition would not mean showering the Greek Cypriots with attention, it would send an important signal both to the EU and the Greek Cypriots that Turkish foreign policy is based on respect for rules rather than power. In the context of the discovery of the gas deposits south of Cyprus, this would be an important psychological signal of Turkey's preparedness to do business with Cyprus to mutual advantage, thus reducing a potential source of conflict that normally accompanies the discovery of oil and gas.

On the other side, it is also time for Turkey to take a serious look at the democratic credentials of persisting with its application to join the EU by holding a referendum on whether its people wish to join the moribund assortment of states on the edge of history that the EU seems to have become. The period of the Cypriot presidency would be an ideal time to hold such a referendum as a token of protest, not against the Cypriot presidency as such, but against the machinations that brought it about. It is not widely known that in 2004 the EU studiously ignored international treaties between Turkey, Britain, Greece and Cyprus under which Cyprus was precluded from joining any political or economic union with any state or membership of any international organization, such as the EU, unless both Greece and Turkey are both members, which was not the case with the EU since Turkey is not a member. Of course, what is done cannot be undone, not least because Turkey tacitly gambled at the time in the hope of enhancing its own prospects of joining the EU, but it was a serious violation of the rule of law to the geopolitical detriment of Turkey, for which the EU must be called to account."

[16] "Annexing Cyprus"

"The fever of Turkish nationalism can be measured by looking at the position taken towards the Cyprus question. Since the 1950s the Cyprus issue has been used to spread and radicalize Turkish nationalism.

I have recently observed that, after a long break starting in the early 2000s, the nationalist fever fuelled by the Cyprus question has been on the rise. And the Turkish government, prepared to confront the EU in July 2012, does not mind fanning nationalism over Turkey's "national cause": Cyprus.

The Greek Cyprus' upcoming presidency of the European Council may provide the Turkish government, if it so desires, with a perfect excuse to break with the EU and withdraw its support for a negotiated solution on the island.

Last week Turkish European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis listed "annexing northern Cyprus to Turkey" among the options Turkey has concerning the future of the island. Claiming later that he was misunderstood, the Minister underlined that Turkey's policy remains unchanged: "Our sole objective is for a solution to be reached on the island, acceptable to both Cypriot sides." He proceeded by saying "But if no settlement emerges, all options are on the table."

The problem lies in the meaning of "all options." In his previous interview, given to a newspaper, Minister Bagis named the "options on the table" as follows: reunification agreed upon by the two communities in the island; if this fails, a two-state solution; or the annexation of Turkish Cyprus to Turkey.

Never, as far as I remember, has a Minister of any Turkish government stated that "annexing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [KKTC]" is a policy option that is on the table. This was uttered by a number of ultranationalist politicians and opinion leaders, but not by a member of the government or a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As has been declared numerous times, Turkey prefers and works for a negotiated settlement in the island. It has also been hinted several times that if negotiations do not progress well, Turkey will not wait forever but will consider pressing for the recognition of the KKTC. But an outright annexation has never been the policy of any Turkish government, nor of the AK Party government.

How then can we explain the Minister's statement? Is it a new government policy or a slip of the tongue?

Since the government has remained silent and the Minister did not denounce the option, we may assume that annexation is a policy option seriously being considered in Ankara.

But this contradicts Turkey's declared reason for the 1974 intervention on the island. Furthermore, all the defences of this intervention that followed are de-legitimized by such a policy.

Beyond this, such a policy does a great injustice to the KKTC. Turkey officially recognizes the KKTC as a sovereign state. How can a state recognizing another as sovereign and independent talk of annexing it?

This talk is dangerous and self-defeating for Turkish diplomacy. The talk of annexing may only be an acknowledgment that Turkey keeps the KKTC under its occupation. Is this the case? If the Turkish government says yes, then its Minister can talk of annexing it without consulting its government or people.

I suspect it was a movie that was watched by over 4 million people in Turkey these past few weeks, and probably the Minister himself -- "Fetih 1453" (The Conquest 1453), that is to blame for this talk of "annexing Cyprus"! If Constantinople, why not Cyprus?". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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