Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-03-21

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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] Absurd allegation by Ozersay: the status quo in Cyprus is in favour of the Greek Cypriots

[02] Ozgurgun alleges that the issue of the cross voting was brought onto the agenda as delaying tactic

[03] Osman Ertug on the Cyprus problem

[04] Former Turkish Minister for Cyprus Affairs stated that the change of the status of the breakaway regime a condition for the negotiation's continuation

[05] The Italian Ambassador to Lefkosia met with Bulutoglulari and discussed the activities of the newly established "Turkish Cypriot-Italian Friendship Club"

[06] Media faces discrimination at Turkish troops' funeral

[07] Erdogan due in South Korea and Iran

[08] US Senators introduce Armenian genocide resolution

[09] "One-third of Greek land on sale" a Greek official said; Greece calls Turkish firms to invest in Greece

[10] 793 power plants under construction across Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Absurd allegation by Ozersay: the status quo in Cyprus is in favour of the Greek Cypriots

Ozersay is in Washington for contacts and he is expected to go to New York today. In statements to illegal Bayrak television, Ozersay argued that the priority of the Turkish side is the success of the process and added: "The negotiations could not continue knowing that a positive result could not be achieved. If it appears that no positive result will be achieved, this will have no other function than the continuation of the existing status quo, which is in favour of the Greek Cypriot side. In case the process is not successful, there is no need to poise these negotiations only because this will be for the benefit of some circles. The necessary steps will be taken together with Turkey. We are giving the necessary messages".

Evaluating his contacts in Washington, Ozersay argued that the commitment of the Turkish Cypriot side to the negotiating process continues and that they discussed with the "other players" what steps should be taken in the limited time we have in front of us so that the process ends successfully. He added: "We have to direct the other players. There are many other problems with which the world is concerned. We have to produce as much ideas as we can for the success of the process and hold contacts with international players. [Our] Washington visit is in this content".

Ozersay argued that this negotiating process cannot be open-ended even though they are exerting efforts for its successful result within the framework of the time table set by the UN Secretary-General.

Ozersay alleged that the existing status quo works against the Turkish Cypriot side and added that they should inform the international players what they will do in case of failure of the talks. Ozersay claimed, inter alia, the following: "Our first priority is the success of the negotiating process, not its collapse. You have to sit and think. If this negotiating process has not produced anything during these 44 years, if the non-solution is the presumption and the solution is the exemption, we should not allow the non-solution to be presented as something usual through the negotiating process. You have to draw a certain future for your people. This is the main point of the initiatives".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozgurgun alleges that the issue of the cross voting was brought onto the agenda as delaying tactic

In statements to illegal Bayrak television, Ozgrugun said that there is no disagreement on the Cyprus problem between his "government", the Turkish Cypriot leader and Turkey.

Ozgurgun argued that 1 July might be a milestone and alleged that after this date no solution could be achieved.

Referring to the issue of the explorations for oil and natural gas by the Republic of Cyprus, Ozgurgun claimed that President Christofias raised this issue in order to change the agenda, which was created as a result of the explosion at Mari naval base and the economic problems. He said that this goal was achieved, but the issue could not go further. He alleged that big companies have not applied for those explorations and that the application of only small companies shows that this was nothing but a political game.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Osman Ertug on the Cyprus problem

"In other words, the 'End game' must not be transformed into a 'final phase'" he added.

Ertug said that the negotiations could enter the next stage which is to hold a multilateral conference, only if the progress expected by the UN Secretary General is achieved and if the Greek Cypriot side shows the necessary political will.

Touching upon the Secretary General's latest report, Ertug said that the UN had tried to adopt a balanced position by refraining from using terminology that would disturb the Greek Cypriot side.

Ertug criticized the exclusion of the term "End Game" in the report. He however described as positive the fact that the report, in general, pointed to the 1st July as a natural deadline.

Underlining the need for the UN Special Advisor Alexander Downer's upcoming report to include clearer statements, Ertug said that it was important for the UN to remain loyal to earlier statements as to maintain the confidence towards the UN. "The UN said the end of March for the report...it should not be postponed to April...it will be the UN that will lose...it will lose confidence...It must be an end game if the Secretary General wants to maintain his prestige" he alleged.

[04] Former Turkish Minister for Cyprus Affairs stated that the change of the status of the breakaway regime a condition for the negotiation's continuation

Speaking during the meeting, Kilercioglu stated that in order for the Cyprus negotiations to continue after July 1, the "TRNC" as he called the breakaway regime, should get a status and added that this must be a condition for the continuation of the Cyprus talks.

[05] The Italian Ambassador to Lefkosia met with Bulutoglulari and discussed the activities of the newly established "Turkish Cypriot-Italian Friendship Club"

According to the paper, during the meeting, the Italian Ambassador and Bulutoglulari also discussed the Cyprus problem and the various activities and future projects of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot Lefkosia municipality.

The chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot-Italian Friendship Club", Ismet Kucuk, also participated at the meeting and asked the help of the "municipality" for the club's activities which includes the teaching of the Italian language, the organization of concerts and exhibitions and the organization of film festivals.

The paper writes that Ambassador Bastianelli stated that the club will help towards the development of further relations between the persons of Italy and the persons of the occupied area and added that he will support the clubs' activities.

[06] Media faces discrimination at Turkish troops' funeral

Reporters from newspapers such as Zaman, Yeni Akit, Bugun, Taraf and Birgun as well as TV stations like Samanyolu TV, Samanyolu Haber, Bugun TV, Kanalturk, Ulke TV and the Cihan news agency were not allowed to enter the 4th Army Corps Command in Ankara, where the funerals of the soldiers were being held. The media outlets were denied accreditation by the General Staff. Zaman and Today's Zaman daily reporters Ali Unal and Emre Soncan were also denied entry to the area.

(?)

The General Staff has long been imposing a media accreditation ban on a number of TV stations and newspapers, including Today's Zaman, since the February 28, 1997, military intervention, known as the postmodern coup. The coup resulted in the toppling of the coalition government led by the now-defunct Welfare Party (RP) and introduced a wide range of bans on the media and social life in the country. The discriminatory accreditation practice of the General Staff is strongly criticized not only by its victims but also by the European Union, as it runs contrary to the principle of the rule of law and freedom of the press.

(?)

[07] Erdogan due in South Korea and Iran

Erdogan will be in Seoul on March 26-27 to attend the Nuclear Security Summit, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Energy Minister Taner Yildiz. Erdogan is expected to hold bilateral meetings in the fringes of the gathering and meet with representatives of leading South Korean companies.

He will then travel on to Tehran on March 28-29 for talks with Iranian leaders, expected to focus on the country's controversial nuclear program and the turmoil in Syria. Turkey has signalled that it may host a fresh round of nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 group of world powers in April.

While in Tehran, Erdogan will also attend the opening of a new Turkish cultural centre.

[08] US Senators introduce Armenian genocide resolution

Senators Barbara Boxer, Michael Bennet, Dianne Feinstein, Carl Levin, Joseph Lieberman, Jack Reed, and Sheldon Whitehouse also joined as original cosponsors, a powerful Armenian lobby group, the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) said in a press statement on Tuesday. It said Senator Charles Schumer, Chair of the Democratic Policy Committee, has also agreed to cosponsor the bill.

"It is time for the United States to join the 19 nations including Belgium, Canada, France, Italy and the European Union that have formally recognized the actions carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 as genocide," Menendez said, adding that "the Armenian Genocide" is a historical fact and was one of the incidents upon which the Genocide Convention was predicated.

"Only by accurately acknowledging the crimes of the past can we ever hope to move forward in a legitimate manner and prevent such human rights crimes from happening in the future," he said.

In January, Turkey cancelled all economic, political and military meetings with its NATO partner France after the French National Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of a draft law outlawing genocide denial.

Successive Turkish governments and the vast majority of Turks feel that the charge of genocide is an insult to their nation. Ankara argues that there was heavy loss of life on both sides during fighting in the area.

A spokesman for Senator Kirk said the 1915 events are well-documented and formally recognized by 11 NATO allies and the European Union as genocide. He added that this resolution accurately characterizes the events of 1915-1923 as genocide, honours the memory of the victims, and strengthens America's moral leadership on human rights and the prevention of mass atrocities around the world.

AAA's Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said "we commend Senator Menendez and Senator Kirk for introducing this important human rights legislation," adding that his assembly also recognizes and appreciates the support of those Senators who joined as original cosponsors. "We will continue our advocacy efforts to ensure additional cosponsors, and urge its timely adoption," Ardouny added.

The bill will first be sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Senator Menendez serves as a Subcommittee Chairman. The Committee is chaired by Senator John Kerry, who has a long record in support of US affirmation of the "Armenian Genocide," the statement said.

In March 2010, after the House Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed the proposed resolution, Turkey, which sees the measure as a historical affront, withdrew its Ambassador from Washington.

US lawmakers then avoided a diplomatic clash with ally Turkey by deciding not to take up the resolution. Supporters of the resolution made a push for approval in the final days of Congress in late 2010, despite opposition from the Obama administration. The measure was opposed strongly by Turkey, and the administration feared it would have damaged relations with the NATO ally.

A similar resolution that will most likely be introduced in the House this year is unlikely to be passed after Republicans took control of the chamber in 2011 because the new House speaker, John Boehner, opposes it.

[09] "One-third of Greek land on sale" a Greek official said; Greece calls Turkish firms to invest in Greece

Speaking to Hurriyet Daily News yesterday on the sidelines of the "Privatizations in Greece and Opportunities" meeting which was attended by large business missions from both countries, Panos Protopsaltis, head of the Privatization Program of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRAD) said that the Greek sell-out plan includes ports, airports, power plants, highways and energy firms.

"One third of Greek land is on sale," said Protopsaltis adding: "Turkish firms are more than welcome to invest in Greece, as assets in the privatization basket are under normal market conditions."

Speaking at the meeting organized by the Foreign Economic Board Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), Protopsaltis noted that a total of over 71,000 properties on 3.4 billion square meters of land across the country were waiting for investors from Turkey, as well as from other countries. "I am confident that there will be no obstacles against Turkish investors who would like to take part in the tenders", he added.

The HRAD brought a vast portfolio of potential privatizations to the meeting, totalling roughly 50 billion Euro. The program aims to generate nearly 19 billion Euro in cash by 2015.

"We would like to see Botas (Turkey's state-owned pipeline firm) taking part in tender for Greek gas pipeline operator DEPA," he told the Daily News. Recently, Russia's Gazprom also announced that it was considering bidding for DEPA.

In the absence of investors willing to commit fund for Greek assets, he called on Turkish business people to take advantage of the low prices. "It is almost impossible to receive loans from Greek banks currently. Partnering with Turkish firms, Greek companies may benefit from loans provided by Turkish lenders in order to secure their businesses from a lack of liquidity," Dimitris Papanicolaou, chairman of Greek-Turkish Business Council, told the Daily News. According to him, "both sides of the Aegean have got closer during the economic crisis."

Also speaking, M. Syngros, chairman of the Invest in Greece Agency, welcoming the potential Turkish investors' interest in local tourism sector, said that Greece has over 6,000 islands and added that the operation rights of some plots on these islands may be transferred, as he claimed.

Adnan Nas, board member of Global Investment Holdings, said his company was currently interested in eight ports in Greece. "We can finance the tenders worth less than one million Euros on our own," he told the Daily News. "For bigger tenders, we might seek a foreign partner." he noted. Ipragaz, one of the leading Turkish firms in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector, plans to acquire an LPG firm in Greece, according to Alp Ergungor, its operation support executive.

"This is the best time to invest in Greece," said Selim Egeli, the head of Turkish-Greek Business Council at DEIK, noting that many Greek firms had applied to the council to look for potential Turkish partners or investors.

[10] 793 power plants under construction across Turkey

According to figures of Energy Market Regulation Board (EPDK), 94 thermic power plants, 543 hydraulic power plants and 156 renewable energy power plants are being constructed in Turkey.

Installed power of these plants reaches 40,000 MW now. When their construction is completed, Turkey's installed power, which is currently 53,560 MW, will reach 93,595 MW.

The largest thermic power plant at Kirikkale which will produce 9.9 billion kWh energy annually when its construction is completed.

The largest hydraulic power plant is being built in Bingol which will produce 1.4 billion kWh energy annually. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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