Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-03-23

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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] The two leaders continued yesterday the Cyprus negotiation talks; Statements by Eroglu after the meeting

[02] Kucuk due to Manisa, Turkey; Statements on the Cyprus problem

[03] Russians buy property in occupied Famagusta area

[04] The Turkish "Housing Development Administration" will be registered in the occupied area of Cyprus

[05] The breakaway regime is participating in the Moscow Tourism Fair

[06] The "Europe Hotel Management Union" annual convention is taking place in the occupied area

[07] The foundation stone for the water to be transferred from Turkey project is to be laid on 30 March

[08] Ban by the breakaway regime to a bi-communal peace activity

[09] Turkish Cypriot daily argues that Ankara forces the Turkish Cypriots to abandon Cyprus

[10] The occupation regime became a centre for drug trafficking

[11] Athletes from foreign countries participate to the "3d DAU International Futsal Tournament"

[12] Turkey's Bagis criticizes the EU for 'blocking' accession talks

[13] Davutoglu's contacts in Austria and Brussels

[14] Babacan stressed the importance for Turkish businessmen to invest in Greece

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The two leaders continued yesterday the Cyprus negotiation talks; Statements by Eroglu after the meeting

Making a statement upon his return to the so-called presidential palace, Eroglu said that despite the difference of views between the two sides, the special representatives will meet on the 26th of March and the leaders will meet again on the 29th of March with the aim of reaching convergences on some issues.

Referring to UN Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer's remarks that it will be difficult to facilitate a solution after the 1st of July in Cyprus, Eroglu said that this is very true.

[02] Kucuk due to Manisa, Turkey; Statements on the Cyprus problem

The mayor of occupied Famagusta Mahmut Ozcinar and some "deputies" are also accompanying the "prime minister".

As part of his contacts, Kucuk will also visit the Manisa Governorship and the Manisa Municipality.

He is expected to return to the occupied area on Saturday.

Meanwhile, according to Ankara Anatolia news agency (22.03.12) speaking to reporters in Manisa where he arrived to attend an international festival, Kucuk said that while there have been some small progress, there has been no serious development in the Cyprus talks for reunification or a permanent solution.

Kucuk said that the talks in Cyprus came to a critical point.

Referring to the July 1st, date that the "Greek Cypriot administration" as he called the Republic of Cyprus would assume the EU Term Presidency, Kucuk noted that the United Nations is making great efforts for a solution in Cyprus before July 1st.

Kucuk underlined also that they would soon begin oil exploration.

[03] Russians buy property in occupied Famagusta area

The interest of Russian citizens for properties in the occupied area of Cyprus was confirmed by Cafer Gurcafer, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot "Building Contractors' Union". Gurcafer said this is a positive and important development for tourism. He added that the efforts for developing tourism should not be periodical, and that these efforts should be directed to the future.

(I/Ts.)

[04] The Turkish "Housing Development Administration" will be registered in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to Havadis, the decision caused the reaction of the construction sector in the occupied area of Cyprus. In statements to the paper, Cafer Gurcafer, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot "Building Contractors' Union", said that if TOKI comes to the occupied area of Cyprus, the building contractors, who are already in a difficult situation, will be fully destroyed. "Therefore, it is not possible for us to permit TOKI to come to the TRNC. However, if it comes against our wish, they will face very strong reactions", he added.

(I/Ts.)

[05] The breakaway regime is participating in the Moscow Tourism Fair

A delegation consisting of high ranking "officials", among others the self-styled minister of tourism, environment and culture Unal Ustel and the chairman of the Union of Turkish Cypriot Hotel Owners Mehmet Dolmaci, went to Russia for the Tourism Fair. The delegation will hold contacts with Russian Tour operators and other officials. Ustel, who is already in Russia held meetings with the Turkish consultant of Cultural and Tourism in Russia Celal Kilic and also with the consultant of the Turkish Cultural and Tourism Ministry Ozgur Ozasian.

According to the paper, the occupation regime will have a 32 square meters stand at the Fair which is organized with the participation of 189 countries, 3,000 firms and expected to attract 79,930 persons.

[06] The "Europe Hotel Management Union" annual convention is taking place in the occupied area

The participants of the meeting started arriving in the breakaway regime for the meeting which will take place in the campus of the illegal Keryneia American University (GAU). The paper writes that 350 persons from 40 countries will participate in the conference.

Nafiya Guden, head of the "Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management of GAU which, according to the paper, is "the first Turkish Cypriot to become the Secretary General of the EURHODIP" stated that the EURHODIP will have official contacts and will participate in various television programs. They will also participate in a sightseeing program in order to be introduced with the history and tourist places of the occupied area of Cyprus. Guden also stated that she will hold a press conference together with the chairman of EURHODIP Dr Cees van der Klip at the Cratos Hotel in occupied Keryneia.

[07] The foundation stone for the water to be transferred from Turkey project is to be laid on 30 March

The paper, which cites information by Turkish daily Aksam, writes that statements on the issue were made by the Minister of Forests and Water of Turkey, Veysel Eroglu, who said that water will be transferred to the occupied area of Cyprus through underwater pipe. Eroglu said that the foundation of the project which will take four years to be completed was laid on March 7 at Anamur. He also stated that the foundation of the Cyprus part of the project will be laid on March 30 in a ceremony at the occupied Panagra village in a ceremony in which himself and the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay, along with "officials" of the breakaway regime will participate.

[08] Ban by the breakaway regime to a bi-communal peace activity

(I/Ts.)

[09] Turkish Cypriot daily argues that Ankara forces the Turkish Cypriots to abandon Cyprus

Afrika argues that the new "regulation" on the issue of granting a "certificate for professional drivers" was the "last straw". After this "regulation", there will be no limitation for those coming from abroad to work in the occupied area of Cyprus and if they have a "work permit" they could obtain the above-mentioned "certificate" and be able to work as professional drivers. The paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot taxi drivers are shocked. The organizations of the taxi drivers said that they will hold a protest in front of the "ministry of interior" on Monday, if the "regulation" is not withdrawn.

Moreover, after the "privatization draft-law" passes from the "assembly", the condition that binds the employers to employ Turkish Cypriots will not be valid any more. The organizations which will be privatized will not have to employ "TRNC citizens".

(I/Ts.)

[10] The occupation regime became a centre for drug trafficking

According to the intelligence officer, international drug traffickers are using the occupation regime as a centre for bargaining and then they use the Greek Cypriot side as a transit country.

"The drug traffickers are gathering to north Cyprus, they bargain about the drugs that they will send to Western and Eastern countries and then they exit from the country by using several crossing points", the intelligence officer said.

He further said that drugs traffickers are aware of the fact that the "TRNC" has no official relations with Interpol since it is not recognized, and thus they feel comfortable to do their job, knowing that their telephone calls are not wire tapped.

(AK)

[11] Athletes from foreign countries participate to the "3d DAU International Futsal Tournament"

According to the paper, among the countries are the "TRNC", Turkey, Russia, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Tajikistan, Cameroun, Morocco, Libya, Palestine, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Jordan, Kirgizstan and Ghana.

(AK)

[12] Turkey's Bagis criticizes the EU for 'blocking' accession talks

Bagis said the hardest part of the relations between Turkey and the EU was that there were too many prejudices on both sides and added that overcoming it would require more understanding and straightforward dialogue.

"All members had their hardships when they were candidates but we have waited for 45 years just to become one," Bagis said.

Bagis also criticized the Union's blocking most of Turkey's EU accession talks, adding: "On the one hand they tell us to work on legal system, freedom of press but on the other hand they do not let us carry on with the membership talks. They want us to do our homework without actually telling us what our homework is."

"I do not argue that we have made everything perfect. We have still many problems to solve, many reforms to make. But Turkey is better than what it was yesterday. And tomorrow's Turkey will be better than today's Turkey," he said.

The Swedish Minister, on her part, said it was unacceptable to stall Turkey's accession negotiations because of bilateral issues that had nothing to do with the EU itself. "We believe that the struggle should be waged to embrace common values deeply owned by people such as democracy, individual freedoms and free market," Carlsson said.

Carlsson underlined the progress Turkey had made in democracy, minority rights and constitutional reforms alleging that Turkey drew closer each day to meet EU's criteria despite what she said persisting problems in freedom of speech.

[13] Davutoglu's contacts in Austria and Brussels

During a joint press appearance with his Austrian counterpart, Michael Spindelegger, in Vienna, Davutoglu told reporters that they discussed how to prevent these kinds of developments from happening.

Davutoglu and Spindelegger also discussed Turkish-Austrian economic relations, visa liberalization for Turkish business people in Austria and integration of Turkish immigrants in the Austrian society, as well as the political situation in the Balkans and the Middle East.

Davutoglu said Spindelegger promised him his Government will support Turkey's efforts for the removal of visa requirements for Turkish business people in Europe, adding that such visa liberalization will boost trade relations between Turkey and the EU.

(?)

Davutoglu was also accepted by Austrian President Heinz Fischer on Thursday. Wrapping up his talks in Austria, Davutoglu headed to Brussels on Thursday evening to attend the 2nd Turkey-EU Political Dialogue meeting, focusing on the situation in Syria and Iran.

EU's chief foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule, Foreign Ministers of EU member and candidate countries are attending the talks.

[14] Babacan stressed the importance for Turkish businessmen to invest in Greece

"I think it is very important for our businessmen to invest in Greece. It is really not an easy country for the business community [to do business in]. Therefore, it is better to purchase established facilities, functioning companies. It takes too long to build them from scratch," Babacan said.

The northern neighbours of Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, are the poorest countries of the European Union, he said, while noting that other northern neighbours like "Macedonia" and Albania were unlikely to help Athens develop through bilateral trade. "Greece has no other option but Turkey. More trade and investment with Turkey is the sole formula to save the future of Greece," he said.

"The structures of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the U.N. Security Council should be questioned", he also said.

"The U.N. Security Council is an institution which has lost its legitimacy," he said, adding that it was not acceptable for one country to have veto power in an organization with 193 member countries. "Especially after all the goings-on in Syria, we think that the structure of the Security Council should be seriously questioned as the management structures of the IMF and the World Bank changes," Babacan said.

Touching on the Turkish economy, he said the low domestic savings rate should be the main concern for everyone. "Becoming a consumption society is one of the most important factors of Turkey's current account deficit. Unfortunately, 45 % of total households currently spend more than their monthly income, which should be a main concern for everyone and adjusting measures should definitely be taken. We have been doing this gradually for the last year," he said. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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