Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-04-03

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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 argues that he could meet with President Christofias under new conditions after Downer's report

[02] TSK's Commander General Kivrikoglu held contacts in the occupied area; He met with Eroglu, Kucuk and Bozer

[03] Ersin Tatar on the future investments in occupied Vokolida

[04] Preparations for land drilling activities in the occupied area of Cyprus continue; The first materials for land drilling arrived yesterday to occupied Keryneia port

[05] Efforts by the breakaway regime to bring tourists from Azerbaijan

[06] "A Russian spy has been arrested"

[07] The breakaway regime participated in a Taekwondo championship in Moldova

[08] The Portuguese FM due to Turkey for contacts; The Cyprus problem on the agenda

[09] Bagis calls on EU to issue visa-free travel for Turks; EU Commissioner calls EU to begin visa dialogue with Turkey

[10] Turkish economy grew by 8.5% in 2011

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu argues that he could meet with President Christofias under new conditions after Downer's report

Eroglu referred also to the water to be transferred from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus describing it as very important for Cyprus and a medicine which will cure "TRNC's" economy. He argued that water is more important than oil and that the economy of the breakaway regime will be benefited when the water comes.

Referring to the negotiations process, Eroglu said that it reached a very crucial stage and added that after the report to be submitted by Downer to the UN Secretary-General, he could meet "at a new table which will be established around new conditions". Pointing out to the importance of Downer's report, Eroglu said that after the report, Ban Ki-moon will decide whether the negotiations will continue. He noted that Downer submitted a brief report last Friday and added that the actual decision will be made after the detailed report to be submitted on 19 April in New York.

Eroglu reiterated the Turkish view that a multilateral conference could be held with the participation of himself on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot "people", President Christofias on behalf of the Greek Cypriot side as well as Turkey and Greece as guarantor powers and "motherlands". He said that if the other guarantor power Britain also wants to participate, the summit will be five-party, but if it does not want to participate, a four-party summit could be held.

Arguing that the Greek Cypriot side puts some conditions for such a multilateral conference, Eroglu said that in a letter he recently sent to the UN Secretary-General he expressed his readiness to negotiate the chapters on which agreement is not reached so as to reach an agreement. "If the Secretary-General makes an invitation, as we have written in our letter, the Greek Cypriots might not participate. And this will show their intransigence", he alleged.

Responding to a question on the information that Downer has submitted four alternatives, Eroglu said that Downer referred to four alternatives and that the first of these alternatives is the invitation for an international conference. Eroglu added that the other alternatives are the suspension of the negotiations, a decision by the UN Secretary-General that no positive result could be achieved in the negotiations or that the negotiations should continue according to the new changing conditions. "We have strongly opposed to the postponement or the suspension of the negotiations. The negotiations must have an end", he alleged.

Eroglu reiterated the allegation that President Christofias will be a candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections and that for this reason he could not give the necessary concessions. Eroglu alleged also that the Greek Cypriots have not been prepared by their leaders for an agreement until today and that they are continuously given the message that they could return to the pre-1974 period.

Eroglu said that the current status quo on the island cannot continue and claimed that this would cause continuation of the presence of the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP) in Cyprus and of the Greek Cypriot "intransigence".

(I/Ts.)

[02] TSK's Commander General Kivrikoglu held contacts in the occupied area; He met with Eroglu, Kucuk and Bozer

Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot "people" lived in tranquillity and security thanks to the "Motherland", as he described Turkey and the presence of the TSK.

Reminding that General Kivrikoglu formerly served as the commander of the "Peace Forces" in the "TRNC", Eroglu said that he was pleased to see General Kivrikoglu in the "TRNC". "The Turkish Cypriots are attached to the TSK by heart. Our people are aware of where we have come from. The Peace Operation of 1974, the establishment of the TRNC state and our tranquillity and security were established by our Motherland and the TSK. We thank the TSK and offer our appreciation to you," Eroglu noted.

General Kivrikoglu, on his part, said that he was in the "TRNC" on an official trip after a period of four years. "I am here to visit the Turkish troops serving as part of the Peace Forces and Turkish Cypriot forces", he stressed.

"Turkish Cypriots deserve the best of everything. Our republic stands on its feet. I am pleased to witness this. We are aware of the fact that the Turkish Cypriots deserve the best of everything. As you said, the Turkish Cypriots are strongly attached to their troops", General Kivrikoglu underlined, adding also the following: "The Peace Forces have brought peace to the island. Peace has arrived not only for the Turkish Cypriots but also for the Greek Cypriots. The Peace Forces protect peace for the past 38 years. Our Peace Forces have made great contribution to the tranquillity and peace in the island. We are honoured with the presence of the Peace Forces in the island. We are pleased to hear the gratitude of the Turkish Cypriots", Kivrikoglu said.

General Kivrikoglu later met the "speaker" of the so-called assembly Hasan Bozer and the so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk. Kivrikoglu-Bozer's meeting was closed to the press.

Speaking to reporters while meeting General Kivrikoglu at the so-called prime ministry, Irsen Kucuk said that General Kivrikoglu was always by the side of the Turkish Cypriots and that they were always in dialogue with him.

Kivrikoglu, on his part, said that he was pleased to meet Kucuk. "The happiness of the Turkish Cypriots is our happiness. The prosperity of the Turkish Cypriots is our prosperity. We exist for them. Our Peace Forces here are strong and have brought peace to the island", General Kivrikoglu stressed.

[03] Ersin Tatar on the future investments in occupied Vokolida

Speaking during the 16th general assembly meeting of the "Lefkosia Chapter of the Society for International Development" which was held in occupied Vokolida, Tatar said that many major investments and projects had come to life thanks to the cooperation between the "TRNC" with "motherland" Turkey.

Touching upon the tourism opportunities in the occupied area of Cyprus, Tatar said that currently there are 2 hotels operating in Vokolida area but within a few years time the number of hotels in the area would be increased to 19, he claimed. "It is our aim to reach 40 thousand bed capacity in the area" alleged Tatar.

[04] Preparations for land drilling activities in the occupied area of Cyprus continue; The first materials for land drilling arrived yesterday to occupied Keryneia port

According to the paper, the first part of the materials to be used for land drillings in occupied Syngrasi village area arrived yesterday to the occupied port of Keryneia by a vessel called Caroline, belonging to the Fergun Navigation Company.

As the paper writes, all the equipment to be used for the land drilling is planned to be transferred to the occupied area of Cyprus with 200 TIRs (long base container vehicles.

(AK)

[05] Efforts by the breakaway regime to bring tourists from Azerbaijan

The paper writes that 18 thousand tourists came last year to the occupied area of Cyprus with chartered flights from Azerbaijan and that the regime was aiming to double the number this year.

The self-styled minister of tourism, environment and culture Unal Ustel is reportedly preparing to find a solution to this problem and for this reason he will go to Istanbul next week in order to hold meetings with officials of the Turkish Airlines. His aim is reportedly to bring Azeri tourists to the occupied area of Cyprus with scheduled flights.

(I/Ts.)

[06] "A Russian spy has been arrested"

According to the paper, the so-called police arrested a Russian citizen called Nanec Hikov since he caused suspicion because he was taking photos of some Turkish troopships. The so-called police seized also the photo camera of the Russian.

The paper adds that the "police" investigated the cargo ship as well which was carrying cigarettes and wheat, but nothing suspicious was found.

The paper writes that the Russian Embassy has been informed for the arrest of a Russian citizen and as it was said, it would proceed to all the necessary actions to the so-called government.

(AK)

[07] The breakaway regime participated in a Taekwondo championship in Moldova

(I/Ts.)

[08] The Portuguese FM due to Turkey for contacts; The Cyprus problem on the agenda

In a statement released on Monday, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that Davutoglu will meet Portas in Ankara on Tuesday.

The two Ministers will discuss bilateral relations, Turkey's EU membership process, the Cyprus issue as well as current regional and international issues, the MFA said.

During his visit to Turkey, Portas will be received by Turkish President Abdullah Gul. He will also meet with EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan and Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rifat Hisarciklioglu.

On Wednesday, Portas will meet with Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz and will hold talks with business circles in Istanbul.

[09] Bagis calls on EU to issue visa-free travel for Turks; EU Commissioner calls EU to begin visa dialogue with Turkey

EU Minister Egemen Bagis' office said in a statement on Monday, that Bagis has sent letters to Stefan Fule, the EU's Commissioner responsible for Enlargement, Cecilia Malstrom, the EU's Commissioner responsible for Internal Affairs, Martin Schulz, the head of the European Parliament and Villy Sonvdal, Denmark's Foreign Minister and the EU's current term president.

The letter reflects Turkish disappointment with the EU for not paving the way for visa-free travel of Turkish citizens, despite the country having met the required criteria. A key meeting will be held on April 26 where Turkish and European officials will again discuss the matter.

"The current Schengen visa regime against Turkish citizens constitutes an obstacle to the strengthening of relations between Turkish people and the peoples of the EU, as it prevents people-to-people contact, which is indispensable for the EU accession process," read Bagis statement. Suggesting that Turkey's economic achievement in the last decade made the current visa regime redundant, Bagis said that EU countries, which are going through an economic crisis would benefit from the commercial, cultural, educational and touristic visits of Turkish citizens, which would be further enabled by the lifting of the visa requirement.

Meanwhile, British Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willets said that the UK will introduce two programs which will enable Turkish academicians and students to get visa more quickly, after meeting with Industry Minister Nihat Ergun.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (02.04.12) reported from Brussels that the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom called EU member states to begin visa dialogue with Turkey in a very short time.

Malmstrom told reporters on Monday that they could not record a progress for a readmission agreement with Turkey due to Ankara's expectation for visa dialogue, adding that the negotiations on readmission agreement between the EU and Turkey had been completed two years ago.

The EU is expecting Turkey to sign and put into effect the readmission agreement, but Turkey is also expecting the EU to initiate visa dialogue, she said.

"We should begin visa dialogue in a very short time", she added.

[10] Turkish economy grew by 8.5% in 2011

The Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat) put the economic growth rate for the final quarter of 2011 at 5.2%, bringing down the 9.6% in the first three quarters to 8.5% for the full year. With such growth, Turkey's gross domestic product (GDP) neared the TL 1.3 trillion at current prices of last year, maintaining the country's place as the world's 16th largest economy. Per capita GDP increased to $10,444, the official bureau of statistics also said.

Turkey's achievements in the field of economic growth have long been on the radar of international observers. With the recently announced 2011 figure, the country has strengthened its weight on the global scene. The Turkish GDP's annual average growth for the 10 years between 2002 and 2011 was 5.4%. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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