Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-04-19

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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: As things are going, non-agreement will be the agreement

[02] Turkey's-EU relations to have a break during Cyprus's EU term presidency said Erdogan

[03] Oil exploration in occupied Cyprus to begin on April 26, according to Turkish Energy Minister Yildiz

[04] A congress by Turkish Cypriots living abroad is held in occupied Keryneia

[05] Kucuk to visit Turkey to participate in the "1st Turkish-Arab Tourism meeting"

[06] British families who illegally bought houses in occupied Cyprus reacted over the selling of their houses with public auction

[07] Cicek: " Not joining EU not 'end of the world'

[08] Giant US companies interested in investing in Turkey according to Turkish Economy Minister

[09] Babacan and Davutoglu among the TIME's list of the top 100 influential figures in the world

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: As things are going non-agreement will be the agreement

According to the paper, Eroglu claimed, inter alia, the following: "Whatever you do, the Greek Cypriots are against all solution plans. As things are going, non-agreement will also be an agreement?Even the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Turkic World implement embargo on us. Embargo harms not only us, but the solution as well?Saying that we have a Plan B is tantamount to giving a trump card to south Cyprus [Translator's Note: As he describes the Republic of Cyprus]". They have such a big trump card in their hand as the EU membership. In spite of everything, we wish a solution in the ongoing negotiations, but every day that passes our hope decreases?The first thing, which those who want to solve the Cyprus problem should do, is to end the isolation and the discrimination implemented on northern Cyprus and mainly the embargo on the flights?"

Meanwhile, Gunes (19.04.12) reports also that in statements to Turkish TRT television in Turkey, Eroglu alleged that in case the Cyprus negotiations continue, a "new negotiating table" with "new parameters" is necessary on the condition of the lifting of the "embargoes" on the regime. Asked to comment on the information that the breakaway regime could change its name into "Turkish Cypriot State", Eroglu said that they do not feel uncomfortable with the name of the "TRNC" and they have not such an issue on their agenda. Recalling that the above name is used in the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation for the breakaway regime, Eroglu noted that he did not want to comment on the issue as while the negotiations continue.

Asked again on the Turkish side's Plan B he replied: "Even when a football team enters into the field, it has three alternatives. Therefore, the TRNC people are not without alternatives. We have a state now. However, while the negotiations continue there is no point in bringing up new alternatives and stigmatize ourselves as intransigent".

Eroglu said that they will determine their new strategies on the Cyprus problem after they see the report to be submitted by the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council. He noted that they could hold consultations on the report with Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, who is expected to come to the island on 27 April and meet with the sides.

"If the UN Secretary-general says 'I will suspend the negotiations', then we too will have some things to say", noted Eroglu, alleging that the issue of lifting the "isolations" should come forward in this case.

Finally, Gunes (19.04.12) reports that Eroglu gave interview to Turkish IHA news agency in Istanbul, and referred to the letter he had sent to Ban Ki-moon, in which he had claimed that they were ready to show flexibility in case a five-party conference was invited for the solution of the Cyprus problem. He alleged that if the Greek Cypriots reject the five-party conference and the UN Secretary-General refers to continuation of the negotiations, "this should be a new negotiating table and new parameters", because no solution was reached with these parameters for 50 years.

Referring to the cooperation and the increased relations between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel, Eroglu claimed, inter alia, the following: "This oil has brought them very close to each other and afterwards they carried out a manoeuvre. That is, they have organized a manoeuvre showing Turkey as the enemy. This serves no other purpose than increasing the heat in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, I do not advice them to go around in these dangerous waters. In the end, they will be the side which will have headache".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Turkey's-EU relations to have a break during Cyprus's EU term presidency said Erdogan

Erdogan stated that Turkey does not recognize such a state as "south Cyprus", as he called the Republic of Cyprus. Therefore, Turkey will pass the six months during the Republic of Cyprus' EU term presidency, having a break with its relations with EU.

He went on and added that serious approaches were made during Finland's EU term presidency and alleged that the Republic of Cyprus, Greece and various other EU-member countries did show a positive approach towards Turkey's proposals.

[03] Oil exploration in occupied Cyprus to begin on April 26, according to Turkish Energy Minister Yildiz

Speaking to reporters at the signature ceremony of the Turkish-Montenegrin Joint Economic Committee Meeting in Ankara, Yildiz stated that, with the licenses obtained from the breakaway regime, Turkey will conduct oil exploration in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus at various locations.

The Turk Yurdu-1 oil well is located in occupied Famagusta.

[04] A congress by Turkish Cypriots living abroad is held in occupied Keryneia

The first panel discussion held yesterday was entitled "The Strategic Importance of Cyprus in the Light of the Latest Developments". Today the issues of "The Importance of the Political Recognition of the TRNC and the Strategic Plan to be Followed" and "Possible Developments in the Cyprus Problem towards July 2012" are expected to be discussed. On Friday the issue of the right of the Turkish Cypriots living abroad to vote and being elected in the "TRNC" as well as their "citizenship rights" will be discussed.

According to the paper, in his message, Eroglu argued that there is no aspect of the Cyprus problem which has not been discussed during the past 50 years and added that they will not allow open-ended negotiations to continue.

On his part, Kucuk said that the continuation of Turkey's active and effective guarantees is included in their red lines. He accused the Greek Cypriot side of "playing with time" in the negotiations" and argued that "the window of opportunity for solving the Cyprus problem might close".

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily (Vatan 19.04.12), among the participants at the congress were also members of the House of Lords, MP's, lawyers and experts on public relations. [Translator's note: The paper does not refer to any names]

(I/Ts.)

[05] Kucuk to visit Turkey to participate in the "1st Turkish-Arab Tourism meeting"

According to the paper, Kucuk, who is participating in the "1st Turkish-Arab Tourism meeting" upon an invitation of the Bursa governor Sahabettin Harput, will deliver a speech during the meeting.

[06] British families who illegally bought houses in occupied Cyprus reacted over the selling of their houses with public auction

As the paper writes, the Brits recalled that Akan Kursat, who is the lawyer of Akfinans Bank, was also Garry Robb's partner and thus they demanded from the so-called government to investigate this relationship.

Speaking during the press conference on behalf of the group of British who call themselves "victims", Pauline Read explained the problems they experienced. She also said that they asked help by the so-called ministry of Interior, adding that they informed the "ministry" that their houses (4 houses in occupied Karmi), are going to be sold on a public auction. She added that in spite of the fact that were expecting from the self-styled government to take serious steps on this issue, no positive result came up. She added that they also have learned that there are 900 more files for houses that will be also sold with public auction.

The British called on the so-called officials, the "citizens" and several NGO's in occupied Cyprus to stop the sale of their houses.

KTOS's chairman Sener Elcil was also present at the press conference expressed his support to them.

(AK)

[07] Cicek: " Not joining EU not 'end of the world'

Cicek said that Katainen's visit would bring a new dimension to the relations between Turkey and Finland.

Noting that relations between Turkish and Finnish governments were good, Cicek said that the two countries could cooperate in fighting against terrorism, violence, extremism and racism.

Regarding Turkey's EU membership process, Cicek thanked for Finland's support, adding that the membership would be for the interest of both Turkey and the EU.

Majority of Turkey's population is Muslim and it adopts democratic values, and membership of such a country in the EU would be very meaningful, said Cicek. "However, if Turkey does not join the EU, it would not be the end of the world. Europeans should know this", added Cicek.

In addition, Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.04.12) also reports that the Finnish minister of foreign trade and European affairs said that Turkey's European Union (EU) membership was for the best interests of the country and the union. Cai-Goran Alexander Stubb said that Turkey is among the five most important countries in the world due to its strategic location, role as a bridge between the east and west, magnitude, demographic characteristics, population, history, traditions, culture and economic growth.

Finland believes that Turkey's EU membership would be for the best interests of the country and the union, Stubb said during his meeting with Turkey's Transportation, Maritime and Communication Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara.

Stubb underlined that Finland was a strong and loyal supporter of Turkey's EU membership bid, adding that both the EU and Turkey would make use of the membership.

Yildirim, in his part, said the new incentive package of the government would bring new opportunities to businessmen and hoped that Finnish businessmen would make use of this package.

The minister expressed hope that Finnish businessmen would make more investments in Turkey after Stubb's visit.

Turkish-Finnish trade volume was 1.6 billion USD in 2011.

[08] Giant US companies interested in investing in Turkey according to Turkish Economy Minister

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Turkey's trade attache office in Houston, where Deniz Senyurt is the first to take up the new position, Caglayan said that following the announcement of an incentive package by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the first week of April, Pepsi decided to increase its investments in Turkey from $800 million to $5 billion, making Turkey its distribution hub for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

"American businessmen are more excited about the incentive package than us," said Caglayan adding that Kimberly-Clark, which owns the brands Huggies and Kotex, revealed to the minister that they want to move their operations to Turkey.

Caglayan also said that 3M Company wants to build a new factory in Istanbul to increase production and take advantage of incentives. In addition, Quest Diagnostics plans to begin investments in Turkey's healthcare sector. He also said the importance of investment for GE, which is requesting to play a part in the production of wagons and engines for a planned 10,000 kilometre railway network.

The minister also said that he held meetings with the executives of Blackberry and Chrysler in New York before his visit to Houston and they expressed their interest in investing in Turkey. He explained that Chrysler executives wanted to benefit from incentives directed at the automotive sector in Turkey, while executives from technology giant RIM -- known primarily for producing the Blackberry Smartphone -- were interested in the Movement to Increase Opportunities and Technology (FATIH) project, a major education scheme that requires the procurement of millions of tablet PCs and will benefit 15 million.

[09] Babacan and Davutoglu among the TIME's list of the top 100 influential figures in the world

The list focuses on dynamism, innovation and achievements of the world's most influential names, according to TRT. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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