Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-06-01

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

[01] Eroglu: "An agreement for no agreement can be reach in case of no solution"a

[02] Erdogan met with Ban in Turkey; The Cyprus problem among the matters being discussed; Exclusive interview by Ban to Turkish NTV

[03] Bagis met with Danish EU Minister; Wammen stated that a solution to the Cyprus problem would bring a brand new dimension to accession talks

[04] The latest developments of the Cyprus problem to be discussed in the self-styled assembly

[05] Italian senator Amato said that the Cyprus EU presidency will be against Turkey's EU membership process

[06] EU Presidency of a divided island an "abnormality" according to an Italian journalist

[07] The new "e-identity" will start to be used in September

[08] Illegal YDU has signed 12 protocols for transferring students from Middle East countries to the occupied area of Cyprus

[09] Erdogan, Davutoglu and Ban on the developments in Syria

[10] Turkey and 15 African countries signed a mutual civil aviation agreement

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

[01] Eroglu: "An agreement for no agreement can be reach in case of no solution"

On the Cyprus problem, Eroglu stated that it will be extremely difficult for a solution to be reached after July 1 and said that even President Christofias stated that he will not be a candidate for the 2013 Presidential elections because he does not see any light for an agreement. He went on and said that there is nothing else to be discussed at the negotiations and alleged that if there was intention for a solution, an agreement could be reached in fifteen days.

He added that if the two sides want to live side-by-side, an agreement must be reached of a bio-communal federal republic, which will be based in two communities and two equal founding states. He went on and added that if this cannot be obtained, an agreement of no agreement can be reached in case of no solution.

Referring to the drilling efforts that are taking place in the occupied Trikomo, Eroglu said that the drilling activities were continuing adding that although the first attempts of the drilling will not be a hundred percent successful, test results from the soil will allow them to see the future.

On the issue of the change of the breakaway regime's name, Eroglu denied that such an issue exists into the agenda, but he said that the "constitution" which dated from 1985, needs amendments.

[02] Erdogan met with Ban in Turkey; The Cyprus problem among the matters being discussed; Exclusive interview by Ban to Turkish NTV

According to information acquired by the UN's spokesman, Erdogan and Ban discussed issued related to Syria, Somalia, Cyprus and the Alliance of Civilization.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview to the Turkish NTV channel (31.05.12), the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon replied to the following questions as regards the Cyprus problem:

Question: One of the problems that the UN is trying to solve for years is the Cyprus problem. Can we say that there was not an outcome from the 4 years ongoing negotiations? What is the latest situation?

Ban: I am worried about the fact that there was not a concrete progress at the Cyprus peace process. The two leaders are carrying out meetings. I organize and direct the negotiations. Very important progress has been achieved. Still, according to me and my special adviser, Alexander Downer, since there was not a concrete progress, it is not the appropriate time for a multilateral conference to take place. Still, it is not very late, and thus I call the two leaders to continue. I discussed this issue with President Abdullah Gul, the Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu. I will discuss again this issue with Premier Erdogan. Both, the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot side should not lose the acceleration from the progress being achieved so far. I will discuss what could be done for the revitalization of the progress in order to continue.

Question: So, you want end your services (duties) in Cyprus?

Ban: It will not benefit any of the sides if my mission in Cyprus comes to an end. It will not be beneficial neither for the stability and the security in the region. I do not consider that the international community would want this mission to come to an end. We are obliged to continue.

Question: Is it possible for another method to be followed at the negotiation talks? Because, the negotiations since 1970 under the UN' s umbrella, were unsuccessful.

Ban: This process belongs to Cypriots and it is the two leaders those who must find the steps to be taken in the future, or the method to be followed at the negotiations. My special adviser, Alexander Downer is constantly in contact with the two leaders in relation to how this process could continue better and which the better way of the negotiations to continue is.

AK

[03] Bagis met with Danish EU Minister; Wammen stated that a solution to the Cyprus problem would bring a brand new dimension to accession talks

Bagis and Denmark's EU Minister Nicolai Wammen participated in a conference on Turkey's EU accession process at Istanbul's Culture University.

Speaking during the conference, Bagis recalled that Turkey and the EU officially launched "the Positive Agenda" process to revitalize Turkey's stalled accession talks.

Working groups have been formed on eight chapters which could not be opened in the country's EU accession process, he said, stating that Turkey was continuing its reforms.

Wammen said that Denmark's EU term presidency brought a new momentum to Turkey-EU relations. "Both Turkey and the EU would benefit from Turkey's EU accession", he said.

Wammen said a solution to the Cyprus issue would bring a brand new dimension to accession talks.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (31.05.12) reported that the Danish Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen met on Thursday with members of the Foreign Affairs and EU Harmonization Committee with Turkish parliament in Ankara.

The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Volkan Bozkir and the chairman of the EU Harmonization Committee Mehmet Tekelioglu greeted the Danish minister and the delegates.

Bozkir said that they will be discussing Turkey's EU membership process and EU's visa policy on Turks, and Tekelioglu pointed out that Wammen's visit to Turkey carried a special importance as Turkey had close relations with Denmark.

Wammen thanked for the warm welcome and stressed that there is a close relationship not only between Turkey and Denmark but also between Turkey and the European Union.

Wammen stated that they will be talking about the visa procedures and the issue readmission. He said that they would like to carry Turkish and EU relations to a better and a closer level, adding that Turkey's full membership to the EU would be advantageous for both Turkey and the Union.

[04] The latest developments of the Cyprus problem to be discussed in the self-styled assembly

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (01.06.12) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, will be called at the "assembly" to inform the self-styled deputies on the issue.

[05] Italian senator Amato said that the Cyprus EU presidency will be against Turkey's EU membership process

The University's rector, Antonello Folco Biaggi, the ambassador of Turkey to Rome Hakk? Akil, Senator Paolo Pietro Amato and other officials participated in the meeting.

Senator Paolo Pietro Amato, who is Turkey-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Association President, stated that he is worried regarding the Republic of Cyprus EU presidency. He said that there is no step regarding Turkey's membership process in the program of the Greek Cypriots and added that these six months, that the presidency will take place, will be against Turkey. Amato also said that the Greek side does not represent the whole island and he added that Turkish Cypriots should also make their voices heard.

[06] EU Presidency of a divided island an "abnormality" according to an Italian journalist

Akter writes that Italian journalist Maria Laura Franciosi is among the journalists who considered the presidency of a divided island as an "abnormality" and wish that a solution will be reach the sooner possible. According to Akter, the Italian journalist has a very interesting plan: To arrive to Cyprus using a ship which will start its journey from Venice along with many European artists and journalists, so that she will introduce to Europe the various aspects at the island of Queen Kornaro.

"Of course at the same time she will introduce to Europe Famagusta and the Cyprus legends the political dispute which goes on as well as the realities of the Turkish Cypriots", writes Akter.

[07] The new "e-identity" will start to be used in September

The new "identity" will start to be in use in September, while the new "e-passport" will start to be used by the end of year.

Both the "e-identity" and the "e-passport" will follow international standards, writes the paper.

[08] Illegal YDU has signed 12 protocols for transferring students from Middle East countries to the occupied area of Cyprus

According to a statement made by the illegal university, an YDU delegation headed by Dr. Irfan Gunsel has signed 12 protocols with the representatives of several countries, such as Lebanon, Irak, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and North Afrika for the transferring of students from Middle East countries to occupied Cyprus for 2013. The protocols were signed by the YDU delegation in the framework of the International Metex Tourism Fair.

In statements on the issue, Ahmet Savasa, "general director" of "YDU Tourism Management" and "member of the administration board2 of illegal YDU Hospital, said that with the protocols they signed, they aim to bring more students to the occupied area of Cyprus and also to increase "country's added-value", as he said.

Savasan referred also to the efforts they exerted to promote the occupation regime abroad and added that with their participation at several TV programs and with their promotion activities they exerted efforts to present the occupation regime's high level education.

AK

[09] Erdogan, Davutoglu and Ban on the developments in Syria

Referring to a weekend massacre in the village of Houla where more than 100 people were killed, many of them children, Erdogan described the dead as "our children who are massacred in Hama, Homs and Houla, as much as they are the children of desperate Syrian families."

The Prime Minister was addressing a summit of the Alliance of Civilizations, a UN-backed forum launched in 2008 to promote understanding between East and West.

Addressing the same forum, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Syria to stop the attacks and warn that one more massacre such as the one perpetrated in Houla, could plunge the country into civil war. "The massacre of civilians of the sort seen last weekend could plunge Syria into catastrophic civil war ? a civil war from which the country would never recover," Ban told the Istanbul conference.

The United Nations has reported fewer than 20 people out of the 108 who perished in Houla were killed by shelling, with the remaining victims shot at close range. The Syrian regime has denied responsibility for the massacre, while the UN says pro-regime "shabbiha" militias are strongly suspected to have carried out most of the killings.

For Turkey, one of the most outspoken critics of President Bashar al-Assad, the Houla massacre is a turning point in the Syrian crisis that has woken the world up to the atrocities that have been occurring since anti-regime protests began, more than a year ago.

The Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in an interview on Thursday, said: "The massacre has made it clear that the Syrian regime has lost its legitimacy at home."

The massacre, said Davutoglu, has also further undermined a UN peace plan drafted by special envoy Kofi Annan, under which a cease-fire is supposed to have been in place since April 12.

In a statement following the massacre, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the international community should now raise its voice over the situation in Syria, but whether Ankara's is calling for greater external pressure on the regime involves a call for military action, remains uncertain.

Davutoglu said all measures should be exhausted before considering military action but noted that lack of international action in Bosnia in the 1990s resulted in 300,000 deaths. "What happened in Houla is a crime against humanity as grave as the Srebrenica tragedy," Davutoglu told private broadcaster NTV. He said the UN Security Council, where Russia and China have blocked attempts to issue anti-Assad resolutions in recent months, should display a firm resolve to prevent a civil war in Syria.

The Foreign Minister added that Turkey has never encouraged the Syrian opposition to resort to armed struggle in order to topple the regime and that the Syrian opposition took up weapons after army defectors refused to use force against protesters and joined the ranks of anti-Assad groups, dismissing Syrian claims that there are foreign fighters in the country.

According to Davutoglu, the Syrian regime is now a source of instability in the region, and the instability will only deepen further, as long as Assad is in power. "There could be divisions within Syria and de facto authorities [governing different parts of Syria] could emerge," Davutoglu warned.

Speaking at the Alliance of Civilizations summit, Ban voiced frustration with the continuing violence, saying that UN peacekeepers operating in the country as part of the Annan plan are not there to witness atrocities. "Let me state plainly, however: The UN did not deploy in Syria just to bear witness to the slaughter of innocents," he said. "We are not there to play the role of passive observer to unspeakable atrocities," Ban added.

[10] Turkey and 15 African countries signed a mutual civil aviation agreement

Yildirim said that relations between Turkey and African countries were based on justice and mutual acquisition principles at the Turkey-Africa Civil Aviation Conference by organized Directory of Civil Aviation in Izmir.

Turkey and 15 African countries have signed mutual civil aviation agreement. http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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