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

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu is heading to London- He will meet with British Parliamentarians

[02] Turkish EU Minister in Charge of Cyprus Affairs Besir Atalay to visit the occupied area of Cyprus

[03] Talat argues that the relations of the EU with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots will be tensed during the Cypriot term presidency

[04] Ertug will reportedly replace Ozersay

[05] Turkmenistan refused to accept participation of the breakaway regime in an international meeting

[06] The so-called Turkish Cypriot football federation's offices were attacked

[07] Kucuk ranks third in and inside opinion poll regarding UBP's elections for chairman

[08] U.S. Ambassador to Ankara: Turkey and the United States should work together in several matters such as Iran, Cyprus, Caucasus and Balkans

[09] General Electric to invest $900 million in Turkey

[10] A new wave of arrests targets pro Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party mayors in the eastern province of Van

[11] Columnist argues that Turkey may start accession talks on a new chapter before July 1st

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu is heading to London- He will meet with British Parliamentarians

Eroglu is accompanied by his wife Meral Eroglu and the self-styled presidential undersecretary Hasan Gungor.

Eroglu will meet over lunch with members of the "Friends of Northern Cyprus Group" at the British parliament and will also meet with Turkish Cypriot city councillors before delivering a conference on the Cyprus Problem.

During his stay in London, Eroglu will come together with journalists and attend a charity event for the Orthopaedic Disabled Society organized under the auspices of Mrs Eroglu by the North Cyprus Solidarity Society.

He will return to Cyprus on June 17.

[02] Turkish EU Minister in Charge of Cyprus Affairs Besir Atalay to visit the occupied area of Cyprus

Kucuk, who had various contacts in Turkey over the weekend and held meetings with the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Atalay, stated upon his return at the illegal Tympou airport that Atalay will visit the occupied area next week: "A variety of issues were discussed during the meeting we had with Atalay including the Cyprus problem", Kucuk stated and added that they also discussed in detail the 2013-2014-2015 economic programs.

"We have decided that Atalay will come to the TRNC next week to continue our discussions and if necessary he will hold meetings with other ministers as well", he stated.

Bayrak also broadcast that Kucuk is going to Strasbourg for a three-day trip "to hold official contacts".

[03] Talat argues that the relations of the EU with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots will be tensed during the Cypriot term presidency

Referring to the Cyprus talks, Talat said the following: "Even though sitting at the table is of no use with the policy which is currently implemented, it is not possible to leave the table. The result at this point is a complete failure".

Responding to a question on the resignation of Kudret Ozersay from his post as Turkish Cypriot leader's special representative, Talat said that this will naturally be reflected on the negotiations and argued that the Greek Cypriot side described this development as "deadly blow to the negotiations". Talat expressed the view that in spite of the fact that the negotiating process is dead, it will take time to establish a new negotiating team which will overtake the process. "It should not be forgotten that actually Mr Ozersay was the one who was carrying out the negotiating process", he argued.

Responding to another question, Talat said that not much will change for the Turkish Cypriots after the 1st of July, that many things are said regarding this date, and that he also shares the view that the negotiations should not be open-ended, but the Turkish side's views could not be implemented in the existing international situation.

When he was reminded of the proposal for the opening of the occupied fenced city of Varosha before a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem is reached, Talat argued that politicians and civilian organizations submit such views when they are in desperate straits. He argued that this kind of views might become more varied with the full collapse of the process.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ertug will reportedly replace Ozersay

Ertug was "representative" of the breakaway regime in the USA between 2007 and 2009 and before that he had been "representative" of the regime at the UN. According to the paper, Ertug played a key role in the unilateral declaration of independence of the breakaway regime, opposed to the Annan Plan and failed to be elected as "MP" with the National Unity Party (UBP) in the general "elections" of 2009.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkmenistan refused to accept participation of the breakaway regime in an international meeting

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the government of Turkmenistan that "if the TRNC does not come, Turkey will not participate in these meetings". Turkmenistan replied that "a country which is not recognized cannot come" and made no step backwards from this position. According to the paper, the meetings have been annulled.

(I/Ts.)

[06] The so-called Turkish Cypriot football federation's offices were attacked

The chairman of the so-called federation, Hasan Sertoglu expressed his sorrow about the incident and argued that "the reason for this is obvious". He added: "Some circles are annoyed from our going to the Autonomous Kurdish Administration of Northern Iraq and playing a match with Kurdistan. We have only represented our country. Contacts had been made with all parties before going there".

The paper writes that the "national football team" of the breakaway regime played a match with "Kurdistan's" national team in a final of a tournament and lost 2-1. The paper publishes a picture of Fraso Hariri Stadium in Northern Iraq where the flags of "Kurdistan" and the "TRNC" were waving side by side during the ceremony for the match.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Kucuk ranks third in and inside opinion poll regarding UBP's elections for chairman

According to the paper, the results regarding the three main candidates for the position are as follows: Ahmet Kasif: 42%, Nazim Cavusoglu 30% and Irsen Kucuk 28%.

[08] U.S. Ambassador to Ankara: Turkey and the United States should work together in several matters such as Iran, Cyprus, Caucasus and Balkans

Ricciardone delivered a speech at the lunch held within the scope of the 31st Annual Conference of the American Turkish Council (ATC) in Washington.

In regard to works on a new constitution in Turkey, he said that Turkey has been writing a new constitution for itself, opening a new page. The new constitution aims to preserve freedoms and rights of Turkish citizens, he said.

Ricciardone said that commercial and economic ties between the two countries should be improved.

In addition, Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.06.12) also reports that Richard Armitage, chairman of the American Turkish Council (ATC), said that no matter who would win the presidential election in the United States, Turkish-U.S. relations would keep improving.

The 31st Annual Conference of ATC began in Washington, the United States. Turkish National Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz is attending the conference.

Making opening remarks of the conference, Armitage said that global developments such as crisis in Syria, Arab Spring and economic problems in Eurozone increased importance of relations and dialogue between Turkey and the United States.

Haluk Dincer, chairman of the Turkish-American Business Council, said that Turkish economy showed a great performance in the past decade and Turkish economy continued to grow despite global financial crisis. Dincer said they were working to boost economic relations between Turkey and the United States.

[09] General Electric to invest $900 million in Turkey

Caglayan received the Vice President of General Electric (GE) Corporation John Rice in Istanbul.

"When I look at GE's possible investments in aviation, energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, I can only say that they have made a good analysis of the investments that Turkey needs", Caglayan stated.

The GE has found out the basic stages in our incentive system, Caglayan underlined.

This is the first time that the GE has announced a net figure for their investments. Where the investment and what type it will be will become clear in the next few months, Caglayan said.

[10] A new wave of arrests targets pro Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party mayors in the eastern province of Van

Seven more people, including district mayors in Van, were arrested in the ongoing Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) probe on the night of June 10.

Abdukerim Sayan, mayor of Edremit district, and Murat Durmaz, the mayor of Ozalp district, were among seven people arrested on accusations of being members of a terrorist organization.

While BDP officials accused the AKP of casting a shadow on democracy in Turkey, their counterparts from the AKP in Van said they were also uncomfortable with the arrests.

Holding a press meeting in the Parliament yesterday, BDP Group Chair Hasip Kaplan said the arrests were planned in the AKP's headquarters.

The arrests shame the government and Parliament, he said, adding that they carried reminders of the 1990s when many Kurdish politicians were arrested.

"In a country where almost all elected Kurdish politicians are arrested, there is no development in the Kurdish issue," he said. "Everything is forbidden in this country but being a member of the AKP. The AKP has declared all opposition an enemy. The prime minister is not halting his words on violence, vengeance, hatred and racism."

Meanwhile, the AKP's Van office said they were sad to hear of the arrests. "Despite the fact that we have already expressed our discomfort with the arrests, the BDP's accusation of the AKP is an offence toward us," the office said in a written announcement. AKP Van deputy Gulsen Orhan had already expressed her discomfort after a specially authorized Van court ordered the detention of 14 people for their alleged links with the KCK on June 7.

[11] Columnist argues that Turkey may start accession talks on a new chapter before July 1st

"The final countdown to July 1 has started. It started two weeks ago [when] we [began to] work on Sundays and [now] don't sleep more than four hours a day," said Greek Cyprus' EU ambassador.

It is the first time Greek Cyprus will assume the European Union presidency and in order to prove they are not a "half state" as Turkish state figures have called them, Greek Cypriots seem determined to try to punch above their weight. They have scheduled three times as many technical meetings and foreign ministerial gatherings.

Turkish officials only wish for Greek Cypriots to be successful in their endeavours. They might even pray for it, since a situation of the contrary entails a worst case scenario for Turkish diplomats, as some believe that in case of failure Greek Cyprus might attempt to create an artificial crisis to veil its incompetence. An attempt for a gas drilling in the Turkish Cypriot continental shelf is enough to heat the waters in the Mediterranean and strain relations in the Ankara?Brussels line.

Otherwise, this summer period will be one of the least animated periods in Turkish?EU relations, as Turkey will suspend any dialogue which will involve talking to the EU presidency.

However, this does not need to be the dullest period. There is a slight possibility that a summer breeze coming from Paris might move the leaves in the tree.

There are two issues where a green light, mainly from Paris, might come to psychological resuscitate a deadly season for Turkish?EU relations. France's new president Francois Hollande can reverse the decision of its predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy who blocked accession talks on five chapters arguing it would bring Turkey closer to membership. The economic and monetary policy does not require any opening criteria, which means that there is not much preparations needed if there is a general agreement to start accession talks on that chapter before July 1st. This certainly will not have an immediate earthshaking consequence on a Turkish bid to join the EU. It will, however, certainly be a very important symbolic gesture, as France will give the message that Paris is no longer against a Turkish membership, provided it fulfils the necessary criteria.

Signs coming from Paris suggest that the foreign ministry favours such a move. In contrast to the portrayal of Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius as a euro and Turko sceptic, he is said to endorse the view of the diplomats and is expected to advise Hollande on that direction.

Another issue which will mimic CPR is the visa liberalization. The commission waits for the political go ahead to secure the mandate to negotiate with Turkey visa liberalization. The decision had been postponed due to the parliamentary elections in France. The interior ministry, which traditionally does not have liberal tendencies when it comes to free movement, might not be willing to take an active stance on the issue.

At any rate following the second round of elections next Sunday, eyes will turn to Hollande. He will have to decide his next move within a few days, and yet Hollande is not known to act in haste.

Still, if he were to make a quick decision on one of these two issues, this will come as a major strategic leap forward to close the "Sarkozy" gap in relations with Ankara." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article