Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-03-22

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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] Efforts by the breakaway regime to exploit the economic crisis in the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus

[02] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the economic developments in the government-controlled area of the island

[03] How the Turkish press covers the economic developments in the Republic of Cyprus after Eurogroup's decision

[04] Statements on Ocalan's call for an end to armed struggle

[05] Atalay describes the election of President Anastasiades as "more positive"

[06] Nami on the Turkish Cypriot efforts for being represented at the EP

[07] European Parliament committee approves Turkey's report

[08] Erdogan: "We wish to raise our trade volume with the Netherlands to 15 billion USD by 2015"

[09] Davutoglu discussed the Cyprus problem in Poland

[10] Poultry from the occupied area not allowed to enter into Saudi Arabia

[11] The occupation regime at the MIIT fair in Moscow

[12] KADEM's opinion poll shows CTP to rank first if "parliamentary elections" were to take place today in the occupied area of Cyprus

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Efforts by the breakaway regime to exploit the economic crisis in the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus

Commenting on the intention of the Cyprus government to establish a fund in order to overcome the economic crisis, Eroglu's office claimed that distributing bonds to the depositors of this fund in return to the future income from the island's hydrocarbon resources would create drawbacks from the point of view of the negotiating process [for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem] and the stability in the area.

Eroglu's "office" expressed sorrow about the economic problems which exist in the government-controlled area of the island and reiterated the allegation that the Turkish Cypriot side had submitted proposals which are still on the table regarding the creation of fields of cooperation between the two sides and the overcoming of the difficulties within a short period of time.

The statement alleged that in case the proposal regarding the creation of the above-mentioned fund passes from the House of Representatives, this would violate the rights of the Turkish Cypriot "people", harm the content of a possible future agreement and mortgage the future of the island.

The statement argued that in view of these "realities", these bonds would have no validity and the Greek Cypriot side will "deepen the lack of confidence" with another "unilateral action".

The statement went on and noted that the Turkish Cypriot side is determined to defend the so-called rights of the Turkish Cypriots in these areas "with the cooperation and help of motherland Turkey".

The statement also asked for these problems not to delay the reconciliation process through negotiations and make the expectations on this issue invalid.

(I/Ts.)

[02] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the economic developments in the government-controlled area of the island

Under the title "Solidarity Investment Fund", Havadis reports that the government of Cyprus has created a new formula that will secure the sum of 5.8 billion euros, replacing the rejected rescue package. The paper writes that the formula provides for taxing the deposits which are over 100 thousand euros, guaranteeing the deposits which are below 100 thousand euros and selling Laiki Bank in order to secure resources for the fund. The paper notes also that the search of resources for the fund from Russia continues and that the employees and the depositors of Laiki Bank started protesting as of yesterday afternoon.

Under the title "Clamor", Yeni Duzen reports that the crisis in the government-controlled area of Cyprus entered into a new stage yesterday and that the cash crisis shook the banks. The paper writes that protests started after allegations that Laiki Bank, one of the biggest banks in the government-controlled area of the island, would go bankrupt.

Under the title "Sales only in cash", Afrika reports that life in the government-controlled area "paralyzed" and the transactions in the market stopped because the banks are closed. It is said that many Turkish Cypriots have also deposits in the banks in the government-controlled area and that the European Central Bank gave a deadline to Cyprus until Monday for coming up with a proposal.

Kibris refers to the developments under the title "The Greek Cypriot people rioted". The paper publishes also interviews with people from the government-controlled area under the title "The future is uncertain".

Cyprus Star newspaper in English refers to the issue under the title "Bail out to involve sale of gas reserves to Russia" and wonders: "But what about the rights of North Cyprus and Turkey?"

Columnist Vedat Yorucu comments on the issue in his column in Star Kibris under the title "South Cyprus is shaken" and reports that in the backstage the sharing of the natural gas and the stance followed by Russia in its energy policy in Eastern Mediterranean are very important. He argues, inter alia, the following: "We will wait and see here what kind of road map the Greek Cypriots will draw according to the stance followed by the other western players here. The real chess game has actually now started. Whoever could dance better the Tango in the Mediterranean, he will be the winner. However, there is one thing of which I am sure: that the Greek Cypriots will always be the losers in this game".

(I/Ts.)

[03] How the Turkish press covers the economic developments in the Republic of Cyprus after Eurogroup's decision

Milliyet: "The Russian bases disturbed the TRNC". The paper's correspondent in the occupied part of Lefkosia reports that the proposal made by the "Greek Cypriot administration" as he describes the Republic of Cyprus to Russia, saying "give us money and will give you naval and air bases", caused strong reactions by the "TRNC", the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus. The so-called foreign minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, speaking to the paper, warned that in that case, the waters in the Eastern Mediterranean will warm up. He also said that the Russians and the Greek Cypriots play a dangerous game in the Mediterranean and said that if the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are ignored, they will have to face the consequences.

Also, in another news report under the title: "Turkey could be the rescuer", the paper reports on a statement made by Timothy Ash, a famous economist in the UK, and head of the EM of Standard Bank, who has argued that the financial crisis in Cyprus could constitute a peace opportunity for Turkey. Ash alleged that the Greek Cypriots could look for financial support from Turkey instead of Russia and in return, Turkey to demand for an agreement under the conditions of the 2004 Annan plan for the reunification of the island.

Hurriyet: "Run out of money, plastic cards are voided". The paper writes that 1 million people in the government controlled area of Cyprus have been in a miserable situation for one week.

Hurriyet and Cumhuriyet: "Threats from Russia to the EU". The paper refers to Russian Prime Minister, Dimitri Medvedev's statement who allegedly threatened yesterday the EU that if they touch their accounts in Cyprus, the Russians will ruin their euro reserves.

Cumhuriyet: "Russia is the trump card for South Cyprus against the EU". The paper reports that Turkey has reacted strongly as regards the issue of the use of the oil and natural gas reserves to be found in the Mediterranean and stressed the need for the Turkish and Greek side to jointly use the oil reserves of the island. Also, Reuters broadcast yesterday that a high level Turkish official on energy has stated the following: "It is out of the question for south Cyprus to unilaterally use these resources. The future of the resources cannot be mortgaged. If we consider it necessary, we will go into action".

Hurriyet Daily News (in English): "Russians 'launder money' in South Cyprus".

The paper reported on statements by the so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk who accused the Greek Cypriots for cooperating with Russian businessmen for money laundering in their banks. "They are trying to get over a big economic distress at the moment. We see that they were in cooperation with Russian businessmen for money laundering for a long time," Kucuk told the Hurriyet Daily News in Istanbul, yesterday.

Asked about claims that Gazprom, the giant Russian energy company, had secretly offered a private bailout plan to Cyprus, Kucuk said the Mediterranean offshore area belongs to both the Turkish and Greek people of the island, and that no others could claim rights to the area without "northern Cyprus" consent as he described the occupied area of the island.

"Cyprus' natural resources belong equally to the Turkish and Greek Cypriot people, and any efforts by Greek Cyprus to strike an agreement on them with Russia would be met with a strong respond, Kucuk also said.

Taraf: "Salvo from Medvedev to the EU"

(AK)

[04] Statements on Ocalan's call for an end to armed struggle

"The call to lay down arms and end the armed struggle by outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan in a letter read earlier today (Thursday) during the Nevruz celebrations in the south-eastern province of Diyarbakir is positive, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

'I find the call, the invitation, as a positive development. But the essential thing is the practice,' Erdogan said at a televised joint press meeting with his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte.

'We would like to see the reflections of Ocalan's remarks in the shortest period of time,' Erdogan said. 'Once this comes to practice, the atmosphere in Turkey and the region will change.'

Still, Erdogan criticized the absence of a Turkish flag during the celebrations in Diyarbak?r. 'I would have liked to see our flag there,' he said. 'I believe that this is not only my wish but the nation's. This was a serious omission".

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.03.13) reports that European Commission on Thursday said they welcomed a call made by Abdullah Ocalan for PKK to halt violence and to retreat from Turkey.

In a joint statement released on Thursday, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule and EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton underlined that they welcomed Ocalan's call and the positive responses to such a call.

The call made on Thursday was an important step in ending the problem which caused a high number of casualties in Turkey, the statement also said.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.03.13) reports that the German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, in a statement released on Thursday, said he found the call made by the head of PKK, Abdullah Ocalan to give up armed struggle as an important step for mutual confidence.

The German Foreign Ministry quoted Westerwelle as saying that Ocalan's call should be followed by concrete steps and that silencing the guns was crucial.

In addition, Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.03.13) reports from Washington that the spokesperson for the US State Department, Victoria Nuland said on Thursday that they welcomed PKK's announcement to halt violence in Turkey.

Nuland said: "The United States welcomes today's announcement by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to halt the violence as a positive step toward ending more than three decades of tragic violence in Turkey. This violence has claimed too many lives and too many futures, and must end. We applaud the courageous efforts of the Government of Turkey and all parties concerned to achieve a peaceful resolution that will advance democracy in Turkey and improve the lives of all of Turkey's citizens."

"The United States will continue to support the people of Turkey in their effort to finally resolve this issue and move toward a brighter future," Nuland also said.

[05] Atalay describes the election of President Anastasiades as "more positive"

In statements to a TGRT television, Atalay was asked yesterday whether there was any contact between the newly elected leadership in the government-controlled area of the island and the Turkish Cypriot leadership. Atalay said that the leaders have not met yet, but a process will commence after the normalization of the situation.

Atalay argued: "In fact, economic difficulties are experienced currently in south Cyprus. Of course, the new head of state is one of the politicians who supported the voting of the Annan Plan. During his entire political life, he seemed open to dialogue. We considered his election more positive in general. Of course, since he is elected, they are struggling with a very big economic difficulty. They are experiencing a very big problem".

Referring to the occupied area of Cyprus, he reiterated that Turkey offers any support it can, that after one year water with undersea pipelines will be transferred from Turkey to the occupied area and that electricity will also be brought.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Nami on the Turkish Cypriot efforts for being represented at the EP

Noting that the report includes as precondition [Translator's note: for the opening of the occupied port] the return of the occupied fenced city of Varosha to the Greek Cypriots and the withdrawal of Turkish occupation army, Nami said: "In the contacts we have held we told our interlocutors that this was a wrong approach and we demanded for this connection to be lifted. In the voting held today (yesterday) the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament lifted this connection in the direction of our demand. This is a pleasing development".

Nami said that another issue was the representation of the Turkish Cypriots at the EP with a formula similar to the one implemented at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Noting that some proposals for amendments to the report have been submitted in this direction and that efforts have been exerted in the direction of the acceptance of these changes, Nami said that the inclusion of this issue to the report was rejected with a small difference in the voting, in spite of the fact that their proposal received significant support.

Nami argued that the fact that this was not included in Turkey's progress report does not mean that the EP also rejects it. He added: "Our efforts to gain the representation we deserve at the EP have enjoyed significant support. Our efforts will continue from now on".

The paper writes that 67 parliamentarians participated yesterday in the voting of the above-mentioned commission, which has 75 members. The proposal for the Turkish Cypriots taking the observer status at the EP was rejected with 39 votes against 26 in favor and 2 abstentions. The provisions regarding the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army from Cyprus and the return of occupied Varosha to its legal owners were accepted, writes the paper, but the word "in parallel" was taken out of the text and thus the connection of this issue with the opening of the occupied port of Famagusta for free trade was abolished.

According to the paper, the proposal for the representation of the Turkish Cypriots at the EP was rejected with the votes of the Christian Democrats, the Socialists and the Leftists.

(I/Ts.)

[07] European Parliament committee approves Turkey's report

"The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on Thursday approved a draft report on EU candidate Turkey, welcoming talks with Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan for an end to Turkey's decades-old Kurdish problem.

The draft report, approved by a 54-4 vote, says the talks with Ocalan, serving a life sentence on an island off Istanbul, should result in a historic agreement that would bring a peaceful and democratic solution to Turkey's Kurdish problem.

The vote came on the same day as Ocalan ordered the PKK to a ceasefire and withdraw from Turkish soil as a step for ending a conflict that has killed 40,000 people. (?)

The reference to the talks was made after the Foreign Affairs Committee approved on Thursday an amendment proposal to that effect prior to the vote. The report said it was important that media and non-governmental organizations play a constructive role in the solution process and praised support expressed by Turkey's political parties and NGOs to the initiative.

Speaking after the vote, European Union Turkey reporter Ria Oomen-Ruijten commented on Turkey's stalled EU accession process and said both Ankara and Brussels should spend more effort to improve relations throughout 2013, a year she said is of critical importance.

(?)

Oomen-Ruijten also said that reforms should be carried out in Turkey to secure a modern, effective, independent and impartial judiciary. She said Turkey should also tackle problems stemming from what she called a wide definition of terrorism in criminal and anti-terrorism laws.

The Dutch parliamentarian's report is due to be voted on by the European Parliament in mid-April."

[08] Erdogan: "We wish to raise our trade volume with the Netherlands to 15 billion USD by 2015"

Erdogan said that "Turkey and the Netherlands had a balanced trade. Our trade volume with the Netherlands is 7 billion USD."

"The Netherlands have around 2,100 entrepreneurs and companies working in Turkey. Dutch investments in Turkey are worth 17 billion USD. Likewise, Turkish investors in the Netherlands have investments worth 6 billion USD. Such figures show how good our relations are," Erdogan also stated.

Rutte, on his part, said that Turkey was one of the world's fastest growing economies. "The Netherlands happens to be the second biggest investor in Turkey.

We held talks with Prime Minister Erdogan to boost our economic relations, Rutte concluded.

[09] Davutoglu discussed the Cyprus problem in Poland

Speaking at the ceremony in the Polish capital of Warsaw on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that the two countries shared historic relations.

His Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, on his part, said that various activities would be held in Turkey and Poland next year.

Davutoglu's working visit to Poland was a preparatory one ahead of events which would be organized in both countries to mark the 600th anniversary of the relations, Turkey's MFA said.

Bilateral relations, Turkey's EU membership process, the Cyprus problem as well as recent regional and international matters were also discussed during the meeting, the Ministry added.

[10] Poultry from the occupied area not allowed to enter into Saudi Arabia

According to the paper, the four TIRs returned yesterday to the occupied port of Keryneia and from there to the Haci Ali farm. The reason why the poultry was found unhealthy has not been announced, writes Afrika wondering whether new analyses will be conducted in the occupied area of Cyprus for these chickens.

(I/Ts.)

[11] The occupation regime at the MIIT fair in Moscow

According to information acquired from the "ministry", the occupation regime is represented in the fair by tourism agents, hoteliers, airline companies, the director of the "department of tourism and marketing" of the so-called ministry, Turgut Muslu, and Pervin Guran and Tugrul Aktigin, also from the same "department".

The occupation regime participates in the fair with its own stand.

(AK)

[12] KADEM's opinion poll shows CTP to rank first if "parliamentary elections" were to take place today in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the paper, replying to the question: "If parliamentary elections were to take place next week, which party will you vote?", the opinion poll revealed that 21.5% said that will not go to the ballot box, 16.1% said that are undecided, while 34% said they would vote the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), 30.8% the National Unity Party (UBP), 19.7% the Democratic Party (DP), 13.9% the Social Democratic Party (TDP) and 1.6% the United Cyprus party (BKP).

According to the survey, during the "parliamentary elections" which took place in 2009, the parties received the following percentages:

CTP: 27.2%

UBP: 43.3%

DP: 12%

TDP: 9.5%

Other: 4.2%

According to the paper, the opinion poll was carried out with a sample group of 813 persons, who are living inside the boundaries of the occupied part of Lefkosia.

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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