Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-03-28

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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] Davutoglu submitted new proposal for the solution of the Cyprus problem

[02] Turkey's decision to shelve planned projects with ENI might have international repercussions

[03] Eroglu to the Associated Press: "Economic crisis could delay prospects for a Cyprus settlement"

[04] Sonya criticized the latest statements of Kasoulides

[05] Illegal GAU university delegation met with the Congo Ambassador in Ankara over the statements by the Congo ambassador in Athens

[06] Illegal Near East University continues to promote health tourism in the occupied area of Cyprus

[07] An international conference of ETUCE in the occupied Famagusta

[08] Davutoglu due to Georgia for contacts; he will participate to a tripartite meeting

[09] Turkish Justice Minister: "PKK expected to complete withdrawal before the end of summer"

[10] S&P upgrades Turkey's credit rating to BB+

[11] No progress to Turkey-France foreign trade in 2012; Turkey's exports to France reduced while imports from France increased slightly

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Davutoglu submitted new proposal for the solution of the Cyprus problem

NTV broadcast the following:

"The Turkish side submitted a new plan with three alternatives to the Greek Cypriot Administration [Trans. Note: as he refers to the government of the Republic of Cyprus] for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Foreign Minister Davutoglu explained the context of the plan, which was prepared in the framework of the use of the natural sources in the Mediterranean.

Speaking to Star newspaper, Davutoglu said that one of the alternatives after the solution is 'to establish a United Cyprus State and to use together the natural sources'.

Davutoglu proposed as a second road, while the negotiations for the solution process are continuing, to form a joint committee and marketing the natural sources by this committee.

Davutoglu as a third option brought in the agenda the proposal of a 'two state solution'.

Foreign Minister Davutoglu summarized the plan with the expression 'either a solution or division".

[02] Turkey's decision to shelve planned projects with ENI might have international repercussions

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Y?ld?z told reporters in Ankara on Wednesday that "Ankara has decided to halt cooperation with ENI" over the disputed plans for development of natural gas fields off Cyprus.

Ankara had earlier warned that companies involved in the Republic of Cyprus exploration process would be excluded from Turkey's energy investment plans.

But ENI is also involved in the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline project to carry crude oil from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. "Cal?k Holding and ENI are partners in a proposed Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline that would pump Russian oil from Turkey's Black Sea coast to the Mediterranean. Cal?k will make their own decision to continue with the Italian firm, but the government might opt to exclude ENI from this project," Y?ld?z asserted.

It is not certain whether Turkey will move to announce similar decisions regarding the remaining companies that are interested in the popular "Mediterranean gas rush."

According to energy analyst Necdet Pamir, Turkey has the right to establish its own exclusive economic zone though it may have to take careful steps when third parties are involved. "Assertive maneuvers could backfire in this tricky region. For instance, I doubt that the Russians will be fine with any plans to block ENI in the South Stream project. The government has failed to draw clear lines here," he argued. Pamir says that there may be other upcoming energy projects passing through Turkey in which ENI will be interested. "The proposed Interconnector Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline [ITGI] project to carry natural gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Phase II to Italy is one of them. Let us say that the ITGI may not be realized, but then you have the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline [TAP] project that aims to pump Azerbaijani gas to Europe via Turkey again."

"We will see how Turkey's future strategy for energy firms doing business with Greek Cypriots unfolds. ? But I have serious doubts that the Turkish government is bluffing here, and it might have to change its mind later," Pamir asserted.

Enel, Italy's biggest utility, is interested in taking a stake of up to 20 percent in the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project that aims to pump Azeri gas to Europe, the group's chief executive said on Tuesday.

[03] Eroglu to the Associated Press: "Economic crisis could delay prospects for a Cyprus settlement"

(?)

"The fact that our southern neighbors have gone into this kind of crisis does not please us," Eroglu said. "This may be one of the factors that is likely to delay a settlement. It may also force our good friend Mr. Anastasiades to spend all his energy on economic problems and have less time to devote to the negotiation process", Eroglu added.

Eroglu said he hoped Anastasiades' government "will be able to get out of this crisis soon, and that his citizens will not suffer as a result of these problems."

(?)

"I am hoping and I am thinking that in view of the developing economic circumstances and problems that the south is facing, there will emerge perhaps a greater desire for a settlement," Eroglu stated, adding: "We are wishing that this crisis will not last very long and that the confidence of the Greek Cypriot people will not diminish, because if there is a weakening of the trust that the people have in the new leader, then it will be more difficult for that leader to come to a solution with the Turkish Cypriot side."

Without international recognition, the breakaway "northern Cypriot state", as the breakaway regime is called by the paper, suffered years through decades of economic isolation, dependent almost entirely on Turkey. While the euro is the currency in the "south", the "north" uses the Turkish lira - although most shops and cafes in old Nicosia also accept euros.

A decade ago, Turkish Cypriots estimated it would take about 18 years for their economy to catch up with that of the south. "But that was then," Eroglu said. "Now the situation is different. The Greek Cypriot economy is in worst shape than ours."

He said any new plan to reunite the two sides of the island would have to re-examine how far economic integration would go.

The Greek Cypriots "believed until recently that entering the European Union and becoming a member of the European Union, would solve all their problems. But now, as you can see, this is not the answer to all their problems," the Turkish Cypriot leader said.

The "south" is now "just beginning" to experience economic problems.

[04] Sonya criticized the latest statements of Kasoulides

[05] Illegal GAU university delegation met with the Congo Ambassador in Ankara over the statements by the Congo Ambassador in Athens

The paper writes that a delegation of GAU met with the Congo Ambassador in Ankara Marsel Mulumba Tshidimba who, according to the paper, promised to offer his help on the issue.

[06] Illegal Near East University continues to promote health tourism in the occupied area of Cyprus

The aim of the protocol is to promote tourism in the breakaway regime.

[07] An international conference of ETUCE in the occupied Famagusta

Christine Blower, Chairman of the ETUCE, Martin Romer, the European Director of ETUCE and representatives of the Heidelberg University, Tel Aviv University, Queen's University and other academicians as well as trade unionists will also participate in the conference.

[08] Davutoglu due to Georgia for contacts; he will participate to a tripartite meeting

Paying a two-day visit to the capital city of Tbilisi on Wednesday upon the invitation of Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, Davutoglu had a meeting with his Georgian counterpart as well as with President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili and State Minister for Reintegration Paata Zakareishvili, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

In a written statement, the Foreign Ministry said that strengthening bilateral relations, increasing regional cooperation as well as economic, energy and security projects will be the main issues discussed during the meetings.

On the second day of his visit, Davutoglu is scheduled to join the trilateral meeting of Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian Foreign Ministers to be held in Batumi. The development of regional cooperation in all areas for mutual benefit will reportedly top the meeting's agenda. The parties are expected to exchange their views on bilateral and regional issues of common interest including strengthening regional stability and security as well.

During the meeting, mutual Turkish-Azerbaijani projects, as well as Turkey's strong support for Georgia's NATO bid, will be widely discussed, according to Georgian officials.

On the sidelines of the Batumi meeting, Davutoglu is also scheduled to have a tete-a-tete with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

The Batumi meeting between Davutoglu, Mammadyarov and Panjikidze will be the second one for the Foreign Ministers of these countries, who first came together for a meeting held in the northeastern Turkish province of Trabzon on June 8 last year. Georgia was then represented by Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze.

The meeting was concluded with the Trabzon Declaration outlining the major areas of cooperation between the three countries, ranging from mutual support in international organizations to regional joint projects in energy and transportation.

[09] Turkish Justice Minister: "PKK expected to complete withdrawal before the end of summer"

Speaking during an interview on broadcaster NTV, Ergin said: "Now, with a cease-fire, the withdrawal process will proceed. We will follow it. We are hoping to see the completion of the withdrawal from Turkish territory before the end of summer."

(?)

During celebrations of Nevruz, a spring festival, in the south-eastern province of Diyarbak?r last week, Ocalan called on the PKK to declare a cease-fire and withdraw from Turkey.

Ocalan made this call as a result of talks he had with state officials on Imral? Island, where he serves a life sentence. The talks are aimed to resolve Turkey's long-standing Kurdish and terrorism problems.

Meanwhile, the Justice Minister has said no legal arrangement is needed for the establishment of a "wise men" commission to monitor or manage the ongoing peace process with the PKK.

When asked about plans for the establishment of an advisory commission to monitor the settlement process, the Minister said that the government can establish such a commission without any legal regulations, underlining that the commission will be a wholly civilian one that would represent all of Turkey.

(?)

Justice Minister Ergin also said on Wednesday that there is no need to make a legal amendment to ensure the withdrawal of the PKK from Turkey, adding that if bringing peace to the country is a crime, he is committing that crime.

"They [PKK terrorists] will leave Turkey using the same method they came. ? Will a prosecutor come up and ask, 'why are you trying to bring peace to Turkey?' or 'why are you making efforts to end the bloodshed and tears?' If this is a crime, then I am committing this crime," said Ergin.

In the meantime, Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bag?s on Wednesday called on all parties to make careful remarks during the settlement process, arguing that criticisms from all parties could weaken the current degree of determination, which has not existed in the 40-year history of the conflict, to solve the problem. "I do not want to talk about this issue [the settlement process] and I call on the main opposition leader who talks about this issue [in a critical way] to be just and conscious and to love Turkey," said Bagis, referring to CHP leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu.

[10] S&P upgrades Turkey's credit rating to BB+

In a statement released on Wednesday, S&P underlined that Turkey was in the process of rebalancing its economy.

S&P emphasized that the resolution of the Kurdish issue would have a positive effect on Turkey's ratings.

"The progress made on the Kurdish issue will lead to a decline in security related spendings and would increase border trade in Turkey", S&P noted as a reason for the upgrade.

In response to the upgrade, Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek stressed that "it was encouraging. However, Turkey deserves a higher rating".

Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said he was expecting the upgrading for a long time." I do not consider S&P's upgrading as sufficient", Caglayan underlined.

Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz described the upgrading as a "positive development". "However; the credit rating that Turkey deserves is still not given", Yilmaz said.

[11] No progress to Turkey-France foreign trade in 2012; Turkey's exports to France reduced while imports from France increased slightly

Trade volume between Turkey and France was 12,569,315 euro in 2012 whereas this figure was 12,625,783 euro in 2011, according to the statistics of Paris Embassy Office of the Commercial Counsellor.

While Turkey's exports to France were worth 5,667,073 euro, Turkey's imports from France were worth 6,902,242 in 2012.

Airplanes, automotive supply products, automobiles, iron and steel products, plastic products, pharmaceutical products, engines and organic chemicals are on top of the list of French exports to Turkey.

Automobiles, underclothing, leather clothing, white goods and textile products are on the top of the list of Turkey's exports to France.

Turkey is 12th among the countries France makes exports the most and 15th among the countries France imports the most. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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