Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-04-11

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] Bagis on the Cyprus problem; he discussed the opening of the regional policies chapter

[02] Eroglu reiterates his view for "two states" in Cyprus

[03] Statements by Ozgurgun on Cyprus talks

[04] Yildiz: TPAO seeks Lebanon explorations

[05] Turkey, Iraq warm to new pipeline as supply surges

[06] Iraq, Jordan ink $18 billion oil deal

[07] Rumors for "cabinet reshuffle" in the breakaway regime

[08] The self-styled Turkish embassy reportedly demanded the granting of "TRNC citizenship" to 100 thousand persons

[09] So-called minister of finance evaluated the economic crisis in the Republic of Cyprus; He reiterated that the occupation regime does not have any economic problems

[10] "Goodwill Ambassadors project" for the breakaway regime by the Turkic World Youth, Friendship and Solidarity Association

[11] Erdogan to travel to Gaza after Washington visit; US Defense Secretary due to Ankara

[12] President Gul approves law on foreigners

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Bagis on the Cyprus problem; he discuss the opening of the regional policies chapter

Commenting on the Cyprus problem, Bagis said that the election of Nicos Anastasiades, the new leader of the Cyprus Government, provided an opportunity and stated that if the EU removed the so-called isolations it has put on the breakaway regime in 2004, realized its promise of direct trade, Turkey would be ready to open its port and air space to the Republic of Cyprus. Bagis alleged that the division in Cyprus damaged the Greek Cypriot economy the most.

Touching on Turkey's EU membership, Bagis stated that Turkey hade made more reforms in one year compared to all European countries, and even made unilateral progress in blocked chapters.

The support for Turkey's EU membership was around 50% which dropped as low as 25% in the 50 year process due to EU not keeping their promises, added Bagis.

Reminding that Turkey was the first country to say that Assad should go, Bagis called on the international society to move in the right direction. Noting that he didn't agree with western countries' concern over what would happen when Assad left, Bagis said: "They ask who would come when Assad goes. Whoever the Syrian people choose, that person will lead. Syrians should be given the opportunity to choose what they want."

Moreover, A.A reports that Turkey's EU Minister Egemen Bagis and Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, discussed opening chapters into negotiations during Turkey's EU membership talks.

Following the meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, Hahn said they discussed to open regional policies chapter into negotiations, and he was very optimistic about it.

Bagis also said that no chapters had been opened to negotiations with Turkey for the past 2.5 years, but this would change with opening regional policies chapter. He also expressed hope that the regional policies chapter would be opened to negotiations in June.

Bagis and Minister of Labour and Social Security Faruk Celik also met with Laszlo Andor, EU commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, in Brussels. They discussed opening social policies chapter heading to negotiations in Turkey's EU membership process.

Bagis told reporters that an EU delegation would pay a visit to Turkey in the end of April, and expressed hope that social policies chapter heading would be opened to negotiations in the second half of this year.

[02] Eroglu reiterates his view for "two states" in Cyprus

Eroglu said that the martyrs and war veterans has played an important role in the establishment of the breakaway regime which was born as a result of the joint struggle waged by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

Explaining that "they learned how difficult it is to establish a state through experience", Eroglu said that "the important thing was to uphold the state and not to concede gains at the negotiating table".

Reminding that negotiations to reach a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem have been continuing for years, Eroglu said that any solution to be reached will be an agreement that will safeguard the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots.

Noting that he had repeatedly told the Greek Cypriots that they should abandon the illusion that everything will go back to the way it was before 1974, Eroglu called on the Greek Cypriot side to acknowledge the "realities" on the island.

He also said that the Turkish Cypriot side supported the introduction of a timetable and deadlines to the negotiations process, a policy, he added that was supported by motherland Turkey.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (11.04.13) reports that the delegation was also accompanied by a MP of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) without giving any more details.

[03] Statements by Ozgurgun on Cyprus talks

Ozgurgun also claimed that the constructive and determined approach adopted by the Turkish Cypriot side both during the negotiations process and the period that followed had disturbed the Greek Cypriot side.

Alleging that the Greek Cypriot side was at every opportunity using the economic crisis in Cyprus as an excuse to leave the process hanging, Ozgurgun claimed that the latest statements made by the Greek Cypriot leadership once again demonstrated the Greek Cypriot side's reluctance towards reaching a settlement.

[04] Yildiz: TPAO seeks Lebanon explorations

"Energy Minister Taner Yildiz on Wednesday said the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has applied to begin exploration for oil off Lebanon's Mediterranean shores, reportedly joining a number of other Turkish firms in a bid for a license.

'The TPAO is an applicant among many other international firms,' Yildiz said during Wednesday's press conference. 'We've seen that there have been many more bids for Lebanon's gas than for fields in Greek Cyprus [Trans. Note: Republic of Cyprus].'

The Turkish application for Lebanese gas comes amid a row with Greek Cyprus [Trans. Note: Republic of Cyprus] over oil and gas drilling in the east Mediterranean. Greek [Trans. Note: Cypriot] and Israeli offshore gas reserves have seen intense media attention in recent months, but the pre-qualification round for gas tenders last week attracted 52 firms, including ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell, Lebanese media outlets reported.

(?) A senior US official told Reuters on Wednesday that the US was requesting importers of Iranian crude oil to make significant cuts in their purchases, the latest effort from the US to enforce international sanctions against the Iran's nuclear program.

Yildiz said on Wednesday that Turkey's energy trade was within the boundaries of international law, although he detailed the country's plans to open a pipeline in Iraq this year and move its energy trade away from Iran."

[05] Turkey, Iraq warm to new pipeline as supply surges

The statements come at a time of new oil discoveries in Iraq with the existing pipeline infrastructure starting to fall short of meeting overseas demand, undermining the war-torn country's potential to boost energy exports incomes. Ankara and Baghdad have been at odds over a disagreement between the two to export northern Iraq's oil via Turkish markets. The latest developments, however, enhanced the chance for reconciliation between the two with the central government in Baghdad appearing to be less sceptical about Ankara's engagement with the autonomous Kurdistan region -- or Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) -- to the north. Resource-hungry Turkey has heavily courted Iraqi Kurds regardless of the strife with Baghdad and continues doing so.

In an op-ed article published in Washington Post to mark the 10th year of US invasion in Iraq, Maliki said Baghdad 'is committed to good relations with all our neighbours ? offering the hand of friendship to Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait'. Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said in Ankara on Wednesday that the government 'is ready to cooperate in building a new pipeline that could serve as an alternative to an existing Baghdad-controlled Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline to Turkey'. Exports via that channel dried up in December -- from a peak of around 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) -- due to a row with Baghdad over payments. Last month Yildiz said the Baghdad government has offered to build a pipeline from the Iraqi oil site of Basra to Ceyhan.

Yildiz asserted: 'Iraq has the potential to boost current annual oil and gas sale revenues of $100 billion by three times in five to six years. Turkey will be happy to see conditions in Iraq improve.' Comprised of two different routes, Kirkuk-Yumurtalik remains the longest crude oil exports line in Iraq.  We are ready to transfer the crude from Basra to world markets when needed. This need will become more apparent when the capacity grows higher with the new oil facilities being built here,' Y1
ld1
z noted. The Minister added that Turkey remained a key transfer route for Iraqi energy resources including oil and gas.

 Our energy trade with Iraq is covered by trade contracts that were signed earlier. A possible comprehensive deal on the government level will likely see extended cooperation in energy between us,' the Minister added. There was no immediate response to Yildiz's comments from Baghdad on Wednesday regarding a planned Basra-Ceyhan pipeline.

Turkey places heavy importance on tightening its position as a key energy bridge for its major trade partner the EU, which it aspires to join. A crucial resource for energy-poor Europe, Ankara has already inked separate natural gas transfer deals with the regional major suppliers of Azerbaijan and Russia. Also making mention of a critical issue, northern Iraqi crude exports to Turkey, the Minister said Ankara has an interest in increasing exports from this region as well. The KRG is already bypassing the federal pipeline network by trucking small quantities of crude oil over the Turkish border in exchange for refined oil products.

One of the key explorers in Iraq for Turkey, the Anglo-Turkish oil firm Genel Energy said on Wednesday it made a significant oil discovery in Iraq's Kurdish north. Genel is the largest producer in Iraq's north.

The firm is no newcomer to the region. In early January, the company started exporting Kurdistan crude oil directly to world markets through Turkey despite Baghdad's opposition. Bloomberg sources on Twitter quoted Genel CEO Tony Hayward as saying a new pipeline between Iraq's north and Turkey 'would be completed this summer'. Hayward also told the news site the company is in talks with as many as four Turkish utilities to sell gas from its Miran field.

In an e-mail to Today's Zaman on Wednesday, London-based IHS energy analyst Siddik Bakir said Genel is in the process of completing oil and gas infrastructure within the KRG-controlled region which includes the building of oil and gas pipelines. 'There is discussion to use a gas pipeline, which needs to be built another 50 km to get to the Turkish border, for Kurdish oil exports. Reportedly, Genel is considering turning it into an oil pipeline and transporting crude within Iraqi Kurdistan from its production fields (down from Taq Taq over Khurmala all the way up to Fish Khabur),' he said.

According to Bakir, it is not clear if Baghdad and Ankara would agree to connect the pipeline with the Turkish side of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline. 'Turks could truck it further, or as many in the KRG hope, Turkey will build an additional stretch of pipeline on its side that is connected directly with Kurdish oil exports,' he noted.

[06] Iraq, Jordan ink $18 billion oil deal

"The two countries have signed an agreement to build a 1,700-kilometer pipeline from Basra to Aqaba," Nihad Musa, director of the State Company for Oil Projects, told Jordan's official news agency, Petra, in Amman on April 9. "The designs and technical studies, which are currently being conducted by a Canadian company, are scheduled to be done by the end of this year."

Musa said Iraq "is serious about implementing the $18 billion project. It is important for the two countries."

Under the deal, which is expected to be operational by 2017, "Jordan will get 850,000 barrels of oil as well as 100 million cubic meters of gas a day," the Iraqi official was quoted as saying.

Iraq, which sits on the region's third-largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia and Iran at 115 billion barrels, hopes the move will increase and diversify its exports.

Jordan currently imports 10,000 barrels of Iraqi oil per day at well below the global market value and has recently agreed to increase that amount to 15,000 barrels.

[07] Rumors for "cabinet reshuffle" in the breakaway regime

The paper, which cites information by the National Unity Party (UBP), which is the "power party" in the breakaway regime, writes that there was an agreement between "prime minister" Irsen Kucuk and his revival for the UBP's leadership, Ahmet Kasif on the issue and suggests that Kucuk will give a "ministry" to Kasif and to two of his main supporters, Ilkay Kamil and Kemal Durust.

In addition, Yeni Duzen writes that three more persosn, who participate in the the past in "UBPs government" will also join the reshuffled "cabinet": Turgay Avci, Mustafa Gokmen and Tahsin Ertugruloglu.

The paper does not give information about the "ministers" that would be replaced.

[08] The self-styled Turkish embassy reportedly demanded the granting of "TRNC citizenship" to 100 thousand persons

The paper writes that the "embassy" is asserting strong pressure to the "minister of interior" on the issue and that it is not pleased with him resisting its wishes. "Therefore, it is interesting to see whatever Cavusoglu will continue with his duties", writes Kibrisli which suggests that this development is related with rumors for "cabinet reshuffle" in the "prime minister" Kucuk's self-styled government.

[09] So-called minister of finance evaluated the economic crisis in the Republic of Cyprus; He reiterated that the occupation regime does not have any economic problems

Tatar reiterated in the interview that the occupation regime does not have any economic problems and added that their ratio is in a very good condition.

Stating that they do not have any worries in the "TRNC" about the economic crisis in the Greek Cypriot side, Tatar recalled that they experienced similar difficulties during 2001 and added that thanks to their good cooperation with Turkey and the efforts exerted by Turkey, they achieved to reach this good level.

Asked to reply to the question whether it is true that there are efforts by Greek Cypriots and British people to transfer their money in the "TRNC", Tatar confirmed this and said that they had a lot of phone calls by now with this demand. He however, reiterated that their aim is certainly to keep their banking system clear, adding, that they will not accept black money to be transferred to their banks.

Asked to express his view about which will be the salvation formula for the Greek Cypriots, Tatar said that Greek Cypriots will continue to feel the impacts of this crisis for a long of period, no matter of the efforts they will exert to overcome the crisis and no matter of the agreements they will sign. "It was a great mistake when south Cyprus has unilaterally become a member of the EU, after the period of the Annan plan. The EU felt disturbed because south Cyprus became tax heaven for offshore companies as well as a centre for money laundering. (...)", Tatar said.

(AK)

[10] "Goodwill Ambassadors project" for the breakaway regime by the Turkic World Youth, Friendship and Solidarity Association

The delegation met with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, who alleged that in order for a solution to be found to the Cyprus problem both sides must desire a solution. He claimed that the breakaway regime is "a fully functioning state, but an unrecognized country subjected to unjust embargoes".

The delegation also met with the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk who said that "it would be beneficial for Turkic nations to recognize one another".

The delegation also paid separate visits to the "speaker of assembly" Hasan Bozer and the self-styled minister of education Mutlu Atasayan.

[11] Erdogan to travel to Gaza after Washington visit; US Defence Secretary due to Ankara

"I think it will take place after the US visit," Erdogan told journalists en route to Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday evening, when he was asked about the planned trip to Gaza. The Prime Minister had earlier said he planned to visit the Hamas-run territory in April. Erdo
an and Obama are set to meet in Washington on May 16.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, meanwhile, is expected to pay yet another visit to Turkey in two weeks, this time to attend an international meeting on Syria. Kerry and his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, agreed that the meeting, a gathering of an 11-nation core group of the Friends of Syria, should convene soon.

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is also set to visit Turkey later this month and will try to rekindle military cooperation between Turkey and its former close ally Israel in his first visit to the two countries since taking office, a Turkish official was quoted as saying by Reuters on Wednesday.

Hagel, whose visit to Turkey will take place close to his Israel trip set for April 21-23, will also discuss regional issues, the official said. The US Embassy in Ankara said it would not comment on any potential visits.

During his visit, the official said, Hagel would try to encourage both countries to restart military cooperation, which used to include manoeuvres and defence contracts. Apart from relations with Israel, the civil war in Syria is likely to feature prominently in discussions.

[12] President Gul approves law on foreigners

The EU last week welcomed the new law, hailing the move by the Turkish Parliament as "clear sign" of Turkey's efforts to establish a sound legal and institutional framework for migration and asylum.

According to the law, foreigners and those who have international protection cannot be sent back to places where they could be subject to torture, inhumane treatment or humiliating punishment, or where they would be threatened due to their race, religion or membership in a certain group.

The law stipulates that foreigners who are subject to comprehensive investigations while entering the country can be forced to wait for only four hours. Another article of the law allows Turkish authorities to ban a foreigner for only five years, but if that person is seen as a serious threat to public order and security, his or her ban can be increased to 10 years. Foreigners with expired residence permits will be given only a year's ban if they appeal to a governor's office.

The law stipulates that foreigners who stay in Turkey for more than 90 days should apply for a residence permit. The residence permit will become invalid if not used for six months. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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