Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-04-25

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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] Atalay will illegally visit Cyprus on Monday; Bozer says important developments will soon take place on the Cyprus problem

[02] So-called foreign minister Ozgurgun reiterated that the closed off city of Varoshia is a part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem; statements by an anonymous high level official

[03] Turkish MP alleges that the Cypriot Foreign Minister is "talking nonsense"

[04] Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce sends a letter to Fule and Schultz

[05] The head of the religious affairs "department" wants the opening of a "representation office" of the breakaway regime in Egypt

[06] Turkey criticizes Obama's address on Armenian Remembrance Day of April 24; BDP urges Turkey to apologize to Armenians

[07] CTP's Youth Organization calls the two leaders in Cyprus to stay committed to the point being agreed at the Cyprus negotiation talks

[08] Statements by a Turkish Cypriot who might be appointed in Bank of Cyprus's new administration

[09] Columnist wonders why "TRNC" has been founded if they are still partners of the Republic of Cyprus

[10] More about the renovation of the illegal Tymbou airport

[11] Promoting the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus in Istanbul

[12] Turkey launches revolutionary e-visa system for citizens of 94 countries including Republic of Cyprus

[13] Turkey attracts 26% more tourists in March

[14] Navy to get 2nd local warship in September

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Atalay will illegally visit Cyprus on Monday; Bozer says important developments will soon take place on the Cyprus problem

In statements during the visit, Bozer referred to the natural gas and oil resources in Eastern Mediterranean and said that as long as such wealth exists, the interest of the whole world for the island will continue.

Noting that the future Cyprus policies could be established on this wealth, Bozer argued: "I hope that this wealth will play a role in the unification of the two peoples. We expect the contribution of the entire world for this".

Bozer alleged that the solution could be achieved more easily if the world could "see the two peoples equally" and added: "It seems that very serious initiatives for the solution of the Cyprus problem will be undertaken soon".

Meanwhile, in his statements Basir Atalay reiterated that the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, is a national cause for Turkey and that they provide aid to the regime in all issues. He argued that while economic crisis exists in the government-controlled area of Cyprus, the occupied north part of the island achieved progress from every point of view.

Atalay added: "We have recently examined our projects for northern Cyprus. There is absolutely no delay in our water project. We have recently held a meeting with the Forestry and Water Affairs Ministry. Everything is going well, thank God. On the other issues, we are very closely following both the works for the tourism sector and the other fields of the economy. Next Monday I will be there. We will have meetings regarding the economy".

(I/Ts.)

[02] So-called foreign minister Ozgurgun reiterated that the closed off city of Varoshia is a part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem; statements by an anonymous high level official

According to the paper, during his meeting with Fule, Kasoulides referred to Turkey's EU bid and sent the message that the opening of a new chapter on Turkey's EU negotiation talks could be possible to happen with the return of the close city of Maras to the UN.

In statements on the issue, the so-called foreign minister, Huseyin Ozgurgun said that the issue of Maras is a part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that only then it could be solved.

Meanwhile, speaking to Milliyet, a high level official has stated that Maras could open for the "Greek Cypriot citizens" for settlement but under the Turkish control. The same official has also said that it is not right for the Greek Cypriots to continue bringing the issue of Maras into the agenda, adding that the issue of Maras and the issue of Turkey's EU membership, are two independent issues. He went on and accused the Greek Cypriot side for being insincere against the EU.

The paper goes on and writes that the closed off city of Varoshia (Maras) was supposed to open after the 1st of July, 2012, when the "Greek Cypriots" undertook the EU term presidency and adds that the issue of the closed city of Varoshia which is considered as one of the most important matters of the Cyprus problem, has been brought to the agenda during the Turkish Cypriot leader, Eroglu's visit to Ankara. The proposal prepared then by the Turkish Cypriot side was seen positively by Ankara, however, the developments in Syria and the suspension of the talks, did not offered the chance for the proposal to come forward, writes the paper.

(AK)

[03] Turkish MP alleges that the Cypriot Foreign Minister is "talking nonsense"

Noting that these statements created reactions in the Turkish side, Bayrak reports that Bozkir argued that Kasoulides is "talking nonsense".

Bozkir wrote, inter alia, the following on a social media: "?I think that the Foreign Minister of the bankrupted Greek Cypriot Administration has talked nonsense trusting those who have spoiled him. What does it matter if you open a chapter? What difference does it make, if you do not? The Greek Cypriot Administration should firstly give account for the black money it has laundered and abandoned to be exhausted. It should give this account to those who accepted it in the Euro knowing this situation".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce sends a letter to Fule and Schultz

According to a statement issued by the chamber, the letter was signed by its president Gunay Cerkez, who stressed the role of the international community in the solution of the Cyprus problem. Cerkez pointed out to the importance of turning the economic crisis in the government-controlled area of the island and the oil and natural gas reserves into catalyser for the solution and to an opportunity. He argued that the lifting of the so-called embargoes allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots would contribute in the solution.

The paper writes that in the appendix of the letter, the Chamber sent also many statements made by UN and EU officials after the results of the referendum regarding the "yes" vote of the Turkish Cypriots.

(I/Ts.)

[05] The head of the religious affairs "department" wants the opening of a "representation office" of the breakaway regime in Egypt

According to a statement issued by Sukru Aydin, press officer of the so-called religious affairs department, in his statements Atalay pointed out to the old history, culture and geographic proximity, which connects Cyprus and Egypt. He said that there have been relations between Cyprus and Egypt in the past, but after 1974 these relations were allegedly interrupted. Atalay asked for the opening of a representation office of the breakaway regime in Egypt in order for these relations to allegedly be re-established.

"Egypt has relations only with the Greek Cypriot side. This relation does not annoy us, but we want this situation to be balanced and relation and cooperation to exist with the Turkish side as well", he argued.

Atalay said that the Cyprus Mufti's office is an institution internationally recognized according to the constitution of the 1960. He noted that Al-Azhar belongs not only to the Egyptians, but to the Moslems in the entire world. He pointed out that a faculty and a college of theology has been opened in the occupied area of Cyprus and added that the aim of his visit to Egypt was to create the ground for cooperation and mutual aid in this field.

In his statements, Ali Abdel Baki has reportedly said that Atalay's visit was the first step for their mutual aid and argued that it is unacceptable for Egypt to have relations with countries which are far away and not to have relations with the "TRNC", which is near to it.

Baki said that they fully support the cooperation between Egypt and the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, and argued that the opening of a "representation office" by the regime in Egypt would be "appropriate". He noted that he also wants such an office to open and added that in this case, their cooperation will be facilitated.

Sheikh has reportedly said that if they receive a demand they could send educators to both the religious faculty and the college in the occupied area and that they could even pay the salaries of these teachers. He noted that they could grant scholarships to Cypriot students not only in the faculty of religion, but in other faculties as well such as medicine, engineering etc.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Turkey criticizes Obama's address on Armenian Remembrance Day of April 24; BDP urges Turkey to apologize to Armenians

The Ministry on Wednesday said that unfortunately US President Obama was demonstrated this year once again a one-sided approach which reflected the Armenian views regarding the dispute between Turks and Armenians on the painful part of their common history.

It was added: "We regard this statement, which distorts the historical facts, as problematic in every aspect and deeply regret it. Issued under the influence of domestic political considerations and interpreting controversial historical events on the basis of one-sided information and with a selective sense of justice, such statements damage both Turkish-American relations, and also render it more difficult for Turks and Armenians to reach a just memory. Our expectation from an important ally of Turkey such as the US is not to further deepen the problem, but to provide constructive contributions for its resolution, and to encourage the Armenian side, which avoids objective and scientific research of the issue, to be more realistic and conciliatory."

Furthermore, A.A. also reports that Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, who is currently in Washington, touched on the US President Barack Obama's April 24 statement regarding 1915 Armenian genocide and said: "We have to look beyond words. We have to focus on common interests."

"Unfortunately, today, the Armenian diaspora extorts the actual national interests of Armenia," added Bagis.

Bagis stated Turkish Americans and Armenian Americans tried their best in order to form a lobby at the White House and at the US Department of State for which words Obama would use in the official statement about 1915 incidents.

Bagis noted that an open and wide understanding was a must to have, and if it was not there, it would have wrong outcomes. "We all have to focus on the future with a long-term vision; we have to come over some problems", stated Bagis.

Meanwhile, under the title "BDP urges Turkey to offer apology to Armenians", Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 25.04.13) reports, inter alia, the following:

"The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) commemorated the mass killing of Armenians in 1915 on its 98th anniversary, referring to it as 'Meds Yeghern' - Armenian for 'great calamity' ? and also calling it genocide. The party also bid for an official apology for the events, and introduced a proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into the forced deportation of Armenians from Anatolia.

'The traumas and grievances of the genocide are still fresh in the societal memory, because Turkey has not confronted one of the biggest genocides of the 20th century in order to clear society's conscience. It has not come to terms with its own history and has not apologized to the Armenian people by admitting the reality of genocide,' BDP said in a press statement released on April 24.

BDP also drew parallels with the current agenda regarding the 'peace process' aimed at ending the three-decade long conflict between Turkish security forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

(?)

'The BDP is the only political party in Parliament that deems the mass killings of 1915 genocide. Last year, the party offered its April 24 declaration as 'the day of sharing the Armenian people's national mourning and grievances'. (?)"

[07] CTP's Youth Organization calls the two leaders in Cyprus to stay committed to the point being agreed at the Cyprus negotiation talks

The written statement called also for the immediate re-launching of the negotiation talks aimed to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem and urged the two leaders to start the talks and be adhering to the points into which an agreement was reached by the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat and President Demetris Christofias.

The Youth Organization of CTP reiterated that that they support the efforts for finding a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution on the Cyprus problem based on the political equality, as it is described in the UN parameters.

(...)

(AK)

[08] Statements by a Turkish Cypriot who might be appointed in Bank of Cyprus's new administration

In statements to Kibris over the phone, Riza confirmed the possibility of his appointment to the administration of the bank and said that the existing economic problem is a "very big opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem". "I hope for the bad days to became an opportunity for the reunification of our country and secure the solution" he noted and expressed the wish to do whatever he can in the banking and financing sector on the issue of the solution of the Cyprus problem.

"I hope that many Turkish Cypriots will take a role in the economy of the country in the future", he said pointing out that in London Turkish and Greek Cypriots live together, do business together and cooperate. "Similar partnerships and cooperation will be realized on the island", he added.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Columnist wonders why "TRNC" has been founded if they are still partners of the Republic of Cyprus

Ekmekci writes that on the one hand, the Turkish Cypriot politicians made statements that they also have rights and shares of the natural gas in Cyprus, they also have shares in the gold reserves of the Central Bank of Cyprus and they also claim that 30% of the electric power plants in the government-controlled area of Cyprus belong to the Turkish Cypriots. On the other hand, they want a separate state and they give a struggle so "TRNC" to be recognized. Ekmekci wonders what they want after all, if they want to be partners in everything in the Republic of Cyprus, why they have founded this separate "TRNC" state.

[10] More about the renovation of the illegal Tymbou airport

In his statements Turanli said that that the construction of the new illegal Tymvou airport will be launched this year. He said that they feel honoured for the new facility to be constructed and added that after its construction the number of passengers who are visiting the island will be increased from 3 million to 10 million.

Stating that the Tasyapi Insaat has established a consortium with the Kaner Group, the local partners in the "TRNC" and the Terminal Yapi, Turanli underlined that they would like to work and have the cooperation of all sectors and tradesmen in the "TRNC".

Referring to the latest criticism they received by the "TRNC media" regarding the increase on the handling fees, Turanli said that it is not the consortium they established called T&T which is responsible for the designation of the prices, but the "TRNC state".

Meanwhile, reporting on the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (25.04.13) writes that Turanli has stated during the press conference that the new 150.000 meters squares airport to be constructed by the company is going to be ready in 3.5 years instead of 4 years as the contract envisaged.

(AK)

[11] Promoting the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus in Istanbul

The paper reports that promotion video for "North Cyprus" will be shown in the metro stations for two whole months in English and in Turkish.

Unal Ustel, so-called minister of tourism, environment and culture, said that this campaign will contribute to the promotion of "North Cyprus", because Istanbul hosts innumerable tourists from different nations throughout the year.

[12] Turkey launches revolutionary e-visa system for citizens of 94 countries including Republic of Cyprus

"Around 30 million foreigners visit Turkey each year. 65% of them are exempted from visa. Our target is the remaining 10 million foreigners. They are allowed to enter into Turkey after they get their visa from our consulates or at the border gates. This system is designed to transfer all of these procedures to the electronic context," Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru told the Hurriyet Daily News in an interview on April 23. As the architect of this system, Koru is well known for his expertise in digitalizing many functions of the ministry.

"We want more people, more businessmen, and more tourists to visit Turkey. We want to reinforce our multidimensional foreign policy. Our interest is not limited to countries in our immediate neighbourhood. We want to open up to the peoples of the Far East, South America, Africa? because we want to support our economic, political opening up to these regions by easing travel conditions of the people of these regions," Koru stressed.

The system categorizes countries under two large groups. The first group is composed of 40 countries whose citizens will get online visas without conditions. Among them are the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Cyprus, Qatar, Norway, the United Kingdom, etc.

The citizens of the second group composed of 54 countries will however get their quick visas under certain conditions. A visa obtained from an OECD country will suffice for applicants from these countries to get an online touristic visa for Turkey. In addition, holding a residence permit from an OECD country is also sufficient for an online application. This group of countries is mainly from Africa.

According to the information provided by Koru, applying for a Turkish visa is very easy and takes only a few minutes. Applicants will have to go to the address www.evisa.gov.tr to make their online application, which is designed to be a simple one.

[13] Turkey attracts 26% more tourists in March

According to data released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Wednesday, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Turkey increased by 26.06% in March compared to the same month of the previous year, bringing the total figure for the month to 1.84 million.

The data, which were prepared according to information accessed from the General Directorate of Security, also revealed that the number of tourists visiting the country went up by 22.5% in the first quarter compared to same period in 2012, with a total of 4.2 million tourists during this time. The number of tourists visiting the country in the first quarter of last year was 3.4 million.

The data show that Germany led the way in being the country of origin of most tourists with a share of 16.6% in March. Iran and Georgia followed with 7% and 6.6%, respectively. Syria, Bulgaria, Russia, England, Greece, Azerbaijan and France also ranked in the top 10.

[14] Navy to get 2nd local warship in September

The warship is the end product of cooperative works of more than 40 local firms and organizations, including Aselsan, Havelsan and TUBITAK (the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).

Buyukada is invisible to radar thanks to a series of fairly developed electronic systems and its special design.

According to the sources, MiLGEM warships are known as 'ghost ships' as the radar cross-sections of these ships are low. The warships under the umbrella of MILGEM project are designed to be used for deterrence, constant patrolling and observation, monitoring and preventing marine terrorist activities, submarine defence, surface warfare and air defence.

MILGEM warships are designed, built and integrated by only local means by the Turkish Naval Forces in accordance with all national and international military standards. It was learned from various sources that a foreign firm paid $500 million for the production of one warship. Turkey however appeared to produce one such warship for not more than $260 million.

A previous MILGEM warship, Heybeliada, was submitted to the naval forces in 2011. The MILGEM project was first born in 1993 as a concept that was then realized in the following two decades. Turkey is now one of the 10 countries that can make their own warships.

Turkey's defence Industry Executive Committee has been begun talks on January with Koc Holding's enterprise RMK Marine for the construction of six corvettes for navy as part of the Milgem project. Corvettes are the smallest warships in the inventory of the Turkish Navy, as the country has no ocean coasts. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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