Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-07-16

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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] Ertug: it would be wrong for Turkey to unrequitedly sell off Varosha only as confidence building measure

[02] Nami and Ulucay told Fule that occupied fenced Varosha is part of the comprehensive solution

[03] Famagusta Initiative sends letter to Fule supporting the return of occupied fenced Varosha to its legal owners

[04] Ertug says he met with Russian Foreign Ministry officials in Moscow last week

[05] Eroglu commenting on Anastasiades' interview said that he should sit at the negotiation table with the same approach

[06] Turkish so-called embassy divides into parcels a coastline in occupied Vokolida and forbids entrance to the people

[07] Davutoglu warns of Egypt "reverse domino effect"

[08] A bill on appointing non-diplomat ambassadors to Turkey's MFA received criticism by the opposition parties

[09] Bagis signals end of his term

[10] More than 100 tons of oil leaks into the sea off the coast of the occupied village of Gastria

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ertug: it would be wrong for Turkey to unrequitedly sell off Varosha only as confidence building measure

Ertug accused the Greek Cypriot side of trying to create an artificial agenda by noting that Varosha could be taken up separately as an element outside the comprehensive solution and that a proposal could be made to Turkey through the European Union (EU).

Ertug alleged that the so-called delay of the Greek Cypriot side to come to the negotiating table and the issue of when and how it will come to the table should be discussed. "Bringing the issue of Varosha onto the agenda by creating some artificial issues and trying to present them as being outside the comprehensive solution, is an effort to completely distort the agenda, we should not be deceived", he claimed.

Ertug argued that the "correct address" for submitting any proposal is the Turkish Cypriot side and the place of submitting such proposal is the negotiating table.

Referring to Foreign Minister Kasoulides' statement that the Greek Cypriot side is ready to start negotiations without any conditions, Ertug alleged: "Then I want to ask: why do you not come to the table and you almost turn the issue of Varosha into a precondition? Is it not a precondition to ask Varosha to be given unconditionally as a gesture? Why do they not make a gesture? They are the ones that should actually make a gesture".

Ertug said that Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, is expected to come to the island in the end of the month to discuss how the negotiations will begin. He claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to start negotiating the soonest, but the Greek Cypriot side moved the date of the commencement of the negotiations into October allegedly showing as pretext the economic crisis in the government controlled area of the island.

He went on and argued: "Unnecessary discussions are being made such as whether there will be a special representative or a negotiator. The important thing is what authorities will be given to the person who will be appointed, what he will be doing and whom he will be representing".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Nami and Ulucay told Fule that occupied fenced Varosha is part of the comprehensive solution

According to the paper, Nami and Ulucay explained to Fule the "sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriot side" noting that Varosha is part of a comprehensive solution in Cyprus. "An approach outside Varosha being a part of the comprehensive solution will not bring the desirable result", they alleged.

Noting that they discussed the issue of Varosha which has recently been brought onto the agenda by the Greek Cypriot side, Nami argued that the main target is the comprehensive solution and all steps to be taken should be steps serving to the finding of a comprehensive solution and approved by both sides on the island.

In statements to Kibris, Nami said that they told Fule that Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution and that a different approach would not bring the desirable result. Nami argued: "Border adjustments will be discussed in the negotiations under the chapter of territorial adjustments. What should be done is the speedy commencement of comprehensive negotiations. In the initiatives that it will undertake regarding the Cyprus issue, the EU will look for the positive view of both sides".

Nami said that their meeting with Fule was positive and that their close cooperation and consultations with the EU Commission will continue and increase within the framework of mutual respect.

Erhan Ercin, chairman of the so-called EU Coordination Centre and Gizem Alpman, breakaway regime's "representative" in Brussels also attended the meeting. Hasan Tacoy, so-called MP with the Democratic Party ? National Forces (DP-UG), did not travel to Brussels in spite of the fact that it had been announced that he would be participating in the Turkish Cypriot delegation.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Famagusta Initiative sends letter to Fule supporting the return of occupied fenced Varosha to its legal owners

The Initiative said it supported the proposal of the EU which has recently come onto the agenda as regards the issue of Varosha and the illegal Tymvou airport. The initiative noted also that it "encouraged" the opening of the Famagusta Port under the control of the EU.

The spokesman of the initiative, Mustafa Ongun informed Fule about the organization and called for cooperation on the EU Commissioner's "innovative proposal" on the Cyprus problem. He said that the Famagusta Initiative was established in 2010 by some citizens with the aim of contributing to the peace process in Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ertug says he met with Russian Foreign Ministry officials in Moscow last week

He said that his visit to Moscow was a part of the dialogue they hold with the Russian Federation and pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side also visits Moscow frequently.

Ertug said that the aim of his visit to Moscow was to explain the recent developments on the Cyprus problem and take the Russian views. Arguing that the Russian Federation needs to keep a balance while forming its policies by taking the views of both sides in Cyprus, he claimed: "Every country determines policies within its own national interests. The policy we follow having the win-win mentality takes into consideration the interests of the island in the whole of Cyprus, the interest of the motherlands and the entire region as well as the international sensitivities. We explained these views of ours to the Russian Federation".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Eroglu on President Anastasiades' interview: "He should sit at the negotiation table with the same approach"

Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, commenting also on Anastasiades' interview, said that he is a leader, who doesn't forget his past. He added that Anastasiades tries to give the impression that he owns a debt to the Turkish Cypriots for helping raising his father. Furthermore, Eroglu said that it is correct to remember the things that happened in the past, adding that if he continues to remember the past like this, then a solution in the Cyprus problem can be reached.

Noting that Anastasiades' interview was positive, Eroglu said that Anastasiades presents himself as a peaceful friend of Turks. He went on saying that he should exhibit the same behaviour at the negotiation table; he should behave with the same mind in order to reach an agreement. This is the way that friendships strengthen.

Commenting on Anastasiades' statement that the Annan plan belongs to history and a plan that was rejected by the 65% cannot be accepted, Eroglu said that they should focus on a new agreement and on a new plan for a solution. Commenting on the news report that Anastasiades will withdraw from the negotiations and will appoint a negotiator, Eroglu said that he follows the news, but it is too early to make any comment.

[06] Turkish so-called embassy divides into parcels a coastline in occupied Vokolida and forbids entrance to the people

According to the paper, this enraged the inhabitants of the area, who in spite of the fact that they live by the sea cannot enter into the sea because of the hotels which had been built there and the fact that the "embassy" has divided the coastline into parcels. The inhabitants called Afrika and complained about this situation.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Davutoglu warns of Egypt "reverse domino effect"

"People or institutions from the old system could say 'in some way, the army staged a coup and it has been justified by foreign countries ? or at least they have remained silent about declaring it illegitimate ? so we can do the same then,'" the Foreign Minister told private broadcaster NTV on July 15.

"There are some elements that have remained from the old system in Yemen, Tunisia and Libya. Our foremost mission is to eliminate the possibility of making a reverse domino effect over external legitimacy. If we all allow something wrong in Egypt, there will be a reverse domino effect."

Stressing that Egypt was the spine of every development in the Middle East, Davuto
lu said the country was facing a serious crisis. "There are two ways to legalize the political system: internal and external legitimacy. The source of internal legitimacy is the people and the sovereignty of the nation. A country should obtain its power from the people if it wants to be stable. If this [taking power from people] ends, the debate over legitimacy starts. This is the main problem Egypt now," the top diplomat said.

The Foreign Minister also warned of the possibility of radicalization in Egypt if political parties are pushed out of the system and barred from participating in politics.

"It is not clear where the tendency of radicalization will stop. Therefore, once the Muslim Brotherhood or any other political groups are barred from politics, the results will increase the spiral of violence in the region," Davuto
lu said.

Davuto
lu also criticized the stance of the European Union and shared the view that African Union (AU) reacted in a more democratic way than the EU. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo
an and senior government officials have criticized the EU for not calling the military's move a coup. However, the latest statement from the EU "compensated" for the first stance of the bloc, Davuto
lu said. EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton said July 14 that the 28-member bloc was following developments in Egypt with "deep concern," deploring recent violence and calling for prompt elections.

[08] A bill on appointing non-diplomat ambassadors to Turkey's MFA received criticism by the opposition parties

The CHP's Osman Korut?rk announced over the weekend that his party would take the controversial bill to the high court. Korut?rk, who is a former career diplomat at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, said, "If I were on duty, I would resign if this proposal became law."

In a televised interview yesterday, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto
lu defended the legislation as necessary progress and part of an ambitious Turkish foreign policy. Turkey has opened 34 new embassies in four years and the ministry is in need of new ambassadors due to the increasing number of newly opened embassies, Davuto
lu said.

Not every non-diplomat ambassador will be appointed to ministry headquarters after he or she serves at embassies abroad, the Minister said, adding that any appointment would be done according to the non-diplomat ambassador's qualifications.

According to the new law, which was integrated into the "omnibus bill" voted on at Parliament last week upon the insistence of Davuto
lu, ambassadorial posts at ministry headquarters will not be reserved only for career diplomats.

The law allows individuals appointed as ambassador or permanent representative without being a member of the Turkish Foreign Service to work in the Foreign Ministry and to have the same rights as career diplomats when they return to Turkey.

The system in place permitted only diplomats who had served a certain number of years to obtain the position allowing them to be appointed as ambassadors.

The new law gives the same status and privileges to ambassadors from outside after the end of their assignment, such as being entitled to be nominated to a senior post inside the ministry.

The law proposal received criticism from opposition parties, former diplomats and serving diplomats concerned about the penetration of domestic politics into foreign diplomacy, political polarization in foreign affairs, problems of sufficient employment opportunities and lack of appropriate experience.

The government has already designated nearly 10 non-career diplomats as ambassadors, including the former head of Higher Education Board (Y?K), Yusuf Ziya ?zcan, who represents Turkey in Poland. Gov. Mehmet Niyazi Tan1
l1
r was named ambassador to Montenegro, while ?mer Faruk Do
an of the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat was named ambassador to Cameroon.

The bill's impact will not be limited only to the Foreign Ministry's structure. The bill sets the minimum period of time required for holding the positions of deputy inspector, actuary, supervisor and expert is down to two years, instead of three.

The obligation of speaking a foreign language and of preparing a thesis for transiting to the position of expert from assistant expert, is being abolished.

It will be enough to work five years in the public sector, private sector or self-employed after university graduation for assignments of director generals, institutions' presidents or undersecretaries.

[09] Bagis signals end of his term