Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-10-21

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

CONTENTS

[01] Ertug: We'll set today the dates of the reciprocal visits to Athens and Ankara

[02] Nami: The content of the joint statement proposed by UN is rejected by the Greek Cypriot side

[03] Press release by the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding Turkey 2013 EU Progress Report and Enlargement Strategy document

[04] Davutoglu on the EU Report: "Remarks made on the Cyprus problem and internal developments in Turkey are one sided"

[05] Bagis on the EU Report: The Turkish side expects the Greek Cypriots to take steps as regards the negotiations

[06] Merkel gives green light to EU talks with Turkey

[01] Ertug: We'll set today the dates of the reciprocal visits to Athens and Ankara

Claiming that the ball of the resumption of the Cyprus talks is at the Greek Cypriot side, Ertug argues that although the Turkish Cypriot side displays flexibility the Greek Cypriot side puts forward conditions. He noted that while Anastasiades shows sensitivity on single sovereignty, he doesn't want to consider issues like residual powers and internal citizenship.

Replying to a question whether he is very close to reach a joint statement with Mavroyiannis, Ertug reminded the statement made by Anastasiades' deputy spokesman Papadopoulos that "the leaders won't meet without a joint statement". Ertug pointed that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to reach a joint statement, adding that they want the resumption of the talks between the leaders even if they don't come to an agreement (for a joint statement).

[02] Nami: The content of the joint statement proposed by UN is rejected by the Greek Cypriot side

Nami said that the Greek and Turkish Cypriot committees are continuing their efforts with the UN officials on the content of the joint statement in order to hold the first meeting of the leaders, which was pronounced (Note: As declared by the Turkish side) as the 4th of November.

Nami argued that the difficulty on the context of the joint statement is to try to add in the content of the joint statement by the Greek Cypriot side the issues of "Single Sovereignty" and "Single Citizenship", which were agreed principles between the leaders on July 2008.

Nami claimed that the Greek Cypriot side wants to dictate immediately in the content of the joint statement the issues of "Single Sovereignty" and "Single Citizenship", which are their own priority, however, they (Turkish Cypriot side) want to debate the issues of "Internal citizenship" and "Residual powers", which are their own priority, and this stance cannot be accepted.

Commenting on the intention of Cyprus President Anastasiades to meet with the EU Ambassadors and brief them with his positions including the Cyprus problem, Nami said that they always do this, adding, however, that the EU stresses in every platform that it will give only technical support to the talks and does not want to interfere in this issue. Nami reminded that the comprehensive agreement to be reached will comply with the EU norms and that there is an EU chapter in the negotiations, which they have already agreed on it.

[03] Press release by the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding Turkey 2013 EU Progress Report and Enlargement Strategy document

"Turkey 2013 Progress Report and Enlargement Strategy Document prepared by the EU Commission, was published on October 16, 2013.

The Report comprehensively describes the political reforms realized in Turkey during the last year. We welcome the emphasis on our Governments determination regarding the continuation of democratization and political reforms, and in this context, the reference to the Democratization Package published on September 30, 2013, as well as to the steps taken with regards to the judiciary reform and ongoing work on the new constitution. The Report states that the solution process constitutes a milestone and continues to indicate the EU's support to this process. The Report also refers to Turkey's active role in foreign policy. We share the assessment on the significance of our cooperation with the EU in this field.

In terms of economic criteria, the Report reiterates that there is a functioning free market economy in Turkey and underlines the high economic potential of our country. It stresses that Turkey with its large and dynamic economy is a significant trade partner contributing to the EU's competitiveness through the Customs Union. The Report indicates Turkey's growth performance and its ability to cope with external shocks. However, some negative elements such as the current account deficit and foreign debt structure are also addressed.

In the Report, it is mentioned that the General Affairs Council agreed to open negotiations on Chapter 22-Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments in June 2013 and the negotiations will start this fall. One of the steps that have to be taken to overcome the standstill in our accession process is opening negotiations on the remaining chapters.

The Report also points out progress on the issue of visa dialogue and with reference to the Road Map proposed by the EU and the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, invites Turkey to sign the Readmission Agreement regarding the return of illegal immigrants. We are continuing our talks with the EU in the framework of our stance that the Readmission Agreement as a whole should be implemented concurrently with the start of a visa free regime for Turkish citizens.

Unfortunately, as in previous years the Cyprus issue and within this context, the dispute which occurred due to the unilateral Greek Cypriot initiatives concerning hydrocarbon resources in Eastern Mediterranean are also mentioned in the Report with a one-sided perspective. The steps and initiatives of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey, as the guarantor state, taken so far towards the settlement of the Cyprus issue are well known by the international community, especially by the UN. We maintain our consistent and result-oriented approach on this issue.

In this period during which negotiations on the Cyprus Issue under the auspices of the UN are foreseen to start soon, we expect the EU to adopt an attitude to steer the Greek Cypriot Administration towards a comprehensive settlement.

Membership to the EU is a strategic choice for us. With this understanding, the Progress Report will be evaluated as usual, in coordination with the relevant Turkish institutions; particularly the Ministry of EU Affairs and, our views on the Report will be conveyed to the Commission as in previous years."

[04] Davutoglu on the EU Report: "Remarks made on the Cyprus problem and internal developments in Turkey are one sided"

Explaining that obstacles are always in place in front of Turkey's EU membership negotiations and therefore has turned into a difficult process, Mr. Davutoglu said single sided judgments were also made on the Cyprus problem.

[05] Bagis on the EU Report: The Turkish side expects the Greek Cypriots to take steps as regards the negotiations

Bagis who had previously announced that he would not be making any comment on the report until the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice had been concluded made his evaluation on the progress report on Saturday. He said that the EU progress report is not a report card for Turkey and the only persons that can give a report card to the Turkish government is the people.

On the Cyprus problem, Bagis claimed that Turkey will never be the party that leaves the negotiations process or abstains from coming to an agreement on the Cyprus problem.

Referring to the "bold steps" taken by Turkey on the Cyprus problem, he alleged that they expected the opposite side to show the same courage as well.

[06] Merkel gives green light to EU talks with Turkey

Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Germany's support for the progress in Turkey's accession talks, Spiegel reported.

EU ministers are set to meet in Luxembourg early this week and Turkey's EU process is among the key items on the agenda. On Tuesday ministers will discuss determining a date for opening the new policy chapter in Turkey's membership talks, the Chapter 22 on "Regional Policy."

It would be the first chapter to be opened in three years and has been widely regarded as an important step to revive Turkey's stalled EU membership process. An agreement for opening the chapter had become far from certain following the outcome of September 22 elections in Germany, but Merkel's "green light" is highly likely to clear the way for a positive decision.

German conservatives, who won a resounding victory in the September 22 elections, are opposing a full EU membership perspective to Turkey.

Following the publication of European Commission's Progress Report on Turkey last week, German conservative member of the European Parliament, (MEP) Markus Feber, told press that the time has come for the EU "to show Turkey the red card". Feber, who is a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the sister party of Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), argued that Turkey has already lost her interest in the EU process and is not a democratic partner.

Despite opposition by some outspoken conservatives, German Foreign Ministry has called for opening new chapters in Turkey's accession talks.

According to Spiegel, Foreign Ministry's evaluation ahead of talks in Luxembourg has underlined that Turkey's recent democratization package "has been the right step in the right direction," following the developments after Gezi Park protests.

German Foreign Ministry pointed out ongoing discussions on democracy and freedom of expression and further suggested opening new chapters in Turkey's membership talks which are related to human rights and the judiciary. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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