Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-10-24

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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] Eroglu: there is no such a thing as single sovereignty in federations

[02] Nami sees increased interest in the EU for the Cyprus problem

[03] Yorgancioglu: Nami's meetings with Mavroyiannis were not secret

[04] Thirty thousand illegal settlers only from Alexandretta reportedly live in the occupied area of Cyprus

[05] Ozgurgun: Cyprus problem was no longer amongst the priority issues for the Turkish Cypriots

[06] Davutoglu said that Oman has always taken steps on the issues concerning the breakaway regime which were appreciated by Turkey

[07] DP general secretary criticized the initiatives taken by the "Turkish Cypriot football federation"

[08] Three BDP deputies resign from party to join HDP

[09] Erdogan: Amendment of parliamentary bylaws for headscarf not necessary

[10] Dutch journalist claims to have been blacklisted by Turkish state

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: there is no such a thing as single sovereignty in federations

Eroglu argued that the Turkish Cypriot side wants the beginning of the negotiations the soonest and replied positively to a proposal as regards the beginning of the process on 4 November, but it is not known yet whether the Greek Cypriot side accepted this.

Eroglu said that the negotiation chapters and the points where agreement and convergence is achieved are known and alleged that the Turkish side is focused on "an agreement which will be reached taking these into consideration" and on a referendum that will be held. He argued that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to have included in the text of the joint statement some issues which will "come to surface in case there is a solution" and added that these are issues that will be discussed at the negotiating table. "I had said before that we could go for a referendum in March. If there is a will, we could hold a referendum in March", he claimed.

"We have to know what will happen with our people, if we say 'yes' again in a possible referendum and the Greek Cypriots say 'no'", he added describing this issue as "important".

Noting that the UN officials see the Greek Cypriot stance at the negotiating table and the meetings of the representatives of the leaders, Eroglu alleged that the Turkish stance is considered to be positive by the UN officials and that since he was "elected" to the Turkish Cypriot leadership the Turkish side has never been accused.

Replying to a question, Eroglu said that "the partnership state" which will be established will have one international identity and one seat at the United Nations. He went on and claimed: "However, as far as the sovereignty is concerned, the issue is the following: A new state will be established. This is one of the issues on which we cannot agree. The Greek Cypriots want the Republic of Cyprus to be evolved into a federal state. However, we want a new partnership, a new state. It will be a new state, which will be established with the TRNC and the Greek administration of south Cyprus' transferring a part of their powers, as two founding states. They will be two founding states of equal status and they will transfer a part of their powers to the common state. In absolutely no federation there is such a thing as single sovereignty. Of course, in addition to this, there will also be an internal citizenship. As Turkish Cypriot founding state we will be giving internal citizenship to our people who are on our lands".

Replying to a question on the occupied closed city of Varosha, Eroglu said that there is no such an issue on the Turkish side's agenda and alleged that the Greek Cypriot side had rejected proposals submitted by late Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas, but now they are bringing the issue onto the agenda because they allegedly want to bolster their people's moral and make them forget their economic difficulties. "What the Greek Cypriot leaders have been doing until today is to hypnotize their people. They are still electing a Mayor and MPs for Keryneia. Therefore, they are not ready for a solution", he claimed.

Asked to comment on a statement made by his former representative, Kudret Ozersay that they had prepared a plan for opening the occupied closed city of Varosha, Eroglu argued that they had never prepared such a plan and reiterated the position that Varosha is part of the comprehensive solution.

Meanwhile, in statements to illegal Bayrak television (23.10.13, online), Eroglu reiterated the allegation that the Greek Cypriot side wants to put into the joint statement issues which are related to the substance of the Cyprus problem and added that "the difficulty is here".

Noting that even the date of the visits of the representatives of the leaders to Athens and Ankara has not been determined yet, Eroglu alleged that "procrastination" continues and wished for the obstacles to be removed within the next 3-5 days. He noted that they have agreed in principle that the visits of the representatives of the leaders should be held on 4 November and added that the only precondition of the Turkish side is for these visits "to be at equal level".

Asked about the next steps of the Turkish Cypriot side, Eroglu replied: "At any case, we work in consultation with Turkey. On the issue of the joint statement, we had held our first meeting in New York with the undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Sinirlioglu and produced its first draft. We have given opportunity to changes thinking with good will. It seems to me that they exaggerate a little".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Nami sees increased interest in the EU for the Cyprus problem

Nami said that the officials he met are "very willing" on the issue of an early and just solution in Cyprus. Nami told Kibris that his meeting with Fule was expected to last one hour, but lasted one and a half hours during which they discussed all aspects of the Cyprus problem. He said they exchanged views on how to make EU's Green Line and Financial Aid Regulations more effective and how they could intensify the harmonization of their so-called laws to the EU legislation.

"They are unable to understand the non-resumption of the negotiations because of the disagreement on the text of the joint statement", Nami argued referring to the Europeans and said that Fule wants the commencement of the negotiations the soonest and thinks that the Turkish Cypriots are right when they want the inclusion of issues they consider to be important in the joint statement.

Nami said that elections for the European Parliament will be held in May and therefore the widespread view in the EU is that the negotiations in Cyprus should start and end the soonest so that they are not negatively influenced from these elections.

Referring to the stance of the Europeans as regards the Cyprus problem, Nami said: "There is an increased interest in the EU comparing to the past. They were very willing in the past as well and now they are very willing and they said that the window of opportunity should not be lost".

Nami noted that they did not discuss for long and in depth the issue of the occupied closed city of Varosha with Fule and added that both the Commission and the Turkish side preserve their previous views on this issue.

Nami said that no development is expected soon on the issue of the Direct Trade Regulation for the Turkish Cypriots and added that Fule's view on the issue of EU's more active participation in the Cyprus talks is still valid. He added that Fule told them that if the negotiations advance and the two sides agree to invite the EU, the Union is ready to contribute in a different way to the process.

Referring to his contacts at the EP, Nami said that everybody is interested in the Cyprus problem and ask whether there is hope this time. He argued that everybody realizes that "there is a narrow window of opportunity". He said that he conveyed to his interlocutors the so-called plan of the Turkish side for a solution in Cyprus until March and that they allegedly expect support by the Greek Cypriots on this issue.

He went on and said: "We told them that a result could be reached in case we act within the framework of the existing convergences. The first target is to reach an agreement on the text of the joint statement which will secure the meeting of the leaders, but we told them that there are some difficulties and efforts are exerted to overcome them".

Nami noted also that they brought into the agenda of their meetings the issue of the invitation of two Turkish Cypriot so-called MPs to the EP. He recalled that the President of the EP, Martin Schultz had promised that the issue would be discussed by the end of this year and asked for this promise to be kept.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Yorgancioglu: Nami's meetings with Mavroyiannis were not secret

Asked to comment on a statement made by the Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis on the issue of the occupied closed city of Varosha, Yorgancioglu said "a decision on which both sides will agree will have a very broad meaning" and added that Turkey's statements were in this direction, that is, it was said that "we respect an agreement to be reached by the sides". "Respecting an agreement between the two sides is an important approach for us", he added.

Responding to another question, Yorgancioglu said that they were about to complete their work on the new "law" on granting "citizenship" of the regime and argued that this new "law" should be fair for everyone. He noted that the allegations that granting "citizenship" stopped are not true and added that the granting of "citizenship" was postponed until the "law" passes.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Thirty thousand illegal settlers only from Alexandretta reportedly live in the occupied area of Cyprus

In a written statement, Zaroglu argued that Yorgancioglu said that "it is not natural for an association to interfere with the will of the government", and recalled that their association, which was established on 3 May 2002, is "one of the biggest and most deep rooted organizations of this country". He went on and added that their association has 8058 registered members and represents around 15 thousand "TRNC citizens" and another 15 thousand persons from Alexandretta, living in the occupied area with "work permit" and "adding value to this country".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Ozgurgun: Cyprus problem was no longer amongst the priority issues for the Turkish Cypriots

Ozgurgun said that the settlement to be reached had to be a federation on the basis of bi-zonality and the political equality of two founding states.

Speaking on BRT's morning news program, the UBP leader claimed that the Cyprus problem could be solved easily if the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council wanted to solve the problem.

He also said that the Cyprus problem was no longer amongst the priority issues for the Turkish Cypriots. "

[06] Davutoglu said that Oman has always taken steps on the issues concerning the breakaway regime which were appreciated by Turkey

During this visit which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Turkey's diplomatic relations with Oman, bilateral relations as well as regional developments, especially Syria, Egypt and Iran were addressed.

Speaking to the press members following his meeting with Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, Deputy Prime Minister of Oman, Davutoglu said that relations between Turkey and the Gulf countries have developed and mechanisms were formed between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Turkey in the recent years.

Emphasizing that Oman is also in close cooperation with Turkey on international issues, Davutoglu said the following: "The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has an office in Oman and Oman has always taken steps on the issues concerning the TRNC which were appreciated by Turkey".

[07] DP general secretary criticized the initiatives taken by the "Turkish Cypriot football federation"

Sonya who issued a written statement, said that the Turkish Cypriot side must terminate all the problems faced in a sustainable peace solution. He also said that initiatives taken by various groups which want to promote their own interests without waiting for the latest peace process to be finished, must be avoided and criticized the latest initiative taken by the "Turkish Cypriot football federation".

(TR. Note. The "Turkish Cypriot football federation" is meeting with the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) UEFA and FIFA in Zurich on 5 November).

[08] Three BDP deputies resign from party to join HDP

Sirri Sureyya Onder, Sabahat Tuncel and Ertugtul Kurkcu on Wednesday left the BDP to join the People's Democracy Party (HDP) which was reportedly founded under orders from the head of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan as part of an election strategy that will bring together the pro-Kurdish parties and Turkish far-left parties.

BDP deputy Ertugrul Kurkcu has been asked to act as a co-chair in the party. He hasn't refused the call yet while Onder, who is also considered for the post, expressed his unwillingness in the position.

The HDP brings a number of leftist parties to develop a common strategy to get more effective results in western provinces of Turkey in the upcoming local elections. However, the strategy has triggered intra-party quarrels and discussions as a leading BDP figure, Diyarbakir Deputy Altan Tan, voiced his objection to alliance with what he calls marginal socialist parties whose outreach in the society is virtually limited.

In addition, the paper also writes that Deputy Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Emrehan Halici resigned from his post. The cause of his resignation was not immediately clear.

[09] Erdogan: Amendment of parliamentary bylaws for headscarf not necessary

Speaking at a press conference in Ankara prior to a flight to Kosovo on Wednesday, Erdogan answered journalists' questions regarding the wearing of the headscarf by deputies while in Parliament. "The conditions are favorable [for head-carved-deputies] and elected deputies can fulfill their duties while wearing the headscarf in Parliament. The Justice and Development Party [AK Party] has taken a clear stance on the issue since its establishment. We have always supported [the wearing of headscarves in Parliament] and will continue to do so," said Erdogan.

Erdogan unveiled a long-awaited democratization package that seeks to expand the freedoms of various social groups a short while ago. Among other things, the package removes restrictions on the wearing of the Islamic headscarf in public-sector workplaces.

Although it was not official, Turkey's first head-carved-deputy, Merve Kavakci, was removed from Parliament in 1999 due to the de facto headscarf ban. Since then, no women who wear the headscarf have been elected to Parliament because the major parties, seeking to avoid tension, have been unwilling to nominate them.

[10] Dutch journalist claims to have been blacklisted by Turkish state

Turkish officials admit that there is a warning note on his file regarding his status, but the reason has not been made public. However, there has been speculation that Vermeulen's coverage of the Gezi Park protests could have hurt his status.

Speaking to Today's Zaman, Bram Vermeulen, a well-known journalist in the Netherlands and the Turkey correspondent of NRC Handelsblad, said that he has seen the warning next to his name on officials' computer screens when making inquiries, but he has not been told anything of the reason why, as he says, he has been "blacklisted."

Underlining that he has not been deported from Turkey nor has his residence permit been canceled, Vermeulen stated that his Turkish press card was supposed to be automatically renewed along with those of other members of the press in June but was not. His press card and residence permit both expire at the end of the year. Vermeulen had already decided to move to Africa, where he worked before he was stationed in Turkey, before encountering these problems. However, he told Today's Zaman that "a customs police officer" told him that as of next year, he will not be allowed to enter Turkey even on a tourist visa.

An official from the Directorate General of Press and Information for the Prime Ministry told Today's Zaman that the office was instructed not to renew Vermeulen's press card in June; the official did not, however, share the reason for this in accordance with their rules.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Today's Zaman that no one has told Vermeulen that his visa and residence permit will not be renewed. However, the same officials stated that as far as Vermeulen's reapplication is concerned, permission is required from state institutions before a permit can be issued to him as per instructions from the Security General Directorate (EGM). The decision to place a warning on Vermeulen's file therefore seems to have been made by the EGM, which is connected to the Interior Ministry. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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