Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-12-02

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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] Nami: the powers of the federal government in case of a solution in Cyprus should be kept at the minimum level

[02] Cavusoglu: it is not correct to talk about a 'Plan B' for Cyprus for now

[03] KTOEOS called on AKP to get their army and abandon Cyprus

[04] Ihsanoglu: For a country to become a full member to the OIC, full membership to the UN is required

[05] Sibel calls international community to see the "realities" on the island

[06] Cyprus Turkish Football Association - Turkish Cypriot Football Federation agreement approved unanimously

[07] Eroglu: football unification deal is a 'wrong step'

[08] Serdar Denktas: We have warned the CTFA

[09] Non solution continues encouraging migration for the Turkish Cypriots

[10] Fellahoglu: 1200 people cross from the Ledra Street crossing point

[11] Turkish energy minister meets Iraqi Deputy PM

[12] Erdogan sues Taraf newspaper

[13] Deputy who opposed closure of prep schools resigns from AK Party

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Nami: the powers of the federal government in case of a solution in Cyprus should be kept at the minimum level

In an interview with Havadis which is published in two parts (on 01 and 02.12.13), Nami said that the Greek Cypriot side wants the "concepts of single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international identity" to be included in the statement, but it does not want to be said that "the founding states will have their own internal citizenship", an element which he described as "supplementary" of the "single citizenship". He added that another very important issue for the Turkish Cypriot side is what he called as "residual powers", which will remain outside the area of jurisdiction of the federal government and the view that these "residual powers" should remain in the full jurisdiction of the "founding states".

Asked whether there is a problem on the issue of the sovereignty as well, Nami replied that this issue also seems to have come forward as a problematic issue between the leaders, because "even though the UN Security Council's relevant resolutions say that the structure which will be established in Cyprus will have a single sovereignty, for us it is very important that this sovereignty in Cyprus derives from the two peoples". Noting that the Turkish side definitely wants this expression to be included in the joint statement, Nami argued: "If you say that 'there is a single sovereignty and put a full stop, there are people in the Turkish side who worry that this will be an expression that reminds of the structure of the 1960".

Asked whether it is not clear that the structure to be established will be a federation, Nami said: "Yes, in any case there could not be more than one sovereignty within a state. However, sharing this sovereignty could be in the question? It is important to be clearly known and stated that the one side could not dominate over the other. It is important to be clearly stated that there could not be any inferior-superior relationship between the federal state and the founding states. We want to include these in the joint statement, while the Greek Cypriot side does not want to include these".

Nami alleged that actually the Greek Cypriot side knows that these will be included in an agreement for a comprehensive solution, that they should be included in such an agreement and that if they are not included there will not be an agreement.

Replying to another question, Nami said he sees "light in the end of the tunnel" as regards the joint statement and added: "The leaders and their representatives are definitely not at the point from where we have started. A really important work has been done. And I know and see that the sides are much closer today comparing to the point they had been in the past".

Nami was asked the following: "It is noted that unlike what was happening in the past negotiations, this time both the Greek and the Turkish side want a loose federation. Is it true?"

Nami replied: "I am not sure whether 'loose federation' is the correct expression here. The issue is for the powers of the federal government to be kept at the minimum possible level and more powers to be left to the founding states as 'residual powers'. This is perhaps the most distinctive difference between Mr Anastasiades and Mr Christofias. Mr Christofias supported that more powers should be given to the federal government. In the contrary, Mr Anastasiades thinks that the fewer the powers left to the federal government the lower the possibility of dispute between the two sides. This is a view shared by the Turkish side also. Actually, this is a very important issue, because the Cyprus problem's backbone is the issue of power sharing and governance. One of the most core issues under this chapter is the list of powers to be left to the federal state. It is understood that a convergence, an agreement will be reached more easily between the two sides on this issue. And this creates a light of hope in us that progress will be fast after the joint statement comes up".

Nami alleged that it is very clear that the UN is trying for the last time to solve the Cyprus problem and "this is a serious danger for the Cypriots". He argued that in case the UN announces that the efforts for establishing a federation in Cyprus are exhausted, a "painful, troublesome process awaits ahead for us". "If they come to this point, we have to seriously evaluate what our situation will be", he said and added that this does not mean that the breakaway regime will be recognized by the world.

Asked whether the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu is sincere when he refers to the solution of the Cyprus problem, Nami recalled that his party disagrees with Eroglu and this was shown, for example, during the referendum for the Annan Plan, but added that after his "election" Eroglu stated in writing that he was committed to all convergences reached during former Turkish Cypriot Talat's period.

In the second part of the interview, Havadis (02.12.13) reports that Nami reiterated the Turkish view that the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem and alleged that "Varosha could not be a project for people who have set the target of reaching a comprehensive solution in the following spring", but "a the project of those who have not the target of a comprehensive solution".

Replying to a question on the visits of the representatives of the leaders to Athens and Ankara respectively, Nami argued that even though it is not clearly stated, Greece waits for an agreement on a joint statement before accepting Eroglu's representative.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cavusoglu: it is not correct to talk about a 'Plan B' for Cyprus for now

In statements to illegal Bayrak television, Cavusoglu argued that they have launched an effort to solve all the problems which Turkey faces and added that the issues of Cyprus, is an issue that directly concerns Turkey. He alleged that the biggest opportunity for peace in Cyprus is the existence of a government in Turkey which supports this process and wondered: "If we do not solve the existing problem in Cyprus today, when we will solve it? For how long we will wait?"

He noted that except for Cyprus, the AKP government tried to carry to all international platforms the issue of Karabag and Azerbaijan. He went on and reiterated the Turkish allegation that the Turkish side continues being "one step forward" in the Cyprus problem and claimed that "within the framework of a peace project we are bringing water to the island".

Arguing that peace could be reached with a "comprehensive plan", Cavusoglu added: "The Greek Cypriots say 'give us Varosha and we shall open your way to the EU. We have never made the issue of EU a bargain for Cyprus. Our point of view for Cyprus could not be only the EU. We are face to face with such bargaining?"

Cavusoglu said that the AKP has increased the financial aid to the breakaway regime to an extent that could not be compared with the aid granted by the former Turkish governments and in parallel to this, it strengthened the political support it offers to the regime. He said that they wanted to carry out in the occupied area of Cyprus all the reforms they have carried out in Turkey. He added that in spite of the fact that they agreed on this issue with the "governments" of the breakaway regime, it was not easy to carry out some reforms.

"It is not easy to demolish some understandings. The views of some trade unions and some ideological groups in the TRNC do not exist anymore even in communist states in the world", he alleged and argued that when the "level of the debates is low", the criticism coming from the occupied area reaches the level of being swear" [at Turkey]. He went on and said: "These are not good things. Who you are swearing at? You are swearing at a government which helped you the most and Turkey. Could such things be accepted?...We will increase any kind of help, but the time has come now to start catching fish. We should learn this together. We are trying to achieve this."

(I/Ts.)

[03] KTOEOS called on AKP to get their army and abandon Cyprus

The paper reports that Gokcebel gave to Cavusoglu the answer he deserved by saying: "If you are courageous, announce tomorrow that you will take out from Cyprus your army, your bureaucrats, your administration, your casinos, your universities, your banks and your mosque buildings and stop giving financial aid to the Turkish Cypriot community?If you are courageous, stop insulting our community, which is friendly to the oppressed people of Turkey? I dare you!"

Gokcebel, in a written statement, noted also that the mentality of the AKP officials to attack continuously the trade unions is far from the pursuit of Cyprus settlement, adding that this mentality is in a pursuit to make only profits from the Turkish Cypriot community. They have confessed that they desire the oil and natural gas reserves of Cyprus, Gokcebel said.

[04] Ihsanoglu: For a country to become a full member to the OIC, full membership to the UN is required

In an exclusive interview to BRT, he said that "the water transfer project had revealed North Cyprus's potential to cooperate with the OIC member countries".

Also touching upon the protocol signed with the breakaway regime, Ihsanoglu said that the aim was to expand cooperation in various fields ranging from development, trade, export, import, tourism, transportation, vocational and higher education, water and food security as well as culture, arts, technology and environment.

Responding to a question as to whether or not the breakaway regime's status within the OIC will be upgraded from observer to full member in the near future, the OIC Secretary General reminded that for a country to become a full member to the OIC, full membership to the UN was required. "However I hope that this relationship will be rearranged as and when the Cyprus Problem is solved" he said.

Asked about the OIC's perspective regarding the Cyprus negotiations process, Ihsanoglu said that the organization supported the UN Secretary General's efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement. "It is our aim to help ease or remove the unjust isolation and embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people" he alleged.

[05] Sibel calls international community to see the "realities" on the island

Speaking at a program broadcast live on TRT Turk, Siber claimed that the Turkish Cypriots was forced to live under embargoes although the Greek Cypriot side rejected the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Calling on the international community to see the "realities" on the island, Siber said it is important for the breakaway regime to take part in international organizations even with an observer status. Expressing the need for the two communities to find their own solution, Siber alleged the Greek Cypriot side's intransigent attitude is the biggest obstacle in the way of a solution. Siber also pointed to the need for the restart of the negotiations process and for the implementation of a timetable.

[06] Cyprus Turkish Football Association - Turkish Cypriot Football Federation agreement approved unanimously

Representatives of the 42 clubs also approved the provisional agreement and therefore the agreement was approved unanimously. Making a statement the President of the Cyprus Turkish Football Association Hasan Sertoglu said that unbelievable workings had been carried out for the future of football on the island and added that Turkish Cypriot teams will unite with the world through these workings.

He said that "Cyprus Turkish Football Association" was on the agenda and being discussed throughout the entire world and added: "In the past this was only a dream for us. We will continue our efforts until the TRNC football is united with the world", he stated.

In addition, reporting on the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.12.13) reports that Sertoglu said that with the agreement signed will prevent foreign teams which want to play football matches in occupied Cyprus from getting into various distresses and will also help the Turkish Cypriot football clubs to take their place on UEFA Champion leagues.

He went on and added that the clubs voted in favor of everything the Association has done until now on the issues and that they safeguarded their supports on the future steps it will take.

[07] Eroglu: football unification deal is a 'wrong step'

Eroglu said: "This is the wrong step," adding: "If the purpose was to be under the Greek Cypriot federation, this could have been easily done years ago."

Eroglu warned that the deal could be interpreted as supporting the Greek Cypriot administration's, as he refers to the Cyprus government, claim of sovereignty over the entire island and questioned the benefits of the deal for Turkish Cypriot football. "If the hope is for UEFA support, it is again wrong. The support will go to CFA, not to the CTFA," he claimed. Commenting on the Cyprus talks, Eroglu claimed that the Greek Cypriot insistence on a joint statement outlining the basic principles for the new talks is tantamount to setting out preconditions, something that runs counter to past UN decisions on resolving the decades-long dispute.

Eroglu reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side has initially accepted a draft joint statement prepared by the UN's Cyprus envoy, Alexander Downer, however, the UN text, failed to impress the Greek Cypriot side, which insists on the inclusion of substantive principles, such as single sovereignty for a reunified Cyprus, in the document. The Turkish side, on the other hand, insists that these matters are part of the negotiations and should be discussed when the new round of talks begins. "As it stands, the Greek Cypriot stance amounts to presenting preconditions for the start of talks," Eroglu noted.

The paper also reported that the request for Monday's meeting came from Anastasiades, who also wanted the meeting to exclude the UN envoy. Turkish Cypriot officials said that the Greek Cypriot side was quite "aggressive" during the Monday meeting -- which is perhaps why Anastasiades did not want the UN envoy to be present. Turkish Cypriot officials believe that the Monday meeting was an act of "diplomatic manoeuvring" ahead of a visit to Brussels, designed to show Europeans that the Greek Cypriot side is committed to reunification efforts. Anastasiades departed for Brussels the next day for talks with EU officials in the Belgian capital.

Moreover, Eroglu, in statements to Omer Bilge, correspondent of Turkish daily Hurriyet (02.12.13), said that he opposes the CTFA to become a member of the CFA. He accused the Greek Cypriots of not being sincere and that their only aim is to bring the Turkish Cypriots under their dominance, claiming also that the Greek Cypriot side wants to use it also in politics. He also said that although the CTFA is autonomous, this decision interests all the Turkish Cypriots.

[08] Serdar Denktas: We have warned the CTFA

Making statements to the paper, Serdar Denktas said that he will follow the process without making more statements.

[09] Non solution continues encouraging migration for the Turkish Cypriots

Karahasan also said that the number of Turkish Cypriots who immigrate to the UK has been increased in the last few years and that every year the number is more increased that previously.

He stated that those who immigrate are trade union members and students who say that "we cannot live there any more", referring to the breakaway regime. We also said that the main reason that makes these people to immigrate is the non-solution of the Cyprus problem and noted that while the non-solution continues, the immigration will continues as well.

[10] Fellahoglu: 1200 people cross from the Ledra Street crossing point daily

Making a statement to Illegal Bayrak self-styled mayor Kadri Fellahoglu said that the implementation of the Project will yield good results of the people living in the area and tradesmen. He said currently 1200 people cross from the Ledra Street Crossing Point Lokmaci Daily.

[11] Turkish energy minister meets Iraqi Deputy PM

The meeting was closed to press. Relations of the two countries were reportedly discussed during the meeting. Shahristani and Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz held a joint press conference after their meeting in Green Zone.

Iraqi deputy prime minister said the meeting with Yildiz was fruitful, adding that they "brotherly and transparently" discussed the relations between the two countries during the meeting. Iraqi deputy prime minister said they agreed that approval by Baghdad government would be required for any oil export from Iraq.

He also said they agreed on an approval by Baghdad government regarding any oil export from Iraq. Following the meeting, Turkish Energy Minister Yildiz proceeded to Irbil. Minister Yildiz will meet prime minister of Iraqi Kurdish regional administration Nechirvan Barzani and attend opening of a conference on oil and natural gas today.

[12] Erdogan sues Taraf newspaper

In the petition, lawyers for the Prime Minister also quoted Uslu's column, titled "Close Them All," stating that he had used terms such as "jackal, dissolute, liar, traitor; different in front and different behind the curtain,"

"The defendant could write an effective article without using these severe expressions and could still fulfill his goal of serving the press. However, this is not the goal of the defendant. His goal is to insult our client in the harshest way," the petition read, arguing that the publication of the column constituted "an open attack on the personal rights and moral character" of Erdogan.

A separate complaint has also been filed against Uslu on "insult" charges, and the opening of a public case against him has been sought, Anadolu Agency also reported.

[13] Deputy who opposed closure of prep schools resigns from AK Party

A statement released by the AK Party last week said that Bal was referred to the disciplinary board on the grounds of "giving speeches that conflict with party politics," implying that it may have been due to tweets Bal sent mid-November.

Kutahya deputy Bal tweeted his opinion that prep schools serve an important purpose in leveling educational disparities. In another tweet he added: "A private company cannot be opened or shut down under orders. As the market will not work as per orders, this structure will continue underground." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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