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

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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: the negotiations process has not collapsed

[02] Davutoglu will carry out contacts tomorrow in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[03] Talat: Varosha should be included in a package of confidence building measures

[04] Sloat will reportedly not meet with Eroglu

[05] Bengu Sonya challenges Serdar Denktas for the leadership of Democratic Party

[06] Ozgurgun calls on "government" to resign if is not able to pay the salaries

[07] Tourism of occupied Cyprus was promoted to Chinese tourist operators

[08] The regime's income from tourism exceeded six billion TL during the period 2009-2013

[09] Davutoglu met with Nalbandian

[10] Sarigul officially applies for CHP candidacy for Istanbul mayoral post

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ertug: the negotiations process has not collapsed

In a written statement issued yesterday, Ertug said that the Turkish Cypriot side does not believe that the efforts reached a deadlock and alleged that a positive answer by the Greek Cypriot side could pave the way for full-fledged negotiations.

"In this period, during which the efforts for a joint statement reached decisive stage, some wrong and misleading statements are being made by the Greek Cypriot side to the public", claimed Ertug noting that the Turkish Cypriot side received these statements with "astonishment and sorrow".

Alleging that foreign diplomatic circles also admit that the sides could reach the point they are today on the issue of the joint statement due to the "positive and constructive contributions" of the Turkish Cypriots, Ertug noted that the efforts are now focused on the viability and the continuity of the "new partnership state" which will be established.

He claimed that statements made through the official news agency by officials in the Greek Cypriot side, at a stage during which the view that a positive result had been reached, saying that "the process has collapsed and that it came to a deadlock" serve no other purpose than harming the process.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Davutoglu will carry out contacts tomorrow in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

He will arrive at the occupied airport of Tymvou at 11.00 a.m and will have separate meetings first with self-styled minister of foreign affairs Ozdil Nami, later with self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu, self-styled assembly speaker Sibel Siber and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

Eroglu will host a lunch for Davutoglu and a joint press conference will be followed. Davutoglu will return to Turkey tomorrow night.

[03] Talat: Varosha should be included in a package of confidence building measures

Arguing that "the Cyprus problem has almost been turned into an issue of Varosha", Talat claimed: "We talk about no other subject than Varosha and the port of Famagusta. If Varosha will be in the question, it can be compared only to Tymvou [airport]. Accordingly, in case Varosha is given to the Greek Cypriot side, another step should be taken in the solution of the Cyprus problem. In parallel to Tymvou, other kinds of isolation should be lifted (in sports for example)".

Talat reiterated the allegation that the return of Varosha is more difficult than the solution of the Cyprus problem itself and argued that "many details are included" in the issue of Varosha.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Sloat will reportedly not meet with Eroglu

Noting that the American diplomat arrived yesterday in Cyprus, the paper cites a statement made by the Spokesman of the US Embassy to Nicosia, who said that he would make no comment on the visit and added that the Cyprus problem is not included in Sloat's duties.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Bengu Sonya challenges Serdar Denktas for the leadership of Democratic Party

Sonya announced that he will be a candidate during yesterday's Constitution Meeting of DP which was postponed for December 28 because quorum was not safeguarded. According to the paper, during the meeting Denktas and Sonya got into a severe disagreement which led Sonya to announce that he will also be a candidate for the party's leadership.

[06] Ozgurgun calls on "government" to resign if is not able to pay the salaries

Ozgurgun said that the "government" is trying to get away of the responsibility of paying salaries and called it on to resign if is not able to carry on with its duties. "Paying salaries is the government's responsibility", he stated.

Ozgurgun made these statements during a discussion held in the "assembly" for the so-called "budget" during which the amendment of the "article 10" of the "constitution" which is about the present of the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus. Ozgurgun stated that he is against this effort and his party will not support the amendment of the "article 10".

[07] Tourism of occupied Cyprus was promoted to Chinese tourist operators

The twenty two Chinese tourist operators were quests of the Merit International Hotels and Resorts and the Intel Travel. They stayed in occupied Cyprus for two days and visited among other places, occupied Keryneia.

The paper writes that Turkey and the breakaway regime will be included to China's tourist programs in the future and the number of tourists visiting occupied Cyprus will be increased. According to Havadis, Chinese tourist operators will prepare a ten-day visit to Turkey in which a two-day visit will be dedicated to occupied Cyprus.

[08] The regime's income from tourism exceeded six billion TL during the period 2009-2013

During the past few years the sector is continuously growing, writes Kibris, adding that the growth percentage rate in the past three years was 9.3%.

The paper reports that the businessmen in the sector are worried because of statements made by the "government" that the incentives given to the charter flights might be reduced by 30% in 2014. They argue that 10 TL return to the economy of the regime for every 1 TL invested in tourism.

It is said that only in 2012, the 40 million TL which were given to the tourism fund from sources secured by Turkey brought to the regime an income of 610 million US dollars. The next target of the sector is to bring one million tourists to the occupied area of Cyprus and secure an income of one billion US dollars.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Davutoglu met with Nalbandian

During his one-day visit to Yerevan, where he arrived to attend the BSEC's 29th assembly of Foreign Ministers, Davutoglu had a meeting with Nalbandian, a move that can be seen as significant for the restoration of diplomatic ties between Ankara and Yerevan -- who have been at odds over Armenian genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

An Armenian diplomat who wished to remain anonymous said that the two-hour meeting between the two foreign ministers took place in the afternoon.

At the BSEC meeting, Foreign Minister Davutoglu called for the strengthening of trade cooperation between countries in the Black Sea region. He said that as a key solution for economic problems in the world, regional cooperation will pave the way for better opportunities in the region.

Speaking before the meeting with Davutoglu, Nalbandian told the reporters that relations between Turkey and Armenia should be normalized without any preconditions.

He said the stance of Armenia and the international community on the normalization of relations is obvious. "Turkey linking normalization with other issues makes no sense and won't yield any results," he said. Nalbandian also said that Armenian officials are supposed to hold meetings with all the member states' delegation heads, including the Turkish delegation.

The Foreign Minister was greeted by protests from several groups upon his arrival on Thursday morning. Early in the day, protesters gathered in front of the hotel where Davutoglu was set to attend the BSEC meeting of Foreign Ministers. Protesters shouted slogans and held placards in English and Armenian condemning Turkey for its stance against the 1915 incidents. Security forces clashed with protesters when they insisted on moving toward the building. Davutoglu entered the hotel through the backdoor.

[10] Sarigul officially applies for CHP candidacy for Istanbul mayoral post

"As of today, I commend myself firstly to the CHP, then to all of my Istanbul citizens," Sar?gul said on Dec. 12 in a press conference with the CHP's Istanbul provincial head, Oguz Kaan Salici, after submitting his application.

Stressing that his mayoral campaign will be aimed at "embracing all segments of society," Sarigul also vowed to protect Istanbul's cultural and natural heritage. He also put emphasis on the chronic transport issue in Istanbul, pledging to end the "traffic ordeal," without giving any details.

The AKP has announced that current mayor Kadir Topbas will run for the post again, while Sirri Sureyya Onder has been officially named as the People's Democratic Party's (HDP) Istanbul candidate.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), meanwhile, named Rasim Acar as the party's nominee for the heated Istanbul mayoral race. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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