Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-01-14

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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] Sources say Downer postponed his visit to Cyprus because he is angry with the leaders

[02] Eroglu accused the Greek Cypriot side of using new delaying tactics

[03] Eroglu will travel to Turkey

[04] Davutoglu: This time we will eternally connect Anatolia to Cyprus with water pipelines"

[05] Rauf Denktas is commemorated two years after his death

[06] Erdogan to meet top EU officials during his Brussels visit on 21 January

[07] Baghdad summons Turkish diplomat over Kurdish oil; TPAO discovered oil in Silopi

[08] Gul met with Erdogan and opposition parties on government proposal to amend law the judicial body

[09] Fule warns that amendments should comply with EU norms

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Sources say Downer postponed his visit to Cyprus because he is angry with the leaders

The sources said that Downer is annoyed because agreement could not be reached on the issue of the joint declaration and he is preparing a report to the UN Security Council on this issue. If an agreement is not reached during Downer's visit on Thursday, which is reportedly expected to be a short one, the UN Secretary-General's adviser will inform the Security Council of the failure of his efforts and the reasons for this failure.

"This situation is tantamount to another 'crisis' for the Turkish [ministry of] foreign affairs that is on the table", argues that paper, because the positions of Russia, China and France on the solution in Cyprus are "far away" from the Turkish side's positions. "Turkey's diplomacy is annoyed about the point reached", the sources said.

The paper argues that the reason for Downer's stance is what is described as an accusation by President Anastasiades against Downer prior to the latter's visit and the stance of the Turkish side, which said that "the exchange of documents should end".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.01.14) reports that Osman Ertug, spokesman and special representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader, said that Dervis Eroglu received yesterday a letter by Downer noting that he was forced to postpone his departure from Australia for 48 hours because of personal reasons and therefore their meeting planned for yesterday was annulled. In the letter Downer expressed the hope to meet soon with Eroglu.

Moreover, replying to questions yesterday, Eroglu said he could not know whether information published in the press that the UN Secretary-General would ask for the help of the Security Council on the issue of the resumption of the Cyprus talks is correct.

Asked on the issue of the joint declaration, Eroglu noted that the Turkish Cypriot side had submitted a proposal on 14 December and argued: "However, as you see, the Greek Cypriot side wants to continue this statement game. In its recent letter to Ban Ki-moon, it refers to a short statement. What they call short statement is preparing a text taking into consideration some UN Resolutions, which concern them, or, more correctly, which protect their interests. This is nothing than playing with time, because the Cyprus problem could not be solved without sitting at the negotiating table?"

Eroglu reiterated the allegation that President Anastasiades should have stated that he was committed to continuing the negotiations from the point they had been left by former President Christofias, like Eroglu had stated after succeeding former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat. "The UN should not have been positive to this joint declaration", he alleged and added that they were waiting to see whether the UN Secretary-General would take any step.

Asked for how long they will be waiting, Eroglu replied that "this depends on the Greek Cypriot side".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu accused the Greek Cypriot side of using new delaying tactics

Addressing the ceremony of the 2nd anniversary of former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas' death, Eroglu alleged that the Greek Cypriot side now uses another delaying tactic. He claimed that President Anastasiades' letter to UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon includes his desire for a shorter joint statement and proposes Confidence Building Measures, which only serve their interests. Eroglu claimed that the Greek Cypriots' aim is not to reach a Cyprus settlement within 2014, but to divide them, to break them into pieces and to take the Turkish Cypriots by surprise.

Eroglu claimed: "I would like to ask, how much more we have to put up with the Greek Cypriots delaying tactics? When shall we acknowledge and accept the fact that the Greek Cypriot side has no sincere intention of respecting our rights and existence?".

[03] Eroglu will travel to Turkey

[04] Davutoglu: This time we will eternally connect Anatolia to Cyprus with water pipelines"

Addressing the Ambassadors' Conference which is organized for the sixth year with the participation of Turkish ambassadors abroad, Davutoglu said that the issue regarding the Cyprus problem is not to deliver speeches and to say heroic things, but rather to pursue an effective policy that demonstrates to the world the Turkish side's righteousness. He added that no one can treat the Turkish Cypriots and the "TRNC" [Translator's note: breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] as a pariah and that the "TRNC" is also endowed with great economic potential and a wealth of natural sources.

[05] Rauf Denktas is commemorated two years after his death

Addressing the ceremony, Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu said Denktas "lives with us together with the state of the TRNC, of which he is the architect". "He will always live as long as the Turkish Cypriot people live as sovereign and free people", he added.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs was among those who issued a statement on the occasion of the anniversary of Denktas' death. The ministry argued that Denktas "will always have a place in our hearts with his leadership appreciated in the world and his statesmanship". The ministry said Denktas devoted his entire life to the "struggle for the existence and freedom of the Turkish Cypriots" and added that he was always been in "consensus and harmony with motherland Turkey".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Erdogan to meet top EU officials during his Brussels visit on 21 January

Erdogan is expected to come together with President of European Council Herman Van Rompuy, President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Martin Schulz in bilateral meetings, as well as in a separate mini-summit - an unaccustomed gathering for the chiefs of the three top EU institutions.

The Turkish Premier will also meet the leaders of political parties represented in the EU Parliament. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Elmar Brok, EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-President Helene Flautre and Parliament's Turkey Rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten will also attend the meetings. Erdogan's talks with the EU officials are thought to focus on issues such as Turkey-EU relations, future steps to protect the acceleration in membership talks, difficulties in the negotiation process and visa facilitation.

[07] Baghdad summons Turkish diplomat over Kurdish oil; TPAO discovered oil in Silopi

Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, the top official responsible for energy affairs, summoned Efe Ceylan over the announcement by the autonomous Kurdish region last week that its first shipment of crude oil sent directly to Turkey had gone on sale, with more expected to follow.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said last week that crude had begun to flow to Turkey and exports were expected to start at the end of this month and then rise in February and March.

In addition, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (14.01.14) reports that Turkish state-run petroleum company TPAO has discovered oil at a high gravity well in the eastern province of S?rnak's Silopi district located on the Iraqi border of the country.

[08] Gul met with Erdogan and opposition parties on government proposal to amend law on the judicial body

Gul also met with the leaders of: Republican People's Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) at Cankaya Presidential residence to hear their views regarding the latest developments on HSYK and surrounding controversies.

[09] Fule warns that amendments should comply with EU norms

Fule made the statement on his Twitter account. In another tweet he also said he had discussed with the Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland "common concerns about recent developments in Turkey regarding the rule of law & independence of judiciary." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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