Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-01-15

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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] Russian Ambassador: I am very optimistic on the solution

[02] Turkish Cypriot daily assesses Eroglu's visit to Ankara

[03] Eroglu said Downer will submit a report to the UN regardless if he meets or not the leaders

[04] Nami on the joint statement

[05] Denktas said that no more concessions can be made to the Greek Cypriots

[06] Self-styled deputies carry out contacts in Strasbourg at PACE

[07] The breakaway regime is participating in the "CMS Stuttgart Tourism Fair"

[08] Hunger threshold in the occupied area of Cyprus is reportedly 1290 TL

[09] "Declaration on Online Journalism" is signed in the occupied area

[10] Suspected al-Qaeda members nabbed in police operation

[11] Gul: 2014 should be a new start for Turkish-EU relations

[12] Arinc argues it's not EU's place to criticize HSYK proposal

[13] Erdogan to pay two-day official visit to Iran

[14] Graft prosecutor Oz files formal complaint against Erdogan after 'threat' claims

[15] One out of every four brides in Turkey is a child

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Russian Ambassador: I am very optimistic on the solution

Ambassador Osadchiy said that the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots must sit at the negotiating table and agree on a mutually acceptable formula which will be in both side's interest. He noted that the current conditions in the world and on the island necessitate a peace climate in Cyprus.

Asked whether he is optimistic on the issue of the solution in Cyprus, the Russian Ambassador replied that he is "very optimistic" and added that he experienced the incidents in 1974, but at the same time he had witnessed the Greek and Turkish Cypriots' living together in the same villages, helping each other, having coffee together at the same coffee shops. "I closely know both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. I know their past and their character. I know that they can establish communication with each other. That is, I know that the solution is practically possible".

Ambassador Osadchiy said "the important thing here is for the solution which will be found to serve both communities' interests". He added that finding a "balanced formula" in the interest of both communities is a duty that belongs to the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. "This is our primary position. We are in favour of all Cypriots, not only the Greek Cypriots", he said.

Noting that the joint declaration between the community leaders is important, the Russian Ambassador pointed out that a joint declaration would confirm the commitment of both sides to the principles which will form the federation in Cyprus and this will be a strong signal that they are ready to work for the solution of the problem.

Asked whether the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation is appropriate for Cyprus and whether we have been pursuing the wrong formula for years, the Ambassador noted that the solution in Cyprus must be based on the relevant UN Resolutions and the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation on the basis of political equality. He added, however, that the kind of the solution depends on the two communities in Cyprus.

Contrary to the debates that "Russia wants a military base in Cyprus", writes the paper, Ambassador Osadchiy said that Russia does not want Cyprus to become a base in the area. "We do not want Cyprus to be used as base for intervention in the area", he noted.

Referring to Cyprus' oil and gas natural resources, the Ambassador expressed the view that the natural gas found in Cyprus is an opportunity and an economic basis for the prosperity of the entire island. "In fact, the natural gas must be one of the leading reasons for finding a solution in Cyprus the soonest", he added.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Turkish Cypriot daily assesses Eroglu's visit to Ankara

The paper writes that the demand for meeting Turkish officials had been submitted by Eroglu on 15 November, 2013, during the celebrations for the unilateral declaration of independence of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, to the General Secretary of the Turkish Presidency, Mustafa Isen, who mediated in arranging the appointment between Gul and Eroglu.

Citing information obtained from a source close to the Turkish Presidency, Havadis reports that by mid-February the latest, contacts will be held in Ankara between the Turkish government and the self-styled government of the breakaway regime. The relations between the "governments" had allegedly deteriorated because of Erdogan's stance and Ankara's attempt to interfere in the establishment of the self-styled government after the 28 July early "elections" in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Eroglu said Downer will submit a report to the UN regardless if he meets or not the leaders

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Cyprus Cooperation Community from Turkey, Eroglu said that Downer will meet today with his special representative Osman Ertug at 2.00 pm.

[04] Nami on the joint statement

Nami referred to the importance of the joint statement prepared by the Turkish Cypriot side. Nami claimed that in case of success on forging a joint statement, this would mark an important development that will address key issues pertaining to an overall agreement. This would include details to a degree never before reached in any previous agreement between the leaders. Nami said that a comprehensive solution is very important for a bright future, adding that the people should be informed correctly.

[05] Denktas said that no more concessions can be made to the Greek Cypriots

Alleging that the issue of single sovereignty has reached to a point where it threatens the Turkish Cypriots' future, Denktas claimed that the most important assurance of their future is to be the owners of the sovereignty.

Denktas reiterated that his party is the only party against the single sovereignty. He alleged that in case the Greek Cypriots seize the single sovereignty, the Turkish Cypriots will lose their communal and founding rights, and they will fall to a minority status.

Referring to the provisional agreement for football in Cyprus, Denktas noted that the Turkish Cypriot Football Federation (KTFF) has not yet accepted to be member of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA).

Denktas alleged that the statement "we need a solution" has lost its strength and they should produce solutions on today's conditions. Claiming that an alternative solution is the creation of a joint economic ground, Denktas noted that the reason that this cannot be created is the on-going Cyprus talks. He also said that the Mersin gate, which could ease the Turkish Cypriots, is closed, because of the agreement that Turkey signed the Customs Union with the EU in 1996.

[06] Self-styled deputies carry out contacts in Strasbourg at PACE

The delegation held meetings with Elmar Brok, German Member of the European Parliament and the current Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-President Helene Flautre and Parliament's Turkey Rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten.

[07] The breakaway regime is participating in the "CMS Stuttgart Tourism Fair"

According to the paper, more than 2.000 firms are participating in the Fair which targets special tourist groups that are interested in golf, bicycle and camping .

[08] Hunger threshold in the occupied area of Cyprus is reportedly 1290 TL

The report was prepared taking into consideration the products necessary for healthy nourishment as announced by the "ministry of health" and the average prices of these products according to the so-called state planning organization of the breakaway regime.

The paper writes that the minimum wage in the occupied area of Cyprus is currently 1.357 TL, while a newly appointed employee in the "public sector" receives 1.650 TL if he is a graduate from a lyceum and 1.850 if he is a university graduate.

(I/Ts.)

[09] "Declaration on Online Journalism" is signed in the occupied area

As the paper reports, 7 news sites' representatives, out of the 40 existing in the occupied areas, attended the signing ceremony, which took place yesterday at the premises of the "Journalists' Union", in occupied Nicosia.

Referring to the importance of this "Declaration", the chairman of the "Media Ethics Committee", Suleyman Irvan stated that online journalism becomes more important every passing day. As he indicated, the "Declaration", which consists of 10 articles, is only the beginning. He further stated that the "Declaration" aims at putting the 26 internet news sites, including the internet version of the 14 print newspapers, into "order", "something that will increase the prestige of journalism and encourage serious journalism".

[10] Suspected al-Qaeda members nabbed in police operation

Tight security measures were taken during the raids carried out in the provinces of Van, Istanbul, Adana, Kilis, Gaziantep and Kayseri.

News reports said two senior al-Qaeda operatives -- Ibrahim Sen, who is allegedly a top al-Qaeda leader in the Middle East, and Halis Bayancuk, who is said to be in charge of the al-Qaeda network in Turkey -- were among the people detained in the operation.

An employee of the charity group Humanitarian Aid Foundation (IHH) was also among the detained. The IHH confirmed that its storage facility near the Syrian border in Kilis was searched and an employee detained. However, the organization rejected any ties to al-Qaeda and denounced the police raid as an attempt to discredit it. The operation and the way it was conducted clearly shows that there is an effort to link al-Qaeda and the aid organization, according to IHH officials. The IHH owned a Gaza-bound aid ship raided by Israeli commandos in international waters in May 2010 which laid to the Mavi Marmara incident.

[11] Gul: 2014 should be a new start for Turkish-EU relations

The year 2014 should be a new start for Turkey's European Union (EU) negotiation process, President Gul and added: "Both the Turkish and EU sides should come up with new political wills. We should remember that everything we have done for the EU was for the sake of Turkey and for Turkey to become stronger," Gul stressed.

In addition, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (14.01.14) reported that Gul has invited two Deputies from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to accompany him during his visit to Italy at the end of January. CHP welcomed the invitation from Gul.

[12] Arinc argues it's not EU's place to criticize HSYK proposal

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting late on Monday, Arinc also denied claims that the proposed changes to the judicial system were against the Constitution. Arinc said taking back the proposed change to the judicial system is out of the question.

[13] Erdogan to pay two-day official visit to Iran

[14] Graft prosecutor Oz files formal complaint against Erdogan after 'threat' claims

Oz also filed a complaint against Saban Aslan, the news coordinator of daily Sabah that has published a number of headline stories alleging that the Prosecutor had made 22 foreign trips before the graft probe raids targeting the expenses of certain firms.

[15] One out of every four brides in Turkey is a child

A third of marriages in Turkey's eastern and south eastern provinces involve brides of minor age, with a significant proportion under the age of fifteen, a study by an NGO in the area has shown. The study, conducted by KAMER, an NGO focusing on the improvement of women's conditions and rights, is based on interviews with 60,000 women across 23 provinces.

The results paint a worrying picture of the extent of child marriages, particularly in rural areas, and were announced following the tragic death of yet another child bride in Siirt province made headlines across the country, after she gave birth to her second baby. Among the women interviewed by KAMER, 4,711 were married at 16 or 17 in the last 10 years. Some 2,217 were married between the ages of 13 and 15, while 54 were married at the age of 12 or below. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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