Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-02-04

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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] Turkish Cypriot political parties describe as "unacceptable" the decision of facilitating the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP elections

[02] Levent: The political parties which oppose to the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP elections have the mentality of TMT

[03] The "Property Compensation Commission" is reportedly "far from being an effective institution"

[04] Self-styled mfa on the latest UN Resolution on extending the mandate of UNFICYP

[05] Akansoy explained CTP's aims for the Cyprus problem solution during a conference in Ankara

[06] CHP's Logoglu reacted against the joint military exercise to be conducted by Cyprus and Israel

[07] The DP assembly is formed; Positions distributed between Democratic and National Forces

[08] The tower of Othello is closed for two years

[09] Berlin urges EU to keep doors open to Ankara

[10] Cavusoglu: We will bring the issue of opening the chapter of energy onto the agenda

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkish Cypriot political parties describe as "unacceptable" the decision of facilitating the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP elections

In a joint statement read out by Sibel Siber, self-styled speaker of the so-called parliament of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, the three parties argue that what they call as the representation right of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP could be materialized with a "democratic election which will be reflecting the will of the Turkish Cypriot people".

"It is obvious that this decision regarding the representation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP elections will not reflect the political will of the Turkish Cypriots", the statement claimed and alleged: "It is very well known today by the international community that the Turkish Cypriot people is a separate political entity from the Greek Cypriot people. The two peoples on the island of Cyprus have always held elections with two separate voters' lists and candidates' lists. This is one of the most fundamental elements in the 1960 Constitution. Again, the voting during the Annan Plan in 2004 was held separately by the two peoples with their own voters' lists with the approval of the UN Security Council. Therefore, this arrangement, which the Greek Cypriot side will put into effect for the European Parliament elections, has been found unacceptable by the political parties represented in our Parliament and have signed at the end of this statement?"

The paper writes that the joint statement was signed by Ozkan Yorgancioglu, chairman of CTP-BG and self-styled prime minister of the regime, Serdar Denktas, chairman of the DP-UG and self-styled deputy prime minister of the regime, and Cemal Ozyigit, chairman of the TDP.

During the press conference at the presence of the above-mentioned party leaders, Siber told the media that she regrets that the so-called main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) has not signed the joint statement. She added that Huseyin Ozgurgun, the chairman of the UBP, told her that they agree with the content of the statement, but "the issue has come with delay to their knowledge". Siber noted that the UBP could evaluate the issue in its "parliamentary" group and make its own statement.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Levent: The political parties which oppose to the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP elections have the mentality of TMT

Levent expresses the view that this is the same mentality that existed in 1950's during the period of terrorist TMT organization, which is also called as "organization". He writes, inter alia, the following:

"?They make a call on the people saying 'this is a Greek Cypriot trick, do not become an instrument for the Greek Cypriot dreams'. This mentality has absolutely no difference from the mentality in the 1950's. It is the mentality of the organization. It has absolutely no difference from the mentality which murdered the biggest patriots among our people by stigmatizing them as 'traitors of the country'. It is the mentality which, with the 'from Turk to Turk campaign', fined our people to pay two shillings for every Greek word they were using. It is the mentality which removed the Greek language from the syllabus in our lyceums by calling it the 'language of the enemy'. Behold, this is the mentality we have before us. They say that the Turks should elect the Turks and the Greeks the Greeks? Are all the Turks right and all the Greeks wrong? Are all the Greeks right and all the Turks wrong? If so, why they are angry for the Nazi mentality? This mentality is a racist, fascist mentality! ?

It seems that the parties in our assembly are still not aware of the situation in Cyprus. The island has been divided for 40 years. We have 40,000 troops over our head. And the population transferred from outside is by many times bigger than our population. We have chased 200 thousand Greek Cypriots away to the south depriving them by the force of arms of their land and property. We have carried our people in the south to the north by deceiving them with great many promises. We have crowned the victory we won by panting the biggest flag in the world on Pentadaktylos mountains. We have offered Varosha, one of the most attractive corners of the island, to the snakes and centipedes. They force us playing the theatre of cease fire for 40 years. Turkey has hung over us with her entire weight. We have become her back garden, her rectum. They are trying to annihilate our feelings for living together with our Greek Cypriots compatriots.

The file of the crimes we have committed on the island is very swollen. And we have started now to ask privileged representation in Europe without looking at our situation with this satellite 'state', this 'puppet government'! They ask Varosha. You do not give it. Withdraw troops, they say. You do not withdraw. You keep saying 'after the solution'. However, when the turn of the European Parliament elections comes, you want two seats. So, since you postpone everything for the period after the solution, why this should be before the solution?...

The following is said in the yesterday joint decision taken by our leftist and rightist parties, among which no difference remained: 'It is obvious that this arrangement made by the Greek Cypriot side will not secure the representation of the Turkish Cypriot people'. That is, if devil suddenly breaks his leg and a Turkish Cypriot is elected, they will say 'he does not represent us', is it not? Why? Is it because he is elected by Turkish Cypriots with mainly Greek Cypriot voters and not mainly voters from Turkey?"

(I/Ts.)

[03] The "Property Compensation Commission" is reportedly "far from being an effective institution"

The paper publishes statements by lawyer Hakan Sonya, who said that "no matter how good intended the Property Compensation Commission is from the day of its establishment and even though it continues its works within the framework of the duties given to it, it seems far from being an institution that works effectively in the situation created today".

Sonya noted that there are many reasons for this and added that one of them is the fact that the number of the applications which have been filed until the beginning of 2014 exceeds the capacity of the "Commission". On the other hand, he said, the "Commission" lacks an automation system and a "disconnection" exists among the "institutions" in the occupied area of Cyprus. He also argued that the decision by the Republic of Cyprus not to issue new title deeds for the occupied Greek Cypriot properties "completely stopped the procedures" of the "Commission".

He went on and said that the "Commission" does not pay compensation without the presentation of an up-to-date document and therefore "the Greek Cypriots, who wait a payment for months, even if they are invited today, will not be able to take the compensation they have the right to take, because, due to the delay, they will not be able to secure the necessary document".

Asked whether the "community of the lawyers" in the occupied area of Cyprus is dissatisfied from the "Commission", Sonya replied that "it is undeniable that dissatisfaction exists among the lawyers regarding the procedures of the Commission". He added: "Justice, which is established with delay, is not justice. If a Greek Cypriot has filed his application in 2011 and he has still not received a reply today, we cannot refer to a Commission which works here anymore".

According to Sonya, another problem is that some persons who are not lawyers file applications in the name of some property owners or follow the affairs of Greek Cypriot property owners at the "Commission" like a lawyer.

Sonya said also that he has a client who has accepted a proposal submitted to him by the "Commission" 14 months ago and today they are still waiting for the procedure to be completed and receive the compensation. He noted that the "Commission" told them that the payments are made by the self-styled ministry of finance and if they were not satisfied with the situation they could apply to "court". "Think, an official proposal is submitted to our client and the most of the times, the payment is not made without showing any pretext", he said.

According to the paper, 5,704 applications have been submitted to the Commission since 2006 and only 594 were concluded. The paper draws attention to the fact that, in 2013, during which 1,337 applications were filed, only two applications were concluded. Most applications were filed in 2011, when their number reached 1,926. The most applications were concluded in 2010, when 165 cases were completed. Since 2006 the "Commission" paid 142.366.621 pound sterling for compensation and loss of use of property. In 2013, during which the lowest number of cases were completed, 33.952.775 pound sterling were paid.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Self-styled mfa on the latest UN Resolution on extending the mandate of UNFICYP

In a written statement issued by the self-styled information office of the ministry, it is said that the above mentioned paragraph encourages both sides to mutually safeguard the continuation of the talks and not to call the negotiation process as failure yet.

Referring to the latest Turkish Cypriot proposal submitted to the UN on the 14th of December, the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs claimed that the reply of the Greek Cypriot side on this proposal was far from being constructive. It alleged that it is sad that this diversity of the stances between the two sides in the island is not reflected in the UN Resolution.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that self-styled minister of foreign affairs Ozdil Nami briefed yesterday the trade union Turk-Sen on the latest stage of the Cyprus problem.

Noting that the UN continues the dialogue with both sides in the island and exert efforts in order to surpass the deadlock on the text of the joint statement, Nami claimed that he hopes that these efforts will be positively concluded in the very near future. He argued that there are huge masses in both sides that ask the positive conclusion of these efforts.

Replying to a question regarding the text of the joint statement, Nami said that the fundamental joint statement should be done by the leaders. He noted that the resumption of the Cyprus talks should be done without any delaying, adding that this is also the concrete demand of the "people" by both sides.

[05] Akansoy explained CTP's aims for the Cyprus problem solution during a conference in Ankara

The conference was organized in Ankara by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

Speaking at the conference, Akasoy gave information about the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and said that the federal solution is CTP's basic issue. He said that CTP supports Cyprus' integrity and added that the island's population is not calm and happy. He went on and added that one of their primary aims is the unification of the island and noted that their aim is a bi-communal bi-zonal federal solution.

[06] CHP's Logoglu reacted against the joint military exercise to be conducted by Cyprus and Israel

Logoglu, who was speaking at a press conference organized at the Grand Turkish National Assembly alleged that the military exercises is a public demonstration carrying a political meaning for the Republic of Cyprus which according to Logoglu's allegations violates the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, the "TRNC" and Turkey. He also criticized the ruling in Turkey Justice and Development Party for not reacting against this development.

[07] The DP assembly is formed; Positions distributed between Democratic and National Forces

The paper also writes that following the election of the assembly members and of the leader of the party, Serdar Denktas the DP-UG will now elect its general secretary. The paper also reports that the main candidate for the position is Hasan Tacoy, who is a former UBP member and who helped greatly towards Denktas' election to the leadership.

(CS)

[08] The tower of Othello is closed for two years

Self-styled mayor of occupied Famagusta Oktan Kayalp said that the tender for the restoration works is still open and when the tender offer concludes, the restoration works will start.

[09] Berlin urges EU to keep doors open to Ankara

Steinmeier said it was important to keep the European Union's door open to Turkey following turbulence over the corruption probe, saying he advocated the opening of two new chapters of Ankara's membership talks, Chapter 23 on the judiciary and fundamental rights and Chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security.

Davutoglu, for his part, said the opening of the chapters would be crucial in ensuring that the Turkish judiciary would fall in line with the European one. "EU-Turkish ties are very important. We trust Germany's leadership on this topic. We believe that the initiatives taken by Germany will create reactions in the bloc," Davutoglu said.

Steinmeier's call came as he was to meet Erdogan, who was also set to convene with Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Vice Chancellor and Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Sigmar Gabriel.

Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said that the domestic politics of Turkey would be on the agenda during the meeting between Erdogan and Merkel. Syria will be another item on the agenda of the meeting, as the two are expected to discuss the Geneva peace talks and humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees.

[10] Cavusoglu: We will bring the issue of opening the chapter of energy onto the agenda

Cavusoglu said that such slow progress would mean that Turkey can only become an EU member within a decade at the earliest. "Chapters 23 and 24 [judiciary and fundamental rights; and justice, freedom and security] are very important and we want chapters related to the judiciary, security and freedom to be opened. As a matter of fact, EU countries also want this, but Greek Cyprus [editor's note: as he refers to the Republic of Cyprus] has blocked these two chapters. These should be lifted," he told reporters on Feb. 3, as he hosted Hacettepe University rector Murat Tuncer.

"During our meetings in Germany, we will also bring the issue of opening the chapter on energy onto the agenda," he added.

"But in general terms, we wish to have as many chapters as possible opened at once. Because when we assume one chapter is opened during each presidency term, just opening the chapters will take 10 years. This is not an acceptable process," Cavusoglu said. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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