Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-02-05

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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 only one word remained for an agreement on the joint declaration

[02] BKP: Holding separate elections for the EP in occupied Cyprus is not possible

[03] KTOS: the Turkish Cypriot political parties represented in the "assembly" try to maintain the separatist regime

[04] Turkish Cypriot Party to participate in the EP elections

[05] The remains of missing Turkish Cypriots were found in Tohni village

[06] Merkel reiterates doubts on Turkey's EU membership, but supports talks

[07] Columnist argues that Cyprus may have to unblock chapters 23-24

[08] Atalay has reportedly asked for privatization of "KIB-TEK" as precondition for transferring electricity to the occupied area of Cyprus from Turkey

[09] Contacts between foreign embassies with Turkish Cypriot politicians

[10] International artists to exhibit their work in occupied Lefkosia

[11] MEP warns Turkey on the Copenhagen criteria; Turkish Internet bill to 'deepen press freedom crisis,' CPJ says

[12] Polish FM: Turkey has to prove its commitment to the common rules applicable in the EU

[13] Erdogan and Putin to meet on sidelines of Sochi Olympics

[14] Gulen sues Erdogan for libel

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Sources say only one word remained for an agreement on the joint declaration

Under the title "America steps in", the paper refers to the visit to the island of Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State, and her meetings with President Anastasiades, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu and the self-styled minister of foreign affairs of the breakaway regime, Ozdil Nami. According to the paper, in a written statement Nuland said the leaders are strongly determined on the issue of reaching an agreement on the joint declaration.

The above-mentioned sources, who wished to remain anonymous, told Kibris that Nuland has come to the island not to exert pressure, but to "encourage the sides for reaching an agreement". Diplomatic circles said that Nuland's visit is USA's last effort for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations.

The paper recalls that Nuland was expected to make a short statement in the buffer zone yesterday at 13.30, but after her meeting with Eroglu she held one more meeting with President Anastasiades.

It is alleged that after meeting with the Turkish Cypriot side on the issue of the "single word", which prevents the agreement on a joint declaration, Nuland visited President Anastasiades to take his respond. According to the same allegations, a result on the joint declaration will be reached within a few days.

(I/Ts.)

[02] BKP: Holding separate elections for the EP in occupied Cyprus is not possible

In a written statement issued yesterday, Izcan expressed the view that two Turkish Cypriots should be elected in the EP elections, but this is not possible by holding separate elections in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Izcan pointed out that the EP elections are held only in EU member states and only the citizens of these states have the right to vote.

Izcan described as "irrational" the demand of the Turkish Cypriot political parties which are represented in the self-styled assembly of the breakaway regime that the Turkish Cypriots should hold separate elections. He pointed out that this demand is contrary to the European and international law and it is a separatist approach. "We reject this approach", he added.

Izcan recalled that the President of the EP, Martin Schultz has said that finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem is absolutely necessary for the definite and permanent representation of the Turkish Cypriots at the EP and that holding separate elections is impossible. According to Izcan, Shultz said also that before the solution, ways for the participation of Turkish Cypriots in the elections and for electing their representatives should be found.

(I/Ts.)

[03] KTOS: the Turkish Cypriot political parties represented in the "assembly" try to maintain the separatist regime

Commenting on the statement issued on Monday by the Republican Turkish Party ? United Forces (CTP-BG), the Democratic Party ? National Forces (DP-UG) and the Social Democracy Party (TDP) on the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP elections, Elcil noted: "These parties, which remembered the reality that the Turkish Cypriots are equal political partners of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus when the time of the EP elections came, are, on the other hand, exerting effort to make the separatist regime permanent".

Elcil pointed out that the political parties in the "assembly" act together to protect the interests of Turkey, which, he said, interfered militarily in 1974 to restore the constitutional order of the Republic of Cyprus and protect its territorial integrity.

Elcil described as "thought provoking" the fact that the political will of the Turkish Cypriots was remembered by those who said nothing against the change of the population structure in the occupied area of Cyprus after 1974 contrary to the Geneva Convention and against the violation of the political will of the Turkish Cypriots.

Elcil noted that asking representation at the EP while the presence of Turkey continues in the occupied area of the island is tantamount to "political ignorance".

He said the above-mentioned political parties have made this statement to "win the approval of the Turkish officials", knowing that the majority of those who voted for them are not citizens of the EU and that there could not be democratic elections in the occupied area of Cyprus. Elcil concluded by saying the following:

"Defending the separatist structure and Turkey's interests on the one hand and saying that you want a solution on the other, are approaches far from being sincere. If you are going to defend the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community and the solution, you can start work by opening Varosha, withdrawing troops, lifting the borders. You can reach nowhere with such double face policies".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkish Cypriot Party to participate in the EP elections

This was announced by KSP's leader Mehmet Birinci who also stated that it is a shame that an individual who wants to participate in the elections has to pay the amount of 1,000 euro as a deposit fee.

[05] The remains of missing Turkish Cypriots were found in Tohni village

According to Murat Sosyal, the Turkish Cypriot member of the Missing Persons' Committee, the remains of five persons were found in the area and the remains of 37 more persons are expected to be discovered in the village. He also estimated that the excavation will take 5-6 months

[06] Merkel reiterates doubts on Turkey's EU membership, but supports talks

Speaking at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, Merkel noted that talks between Turkey and the EU are advancing step by step but that Turkey should first solve its domestic issues for further progress.

Merkel also spoke about bilateral relations in addition to the various positions of the two respective countries on the issues of EU membership, assimilation and regional policies. The news conference came after a bilateral meeting between the two leaders.

Merkel reiterated her country's position on Turkish membership, noting that she believes the accession negotiations are an "open-ended" process and that she has some reservations about Ankara's full membership in the EU.

The Chancellor also noted that she supports the opening of those sections of Turkey's membership negotiations that address justice and human rights "as soon as possible."

Referring to chapters 23 and 24, which cover issues related to the judiciary, fundamental rights, freedom and security and were blocked unilaterally by the Greek Cypriots in 2009, Erdogan said that Turkey needs Merkel's support for the opening of these two chapters.

After signing the readmission agreement with the EU in mid-December of last year, Erdogan said that Turkey expects Germany to continue to take productive steps to support Turkey's visa exemption process.

[07] Columnist argues that Cyprus may have to unblock chapters 23-24

"(?) Many of his realist-minded ministers, and President Abdullah Gul aside, Erdogan has a love-hate relationship with the EU. He knows that, given its economic dimension, it is something that one cannot do without. (?)

But the fundamental issue between Erdogan and Chancellor Angela Merkel is Turkey's nearly dormant accession negotiations with the EU.

Despite the gloom, and deepening uncertainty of Turkish politics, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. Germany's Foreign Minister, Franz-Walter Steinmeier, declared that talks on chapters 23 and 24 should be unblocked.

(?) This is very good news. French President Francois Hollande had also said the same thing while visiting Ankara recently. It means that, after a long frost, Paris and Berlin are now 'in synch' with each other.

(?) As Ruprecht Polenz, a prominent figure of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and some Turkish representatives suggest, German-Turkish dialogue must be institutionalized, so that NGOs take the lead in public diplomacy to help speed up the process. This is a necessity that will also help Paris in its hard task of dealing with growing Turcophobia in France.

The second task has to do with Cyprus, which continues to block the utterly relevant chapters 23-24. Its arguments to keep it are in no sense rational -- just hostile. But if Germany and France are in favour of unblocking, Cyprus will have to give in, since democratization of Turkey is crucial for a solution on the island. Can Nicos Anastasiades be persuaded? As Cyprus Mail noted recently with regret, 'He seems more concerned with keeping his hard-line allies happy than doing anything bold.' He must be told that this is a wrong stand."

[08] Atalay has reportedly asked for privatization of "KIB-TEK" as precondition for transferring electricity to the occupied area of Cyprus from Turkey

Citing information from reliable sources, the paper writes that Yorgancioglu told Atalay to give him one month time for his reply.

The paper recalls that according to an agreement signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime, it was decided that KIB-TEK should reduce its electricity production and distribution cost and improve the way it operates and for this reason measures are expected by December 2014 and the privatization of the organization has been postponed for May 2015.

The paper's source said that Turkey wants the privatization to be materialized earlier and Yorgancioglu asked time to discuss the issue at the "competent organs".

The issues of transferring electricity from Turkey, natural gas and renewable energy were discussed during the recent illegal visit of three Turkish Minsters in the occupied area of Cyprus, writes Kibrisli.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Contacts between foreign embassies with Turkish Cypriot politicians

In addition Kibris also reports that the self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami met with the Ambassador of Norway to Lefkosia, Sjur Larsen. According to the paper, the two men discussed the latest developments of the Cyprus problem.

[10] International artists to exhibit their work in occupied Lefkosia

During the exhibition, titled "REALITY" ? "GERCEK", artists from Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Montenegro, Greece, Lebanon and the occupied area of Cyprus will be exhibiting their paintings.

According to the newspaper, the exhibition will be inaugurated by the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

[11] MEP warns Turkey on the Copenhagen criteria; Turkish Internet bill to 'deepen press freedom crisis,' CPJ says

Dutch Member of the European Parliament Marietje Schaake raised the issue in comments on to a Turkish draft bill on Internet law. In a written statement, the Dutch Liberal warned the Turkish government that the bill would violate political criteria for EU membership. Calling on the European Commission to take a strong position against the new Internet draft bill, she said: "In the context of the accession talks, the Commission needs to make clear that this kind of legislation is unacceptable and violates the criteria which Turkey will eventually have to adhere to (Copenhagen criteria)."

Accusing the government of pressuring the press and damaging freedom of expression, the Dutch MEP said that the EU should tell Turkey that the rule of law and fundamental freedoms are at the centre of EU policy. "The Gezi Park protests, last summer, have shown that the Turkish people long for freedom and democracy, we must not leave them standing in the cold," she said.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 04.02.14) reported that the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has claimed that a new bill on the Internet currently being debated in the Turkish Parliament will further undermine press freedoms if it passes into law.

"Parliament is on the verge of voting on radical censorship measures that, if approved, would allow the government to block individual URLs without prior judicial review, mandate Internet data retention for periods of up to two years, and consolidate Internet Service Providers (ISPs) into a single association, among other changes," the CPJ said in a statement released on Feb. 3.

[12] Polish FM: Turkey has to prove its commitment to the common rules applicable in the EU

Poland supports the continuation of European enlargement to the east, with Turkey and Ukraine at the top of the list.

"I am not sure how keen Turkey still is," Sikorski said, in reference to Turkey's decades-old efforts to join the EU, while adding that any country that fulfils the accession criteria, whether Turkey, Ukraine or another country, should be allowed to join the 28-member club.

In a written answer to the same question, Sikorski recalled the EU principle that all candidate countries should meet the Copenhagen political criteria. "There is no exception to this rule. There is no doubt that Turkey has to prove its commitment to the common rules applicable in the EU ? commitment to democracy, rule of law and human rights," he said.

[13] Erdogan and Putin to meet on sidelines of Sochi Olympics

[14] Gulen sues Erdogan for libel

Lawyers representing Gulen filed a complaint on Feb. 3 demanding 100,000 Turkish Liras in damages from Erdogan. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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