Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-02-13

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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] Eroglu: Sovereignty will not be single and undivided in federal Cyprus

[02] Ozersay: We have started a positive dialogue with Mavroyiannis:

[03] Yorgancioglu said that they want Nami to participate in the negotiations

[04] Turkish Prime Ministry on the Cyprus negotiations launching

[05] Turkish EU Minister: We do not want the solution of the Cyprus problem just for the sake of Turkey's EU bid

[06] Yildiz: Cypriot peace "to lead the way for energy"

[07] Inhabitants in occupied Morfou area feel unhappy for their uncertain future

[08] Turkish minister rebukes EU Commissioner Fule, stresses 'independence'

[09] Erdogan says no rapprochement with Israel until the end of Gaza embargo

[10] Seventeen persons given prison sentences for chanting anti-Erdogan slogan

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: Sovereignty will not be single and undivided in federal Cyprus

In statements yesterday during a meeting with a delegation from the so-called "People's Justice Council" (HAK), an organization established by illegal Turkish settlers in the occupied area of Cyprus, Eroglu argued that many countries, which have interest in the Mediterranean, are trying for an agreement in Cyprus the soonest and added: "What is important for us is to make an agreement, which will protect the interests of the Turkish Cypriot people".

Thanking HAK for the support offered to him in the negotiations, Eroglu said that "this cause belongs to all of us and we are trying to conclude this cause in the best manner". Eroglu argued that their first duty is to make an agreement as to secure that their people will live in peace and security on these lands.

Referring to the joint declaration, Eroglu pointed out that the text of the joint declaration could never include a hundred per cent the interest of one side and added that they tried to find a "midcourse" that would satisfy both sides. He reiterated the view that there was no need for a joint declaration and that after his "election" he was committed that he would continue the negotiations from the point they had been left.

In addition, Illegal Bayrak television (12.02.14) broadcast that Eroglu met with members of the board of directors of the "Karadeniz Cultural association" led by Turan Buyukyilmaz. During the meeting Eroglu said that he is the defendant of the (Turkish) national cause at the Cyprus negotiations process and added: "The more support a leader has at the negotiating table when defending the national cause, the more his hand is strengthened at the negotiating table". He also said that he is working towards finding a comprehensive, sustainable and permanent solution that will be in the interest of both the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Motherland Turkey".

[02] Ozersay: We have started a positive dialogue with Mavroyiannis:

In an interview with Kibris' reporter Osman Kalfaoglu, Ozersay noted that he wants to have a dialogue with his Greek Cypriot interlocutor like the one they had in the buffer zone when the joint declaration was read out. He argued: "Instead of being face to face with my interlocutor, I prefer being side by side and looking towards a common future, looking forward".

Ozersay noted, though, that only the negotiators being good would not be enough and added that the society should also expect a solution based on reconciliation.

Ozersay said that they have no objection for confidence building measures coming to the negotiating table after the negotiations start and added that they could not object to the Greek Cypriot side bringing the issue of [the occupied closed city of] Varosha to the negotiating table, if it sees it as a confidence building measure.

Asked whether the reconstruction of Varosha could be an opportunity for cooperation between the two communities, Ozersay replied: "Very different models exist regarding Varosha. There is a difficulty regarding us sitting and discussing Varosha with the Greek Cypriot side. There is a difficulty which continues for so many years, that is one of its models. In case we cannot agree with the Greek Cypriot side regarding Varosha, there are steps we could take unilaterally. This is the second model. There are even sub-models which we could sit and discuss with the Greek Cypriot side?"

Asked what is the difficulty there, Ozersay pointed out that he had expressed his personal view in the past and added: "The Turkish Cypriot side could undertake an initiative on the issue of Varosha with some unilateral steps. Since we are discussing within the framework of the negotiations and it is mentioned within the framework of the confidence building measures, the most important difficulty is the following: If you will sit and discuss Varosha at the table with your interlocutor, you should know that together with this you will discuss all six chapters of the Cyprus problem. Everything is inside this. Security, police, property, land, borders, EU law, customs are inside it. It is a miniature of the Cyprus problem, if you will choose the model of negotiating this with your interlocutor. My personal view on this issue continues. If there is no possibility of success in this and the Turkish Cypriot side wants to undertake an initiative, I think that this is something which can happen. Something could be done in Varosha by undertaking a unilateral initiative in this model. I still think that this view is correct. The Greek Cypriot side wants to see it as a package of confidence building measures and demands this. Actually, what we are saying as Turkish Cypriot side is clear: The president of the republic also said it yesterday: 'If something like this exists, they will bring it to the negotiating table and we will talk. We will also express our thoughts, because we have to agree".

Replying to a comment by the journalist that it seems that there is a change in the stance of the Turkish side on this issue as "Varosha was not even at the table in the past", Ozersay argued that there is no change in their stance and that Varosha is a part of the negotiations. "Due to the fact Varosha is a chapter of the negotiations, it would be better to discuss it within that balance, because if you hand it over from now, your position on the table will be influenced by that territorial adjustment", he added.

Answering another question, Ozersay said that he accepted the duty of the negotiator because he saw that the Turkish Cypriot side was no longer part of the process and added: "At the moment, we are in the process from every aspect. All international players are directly and often in contact with us. Even this only is something which relaxes me?"

Ozersay expressed the view that the negotiating process this time is different than any other process and added that both the leaders and the negotiators will hold visits abroad. It seems that "third countries" will be more involved in the process, he said.

Moreover, Ozersay pointed out to the importance of taking steps for cooperation between the sides before the solution with the aim of convincing the people for the benefits and the necessity of the solution. He said that this will be "cooperation within a framework which will not be contrary to the spirit and the logic of the comprehensive solution".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Yorgancioglu said that they want Nami to participate in the negotiations

Yorgancioglu, who said that Nami did not participate in the previous negotiation procedure, said that this time he must take place in the negotiations adding that the "government" must have knowledge on the issue. "The government must be in the kitchen as well", he stated.

[04] Turkish Prime Ministry on the Cyprus negotiations launching

The statement said that Turkey is pleased with the start of the talks and congratulated the two leaders over their constructive approach. The press release also said that Turkey wants a "fair and permanent" solution to the Cyprus problem and urged the island's citizens to have a consensus on forming a unified federal state. "TRNC President Dervis Eroglu's attitude and the Turkish Cypriot political parties' positive approach played an important role in restarting the negotiations", the statement said.

[05] Turkish EU Minister: We do not want the solution of the Cyprus problem just for the sake of Turkey's EU bid

Speaking at the opening of the 'Erasmus+ Programme and Opportunities for the Business World Meeting', Cavusoglu said the following: "Although the Cyprus issue appears as a de facto obstacle to Turkey's EU membership, we don't want this issue to be resolved just for the sake of the EU. We want a permanent resolution and we want Cyprus to be an island of peace", he said.

[06] Yildiz: Cypriot peace "to lead the way for energy"

"The softening between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot administration is, of course, significant," Y?ld?z said yesterday, answering reporters' questions ahead of the Atlas for Biomass Energy Potential meeting in Ankara. "I hope for the dispersal of the negative political environment in the Mediterranean and the opening of the way for energy-related projects," he added.

"I believe a pipeline that would carry Cypriot gas to Europe via Turkey could be built, just like the way we carry water to Cyprus with pipelines," Y?ld?z said, noting that "political feasibility" was the main pre-requisite for such projects. "I think the energy sector is eligible to handle these projects, both in terms of financing and technical aspects," he said. Y?ld?z also praised the joint statement recently released by the negotiating parties, describing it as "an example that consolidates Turkey's argument."

[07] Inhabitants in occupied Morfou area feel unhappy for their uncertain future

As the paper points out, the majority of inhabitants of Morfou expressed support to the re-launching of the Cyprus negotiations talks, they, however, expressed their unhappiness especially because of the uncertainty for their future, the unemployment, the fact that they feel neglected by the "occupation regime' authorities" and the poverty they confront.

An important part of the people living in occupied Morfou criticized the occupation regime's authorities for the policy they follow and said that they do not trust them.

Also, an important part said that in the possibility that the solution of the Cyprus problem will be submitted to referendum, they will again say "yes", in spite of the fact, that they know that "they will become migrants". Others said that they will vote against the solution to a possible referendum, since, they do not trust at all the Greek Cypriot side. Of course, there are others who said that they have not decided yet, writes the paper.

AK

[08] Turkish minister rebukes EU Commissioner Fule, stresses 'independence'

Cavusoglu also urged EU officials to share their views with their Turkish counterparts before making public statements on sensitive issues. Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Feb. 12, he said Turkey is reforming fast, with almost one law being sent to Parliament every day. "If we attempted to ask for an opinion on every law, none of these reforms would be completed," Cavusoglu said. "There may be an exchange of views on important laws, but, still, we are an independent state while adopting each and every law."

[09] Erdogan says no rapprochement with Israel until the end of Gaza embargo

Speaking during a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart, Mariano Rajoy, Erdogan said that the compensation talks for the families of the victims killed during an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound ship in 2010 has progressed but that talks between Turkey and Israel have not reached a final phase, in response to a question on the status of the compensation talks. He said Turkey had only received an apology from Israel with the mediation of US President Barack Obama. "Without the end of the embargo [on the Gaza Strip], there will be no protocol. The embargo must be lifted and this should be stated in a written protocol," he said.

[10] Seventeen persons given prison sentences for chanting anti-Erdogan slogan

The Eskisehir 4th Criminal Court of Peace, which heard the trial of the 17 suspects, announced its ruling on Wednesday and sentenced three of the suspects to one year and the remaining 14 to two years in prison for chanting the slogan: "The servant of the bosses and International Monetary Fund [IMF], Tayyip Erdogan". The case was about an incident that took place during Erdogan's visit to Eskisehir in 2012. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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