Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-03-10

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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 economic organizations oppose to the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha as a confidence building measure

[02] Nami carries out contacts in USA

[03] Self-styled deputies will follow meetings of PACE in Paris and Stockholm

[04] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee on the Missing Persons

[05] The association of missing persons' relatives ask the opening of all archives

[06] A "Draft Bill on Cybercrimes" has been submitted for approval in the so-called assembly

[07] UBP-DP agreed to cooperate for the "municipal elections"

[08] "Near East Bank" to provide a USD 1 million insurance to tourists from Germany visiting the occupation regime

[09] Arabacioglu: "60 thousand students receive education in the TRNC"

[10] Cypriot negotiators attended PRIO meeting in Brussels

[11] Cyprus among the issues Davutoglu will discus during his trip to the US

[12] Turkish presidential election to be held in August 10

[13] Turkish PM's account of Obama's G?len response 'not accurate,' White House says

[14] Turkey: Former Chief of staff released from prison

[15] Key suspect in Hrant Dink murder trial Erhan Tuncel released

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkish Cypriot economic organizations oppose to the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha as a confidence building measure

In statements to Diyalog, Cerkez argued that the opening of Varosha would require as much time as the comprehensive solution and added, inter alia, the following: "If the comprehensive solution will happen within 4-5 months, all territory issues will find solution, not only Varosha. Therefore, spending energy and time for Varosha at this stage is not a very productive situation? This will not happen in two weeks, because the issue here it to give territory and territory is the most important of the six chapters?Now is not wise to spend time for Varosha. The Greek Cypriots brought these onto the agenda. In the beginning they put it as precondition. Afterwards, all countries, including the EU, said 'leave this', 'it is not something which could be done now', 'now we should focus on the comprehensive solution'. Of course, the Greek Cypriots want to bring it continuously onto the agenda, and they continuously want to take something?"

In his statements, Cirali claimed that "the issue of Varosha has been perceived as part of the comprehensive solution for years and it has been evaluated as such, adding that "there could not be a solution piece by piece." He alleged that now, both communities are more hopeful for a solution and it would not be correct at this stage for Varosha stop being a part of the comprehensive solution. He argued that one confidence building measure could be the development of trade between the two communities. Noting that Varosha has been closed for 40 years waiting for the comprehensive solution he claimed: "While the comprehensive solution is seen in the horizon now, it would be useful to keep Varosha closed as part of the comprehensive solution until a comprehensive solution is reached".

Furthermore, Tolga argued that a "speedy" process is experienced in the negotiations and it would not be very reasonable to include Varosha as confidence building measure in the process at the point where the focus is on the comprehensive solution, because "the solution is the solution of all the problems". "At a point when the focus is on the comprehensive solution, it will not be very sincere to bring Varosha onto the agenda as confidence building measure", he alleged and expressed the view that putting forward Varosha now is tantamount to defending the existing situation.

"I see the proposal for the return of Varosha as actually an effort exerted for going away from the target of the solution", he argued.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Nami carries out contacts in USA

According to a press release by his office, Nami, in a statement prior his departure, said they will have various high level contacts primarily with the US State Department authorities, media, think tank organizations, as well as other international institutions, adding that this visit to which they attach high importance will have positive effects on the continuing negotiation process.

In his statement, Nami said: "Our main subject is the new negotiation process and the possible developments. We will discuss the possible effects of the developments in the region around the island on the negotiation process. We will share our opinions with our collocutors in order to develop the mutual relations from now on. We will take their opinions as well. We attach great importance to this visit. We consider that our visit will have positive effects on the negotiation process. The Turkish Cypriots' just position should be known, comprehended and well evaluated by the international arena. This is extremely important for us".

Nami noted that fast developments are expected and they should be ready for these. He also said: We think that making good evaluations and impressions will be important to build further steps."

Nami will be accompanied by Erhan Ercin, self-styled undersecretary of the foreign ministry and Huseyin Ozel, "director of personnel". The delegation will return to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus on Sunday, 16th of March.

[03] Self-styled deputies will follow meetings of PACE in Paris and Stockholm

Meanwhile, self-styled deputy of the National Unity Party (UBP) Tahsin Ertugruloglu will follow the meeting of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy in Stockholm, between 10-13 of March. Ertugrologlu will be accompanied by the "director of press, foreign affairs and protocol" Resa Savas Pasaoglulari.

[04] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee on the Missing Persons

In statements to illegal TAK news agency, Kucuk noted that the identity of 482 of these persons has been established through a DNA test and their remains have been delivered to their relatives. She added that 358 of these persons were Greek Cypriots and 124 Turkish Cypriots.

She said that they are looking for 1.508 Greek Cypriot and 493 Turkish Cypriot missing persons and pointed out that "it is not possible for us to find hundred per cent of the missing persons".

According to Kucuk, 270 places of burial should be excavated and two years are needed in order for this process to be completed as they could hold excavations in around 100-150 sites each year. She said that the work of the Committee is influenced by financial difficulties, which she described as their biggest problem.

(I/Ts.)

[05] The association of missing persons' relatives ask the opening of all archives

[06] A "Draft Bill on Cybercrimes" has been submitted for approval in the so-called assembly

According to the paper, the above mentioned "draft bill" has caused worries and anxiety in the occupied area of Cyprus, since, in case it will be approved by the "assembly", the users will have to submit to the "state" if it is asked so, to submit any kind of info related to their connection/access to the internet.

Particularly, according to the "draft bill", the internet users will have to submit to the "authorities" several information related to the "time they had access to the internet, the period and the kind of utilizing services, the links they were connected e.t.c".

AK

[07] UBP-DP agreed to cooperate for the "municipal elections"

The paper writes that the two parties will have a common candidate in some "municipalities", like in occupied Lefkoisa, Keryneia, Famagusta and Morfou and separate candidates in some others. It also writes that all the candidates' names will be announced on Friday.

[08] "Near East Bank" to provide a USD 1 million insurance to tourists from Germany visiting the occupation regime

As the paper writes, the agreement envisages that the "Near East Bank" operating in the occupied area of Cyprus, will provide a 1 USD million health insurance to every tourist that H&H Tour and Sun Trip tour operators will be sending to the occupied area of Cyprus during 2014.

The agreement envisages also that the illegal YDU Hospital will distribute medical tourist products to 7,000 different points in Germany.

AK

[09] Arabacioglu: "60 thousand students receive education in the TRNC"

Arabacioglu made the above statements while delivering a speech at the 2nd ordinary meeting of the International University Council which took place in Ankara.

In his statements there, Arabacioglu added that 12 thousand out of the 60 thousand students who receive education in the "TRNC" are "citizens" of the occupation regime, 35 thousand are Turkish citizens and around 15 thousand are students coming from 100 different countries.

He went on and stated that "these students, as soon as they return to their countries, they are becoming honorary representatives of both the TRNC and the university".

AK

[10] Cypriot negotiators attended PRIO meeting in Brussels

According to BRT, Ozersay who held various contacts in Brussels, stated that the meeting was focused on prospects of economic cooperation as and when a settlement will be reached in Cyprus.

[11] Cyprus among the issues Davutoglu will discus during his trip to the US

According to a statement the Foreign Ministry released on Saturday, Davutoglu will exchange views with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other UN officials about Cyprus, the ongoing Syrian civil war; and crisis-hit Ukraine, which is home to Turkic Tatars.

The statement also said Davutoglu will be a special guest at a high-level summit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week. During the meeting, the Foreign Minister will talk about extending political and economic relations between Turkey and the Caribbean region and will discuss Turkey's bid for non-permanent membership on the UNSC.

[12] Turkish presidential election to be held in August 10

The High Elections Board said the first round of the elections will be held on August 10 and a second round on August 24. Turkish citizens who live abroad will be able to vote in the presidential elections for the first time.

It is expected that there will be around 118 offices in 56 countries open between July 31 to August 3 to allow about 2,750,820 Turkish citizens abroad to vote.

The results will be announced at the same time in Turkey and abroad. For this reason overseas citizens will go to polls before Turkey. It will be the first election of a Turkish President by voters as previous Presidents were elected by the parliament.

[13] Turkish PM's account of Obama's G?len response 'not accurate,' White House says

In their first phone conversation in six months, Obama and Erdogan talked for nearly one-and-a-half hours and exchanged views on strategic issues including developments in Syria and the recent launch of talks to reach a solution in Cyprus.

Although it was not included in the official statements, pro-government Turkish newspapers had claimed that Erdogan also conveyed to Obama his concerns about the activities of Fethullah G?len, an Islamic scholar who lives in self-exile in Pennsylvania and who the Prime Minister accuses of trying to bring down the government. Neither the Obama administration nor Ankara had confirmed or refuted this statement in February.

During a live broadcast on March 6, Erdogan told journalists that he raised the topic during the recent phone conversation. He also added that the U.S. President "looked at it positively" and said "'we got the message."

However, the White House has refuted this account. "The response attributed to President Obama with regards to Mr. G?len is not accurate," the statement said. It also added that Obama had emphasized the importance of "sound policies rooted in the rule of law" as well as "mutually respectful relations between our two countries" during the phone conversation.

[14] Turkey: Former Chief of staff released from prison

Basbug was convicted in August last year and sentenced to life in prison for attempting to overthrow the government. He had been in prison for 26 months. Upon his release on Friday [7 March], Basbug told reporters that his release was "only the beginning" and that he was convinced of the innocence of fellow army members in prison.

In addition, in an article to Hurriyet Daily News (08.03.14) under the title "Basbug's release a sign of changing balances", Murat Yetkin writes that Basbug was release due to the crisis in Erdogan-Gulen relations:

"[...] Basbug arrest was actually one of the first open indicators of the coming confrontation between Erdogan and Fethullah Gulen [?] who was actually a close ally of Erdogan during the investigations and trials in order to clear the way against the military, the secular establishment, and the Kurds.

[...]"

[15] Key suspect in Hrant Dink murder trial Erhan Tuncel released

The release of Erhan Tuncel was made possible by a change in the country's anti-terrorism laws that reduced the maximum pre-trial detention period from 10 years to five years. The law was amended as part of a 22-article democratization package that was published in the Official Gazette after being approved by President Abdullah G?l. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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