Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-03-26

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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 announces possible visit by John Kerry to Cyprus in April

[02] Ozersay: "The only remaining phase is 'give and take'"

[03] Nami on his contacts in Berlin

[04] Denktas: Varosha is not a confidence building measure; DP and UBP could unify under a different name

[05] UBP-DP decided to have common candidates for 16 "municipalities" for the forthcoming "municipal elections"

[06] Gul asked from Ban to become actively involved in the Cyprus peace efforts

[07] New Cyprus Party issued a statement on the European Parliamentary elections

[08] Atun discussed with a US Embassy official the Cyprus problem and the direct trade

[09] Illegal Near East University alleged: "Deep Purple concert will be a confidence building measure"

[10] Kasif will visit the trade fair "Inter-traffic Amsterdam"

[11] The KTSO has signed a "cooperation agreement" with the TSE

[12] The newly elected executive board of KTTO

[13] A survey by KADEM on education in the occupied area of Cyprus

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu announces possible visit by John Kerry to Cyprus in April

"We have not started the give and take yet. We think that we should quickly pass into the mutual give and take process and end the negotiations with an agreement. The Greek Cypriot side started exhibiting a stance as if it is not in a hurry. However, the interest of the world on us has intensified a lot..."

Eroglu reiterated the allegation that the Greek Cypriot side should feel that two separate peoples are obliged to live on these lands and that an agreement should be made for this. "We feel this and from time to time we even suffer the pain of the non-solution", he alleged wishing that an agreement is reached soon with this last effort. "In this process, the relations of Turkey's economic institutions with south Cyprus [Translator's note: as he described the Republic of Cyprus] could increase and the south could have advantages from a 70-80 million market. Especially after an agreement, the opening of the seaports and airports to the south will contribute to the economy of the Greek Cypriots. If the Greek Cypriot side thinks in the direction of these interests, it will have no meaning to play with time. We are planning to end the negotiations with simultaneous referenda before 2015, but the other side's stance is important".

Eroglu said that he will bring this issue onto the agenda during his meeting with President Anastasiades on 31 March.

Eroglu alleged that the Greek Cypriots complain about all institutions that visit the occupied area of Cyprus and this has been turned into a "sickness". He argued that the Greek Cypriots write letters to the countries concerned and try to prevent such visits. The latest example, he claimed, is experienced in the Deep Purples' case. Eroglu said that they discussed this issue with President Anastasiades and alleged that his behaviour is not in compliance with the confidence building measures and the good relations.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozersay: "The only remaining phase is 'give and take'"

Ozersay stated that the conditions are ready for a "give and take" process to start as soon as the leaders get together. "The only remaining negotiation is not continuation of talks, but proceeding to the "give and take" phase. If this process' is called 'Cyprus negotiations' instead of 'chats' the only remaining step is 'give and take':, he said.

Speaking to the press at the self-styled presidency after his meeting with Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavrogiannis, Ozersay said that the two negotiators shared their opinions on different dimensions of economy, security and guarantorhips.

The two negotiators also had a quick overview of the previous headings and each side's position on them said Ozersay and added "Security and guarantees were discussed and we also talked about Turkish Cypriot position on involvement of all the guarantors in the process". The Turkish Cypriot negotiator said they reviewed 6 headings and that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to discuss the subheadings which the Greek Cypriot side wants to discuss.

During the meeting, the negotiators also discussed the agenda and the format of the upcoming leaders' meeting which is scheduled for 31 of March. According to Ozersay the two negotiators agreed on some elements of the meeting but also had disagreements regarding some of the issues. Ozersay stated that the position of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the leaders' meeting is to be well prepared and aim for concrete results.

It is reported that the negotiators' next meetings will take place on 8, 11 and 15 April and there will be no other meetings before these dates.

[03] Nami on his contacts in Berlin

"We conveyed what needs to be done in the negotiations process and we discussed as to how the EU in general and Germany in particular could contribute to the process. The European Parliament elections will take place in the near future and we also took up this issue. We also expressed our views about the possible impact the new balances of power to be formed could have on us. It was quite fruitful" Nami said. Expressing that he held a positive meeting with Ozdemir, he said that the Cyprus problem and ways of lifting the international embargoes "imposed" on the "TRNC" were discussed during the meeting. Nami also attended the Nevruz day celebrations held at the Turkish Embassy in Germany.

As part of his contacts in Berlin, he will also be holding meetings with officials from the German Foreign Ministry, representatives of media organizations, civil society organizations and businessmen.

[04] Denktas: Varosha is not a confidence building measure; DP and UBP could unify under a different name

In statements to illegal TAK news agency, Denktas referred to some confidence building measures they have prepared. He alleged that, for example, the one leg of the European Rally Championship could be held in the occupied area of Cyprus and the other in the government-controlled area or an international yacht rally could be held using all the ports of the island. He went on and argued: "We must show that we could do something together. This must be the confidence building measures, not the return of Varosha. Joint activities should be organized. These could be sports activities, cultural activities, but we must do some things in which the international community will also be able to participate".

Denktas reiterated the view that the Turkish Cypriot side is not ready for a possible solution to the Cyprus problem and added that they should establish their deficiencies as well as the kind of the derogations they will ask for and the period for which they will ask these derogations. Denktas argued that the EU should launch a "serious accession period" with the Turkish Cypriot side without the political recognition to be a precondition, because they are "very behind" and they have "very big deficiencies" both from the point of view of the certification and the laboratories.

"If we had launched a serious initiative when Turkey was signing a Customs Union agreement with the EU, we would not have been experiencing the difficulties we are today in exporting to any place of the world, including Turkey", he argued and alleged that "this accession process should start separately with the Turkish Cypriots until the solution, so that confidence towards the EU to be re-established".

Denktas claimed that the convergences on the chapter of Economy in the Cyprus talks should be discussed from the scratch, because "this chapter is unbelievably full of elements against the Turkish Cypriots". "Mistakes exist in the other [chapters] as well, but this is very important, because it is something which concerns our future", ha alleged.

Denktas reiterated his view that "something is being cooked" outside Cyprus on the Cyprus problem and that pressures are exerted on both sides from the USA, the EU, the UN, Turkey and Greece.

Meanwhile, in statements to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (26.03.14), Denktas, who is also chairman of the Democratic Party ? National Forces (DP-UG), referred to the cooperation between DP-UG and the main "opposition" National Unity Party (UBP) which started in the "local elections" and said that it is possible for the two parties to be united "in a new party under another name". He noted that it would not be appropriate for the two parties to unite under the roof of the DP or the UBP, but during the recent discussions for cooperation, they saw that the base of their parties has "embraced each other". "It is possible to carry this further", he added.

Denktas went on and referred to the next year's "presidential elections". He said that if the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu is candidate, DP-UG will support him. "In this case, it is out of the question for the DP-UG to indicate a candidate", he noted adding that if any DP-UG member decides to run as "independent candidate", he will be expelled from the party before the "elections".

(I/Ts.)

[05] UBP-DP decided to have common candidates for 16 "municipalities" for the forthcoming "municipal elections"

It was stated that the two parties have no intention to confront anyone with this collaboration and that their decision should be considered as an embrace.

DP- leader Denktas said the collaboration will be for 16 "municipalities" out of 28 and said that they were hoping to reach success.

According to their agreement UBP and DP/UG will nominate common candidates in the following "districts": Occupied Lefkosia, Famagusta, Keryneia, Gerolakos, Gonyeli, Kythrea, Agios Epiktios, Sinta, Agios Amvrosios, Dikomo, Pergamos, Lefkonoiko, Agios Sergios, Komi Kepir, Kokkina and Rizokarpasso.

[06] Gul asked from Ban to become actively involved in the Cyprus peace efforts

President Abdullah Gul met with US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon while attending the Nuclear Security Summit 2014 which was held at the Haque between March 24-25.

Gul and Ban discussed the Cyprus problem during the meeting. Agreeing that it was critical to keep the achievements of the negotiations held in February, Ban encouraged Turkey to maintain its constructive role in the Cyprus problem.

According to the paper, Gul pledged during the meeting that Turkey will maintain its constructive role in finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem saying that Turkey would be pleased to see the Secretary-General become actively involved in the Cyprus peace efforts.

[07] New Cyprus Party issued a statement on the European Parliamentary elections

According to the written statement some groups are demanding two seats for Turkish Cypriots in the European Parliament and a separate elections in north, and that this is not a sincere demand. "While no EU law is implemented and while no one does anything for European Parliamentary works to be activated in the north part of Cyprus, screaming "we also want" when it comes to having seats, is not a sincere attitude. YKP called everyone to vote on the ideological grounds instead of ethnic origin", the statement noted.

[08] Atun discussed with a US Embassy official the Cyprus problem and the direct trade

During the meeting, they exchanged views regarding the latest developments on the Cyprus problem. Atun noted that the Turkish Cypriots should start direct trade with all the word, claiming that "TRNC" (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) is a "full-grown state". Tahsin Ertugruloglu, "deputy" with the UBP, was also present at the meeting.

[09] Illegal Near East University alleged: "Deep Purple concert will be a confidence building measure"

NEU "officials" announced the date and details about the scheduled concert and answered questions. The concert is organized as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the illegal University. President of executive board of NEU, Ahmet Savasan announced that construction of Park Near East where the concert is to take place, will be completed by 24 May, and it will serve as the biggest green land in occupied Lefkosia. According to NEU Near East Park will cover 220.000 m2 and the stage will be 1,250 m2. The tent area will be 33 thousand m2 and there will be 1,500m2 area for food and drink stands, 200 toilets will be built and thousands of trees including old ones will be planted in the area.

Answering K?br?s Postas?'s question whether the "Greek Cypriot authorities" made any attempts to prevent the concert, NEU's Murat Tuzunkan said "in the times where the peace negotiations are on-going and we are all hoping for a solution, a rock concert, which is not a political event should unite people. Music is the universal language and should not be considered as a threat to anything. We invite everyone to attend. The concert will be free to anyone coming from Cyprus. This concert can be considered as a confidence building measure and gesture that shows we can be united by the universal spirit of music"

It is also announced that charter flights will be organized for anyone from the rest of the world if they wish to come to the concert. The Deep Purple band will fly to Cyprus with NEU's private jet.

It was also announced that the total cost of Park Near East and the concert is approximately 3 million TL ( Approximately 972.000 Euros)

In addition, the paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret Ozersay also touched on the issue during a press conference to the Turkish Cypriot press stating: "During these times when we are trying to find a comprehensive solution, everyone should work on building confidence. For this reason we requested from Mr. Mavroyiannis to give our message to Mr. Anastasiades expressing our opinion regarding the attempts to postpone the event and why we think the concert can serve as a confidence building measure" .

[10] Kasif will visit the trade fair "Intertraffic Amsterdam"

Kasif is accompanied by some "high rank officials from the police force".

[11] The KTSO has signed a "cooperation agreement" with the TSE

As the paper writes, the "cooperation agreement" was signed by the so-called deputy prime minister, "minister of economy, tourism and culture", Serdar Denktas, the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry, Ali Cirali and the "chairman" of the "executive board" of the Turkish Standards Institute, Hulusi Senturk.

The "cooperation agreement" envisages the establishment of a calibration center in the occupation regime that will exhibit the activities of the KTSO abroad, the standardization, and the cooperation between the KTSO and the "TSE" in the fields of evaluation of conformity.

The "cooperation agreement" envisages also the preparation of a report on issues related to the quality infrastructure of the "TRNC", the potential market opportunities, the trade conditions and the evaluation of conformity and the analysis of the current condition of the companies and enterprises operating in the occupied area of Cyprus.

AK

[12] The newly elected executive board of KTTO

Addressing the assembly of KTTO, Toros said that the society should be prepared for the new Cyprus problem process, adding that they will start very soon to implement the EU acquis and the time to adapt it will be very short. He explained that the sectors of tourism and agriculture are the two most important sectors in the occupied area of Cyprus.

[13] A survey by KADEM on education in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the survey results, 33.2% of total 38,900 primary/secondary education students take private lessons. In addition to this, the result shows that 39% of students, who go to private schools, also take additional private lessons.

Moreover, the 14% of total 38,900 students go to private school. According to the results, the 25% go to private elementary schools and only the 11% go to private secondary schools. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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