Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-04-09

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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] Ozersay accuses the Greek Cypriots of not accepting the convergences reached in the negotiations; Response to Mavroyiannis

[02] Eroglu: Our road map was not accepted

[03] Rubin issued a statement following Eroglu visit

[04] Nami and Ozgurgun briefed Fule on the Cyprus talks

[05] Water treatment facility inaugurated

[06] Contacts of Kosovo delegation in the occupied area of Cyprus

[07] Students from a U.S. university met with Siber, Yorgancioglu and Nami

[08] Taner Dervis hands over a letter for Varosha to the US Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin

[09] The Turkish Foreign Ministry regrets for the burning of a Turkish flag by APOEL FC fans

[10] Derya's demanding the closure of the Grey Wolves causes the reaction by the regime's representatives; Harmanci: The Grey Wolves are tolerated

[11] Erdogan evaluated the election results; He said that those who criticized AKP committed a betrayal

[12] CHP leader assaulted before Parliament speech

[13] Bahceli: Thieves cannot become presidents

[14] AKP Mayor in Bingol refuses to let women hold positions at municipal council on religious grounds.

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ozersay accuses the Greek Cypriots of not accepting the convergences reached in the negotiations; Response to Mavroyiannis

The paper writes that in statements to the Greek Cypriot press, Andreas Mavroyiannis replied to Ozersay and said that there is no document at the negotiating table. He also accused Ozersay of disclosing the content of the negotiations, noting that the former special adviser of the UN Secretary -General, Alexander Downer had also said that a so-called UN convergences document is not at the negotiating table.

Ozersay told Kibris that two issues worry the Turkish Cypriot side. The one is the so-called objection by the Greek Cypriot side to the convergences reached in the past and the other is the accusation by the Greek Cypriot negotiator against him saying that "you are playing the blame game" because he had stated this.

Ozersay alleged that the objections of the Greek Cypriot side to many convergences reached since 2008 will either delay the process or will cause its collapse.

He argued: "I think that if they (the Greek Cypriot side) continue questioning the convergence papers, this will stop being a mini-crisis. In fact, it is not a mini-crisis now, it is an obstacle and deadlock".

Ozersay claimed that in order for the problem to be overcome, President Anastasiades should get rid of the commitments he had allegedly made on the Cyprus problem in the internal politics or the sides concerned with the issue should say something. He alleged: "The UN has a position saying that we should benefit from the accumulated experience and not deviate from it. In the end the sides together did these and it is a UN process. Perhaps the process is not in a deadlock, it is not collapsing, but an important obstacle exists and this worries us".

Ozersay went on and alleged that the so-called objections of the Greek Cypriot side might be a delaying tactic because they want to wait for the presidential elections in Turkey and the so-called presidential elections in the occupied area of Cyprus. He argued that it is wrong to index the Cyprus problem with the elections and that the rational thing to say is "come and let us solve the issue until the elections".

Ozersay described the negotiations as "a wall of a house" and said that in case a brick is taken out from this wall, a domino effect could be created and the entire wall could collapse. "Some matters which we have accepted in return of some conditions, stop being acceptable with the withdrawal of these conditions", he claimed alleging that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to torpedo everything which the Turkish side was considering to be in its own advantage. He noted that if the Greek Cypriot side withdraw these convergences, the Turkish side will say that "since you do not want this convergence, I do not want the other one" and "this will bring us to zero point".

Replying to the statements made yesterday by the Greek Cypriot negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis, Ozersay alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side is still avoiding the "blame game", but the Greek Cypriot side does this at the level of its leader, who in front of the UN Secretary-General, had accused the Turkish Cypriot side of deviating from the joint statement. He argued that they could establish that there are many things which might be described as accusations or deviations from the joint statement, if there were trying to do so, but "we did not go around saying these, we did not go to the UN to complain".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu: Our road map was not accepted

Eroglu briefed the visiting students on the history of the Cyprus problem as well as the latest developments in the current negotiations process.

Speaking to the students, he claimed that a number of convergences had been reached between the two sides by himself and his predecessor but President Nicos Anastasiades is rejecting these convergences, demanding that the 6 chapters be re-negotiated from the very beginning. Stating that much progress had been achieved at the end of 4 years of negotiations, Eroglu alleged that scrapping the convergences reached would only consist a big loss of time.

Saying that the issue of Security and Guarantees will be taken up in a meeting with the participation of the three guarantor powers in Cyprus once discussions on the other issues are completed, Eroglu stated that the chapter on territory was extremely important for the Turkish Cypriot side.

"This chapter is extremely important for us because it will determine where people will settle and how the economy will be shaped. We expressed the view that maps and figures should be opened to discussion once agreement is reached on the other issues, a position which has been accepted by the UN Secretary General" he added.

Claiming that President Anastasiadis is rejecting the road map put before him, Eroglu said that the Cyprus Turkish side was hoping that the current screening process would have been completed by April 15th, a proposal which the Greek Cypriot side had also rejected.

Eroglu said that a repetition of the parallel visits by the two respective negotiators is amongst the latest proposals they brought to the table, adding that they wanted to hold a quartet meeting with the guarantor powers in June to discuss territory and the issue of guarantees.

[03] Rubin statements following Eroglu visit

Rubin said that he expressed the strong support of the United States for the success of the negotiation process, the strong support for the commitment of both leaders of both communities to see the process move forward toward a settlement under the auspices of the United Nations Good Offices mission.

"I expressed America's readiness and commitment to do everything we can to see the process succeed, to help with people-to-people confidence building measures and other ways to help make the benefits of a settlement real to the people of both communities. We are very, very hopeful that this will be a year of historic progress and we're prepared to play our part in supporting it", he said.

He also said the US thinks this is a period when a solution should be possible and that they hope that the two leaders in Cyprus will seize the moment. Asked if Famagusta is the key, he stated: "It is not for us to say what the key is or isn't. It's really for the two leaders to make those decisions."

Asked if the situation in Ukraine makes it more urgent to find a solution to Cyprus, he said that he thinks what Cyprus offers to the world today is a positive vision of what can be achieved through reconciliation, through negotiations, through compromise, with a vision of a better future for real people."

[04] Nami and Ozgurgun briefed Fule on the Cyprus talks

In a press release by Nami's office, Nami met yesterday with Fule, where they discussed also the crossing of the commercial vehicles to "South Cyprus" (translator's note: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus), the geographic registration of halloumi, as well as problems of the Turkish Cypriot producers.

During the meeting, Nami also briefed Fule on the latest stage of the Cyprus talks and the views of the Turkish Cypriot side on the negotiation process.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (09.04.14) reports that the leader of the main opposition party National Unity Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun, in a meeting also with the EU Commissioner Fule, discussed the representation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EU Parliament. Ozgurgun said that he asked support from Fule in order for two Turkish Cypriots to be represented in the Parliament with the observer status. He added that the meeting with Fule was very beneficial.

Ozgurgun briefed Fule on his party positions regarding the Cyprus problem, adding that they support Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on the Cyprus talks and they are ready to support the negotiation process.

Replying to a question how they can support the efforts of implementing the EU acquis in "North Cyprus" (translator's note: the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus), Ozgurgun said that a disappointment was created among the Turkish Cypriots in the past, because the EU did not keep its promises.

[05] Water treatment facility inaugurated

The Lefkosia Waste Water Treatment Facility serves the whole of the island.

Self-styled mayor of occupied Lefkosia Kadri Fellahoglu, Mayor Constantinos Yorgadjis, the EU Commissioner in Charge of Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule and a large group of guests all took part in the official opening ceremony of the facility.

Delivering the first speech at the ceremony on behalf of the UN Development Program, UNDP-PFF Project Director Tiziyana Zennaro said that the project cost a total of 29 million euro to complete and that the project had been successful thanks to the good will that existed between the two communities on the island.

Fule said he was honoured to be able to take part in the opening ceremony of a project that was carried out by the two sides of the island. After the speeches were completed, olive trees, as a symbol of peace, were planted in the area.

The Lefkosia Waste Water Treatment Facility has a capacity to produce ten million cubic meters of water a year, which will be used for agricultural irrigation.

[06] Contacts of Kosovo delegation in the occupied area of Cyprus

The delegation, headed by "deputy" Enis Kervan visited the "parliamentary speaker" Sibel Siber.

Speaking during the visit Kervan said that the aim of their visit is to discuss the possibilities of cooperation between the two "countries" and alleged the following: "The country that understands us the most is Cyprus as we share a common destiny". Siber on her part said that Kosovo carries special importance for the "TRNC" and added that bonds of communion exist between the two "countries". "The cultural, economic and trading ties between Kosovo and the TRNC carry great significance for us as well'", she said.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (09.04.14) writes that the Kosovo delegation met with the self-styled deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas who stated that they follow Kosovo's activities "with enthusiasm and jealousy". He also said that they want to improve the culture, tourism, sport and economic relations between Kosovo and the "TRNC".

Denktas also referred to the Cyprus negotiations and stated that "an agreement cannot take place by force".

According to the paper, Denktas was invited to visit Kosovo and the visit is scheduled to take place after June.

[07] Students from a U.S. university met with Siber, Yorgancioglu and Nami

Siber informed the students headed by the program's academic director Assoc. Prof. Dr Eleftherios Michael on the Cyprus problem and the solution process.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr Michael said that they had received many positive feedbacks regarding Mrs Siber and therefore wanted her to inform them regarding her views on the Cyprus issue and the negotiations process.

Siber, for her part, told the students that the solution process and peace on the island were two separate issues, adding that while a solution will be achieved at the negotiating table, peace can only be achieved through in the hearts and minds of the people.

Meanwhile, self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu had also a meeting with the students and informed them regarding the "government's" views on the Cyprus negotiations process.

Noting that they were at a time when they were very close to reach an agreement on the Cyprus issue, Yorgancioglu said that currently the two sides are testing their boundaries.

"We expect the Cyprus negotiations process to speed up in the near future and enter a process of give and take", said Yorgancioglu, adding that this was a new opportunity which no one should miss. He warned otherwise international factors could push for an interim solution overtaking a comprehensive solution.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (09.04.14) reports that the students met also with self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami. During the meeting, Dr Michael expressed his satisfaction for being able to meet with Nami.

Nami gave them a short brief on the Cyprus history and explained them how the "ministry" functions and how the Turkish Cypriots are carrying out their affairs abroad. While Nami was answering to the students' questions, he explained them the process of the Cyprus talks and the "ministry's" role in the negotiation process.

[08] Taner Dervis hands over a letter for Varosha to the US Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin

In statements to Kibris, Dervis said that he "enlightened" Rubin regarding the "Turkish Cypriot people's property rights in the closed city of Varosha".

He noted that he told Rubin what he had alleged in letters to other foreign officials and reiterated the allegation that the entire city of Varosha belongs to the EVKAF according to the laws of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[09] The Turkish Foreign Ministry regrets for the burning of a Turkish flag by APOEL FC fans

Bilgic was called yesterday to comment on the issue. After expressing regret, he noted: "We hope that this disrespect shown towards our flag in a period during which the comprehensive negotiations for a solution in Cyprus are being held, is not approved by the whole of the Greek Cypriot community".

(I/Ts.)

[10] Derya's demanding the closure of the Grey Wolves causes the reaction by the regime's representatives; Harmanci: The Grey Wolves are tolerated

Karamahmutoglu, who is currently living in Istanbul, argued that Derya's statements recalled him of the statements made by neo-Nazis in Germany who want the Turks to leave their country. He said that only the "judiciary" has the right to close down the Grey Wolves in the occupied area of Cyprus and added: "When I was establishing the Hearths of the Ideal in the TRNC, I did not establish them to close them down because Mrs Dogus wants so. These Hearths could be closed down only if not even a single Turk who believes in us remains in the TRNC. If Dogus Derya takes a side when the PKK members attack the Idealists, she must declare that she does this as a PKK sympathizer and not as a TRNC deputy".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (09.04.14) publishes statements by the self-styled minister of public works and transport of the breakaway regime Ahmet Kasif and the self-styled deputy with the Democratic Party ? National Forces (DP-UG) and National Unity party (UBP), Zorlu Tore and Faiz Sucuoglu respectively, who said that the Grey Wolves cannot be closed down.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (09.04.14) reports that Mehmet Harmaci, general secretary of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) has said that the incidents at the "YDU" are unacceptable and made a call as regards taking the necessary measures. He noted that this is not the first time that the Grey Wolves recourse to violence and added that in spite of this they are tolerated. He said that this encourages this group and pointed out that fascist and racist groups must not be allowed in the "country".

Harmanci went on and addressed some questions to the "prime minister" and the "interior minister", who are both coming from the CTP. He asked them whether they consider the Grey Wolves as "having a tendency for violence" and why they do not perform their duty if they consider them to be a violent organization. "If you do not consider them as such, you are obliged to give explanations to both the Turkish Cypriot community and your own deputies", he added.

(I/Ts.)

[11] Erdogan evaluated the election results; He said that those who criticized AKP committed a betrayal

Erdogan declared that the AK Party won by a landslide compared to its opponents, adding that the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) votes together didn't come close to AK Party figures.

Erdogan claimed that Turkey's democracy, political system, economic and social stability, reconciliation process with the Kurds and an atmosphere of peace were all targeted by a number of people disturbed by the "new Turkey" since the Gezi Park protests in the summer of 2013. "The actual target of these attacks was Turkey, Turkey's unity and brotherhood, rather than the AK Party," said Erdogan, who suggested that the agitators used every method possible to cause chaos, including street movements, terrorism, vandalism, fascism, racism, hatred and discrimination, and to discredit Turkey's international reputation. He added that they also did not hesitate to unlawfully record and wiretap people's private conversations and fabricate tape recordings.

Erdogan panned those who called for the boycott of the economy and for foreign investors to stay away from Turkey, as well as those who criticize the government for responding to attacks by Syrian forces which shot down a Turkish plane. "History will not forget the betrayal and these inhumane attacks," said Erdogan. He went on to state that a number of media organs, including those affiliated with the Gulen Movement, exploited their positions by publishing provocative and misleading propaganda and deceitful polls prior to the elections, while opposition parties did not hesitate to cooperate with such traitors in hope of gaining votes.

In response to the CHP's opposition to the election results in Ankara, Erdogan stated that CHP candidate Mansur Yavas (formerly from MHP) is provoking people to take the issue to the streets and cast a shadow on the elections.

[12] CHP leader assaulted before Parliament speech

CHP leader Kilicdaroglu spoke in parliament following the attack on him and told everybody to remain calm. Kilicdaroglu stated that they are not afraid of anything and they are determined to bring a 'healthy' democracy to Turkey. "The path to democracy is full of obstacles," he said. Later on pro-Kurdish Peace and Democrasi Party (BDP) Deputy Sirri Sakik announced that the attack was not related to their party. AK Party Deputy Samil Tayyar also condemned the attack via Twitter. The identity of the attacker is not yet clear.

The punching of Turkey's opposition leader in parliament on Tuesday was strongly condemned by Turkish PM Erdogan who said that this is not a correct way of behaviour in a democratic parliamentary system.

[13] Bahceli: Thieves cannot become presidents

"[Just as] two wrongs do not make a right or fire cannot be turned into water, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not fit to become president," Devlet Bahceli said at the party's parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday.

In his speech, during a considerable portion of which Bahceli spoke about why Erdogan was not fit to be elected as president, the MHP leader said, "The one who attacks the rule of law, runs away from justice and takes under his wing thieves and receive bribes is not fit to become president."

According to the MHP leader, any Turkish citizen, no matter his political stance, can become president except for Erdogan.

[14] AKP Mayor in Bingol refuses to let women hold positions at municipal council on religious grounds

Mayor Yucel Barakazi's comments have been interpreted as an attempt to prevent Nurten Ertugrul, elected after topping the AKP's list of running candidates for the municipal council, from being granted the position of deputy mayor. According to Turkish legislation, Mayors of towns that are not metropolitan municipalities choose one or several deputies, according to the population of the locality, to become members of the local municipal council. These are typically members of the same party as the candidate who topped the party's list at the elections.

Barakazi has been reported as saying that he "would not assign any women for the deputy Mayor post," adding that this was acceptable on neither moral nor religious grounds, and that society "would not accept it."

Following his comments, Ertugrul announced her immediate resignation from the municipal council, slamming the new Mayor for his attitude. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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