Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-04-30

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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: Substantial talks will start on 6 May; Territory will be discussed in the very end

[02] Akca: "Whatever the result of the Cyprus negotiation talks will be, the Turkish Cypriots need an institutionalized state"

[03] Talat: "95% of the Turkish Cypriots want the existence of the Turkish troops on the island"

[04] Nami: The reason for increased interest of the international community in Cyprus problem may transform regional dynamics

[05] Serdar: An agreement will be signed by force

[06] Ozgurgun: The expectations that some have on the natural gas will prove to be "a fool's paradise"

[07] Erk: Negotiators' visit to South Africa was a waste of time; Ozersay utilizes only experts from Turkey in the negotiations

[08] The company that lays down the pipeline for brining water from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus went bankrupt

[09] Veysel Eroglu: The water project will be completed shortly

[10] The "gross domestic product" for 2016 will be increased by 3.8% in the breakaway regime

[11] Turkey expects US to extradite Fethullah Gulen

[12] Ankara and Abril will start exporting oil without waiting for Bagdad's consent

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: Substantial talks will start on 6 May; Territory will be discussed in the very end

Eroglu made these statements yesterday during separate meetings with delegations from the Mersin Journalists' Society and the Turkish Cypriot Farmers' Union.

Eroglu reiterated the view that the negotiations could end this year with a decision for a referendum, if both sides have a will for a solution. He recalled that six chapters exist in the negotiations, that these chapters have been discussed before and that some convergences have been achieved. He alleged that "the Greek Cypriot leader does not want to accept these convergences and undertake a commitment to resume the negotiations from the point they had been left".

Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side would have to re-examine its so-called bridging proposals submitted during the negotiations with former President Christofias, if the Greek Cypriot side said "let us start from the beginning".

"I think that what [President] Anastasiades has to do is to accept that convergences exist between the former Greek Cypriot leader and us and if he has a new proposal to submit it", he claimed.

Eroglu said that one of the first issues they consider discussing after the screening process, which has ended, is the "Governance and Power Sharing". Reiterating the view that territory will be discussed in the very end, Eroglu argued:

"We had put our criteria on territory onto the table during the meeting we held in Geneva. The map and the numbers are in the very end".

Eroglu alleged that discussing the map before reaching an agreement on the other issue would create unrest in the "country" and this is why they are in favour of discussing the map and the numbers in the very end.

Referring to the project of bringing water to the occupied area of Cyprus from Turkey with undersea pipelines, Eroglu said that this had been their dream for years. He noted that the construction of the project is continuing and that the water will come in September, but they want to bring it on 20 July. Noting, however, that the important thing is for the water to come, Eroglu added that some of this water will be used in agriculture and some of it for drinking purposes. He argued that if needed they could sell some of this water to the Greek Cypriot side.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Akca: "Whatever the result of the Cyprus negotiation talks will be, the Turkish Cypriots need an institutionalized state"

Speaking about the negotiation talks, Akca alleged that the Turkish sides' goal is a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem. He said that in order for this goal to be achieved, the negotiators should fulfill their responsibilities and what is necessary at the negotiation table.

Akca went on and said that whatever the result of the Cyprus negotiation talks will be, the Turkish Cypriots, in any case need an "institutionalized state". He added that it is for this reason that they are exerting efforts for the reinforcement of the "Turkish Cypriot state" and its "institutionalization".

(AK)

[03] Talat: "95% of the Turkish Cypriots want the existence of the Turkish troops on the island"

Talat made the above statements while delivering a speech on the Cyprus problem at Adnan Menderes University in Turkey.

Asked to reply to the question: "Are the Turkish Cypriot people biased about the Turkish troops?", Talat said the following: "Opinion poll showed that 95% of the Turkish Cypriots want the existence of the Turkish troops on the island. Despite of what they say. (?)There is no prejudice against the army. The army is in the barracks, it is not inside the social life".

(AK)

[04] Nami: The reason for increased interest of the international community in Cyprus problem may transform regional dynamics

Nami said that regional cooperation in Eastern Mediterranean and sustaining energy safety would be among the most critical topics in the upcoming period.

"It is unquestionable that the reason for increased interest of the international community, especially of US in Cyprus problem may transform regional dynamics. The discussion that started around natural gas shows the geopolitical importance of Cyprus and its potential to play a strategic role in reaching a global cooperation", he stated.

Nami also said that a settlement to the Cyprus problem could contribute to stability in the region which covers the area from Russia, Israel, Lebanon, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Europe and US. "For this to happen Cyprus problem should be solved immediately. In that regard it is very important that everyone involved considers the current dynamics and issues directly or indirectly effecting Cyprus problem and cooperatively open the way for a solution" added Nami.

[05] Serdar: An agreement will be signed by force

During a meeting with a delegation from the Mersin Journalists' Society, Denktas, noting that half a century has passed without finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, said: "We have established different lives, the Greek Cypriots on that side, we on this side. We have a state even if it is not recognized politically.

Commenting on the Cyprus talks, Denktas said that although both sides give positive messages abroad, like "there will be a solution after 3 months", or "we are on the verge of a huge opportunity", he doesn't see anything like this on the negotiation table.

Reiterating the view that the Turkish Cypriots continue to live reportedly in isolation and economic difficulties and that there is also a financial crisis in "South Cyprus", Denktas said: "The USA, UN and the EU try to use the negativities of both sides. They will sign an agreement with pressure. Maybe with different methods they will make the people say 'yes'."

Referring to the demands of the Greek Cypriot side on the territory issue at the Cyprus talks, Denktas said that these demands will force their "people" to change their place again and a huge part of the population to be refugee for a third or a fourth time again.

Commenting on the "water project" that water will be transferred from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus, Denktas said that this project is politically important, because with this project the binding of the island with Turkey will be materialized with a cordon binding.

[06] Ozgurgun: The expectations that some have on the natural gas will prove to be "a fool's paradise"

Ozgurgun, who was participating in a television program, said that the expectations that some have on the natural gas will prove to be "a fool's paradise". He also alleged that while the Turkish Cypriot side wants a solution, the Greek Cypriot side does not share the same vision and claimed that the economic crisis increased the percentage among the Greek Cypriots that are against a settlement from 75% to 85%.

He also said that there are some persons in the Turkish Cypriot side who want to prove the existence of good will for a solution in the Greek Cypriot side but, as he claimed this is not enough. "Today, despite the existence of the Turkish army, it is difficult even to go out in the street. The action taken against [the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali] Talat is a prove for this", he claimed and added that this kind of incidents as well as the existence of ELAM organization should not be ignored.

Claiming that despite the fact that a high percentage of Greek Cypriots does not want a solution, the "prime minister" Ozkan Yorgancioglu talks about discussing the property issue in the negotiations. "In which island does Yorgancioglu live?", Ozgurgun stated.

[07] Erk: Negotiators' visit to South Africa was a waste of time; Ozersay utilizes only experts from Turkey in the negotiations

Noting that the dissatisfaction between the CTP-BG and Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu's office continues, Erk said that differences exist between the sides regarding the solution process. "Neither we will be satisfied with Eroglu nor Eroglu will be satisfied with us", he added pointing out that Eroglu is carrying out the negotiations with his team without informing the self-styled foreign ministry.

Erk said that "Eroglu's experience" is built on the two separate states and the confederation and added that "this has absolutely no value at the table he is now".

Erk noted that he is not sure even as to whether the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay is using the experience of the former negotiator, Osman Ertug, and accused Ozersay of not using Turkish Cypriot experts. When no Turkish Cypriot experts are used, it is understood that, only staff from Turkey is utilized, he said, noting that Turkish experts could be used "of course", but "the entire process could not be carried out with them".

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Erk said that 'aggressive groups' such as ELAM should be taken into consideration during the solution process and that the life safety should also be a confidence building measure. Erk recalled the recent attack against the former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat during a speech in the government-controlled area of Cyprus and criticized the fact that those who had attacked Talat were not brought to justice.

Erk argued that life safety is a more important confidence building measure than the issue of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha, which he described as "part of the comprehensive solution". He noted that the leaders are negotiating now at the table and claimed that parallel discussions on the issue of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha could not be held.

(I/Ts.)

[08] The company that lays down the pipeline for brining water from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus went bankrupt

After an application by the lawyer of the company, Serkan Yelgin demanding suspending bankruptcy, the Istanbul Court of First Instance decided on 3 February that the company went bankrupt and that measures should be taken. A trustee was appointed for protecting the company from its payees. The next hearing of the case between the company and its many payees will be held on 9 May.

The company is active in the construction sector for twenty years. Recently Kutay Insaat came onto the agenda in Turkey because it could not pay its employees.

Referring to the issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (30.04.14) reports that Birol Cinar, Project Director of the Turkish State Water Affairs Department responsible for the project of bringing water to the occupied area of Cyprus, has said that Kutay Insaat was not the company that had undertaken to build the pipelines in the sea and onshore in the occupied area of Cyprus. He noted that the company is only one of the firms that had undertaken the construction of the part of the project in Turkey. He added: "As far as I know, a big part of the construction in Turkey has ended. I do not think that there will be a problem, even if Kutay Insaat asks for suspending bankruptcy".

Meanwhile, Ali Cakmak, director of Anamur's Branch Office of the directorate of the project in Adana, said that a trustee has been appointed for the company and the works are continuing. He said that no change has been made in the project, the building-up of the pipelines has been completed and the works have come to the end. The situation of the company did not influence the course of the project, he argued.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Veysel Eroglu: The water project will be completed shortly

During a meeting with the self-styled minister of environment and natural resources Hamit Bakirci, who is in Ankara for contacts, Eroglu said that as Ministry they will give every kind of support to the "TRNC" (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus). Eroglu said that the main sections of the "TRNC water supply project" have been completed and the Alakopru dam in Turkey, as well as, the occupied dam of Panagra have been built.

Referring to the installation of water pipelines, Eroglu said that the works will be completed in a short time, adding that within this year 75 million m3 of water will be transferred to the occupied area of Cyprus. He also said at this moment, both the pipelines of the refined water facility and the main water distribution are on the island and the works of building these have started. The water will be transferred to occupied Lefkosia, Famagusta, Keryneia and Rizokarpaso.

Bakirci, for his part, confirmed that Turkey has given them all the technical support for this project. He repeated that if conditions are suitable, the project is expected to finish on the 20th of July.

[10] The "gross domestic product" for 2016 will be increased by 3.8% in the breakaway regime

In addition GDP will increase by 3.8% for 2015 and 3.8% in 2016. As regards inflation, it will rise up to 8.9% for the year 2014 compared to last year.

[11] Turkey expects US to extradite Fethullah Gulen

Erdogan, speaking with PBS's Charlie Rose, said that bureaucrats and officials linked to Gulen had tapped the phones of top officials of the government, including Prime Minister and government Ministers, in an attempt to make a civil coup against the elected government.

Erdogan claimed that Gulen-linked elements had seized power through Turkey's security forces and judiciary. "We were aware of their efforts, but we were blindfolded and did not expect any bad faith," Erdogan said.

Erdogan said that his Justice and Development (AK) Party and the Gulen movement had good relations leading up to the 2010 referendum to amend the Turkish constitution.

Erdogan added that the first step that the Gulen movement took against the government was the release of records of an Oslo meeting between agents of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Kurdish separatists, working towards the resolution process.

"The Oslo talks were steps in good faith, and the intelligence agency of any country can be expected to take such steps if they lead to peace," Erdogan said.

When asked about the normalization of Turkish-Israeli relations, Erdogan thanked U.S. President Barack Obama for arbitrating between the two states and urged Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to apologize to Turkey for the attack by Israeli forces on the Mavi Marmara humanitarian aid ship, which killed eight Turkish citizens and a U.S. citizen of Turkish origin.

"There remain two conditions for normalization, compensations for the Mavi Marmara attack and for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to Palestinians from Turkey or through Turkey," Erdogan told Rose.

Erdogan added that the first step for normalization would be the appointment of ambassadors.

Responding to the allegation of authoritarianism in Turkey, Erdogan asked how he could be considered a dictator given that he received 45.5% of the votes in the municipal elections, while opposition parties received only 27% or 15%.

Erdogan said that in a dictatorship, no-one can insult the dictator, while in Turkey opposition party leaders, journalists and social media users regularly insult the Prime Minister, whom they describe as a dictator.

Concerning Turkey's campaign for full membership of the EU, Erdogan said that Turkey could be a bridge between Europe and the Islamic world and added that despite accepting this, the EU has not acted sincerely towards Turkey.

[12] Ankara and Abril will start exporting oil without waiting for Bagdad's consent

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said they will start exporting oil as of May 2 ? with or without the central Iraqi government's consent, speaking in an interview with Iraqi news outlet Rudaw.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz on April 29, one day after Barzani's interview, confirmed the announcement, saying the Kurdish government may start selling oil in May. "This oil belongs to Iraq; they may begin its export in May," he said, answering reporters' questions in Norway, where he went to meet with several representatives of the energy sector. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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