Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-05-06

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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] Feltman's contact in Cyprus

[02] Eroglu's statement after his meeting with Feltman: Settlement can be reached within this year

[03] Ozersay: Property issue is not the only one we will discuss today

[04] Ertug: "The timing of Feltman's visit is very interesting"

[05] The occupied fenced off city of Varosha is described as "a museum of barbarity"

[06] Deputy Chairman of CHP Lologlu: Erdogan aims to resolve Cyprus problem in the period leading up to presidential and general elections

[07] CTP "deputy" will follow the PACE conference in Athens

[08] A couple from occupied Famagusta is appearing in "court" because it hung the flag of the Republic of Cyprus in front of their shop

[09] Mungan admits that the occupied area is a "dumping site" for companies

[10] The permission of the occupation military forces is needed to construct a road

[11] Evkaf promised to maintain the occupied church of Agia Eirini

[12] The 9th "National Allergy and Asthma Congress" was organised in the breakaway regime

[13] Turkey's Parliament ratifies graft probe on Ministers

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Feltman's contact in Cyprus

Making a statement after the meeting, Feltman said that he was very pleased to be in Cyprus which is his first to the island. "We had an excellent meeting with Eroglu and his team regarding the evaluation of the steps towards a comprehensive solution in Cyprus" said Feltman and added that he had conveyed to Eroglu the Secretary General's strong determination to help the two leaders and their peoples (sic) towards achieving a comprehensive solution within the framework of the 11th of February joint statement.

"The General Secretary believes that the joint statement has historical importance and thinks that the joint statement would be a powerful foundation for the progression of the substantive talks" said Feltman.

He also added that he had exchanged views with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim and expressed his personal commitment towards works to be carried out.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (06.05.14) reports that Feltman also met with the self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami. According to the written statement issued by the "Information Office" Feltman and Nami discussed the negotiation process and the upcoming phases

[02] Eroglu's statement after his meeting with Feltman: Settlement can be reached within this year

"We mentioned our proposal to the UN Undersecretary Jeffrey Feltman in which we propose that each heading that negotiators reach a consensus on to be approved by the leaders. We are now expecting Mavroyiannis to convey our proposal to Anastasiades", said Eroglu.

Speaking to BRT, Eroglu said that he was very pleased with Feltman's visit which took place soon after Eroglu's meeting with Ban KI-moon in New York. "Ban told us he was going to send the Undersecretary to Cyprus and we are very pleased that it happened soon after our meeting. This shows the UN's interest in the Cyprus issue". Eroglu also alleged that Feltman shares the same belief that the negotiations could be completed and settlement can be reached within a year.

[03] Ozersay: Property issue is not the only one we will discuss today

Speaking after the meeting which lasted approximately an hour, Ozersay said that he conveyed the headings which will be negotiated during the substantive talks due to start today and also the areas that have potential for progress.

Ozersay also met with Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis prior to today's meeting.

"The most important message Feltman gave is his personal engagement with the process", he said and noted that Feltman gave some very clear messages and that the most important one was the expression of his personal engagement with the process. "The fact that Feltman made his visit to Cyprus earlier than it was originally planned and that his visit coincided with the beginning of the substantive talks is an indicator of his personal engagement with the process", said Ozersay.

The Turkish Cypriot negotiator defined Feltman's timing as a very positive development and also said that the fact that during the period where there is an armed conflict in Ukraine the Under-Secretary made the time to visit Cyprus is an important move which proved that the Cyprus problem is among the priorities in the UN's agenda

Upon a question regarding Feltman's next visit Ozersay said: "It would be very beneficial if Feltman visits Cyprus more often. That would contribute to sustaining the momentum we achieved" and added: "Every step forward will build the walls of our new partnership, the new house we are trying to build. As we can't keep rebuilding the house we have to put the bricks carefully one by one. In that regard it is very important that a top UN official is engaged with the process. Of course the main principles are on the table. As it was stated in the joint declaration it is the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots who will negotiate this but the UN's interest will definitely motivate both sides in reaching a settlement".

Reiterating his earlier remarks regarding their will for a result oriented process, Ozersay said they met with his counterpart prior to today's meeting in order to save time.

Noting that as opposed to the reports on the Greek Cypriot media regarding the property issue being the sole heading that will be discussed during today's meeting, Ozersay said that "federal public service" and "federal authorities" will also be discussed. Reminding their proposal in which the Turkish Cypriot side requested to have meetings twice a week Ozersay said: "As that proposal was not accepted now we will try to have longer, full day meetings."

[04] Ertug: "The timing of Feltman's visit is very interesting"

Speaking to Today's Zaman, Ertug stated: "I cannot say [whether] there is a deadlock [in the negotiation process]. Feltman's visit will add momentum to the talks. This is his first visit and his first meeting. We hope that Feltman will come to the island more often,". He also said that the Turkish Cypriots would like to reach a solution before the end of this year.

The paper also invoking diplomatic sources, writes that, there are deep differences between the two sides as regard to issues of property, territory and security. "These differences pose a serious risk for the future of the negotiations. Despite the hopeful start of the negotiations, there has been no significant progress in peace talks", the paper writes.

[05] The occupied fenced off city of Varosha is described as "a museum of barbarity"

In statements to the paper, Hatay noted that the Confidence Building Measures should not take the shape of a bargaining included in the negotiations in a reciprocal manner. "We gain nothing by abandoning Varosha to lizards. On the contrary every day is registered against us as 'loss of use' and it will be paid", he said.

Hatay went on and added that all properties in the occupied northern part of Cyprus reach 2.5 million donums [translator's note: A land measure of about 1000 square meters], 1.5 million donums are Greek Cypriot properties, 500 thousand donums are Turkish Cypriot properties and 500 thousand donums are vacant land. He pointed out that only 500 thousand donums of Turkish Cypriot properties exist in the government-controlled area of the island and added: "That is, we have to give one million donums more. Yes, it is more expensive, but Varosha is not even 20 thousand donums. The property we are keeping for bargaining is that much".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Deputy Chairman of CHP Lologlu: Erdogan aims to resolve the Cyprus problem in the period leading up to presidential and general elections.

"Erdogan issued a surprise statement on April 23 acknowledging the pain of Armenians who were killed under Ottoman rule at the end of World War I and extending condolences to their grandchildren, a first such statement in the history of the Turkish Republic. [?] According to experts and various other sources, a comprehensive solution to the long-divided island of Cyprus and normalizing ties with Israel are the next agenda items", writes the paper.

"There are two imminent dangers with huge consequences for Turkey now lurking in the recesses of Erdogan's mind. One is to resolve the Cyprus issue, no matter what. He will go for a solution regardless of Turkey's or Turkish Cypriot interests. The other is the Armenian issue. Erdogan offered condolences to the Armenians to pave the way to an eventual apology," said Logoglu.

"The Cyprus step will probably come first, followed by an Armenian apology, all before the general elections in 2015. Then he will turn around and entice the Turkish people by claiming: 'Look, I am a brave statesman. I resolved two long-standing issues that nobody even dared approach before. One has been going on for 100 years, and the other has been a burden on our back for more than 50 years. We now are a better and stronger nation," Logoglu added.

"Foreign statesmen have gotten used to Erdogan's abusive language. They prefer to dismiss and ignore his personal attacks. Erdogan wants to stay in power. These virulent attacks on foreign countries are his domestic investment in both the presidential and general elections in order to make him look good in the eyes of the Turkish public. His foreign investments are the resolution of the Cyprus problem and the Armenian apology. What he does not know is that this strategy will backfire because the Turkish people will not stand for it and accept a sell-out on Cyprus and Armenia," he added.

[07] CTP "deputy" will follow the PACE conference in Athens

[08] A couple from occupied Famagusta is appearing in "court" because it hung the flag of the Republic of Cyprus in front of their shop

During the "hearing" on 9 April 2014, the couple was asked to apologize for its behaviour, but it rejected this demand. The couple has stated that in case they are fined with a pecuniary punishment, they will reject to pay the fine and they will prefer going to jail.

Afrika reports that the couple is prosecuted in the occupied area of Cyprus because it hung the flag of the Republic of Cyprus in front of its shop, while the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan saluted this flag during the Mediterranean Olympic Games in Mersin.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Mungan admits that the occupied area is a "dumping site" for companies

(I/Ts.)

[10] The permission of the occupation military forces is needed to construct a road

Kasif said that it is not possible to give a precise date when the project will be realized, but they will try for it the soonest possible.

Meanwhile, the self-styled mayor of occupied village of Louroudjina Hasan Barbaros said that the inhabitants of the village have been waiting for 40 years to construct this road. Noting that they have difficulties due to the lack of a road, Barbaros said: "We, as everyone, want to reach our house easily without going through military areas."

[11] Evkaf promised to maintain the occupied church of Agia Eirini

The administration of Evkaf said that the aim of leasing the plot next to the church was different and that they did not know that the church would have been turned into a stable. They promised that they will evacuate the place and they will do the necessary things for cleaning and maintaining the church.

[12] The 9th "National Allergy and Asthma Congress" was organised in the breakaway regime

[13] Turkey's Parliament ratifies graft probe on Ministers

It comes nearly five months after the sons of three of the Ministers were arrested on suspicion of corruption during a raid.

A total of 469 lawmakers cast their votes on a secret ballot on Monday's voting, 453 of which were in favor, 9 against, 6 abstentions and one empty.

The committee to look into claims against the former Ministers will consist of 16 lawmakers and issue a report at the end of a two-month investigation.

Former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Interior Minister Muammer Guler and Urbanization Minister Erdogan Bayraktar resigned from their posts after an anti-graft probe was launched on December 17 last year. EU Minister Egemen Bagis was discharged in a cabinet reshuffle. Caglayan, Bagis, and Guler on Monday addressed the general assembly in defence. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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