Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-05-30

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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] The Speaker of the Finnish Parliament is reportedly positive to the opening of breakaway regime's representation in his country

[02] Atalay alleges that Turkey is ready for a solution in Cyprus

[03] Eroglu told Biden that the US should make some actions which will hurt the Greek Cypriots; His visit to London is reportedly not confirmed

[04] Columnist claims that the cross visits of the negotiators updated the status of the Turkish Cypriot side

[05] Kasif: "No application to the ministry"

[06] The beaches in occupied Vasillia are supposedly to be private land

[07] A delegation of the Berlin Humboldt University visited the illegal YDU

[08] Turkey expresses concern over European Parliament's elections

[09] Turkey interested in Russia's new gas pipeline project

[10] Turkey's court rules YouTube ban violates freedom of speech; Swedish FM urges Turkey to revise its Internet policies

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The Speaker of the Finnish Parliament is reportedly positive to the opening of breakaway regime's representation in his country

Replying to Cicek, the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Eero Heinnaluoma said that he sees absolutely no reason for the "TRNC" not opening a "representation office" in his country. He noted that the "TRNC citizens' who live in Finland should launch the necessary work for this.

In statements after meeting Heinnaluoma, Cicek referred to the process of the Cyprus talks that started recently and alleged: "We hope that this time, the issue will end. And that a lasting, just peace agreement on the basis of equality is realized. However, this is not a result which could be achieved with unilateral efforts. Unfortunately, the Greek Cypriot side delayed until today. It is continuing to ask some privileges which it does not deserve by taking the backing of the EU. It is playing for time. Therefore, our expectation from you as a friendly country is for a representation to be opened in your country. There have been contacts in this direction, but there has been no development since December. We wish that the issue is concluded the soonest".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Atalay alleges that Turkey is ready for a solution in Cyprus

In statements to Havadis, Atalay said that in parallel to what he described as "Turkey's contribution in the recently began process", the European Union and the United States of America could positively contribute in the process. Within this framework, he added that they evaluate as positive the recent visit of the US Vice President to the island. "He did not put forward very concrete things, but in the end it [the visit] could be evaluated as a contribution in the negotiating process", he noted.

Asked whether he is hopeful that a solution could be found to the Cyprus problem within this year, Atalay argued that when one looks at the negotiating process, it is not possible to make an evaluation easily and in the short term. This, he alleged, derives from the stance of the Greek Cypriot side.

Atalay alleged that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have always played a "constructive role" in favor of the solution and exerted efforts in this direction, but the same is allegedly not valid for the Greek Cypriot side.

He said that the current process gives a little bit more hope, because of the more constructive role of the international community and the greater will it shows. Atalay argued that an agreement which will be protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and overseeing their equality is a condition for the solution.

Replying to questions regarding the natural gas, Atalay said that Turkey has undertaken an "important role" on the issue of the energy passages from the East to the West and Europe and accumulated "important experiences". He alleged that Turkey is the only way for the natural gas to reach Europe from the point of view of efficiency and rationality. He, inter alia, said the following on this issue: "?We believe that the entire island should use all the possibilities, the wealth that exists around this island. For both sides of the island. There is no other way than Turkey for the use of the wealth which could be developed there, for carrying it to Europe. The current developments in Ukraine showed that the most important basin and center on the issue of distributing this wealth is Turkey (?) Turkey has a serious accumulation of knowledge on this point. If there is going to be a development here in Cyprus' basin, in the Mediterranean, Turkey will always undertake this role (?)"

(I/Ts.)

[03] Eroglu told Biden that the US should make some actions which will hurt the Greek Cypriots; His visit to London is reportedly not confirmed

Addressing the opening ceremony of a meeting of the Yol-Is trade union, Eroglu alleged that the reason for which the Cyprus problem continues for years is the fact that the Greek Cypriot "administration", as he described the government of the Republic of Cyprus, does not see the Turkish Cypriots as equals, the international recognition of the Republic of Cyprus and its accession to the EU.

Eroglu noted that during his meeting with the US Vice President, he told him that the Turkish Cypriot side has the will for a solution and that it showed this to the whole world by saying "yes" to the solution plans which came up until today. He went on and claimed that the Greek Cypriot side, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, is recognized by the world and it is an EU-member state, while the Turkish Cypriots are allegedly outside the EU and embargo is implemented on them.

Meanwhile, a source from Eroglu's office told Kibris that "there is not a situation that necessitates the issuing of an official statement" regarding the visit which, according to the Greek Cypriot press, the Turkish Cypriot leader will pay to London. The sources, which are close to Eroglu, said that it is not clear yet whether there is going to be such a visit. The paper covers this issue under the title "The London visit is not definite".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Columnist claims that the cross visits of the negotiators updated the status of the Turkish Cypriot side

"The separate meetings with Turkish and Greek Cypriot negotiators held by French Foreign Ministry executives in Paris created some nerve on the Greek Cypriot side. In the very near future, negotiators Kudret Ozersay and Andreas Mavroyannis will travel to London, for talks at the foreign office there?

Worse is in the bag for the Greek Cypriots; the British are already working on plans to invite 'President' Dervis Eroglu of the Turkish Cypriot state for a 'working visit', during which, not with the Queen or the Prime Minister, but the Foreign Secretary and some top executives of the British foreign policy mechanism will have negotiations on the settlement prospects in Cyprus with their guest from the Turkish Cypriot 'state'.

The details and timing of Eroglu's London visit have not yet been completed, but neither Britain has such an intention, nor do Turkish Cypriots have an expectation to see a change in the Cyprus policies of the United Kingdom.

(?)

The visit to South Africa, social contacts in Brussels, trips to elsewhere, including European bodies, including heavyweights of the European Union such as France, Britain and Germany are heralding the opening of a new era that might seriously upset the nerves of the micro-nationalists and fascists in the 'southern part of the island', as Turkish Cypriots are becoming more visible on the world stage, even though their state is not yet recognized.

These contacts are all side products of the 'cross visits' of the first-ever trip to Ankara by the Greek Cypriot negotiator and the Turkish Cypriot making a maiden trip to Athens and holding landmark talks with top Greek executives. Obviously, if Greece can talk with the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, why shouldn't other countries do it as well? That was the genie Greeks ? though it was them who first suggested the cross visits ? did not want to let out of the bottle for a long period. The genie is now out of the bottle. In the past, Eroglu made many visits to London ? as the city is one of the biggest electoral constituencies of Turkish Cypriot politics ? but never was officially invited to meetings or was hosted in a social event that could be considered worth mentioning.

As one of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and its past record as a staunch ally of the Greek Cypriots, France considering it fit to talk to Turkish Cypriots alone is indeed an indication of a climate change. (?)"

[05] Kasif: "No application to the ministry"

Kasif went on and said that the "council of ministers" will decide if it will make an opening or an investment on the issue of the communications into the "country" as soon as the technical organizations and all related organizations make an evaluation of the issue.

Kasif said further that he would personally like to achieve integration with the "world" and to have the ability to "communicate" with mobile phones with the "south", however, as he pointed out, they should follow the necessary procedures first.

(AK)

[06] The beaches in occupied Vasillia are supposedly to be private land

[07] A delegation of the Berlin Humboldt University visited the illegal YDU

According to the paper, the delegation of the German University carried out contacts with the "vice rector" of the illegal YDU, Prof. Dr Senol Bektas and the "dean" of the Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Dr Ugurcan Akyuz and at the same time they visited the "5th Academiada" fair which is taking place at the illegal university.

(AK)

[08] Turkey expresses concern over European Parliament's elections

The statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday said that Turkey has drawn attention to the threat of increasing xenophobic, anti-immigration, extremist discourse questioning the European Union project at every opportunity.

"We are concerned with the increase in seats held by political parties that are xenophobic, anti-immigration, and critical of the EU project and that adopt an extremist discourse, in the European Parliament (EP) elections organized on 22-25 May 2014," said the statement.

During the past decade, the EP has been the most important supporter of Turkey's EU membership among the union's institutions; however, the increasing number of eurosceptic in the parliament is considered a great concern to observers, who believe that opposing voices on Turkey's membership will increase following the elections.

"We expect that in EU countries where the impacts of the economic crisis still continue, the reactionary votes of the electorate will be interpreted accurately by the EU bodies. We also expect that the new composition of the parliament will duly evaluate the results and adopt necessary preventive policies accordingly. ? This is necessary both for the future of the European project and the Turkey-EU relations," added the statement.

On Thursday Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's European Union Affairs Minister, also stated that it was worrisome that far-right parties in Europe have gained ground in the elections. "We see that there is serious increasing support for anti-EU and far-right parties. This situation creates concern in EU countries as much as in Turkey. The rise of parties that adopt marginal political views poses a risk to the universal values within the foundation of the EU," said Cavusoglu in a statement.

[09] Turkey interested in Russia's new gas pipeline project

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced that Moscow would choose a country not belonging to the European Union for passage of the South Stream pipeline, following the EU's reactions to the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

The South Stream project, which is expected to be operational by 2018, was designed to ship Russia's natural gas to Europe through Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Austria.

However, Brussels has put the project on hold as the EU seeks to decrease its reliance on Russian gas.

[10] Turkey's court rules YouTube ban violates freedom of speech; Swedish FM urges Turkey to revise its Internet policies

The court will send its decision to the Transportation and Communication Ministry and to the Telecommunications Directorate (TIB) with a clear demand of the removal of the blocking.

After the blockade, the Court unanimously ruled that the Twitter ban was a violation of free speech, which is guaranteed by Article 26 of the Constitution.

On the same issue, the paper (30.05.14) reports that revising internet policies and continuing necessary economic and political reforms are in the interests of Turkey, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has suggested, stressing that the country's only path forward is through Europe.

Commenting on the fact that Istanbul will host the Internet Governance Forum in September and YouTube is still banned, the Swedish Minister said: "I think it's very good that the Internet Forum will be there, because that will make it imperative for the Turkish Government to ponder these questions. There are complicated legal issues that need to be sorted out. It's in the interest of Turkey for its democratic and European development to resolve all of these issues in a good way. I think it's a good occasion for the Turkish government to take steps in the right direction." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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