Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-06-20

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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: We waste our time

[02] Nami: The Cyprus problem is on a critical stage

[03] Sources claimed that the negotiations process will be very difficult

[04] Rasmussen: The key to reach the full potential of NATO-EU cooperation would be to solve the Cyprus dispute

[05] Commentary in Afrika writes about Turkey's connections with ISIL and Cyprus

[06] CHP requests parliamentary inquiry into ISIL funding

[07] Turkey gives cold shoulder to US strikes in Iraq

[08] Number of Syrian refugees in Turkey exceeds one million

[09] Erdogan says Europe without Turkey is unimaginable

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: We waste our time

Noting that President Anastasiades does not count the convergences that were agreed upon with former President Christofias, Eroglu said: "As a new leader, he doesn't accept these convergences and says 'however, if there is something that I like, I may take it'. It is like choosing cherries, he will take what he wants and he won't take what he does not want. He opposes the convergences of the past with new proposals. Of course, this is nothing else than wasting time."

Explaining that although on the issue of rotating presidency were agreed upon with the former President Christofias, Eroglu said that Anastasiades brought a new proposal in which the Vice President has no longer the right of veto and the election of President and Vice President are included on a single list. Eroglu wondered what that it means, claiming that the President will always be a Greek Cypriot and the Vice President will be a Turkish Cypriot elected by the Greek Cypriots.

Noting that the Greek Cypriot side brought new proposals on the issue of property at the negotiation table, Eroglu claimed that the Greek Cypriot side said that they can start negotiating the proposals regarding the property only with the condition that the property of 100.000 Greek Cypriot refugees would be given back and would they be able to settle down.

Noting that the issue of territory is the last issue that will be discussed except the criteria, Eroglu said that the map and the numbers, of course, will be the last ones that will be discussed after there is an agreement on all other chapters. "Otherwise, our people will see that they will become again refugees without reaching an agreement and the economic life will stop", Eroglu said adding that the trust to the current administration will be null.

On the same issue, "BRT" (online, 19.06.14) reported that Eroglu, delivering the opening speech at the workshop, said that the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) added a new dynamic to efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

"We shall all see together how great and strong an influencing factor this will become. Should this factor be strong enough it might impact the way the Cyprus problem will be solved. This change could furthermore reshape the geopolitics of the region" he said.

Pointing out that the energy reserves are not distributed equally across the globe, Eroglu said that this is one of the main sources of conflict and political competition. He said that global powers often chose to wage or support conflicts in other parts of the world far from their own territories. "As a result the existence of energy resources and the use of these resources peacefully is not enough in itself. A series of military, diplomatic and political necessities such as energy security which occupies the agenda of the international community arises", he added.

Eroglu pointed out that in the last 3 years a new dynamic had been added to the Cyprus problem. Stating that the natural gas reserves found off the coast of "South Cyprus" did not only concern the island but affected all other countries in the region, Eroglu said that the discovery had raised question as to the extraction, exploitation and distribution of these resources.

Eroglu claimed that as long as the current status quo continues, the Turkish Cypriots have an equal right over any resources extracted off the coast of the island, something he added which had been accepted by the Greek Cypriot side.

Stating that the natural gas reserves could act as a catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Eroglu said that the Cyprus Turkish side had tabled proposals on the issue in 2011 and 2012, all of which had been rejected by the Greek Cypriot side.

[02] Nami: The Cyprus problem is on a critical stage

According to a press release by the "information office" of the so-called ministry, Nami said that they follow with sorrow the conflicts in the region, adding that "we as Turkish Cypriot government extend support to refugees arriving to North Cyprus in the form of social assistance and education".

Referring to the economy of the occupation regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Nami said that despite the global financial crisis, their economy is steadily developing and new investments are being realized.

Reminding that a group of business persons and investors from member states of the Islamic Development Bank visited the occupied area last week, Nami said that the Bank in cooperation with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce is implementing a very important project worth 15 million USD.

Noting that tourism is an important economic sector where they are making considerable progress, Nami said that this is a promising area of investment where entrepreneurs from member states are most welcomed and encouraged by the government (translator's note: the breakaway regime) with favourable tax regimes. He added "North Cyprus is also emerging as a centre of higher education".

Referring to the cooperation with the EU Commission, Nami said that "the Turkish Cypriot state is implementing an intensive EU harmonization programme in close cooperation with the EU Commission. As part of this programme, they have adopted more than 70 articles of legislation harmonizing not only their laws but also the day-to-day practice with the EU rules and standards. All these are increasing the life quality of North Cyprus".

Commenting on the latest state of the United Nations led peace talks in Cyprus between the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot leaders for a comprehensive settlement, Nami said that the Cyprus talks have reached a critical stage.

Noting that the joint declaration has raised hopes and expectations, Nami said that as part of this promising atmosphere, the US Vice President Joe Biden visited Cyprus contributing to the process.

Claiming that the Greek Cypriot side is not using the process wisely and is following delaying tactics, Nami said that the Greek Cypriot side is not respecting past agreements which are the backbone of a future peace settlement and the result of years of work. Noting that there is a role for the United Nations to play in order to move the process forward, Nami said in this respect that all members of the international community are expected to encourage the Greek Cypriot side to adopt a positive approach and respect past agreements.

Nami also said that the new energy sources will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in Cyprus and the wider region.

Expressing gratitude to the OIC for their support to the Turkish Cypriots through OIC resolutions and declarations, Nami said: "These resolutions and declarations call upon member states to strengthen effective solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots and to take concrete steps to end the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Moreover, they call upon all member states to further develop bilateral relations with the Turkish Cypriots in all fields such as direct transport, trade, tourism, culture, education, sports and in this respect, to exchange high-level visits with the Turkish Cypriot side."

The paper also reports that Nami got together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Prince Muhammed, the Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and the Foreign Minister of Cameroon in the framework of his Jeddah contacts.

[03] Sources claimed that the negotiations process will be very difficult

According to a close source of the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, during the four hour meeting on Wednesday, the Greek Cypriot side said that they oppose the agreement to be an EU primary law. The source claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side is affected from this hard stance of the Greek Cypriot side on the proposals related to "all the citizens of TRNC should be citizens of the partnership, which would be found".

The paper also reports that the source also said: "The derogation will be received for the bi-communal and bi-zonality. It means the development of the indigenous model in Cyprus on issues like the purchase of immovable property from the other founding state, the residency at the other founding state and the implementation of some political rights. It was like this at the Annan plan". The source added that these issues were permanent derogations of a single road by differentiating from four freedoms (the free movement of goods, services, capital and people), claiming that the Greek Cypriot side supports these derogations, which continue for 5-10 years, and do not accept them as permanent.

[04] Rasmussen: The key to reach the full potential of NATO-EU cooperation would be to solve the Cyprus dispute

He made these statements to Ankara Anatolia while in the UK at the London-based think tank, Chatham House. He also stated that NATO has not received any request for assistance from Turkey regarding events in Iraq but added that NATO would not "hesitate" to protect its allies including Turkey, told Anadolu Agency in London on Thursday.

Rasmussen was ambiguous about the possibility of NATO intervening in Iraq, "As it is now publicly known, the Iraqi government has requested at least from one of its allies some military assistance. I am not going to interfere with that, that's a national decision." He explained that NATO is focused on providing effective defence protection for all allies, and he discussed this on his visit to Ankara last Monday.

[05] Commentary in Afrika writes about Turkey's connections with ISIL and Cyprus

The paper cites information according to which the terrorists do not want money from Turkey for the Turkish citizens taken as hostages from the Mosul Consulate some days ago but they want other things instead.

"They want Hatay (Tr. Note: Alexandretta) more than anything else. They demand Turkey to be the first to recognize the state to be established in Iraq", writes the paper adding that there is a danger as regards Cyprus from these developments: "The "candidate's state" (Tr. Note: meaning Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan) who keeps under occupation the state for 40 years now is having cooperation with the bloodiest for the time being terrorists of the world. Look? The ISID (Iraqi Damascus Islamic State) army in Istanbul it even gathers openly volunteers for its army. Do not be surprised if tomorrow these ISID members come here. If Erdogan sends here some few thousand militants and an event occurs with the Greek Cypriots, who is going to prevent it?", writes the paper, adding that very easily 500 ISID militants in a few days can create a mess in the island.

[06] CHP requests parliamentary inquiry into ISIL funding

The proposal comes at a time when Ankara is struggling to bring about the safe return of its citizens held captive by ISIL in the Iraqi city of Mosul, the second largest city of Iraq.

Ihsan Ozkes, a Deputy from the CHP, asked for a parliamentary inquiry to reveal whether some funds allocated by the Directorate of the Religious Affairs (DIB) go to ISIL and the al-Nusra Front, militant groups that Ankara has formally listed as terrorist organizations. Ozkes went on to ask whether funds raised by the DIB were delivered to ISIL militants over the course of the past few years. The CHP Deputy, himself a former prominent official at the directorate, also asked if some ISIL fighters had been hosted in DIB guesthouses across the country.

[07] Turkey gives cold shoulder to US strikes in Iraq

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said any air strike on Iraq could cause considerable civilian deaths and that the US does not view such a strategy as favorable.

In his remarks in Ankara, before departing for Vienna on Thursday, Erdogan indicated that Turkey, which has seen 80 of its citizens held captive by the insurgents of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq more than a week ago, will not welcome an air attack on Iraq. "America, looking at its stance and recent statements, does not view such attacks positively. Because the ISIL elements are mixed with the civilians there, such an operation could result in a serious number of civilian deaths," Erdogan said.

The Foreign Ministry did not immediately confirm the report or provide any further information about Turkey's stance on the possibility of an air strike in Iraq.

[08] Number of Syrian refugees in Turkey exceeds one million

In addition to camps for Iraqi citizens fleeing the violence in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, Turkey would also be setting up a refugee camp only for Turkmens, Atalay also stated.

[09] Erdogan says Europe without Turkey is unimaginable

At a rally for the 10th anniversary of the Union of Turkish Democrats, Ergodan said that Turkey would contribute to the European Union with its growing economy and young population. "Turkey will not give up on the EU membership process and will continue its efforts to join the union," he said. "We have come to Vienna to conquer hearts and nobody should be afraid of us or extract any meanings otherwise, if the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey has come to meet his expatriates in Europe."

In addition, Turkish Today's Zaman (19.06.14) reported that Erdogan's visit to Vienna on Thursday continues to generate reactions in the European country, with Austrian media outlets clearly voicing their opposition to the visit, saying, "You are not welcome here."

The headline of the Austrian newspaper Kurier was "As an election campaigner, you're not welcome here!: -- a headline similar to that of the German newspaper Bild during Erdogan's visit to Cologne last month. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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