Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-07-29

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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 visit of pilgrims from the occupied area of Cyprus to Hala Sultan Mosque is described as an "important step for peace"

[02] Eroglu: We should be patient in politics

[03] Yorgancioglu calls on the community leaders to focus on the solution

[04] Polish teachers visit the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[05] Turkey intensifies efforts for lasting truce; Turkey to send humanitarian aid to Gaza

[06] A founding member of AKP ruling party resigned

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The visit of pilgrims from the occupied area of Cyprus to Hala Sultan Mosque is described as an "important step for peace"

In his statements after the prayer, Atalay said that the opportunity to pray at the mosque given to other persons than Turkish Cypriots, who live in the occupied area of Cyprus, is something "magnificent" and a "very important step for peace". Atalay described as "important development" the fact that people from different nations could pray together at Hala Sultan Tekke and wished for this to become permanent.

"We wish for the environment of peace existing during the Ottoman period to be reestablished", said Atalay and thanked the representatives of the Swedish Embassy to Nicosia, the community leaders and the negotiating delegations. He went on and wished for the Archbishop's stance "to be continuous". Atalay noted that they want to organize mass visits to Turkish cemeteries in the government-controlled area of the island and added that they are ready to do so in case a proposal to this direction is submitted.

Meanwhile, Salpy Eskigjian, Coordinator of the Religious Initiative during the Cyprus Solution Process carried out by the Embassy of Sweden, said that the main target in the dialogue between religions is freedom of religion and the right to pray. She noted that this activity was a "good step" in the direction of increasing confidence between the two communities.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu: We should be patient in politics

Speaking during the 54th festival of grapes in the occupied village of Galatia, Eroglu also said: "It is important not to get angry. We should carry our political duties quietly. We are people, who know how bad temper creates difficulties, because we are in politics for years now. Particularly, we saw it once more at the leaders' meeting, which was held on the 24th, how beneficial it is to be patient while the talks on the negotiation table are being carried out. I am doing my duty on behalf of the TRNC (translatror's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus). I perform the bi-communal talks carrying the title of the communal leader, the President. In these talks, my real duty is to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. The most important duty is to reach a result on the negotiation table without handing over the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people. As a person, who knows from this aspect your rights and what you want, I will continue to protect them forever, as long as I am in this duty. Because the demands of the Greek Cypriot side increase every passing day and in this way they think that they may get their demands by changing their stance at the negotiating table. I think that in relation to this, every time patience is the winner."

[03] Yorgancioglu calls on the community leaders to focus on the solution

In statements to Kibris TV, Yorgancioglu argued that instead of continuously accusing each other, the sides should put alternative proposals for solving the problem. He said that the leaders must want the solution heart and soul, but he allegedly sees no such a wish in the two leaders.

He argued: "While on the one hand you propose the equality of the Turkish Cypriot people and bi-zonality, the things you bring to the table should have the quality of being able to be accepted and digested by the other side. I am not saying this only for us, but for the Greek Cypriot side as well".

Commenting on the allegations leaked to the Turkish Cypriot press that President Anstasiades had abandoned the negotiating table last Thursday, Yorgancioglu said that these allegations were a little bit exaggerated and added: "If you exaggerate because some things happen, if you said in the past that 'things go well, we discussed, we agreed, the meeting lasted eight hours', if you do this for presenting the others as not being right, for accusing the others, then you will be looking for a formula to get out of this issue".

He noted that abandoning the negotiating table is not good and no one of the sides should leave the table without producing a result.

Yorgancioglu said that the Greek Cypriot side allegedly not accepting the agreements reached in the past derives from an opportunity created by the Turkish Cypriot side.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Polish teachers visit the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

According to a press release issued by the so-called municipality of Keryneia, Gungordu briefed them regarding the historic sites of the town.

[05] Turkey intensifies efforts for lasting truce; Turkey to send humanitarian aid to Gaza

Ankara will send 17 tons of medication to Gaza, in a fresh development that followed rare dialogue between Turkey and Israel.

"As a result of our efforts until late [July 27], a temporary cease-fire could be possible. ... We hope this cease-fire will continue. We will do our best to extend this cease-fire," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters early July 28.

Davutoglu said he continued his phone diplomacy with all relevant parties, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Attiyah until late July 27, adding that his efforts would continue in due course.

"We are calling once again the international community to be sensitive toward the human tragedy in Gaza and the Muslim world to stand united in such hard days. We have called the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to hold an extraordinary meeting next week," Davutoglu said.

The Foreign Minister expressed his hope that Israel would cease its offensive against Gaza as Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr. "Turkey will continue to be on the side of Palestine. Their cause is our cause", he added.

(?)

Likewise Davutoglu, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also much focused on supplying humanitarian aid to the Gaza people. When asked about the possibility of establishing an aerial bridge, Erdogan said: "These are all parts of the cease-fire [agreement]. From the air, land or sea, all these can be possible [once] a cease-fire is provided. I want this provided. Mr. Ahmet [Davutoglu] insistently told Mr. Kerry about this. If this can be done, we can [provide] food or medication [to Gaza] from Turkey."

Erdogan, however, did not appear hopeful that Israel would agree to a lasting cease-fire. "Israel is constantly changing its position. And Hamas does not believe in them," he said, accusing Israel of violating truces it has agreed to.

(?)

[06] A founding member of AKP ruling party resigned

F?rat, one of the founders of the AKP, made the announcement on his Facebook page. "I am stepping down from the AKP, of which I am one of the founders, and I will provide some details for my reasons soon," F?rat said.

F?rat stepped down as an AKP Deputy Chairman in November 8, 2008, as a reaction to his party's policies towards the Kurdish issue. Until then, he was seen as a senior member of the party alongside Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Speaking to daily Hurriyet, F?rat said: "the contract between society and the party has now been annulled."

"When a party is founded, its program is a sort of social contract with the voters. You put your targets on paper. Everybody agrees and a political party is formed. Now, if the conditions of this contract are not realized, then this contract is annulled," he said.

F?rat added that the party had listed its targets and ideals in its code, but "failed to meet most of them, and in fact did the exact opposite of some of them," citing the "presidential system," as an example of the AKP's failures.

(?)

Despite these claims, F?rat has been critical of the AKP since the graft probe came to light on December 17, 2013, stating that the allegations surrounding four former Cabinet ministers and some people close to Prime Minister Erdogan, "could not be covered."

Last week, F?rat announced he would be voting for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) candidate Selahattin Demirtas, and not Erdogan, in the upcoming Presidential elections. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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