Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-11-26

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu met with Eide

[02] Davutoglu: No one can shut us out of Mediterranean

[03] Davutoglu: Turkey will defend its rights in the Mediterranean

[04] The US Ambassador to Ankara discussed with Turkey's Foreign Minister the Cyprus issue and the 1915 incidents

[05] Olgun said that if the proposal for a joint committee on the drilling activity is rejected then they could start talking about a velvet divorce

[06] The Russian Ambassador to Nicosia: The Republic of Cyprus is using the rights given to it by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

[07] Ex-UK FM Jack Straw urges acceptance of Cyprus division

[08] Eide's contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus; He met with DP and TDP; TDP submitted a proposal about Varosha

[09] Bozkir: The Cyprus problem is not connected to Turkey's EU accession course

[10] Serdar Denktas to attend an OIC's meeting in Istanbul

[11] Turkey to build third nuclear reactor with China and US companies

[12] Erdogan's remarks on gender equality stir fury

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu met with Eide

Speaking at the end of an hour long meeting, Eide said that he had been listening to the views of both sides on how the negotiations could resume.

In response to a question, the UN Special Adviser said that there was no change in the situation. "I don't know when the negotiations will resume but when the talks do resume we must move fast", said Eide, pointing out that the Cyprus issue is reaching a point of truth.

He said that the Cyprus problem and the uncertainty that ensued has been going on for too long and that both sides are reaching a point where they have to make decisions.

Eide also said that both sides need to exert an effort to return to the negotiating table, expressing the hope that a comprehensive settlement will be reached in a reasonable time once the talks resume.

Also speaking, Eroglu said that he had held a fruitful meeting with the UN Special Adviser and his team, adding that Mr Eide had conveyed to him the latest views and response of the Greek Cypriot side. "Unfortunately he did not get a positive response from South Cyprus (editor's note: the Greek Cypriot side)", Eroglu said.

Eroglu said that he had told the UN Special Envoy that the Turkish Cypriot side is still at the negotiating table and is ready to resume talks from where they left off from.

"Since it was they who left the negotiating table we believe there will be a great benefit for Mr Anastasiades to return to the table without any preconditions. As I informed Mr Eide, my team and I are still sitting at the negotiating table. The important thing is for Mr Anastasiades to regain his health and return to the table", he added.

Eroglu also said that he called Mr Anastasiades who will be travelling to New York for surgery to wish him a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, Eroglu will have a meeting with the British Minister of State for Europe David Lidington who is in Cyprus for a series of contacts.

[02] Davutoglu: No one can shut us out of Mediterranean

"No one can shut us out of the Mediterranean. We may conduct drilling if necessary," Davutoglu said on Tuesday at his Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting.

[03] Davutoglu: Turkey will defend its rights in the Mediterranean

On the occasion of a visit from the self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus Ozkan Yorgancioglu, Davutoglu called for the resumption of settlement talks in Cyprus. "Our call is clear: Intense negotiations that will lead to a solution, and immediate peace," he said.

As an alternative option before a permanent settlement on the island is reached, Davutoglu proposed the establishment of a joint committee to share out the island's natural resources so as to promote peace on the island.

Davutoglu also said that the resources on Cyprus belong to all the people of the island, so one side does not have the right to monopolize the energy resources off the island's coast.

For his part, Yorgancioglu called on the Greek Cypriot side to put an end to their "escape from the negotiating table". He emphasized that the solution to the problem is clearly stated in a joint declaration that brought both sides back to the negotiating table in February after a two-year hiatus.

Yorgancioglu emphasized the importance of having the Greek Cypriot side immediately return to the negotiating table, so that a permanent settlement for the island may be achieved, one which will be of much greater benefit for the Greek Cypriots as well as for supporting peace in the wider region. "It is vital to maintain stability on the island to ensure its economic development", he concluded.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Sabah (online, 26.11.14) reports that speaking at a joint news conference with Yorgancioglu, Davutoglu also said: "While the Greek Cypriot side is procrastinating the peace talks to gain time, with excuses like its economic crisis or Turkey's seismic exploration activities, we insist that the island's natural resources should be exploited in a fair manner under a united Cyprus". He stated that Turkey told the Greek Cypriot side that cooperation over Cyprus' natural resources can elevate relations between both sides, and the dispute can be transformed into a peace agreement. However, he added: "Greek Cyprus turned down our cooperation attempts and pursued one-sided agreements with regional countries over the island's natural gas".

Moreover, according to illegal Bayrak television (online, 26.11.14), Davutoglu, in the joint press conference, stated that they had found an opportunity to discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus problem as well as the political and economic developments in the "TRNC", adding that the Turkish government's priority is to see the strengthening of the "TRNC".

"Economic reforms and strengthening the TRNC's economy plays a crucial role in achieving political stability. Serious steps have been taken in that direction in line with the special relations between our two countries", Davutoglu said.

Touching upon the water transfer project, Davutoglu said that this historical project is the first of its kind in the world.

[04] The US Ambassador to Ankara discussed with Turkey's Foreign Minister the Cyprus issue and the 1915 incidents

According to sources, the 1915 incidents and the Cyprus issue were the main topics in the meeting between newly-appointed Ambassador John Bass and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu.

Cavusoglu explained Turkey's sensitivity towards the 1915 incidents, and said that if the issue came on the U.S. agenda, it may hurt bilateral relations, diplomatic sources said.

Sources also said the U.S. wanted the negotiation process between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots to continue over the disputed island of Cyprus.

[05] Olgun said that if the proposal for a joint committee on the drilling activity is rejected then they could start talking about a velvet divorce

In an interview in London, Olgun said that such exploration would continue and even accelerate if the Greek Cypriots pressed ahead with their plans to allow multinationals to exploit the area. And that, he said, would prevent a peace deal.

"We are approaching a turning point. The Greek Cypriots need to decide whether they want to share power or whether they want to go it alone with their resources," Olgun told Reuters.

"Hydrocarbon is a common issue. It can't be decoupled from the negotiations."

Olgun said that the two sides must stop exploration and exploitation work simultaneously and create a joint committee to decide how contracts are managed and profits shared. If this offer went unheeded, he said then that the peace-making process could be ruined and Turkish Cypriots would pursue their own exploration and exploitation activities in the north and south of the island. "The offer is to work together. If they refuse our offer we are going to exercise our rights on our property. It could lead to a situation where we could start talking about a velvet divorce between the two sides," he said.

[06] The Russian Ambassador to Nicosia: The Republic of Cyprus is using the rights given to it by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Asked about the Russian Federation's position on the dispute "between the two sides in Cyprus and Turkey" as regards the natural gas issue, Osadchiy recalled the view of the Republic of Cyprus that both communities have rights on the income which will be earned from the natural gas found in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but this right could be fully used only after reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. He added:

"We find this stance as a very reasonable one, because including the hydrocarbons issue in the negotiating process might make the solution of the Cyprus problem difficult. Moreover, we think that unilateral actions contrary to the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea are unacceptable, because this kind of actions prevent the positive advancement of the negotiations. The Republic of Cyprus is acting on a legal ground and as a coastal state it is using the rights given to it by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. We believe that the two communities could work together in harmony on the hydrocarbons issue only after a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem".

Asked on the way by which the Turkish Cypriots could benefit from the income to be obtained by the hydrocarbons in case no solution is reached, the Russian Ambassador pointed out that the question concerned only the case in which no solution is reached and expressed the view that things will not develop like that, because all actors concerned with the Cyprus problem say that the problem must be solved the soonest by the two sides. He said that he believes that the chances of finding a solution now are higher than ever because of the intensive negotiations process and the outside pressure.

Asked about Russia's view on the role of the United States of America in the Cyprus problem, he expressed the belief that the permanent members of the UN Security Council could and should positively contribute in the solution process, but they are worried about the fact that the USA tries to impose its views and values on everyone, continuously takes the role of the arbitrator in international relations and wants to solve the international problems by using force or exerting pressure.

Responding to another question, Osadchiy said that their view is that the negotiations must continue and take their normal course without any outside interference or influence. "We believe that negotiations are the only way of reaching a solution", he noted pointing out that "both sides must find the way of compromising".

Osadchiy expressed the view that the negotiations will start as soon as the Turkish Barbaros vessel leaves [Cyprus' EEZ] and after Turkey's NAVTEX ends on 30 December. When the journalist pointed out that "but a new NAVTEX could always be issued", the Ambassador noted: "Yes, this could be done, but such a step will only make the situation more complicate. We do not want for such a step to be taken".

(I/Ts.)

[07] Ex-UK FM Jack Straw urges acceptance of Cyprus division

In an interview with Anadolu Agency in London on Tuesday, Straw claimed that the division between the "Greek-Cypriot Administration" (editor's note: the Republic of Cyprus) and the "TRNC" (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) should be accepted as a "reality".

He alleged: "If it had been possible for there to be a happy, united island, well, that would be the best solution, with a bi-zonal, bi-communal constitution. But the majority of people living on the island in the Greek-Cypriot part don't want to accept that."

Straw explained: "I go back to the referendum that was held almost 10 years ago. I know quite a lot about what happened in the last set of negotiations and they have been frozen not because, in my view, of the fault of the Turkish Cypriots."

"So my view is the international community should accept the reality that there is division and that you have partition. And then these two rather small nations would be able to develop their own relationship and I think it would be a cleaner system," he added.

Straw was asked whether he thought it was contradictory that Britain on the one hand supports Turkey's EU membership, while on the other it appears to want to leave the bloc. "It is very paradoxical. I want us to stay in the EU. All three main (U.K.) parties, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour Party are fully committed to Turkey becoming a full member of the EU," Straw also said.

Straw is scheduled to meet with Turkish officials next week during the Tatli Dil Forum, an annual meeting which was inaugurated between the governments of Britain and Turkey by their respective Prime Ministers in 2011.

[08] Eide's contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus; He met with DP and TDP; TDP submitted a proposal about Varosha

According to the paper, the so-called minister of transportation and communication Hasan Tacoy was also present at the meeting.

No statements were made prior or after the meeting.

Meanwhile, Eide also visited the Social Democracy Party (TDP) where he met with the chairman of the party Cemal Ozyigit. The so-called deputies of TDP, Mehmet Cakici, Huseyin Angolemli Zeki Celer and the party's secretary for foreign relations Deniz Birinci were also present at the meeting.

No statements were made prior or after the meeting.

Furthermore, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (26.11.14) in statements to Ada TV and Star Kibris about the meeting with Eide, TDP' "deputy" Mehmet Cakici said that during the meeting, the conveyed to Eide their displeasure of the current deadlock of the Cyprus negotiation talks, stressing the need for steps to be taken for the immediate resumption of the talks.

Cakici stated further that they submitted to Eide the party's proposal about the fenced off city of Varosha (Maras) which envisages for the return of Varosha to its legal owners and simultaneously the opening of "Ercan airport" and the occupied Famagusta port. Cakici added that this step should be implemented as a Confidence Building Measure.

Claiming that the Turkish Cypriots have rights on the oil and natural resources of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus, Cakici stressed that the Turkish Cypriots should participate at a committee to be established.

(AK)

[09] Bozkir: The Cyprus problem is not connected to Turkey's EU accession course

Bozkir alleged that the EU wants Turkey's accession to the Union for four reasons: its strong economy and markets, the need for a young and working population, the need for a strong military force and the security of the energy routes.

(I/Ts.)

[10] Serdar Denktas to attend an OIC's meeting in Istanbul

According to the paper, a total of 75 countries are expected to attend the meeting into which the economic activities of the Islamic countries will be discussed.

(AK)

[11] Turkey to build third nuclear reactor with China and US companies

Turkey's state owned electricity generation corporation, Elektrik Uretim A.S., U.S.-based Westinghouse electric company and China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation announced Monday a multi-party agreement to enter exclusive negotiations to develop and construct a nuclear power plant in Turkey.

According to Westinghouse's statement on its website, a four-unit nuclear reactor will be built in Turkey as part of the agreement.

Turkey has plans to construct three nuclear plants. The first nuclear plant will be in Akkuyu, southern Turkey, which will be financed by Russia. The second nuclear project will be constructed by a French-Japanese consortium with a share of Turkey's Elektrik Uretim A.S. Corporation. The two nuclear projects are estimated to cost around $40 billion.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had announced last month plans to build a third nuclear power plant as a national project.

[12] Erdogan's remarks on gender equality stir fury

His remarks received reactions from the opposition parties. Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-leader Figen Yuksekdag was visibly furious when she said that the President of Turkey, who refuses to recognize gender equality, cannot preach to the mourning mothers of the country about motherhood.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Aylin Nazliaka also reacted to Erdogan's comments, saying she was not surprised at all. "We all know that he is sexist by nature," Nazliaka said in a written statement on Nov. 24, adding that he is "openly committing a hate crime" against women.

CHP Secretary General Gursel Tekin, meanwhile, said his party would fight for women's rights until domestic violence and inequality come to an end.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also criticized Erdogan's reference to "nature." "We believe that Erdogan, who says gender equality is not in human nature, has no justice or national and moral stance in his own nature," said Bahceli on Nov. 25.

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputies, however, defended Erdogan and attempted to emphasize "what he really means". The Deputy head of the AKP's women's branches, Ankara Deputy Tulay Selamoglu, said he meant to say that women and men had differences through their creation. She said the issue should be debated in terms of "human rights" rather than "women's rights."

But lawyer Sema Kendirci, the head of the Turkish Women's Union, said the President had committed a crime with his remarks by breaching the 10th and 90th articles of the Turkish Constitution, vowing to file a complaint against his remarks.

"I think it is a great misfortune for a person who represents the Turkish Republic to breach the Constitution and make statements that might open the way for more women's killings. Nobody has the right to breach the Constitution, regardless of their position," Kendirci said.

Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 25.11.14) reports that Fikriye Yilmaz, a member of the We Will Stop the Murders of Women Platform, speaking with the paper also commented on the President's comments, saying: "He has no right to say this because he, as the President, has to act in accordance with the Constitution, and the Constitution states that men and women are equal. As long as he is the President, he cannot speak like this. It is a criminal offense. He has overstepped his boundaries." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article