Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-01-05

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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: The Turkish Cypriot side will continue on its own way

[02] Siber: There could be no migration and migrants in a good solution to the Cyprus problem

[03] Akinci: Turkey's role in relations with the Greek Cypriot side should be of a negotiating role

[04] Ozersay continues his "election campaign"

[05] Ozgurgun called on Yorgancioglu to authorize the TPAO's NAVTEX

[06] A Turkish warship still follows the SAIPEM-10000 drilling platform

[07] Former deputy director of the "antiquities department" tries to explain why churches in the occupied area of Cyprus were turned into barns

[08] Sener Levent: We could still not find out who committed the "crime of the bathroom" in Christmas 1963

[09] Ozgur: "TRNC's Troika is Turkey"

[10] Twenty two hotels were closed down in occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[11] Tasyapi construction company will begin the extension project for occupied airport of Tymvou

[12] The spreading of small amounts of radiation from Akkuyu nuclear plant will affect Cyprus

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: The Turkish Cypriot side will continue on its own way

Speaking at the dinner on the 41st anniversary of the establishment of the "families of war veterans and martyrs association", Eroglu said that the existence of the "TRNC" (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) is their strongest power at the negotiating table. He noted that the UN parameters and an agreement on bi-communal bi-zonal federation with two equal founding states are there.

In his speech, Eroglu claimed that the Greek Cypriot side does not want to share but to turn the Turkish Cypriots into a minority.

On the same issue, Eroglu repeated that the Turkish Cypriot side is at the negotiating table still and continues to look for a settlement that they believe it is viable. Despite the reportedly high demands of the Greek Cypriot side, Eroglu said this is a negotiation and not everyone will got what they want ? the Greek Cypriot side should know that.

[02] Siber: There could be no migration and migrants in a good solution to the Cyprus problem

Addressing a round table meeting with the participation of students from the illegal "American University of Keryneia' ("GAU"), Siber said that after the solution of the Cyprus problem, no problem should be experienced on the issue of migration and citizenship, because "it is not possible for a migration and migrants problem to exist in a good solution".

Referring to the territorial adjustments after a possible solution, Siber alleged that "territorial concession will come onto the agenda in a possible solution, but the important thing is for what and in return of what this will happen". Siber alleged that during former Turkish Cypriot leaders Rauf Denktas and Mehmet Ali Talat periods a proposal had been submitted to the Greek Cypriots for the opening of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha under the UN control in return of the lifting of the so-called embargoes and isolations allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots and the opening of the occupied seaports and airports. She argued that the Greek Cypriots rejected this proposal.

Siber argued that a positive image exists about the Greek Cypriot leader in the world and a negative image for the Turkish Cypriot leader, because the former had said "yes" the Annan Plan in 2004 and the latter voted "no". She said that this perception still exists in spite of the fact that President Anastasiades allegedly abandoned the negotiating table and not enough international pressure is exerted on him to return to the table.

She also expressed the view that a more proactive policy should be followed and alleged that the Turkish Cypriots are the side that is right on the Cyprus problem, but they have to explain this better to the outside world.

Siber reiterated the Turkish allegation that the motivation of the Greek Cypriot side for a solution is very low, something which derives from "the fact that the Greek Cypriots are internationally recognized". She also alleged that the Turkish Cypriots are not a part of the international community and are isolated as they cannot participate in international sport and cultural events.

Explaining how the solution to the Cyprus problem should be according to her point of view, Siber argued: "The solution on the island should not be a return to the 1960 Republic of Cyprus, but on the basis of a new bi-communal, bi-zonal federal system based on equality in the light of the UN Security Council Resolutions, the 1977-79 agreements, the 23 May and 1 July agreements. The Republic of Cyprus model was a functional federation model and its life lasted for three years".

Meanwhile, according to Kibris (05.01.15), addressing a meeting of her party in occupied Vouno village, and obviously accusing Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, Siber said that it was wrong to bring onto the agenda the issue of territory which has never been discussed after the referendum and cause concern in the people by carrying out propaganda with time-worn methods during the pre-"election" campaign. She noted that this is nothing else than becoming guardian of the existing status quo and thinking of the interests of a small group of people rather than the entire "people".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Akinci: Turkey's role in relations with the Greek Cypriot side should be of a negotiating role

Commenting on reports that Turkey was unofficially holding discussions with the Greek Cypriot side, Akinci said that Turkey is part of many platforms of which the Greek Cypriot side too is a member therefore they have no choice in the matter. He added however that Turkey's role in relations with the Greek Cypriot side should be of a negotiating role; in this lay the principle of mutual respect to each other's rights he said.

Akinci refuted claims that he will be a partisan as he is a political person who will not deny his roots; Akinci said that it is true that he will not deny his political roots but noted that he has never been a partisan and he has proved this on many occasions.

On the Cyprus issue, Akinci said that he believed the Turkish Cypriot public had no hope any longer; this however did not reflect the fact that they no longer wanted a solution as this was untrue.

He reminded that he would be holding a press conference on the 14th of January to brief on his visions of the "presidency".

[04] Ozersay continues his "election campaign"

[05] Ozgurgun called on Yorgancioglu to authorize the TPAO's NAVTEX

In a written statement, Ozgurgun alleged that Anastasiades' positions at present did not take into consideration the UN parameters and noted that these positions are supported by the Greek Cypriot political parties as well.

Commenting on Anastasiades' insistence to the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus sovereignty, Ozgurgun said that it came as no surprise that Anastasiades used the Barbaros exploration ship as an excuse to abandon the table and said that his misfortune statement 'removed' the federation parameters from the table.

Ozgurgun called on the Yorgancioglu "administration" to stand up for the Turkish Cypriot side's rights and authorize the Turkish Petroleum company's NAVTEX once more. He also called on Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu to remind the "2011 TRNC-Turkey agreement" signed in New York on this issue.

[06] A Turkish warship still follows the SAIPEM-10000 drilling platform

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 05.01.15) reports that the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa seismic exploration vessel, which has been anchored off the coast of occupied Famagusta, has now docked in the occupied port of Famagusta.

It is reported that the ship docked in order to restock on supplies. No statement has been released as to the ships' next voyage, whether it will return to Turkey or back out to sea for more exploration work.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Former deputy director of the "antiquities department" tries to explain why churches in the occupied area of Cyprus were turned into barns

Pointing out that Dikmen had been given the "citizenship" of the breakaway regime in spite of the fact that it was known that he was carrying out smuggling of antiquities, he noted that they had said this in the past and warned that persons like Dikmen "damage TRNC's identity abroad".

Bagiskan said that according to the "antiquities law" the "antiquities department" has the duty of carrying out the maintenance of the "historical churches", but the "council of ministers" decided that this duty should be transferred to the EVKAF religious foundation. "For example, Apostolos Andreas is a historic church and became a property of EVKAF. This time a dilemma is emerging", he noted arguing that it is because of this that the churches "were left homeless". According to Bagiskan, it is because of this contradiction that the churches were and still are used as barns.

Bagiskan said also that in the 1980's the icons of the unused churches had been transferred to the depot of the "antiquities department". "As long they remained there [Translator's note: in the occupied churches], the appetite of the pillagers was raising. We had to take away the icons from the unused churches", he noted.

The paper writes that Bagiskan served in the "department" at various duties during the period 1975-2000. Bagiskan told Kibris that during the period he was deputy director of the "department", the icons from the churches in occupied Famagusta area were preserved in Apostolos Varnavas monastery's depot, the icons from the churches of occupied Keryneia area at the Castle of Keryneia and the icons from the churches in occupied Morfou area in the warehouses next to Saint Mamas church.

Referring to the trial in Germany, the paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot side did not follow the process since it had sent a letter in 1997 asking for the stolen antiquities to be returned to the occupied area of Cyprus, but the answer by the German authorities was negative due to the fact that the regime is non-recognized.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Sener Levent: We could still not find out who committed the "crime of the bathroom" in Christmas 1963

Levent writes, inter alia, the following in his column:

"We do not say that this [crime] was committed by Turkish extremists in order to secure Turkey's intervention in the island. The official propaganda says that this is a barbarity of the Greeks. If the Greeks are really the ones who did this, we are investigating how this was done. The Greek Cypriot national guards, who captured everyone as hostage, killed nobody else that night at Kumsal [area] except for Erdogan Rifat who had come in front of them with a hunting rifle. Why they killed this mother and her children? There are more questions like this. Were they killed in the bath or outside the bath? The official propaganda says that they were killed in the bathtub in which they hide. However, the picture we obtained and published fifty years afterwards proves that they were not killed in the bathtub. There is no blood in the bath! [?]

We obtained now this picture and we published it now. If we had found it earlier we would have published it earlier. [?]

Who had taken the picture we published? Yesterday we found out that it was 'Foto Osman Rekor'. Osman Rekor is one of our oldest and experienced photographers and journalists. He has a very wealthy archive. Photographs which have not been published anywhere. Thousands of photographs. Does he have other pictures taken from the crime in the bath? I do not know that. If someone buys his archive, maybe we will find out then. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[09] Ozgur: "TRNC's Troika is Turkey"

In a report in Kibris Postasi by Vatan Mehmet, Ozgur said that the "TRNC's (editor'sn note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) Troika is Turkey and an impasse with them of any sort is out of the question. He added that there has not been any pressure as such on the Turkish Cypriot side to pay the debt within a given time frame.

Ozgur said that in his opinion there are serious differences between the present period in Greece now and the political and economic conditions in the "TRNC".

[10] Twenty two hotels were closed down in occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

Meanwhile, the paper reports that despite 34,543 companies are "registered" in the "TRNC", only 21,997 companies are active accordingly to the "social security department". The active companies are increased by 505 compared to 22,502 in 2013.

[11] Tasyapi construction company will begin the extension project for occupied airport of Tymvou

The contract will entail lengthening of the apron by 500ms, building a parallel apron of 3ms next to the existing one and the construction of a new terminal building. In addition to this a 500metre tunnel to reach the new terminal will also be built.

Tacoy said the new terminal and apron will be completed in 4 years. In order to completely hand over the airport to Tasyapi various steps needed to be taken, like the evacuating of the military zone and the hangar used by Istanbul Handling Ltd.

Tacoy visited the occupied airport on Sunday to witness the demolition of the hangar used by Istanbul Handling.

[12] The spreading of small amounts of radiation from Akkuyu nuclear plant will affect Cyprus

KIBRIS POSTASI reporter Hasan Yikici spoke to Atar who said that "Cyprus needs to wake up from its beauty sleep!", adding that it is time to fight together for our future.

Atar stated that the establishment of a nuclear plant in Akkuyu will not only have local difficulties but regional issues as well. Despite Akkuyu being 180kms away from Mersin, it is only 90kms away from Cyprus; any accident will affect the Cypriot public and its tourism directly. Atar said that it is not only accidents but also the spreading of small amounts of radiation that will affect the island based on weather conditions. He called on those opposed to the nuclear plant to be more active. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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