Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-01-26

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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] Cavusoglu: We are ready to work with Syriza Government

[02] Eroglu: Turkish Cypriots do not need a solution

[03] Davutoglu: The natural gas should go through Turkey in order to have peace in Cyprus

[04] Izcan: The return of the Direct Trade Regulation into the agenda is wrong

[05] How the Turkish Cypriot and the Turkish press covered SYRIZA's election victory in Greece

[06] The view of the Turkish Cypriots for the solution of the Cyprus problem has changed; 43.9% view the Greek Cypriots as their "historical enemy"

[07] Information on the population in the occupied area of Cyprus in 2014

[08] The breakaway regime granted work permit to 44,000 persons in 2014

[09] The breakaway regime deported 772 persons because they were suffering from serious illnesses

[10] Toros met European officials

[11] Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council is holding contacts in Holland and Brussels

[12] The Turkish Cypriots will register Zivania and other traditional products in Turkey

[13] Gulden Plumer Kucuk: Locating missing persons has become harder

[14] Alakopru dam in Turkey to hold water on 26th January

[15] The TGNA approves the opening of a coordination office for the occupied area of Cyprus

[16] Erdogan: Turkey will not beg for accession to the EU

[17] Turkish court blocks access to Facebook pages that 'insult' Prophet Muhammad

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Cavusoglu: We are ready to work with Syriza Government

Stating that the decision belongs to the Greek people, Cavusoglu said: "Everybody should respect this decision. We definitely respect the decision of the Greek people. We are ready to work with whatever government comes to power.

Reminding that productive meetings had previously been held with Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, Cavusoglu added: "We would like to continue with these contacts. In particular, we would like to continue with these meetings in a bid to reduce the tension in the Aegean and the existing problems. We want the Cyprus negotiations to resume. We also want for the drilling work in eastern Mediterranean to be carried out jointly and not unilaterally. Greece has an important role to assume on these issues. "

[02] Eroglu: Turkish Cypriots do not need a solution

Speaking during a visit at the occupied Kampyli, Myrtou and Vasillia, Eroglu pointed to Cyprus President Anastasiades' statements for Turkey to recognise the Greek Cypriot sovereignty (editor's note: as Eroglu refers to the Republic of Cyprus) and added that this is not going to happen as the Turkish Cypriot state exists (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus).

Eroglu has called on the Greek Cypriot leadership to return to the table with no preconditions as they would only know if there was going to be a solution or not at the table.

Eroglu also called on the "people" to go to the polls to elect the person who would protect their rights at the table.

[03] Davutoglu: The natural gas should go through Turkey in order to have peace in Cyprus

Referring to Turkey's EU membership, Davutoglu said: "We are ready to open the 27 chapters. If there are no political preventions and these chapters are opened we can easily conclude 15 of them. I assure you that Turkey can be ready for full membership in two years if these political obstacles are removed. We are unfortunately unable to move forward because of the Cyprus problem and preventative efforts of some member countries".

[04] Izcan: The return of the Direct Trade Regulation into the agenda is wrong

In a written statement, Izcan said that the Law Office of the Council of Europe has ruled that the Direct Trade Regulation is not legal and the implementation of this regulation is not possible. He added that despite this reality, those who bring back into the agenda this regulation in order to lift the "isolations" are insincere and are deceiving the community.

Izcan said that the obstacles which are before the Turkish Cypriot community to make a direct trade, pass through the simultaneously opening of occupied port of Famagusta and the occupied airport of Tymbou with the return of fenced off town of Varosha within the framework of the confidence building measures.

Izcan stressed that everybody should realize that the essence of the issue is the solution of the Cyprus problem and added: "If your intention is not the solution, don't try to deceive both the Cypriots and the world with wrong information and such kind of manoeuvre, no one has an intention to be deceived."

[05] How the Turkish Cypriot and the Turkish press covered SYRIZA's election victory in Greece

Under the banner title "New era in Greece", daily Kibris reports that "radical left coalition party SYRIZA, which opposes the austerity policies of the European Union (EU) won the early parliamentary elections held yesterday in Greece with a percentage higher than 36%". The paper writes that SYRIZA lost the chance of establishing a government on its own only for two seats. The paper publishes also excerpts of SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras' statement after his party's victory saying that "Troika will no more have a say" in Greece. The paper notes that Nea Dimokratia of outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras came in second place winning 27.99% and 77 seats in the 300-member parliament, followed in the third place by neo-Nazi Chrysi Avgi party which won 17 seats after securing 6,32% of the votes.

Afrika refers to "revival of the left in Europe with Syriza" and notes that the left in Greece achieved "a big victory of which Turkey could not even dream about at the moment". The paper reports on the issue on its front page under the banner title "It beat all hollow".

The other daily papers cover the issue under the following titles:

Yeni Duzen: Left hope in Greece

Havadis: The streets overtook the power in Greece

Halkin Sesi: The victory in Greece belongs to the radical left

Vatan: What Europe feared happened

Ortam: Syriza hurricane in Greece

Kibris Postasi: The victory belongs to Syriza! The first visit to Cyprus

Diyalog: Heavy blow to the EU ? Above the title: Syriza which carried out its propaganda saying that it will erase the debts secured the support of the Greek people

Detay and Star Kibris: Great victory by Syriza

In addition the Turkish Press covered Syriza's victory as follows:

Hurriyet: "The rebellious kid came to power". The paper notes that Tsipras is the winner of the Greek elections and that his first aim is to help Greece escape from the "EU's rescue plan".

Sabah: "Tsipras era in the neighboring country". The paper notes that a new page is opened for Greece after Syriza's victory.

(I/Ts.-CS)

[06] The view of the Turkish Cypriots for the solution of the Cyprus problem has changed; 43.9% view the Greek Cypriots as their "historical enemy"

Akay said that the results showed that the Turkish Cypriots adopt a "solution model based on pragmatic interests rather than on the concepts of peace, brotherhood and common country". He argued that the Turkish Cypriots started to distance themselves from the solution based on the Annan Plan, after the 2004 referendum and the rejection of the plan by the Greek Cypriots.

The findings of the survey are as following:

62.7% of the participants in the survey want a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution as it is generally described by the UN, but 60.1% believe that such a solution will not be found.

93.7% believe that a solution which Turkey does not approve is not possible.

63.1% are in favour for Turkey's guarantees to continue unchanged.

57.5% said that they want a powerful presence of the Turkish army in Cyprus even after the solution of the Cyprus problem.

78.8% are against the return of occupied Morfou to its legal Greek Cypriot inhabitants for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, while 83.7% oppose the settling of Greek Cypriots in occupied Karpasia.

67.1% are against Greek Cypriots living in the area under Turkish administration after the solution and 60.5% are against the return of property to the Greek Cypriots.

46.3% want to become citizens of the "new state" which will be established after the solution. 72.4% want this state to have a rotating presidency.

77.7% said that they want the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to have a separate sovereignty after the solution, while 51% are in favor of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha to remain under its current status until an overall solution to the Cyprus problem is reached.

The most preferable solution model for the 47.2% of the respondents is a federal Cyprus comprised by two constituent states. 43.9% think that this solution model is the most possible.

60.1% is in favor of the sharing of the hydrocarbon resources after the solution of the Cyprus problem and 9% approve the actions of the Republic of Cyprus on this issue.

68.3% of the respondents is not satisfied with the actions of the self-styled government of the regime after October 2014.

44% of the respondents described the "TRNC" [the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus] as their homeland, while 23.3% said that their homeland is "TRNC" and Turkey. 28.4% described the whole Cyprus as their homeland, which 3.3% said that their homeland is only Turkey. 53.2% called Turkey as their "motherland".

43.9% of the participants described the Greek Cypriots as their "historical enemy", 0.8% as their "friend", 20.6% as their "neighbor" and 30.8% as "Cypriots speaking a different language".

(I/Ts.)

[07] Information on the population in the occupied area of Cyprus in 2014

The paper writes that 998 children were born in occupied Lefkosia, 813 in Famagusta, 512 in Keryneia, 101 in Morfou-Lefka and 9 in Trikomo. In addition, 587 persosn died in occupied Lefkosia, 205 in Famagusta, 83 in Keryneia, 56 in Morfou- Lefka, 44 in Trikomo and 149 persons died abroad.

In addition, 11,684 persons issued an identity card for the first time and 1,124 persons were granted the "TRNC citizenship".

[08] The breakaway regime granted work permit to 44,000 persons in 2014

According to the paper, 14,529 persons were granted working permit for the first time, while 20,843 persons got their work permit prolonged and 7,130 persons got a work permit in order to change the nature or the place of their employment.

[09] The breakaway regime deported 772 persons because they were suffering from serious illnesses

According to the paper, 163 out of the 772 persons had AIDs while the rest of them suffered from Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis.

Speaking to the paper, Urologist Alper Sozuoz stated that this is a huge number for such a small place like the breakaway regime but this kind of action must be taken on health reasons.

[10] Toros met European officials

According to a statement issued by the Chamber, Toros explained to Popens the Turkish Cypriot "urgent" expectations on the Direct Trade Regulation, the registration of the halloumi cheese and expanding the provisions of the Green Line Regulation. Noting that the Direct Trade Regulation has paved the way for the Turkish Cypriots trading directly with the EU, Toros described as "saddening" the fact that a humanitarian issue such as the direct trade of the Turkish Cypriots, who are EU citizens", is politicized. He argued that such a trade would motivate everyone for reaching the EU standards and added that another means which would prepare the Turkish Cypriots for the solution of the Cyprus problem is the Green Line Regulation, which should be revised and improved. He expressed the view that if the commercial vehicles and processed food were permitted to cross over to the government-controlled area of the island, this would have a very significant contribution to the volume of trade within the framework of this regulation.

Toros further claimed that if the EU does not develop a mechanism for the Turkish Cypriot producers when registering the halloumi cheese, this will harm the trade of this product which constitutes one fourth of the regime's exports and will have negative effects on the Turkish Cypriot economy. He alleged that this will also contradict to the promises given by the EU to the Turkish Cypriots and complained that the EU has not kept the promise it gave last year to intensify the harmonization of the Turkish Cypriots with the Union.

According to the chamber's statement, Popens said that their cooperation will continue and increase and expressed his satisfaction with his briefing by Toros, describing the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce as the "EU's most important partner here".

(I/Ts.)

[11] Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council is holding contacts in Holland and Brussels

According to the KTIAK chairman Ilker Zugurt, KTIAK which is exerting efforts for the recognition of the "TRNC", as he said, is going to Zurich in order to sign a cooperation protocol with the European Turkish World Work Confederation (UNITEE) which is having a conference in Holland these days.

In addition the delegation will have meetings with European Parliamentarians in Brussels where it will hold lobby activities for the halloumi/ hellim issue.

[12] The Turkish Cypriots will register Zivania and other traditional products in Turkey

The chairman of the "chamber", Ali Cirali told the paper that after the registration Zivania could become a trade mark in high demand in Turkey and other countries and added that they could promote this drink and make it an important trade mark in many countries.

(I/Ts.)

[13] Gulden Plumer Kucuk: Locating missing persons has become harder

She said that chances of finding missing persons had dropped from 43% in 2006 to 17% in 2015.

Speaking to the Turkish Cypriot "TAK news agency", Kucuk said that the fact that most of the identified burial places had been excavated and the fact that many people who knew information about possible burial sites had passed away were reasons why chances of finding new remains are diminishing.

Reminding that the identity of anyone who comes forward and provided information about possible burial sites is kept anonymous, Kucuk urged anyone with information on possible burial sites to talk to CMP investigators before it is too late for them. She said that any information is vital for the families of the missing.

Also touching upon the burial sites defined as military areas, the Turkish Cypriot member said that the Committee has a good cooperative relationship with the military.

She said that they had succeeded in obtaining permission to carry out digs in 25 different areas located within military areas to this date with two of these excavations are currently continuing. "We file a request and we are then given permission" she said.

Stating that some original burial sites both in the "South" (editor's note: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus) and the "TRNC" (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) had been changed, Kucuk said that a similar procedure had happened during the Balkan War. She said it was harder to locate any remains once this was done because eye witnesses were more reluctant to talk about these issues.

Pointing out that similar excavation and exhumation work was carried out in many parts of the world, Kucuk said that Cyprus is the only geography where operations are being carried out before the conflict is resolved.

[14] Alakopru dam in Turkey to hold water on 26th January

Eroglu said that an important stage will be reached in the project once the Alakopru dam starts holding water from the Dragon stream.

In a written statement issued, the Turkish Minister said that construction on land facilities in both Turkey and the "TRNC" (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) had been completed and that 55 km of the 80km pipeline over the sea remained to be installed.

Reminding that the project, once completed, will be the first of its kind in the world, the Turkish Forestry and Water Works Minister said that the stretch of the pipeline between mainland Turkey and the island will be suspended 250 meters underwater.

He said that the project, including water treatment facilities and distribution networks, which will cost 1.255 billion Turkish Liras to complete, will become operational on the 20th of July.

[15] The TGNA approves the opening of a coordination office for the occupied area of Cyprus

(I/Ts.)

[16] Erdogan: Turkey will not beg for accession to the EU

Guelleh and Erdogan announced that they signed eight agreements following one-on-one talks the duo had, during a joint press conference they held. Erdogan, touching on Turkey's ongoing talks to join the European Union, has said: "Will Europe allow accession of Turkey with its Muslim population? You have to accept [Turkey's membership] unless you are against Islamophobia. If you deem Turkey as a country which will beg at your door, it is not a country that begs. Either it is accepted [in the EU] or it draws its own roadmap."

"It does not really matter whether they accept Turkey's accession in the EU. We are indeed testing Europe." Erdogan was quoted as saying.

[17] Turkish court blocks access to Facebook pages that 'insult' Prophet Muhammad

The court's decision has been forwarded to the Presidency of Telecommunication and Communication (TIB) and to the Access Provider Association.

Previously, a court in Turkey's southeastern Diyarbak?r province ruled on Jan. 14 to block access to web pages showing Charlie Hebdo's latest cover featuring a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad.

The cover depicts Prophet Muhammad in a white dress and shedding a tear, holding up a sign reading, "Je suis Charlie" -- a slogan popularized after the Paris attacks -- below the headline "All is forgiven." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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