Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-01-28

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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] Ertug: The Turkish Cypriots desire to conduct direct trade with the EU

[02] More on the election campaign in the breakaway regime

[03] Per capita income increased to 15.302 USD in the occupied area of Cyprus

[04] The number of actively insured persons in the occupied area of Cyprus reached 80.455 in 2014

[05] Yorgancioglu gives his support to the transfer of Greek Cypriot soccer players to Turkish Cypriot soccer teams

[06] Bozkir: New Greek government will not change Greece's foreign policy

[07] Aylin Caglayan Ozcan: Turkey is already harmonizing its energy policies with the EU's as if the chapter is already open

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ertug: The Turkish Cypriots desire to conduct direct trade with the EU

Speaking on "BRT", Ertug said that the issue of hydrocarbons can only be solved through dialogue at the negotiating table.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot "people" desired recognition by the international community and the implementation of human rights, Ertug claimed that the international organisations which have previously perceived changes in the status quo as risky are now supporting the changing of the status quo because of the hydrocarbons issue.

Alleging that the Turkish Cypriot side stands firm on its views and positions, Ertug claimed that Greek Cypriot side is moving away from the table by setting forward preconditions and it is the UN Special Adviser who is currently acting as the balancing element in the crisis.

Stressing that the EU should honour its promise to lift the international "isolations" imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, Ertug said that the Turkish Cypriot side desires to conduct direct trade with EU countries just like the Greek Cypriot side and asked for the restrictions introduced on the financial Assistance regulation to be lifted.

On the issue of the registration of Hellim-Halloumi, Ertug said that a number of initiatives are currently underway. He complained however that the Greek Cypriot side is acting on its own, just like it does on the issue of hydrocarbons. He pointed out that it is important for the two sides to move together on this issue and to exercise good will on the matter.

[02] More on the election campaign in the breakaway regime

The paper writes that Akinci further stated that some of the polls that appear in Mass media do not represent the truth.

Commenting on the same issue, Kibris Postasi (28.01.15) columnist Cigdem Durust stated that it is the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who refuses to participate in such a debate.

[03] Per capita income increased to 15.302 USD in the occupied area of Cyprus

It is noted that per capita income in the occupied area of Cyprus is much lower than the average income of the EU member countries, but it is higher than Turkey's per capita income which is 10.970 USD.

GDP's increase in the occupied area of Cyprus was 1.8% in 2012 and 1.1% in 2013. For 2014 it is predicted that the increase will be 2.9% and will reach 8 billion and 178 million TL in current prices.

Odul Muhtaroglu, undersecretary at the breakaway regime's "state planning organization", said that their target is to announce the definite results for 2014 by the mid of this year. Muhtaroglu noted that according to their predictions, the highest decrease (8.5%) for 2014 will be observed in the field of agriculture, while industry is expected to increase by 2.8%, constructions by 5.5%, trade and tourism by 5.1% and hotels and restaurants by 3.5%. He said that the latest predictions were carried out in September 2014.

(I/Ts.)

[04] The number of actively insured persons in the occupied area of Cyprus reached 80.455 in 2014

The number of passively insured persons, that is, those who receive a monthly payment from the "department", increased from 30.445 persons in 2013 to 31.597 in 2014. The total payments were 645.650.000 Turkish liras (TL) in 2013 and increased to 741.375.000 TL in 2014. The respective numbers for the total collected amount was 444.057.000 TL in 2013 and 497.991.000 TL in 2014.

Responding to a question, Erkmen said that there are two kinds of illegality: 1) persons who are not registered in his "department" and therefore they pay no insurance or those who are not registered and 2) those who do not declare the real value of their income and therefore pay smaller insurance premium.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Yorgancioglu gives his support to the transfer of Greek Cypriot soccer players to Turkish Cypriot soccer teams

The chairman of the "Degirmenlik / Kythrea sport club" Emir Ali Oztuccar said that they are the only sport club that has taken the risk to take soccer players from the "South" and they expect support from the "government".

[06] Bozkir: New Greek government will not change Greece's foreign policy

Bozkir said that Syriza will have to follow a suitable international behaviour in its foreign policy, therefore the new government will not change its policy as regards North Thrace and Cyprus.

[07] Aylin Caglayan Ozcan: Turkey is already harmonizing its energy policies with the EU's as if the chapter is already open

Kicking off the new year with a series of visits to several EU capitals, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu insistently mentioned that the government will focus on the EU membership process throughout the year. During his speech at Davos Economic Forum on Jan. 23, Davutoglu said that opening the energy chapter would benefit the EU more than Turkey, considering the EU's supply security and diversification-focused energy policy.

Turkey is already harmonizing its energy policies with the EU's as if the chapter is already open, as it is following the EU's recommendations and conducting the work, Aylin Caglayan Ozcan, head of sectoral policies department at Turkey's EU Ministry told Anatolia news agency.

"The energy chapter is blocked by the Greek Cypriots. At this stage, we should solve this problem first. When this is solved and if the Commission brings no opening criteria, the chapter can be opened," she added.

Spokesperson for the Commission Juri Laas, when asked about the renewed efforts between the EU and Turkey to open the negotiations for the chapter with the Greek Cypriot administration's blockade, said, "There has been an increased number of contacts and some positive statements lately. However, as you know, there needs to be unanimity within the EU to open new chapters."

"Cyprus has made itself pretty clear that Turkey will not get any cooperation on the subject of the EU chapters until it shows respect on the Eastern Mediterranean gas issue in turn," Gary Lakes, director of the Energy Program at the European Rim Policy and Investment Council in Larnaka, said. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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