Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-01-30

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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] Prime Minister Tsipras: The violation of Cyprus Republic's sovereign rights by Barbaros makes building of confidence more difficult

[02] Eroglu: The natural gas issue must be discussed at the negotiation table

[03] Sibel and Talat accused Eroglu of being a part of the status quo

[04] Todd: The status quo in Cyprus cannot continue

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council continues its contacts in Brussels on the registration of halloumi/hellim

[06] More about the LSD disease in the occupied area of Cyprus

[07] Kilicdaroglu: "Turkey's 150-year parliamentary system is being abandoned for the will of one person and not for the benefit of the country"

[08] Survey reveals that almost half of Turks are not in favor of the presidential system

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Prime Minister Tsipras: The violation of Cyprus Republic's sovereign rights by Barbaros makes building of confidence more difficult

"Finding a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem bears a great importance for the Cyprus people-comprised of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots- for Greece, the Turkish-Greek relations, the European Union and the stability in Eastern Mediterranean. On our part, we support the bi-communal negotiations facilitated by the United Nations and on the basis of the UN Resolutions for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with a single administration, single citizenship and a single international identity. We must actively support the increase of mutual confidence in the island. The materialization of this, however, is becoming much more difficult with activities such as the violation of the Republic of Cyprus' sovereign rights in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf through Barbaros vessel which belongs to Turkey. The ship's abandoning the area and leaving all diplomatic channels open for the resumption of the negotiations is of very big importance".

Asked what the people in Turkey and Europe should hope from him, the Greek Prime Minster expressed the belief that the young people in Greece and Turkey have common values and common hopes and added that these common values "constitute another bridge of friendship between our peoples".

"What I want to tell them is that by continuing to walk on this bridge, they should not stop believing in a future adorned with peace, honor and friendship between the two peoples. I will not stop believing in that", he said.

Responding to a question as regards his government's initiatives in the relations with Turkey and whether they will continue the mutual visits of the two Prime Ministers to Ankara and Athens respectively, Tsipras said that they have repeatedly underlined the necessity of an active and multidimensional Greek foreign policy which supports peace and stability in the region. He recalled that SYRIZA's manifesto explicitly says that it actively supports the peaceful resolution of the disputes with neighboring countries within the framework of the international law. "This is valid at the same time for the issue of the continental shelf between Greece and Turkey", he pointed out adding that the Greek government will attach importance on the development of cooperation between Greece and Turkey in the fields of economy, culture, tourism, education, migration, transportation, energy and environment.

Tsipras noted that the only way for being able to take a step forward on the issue of developing confidence with Turkey is to respect each other's sovereign rights and the principle of good neighborhood. He wondered, however, how the two countries will proceed to the future when, for example, the Turkish violations of the Greek national airspace tripled in 2014 compared to 2013 and Turkey's casus belli decision against Greece is still valid.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu: The natural gas issue must be discussed at the negotiation table

He made these statements in the framework of his election campaign in a speech he delivered at occupied Geunyeli village.

Eroglu stated that he is at the negotiation table in the name of the "people" knowing what the people want: "There was a suspension at the negotiations because the Greek Cypriot leader left the negotiation table. The reason was our ship at the sea. But there is an issue for them to understand. That ship was conducting researchers in our name. The message, that the Turkish Cypriots also have rights to the wealth underneath the Mediterranean Sea must be delivered both to the Greek Cypriots and the world. However, the Greek Cypriots want to give us our rights only after the solution of the Cyprus problem. We say that this issue must come up before the solution. But despite our warnings they continue their researchers. The natural gas issue must be discussed at the negotiation table", he stated.

[03] Sibel and Talat accused Eroglu of being a part of the status quo

Siber, who was speaking in the framework of her election campaign in occupied Keryneia, accused Eroglu of leading the "country" to dangerous paths and said that it is CTP's duty to prevent Eroglu from acting this way. She said that Eroglu's defeat would be the status quo's defeat and noted that the winner of the election should be the will for solution. She also stated that CTP has the experience and the experience's name is Mehmet Ali Talat.

On his part Talat stated that the Turkish Cypriots need the solution in every aspect of their lives and said that Eroglu, despite saying that he would continue the negotiations from the point these were left during Talat's "period" in reality he did not acted this way. Talat also said that if Eroglu was a pro-solution leader, president Nicos Anastasiades would not have left the negotiation table for whatever reason. He also said that the world does not criticize Anastasiades because "the world knows and sees" Eroglu's intentions.

[04] Todd: The status quo in Cyprus cannot continue

In an interview with Havadis, Todd argued that the question which the Cypriots have to answer now is not whether they prefer the continuation of the status quo or to take the risk of a solution, but whether they prefer to take the risk of the solution or the risk of the non-solution. He noted that there are "very strong reasons" for proceeding towards the solution and at the same time there are also reasons related to preventing negative developments. "I do not want to seem like threatening for violence, but you cannot be certain that the incidents happening not very far from you will not come to Cyprus", he argued adding that terrorism threatens the entire Europe and no country is exempted from this.

Todd expressed the UK's support to the efforts of Espen Barth Eide, UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Cyprus, in the direction of the resumption of the talks and added that they encourage both sides to return to the negotiating table. He alleged that both sides are responsible for the fact that the negotiations could not resume.

Noting that a problem of lack of confidence exists between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots, Todd said that the lack of confidence lies in the foundation of the disagreements at the negotiating table.

(I/Ts.)

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council continues its contacts in Brussels on the registration of halloumi/hellim

According to the paper, the delegation which is headed by the "chairman" of (KTIAK), Ilker Zugurt, the "representative" of the Chamber of Trade in Brussels, Hale Sener and the "TRNC representative" in Brussels Hasan Varoglu, visited "Belgium's Active Businessmen Federation" and New European Business Confederation (UNITEE).

During their meeting with UNITEE, Zugurt signed with UNITEE an agreement for becoming an observer member of the confederation, while the also held talks with the EU Aid Office for the Turkish Cypriots.

Speaking during the meeting, Zugurt referred to the agreement signed with UNITEE for becoming an observer member and described this agreement as an important step that will help them to lift the "embargoes" imposed in the "country" and also it will contribute for the better representation of the "TRNC" abroad.

Adem Kumcu, chairman of UNITTE stated in his turn that the confederation will contribute to the "lifting" of the so-called embargoes and to the efforts for finding a comprehensive solution.

Also, in the framework of its contacts in Brussels, the delegation met and exchanged views with officials of the EU Task Force for the Turkish Cypriots regarding the issue of the registration of halloumi/hellim.

The delegation referred during the meeting to the sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriots concerning the registration of halloumi cheese and underlined that the Turkish Cypriots have the same rights as the Greek Cypriots on the issue of halloumi.

Supporting that halloumi cheese is a common product of all Cypriots, the delegation proposed for halloumi to be used for the benefit of the two sides and to be used as a tool for peace.

AK

[06] More about the LSD disease in the occupied area of Cyprus

Supporting that the vaccines will cost to the "state" around 500 thousand TL, Sayili explained that officials of the EU who came to the island to carry out inspections on the LSD disease, held contacts with the "Veterinary Department".

According to Sayili, the EU officials conveyed to the officials of the "Veterinary department" that the EU could provide them around 70 vaccines free of cost. "The Veterinary Department ignored this proposal and went out to tenders", said Sayili.

Meanwhile, in statements during the meeting of the so-called assembly yesterday, the so-called minister of agriculture Onder Sennaroglu referred to the LSD disease and said that the vaccines for the disease will arrive to the occupied area of Cyprus within ten days. He added that their aim is to conclude their work of vaccination in one month.

AK

[07] Kilicdaroglu: "Turkey's 150-year parliamentary system is being abandoned for the will of one person and not for the benefit of the country"

"We have a 150-year-old parliamentary system experience. Of course, there are malfunctions, which can be overcome. But why are we suddenly changing a 150-year-old tradition? For someone to be President?" K?l?cdaroglu told a local TV station in the northwestern province of Bursa on January 29, referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The CHP leader questioned why such an initiative is being made, saying the government is "tyrannizing society."

"Have you incorporated the idea of bringing a Presidency into the government program? No. You don't have such a promise, but you have tyrannized society, you have pressured it", said K?l?cdaroglu, slamming the government for "silencing" universities, NGOs, and suppressing the freedom of expression.

"You are imposing a different regime on society," he added.

Stating that such problems partly derived from the fact that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu does not perform his role as the Head of the government, K?l?cdaroglu described Erdogan's apointment of Davutoglu as the next Head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Prime Minister, after the presidential elections in August 2014, as "an act that democracy could not withstand."

[08] Survey reveals that almost half of Turks are not in favor of the presidential system

While 42.2% of Turks do not wish for a presidential system, only 34.3% are in favor of the system. The rest of the respondents said they do not have an opinion on the issue. The percentage of those who favor the presidential system has decreased from 43.2% in June 2012, while the percentage of people against it has since increased from 37.7%.

In the recent survey, 55.2% of the respondents who identify as supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) are in favor of the presidential system, while the rate of those who are against is 17.3%. The rate of those who are in favor of the presidential system among the supporters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) is 10.7%, while a large majority of them, 73.7%, are against it, according to the survey.

The respondents were also asked whether they believe the President is neutral, as the President has to be neutral towards all political parties according to the constitution.

A total of 59% of respondents said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not neutral, while only 35% said he is neutral. Meanwhile, the responses to the question on who is actually leading the AKP were also intriguing. A majority of respondents, 75%, said Erdogan is leading the AKP, while only 21.1% said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is actually leading the party. The results were similar when respondents were asked who rules the government. A total of 78.6% said Erdogan leads the government, while only 18.1% named Davutoglu as the Head of government. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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