Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-02-04

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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] Bozkir: Greek Premier's move to meet with Turkish Cypriot NGOs is a positive sign

[02] Turkey's MFA spokesman: Tsipras' statements do not contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem

[03] Eroglu alleges that Prime Minister Tsipras' statements indicate that the Greek-Greek Cypriot mentality in Cyprus continues

[04] Turkish Cypriot NGO's: Meeting with Prime Minister Tsipras was a positive step; Turkish officials should also meet with Cypriot NGO's

[05] Nami: "We support all efforts exerted towards the lifting of the isolation"

[06] Ozgurgun met with the Slovakian and Polish Ambassadors to Cyprus

[07] More about the plot of land "rented" by Evkaf administration for the wild donkeys

[08] Turkey informs US that Gulen's passport was cancelled; Turkey seizes control of Islamic lender Bank Asya

[09] Parliament debate on controversial security bill postponed until next week

[10] Taraf's journalist into custody for insulting Erdogan and Fidan

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Bozkir: Greek Premier's move to meet with Turkish Cypriot NGOs is a positive sign

In comments made to the media before leaving for the U.S., Bozkir said Greece's economic slump will affect Turkey. He also said that Greece has "a lot on its table" right now.

About how the elections in Greece that brought Syriza's Alexis Tsipras to power will affect bilateral relations, Bozkir said: "We consider Tsipras' move to meet Turkish non-governmental organization officials during the Greek-Cypriot administration's (editor's note: as he refers to the Cyprus Government) visit (Monday) as a positive sign". He further expressed his hope for an end to the dispute over the island during Tsipras' term.

Tsipras sent on Monday a message to the EU that Greece and Cyprus are pillars of stability in the region and that fact must be understood by Europe who is thinking only in terms of economy.

[02] Turkey's MFA spokesman: Tsipras' statements do not contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem

Addressing a weekly briefing in Ankara, Spokesman Tanju Bilgic said that Turkey will always continue to support the Turkish Cypriots. "Our wish is to resume the negotiation process as soon as possible and find a solution based on political equality on the island," Bilgic said.

"Our priority is to ensure full benefits for the Cypriot people," he added.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, during his first official visit to Cyprus Monday, said, "Turkey's sending of the Barbaros Hayrettin seismic vessel (in October last year) is a clear violation of international law and a sabotage of peace negotiations". Tsipras called on Turkey to respect international law and not threaten Greece for the continuation of negotiations.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (04.02.15) reports that Bilgic referring to Tsipras' statement regarding the Barbaros exploration vessel said that these statements as a guarantor power and as a motherland cannot contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem. He added that one of their primary aims is the Turkish Cypriots to benefit from their rights on the island such as the natural resources.

[03] Eroglu alleges that Prime Minister Tsipras' statements indicate that the Greek-Greek Cypriot mentality in Cyprus continues

In statements yesterday during a visit to the within the walls area of occupied Nicosia, Eroglu said that the continuation of Turkey's active and effective guarantees in a possible agreement on the Cyprus problem is sine qua non for the Turkish side.

Eroglu reiterated the allegation that the Cyprus problem has not ended because of the stance of the Greek Cypriot side and Greece which supports the Greek Cypriots.

Eroglu noted that something, which the Greek Prime Minister said during his joint press conference with President Anastasiades at the Presidential Palace, was very important. "He said that the relations between Turkey and Greece pass through Cyprus", he pointed out adding that Prime Minister Tsipras "opposed also to the existing system of guarantees which include Turkey's active and effective guarantees".

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper publishes Eroglu's statements under the title "Our state is our strength".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkish Cypriot NGO's: Meeting with Prime Minister Tsipras was a positive step; Turkish officials should also meet with Cypriot NGO's

Dogus Derya, who participated in the meeting on behalf of the Feminist Atelier (FEMA) said that first of all they held a sincere and warm meeting and pointed out that this was the first meeting of a Greek Prime Minister with Turkish Cypriot NGO representatives, something which is an indication of the will of the Greek Prime Minister for a federal solution. She said that they all had the chance to talk for about two minutes each and expressed the belief that this was a "good step for the Turkish-Greek peace".

Okan Dagli, who represented the Famagusta Initiative at the meeting, said that this was something done for the first time and pointed out that never before a Greek Prime Minister had met with NGO's. He noted that this was a symbolic meeting and that Prime Minister Tsipras talked only for about five minutes during the 40-50 minute-meeting. Dagli said that he invited Tsipras to Famagusta and Tsipras asked him whether Turks and Greeks live together in Famagusta. "When I told him that we continued living there after our Greek neighbors left, he was surprised. I think he had a different concept for Famagusta", he argued describing their meeting as "very positive" and wished for the officials from Turkey to meet with NGO's.

Niyazi Kizilyurek, representative of the Federal Cyprus Initiative, said that lessons should be learned from this meeting adding that NGO's should be active in the quest for a solution in Cyprus. "After this gesture by Tsipras", he added, "the administrators of Turkey should undertake similar initiatives".

Meltem Onurkan Samani, representative of the Historical Dialogue and Research Association, said that all the Turkish and Greek leaders pay their first visit abroad to Cyprus, but the difference in this case was the fact that Prime Minister Tsipras met with bi-communal NGO's. She noted that even foreigners want to listen to NGO's, but the so-called embassy of Turkey keeps a distance from such meetings.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Nami: "We support all efforts exerted towards the lifting of the isolation"

Zugurt conveyed information to Nami relating to the contacts held by the Council in various European countries.

Nami emphasized the existence of close relations between the "ministry" and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and stated, in this connection, that the "ministry" strongly supports the initiatives of organizations abroad, adding: "We support all efforts exerted towards the lifting of the isolation".

[06] Ozgurgun met with the Slovakian and Polish Ambassadors to Cyprus

Slovakian Ambassador to Cyprus Oksana Tomova and Polish Ambassador to Cyprus Barbara Tuge-Erecinska paid a courtesy visit to Ozgurgun.

The UBP "deputy" and foreign relations secretary Tahsin Ertugruloglu and "deputy" Hamza Ersan Saner were also present at the meeting. No statement was issued before or after the meeting.

[07] More about the plot of land "rented" by Evkaf administration for the wild donkeys

The Evkaf administration commented also on the reports published in the press under the title: "They gave to the donkeys the Greek Cypriot cemetery", and said that this report does not reflect the reality.

The Evkaf administration supported that the photos published by Afrika newspaper showing the Greek Cypriot cemetery, were taken in the village and not in the plot of land which was allocated for the donkeys.

According to the paper, the "municipality" rent a 409 donum (translator's note: a land measure of about 920 square metres) area in occupied Karpasia near to Apostolos Andreas Monastery in a symbolic price to be used as a pasture area for the wild donkeys.

(AK)

[08] Turkey informs US that Gulen's passport was cancelled; Turkey seizes control of Islamic lender Bank Asya

"The Turkish Foreign Minister informed the U.S. officials about the decision to cancel the passport," Tanju Bilgic said at a weekly press briefing in Ankara.

American experts are of the opinion that if a similar situation of providing false information occurred during Gulen's American green card process, then procedures could also be launched in the U.S. to take that card away from him and deport him to Turkey.

Gulen used a green Turkish passport to travel to the U.S. in March 1999. Such green passports are usually given to government officials like members of parliament and army officials.

On Jan. 26, the governor's office of the southeastern province of Erzurum -- Gulen's hometown -- nullified his green passport because of alleged inaccurate information he provided in 1990.

When Turkish authorities cancelled Gulen's green passport, he reportedly did not demanded a renewal of his travel document.

Michelle Estlund, an expert attorney on Interpol's red notices, told the Ankara Anatolia news agency that if someone has an American green card and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security believed it was based on a false statement, then a process to retrieve the card could be initiated.

Efe Poturoglu, another attorney on migration, said the U.S. government had the right to take green cards back, but first it needed an investigation.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 04.02.15), under the title "Turkey seizes control of Islamic lender Bank Asya", reports that Turkish banking authorities have seized control of Bank Asya, citing a lack of transparency.

The bank has been at odds with the government since last December, when a high-profile corruption probe into a number of former Cabinet ministers and officials began. The government accuses the movement of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, which has links to the bank, of concocting the investigations as part of a plot.

The Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) seized 63% of Bank Asya shortly after the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) ruled in favour of its seizure, state-run Anatolia news agency said on Feb. 3.

The BDDK said in a statement on its website that it seized the bank "because the institution has not presented a partnership structure that is transparent and open enough to allow for effective regulation..."

The watchdog appointed a new board of directors immediately after the seizure.

The bank, founded by followers of Gulen in 1996, has come under pressure from regulatory restrictions, withdrawals by government-run companies and attacks from pro-government newspapers.

The pressure on Bank Asya resulted in a crash of its share price and a massive downscaling of its operation.

The bank said in November that it lost 301 million liras ($133 million) in the third quarter -- its first unprofitable quarter since it went public in 2006.

[09] Parliament debate on controversial security bill postponed until next week

According to parliament's preannounced schedule, the General Assembly-level debates on "the draft law changing various articles of the Law on the Powers and Duties of the Police, the Law on Gendarmerie Organization, Duties and Authorities, the Law on Population Services; and Some Laws and Some Statutory Decrees," had been set to begin on Feb. 4.

On Feb. 3, General Assembly debates on a draft mining law could not be held upon the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) request for a roll call of Deputies present. The roll call, taken twice, revealed that the required quorum was not met.

Accordingly, debates on the draft mining law have been extended to Feb. 4, and as a result the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have decided to push back debates on the security bill to next week.

It will not be possible to hold the security bill debates on Feb. 5, as the General Assembly is set to debate a censure motion filed by the CHP against Energy Minister Taner Y?ld?z, private broadcaster CNN Turk reported. The ruling AKP, which holds the majority at parliament, also decided not to gather the General Assembly on Feb. 6, pushing the debate on the security package back to Tuesday, Feb. 10.

In fact, in line with the government's wish to have the bill urgently adopted this week, General Assembly meetings had been planned to take place on Friday and Saturday, when parliament does not usually convene.

The postponement of the bill comes a day after Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas urged on Feb. 3 the other two opposition parties to "block the parliament" in order to prevent the voting on the security package.

"I address all opposition parties: Let's join hands and block the parliament. Let's not allow this draft bill to become law for months. The opposition can achieve this if it cooperates," Demirtas told his party Deputies at parliament, claiming that the draft will be used to oppress upcoming protests.

CHP leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli have also loudly voiced their strong objection against the bill.

[10] Taraf's journalist into custody for insulting Erdogan and Fidan

According to the paper, the 2nd Regional Court in Anatolia decided to arrest Uslu which is to be tried.

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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