Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-02-25

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Nami continues his contacts in Saudi Arabia; He called OIC's member states to "lift" the so-called embargoes and President Anastasiades to return to the table

[02] Akinci calls on Turkey not to renew Navtex in order to give a chance to the re-launching of negotiations

[03] Eroglu alleged that the Greek Cypriot side has excessive demands on the territory issue

[04] "Association of martyrs families" condemned EU Parliament for blaming the Turkish Cypriot side for removing missing persons remains

[05] Davutoglu to talk Cyprus issue with UNSG in New York

[06] Turkish nationals residing in occupied area of Republic of Cyprus may vote in the general elections in Turkey at the "embassy"

[07] Erdogan and Ozel responded to harsh criticism from Bahceli over mausoleum operation; Kilicdaroglu criticizes the government

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Nami continues his contacts in Saudi Arabia; He called OIC's member states to "lift" the so-called embargoes and President Anastasiades to return to the table

According to the "information department" of the so-called ministry, Nami stated during the press conference that there is not an intelligible meaning for the "isolations" imposed on the Turkish Cypriot "people" and called the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to undertake steps for the "lifting" of the so-called embargoes, supporting that this will contribute to the solution and peace and not the division of the island.

Nami briefed also the Saudi press about the Cyprus problem and the Cyprus negotiation talks.

Referring to the negotiation talks, Nami alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side's stance during the negotiations for finding a federal solution was always positive and constructive.

Pointing out that in spite of the fact that it was the Turkish Cypriot side which voted in favour of the Annan plan while, on the contrary, the Greek Cypriot side voted against the plan, he said that it is "unacceptable" and "meaningless" for the Turkish Cypriots to continue to be under several "isolations".

Describing as a positive development the fact that the Turkish Cypriots' observer status in the OIC has changed to "Turkish Cypriot State" after the period of the Annan Plan, Nami pointed out to the need for the OIC's member states to take mutual steps for the "lifting" of the "isolations imposed on them and for the development of ties with "North Cyprus" in all fields.

Claiming that the Turkish Cypriot side continues to support strongly the peace and the federal solution on the island, Nami called on the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades to return to the negotiation table the soonest possible without preconditions and start the negotiations towards a solution in Cyprus.

Within the framework of his contacts in Jeddah, Nami met also yesterday with the Vice President of the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) Abdul Razig M. Abdul Razig.

Speaking during the meeting, Nami thanked Razig for the various contributions and projects that the ISF provided to the Turkish Cypriot "people" since 1976.

Claiming that it is "meaningless" for the Turkish Cypriot "people" to live under "unjust isolations", Nami said that in this context, ISF's support is very important.

Razig in his turn said that ISF's support for the Turkish Cypriot "people" will continue in the future. Razig also stated that they are ready to contribute to the new projects coming from Turkish Cypriots in the future.

(AK)

[02] Akinci calls on Turkey not to renew Navtex in order to give a chance to the re-launching of negotiations

Akinci made these statements in the framework of his election campaign where he was asked to comment on the negotiations.

Akinci further stated that both sides in Cyprus must take steps for the negotiations to start again. He also said that the breakaway regime must tell Turkey not to renew Navtex so that a chance is given to the negotiation. At the same time, he said the Greek Cypriot side must stop saying "we are the State we can make research and we will share the profits in natural gas after a solution is reached". Turkish Cypriots also have the right to share the profits and have rights in the island's natural wealth, Akinci stated.

(CS)

[03] Eroglu alleged that the Greek Cypriot side has excessive demands on the territory issue

Speaking about his "candidacy", he alleged that up to now he followed a policy towards the "Turkish Cypriot people's rights and benefits" and added that the "expectations" of the Turkish Cypriots are very important to him.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, he stressed the need for the solution to be found not to take them back to pre-1974 conditions on the island, adding, that the solution to be found should take into consideration the "existing realities" on the island.

Accusing the Greek Cypriot side of having excessive demands on the territory issue, Eroglu said: "They want the whole of Karpasia, from Koma tou Gialou. This is as having a part of a map. They want north Mesaoria from the boundaries of the Famagusta municipality. Is this not part of a map also? They want the area from Gerolakkos to Morfou. If they also want Kythrea, Neochorio Kythreas, Trachoni and Voni, is this not a map as well? (?)", Eroglu wondered.

Claiming that he is still at the table, Eroglu said that he will continue to be there until the night of April 18 and added that he informed the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide about this.

(AK)

[04] "Association of martyrs' families" condemned EU Parliament for blaming the Turkish Cypriot side for removing missing person's remains

The association issued a statement and conveyed it to the UN office in Cyprus in order to be delivered to the UN Secretary General.

In the statement the association, called the European Parliament to cancel its decision "in order to preserve their objectivity in such a humanistic issue". It was also stated that "it is a clear proof that the EP's decision is unilateral and the Turkish Cypriot missing persons are not examined under an equal basis with Greek Cypriot missing persons in the EU".

(CS)

[05] Davutoglu to talk Cyprus issue with UNSG in New York

Citing sources from the Prime Ministry, Davutoglu is expected to meet financial and investment circles as part of the second leg of an investor conference that was held in London in January. During the visit, he will also hold talks with direct investors and portfolio investors. Apart from limited participation meetings with financial circles as G20 term president, he will also hold private talks with major investors.

During his visit, Davutoglu is scheduled to meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on March 5 to discuss important issues including Syria, Iraq and the Cyprus problem.

He will also attend a series of meetings at think tanks and meet representatives of U.S. media. Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 25.02.15) reports that Davutoglu will only go to New York and there are no plans to hold talks with American officials.

(DPs)

[06] Turkish nationals residing in occupied area of Republic of Cyprus may vote in the general elections in Turkey at the "embassy"

According to the announcement, the Turkish nationals should check at the Turkish High Electoral Council's (YSK) website whether or not they are registered to vote abroad. If they are not registered, they need to apply no later than the 13th of March 2015, the announcement said. The final voters list, once approved, will be posted on the same website on the 14th of April 2015.

(DPs)

[07] Erdogan and Ozel responded to harsh criticism from Bahceli over mausoleum operation; Kilicdaroglu criticizes the government

"What is homeland for you," Bahceli asked the Chief of Staff, saying Ozel had to explain which military necessities lay behind the operation. Bahceli also wondered if there was a military necessity in the "TRNC" (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus), what they would have done. Would they have transferred Cyprus to Mersin, Antalya or to Yozgat, Bahceli asked.

The paper reports that Ozel responded to Bahceli, in a written statement issued by his office, describing his words as inappropriate concerning his personality and his ideas saying: "I am of the opinion that he does not have the right to question my conscience on my country, my nation and my flag as a person who has served the Turkish people and its army for the last 46 years." Ozel added that he does not want to engage into polemics with Bahceli because of his political identity.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also replied yesterday to the criticism of the opposition party leader, saying Bahceli was targeting the government and the Turkish Armed Forces with his slanders, lies and rude insults. "I cannot keep silent against those attacks on me, the Prime Minister, and the Chief of Staff over the operation," Erdogan said. "You cannot even be a piece of a nail of our Chief of General Staff", Erdogan said to Bahceli over his remarks on Ozel.

On the same issue, Hurriyet reports that Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has criticized the government over the recent evacuation of the Tomb of Suleyman Sah within Syrian territory, describing it as an "abandonment". "On what grounds are you evacuating the tomb and carrying away the bodies [buried there]?" Kilicdaroglu said at the weekly meeting of his party's parliamentary group on February 24.

The Republic of Turkey has secured the presence of the Tomb of Suleyman Sah through several international treaties, including the Lausanne Treaty of 1923, the founding treaty of the Republic of Turkey, Kilicdaroglu said, asking: "Why are we abandoning it [now]?". "[What would] the withdrawal of soldiers from a place known to be territory of the Turkish Republic in international treaties, bombing the tomb and removing the bodies be called?" he asked.

Kilicdaroglu noted that as CHP, they added to the territories of the Turkish Republic Alexandretta (Hatay) in 1938 and in 1974, they went to Cyprus by using their guarantor rights. Kilicdaroglu added that if they want to see a victory they should look at Sakarya, Afyon, and the mountain range of Pentadaktylos in the occupied part of Cyprus.

(DPs) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(DPs / ICh)

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article