Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-03-02

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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] Nami met with Qatar's Ministers; Ambassadors attended a dinner hosted in his honor

[02] Opinion poll shows Akinci and Eroglu staying in the second round of April's "presidential elections" and Akinci being the winner

[03] Eroglu launches his "election" campaign; His declared target is to get 55% in the first round

[04] Ozyigit: Cyprus' recent agreement with Russia strengthens the lack of confidence between the communities

[05] Ozersay on the issue of "citizenship" and Varosha

[06] Self-styled presidency: EU Parliament's Resolution on missing persons is bias and misleading

[07] Ten local organizations related to CTP-BG suspended their ties with the party

[08] The "minister of education" of the "KRG" carried out contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus; He conveyed invitation from Barzani to Eroglu to visit "northern Iraq"

[09] Eroglu met with the leader of the Republican People's Party of Azerbaijan

[10] The Turkish government starts negotiations with PKK for Kurdish peace

[11] Davutoglu to visit Portugal to strengthen bilateral ties

[12] Kilicdaroglu: CHP aims to reach 35% in June elections

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Nami met with Qatar's Ministers; Ambassadors attended a dinner hosted in his honor

In a statement issued by Nami's "office" it is said that during the meeting with Al Thani they discussed the existing trade and economic relations between the two "countries" and emphasized upon new trade and investment possibilities. Nami said that the support of Qatar, which he described as "brother-country", is important for the Turkish Cypriot "people". Nami asked the support of Qatar's government for the lifting of the so-called isolations allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots.

Al Thani has reportedly said that they will continue their contribution for the development of the trade relations between the two "countries".

During his meeting with Al Ruhmaihi, Nami briefed his interlocutor on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and argued that the will of the Turkish Cypriots for a solution "strongly continues". Nami alleged that if President Anastasiades returns to the negotiating table and exhibits a will for a solution, a federal solution could quickly be reached in Cyprus.

Rumaihi noted that they will continue to support their Turkish Cypriot brothers and expressed his satisfaction by seeing Nami in Qatar.

Within the framework of his contacts, Nami met also with the vice president of Qatar's Chamber of Commerce Mohammed bin Ahmet Twar Al Kuwari and members of the administrative council of the Chamber. During the meeting they exchanged views on how the commercial relations between the two "countries" could be further developed. Nami briefed his interlocutors on the investment possibilities in the occupied area of Cyprus and invited them to visit the occupied area of the island in order to see on the spot the possibilities in the fields of trade and investments.

Nami also met with Turkish Cypriots living in Qatar at a cocktail party organized by the breakaway regime's representative in Doha, Autug Plumer, who also hosted a dinner in Nami's honor. The Ambassadors of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to Doha attended the dinner.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Opinion poll shows Akinci and Eroglu staying in the second round of April's "presidential elections" and Akinci being the winner

The results showed that Dervis Eroglu will receive 31.8% in the first round, Mustafa Akinci 31.7%, Sibel Siber 25.4% and Kudret Ozersay 11.1%. Akinci is expected to be elected with 62.8% of the votes against Eroglu, who is expected to receive 37.2%.

[22] 9% of those who said that they will never vote for Eroglu showed as pretext the age of the Turkish Cypriot leader, while the majority thinks that Eroglu was "unsuccessful". 29.7% of those who said that they will never vote for Siber showed as pretext that she is inexperienced. 54.1% of those who said that they will never vote for Ozersay, noted that they will not vote for him because they do not know him. Asked who they consider as the most appropriate candidate for solving the Cyprus problem, 38.5% of the participants in the poll replied Mustafa Akinci, 25.5% Dervis Eroglu, 23.8% Sibel Siber and 13.2% Kudret Ozersay.

Replying to a question regarding the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, 73.8% of the participants in the survey said "yes" to this kind of solution, 15.6% said "no" and 10.6% "partly [agree]".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Eroglu launches his "election" campaign; His declared target is to get 55% in the first round

Addressing his supporters, Eroglu said that he has two oaths: The one, which derives from his capacity as a doctor, is to serve humanity and the other "is never to give concessions from the sovereignty rights of the Turkish Cypriot people".

Eroglu argued that in order for a change and development in the correct direction to be achieved, a correct ground and a correct worldview should be found and added: "First of all we must defend our state, our sovereignty, our freedom and our security. This is the fundamental point which distinguishes me from the other candidates".

Claiming that the demand of the Turkish Cypriot "people" to be saved from the uncertainty regarding their future is an extremely just one, Ertoglu said that the Cyprus talks should quickly and unconditionally resume from the point these were left and alleged that the Turkish Cypriots are ready for this and want an agreement. "The solution must protect peace and must not turn lasting peace into a ground for conflict in the long term", he argued and alleged: "I will not allow the usurpation of your rights or your children's rights on the joint wealth of this island".

He argued that if they gained some benefits in the Cyprus problem and if the problem will be solved, this will happen thanks to him and his team.

The presidents of the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Democratic Party ? National Forces (DP-UG) Huseyin Ozgurgun and Serdar Denktas respectively participated in the meeting and expressed their support to Eroglu.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ozyigit: Cyprus' recent agreement with Russia strengthens the lack of confidence between the communities

In a written statement issued by his office, Ozyigit noted that the non-solution harms all Cypriots and for this reason the pro-solution and pro-peace forces in both communities must come together, cooperate and exert pressure in the direction of the solution.

Referring to the cooperation agreement recently signed between the Republic of Cyprus and the Russian Federation, Ozyigit claimed that this "military cooperation agreement is such as to strengthen the lack of confidence between the sides".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Ozersay on the issue of "citizenship" and Varosha

Ozersay stressed the need for the practice which is followed in each "election race", that is the granting of the "TRNC's citizenship" in an arbitrary way and mainly for election purposes, to come to an end.

Referring to the issue of the fenced off city of Varosha, Ozersay reiterated his known view that Varosha should open under the "Turkish Cypriot's administration".

(AK)

[06] Self-styled presidency: EU Parliament's Resolution on missing persons is biased and misleading

According to the "presidency", in the Resolution, the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey are blamed for removing remains of Greek Cypriot missing persons from their burial places in the occupied Assia village but the issue of the slaughtering of women and children and old people in villages like Tohni are not mentioned at all.

In the statement the "presidency" also claims that, it felt the need to set the record straight on the issue and adds that the issue of 493 Turkish Cypriots who were missing during the period 1963-74 should have also be mentioned in the resolution. It also claims that accusing the Turkish army is wrong and affair.

[07] Ten local organizations related to CTP-BG suspended their ties with the party

According to the paper, the chairmen and members of the local organizations expressed their dissatisfaction over the party's policy and practices on the recent employments made in the "TRNC" which as they support are unfair and far from transparency.

(AK)

[08] The "minister of education" of the "KRG" carried out contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus; He conveyed invitation from Barzani to Eroglu to visit "northern Iraq"

According to the paper, Sadiq conveyed to Eroglu an invitation from Mesud Barzani, leader of "KRG" in "northern Iraq", to visit them.

Speaking during the meeting, Eroglu underlined the importance of cooperation between the "TRNC" and the "KRG government" especially in the field of education, and sent his regards to Barzani.

Sadiq visited also the so-called prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu while at the same time he signed a cooperation protocol with the illegal DAU university rector.

The protocol envisages cooperation between the illegal DAU and "northern Iraq" in the field of education, the mutual organization of workshops, projects and e.t.c.

(AK)

[09] Eroglu met with the leader of the Republican People's Party of Azerbaijan

Speaking during the meeting, Eroglu, referred, inter alia, to the Cyprus problem and said that they look for an agreement which will enable the two "peoples" to live side by side. He added that the Cyprus problem will be solved as soon as the world will realize whether the Greek Cypriots have the intention or not to reach to an agreement.

Referring to the Cyprus negotiation talks, he accused once more the Greek Cypriot side for abandoning the negotiating table. He, however, expressed hopes that President Nikos Anastasiades will eventually return to the table and try to solve the Cyprus problem within a specified period of time.

Referring to the occupation regime's ties with Azerbaijan, Eroglu described Azerbaijan as a "brother country" for the "TRNC".

Also speaking, Guliyev stated that it is very important for the Turkic world the Turkish Cypriot "people" to be able to live as "independent in their own land under the umbrella of their own state" and added that Azerbaijan was always and will always be by the side of the "TRNC".

(AK)

[10] The Turkish government starts negotiations with PKK for Kurdish peace

"This is a historic declaration of will to replace armed struggle with democratic politics," the HDP's Sirri Sureyya Onder quoted PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan as saying. Ocalan also called for a "reinforced cease-fire,".

Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan, a key figure in the ongoing process, said silencing arms would "contribute to democratic development".

Onder summarized Ocalan's 10 articles, or priorities, in the Feb. 28 statement: The definition and content of democratic politics. The definition of the national and local dimensions of a democratic solution. Legal and democratic warranties of free citizenship. Relations between state and society, and how these issues will be institutionalized. The socio-economic dimensions of the resolution process. Handling democracy-security ties during the resolution process in a manner that will sustain both public order and freedoms. Legal solutions and warranties for policies on women, culture and ecology. [?]

Speaking at his AKP youth congress in Ankara over the weekend, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu described the announcement as a "new step" in the Kurdish issue, giving credit to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "The solution process, which began with President Erdogan's speech in Diyarbakir in 2005, has now taken a new shape," Davutoglu said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking to a group of reporters en route to Saudi Arabia for an official visit, stated that there is a difference of opinion between jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and the group's headquarters in the Kandil Mountains of northern Iraq. But he said that the government is already the guarantor of the peace process and it will continue in the direction it has been going on the issue.

The paper also writes that Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli has accused the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of "treason" and "treachery," after they announced a new phase in the Kurdish peace process with the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

Columnist Murat Yetkin writing in Hurriyet (02.03.15) on the issue noted that it is not only the HDP group in parliament that resists the draft. The social democratic main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) also object to it, on the basis that it contains articles restricting freedom of assembly and expression, while also giving excessive power to police and provincial governors to restrict freedoms and tap communications. "But for the government, it is a matter of credibility not to withdraw the law, which it sees as a test case from the PKK after Kobane. [?] It seems like a deadlock now, but there is a strong possibility of it being resolved. This is because neither the government nor the PKK would likely have the face to explain to the public that the possibility of a long-desired peace has been wasted because of a few articles of a single law, especially when the country is heading for parliamentary elections on June 7", Yetkin writes.

[11] Davutoglu to visit Portugal to strengthen bilateral ties

The last presidential-level contact between the two countries was the visit paid by former President Abdullah Gul on May 5-8, 2013. The last official visit between the two countries was paid by Portuguese Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas on Oct. 23-24, 2014.

[12] Kilicdaroglu: CHP aims to reach 35% in June elections

Kilicdaroglu, who gave an interview to the paper, said that his party received 29.5% in the last election but now they hope to reach 34-35%. As regards the main problems faced by Turkey, Kilicdaroglu said that these are the economy, democracy and the freedom of expression. He said in case CHP gets into power, Turkey will be transformed into a new country within four years. Kilicdaroglu added that they will have a powerful campaign and they will follow a strategy to reach their goal. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(CS / AM)

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