Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-03-13

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] Serdar insists that TFF's initiative is extremely positive

[02] Yorgancioglu: the context of the letter is a political scandal; Ozersay: We should not oppress our "institutions"

[03] A "parliamentary delegation" held contacts in Strasbourg

[04] Akinci calls on for the opening of Apliki and Deryneia crossing points; he criticized Denktas' apology

[05] Denktas proposed the production of halloumi in Turkey to be moved to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[06] Onurer: The Republic of Cyprus was established on a wrong base

[07] Eroglu: "The Greek Cypriot side tries to prevent all our activities"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Serdar insists that TFF's initiative is extremely positive

Denktas also stressed that the initiative was launched by the TFF upon a request coming from him and added: "We asked the President of the Turkish Football Federation Yildirim Demiroren to launch an initiative at FIFA. They in return wrote to FIFA requesting if they are allowed to open a representation office here".

Denktas also said that there are no serious problems with the "coalition government" and that he had apologized to Turkish officials not just for the reactions regarding football but other unjust criticisms made to Turkey.

Denktas explained: "The perception that the TFF will take over the duties of the KTFF has been created. There is no such thing. The KTFF in rash and unexplainable move wrote to FIFA stating that they are the sole governing body in the North. I met with Sertoglu for an hour and we discussed everything in detail. I told him that the move was aimed at making it possible for Turkish Cypriot football players to transfer to teams in Turkey". He repeated that the TFF's initiative is extremely positive from the point of the football players, who wish to play soccer in Turkey.

Meanwhile, Denktas said that in case there is an agreement with the Cyprus Football Association, he wants to have an official reply whether the Greek Cypriot football teams will be able to cross to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus to play and whether they will give permission to football players, who are Turkish citizens or one of their parents is a Turkish citizen.

Noting that his views on this issue are different from the self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu, Denktas said that there is a lack of information on the context of this initiative.

(DPs)

[02] Yorgancioglu: the context of the letter is a political scandal; Ozersay: We should not oppress our "institutions"

Addressing the so-called assembly, Yorgancioglu criticized again the stance of Denktas on the TFF's initiative to open a "representation office" in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. Yorgancioglu said that he hesitates to tell the context of the TFF's letter to FIFA, because it will be a political scandal. He said that he is not sure whether the Turkish Foreign Ministry was aware or not regarding this letter.

On the same issue, the independent "presidential candidate" Kudret Ozersay said that they should show in their relations with other actors in the world including Turkey the sensitivity that they show to their relations with the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of respecting their own political will and not oppressing their "institutions".

Meanwhile, the issue was the subject of a heated debate in the so-called assembly yesterday. The opposition National Unity Party (UBP) "deputy" Sunat Atun defended the initiative launched by the TFF, stating that there is cooperation and collaboration with Turkey in so many other fields.

The self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhurman criticized the TFF for not consulting with or informing the "KTFF" before launching such an initiative.

While opposition UBP "deputy" Nazim Cavusoglu criticized Denktas for apologizing from Turkey, UBP "deputy" Ersin Tatar said that the issue could have been solved through dialogue rather than perceiving it as an insult to Turkish Cypriot identity

(DPs)

[03] A "parliamentary delegation" held contacts in Strasbourg

According to a statement issued by the "assembly", the delegation carried out contacts with representatives and Euro MPs of the Social Democrat Group, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the Conservatives Group. At the same time, the delegation held bilateral talks with Kati Piri, the EP's Turkey Rapporteur and with Elmar Brok, President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The delegation stressed during their contacts the need for the Cyprus negotiation talks to resume after April, without any other delay, on the basis of the efforts exerted to reach to a viable solution based on the UN parameters, while at the same time they informed the EP's members about the latest developments on the issue of gas and hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean.

During its contacts, the delegation referred also to their sensitivities on the paragraph about Cyprus which is included in the EP's report on Turkey, to the importance of the geographical registration of halloumi for the Turkish Cypriot economy, to the importance of taking forward the issue of the Direct Trade Regulation in order to be discussed at the EP soon and also to the importance of continuing the works related with the Committee of Missing Persons without politicizing the issue.

(AK)

[04] Akinci calls on for the opening of Apliki and Deryneia crossing points; he criticized Denktas' apology

Akinci stated that the opening of these two crossing points will be beneficial for both occupied Lefka and occupied Famagusta and added that the obstacles put on the issue must be lifted.

Akinci reiterated that his election campaign is focused on four main points and noted that the solution of the Cyprus problem is the main and most important among them. He stated that the issue that occurred as regards the Turkish Football Federation's (TFF) initiative to open a "representation office" in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, is a result of the non-solution and added that the initiative "is a wrong movement". He also criticized strongly the so-called deputy prime minister and "minister of economy, tourism, culture and sports" Serdar Denktas who apologized during his visit in Turkey for the reactions of the Turkish Cypriots against TFF. Akinci said that Denktas' behaviour was wrong and the fact that he apologized frustrated him.

(CS)

[05] Denktas proposed the production of halloumi in Turkey to be moved to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

Denktas also said that it has become a necessity for locally produced products to be sold to Europe via Turkey.

Speaking on a program on "BRT" last night, Denktas said that he had found the opportunity to hold contacts on the "2016-2018 government programs" whilst in Ankara and that he had a productive meeting with the Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci.

Explaining that they had exchanged views as to how the "TRNC" economy could be developed, Denktas said that this could only be done through economic integration.

"I also found the opportunity to discuss the issue of halloumi/hellim with Zeybekci. I told him it is time halloumi/hellim production in Turkey to be moved to the TRNC (editor's note: in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyrpus", he said.

Also touching upon the issue of incentives, Denktas said that he had told the Turkish Economy Minister that incentives are needed to be given to Turkish businessmen who want to invest in the "TRNC" but that they will need to have a partnership with "TRNC citizens".

Responding to a question about the water transfer project, Denktas said that it is not clear yet as to who will be managing the water. He warned that unless the issue is clarified soon there is a strong chance that Turkey can step in and decide to manage the water itself.

[06] Onurer: The Republic of Cyprus was established on a wrong base

He went on and argues that this ill born so-called Republic only lived for three years and the coup d etat which was driven by CIA caused the rift between the two communities.

(CS)

[07] Eroglu: "The Greek Cypriot side tries to prevent all our activities"

Speaking during the meeting, the chairman of the union Metin Feyzioglu stated that they had a constructive cooperation with the "Turkish Cypriot Bar Associations" in drafting a new "law" for lawyers and added that they have decided to establish a joint committee which aims to further develop their existing cooperation.

Also speaking, Eroglu, referred, inter alia, to the water transfer project and pointed out that he was informed by the Greek Cypriot press that the Greek Cypriot side is preparing to launch a legal process against the water transfer project from Turkey. "The Greek Cypriots are trying to prevent all our activities. It is not possible to understand this mentality", Eroglu added.

Eroglu stated further that they are ready to cooperate with the union in order to work together on taking joint "legal" measures on the issue.

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(DPs/ AM)

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