Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-03-19

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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] Eide: Barbaros vessel not leaving Famagusta Port in spite of the NAVTEX is a sign of good will

[02] "Diplomatic sources" talk to KIBRIS about the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations

[03] Saner: "Our struggle at the EP on the issue of missing persons has started to have positive results"

[04] The breakaway regime participates in the "MITT 2015" tourism fair in Moscow

[05] Independent candidate Ulas: Solution is not reached in Cyprus because the interests of influential players of the world are not satisfied

[06] Twelve icons were found in occupied Gerolakkos village

[07] A cooperation protocol between "YDU" and Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University

[08] Bozkir: Ankara expecting the EU to open chapter 17 soon

[09] The European Commissioner for Energy sent a positive message for the opening of the energy chapter for Turkey

[10] Opinion polls show that AKP reduced its percentages

[11] Transparency International Turkey survey finds rampant self-censorship in media

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eide: Barbaros vessel not leaving Famagusta Port in spite of the NAVTEX is a sign of good will

In statements yesterday, Eide said that he does not expect a new NAVTEX after 6 April, when the current Turkish NAVTEX ends and noted that with the above development and the interruption of the explorations of ENI/KOGAS Company for technical evaluations, a new negotiating process will start. "There is a real hope for Cyprus in front of us, I am very optimistic", he added.

Eide noted that immediately after 6 April either the two leaders or he on their behalf will issue a statement regarding the resumption of the negotiations. He said: "We aim to have a speedy process, because I have experienced that slow processes lead us nowhere. We aim to speedily discuss all important issues and, even if we are not able to reach a solution, to achieve significant progress".

Referring to the resumption of the negotiations, Eide noted that they will begin with the governance and power sharing and issues of the property chapter which include a dimension related with the territory. "If we achieve significant progress and feel that we are close to the solution, this will change the perceptions", he argued adding that then "the hydrocarbon research activities will be approached differently".

Eide noted that all issues in the negotiations are related with each other and argued that there are some concepts which should be clarified. He added: "For example, bi-zonality, there is an agreement between the sides on bi-zonality, but what does this mean for the sides? When we clarify the answer to this, it will influence both the EU chapter and the property chapter. That is, actually the issues are related with each other and the progress achieved on one of them will influence the other chapters".

(I/Ts.)

[02] "Diplomatic sources" talk to KIBRIS about the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations

The sources told Kibris that UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide will visit the island in the beginning of April and that the statement regarding the resumption of the talks will be made either by the two leaders or by Eide on their behalf. The above-mentioned statement will be saying the date on which the leaders will meet for the first time. It is argued that this meeting could take place before 19 April, when the "elections" in the occupied area of the island will be held.

The sources said that if there is a political will, the opportunity will be used to lead the negotiations to the last stage. It is alleged that efforts are exerted for having a multilateral meeting with the participation of the guarantor powers for the settlement of the guarantees issue during the period when the hydrocarbon explorations will be interrupted.

The sources also noted that if the current system of guarantees is abolished, another system of guarantees will be needed and this depends on the political will of the sides on the island and the guarantor powers.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Saner: "Our struggle at the EP on the issue of missing persons has started to have positive results"

According to Saner, the Greek Cypriot's allegation that the issue of missing persons has started after 1974 is groundless. He explained that a "parliamentary delegation" has recently carried out contacts at the EP where they informed the Euro MPs regarding the issue of the missing persons, submitting at the same time documents which prove that the missing persons' issue has started during the period of 1963-1974. Saner provided as an example the case of the Turkish Cypriot MP Cengir Ratip who is missing since 1964.

Accusing the Greek Cypriot side for misleading the international community towards the issue of the missing persons, Saner referred to their contacts at the EP and said that they had the opportunity during those contacts to convey to the Euro MP's all the realities about this matter. Saner added that they have also submitted to all Euro MP's a detailed report about the Turkish Cypriot MP Cengiz Ratip and asked for their support in order for his case to come to the agenda of the EU.

"The Greek Cypriot side does not have the courage to accuse the Turkish Cypriot side towards the missing persons in Cyprus", Saner alleged.

(AK)

[04] The breakaway regime participates in the "MITT 2015" tourism fair in Moscow

According to a press release by the "ministry", 37 thousand people visited the fair last year. During the fair, brochures, maps and DVDs in Russian will be distributed to those who will visit the "TRNC kiosk".

Denktas is expected to return to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus on Sunday.

(DPs)

[05] Independent candidate Ulas: Solution is not reached in Cyprus because the interests of influential players of the world are not satisfied

Ulas, who was speaking at a conference in illegal Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU) stated that a solution is not reached in Cyprus because the interests of influential players of the world are not satisfied. Therefore he said there is no validity on the talks and the promises made "beyond the Keryneia Door". He also criticized the services provided by the so-called government especially in the health and justice fields.

(CS)

[06] Twelve icons were found in occupied Gerolakkos village

According to the paper, the icons were found into the suspect's car in the industrial area which is located in the occupied Gerolakkos village. The icons were confiscated and sent to the so-called antiquities department.

(AK)

[07] A cooperation protocol between "YDU" and Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University

According to the signing protocol, they will cooperate on issues as students and academic staff exchange and organize joint academic, sport, art, and culture activities.

(DPs)

[08] Bozkir: Ankara expecting the EU to open chapter 17 soon

Recalling that France lifted a blockage on some chapters after Francois Hollande replaced Turkey-skeptic Nicholas Sarkozy as President, Bozk?r expressed his expectation that chapter 17 will be opened in two months, just before the parliamentary elections slated for June 7. "Under normal conditions and in the absence of political obstacles, this chapter can be opened in eight weeks. We'll welcome it if it is opened; if it isn't, we'll continue our works as we have been doing so far. Opening chapters is the responsibility of the EU," he said.

Turkey and the union will increase bilateral dialogue in the upcoming term as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans a visit to Brussels in 2015. Earlier, Turkish officials estimated that the visit would occur in April, but Bozk?r said it was likely to take place later as both sides' schedule is busy for April. The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, will pay a visit to Turkey on April 7-8, Bozk?r said, adding that a Turkey-EU partnership commission meeting will be held on May 18. As part of efforts to protect Turkey from damage that will emerge if the EU concludes trade agreements with third parties, Turkish officials will participate in the meetings of the EU Trade Committee as an observer, the minister said.

Turkey and the EU will upgrade their Customs Union agreement to include agriculture, public procurement and the service sector, he said, adding that the parties would kick off negotiations on the agreement at the end of 2015 after the European Council authorizes the European Commission to do so.

[09] The European Commissioner for Energy sent a positive message for the opening of the energy chapter for Turkey

According to the paper, Sefcovic said: "We consider that from the technical point of view, the energy chapter is possible to open. Because Turkey is ready. It is only a matter of time.

(AK)

[10] Opinion polls show that AKP reduced its percentages

According to Gezici's results, after undecided votes are distributed between the parties, the AKP receives 39.3 % of the vote, while the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) gets 29.6 %, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), receives 17.7 % of the vote and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) passes the critical 10 % threshold with 11.4 %. In this case, the distribution of Deputies at the Assembly will be as follows: AKP: 229, CHP: 146, MHP: 118 and HDP: 57.

In addition, 77.1% of the persons participated in the poll stated that are against the presidential system proposed by AKP, while 22.9 % are in favor of it. Respondents also stated that they believe that the presidential system would increase authoritarianism (72 %) and lead to the territorial partition of the country (76 %).

Moreover, 67.2 % of people in Turkey believe that the government and the President place pressure on the media and 38.7 % of AKP voters expressed their discomfort with Erdogan's intervention in party-political affairs and the government.

The poll was conducted in 36 provinces across Turkey with 4,860 respondents between 7-8 of March 2015.

In addition, Turkihs daily Today's Zaman (19.03.15) also reports about another opinion poll conducted by MetroPOLL, whose results were announced on Samanyolu Haber TV on Tuesday, according to which there has been a slide in support for the AKP over the last month.

The president of the company, Professor Ozer Sencar, said that 1-1.5 % of the AK Party vote had gone to the MHP, adding that in the event of an alliance between the two ultra-nationalist parties, the MHP and the Grand Unity Party (BBP), they would receive 21.5 % of the vote. The MetroPOLL survey, conducted in March with the participation of 2,580 people, found that after the distribution of undecided voters, the AK Party's share of the vote stood at 41.8 %, down from 43.1 % in February.

(CS)

[11] Transparency International Turkey survey finds rampant self-censorship in media

According to the survey, titled "Research on Impunity in Turkey" and conducted between Jan. 29 and Feb. 22, featuring the views of some 11,000 members of the media, 86 % of respondents said they believe censorship or self-censorship is a common practice. More than 60% of respondents said they are absolutely sure that this is the case in Turkish media. Only 9% said they do not think there is censorship, while 3% said they are undecided.

An overwhelming majority of the journalists expressed their conviction that there is a direct or indirect link between reporting on corruption and the media's role of serving the public interest. Only 5 % disagreed with the notion, while 3 % remained undecided or said they had no opinion on that.

The poll also indicated that journalists believe 92 % of news covering corruption in the government, municipalities, the civil service and the judiciary is censored, and think that 63 % of articles on the relationship between media owners and the government are self-censored. In addition, more than half of the articles on corruption involving private companies or media corporations are censored, according to the survey.

Almost three-quarters (73 %) of the journalists who participated in the survey said they are aware of legislation that protects the right to freedom of the press and the right to freedom of expression but 88 % of them said these legal protections are not enough. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ AM)

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