Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-03-27

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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] Sertoglu: "We are applying to CFA next week"

[02] Eroglu declared his political vision

[03] Siber: "The unilateral opening of Varosha without solution will be the reason for a new crisis to arise"

[04] Bozkir: The Cyprus problem and the Turkish EU membership are "twin brothers"

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council carried out contacts in Washington

[06] Atasoy called the Islamic countries to support the "TRNC"

[07] Increase on the occupation regime's imports for 2014

[08] Erdogan and Obama discussed pressing issues in the Middle East

[09] Turkey supports Saudi Arabia's military operation in Yemen

[10] Former UNDP head joins opposition CHP

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Sertoglu: "We are applying to CFA next week"

In statements to Al Jazeera Turk, Sertoglu said that their "government" of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus has not responded to any of "KTFF's" demands and the 45-day timetable given to them ended on March 27. Sertoglu added: "This issue is over. The time we gave to the government was for 45 days and the time period is ending tomorrow (27.03.15). During this 45 days period, not even a single government member bothered to listen what we had to say. Therefore, as we stated earlier, in order to reach the international standards and to be able to defend our rights, we are applying to CFA".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Detay (27.03.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, asked to comment on the problems between the "KTFF" and the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), said that there is no possibility the TFF to open a representative office in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and this issue is closed.

(DPs)

[02] Eroglu declared his political vision

Eroglu said in his speech that his vision is to reach a realistic, reasonable, and peaceful solution on the Cyprus problem: "The main duty of the president is to know the past, accurately analyse today and shape our future correctly, by blending all of these. This duty, in addition to the Constitutional responsibilities of the President of the TRNC, is the basis of the ongoing cause of the Turkish Cypriot people for freedom and sovereignty", he stated.

He went on and added that the recent development in the world assigns duties and responsibilities to the Turkish Cypriot "people" both in connection with the Islamic world and the Western civilization.

"Our vision has been and will be, in the new period, to act in a manner that prioritizes concurrently the integration of the Turkish Cypriot people into the international community as well as its national security", he stated and added that settlement of the Cyprus problem should preserve the peace and should not in the long run set the ground for conflict.

"Hydrocarbon resources around the island of Cyprus are the common wealth of the two communities living on the island. It must be well understood that we are determined to protect our legitimate rights over the said hydrocarbon reserves. Our attitude entails openness to economic development and cooperation, and it excludes archaic ambitions which sacrifice regional investment opportunities. The Cyprus problem must be resolved within two years at the latest, and the hydrocarbon resources, which are of great significance for the regional peace and stability, should be transported to the world through Turkey, which is the most economically viable route", he claimed.

He went on and added that he in the "EU norms and ideals" championed by the European Union such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and respect for human rights. "Underlying our vision for the settlement of the Cyprus issue is the unconditional need to build a future partnership on strong foundations and the attainment of concrete and, in case of need, enforceable security guarantees for the well-being of the Turkish Cypriot people:, he claimed adding that the Turkish Cypriot side does not want "the repetition of the painful experiences of 1963-1974" and claimed that today they are witnessing provocative statements and racist epithets being used against the Turkish Cypriot Community by the Greek Cypriots even on religious matters.

"The continuation of effective and enforceable guarantees that can protect the Turkish Cypriot community from racial prejudices and ethnic discrimination even under the worst possible conditions of economic and political crisis is a part and parcel of our vision. We are sitting at the negotiating table, with courage and determination, in order to establish an order where the right to live in peace, scientific thought, free enterprise, all sacred values, and, most important of all, the right to live with dignity, are considered indispensable. Regardless of the fact that our partner has abandoned the negotiating table, we will continue to extend our hand in line with our beliefs based on the aforementioned values. Naturally, we have the right to expect the same constructive approach from the Greek Cypriot politicians, clergymen, opinion leaders and the Greek Cypriot people. The Turkish Cypriot people are not guests on this beautiful island, but have the same sovereign rights as their Southern neighbours. We are acting not on ideological fixations but on a culture of peaceful partnership and of equality, and we shall continue to do so", he stated.

(CS)

[03] Siber: "The unilateral opening of Varosha without solution will be the reason for a new crisis to arise"

Referring to the issue of hydrocarbons, Siber stressed the need for both sides to have benefits from the revenues and said that this issue should serve for the peace in the island.

As regards the issue of Varosha, she pointed out that both communities should work together with goodwill for the redesign of the city. She also said that the launching of technical projects for the architecture reconstruction of Varosha (fenced off city) will turn Varosha to become a symbol of peace in Cyprus. Siber added that the unilateral opening of Varosha without solution will be the reason for a new crisis to arise.

(AK)

[04] Bozkir: The Cyprus problem and the Turkish EU membership are "twin brothers"

He made these statements speaking at a seminar organized by the International Relations Institute under the title "Turkey in Europe: Difficulties and opportunities" during his official visit to Rome.

Bozkir claimed during his speech that the Cyprus problem is much easier to be solved than the Syria issue or the Ukrainian crisis. He also said that Turkey's EU membership has been progressing together with the Cyprus problem since both have "a fifty-year past", as he claimed. "Turkey wants to solve this problem very much. There are compromised parameters in both sides. Therefore the Cyprus problem can be solved [?] It is very sad that after the demolition of the Berlin wall which has celebrated its 25th anniversary to have a capital that is divided by a wall", he alleged.

He also said that the Cyprus problem came very near to solution with the Annan Plan in 2004 and added that in case the Cyprus problem is solved then 14 EU chapters will be opened for Turkey and the country will become an EU member.

Finally he said that the natural resources of the island belong to the entire island.

(CS)

[05] The Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council carried out contacts in Washington

In a written statement issued by the chairman of the board of managers Ilker Zugurt, the delegation visited the US Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who is serving New York's 17th district. During the meeting, the delegation conveyed to her a letter on the issue of the registration of the halloumi product and explained to her their suffering due to "embargoes".

The delegation also met with former Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally - Executive Director of the Select USA Investment Summit ? and Hakan Tasci, Executive Director of TUSKON US (US Representative Office of the Confederation of. Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey in the USA). Zugurt said that they made the necessary early negotiations with the Chairman of the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI) in order to make a similar agreement with the one they did with the New European Business Confederation in Brussels, in order to promote the "TRNC" (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) and for the Turkish Cypriots to have business opportunities.

(DPs)

[06] Atasoy called the Islamic countries to support the "TRNC"

Stressing the need for the Islamic countries to support the "right cause" of the Turkish Cypriot "people", Atasoy said that it is very important the Muslim countries to be by the side of the Turkish Cypriots and support their struggle.

Referring to the Cyprus negotiation talks, Atasoy criticized the Greek Cypriot side for its decision to leave the talks, providing as an excuse the crisis occurred on the issue of the natural gas.

Atasoy called the international community to do all necessary in order to persuade the Greek Cypriot side to return to the negotiating table the soonest and also to lift all the "isolations" imposed to the Turkish Cypriots.

(AK)

[07] Increase on the occupation regime's imports for 2014

According to the statement, an increase of 5% has been observed in the "TRNC's imports" comparing to last year. The imports for 2014 reached 1,781 million dollars.

Also, the statement said that the records for December 2014 showed an increase of 4% compared to 2013. The imports for December 2014 were 154.4 million dollars.

Meanwhile, as the paper writes 66.5% of the imports of 2014 (January-December 2014) were from Turkey while the 33.5% from third countries.

(AK)

[08] Erdogan and Obama discussed pressing issues in the Middle East

Turkey and the United States support the Saudi-led military operation against Houthi forces in Yemen, who have taken over much of the country in an effort to oust President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Iran supports the Houthis.

The leaders also discussed U.S.-led negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, the White House said in a statement.

The phone call came on a day when Erdogan complained at a news conference that "Iran is trying to dominate the region" and must withdraw forces from Yemen, Syria and Iraq.

Obama and Erdogan discussed their cooperation fighting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants and "common efforts to bring security and stability to Iraq and Syria," the White House said in a statement about the call.

"The two leaders reviewed the train-and-equip program for vetted members of the moderate Syrian opposition. They discussed efforts to deepen cooperation to stem the flow of foreign fighters", the White House said.

Obama "expressed appreciation for Turkey's continuing support to nearly two million refugees from Iraq and Syria," the White House said, noting they also discussed the crisis in Ukraine.

(DPs)

[09] Turkey supports Saudi Arabia's military operation in Yemen

"Turkey supports the military operations against the Houthis led by Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council, based on the request of the legitimately elected Yemeni President Hadi" the Foreign Ministry stated, adding that the military intervention would contribute to the reclamation of the legitimate state authority and prevent chaos and civil war. The Ministry also called the Houthi militias and their foreign supporters to renounce violence and acts which threaten peace and security in the region.

The statement condemned the attacks carried out by Houthi militias against the legitimate Yemeni administration led by President Hadi, to take over the temporary capital Aden.

(DPs)

[10] Former UNDP head joins opposition CHP

"Taking charge in a government with a social democratic dimension in which the CHP will have a say and working for social democracy and trying to improve Turkey in terms of social democracy would be a source of happiness for me," Dervis said in a meeting with CHP's chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu on March 26 in Ankara.

But Dervis said he would not run in parliamentary elections that will be held June 7, meaning he could only join a CHP government as a non-deputy Minister. "I have been a social democrat since the 1970s and a voter of the CHP," he explained.

Dervis who is currently working as the vice president of the prestigious U.S. think tank Brookings, served as the Minister responsible for the economy in the early 2000s and restructured the fragile Turkish economy through a set of reforms.

(DPs) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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