Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-03-30

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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 announced the withdrawal of Barbaros seismic vessel from the region

[02] Sertoglu sends a letter to CFA, FIFA and UEFA regarding "KTFF's" application to join CFA

[03] Denktas: Seeing CFA as the salvation of the Turkish Cypriot football is tantamount to bankruptcy of politics and suicide of football

[04] The Turkish press gets into action to prevent the reunification of the Cyprus football

[05] Nami: Both sides should accept a timetable and arbitration so as to be able to reach a solution

[06] Ertug: If we fail to reach an agreement, it would be better to seek alternative solutions

[07] Olgun: When the Cyprus talks resume, we will suggest for a timetable in order to get results in a very short time

[08] Eroglu: I will submit a timetable in the Cyprus talks through the UNSG

[09] Akinci prefers the Cyprus talks to be held in Cyprus; Eroglu, Sibel and Ozersay are open to suggestions

[10] Arinc: The project of transferring water from Turkey to Cyprus is about its completion; Dincyurek: The target is to end the project on 20 July

[11] Cirali: An independent committee appointed by the EU should inspect the halloumi production in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[12] Ancient tombs and caves were demolished in the occupied village of Lefkoniko

[13] Davutoglu expresses his support for switching to a presidential system

[14] Slovenia backs Turkey's EU membership: President Pahor

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Nami announced the withdrawal of Barbaros seismic vessel from the region

Speaking to "BRT", Nami said that they decided for the Barbaros vessel to return to Turkey as a good-will gesture and removed the pretexts the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades had put forward in order to abandon the negotiating table. "Hopefully the Greek Cypriot administration (translator's note: as he refers to the Republic of Cyprus) will use this opportunity and return to the negotiating table", Nami said.

(DPs)

[02] Sertoglu sends a letter to CFA, FIFA and UEFA regarding "KTFF's" application to join CFA

Sertoglu criticized Serdar Denktas, self-styled deputy prime minister responsible for sports, for a letter he has sent to the football clubs condemning "KTFF's" decision. He also reiterated his disagreement as regards the opening of a representation office by the Turkish Football Federation in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Sertoglu noted that in order for being able to join the CFA they must do five things. Four of these things are simple, he said, but the amendment of "KTFF" statute is "unbelievably difficult". He said, inter alia, the following: "However, it will not take years. We have put a 45-day time limit to ourselves. We will complete the statute within this period of time and pass it from the general assembly. In the new statute, half of the powers of the chairman will go away. This is not a problem. The general assembly has decided. We have launched an effort in the name of the Turkish Cypriot football community to arrange the KTFF's regulations within the framework of FIFA and UEFA principles. We will complete our regulations the soonest and submit them for approval. This is a clear step which confirms our decisiveness to take again our place, rights and responsibilities in the CFA. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[03] Denktas: Seeing CFA as the salvation of the Turkish Cypriot football is tantamount to bankruptcy of politics and suicide of football

Denktas has sent a letter to the football clubs expressing his views on the "Turkish Cypriot football federation's" application to join the CFA. He argued that before such a decision, the views of each member-club should have been taken and then the decision taken by the clubs and the consequences of this decision would have been respected by everyone, including himself.

"There are some ways for opening our football to the outside world and what should be done is for the government and the federation to push for these ways together", argued Denktas and alleged that because of a "promise given behind closed doors", the application to the CFA has been turned into a single alternative.

(I/Ts.)

[04] The Turkish press gets into action to prevent the reunification of the Cyprus football

The paper reports that the Turkish Cypriot "federation" ("KTFF") two years ago had accepted to join the "Greek Cypriot federation", as it calls the Cyprus Football Association (CFA or KOP), but this was not materialized due to reactions by nationalists. According to Hurriyet, the Turkish Cypriot "federation" was preparing to announce on Monday (today) that it applied to CFA for membership. The paper reports that this decision caused "great reaction" in Turkey and officials from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) argued that the Turkish Cypriot "federation" acts having "political calculations". TFF's general secretary Kadir Kardas told Hurriyet the following: "As TFF we have offered them any kind of support and we will continue to do so. However, the center that takes the final decision is FIFA, boss of the world football. This is an issue which totally concerns TRNC's internal politics. A decision could have been taken because of the elections in the TRNC".

Meanwhile, Turkish Milliyet newspaper (29.03.15, online, http://www.milliyet.com.tr/ktff-de-uyelik-krizi-gundem-2035746/) refers to a "membership crisis in the KTFF" and argues that the "KTFF's" chairman Hasan Sertoglu caused a crisis with his statement that the "KTFF" will apply to join the CFA because the "government" of the breakaway regime could not solve its problems.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (29.03.15) reports that the "KTFF'" application to join the CFA "has activated the Turkish media". The paper refers to Hurriyet's news report under the title "They say the fear became true in Cyprus". According to Afrika, the initiative by "KTFF's" chairman is supported by a great part of the society and is expected to significantly contribute to the solution and peace process in Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Nami: Both sides should accept a timetable and arbitration so as to be able to reach a solution

Noting that "this issue must end", Nami said: "When we say that 'I want a timetable', you cannot separate this from the arbitration. If you refer only to a timetable, the other side will think that you are working for the scenario 'everyone to go his own way' in the end of the process by using time".

Nami said that they have asked from the European Commissioner for the Enlargement to continue his interest in Turkish Cypriot affairs and alleged that they received positive replies on the halloumi-hellim cheese issue. He further added that their diplomatic efforts were fruitful on the registration of halloumi and if the Greek Cypriots insist on their stance that "I am the legitimate government and only organizations which I will appoint will be authorized", the issue will remain in stagnancy.

Nami argued that they were received with great interest during their visits to the Islamic Cooperation Organization (ICO), that ICO's member states are annoyed from the Republic of Cyprus' cooperation with Israel and that Islamic countries are ready to share with the Turkish Cypriots their experience on the hydrocarbons issue.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ertug: If we fail to reach an agreement, it would be better to seek alternative solutions

Ertug noted that an optimistic climate has emerged during the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser to Cyprus Espen Barth Eide's latest visit to the island.

Reminding that Turkey's NAVTEX in the eastern Mediterranean will expire on the 6th of April and the Greek Cypriot side will be temporarily suspending exploration activities for technical reasons, Ertug said that a window of opportunity will emerge during this period which will lead to the resumption of the talks.

Ertug also expressed the view that should the two sides fail to reach an agreement on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal settlement after a certain period of time, then perhaps it will be better to seek alternative solutions 'outside the box'.

Also touching upon the issue of hydrocarbons, Ertug underlined the need to set up a bi-communal or independent committee to oversee the exploration, exploitations and marketing of any natural resources. He also said that any natural gas discovered off the coast of the island should be transported to European markets via a pipeline over to Turkey.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 28.03.15), under the title "Turkish and Greek Cypriots mull mutual steps on drilling to restart talks", reported that Ertug stated that if the Greek Cypriots are to demand that Turkey avoids collecting seismic data, then the Greek Cypriots should also end their unilateral drilling activities. "But if they show previously signed agreements as a reason to continue their collection, then we'll continue our drilling too. Alternatively, let's conduct those explorations together. At least, let's not leave the reunification talks table," he said.

Turkey's reissuing of a new Navtex for seismic surveys of the Barbaros vessel is dependent on Greek Cyprus' continuation of its unilateral drilling activities, Ertug alleged. He also claimed that the Greek Cypriots have abandoned the negotiations not because of Turkey's seismic surveys in the region, but because the talks were about to reach the "give and take" stage. "The Greek Cypriots are not ready for 'give and take' phase of the talks," Ertug alleged.

(DPs)

[07] Olgun: When the Cyprus talks resume, we will suggest for a timetable in order to get results in a very short time

Olgun claimed that in order to test the "sincerity" of the Greek Cypriot side on the Cyprus settlement, a timetable for the negotiations will be a condition. He added: "We have to put a timetable. We should act in an urgency sense".

(DPs)

[08] Eroglu: I will submit a timetable in the Cyprus talks through the UNSG

Addressing his supporters at the presence of Huseyin Ozgurgun, chairman of the National Unity Party and Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic Party, Eroglu said: "The first proposal I will submit to the Greek Cypriots through the UN Secretary-General is a time limit. If they do not accept this, it means that they are not sincere at the negotiating table and they do not have a will for an agreement. And we will show this to the world".

(I/Ts.)

[09] Akinci prefers the Cyprus talks to be held in Cyprus; Eroglu, Sibel and Ozersay are open to suggestions

All the candidates replied that they would be in favour of such proposal except from Mustafa Akinci. He was the only candidate, who said that he prefers the talks to be held in Cyprus, adding that the leaders have also responsibilities in the island. He noted that from time to time, there have been meetings in New York and Geneva, but the life in Cyprus continues.

Eroglu said that he is ready to take part in such meeting in Geneva or New York, adding: "During our latest meeting with Eide I suggested that the UNSG to be present at the next meeting we will have with Anastasiades. If such a meeting will take place, it could be in Geneva or New York. We are in favour of it".

Siber, for her part, said that she is in favour of the proposal, adding that she is open to any suggestion that will be constructive. She noted: "If I get elected, I will call upon Anastasiades to meet at a social gathering in order to evaluate the period ahead of us. According to my opinion it is important for the two leaders to be the ones who will determine the modality of the negotiations. If the UN suggests the meeting to take place in Geneva or elsewhere, we the leaders should be open to any constructive recommendation in order to reach a Cyprus settlement".

Speaking on the same issue, Ozersay said that in such a method the determining factor would be the "sincerity". "As the politics and politicians on both sides of the island have been using negotiations as a tool in internal affairs for so long, it would be a good idea to hold negotiations abroad. But even if the negotiations are carried out abroad the leaders still may manipulate the process through media. Therefore, for such a method to be successful what is needed most is "sincerity".

(DPs)

[10] Arinc: The project of transferring water from Turkey to Cyprus is about its completion; Dincyurek: The target is to end the project on 20 July

He went on and said: "[?] It has become possible for 75 million cubic meters of water to annually be transferred from Turkey to Cyprus with pipelines 250 meters under the sea. Everything is completed. The water reached Cyprus. After that its distribution and administration will be carried out [?]".

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (30.03.15), Hakan Dincyurek, self-styled minister of environment and natural resources of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has referred to the same issue in interview in Turkey with TRT-Turk and NTV channels. He said that in case the weather conditions are good, their target is to bring the water from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus on 20 July, the anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island. This date is very meaningful for the Turkish Cypriots, he argued.

(I/Ts.)

[11] Cirali: An independent committee appointed by the EU should inspect the halloumi production in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

(DPs)

[12] Ancient tombs and caves were demolished in the occupied village of Lefkoniko

(DPs)

[13] Davutoglu expresses his support for switching to a presidential system

Davutoglu ruled out the claims that he is not in favour of a presidency system switch and said that the current system in Turkey does not address the crucial political matters and brings a clash of authorities within the state.

He also said that the presidential system switch and a new Constitution will be included in the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) election manifesto and added that the part of the manifesto that explains the details about the AK Party's intention to switch the country's political system was personally penned by himself.

(DPs)

[14] Slovenia backs Turkey's EU membership: President Pahor

Pahor told the Anatolia Agency in an interview that the two countries have enjoyed positive relations since they established diplomatic relation 23 years ago. He said: "President Erdogan comes with a strong business delegation to Slovenia and opportunities for joint cooperation in third markets are great. To have friendly relations with Turkey are extremely important. We have different perspectives on some issues, but these are not obstacles to the desire to strengthen relations between the two states."

Pahor said: "Slovenia is looking forward to achieve key results during Turkish President Erdogan's visit. Four ministers will accompany President Erdogan on his visit and I believe that planned new corporation agreements will strengthen our economies even more."

Regarding Turkey's work towards EU membership, Pahor said: "Slovenia firmly supports Turkey's membership in the European Union. We are pleased that, after decades of delay, the first chapter (towards EU membership) has finally been opened."

Pointing out the importance of peace and security in the Western Balkans for all of Europe, Pahor said Slovenia would continue to support the EU accession process of all Western Balkan countries, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(DPs) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/ AM)

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