Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-04-03

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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] Turkey's MFA reacts regarding Cyprus' criminalization on denial of the Armenian genocide

[02] Eroglu: If an agreement is not reached in the Cyprus problem, we will draw our own way

[03] Olgun: The Cyprus talks may resume in the middle of May

[04] The Turkish Cypriots are satisfied with the results of their efforts in the EU

[05] Talat says that in 2009 he opposed to "KTFF's" becoming a member of the CFA because "we felt close to the solution then"

[06] Support to the football initiative by the Trade Unions Platform and the Famagusta Platform

[07] The water from Turkey is expected to the occupied area of Cyprus in July

[08] Banning journalism

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey's MFA reacts regarding Cyprus' criminalization on denial of the Armenian genocide

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said, in a statement late Thursday, that the "Greek-Cypriot administration's decision is null and void for Turkey and not worthy of comment".

"It is without doubt that those who try to exploit the 1915 incidents at every opportunity by using simple political ambitions cannot get any result", Bilgic added.

(DPs)

[02] Eroglu: If an agreement is not reached in the Cyprus problem, we will draw our own way

"During the process which will follow the people's expectations will be at the table. This is the last chance. If it does not happen, we will draw our way together with our people. I assume that as the UN Secretary - General said, the forthcoming period will be the last game. This game should be played well and we should reach an agreement which we believe will be lasting in Cyprus. You realize that this agreement cannot be unilateral. The other side should also take the same step".

Eroglu alleged that if the Greek Cypriots continue what he called as their insincere stance within the next period, in a few years he will discuss the issue with the Turkish Cypriot "people" and if necessary, the Turkish Cypriot side will hold a referendum alone.

Eroglu reiterated the view that a time limit should be put in the negotiations and alleged that the sincerity of the Greek Cypriots will be seen from whether they will accept a time limit or not.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Olgun: The Cyprus talks may resume in the middle of May

Speaking at the television programme "ada raporu" (island's report), Olgun said that the Cyprus talks may resume in the middle of May after the upcoming "presidential elections" in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. He reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side is at the negotiating table without preconditions and they expect the Greek Cypriot side to join the negotiating table without preconditions.

Referring to the UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide's statement that in order to have conclusion of the Cyprus talks, it should be based on structured intensive negotiations within a natural timetable, Olgun said that the talks cannot continue forever. He also said that their aim is the end of the year, they perceive it as a natural timetable, adding that whatever issue you take up, the whole energy issue, including the hydrocarbon, the Varosha issue, the key issue of the outcome is a comprehensive solution.

Noting that there is a need for an agreement in Cyprus, Olgun said that the economy of Cyprus will not be possible to recover only with a financial recovery package without a Cyprus settlement. He added: "There is a serious financial crisis in south Cyprus. It is not possible to solve it with a recovery package. The basic engine of its economy has been burned."

(DPs)

[04] The Turkish Cypriots are satisfied with the results of their efforts in the EU

Referring to the Cyprus negotiations, Saner expressed the view that a time table should be put in the negotiations and alleged that it should be known that other alternatives exist except for the unification of the two communities in a federation.

Addressing the same session, Ozdil Nami, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, said that his "ministry' supports the initiatives exerted in the EU and noted that the contacts they also hold are very important. He pointed out that they will especially support the efforts on the issue of the "representations". He noted that they have a project for gaining representation in the European Parliament, to which they attach great importance. He underlined the duties that fall upon the relevant "parliamentarian committee" on this issue. Nami also referred to their efforts for removing the so-called embargoes and isolation allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Talat says that in 2009 he opposed to "KTFF's" becoming a member of the CFA because "we felt close to the solution then"

Called by Kiblisli to comment on the issue, Talat replied that there were hopes for a solution to the Cyprus problem in 2009 and because of this he was not positive to "KTFF's" becoming member of KOP. "Everything is evaluated in its own circumstances", he noted adding that then he had said that becoming a member of KOP should be out of the question, because this could influence other federations.

Referring to the current situation, Talat argued that the "KTFF" should be supported [in its application to become a member of KOP] because there is no hope for a solution to the Cyprus problem. He said: "If the solution was seen in the horizon, I could ask the football federation to wait. We thought that a new arrangement would happen with the solution. It did not happen".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Support to the football initiative by the Trade Unions Platform and the Famagusta Platform

Speaking on behalf of the Platform, Sener Elcil, the General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS), said that "KTFF's" initiative is part of the "existence debate" (varolus) within the Turkish Cypriot community.

On the same issue, Okan Dagli on behalf of the Famagusta initiative also expressed their full support to the initiative of the "KTFF", adding that they believe to a federal solution in Cyprus. He also said that he believes that this initiative in the football will set an example for the Cyprus settlement.

(DPs)

[07] The water from Turkey is expected to the occupied area of Cyprus in July

Responding to a question, he noted that 25 kilometers of pipelines were installed noting that 13.6 kilometers are laid on the bottom of the sea and sunk, while 11 kilometers are in abeyance. The part of the pipeline that will pass from the sea is about 80-kilometer long.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Banning journalism

"Daily Hurriyet, which has been published for 67 years, was confronted with a ban by Prime Minister Professor Ahmet Davutoglu on April 1. Upon Davutoglu's instructions, the Prime Ministry's bodyguards prevented our correspondents from working at the funeral ceremony of Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz, who was martyred by terrorists.

The ban at the entrance of the square next to the Eyup Sultan Mosque was implemented against all Dogan Media outlets including Hurriyet, as well as the representatives of other newspapers. The decision about the ban was later reiterated by Prime Minister during a press conference in front of the building of the Eyup District Governor's Office.

Prime Minister Davutoglu's discourse is as thought-provoking as the ban itself. Davutoglu described the publication of photos related to the terrorist act in the courthouse as 'immorality' on April 1. Starting from this point of view, he accused the newspapers that published these photos of 'being tools of terrorist propaganda'.

We reject these remarks uttered by Prime Minister Davutoglu. We are not able to ascertain these remarks and the method he chose to him. We think that a democracy with the freedom of the press cannot accommodate a Prime Minister allocating himself the authority to punish newspapers, correspondents, photojournalists and cameramen or be busy with the process of accreditation. This is more reminiscent of practices particular to Third World regimes.

* * *

The serious accusations of the Prime Minister are related to the debate about where the limits of press freedoms fall in cases of terrorism, which is one of the most problematic issues in democracies. Daily Hurriyet reported this reprehensible incident on its front page with a headline reading "Condemnation of Terrorism," and published the photo of the act in a controlled way. In doing so, it carefully considered the balance between the people's right to be informed and its own principle of not propagating terrorism.

One of the most important differences of the Dogan Group compared to other media groups is in the fact that it continuously checks the application of its own publishing principles with its internal mechanisms and shares the results with the public. As such, the Dogan Publishing Principles Committee evaluated the publications about the incident and shared the results with the public. We never abstain from engaging in self-criticism and we appear before our readers with the self-confidence it provides.

Daily Hurriyet is an independent newspaper. It draws its power from its readers. Daily Hurriyet should not be confused with political party newspapers.

* * *

The imposition that we faced on April 1 is not the first ban that our newspaper has witnessed in its history. Daily Hurriyet was banned by the military regime after the 1980 coup and has often been targeted by elected governments, too. A vivid example from the recent past was the astronomical tax fine that the Dogan Publication Group, which daily Hurriyet is part of, was exposed to.

(?)

We just want to do journalism. We do not want to face bans with policemen waiting on street corners, trying to prevent our colleagues from doing their work."

(DPs) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/ AM)

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