Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-04-14

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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] Eroglu refers to Turkish Cypriot side's "road map"

[02] Nami: "I expect that the negotiations will commence in the second week of May"

[03] Turkey to appoint new "ambassador" to the occupied part of Lefkosia

[04] The number of voters in the breakaway regime for Sunday's "presidential elections"

[05] "Who is whose candidate?"

[06] Onurer: The status quo is the situation in the occupied area of Cyprus which is contrary to the international law

[07] Ergun Olgun in Germany

[08] Allegations that a cricket match will be played in occupied Keryneia between the "national teams" of "TRNC" and the Republic of Cyprus

[09] Turkey mulls further measures against the Vatican over Pope's genocide statements as envoy returns to Ankara

[10] New opinion poll regarding the forthcoming elections in Turkey

[11] Inauguration ceremony for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu refers to Turkish Cypriot side's "road map"

Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side has prepared a road map for the procedure and added: "Intensified negotiations will be held in May. The issues which are agreed will be determined in June. An agreement on the issues on which agreement does not exist will be targeted in July. While August will be the month for vacations, in September a multi-sided meeting with the participation of the guarantor powers will be organized. In November the preparation of a solution plan will be materialized and this solution plan will be negotiated through a give and take. The target is to submit the agreement reached between the two leaders to the two peoples in separate referenda in December. We see this as a timetable. If it continues open-ended, just like it happened until today, we could not have a result".

Alleging that a point had remained incomplete in the Annan Plan, Eroglu claimed that this was "what the fate of the other side would be if one of the sides said no". Accusing former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat of behaving rashly during that period, Eroglu alleged: "We could have benefited from the Greek Cypriots' saying no. If I was [in Talat's place] I would not have seated at the negotiations immediately. Our people should know what we will become in the end of this, if a referendum is once more held and the Greek Cypriots say no again".

Asked whether there was any difference between former President Christofias and President Anastasiades [at the negotiating table], Eroglu said that he saw no difference from the point of view of their mentality, alleging that all Greek Cypriot leaders have promised their people that they will return to pre-1974 and that is why they refrain from signing an agreement.

Eroglu was asked to comment on his view that "you should think of the other side as well at the negotiating table" and on whether he thinks of the other side. He replied that if there will be an agreement, all the wishes of the Greek Cypriots will, of course, not happen and alleged that the wishes of Turkish Cypriot side are "within a sensible framework".

Replying to a question on Turkey's involvement in the ongoing "election" process and to the view that "Turkey is keeping a distance from this process", Eroglu argued that there has been interferences in previous "presidential elections" and in elections within some parties, but these interferences failed. "Surely they have decided that the TRNC is a democratic country and they said that it should take its own decisions", he claimed adding that he did not see any interference by Turkey in this process.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Nami: "I expect that the negotiations will commence in the second week of May"

Nami claimed during the interview that a sense of "enough is enough" has developed in the UN Security Council regarding the Cyprus problem and alleged that at the latest meeting in New York with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ban indicated to him that the UN is exerting a final effort as regards Cyprus.

Referring to the statements of Espen Barth Eide, Special Advisor of the UN Secretary General that the entire world and especially the UN pointed to the risks to both sides of the Island if the issue is constantly left pending, Nami said that he considers the statements of Eide to be very important. Reiterating his expectation for the negotiations to commence in the second week of May following the "presidential elections" on 19 April, Nami stated: "The first meeting will likely determine what kind of setup the negotiations will proceed within. The following meetings will surely focus on substance. It is clear what the unresolved issues are. These will be taken up within the framework of a specific plan and all the work will culminate in a multi-party conference. Then the process will be finalized. For all of this to materialize we hope that the Greek Cypriot side will display the necessary political will".

Stating that he does not want the hydrocarbons issue to have an adverse effect on the comprehensive settlement negotiations, Nami claimed that former President Christofias did not use this as an excuse to suspend the negotiations in the past. "The hydrocarbons became an issue with Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Anastasiades. Unfortunately, the policies and approach of Anastasiades have led to a significant loss of time and unnecessary tensions. Instead of thinking strategically and behaving as a statesman motivated by a comprehensive settlement Anastasiades opted to engage in tactical manoeuvres. We hope that the negotiations will continue with an Anastasiades who has learned his lesson", he said and alleged the following: "No matter what happens in the region, the Turkish Cypriot side has never left the comprehensive settlement negotiations. We are displaying the same approach today. When we look to the future after the month of May, we expect a process which is well structured and focused on unresolved issues, as expressed in the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014. The negotiations must continue from where they were left off. Anything contrary to this is unthinkable. Both Anastasiades and Espen Barth Eide made statements to the effect that the negotiations should continue from where they were left off. The stage where they were left off is not positive. We know that Anastasiades had adopted an approach where he did not accept the previously reached convergences. I believe that this issue will also be resolved with the involvement of the UN. We are not against the interventions of the UN as long as it internalizes the fact that this process cannot continue endlessly and presents the peoples of the two sides with a comprehensive settlement plan endorsed by the two leaders. The Turkish Cypriot side is prepared for all of these. But the Greek Cypriot side appears perplexed. We hope that these confusions can be overcome and that we can engage with serious counterparts throughout this process. We hope they can show courage along with us".

[03] Turkey to appoint new "ambassador" to the occupied part of Lefkosia

[04] The number of voters in the breakaway regime for Sunday's "presidential elections"

According to Bayrak, a total of 176, 912 voters will be heading to the polls on Sunday and adds that 55,763 of them are registered in the occupied part of Lefkosia, 45,992 in Famagusta, 35,397 in Keryneia, 20,809 in Morfou and 18,951 in Trikomo.

[05] "Who is whose candidate?"

"He is thought to be the candidate that could take the most surprising result. Because he is not backed by any political party, his votes could not easily be estimated. However, he is on the rise. Especially while entering into the last weeks. Very well, whose candidate is Mr Kudret? Which power's? Which mass'?

Dervis Eroglu is known. As it happened before, he is not the candidate of Ankara this time as well. There might be some circles in Turkey which support him and even sent him election buses, but he is definitely not Erdogan's servant. Actually, the reason why Ankara does not want Eroglu is a question mark. Since the very first election, during which he was candidate against Denktas, Ankara opposed to him. That is, he was excluded not only by the AKP, but by all the other Turkish governments. The real issue is this. What sin is committed by Mr Dervis, who is so big supporter of the motherland, so nationalist, so intransigent against the Greek Cypriots and never acts outside Turkey's instructions?

Whose candidate is Mrs Sibel? Nothing remained secret. Everyone knows it now. She is ambassador's Halil Ibrahim Akca's [candidate]. Very well, is Akca's candidate tantamount to Ankara's candidate? We do not know. However, it is said that Cemil Cicek also supports her. How the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) masses are receiving the fact of being the ambassador's candidate? We will see this as soon as the ballot boxes open.

As far as Kudret is concerned, chauvinists known for their enmity against the Greek Cypriots are among his most passionate supporters, like, for example, Bertan Zaroglu, chairman of the Association of the people coming from Alexandretta. Sabahattin Ismail and Gokturk Otuken are also supporting him. Moreover, the TMT Fighters' Association, the retired non-commissioned officers, the martyrs' families and the unknown war veterans have taken a decision. They will support Kudret. Then, let me pose the question once more: Whose candidate is he? And who covers his election expenses, which are increasing a lot now? Where this money is poured from? It is said that Kudret Ozersay is also supported by some circles within the AKP.

And whose candidate is Mustafa Akinci? There are some people who do not believe it yet, but he is really the candidate of the people. The Social Democracy Party and the United Cyprus Party support him, but in the end he is independent. In any case, if he remained with the votes of these two parties, would Akinci have burst so much? He is the candidate who is closest to winning at the moment. I will not be surprised at all if he won from the first round. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[06] Onurer: The status quo is the situation in the occupied area of Cyprus which is contrary to the international law

In a written statement, Onurer noted that because of this status quo, the Turkish Cypriot products cannot be exported not only to Europe, but not even to Turkey. "Because of this status quo, our athletes cannot participate in a competition anywhere else than northern Cyprus", he added arguing that the votes given to the "candidates of the status quo" in 19 April's "elections" will go in vain, while all votes given to him will be supporting the struggle for a united and democratic Cyprus.

Onurer said that he expects the "people" to show a serious reaction against the status quo during these "elections".

(I/Ts.)

[07] Ergun Olgun in Germany

[08] Allegations that a cricket match will be played in occupied Keryneia between the "national teams" of "TRNC" and the Republic of Cyprus

The paper writes the match will be held at "20 July Stadium" in occupied Keryneia on 24 May and the entrance will be free.

It is reported that the "TRNC Cricket Association (TRNC CA)" and the "Cyprus Cricket Association (CCA)" said that they have no political agenda and that they only want to develop cricket in the occupied north part of Cyprus and raise its profile among Cypriots.

Richard Boxall, secretary of the International Cricket Council is quoted by the paper as saying that they are delighted that this match is taking place and that they want to see cricket develop throughout Cyprus and that they are pleased by the "TRNC CA's" progress in the occupied northern area of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Turkey mulls further measures against the Vatican over Pope's genocide statements as envoy returns to Ankara

"The steps that will be taken [against the Vatican] will be made public following our consultations," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters on April 13 at a press conference in Mongolia. The Foreign Ministry also released a statement condemning the incident.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking at a closing ceremony in Istanbul, said: "Only highlighting one side's suffering during wartime and discriminating the other's pain is not appropriate for the Pope and the authority that he holds." Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Cicek accused the Pope of slander and discrimination. EU Minister Volkan Bozk?r also expressed anger over the Pope's remarks. The head for the Presidency of Religious Affairs, Mehmet Gormez, said it is sad to see lobbies and public relations companies "extending to prayers and Masses."

[10] New opinion poll regarding the forthcoming elections in Turkey

According to the results, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) receives 41,7%, the Republican People's Party (CHP) 27,7%, the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) 17.7% and the pro-Kurdish Democracy and Peace Movement (HDP) 10.4%. As regards HDP, Sencar said that it ranks between 9.8-10.4% so there is a chance not to pass the 10% threshold.

(CS)

[11] Inauguration ceremony for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant

The issue of the construction of the nuclear plant created a lot of reaction both in Turley and Cyprus writes the paper.

(CS) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ AM)

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