Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-05-07

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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] Erdogan - Akinci's joint press conference; "2015 to be year of the solution"

[02] Akinci's contacts in Ankara

[03] Turkey's EU Minister: There are developments on the Cyprus issue

[04] Cicek urges Turkmenistan to invite the "TRNC assembly"

[05] Ozyigit: A historic opportunity has emerged for the Cyprus settlement

[06] KTTO supports Akinci and his team

[07] "The Cypriots are back on the Island"

[08] Candan comments on 2015 Progress draft report on Turkey

[09] Harmanci: There are efforts for the opening of three more barricades

[10] Ozersay: I will decide about forming a party in 5-6 weeks

[11] Akmina Travel to bring 40 thousand German tourists in the occupied area of Cyprus; statements by Serdar Denktas

[12] Occupancy rate of hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus has reached 56% for April

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan-Akinci's joint press conference; "2015 to be year of the solution"

According to the paper, both Erdogan and Akinci sent important messages on the Cyprus problem and expressed the wish for 2015 to be the year of the solution.

In his statements Erdogan, expressed his pleasure to have "president" Akinci and his accompanying delegation in Turkey and said: "Mr. President is paying his first foreign visit to Turkey after assuming his duties. I congratulate Mr. President once again for his success in the elections and I wish him success. The presidential elections in north Cyprus have proved once again the level of democracy in the TRNC".

Supporting that the "elections" were held in a transparent and peaceful environment where unity, solidarity and democracy prevailed again, Erdogan added: "I believe we will make significant progress in defending the legitimate rights of Turkish Cypriots and reaching a fair and permanent solution on Cyprus, our national cause."

Stating that during his meeting with Akinci, they had the opportunity to discuss what should be done and what kind of steps should be taken regarding the Cyprus problem and the Cyprus negotiations which are expected to resume soon, Erdogan emphasized that they maintain their determination to find a fair and permanent solution to the Cyprus issue. "Our priority is to achieve a comprehensive solution. We have supported all well-intentioned approaches and the efforts of the UN and we will continue to do so", said Erdogan.

Referring to the Cyprus negotiation talks which are expected to resume in the next days, Erdogan said: "Our wish is to reach to a result the soonest possible within the framework of the principles of the 11th February joint declaration. I would like to underline a point here; It is not possible to achieve any result with the unilateral efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side. So far, our Turkish Cypriot brothers have exerted all kinds of efforts, have shown a strong will and proved that they are the side that wants a solution. The Greek Cypriot side should quit from making this situation more difficult and show sincere efforts towards a solution. If this happens, we believe 2015 can be the year of the solution in Cyprus. This solution opportunity should not be wasted again like it happened in 2004. The solution can only be reached on a negotiation table within the framework of the United Nations. Trying to achieve an outcome in other ways by pressuring Turkey or the Turkish Cypriots is in vain. As a guarantor country, we will continue to support the efforts towards reaching a fair and lasting solution, like we did so far. We will always be by the side of Mr President and his negotiating team to be formed. Our unity and solidarity is our real power. There is also one point that should not be missed; a fair and lasting solution in Cyprus is in the interests of not only the involved sides on the island but also of the EU and the whole international community. In this regard, Greece should join efforts with us and make the necessary contribution to pave the way for a comprehensive solution. We will continue to encourage Greece towards this direction."

Erdogan stated also that together with Akinci, they discussed what steps should be taken to further strengthen the ties of cooperation between the two "countries". "Until today, we had a very close relation and cooperation with both President Eroglu and President Talat. We regularly reviewed all matters, particularly our national cause, Cyprus, and we realized the decisions we took".

Referring to the water transfer project from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus, Erdogan underlined that Turkey is carrying out a grand project, which can be described as the project of the century, to permanently meet the "TRNC's" need for water. "With the Water Supply Project, we will annually transport 75 million cubic meters of water from Dragon Creek to Gecitkoy [Panagra] via an 81 kilometer-long pipeline under the Mediterranean Sea. The project is about to be completed. I hope it will be finished in July or August this year. In the same way, we will be by the side of our Turkish Cypriot brothers and continue to support them with economic aid in all fields and for developing their tourism and education".

Emphasizing that they will always protect the "legitimate rights" of Turkish Cypriots in the Cyprus cause, which is their struggle for equality and rights, Erdogan said: "We will overcome all difficulties together as we have always done and we will march towards a brighter future. Nobody should have any concerns or doubts about that."

Noting that he believes they, with President Akinci and his team, will maintain their cooperation and regular and close consultation, President Erdogan ended his speech as follows: "I welcome President Mustafa Akinci and his delegation once again and I wish him success in this difficult and important duty he assumed during such a critical time".

On his part, Akinci called the President of the Republic of Cyprus to join the vision of the solution with him and stated that they will be in close cooperation, dialogue and consultation with Turkey in order to lead the process to a successful result.

Noting that the Cyprus problem is in a crucial point, Akinci said that the positive atmosphere which was created in the international community especially after his election victory encourages them.

Akinci pointed out that the solution is not possible to be reached only with the Turkish Cypriot side's goodwill and wishes that President Nicos Anastasiades will share his vision for a solution.

Recalling that Anastasiades has said yes to the Annan plan in 2004 and afterwards he has changed his stance, Akinci assured that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to show a sincere stance and exert efforts towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and expressed the wish that 2015 will be the year of the solution.

Supporting that the solution is a mutual need of both sides and that a possible solution will be for the interest of everyone, Akinci said that the issue of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean should not be a means of disputes but it should be turned to a connective element for the future. "The economic crisis experienced in the Greek Cypriot side due to their admission to the EU, can constitute an additional motivation for the solution. The Greek Cypriots should have the perception of the need for the solution. I hope that they will understand the necessity for the solution. If this happens, we will do all necessary to reach a solution which will be for the interest not only of the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots but also for Greece and for all the actors in the region".

Stating that with the cooperation of Turkey they will try to turn Cyprus to an island of stability for the Eastern Mediterranean, Akinci added that his vision is also to have a close cooperation with Turkey in order to have the best possible results in the Cyprus negotiation talks to be launched soon.

Akinci concluded his statements by thanking Turkey for its interest and support and said that they will continue their path with the Turkish leadership.

(AK)

[02] Akinci's contacts in Ankara

Speaking at illegal Tymbou Airport before his departure, Akinci said that the Cyprus negotiations process is expected to restart soon following his meeting this Monday with President Nicos Anastasiades.

Following the welcoming ceremony at Ankara Esenboga Airport, Akinci first met with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. No statements were made after the meeting. Akinci later visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and also attended a lunch given in his honor by the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

[03] Turkey's EU Minister: There are developments on the Cyprus issue

Speaking in a meeting with the Maltepe Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MASIAD) in Istanbul, Bozkir, referring to Turkey's EU process, claimed that officially 14 chapters have opened; one chapter had been closed and because of the Cyprus issue, 17 chapters remained blocked.

Bozkir also said that there are developments on the Cyprus issue, hoping that a solution picture will show up. Bozkir said that if a solution is found until the end of the year, 17 chapters will open and all of them will be completed within 2 years.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (06.05.15) reported that Turkey and the EU will begin negotiations to expand the customs union between the two trade partners next January, Bozkir announced on Wednesday.

"The Customs Union Agreement, which was signed 20 years ago between Turkey and the EU, does not include agriculture, the services sector and public procurement," Bozkir told a press conference in Istanbul.

He added: "We have been holding negotiations with the [European] Commission for 15 months for a new structure that includes those sectors. We decided to update the agreement". Turkey wants to expand the union to boost trade with the EU to $300 billion, Bozkir said.

Bozkir stressed the importance of the talks and of visa liberalization that would allow Turks to visit EU countries without a visa. He added that Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci and EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom would meet next week to sign an agreement on the renewal of talks.

(DPs)

[04] Cicek urges Turkmenistan to invite the "TRNC assembly"

Speaking during his official visit to Turkmenistan, Cicek referred to the reportedly isolations imposed on the "TRNC" " (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus). He claimed that "The TRNC is some sort of an open air prison. Embargoes and isolations are imposed on it".

Cicek called on the Turkmen officials to help and added that any contact with the "TRNC" will help ease the "isolation of the Turkish Cypriots". He noted that unbiased politics are important adding that Turkmenistan 'brothers' live in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

Cicek also said that "opening the door" at "parliamentary level visits" from the "TRNC" is beneficial, claiming that they ("TRNC assembly delegation") are visiting many countries and holding bilateral contacts. He noted that if they ("TRNC assembly delegation") also visit Turkmenistan, it will be useful for them.

(DPs)

[05] Ozyigit: A historic opportunity has emerged for the Cyprus settlement

In a written statement, Ozyigit said that a positive atmosphere on the island has been created with the election of Mustafa Akinci and that the UN Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide's statements following his meetings with both leaders have been also encouraging.

Noting that the two leaders will decide the date of the resumption of the talks when they meet for dinner on May 11th, Ozyigit expressed the desire to see the current historic opportunity to be concluded with a just and lasting solution. Stating that the fundamental parameters of the solution are clear in the joint declaration of February 11, Ozyigit said that this was signed as a federation, which includes a single citizenship, a single identity and a single sovereignty based on the bi-zonal, bi-communal political equality. He explained that Akinci's vision is in accord with these parameters.

Noting that two technical desks, which will work on confidence building measures, may be set up once the talks begin parallel to the Cyprus talks, Ozyigit said that these committees could discuss the possibility of opening the fenced off town of Varosha in exchange for direct flights to the occupied airport of Tymbou.

Commenting on the statement by Cyprus President Anastasiades that natural gas may pass through Turkey, Ozyigit described it as a positive development.

(DPs)

[06] KTTO supports Akinci and his team

In a written statement issued yesterday, KTTO has also welcomed the appointment of Ozdil Nami as the new Turkish Cypriot negotiator for the Cyprus talks. The statement read: "The appointment of Ozdil Nami as Akinci's chief negotiator has only contributed to further reinforcing his positive perception of the Turkish Cypriot 'people'. It has also shown to the international community that the Turkish Cypriots are committed towards the success of the process".

KTTO also noted that Nami's appointment is a positive step in terms of showing that Akinci can work with people from different political backgrounds.

(DPs)

[07] "The Cypriots are back on the Island"

"Mustafa Akinci was always an outsider and in the end he was vindicated. What makes him different from the other candidates is his distance from all the centres of rule starting with Ankara. This distance gives his words value and now it makes his policies effective. It is the language of independence. It is also the reason why he is belittled and scorned by Ankara. "Akinci is the answer for the will to oppose the status quo and stalemate." Could this be a rally cry that Ankara can stomach? Whichever way you look at it, Akinci's election signals failure for Turkey's colonial policy and the easy option taken by many political and academic circles that argue "no settlement is the best settlement." Even the colonists in the KKTC have become Cypriot.

If we look at the Greek Cypriot side, nothing has worked for them. Not relying on mainland Greece like they did at first, not being members of the Euro or the EU, not their tactic of trying to fix the problem by using the EU to press on Turkey, not the policy of isolating northern Cyprus, not the fossil fuel lottery in the southern territorial waters, not even the strategy of going it alone in their tiny corner of the world.

[?]

Akinci and Anastashiades are not going to start from scratch. A formula of sorts exists for laying the foundation for a federal Cyprus. Just as with Kashmir and Jerusalem so much has been said and written over the decades with respect to a settlement on Cyprus. The Annan Plan is an encyclopaedia in its own right. The basis for an agreement on many topics has been established over the many years of talks. This time it is understood that progress is going to be made through trust-building measures being decided on and put into effect. Instead of a system of talks taking place behind closed doors, talks that are not public and that are ultimately tiring, it looks like it is going to proceed using concrete topics that are of direct interest to the people. This method will be able to eliminate any underhanded manipulation on Ankara's part. [?]

The other topic on the agenda is guarantor rights, something Ankara expresses all the time. The Guarantee Treaty signed by the United Kingdom, Turkey and Greece in 1960 guarantees the existence of the two communities and Cyprus's independence. It guarantees that Cyprus will not form a union with another country (such as Turkey of Greece) and that the island will not become divided. The treaty does not give Turkey rights over the KKTC, contrary to the arguments being made by Ankara in seeking rights to explore for fossil fuels and the thinking of a certain individual who has been expressing his ideas about Cyprus. Furthermore, this is a guarantor status that means nothing once the island is divided. All the same, Turkey has used the Guarantee Treaty to justify all its actions including the military intervention. As such the treaty has always been one of Ankara's red lines in the talks. Greece for its part maintains that the Guarantee Treaty was voided after Cyprus joined the EU. Just recently Foreign Minister Kochas repeated that Greece no longer wanted to be a guarantor. If the United Kingdom follows suit Ankara could be left all on its own. Furthermore, Anastasiades' proposals include Cyprus joining NATO, which is a serious alternative to the Guarantee Treaty.

The only obstacle to the historic momentum that has taken place with Akinci being made "president" is Ankara's ill-tempered attitude. Be that as it may, Turkey is pretty much all alone in the region and the world and has little to no chance of being able to influence or sabotage the momentum that has been built up on the island and off it. The new state that will be formed on Cyprus in spite of Ankara could be formed in such a way as to increase Turkey's isolation."

[08] Candan comments on 2015 Progress draft report on Turkey

Candan said that the amendment concerns the election of Mustafa Akinci as Turkish Cypriot leader and the paragraph reads that they welcome the election of the new Turkish Cypriot leader as well as the resumption of the Cyprus talks.

(DPs)

[09] Harmanci: There are efforts for the opening of three more barricades

Speaking during the meeting with ITO chairman Ekrem Demirtas, Harmanci gave information about the potentials and the obstacles as regards trade in Cyprus and asked for help for lifting the obstacles. He went on and added that the opening of three more barricades is required and added that efforts continue towards this direction. He also said that with the election of the new Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci a more positive atmosphere is created that will help on this issue. He also said that the people of the chamber of commerce of the two sides on the island want the opening of more barricades and wish for a more relaxed cooperation between the two sides. .

(CS)

[10] Ozersay: I will decide about forming a party in 5-6 weeks

"If we can meet the expectation of the society and the necessary conditions of our vision are safeguarded, then we will consider the establishment of a party", Ozersay stated. However, he said that the decision has not been made yet. He also stated that he will hold contacts with some civil society organisations.

Evaluating the results of the "presidential elections", Ozersay said that even he wonders how he had received 21%. As he said he believes that this is a serious message that the "people" send asking for changes to be made. He said that everyone is expecting him to forming a party after these result, but he is going to think a lot on the issue before deciding. He said that there is definitely a need for a political party; however it will be wrong to base the issue only on the results of the "presidential elections".

(CS)

[11] Akmina Travel to bring 40 thousand German tourists in the occupied area of Cyprus; statements by Serdar Denktas

The congress will be held by Akmina Travel club, one of the most important tourist professionals in Germany, which plans to bring around 40 thousand tourists to the "TRNC" with charter flights.

As the paper writes, Akmina Travel has completed the preparatory work for a project which aims to bring 40 thousand German tourists to the "TRNC" from four different cities of Germany with charter flights which are scheduled to be launched on April 2016.

According to the paper, a group of 120 German professionals from Akmina Travel will be arriving today to the "TRNC" in order to attend the congress, which will take place in this framework. The team will also carry out contacts with tourist representatives in the "TRNC".

In statements on the issue, Denktas described as very important the operation to be launched as of April 2016 to bring German tourists in the "TRNC" and added that as "ministry" they pay a great importance to the increase of German tourists in the "country".

(AK)

[12] Occupancy rate of hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus has reached 56% for April

According to a statement by the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers Association (KITOB), the occupancy rate for five star hotels increased by 6% compared to the same period last year and 11% compared with last month and thus reached to 70%

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ ECH)

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