Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-05-19

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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] Akinci's spokesman evaluates speculations on CBMs

[02] Erdogan's spokesman: Turkey will take the necessary steps to ensure that 2015 is a year for Cyprus settlement

[03] Denktas: The Anglo-Americans will exert pressure for a solution in Cyprus

[04] DP replies to Bozkir: Rauf Denktas was following a policy in harmony with the Turkish Foreign Ministry

[05] Turkish Cypriot politicians met with a Kirgiz Deputy who is visiting the occupied area of Cyprus

[06] Caglar evaluates the Cyprus problem and the issue of Varosha

[07] Bozkir: We expect Chapter 17 to be opened as soon as possible

[08] Archbishop Chrysostomos B' sent a congratulatory message to Akinci

[09] Akinci's office releases cost of "election campaign"

[10] Revitalization of negotiations with the EU high on opposition parties' agenda

[11] Columnist Murat Yetkin believes that Turkey's election may change the political landscape

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci's spokesman evaluates speculations on CBMs

Burcu said that it was not just in the Greek Cypriot side but several statements had also been made in the "north" regarding this issue and it is necessary to get over these old habits.

He said that both sides have priorities and proposals regarding the CBMs during the process; the important thing is the criteria and the intention. Burcu explained that CBMs have to be for the benefit of both sides and ones that can be implemented in a short term; he said that until the work is finalised it will not be possible to make the necessary announcements.

On the issue of opening more crossing points, Burcu said that Akinci has the vision of opening up as many crossing points as possible. He said that it will be defined, which crossing points will benefit both sides and can be implemented quickly. The committee dealing with this issue will convene on the 20th of May, he added.

[02] Erdogan's spokesman: Turkey will take the necessary steps to ensure that 2015 is a year for Cyprus settlement

[03] Denktas: The Anglo-Americans will exert pressure for a solution in Cyprus

"This campaign has started, it is like during the Annan Plan", he claimed alleging that the developments regarding the so-called Turkish Cypriot football federation are within this framework.

Explaining his concern about an agreement which both sides will not be very willing to accept, Denktas wondered whether such an agreement will lead to a solution or to a conflict.

Denktas reiterated his position in favor of a "federation which will be established by two states", noting that "the two states are very important for us". "The reason for this is that they are the symbol of our equality", he claimed.

Denktas alleged: "They continuously give the example of Germany and France. Germany and France are two countries which fought for years. Now they are living in a friendly manner within the EU, because they have produced respect to the borders and the sovereignty of each other. Only if we can produce this in Cyprus a viable solution can be realized".

Denktas claimed that the mutual gestures announced by the two leaders were not mutual. He said that he wants the "people" to see the maps of the 28 minefields given by President Anastasiades and argued that the "people" should know if these minefields have been cleaned by the "security forces" in the past.

(I/Ts.)

[04] DP replies to Bozkir: Rauf Denktas was following a policy in harmony with the Turkish Foreign Ministry

DP-UG argued that Bozkir has either not read the reasons of Denktas' resignation and the statements he had made after the meeting of his party or he tries to "cover them up".

Noting that late Rauf Denktas has always followed a policy in harmony with the Turkish Foreign ministry, the party claimed that in 2005 Denktas withdrew from active politics when he thought that he would not be able to work in harmony with the policy that changed with the Justice and Development Party (AKP). "However, he continued his guiding warnings on the Cyprus issue", it added.

Recalling that between 1972 and 2011, Bozkir has been at the highest posts of the Turkish Foreign Ministry where the Turkish policy for Cyprus was formed, the DP-UG claimed that by showing Denktas, who defended this policy during his whole life, as the reason of the non-solution "is something more than a political gaffe, it is unfortunately a political unawareness".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkish Cypriot politicians met with a Kirgiz Deputy who is visiting the occupied area of Cyprus

During the meeting he held with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Djumabekov said that they wanted to establish a friendship group between the "parliaments of the two countries" but this was prevented by some circles. He also said that he hopes that the Turkic world will be united soon and that the "TRNC" will take its place in this union. On his part, Akinci stated that it is important to hold contacts and added that if a friendship group is established, then the efforts for solving the Cyprus problem would be strengthened.

Djumabekov met also with "prime minister" Ozkan Yorgancioglu and stated during the meeting that he wants to strengthen the cooperation between Kirgizstan and the breakaway regime.

Djumabekov further met with the "speaker of the assembly", Sibel Siber. Djumabekov referred during the meeting to the "brotherhood relations between the two peoples" and added that every time he visits the occupied area of Cyprus "it feels like home".

(CS)

[06] Caglar evaluates the Cyprus problem and the issue of Varosha

Caglar stated, inter alia, that the Cyprus problem does not derive from the issue of Varosha and added that Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem. He added that he does not consider the issue of Varosha as the main issue of the Cyprus problem and stated that the main issue of the Cyprus problem is that of Governance and Power Sharing.

Caglar also expressed his optimism as regards the negotiation process and pointed out to the need for both sides to show decisiveness and goodwill towards the solution. He added that the international players will also contribute in order to achieve progress.

Concerning the issue of Varosha, Caglar said that it can progress together with the negotiation process. He stressed, however, that the need not to forget Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution.

Caglar referred also to the CTP's general congress which is scheduled to take place on June 14 and stated that he will support Talat's candidacy to undertake the leadership of the party.

(AK)

[07] Bozkir: We expect Chapter 17 to be opened as soon as possible

Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Turkey's chief EU negotiator, Volkan Bozkir, in Brussels on Monday, Hahn said: "I think it might be possible to open Chapter 17 very soon." Each "chapter", or policy areas, addresses specific issues in the accession process. "Chapter 17" is on the economic and monetary policy.

"We have concluded our internal work and we will submit at the latest in early June our report to the council and [I] hope we will get approval soon so we can start and open this chapter," Hahn told the news conference.

Out of 35 policy areas, 14 have been opened and 17 remain blocked, including the ones on economic and monetary policy and on education and culture.

"I would like to stress Turkey does and will do her part in [the] accession process. However, the pace of negotiations is not promising, because some countries have raised obstacles," Turkey's chief EU negotiator, Bozkir, told the news conference.

"We expect this chapter [Chapter 17] to be opened as soon as possible", Bozkir said. "We are ready to intensify dialogue for deepening Turkey [and EU] relations."

Furthermore, Turkey and the European Union have said that membership talks remain a "cornerstone" in their relations. The statement came ahead of a fresh EU-Turkey Association Council meeting in Brussels on Monday.

It was also revealed on Sunday that Turkey is to receive 18 million euro ($20.5 million) from the EU to support the country as it shelters almost two million refugees from Syria.

"Turkey and the EU are key partners and strategic allies in our region. Accession negotiations remain the cornerstone of EU-Turkey relations," according to the statement signed by Cavusoglu, Bozkir, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Hahn.

The statement ? released after a working dinner in Brussels on Sunday ? added that specific discussions took place on how to further progress towards opening Chapter 17 on economic and monetary policy.

The EU also welcomed the resumption of the Cyprus settlement talks last Friday and agreed to continue to give "full, resolute and practical support to the efforts of UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide to make real progress on this essential dossier in the coming weeks and months".

[08] Archbishop Chrysostomos B' sent a congratulatory message to Akinci

According to a statement issued by the so-called presidency, in the letter, the Archbishop congratulated Akinci for his election victory, using the following expression: "May God give you the power to fulfill your responsibilities".

The Archbishop expressed also hopes in his letter that Akinci will work for the benefit of the whole of Cyprus and its "people", the Greek Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins.

(AK)

[09] Akinci's office releases cost of "election campaign"

Akinci is believed to have spent 725,203TL on his campaign; 236,599TL of this went to media.

Private funds from Akinci himself, organisational contribution from the TDP (Socialist Democrat Party) as well as promotional sales and contributions from volunteers amounted to 725,203TL.

[10] Revitalization of negotiations with the EU high on opposition parties' agenda

Speaking to Today's Zaman on Monday, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Adana Deputy and former Turkish Ambassador to the US, Faruk Logoglu, commented on the party's vision for Turkey's accession to the EU in the next parliamentary term by saying that the CHP considers Turkey's entry into the EU as a strategic goal.

Noting that Turkey's EU accession process is viewed by the CHP as a continuation of the modernization of the country since its foundation in 1923, Logoglu said that during the next parliamentary term the CHP will pursue policies with regard to Turkey's efforts to enter the EU. "Accession to the EU will serve the interests of Turkey in terms of economic and political aspects. [Turkey's entry to the EU] will also contribute to the improvement of relations between the Muslim and Christian world," said Logoglu.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Deputy Chairman, Nazmi Gur, told Today's Zaman on Monday that during the next term in Parliament, the HDP will prop up policies that contribute to Turkey's accession to the EU. "The HDP has been one of the parties that supported Turkey's EU accession process. When EU standards, such as basic human rights, the rule of law and an independent judiciary, are taken into account, we think that this process is indispensable for Turkey. In this regard, we will lend support to Turkey's bid to accede to the EU during the next term in Parliament," said Gur.

He also criticized the AK Party by saying that due to the party's mistakes in foreign policy, Turkey's EU process has come to a halt. "We think that during the AK Party's rule, Turkey lost its perspective on the EU due to the different choices [made by the party] in foreign policy," said Gur.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) underlines in its election manifesto that Turkey should not make compromises on several issues such as Cyprus or the normalization of relations with Armenia. The MHP maintains that Turkey's EU bid is not an indispensable policy goal and that the EU needs to recognize Turkey's "national sensitivities".

[11] Columnist Murat Yetkin believes that Turkey's election may change the political landscape

Yetkin, in the following commentary, believes that the upcoming Turkey's general elections are very critical:

"HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas was quick to accuse the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the attack, adding that it was not the first time the party's offices had been attacked. The most recent attacks are particularly important because they came just before HDP rallies in Adana and Mersin, just three weeks before the election.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu condemned the bombings categorically, saying he immediately has given orders to the security forces to catch those responsible.

The HDP position has a critical importance for this election. If it manages to overcome the 10% threshold, the entire balance of representation in the 550-seat parliament will change. It would make it almost impossible for President Tayyip Erdogan to see an AKP-led constitutional change in parliament based on a shift from the parliamentary system to a strong presidential system. There is more: If the HDP gets into parliament and the other two opposition parties, the social democratic main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), manage to increase their votes by just a few percent, the AKP may not be able to form a one-party government.

(?)

As the elections approach, pressure in other fields like the media is also rising. (?)

The government does not hide that it is uncomfortable with media coverage of opposition parties, regardless of whether this coverage is incomparable to the coverage of the ruling AKP overall. The AKP uses a considerable budget to promote its ads on public and private TV stations, in addition to the hours-long live coverage of daily speeches delivered by both Erdogan and Davutoglu. The HDP, the CHP and the MHP all complain about the unfair TV coverage of public broadcaster TRT, despite its constitutionally binding law on impartiality. (?)" TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(DPs/ AM)

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