Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-07-28

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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: "Cyprus problem's solution can be reached within months"

[02] Cavusoglu to daily Milliyet: "The opportunity for the solution in Cyprus should not be missed"

[03] Colak: "We are hopeful of achieving a positive result. If not in 2015 I foresee a settlement in 2016"

[04] Bozk?r: If the Cyprus issue is resolved, we will be able to open 10 chapters in one year"

[05] "Dr Fazil Kucuk Movement" established in the breakaway regime

[06] So-called Turkish Cypriot football federation informed FIFA about the denial of Turkey's teams to pay training fees to Turkish Cypriot teams

[07] Turkish President Erdogan to visit China and Indonesia

[08] Turkey blocks Kurdish and left-wing websites

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: "Cyprus problem's solution can be reached within months"

Akinci made these statements speaking to the press on his return to the "presidential palace", after the meeting he held with President Nicos Anastasiades on the framework of the negotiations.

Akinci said that the months from autumn until the end of the year will be very important and noted that if the same determination and will is shown in the coming period, then the solution is possible to be reached not within years but within months. He also expressed the wish that a solution to be reached and a federal, bizonal solution to be established so that the two communities in Cyprus to live in peace in their country.

Akinci stated that during the meeting they discussed the issues of property and territory and added that they confirmed the agreements they reached during previous meetings on the issues and exchanged views on the criteria on property and territory.

He pointed out that the next leaders meetings are scheduled for the 1st and 14th of September although the negotiators and technical committees would continue to meet in August.

Akinci also said that the two leaders would be attending a musical evening at Othello on Tuesday evening and that that UNSG Special Advisor Eide will also be attending the event.

(CS)

[02] Cavusoglu to daily Milliyet: "The opportunity for the solution in Cyprus should not be missed"

Cavusoglu stated, inter alia, that it is the first time they have been so hopeful for a solution in Cyprus and underlined the need for this opportunity not to be missed. "I hope that the Greek Cypriot side will not do something at the last minute. Turkey is ready for a solution", Cavusoglu added.

Referring to the wall which divides the two parts of capital Lefkosia, Cavusoglu stated: "A solution should be reached on the Cyprus problem, the wall of embarrassment should be broken down. The existence of this wall is embarrassing for both communities. The reason why this wall was established and under what conditions it has been established, is something else", Cavusoglu added.

Referring to Turkish President Erdogan's recent visit in the "TRNC", Cavusoglu alleged that there is 'chemistry' between Erdogan and the "TRNC President" Mustafa Akinci, as he called the Turkish Cypriot leader and added that both were similar in some aspects. He claimed that both Erdogan and Akinci have a sincere and positive energy and both are open minded and forthcoming. He also added that even if there were differences of opinion this could be solved.

Asked to comment if Erdogan was disappointed since Akinci did not welcome him at the illegal Tymbou airport upon his arrival in the "TRNC", Cavusoglu said they did not see this as a protocol issue, adding that Erdogan understood this.

Cavusoglu stated further that the leader of the "Greek Cypriot administration" as he called President Nicos Anastasiades is his personal friend and said that Anastasiades is determined towards the solution. Referring to the leader of the main opposition party AKEL, Andros Kyprianou, Cavusoglu announced that he will invite him to Ankara.

In his message about Cyprus, Cavusoglu stated the following: "The Cyprus negotiations talks progress well. This is the last chance and it must not be missed. It is possible that there will not be another negotiation process in the future. I do not say this as a threat. Let's all support this process. If another rejection comes [referring to a future plan], there will be another alternatives. I consider that it is not right to speak about this at the moment. What I say is that we should all be constructive. Greece supports this. But Greece's support should be stronger. The Greek Cypriot Church should also provide support. Let's see Varosha open, so that peace and harmony can come to the island. Varosha is one of the main issues of the negotiations and we should not consider it as a confidence building measure", Cavusoglu stated.

Pointing out to the need for a conference between Turkey, Greece, the Turkish Cypriot side and the Greek Cypriot side to take place, Cavusoglu said that this conference is connected with the convergences or the agreement between the two sides on the issues they discuss.

Supporting that their wish is for a referendum to take place by the end of 2015, Cavusoglu added that Turkey is prepared for this and said: "If this is not possible, in spite of the fact that time runs out, 2016 should be the last deadline. We have exerted efforts from 2004 to 2007 to explain to all platforms that we will not sacrifice Cyprus. My duty is to explain and make it understandable that we will not give up from our territories and that we will not bargain away Cyprus. Discussing the issue of guarantees at this phase of the negotiation process would mean more delay. There are a lot of issues on the table which must be solved".

(AK)

[03] Colak: "We are hopeful of achieving a positive result. If not in 2015 I foresee a settlement in 2016"

Speaking in an interview to the Turkish Anatolian News Agency, Colak said that the political leadership on both sides of the divide was showing a strong stance towards reaching a political settlement on the island. "We are hopeful of achieving a positive result. If not in 2015 I foresee a settlement in 2016" she said.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot side's political will in the current talks is quite different, Colak said that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades made some harsh statements from time to time which she added was understandable as he had to act according to his own community.

Stating that she had personally witnessed how fast the negotiations process is moving forward and how much progress had been achieved after resuming her post, Colak added: "I truly see a chance and opportunity for a solution even though we have all lived with disappointment and failed expectations for the past 50 years".

Commenting on reports regarding the new name of the partnership to be established, Colak said that the most important thing was the content of a settlement.

"Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. In the end it will be something that both sides will agree on. The important thing is that the new partnership will be a bi-zonal and bi-communal federal partnership based on political equality", she added.

Stating that once a settlement is reached, consequent EU membership will bring responsibilities along with advantages, Colak stated that it was important to derive lessons from experiences of other EU countries such as Greece.

On the issue of hydrocarbons, Colak underlined that any revenues to be derived from the island's resources should be used for the benefit of both communities.

She also added that there was a good possibility the water from Turkey to arrive in the "TRNC" before a settlement and to be used for the benefit of both communities.

[04] Bozk?r: If the Cyprus issue is resolved, we will be able to open 10 chapters in one year"

Following is an abstract of Bozkir's interview:

"DS: Cyprus negotiations are continuing in a positive manner. How will this development affect Turkey's EU process?

VB: In our opinion, the negotiations on Cyprus are going well and, hopefully it will yield a successful result. If this issue is resolved, we will be able to open 14 chapters that are blocked due to this issue. During this eight-year period we became able to open all of the chapters. If the Cyprus issue is resolved, we will be able to open 10 chapters in one year. We have the advantage to open these 10 chapters in just two months. Chapters 23 and 24 are the most important ones. While Chapter 23 is about political criteria, Chapter 24 is about refugees and border security. At the moment, we are not able to open these chapters. Whenever it is made possible, we will be able to open it on the shortest notice. The EU, by not opening these chapters takes the EU's right to criticize Turkey from them. If the chapters are opened, there will be more meetings and there will be platforms to relay criticism. The current mode of communication that is conducted by sending notices is problematic. They should not expect us to bow our head because Turkey and the EU are equals. Even if the EU does not have relations based on equality with the other countries, this does not mean they can force Turkey into subordination.

DS: You had criticized this year's EU progress report severely and did not accept it. What was the reason behind your attitude?

VB: The progress report is not a platform to punish or to make accusations. It has to be constructive and it should be prepared together. It is not possible for us to accept a report when they avoid communicating with us. While I believe that European Parliament's Turkey Rapporteur, Kati Piri, has good intentions, she was not able to utilize the mechanisms very well when compared to the previous Rapporteur. A total of 85 out of 420 motions suggested in the report came from the same person. This person is the President of the Joint Parliamentary Commission. The Joint Parliamentary Commission along with the Association Commission was established with the Ankara Agreement to improve relations. The President of the Joint Parliamentary Commission is Greek and his Vice President is a Greek Cypriot; they suggested 85 motions combined. This year when they submitted the report, which was full of extreme criticism, we returned the report without accepting it. If they refer to this action in the following reports, we will continue to return the reports.

DS: In your previous statements you had said that there were certain lobbies that work against Turkey. What kinds of measures have been taken against these lobbies?

VB: This issue coincided with a period of time when Turkey was occupied with internal affairs. Our Parliamentarians could not make adequate contact with the European Parliament. During the preparation of the report everyone was occupied with the election campaign. When there was a reference to the 1915 incidents, we sent a committee, but the committee did not suffice. Our Ministers were also in a similar situation. Unfortunately, I think that we could not fight against these groups that try to harm Turkey's reputation. I hope that in the coming term we will be able to establish more mechanisms on this issue.

Referring to the issue of terrorism, Bozkir highlighted that Turkey is doing its part in the fight against terrorism and warned that it will spread unless EU countries collaborate on terrorism and share the responsibility of sheltering refugees.

(?)

[05] "Dr Fazil Kucuk Movement" established in the breakaway regime

The new movement was established on June 9 and conducted its first general meeting on July 24. The chairman of the movement is Mustafa Caluda.

(CS)

[06] So-called Turkish Cypriot football federation informed FIFA about the denial of Turkey's teams to pay training fees to Turkish Cypriot teams

Speaking yesterday during a press conference, the chairman of "KTFF", Hasan Sertoglu stated that they also included FIFA's chairman Joseph Sepp Blatter to the recipients of the letter asking for FIFA's help on the issue. He also stated that they wanted to inform FIFA on the matter.

(CS)

[07] Turkish President Erdogan to visit China and Indonesia

"During the President's meeting with his counterpart, all aspects of relations between China and Turkey will be discussed," the statement said.

The statement added that the leaders would exchange views on regional and international issues that affect both countries.

Diplomatic relations between Turkey and China, which were established in 1971, have improved significantly especially in the last 10 years, through mutual high-level official visits. The two countries adopted in 2010 the "Joint Declaration on the Establishment and Development of the Strategic Relationship of Cooperation".

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry's official website, the Turkish-Chinese bilateral trade, which surpassed $1 billion in 2000, has constantly expanded and has now surpassed an estimated over $24 billion.

According to the program, Erdogan will also meet Chinese Parliamentary Speaker Zhang Dejiang and Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

A business forum is also scheduled in Beijing, and some agreements are expected to be signed between the two countries, the statement added.

(?)

Following the China visit, Erdogan will also visit Indonesia between July 30 and August 1, the statement said.

He will meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo and also participate in the Turkey-Indonesia Business Forum.

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry's official website, Turkey and Indonesia aim to reach a trade volume of $5 billion in 2015.

[08] Turkey blocks Kurdish and left-wing websites

On July 25, Turkey's Telecommunications Directorate (TIB) blocked access to a total of 96 Kurdish and left wing news websites, along with 23 Twitter accounts due to "administrative measures" targeting not only websites based in Turkey but also in northern Iraq.

The blocked websites included Rudaw, BasNews, DIHA, ANHA, daily Ozgur Gundem, Yuksekova Haber, Sendika.Org and RojNews.

The TIB's decision had been presented to the Golbas? Criminal Courts of Peace in Ankara for approval, and it was evaluated on the same day.

The court ruled the TIB's decision to block access to a total of 96 websites that make or promote terrorist propaganda for organizations such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the outlawed Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) and remove content was legal.

Thanks to a law prepared by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and approved in Parliament on March 12, Turkish Cabinet Ministers can remove or block an online publication for "defending the right to live, securing property, ensuring national security and public order, preventing crime or protecting public health."

The TIB can enforce requests to impose blanket bans within just four hours. The decision should then be approved by the judge of a criminal court of peace within 24 hours. The judge would have to issue a ruling in 48 hours. If no verdict is issued, the ban will automatically be revoked.

Currently, more than 81,000 websites are blocked in Turkey, according to monitoring website Engelli Web. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK/ AM)

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