Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-08-06

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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] Kanbay: "The existence of two separate territories, two separate nations and two separate states in the island, is a reality"

[02] Columnist believes that there is a sign of majority among the Turkish and Greek Cypriots on the Cyprus settlement

[03] Talat gave a lecture in Turkey

[04] Illegal Turkish "ambassador" to occupied area of Cyprus: "Education in the TRNC is a priority for Turkey"

[05] General Bozkurt is the new Commander of the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus

[06] The "water transfer project" almost completed

[07] US-led coalition forces conduct first airstrike against ISIS in Syria from Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Kanbay: "The existence of two separate territories, two separate nations and two separate states in the island, is a reality"

Speaking during the meeting, Kanbay referred to the Cyprus negotiation process and stated, inter alia: "The negotiation process should be carried out without losing further time but in a framework of a logical calendar; still if they done under pressure, some things might be overlooked and difficulties may occur".

Kanbay added that if they attempt to bargain the individual's rights and the title deeds like it happens in the fruit market, then this job will become more difficult and more complicated.

Alleging that it is a reality the existence of two separate territories, two separate nations and two separate states in the island, Kanbay added: "These [means the states] can live side by side under a federal structure, and they could speak with one voice about some issues in the international arena?If a federal stateis formed with this structure, then perhaps this could be considered a success", Kanbay stated.

Also speaking, Eroglu congratulated Kanbay for his new post and wished him success in his new duties, supporting that he undertook duties in Cyprus in a period during which the Cyprus negotiation process is intensified and the hopes for the solution are raised.

Stating that the Turkish Cypriot side should be very careful in order for the bi-zonality and the "two people" not to be diluted, Eroglu added that the two "states" to form the federal state should have an equal status.

Supporting that the presence of an EU official at the negotiation talks should be discussed, Eroglu said: "While I was in power, such a proposal was made but we did not accept it. If we wanted consultations, we were calling our authorities and we were exchanging views. The presence of an EU official at the negotiation table is objectionable for us", Eroglu added.

(AK)

[02] Columnist believes that there is a sign of majority among the Turkish and Greek Cypriots on the Cyprus settlement

Yinanc writes: "One has to give him credit; Although he voices criticism most of the time, he does not refrain from underlining what he sees as positive developments in the talks that have gained a speedy momentum following the election of Akinci."

Yinanc reports that she was surprised when she came across a short version of that long article of Ozersay regarding the property issue on the website of the illegal foreign ministry of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

She added: "Can you imagine an article of an opposition party criticizing Turkey's Syria policy for instance published on the Turkish Foreign Ministry's website? It's an interesting sign of maturity, I told Turkish Cyprus' first female foreign minister. 'It is a sign of being open-minded. He is a former negotiator and he has been involved in negotiations for such a long time. His views are definitely worth listening [to]', replied Emine Colak.

I guess Colak is more of a technocrat than a politician, and probably that explains the situation, otherwise you don't see that type of 'open-mindedness' anywhere in the world.

Properties, territories and guarantees are the three most challenging issues to be solved to reach a settlement on the island. Maturity or an open mind will be the key to solving these issues.

From maturity I mean giving up on maximalist expectations. On the property issue, the Greek Cypriot side seems to have reached the understanding that getting back all their properties will not be the case. Coming to terms with that understanding must be all the more agonizing in the midst of an economic crisis, when you could pin your hopes to recover on the properties you left in the north (editor's note: the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus). But looking from another perspective, some kind of compensation even if it falls short of a return is better than nothing.

The problem is that the Greek Cypriots were made to believe they would get all their properties back even if they said no to the Annan plan in 2004. After all, Greek Cyprus was to become a European Union member and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had condemned Turkey to pay a high compensation (in the Loizidou case) to a Greek Cypriot woman for loss of property. This ruling was going to solve the whole issue in favour of the Greek Cypriots.

But things have not unfolded as the Greek Cypriots were told. The Turkish Cypriot side established a domestic remedy tool which was accepted by the ECHR as an effective mechanism and directed all other applications to the immovable property commission established in the north of the island. This has opened the door to the understanding that exchange and compensation are also acceptable ways to secure property rights in addition to return of properties. Thus the rights of the current users of the contested properties are also recognized.

What Ozdil Nami, the current Turkish Cypriot negotiator, said yesterday at a press conference in the island is important: 'For the first time, the Greek Cypriot side accepted to respect the right of the current user. It [also] accepted for the first time the necessary formula: It is not the individual applicant but the independent property commission that will be established on equal footing, and which will decide whether it will be exchange, compensation or return'.

This is an important sign of maturity for the ability to be realistic based on the analysis of the circumstances. A time will come when all relevant parties will sit at the table to finalize the deal and that will be the time all sides, including Turkey, will have to show signs of maturity."

[03] Talat gave a lecture in Turkey

Talat explained in his lecture that the most influential incidents of the Cyprus problem were launched especially after the period of the Annan plan. He added also the following: "In 1999, the international diplomacy, the UN, the EU and Turkey as well, have entered into an attempt and said: 'Do you think that we can solve the Cyprus problem, can we lead Turkey to the EU?"

Talat went on and argued that the Cyprus problem is doomed to be solved, and added: "Rauf Denktas, the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots did not want the solution too much. The Greek Cypriots wanted in any case to become members of the EU. And this, because they considered that by becoming members of the EU, they would solve their security problem. At the same time, with their accession to the EU, they were thinking that they would be included in a group of allies with huge power against Turkey. They were aware of the fact that they, with a 1 million population would not be able to compete Turkey with a population of 70 million people", stated Talat.

He also added that after Denktas' party in the "elections became the first party; his policy had gradually turned towards the direction of the non-solution.

(AK)

[04] Illegal Turkish "ambassador" to occupied area of Cyprus: "Education in the TRNC is a priority for Turkey"

He said that a great duty falls upon the "parliament" and expressed the hope that the "parliament" will work efficiently and approve the necessary changes.

Explaining that education is one of the essential matters for Turkey, Kanbay said that the education system functioning properly in the "TRNC" (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) is a priority for Turkey.

Durust, for his part, said that the Republic of Turkey is their Motherland and that the Turkish Cypriot "people" are always in need of Turkey's support and added: "Motherland Turkey always supports us. Let there be a strengthened Turkey as it allows the people in the TRNC living more comfortably and in peace".

[05] General Bozkurt is the new Commander of the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus

General Ilyas Bozkurt, who has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, has been appointed as the new Commander of the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus.

Brigadier General Bozkurt had been serving as the Commander of the "Turkish Cypriot security forces".

Brigadier General Erhan Uzun, who was promoted to the rank of Major General, has become the new Commander of the "Turkish Cypriot occupation forces in Cyprus".

According to information provided by the "Turkish Cypriot security forces Command", all promotions will be valid as of the 30th of August 2015.

[06] The "water transfer project" almost completed

The last pipe for the 66.5 kilometre underwater pipeline of the "TRNC water supply project" will be fitted on the 7th of August marking its completion.

A ceremony is being organised to mark the completion of the sea phase of the project.

Within the framework of the project, the Mersin Alakopru Damn, the dam in occupied Panagra, the 24 km land phase in Turkey, the 3.7 km land phase in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, the 67 km Panagra water supply station-treatment facility and the supply line in the occupied part of Lefkosia have all been completed.

The project itself is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

[07] US-led coalition forces conduct first airstrike against ISIS in Syria from Turkey

Laura Seal, U.S. Defence Department Spokesperson, said that the mission was part of the Operation Inherent Resolve and included in daily strike updates on United States Central Command website. She said, "This follows Turkey's decision to grant clearance for the deployment of U.S. aircraft participating in air operations against ISIL. By basing aircraft in Turkey, the Coalition now has another strategic location from which it can conduct strikes if and when necessary."

Meanwhile, the US-led coalition fighting ISIS will soon start an extensive campaign against the extremist group, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the Anadolu news agency on Wednesday. Speaking in Kuala Lumpur after talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Cavusoglu said that the US has started sending aircraft to a Turkish military base near the border with Syria. "And soon we will all together start an extensive fight against Daesh," he said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.

Turkey launched airstrikes against ISIS terrorists in Syria for the first time on July 20. Ankara also allowed the US to use the Incirlik airbase to carry out airstrikes against the group, shortening the flight time of airstrikes usually carried out from bases in the Gulf.

Turkey simultaneously launched airstrikes against the PKK terrorists at the end of July.

The US has been carrying out aerial attacks against ISIS since September 2014. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/ AM)

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