Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-08-14

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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] Eide says that they are now more hopeful and optimistic than during the previous negotiating processes

[02] Eide met with Cavusoglu in Ankara

[03] Akinci: We have asked EU's support for the halloumi-hellim cheese producers

[04] Denktas to make new proposal on the property issue

[05] Ozgurgun: Political equality is essential

[06] Tatar on the property issue: "The validity of the title deeds of the Turkish Cypriot side is very important"

[07] Drug trafficker wanted by Interpol possesses 62 apartments and 100 donums of land in the occupied area of Cyprus

[08] They are asking rights for the illegal Turkish settlers in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[09] Early election only possibility said Davutoglu as coalition talks fail

[10] Turkish Lira at record low, stocks slide after coalition talks ends

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eide says that they are now more hopeful and optimistic than during the previous negotiating processes

Eide said that the Cypriots are aware of the potential cost and risks which the non-solution of the problem will create and referred to "serious security crises" in the region, the crisis in Syria and the economic crisis in Greece and Cyprus.

Noting that both sides in Cyprus are tired of the non-solution, Eide expressed the view that the Cypriots can predict the cost of the non-solution and know that "the economy of both parts will be better as one country and more resistant to geopolitical crises".

Eide said that President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci are working in harmony and added:

"Two leaders who can work very well together exist at the moment. Mustafa Akinci, who has been elected by taking the great majority of the votes, is a strong leader. Likewise, Anastasiades is also so. By working both in harmony other and trust with each, they can change the climate of the negotiations. Our meetings continued during the entire summer. We have negotiated with a positive and constructive spirit almost all fundamental issues which constitute the Cyprus problem, such as the property, the political solution, economy, the role of the EU. There are still much more things to be done. I insist on not giving the message that an agreement has been reached. However, I can say that this is the best chance given since many years. Both leaders realize this".

Eide also said that they are working on a plan, which is more in harmony with democracy, the EU criteria and the conditions of the 21st century than the Annan Plan. He noted:

"The United Federal Cyprus is the one that is a full member of the EU. The Greek Cypriot Administration [Translator's note: This is the term which the news agency alleges that Eide used] is anyway an EU member, but unlike the previous plans, the membership of the entire island is on the agenda. The dynamics of the political relations between the two leaders and the peoples have changed. The understanding that a real federation needs to be established has been developed now. I sincerely believe that this is a better plan".

Noting that there is no official timetable in the solution process, Eide said:

"Having a good and quick plan is more important that having an official timetable. We must not forget that this is a unique historic opportunity. You cannot assume that such a wonderful climate between the leaders and the negotiating teams will last forever. We are referring to months, not years".

Referring to the sharing of the island's natural resources, Eide pointed out that the situation is different than the one existed six months ago and said:

"When they were progressing towards a political solution, both sides realized that they actually agree on the issue of the natural resources. When a United Federal Cyprus exists, the use of oil and the other natural resources will be regulated by the federal state and both the Greek Cypriot side and the Turkish Cypriot side will benefit from these together. Even though there is a deep disagreement on the issue of how the natural resources will be shared now, there is an agreement on the future behavior when unification is the case. Cyprus will act in cooperation with Turkey, Egypt, Israel and Lebanon when it uses its natural resources, because the relations of a united Cyprus with its neighbors will be normalized. Eastern Mediterranean's oil and gas reserves can be developed collectively".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eide met with Cavusoglu in Ankara

The two men exchanged views on the ongoing process between the two sides and reviewed the phase of talks, evaluating the point the two sides have arrived at.

According to diplomatic sources, Eide informed Cavusoglu about the content of the talks and expressed his satisfaction on the support Turkey has pledged for the process. Cavusoglu, on the other hand, stressed Turkey's determination to reach a fair and lasting settlement on the basis of political equality of the Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish Minister underlined that Turkey would continue to support the efforts for a comprehensive settlement in the island.

Eide tweeted photographs from his personal Twitter account yesterday saying "Concluding a good visit to Ankara" and posted a photograph of himself and Cavusoglu and the UN Team.

[03] Akinci: We have asked EU's support for the halloumi-hellim cheese producers

He said: "Even though our essential problem, our main issue is the Cyprus problem, we are on the one hand trying to positively conclude the negotiations and on the other life does not stop. It is going on. In this life, the problems of our livestock breeders are on the agenda [?]".

Akinci noted that the export of halloumi equals to 25% of the products exported by the breakaway regime and "therefore we are referring to an extremely important issue".

Recalling that the issue of halloumi has been discussed for a long time, Akinci argued: "A danger existed for the Greek Cypriot side putting aside the hellim name and registering the product only by the name of halloumi, by using the advantage given by its EU membership. These [issues] were discussed. We had some worries. [?]"

Pointing out that the halloumi will be produced only in Cyprus from now on as a product of the Cypriot culture, Akinci said that the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot producers will gain from this development. "We have obtained a big gain for our producers, but the issue does not end here", he noted adding that they have to produce halloumi according to some standards and use certain percentages of sheep milk.

Noting that they have asked the support of the EU for the producers, Akinci concluded by saying: "It can give 35 million euro to the Greek Cypriot producers and it wants [us] to be able to come to the same percentage in due time. Our producers need the same things of course. There is a need of both aid and time. Therefore, a transition period will exist on this issue".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Denktas to make new proposal on the property issue

Denktas was speaking during a meeting with the Cyprus Existence Movement. He said that the real issue was property and the most difficult. He noted that comments and reports in social media and the press had begun to bother the public and pave the way for debates amongst people. He pointed to the recent statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and his team on 'individual rights' on property.

Denktas said therefore it was with this in mind that they had prepared a proposal for property by adapting global exchange to today.

[05] Ozgurgun: Political equality is essential

Evaluating the new ?government? and the ?government? program, Ozgurgun said that no one could have determined that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and UBP would ever have formed a ?government? but it has worked out successfully.

"Instead of the issues relating to the party, issues relating to the country should be on the agenda" said Ozgurgun.

Drawing attention to the fact that despite everything the two coalition parties met at the least common denominator and established the ?government?, the UBP leader said that this ?government? has a broad base and is able to solve the most complicated problems.

On the Cyprus problem Ozgurgun said that the UBP's view on the issue of guarantees was clear. He said that as UBP they supported two founding states with political equality. "These are UN parameters that have been formed throughout the years. The two peoples on the island will have political equality and there will be an equally rotating presidency. Although there may not be a numerical equality however what is essential is political equality" said Ozgurgun. "What's important is to find a sustainable, viable and applicable solution to the Cyprus problem" he argued.

[06] Tatar on the property issue: "The validity of the title deeds of the Turkish Cypriot side is very important"

Touching on property and territory, Tatar stated that "the validity of title deeds of the Turkish Cypriot side is very important". Tatar asked who Markoullis counterpart on the property issue was and alleged that not everything the Greek Cypriot side said was true.

As to the uncertainty of the guarantor's issue, Tatar criticized the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for not saying that Turkey's effective and actual guarantees were essential.

Tatar claimed their criticisms strengthened Akinci's hand because Akinci was able to dispute things at the table. He went on to add that he wants a solution, he wants to be a part of the world but he would continue to make constructive criticism in order to strengthen the groundwork.

[07] Drug trafficker wanted by Interpol possesses 62 apartments and 100 donums of land in the occupied area of Cyprus

It is noted that the "police" of the regime launched an investigation for laundering one million sterling pounds against Akarcay, who is reportedly receiving nine thousand sterling pounds annually as unemployment compensation. The "police" told the "court" that Akarcay's assets' legality has not been established and that he possesses 62 apartments and 100 donums of land [translator's note: A land measure of around 1000 square meters] in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[08] They are asking rights for the illegal Turkish settlers in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

During a meeting with the protestors, the self-styled minister of interior and labor, Aziz Gurpinar said that their priority for solving the problems of those living for a long time in the occupied area of Cyprus and have not been granted the "citizenship" of the regime, is to make a "law" for arranging their permanent residence ["permit"].

(I/Ts.)

[09] Early election only possibility said Davutoglu as coalition talks fail

"An early election has emerged as the only possibility," Ahmet Davutoglu, leader of the interim AK Party government, told reporters following the meeting.

An early election is to be held within three months, most probably in November.

"Given the different expectations that the grassroots of the two parties have, we have reached the conclusion that there is no ground for us to be partners in a [coalition] government," Davutoglu said in a press conference shortly after the leaders' meeting.

Davutoglu, who is also acting Prime Minister, said his party would also try to get in touch with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) for forging a coalition despite the negative attitude of the MHP. But he admitted that an early election is the only possibility considering the MHP's attitude.

Davutoglu pointed to Parliament as the institution that should decide about how Turkey should go to an early election.

Davutoglu said the negotiations for a coalition with the CHP did not bear fruit due to deep disagreements between the parties on mainly foreign policy and education policies. He also revealed that the CHP did not agree to be a part of an election government with the AK Party that would be tasked with carrying out some reforms including legal amendments.

It is widely known that the AK Party is in favor of a short-term government, while the CHP favors a coalition government with a full four-year term.

The CHP favors the formation of a government that would carry out fundamental reforms to eliminate anti-democratic practices by the AK Party government in recent years.

CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu stated at a press conference at the party headquarters that the AK Party never came up with a real offer to forge a coalition during the negotiations.

"The AK Party just offered us to be part of an election government that would be in place for a three-month period or a minority government" that would be formed by AK Party and backed by the CHP, Kilicdaroglu told reporters.

In response to a question about what was discussed during the coalition talks, the CHP leader said: "What negotiations? There weren't any negotiations. They [AK Party] asked for our opinions and we gave them our opinions."

Kilicdaroglu said it is Davutoglu who should be asked why the coalition could not be formed.

[10] Turkish Lira at record low, stocks slide after coalition talks ends

The main stock index fell as much as 3% before recovering some losses.

The AKP failed in June's elections to win a single-party majority for the first time since coming to power in 2002. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has until Aug. 23 to find a coalition partner and form a government or face snap elections. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ AM)

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