Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-01-18

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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: Referendum could be held this year, but we do not want to put emphasis on time tables

[02] Burcu on the negotiations process

[03] Merkel expressed hopes over the solution of the Cyprus problem in the next few months

[04] Juncker: "The EU is very confident over a Cyprus settlement within the next six months"

[05] Davutoglu tours Europe; He will discuss the Cyprus problem with Cameron

[06] Serdar Denktas accused the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team of not having "red lines" at the Cyprus talks

[07] Talat on the water crisis: "All sides are exerting efforts to reach the best possible solution on the problem"

[08] CHP Deputies asked the Turkish Assembly to launch an investigation on the water transfer project

[09] Delegation of the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry" to visit Azerbaijan

[10] The "TRNC" is represented in tourism fairs in Stuttgart and Vienna

[11] Five persons were diagnosed with swine flu in the occupied area of Cyprus; Statements by the "ministry"

[12] Turkey's MFA welcomes implementation of Iran nuclear deal

[13] Turkish academics released after detention for "terrorist propaganda"; The EU and foreign Ambassadors condemned the detentions

[14] K?l?cdaroglu re-elected as CHP's chairman

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eide: Referendum could be held this year, but we do not want to put emphasis on time tables

In statements to the paper's correspondent in New York Ozlem Sahin Sakar, Eide noted that he does not want to create the climate that a solution will be reached very soon, but he wondered: "If Mr Akinci and Mr Anastasiades do not achieve the creation of a united Cyprus, who else could do this?"

Responding to a question as to whether progress could be achieved on the property issue in order for a referendum to be held within this year, Eide said:

"Yes, this could happen. [?] Of course we want the solution to be reached the soonest, but we do not want to put emphasis on time tables. The important thing is not in which month this will happen, whether it will be in this month on in the other, but to be able to come to this point. The acceleration gained eight months ago is still there, [?] but it will not be there forever. Now there is a historic opportunity from the point of view of the support of the sides to the two leaders and the great interest and support of the international community to the Cyprus problem [?]".

Eide explained that he cannot give a date on when a solution could be reached, because when you give a date, this date "starts to control the agenda". "And this is something which we do not want to happen", he added.

Replying to a question, the UN diplomat said that he is focused more on the economic aspect of the problem in comparison to his predecessors and explained that his aim is "to secure that the solution will be not only a political success for the Cypriots, but also an economic one".

He pointed out that the non-solution has a cost and added that he is certain that many international investors will be interested to come to a united Cyprus. He recalled the cooperation between the businessmen of the two communities and noted that they told him that they lose money because of the division of the island.

He expressed the view that the Cypriot identity is culturally very strong on the island in spite of the religious and linguistic differences and therefore the two communities could live on the island together without any problems.

Eide said that he feels that the Turkish Cypriots want a solution to the Cyprus problem. "There are many people who want the end of this division on the island", he noted.

Asked whether there would be a meeting between the community leaders, the UNSG and the guarantor powers in Davos this week, Eide recalled that the two leaders would meet with the UNSG adding that no meeting with the guarantor powers was planned, because "such a meeting would be held only when the time is right" and "we did not think that the time was right for such a meeting". He added that the Cyprus problem will be one of the issues discussed in Davos by political leaders, academicians, businessmen and NGO leaders. "There is a great interest for this problem and not only by the state, but by the business circles as well", he noted.

Asked what the problem will be if the leaders meet with the guarantor powers, Eide replied: "I do not keep anyone from meeting with anyone. Those who want to meet will meet. However, I am not organizing such a meeting. The Davos meeting is a private meeting and not a UN General Assembly meeting [?]".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Burcu on the negotiations process

Responding to reports in the Greek Cypriot press that the UN had changed the current timetable on the talks and had postponed a possible referendum to after the general elections in "south Cyprus", Burcu said that there was no such timetable or deadlines.

Burcu said that these reports were pure fabrication as it was not possible to speak of a referendum date before an agreement had been reached.

Burcu however stressed the importance of reaching a settlement as soon as possible, adding that they are working for this.

Also, responding to reports that there had been more progress reached in the talks than announced by the two sides, Burcu said that this depended from which angle you looked at the issue. "We are receiving different types of comments. Some claim that we are progressing, while others claim we are trailing behind on substantive issues. We on the other hand are focusing towards achieving results. In any case, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."

On the upcoming visit to Davos, Burcu said that the summit was an important opportunity for both sides considering that the world's leading economic actors would be attending the World Economic Summit.

He said that the financing of a settlement could come up during the meetings in Davos. "We can't wait for a donor's conference to start thinking about the financing of a settlement. At least we can bring to the attention of those economic actors the high cost of a settlement and the importance of any support they might be able to lend", he added.

Burcu also stressed that there would be no meeting held to discuss the issue of guarantees as reported in the press. "The Treaty of Guarantees will be discussed at the very end of the process with the participation of all three guarantor powers and the two sides on the island. We are still not at that stage?there is still much distance we need to cover on the property and territory issues", added Burcu.

[03] Merkel expressed hopes over the solution of the Cyprus problem in the next few months

Responding to a question on whether Turkey should expect to be an EU member state within 10 years, Merkel said: "The negotiations are open-ended for both sides. We have opened a new chapter in this process and new chapters are possible too. There is a long way ahead, but I see the frequent meetings as positive. I am also hoping to see progress in the Cyprus issue in the next few months". She added that it was "not realistic" to give a time frame at the moment.

Merkel's remarks came ahead of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's official visit to Germany for a Turkey-Germany High-Level Cooperation Council meeting on January 22.

The German Chancellor also said this week's meeting was independent from the January 12 terror attack in Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet neighborhood, which killed 10 German citizens.

"We must not let the terrorists change our agenda," Merkel said, stressing that the meeting was scheduled long before the Sultanahmet attack.

(?)

Meanwhile, the German Chancellor said the Kurdish issue and the issue of press freedom would also be on the agenda of her meeting with Davutoglu and a team of Ministers from both sides.

"We were pleased with Turkey's peace negotiations with the Kurds in the past, and we always say that military operations should be proportional. In the meeting we want to discuss what can be done politically. Of course Turkey should take precautions against the [outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party] PKK's terrorist operations, but the Kurds should also be given a reasonable chance," Merkel added.

[04] Juncker: "The EU is very confident over a Cyprus settlement within the next six months"

"I am very confident that in the first six months of this year we will come to a final agreement on the reunification of that island," Juncker, said in a press conference in Brussels.

"I certainly hope that will be the case because I very much like the Cypriots," Juncker said adding: "I think they are very, very efficient, intelligent and hardworking and very educated people on both sides of the island. I hope 2016 will be the year that we can finally resolve the Cyprus issue," he added.

(?)

[05] Davutoglu tours Europe; He will discuss the Cyprus problem with Cameron

According to a written statement by the Prime Ministry office on January 16, Davutoglu will meet his British counterpart David Cameron in London to discuss the Cyprus reunification talks, the situation in Syria and Iraq, and counter-terrorism.

Davutoglu will also address the opening of a Turkish investment conference in London, organized by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and also speak at events arranged by Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs and the Foreign Economic Relations Board. He will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, several other Ministers, and a number of senior economy officials.

It will be their first meeting with investors abroad since the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won back its parliamentary majority in November. The cabinet announced its revised Medium-Term Economic Program ahead of visits to Turkey from investors on Jan. 11.

The meetings in Europe will aim at convincing investors that Ankara will push through reforms including privatizations and labor market liberalization, according to sources.

Davutoglu will further attend the Davos Summit on January 20-23 after his meetings in London.

Europe's migrant crisis and devastating terror attacks will combine with the plunging oil price and China's economic slowdown to give the elite of the political and business worlds plenty to talk about when they gather in Davos on January 19.

At the end of his tour, Davutoglu will meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin to hold a high-level cooperation council meeting.

[06] Serdar Denktas accused the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team of not having "red lines" at the Cyprus talks

Speaking on a Radio Guven programme, Denktas argued that when Rauf Denktas sat at the negotiating table, he did not make any concessions on the political equality, sovereignty and Turkey's guarantees.

Commenting on the guarantee issue, Denktas said that he has concerns on this issue, because the negotiations are continuing on the ground that the guarantor system will be discussed. According to Denktas, this means that the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance will be lifted and there will place another guarantee system. Denktas said that he believes that if Turkey's guarantees are removed, then a new conflict will begin.

(DPs)

[07] Talat on the water crisis: "All sides are exerting efforts to reach the best possible solution on the problem"

Talat stated that the dialogue with Turkish officials as regards the issue which occurred with the administration oo the water transfer from Turkey is continuing and said that all sides are exerting efforts to reach the best possible solution to the problem.

He said that what is important in the negotiations is to reach a consensus which will be taking into consideration their sensitivities and not preserving the same stance. "There are a lot of sensitivities. The important thing is to reach a result by taking into consideration these sensitivities", he stated.

Talat also said that there is no question about the right of the "Turkish Embassy" to the breakaway regime to make an announcement. "However, you must also have the right to also say something about the statement made", he said.

(CS)

[08] CHP Deputies asked the Turkish Assembly to launch an investigation on the water transfer project

According to a motion presented to the speaker of the Assembly, the Deputies asked for an investigation regarding the 600 million dollars spent for the project's infrastructure. In addition they ask to be informed about who will sell and distribute the water as well as about the disagreement which occurred between Turkey and the "government" in the breakaway regime on the issue, which led the persons living in the occupied areas of Cyprus not to be benefitting from the project despite the amount of money spent.

(CS)

[09] Delegation of the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry" to visit Azerbaijan

Self-styled minister of Trade and Industry Sunat Akun would also participate in the delegation travelling to Baku, writes the paper adding that the aim of the visit is "to introduce to the world industrial and agricultural products of the TRNC" and try to find ways for these products to be sold by Azeri firms.

The delegation would hold contacts with the Ministry of Economy and Industry of Azerbaijan, the Turkish Ambassador to Baku and with various Azeri foundations and organizations like the Azerbaijan ?Turkey Industrialists and Businessmen Community during its visit.

(CS)

[10] The "TRNC" is represented in tourism fairs in Stuttgart and Vienna

The self-styled minister of tourism Faiz Sucuoglu attended the opening ceremony of the fair and visited the "TRNC kiosk". He also carried out contacts with some tour operators from different countries.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (18.01.16) reports that the so-called tourism ministry is also represented in the tourism fair "Ferien Messe 2016" in Vienna, Austria.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (17.01.16) published an interview with Sucuoglu on the measures that the "tourism ministry" will take in order to prevent the effects of the terror attacks in Turkey on the tourism in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

Sucuoglu said that the terror attacks in Turkey affects also the tourism in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, because there are no direct flights and the tourists should fly through Turkey. Sucuoglu explained that they have already carried out contacts with tourism officials in Turkey. They met and discussed this issue with Tugrul Turkes, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Responsible for Cyprus Affairs. They also visited Turkey's Minister of Tourism and explained to him their difficulties.

Sucuoglu, further said that they also met with tourist operators in the "South" (translator's note: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus), in order that tourists who visit the "South" to also visit the "North". He added that their target on tourists in the "South" is the Russian tourists.

(DPs)

[11] Five persons were diagnosed with swine flu in the occupied area of Cyprus; Statements by the "ministry"

Gur further said that the "ministry" has taken all the necessary measures for avoiding the spreading of the virus and added that the H1N1 does not differ from the other flu cases.

He added that the three patients with the virus are being hospitalized at the "Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu state hospital" while the other three at the "hospital" of the illegal Near East university ("YDU").

(AK)

[12] Turkey's MFA welcomes implementation of Iran nuclear deal

"Turkey has maintained from the outset that the only way for a resolution regarding Iran's nuclear program is through diplomacy and negotiations", the statement said.

Iran emerged from years of economic isolation on Saturday when world powers lifted crippling sanctions after confirming that Tehran had curbed its nuclear program as part of a deal agreed upon last year.

The statement said that Ankara now expected thorough and uninterrupted implementation of the deal in full transparency under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "We strongly emphasize that all parties display responsible behavior that does not encourage division for the restoration of security and stability in the region", added the statement.

[13] Turkish academics released after detention for "terrorist propaganda"; The EU and foreign Ambassadors condemned the detentions

Universities and prosecutor's offices across the country have launched probes into many of the 1,128 local and international academics and intellectuals who fall within Turkey's jurisdiction, arguing that the petition went beyond the limits of academic freedoms.

In a dawn operation in the northwestern province of Kocaeli on January 15, police raided the houses of academics and detained 21 of them. In Bursa, police detained three academics on the same charges.

On January 15, the Anatolian, Istanbul and Bak?rkoy chief public prosecutors also launched investigations into at least 123 academics employed by universities in Istanbul. The Anadolu public prosecutor initiated probes into 82 academics and Bak?rkoy into 41 academics; the Istanbul public prosecutor did not disclose the number of investigations.

A number of signatory academics employed by universities outside of Istanbul are also facing charges, with the public prosecutor's offices in Bart?n, Diyarbak?r, Kayseri, Mardin and Samsun also announcing that probes would be launched into academics who have signed the petition. It remains unclear exactly how many academics outside of Istanbul are being investigated by prosecutors.

According to reports, some of the academics are being investigated on suspicion of violating the controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, according to which it is illegal to "insult the Turkish nation, the state of the Turkish Republic, or the Grand Assembly of Turkey and the state's judicial institutions." The academics are also accused of "terrorist propaganda" and of "inciting hatred and enmity."

At least 41 academics are facing, among other punishments, suspension and dismissal from their universities. This figure does not include the group of academics that have been announced as being dismissed by Cukurova University and Gediz University.

The investigations and detentions came soon after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the petition's signatories, stating that human rights violations in the southeast are being committed by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants and not the Turkish state.

Meanwhile, the European Union in a statement on January 16 condemned as "extremely worrying" Turkey's arrest of academics who signed a petition criticizing a military operation in the country's southeast.

"The steps taken against the Turkish academics who signed a declaration regarding events in the southeast of Turkey are an extremely worrying development," said the EU spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini in a statement.

Also, the British Ambassador to Turkey Richard Moore joined the criticism on Saturday, saying in a statement that he was "very concerned to hear reports of academics being suspended and investigated for expressing their views on conflict in southeast."

"Freedom of expression is vital in a democratic society, and especially in education. That includes the right to express views we might think are mistaken, or one-sided," Moore said.

Moreover, the US ambassador in Ankara John Bass expressed concern over legal and disciplinary actions against more than 1,000 Turkish academics who signed a petition criticizing the government's policies in the southeast and calling for peace.

"We are seeing reports of academics being investigated and subject to penalties for expressing their opinions about the conflict in the southeast. While we may not agree with the opinions expressed by those academics, we are nevertheless concerned about this pressure having a chilling effect on legitimate political discourse across Turkish society regarding the sources and solutions to the ongoing violence," Bass said in a statement. "In democratic societies it is imperative that citizens have the opportunity to express their views, even controversial and unpopular ones."

Ambassador Bass said: "Expressions of concern about violence do not equal support for terrorism. Criticism of government does not equal treason. Turkish democracy is strong enough and resilient enough to embrace free expression and uncomfortable ideas."

[14] K?l?cdaroglu re-elected as CHP's chairman

K?l?cdaroglu received the votes of 990 delegates out of 1,238, running alone as his sole contender Izmir Deputy Mustafa Balbay failed to garner the required number of signatures to be a candidate.

"We will open a new page in Turkey. We will bring democracy and freedoms. We will fight unemployment. We will be the party of the poor and the disowned. We will defend their rights," K?l?cdaroglu said after his re-election on January 16.

The 1,238 party delegates were on January 17 due to elect the 60-seat Party Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the CHP from which K?l?cdaroglu picks his closest aides to the Central Decision-Making Council (MYK). Around 700 party members applied to run for the Party Assembly, as K?l?cdaroglu encouraged more youngsters and women to race for a seat at the assembly.

The CHP's convention started on Jan. 15 with a long speech by K?l?cdaroglu full of criticism targeting the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"The point at which Turkey has arrived is not a promising one. We are facing the reality that Turkey is not well-governed. The government is responsible for this pessimistic picture," he said.

Among the key pieces of evidence that the government cannot rule properly is the "rise of terrorism," K?l?cdaroglu said, recalling that when the AKP took power in 2002 terrorism was almost at "zero."

"They took over in 2002 when there was zero terror but they turned the country into a bloodbath. Who is responsible for this?" Kilicdaoroglu added, saying the way the government had launched talks with the Kurdistan Workers' (PKK) was a "serious mistake."

"What is the difference between the photos currently being taken in Turkey's southeast and those coming from Syria or Lebanon?" K?l?cdaroglu said.

Underlining his party's willingness to support initiatives to renew Turkey's Constitution along "pro-freedom and democratic" lines, K?l?cdaroglu also vowed that the CHP will not negotiate the first four articles of the current charter, which describe the characteristics of the Turkish state as "democratic, secular, social and rule of law-based."

"We'll actively participate in efforts to rid our country of junta-made laws. But we won't allow the country to be remade upon the personal views of any individual," he said, referring to Erdogan's ambition to change the system to a presidential one.

"We will not allow a change to the system. You make references to the Ottoman Empire all the time. Don't you know the Ottomans also had a parliamentary system? Why now this change?" K?l?cdaroglu added.

Kilicdaroglu also slammed Erdogan over his frequent interventions into political life, despite the fact that the Constitution requires him to remain neutral. "We know how concepts like honor and pride. If one gives one's word of honor, he or she should fulfill this to the death. Because honor and pride are undisputable for us. You tell us, so-called dictator, what do honor and pride mean to you?" he asked.

Upon K?l?cdaroglu's harsh words, AKP Deputy Chair Selcuk Ozdag, who had been invited to the convention by the CHP, left the convention center.

(?) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK / AM)

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