Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-02-09

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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 comments on President Anastasiades' statements and says that behaviors which would harm the negotiations must be avoided

[02] Durust: "We are not giving Morfou"

[03] Columnist evaluates the latest statements of the illegal Turkish ambassador in the occupied area of Cyprus

[04] Columnist wonders whether Merkel can convince Cyprus to lift its EU veto on Turkey

[05] Siber carried out contacts in Ankara

[06] Havadis argues that the water crisis is coming to an end today

[07] Atun met with the IDB Director

[08] Self-styled minister of education stated that their aim is to increasethe number of students to 100,000

[09] "Cosmopolitan university" will be established in the occupied village Exometoxi

[10] Turkey and Germany agreed on action plan to cooperate on the Syrian refugee crisis; they also discussed the Cyprus talks

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci comments on President Anastasiades' statements and says that behaviours which would harm the negotiations must be avoided

In an interview with illegal TAK news agency yesterday, Akinci claimed that in his recent statements President Anastasiades conveyed the issues which he said that the two sides had agreed "only from his own point of view" and added that the "points of agreement" are issues which only the two sides together could announce. "We are ready for this. Otherwise, what Anastasiades has done is a unilateral interpretation and includes at least deficiencies and mistakes". Akinci said that the leaders have the right to express their positions, but an announcement on behalf of the two sides could be made jointly and with the consent of both sides.

Akinci said that a confederation formed by two sovereign states has never been at the negotiating table and added that what is discussed at the inter-communal talks is a federal Cyprus established by two founding states which will be politically equal and will not dominate over each other. He admitted, though, that "some Turkish Cypriot leaders" had referred to confederation from time to time.

Referring to President Anastasiades' statement that he does not accept the "rotating presidency", Akinci claimed: "Unfortunately this continuous stance of the Greek Cypriot side is a serious disappointment for us. However, let me say the following: If the Greek Cypriot people will not digest a Turkish Cypriot being at the head of the common federal state during just periods, this means that there will be no agreement".

Asked to give an example on what he called as a "unilateral interpretation" by President Anastasiades, he replied: "For example, let us take a look at the issue of population. When you look at the statement it is perceived as if we have also agreed the proportion of population to remain constant. There is no such a thing. To start with, our citizens will without discriminations become citizens of the new united federal Cyprus. The population in Cyprus will develop in its natural flow. If the effort is to say that the demographic structure in Cyprus will not be spoiled with population transferred from outside, this is something else. In any case we also do not want this. However, there is still no text on which we have agreed on this issue. There are some proposals".

Asked to comment on the four freedoms issue, Akinci said: "Cyprus will on the one hand be a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and on the other will be committed on the EU values and principles because we will be in the EU. Within this framework freedoms will exist of course. We also want to live in a modern country based on the human rights in which the freedoms will be valid. In this sense, the right of everybody living anywhere they want will be respected (right to abode). This means the following: If one has his legal residency in his own area and wants to have a summer house, to stay in a hotel in the other area and establish a business with the permission of the municipality, he will be able to do this. These persons will use their political rights in the area where their legal residency is. [?] However, this is the one side of the coin. In the other side, there is the protection of the bi-zonal, bi-communal character. In this sense, the Founding State will have the power to regulate on the issues of permanent residency and internal citizenship".

Akinci said that within this framework, they do not want to "endanger the Turkish Cypriot majority in the north" part of the island. He argued: "[?] Our understanding when we say bi-zonality is not limited only to 'political majority'. We cannot make our people approve an agreement in which we will not be the clear majority in the sense of population and property in the north. This issue has been many times expressed by our side at the negotiating table. Within this framework, it is obligatory for the Founding States having powers on the issue of purchasing properties in the future, at least until a certain balance is achieved between the two economies".

Asked to comment on President Anastasiades statement that there is "progress to a great extent" on the property issue, Akinci replied: "This is correct. Therefore, when in the past we have been saying that progress exists only on the issues of Governance, Economy and the EU, now we can include the property in these. I have also said this recently. There are still unsolved aspects of the property, of course, but it is true that some distance has been covered. It is also true that the old owner of the property will file the first application. However, the situation of the person living in it will also be taken care of. It does not necessarily mean that the first to make an application will take that house. The issue is that comparing to someone who lived in the house 42 years ago only for a few years, the other who lives in that house for many years after 1974 has more rights. The ECHR's decision on Demopoulos case is in this direction".

Replying to a question on the issue of the "rotating presidency" which President Anastasiades said that could not be accepted by the Greek Cypriot side in spite of the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot side in the opposite direction, Akinci alleged: "Unfortunately, the continuous stance of the Greek Cypriot side on this issue is a serious disappointment. However, let me say the following: If the Greek Cypriot people will not digest a Turkish Cypriot being at the head of the common federal state during just periods, this means that there will be no agreement".

Replying to a question on the issue of the guarantees, Akinci said: "We have said it many times. The guarantees will be discussed at the very end within a five-party framework. Both we and Turkey have many times announced that this issue will be discussed when the day comes. The allegation from now that the guarantees will be abolished and moreover that we agree with this is wrong. It is obvious that the Turkish Cypriot community wants the continuation of Turkey's guarantee. The important thing here is what kind of a formula we can find so that while the Turkish Cypriots feel safe, the Greek Cypriots will not feel threatened. I believe that the way of this will be found, but when time comes".

Asked whether he wanted to add anything else, Akinci alleged: "What I want to add is about what it is written on how the state will come up. It is known that we have differences on this issue. According to them, only the Republic of Cyprus exists and it will be evolved, because according to them, the TRNC does not exist. According to us, however, the TRNC exists and it will turn into a founding state with the solution. When the past international agreements are examined, the agreements we have made will also be examined, not only those made by the Republic of Cyprus. Those which are not in contrary to the new constitution and the foundation agreement will continue being valid. The point I want to finally stress is the following: Positive developments and a momentum exists in the Cyprus negotiating process. We must stay away from any kind of behaviors which would harm this. In both sides, circles exist which immediately start predicting calamity at every opportunity and are panicked when the possibility for a solution increases. We are not going to pay attention to these circles, the intention of which is known. However, we should behave carefully with the statements we make. I repeat, the leaders are of course free to express their positions. However, making a statement on behalf of the two sides could happen only with the consent of the two sides and jointly. We are ready to enter into such an effort".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Durust: "We are not giving Morfou"

Durust who was participating in a television program stated that anyone must get compensation for his property. "However it is out of the question to abandon the land we are on, the land we made our fatherland [?] the places we have established our universities. By no means we will not let this happen", he stated.

Asked about the return of occupied Morfou, Durust stated that the issue is used by the Greek Cypriot side for political purposes in the framework of the election campaign and said: "We will not give Morfou back, there is not such an issue", he stated.

(CS)

[03] Columnist evaluates the latest statements of the illegal Turkish ambassador in the occupied area of Cyprus

"It is said that the stars are allied for finding a solution on the island. But I really don't think it is these stars that are saying 'let's reach a solution'. The Turkish Cypriots have interests and plans. But nobody other that the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey ever says 'the Turks of the island should have their rights; injustices should be ended and the Turkish people should never be subjected to atrocities, murders and discrimination'."

These words belong to Turkey's ambassador to Turkish Cyprus (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyrpus). Derya Kanbay made these 'eye-opening' statements while meeting a Turkish Cypriot NGO that is concerned about the way peace negotiations are proceeding on the island. While Turkey is the only country that recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyrpus), Kanbay's address to his host country was in total contradiction of what should be a relationship between equals.

His statement sounded like a badly formulated International Relations 101 course: 'Countries engage in give and take either because they are competing with each other or they fear each other. If one is committing an atrocity in one place, the other remains silent; then when the latter commits an atrocity, the former remains silent. That's how they go about their business. While they are busy fighting, the innocent people suffer. That is what you experienced on the island for years.'

While my professors were lecturing my classes at university, even they approached us in a more sophisticated way.

But why did the envoy feel the need to speak like this? So far Ankara has been careful to maintain a 'hands off' approach, in order not to damage the conviction on the island that any solution is 'home made'. It is no secret that prior to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, the Turkish establishment was usually suspicious of the approaches made by left-wing Turkish Cypriot parties, finding them too naive and unnecessarily keen to reach a solution.

Is Ankara concerned about the way the current negotiations are taking place? Did it feel the need to give a warning? As far as I understand it, Kanbay's statements do not reflect discontent on the part of Ankara. On the contrary, it seems that Ankara knows about every detail in the negotiations and is so far satisfied with the way they are being conducted by Mustafa Ak?nc? and Ozdil Nami.

Obviously, there will come a time when Ankara will have to weigh in - especially on an issue like the guarantees of outside powers. In fact, the Turkish Cypriots have already knocked on Ankara's door, for example on the issue of properties.

I have previously written that the issue of property is at the centre of the whole Cyprus problem. If there is a satisfactory solution to the property issue then there is a strong conviction on Turkey's part that the rest can be overcome. There are very strong signals that the two sides have agreed on how to solve the property issue in the current negotiations. My understanding is that the current design is even more in favour of the Turkish Cypriots than the Annan Plan, since the option of 'restitution' has been kept extremely narrow. When you remove the option of "exchange," (since there are more Greek Cypriot properties in the north than there are Turkish Cypriot properties in the south), the last remaining piece of the solution puzzle is the compensation issue.

But who will pay the bill? Both sides - but especially the Turkish Cypriot side - rely on funding from the international community. At a time when European capitals are having such difficulty getting together 3 billion euros to handle an urgent crisis that is on their doorstep, it will be highly unrealistic to expect any international financial support for Cyprus. After all, there is no bloodshed on the island and the lack of a solution does not pose an urgent threat. Why would the German taxpayer sacrifice their income in order to compensate a Greek Cypriot and ensure that a Turkish Cypriot becomes a house-owner. In fact, Ankara seems to think the same for its own taxpayer, as it has not pledged any financial support for the Turkish Cypriots.

The Annan Plan foresaw a negotiation between the 'original owner' and the 'last user', meaning that the 'last user' would have to share part of the burden. Instead of giving lessons on international relations, perhaps the Turkish ambassador should tell the Turkish Cypriots that they might have to chip in to secure a solution, as 'unfair gains' could also hurt the social fabric in the island's Turkish community."

[04] Columnist wonders whether Merkel can convince Cyprus to lift its EU veto on Turkey

"(?) Yesterday in Ankara, Merkel and her Turkish host Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a joint press conference that the two countries have decided to work together regarding the Syrian refugee crisis on 10 topics in particular. (?)

EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini has called on Turkey to open its borders, (while just a few weeks ago, after the crisis over Turkey's downing of the Russian jet in November last year, U.S. and EU officials were calling on Ankara to seal the border with Syria). This situation shows that the EU has no strategy and no proper policy regarding the migrants ? it only wants Turkey stop them from piling up on EU borders, hoping that the promise of a 3 billion euro budget will be enough. (?)

While accusing Turkey of not doing enough, the EU has only opened one negotiation chapter so far - the only one of the six that is not vetoed by Greek Cyprus (editor's note: the Republic of Cyprus). (?)

Davutoglu is expected to hold talks in the Netherlands (the current term president of the EU) today (Feb. 9), while on Feb. 18 there will be the second "like-minded" EU countries' meeting with Turkey. In the meantime, it will become clear whether the U.S. approves of the Turkish-German joint proposal to involve NATO in the Syrian refugee crisis.

The issue of Syrian migrants is such a pressing issue - not only for Merkel but for all EU leaders ? which these days they tend to avoid debates sensitive to the Turkish government, like those over press freedom or court independence. They just want to stop the flow, without even considering that it will probably only slow down (but not stop) when the Syrian civil war is brought to an end.

But even if it does somehow slow down, for a better implementation of the readmission agreement Turkey wants the negotiation chapters under Greek Cypriot veto to be opened. Turkish EU Affairs Minister Volkan Bozkir said recently that Ankara wants to see at least the 24th chapter on Justice, Freedoms and Security to be opened before June, before the readmission agreement is put into effect.

How difficult will it be for Germany and the other EU powers to convince the Greek Cypriots to lift the EU veto on Turkey in order to secure relative relief in the refugee crisis? That will be the next scene on the stage."

[05] Siber carried out contacts in Ankara

On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 08.02.16) reports that Siber said that as a "nation", the Turkish Cypriots are backing peace and a resolution to the more than 40-year-old dispute on the divided island, where a peaceful solution is currently being sought with U.N.-brokered talks. "We are a nation that has absorbed peace. We also support a resolution at the [peace] talks, which are currently ongoing", said Siber on Feb. 8, after meeting with Kahraman. "Our resolution and will for peace was also high in 2004," she added.

Siber further said that the "Turkish Cypriot parliament" is working to pass contemporary laws, arguing that the "parliament" has performed well in regards to being an organ for both legislation and supervision.

[06] Havadis argues that the water crisis is coming to an end today

According to the paper, "prime minister" Omer Kalyoncu is going shortly to Turkey and after that the water is expected to be distributed to the occupied part of Lefkosia. Kalyoncu will present a document that will safeguard that the water will be administrated by a partnership between the "state" and by the private sector. Havadis writes that the Turkish delegation dealing with the issue is seeing positively the proposal.

According to the document, the regulation and prices of the water will be administrated by the "state" while the investments and the collection of revenues will be administrated by private sector. The "municipalities" will also have authority on the water administration.

(CS)

[07] Atun met with the IDB Director

During the meeting, they exchanged views on various issues, particularly, the support of exports with the IDB potentials, as well as to support the Turkish Cypriot Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (KOBI).

(DPs)

[08] Self-styled minister of education stated that their aim is to increase the number of students to 100,000

Durust made these statements during a meeting he held with the "North Cyprus Alumni Foundation".

He stated that even countries that do not recognize the "TRNC", recognize the certificates that the universities offer. He went on and added that around 50,000 of the students come from Turkey and said that foreign students contribute both politically and financially to the breakaway regime.

In addition, the paper further reports that the "North Cyprus Alumni Foundation" was established two months ago by Turkish citizens who studied at the universities of the breakaway regime.

(CS)

[09] "Cosmopolitan university" will be established in the occupied village Exometoxi

(DPs)

[10] Turkey and Germany agreed on action plan to cooperate on the Syrian refugee crisis; they also discussed the Cyprus talks

At the press conference, emphasizing that the matters Turkey and Germany will cooperate on will be applied in the framework of the EU's refugee action plan, Davutoglu said: "The first matter we agreed on is to begin a diplomatic initiative together to encourage halting all assaults on civilians in Syria as the peace talks begin. Secondly, we agreed to aid the Syrian refugees at the border through joint cooperation between AFAD [Disaster and Emergency Management Authority] and the German Technical Aid Group. We also discussed the developments in the Balkans and the Caucasus and discussed the Cyprus talks", Davutoglu added. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(DPs/AM)

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