Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-03-10

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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] Colak says that they must prevent Turkey's report from allegedly becoming worse on the Cyprus problem

[02] Cavusoglu: "Cyprus problem should not be made a pre-condition in Turkey's EU accession process"

[03] Delegation of the "assembly" held contacts in Strasbourg

[04] Milliyet: PKK's plans to penetrate in "universities" in the occupied area of Cyprus are revealed

[05] Turkish Cypriot politicians say they have a security weakness

[06] "KTSO" held a meeting with the ambassadors of the Netherlands and Italy

[07] Turkey and Ukraine boost ties amid growing tension with Russia

[08] The Turkish Parliament receives official appeal that seeks to lift HDP Deputies' immunity

[09] The Turkish government approves $5.9 billion on defense projects

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Colak says that they must prevent Turkey's report from allegedly becoming worse on the Cyprus problem

In statements at a lunch with Turkish Cypriot journalists in Strasbourg where she held contacts with both EP and Council of Europe officials upon an invitation by the EP's office in Cyprus, Colak argued that "those who brought these proposals and the side which supports them are dominant and influential" and added that in spite of the fact that a chapter on the guarantees exists in the negotiations, the draft-report provides for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army from Cyprus.

She alleged: "Taking out this expression could be evaluated as optimism, but it could not be included in the report. The actual issue for us is to prevent the report from becoming worse than it is now and minimize to the possible extent the factors which will both spoil the existing good climate and the outside factors".

Evaluating her meetings, Colak said: "The persons we had contacts with are interested on the Cyprus problem and ask the details of the process and how we predict the next stages. They listen to our stance as Turkish Cypriots. And the most important thing is perhaps that they ask how they could support us".

Colak said that within the framework of her contacts she met with Johannes Hahn, Commissioner Responsible for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Gabriella Battaini ? Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Gianni Pittella, President of EP's Friends of Turkey and Socialist Group, Rebecca Harms, Co-president of the Greens' Group and Kati Piri, EP's Reporter on Turkey.

Evaluating the EP's draft-report on Turkey, Colak said that they asked from their interlocutors the report to be written with a perception that appreciates and encourages the existing situation on the island instead of remaining the same as two years ago.

Referring to the points which the Turkish side wants to change in the report, Colak argued: "Reference is made to the 10th Protocol in the draft report. This protocol included some measures to the Cyprus' accession in case of a non-solution in 2004. We shared our view that while reference is made to something aimed at the solution and the future, there will be no use of talking about the 10th protocol and it would be better if this was not included in the report. We made a call on every official we met that we should at all events protect and support the process".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cavusoglu: "Cyprus problem should not be made a pre-condition in Turkey's EU accession process"

Noting that Turkey's expectations on visa liberalizations and the necessity of opening new chapters for the European Union accession had been delivered to the Belgian Ministers, Cavusoglu said that the Cyprus problem should not be made a pre-condition in Turkey's EU accession process. He went on and added that until the solution of the Cyprus problem is not reached, Cyprus should not be allowed to block important issues and the EU and argued that pressure should be exerted for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

"We see the unfair accusations targeting Turkey. It is as if this money is given to Turkey. It is as if Turkey is begging for money," Cavusoglu said, referring to the recent deal signed between Turkey and the EU to settle the migrant crisis.

(CS)

[03] Delegation of the "assembly" held contacts in Strasbourg

During its contacts at the European Parliament, the delegation discussed the report on Turkey which will be voted on at the European Parliament, the Cyprus problem and the issue of the Turkish language becoming an official EU language.

Candan said that they held meetings with MPs from different political groups at the European Parliament and added that they conveyed the demands of the Turkish Cypriots from the EU and the European Parliament.

Reminding that the final discussions on Turkey's report were being held, Candan said paragraphs related to Cyprus on the report were more comprehensive than before.

Saner on his part criticized the European Parliament for associating Cyprus with the report on Turkey. He also said that no progress had occurred on the Free Trade Regulation which was promised by the EU to the Turkish Cypriots before the Annan Plan referendum.

Tacoy said it was important to enable Turkish Cypriot representation at the European Parliament and expressed his views on the issue of the Turkish language to become an EU language.

Celer stated that there were important sections in Turkey's report which were so important for the Turkish Cypriots and added that they will continue to give support to the report to pass from the EU Parliament as it is.

[04] Milliyet: PKK's plans to penetrate in "universities" in the occupied area of Cyprus are revealed

According to Safa Karahasan, the paper's correspondent in the occupied area of Cyprus, an urgent high level security meeting was held with the participation of the so-called security forces commander of the breakaway regime, Major General Erhan Uzun, the self-styled general director of the "police" Suleyman Manavoglu and the administrations of the illegal universities.

During the meeting it was said that the PKK is organizing meetings under the name of art, theater and music activities trying to create groups of 20-25 persons.

The paper writes that the measures to be taken were determined in the meeting, where it was noted that around 70 meetings of the PKK had been organized in the occupied area of Cyprus in 2015. The organization's structuring was explained with slides and pictures in the meeting where it was pointed out that the organization's militants are registered as students with false documents. The "university officials" were warned that they should urgently do whatever is necessary on this issue.

The paper writes that the "authorities" of the breakaway regime were alarmed after the bomb attack in Istanbul, after which it was found out that the perpetrator of the attack, a woman named Berna Yilmaz, member of the DHKP-C organization, had been born and raised in the occupied area of Cyprus.

According to Milliyet, during the meeting it was noted that an organization named DEMGENC, which acts in Turkey, has been organized in the occupied area of Cyprus as well and some of its members are students in the illegal universities. It was said that PKK members started making propaganda under the slogan "We are constructing free areas" and established a "Communal Solidarity Network Association" in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Some "university officials" pointed out to the necessity of cleaning up the "universities" from these students, adding that in the past the "authorities" were telling them to accept such students.

Major General Uzun has reportedly said that the "rotten apples in the universities should be cleaned" and added "I will also clean my own rotten apples".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkish Cypriot politicians say they have a security weakness

The self-styled deputy with the Democratic Party (DP) Mentes Gunduz told Kibrisli that many statements are made on security issues and added: "I said that we have security weaknesses and the TRNC is not the old TRNC anymore. Therefore, every team is obliged to do its duty".

Moreover, the self-styled deputy with the National Unity Party (UBP) Zorlu Tore argued that they do not know "when and where terror will occur", adding that terror attacks could be held in the occupied area of Cyprus as well. He claimed that no one can do anything from outside, but the attack could come from the inside.

Furthermore, the self-styled deputy with the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Huseyin Angolemli told Kibrsli that they should be careful and anything could happen any time in the occupied area of Cyprus. He recalled that "we are a part of the Middle East" and that "many refugees came here as well".

(I/Ts.)

[06] "KTSO" held a meeting with the ambassadors of the Netherlands and Italy

According to a statement issued by the "KTSO", the "chamber" pays visits to foreign representations in Cyprus aiming to improve its relations with EU countries and institutions.

The issue of halloumi/hellim and the progress of the Cyprus negotiations were discussed during the meetings.

(CS)

[07] Turkey and Ukraine boost ties amid growing tension with Russia

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was in Ankara on March 9 for a high-level strategic cooperation council meeting as the guest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, only three weeks after Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu paid a snap visit to Kiev.

On the same day as Davutoglu was in Kiev to hold talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukrainian Chief of General Staff Viktor Muzhenko met with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hulusi Akar, in a sign of intensified military and defense relations. The situation of the Crimean Tatars was discussed in detail during the meetings.

The main reason why Poroshenko was in Ankara was the holding of the fifth session of the high-level strategic council between Ukraine and Turkey. The two Presidents chaired the council meeting with the participation of their countries' Foreign, Defense, Trade and Energy Ministers in order to shape a new phase in bilateral political and economic relations. The two sides were scheduled to sign agreements to boost trade and increase mutual investment.

Poroshenko will also hold meetings with Turkish business representatives on March 10, while he will encourage Turkish investors to remain in Ukraine despite the ongoing political crisis with Russia. Turkey and Ukraine currently enjoy bilateral trade worth $4.5 billion.

[08] The Turkish Parliament receives official appeal that seeks to lift HDP deputies' immunity

Parliamentary sources told AA that the Prime Ministry Office submitted a motion to life the parliamentary immunity of HDP Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag and of party Deputies Selma Irmak, S?rr? Sureyya Onder, and Ertugrul Kurkcu.

The Ministry of Justice sent a related summary of proceedings on Friday.

The office of the Parliament Speaker then forwarded the motion to the joint parliamentary commission on constitution and justice, which will decide whether the general assembly should vote on lifting the immunity.

If put to a vote, the motion to lift the HDP MPs' immunity requires an absolute majority, i.e. 276 votes.

[09] The Turkish government approves $5.9 billion on defense projects

In the first two months of 2016, Turkey's defense industry exports increased 35% and, according to the Prime Minister, mass production of the national infantry rifle will begin this year. Davutoglu also said that research developments regarding the production of a joint fighter aircraft have been revised.

The defense industry has seen a sharp increase in developments since the early 2000s, and today the sector's total exports have reached almost $2 billion. Moreover, in the last few years, national projects, including a warship, battle tank and warplane, have attracted international attention. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/AM)

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