Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-03-31

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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] TDP conveyed to Schulz a letter with the party's views on the solution of the Cyprus problem

[02] Eide met with Akinci

[03] The occupation regime cannot fully pay the salaries for March; Turkey is reportedly furious because the "economic protocol" is not signed

[04] The Turkish Cypriot "chamber of industry" calls on Akinci to insist on the implementation of the common understanding on the halloumi issue

[05] Atun: "The TRNC is the most secure place for investments"

[06] Sucuoglu said that 15,000 Russian tourists visited the breakaway regime last year

[07] Obama to hold informal talks with Turkish President Erdogan

[08] Cavusoglu: Turkey 'won't fall out with US over PYD'

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] TDP conveyed to Schulz a letter with the party's views on the solution of the Cyprus problem

The letter was handed to Schulz by the party's leader, Cemal Ozyigit.

According to the paper, TDP states in the letter that it supports the continuation of the Cyprus negotiations and that it has the struggle for Cyprus unification as its priority. It also noted that, as it is stated on the February 11, 2014 Common Statement, it supports a solution based on political equality, single sovereignty and single international identity.

However, it was also noted at the letter that the Turkish Cypriots have the right to have the two out of the six chairs that Cyprus is entitled at the European Parliament.

(CS)

[02] Eide met with Akinci

During the meeting, Eide and Akinci re-assessed some issues which are necessary to be solved within the next weeks.

The Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami, the so-called presidential spokesman Baris Burcu, the "undersecretary" of the so-called foreign ministry, Erhan Ercin and UN Secretary-General's Special Representative and Head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Lisa Buttenheim were also present at the meeting.

In a short statement after the meeting, Eide said that they are working hard, that time is running and that it is beneficial to have frequent meetings with the aim to speed up the process.

Stating that they are discussing some concrete issues which they would like to be solved in the following weeks, Eide stated that it is beneficial to hold frequent separate meeting with both leaders and the negotiating teams.

Eide also stated that they are certainly progressing towards the right direction and added that the message he would like to convey to both leaders is that they could speed up the process and sometimes to make good use of the time.

Eide also said that during the meeting with Akinci they discussed some practical ways on how some concrete issues could be solved.

Eide referred also to the meeting of the two negotiators which took place the other day and described it as encouraging. He explained that they are waiting for similar results in the weeks to come.

(AK)

[03] The occupation regime cannot fully pay the salaries for March; Turkey is reportedly furious because the "economic protocol" is not signed

Self-styled prime minister, Omer Kalyoncu said yesterday that the rest of the salaries will be paid within a few days and added that those who receive a net salary up to four thousand TL will be paid their full salary.

Also, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (31.03.16) recalls that because the "economic protocol" has not been signed yet all kinds of transfer of financial resources from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus have stopped as of January. Noting that this is the first time after 33 years that the salaries in the occupied area of the island will be paid by installments, the paper writes that the "ministry of finance" is in a very difficult situation and that the previous month the salaries had been paid very difficultly. According to the paper, the projects financed by Turkey have not been launched in 2016 because the "protocol" is not signed.

"Turkey, which showed as pretext the non-signing of the protocol, did not send its 90 million TL contribution for the payment of the salaries in the TRNC", notes the paper.

Referring to the issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (31.03.16) reports that Mehmet Ozkardas, chairman of the "civil servants' trade union" (Kamu-Sen) said that "a very bitter surprise was made to the civil servants". Noting that according to his assumptions, this practice was implemented due to the negotiations on the "financial and economic cooperation protocol" for 2016-2018, Ozkardas noted that the infrastructure was prepared for giving the message that the situation is very bad and if the "protocol" is not signed neither the "civil servants" nor the pensioners will be paid. Ozkardas said that they do not know when the 40% of the salaries will be deposited and whether it will be deposited, as they were not able to communicate with "government officials".

Moreover, Ahmet Kaptan, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot "civil servants'" trade union (KTAMS), said that the incapability, insincerity and ignorance of the "government" were once more proved.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (31.03.16) reports that the National Unity Party (UBP), the "minor coalition partner", is furious about the fact that the signing of the "protocol" is delayed and started considering the establishment of a "government" without the Republican Turkish Party (CTP). This "government" will sign the "protocol", make reforms and afterwards carry out "elections".

(I/Ts.)

[04] The Turkish Cypriot "chamber of industry" calls on Akinci to insist on the implementation of the common understanding on the halloumi issue

In a written statement issued yesterday regarding the recent developments, the "chamber" called on the Greek Cypriot side to remain faithful to the common understanding. The "chamber" accused the Republic of Cyprus' Ministry of Agriculture of acting outside the framework of this understanding and of undertaking initiatives which will result against the Turkish Cypriots.

"While noting that we consider as proper the initiatives recently undertaken by president Akinci on this issue, we support that the insistent efforts of the Turkish Cypriot leadership on the issue of the registration of hellim should continue and increase", argues the statement, which described as "evident violation of the agreement" some proposals for changes to the above-mentioned common understanding made by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Cyprus.

According to the statement, this situation harms the trust between the two communities and the negotiating process for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Atun: "The TRNC is the most secure place for investments"

Atun added that he held contacts recently with many investors from Turkey and several other countries that had visited the "TRNC" and stated that their interest is especially concentrated in the sector of tourism and "universities".

He also alleged that investor's groups from third countries are also looking for investment opportunities in the "TRNC".

Meanwhile, within the framework of his contacts in Istanbul, Atun met with the Qatari Ambassador in Turkey.

(AK)

[06] Sucuoglu said that 15,000 Russian tourists visited the breakaway regime last year

Sucuoglu, stated that 15,000 tourists visited the breakaway regime last year and added that 7,000 of them spent the night there.

Referring to the fair, he said that this was the first time that Turkey did not participate in it due to the crisis between Ankara and Moscow.

Sucuoglu further stated that he met with German tourists who showed a great interest to visit the occupied area of Cyprus.

(CS)

[07] Obama to hold informal talks with Turkish President Erdogan

Erdogan will be among more than 50 world leaders attending a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on March 31 and April 1, during which time he is due to have a formal meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

There had been intense speculations in the Turkish media over whether Obama would meet Erdogan, with some suggesting a failure to do so would mark a deliberate U.S. snub amid differences over Syria and Washington's concerns over the direction of Turkey's domestic policies.

At a news conference in Istanbul before leaving for the United States earlier on March 29, Erdogan said a meeting with Obama at the nuclear summit was planned, although he said he did not know how long it would last.

Biden's office later said the Vice President would host Erdogan for a meeting on March 31 in Washington.

One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged there were strains between the United States and Turkey on a range of issues, but added that Washington regards Ankara's assistance as essential to fighting ISIL.

In addition, Ankara Anatolia news agency (31.03.16) reports that Erdogan received representatives from Jewish Societies during his visit to Washington.

"Jewish leaders must stand against Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and xenophobia", he stated during the meeting.

"The meeting comes at a time when Turkey and Israel are trying to repair a damaged relationship following a deadly assault in 2010 on a Turkish flagged ship that was part of an aid flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip", AA broadcast.

Moreover, Turkish daily Sabah (31.03.16) writes that speaking at a meeting with representatives from think tanks and academics at the St. Regis Hotel where he is staying while in the U.S., Erdogan said: "Our relations with the U.S. are irreplaceable for Turkey, today as in the past. We put in all kinds of effort to develop our cooperation on the basis of common values and mutual interest. We will continue to do so. [?] Although we sometimes feel that we are alone in this effort, we would like to think that the U.S. understands us and is together with us

[08] Cavusoglu: Turkey 'won't fall out with US over PYD'

"Not every two countries can be like-minded on every issue. For example, they [U.S.] think differently, we think differently, but we will not fall out because we have differing thoughts," Cavusoglu told Voice of America on March 30, after lecturing at George Washington University.

"We are two significant partners and we have common targets but we can think differently on some topics. When we express our thoughts, then it is perceived as though there is a problem between the two countries," he added. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/AM)

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