Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-04-05

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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 criticizes President Anastasiades for the third round of tenders alleging that it constitutes a potential risk for the Cyprus negotiations

[02] Kalyoncu's "government" tabled its resignation

[03] Talat on search for new patterns to form a "government"

[04] The "draft law" on the water management was approved by the "parliamentary committee"

[05] Columnist: "Ankara's team in Nicosia" carries out a coup whenever the Turkish Cypriots do not abide by its wishes

[06] Turkish Cypriot daily: "If the negotiating process will be harmed, it means that the Ankara government wants to harm the process"

[07] Columnist: Turkey demands the regime's "citizenship" to be massively granted to another 26,000 settlers

[08] Ozersay said that the old political understanding of the political parties makes the "citizens" dissatisfied with the "state"

[09] Incidents between Kurds and Grey Wolves students in occupied Keryneia; Twenty students arrested by the so-called police

[10] Fikri Toros re-elected as chairman of the KTTO

[11] The Turkish Minister of Tourism expressed optimism over tourism in Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci criticizes President Anastasiades for the third round of tenders alleging that it constitutes a potential risk for the Cyprus negotiations

Akinci criticized the launching of the third round of tenders by the Republic of Cyprus in spite of an agreement they had allegedly reached on the issue with President Anastasiades in the beginning of the negotiating process. Recalling that the debates over the island's natural resources have been continuing for years and that the negotiating process for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem was interrupted allegedly because of drillings in the southern sea of the island, Akinci claimed that "when starting the negotiations last year with Anastasiades, we had agreed that this issue will not negatively influence the negotiating process". Akinci reiterated the allegation that the launching of the third round of tenders for natural gas constitutes a potential risk for the negotiating process.

Akinci said that they have come very close to the solution during the negotiating process they are holding with President Anastasiades for the last ten months. He argued that the Turkish Cypriots should constitute the majority in the north part of the island which will be under their administration in a possible bi-zonal solution and that the method of exchange of property would guarantee respect to the property rights.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Kalyoncu's "government" tabled its resignation

In addition, the Turkish Cypriot press reports today (05.04.16) about the scenarios for the formation of a new "government".

Diyalog writes that the key for the new "government" is again at the hands of the Democratic Party (DP). The paper argues that the issue of a coalition between the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), DP and the Social Democratic Party (TDP) came into the agenda. Speaking yesterday at a meeting of the "assembly", DP's leader Serdar Denktas sent the message that DP will demand more than 3 "ministries" in order to co-operate with a party. On his part, TDP leader Cemal Ozyigit stated to Diyalog that the party's priority is early "elections", not to be a part of a new "government".

Star Kibris writes that the four "independent deputies" are playing a key role to the formation of the new "government" since CTP may form a new "government" with the support of the "independent deputies".

Under the title "Someone to sigh is needed", Detay reports that following the collapse of the "promising coalition" between CTP and the National Unity Party (UBP) Turkey is now looking for a new "government" that will be willing to sign the "economic protocol".

Finally, Kibris Postasi writes that a coalition between UBP and DP is very possible and argues that in this case the economic protocol with Turkey will be signed right away without any questions.

(CS)

[03] Talat on search for new patterns to form a "government"

Talat who was commenting on the collapse of the "coalition government" between CTP and the National Unity Party (UBP) after the latter's decision to leave the cooperation, stated that CTP will start meetings with all the parties that are represented in the "assembly', as well as with the "independent deputies" in order for a new "government" to be established.

In statements this morning to Bayrak (05.04.16) Talat further said that UBP's decision came as a shock to him since he had a meeting with UBP's leader Huseyin Ozgurgun a few days ago and he did not mentioned that leaving the "government" was on his agenda. He went on and added that following the meetings he will hold with the parties it will be determined if a new "government" will be established or new "elections" will be held.

He also said that in the framework of his duty he will assist the Cyprus negotiations and added that the aim is the establishment of a "government" that will help towards this direction and aim towards the solution.

(CS)

[04] The "draft law" on the water management was approved by the "parliamentary committee"

(DPs)

[05] Columnist: "Ankara's team in Nicosia" carries out a coup whenever the Turkish Cypriots do not abide by its wishes

"The known reality of this country has once more been confirmed when the details of the Draft of the Turkey-TRNC Economic Program came to surface last night on a special program of Kanal Sim", reports the columnist recalling that UBP's "ministers" and officials have been stating on the one hand that they were not aware of the economic program's content and on the other they were demanding the immediate signing of the "protocol".

The columnist notes:

"Ankara's team in Nicosia does not refrain from administrating the TRNC as they know and carrying out a political coup when their wishes are not followed! Even though it is not known to what extent the center, that is, the political circles in Ankara are aware of these issues, it is very evident that the reports and the information sent from here are full with 'misguidances'".

In spite of some "correct provisions", argues Ozuslu, the documents obtained by Kanal Sim include also some "unacceptable demands" which will lead the Turkish Cypriot community to "the point of losing everything".

Except for the issues of the electricity, the ports and the "municipalities", the "protocol" includes some "new demands by Ankara which will influence very seriously the life and the future of the individuals, writes the columnist noting that the increase of the retirement age to 65 is one of these issues.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Turkish Cypriot daily: "If the negotiating process will be harmed, it means that the Ankara government wants to harm the process"

"It is as if there are people among us who do not know that the TRNC governments have a button and as soon as Ankara presses the button governments can be established and collapse. Do not make fun of us gentlemen by alleging that the continuation of the process depends on the TRNC government. If the solution process will be harmed, it means that the Ankara government wants to harm the process. It is so simple. The fact that the TRNC is administrated by the Turkish government through blackmails and threats is evident. If you do not privatize the electricity, the water, I will spoil the government. If you do not privatize the ports, I will cut your salaries and spoil the government. There is no need to become comical by referring to the 'process' in these conditions. Those who spoiled the government can destroy the negotiating table as well. [?]"

On the other hand, columnist Mert Ozdag in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (05.04.16) argues that after the collapse of the "government" the "federal Cyprus alliance" has become weaker [in the occupied ara of the island], because there will not be a "prime minister" believing in the "federal Cyprus", unless a surprise is experienced and the Republican Turkish Party will participate again in the "coalition".

(I/Ts.)

[07] Columnist: Turkey demands the regime's "citizenship" to be massively granted to another 26,000 settlers

"[?] This demand has repeatedly been submitted at all levels starting from Turkish President Erdogan to Prime Minister Davutoglu, from ministers to permanent undersecretaries, and it was rejected", writes the columnist adding that the reply given to the Turkish authorities was that "this will happen within the framework of the new law". The columnist adds the following:

"Now it is once more asked that this law and the criteria to be 'a dead letter'. The reason for the so little interest towards the white identity card practice is actually the message sent by some places that 'you should wait', because Turkey's Cyprus policy has not accepted the 'white identity card' from the very first day. 'Direct citizenship' is asked. And this is one of the elements which ended the CTP-UBP coalition government.

Twenty six thousand new and massive citizenships! Yesterday, one of the newspapers of the big capital which came to the island from Turkey, known with its 'pro-non-solution' stance on the Cyprus problem, put forward an 'UBP-DP coalition' giving the message for 'ten thousand new citizenships immediately'. It presented this as action of priority for the UBP-DP government!

The number of the Turkish Cypriots who possess identity card or passport of the 'Republic of Cyprus' is around 100 thousands. The latest data says it is 98 thousand and 287. There is also the number of 114 thousands additionally accepted at the negotiating table. Basically it is provided for all the citizens in the north to become 'United Cyprus' [citizens] with the solution. If another adventure is not attempted again. That is, an irresponsible step will cause serious damage both to the negotiating process and especially to the status of the people who have taken citizenship by coming to the island from Turkey.

This danger is very serious. Let no one try to present it over 'the good relations between Turkey and north Cyprus'. On the contrary, it cannot be a bigger injustice than this for the families which migrated to the island from Turkey after 1974, for their children born here and even for their grandchildren. And for all Cyprus and Cyprus' future".

(I/Ts.)

[08] Ozersay said that the old political understanding of the political parties makes the "citizens" dissatisfied with the "state"

According to a press release by HP, the leader of HP and former Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay, in meeting with the inhabitants of the occupied villages of Tavros, Rizokarpaso, and Galinoporni, said that the economic and social collapse encountered in the occupied regions of Rizokarpaso, Varosha and Morphou brought along also the problems of a certain marginalization.

(DPs)

[09] Incidents between Kurds and Grey Wolves students in occupied Keryneia; Twenty students arrested by the so-called police

According to the paper, the so-called police intervened and after an operation it carried out at student's dormitories, it arrested around 20 students.

The arrested students will be sent to the occupied Keryneia district court today, writes the paper.

(AK)

[10] Fikri Toros re-elected as chairman of the KTTO

(AK)

[11] The Turkish Minister of Tourism expressed optimism over tourism in Turkey

Delivering a speech at Parliament, Unal said: "I am hopeful about the tourism sector. We have just received the latest figures for this season. There is only a 10% of decrease in the number of tourists visiting Turkey in February compared to the same month of 2015. The reservations for this year have been slow as people are cautious. We believe the reservations will rebound again by the end of April," he said.

"The reservations for Italy and Spain have already been full?I believe the reservations for Turkey will rebound again by the end of April and we will close the year with only 20% of loss compared to the previous year," he said.

According to data released by the Tourism Ministry, the number of foreign visitors coming to Turkey tumbled 10% in February, the biggest drop in a decade. The decline was the biggest since October 2006. The industry is also suffering from a chill in relations with Russia as Russian visitors fell by more than half during the month.

Unal supported that there has been some recovery in the number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey. "Some 4.5 million Russians visited Turkey last year. I believe around 2.5 million Russians will visit Turkey as the ties with Russia have already started to recover. We will try to close the gap by luring more Iranian and local tourists. I do not expect such a big loss, contrary to several estimates," he noted. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK/AM)

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