Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-04-26

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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 says that granting "citizenship" to 25,000 persons is not on their agenda

[02] Clear messages on the "citizenships' issue" by the new self-styled government

[03] Opposition parties' "deputies" evaluated the "government program"

[04] The new appointments in the "immovable property commission"

[05] "Kamu-Sen" asked the negotiation of the "structural transformation programme"

[06] Ozyigit met with the US Ambassador to Cyprus

[07] Difference of opinion between the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot side on the unification of the telephone lines across the divide

[08] Turkish Minister stresses interdependence of EU and Turkey

[09] Free court, free press important for EU investments in Turkey

[10] Germany plans to build fixed location in Turkish air base for 65 mln euro

[11] Former Turkish Chief of General Staff wrote a book about Cyprus

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci says that granting "citizenship" to 25,000 persons is not on their agenda

"A situation such as 'let us give citizenship to 25,000 persons is out of the question. Such a thing does not exist on our agenda. It is also out of the question to have any approach which could blow up the negotiations in any way".

Noting that they act in the negotiations according to the data provided by the "interior ministry" regarding the "citizenship", Akinci added that they did not back step from any position and they do not intend to do so, because "we want a solution".

Recalling a statement he made during his "election campaign" regarding the Turkish settlers saying that "we are not going to load on ships anyone and send him away", Akinci said: "However, the citizenship issue is something different than loading on a ship. There is space for all of us on these lands. It is possible to find a way out for this problem without victimizing anyone [?] We are staying away from any behavior which could negatively influence the negotiating process. We wish for the south as well to stay away from such behaviors like we do".

Akinci noted that yesterday's meeting was productive from the point of view of turning into "a full agreement" the agreements and the convergences reached until today on the first four chapters. He added that it is not possible to achieve progress in every meeting, but there is an "accumulation" born by the discussions for being able to achieve real progress. "I believe that there is an accumulation which will facilitate the achievement of progress", he said.

Referring to information published in the Greek Cypriot press that the Turkish Cypriot side has stepped back from the agreements reached in the past, Akinci argued that such a thing is out of the question, because their target is to advance and reach a solution.

Akinci said that his next meeting with President Anastasiades will take place on 6 May. Recalling that parliamentary elections will be held in the government - controlled area of the Republic on 22 May, Akinci pointed out that in spite of this, the negotiators will be holding 10-15 meetings in May.

Arguing that if the wish is to take a solution plan to referendum in 2016, the negotiating process should be intensified, Akinci said: "It should be much speedier, more productive [negotiating process] in the new period, if we say that 2016 should be the year of the solution".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Clear messages on the "citizenships' issue" by the new self-styled government

The self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun referring to the issue, stated that this is a great shame and they do not take into consideration the voices of the Greek Cypriots on the "citizenships". "We will do whatever we consider to be right, we will change the points which are not clear on the law", he stated.

On his part, self-styled deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas, stated that one of the main goal of the new "government" will be to improve relations with Turkey. "We shall be doing our best to achieve the goals we have set but there is one thing we can promise. We shall be running the country much better than how the CTP has been doing for the past three years. The main goal is bringing relations with Turkey to the level that is required", he stated. Refering to the "citizenships issue" he stated that they would not undermine human rights just so that the Greek Cypriots won't be offended or be upset in the negotiating table.

(CS)

[03] Opposition parties' "deputies" evaluated the "government program"

Evaluating the "program", Zeki Celer, "deputy" with the Social Democracy Party (TDP) stated, inter alia, that the "government program" is very similar to that of the previous "government" and wondered whether it will be possible for the "coalition government" to implement it, taking into account that when the UBP was alone in power, it couldn't fulfil its commitments.

Describing the "program" as a "document of gratitude", Celer asked whether their goal is for this "country" to become self-administrated or to be given to Turkey.

Reiterating that the single purpose of the "government program" is the privatization of several "organizations" in the "TRNC", Celer added that his party will open a lawsuit at the "constitutional court" against the privatization of the water.

Also speaking, Mehmet Cakici, "deputy" with the Social Democracy Party (TDP) stated that the "government program" is full of contradictions and lacks of vision.

Regarding the reference in the program on the solution of the Cyprus problem, Cakici asked what the program envisages about the solution, a two-state solution, "founding states" or "constituent states". He also expressed the view that if the "government's policies" towards the solution of the Cyprus problem come across with Akinci's positions, this will blow up the negotiation process.

Accusing the "government" of avoiding using in the "program" the word "federal", Cakici argued that they are afraid to do so and added that the main reason for doing this, is because both UBP and DP believe in confederation.

Also, Birikim Ozgur, so-called deputy with the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) in occupied Lefkosia and former "minister of finance", argued that the "government program" is an indicator of the "government's" mentality for integration with Turkey.

Supporting that the "program" does not take into account the sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriots, Ozgur added that the program lacks of vision and it does not include much about the structural transformation in the "country".

Evaluating also the "program", Dogus Derya, "deputy" with CTP, criticized the "program" and wondered whether the alternative of this would be "their annexation to Turkey".

Supporting that the "program" is full of references about "motherland Turkey" while no reference is made about "federation", Derya called also the UBP to openly say that its real aim is about the "citizenship law".

(AK)

[04] The new appointments in the "immovable property commission"

The appointments will be valid for five years.

(DPs)

[05] "Kamu-Sen" asked the negotiation of the "structural transformation programme"

In a written statement, Ozkardas mentioned the disadvantages regarding the "KIB-TEK" (the so-called electricity authority), the "telecommunications" and the "ports". He explained that according to the draft of the "structural transformation programme", "KIB-TEK" will be resolved to three companies by separating the production, the transmisstion and the distribution, and its operating right of the electricity distribution system will be transferred.

Ozkardas also argued that at the moment that the Cyprus talks are continuing, they should not discuss about the occupied port of Famagusta, since the opening of the fenced off city of Varosha could be excanged with the opening of the "Famagusta port" to the international trade.

(DPs)

[06] Ozyigit met with the US Ambassador to Cyprus

According to a statement by TDP, the progress of the Cyprus negotiations was the main issue during the meeting.

(CS)

[07] Difference of opinion between the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot side on the unification of the telephone lines across the divide

According to the paper, the Greek Cypriot side proposes the telephone circulation (roaming connection) to be made via a foreign company while on the other hand, the Turkish Cypriot side insists on the direct roaming.

Invoking reliable sources, the paper writes that the Greek Cypriot side proposed to a specialized foreign company to sign separate agreements with the two sides concerning the roaming connection. However, the Turkish Cypriot side which does not approve this proposal insists on the issue of the direct roaming.

A source from the Greek Cypriot side stated to the paper that there is an "issue of sovereignty" if the Turkish Cypriot proposal is accepted and stressed the need not to turn this disagreement into a political issue, otherwise, as he said it would not be a Confidence Building Measure (CBM).

(AK)

[08] Turkish Minister stresses interdependence of EU and Turkey

He added: "Turkey is a very important member of the European family".

Simsek said that visa liberalization for Turkish nationals, which has been promised as part of the refugee deal, would increase commerce in the EU and Turkey.

Speaking at the same event, Rifat Hisarciklioglu, head of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), said that his priority is visa liberalization for Turkish citizens visiting the EU. "Visas are the one of the chief hurdles to EU-Turkey business cooperation. Due to visas, we cannot take advantage of many mutual business opportunities. Visa liberalization would facilitate more communication and cooperation between the EU and Turkey," he said.

Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn also spoke about the economic ties between the EU and Turkey at Monday's meeting. Hahn said that more than 20,000 companies owned by Europeans operate in Turkey, while Turkish companies active in the EU provide employment to around 600,000 people in the 28-state bloc.

[09] Free court, free press important for EU investments in Turkey

"'The immigration deal is very important for the European Union and relations with Turkey; actually it has the highest importance now', said Moscovici during an interview on April 25 in Istanbul. 'We want to revitalize relations with Turkey in every field, including [the] economy. But for that structural reform, including fiscal policies, judicial reforms [and] freedom of press are highly important as well', Moscovici continued. 'Investments need stability, predictability and security, that is why we talk about reforms and that includes free courts and free press, as I mentioned to Turkish ministers I talked to this morning.'

'German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of the European Council [Donald Tusk] and [the] deputy head of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, were in Turkey over the weekend,' Moscovici underlined, 'And our presence today also shows the importance we give to relations with Turkey. It is not only for [the] immigration crisis, not only for business, but for the values we share as well. We want this country to stay what it was since the foundation of [the] republic, as a secular democracy, no matter which party is in power, respecting its popularly elected leaders President Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,' Moscovici said.

About the much debated visa-free EU travel rights for Turkish citizens as a part of the Syrian immigration deal with the EU, Moscovici said that the Commission was decisive to suggest the case to the EU Council of Ministers if Turkey fulfilled the benchmarks by May 4. 'It's up to the Council to decide what kind of a decision they are going to make,' he said, amid reported discontent from a number of EU members, including Moscovici's home country of France.

Turkey's desire not to be left out of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has been another subject in the Turkey-EU dialogue meetings in Istanbul. Moscovici said that they promised the Turkish side to bring up the subject to the Commission once again, since Turkey is a member of the EU Customs Union. 'Everybody must cool down,' he said. 'The negotiations with the U.S. [have] not ended yet and after that there are several years to be concluded.'

Moscovici also said that if the Greeks and Turks in Cyprus agreed on a reunification plan, which he said he was hopeful for, then surpassing the obstacles in five more chapters for membership negotiations, including chapters on Customs Unions, judicial reform and rights and freedoms in Turkey, would be possible."

[10] Germany plans to build fixed location in Turkish air base for 65 mln euro

Germany is making plans on turning its temporary mission deployment at the Incirlik Base to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) into a permanent mission, according to the German magazine.

Reportedly, a total of around 65 million euros will be spent on the construction of its permanent stations inside the base in Turkey's southern province of Adana.

The German Air Force currently deploys six Tornado reconnaissance aircrafts, an A310 MRT aerial refuelling jet and 200 military personnel at the Incirlik base.

Germany is also conducting negotiations with Ankara for longer deployment of the German military staff, the report said.

[11] Former Turkish Chief of General Staff wrote a book about Cyprus

According to the paper, Basbug, who served as the Chief of General Staff at the Turkish Army, gave a lecture at the illegal Near East University about his book where replying to a question stated that he wrote a book about Cyprus in order to show how important the island is for the future of Turkey. He went on and argued that due to mistakes followed on Turkey's foreign policy, Cyprus have been forgotten and added that the day will come Turkey to pay for this.

(CS) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/AM)

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