Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-05-03

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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] Turkey has conditionally lifted the visa requirement for the citizens of all EU member states

[02] Turkish Justice Minister on the opening of Chapter 23

[03] Serdar Denktas says that the Turkish Cypriots are not ready for the EU in case of a solution in Cyprus

[04] Veysel Eroglu: "We transferred water to Cyprus and we brought trouble on us"

[05] More developments on the "water issue" in the occupation regime

[06] The "Turkish Republic Aid Committee" is now called "Development and Financial Cooperation Bureau"

[07] Information about the financial aid of Turkey to the breakaway regime

[08] Coredon Airlines launches flights to the occupied area of Cyprus again

[09] The "casino operator's union" calls on for amendments to the "casino law" in the occupation regime

[10] Initiative for the construction of a new museum in occupied Famagusta

[11] A solar power plant of the "ODTU" has been inaugurated by Akinci

[12] AKP Deputy: The process in Cyprus should bring up a bi-zonal plan based on the political equality and sovereignty of the two "peoples"

[13] AKP board takes back key authority from Davutoglu

[14] Proposal to lift parliamentary immunity approved in Turkish Parliamentary Constitutional Committee

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey has conditionally lifted the visa requirement for the citizens of all EU member states

The lifting of the visa requirement for the citizens of the EU member states was decided by the Council of Ministers according to article 18 of the Foreigners and International Protection Law No 6548, upon a letter sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 29 April 2016.

According to the decision published in the Official Gazette, the implementation of lifting of the visa requirement for the citizens of the EU member states will start as of the day on which the visa requirement for the Turkish citizens in the Schengen Area will be abolished.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Turkish Justice Minister on the opening of Chapter 23

Asked to evaluate the reason why the 23rd chapter was prioritized by EU but the negotiations have yet to start, he said the following:

"Unfortunately, we cannot say that the EU is fulfilling its commitments towards Turkey. Turkey completed the screening process for the 23rd chapter approximately 10 years ago, and has actualized political and legal reforms to fulfill the designated criteria to open the chapter. We have expressed this to EU officials, many of whom recognize our situation. However, submitting to the political blackmailing of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, the EU has not taken any initiative to open the said chapter. Therefore, this chapter is unfortunately politically blockaded by the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus. Despite this, we are continuing to fulfill our commitments for the EU accession process," he alleged.

[03] Serdar Denktas says that the Turkish Cypriots are not ready for the EU in case of a solution in Cyprus

In statements to Kibris, Denktas argued that harmonizing only the "laws and regulations" to the EU acquis is not adequate adding that they should quickly prepare to produce goods and offer services according to the EU standards.

Referring to the negotiating process, Denktas said that it advances positively and added that the "government" will support the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. Noting that they are waiting with interest the common text which the leaders will announce within the forthcoming days, Denktas described as "surprising" the decision to issue a common statement a few days before the parliamentarian elections in the government-controlled area of the island.

Denktas said that as "government" they will not put Akinci into a difficult position with decisions to be taken during the negotiating process and they will never leave him alone.

Denktas rejected the allegations that he will sign "the economic protocol" with Turkey without reading it and that 25,000 persons should be granted the "citizenship" of the regime immediately. He said that the necessary statements on the issue of granting the "citizenship" to 25,000 persons will be made after the "financial protocol" with Turkey is signed. "We will make the legal arrangements and the necessary work on the issue of the citizenship without breaking away from the human rights", he claimed alleging that the "citizenship law will be prepared according to the international law and the human rights".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Veysel Eroglu: "We transferred water to Cyprus and we brought trouble on us"

Pointing out to the transferring of the water from Turkey to the occupation regime, Eroglu said: "We transferred water to the TRNC via water pipelines. We transferred water to Cyprus but we brought trouble on our heads. Now, several islands in Africa asked water from us".

Commenting of Eroglu's statements, Afrika newspaper writes in its front page that the Turkish Minister complained against the Turkish Cypriots and felt regret over the installation of the water pipelines.

(AK)

[05] More developments on the "water issue" in the occupation regime

Commenting on this development, the paper writes that Turkey tries to create fait accompli as regards the "water system".

Also, in the letter sent by the Turkish Aid Committee, the "committee" demanded from the "municipalities' councils" to approve the opening of the tender for the storing of the water, without the price of the water to be defined yet.

Meanwhile, in statements on the issue, so-called minister of agriculture and natural resources Nazim Cavusoglu, said, inter alia, that if the "municipalities" approve the process, they will be all in the position to supply water as of August 1st.

He also added that in a period of one week or 10 days the price of the water transferred from Turkey will be determined and explained that the "testing process will be completed on May 11".

(?)

(AK)

[06] The "Turkish Republic Aid Committee" is now called "Development and Financial Cooperation Bureau"

According to the paper, the signboard of the new name was raised on the building of the Bureau and notes that the agreement for the name changing was reached during the recent visit of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to Turkey and the meeting he held with the deputy Prime Minister, Responsible for Cyprus Affairs, Tugrul Turkes. The paper writes that the name was changed in order not to create a bad image regarding Turkey's assistance towards the Turkish Cypriots.

(CS)

[07] Information about the financial aid of Turkey to the breakaway regime

According to the paper, in 2009 Turkey gave 928 million, 700 thousand Turkish Lira (600 million USA dollars) to the breakaway regime, in 2010-12 it gave 836 million Turkish Lira (509 million USA dollars) for every year and in 2013-15 it gave 339 million USA dollars for every year.

(CS)

[08] Coredon Airlines launches flights to the occupied area of Cyprus again

Coredon Group's product Manager, Ufuk Mestan told Kibris that during the summer months they will bring tourists twice a week from the Netherlands and once a week from Belgium, adding that during winter their activities will include only the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.05.16) reported that seventeen travel agents from Switzerland, who visited the occupied area of Cyprus hosted by Akmina Travel Club, held a meeting with the self-styled minister of tourism, Fikri Ataoglu.

In statements during the meeting, the Swiss tourist agents expressed their astonishment for the island's nature, sun and climate and said that the tourists whom they will send to the occupied area of Cyprus are very lucky.

(I/Ts.)

[09] The "casino operator's union" calls on for amendments to the "casino law" in the occupation regime

Explaining that according to the "casino's regulations" in the "TRNC", entrance in the casinos is prohibited for the "TRNC citizens", Arkin wondered how the "government" will prevent the "TRNC citizens" to visit the casinos to be established in the "south".

Stressing the need for the "government" to make amendments to the "casino law" in the occupation regime in order to become competitive with the "south" in the future, Arkin argued that the annual contribution of the casinos to the "country's" economy is 600 million dollars.

(?)

(AK)

[10] Initiative for the construction of a new museum in occupied Famagusta

In statements to the paper, Dr Ege Uluca Tumer said that 10 big statues that are located in the "museum of Famagusta" and 5 other pieces that were discovered during excavations in Salamina between 1998-2002 are kept in conditions that affected the statues negatively and added that there is a great need for constructing a new museum in the area for keeping the works in better conditions.

Tumer also said that American experts from the University of Pennsylvania during a visit they paid in Salamina stated that the statues are kept in a warehouse that is hurting the works and a place should be constructed with the right climate conditions for the preservation of the statues.

(CS)

[11] A solar power plant of the "ODTU" has been inaugurated by Akinci

The project was launched by "ODTU" campus in the occupation regime in 2010. Its aim is to meet the 20% of the annual needs of energy of the "university", writes the paper.

(AK)

[12] AKP Deputy: The process in Cyprus should bring up a bi-zonal plan based on the political equality and sovereignty of the two "peoples"

In statements to the paper Aktay argued that "the process should bring up a bi-zonal plan based on the political equality and sovereignty of the two peoples".

"The opportunity for a solution given in the ongoing negotiating process should not be wasted", he argued and alleged: "Everyone should act knowing that this process is a last experiment, the last chance. If the non-solution continues, both sides will be harmed by it".

Aktay further claimed that Turkey will continue to follow the policy of being one step ahead in Cyprus and that the Greek Cypriot side does not exhibit the same positive stance.

(I/Ts.)

[13] AKP board takes back key authority from Davutoglu

The right to appoint the AKP local heads originally belongs to the MKYK according to the party's internal code, but it was granted to then-party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2002.

The April 29 move came after rumors that Davutoglu, who took over the post in the AKP after Erdogan became the President in 2014, did not consider recommendations by the presidency in recent appointment decisions.

Davutoglu joined the MKYK meeting on April 29 hours later than others since he had just arrived back from a trip to Qatar. Some 47 MKYK members reportedly collected signatures to submit the shift offer earlier in the day.

Davutoglu was the first person to undersign the decision after it was approved at the meeting.

AKP Spokesman Omer Celik said in a press conference after the meeting that the decision "should not be considered as a shift or a radical stance."

[14] Proposal to lift parliamentary immunity approved in Turkish Parliamentary Constitutional Committee

The ruling AK Party submitted on April 12 a draft proposal to the Speaker's office to lift parliamentary immunity. The proposal was signed by 316 AK Party lawmakers before submission. The proposal amends the Constitution with a temporary clause to remove immunity from prosecution from 129 lawmakers in the Parliament.

The request to lift parliamentary immunity was first made concerning statements by HDP members' supporting PKK assertions of self-autonomy, which were made in December 2015 at the Democratic Society Congress (DTK). TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/AM)

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