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

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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] Ozgurgun: Turkey's decision to lift the visa requirement for all EU citizens is not tantamount to recognizing the Republic of Cyprus

[02] Ozersay warns that the Turkish Cypriots will be sidelined due to Turkey's decision to lift the visa requirement for all EU citizens

[03] Talat on Ankara's relaxation on visa requirements

[04] Ali Erel: "Turkey played its last card on the visa issue"

[05] Turkey to abolish visas for Greek Cypriots as part of EU deal

[06] Statements by Ozgurgun and Denktas on the economic "protocol"

[07] Sibel met with the chairman of the Australian-Turkish Chamber of Commerce

[08] Azeri MP in the breakaway regime

[09] Turkish PM stresses AKP's 'common cause' amid speculations of rift

[10] Turkey marks World Press Freedom Day amid rising concerns over liberties

[11] Bank of China gets green light in Turkey

[12] The illegal "YDU" signed a cooperation agreement with a Yemen University

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ozgurgun: Turkey's decision to lift the visa requirement for all EU citizens is not tantamount to recognizing the Republic of Cyprus

Ozgurgun claimed: "This issue is on the agenda for a very long time and now it was decided. It would be wrong to create the perception that with this decision 'Turkey is recognizing the south'. These are rights mutually recognized for the citizens within the framework of an agreement between Turkey and the member states. [?] For recognizing a country establishing diplomatic relations with that country and the mutual opening of embassies is needed. There is no such decision here".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozersay warns that the Turkish Cypriots will be sidelined due to Turkey's decision to lift the visa requirement for all EU citizens

In a statement issued yesterday, Ozersay argued that the Turkish Cypriot side and especially its leadership has the duty to explain to the Turkish officials that this is not just a simple "visa facility" and that it will bring the "erosion" of some political principles. "We should explain that if we do not do this, at the other side of the negotiating table we will find an interlocutor who is controlling the situation instead of looking for a solution and who is being strengthened every day that passes", claimed Ozersay alleging that if the Turkish Cypriots do not do these soon "we will experience again the danger of being sidelined".

According to Ozersay, with this Turkish decision all European citizens will be entering into Turkey without a visa, while the Turkish citizens will not be able to enter into countries which are not participating in the Schengen Area, like Cyprus, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Ozersay described the decision as "lifting of a psychological obstacle", like it happened in the case of the abolition of the so-called "visa paper" by the breakaway regime for the Greek Cypriots who wish to cross over to the occupied area of the island.

Ozersay alleged that with the decision Turkey shows that it could be flexible on some issues in Cyprus, such as the opening of the ports for example, in return of some rights or privileges for its citizens, without the Turkish Cypriots gain anything. "This situation annoys the Turkish Cypriots", said Ozersay and added: "In brief, we are facing the danger of some arrangements in which the Turkish Cypriots will not be included, they will be sidelined. It should be said that this possibility is worrying when it is especially assessed with the fact that recently Turkish officials met with officials of south Cyprus without the Turkish Cypriot side being aware of it".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Talat on Ankara's relaxation on visa requirements

Talat stated that the decision was "good and normal". He also stated that he is not aware about what is going to happen as regards the passing through out Cyprus, noting that this is a decision to be made by the Greek Cypriot side. "Right now those Turkish citizens who have a Schengen visa can pass to the south. From this point of view TRNC citizens originated from Turkey can also pass to the south. However, the decision will be taken by the Greek Cypriot officials", Talat argued.

He went on and added that this decision is generally a positive step towards Turkey's EU accession and an initiative that should have been taken by Turkey long ago.

(CS)

[04] Ali Erel: "Turkey played its last card on the visa issue"

Expressing the personal belief that visa requirements will eventually not be lifted for the Turkish citizens, Erel added that even if this happens, the lifting of the visa implementation by Turkey for the Republic of Cyprus will automatically mean the solution of the Cyprus problem and the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

"Lifting visa requirement means the acceptance of the official documents of a state and thus the acceptance of this state", Erel said, adding that with Turkey's current policies, this is not possible to happen.

Erel went on and argued that Turkey is using the agreement on migrants signed with the EU as a weapon in its hands.

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(AK)

[05] Turkish official: "Turkey to abolish visas for Greek Cypriots does not amount to Turkish recognition of Cyprus"

Turkey's cabinet approved waiving visas for EU citizens once Europe relaxes its own visa requirements for Turks, according to a decision published in Turkey's Official Gazette on May 3, only a day before the EU's executive arm presents its third visa-liberalization progress report.

The move is one of the 72 criteria required by Brussels for Turkey for the visa liberalization.

The Turkish official confirmed on May 3 Ankara's relaxation of visa requirements for EU citizens would also apply to Greek Cypriots. "This doesn't mean the recognition of Cyprus. If the EU abolishes visas for Turkish citizens, then we will also abolish visas for the remaining EU countries," the official said. "Right now, Greek Cypriots can already travel to Turkey, but we are issuing their visa on a separate paper. With this new arrangement they won't need a visa." Accordingly, Turkish citizens will also be able to enter Greek Cyprus provided that they do not transit from the occupied area of Cyprus, he stated.

In addition, Turkish daily Sabah (04.05.16) reports that the European Commission is expected to declare today that Turkey has met all criteria for visa liberalization, but some EU sources say conditional approval is on the table. In comments to Daily Sabah Turkey's EU Deputy Minister Ali Sahin, said that Ankara will not accept conditional approval under any circumstances.

"There is only one condition in this process, which is the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement signed in 2013 and approved in the Turkish Parliament," Sahin said, adding that Turkey has fulfilled all the criteria and the ball is now in the EU's court. "Turkish people want to trust and believe in the EU. The process functions as a confidence vote in the EU. In the event of an unexpected result by the European Commission, the Turkish people's trust in the EU will be shaken", he stated.

Concerning any problem that could arise from EU members such as the Republic of Cyprus, Sahin said that no negative stance is expected.

Believing that visa liberalization will create a positive atmosphere concerning Cyprus, Sahin said visa liberalization could positively influence Greece and Cyprus' tourism.

When asked what will happen if the European Commission decides against dropping the visa requirement, Sahin said: "We never think of a negative decision, but it should not be forgotten that the EU needs Turkey as much as Turkey's needs the EU."

[06] Statements by Ozgurgun and Denktas on the economic "protocol"

In statements to illegal BRT, Ozgurgun, said, inter alia, that they will experience no problem on the economic "protocol" and stated that their wish is to sign the economic "protocol" the soonest possible. He added that they will have high level contacts in Turkey and sign the "protocol". "I consider that together with motherland, we will implement the protocol healthily and we will pass to a new era with positive results", Ozgurgun alleged.

Also, in separate statements to Kibris TV, Denktas said that they will visit Turkey this week in order to discuss the economic "protocol" and added: "We will finish this work in a very short period of time. We will sign the economic financial protocol within 48 hours".

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(AK)

[07] Sibel met with the chairman of the Australian-Turkish Chamber of Commerce

In statements during the meeting, Siber said, inter alia, that after the UK, Australia is the second place in the world where the most Turkish Cypriots live and pointed to the importance of the "state" to keep warm ties with the expats.

Also speaking, Huseyin said that there are around 50 thousand Turkish Cypriots living in Australia and called Siber to support them in order to solve their problems.

(AK)

[08] Azeri MP in the breakaway regime

Speaking during the visit, Siber said that Azerbaijan carries special importance for the breakaway regime and touched upon the significance of relations between the two "countries".

Ozgurgun noted that he had worked together with Ms Pashayeva at the European Council and said that she was a Deputy who was always interested in and supports the breakaway regime. He also gave the message that further relations will be established with the Azeri people.

Speaking during the visits, Pashayeva stressed that the "TRNC" has a special meaning for the Azeri people. Stressing that mutual visits to be realized were important for the development of relations between the two "countries", she said they always "stood by the Turkish Cypriots in their struggle, particularly at the European Council and other foreign representations". Touching upon the issue of "embargoes", Pashayeva said the Turkish Cypriots will for a solution had come to light and added that the continuation of embargoes is not right and fair.

[09] Turkish PM stresses AKP's 'common cause' amid speculations of rift

"I can turn away from any job position, but I won't break the hearts of my friends, with whom we share a common cause," Davutoglu said at a parliamentary group meeting of the AKP on May 3.

"I'll step aside if necessary. I could turn away from any job position that people think that a mortal cannot leave. But I will never break any of my friends' hearts in this holy movement," he added. "I wouldn't allow this clean movement and its clean-hearted staff - the only hope of the oppressed all over the world - to become sad," Davutoglu also vowed.

The decision of the AKP's 50-seat Central Decision and Executive Board's (MKYK), which was passed with the support of 47 members on April 29, is widely considered to be among the clearest signs yet of tensions between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a founding leader of the party who is pushing for an executive presidency, and Davutoglu, who would be side-lined if Turkey's parliamentary system is replaced.

[10] Turkey marks World Press Freedom Day amid rising concerns over liberties

Members of the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS) gathered in front of Galatasaray High School on central Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul for a press briefing. TGS chair Ugur Guc read a joint statement and stressed that all rights and freedoms, in addition to freedom of expression, have been suspended in Turkey.

"We are being threatened, insulted, beaten and arrested for reporting. But despite these [obstacles] we do not give up on attempting to reveal the truth," Guc said, stressing they took to the streets on World Press Freedom Day in spite of attempts to make journalism a crime. He also called for the release of imprisoned journalists.

In addition, Hurriyet also reports that Public prosecutor Evliya Cal?skan has said "espionage" charges against daily Cumhuriyet journalists Can Dundar and Erdem Gul, who are on trial for reporting on Turkish intelligence trucks allegedly transporting weapons to rebel groups in Syria, are "unfounded."

However, Cal?skan still demanded 25 years in jail for editor-in-chief Dundar and 10 years in jail for Ankara bureau chief Gul for "revealing state secrets," Cumhuriyet reported.

[11] Bank of China gets green light in Turkey

In an exclusive interview with AA Simsek said that the bank applied to Turkey's banking watchdog, the BDDK, in January for a license. The BDDK's last meeting green-lighted the bank's entry into the Turkish market.

Simsek said Bank of China was the seventh largest bank globally, adding that its presence in Turkey is a clear sign of foreign investors' interest in the domestic market. The bank is expected to start operations within nine months in Istanbul, in line with Turkish banking law requirements.

[12] The illegal "YDU" signed a cooperation agreement with a Yemen University

According to the paper, the "agreement" envisages academic cooperation between the two "universities", common projects, exchange of students and academic staff and common researches and publications.

The "agreement" was signed by Dr. Irfan S. Gunsel, "member" of the "board of trustees" of the illegal YDU and Pr. Dr. Hameed M.Y. Aklan, Rector of the University of Yemen.

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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