Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-06-08

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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] Eide: A general evaluation of the current stage of the negotiations will be made today

[02] The agreement for the establishment of the "Youth coordination office" was approved under arguments

[03] Afrika: "Youth coordination office" puts in danger the future of Turkish Cypriot youth

[04] Foreign observers, Turkish Cypriot and Turkish "officials" watched the "2016 search and rescue exercise"

[05] Efforts to include "TRNC" in the "World Heritage Promotion Project"

[06] Kaleagasi stressed the need for a solution of the Cyprus problem the soonest possible

[07] "Turkey does not recognize TRNC's driving license"

[08] Turkish leaders condemn Istanbul bomb attack

[09] Cavusoglu: Turkey would cancel the readmission agreement if the EU does not grant visa-free travel to Turkish citizens

[10] Columnist Demirtas argues that as of mid-2016, Turkey's rise has come to an end

[11] Erdogan approved bill to lift immunity of Deputies

[12] The occupation regime was represented at IRSA general assembly in Kirgizstan

[13] The "Turkish Cypriot-Kirgiz Business Cooperation Forum" took place in Kirgizstan

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eide: A general evaluation of the current stage of the negotiations will be made today

Eide described his meeting with Akinci as "constructive and comprehensive". Recalling that he had earlier held a meeting with President Anastasiades, Eide said that he saw the two leaders determined to find a solution to the Cyprus problem within 2016.

Noting that both of them expressed the view that there is no time to waste, he pointed out that the next few weeks should be scheduled in the most productive manner. Referring to today's meeting, Eide said that they will evaluate the stage at which the negotiations have come and what has been achieved during the past year.

The UN official noted that during the next few weeks the issues on which agreement has not been reached should be determined so that these issues to be discussed at the highest level. "This means that the leaders are ready to discuss these issues at the most direct manner", he added.

According to Eide, a lot of progress has been achieved in the negotiations, but it should not be concealed that there are still many things to be done. Eide noted that during the last few weeks he observed that the determination of the leaders was increased, "because they saw that there will be no solution in case they do not exhibit determination continuously".

Asked why President Anastasiades demands that the convergences and the points of disagreements should be clearly put forward in spite of the fact that these are included in a written document, Eide replied that the leaders possess a document consisted of hundreds of pages in which the agreed issues are written with black letters and on the issues of disagreement the Turkish views are written with red letters and the Greek views with blue. He noted that there should be a "general common understanding" as regards the point to which the negotiations have come after a year of discussions and that this will help in using time more fruitfully.

(I/Ts.)

[02] The agreement for the establishment of the "Youth coordination office" was approved under arguments

According to the paper, the "attorney general" was also present during the meeting of the "committee" who stated that it is dangerous for comments to be made regarding the content of the agreements, since this was an agreement "between two governments" which has the approval of the "council of ministers". On the contrary, the opposition parties expressed the view that the agreement is against the "constitution" but the "attorney general" refrained from commenting on the issue.

In statements after the approval of the agreement, Asim Akansoy "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stated that the future of the country was mortgaged. "Politics and democracy were modified today. And we have handed the key", he stated.

(CS)

[03] Afrika: "Youth coordination office" puts in danger the future of Turkish Cypriot youth

The paper notes that Turkish Cypriots still have memories of paying two schillings for every Greek word they used, during that time.

"Turkey which seized our airports, our soil and our water with the help of its cooperators here is giving now the final stroke taking over our electricity, our telecommunications and our ports", Afrika notes, adding that Turkey aims to transform the (secular) Turkish Cypriot youth into a religious oriented community.

In addition, the paper writes that the "We are rejecting platform", organized a press conference yesterday to inform people about its objections regarding the establishment of the "Youth coordination office".

Speaking during the press conference, the "deputy" with the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Zeki Celer stated that the "Youth coordination office" puts the future of the Turkish Cypriot youth in danger and asked for the help of the people in order the establishment of the "Youth coordination office" not to be approved by the "assembly". He went on and added that the "sports and youth offices" of the breakaway regime will stop operating and all the actions and activities related to young people like camping and sport events will be put under the jurisdiction of the "Youth coordination office" which will have a Turkish head and Turkish personnel.

(CS)

[04] Foreign observers, Turkish Cypriot and Turkish "officials" watched the "2016 search and rescue exercise"

Yesterday, search and rescue units successfully carried out the onshore part of the exercise at the occupied St. Hilarion area. The main maritime leg was held off the occupied coast of Famagusta this morning.

Both civilian and military personnel took part in the exercise, the maritime section of which covered the sea under "TRNC" control as well as international waters which fall under Turkey's area of responsibility for search and rescue.

A briefing was held yesterday at the main headquarters of the "Cyprus Turkish Security Forces" (editor's note: the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus) in the occupied village of Bogazi regarding the exercise.

The briefing was attended by the Commander of the "Cyprus Turkish Security Forces" Major General Erhan Uzun, his deputy Brigadier General Erdinc Korkuter, the family members of Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli as well as other military "officials" from Turkey and the "TRNC".

Speaking at the briefing Major General Uzun said that professional and well trained personnel, good organisation, coordination and cooperation between different units are vital for the success of search and rescue operations which are a race against time.

Commander Uzun, who briefed participants, on the details of the exercise said that Turkish and "TRNC" rescue teams are always ready to take part in such operations if the need emerges.

Following the briefing, the onshore exercise was held at the "101 Evler (houses) area" of St. Hilarion.

The exercise was watched by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc?, the self-styled speaker of parliament Sibel Siber, self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, former Turkish Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and Dervis Eroglu, the illegal Turkish "ambassador" to the occupied part of Lefkosia Derya Kanbay, the Commander of the "Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus" Lieutenant General Ilyas Bozkurt, the Commander of the "Cyprus Turkish Security Forces" Major General Erhan Uzun, the Commander of the Turkish Coast Guard Rear Admiral Hakan Ustem, a number of "deputies" and guests.

10 observers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Qatar, Iran and South Africa were also present at the exercise.

[05] Efforts to include "TRNC" in the "World Heritage Promotion Project"

Ataoglu met also with the chairman of Turkey's Tourism and Promotion (Publicity) Platform (TUTAP) Fikret Yildiz. During the meeting, Yildiz said that they have already started working on adding Cyprus (translator's note: he refers to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) to the "World Heritage Promotion project", adding that they will try to include the "TRNC" in the organization's event which will be held on July.

Ataoglu, for his part, said that they are trying to double their target of bringing two million tourists to "North Cyprus". Ataoglu invited also the Turkish citizens to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, adding that the "TRNC promoting days" will take shape during the summer season in the metropolitcan municipalities in Turkey. He concluded by saying that it was agreed that "TRNC" will be included on the catalogue that the Platform will prepare.

(DPs)

[06] Kaleagasi stressed the need for a solution of the Cyprus problem the soonest possible

Referring to the visa-free process, Kaleagasi expressed the belief that it is not possible from the theoretical point of view the visa-free travel for the Turkish citizens to be implemented by the middle of July, since as he stated, Turkey and the EU should reach to a common point towards this issue.

On Turkey's EU bid, Kaleagasi stressed the need for the EU negotiation process to be intensified and to exert efforts to lift the political, social and other obstacles.

Supporting that a solution on the Cyprus problem should be found the soonest possible, Kaleagasi said: "After lifting the Cyprus obstacle, Turkey-EU negotiation process will be intensified and the political and economic benefits from this development will be tremendous not only for Turkey but also for the island of Cyprus. All necessary things should be done for the solution in Cyprus. In any circumstance, the winner in Cyprus will be Turkey".

(AK)

[07] "Turkey does not recognize TRNC's driving license"

The settler named Koray Celebi had filed an application to the "embassy of Turkey" asking to turn this "TRNC driving license" into a Turkish license. The application was rejected by the "embassy", which replied that as of 1/1/2016 Turkey issues new type of licenses and according to the new legislation, a driving license granted by a foreign country, which is not member of the Convention on Road Traffic and does not have a bilateral agreement with Turkey as regards the mutual recognition of driving licenses, cannot be turned into a Turkish document.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Turkish leaders condemn Istanbul bomb attack

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited hospitalised victims of the attack and said: "The terrorist organisation's discrimination between police, civilians or soldiers doesn't concern us. Those who become martyrs are human. We are deeply in sorrow. There is a price to pay for everything, and they will pay the price for the blood they shed."

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim: "Terrorist organisations planning to kill innocent citizens in the first days of Ramadan showed once again that they are the enemy of humanity and all humanitarian values. The Republic of Turkey will never ever abandon its fight against terrorism."

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu: "The terror attack which was carried out on the second day of Ramadan targeted our law enforcement agency which is discharging its duties to achieve a secure Turkey."

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli: "Acts of terrorism will not succeed in disturbing national unity and damaging the ties of brotherhood."

[09] Cavusoglu: Turkey would cancel the readmission agreement if the EU does not grant visa-free travel to Turkish citizens

Foreign Minister Mevlet Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey would cancel the readmission agreement if the EU does not grant visa-free travel to Turkish citizens. In a live televised interview, Cavusoglu argued that the decision taken in the German Federal Parliament concerning the 1915 Armenian incidents is a pre-planned move. Stating that Parliament has delayed voting for the very same draft until now, Cavusoglu indicated that the German coalition changed its mind to prevent collateral damages. "Here, the big parties in the coalition, as well as, their leaders are responsible for that. It is not possible to attempt to punish Turkey. First of all, this draft is neither binding nor forceful but they are trying to send a message to Turkey," he added.

Regarding the process of visa-free travel and Readmission Agreement negotiations, Cavusoglu said that Turkey is willing to apply both agreements, stressing that Turkey has fulfilled 67 of the 72 required criteria. The Minister added that the agreements have taken yet another turn, expected to be discussed once more on Tuesday between both parties. The Foreign Affairs Minister emphasized that an agreement regarding the five criteria is necessary, saying that "Otherwise, if the EU does not grant visa-free travel, we will suspend the Readmission Agreement. This is not a threat; the two agreements have to be applied together."

Stressing Turkey's expectations regarding the terror law of the EU, Cavusoglu said: "We would not take any steps to support or to incite those terrorist who explode bombs even within the month of Ramadan," said Cavusoglu. Indicating that the current attitude of the EU damaged the trust of Turkey's general public towards the union, the Minister indicated that Turkey is still willing to cooperate in the fight against terror.

[10] Columnist Demirtas argues that as of mid-2016, Turkey's rise has come to an end

"The first decade of the 21st century highlighted Turkey's rise as an emerging power in an always unstable region from Eurasia to the Balkans and the Middle East to North Africa. Consecutive reform packages on democracy and human rights helped Turkey attain historic gains by launching full membership negotiations with the European Union in 2005, granting the country important credibility around the entire world.

Turkey was introduced as a model country for those in the Muslim world who were seeking a magic formula to ensure sustainable development. In this period, the Justice and Development Party-led (AKP) democratization process has proven that a Muslim country with secular roots can in fact bring about change. That was the message then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, now the President, delivered to the world in a keynote statement in a visit to Egypt in 2011.

A stable political environment under AKP governments introduced an unprecedented economic jump with an average annual growth rate not less than 5%. Turkey's economic and political performance introduced favourable conditions for foreign direct investments with so many important global corporations choosing Turkish soil in their relocation or investment plans. Turkey's income per capita reached $10,000 in the same period with prospects that it could be doubled over the next decade.

On foreign policy, Turkey's ability to talk with all parties in the region allowed the country to play the role of an honest broker between Israel and Syria, Israel and Palestine as well as Iran and the world powers. It launched trilateral mechanisms in the Balkans and Caucasus to weather differences between regional countries. As a result of an active foreign policy, Turkey was elected as a temporary member of the U.N. Security Council in a sign of its successful performance in the international arena.

Efforts to resolve the decades-old Kurdish question through peaceful means and to write the country's first civilian constitution were all launched in this period.

Today's Turkey, however, is far from this picture. Turkey stands as a highly isolated country in its region with not many friends and is vulnerable to growing security challenges, while its recent rhetoric about a change in foreign policy has been greeted only cautiously by the world.

The return to military means for the resolution of the Kurdish question makes a foreign policy change almost impossible, as the issue has undeniable links with the ongoing turmoil in Syria.

The Syrian unrest has caused two major problems for Turkey: It has to shelter and take care of the 3 million Syrians that have cost a fortune for the Turkish economy, apart from social and political problems. Second, the major by-product is the terror attacks posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) inside Turkey that, along with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), have turned the entire country into a potential target. Hundreds of civilians and security officers have lost their lives in scores of such attacks in different parts of Turkey.

Due to the growing security problems as well as the ongoing spat with Russia, the number of foreign tourists has shown a sharp decrease, depriving the Turkish economy of a lucrative source of revenue. Many big foreign corporations have either passed into the wait-and-see position or suspended the launch of new projects at a moment when the Turkish Lira is steadily weakening against leading currencies.

The image of the country in the Western world has never been poorer with concerns about the authoritarian inclinations of the Turkish leadership. Even true friends of Turkey are no longer hesitating in expressing their concerns that "The way Turkey is going is not right" but can hardly find a sound response from the Turkish capital.

As of mid-2016, suggesting that Turkey's rise has come to an end, amid little optimism that it could soon be reversed, would not be wrong."

[11] Erdogan approved bill to lift immunity of Deputies

After President Erdogan's approval, the decision will be published in the official Gazette and will come into effect immediately. Within the 15 days following the announcement, the dossiers situated in Parliament, the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Justice will be sent to the assigned prosecution offices.

As of May 15, the number of dossiers for the lifting of immunity reached 667 and 138 parliamentary Deputies had dossiers drafted against them. A total of 51 dossiers were drafted on CHP Deputies, 50 on HDP Deputies, 27 on the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), nine on the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and one for the independent Deputy Aylin Nazl?aka. A total of 405 dossiers were drafted against Deputies from the HDP, 192 from the CHP, 46 from the AK Party, 20 from the MHP and five dossiers against the independent Deputy Nazl?aka.

[12] The occupation regime was represented at IRSA general assembly in Kirgizstan

The meeting was hosted by the Center of Standardization and Metrology and the occupation regime attended also an international workshop for the Administration of the TS EN ISO-50001 Energy system and Renewable Energy.

(AK)

[13] The "Turkish Cypriot-Kirgiz Business Cooperation Forum" took place in Kirgizstan

According to a written statement issue by the "information office", in his opening speech at the forum, the "TRNC Bishkek representative" Tayseer Al Shanableh, pointed out to the importance of the cooperation between the Turkish Cypriot and the Kirgiz "people" especially in the business world.

Among the participants of the forum were the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Fikri Toros, Turkey's Ambassador to Bishkek, Metin Kilic, the former Prime Minister of Kirgizstan Feliks Kulov, the former Foreign Minister of Kirgizstan Felik Askar, the Pakistani Ambassador Qazi Habib Ur Rahman, the General Director of the American Chamber of Commerce, Zarina Chekirbaeva, the official Representative of Kirgizstan in the Eurasia Business Union Lenara Niyazbekova and other members of the business world.

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs / AM)

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