Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-10-14

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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] US Assistant Secretary of State met twice with President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader

[02] Akinci: No retreat from rotating presidential system

[03] Atun says that after the Turkish Cypriots are connected they will no more produce electricity in the occupied area of Cyprus

[04] Tatar: "Agreements between Turkey and the TRNC during the Cyprus negotiations strengthen our position"

[05] TDP argues that the "opportunity" for a solution in Cyprus should not be wasted

[06] CTP filed a lawsuit against the "council of ministers" for granting "illegal citizenships" recently

[07] Berova argued that the population growth in the occupied area of Cyprus causes problems at the education and health systems

[08] The number of mosques constructed in the breakaway regime is increasing day by day

[09] Erhurman the only candidate for CTP leadership

[10] United Cyprus Party (BKP) will attend the European Left Party meeting in Budapest

[11] Sertoglu met with the chairman of the Turkish Football Federation

[12] Turkey calls for immediate halt to Russian airstrikes in Syria

[13] Israeli Energy Minister: Exporting Israeli gas via Turkey to Europe is a viable option

[14] Turkish Lira hits record low against dollar on political worries

[15] Two rockets fired from a mountainous area in Antalya

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] US Assistant Secretary of State met twice with President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader

Describing as "unexpected" the "diplomatic traffic" experienced during Nuland's meetings, the paper notes that the question as to whether "an American plan exists" was raised.

According to the paper, Akinci rejected this assumption stating that "the process is a Cypriot-led process, there is nothing unusual and there is no American plan". In statements after his second meeting with Nuland last night, Akinci said that he explained to Nuland why the Turkish Cypriots are concerned as regards the security issue. "We think that she understood these concerns", he argued.

In a short statement after her second meeting with Akinci, the American diplomat said that they want to help the two sides as a friend and that the leaders have made some very useful proposals in the direction of reaching a solution. She noted that they were very satisfied with the devotion for reaching a solution and added that good progress was achieved.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Akinci: No retreat from rotating presidential system

Responding to a question on why he would meet US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland for the second time, Akinci noted that she is well-informed on the Cyprus problem and added: "A US plan does not exist. We are not talking on a plan she has brought". Stating that Victoria Nuland can express her views on the Cyprus problem but the talks for a solution is a Cypriot process, Akinci said: "An extraordinary situation and a US plan do not exist".

Asked to comment on the guarantees, Akinci described them as an issue which also concerns Britain, Greece, and Turkey and said that none of the points in the Treaty of Guarantees can be changed without their approval. Recalling his statements that the Turkish Cypriot "people" does not attach importance to claims like "we are joining the EU, so guarantees are not necessary", he claimed: "The Greek Cypriots were not able to accept the agreement that led to the establishment of the Cyprus Republic. They tried to change 13 articles in the Constitution".

Referring to the statements of various Greek Cypriot groups that "they will prevent the adoption of the rotating presidential system", Akinci said that the Turkish Cypriot side worrying about the new structure of the Cyprus House of Representatives should be seen as normal. Akinci expressed the view that a deterrent factor must exist to prevent various political groups in the House of Representatives from obstructing the functions of the federation that will be established in the future and stressed: "That is very important. The matter must be considered not only from the point of view of security and guarantees but also from the point of view of guaranteeing the viability of the federal status we will establish."

Akinci further said that he discussed all those issues with Anastasiades during their meeting and added: "We did not discuss the adoption of a rotating presidential system. However, I cannot propose an agreement that will not include the rotating presidential system to the people. That is out of the question".

[03] Atun says that after the Turkish Cypriots are connected they will no more produce electricity in the occupied area of Cyprus

Speaking yesterday on program of Genc TV, Atun noted that AKSA company will also "not be in the long-term picture" as "we bring 160 thousand tons of petrol through our seas and AKSA brings so much". "We need to get rid of this system before a tragedy happens one day", he added.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Tatar: "Agreements between Turkey and the TRNC during the Cyprus negotiations strengthen our position"

Tatar further alleged that the agreements underline the importance of the message regarding a structure of two states at the international arena in case of a solution.

He also said that the messages that the Greek Cypriot side is sending regarding the issue of guarantees are very hard.

(CS)

[05] TDP argues that the "opportunity" for a solution in Cyprus should not be wasted

The party expresses the view that time that passes without solution harms all sides and mainly the Turkish Cypriots and reiterates the TDP's support to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution based on political equality with a single sovereignty and a single international identity. The TDP said that it continues being "cautiously optimistic" that such a solution could be reached.

Arguing that the process by the end of the year will be decisive as regards the route of Cyprus towards the future, the TDP notes that while the fourth round of intensive negotiations aiming at minimizing the differences has started, the efforts should continue in the direction of creating the ground for the discussion of the issues of security and guarantees afterwards at a five-party conference.

(I/Ts.)

[06] CTP filed a lawsuit against the "council of ministers" for granting "illegal citizenships" recently

The application of the "interlocutory order" will be discussed today.

On the same issue, Mehmet Ali Talat, CTP leader and former Turkish Cypriot leader, told the paper that they have brought to trial the "practices" of a "minor government" on "citizenship". He further said: "We do not have any other resort than to go to a trial against these illegal affairs. This government thinks that it owns the country and acts at its will, without taking into consideration that it is a minor government. It decides to grant citizenships without security documents, health certificates. (?)In fact, it acts as a sultanate regime".

(DPs)

[07] Berova argued that the population growth in the occupied area of Cyprus causes problems at the education and health systems

Responding to criticisms yesterday in the "parliament" regarding the problems in the education system, Berova explained that due to the population increase, there is an "accumulation" at the units of education and health.

(DPs)

[08] The number of mosques constructed in the breakaway regime is increasing day by day

According to a last year research of Yeni Duzen, 38 mosques were constructed in the breakaway regime during the last 15 years. Adding to this number the mosques that are planned to be built in the coming period, the number of mosques will be increased to 204.

Also according to EVKAF data, there are currently 292 churches in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(CS)

[09] Erhurman the only candidate for CTP leadership

The party's 26th congress will be held on November 13. There are 100 candidates for the rest 75 positions of the Party's assembly.

(CS)

[10] United Cyprus Party (BKP) will attend the European Left Party meeting in Budapest

According to statement issued by the party, the latest developments on the Cyprus negotiations as well the developments in the region will be taken up at the meeting. The paper further reports that the BKP's delegation will also hold meetings regarding the observation status of the party at the council.

(CS)

[11] Sertoglu met with the chairman of the Turkish Football Federation

According to the paper, the co-operation between the two "federations" was agreed at the meeting. Sertoglu stated that the meeting was useful and that he discussed with Demiroren in detail about various issues that the "federation" faces.

(CS)

[12] Turkey calls for immediate halt to Russian airstrikes in Syria

Speaking after a meeting in Riyadh with his Saudi counterpart on Thursday, Cavusoglu reiterated that Turkey wants Mosul residents to liberate the city from Daish without including the help of terrorist group PYD/YPG.

Cavusoglu also held a meeting with his counterparts from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). "Ministers condemned the escalation of military operations in Aleppo by the regime and its supporters through indiscriminate air raids against the civilian population and infrastructure", read in a statement issued at the end of the GCC-Turkey talks.

[13] Israeli Energy Minister: Exporting Israeli gas via Turkey to Europe is a viable option

Speaking at a press conference on the side-lines of the 23rd World Energy Congress (WEC), Steinitz said that his recent meeting with Turkey's Energy Minister Albayrak was fruitful and they discussed energy and particularly the possibility of building a natural gas pipeline from Israel to Turkey to transfer natural gas to the south of Turkey and onto Europe.

"Of course, we are considering also exporting natural gas to other countries like Jordan which we signed a contract with. Egypt, which also has a pipeline going through Cyprus to Greece, will be considered, but the Turkish option is very significant," he said.

"Israel discovered approximately 900 billion cubic meters of natural gas so far, but next month, it will open up Israeli economic waters for further explorations. The scientific estimate is that most of the natural gas is yet to be found, which is around another 2.2 trillion cubic meters," Steinitz said.

"We might end up with approximately 3 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. This is a lot of gas, much more than Israel can consume, and therefore we would like to consider exporting gas both to our neighbouring countries, Jordan and Egypt or to Europe through different pipelines," he said, adding "one of the very important options is connecting Europe through Turkey."

Turkish Energy Ministry issued a statement saying that Thursday's meeting was the first official ministerial level meeting between the two countries in the past six years since the normalization of bilateral relations.

"The Ministers welcomed the normalization of ties and expressed their commitment to casting substance into the relations, for the benefit of both peoples," read the statement.

"Both Ministers expressed their views, stressing the role of the energy sector in the stability and prosperity of the Eastern Mediterranean basin.

[14] Turkish Lira hits record low against dollar on political worries

Several voting Fed policymakers judged a rate hike would be warranted "relatively soon" if the U.S. economy continued to strengthen but doubts on inflation remained, according to the minutes of the Fed's September policy meeting released on Oct. 12, creating additional pressure over the emerging currencies, including the Turkish Lira.

In Turkey, Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m signalled moves to shift to an executive presidential system, in a speech to members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara.

The lira weakened as far as 3.11 against the U.S. currency in the afternoon of Oct. 13 from around 3.09 early Oct. 13.

It hit its previous record low on July 20, five days after a failed military coup attempt.

[15] Two rockets fired from a mountainous area in Antalya

The attacks did not cause any casualties.

The militants fired two rockets from a mountainous area on the Antalya-Kemer road, with one of them hitting the depot and the other falling into an empty plot. Meanwhile, an explosive was also thrown at a gas truck on the road but it did not hit the vehicle.

Police teams were dispatched to the scene after the explosions, while authorities also launched an aerial-supported operation to apprehend the militants. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/AM)

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