Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-02-17

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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 announced Cavusoglu's "visit" in the occupied area of Cyprus probably on Monday

[02] Akinci alleges that Eide said only the half of the truth as regards the meeting held between the community leaders yesterday

[03] Cavusoglu warned that there will not be a new negotiation process like this one, if the Greek Cypriots do not return to the table again

[04] "Eide: Akinci decided to leave the meeting"

[05] Ozgurgun accused President Anastasiades of walking from the table

[06] Ozersay commented on yesterday's developments

[07] Ozyigit: "A day of mourning for one side should not be a day for celebration for the other side"

[08] TKP deputy chairman called on the two leaders to take the road of solution

[09] Akinci will hold a meeting with Kidd

[10] British High Commissioner said that the Cyprus talks have reached a very critical stage

[11] "Nine more persons were granted TRNC citizenship"

[12] Yildirim heads to Malta and Germany

[13] Ulusoy: "If Greece is applying for visas, then this is its problem. We have a lot of places to go. Then we go to Cyprus"

[14] AKP official resigns after saying 'prepare for civil war' if constitution vote fails

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci announced Cavusoglu's "visit" in the occupied area of Cyprus probably on Monday

"I did not get in contact with Turkey recently. Most probably, Mr. Cavusoglu will be here for a scheduleδ visit.. We will meet here", stated Akinci.

(AK)

[02] Akinci alleges that Eide said only the half of the truth as regards the meeting held between the community leaders yesterday

In his statements after a meeting this morning, Akinci claimed that in his statements after their meeting in the occupied area yesterday afternoon, Eide has hidden the half of what happened during the meeting between the leaders and underlined that the UN Special Adviser should not "come to a situation in which trust towards him will be questioned".

As regards his participation in the meeting between the leaders planned for next Thursday 23 February, Akinci said that they will evaluate the developments until then step by step and decide after seeing the intention of the Greek Cypriot side.

Reiterating the allegation that President Anastasiades abandoned the meeting when Eide said that something should be done for abolishing the concerns of the Turkish Cypriots regarding the Cyprus House of Representatives' decision on the 1950 plebiscite, Akinci claimed: "When the meeting was abandoned in this manner by the Greek Cypriot leader, there was nothing else to do there. We departed from there after the meeting has come to this situation".

Referring to President Anastasiades statement that he went out the room for taking a break, Akinci argued: "Is this the way a break is given? Until now we have not been giving a break in this manner in our meetings. When the Greek Cypriot leader wants to smoke, he shows the cigar package and we give a break. No such thing happened".

Noting that Eide should be asked why he has hidden the half of the truth, Akinci argued that "Eide should not come to the situation of having the trust towards him questioned by saying the one half of the truth and hiding the other".

Akinci said that during their meeting yesterday President Anastasiades told him that the decision of the House of Representatives on the 1950 plebiscite was wrong and argued: "He should say this to the community as well and do whatever is necessary". Akinci said that he told Eide that they were expecting this decision to be corrected.

Noting that after meeting with President Anastasiades yesterday Eide said that the meeting between the leaders on 23 February could take place, Akinci pointed out that "the expectation of the Turkish Cypriot side is not in this direction". "Our expectation is for the climate of trust, which had been shaken, to be fixed. Some steps should be taken on this issue", he added.

Replying to a question, Akinci argued that the Turkish Cypriot side did not abandon the target of finding a federal solution and that they approach with respect the discussions held within the framework of the Cyprus negotiations. He claimed that the same respect should be shown by their interlocutors as well.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Cavusoglu warned that there will not be a new negotiation process like this one, if the Greek Cypriots do not return to the table again

"If they want to negotiate, then they should return to the table again. If they will not, then it will be their choice. There won't be a new negotiation process like this one, and we will do what is necessary", he said.

Cavusoglu also sharply criticized the "Greek Cypriot administration" for controversial steps which undermined current efforts to reach a settlement and reunite the island.

"On the one hand they [Greek Cypriots] are demanding Enosis, and on the other hand they are calling for an end to Turkey's role as a guarantor power. Their real intentions have become clear. By their actions they have revealed that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey are absolutely right in their position", Cavusoglu argued.

[04] "Eide: Akinci decided to leave the meeting"

In statements after a two-hour meeting in the occupied area with Akinci yesterday afternoon, Eide noted that the two leaders had made statements regarding what happened in the meeting and pointed out that both leaders had shared with him their wish to use the meeting for "cleaning up the climate" and proceed by leaving the problems behind. Noting that they started doing this, but at a point things got difficult and emotional, Eide argued that this should not cause surprise because things are easier when they talk about the future than when they talk about the past.

"As Akinci said in his own statement, he noted that he decided that the most correct thing for him to do was to leave the meeting that moment and come here", Eide noted and added that he prefers to leave this issue behind and continue the negotiations. "I do not want to say more than I have already said on this issue", he pointed out adding that achieving peace by making accusations is difficult.

Referring to the efforts currently exerted within the framework of the Cyprus talks, Eide said that they have been trying in a systematic and constructive manner with the sides and the guarantor powers to create a new sense of security which will be accepted by all sides. Noting that he could not give details on this issue, Eide expressed the view that if we spend our time on something which had happened before many years, this [finding a solution on the issue of security] will not happen.

"We must proceed and make use of this opportunity", he added pointing out that the leaders are determined to continue the negotiations and not permit for the process to stop because of the issue that had come up.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Ozgurgun accused President Anastasiades of walking from the table

Ozgurgun questioned as to how much longer the Turkish Cypriot side is going to tolerate the Greek Cypriot side's "narrow minded mentality".

In a written statement issued by the "prime ministry's press office" following yesterday's meeting between the leaders, Ozgurgun claimed: "The walking out of the meeting by the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades was an expected and unsurprising move since the talks held last year in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland."

He further alleged that the manner in which Anastasiades had "walked out" of the room had indeed surprised everyone, particularly the UN Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide.

Ozgurgun also claimed that the recent incidents over the past week have shown everyone that there has been no change in the mentality of the Greek Cypriot side which does not see the Turkish Cypriots as their equal partners on the island. "Anastasiades's defense of a stance put forward by a fascist-racist group such as ELAM has been an act of straightforward disrespect to all international forces, particularly the Turkish Cypriot side, which have contributed to solution efforts for the past 20 months", alleged Ozgurgun.

[06] Ozersay commented on yesterday's developments

(AK)

[07] Ozyigit: "A day of mourning for one side should not be a day for celebration for the other side"

Speaking during a television show, where he evaluated the latest developments of the Cyprus negotiations, Ozyigit argued that there is a chauvinist mentality of education in Greek Cypriot schools and that the revival of the enosis spirit is against the solution.

"Some specific circles in the TRNC, which are leaded by the government support the non-solution in Cyprus, just like ELAM", he stated noting that he party is against both enosis and the division of Cyprus. He also said that bringing into the agenda this issue (enosis) at the point where the Cyprus talks reached is a blow against the negotiations and added that if a similar subject for division was brought in the "TRNC assembly", it would be a blow of a similar value.

Ozyigit also said that Ozgurgun entered an "election mood" thinking that the negotiations are over and he is touring the villages claiming that his party prevented the return of the villages (to the Greek Cypriots) by Akinci. According to Ozyigit, Ozgurgun wants the Turkish Cypriots to continue living a "ghetto life" so that any kind of looping to continue.

"The July 20th has been celebrated since 1975. The November 15th has been celebrated since 1984. If Anastasiades had this kind of sensitivities why he did not talk about them before sitting at the negotiation table? April 1st and August 1st should have been brought into the agenda as well and these issues could have been discussed as confidence building measures" he stated noting: "A day of mourning for one side should not be a day for celebration for the other side".

(CS)

[08] TKP deputy chairman called on the two leaders to take the road of solution

Davulcu who issued a written statement, said that in a time where we are closer to the solution than ever, the efforts for creating a chaos climate that could lead to the stopping of the procedure are wrong and cannot be tolerated even if the decision adopted with majority by the Cyprus House of Representatives regarding the celebration in the public schools of the 1950 plebiscite is totally unacceptable.

(CS)

[09] Akinci will hold a meeting with Kidd

(CS)

[10] British High Commissioner said that the Cyprus talks have reached a very critical stage

Stating that they lived a bad day yesterday in terms of the Cyprus talks, Kidd added that the developments reflect the impact of the whole negotiation process. Stressing that the reason they reached at this point is because the negotiation process in on the most difficult and fragile point, Kidd argued that this result occurred due to the approval by the Cyprus House of Representatives to an issue, which is considered sensitive by the Turkish Cypriots.

Explaining that the negotiations should continue with the chapter "security and guarantees", Kidd said that they should hold their temper on this sensitive process and be calm.

(DPs)

[11] "Nine more persons were granted TRNC citizenship"

• Omer Sasmaz, born in Corum, 1993

• Hatice Eda Uslu, born in Erzincan, 1996

• Fevzi Canbolat, born in Reyhanli, 1970

• Isa Guner, born in Altinozu, 1975

• Sultan Bagci, born in the occupied part of Lefkosia, 1994

• Sabri Siran, born in Adiyaman,1977

• Serdar Supceler, born in Havsa, 1978

• Serap Duran, born in Aksehir, 1984

• Ezgi Terxioglu, born in Bakirkoy, 1996

The decision of the council of ministers was published in the official gazette on February 14, 2017.

(DPs)

[12] Yildirim heads to Malta and Germany

Yildirim was scheduled to depart late on Feb. 16 for Malta, where he will be hosted by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who took over the term presidency of the EU until July, and be received by President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

Along with bilateral talks, Yildirim will also attend the Turkey-Malta Business Forum, hosted by the DEIK/Turkey-Malta Business Council in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Entrepreneurship in Valetta.

Among the subjects on the agenda of the visit will be Turkey's EU membership bid, the refugee crisis and terrorism.

Following his visit to Malta, Yildirim will go to Germany to attend the Munich Security Summit over the weekend, meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, NATO Secretary General Jan Stoltenberg, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are also expected to join the summit.

In Munich, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Yildirim will address Ankara's stance on international security issues, particularly related to Syria and terrorism. Y?ld?r?m is expected to emphasize the importance of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and to stress that there should be no distinction made between terrorist organizations, amid Turkish frustrations over what it sees as insufficient cooperation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The steps to be taken after the recent Astana Summit on Syria, which took place under the leadership of Turkey and Russia, are also among the agenda items of the conference.

Meanwhile, Yildirim is also due to attend a rally in Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia on Feb. 18, where he will herald the government-drafted constitutional amendments to shift Turkey to an executive presidential system, at an event titled "Patriots say Yes".

[13] Ulusoy: "If Greece is applying for visas, then this is its problem. We have a lot of places to go. Then we go to Cyprus"

Basaran Ulusoy, president of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), saying that "9.5 million people went abroad", added that Turkey is not only waiting for customers, but is also a good customer itself. Reacting to visa applications on the Greek islands, Ulusoy said that in Turkey, 16.5 million people traveled in 2016, 9.5 million of whom went abroad. "If Greece is applying for visas, then this is its problem. We have a lot of places to go. Then we go to Cyprus [editor's note: he refers to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus]", Ulusoy said, "We, as the tourism sector, find it difficult to understand the visa issuance on Turkey. Turkey is not a country to scratch but a country to be caressed".

[14] AKP official resigns after saying 'prepare for civil war' if constitution vote fails

Speaking at a conference organized by the party's Soma district youth branch on Feb. 13, AKP Manisa provincial Deputy Head Ozan Erdem suggested there would be a "civil war" in Turkey if voters reject the shift to an executive presidential on April 16.

"If we cannot exceed 50% and fail in this referendum vote, prepare for a civil war. We should know that the cards will be shuffled both inside [Turkey] and abroad and the plan tables will be set up again", Erdem said.

He later resigned from his post upon the AKP's demand, while claiming that his remarks were "distorted".

"My words were distorted in a direction that I never intended to say. I am very sad that such a meaning was taken from [my remarks]. I voluntarily presented my resignation from my post and board membership as I thought [the distortion] could damage my party, cause, country, and our brotherhood and unity", Erdem added.

Earlier in the day, the AKP's organization head Mustafa Atas, described the remarks as "unacceptable" and demanded his resignation. "I called our Manisa provincial head as soon as I learned about the incident and asked him to secure this deputy provincial head's resignation as of tonight," Atas told daily Hurriyet.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) group Deputy Chairman and Manisa Deputy Ozgur Ozel said Erdem's remarks were a result of a "politics of fear" conducted strategically by the ruling party as part of its negative campaign. Ozel added that it was "not just a personal crime", demanding an apology from the AKP to the country.

CHP deputy Tur Yildiz Bicer also issued a written parliamentary question to be answered by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu on the issue. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(DPs / AM)

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