Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-03-30

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci says that the "official negotiating process" will resume after 7 April

[02] Ak?nc? met Van der Plas

[03] Cavusoglu says that Turkey will not make concessions on the security and guarantees

[04] Turkey's NSC: The negotiations in Cyprus will resume only if the Greek Cypriots take steps to build up trust

[05] Columnist says that the Cyprus talks were interrupted because of Turkey

[06] Diplomatic circles in the occupied area of Cyprus described Allen's appointment as "an important development"

[07] Turkey donated 92 thousand euro to the CMP

[08] Denktas: "We are not afraid of any elections"

[09] AKP Deputy is illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus to back the "yes campaign" for the upcoming Turkish referendum

[10] Columnist in Turkish Cypriot daily wonders if anyone knows about the real "population" in the occupied area of Cyprus

[11] The general director of the Italian Opera Company met Cavusoglu

[12] Turkey's Euphrates Shield Operation in Syria 'successfully completed'

[13] Court order blocks Booking.com travel website in Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci says that the "official negotiating process" will resume after 7 April

"A new period, during which the negotiations will resume, will be opened before us. This new period is, unfortunately, not long. In February 2018 elections will be held in the Greek Cypriot side. The enthusiasm of these elections seems to have embraced the south from now. Candidates are being determined. April and May should be the months of decisions. The things which should be done must be completed.

There are some misunderstandings regarding the dinner on Sunday, there are perceptions such as 'let us settle the forthcoming process with confidence building measures'. The fact that there is no trust between the two communities and this has been deteriorated does not make us happy. Benefits exist for both sides in materializing the decisions taken together by securing consensus two years ago. Not realizing them is thought provoking. These should be evaluated. On 28 May 2015 all technical problems on the cell phones, the mobile phones issue were overcome. Why this is not being materialized? The issue is a law in the Greek Cypriot side. As long as this law is not changed, no step can be taken, they say. [?] Not securing communication does not help in building trust. I think that AKEL and DISY could play positive role in making the adjustment.

Another decision we have taken, is the permanent connection of the electricity systems. They have been connected temporarily. When is needed we take electricity from them and they take from us. Connecting them permanently will give opportunity to include the renewable energy kinds to the system to a greater extent. [?] What are we expecting for this? Temporary connections were made, experiments were made. It was seen that it works. According to the Greek Cypriot side, it should pass through control once more. Very well, let us do it. Afterwards they said resources are needed. They also said that the resources were found. However, it is still not connected. [?]"

Akinci referred also to the fire of last year on the Troodos Mountains and reiterated the allegation that the Greek Cypriot side had not accepted the Turkish Cypriot offer for help and recalled that in 1994-95 the breakaway regime had refused the help offered by the Republic of Cyprus. He alleged:

"Then the Greek Cypriot side said to us that 'if there is a fire in the north we will send our vehicles, but will not cover our emblem. If you will send us, you should cover your emblem'. [?] As long as this recognition phobia is not abolished, it is difficult to take steps forward. The Greek Cypriot side should correct this mistake the soonest. When our fire vehicles go to the south, they do not go for being recognized, they go to extinguish fires. We have serious differences in understanding on this issue. [?]"

Akinci said that during the dinner to be held on Sunday the forthcoming period will be planned and claimed that determining a road map is a must. He noted that if everything goes well, the official negotiating process will resume after 7 April.

Expressing the view that a greater duty falls on UN's shoulders within the forthcoming short period, Akinci argued that the UN should intensify shuttle diplomacy, because "this is the way to make use of the forthcoming process in the quickest manner". He said that the mentality of taking up the issue separately and finishing them completely has ended.

He argued: "The UN could help the sides with a more bridge building understanding. Anyway, we see that the UN officials are willing. We will discuss these as well on Sunday evening. Everyone should do his bit for developing a more useful process in the forthcoming period. The news regarding an agreement in July and referendum in September are totally speculative. Unfortunately, we could not achieve the target of the end of 2016. [?] The election process in the south started early. If the Greek Cypriot side exhibits determination for a result within 1-2 months, the timetable will be formed again. [?]"

Furthermore, Akinci said that UNSG Special Adviser on Cyprus Eide is expected to meet with the guarantor powers and that the Cyprus Conference will continue when things come to a certain point. He added that the time of the conference will be shaped later.

Akinci also reiterated the allegation that the Greek Cypriot side has not responded yet to the Turkish Cypriot side's "very reasonable demands" on the issue of the effective participation in the decisions of the federation.

Referring to Turkey's demand regarding the four freedoms for the Turkish citizens in Cyprus, Akinci alleged that the Greek Cypriot side exaggerates on this issue recently and described as "a strange situation" the fact that the issue is taken to Brussels "as if it is a very big and unachievable topic". He claimed that many of these issues are settled within the framework of Turkey's Customs' Union Agreement. He alleged that the way of overcoming the problems is not to provoke Brussels and that if something is not reasonable he will also not support it. "A formula could be found within reason", he argued.

Moreover, Akinci reiterated the view that the forthcoming weeks are important and said: "Let us see the picture. Is there a picture which we could easily suggest to our community? Let the Greek Cypriot leader look at the issues which he considers important and accordingly let us see whether Turkey and Greece are at a point to support such an agreement. In the end, let us see whether we can establish a federation on this island. It is in the benefit of no one to prolong this issue for 50 more years. In this sense, the forthcoming weeks are really important".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ak?nc? met Van der Plas

Van der Plas is holding a series of contacts in the island.

The latest developments on the Cyprus Problem were discussed during the meeting.

The Dutch Ambassador to Nicosia, Nathalie Jaarsma, Akinci's "special advisor for political affairs and history" Meltem Onurkan Samani and the his "special advisor for diplomacy and EU affairs" Erhan Ercin were also present at the meeting.

No statement was made before or after the meeting.

[03] Cavusoglu says that Turkey will not make concessions on the security and guarantees

Cavusoglu claimed that "the Greek Cypriot side got off the road while going towards the elections" and that when they reached a point of agreement on some issues during the negotiations at Mont Pelerin, President Anastasiades asked for a break saying that "I have not so much support from Greece or from the island and the church is anyway negative".

Cavusoglu alleged also that the Greek Cypriot side abandoned the table when both Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci and UNSG Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide criticized the Cyprus House of Representatives decision regarding the enosis plebiscite. He claimed that even though personally President Anastasiades wants to do some things, it seems that he is 'very tensed and worried". "He has no backing, three parties are totally against any kind of solution", he alleged.

Noting that the decision regarding the enosis plebiscite had been suggested by a racist party, Cavusoglu argued: "[?] Now they are trying to correct it. Of course, as long as this decision taken by the Parliament is not corrected, Akinci, that is, the Turkish side will not return to the negotiation. Actually, this issue cannot remain suspended. We must decide the soonest on whether this issue will be settled or not [?]".

Further alleging that President Anastasiades started having doubts on the political equality issue which is one of the criteria in the negotiations, Cavusoglu claimed that President Anastasiades' statements that he allegedly does not consider the Turkish Cypriots as politically equal are not correct. He argued that either the negotiations will reach a solution on the basis of certain criteria, or, if no solution is reached, the negotiations will end and Turkey will take its own way. "If this opportunity is lost, there will never be such negotiations again", he alleged.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkey's NSC: The negotiations in Cyprus will resume only if the Greek Cypriots take steps to build up trust

The NSC also claimed that the resumption of the negotiations will be possible only if the Greek Cypriot side takes steps to build up trust. It further argued that finding a fair, comprehensive and lasting solution on the island will be possible by adopting the "equal partnership mentality" and alleged that the Greek Cypriot side should abandon delaying tactics and exhibit a constructive stance.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Columnist says that the Cyprus talks were interrupted because of Turkey

"[?] Behold, this is the reason of the deadlock and/or the collapse of the process. Look, this is not something which I have invented or assume. I am writing these having as starting point official statements by Turkish officials. That is, I am saying that even if the referendum is completed like the Turkish side wants and the negotiations continue from the point they were left, at this stage it does not seem possible for the process to advance. Most probably, after 3-4 meetings the sides will start blaming each other. And various allegations will be put forth. While the Turkish side will say that 'Anastasiades entered into the election climate', the Greek Cypriot side will say that 'Akinci is under Turkey's control'. The discussions will get bigger. Time will pass and suddenly we will find ourselves in 2018. Then the same leaders will state that 'solution is possible within this year'. [?] For the simple issue which will be agreed they will say 'we achieved tremendous progress'. Akinci will cross over to the south and Anastasiades to the north to participate in social events. [?] Then the issue will come to Turkey's position and demands again. Turkey will refer to 'guarantees'. It will ask for four freedoms. It will demand rights on the natural gas and the process will enter into deadlock again. If you have noticed, we are nowhere in this bargain. We still think that the problem derives from the Greek Cypriots not giving us the rotating presidency. Yes, we are so far away from the process that we cannot see realities. We insist on convincing ourselves that Turkey acts correctly and the Greek Cypriots wrongly. However, the only thing we should do is to put forward what we want. However, unfortunately, the only thing we do as community and as leadership is to defend Turkey's interests and protect its so-called rights".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Diplomatic circles in the occupied area of Cyprus described Allen's appointment as "an important development"

Recalling that the role of the former UK's Special Envoy on Cyprus Lord David Hannay was very important especially during the Anan plan period, the paper writes that Allen's appointment took place during the Geneva Summit on January 12 and points out that Allen was also head of the British delegation during the Mont Pelerin talks in Switzerland on January 18.

Allen who will be arriving in the island today, will meet with both President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. The paper writes that Allen's meeting with Akinci was scheduled to take place today at 09.30.

(AK)

[07] Turkey donated 92 thousand euro to the CMP

This donation brings the Turkish financial assistance to the CMP to a total of 826,000 over the past ten years.

A statement issued by the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus has said that this donation to the CMP Project on the Exhumation, Identification and Return of Remains of Missing Persons in Cyprus will contribute to the Committee's goal of identifying and returning as many remains of missing individuals as possible in order to bring an end to the suffering which has affected so many families for so many years.

The statement also pointed out that so far the remains of 750 missing persons have been identified and returned to the families for burial.

The CMP relies on donors support to alleviate the suffering of the concerned families, it added.

[08] Denktas: "We are not afraid of any elections"

Speaking during a seminar organized by DP, Denktas replied to the question whether his party is ready for "election" or not and claimed the following: "Even during the period when someone supported that the party has collapsed and will not win even 1%, the party achieved to gain 21% or 13%. This party will not reduce its percentages and thus we are not afraid of any elections".

(AK)

[09] AKP Deputy is illegally visiting the occupied area of Cyprus to back the "yes campaign" for the upcoming Turkish referendum

According to the paper, Sanverdi has called the 103 thousand "Turkish voters" in the occupied area of Cyprus to vote "yes" in the upcoming referendum.

Sanverdi was a guest in a televised program broadcast by ADA TV. In statements during the program, he alleged: "We will create this new system not for Erdogan but for all and thus we should vote 'yes' as a reply to all those who are trying to threaten Turkey".

(AK)

[10] Columnist in Turkish Cypriot daily wonders if anyone knows about the real "population" in the occupied area of Cyprus

The columnist quotes statements made by the "undersecretary" of the "state planning organization" during that period, Ali Korhan who announced that in the second stage of the population census in 2011, the number of the Turkish Cypriots born in the country (both in the TRNC and south Cyprus" ) was 160 thousand 2017 people.

Also, according to the columnist the number of the Turkish settlers who have permanent residence in the "TRNC" was 104 thousand 641 persons.

The columnist adds that 6 years have passed since then with lots of births, deaths, people who left the "country" and people who came, and nobody can answer the question about the "real number" of the "population" today.

The columnist continues and writes that if anyone goes out to the streets will realize that there is not enough infrastructure, not enough classes in the schools, not enough roads, that there are needs for more hospitals and also more needs for increasing the "police force". The columnist supports that the reasons for all this needs is the remarkable increase on the number of the population. "All these show of course that the real number of the population is unknown. [?]. As a matter of fact, prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun stated the other day in the assembly that the number of the police force should be increased since the current number of policemen is not enough if compared with the number of population. Is this correct? Yes it is correct and this because nobody can make such evaluation without knowing the number of the population.

[?] It is for this reason that we constantly asking about the population in the north, because, the police force is not enough, the schools are not enough for the students, the hospitals are full and the infrastructure and the roads are also not enough!!", writes the columnist.

[11] The general director of the Italian Opera Company met Cavusoglu

According to information acquired by the so-called ministry of agriculture and natural resources, Claudio Bompard, general director of Italian OPERA company which is responsible for the implementation of the project on behalf of the EU, met with the so-called minister of agriculture and natural resources Nazim Cavusoglu and briefed him about the current phase of the project and the future works to be done.

Speaking during the meeting, Bompard, stated, inter alia, that the Turkish Cypriot products are of high quality and thus as he claimed could take their place in the foreign markets.

(AK)

[12] Turkey's Euphrates Shield Operation in Syria 'successfully completed'

"Euphrates Shield Operation, launched to secure our country's border security, prevent [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] DEAS threats and attack targeting our country, give an opportunity to our displaced Syrian brothers to return their homes and continue their lives in peace and security has been successfully completed," the National Security Council (MGK) said in a statement issued on March 29 following a meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Launched on Aug. 24, 2016, the Euphrates Shield operation aimed at clearing its border with Syria of terrorists, which include ISIL and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) forces, which Turkey regards as a terrorist organization due to its links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkish military supported Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighter with artillery and special forces during the operation.

Thousands of militants were killed in the operation, according to official numbers, while more than 50 Turkish soldiers were also killed.

On the same issue, Turk?sh daily Sabah (29.03.17) reported that Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m said during a televised interview on Wednesday that Operation Euphrates Shield against the Daesh terror organization had come to an end.

"From now on, if we take action against Daesh or anything else that threatens our security, it will be a new operation," Y?ld?r?m stated, underlining that if needed a new move would be named differently.

Y?ld?r?m also said that the United States should give a more satisfying answer regarding reports of its Istanbul consulate calling the mastermind behind the coup attempt Adil Oksuz.

The U.S. Embassy previously confirmed that its Istanbul consulate placed a call to Oksuz, the fugitive mastermind of the July 15 coup attempt blamed on the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO), saying it was to inform him of a "visa cancellation."

"As a direct result of close U.S.-Turkish law enforcement cooperation, a call from the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul to a phone belonging to Adil Oksuz on July 21, 2016 did occur. On that day, the Turkish National Police called the U.S. Mission in Turkey to request our assistance in preventing Adil Oksuz from fleeing Turkey. We then revoked his U.S. visa and, as required by U.S. law, tried to call him to inform him of the cancellation," a written statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Ankara said.

[13] Court order blocks Booking.com travel website in Turkey

The Istanbul 5th Court of First Instance ordered the suspension of Booking.com to market and mediate stationed hotel and accommodation facilities in Turkey on its own website and on other addresses in a lawsuit filed by the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) to prevent unfair competition.

The access ban by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) on Booking.com is expected to go into effect following the court's declaration to the authority.

Meanwhile, TURSAB Secretary General Cetin Gurcun told daily Hurriyet that people who have previously made reservations through the website would not face any problems regarding the court ruling.

The Booking.com BV companies had also paid an administrative pecuniary penalty of around 2.5 million Turkish Liras to the competition authority due to their previous activities that breached competition rules, as part of a previous application from TURSAB.

?????????.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(AK/ AM)

Copyright ? 2017 Press and Information Office, All rights reserved.

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article