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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-05-12Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 90/17 12.05.17[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS
[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS[01] Akinci: Political will is needed rather than time in the Cyprus negotiationsTurkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (12.05.17) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci has argued that political will is what is needed the most at the current point of the Cyprus negotiations. In statements last night after a four-hour meeting with President Anastasiades within the framework of the Cyprus negotiations, Akinci said that in parallel to the failures in the negotiations, some distance has been covered and added that at the point we have reached no one wants for the accumulated work to be wasted.Noting that the second anniversary of the talks between himself and President Anastasiades is to be completed on 15 May, Akinci said that yesterday they made a general assessment of the process and pointed out that more than 60 meetings between the leaders and more than 100 meetings between the negotiators have been held. He added: "In parallel to issues on which there was no success, some distance was covered. At the point we have reached, we must decide now whether we will be able to reach a result. The material, which we have in our hands, brought us to the point of taking decisions. We are not the only ones who think that the process cannot continue open ended at the point we have reached. This is a reality which the interested parties are seeing. There is a natural timetable and this is working. [?] During the meeting we listened about the work on the property issue. We expect them to carry out an intensive effort on this issue by 17 May. Our determination for a solution is clear. We have proved it many times. Both sides need more will than time. At the point we have reached no one wants for the accumulated work to be wasted. Everyone who wishes a solution in Cyprus does not want for this effort to be wasted. If I am at the table today, this is due to the fact that I know how critical the next few weeks are. We have reacted because of what happened (the decision regarding the commemoration of enosis plebiscite). This resulted in leaving the table. We want to make use of this chance for the sake of Cyprus. We talked with Eide for two hours. I hope that within the forthcoming days we can give you good news". (I/Ts.) [02] Ak?nc? met with Eide; Statements by Eide after the meetingAccording to illegal Bayrak television (12.05.17) the Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General (SASG) on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide met yesterday afternoon with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? prior to the leaders' meeting.Addressing the media following his meeting with Ak?nc?, Eide said that the meeting had focused on the issues on the agenda as well as the more strategic picture to be followed on the talks. "While there is slow progress being made in the negotiations, we're also seeing a difficult environment surrounding the talks; it has to do with the mood in the two communities, but also with international developments in the vicinity, and there's really no time to lose," Eide said. Stating that he had informed Akinci about his meetings in New York with the Secretary-General and the top UN leadership, Eide said that the 5 Permanent Members of the Security Council and others were all very supportive but also very concerned about the risks regarding the significant amount of work that has been done over the past two years. "Actually, today is the 11th May, which means two years after the leaders' meeting which was the first time Ak?nc? and Anastasiades met, and which basically started this process," Eide said. "So all these achievements must not be in vain because of the crises that might come and make it impossible to continue. I deplore the fact that there is a risk, but I would not be honest if I didn't share it with the Secretary-General and the Council, and I wouldn't be honest if I didn't share it with you. So we have to be realistic, we know that we have to use this time. It is perfectly possible." Eide also said that he held a very encouraging series of meetings with leaders and top officials from some of the international financial institutions who are in Cyprus attending a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) summit. "So, the Cypriots and their leaders have an almost unique level of international support for the work they are doing, but the process is leader-led, it has to be leader-led. Nobody in the UN is even remotely thinking about taking over this charge; we're not in the business of arbitration, we're not in the business of coming out with a UN plan ? we've tried that before and failed, we're not repeating it ? but the Secretary-General sends a strong signal to both leaders and me that we all should redouble our efforts and try to make the most of this opportunity by thinking strategically about what a solution could entail. It's possible, but it needs hard work and it needs serious leadership" Eide also added. [03] Celik criticizes EU's stance on the Cyprus problemTurkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (12.05.17) reports that Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik, referring to the Cyprus problem in an interview with NTV, alleged that the EU continuously underscores the Cyprus problem to Turkey. He claimed that instead, the EU should be telling this to the Greek Cypriot side since it was the Greek Cypriots who took the decision for "Enosis" at a time when there was substantive and positive progress in talks.Celik further alleged: "Neither Turkey nor the TRNC accept the approach of you accepting what it is in the South Cyprus as a state, of seeing the Turkish Cypriot community as community and of telling them to join it". Noting that there are some who question Turkey's efficiency regarding the Copenhagen political criteria, Celik argued that the criteria have been met more efficiently than many other EU member countries. Celik also claimed that the EU sets a solution model when a problem arises for small countries, which are EU member countries, which are candidate or which are not candidates, however it (EU) cannot produce a relation model with a huge strategic power as Turkey, which at the same time is a candidate country. (DPs) [04] Denktas responded to Ak?nc?'s remarks; He accused the Greek Cypriot side of delaying tactics on the issue of the harmonization of the "banking laws"According to illegal Bayrak television (12.05.17), so-called deputy prime minister and "minister of finance" Serdar Denktas has accused the Greek Cypriot side of delaying the work to harmonize the "banking laws" with EU standards for 4 months and for refusing to respond positively or negatively to the Turkish Cypriot side's proposals during this period.Serdar supported that it is not right to blame the "government" for the lack of progress achieved on this issue. Denktas was responding to a news report posted on the "TRNC presidency official website" calling on the "government" to support the EU harmonization process of "banking laws" in the "TRNC". In a written statement issued yesterday, Denktas said that he was disappointed by Akinci's remarks. "It is difficult to understand why the president is blaming the government for the delay when it is so obvious that the Greek Cypriots froze the process for 4 months", alleged Denktas. Pointing out that the work to investigate the financial structure of "TRNC's banks" had been launched by the bi-communal working group set up by Turkish Cypriot leader Ak?nc? and the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, Denktas said that a draft had been created from that work. He explained that the work had been presented to him at the end of 2016 during which he had openly expressed his opinion that sensitive information regarding the "TRNC banks" could not be shared with the Greek Cypriot side. "Our sensitivities on this issue had been conveyed to the UN Special Advisor, the US Ambassador as well as to the IMF's representative after which I instructed the head of the prime ministry's EU coordination office Kudret Akay to work on a modality that could be accepted by all the parties concerned", Denktas further said, adding that the new working modality which had been prepared following meetings with the UN, IMF, EU and US officials had been sent to the United Nations, by informing the "president's office", on the 20th of December 2016. "We did not receive a response to our proposals for 4 months until the beginning of April 2017 when president Ak?nc? informed us that the Greek Cypriot leader had accepted the Turkish Cypriot side's proposals", Serdar also claimed. He further claimed that the UN Special Advisor had also thanked them for the constructive proposals they had presented during a meeting held on the 12th of April 2017. "Mr. Eide informed us that the Greek Cypriot side had accepted our proposals and that they could continue their work on the basis of the modality proposed", Denktas argued. [05] Reactions to the rejection of 3 million euro for the harmonization of the banking sector in the occupied areaTurkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (12.05.17) reports that a "deadlock" is observed on the harmonization process of the banks in the occupied area of Cyprus with the European Union, because the National Unity Party (UBP) ? Democratic Party (DP) self-styled government refused to take three million euro from the EU in order for the banks in the occupied area to be subjected to tests by international organizations.In statements to the paper, Fikri Toros, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, has said that the harmonization with the EU is absolutely necessary for increasing the competitiveness of the Turkish Cypriot community regardless of whether a solution will be reached to the Cyprus problem and for broadening their economic and social relations with the world. Noting that three million euro was donated for the implementation of this process, Toros said that this should be perceived as a "determination of the situation" and after this the road map of how the banks will be harmonized will come up. Recalling that countries outside the EU and Turkey itself can be harmonized with the EU standards, Toros added: "The TRNC government also should give priority to the procedures. Otherwise, we will not be able to be integrated with the international community regardless of the solution". Moreover, economist Erdal Guray told the paper that in case a solution to the Cyprus problem is reached the banks should ne unified. He noted that 22 banks operate now in the occupied area of Cyprus and added that this high number creates problems to the sector. He recalled that all banks in the EU member countries are submitted to tests by international experts, but added that he does not know how reasonable would be to carry out these tests in the occupied area of Cyprus now, because no agreement has been reached yet. (I/Ts.) [06] Ataoglu alleged that the occupation regime's number of tourists increased by 30%Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (12.05.17) reports that so-called minister of tourism and environment Fikri Ataoglu, in statements to illegal BRT, alleged that the occupation regime's tourist number has been increased by 30% compared with last year. He further claimed that they need 30 buses daily in order for the tourists to be able to tour the "TRNC".Expressing their pleasure over the "increase on the number of tourists", Ataoglu went on and stressed the need for an increase on the number of beds and the number of hotels as well, since, as he claimed, these will not be sufficient due to the campaign they have launched for bringing more tourists to the "country". (?) [07] Six thousand rental cars in the occupied area of the Republic of CyprusTurkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (12.05.17), on its front page under the title "6 thousand 'Z' cars in the streets", reports that there is an increase of rental cars in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.According to the paper, in the first four months of 2017, 300 new permissions were granted for rental cars and 800 permissions in 2016. As a result the total number of rental cars up today has reached 6,000. (DPs) [08] A luxury car smuggling ring among Britain-Germany-"TRNC"Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (12.05.17) with the above title in its front page reports that it is appeared that there is a network in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus which operates in smuggling luxury cars of value between 100 thousands and 200 thousands sterling.According to the paper, the governments of Britain and Germany as well as Interpol have applied to the "police" of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus for a cooperation regarding this luxury car smuggling ring. It is also reported that Turkey's authorities also follow this issue with a special squad. Citing information, the paper reports that luxury cars, like Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley, which are in the streets in the occupied area of Cyprus, have been brought in the occupied area from Britain through Germany, where with false statements the "British car title" is transformed into a "German car title" and the cars are sold in the occupied area of Cyprus at one third of the price. (DPs) [09] A campaign for preserving the 'flag' of the occupation regime on the mountainsTurkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (12.05.17) reports that the Turkish Cypriot response to the campaign launched by Greek Cypriots for lifting the 'flag' of the occupation regime from the Pentadaktylos Mountains was given without delay. A campaign under the slogan "It has not come down for 34 years, it will not come down" was launched in the occupied area of the island over the "Babutsa Dikeni" Facebook page.(I/Ts.) [10] The exports in the occupied area of Cyprus decreased by 11% in 2016Under the title "Exports decreased by 11%", Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (12.05.17) on its front page, reports that according to the trade data given by the "Trade department" for the year 2016, the imports have shown an increase of 4% reaching to 1billion 55.9 million dollars, while the exports decreased by 11% to 105.5 million dollars compared to the data of 2015.The paper also reports that both imports and exports from Turkey have decreased, while the imports from third countries increased by 15%. (DPs) [11] Vatel International Business School in the occupied area of CyprusTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.05.17) reports that the Vatel International Business School will provide education in the occupied area of Cyprus under the roof of "Akacan University of Technology", which belongs to Akacan Holding.The launching meeting of the Vatel International Business School in the occupied area of the island was held at the headquarters of Akacan Holding in the presence of Bulut Akacan, chairman of the holding, Huseyin Cakmak, Deputy with Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Sedef Altinbas Akacan, co-chairperson of Akacan University of Technology and spouse of Bulut Akacan, Firat Ataser, "mayor" of occupied Karavas village, Tayfun Turgay, "rector" of the above-mentioned "university", Jeremie Rossingnol, director of Vatel International Business School in France and Ali Dogan Cakmak, director of Vatel International Business School in Istanbul. (I/Ts.) [12] Erdogan due to China; Turkey, Russia and China to meet in trilateral leaders' summit in BeijingTurkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (11.05.17) reported that the leaders of Turkey, Russia and China will hold a trilateral summit in Beijing this weekend on the occasion of an international conference devoted to the revival of the historic Silk Road with the purpose of enhancing economic and trade cooperation, as well as discussing regional and global issues.The trilateral summit will be held under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Also, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be present at the Silk Road Economic Belt Conference alongside dozens of countries stretching from Asia to Eastern Europe on May 14 and 15. Along with a number of Cabinet Ministers and high-level civil servants, Erdogan will depart from Ankara to China early on May 12. Erdogan will represent Turkey at the summit before making an address to attending leaders at a round-table meeting on the sidelines of the conference. Erdogan will also hold a separate meeting with Xi before participating in a trilateral summit with Russian and Chinese leaders. The three leaders will discuss recent developments in Syria amid efforts to expand the cease-fire between the regime and the opposition through the Astana process in which Turkey, Russia and Iran are playing a very significant role. Both Russia and China are Permanent Members of the U.N. Security Council and have not ceased their support for Syria's leader, Bashar al-Assad, since unrest began in the country in early 2011. The Silk Road and Economic Belt conference is expected to produce an international agreement that will set the terms of the countries that will participate in the Silk Road project. Erdogan is expected to sign the blueprint on behalf of Turkey at the conference. The conference will host U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, IMF Director Christian Lagarde and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, as well as the heads of states of governments from 28 countries with more than 250 ministers. The meeting will be focused on enhancing economic, transportation, energy and other infrastructure cooperation between the participant countries with the idea of reviving the historic Silk Road. Erdogan will hold bilateral talks with some participant leaders on the sidelines of the conference. After concluding his talks in Beijing, the Turkish delegation under Erdogan's leadership will depart to Washington, where the Turkish President will hold his first face to face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 16. Following their Washington meeting, the two men will find another opportunity to continue their dialogue on May 24 and 25 on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels. Erdogan and Trump will also attend a G-20 summit that will take place in Hamburg on July 7 and 8. [13] Turkey slams Germany for granting asylum to Gulen-linked former military personnelTurkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (11.05.17) reported that Turkey has slammed Germany for accepting the asylum requests of some former Turkish military personnel accused of having links with the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETO), the alleged perpetrator of the July 2016 failed coup."We regret Germany's decision to accept the asylum applications of some former military personnel linked with FETO that staged the treacherous July 15 coup attempt," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement on May 11. The Ministry said that the decision did not comply with the spirit of the alliance between the countries and would harm the multidimensional bilateral ties between the two nations. German authorities "ignored democratic principles and values" while embracing the putschist mindset, the Ministry said, expressing its expectation that Germany would lend the necessary support to Turkey in its ongoing fight against terror, including FETO. A number of Turkish military personnel based in various NATO bodies across Europe have sought asylum from their countries of residence in the post-July 2016 period amid concerns that they would be prosecuted and eventually arrested on charges of being a member of FETO. (?) [14] Socialist group in European Parliament held contacts in Turkey; They cites 'three conditions' for Turkey's EU membershipTurkish daily Hurriyet Daily news (11.05.17) reported that the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament have cited "three conditions" for their continued support for Turkey's membership of the EU, after the head of the group, Gianni Pitella, met with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu and CHP members in Ankara."Pitella and his party had been strongly supporting Turkey's EU membership. But they have re-evaluated their position especially after the coup attempt, the state of emergency decree laws, the rise in the number of imprisoned journalists, and developments affecting the rule of law. They have now conditioned their support to certain developments," CHP Deputy Chair Ozturk Y?lmaz said after the meeting on May 11. "One of the conditions is the demand that the President give up his authority to annul the Parliament. The second condition demands a restriction in the scope of the decree laws, on the ground that excessive usage of decree laws narrows the jurisdiction of Parliament. Thirdly, they state that the death penalty should not be reinstated," Y?lmaz added. "If these conditions are not met, they stated that they will cut their support for Turkey in the European Parliament," he said. Pittella is currently on a two-day mission to Ankara to express full solidarity and support for the Socialists and Democrats Group sister parties, the CHP and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). He is also scheduled to hold a meeting with HDP group on May 11 before attending the trial of HDP chair Selahattin Demirtas on May 12. [15] Police detain daily Cumhuriyet's online editor-in chief in IstanbulTurkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.05.17) reports that police detained the online editor-in chief of daily Cumhuriyet in Istanbul on May 12, Dogan News Agency has reported."I am being detained," Cumhuriyet.com.tr Editor-in-Chief Oguz Guven tweeted. There was no further explanation regarding his detainment. A total of 12 Cumhuriyet columnists and executives are currently in prison on alleged terror charges. [16] Turkey's Aselsan signs tank upgrade deal worth $125M; Turkey tests its first ballistic missile in Black SeaAnkara Anatolia news agency (11.05.17) reports that Turkish defense giant Aselsan has signed a tank upgrade deal worth some $125 million, according to a stock exchange filing on Thursday.The contract with Turkey's Defense Ministry is for the upgrading of M60T battle tanks. "Under this agreement, deliveries will be made in 2017-2018," the company said. This January, the Defense Ministry officially launched a tender for a contract to upgrade the tanks. Five Turkish firms placed bids, including Turkey's biggest defense company Aselsan as well as missile-maker Roketsan, and armored vehicle manufacturers BMC, Otokar and FNSS. The upgrade is needed for better protection against anti-tank weapons, according to a military source. Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (11.05.17) reported that Turkey has successfully tested its first national ballistic missile, dubbed "Kaan," in the Black Sea province of Sinop, the Defense Minister Fikri Is?k stated on May 11. "A new launch of our 280-kilometer range Bora missile has been made in Sinop. It is about to fall onto its target in the Black Sea at this moment. Turkey is now making its own missiles. We have gained great self-confidence," Is?k told private broadcaster A Haber, describing the launch as "successful." Developed by Roketsan, the Bora missile has a 610-milimeter caliber and 280-kilometer range. The system has an intensive and effective firepower with a 470-kilogram warhead over top priority targets. (?) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.pio.gov.cy (AK/ AM) Copyright (C) 2017 Press and Information Office, All rights reserved. Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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