Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-05-19

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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 reiterates the allegation that the Greek Cypriot side has submitted pre-conditions in the negotiations

[02] Eide met with Akinci and said that he will continue shuttle diplomacy

[03] AKP's Vice President joins the Turkish propaganda campaign on the Cyprus problem

[04] Denktas: "Akinci's stance was right"

[05] Erhurman: Negotiations should continue with the discussion of the issue in the form of a package and interpedently

[06] Izcan called the two sides to undertake mutual steps for the solution of the Cyprus problem

[07] Ozgurgun: "If Apliki does not open, Deryneia would not open as well"

[08] The "high administrative court" cancels the "decision" of the "Property Compensation Commission" in favor of a Greek Cypriot company

[09] The "Development bank" of the "TRNC" was elected at the administration council ADFIMI

[10] Ozyigit condemned the "labour force agreement"

[11] Saner said that there is 35 thousand manpower deficit in the "TRNC"

[12] Erdogan: "Turkey to take part in new balance of power"

[13] US State Department summons the Turkish ambassador over violence outside the Turkish Embassy

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci reiterates the allegation that the Greek Cypriot side has submitted pre-conditions in the negotiations

Akinci accused the Greek Cypriot side of manipulating the situation again "in the direction of image making". "Mr Anastasiades wants insistently to spread that during our last meeting he had submitted very positive and constructive proposals and we had rejected this. It is not possible for us to remain silent in this situation. There is no constructive proposal and things like that. There is only an effort to put pre-conditions for the Geneva talks".

Akinci argued that President Anastasiades wants to completely end the territory in Geneva and then to completely conclude the issues of security and guarantees before discussing the issues in the remaining chapters. Akinci alleged that this is totally contrary to the 11 February agreement and the final communique of the 12 January 2017 Geneva Conference and it is not possible for them to accept it.

He claimed: "This is the issue for which I have said that 'no Turkish Cypriot leader can accept such a mentality'. While Mr Anastasiades has not yet clearly put in front of the public opinion that he accepts the rotating presidency and our effective participation in the decisions which is a fundamental element of our political equality, he demands to completely conclude the issues of the territory and the security-guarantees. Approving such a stance is out of the question. It is actually known what should be done for being able to reach a result at this point. It is obligatory to discuss in a parallel process all the important issues which have not been solved yet for being able to see the whole picture. When five party meetings are held in Geneva the issues of security and guarantees will be discussed and when bilateral meetings are held the other issues will be discussed. It has not been possible for years to totally end one issue and then pass to the other. Now is also not possible".

Reiterating that an effort should be exerted for creating a comprehensive package with the steps to be mutually taken on certain number of important unsolved issues, Akinci added that they suggested that a date in June should be determined for holding a Geneva Conference and to continue the efforts in this direction by that day. Claiming that all important issues in the six chapters could be concluded at the Geneva Conference with this approach, Akinci alleged:

"We warning that new tensions could be experienced in the summer months if instead of focusing on the solution being aware of the fact that time is very tight, the unilateral hydrocarbon explorations continue. I want to once more stress that as Turkish Cypriot side we will continue acting within a framework in harmony with the 11 February 2014 agreement and the final communique of the Geneva Conference, but it is out of the question for us to accept pre-conditions which are contrary to these".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eide met with Akinci and said that he will continue shuttle diplomacy

Speaking after the meeting, Eide stated that he will continue the shuttle diplomacy and noted that the two leaders in Cyprus show good will.

He went on adding that it is unknown when the shuttle diplomacy will be completed and said that he is willing to have as many meetings are necessary. He also said that it is up to the two leaders in Cyprus to decide about the conduct of a new summit in Geneva and added that since the two sides have disagreements in some major issues a summit will have a meaning only in case these issues are solved.

Referring to a recent statement by the UN Secretary General that the UN are ready for a new summit, Eide stated that both sides in Cyprus are willing to take the final step.

(CS)

[03] AKP's Vice President joins the Turkish propaganda campaign on the Cyprus problem

Claiming that the intention of President Anastasiades is not the solution and that he put the carriage in front of the horse, Aktay alleged that President Anastasiades does not have courage and will for a solution. He further alleged, inter alia, the following:

"[…] The pre-conditions, which the Greek Cypriot leader without hesitation put on the table as if they were constructive proposals, mock our intelligence in front of the world's eyes. We will not allow this. What will the guarantor powers guarantee before knowing what kind of an agreement will come up in Cyprus? Is this reasonable? No, it is not. […]

The negotiating process in Cyprus is being held within the framework of the joint declaration signed by the leaders on 11 February 2014. In this text it is clear that all the main issues concerning the solution will be at the table and will be discussed interdependently. The Greek Cypriot leader acts contrary to what is written in this document, in which his signature also exists. […]"

(I/Ts.)

[04] Denktas: "Akinci's stance was right"

Denktas also alleged that he has been trying for 40 years now to explain the "reality" that Akinci is referring to and this is the reason that he was labelled "supporter of status quo".

Denktas further claimed that Akinci made this statement with honestly, and said that when his late father Rauf Denktas made similar statements was labeled "Mr NO" and added that when the former Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat made similar statements, some circles said that "Talat is the new Denktas".

"Greek Cypriots do not consider us as equal partners. The Greek Cypriot leader is saying that the minority cannot rule the majority. I am sorry but under these circumstances we are not willing to become neither's patch. True solution goes via respecting the will of the Turkish Cypriot people to rule itself. This is how it was40 years ago, this is how things are now", Denktas alleged.

(CS)

[05] Erhurman: Negotiations should continue with the discussion of the issue in the form of a package and interpedently

Tufan Erhurman, the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stated to the paper that the only road for the Cyprus negotiation to continue is with a target oriented approach.

He also claimed that the only way for the negotiations to continue with an effective approach is the change of methodology and the discussion of the issue in the form of a package and interpedently.

"In my opinion, proposals outside of this concept are neither realistic nor honest during the current phase" he claimed and added that it would be useful for the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser for Cyprus Espen Barth Eide and the UN to act taking into consideration the above mentioned issues.

(CS)

[06] Izcan called the two sides to undertake mutual steps for the solution of the Cyprus problem

In a written statement, Izcan stressed the need for the sides to step back from their uncompromising positions and undertake mutual steps for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Izcan stated that the four freedoms demanded for the Turkish citizens cannot be accepted not only by the Greek Cypriot side but also from the other EU member states. He further claimed that while the "leader of the Greek Cypriot administration", as he called President Anastasiades has put forward a certain number of preconditions, it is unacceptable that he [President Anastasiades] rejects the basic human rights of the Turkish Cypriots.

Warning that the Cyprus problem is leading to a deadlock, Izcan called on the sides to reconsider the risks that a possible deadlock endangers for the "people" of Cyprus, to change the methodology of the talks, re-evaluate the basic issues of the Cyprus problem and create the conditions that will lead to a Cyprus summit.

(AK)

[07] Ozgurgun: "If Apliki does not open, Deryneia would not open as well"

Claiming that the Turkish Cypriot side has done its utmost towards this issue, Ozgurgun added: "We are expecting from them to respond. This work cannot be completed unilaterally. In the same way that a solution on the Cyprus problem cannot be found unilaterally, also, for the opening of crossing points there is a need for simultaneous and mutual steps to be taken", said Ozgurgun.

"Crossing points are a basic issue. While the free movement is increased, the solution will be achieved spontaneously even though politics would not be on the table. […]. I reiterate my calling to the Greek Cypriot side: Let's open simultaneously the Apliki and Deryneia crossing points", Ozgurgun further said.

(…)

(AK)

[08] The "high administrative court" cancels the "decision" of the "Property Compensation Commission" in favour of a Greek Cypriot company

The paper writes that 35 donums of land [Translator's note: A donum is a land measure of 1,000 square meters] used by the above-mentioned vacation village had been "Turkified" a few years ago and had been purchased by the "Acapulco Vacation Village" and/or businessman Unal Caginer. Acapulco Holdings Ltd, owner of a part of the land in the vacation village, had filed an application at the "Property Compensation Commission" demanding for this land to be sold to the "TRNC state" [Translator's note: The breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] and the money to be paid to the company as compensation and usage fee.

The "Commission" had estimated the worth of the property at 2,5 million euro, putting as precondition that this money should be given after the existing mortgage and liabilities are paid.

The Greek Cypriot company appealed against this decision at the "high administrative court" and filed a "lawsuit" against the "housing department", which was a side in the case. The "court" found as wrong the application to the "Commission" without paying the mortgage and the liabilities as well as the "conditioned decision" of the "Commission". The "court" "rejected" the appeal of the Greek Cypriot company that the amount of the compensation was low. With this "decision" of the "high administrative court", the "decision" of the "commission" for paying 2,5 million euro as compensation was cancelled.

(I/Ts.)

[09] The "Development bank" of the "TRNC" was elected at the administration council ADFIMI

The paper also writes that after a long negotiation period and a lobby effort the "development bank" of the "TRNC" was elected for a three year term of office at the administration council of the Association of the National Development Finance Institution in member countries of the Islamic Development Bank (ADFIMI).

(CS)

[10] Ozyigit condemned the "labour force agreement"

Ozyigit criticized further the so-called minister of labour and social security Ersan Saner for "putting into forces" the "agreement" without making any "amendments". "For us, it was a mistake for this agreement to be approved by the assembly", Ozyigit said, supporting that the "implementation" of the "law" will create serious problems for the workers.

(…)

(AK)

[11] Saner said that there is 35 thousand manpower deficit in the "TRNC"

Speaking in a television program at the Turkish Cypriot private channel Diyalog TV, Saner explained that there are 93 thousand persons in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, who are obliged to pay insurance, adding that the 43 thousands of them are foreign workers.

According to the "DPO" ("state planning organization") records, Saner noted that the total number of unemployed is 8,500, adding that if you also place this number to all fields, then the manpower deficit in the occupied area of Cyprus is 35 thousands.

Saner further said that the 43 thousand foreign workers work mainly in the sectors of construction, agriculture and tourism.

(DPs)

[12] Erdogan: "Turkey to take part in new balance of power"

Speaking on Thursday at a council of TUSIAD, Turkey's largest business association, Erdogan said that Turkey is "at the centre of this process". "Turkey is at the centre of this process with its historical, geographical and cultural position, if you're not at the [negotiation] table, you might find yourself on the menu", he added.

Erdogan specifically mentioned China's Belt and Road project as an example.

The Belt and Road Initiative -- proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 -- aims to build a trade and infrastructure network along ancient trade routes such as the Silk Road that would connect Asia with Europe or Africa, according to China's official Xinhua news wire. "There are trillions of dollars here [...] Turkey is located at the very east, at a significant location, that we call the central corridor [of the Belt and Road project]," he said.

Regarding Turkey's EU accession process, Erdogan said that the countries that applied after Turkey and were accepted into the European Union (EU) were not better, recalling that 54 years had passed since Ankara's application.

"Here come Bulgaria, Greece. Today, Greece has €400 billion in debt," Erdogan said, adding that the European countries were still trying to keep Greece alive.

Erdogan added that Turkey would concentrate on customs unions "from now on". "If the European market is important for Turkey, Turkey is also important for Europe, maybe more", Erdogan said. "Keeping this in mind, we will continue our negotiations within the customs union."

"We are working to diversify and strengthen the economic cooperation platforms with other countries," he said.

"From now on, we need world-renowned, recognized and value-producing brands," Erdogan said. "We always say that we support our businessmen in this regard."

Erdogan said Turkey would not insist on membership despite "all kinds of attacks" towards Turkish officials in different countries.

"We have made all kinds of negotiations. If the officials of the European Union continue their fair and positive approach towards us after these negotiations, we will continue this way," Erdogan said. "If not," Turkey will search for different solutions, he warned. "I will never let anybody tarnish this country's honour," he added.

[13] US State Department summons the Turkish ambassador over violence outside the Turkish Embassy

On May 17, the United States voiced its "strongest possible" concern to Turkey over the street brawl that left at least 11 people injured and appeared to include members of Erdogan's security personnel kicking people who were on the ground.

The State Department condemned the attack as an assault on free speech, issuing a statement to express its concern regarding the violence outside the Turkish ambassador's residence.

"Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest," said the statement, clearly stating that the demonstration in front of K?l?c's residence was legal, peaceful and protected.

The statement said that the U.S. communicated its concerns to the Turkish government "in the strongest possible terms".

Eleven people were injured, including a police officer, and nine were taken to a hospital, Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a news conference on May 17.

The Turkish Embassy released a statement on May 17 that contradicted U.S. officials and video evidence, blaming instead the demonstrators, who, it said, had been "aggressively provoking Turkish-American citizens who had peacefully assembled to greet the President."

A group of Republican lawmakers called the incident an "affront to the United States" and called for Turkey to apologize.

Meanwhile, U.S. Senator John McCain, one of the leading foreign policy voices in Congress, on May 18 urged the expulsion of Turkey's U.S. Ámbassador after violence erupted between protesters and Turkish security personnel during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit.

"We should throw their Ámbassador the hell out of the United States of America ... This kind of thing cannot go unresponded to diplomatically," McCain, the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told MSNBC in an interview on May 18, adding that legal action could also be pursued.

The U.S. Senator had earlier called the brawl "thuggish behaviour."

"This is the United States of America. We do not do this here. There is no excuse for this kind of thuggish behaviour," McCain said on his Twitter account.

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(DPs / AM)

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