Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-05-31

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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] Eide alleges that Turkey supports the Cyprus talks; The negotiations have not collapsed

[02] Akinci reiterates that he cannot accept the Greek Cypriot side's "new stance"

[03] Cavusoglu says that they cannot accept pre-conditions

[04] "Signal for early elections"

[05] The "decision" to "allot" land to Serdar Denktas' son has reportedly changed

[06] A 3,000 donum area in occupied Trikomo to be distributed to illegal universities

[07] Discussion in the "assembly" regarding the arbitral "granting" of "citizenships" by the so called government

[08] Twelve more persons "obtained" the "TRNC citizenship"

[09] Sahali criticized the "government" for "renting" a plot to Eroglu's daughter

[10] Okan Dagli said that all concerned sides are responsible for Cyprus talks' deadlock

[11] Mustafa Kaymak is the new chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry"

[12] German FM due to visit Turkey on June 5 to discuss Incirlik air base; Statements by Cavusoglu

[13] Erdogan: "Turkey will not extradite suspects wanted by the West unless they extradite Gulenists"

[14] Bahceli: "Turkey should retain cautious stance toward the EU"

[15] Court issues arrest warrant for HDP Deputy Baydemir

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eide alleges that Turkey supports the Cyprus talks; The negotiations have not collapsed

"I always try for an agreement to be reached between the sides. This is the view of south Cyprus (sic). The view of the Turkish Cypriot side which is also supported by Turkey is to discuss everything together and in an interdependent manner within the framework of the earlier determined parameters. I am trying to find a way to put these together on the same paper. Of course, I think that it is important to see all issues dependent to each other. From this point of view, I agree with the view of the Turkish side that the issues are interdependent. However, this does not prevent us from giving special emphasis on some issues. It is difficult to further comment on this issue because this is something I am trying to negotiate these days".

Asked whether he thinks that this proposal for a so-called "change of method" creates a serious problem, Eide replied: "Yes, the Conference could continue with its original form and I think that it would be much better if we followed the way planned at the very beginning. Then we can give our energy to the real discussions rather than to how to organize this".

Noting that no timetable for meetings in the near future has been formed yet, Eide said that he is continuously in contact with the sides and added:

"A meeting with the participation of the three guarantor countries and the sides in Cyprus could be held only when they convene for a conference. The meeting between the leaders in Cyprus is an issue on which they will decide. I think that it will take some time to overcome this impasse. This is an impasse. However, it has not ended yet. The negotiations have not collapsed. In this sense we are in a deadlock and we need to do some diplomatic work for getting out of it".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Akinci reiterates that he cannot accept the Greek Cypriot side's "new stance"

Recalling that six chapters exist in the negotiations and that one of the agreements provides for the discussion of all issues interdependently, Akinci reiterated the view that if we want a result, it is necessary to have an overall approach at the current stage discussing all issues on which agreement has not been reached and achieve progress being focused on the whole picture. He claimed the following:

"The issues of security and guarantees will also be included in this of course. The discussion of the security dimension is important for the Turkish Cypriots as well. It is even more important than the Greek Cypriot side thinks".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Cavusoglu says that they cannot accept pre-conditions

Meanwhile, in statements after a meeting with Gambon's Foreign Minister, Cavusoglu said that recently he frequently discusses [the Cyprus problem] with the Turkish Cypriot leader and Eide and that he would illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus on Thursday. He argued that the Cyprus talks had been intensified after the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014 and that their target is to find a lasting solution within this framework.

Noting that the parameters of the solution are known, Cavusoglu recalled that a meeting at Foreign Ministers' level had been held on 12 January in Geneva, a roadmap was determined after this meeting and the negotiations are held within this framework. He alleged also the following:

"However, recently during the past 3-4 months, we see that the Greek Cypriot side has the mentality 'but let it not finish completely, let us prolong it, let it go as far as it gets', which aims at harming the process. This might be due to various reasons but one of these is the February elections. However, there is still a long period until the elections but the Greek Cypriot side enters into the election climate very early. During the past few days Anastasiades has started again to put pre-conditions that are contrary to the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014 and the 12 January Geneva document for going to the five-party conference in Geneva. Unfortunately, the process has been congested".

Referring to Eide's visit to Athens and Ankara, Cavusoglu said that he expressed to Eide Turkey's so-called faith in the process and alleged: "We are ready to go to Geneva within the framework of the aforementioned texts. We are ready for a five-party conference. As a country which supported all initiatives for a solution, including the Annan Plan, we are still on this line but we do not accept pre-conditions".

(I/Ts.)

[04] "Signal for early elections"

The paper reports that the Democratic Party is against conducting of "early elections" so soon because there are "legal and technical problems". According to the DP, due to these issues it is not possible for the "elections" to take place in 2017.

(CS)

[05] The "decision" to "allot" land to Serdar Denktas' son has reportedly changed

The first who reacted to this "decision" was Kudret Ozersay, chairman of the People's Party (HP), reports the paper adding that Ozersay wondered whether seeing what happens with the other "state university", the "Eastern Mediterranean University" ("DAU"), is not enough for understanding what will happen. "Do we need to say anything else", he wondered. HP asked according to which criteria the land for the "university" was chosen and said that neither Nicosia nor the occupied area of Cyprus needs a new "university".

(I/Ts.)

[06] A 3,000 donum area in occupied Trikomo to be distributed to illegal universities

The paper writes that two so-called ministries the "ministry of interior" and the "ministry of agriculture" along with the "city planning department", are working on finding solutions to the problems appeared due to the division of the area to building plots and their "distribution".

Yeni Duzen further reports that Ata Atun, the father of the "economy minister" Sunat Atun, who was criticized because he was "granted" a "permission" by the "government' for the establishment of a new illegal university under the name "International Aydin University", argued that just because his son is a "minister" this does not mean that he cannot run a business.

"I cannot do anything for a lifetime because my son is a minister or a deputy? I cannot even open a shop? I cannot establish something that belongs to me?", he claimed to the paper.

(CS)

[07] Discussion in the "assembly" regarding the arbitral "granting" of "citizenships" by the so called government

Dogus Derya, "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) accused the so-called government of "giving citizenships according to its own arbitral without taking into consideration the "country's condition, the structure and the services provided". She also said that recently 643 persons were "granted" the "TRNC citizenship" along with their families, noting that this multiplies the number of the persons who "acquired TRNC citizenships".

Derya also said that "citizenships" were "granted' in the past as well but there were no information on the issue and praised newspapers like Yeni Duzen which nowadays bring this issue into light. She said that "granting citizenships" was the result of nepotism in the past and accused the "council of ministers" of following similar practices which in her worlds "is distributing citizenships every week as if it distributes halloumi".

Replying to Derya's accusation, so-called minister of interior Kutlu Evren, stated that the "government" does not "distribute citizens according to its own arbitral". Evren claimed that "a person can apply for becoming a TRNC citizens" after living in the breakaway regime for a period of 11 years. He also admitted that if an adult becomes "TRNC citizen" then his or her children who is under 18 will also become a "citizen".

(CS)

[08] Twelve more persons "obtained" the "TRNC citizenship"

The paper reports that with a "decision" of the "council of ministers" dated May 9, 2017, and published in the "official gazette" on May 24, 2017, eight persons "obtained the "TRNC citizenship". On the same issue, with a "decision" of the "council of ministers" dated May 23, 2017, and published in the "official gazette" on May 25, 2017, four more persons "obtained the "TRNC citizenship".

Meanwhile, the paper publishes the names of those who "obtained" the "TRNC citizenship".

(DPs)

[09] Sahali criticized the "government" for "renting" a plot to Eroglu's daughter

Sahali criticized the "government" for "renting" a plot of 50 million TL value to a company, which had damages, for supposedly huge investments. He described the incident as unethical.

(DPs)

[10] Okan Dagli said that all concerned sides are responsible for Cyprus talks' deadlock

In a written statement, Dagli called the leaders to act responsible and to keep away from the blame game. He also invited them to increase taking initiatives in order to broaden unofficially their dialogue fields.

Evaluating the stage that the Cyprus talks have reached, Dagli said that he believes that an international legal, just and viable federal Cyprus is possible to be created with the expansion of the basis of the process.

Dagli further said that while the Turkish Cypriot leadership expresses the sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriot community on the guarantee chapter, it does not make any solution proposal that will satisfy also the Greek Cypriot side. He reminded that at the beginning of the process, the Turkish Cypriot leadership revealed that the guarantee issue is not a taboo.

He concluded by saying that the Famagusta Initiative believes that the problems which have caused the deadlock of the Cyprus talks can be overcome with political willingness and determination.

(DPs)

[11] Mustafa Kaymak is the new chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry"

The new "KTSO board of directors" consists of Candan Avunduk and Ali Kamacioglu as the new deputy chairmen and Atilla Suren as the secretary.

(DPs)

[12] German FM due to visit Turkey on June 5 to discuss Incirlik air base; Statements by Cavusoglu

Ankara had prevented German lawmakers from visiting the roughly 250 troops stationed at the base as part of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), saying that Berlin needs to improve its attitude first.

However, Cavusoglu noted that it was currently impossible for Ankara to open the air base to the lawmakers' visit without positive steps being taken.

"We see that Germany supports everything that is against Turkey," Cavusoglu told a news conference in Ankara on Tuesday after meeting with his Gabonese counterpart Pacome Moubelet Boubeya.

"Under these circumstances it is not possible for us to open Incirlik to German lawmakers right now ... If they take positive steps in the future we can reconsider," he said.

"The base in [southern Turkish province of] Konya is a NATO base. But Incirlik is solely Turkey's base. The decision is ours there. They can't bluff us and threaten us to 'go elsewhere'," Cavusoglu said, adding: "If they really want to go elsewhere, we will not insist on them to stay."

Earlier, Merkel had highlighted the importance of the visit of German MPs at the airbase. "I will make it very clear to the Turkish President during our talks that it is indispensable for our soldiers to be able to be visited by members of the German Bundestag, as ours is a parliamentary military," the German leader said on Thursday.

About Merkel's statements, Cavusoglu said: "Germany needs to understand this: Those times are over [when it could say]: 'I do whatever I want in Turkey and get whatever I want from Turkey'.

"You cannot take a hostile approach with Turkey," added Cavusoglu, recalling Germany's attitude during Turkey's referendum that took place on April 16.

(…)

[13] Erdogan: "Turkey will not extradite suspects wanted by the West unless they extradite Gulenists"

"I am calling out to the world: If you do not help us in extraditing [these people], you should know that you won't be able to get those people you request from us in the future," Erdogan stated while speaking to his party parliamentary group meeting.

"That's because the fight against terror is not local, it's rather international. If we are struggling against terror all together, then you should extradite these people to us," Erdogan also said.

Hundreds of FETO members have applied for asylum in European countries in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt.

[14] Bahceli: "Turkey should retain cautious stance toward the EU"

"It is our genuine expectation and recommendation from political authorities to defend the just and legitimate stance of the Turkish state without stepping back, especially in the course of a period of cautious optimism," Bahceli said in a parliamentary group meeting on May 30.

His comments came after the government Spokespman Numan Kurtulmus said thatTurkey "wants to leave tension with the European Union behind" following a Cabinet meeting on May 29.

After Ankara and Brussels reached a consensus at a meeting of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission head Jean-Claude Junker on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels on May 25 to revive ties, Bahceli criticized European institutions for "having a dark record on terrorism."

"How strange and incoherent it is that last week, the leaders of the G-7 countries, who came together in Italy's Sicily, reached an agreement on fighting terrorism. Of course, how honest they are in this regard will soon be seen and understood," Bahceli said.

Reiterating Ankara's objection to the presence of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the coalition to fight against the Islamic State of the Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria, Bahceli criticized NATO's participation in the anti-ISIL coalition. "NATO's participation in the Raqqa operation will amount to support for the PKK, PYD and YPG in some way, and if not, it will overlook its actions and aims," Bahceli said.

[15] Court issues arrest warrant for HDP Deputy Baydemir

The Diyarbak?r Fourth Penal Court of First Instance took the decision after Baydemir failed to attend a hearing despite a court order. The HDP Deputy's lawyer, Serdar Celebi, told the court that Baydemir had a busy schedule as the party's Spokesman and was currently in Ankara to deliver a speech at the party's parliamentary group meeting.

"For an arrest warrant to be issued, someone needs to be on the run. I am taking care of political activities. I stand by every statement I said. Therefore, there is no case of running away," Baydemir told journalists in Ankara.

On Nov. 3, 2012, a group of 30 people, including then-Diyarbak?r Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Baydemir, gathered in front of the Diyarbak?r provincial building of the Peace and Democracy Party's (BDP) – whose entire parliamentary caucus joined the HDP in 2014 – and staged a sit-in protest at the entrance to the governor's office.

An indictment said that Baydemir and those with him were "warned to leave the garden premises," but that the then-Mayor refused to leave the Governor's office but addressed security forces and insulted them for doing their jobs.

Following the arrest of HDP Deputy Besime Konca on May 29, 11 lawmakers from the party, including its co-chairs Selahattin DemirtaD and Figen Yuksekdag, are currently in jail and face hundreds of years in prison for alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

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