Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-07-04

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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] Diplomatic sources: The result of the Conference is at risk if the Greek Cypriots do not accept the Turkish Cypriots' political equality

[02] Erdogan discussed the Cyprus problem with UK's May over phone

[03] Kurtulmus: "Turkey will not step back on security and guarantees"

[04] Siber evaluated the Cyprus conference

[05] Turkish "ambassador" causes surprise with a comment accusing the occupation regime's "government" of "bribing" its supporters

[06] Arikli claimed that the "Turkish settlers" is the side which needs more the solution

[07] TMT "fighters' association" sends a letter to Akinci

[08] Greek coast guard opened fire on Turkish cargo ship in the Aegean

[09] Turkey's MFA condemned Greece for opening fire on a Turkish flagged merchant vessel off the coast of Rhodes

[10] Gezici survey reveals that the Turkish public is sure that FETO is behind the coup attempt

[11] Ozgurgun announced the "allocation of a 122 donum plot of land" in occupied Trikomo for the "construction of a university campus"

[12] Data on the occupation regime's cost of living for June 2017

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Diplomatic sources: The result of the Conference is at risk if the Greek Cypriots do not accept the Turkish Cypriots' political equality

Under the title "The UN asked from the Greek Cypriot side to prepare its proposal package again", Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (04.07.17) argues that the UN did not accept the Greek Cypriot side's package of proposals on the issues of the governance and power sharing, the property, the security and the guarantees and the equal treatment of Turks and Greeks and asked from the Greek Cypriots to submit another package of proposals. Diplomatic sources told the paper that the UN said that the Greek Cypriot package of proposals was outside the framework drawn by the UNSG the day before yesterday for the continuation of the negotiations. The proposals on the governance and power sharing were especially problematic, alleges the paper adding that after the UN demand the Greek Cypriot side reshaped its proposals. The sources also said that in spite of the understanding of submitting a package of proposals, the sides tend to wait and see what the other side is giving "for opening their cards".

Under the title "The blame game started", Yeni Duzen's correspondent to Crans Montana Esra Aygin refers to the statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to members of the UniteCyprusNow group who are holding an activity at Crans Montana. Cavusoglu alleged that Turkey's proposals are a step forward comparing to the proposals made on the first day, while on the contrary, the Greek Cypriot proposals are a step backwards. "Everyone should read the proposals and make their evaluations", he said. When the members of the group told him that they wanted a united Cyprus, Cavusuglu alleged that "we also exert efforts for this".

Aygin notes also that Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides expressed sorrow regarding the above statements, called on the Turkish Minister to reveal the proposals of the Turkish side and underlined that some persons do not understand the seriousness of the situation and try to achieve other goals. "In brief, the blame game started", concludes Aygin.

Under the title "We are forward, the Greek Cypriots backwards", Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (04.07.17) reports that the gap between the proposals of the sides makes the possibility of negotiating harder and that the Turkish Foreign Minister is the only one who made a statement regarding the proposals on the guarantees while "great secrecy" exists between the sides as regards the content of the proposals. Noting that Cavusoglu did not like the Greek Cypriot proposals, the paper writes the following: "A serious gap exists between the proposals regarding the guarantees. The Greek Cypriot-Greek delegation insist on the point of zero troops-zero guarantees and ask for ensuring the demilitarization within a short period of time with the solution. This proposal was evaluated as 'unacceptable' in the Turkish delegation".

The paper also reports that after the proposals were submitted the Turkish Foreign Minister exchanged views with the UNSG Antonio Guterres and the UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Boris Johnson.

Under the title "Deadlock in the guarantees", Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (04.07.17) reports that while the Greek Cypriot side did not make a step backwards from the "zero troops zero guarantees" position and asked for the lifting of the guarantees within a short period of time after the solution, the Turkish side proposed the establishment of a "monitoring committee" and the discussion of the issue of the lifting of the guarantees after a period of observation. The Turkish side proposes also that the guarantees could end in case the implementation of the federal structure is monitored and it is seen that the sides trust each other and the guarantees are not needed.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (04.07.17) refers to the developments under the title "The packages on the table, the agreement in the air" and reports that the submission of proposals was described as "historic" but the expected progress was not achieved during the day.

Finally, Turkish daily Milliyet daily newspaper's (04.07.17) correspondent to the occupied part of Nicosia, Sefa Karahasan alleges that the fact that Cavusoglu postponed his program and remained at Crans Montana attracted the attention. According to Karahasan, the UN and the Greek Cypriots had expected Cavusoglu to remain only for a couple of days and astonishment was caused by the Turkish Minister's statement that this is the final conference and the fact that he remained and followed the process. A diplomat told Karahasan that Cavusoglu's presence was "an important guarantee" for the protection of the "Turkish Cypriots' rights". The same source noted that President Erdogan and Prime Minister Yildirim are closely watching the process.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Erdogan discussed the Cyprus problem with UK's May over phone

Erdogan and May highlighted the importance of reaching "a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution for both sides" by overcoming the deadlock in the Cyprus negotiations, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said.

(…)

The two leaders also confirmed their determination to enhance bilateral relations, especially economic and defense industry ties; they also resolved to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Erdogan and May also agreed to hold a bilateral meeting at the upcoming G20 Summit in Germany.

[03] Kurtulmus: "Turkey will not step back on security and guarantees"

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Kurtulmus said that reshaping borders can only be discussed within the frame of Turkey's approach to guarantees and security matters.

[04] Siber evaluated the Cyprus conference

Speaking in a program broadcast by the illegal BRT, Siber evaluated the critical meetings that are taking place within the framework of the Cyprus conference in Crans-Montana in Switzerland.

Claiming that after 50 years of negotiations, finally the end of the road could be seen; Siber alleged that international observers, the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey also shared her view. "This is the last meeting, there are no topics left to discuss. We hope that a positive outcome is reached. That is what the TRNC wants. We want administration and power sharing to be carried out equally and for a bi-communal, bi-zonal state to be established and this is within UN parameters", Siber alleged.

Claiming that the system of the rotating presidency lays on the basis of political quality system, Siber claimed that this will not be a topic for negotiation.

"The Greek Cypriot leader is saying that in the decision making mechanism within the federal state, the Turkish Cypriot vote should not mean that it has the right of veto. This is unacceptable. This is a sine quo none. The will of both states should be reflected on the decisions. I hope they will change their stance", added Siber.

Reminding that the Greek Cypriot side wants decisions to be made by a simple majority vote, Siber said: "If there are 4 Greek Cypriots and 2 Turkish Cypriots then during a vote it will not be enough for all 4 Greek Cypriots to give a positive vote, they must have at least 1 Turkish Cypriot to vote yes as well. The opposite of this is a unitary state. In a federation both sides must vote yes".

Explaining that active participation in decision making does not mean a veto, Siber said that the Turkish Cypriot side will not give up on its desire for a viable, solution that will show respect to the rights and equality of both "peoples" on the island.

Noting that priority was given to political equality and for the solution to be found to become a part of the EU's primary law, Siber argued further that the sides were using the win-win approach principle and trying to make progress.

She also said that on the issue of territory and property through reconciliation a framework agreement can emerge and added that this could only emerge if there is a will for a solution. "Greece says zero military zero guarantees, the Greek Cypriot side says active participation which means right to veto and none of this can be accepted by our side. Security and guarantees does not constitute the essence of the problem", Siber further claimed.

She also called on the UN by alleging that if once again an agreement is not reached then the UN must declare this and remove the "isolation and embargoes enforced against the Turkish Cypriot people".

[05] Turkish "ambassador" causes surprise with a comment accusing the occupation regime's "government" of "bribing" its supporters

"Mr Toros, I wonder, do you see there people who continuously violate the traffic rules, machos who make noise and fume from their tailpipes, ignorant people who throw down the packages of chips which they eat, people who give as bribe the state's resources to their supporters, their relatives? Switzerland is a country which transcended EU norms. How nice it would be if you could take lessons and beautiful examples from there for my darling Cyprus…"

Writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (04.07.17) columnist Gokhan Altiner reports that self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun was "extremely annoyed" by Kanbay's comment. Citing reliable information, Altiner writes that the issue was raised yesterday during the meeting of the "council of ministers". Ozgurgun has reportedly said that this is the first time an "ambassador" makes such comments. He, however, refrained from replying "in order for not creating a debate".

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (04.07.17) reports that Asim Akansoy, self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) replied to Kanbay's comment saying that he was right and that Turkey has also many things to learn from Switzerland both in the internal and the external policy (the zero problem with the neighbors policy).

(I/Ts.)

[06] Arikli claimed that the "Turkish settlers" is the side which needs more the solution

(AK)

[07] TMT "fighters' association" sends a letter to Akinci

(I/Ts.)

[08] Greek coast guard opened fire on Turkish cargo ship in the Aegean

The cargo ship named M/V ACT was carrying steel from the southern port of Iskenderun [Translator's note: Alexandretta] to Izmit in the northwest when the Greek coast guard called on the ship to divert its course to Rhodes, Turkey-based Deniz Haber Ajans? reported.

The ship was allegedly cruising in international waters and its captain replied that he will not follow this directive, while informing the Turkish coast guard of the incident and changing the ship's course towards Turkish territorial waters.

When the ship did not comply, the Greek coast guard opened fire in the air, then onto the ship. Two other coast guard vessels arrived in the area from the nearby island of Simi.

Two Turkish coast guard boats were also dispatched to the area, and the ship was first brought to Turkish territorial water, later to be brought to the port of southwestern resort town of Marmaris.

The ship's captain Haluk Sami Kalkavan said that there are at least 16 bullet holes on the ship, and the crew was unharmed despite the great risk.

"While we were cruising some three miles off the coast of Rhodes, the Greek coast guard approached to our ship and asked us to divert our route to Rhodes. When we asked the reason why, they said that they will control the ship. When we did not accept this, the Greek coast guard began to follow and harass us, and we diverted our route to the coasts of Turkey. They asked us to stop and said that they will open fire, and proceeded with what they said," Kalkavan told Turkish broadcaster CNN Turk.

The captain added that this was a regular route that they use all the time, and they could not figure out the reaction of the Greek coast guard.

[09] Turkey's MFA condemned Greece for opening fire on a Turkish flagged merchant vessel off the coast of Rhodes

There is no explanation whatsoever of the fact that a merchant vessel which is unarmed by definition and ferrying cargo between two Turkish ports came under fire. Our only consolation in this incident is that there is no loss of life or injury.

We protest in the strongest terms possible this disproportionate act by the Greek authorities which disregards the most fundamental right of human life which is right to live and deem it necessary to share with the international community our expectation that no such incident is repeated".

[10] Gezici survey reveals that the Turkish public is sure that FETO is behind the coup attempt

According to two surveys conducted by Gezici Research on Feb. 4-5 and April 7-8 in 28 provinces through face to face interviews, 92.6% said that they have no doubt who was behind the July 15 coup attempt. Commenting on the poll, Gezici Director Murat Gezici said the public does not subscribe to the main opposition CHP chairman Kemal K?l?cdaroglu's "controlled coup" claims.

"On the contrary, the people who advocate [the idea it was a] controlled coup are losing credibility in the public", Gezici said.

The surveys also found that 97.7% of participants believe that FETO is a terrorist organization and 94.2% believe FETO was behind the coup attempt. In addition, 88.6% expressed their support for the government's fight against FETO and 67.5% said that the ongoing state of emergency that was declared after the last year's coup attempt should continue.

[11] Ozgurgun announced the "allocation of a 122 donum plot of land" in occupied Trikomo for the "construction of a university campus"

Issuing a written statement on the issue, the so-called ministry of education and culture, underlined that this "decision" will contribute greatly to the "economic and socio-cultural structure of the region".

(AK)

[12] Data on the occupation regime's cost of living for June 2017

According to these, the rate of the inflation (consumer price index) for June 2017 increased by 0.68% compared to the previous month, 7.68% compared to last December and 15.02% compared to the same period of last year. Thus, the total rate of the cost of living/inflation for the first six months of 2017 has reached to 7.68%.

The biggest rise in prices was noted in lemons, cucumbers and cabbage, while the biggest reduction was noted in watermelon, writes the paper. Also, the average price of 285 monitored products increased compared to last month, while for 88 products, the price was reduced.

(AK)

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(AK / AM)

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