Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-07-25

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] Burcu: The fear of solution has become Anastasiades greatest fear

[02] Eide: No development in the near future

[03] Dayanisma group said that excessive force was used against it during its July 20 demonstration

[04] "Embargoed" group calls for the opening of Varosha

[05] Arikli: "The opening of the fenced town of Varosha for settlement is an obligation"

[06] Debate regarding the "immovable property commission"

[07] Former Health Minister Recep Akdag will coordinate Turkey's ties with the breakaway regime in Cyprus

[08] Turkey says opening chapters vital for ties with EU ahead of key meeting in Brussels

[09] Erdogan praises Qatar's positive attitude during Gulf crisis

[10] Erdogan: Purchasing S-400 from Russia not 'worrying'

[11] Ankara and Berlin resolved row over German companies

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Burcu: The fear of solution has become Anastasiades greatest fear

Burcu who was speaking to Kanal T, television alleged that Anastasiades could not keep his determination in the settlement process in Cyprus negotiations.

Alleging that the architect of Crans Montana Summit was the Turkish Cypriot side, Burcu claimed that they expect the Greek Cypriots to stay on track in order for a solution to be reached.

Referring to the side which made mistakes in Crans Montana Summit, Burcu claimed that the UN gave the message that the Turkish side's positions were more logical an easier to adopt, which led to the Greek Cypriots freaking out. "All of these demonstrations tell us that we are not the flawed side", he claimed.

Burcu claimed that President Anastasiades feared firstly that he could not persuade the political parties, the bureaucracy and society about the solution and secondly how the solution could be implemented. He added that this fear gradually showed on Anastasiades' face.

For the summit to be held, Anastasiades set a prerequisite: "You will satisfy me on the land. The conference will only be held to discuss security and guarantees, and only if you satisfy me in this will the negotiations on the remaining issues begin" but this was not in the principles of the February 11 Document and we could not accept it, we strongly rejected it, Burcu alleged.

(CS)

[02] Eide: No development in the near future

He however added that the UN remained committed to supporting efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

Eide made these statements following his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

"We will be there and be helpful. But there is no process if the sides don't see that there is one,"

Speaking to reporters, Eide said that he had a good and heart to heart meeting with Ak?nc?. He however added that he hadn't heard anything that indicated that something would happen in the near future.

"My mission is to talk to the sides and report to (UN Secretary General) Antonio Guterres whether there are any steps to be taken by UN and if the sides are ready to take any," he added.

Stating that the two sides had entered a period of reflection as recommended by the UN Secretary General, Eide said that the UN hoped that the two sides would continue on existing UN parameters which the United Nations remained dedicated to.

"Of course at the end of the day, that requires the willingness of both sides. That has to do with substance but also with trust. The genuine will to go the last mile" he stressed.

He said that Ak?nc? and his negotiating team had conducted the talks with real dedication and seriousness and added that one of the reasons why the talks at Crans-Montana failed was the absence of trust between the sides.

[03] Dayanisma group said that excessive force was used against it during its July 20 demonstration

According to the paper, the activists were prevented from demonstrating by the so-called police who used force against them.

(CS)

[04] "Embargoed" group calls for the opening of Varosha

According to the paper, the group has prepared a report under the title: "The road to the properties in Cyprus and the salvation from political barricades- A British perspective", in which proposals on the property issue are presented and the need of a realistic and factional road map is stressed.

(CS)

[05] Arikli: "The opening of the fenced town of Varosha for settlement is an obligation"

In a written statement issued yesterday, Arikli argues that the "government", by taking initiatives on this issue, should have prepared a substructure ages ago. He adds that the current situation in which what is left from the city, which has been left to decay for 43 years, does not benefit anyone. He further claims that "Varosha should be opened for settlement by its old owners under Turkish administration and UN observation. The acquired rights of EVKAF should be upheld. Therefore, the right of the owners should be recognized for a year. At the end of this period, properties for which there have not been applications should be put up for sale with transparent contracts and the profit should be transferred to the immovable property commission's budget".

Arikli alleged that the opening of the fenced town of Varosha under these conditions was not contrary to the UN Resolutions, adding that two billion dollars would be needed for the restoration of the town.

(DPs)

[06] Debate regarding the "immovable property commission"

Turkish Cypriot politicians said that the commission should be activated in order for the Greek Cypriot properties to be legally transferred to the Turkish users. They also stressed the importance of the "land value tax law", which aims to overcome their financial difficulties.

The Turkish Cypriot political parties represented in the "assembly" of the breakaway regime presented their views on the issue of the "immovable property commission".

Ferdi Sabit Soyer, self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said that the decision of the ECHR on Demopoulos case in 2010 created new legal grounds. He explained that compensation was paid for the value of the property and the property changed hands, contrary to Loizidou's case, where the owners were compensated but the property still belonging to them. Soyer stressed that if this changed due to the ineffectiveness of the IPC then they would return to the previous situation. For this reason, he added that the "fund" of the IPC, which was cancelled by the current "coalition government", should be re-established and the 30% of the profits from renting "state land" should be transferred to this "fund".

Ersin Tatar, self-styled deputy with the National Unity Party (UBP), said that this issue was discussed with Turkish authorities. He argued that it was a serious problem and the IPC should survive. First, the issue should be discussed with experts, the IPC, and the "interior ministry". He explained that if the idea was to Turkify "north Cyprus" by compensating the Greek Cypriots for their properties, then the amount of two billion sterling is required. This amount equalled to the "gross national income" of the "TRNC", Tatar added. He concluded by saying that if the IPC became ineffective this would be a very bad development.

Mustafa Arabacioglu, self-deputy with the Democratic Party (DP), shares Tatar's view that properties in the "north" should be Turkified by compensating Greek Cypriot owners, adding that there was no return to the old system.

Cemal Ozyigit, leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), stressed that it was not correct to take unilateral steps on this issue. He proposed that the decision on the IPC should be discussed by both communities under the auspices of the UN.

(DPs)

[07] Former Health Minister Recep Akdag will coordinate Turkey's ties with the breakaway regime in Cyprus

Speaking after the cabinet meeting in Ankara, Bozdag outlined the division of duties amongst the five deputy PMs, including himself.

After the cabinet revision, Bozdag said the National Security Council (MGK), Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT), the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) and the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) woud work directly with Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m.

According to the new assignments, Bozdag will be the new government spokesperson and in charge of managing the government's relations with the Turkish Parliament, the Directorate of Religious Affairs Foundation (Diyanet), the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and state-owned Anadolu Agency.

These duties were carried out by the former Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, who is now the Culture and Tourism Minister.

Mehmet Simsek has become the sole Minister in charge of the economy. He will continue ensuring coordination with economic institutions such as the Central Bank, Ziraat Bank, Halk Bank, Vak?flar Bank and Turkey Development Bank.

In addition to his former assignments, Simsek will also oversee other major economic institutions such as the Banking Supervisory and Regulatory Authority (BDDK), the Capital Markets' Board (SPK) and Eximbank.

[08] Turkey says opening chapters vital for ties with EU ahead of key meeting in Brussels

"The opening of new negotiation chapters is crucial for the revival of Turkey-EU relations", Celik told AB Haber website ahead of a political directors meeting to be held on July 25.

"In particular, the 23rd chapter, "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights," and the 24th chapter, "Justice, Freedom and Security," which are critical in terms of the negotiation process, need to be opened as soon as possible," he said.

"These chapters are unilaterally blocked by Greek Cypriots. Taking into account what happened in the latest negotiations for Cyprus, I think the EU should open these chapters by putting pressure on the Greek Cypriots," Celik argued.

Recalling that Greek Cypriots rejected a peace plan in 2004, the Minister claimed: "The time has come for the EU to correct the mistake it has made by accepting Greek Cypriots as a member".

Turkey will be represented by Celik and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the political dialogue meeting, which EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn will also attend.

"We will discuss with EU officials what we will do next," Celik said, stressing that it was crucial to overcome existing problems between the Union and Turkey and to be more "empathic and more discreet" about moving the relations forward.

"We want to continue the dialogue process with the EU at all levels and actively participate in it," he said, noting that the most important problem in Turkey-EU relations in the recent period was the lack of dialogue and confidence.

Despite Ankara and Brussels' decision to move toward a positive agenda since a meeting of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and EU officials on May 25, the momentum risks being distorted amid the arrest of human rights defenders in Turkey and an escalating row between Ankara and Berlin.

"We want to ease the situation", a Turkish official told Hurriyet Daily News ahead of the meeting in Brussels, stressing that keeping up with the dialogue is crucial.

"We will discuss every topic on the agenda," the official said, while adding that they were not optimistic about achieving a concrete outcome from the meeting due to recent tensions over arrests in Turkey.

Brussels has long been waiting for a proposal from Ankara over the revision of the anti-terror law, as the union was hopeful that Turkey would submit the text on today's meeting. But, the Turkish side would not submit any proposals at the political dialogue meeting in Brussels, the official said.

[09] Erdogan praises Qatar's positive attitude during Gulf crisis

Speaking at a press conference late Monday in Ankara after returning from Qatar, Erdogan praised the positive attitude maintained by Qatar during the entire process and said that Turkey expected Saudi Arabia's King Salman to play a key role in resolving the crisis.

Erdogan said the bilateral meetings he held with Saudi king, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Than were focused on resolving the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy. He added that the Turkish base in Qatar was also discussed at the meeting with the Qatari emir.

Erdogan also touched upon Israeli oppression in his speech, once again calling on the country to respect the rule of law and humanitarian values. "Imposing restrictions on people who merely try to worship is an abdication of reason," he said, adding that Israel's decision to restrict worship in Al-Aqsa Mosque was unlawful and hurt the whole region.

"Israel's law-ignoring attitude will yield no results," he said, expressing his hope that a sound mind-set will reign in the Jewish state.

According to presidential sources, the President held a phone call with Jordanian King later in the day. Both leaders agreed that Israeli restrictions on Al-Aqsa mosque must be lifted.

[10] Erdogan: Purchasing S-400 from Russia not 'worrying'

"Why would it be worrying? Every country needs to take certain measures for its own security," Erdogan told reporters at Ankara Esenboga airport.

Erdogan's remarks came a day after Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Gen. Joseph Dunford, labelled media reports about Turkey purchasing the S-400 system from Russia as "incorrect", saying: "That would be a concern, were they to do that, but they have not done that."

Erdogan said it was "important" for Turkey to choose an entity with which it could be in co-production. He added that negotiations on the missile system had been "largely" completed.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Kozhin said late June that Moscow and Ankara had agreed on the delivery of S-400 mobile systems but that the Kremlin had not approved a loan for the deal.

[11] Ankara and Berlin resolved row over German companies

"In a phone conversation between the two Interior Ministers, a communication problem with Interpol's existing mechanism has been detected. Upon this, Turkey withdrew its request for information from Germany over the weekend," government spokesperson Bekir Bozdag said in a press conference after a weekly cabinet meeting on July 24.

Bozdag referred to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu's conversation with German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on early July 24 which ended the row over German companies. "No investigations are being carried out on German companies in Turkey," Bozdag said, explaining that the information sought from Germany was about the economic activities of FETO-affiliated Turkish companies.

Bozdag's statement followed a written statement from the Interior Ministry, which cited a communication problem at Interpol without information that the request had been withdrawn.

"It has been discovered that a communication problem had occurred while [Turkey's] demand was dispatched to Germany via Interpol," the Ministry said, informing that Turkey had requested standard information from all countries to which 140 FETO-related companies had been exporting their products.

The statement disclosed an existing mechanism between the members of Interpol through their liaison officers and a communication problem in transmitting Turkey's demands to Germany.

The relationship between the two countries has long been tense after Germany granted asylum to FETO-linked former military personnel and civil servants and following arrests in Turkey of a handful of German nationals over espionage and terror-related charges. Reports that Turkey launched an investigation into 700 German firms, including giants Daimler and BASF, added fuel to the tension, with Berlin considering whether or not to impose economic sanctions on Ankara.

On July 21, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had asked both the Interior Minister and the intelligence chief about such reports and they assured him that no German firms were under investigation.

The spokesperson of the German Interior Ministry, Tobias Plate, said that Turkey had formally withdrawn its request for German help in investigating nearly 700 German firms suspected of backing terrorism.

"[The Interior Minister] underlined that there were no investigations against German firms by Turkish authorities in Turkey or in Germany," Plate said.

Bozdag recalled that it was his government that created a climate of confidence for foreign investors and this policy would continue in the future as well.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(DPs / A?)

Copyright (C) 2017 Press and Information Office, All rights reserved.

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