Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-06-20

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 PRESS

[01] Ozgurgun criticizes the UNSC decision on UNFICYP

[02] Downer met with Davutoglu

[03] Akca claims there's no difference between Turkish and Turkish Cypriot investors

[04] A new "draft law" on "public servants"

[05] Efforts to intimidate Lefka Sports Club and prevent it from joining CFA

[06] Fourteen Turkish Cypriot businessmen to submit a proposal for taking over illegal DAU's primary school and college

[07] "Farmers will shake Lefkosia"

[08] Charter flights launched from 14 countries

[09] The "property compensation commission" has concluded only 178 cases until today

[10] The occupation regime continues "distributing" plots of land

[11] "Turkish embassy's undersecretary" denied a "customs check" in occupied Tymbou airport

[12] An "anti-financial crime unit" has been established in occupied Cyprus

[13] Professor Uzunboylu of illegal YDU to participate in international events in Brussels and Berlin

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[14] "UN patience running thin on Cyprus"

[15] "Resetting Turkish-EU relations after elections would be a good idea"

[16] Turkish students to be chosen for nuclear training in Moscow

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Ozgurgun criticizes the UNSC decision on UNFICYP

Recalling that in his report, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that views of the two sides will be taken into consideration while deciding on the UNFICYP's future, Ozgurgun criticized the Security Council for ignoring the Turkish Cypriot side.

He also alleged that there is no administration in Cyprus which is capable to represent the whole island.

Ozgurgun also said that "the report has encouraged the Greek Cypriot side to continue its delaying tactics at the negotiation process", and criticized "the report for not referring to the international isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots".

Claiming that the Turkish Cypriot side is continuing the negotiations process with all its sincerity, Ozgurgun said that "no one should expect the Turkish Cypriot side to ignore the Greek Cypriot side's delaying tactics forever".

[02] Downer met with Davutoglu

AA reports that Davutoglu assured Downer that Turkey will continue its efforts towards finding a solution in the island within this year.

For his part, Downer asked Turkey to provide its support for the two sides in Cyprus to make more efforts towards reaching a solution.

[03] Akca claims there's no difference between Turkish and Turkish Cypriot investors

The so-called Turkish ambassador to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus Halil Ibrahim Akca, the self-styled minister of finance Ersin Tatar, the self-styled minister of economy and energy Sunat Atun and the self-styled minister of agriculture and natural resources Ali Cetin Amcaoglu were among the guests who attended the dinner.

Addressing the event, Tatar said "the government will be by the side of the country's industrialists in solving their problems".

Akca, for his part, said that Turkey is working hard towards helping increase the "TRNC's" credit capacity. He also claimed that "for Turkey there is no difference between Turkish or Turkish Cypriot investors", adding that both are equal in the eyes of Turkey.

[04] A new "draft law" on "public servants"

The new "law", which is being prepared in line with attempts to harmonize existing "TRNC laws" with the European Union legislature, aims to restructure the "public sector".

Kucuk said that "the draft law envisages changes, restrictions and limitations to be introduced on the council of minister's authority to appoint political consultants, advisors and undersecretaries to public sector posts, the introduction of a merit system for public sector employees and creating a more efficient work and management system in the government sector", illegal BRT reports. He also said that the "law" will include all current and future "public sector employees".

[05] Efforts to intimidate Lefka Sports Club and prevent it from joining CFA

Durust argued that the Turkish Cypriots should solve their problems among themselves and added that the regime continues its efforts to solve them.

Referring to the issue of joining the CFA, Durust claimed that Lefka should not give such a trump card to "south Cyprus", as he described the Republic of Cyprus, because the Greek Cypriots will use this issue in their foreign policy. He said he expects the administrators of Lefka to behave more reasonably and added that the regime does not want Lefka to have another meeting with the CFA.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (18.06.11) reports that Hasan Sertoglu, chairman of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot football federation, described as "treason against the Turkish football" the application of Lefka Sports Club to become a member of the CFA. In statements to Havadis, Sertoglu called on the administrators of Lefka to "come to their senses" and "stop taking this wrong step".

The paper writes that after the meeting between Lefka Sports Club and the CFA, the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk called Sertoglu to his office in order to be briefed on the issue. Durust was also present at the meeting, which lasted for about 45 minutes.

Moreover, in statements to Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (18.06.11), Baris Burcu, spokesperson of Lefka Sports Club, described as "two different issues" the "legal" struggle of Lefka against the injustices made against the club and its membership to the CFA. He noted that Lefka will insist on both issues and that the one issue is not a precondition for the other. He said that even if the CFA accept them as member, they will continue their struggle to get back the cup which was allegedly been stolen from them. He further added that they will sincerely continue the talks with the CFA, even in case they win the "legal" struggle they started.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Fourteen Turkish Cypriot businessmen to submit a proposal for taking over illegal DAU's primary school and college

A meeting was held yesterday upon an invitation by the "Famagusta Initiative" with the participation of more than a hundred chairmen and representatives of NGOs and inhabitants of occupied Famagusta. The participants in the meeting decided to support the protest to be held today.

Addressing the meeting, Oktay Kayalp, so-called mayor of occupied Famagusta said they have not interfered in the affairs of "DAU" until today, but if the intention is to give away two "institutions" which belong to the "people" of Famagusta, they (i.e. the so-called municipality) want to take them and they are ready to administrate the schools together with the entire "people" of Famagusta.

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of fourteen businessmen from occupied Famagusta, Ersan Dagli said they met with the self-styled prime minister Kucuk and informed him that they want to administrate "DAU's" primary school and college. He noted that today they will go to the rector of "DAU" and submit a much better proposal than the one submitted by Doga College.

(I/Ts.)

[07] "Farmers will shake Lefkosia"

The farmers had a meeting last Friday in the so-called ministry of agriculture; however the meeting came to an end, since the parties could not reach an agreement on the price standards that the "government" wants to implement. Farmers who walked out of the meeting decided to continue with a demonstration on Thursday, 23 of June.

[08] Charter flights launched from 14 countries

Noting that promotional events will continue to be held at Turkish cities with direct flights, Ustel said that charter flights have been launched from 14 countries including Iran, adding that for the first time flights will be launched between the breakaway regime and Poland, Azerbaijan and Iran.

[09] The "property compensation commission" has concluded only 178 cases until today

The paper writes that the compensations paid by the "commission" in the first six months of 2011 reached eight million 489 thousand and 94 British pounds.

From 17 March 2006 until 10 June 2011, 1.296 Greek Cypriot refugees applied to the "commission". According to the paper, 171 of these applications have ended though an amicable settlement and seven with a "trial". In parallel to compensations, the "commission" decided return of property in two cases, exchange and compensation of property in two other cases and return of property and compensation in five applications.

The paper writes that the recorded increase in the number of Greek Cypriot applications is because the Commission had received only 100 applications in 2006, the year of its establishment, while in the first six months of 2011 this number reached 456.

(I/Ts.)

[10] The occupation regime continues "distributing" plots of land

In his statements during the ceremony, Kucuk reiterated that the "UBP government's" mission is to enable the Turkish Cypriots to strike roots in the "country" and added that they will continue exerting efforts towards this direction. He then pointed out that what is important is for the existence of the Turkish Cypriots to continue.

(AK)

[11] "Turkish embassy's undersecretary" denied a "customs check" in occupied Tymbou airport

[12] An "anti-financial crime unit" has been established in occupied Cyprus

In the framework of the "policemen's" training, the so-called police general directorship will organise a symposium on June 25. Experts from both Turkey and the occupation regime will participate in the symposium titled: "Fight against financial crime in the TRNC". According to the paper, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and the so-called finance minister Ersin Tatar will address the closing session, at which diplomas will be given to the trainees.

[13] Professor Uzunboylu of illegal YDU to participate in international events in Brussels and Berlin

Uzunboylu will further participate in the meeting of the Council of the Union for European Education Researches which is to take place in Berlin between June 24-25.

(AK)

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[14] "UN patience running thin on Cyprus"

"His patience running thin with slow pace of Cyprus talks, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is preparing to present the two sides on the island a road map with two exit alternatives. According to sources with deep insight of the talks, the Secretary-General has prepared a five-step plan that urges the two sides on the island to walk the extra mile and establish a federal Cyprus, or face the consequences.

Sources have said that the Secretary-General, with particular encouragement from Britain and the United States, has come to the conclusion that the Cyprus talks cannot drag on forever. Furthermore, as in June 2012 Greek Cypriots will assume the EU term presidency, there is a natural timetable for the success or failure of the process.

Thus, sources said the Secretary-General anticipates to present the two leaders at the planned July 7 trilateral summit in Geneva a final road map. The road map will reportedly have two exits: An early crash-landing around the end of December or separate simultaneous referenda by the two peoples of the island the latest by the end of May 2012, a month before the Greek Cypriots assume the EU term presidency, on an agreement establishing a new federal Cyprus. Naturally, the Turkish Cypriots will demand inclusion of a clause in the text to be put to referenda saying that should Greek Cypriots vote "Oxi" (No) as they did on April 24, 2004 on the so-called Annan plan, the Turkish Cypriot state should be given international recognition. Indeed, such a wording could help the Greek Cypriots swallow the idea of political equality and sharing governance of the island on the basis of political equality.

The five steps

The Secretary-General is expected to announce the roadmap at the press conference to be held at the end of the July 7 trilateral summit. The first step of the five-step road map will be one last round of intensified negotiations on all headings. Leaders and their representatives, as well as working groups, might meet up to five times a week, go through all chapters and register the issues they agree on, as well as those points they fail to accomplish sufficient convergences.

The second step will be the reconvening of a trilateral summit, this time in New York. Though September appears to be "best" for such a summit because of Greek Cypriot fears that a trilateral summit on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly might lead to confusion that the U.N. recognize the equality of the non-recognized Turkish Cypriot state with the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, the last summit will be in October. At that summit a detailed analysis of the entire process will be done.

At the end of that last trilateral summit, the Secretary-General may call for an international Cyprus conference ? to be attended by the two sides on the island, Turkey, Greece and Britain, the three guarantor powers under the 1960 system, and with representatives from the European Union and the U.N. Security Council's Permanent Members sitting on the sidelines as "observers" ? to be convened in December or in early 2012. Another option for the Secretary-General will be to declare the failure of the Cyprus talks process. If the process does not end and an international conference is decided to be convened, the target will be to complete a comprehensive agreement on the creation of a federal Cyprus with two politically equal constituent states and submit it to simultaneous referenda the latest by May 2012. That conference will be the fourth step and the simultaneous referenda will be the fifth step on the road map.

Will Turkish and Greek Cypriots walk this line? As for Turkish Cypriots I can vouch that they will do their best to achieve a settlement, but for Greek Cypriots, unless what they might lose is not shown beforehand, they will be as reluctant as ever even to consider the idea of sharing power with the Turkish Cypriots. Almost 50 years of inter-communal talks testify to this bitter reality."

[15] "Resetting Turkish-EU relations after elections would be a good idea"

"[...]. Many commentators in the Western media and Turkish press put forward fresh ideas to 'reset Turkish-EU relations'.

Obviously needed, but how?

Without any doubt, resetting Turkey-EU relations is seriously needed. The existing stalemate is an obvious frustration for pro-Turkish coalitions in Europe and pro-European interest groups in Turkey. Many people, in this bleak picture, hope to see light at the end of the tunnel. Yet, the hurdles are insurmountable. The negotiation process remains mired in a deadlock due to a 'veto triangle'. The first veto comes from the European Council on the grounds that Turkey is refusing to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels and planes. The European Council froze eight chapters and announced that it would not close the rest until Turkey opens its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot sea and air traffic. The second veto comes from France and French politicians who are blocking five chapters with concerns that opening them 'may open Turkey's membership path'. The last player in the veto triangle is the Greek Cypriots, who threaten to block a further six chapters. This means a de facto stalemate in the negotiation process because there are just three chapters remaining to be opened, which are in fact the most burdensome chapters.

Steps by one party unproductive

There is a clear lesson to be drawn from this equation: The problems in Turkish-EU relations are multifaceted. Steps taken by only one party will not yield productive results. Quite the contrary, I would argue that it may further cause deterioration in the parties' push toward each other because the side that takes a step may be disappointed if the other side does not respond positively. Therefore, for possible progress in Turkish-EU relations, the parties should stop playing a 'blame game' and try to come up with creative policy proposals based on reciprocal principles. For example, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule, instead of only pushing the Turkish side to 'make further reforms', should try to search for ways to get both the EU and Turkey to take active parts in the negotiation process.

Ample opportunities, recalcitrant status quo

Having taken recent geopolitical developments into consideration, entering into a virtuous cycle is a sine qua non because there are ample opportunities for Turkey and the EU lying ahead. Upheavals in Middle Eastern and North African countries are the harbingers of a new order in one of the world's most troubled regions. According to many experts, Turkey is acknowledged as a source of inspiration for the people of the region. Yet, Turkey's transformative capacity is limited due to economic and organizational shortcomings. The EU, on the other hand, is criticized as a 'sideline spectator' throughout the process.

Nevertheless, the EU is probably the most suitable actor capable of channelling necessary funds and norms into the region for a peaceful democratic transformation. Yet, the EU lacks a vision and is far from acting as a 'sincere insider'. The visionary cooperation of Turkey and the EU may have great impact for the democratic future of the Middle East and North Africa. As a matter of fact, this opportunity should be capitalized on in order not to allow the recalcitrant status quo to make a comeback in this region.

In summary, 'resetting Turkish-EU relations' would be a good idea. But we need to think more about reciprocal policy recommendations to get over the existing stalemate. Although the June 12 elections opened a new page for Turkey's EU journey, the process is by no means controlled by the Turkish side in the existing situation. The Turkish side, while making necessary reforms, also has the right to demand a 'reset' from some of the European policy-makers to overhaul their current perceptions on Turkish-EU relations."

[16] Turkish students to be chosen for nuclear training in Moscow

The students will take courses at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, known as MEPhI, Ankara Anatolia news agency has learned.

The scholarships were arranged by Akkuyu NGS Elektrik ?retim, the company that was established as part of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project. This September, 50 students will attend MEPhI, while the rest will be trained later. Students that receive the scholarships must serve at least 13 years at the Akkuyu plant. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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