Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-07-12

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] Eroglu said that the Cyprus talks may end in October

[02] Talat evaluates the ongoing negotiation talks

[03] Eroglu and Kucuk conveyed their condolences to Christofias and offered electricity

[04] A demonstrations by Dev-Is

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[05] Hurriyet alleges that Turkey is to make a second initiative on the opening of its ports to the Greek Cypriot vessels

[06] Turkey's TUSIAD to discuss the Cyprus problem with EU Commissioner Fule

[07] "Final act in Cyprus?"

[08] Columnist in Milliyet warns of the possibility of the division of Cyprus if no solution is found to the Cyprus problem by the second half of 2012

[09] Gul holds contacts in Bulgaria

[10] Davutoglu tours Turkey's neighbouring countries

[11] CHP Deputies took the oath at the Turkish Parliament

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu said that the Cyprus talks may end in October

Eroglu said that October will be an important month regarding the Cyprus problem, adding that the negotiations may come to an end.

Noting that the Greek Cypriot side wants to discuss together the issues of property, territory and refugees, and the Turkish Cypriot side wants to discuss these issues separately, Eroglu said: "We said 'if we agree on the property issue, we will discuss the territory issue'. The Greek Cypriot side did not accept it. We also said that we can discuss the territory issue at the last summit. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was satisfied from our proposals."

Referring to the property issue, Eroglu said that as Turkish Cypriot side, they presented three proposals under the title "exchange, compensation, return" and pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side should study them well.

Noting that it is not possible to return neither to the period of 1974 nor to the 2004 referendum, Eroglu said that the Greek Cypriots reject all their proposals with pretexts.

Noting that the recent visit of Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu as well as the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend the 20th July "celebrations" of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus showed that Turkey gives great importance to the Turkish Cypriots and to the breakaway regime, Eroglu said that Erdogan's visit is important in terms of the message he will deliver both to the world and to the Greek Cypriot side.

Replying to a question whether Erdogan will visit the fenced off town of Varosha during his visit, Eroglu said that the cleaning of the area was just a routine measure against fires.

Meanwhile, the paper also reports that Eroglu is flying today to Brussels for a series of contacts with EU officials, like the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and other high-ranking EU officials. During his contacts, Eroglu will be accompanied by his special adviser Kudret Ozersay and the so-called presidential undersecretary Hasan Gungor.

Moreover, illegal Bayrak television (online, 11.07.11) reports that Eroglu, during a meeting with representatives of "retired combatant associations", said that he is carrying out the negotiations by drawing lessons from experiences of the past, adding that he is working towards reaching a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem

He also pointed to "the importance of being able to live freely and under the protection of the TRNC". Alleging that the Turkish Cypriots are a sovereign "people" which knew how to defend its rights, Eroglu said he is fully conscious of what the people wanted, when negotiating with the Greek Cypriot side.

Eroglu said: "We think that the world should understand that we have the right of self-determination". He also stressed the importance of maintaining unity and solidarity with Turkey.

[02] Talat evaluates the ongoing negotiation talks

In his statements, Talat, inter alia, said that he wants Eroglu to be succeeding at the talks and wished for a solution to be found to the Cyprus problem. Talat further said that his is of the opinion that in case that Eroglu will not succeed at the talks, it is the Turkish Cypriot community that will lose.

Saying that although he wishes to Eroglu to be succeeding at the talks, he considers that Eroglu does not believe to the solution, that he is reluctant while his is carrying out negotiations and said that Eroglu is looking forward to bring the process to a negative end.

Stating that the ongoing negotiation talks today continue under the basis which was established during the period he was participating at the talks, Talat said: "However; there is a great difference. We were the side which had shown flexibility and the side which dragged the Greek Cypriots. Today, we do not see this happening. The Turkish Cypriot side is not now in the position of dragging the Greek Cypriots".

Alleging that the Greek Cypriot side is not willing for a solution, Talat said that it is a precondition for the Turkish Cypriot side to undertake a riveting role.

Commenting on the recent statement by Eroglu that "this job either will finish in October or it will finish", Talat said that Eroglu's words were very significant and added: "What does this means? It means that the process will finish either positively or negatively and according to my point of view, Eroglu looks forward for the process to end negatively".

Accusing President Christofias of not being willing for the solution, Talat alleged that Christofias is afraid of the division of the island and added that he is afraid of being accused.

Referring to the "opening" made by the Turkish Cypriot side "for bringing to discussion at the talks the territory issue but with no maps", Talat said that discussing the territory issue without maps is meaningless.

Commenting on the Geneva summit, Talat said that two new and important results came up from the summit. Saying that he found it positive the fact that it was decided for the process to be intensified, he added that the other positive issue that is very important is the enhancement of the UN's role.

Referring to the words which are used from time to time by some that "We are not obliged to a solution, we have alternatives", Talat said that he disagrees with the above view and added that it is their obligation to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Talat expressed also the view that Turkey is willing for a solution to the Cyprus problem and added the following: "Turkey is administrated by clever persons. I believe that they want the solution of the Cyprus problem. Of course, they do not want to be oppressed. It is natural for them to think the interest of their country first. If we see this from our point of view is natural and there is no difference between them and us. We are also thinking of our country, we may make some concessions but Turkey will ask for things that will not harm the interest of the country?. The important thing is to find a common ground and reach a solution".

(AK)

[03] Eroglu and Kucuk conveyed their condolences to Christofias and offered electricity

According to the paper, Eroglu also expressed his readiness to provide assistance by offering electricity in the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus.

Haberdar also reports that so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk expressed his deepest condolences for the tragedy at the Naval Base "Evangelos Florakis" in Mari.

The paper reports that the so-called director of the "electricity authority of northern Cyprus" (KIB-TEK) Gurcan Erdogan, in a statement to the paper, said that only 90 megawatt of electricity can provide to the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus.

Columnist Huseyin Ekmekci, writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (12.07.11), wonders which electricity can be given to the Greek Cypriots. He writes that at the moment, when Eroglu offered assistance to the Greek Cypriot side, there was a power cut in the occupied part of Lefkosia. He also writes: "We offer electricity to south Cyprus which we don't have?"

[04] A demonstrations by Dev-Is

Mehmet Seyis, chairman of Dev-Is said that the demonstration was not only against the so-called draft bill on social security, but also they demand the withdraw of all these steps which "threaten" the communal existence of the Turkish Cypriots.

The demonstrators were holding placards reading "Government resign", "No to administration with instructions", No to disappearance", "We were here, we are here, we will be here" and other.

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[05] Hurriyet alleges that Turkey is to make a second initiative on the opening of its ports to the Greek Cypriot vessels

As the paper writes, according to the plan, which is similar to last year's proposal being submitted by Ankara last October, Turkey is to open a port first, and as soon as the EU lifts the "isolation" towards the "TRNC", afterwards Turkey will open all its ports. The paper writes that there was no result towards the proposal made by Turkey last year due to the opposition of the Greek Cypriots.

According to the paper, the formula as regards the opening of the Turkish ports, which implements the principle of Erdogan "one step ahead" on the Cyprus problem and the EU, is the following:

1) Turkey will open one of its basic ports, either Mersina port or Izmir port.

2) At the same time, Turkey will take guarantees from the EU that it will lift the isolation towards the "TRNC" within three months the latest.

3) The EU will lift the "isolation" in a period of three months. It will also launch direct flights and trade communication to the "TRNC" including Ercan [illegal Tymvou] airport.

4) Turkey will open all its ports and airports for the Greek Cypriot vessels.

5) Thus, seven out of the eight chapters, which were frozen by the EU on December 2006, will open and only the chapter of "Agriculture and Rural Development" will continue to remain in suspense due to the obstacles imposed by France.

The paper continues and writes that as it was made known, the European Commission views with a positive look the last proposal made by Turkey and underlines that efforts are exerted so that the proposal to be implemented in the forthcoming autumn in case the Greek Cypriot side is persuaded. Also, the paper claims that the majority of the EU countries view positively this proposal.

(AK)

[06] Turkey's TUSIAD to discuss the Cyprus problem with EU Commissioner Fule

In a written statement, TUSIAD said that Fule would meet the President of the Executive Board of TUSIAD Umit Boyner, and an accompanying delegation in a meeting closed to the press on Tuesday. TUSIAD and Fule would discuss steps to be taken to speed up Turkey's EU negotiation process. The TUSIAD delegation would share its opinions with Fule on the solution of the Cyprus problem, the visa exemption process and EU's free trade agreements with other countries.

[07] "Final act in Cyprus?"

"The meeting in Geneva between Turkish Cypriot President [as Idiz calls Turkish Cypriot leader] Dervis Eroglu and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias, under the auspices of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, appears to have revived hopes for a Cyprus settlement by the end of this year.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was also upbeat during his visit to the TRNC [the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] on Saturday. He said an accord by the end of this year could be followed up by referenda in the first months of 2012, enabling a reunified island to assume the European Union's Cyprus presidency scheduled for then.

In the meantime, President Eroglu announced in Geneva that the Turkish side was prepared to discuss the issue of land swap within the context of a settlement plan, a clear attempt to be proactive on an issue of high sensitivity to both sides.

As for President Christofias, he appears willing now to allow the United Nations to play a more enhanced role in settlement talks, an issue the Greek Cypriots have been shy about since the failed Annan Plan of 2002. This, along with anything that smacked of a deadline for a settlement, has been consistently rejected by them.

The reason for this from a Turkish perspective is that they have been playing for time since 2003 in the hope that their EU membership and Turkey's membership combined will represent a political carrot and stick forcing Ankara into accepting their terms in any eventual settlement.

But this failed to work and today the "EU carrot" hardly exists for Turkey and the Greek Cypriot "stick" has proved without any effect. In the meantime, as former Netherlands Ambassador to Cyprus, Max Gevers, noted on Sunday in the Cyprus Mail, the EU is also 'bored stiff with the Cyprus problem...looking at its watch and going on to the next item on the agenda as fast as possible'. The simple fact is that the overwhelming rejection of the Annan Plan by the Greek Cypriots in the referendum in 2003 left the whole issue in limbo. That settlement contained all the basic elements that will inevitably have to be enshrined in any accord, including the demilitarization of the Island. The simple question then was, if the Greek Cypriots were not prepared to accept this plan, endorsed by the EU also at the time and which the Turkish Cypriots accepted overwhelmingly in their separate referendum, then what were they prepared to accept? If it was a question for them of aiming for a one-sided settlement that did not acknowledge the tenets of bi-zonality and bi-communality, along with power sharing based on political equality between Turkish and Greek Cypriots --as the Annan Plan did-- this would never be acceptable to the Turkish side unless some unknown "force majeure" came into play. Judging by what is being written now, after the Geneva talks, it appears the Greek Cypriot side may be inching its way to accepting these principles, including the notion of a time frame for settling the problem. Still this is the Cyprus of Bitter Lemons and it is best to take it all with a pinch of salt.

But what are the options if the talks fail this time? Max Gevers laid this on line also in his Cyprus Mail commentary: No more U.N. mediation, eventual withdrawal of U.N. troops, partition, the Cypriot National Guard facing the Turkish army directly, no unhindered exploration and production of hydro-carbons meaning very serious loss of income for Cyprus, loss of tourism and services in an unstable environment, a goodbye kiss to the famous but so far empty slogan of Cyprus being a bridge between Europe and the Middle East. What remains would be, merely, an island of love... for some!" Some may add "No more EU membership for Turkey" also. But in all honesty, looked at from today's perspective, can one say that the EU membership for Turkey is really on the cards anyway?"

[08] Columnist in Milliyet warns of the possibility of the division of Cyprus if no solution is found to the Cyprus problem by the second half of 2012

Yet? referring to the day that Sudan was celebrating its division, it underlines that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has stated during his visit to the "TRNC" that the AKP Government supports the reunification. Davutoglu stressed also the need for the current status quo not to continue and expressed the wish for a Federal Cyprus to take over the EU presidency next July.

Kohen continues and writes that in brief, the goal of Turkey and the Greek Cypriot side is still the "unification"?. but with the condition that the agreement is to be achieved within the next few months.

Kohen continues by wondering what will happen if no agreement is reached and adds: "The negotiations will come to an end and everyone will follow its own way. In other words, in short, the unification will be replaced by the division".

(AK)

[09] Gul holds contacts in Bulgaria

During his visit, Gul will also hold meetings with Bulgaria's head mufti Mustafa Alis Haci and Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, and receive Turkish-Bulgarian Friendship Group's Chairman Ramadan Atalay. Gul will attend a dinner which will be hosted by Parvanov in his honour.

Addressing businessmen at the Turkey-Bulgaria Business Forum, Gul said that Turkey and Bulgaria had the potential to raise the trade volume to $10 billion. "Trade between the two countries is more than 2.5 billion Euros. Our first target must be $5 billion and then we must raise it to $10 billion. We have such potential," Gul said in his address.

In his speech, Gul also said that relations had been boosted during the past two decades and should be carried forward as the Governments have the will to achieve that goal. Gul called on Bulgarian businessmen to invest in Turkey, adding: "We have everything to make things easier for you. We have minimized the red tape in Turkey." Gul also said that energy was an important issue for the two countries as Turkey and Bulgaria were two partners in the Nabucco pipeline, a proposed pipeline to carry natural gas from the East to Europe. He said: "We will carry out this project together."

For his part, Parvanov expressed pleasure over the friendly relations with Turkey and said that higher trade volume could be achieved if confidence is built between the Governments of both countries. "$10 billion trade volume might be challenging but it is an achievable target," Parvanov said. Parvanov asked Turkish and Bulgarian businessmen to increase contacts, adding that tourism could be a very good area to boost cooperation.

[10] Davutoglu tours Turkey's neighbouring countries

Last week Davutoglu was in Libya where he met with opposition leaders such as the National Transitional Council Chairman Mustafa Abdul-Jalil and the rebels' acting foreign minister Ali al-Essawi. It was reported that Davutoglu's trip to Benghazi is the most powerful signal that Turkey, which has vast trade interests in Libya, is throwing its weight behind the Libyan opposition despite its long-time relations with Muammar Gaddafi. After the Libya visit, Davutoglu had secret talks with King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in an undisclosed location in Saudi Arabia where he discussed regional developments.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal said the parties talked about the social unrest in Syria. Turkey is extremely concerned with the situation in Syria, a neighbouring country, as well as with similar incidents in other Arab states such as Bahrain, where Turkey has offered advice to defuse sectarian tensions, and touch on developments in Libya as well. "It's just a sort of stock-taking and an opportunity to convey our thoughts on these issues," Unal said.

After visiting Libya and Saudi Arabia, Davutoglu went to Iran on Sunday where he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

The paper, inter alia, reports that according to sources, in addition to Saudi Arabia and Iran, Davutoglu could also visit Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon and Syria over the coming two days, but the itinerary has not yet been fixed.

[11] CHP Deputies took the oath at the Turkish Parliament

In effect, 134 CHP Deputies will take the oath after which the 61st Government's program would be discussed at the Turkish Parliament. A CHP Deputy and the oldest member of the Turkish Parliament, Oktay Eksi, had taken oath and served as the temporary Speaker of Parliament.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that he was pleased to see CHP Deputies taking the oath on Monday. "When the doors of dialogue are open, everything could be solved," said Gul.

The Deputies of opposition Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) have still not taken the oath at the Turkish Parliament.

Referring to BDP Deputies, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he believed also the BDP Deputies would come to the Parliament and take the oath as soon as possible. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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