Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-04-16

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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] Eroglu: During the past five years neither the UN nor the EU accused the Turkish Cypriot side in the Cyprus problem

[02] Siber: If I was at the negotiating table, Anastasiades would not run away

[03] The contacts of Ergun Olgun in Germany

[04] Statements by Cirali on the hellim/halloumi cheese registration process

[05] Gul: "A fair solution in Cyprus is essential"

[06] Cyprus on the election manifest of AKP

[07] One of the two patients with suspicion of being contracted the Mad Cow disease passed away; statements by Sennaroglu

[08] AKP announced its election manifesto; Presidential system "first job" of the next parliament

[09] Strong reaction from Turkey on European Parliament Resolution on Armenian genocide

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu: During the past five years neither the UN nor the EU accused the Turkish Cypriot side in the Cyprus problem

Eroglu was asked the following: "You say that you will reach a result within two years. Will the Greek Cypriots' stance change or is there another planned formula?" He replied that when he announced his candidature, he said that the negotiations could not continue open-ended and that they should be concluded within a time limit. "If the Greek Cypriots do not want a time limit, it will be shown that they are not sincere in the direction of [finding an] agreement", he alleged.

He argued that according to the statements made by Eide during his recent press conference, the stance of the UN is in harmony with the stance of the Turkish Cypriots who allegedly want an early solution. "The world expects that if there will be an agreement, this to happen within a time limit", he claimed.

Responding to another question, Eroglu alleged that the view that the Republic of Cyprus should be evolved into a federation is contrary to the joint statement of the 11th of February, "because in the joint statement it is written that the solution will be a federation formed by two founding states, that is, the Republic of Cyprus will not be transformed into a federation".

Asked what kind of an agreement he would be willing to sign, Eroglu replied:

"In the TRNC's declaration of independence, it is written that we are open for discussing federation. I am a person who received with joy the establishment of the TRNC and signed with pride its declaration of independence. The TRNC state will continue its existence until an agreement is reached and with the agreement, the Turkish founding state of the partnership state will be the TRNC. Those who were sad for the establishment of the TRNC, those who said that this was wrong, now nominate a candidate for an office of the TRNC state. That is, this state exists. When I sit at the negotiating table, the world also knows that I am the president elected by my people. The existence of the TRNC is one of the realities, which strengthen me. If there was not for the TRNC, minority rights would be proposed to us. This state continues to exist. [?]"

Arguing that the joint statement provided for the establishment of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality and for this federation to be established by two founding states, Eroglu said that the issue of the guarantees is one of his indispensable conditions and reiterated the view that all Turkish settlers should automatically become citizens of the federal state. He also noted that he has criteria on the territory issue and argued that the number of the persons who will be displaced should be the minimum possible. Reiterating that the agreement should become EU's primary law, Eroglu said that he could not understand all those who accuse him in spite of the fact that the Greek Cypriots were the ones who allegedly abandoned the table at a stage when the bargaining would begin.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Siber: If I was at the negotiating table, Anastasiades would not run away

Siber argued that the forthcoming "elections" in the occupied area of Cyprus are very important for the course of the Cyprus problem. She claimed that they have given "big struggles" for achieving a federal Cyprus, that the Turkish Cypriots want to become a part of the world and that the time has come for them to take their place in the world with their own identity.

She added: "We exist with our democratic structure. The approval of our existence is important for us. We want a solution. Eroglu does not give the impression of being trustworthy on the issue if his wish is for a solution. He is meeting with a high level mission chief and says that 'we should lift the isolations, you have promised us, we said yes to the Annan Plan'. The insincerity is essentially here. He is a person who had carried out a no campaign for the Annan Plan. He is the representative of the 35% who said no. How he can enthusiastically represent us? You decide for this".

Asked what she would do if Turkey issued another NAVTEX instruction and the Greek Cypriot side abandoned the negotiating table again, Siber alleged that the NAVTEX was a result of what she called as "the unilateral drilling as the Republic of Cyprus". She claimed: "Hydrocarbon is a common gain of the two peoples, but while on the one hand the Greek Cypriot leader was talking for the solution on the other he benefited from the Republic of Cyprus' identity and launched drilling works. This was a stance contrary to the spirit of the solution and caused a negative influence. [?] Our proposal, however, was the discussion of the hydrocarbons at a technical committee, by taking into consideration that they are a common value of the two peoples. Therefore, this could not be an excuse. If this had been well explained to the world, Anastasiades' abandoning the table, would not have been received well. [?]"

Siber argued that Eroglu achieved nothing during the past five years and uses fear and intimidation to win "people's" votes in the "elections", by saying to the Turkish settlers that "they will put you on a ship and send you back".

Asked what will happen with the issue of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha and the illegal Tymbou airport in case she is elected, Siber said that Varosha can open only under the UN control, because there is a relevant UN Resolution. She argued: "[?] If you violate this Resolution and open Varosha, it means that you have done away with the negotiating table, because the Greek Cypriots do not see positively this situation. Therefore, you are causing a new crisis in which the Greek Cypriots will leave the table and which the UN will not be approving. [?] If the works start today, Varosha could open only within 5-7 years. The Cyprus problem will be solved much earlier, but doing a work for Varosha until then is important".

Responding to a question on how she plans on building a balance between the confidence building measures and the solution, Siber said that they will implement confidence building measures such as the cooperation between institutions in the field of health, contagious diseases, the environment, the GSM issue, the vehicle insurances etc.

Asked to comment on the information that her origin is the Democratic Party (DP), Siber argued that DP had been established as a social democratic party and she had been registered in that party with the encouragement of some friends, but she never undertook any duty in that party.

(I/Ts.)

[03] The contacts of Ergun Olgun in Germany

According to Bayrak, Olgun met with Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office with whom he discussed the developments of the Cyprus negotiations. He expressed to Roth the Turkish Cypriot side's determination for finding a bizonall, bicommunal solution based on political equality. On his part Roth stated during the meeting that Germany supports the efforts of UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide and added that Germany will do everything possible so that the new opportunity for solution not to be lost.

In the framework of his contacts Olgun also met with members of the German Green Party and he discussed the potentials of investments in the breakaway regime.

(CS)

[04] Statements by Cirali on the hellim/halloumi cheese registration process

Providing information about the latest stage of the process in the EU, Cirali said that after the submission of the application, the inspection process regarding the registration has been completed. "What is important for us is the issue of the inspection of the producers in the north. Our officials in all levels held contacts with the EU and pointed out to the need for the establishment of an independent organization for the inspection of the producers in the north, an organization which will not come under the government in south Cyprus. We have conveyed the position that we will accept the establishment of this kind of organization. The views we received about this matter, is that the EU is preparing a formula towards our demands", Cirali stated.

Cirali explained that the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in "south Cyprus", as he called the Republic of Cyprus will be the responsible authority for the producers in the "south" and added that the EU is of the opinion that until an agreement will be found in the "north", a separate independent authority should be formed.

Cirali added further the following: "We are talking about a mechanism which will be approved by both, the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot sides. I consider that it will not take long and I estimate that we will finally reach a result in the forthcoming months".

(?)

(AK)

[05] Gul: "A fair solution in Cyprus is essential"

(AK)

[06] Cyprus on the election manifest of AKP

In the section regarding foreign policy, it is stated that one of the priorities of AKP is for the Turkish Cypriot "people" to take its rightful place in the international arena. It is also stated that the Turkish government will continue the determined steps in order to strengthen the infrastructure in the "TRNC" and to increase the prosperity of the "country".

(CS)

[07] One of the two patients with suspicion of being contracted the Mad Cow disease passed away; statements by Sennaroglu

In statements on the issue, Ramadan Kamiloglu, chief doctor of the hospital said that the samples taken were sent abroad for further testing and added that they will have the final results in two weeks. Kamiloglu also said that all necessary measures were taken in the hospital.

Meanwhile, in statements to the paper, Dr Feridun Adahan, Tropical Diseases expert said that the possibility of contracting the disease from animals in the "TRNC" was minimal and that there was no need for widespread panic.

The "head of the veterinary union" Umut Sayili said that this disease had not been found in animals in the "country" until now. Also Prof. Dr Nedim Cakir said that it was not possible to find clinical discoveries and say that the disease was found in the "TRNC".

Moreover, issuing a written statement after the announcement of the death of one of the two patients, the so-called minister of agriculture and energy Onder Sennaroglu said that "cattle" in the "country" did not have the Mad Cow's Disease and called on the public not to worry.

Referring to the person who died, Sennaroglu said that the person in question could have been contracted the disease from the consumption of imported products from another country and added that the products believed to cause this illness had been banned since 2001 with a "council of minister's decision" and since then their importation is illegal.

Sennaroglu explained that the Mad Cow disease is possible to appear after 10-20 years since the consumption of tainted meat products.

The statement also assured the public that there was no need for panic as only 5 patients had been diagnosed with mad cow in the "TRNC" in the past 10 years.

(AK)

[08] AKP announced its election manifesto; Presidential system "first job" of the next parliament

"We aim to make a new breakthrough for both our nation and humanity via our civilization call," Davutoglu said in a promotion meeting in Ankara where he read the 100-article election manifesto, which features the AK Party's main campaign themes such as state protection of human dignity, equal citizenship, the drafting of a new constitution, the implementation of a presidential system, and measures towards a human-oriented economic development.

Reporting on the same issue, Hurriyet Daily News (16.04.15) reports that in its election manifesto, AKP has vowed to change the country's administrative system from a parliamentary to a presidential system, in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's insistent calls, describing the writing of a new constitution as the "first job" of the next parliament. Davutoglu said he "personally" wrote the section on the presidential system, upon Erdogan's strong messages that Turkey should abandon the parliamentary system "to boost its growth."

[09] Strong reaction from Turkey on European Parliament Resolution on Armenian genocide

The comments came amid accusations by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that Pope Francis has "joined the conspiracy" of an "evil front" targeting his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), after the Pontiff referred to the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians as "the first genocide of the 20th century."

"Whatever decision the European Parliament takes on Armenian genocide claims, it will go in one ear and out of the other because it is not possible for Turkey to accept such a crime, such a sin," Erdogan told a news conference at Ankara's airport before departing on an official visit to Kazakhstan, just hours before the European Parliament adopted the Resolution that called Ankara to "recognize the genocide."

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (16.04.15) reports that Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement the following: "The European Parliament which is known for contriving obstacles to the development of Turkey-EU relations aspired once again to rewrite history regarding the 1915 events, as it has attempted to do so previously. This aspiration has resulted in a preposterous text of a Resolution dated April 15, 2015 which literally repeats the anti-Turkish cliches of the Armenian propaganda". The ministry further accused the European Parliament of repeating "exactly a mistake it has made in the past in an incompatible way with international law and exceeding its competence." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ AM)

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