5/12/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW





TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

C O N T E N T S

No. 230/13                                                                            05.12.13
1. Talat: Single sovereignty should be included in a joint statement
2. Ozyigit: Varosha should be returned to its legal owners as confidence building measure; Eroglu: Varosha is part of the “territory” chapter
3. Eroglu: Only an agreement lacks in Cyprus
4. Reference to Cyprus in the EP’s draft report on Turkey
5. Reception for the breakaway regime’s 30th anniversary was held in Kuwait
6. Cost of living in the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 8.28% since last November
7. Ayios Loucas church in the occupied part of Lefkosia is collapsing
8. Diyalog The new paper published in occupied Cyprus
9. Turkey, EU to sign readmission agreement on 16 December, to negotiate visa exemption
10. Turkey, Qatar sign energy cooperation agreement













1. Talat: Single sovereignty should be included in a joint statement
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.12.13) reports that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat has said that the principles of single sovereignty and single citizenship, which cause difficulties for issuing a joint statement that would lead to the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations, must be included in the joint statement.

Kibris writes that Talat said that the single sovereignty and single citizenship were for a long time among the main principles in the Cyprus negotiations and added that this is reiterated in the UN Security Council’s Resolutions on Cyprus. 

Referring to a statement made recently by Foreign Minister Kasoulides that “if Talat was in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community we would not feel the need for a joint statement”, Talat noted that this statement might have been made because of the lack of trust towards Eroglu and because he [Talat] had accepted the principles of single sovereignty and single citizenship in the negotiations. Talat said that when it is said “let us declare single sovereignty and single citizenship”, this should be accepted instead of being rejected or watered down.
Noting, however, that he respects Eroglu’s stance, Talat said, inter alia, the following: “The biggest responsibility for launching the negotiations belongs to the Turkish Cypriot side. We should want more than anyone else the solution of the Cyprus problem. This is at the same time a responsibility towards the Turkish Cypriot people. Single sovereignty and single citizenship should be included in the joint statement. If the negotiations will start, a way should be found and reference should be made to this issue. We should in no case create the impression that ‘we want two separate states or the partnership of two states which have separate sovereignty’. This will present us negatively in the world…”
Talat went on and said that no UN Security Council Resolution refers to the principle of “residual powers”, which the Turkish side wants to be included in the joint statement, but this ‘principle’ is included in the Cuellar Document, the Ghali Set of Ideas and the Annan Plan, which said that “the residual powers are given to the founding states”. He added: “However, the equivalent of single sovereignty and single citizenship is not the residual powers. Actually this is the issue. The equivalent of single sovereignty and single citizenship could only be the two founding states, their equal status and political equality…”
Talat argued that the reason for which Eroglu “openly refrains of accepting single sovereignty and single citizenship” is because this issue had been one of the main elements of Eroglu’s campaign in the so-called presidential elections in 2010.Talat said that Eroglu made no concessions on this issue and claimed that the Greek Cypriots used this opportunity as they found Eroglu’s weakness.
Talat argued that it would be dangerous not to launch the negotiations soon, adding that this could offer to the Greek Cypriots the opportunity to “get rid of all the agreements reached until now”. Reiterating the view that interrupting the negotiations during the Republic of Cyprus’ EU term Presidency was wrong, Talat recalled that if the negotiations do not start in six months, the election period will begin [in Turkey] and no one will be saying “let us start from the agreements that had been reached”.
(I/Ts.)

2. Ozyigit: Varosha should be returned to its legal owners as confidence building measure; Eroglu:Varosha is part of the “territory” chapter
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.12.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu met yesterday with a delegation from the Social Democracy Party (TDP) headed by TDP’s newly elected chairman, Cemal Ozyigit.

In statements during the meeting, Ozyigit said that the negotiating process for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem should not be conducted through dinners anymore and added that the occupied closed city of Varosha should open under the supervision of the UN and be returned to its legal owners as a confidence building measure.
On his part Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side had submitted to former President Papadopoulos a proposal regarding the opening of illegal Tymvou airport for international flights and the lifting of the “embargoes” on the “TRNC” [Translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] in return for the opening of Varosha. Noting that this proposal had not been accepted, Eroglu argued that the proposal could not be at the table for 40 years and claimed that Varosha could be discussed only at the negotiating table under the chapter of “territory”.
Eroglu argued that the Turkish Cypriots had said “yes” to both Perez de Quellar Plan and the Annan Plan and alleged that the Greek Cypriots are trying to make these “yes” votes be forgotten.
Eroglu alleged that they want an agreement and simultaneous referenda in the first quarter of 2014. He claimed that there is no need for a joint statement and added that he is ready to sit at the negotiating table.
Ozyigit noted that because of the non-solution of the Cyprus problem, migration increased and added that a positive result should be taken from the peace process in order for the migration to Australia and Britain to be reversed.
Ozyigit argued that the 77-page document prepared by the UN Secretary-General on the Cyprus problem should be discussed and a joint statement should be issued regarding the point to which the negotiations reached since 1977.
Ozyigit went on and criticized the statement made by the Turkish Minister Responsible for the EU and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis, who had compared the Cypriots to mules, and described this as “unacceptable”.   
(I/Ts.)

3. Eroglu:Only an agreement lacks in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.12.13) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu alleged yesterday that the “TRNC state” [Translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] has been established in the occupied area of Cyprus and continues to exist having all its “institutions and organisations”. The only thing that lacks in Cyprus is an agreement, he claimed in statements during a meeting with war veterans from the Turkish city of Kocaeli. 

Claiming that the negotiations in Cyprus continue for 50 years, Eroglu argued that “the people living on the TRNC lands” want to live in peace without wondering how their future will be.

“I would say that these negotiations should be concluded now, but both sides should want the agreement”, he claimed and said that “if we find an agreement by mutually respecting each other’s rights, this agreement will be viable”. He alleged that they have in front of them a side which does not want an agreement.
(I/Ts.) 
4. Reference to Cyprus in the EP’s draft report on Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.12.13) reports that the European Parliament’s (EP) draft report on Turkey calls on the Republic of Cyprus to create the opportunity for the Turkish Cypriots to conduct direct trade. According to Anatolia news agency, the report prepared by the Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten reiterates the EP’s strong support to the reunification of the island “on the basis of a just and viable solution for both communities”.

The report also makes a call on Turkey to begin the withdrawal of her occupation army from the island and return the occupied closed city of Varosha to its legal owners.
According to Anatolia news agency, the report criticizes the fact that Turkey has not yet implemented the Additional Protocol, which provides for the opening of her sea ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels and airplanes. It also calls on Turkey not to prevent the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in international organizations.
(I/Ts.)
5. Reception for the breakaway regime’s 30th anniversary was held in Kuwait
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper reports that the “TRNC representation office” in Kuwait organized a reception for the 30th anniversary of the breakaway regime’s “establishment”.

Foreign diplomatic mission guests were among the participants in the reception writes the paper and notes that four Arab-speaking newspapers referred to the event in their pages. Especially Al-Anba newspaper published a photograph of the event and wrote that there are friendly relations between  Kuwait and the breakaway regime.

6. Cost of living in the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 8.28% since last November
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.12.13) reports that the consumer prices index, which is accepted as an indication for the cost of living, increased by 0.37% in November 2013 in comparison to last month and by 8.28% in comparison to the same month of last year. According to data announced by the so-called state planning organization, the cost of living increased by 8.29% as when compared to December of last year. The biggest increase was observed in the prices of clothes and shoes the price of which went up by 7.21% compared to last month. 
(I/Ts.)

7. Ayios Loucas church in the occupied part of Lefkosia is collapsing
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (05.12.13) reports that the historical church of Ayios Loucas, which is located in the within the walls area of occupied Lefkosia, is abandoned and in a very bad condition.

The paper writes that the church has been used as a culture center for years.

The walls of the church are painted with spray, the windows are broken, and there are garbage in its yard, writes the paper which publishes pictures of the church.
8. Diyalog The new paper published in occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot Diyalog newspaper has started to be published as of yesterday.
Writing about the publishing of just another newspaper in occupied Cyprus, Diayalog editor-in-chief, Resat Akar noted(04.12.13) that  the aim of the new paper is to protect the nature and the historical objects of arts in Cyprus and also to point out the rights and wrongs in politics without having any ulterior motives. He also noted that the paper is pro-peace.

Commenting on today’s edition (05.12.13) Akar writes that 3.300 pieces of the paper were printed yesterday and were distributed via the papers subscribers and via selling points.

9. Turkey, EU to sign readmission agreement on 16 December, to negotiate visa exemption
Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.12.13) reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated that the EU-Turkey visa exemption process will start in Ankara and readmission agreement will be signed on December 16.Speaking at a joint press conference he held with Cecilia Malmstrom, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Stefan Fule, European Commissioner responsible for EU enlargement and European neighborhood policy. Davutoglu further said that Turkey witnesses a historical day because finally the negotiation on visa exemption dialogue will start and the EU Commission agreed to sign the readmission agreement.

(Note: It is not clarified whether Turkey will sign the agreement with all 28 members’ states).

10. Turkey, Qatar sign energy cooperation agreement
Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.12.13) reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday met the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani the Qatari capital Doha.



A cooperation agreement in energy was also signed between the Electricity Production Company from Turkey and Qatar Holding during the meeting of the two leaders.



----------------------------------------------------


TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION