TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 28/14 11.02.14
1. Cyprus talks are resuming today; Eroglu: The Turkish Cypriot will
determine their own future
2. Davutoglu and Kerry agree on avoiding unilateral steps that might harm
the solution process in Cyprus
3. Nami: If the will for a federal solution is exhibited, a comprehensive
plan could be submitted to referenda within months
4. Erk: No other
alternative than saying yes to referendum
5. Fule met with
Turkish Ministers in Brussels and expressed satisfaction for the negotiation’s
launching
6. KTOEOS reacts
against Islam spreading to the occupied area of Cyprus
1. Cyprus talks are resuming today; Eroglu: The Turkish Cypriot will
determine their own future
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (11.02.14) reports that the process with the aim of finding a
solution to the Cyprus problem is resuming today at the UN headquarters in the
buffer zone near the closed International Airport in Nicosia, after the
agreement reached by the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides on the text of the
joint declaration. According to the paper, this
will be the first meeting between the community leaders since 29 March 2012.
In a written statement prior to the meeting, Eroglu pointed out that “it is evident that the process will be
difficult” and added that “what I want from everyone is to pay attention to
what we say not the speculations”. He argued: “As I always say, our biggest
power is our unity and solidarity. It is leading the national cause of Cyprus
together with motherland Turkey within the framework of mutual respect and
love. While I was entering into the 2010 presidential elections, I had said
that the will of the people will solve
the Cyprus issue. I am at the same point again. The Turkish Cypriot people themselves will determine their future”.
Meanwhile, the paper writes that the US Ambassador to Nicosia, John Koenig
visited Kudret Ozersay and expressed his satisfaction about the latter’s
appointment to the post of the negotiator of the Turkish Cypriot side. They
reportedly held consultations on the
today’s meeting and the process which will follow.
(I/Ts.)
2. Davutoglu and Kerry agree on avoiding unilateral steps that might harm
the solution process in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (11.02.14) reports that
Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet
Davutoglu and his US counterpart, John Kerry discussed the developments in Cyprus
over a telephone conversation they had last night. According to information
acquired by diplomatic sources, Davutoglu and Kerry assessed the latest
developments on the island and pointed
out to the importance of supporting the process that has just resumed. The
two ministers underlined the necessity
of avoiding unilateral steps which might harm the process. Moreover, the
two ministers exchanged views on the second round of talks on Syria which will
be held in Geneva.
Meanwhile, Davutoglu stated
that they “broadly discussed the Cyprus problem” during the Political Dialogue
Meeting between Turkey and the EU. “An extremely positive climate exists”, he
said adding that the joint statement
agreed by the two sides on the island “is
not any joint text, it has in a sense created a negotiating framework”. He
alleged that significant part of the difficulties, which had come up during the
process, was overcome with what he described as “very good intended and
constructive initiatives of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side”.
He said that the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus
problem have gained “serious acceleration” recently. He noted that during the
meeting they conveyed to the EU their
determination to speed up Turkey’s EU perspective and the negotiating process
in Cyprus and hold these processes within a timetable. He said that this is
the first time during the recent years that all the players have exhibited
strong will to contribute in the process and added that the UN, the EU, Turkey,
Greece and Britain as guarantor powers and the USA “have exerted very serious
effort”. “This is a new stage”, he argued adding that he would meet
with his Greek counterpart at a working dinner between the EU Foreign Ministers
and each Foreign Minister of the candidate countries.
Davutoglu
said that after the resumption of the negotiations, the visits of the
representatives of the sides to Athens and Ankara will take place and “this
will give a new dimension to the negotiations”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Nami: If the will for a federal solution is exhibited, a comprehensive
plan could be submitted to referenda within months
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (11.02.14) reports that Ozdil Nami, self-styled minister of
foreign affairs of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus, has said that if lessons have
been learned from the mistakes of the past and the will of reaching a federal
solution is really exhibited at the negotiating table, “a new comprehensive
plan could be submitted in both sides to referenda with a process that will
last months, not years”.
Nami noted that after the meeting held today between the Turkish
Cypriot leader Eroglu and President Anastasiades, the beginning of a new
negotiating process will be announced. He said that the two leaders will give
instructions in the direction of immediately starting work on the main chapters
of the negotiations on the basis expressed in the joint declaration. He said
that the leaders will be focused on the issues on which no solution is
reached.
In statements to Anatolia news agency, Nami said that he had
evaluated with EU Commissioner for the Enlargement, Stefan Fule in Brussels the
recent developments in Cyprus, the process as regards the joint declaration and
the steps taken by the Turkish Cypriots for the EU. He noted that their discussions were positive and added that they
expect Fule to come to Cyprus. He argued that the world’s interest for
Cyprus increases and a new process started for the solution.
“The two sides on the island
should stop seeing each other as the enemy”, he noted.
Nami went on and claimed
that Turkey has played a “positive role which is very much appreciated” in the
process and argued that we owe a big thanks to the Turkish government, if today
a positive climate exists for Cyprus in Europe and the UN. He alleged that Turkey’s stance encouraged all sides concerned and
claimed that if all sides show the same will, success is inevitable.
Moreover, in statements to Ada television, Nami argued that “a very
important window of opportunity exists” in the Cyprus problem. He expressed the
view that the interest of the international community for the Cyprus problem
will help the leaders in taking difficult decisions, adding that “we are closer to the solution than yesterday”.
He argued: “It will be a beautiful
beginning. There is an important document which has historic value. Davutoglu’s
visit to the island was very important. A very important window of opportunity
was opened. We are at a verge which will lead us to the comprehensive solution”.
Asked on how the appointment of Kudret
Ozersay to the post of the negotiator of the Turkish Cypriot side will
influence the negotiating process, Nami replied that Eroglu will determine the
persons with whom he will work together and that he is responsible for the
continuation of the process. “The leaders are the negotiators”, he added.
(I/Ts.)
4. Erk: No other
alternative than saying yes to referendum
Turkish Cypriot daily Realist newspaper
(11.02.14) reports that a delegation
headed by the general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Kutlay
Erk held a meeting with a delegation of the United Cyprus/ Bi-communal Peace
Initiative.
According to the
paper, the two parties exchanged views regarding the steps needed to be taken
so that the two “peoples” in Cyprus to be motivated for the solution.
During the meeting, Erk commented on the launching of the Cyprus negotiations and stated
that there is no other alternative than the two sides to say yes to a referendum.
“Either we control as Cypriots the procedure or we will live on this island
without hope”, he stated. He went on and stated that there are Cypriots sitting
at the negotiation table, therefore they will be the ones to form the solution.
5. Fule met with
Turkish Ministers in Brussels and expressed satisfaction for the negotiation’s
launching
Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (11.02.14)
reports that Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu and EU Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with EU
Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule and EU foreign policy chief Catherine
Ashton yesterday in Brussels for a Turkey-EU political dialogue meeting.
After the meeting,
Fule issued a statement noting that Turkey and the EU agree on how important
the reaching of a solution is for the benefitof the two sides in Cyprus.
During the meeting Turkey’s EU relations,
including Ankara’s accession progress were discussed and an exchange of views
on major regional and international developments took place. The paper also
writes thatthe EU expressed concerns over Turkey’s new internet bill.
6. KTOEOS reacts
against Islam spreading to the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(11.02.14) reports that the fact that
the theological college in occupied Ayia Milia village offers to its student’s
free meals, residence and free transportation to school and the fact that it
also organizes for them various trips to Turkey, caused the reactions of the
Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teacher’s Union (KTOEOS).
According to the paper, KTOEOS stated that
these actions lead to the creation of a privileged body in the occupied area of
Cyprus. The paper also writes that the
self-styled minister of education issued a statement noting that the trips to
Turkey are not organized by the “ministry” but by the Youth and Sport Ministry
of Turkey.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
