TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 38/14 25.02.14
1. Ozersay: We clearly saw on which issues we will face difficulties and on
which we will agree more easily
2. Matthew Kidd says solution in Cyprus is more likely now
3. Eroglu insists on two peoples in Cyprus
4. Eroglu met with the German Ambassador to Lefkosia
5. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State discussed Cyprus
problem with Turkish Foreign Ministry during a surprise visit to Turkey
6. Bahceli on the Cyprus problem: “Turkey cannot make
concessions towards Cyprus”
7. Elcil accuses Eroglu of trying to undermine the
Cyprus talks
8. Progressive Alliance supports the Cyprus talks
9. The property of the Greek Cypriots, who were
compensated, would belong to Turkey
10.Self-styled
minister of foreign affairs and the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade are
organizing a workshop
11. Siber’s contact
with foreign delegations during the OIC 9th Parliamentary Union Conference
12. TGP will hold its general assembly on May 2015
13. Murat Kanatli is
detained after so-called military court ruling
1. Ozersay: We clearly saw on which issues we will face difficulties and on
which we will agree more easily
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.02.14) reports that Kudret Ozersay, negotiator of the
Turkish Cypriot community in the Cyprus talks held a two and a half hour meeting yesterday at the buffer zone with
the Greek Cypriot negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis.In statements to illegal
Bayrak afterwards, Ozersay said that the
climate was positive during the meeting in which they discussed the method and the procedure of the negotiations.
“However, we basically
discussed together some issues under the main chapter of Governance and Power
Sharing and some issues related to the EU”, he noted adding that “moreover
in the meeting we saw more clearly on
which issues we will face difficulties to agree and on which issues we will
agree more easily”.
Ozersay said thattheir
next meeting will be held on 4 March and that
during the meeting they will discuss
issues under the chapter of Governance and Power Sharing such as the powers,
the formation and the election of the federal government, and in relation to
this the list with the powers of the federal state and the residual powers of
the constituent states. He noted that the Greek Cypriot side has suggested
that the property issue should be discussed in relation to the Governance and
Power Sharing and the Turkish Cypriot side accepted this suggestion. He
reiterated, however, the view of the Turkish side that the territorial issue
and the map should be discussed in the end of the negotiations. He added:
“Therefore, we will listen to their
views on the property in relation to the territory, except the map and the
numbers, and we will put forward our own views on the property issue”.
Meanwhile, referring to the same issue,
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (25.02.14) reports that the spokesman of the United Nations Peace
Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Michel Bonnardeaux said that UN experts
provide assistance to the negotiators on issues such as the property,
security/military matters, the EU, the constitutional law and political affairs.
The paper writes that the negotiators agreed yesterday on the method of the
negotiations.
(I/Ts.)
2. Matthew Kidd says solution in Cyprus is more likely now
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.02.14) reports that the British High Commissioner, Matthew Kidd,
who will leave Nicosia in the end of April, has said that the momentum for reaching a solution in Cyprus is higher
than in many other periods. In an interview with Kibris, the British High
Commissioner expressed the view that it
is not easy to reach an agreement from the point we are today and added that
the people in both sides of the island must take very difficult decisions, if
an agreement is to be reached. “None of the sides will be able to take all
it wants”, he noted.
Kidd said that the sides should trust each other in order for an
agreement to be reached on the island and argued that “this time it is more likely to reach the end of the road, that is, to
have two ‘yes’” votes in the referendum. He went on and gave the message to
the inhabitants of the island to be calm and work in this direction.
Replying to a question, Kidd
said that the United Kingdom has contributed in the process for reaching an
agreement on the joint declaration and that the hopes for a solution increased after the signing of the declaration
by the community leaders. Kidd
described the declaration as “a good basis” adding that it clarifies a
little bit how the sides will approach some issues which are waiting to be
solved.
Asked whether an agreement
could be reached within 4-5 months, Kidd noted that this is very ambitious and
a very limited period of time for solving matters, among which “big issues”
also exist. He went on and pointed out that the
referendum should be prepared carefully.
Asked whether the solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation
contradicts the acquis communautaire of the EU, the British High Commissioner said that we have always known that “a
careful method is needed” to “match” the acquis with the bi-zonal, bi-communal
federation and added that in some areas short-term or long-term derogations
might be needed.
Replying to another question, he
said that he would not be surprised if the negotiators of the two communities
included London in their future visits. “This would be very reasonable”, he
said adding that both negotiators could visit London at the same time and hold
either separate or joint meetings at the Foreign Ministry.
Asked whether the United Kingdom would be
willing to abandon its status as “guarantor power”, the British High
Commissioner noted that if both sides agree on how the treaty of guarantee
should be, the UK will not say “no”. He
said that the reason of guarantees is to create safety for the Cypriots, but a
model imposed from outside would not be as good as something agreed upon between
the communities.
(I/Ts.)
3. Eroglu insists on two peoples in Cyprus
Illegal Bayrak
television (24.02.14) broadcast that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu
met with a delegation from the “Martyr Families and Disabled War Veterans
Association”.
Speaking during the
visit, Eroglu stated that he is working towards finding a permanent and viable
solution to the Cyprus problem and added: “If
the other side has the same intentions and acts with the realization that there
are two peoples on the island then there is no reason why we cannot find a
solution to the Cyprus Problem”.
He went on and
added the following: “We want to find an agreement that will not allow us to
return to pre 1974 conditions. We are searching for a solution that will not
make us experience what we did during the 1960 republic. Whether it’s possible
or not we will find out at the negotiations table” he stated.
4. Eroglu met with the German Ambassador to
Lefkosia
Illegal Bayrak television (24.02.14) broadcast that
the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu met with the German Ambassador to Lefkosia
Gabriela Guellil.The latest developments on the
Cyprus problem and the Cyprus negotiations process topped the agenda of the
meeting. No statement was issued before or after the meeting.
5. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State discussed Cyprus
problem with Turkish Foreign Ministry during a surprise visit to Turkey
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (25.02.14) reports that
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns paid a surprise visit to Turkey
and met with the Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu.
During the meeting Burns conveyed the appreciation of
U.S. President Barack Obama for the new solution procedure regarding the Cyprus
problem. The paper notes that the meeting was held
after the telephone conversation between with Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan on Feb. 19 and Obama.
In addition,
Sabah writes that the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden and United
States Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel are planning to visit Turkey soon.
6.Bahceli on the Cyprus problem: “Turkey cannot
make concessions towards Cyprus”
According to Turkish Cypriot
daily Diyalog newspaper (25.02.14) the chairman of the Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli has evaluated the re-launching
of the Cyprus negotiation talks.
Replying to a reporter’s question
during a visit paid to him yesterday by Istanbul’s Chamber of Commerce, Bahceli
referred to the visit the Deputy Secretary of State, William Burns will pay to
Turkey and said that Burns, during his contacts in Turkey, will discuss several
issues including the Cyprus problem.
As regards the Cyprus problem,
Bahceli said that the USA is exerting efforts with a different approach, for
the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Pointing out that the USA has
exerted efforts to persuade Turkey on the Cyprus problem, Bahceli added:
“Turkey’s traditional approach towards the Cyprus problem is that it is not
possible to accept any political or social change that will eliminate Turkey’s
existence there. The existence of the TRNC should be protected there, together
with the two sovereignties and two communities. Turkey cannot make concessions
towards this. (…)”.
(AK)
7. Elcil accuses Eroglu of trying to undermine the
Cyprus talks
Turkish Cypriot
daily Afrika newspaper (25.02.14) reports that Sener Elcil, general secretary
of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS), has stressed
that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu behaves against the principle of
not making provoking statements, which was in the context of the “framework
agreement” which was signed prior to the Cyprus talks, adding that Eroglu’s
statements “Varosha will not be returned, the Turkish army will not be
withdrawn, the population will not be dispatched” are the finest examples of
his provocation.
In a written
statement issued yesterday, Elcil noted that the fake nationalists, who are
nourished with blood, tears and loots in order to cause collapse of the on-going
negotiation process intended for a solution of the Cyprus problem, have
appeared again to the stage.
Elcil accused
Eroglu of starting a campaign to sabotage the Cyprus talks, by putting his
“dynasty” Tahsin Ertugruloglu and Zorlu Tore to make the statements. He added
that Ertugruloglu is known for what he did with the Annan plan.
Elcil said that
Eroglu has harmed this communityenough; adding that they know very well that he
doesn’t want a solution. He accused him of trying to remove from the
negotiation team those who want a solution.
8. Progressive Alliance supports the Cyprus talks
Turkish Cypriot
daily Yeni Duzen (25.02.14) reports that the Republican Turkish Party – United
Forces (CTP-BG) participated in the Progressive Alliance Conference in Tunis,
which was held between 21-22 February. CTP is one of the founder members of the
Alliance.
According to a
press release issued by CTP-BG, the self-styled deputy of CTP-BG Armagan Candan
represented CTP at the conference.
The paper reports
that the Progressive Alliance accepted unanimously the proposal by Candan for
support on the Cyprus talks. The decision of the Progressive Alliance on the
Cyprus talks is the following:
“Progressive
Alliance welcomes the resumption of the negotiations aiming to unite the island
of Cyprus under a bizonal, bicommunal federation with the political equality of
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Progressive Alliance is convinced that the
joint statement agreed by the two leaders on the island on 11 February 2014
lays a solid foundation for result oriented talks and a peaceful settlement of
the Cyprus problem under the auspices of the United Nations. We wish all the
success to the Cypriots in their effort to unite the island and call all the
related parties to work with good will for an early solution of this half a
century long problem in the East Mediterranean.”
9. The property of the Greek Cypriots, who were
compensated, would belong to Turkey
Column “A letter
from ‘Africa’”, in Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (25.02.14), writes that it has
been decided that there will be a new note attached behind the title deeds
given by the Greek Cypriots, who had applied to the “immovable property
commission”, to get compensation for exchange of their property in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus.
According to the
paper, the note “It is paid by the Republic of Turkey” will be written behind
the title deeds. This was discussed between the Turkish Cypriot lawyers, who
visited Turkey, and Turkish officials.
The paper
wonders what this means and concludes that it means that this property belongs
now to Turkey.
The paper adds:
“why then do officials tell us very often that a solution in Cyprus will save
us?”The paper further says that this situation is unbearable and it is very
difficult to get out of this swamp.
10.Self-styled
minister of foreign affairs and the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade are
organizing a workshop
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(25.02.14) reports that the self-styled minister of foreign affairs and the Islamic
Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT), are organizing a workshop in the
breakaway regime under the title: “Export promotion and investment strategies
in the context of globalization”.
The workshop will take place between 3-6 March
2014 at the illegal Near East University.
11. Siber’s contact
with foreign delegations during the OIC 9th Parliamentary Union Conference
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(25.02.14) reports that the self-style speaker of the “assembly”, Sibel Siber who addressed
the general assembly of the 9th Parliamentary Union Conference of the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation in Tehran,gave information about her contacts with
foreign delegations during the conference.
Speaking during a press conference, she
said that she met with many assembly speakers among them the assembly speakers
of Jordan, Sudan, Libya, Azerbaijan, Uganda, Tadzhikistan and Malaysia and also
with the deputy speaker of the assembly of Pakistan.
12. TGP will hold its general assembly on May 2015
Turkish Cypriot
daily Vatan (25.02.14) reports that the leader of the Social Evolution Party
(TGP), Enver Dincoglu, in a statement yesterday, said that the party is formed
by honorary members of its administrative council until its general assembly
which will be held on May 2015.Dincoglu announced that
the work for registering new party members continues.
13. Murat Kanatli
is detained after so-called military court ruling
Turkish daily Kibris
Postasi news site (25.02.14) broadcast that the member of the Board of
Directors of New Cyprus Party (YKP) Murat Kanatli who declared his
conscientious objection and refused to do “military service” since 2009 is
detained by a so-called military court.
The case which has been running since 14 June
2011 had its final “ruling” today and fined Kanatli 500 TL. According to the “ruling”,
Kanatli would face “military imprisonment” for 10 days if he refused to pay the
fine. Reports say that Kanatli refused to pay the fine and is detained by the “military
court” and is taken to the “military prison”.
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