TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No.
92/14 21.05.14
1.
According to diplomatic sources Biden is expected to announce that
the US will finance a project for the reconstruction of the
fenced off town of Varosha
2.
Statements by Ozersay after yesterday’s meeting with Mavroyiannis
3.
Eroglu accuses President Anastasiades for ignoring the convergences
reached in the past; The next meeting of the two leaders on June 2
4.
Interview by Talat; Biden is visiting Cyprus in order to put pressure
5. Logoglu said that
Davutoglu is pushing the Turkish Cypriots towards a US-backed plan
6.
Izzet Izcan comments on Biden’s visit to Cyprus
7.
Statements by Toros and Cirali: “Varosha can be opened as long as
there is something in return"
8.
Deep Purple rock band to give a concert in the occupied area of
Cyprus; They will arrive to Cyprus via illegal Tymbou airport
9. A technological war
between “YDU” and Harvard MIT
1.
According to diplomatic sources
Biden is expected to announce that the US will finance a project for
the reconstruction of the fenced off town of Varosha
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (21.05.14), in its front page under the
title “A joint statement for Varosha”, reports that after the
joint statement, which was announced before the resumption of the
negotiation process for a “United Cyprus”, there is a claim now
that the Cypriot leaders have prepared this time a “joint statement
for Varosha”.
According
to the paper, international and local experts for Varosha will meet
together and prepare a “feasibility report”. How the result of
this work will be produced will be decided accordingly to the course
of the negotiations. All the technical details how Varosha will be
reconstructed will be examined and reported. The experts will also
give answers for questions like “how a new port can be created at
Famagusta?”, “how can Famagusta be opened to international cruise
and trade ships?”, “what will be the cost for the reconstruction
of the fenced off town of Varosha?”
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay, in statements to the
paper, repeated that the interlocutor both at the talks for a
comprehensive solution and at the Confidence Building Measures is the
Turkish Cypriot side. He added that he only can say this at this
stage. However, he said that it is not correct to make any broad
statement in order not to harm in any way the process. He also said:
“If a confidence building measure emerges that can aid the
comprehensive solution, and we are also convinced on this, and if
there is a just balance, then we will negotiate it. As he said this
is a commitment that was undertaken on the joint statement of
February 11.
Speaking
on the same issue, the self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami,
stated that the focus of Biden’s visit will be on the comprehensive
solution of the Cyprus problem and how the negotiations can be
speed up. “Varosha is part of a comprehensive solution and every
proposal as regards Varosha must be on the framework of a
comprehensive solution”, he said.
In
addition, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman
(online, 20.05.14) reported that according to a diplomatic source,
who wished to remain anonymous, Biden's visit is a “positive
development” regarding the peace talks between the Greek and the
Turkish Cypriot side that kicked off at the beginning of this year
and may add momentum to the negotiations.
2.
Statements by Ozersay after
yesterday’s meeting with Mavroyiannis
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.05.14) under the title: “Everybody
should act responsibly”, reports on yesterday’s meeting between
the two Cypriot negotiators, Kudret Ozersay and Andreas Mavroyiannis
in the framework of the second phase of negotiations talks which aims
to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.
According to
the paper, the meeting lasted five and a half hours and substantive
issues were on the agenda.
Speaking
after the meeting, Ozersay noted that
“important progress” has been
achieved on property and foreign relations issues during the meeting.
Referring
to the reports leaked in the Greek Cypriot press about allegations
that the US Vice President Joe Biden will make statements on a
confidence building measures’ package, Ozersay criticized this and
called on everyone to act responsibly.
Ozersay
went on and said that it is not possible to confirm whether a “give
and take” process will take place in this round of talks, he
however said, that in the joint declaration
there is a commitment of the sides on the issue of confidence
building measures (CBM).
He also said
that both sides exchanged views towards the issue of CBM and added
that from time to time they had the opportunity to bring the issue
into the agenda with the UN. Ozersay said that the important thing is
that there is a balance in the elements that are included in the
measures.
As
regards yesterday’s meeting, Ozersay described the meeting as
fruitful, saying that the sides discussed and exchanged views on the
proposals submitted in the past and added that there was an
approximation and understanding on each other’s proposals.
Ozersay
added also that the Turkish Cypriot side expects the Greek Cypriot
side’s proposals on the issue of the Federal Public Service and the
Commission of the Federal Public Service, proposals which the Turkish
Cypriot side had already submitted as he said.
He went on
and said that at the next meeting they will continue the discussion
on the issue of the Federal executive power together with the
property and foreign relations issues.
Ozersay
stated further that the negotiators will meet again on May 30 whereas
the two leaders are expected to meet on June 2. He added that during
this week, the negotiators will carry out cross talks in Ankara and
Athens.
3.
Eroglu accuses President
Anastasiades for ignoring the convergences reached in the past; The
next meeting of the two leaders on June 2
According
to illegal Bayrak television (20.05.14) the Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu in statements yesterday
during a meeting with a delegation of the Turkish Cypriot
Contractors’ Union, headed by its chairman Cafer Curcafer, has
complained that the Greek Cypriot leader, as he called the President
of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiades was ignoring all past
convergences reached on the 6 chapters being negotiated, resulting in
the loss of valuable time.
Eroglu
said that the important thing was to reach a settlement in Cyprus and
added: “Hopefully we can reach a
settlement before the end of this year but that solution could not be
possible by hoping and wishing for one. The Greek Cypriot side must
start believing and thinking that the time to finish the Cyprus
problem has come”.
Reminding
that a number of convergences existed on the 6 chapters being
negotiated, Eroglu said that despite this, the Greek Cypriot leader
had ignored all convergences resulting in a loss of time because the
talks had started from scratch. “It’s
been 2 months since I’ve met with Mr. Anastasiadis. If we manage to
go over the convergences and focus on areas where divergences exist,
we can complete the negotiations in a short period of time and hold
simultaneous referenda”, Eroglu said.
Stating
that it was the Turkish Cypriot side’s desire to reach a solution
by the end of this year, he said that the
Greek Cypriot leader, during a recent visit to Brussels, had given
the end of 2015 as a possible timetable for the talks to be completed
which meant an open ended process.
Pointing
out that a solution should benefit both sides,
Eroglu said that they conveyed this view to the foreign dignitaries
and representatives that they have met with.
Meanwhile,
under the title: “The Turkish Cypriots want an agreement”,
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (21.05.14) reports in its front-page on
statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader.
Eroglu
underlined that it’s been two months since the two leaders had met
for the last time and added that the next meeting with President
Anastasiades will take place on June 2.
AK
4.
Interview by Talat; Biden is visiting Cyprus in order to put pressure
Under
the front-page title: “He will put
pressure”, Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (21.05.14)
publishes an exclusive interview to the paper by the former Turkish
Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
Referring,
inter alia to Biden’s visit to the island today, Talat said that
Biden will visit the island with the aim to put pressure on the
solution of the Cyprus problem. “In spite of the fact that the USA
is an imperialist power, I believe that the USA can contribute to the
solution”, added Talat, pointing out that what is necessary first
is that the two sides to speak the same language as regards the
solution parameters.
Talat
pointed out to the need for the two sides to establish a bridge of
culture between them. He said that it is important all involved sides
of the two communities to enter into a dialogue in order to increase
the trust and mutual respect amongst them. He cited as an example the
teaching of the two languages, Greek and Turkish to Turkish and Greek
Cypriot schools, to broadcast TV programs in both languages and to
organize common activities and events by different NGO’s in the
island.
Talat stated
also that he is in favor of the opening of more crossing points but
he added that it is not essential at this moment.
As
regards the issue of the returning Maras to the Greek Cypriots under
the name of the “Confidence Building Measures”, Talat expressed
the belief that it would be a big blow for the comprehensive solution
the returning of Maras to the Greek Cypriots under this status. “In
my opinion, the solution on the issue of Maras is a much more
difficult than the solution of the Cyprus problem in general”, said
Talat.
Speaking
on the possibility of returning Maras to the Greek Cypriots, Talat
said that they should estimate very well what will be the exchange of
this. Talat added that the Turkish Cypriot side should ask as an
exchange the opening of its “ports” for international traffic and
the lifting of the “embargoes”.
AK
5. Logoglu
said that Davutoglu is pushing the Turkish Cypriots towards a
US-backed plan
Under the title “US
Vice President’s visit to Cyprus sparks debate in Turkish domestic
politics”, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 21.05.14)
reports that Turkey’s main opposition party claims that the
Turkish government has imposed a US-backed plan and has been pushing
the Turkish Cypriots towards this plan, ahead of US Vice President
Joe Biden’s visit to Cyprus.
The paper reports that as
Biden will journey to Cyprus today for a historical visit to the
island, the main opposition party in Turkey has said that the Turkish
government has imposed a plan prepared by the U.S. administration for
Turkish Cypriots.
Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu paid a visit to the island over the weekend in order to
“push the Turkish Cypriots for a primary package that was served by
the U.S. and accepted by the Foreign Minister,” deputy chair of the
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Faruk Logoglu said in a written
statement yesterday.
Citing Biden’s visit to
the Island, along with an expected visit from U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry, “gives the impression that the Justice and Development
[AKP] government is implementing a scenario step by step,” Logoglu
said, noting Davutoglu’s remarks during a recent visit to Turkish
Cyprus affirms this impression. Logoglu said Davutoglu’s foreign
policy on Cyprus should be questioned.
The CHP chair said his
party sides with a fair and lasting settlement on agreed principles.
The U.S. and the EU
are throwing their weight about Cyprus due to energy security
concerns, “but one should resist against pressure,” Logoglu said.
The Turkish side
should not make any concessions on the issues of Varosha, an
exclusive economic zone, oil and gas “under guise” of confidence
building measures, Logoglu said, adding that those would only be
for “short term political acquisitions, but not long term.”
6.
Izzet Izcan comments on Biden’s visit to Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris (21.05.14) reports that the
chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan in a written
statement yesterday referred to US
Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Cyprus today and said that the
visit aims to take forwards the USA’ interests.
Izcan
said that it is not right for the two sides to look for the
assistance of foreign states towards the solution of the Cyprus
problem. Izcan underlined the need for
the two sides in the island to work together and go into action in
order for a comprehensive and an early solution to be reached.
Stating
that it is not possible to accept any impositions by the USA which
defends NATO’s interest, for the sake of the solution, Izcan
pointed out that the most important thing is to reach to a
comprehensive and a fair solution which will defend the common
interests of all Cypriots in the island.
Pointing out
that the Cypriots should be the masters in an independent Cyprus,
Izcan said that they will continue to reject living under the
oppression of the imperialist USA.
Referring
to the fenced off city of Varoshia (Maras), Izcan
said that Maras is not a part of the comprehensive solution but as he
said it is the key for the solution. He went on and asked for the
simultaneous return of Maras and the opening of occupied Famagusta
port and illegal Tymbou airport.
AK
7.
Statements by Toros and Cirali: “Varosha can be opened as long as
there is something in return"
According
to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (21.05.14) the
Turkish Cypriot business circles in the occupied area of Cyprus
support the opening of Varosha as a Confidence Building Measure, as
long as there is something in return for the Turkish Cypriot
community, as they said.
The
chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade Fikri Toros and the
chairman of the “Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry” Ali Çıralı
spoke to Kıbrıs Postası and said that they would support the
opening of Varosha “but of course there has to be something in
return for the Turkish Cypriot community” as they said.
“Opening
of Varosha will motivate the Greek
Cypriots for a solution; the same
applies to the Turkish Cypriots regarding confidence building
measures. Therefore, if the Turkish
Cypriots are included in the borders of the customs union as a
confidence building measure, they will also be motivated for a
solution”, said Toros.
Speaking
to the paper on the same issue, Cıralı
said: “The give-take phase should
start soon. In the framework of confidence building measures Varosha
can be opened and in return embargoes should be lifted. In addition
to that, if “Ercan airport “opens for direct international
flights, that would bring very important outcomes".
8.
Deep Purple rock band to give a concert in the occupied area of
Cyprus; They will arrive to Cyprus via illegal Tymbou airport
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.05.14) reports that the
famous British rock band Deep Purple will give a concert in the
occupied area on Cyprus on May 24.
According
to the paper, the band will arrive to
Cyprus via illegal Tymbou airport. The
group is composed by 80 persons. The paper underlines that it is not
known yet where the group will stay.
AK
9. A
technological war between “YDU” and Harvard MIT
Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris Postasi (21.05.14) reports that according to a press release
by the directorate of press and public relations of illegal Near East
University (“YDU”), “YDU” has organized for the day a robot
soccer tournament within the scope of its 25th anniversary
events. World's most powerful robotic soccer teams including RFC
Cambridge – Harvard, MIT (Massachusetts Institution of Technology)
from the United States, RoboIME – Instituto Militar de Engenharia
from Brazil, Tigers Mannheim – Cooperative State University
Mannheim from Germany, and Thunderbots – University of British
Columbia from Canada, are taking the part at the tournament.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS
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