TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
93/15 21.05.15
1. Akinci:
The coordinates of the 28 minefields are insufficient
2. Akinci
briefed the political parties on the Cyprus talks
3. Talat
visited Akinci
4. The
negotiators held a four-hour meeting yesterday
5. “Cyprus
Health Care Travel Council” has become member of the World Health Tourism
Council
6. Teachers
are taken to “court” because of holding a protest in the “assembly”
7. Major
boost to commercial ties with Bosnia following President Erdogan's visit
1.
Akinci: The coordinates of the 28 minefields are insufficient
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
newspaper (21.05.15, online) reports that BarisBurcu, spokesman of the Turkish
Cypriot leader, has argued that the coordinates
given by the Greek Cypriot side regarding 28 minefields in the occupied area of
Cyprus are insufficient. In a written statement issued today, Burcu said
that Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci discussed the issue today with Lisa
Buttenheim, Chief of the UN Peace Keeping Force Mission and UNFICYP’s General
Commander, Kristen Lund.
Burcu noted that Akinci told the UN officials that the coordinates of the 28 minefields
are insufficient and asked them to obtain all the details regarding the minefields
and convey them to the Turkish Cypriot side. Moreover, Akinci asked UN mine experts to join these efforts the soonest and in
the most effective manner.
According to Burcu, Lund promised Akinci
that they could obtain detailed information on this issue within a few days
from the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus. Buttenheim has
reportedly seen positively Akinci’s request on this humanitarian issue and said
that the UN will do whatever it can and will be in continuous cooperation with
the political and military authorities of both sides on this issue.
(I/Ts.)
2. Akinci
briefed the political parties on the Cyprus talks
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
Postasi Daily News (online, 21.05.15), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci briefed
the “parliamentary platform”, which consists of leaders and representatives of
political parties with seats at the “parliament”, on the Cyprus negotiations
process which resumed on Friday, the 15th of May.
The briefing was attended by the leader of
the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and self-styled prime
ministerOzkanYorgancioglu, the leader of the Democratic Party (DP)
SerdarDenktas, the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun
and the leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) CemalOzyigit.
Also present at the meeting were the
general secretary of CTP KutlayErk, the “deputy” of CTP ArmaganCandan, the
foreign affairs secretary of DP IsmetKotak and DervisRefiker, the “deputies” of
UBP Ersan Saner and TahsinErtugruloglu and finally the “deputies” of TDP Mehmet
Cakici and HuseyinAngolemli.
Akinci’s under-secretary GurdalHudaoglu,
the Turkish Cypriot negotiator OzdilNami and Akinci’s spokesman BarisBurcu were
also present from Akinci’s office. Academician MeltemOnurkanSamani was present
at the meeting as well.
Speaking after the meeting to the press,
Yorgancioglu said that the negotiation process was discussed and Akinci had
shared with them the developments up to date. Nami also briefed on the meetings
he had held. Yorgancioglu said that they shared their views with Akinci and
added that it was a fruitful meeting.
Denktas also speaking to the press touched
on the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and claimed that the mines issue had
been “dropped in the public’s lap” as no one knew where the mines actually
were. He warned the public to be careful and underlined that this issue was
more of a humanitarian issue rather than a confidence building one. Denktas
also said that queues still exist at the crossing-points despite the removal of
the “visa papers” claiming that the Greek Cypriot side has increased their
checks.
Ozgurgun said that they will be following
the talks closely and hoped that they will be finalised soon. Reminding that
the Turkish Cypriot “public” are equals on the island, Ozgurgun said that CBMs
needed to pave the way for a comprehensive settlement.
Ozyigit, speaking after the meeting, said
that the positive atmosphere of the elections is reflected to the negotiations;
the important thing is to follow and assess the developments and contribute
where is needed. The real thing here is the reunification of this country, he
concluded.
3. Talat
visited Akinci
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen (21.05.15)
reports that the newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met
yesterday with the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
Speaking during the meeting, Akinci said
that the process for a Cyprus settlement can only be successful if they work
together and stressed that the success will come only through cooperation.
Noting that he wants to benefit from Talat’s knowledge and experience, Akinci
said that solidarity will continue.
Talat, for his part, congratulated Akinci
for his election and added that Akinci’s vision is already seen as a success.
He also said that the whole world expects in excitement the solution of the
Cyprus problem. Finally, Talat said that he believes that the Turkish Cypriots
will benefit from this procedure and will do whatever he can to contribute to
this process.
(DPs)
4. The
negotiators held a four-hour meeting yesterday
Under the title “’Eroglu’s positions will
be withdrawn’”, Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi newspaper (21.05.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot negotiator OzdilNami
and his Greek Cypriot counterpart, Andreas Mavroyiannis held a four-hour long
meeting yesterday.
Technical
work for clarifying the convergences achieved until today and the existing
disagreements started during the meeting at which
the “green light was given to the Greek Cypriot side” on the issue that newly
elected Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will withdraw some positions of
former Turkish Cypriot leader DervisEroglu and some “objections” might be
turned into agreements. According to the paper, because difficulties were established on the issue of determining a
joint confidence building measures list, “the Greek Cypriot side does not
intend to insist on this issue”.
(I/Ts.)
5. “Cyprus Health Care Travel Council” has become member of the
World Health Tourism Council
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (21.05.15) reports that the “Cyprus
Health Care Travel Council” has become the 54th member of the World
Health Tourism Council.
According
to the paper, the agreement was signed at the “Vuni Place Hotel” in the
occupied area of Cyprus by the chairman of the World Health Tourism Council,
EminCakmak and the chairman of the “Cyprus Health Care Travel Council”,
AhmetSavastan. Speaking during the ceremony, Cakman stated that they support
sincerely the health tourism in the “TRNC” adding that despite its small size,
the “country” made big steps on the issue with the establishment of university
hotels and clinics.
On his
part, Savastan said that health tourism is a developing factor, adding that in
the past Cyprus was only known for the sun, the sand and the sea. He also said
that the turnover in the health tourism reached 400 billion dollars last year
in the world and it can be very profitable for the breakaway regime as well.
(CS)
6. Teachers
are taken to “court” because of holding a protest in the “assembly”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper
(21.05.15) reports that the “police” of
the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus have filed
a “lawsuit” against the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot secondary school
teachers’ trade union (KTOEOS) and twelve members of the Union, who
participated in an activity protesting against the so-called “migration law” in
the “assembly”.
The teachers are accused of “violating
property”, after a complaint by Zorlu Tore, so-called deputy with the National
Unity Party (UBP) and an “official complaint” filed by the “speaker of the
assembly” to the “police”.
The chairman of KTOEOS, TahirGokcebel told
Kibris that they had entered into the “assembly” after acquiring the necessary
permission and showed their identity cards before entering and thus they did
not do anything “illegal”. He noted that they had put into an envelope the
so-called “law which arranges the public servants’ salary, allowance and pay”,
which is described as “migration law”, wrote the names of the “deputies” on
these envelopes and distributed them by hand to each one of them.
(I/Ts.)
7. Major
boost to commercial ties with Bosnia following President Erdogan's visit
According to Turkish daily Sabah
(21.05.15), several commercial deals aiming to further boost bilateral trade
were signed during President Erdogan's visit to Bosnia on Wednesday. The
President, who was accompanied by Ministers and businessmen, also held key meetings
on energy and construction
During his visit, a new deal was signed by
Turkey's state-owned Ziraat Bank's BiH branch, which will offer 50 million euro
in credit to Bosnia-Herzegovina's small- and medium-sized enterprises. It was
said that the main purpose of the loan is to ensure that entrepreneurs and
tradesmen in the country have easy access to resources and development. Ziraat
Bank's loan program will be offered for investments, increasing employment and
production, economic development and the agriculture, tourism and construction
industries in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Erdogan, during a joint press conference
MladenIvanic, said that the current trade volume between Turkey and
Bosnia-Herzegovina, which totals $500 million, tops the agenda since it is relatively
low, and his delegation is ready to create new investments in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Before the press conference began, the
country's Ministries of Foreign Affairs signed a memorandum of understanding
regarding information technologies and a cooperation agreement regarding
veterinary medicine. Cooperation agreements regarding international travel of
passengers and goods via highways and one regarding science and technology were
also signed between the two governments.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
AM)
