Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-01-17

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The citizenship of the breakaway regime will reportedly be given to 50 thousand settlers from Turkey

[02] The MPs of the Democratic Party will submit their resignation today

[03] Statements by Avci in Ankara

[04] Erdogan alleges that Cyprus is not Turkeys problem

[05] Babacan refers to the Cyprus problem

[06] The occupation army has decided to meet all its needs from the market of the occupied areas this year

[07] Slovenia will reportedly work to push forward the accession talks with Turkey

[08] Erdogan and Merkel to meet next month

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The citizenship of the breakaway regime will reportedly be given to 50 thousand settlers from Turkey

The paper reports that according to information acquired by reliable sources, this was the reason for which many Turkish citizens who live in the occupied areas were brought recently to the embassy of Turkey and filled up a form under the name of establishing their place and address. It was found out that the CTP, the major coalition partner, is worried on the issue of making so many citizens, because of the promises it had given before the elections, notes Ortam adding that the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), the other coalition partner, supports the granting of new citizenships. Invoking the same reliable sources, the paper notes that the issue was discussed during the recent visit of the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat to Ankara and that an agreement was reached between the sides.

(I/Ts.)

[02] The MPs of the Democratic Party will submit their resignation today

The party, which has been boycotting the works of the self-styled assembly for one and a half years, is expected to submit today the resignation of its MPs. The paper reports that the DP left the door for reconciliation open. According to Kibris, the DP will keep the proposal for early elections on the table and continue searching for agreement with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP).

The general secretary of the CTP, Omer Kalyoncu said that the decision of the DP was taken with the aim of making a bargain. Noting that the DP is trying to make a bargain for early elections through participating in the efforts for amending the constitution, Mr Kalyoncu said that the proposals of the DP are not clear and added: We have to see their proposals. If we do not find them serious, we shall vote for their resignation at the General Assembly and we will carry out elections at the date we said or we will go for by-elections.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (17.01.08) reports that the self-styled prime minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer expressed his sorrow for the decision of the DP and added: Our priority is the constitutional amendment. Let us amend the constitution and establish a dialogue for a referendum and election date.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (17.01.08) reports that evaluating the decision of the DP to resign, the chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), Tahsin Ertugruloglu said that the behaviour of the DP gives the impression of saying hold me or else I will resign. He claimed that the UBP supports the constitutional amendments more than any other party.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Statements by Avci in Ankara

He claimed that the fact that Turkey, with its 72 million-population, supports the Turkish Cypriots bothers the Greek Cypriots. He alleged that as a result of this, the Greek Cypriots exert efforts to present Turkey as being intransigent. Asked to comment on the discussions for petrol which could come again onto the agenda together with the Turkish President Guls visit to Egypt, Mr Avci claimed that the Turkish Cypriots, who are one of the two equal peoples in Cyprus, have also rights on all the resources of the island.

He said that the efforts of the Greek Cypriots for petrol and natural gas are unacceptable and added that the authorities of the TRNC will give the necessary reply. During his stay in Ankara, Mr Avci is expected to meet with Ali Babacan, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Erdogan alleges that Cyprus is not Turkeys problem

Mr Erdogan said: We are saying the following: As long as we succeed in the negotiations process, open this door to us, but do not put political obstacles. What are these political obstacles? Cyprus. Obstacles regarding Cyprus are continuously coming in front of us. First you will settle the Cyprus problem, they say. Cyprus is not our problem. Cyprus is a problem of the EU. We support a just, permanent and comprehensive solution in Cyprus. South Cyprus says Let North Cyprus become a minority. From where do you take this power and you are turning north Cyprus into minority? They are a fundamental element there, they are not a secondary element.

[05] Babacan refers to the Cyprus problem

(I/Ts.)

[06] The occupation army has decided to meet all its needs from the market of the occupied areas this year

In statements before entering into the meeting of the council of ministers, Mr Soyer noted that firms from the occupied areas of the island will participate in the tenders that will be opened by the occupation army and added that this will contribute to the economy of the breakaway regime.

He said that this should be evaluated well and thanked the occupation army for its decision. Mr Soyer noted that in 2007 the command of the occupation army spent 242 million new Turkish liras in the market of the TRNC and added that this number is tantamount to 8 % of the GDP.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Slovenia will reportedly work to push forward the accession talks with Turkey

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose country holds the European Union's rotating presidency, yesterday criticized a plan by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to create a Mediterranean Union and backed the membership talks with Turkey and Croatia.

Jansa, in an address to the European Parliament outlining Slovenia's priorities for its six-month term in the EU presidency, said his country would work to push forward accession talks with Turkey and Croatia to join the bloc.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a firm opponent of Turkey's membership in the EU, proposes a Mediterranean club as an alternative to Turkish membership. Ankara rejects outright any form of association with the EU other than full membership.

Jansa said he wants to promote the existing ties with the Mediterranean countries. "We do not, however, need a duplication of institutions, institutions that would compete with the EU or institutions that would cover part of the EU and part of the neighboring region," he said in a direct reference to the French plan.

France, which succeeds Slovenia in the presidency, has said it plans to stage a summit in July to launch a Mediterranean union. Details of the French plan are sketchy, but officials have said it would include the EU member states on the northern shore of the Mediterranean and non-EU countries on the eastern and southern shores.

But Jansa said: "The EU is a whole, a single entity, and only as such can it be a help in establishing peace, stability and progress in our neighborhood and in the broader context. Hopefully our friends in Paris will not hold this against us, but we also want to lead Europe with a vision."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also expressed strong misgivings about Sarkozy's proposal, saying it has the potential to divide the EU.

Diplomats said it was hard to imagine that the proposed union could have access to substantial EU funds for Mediterranean economic, social, security and cultural programs if all EU member states were not members of the organization.

Jansa also backed the enlargement of the 27-nation EU, calling the enlargement an "unfinished process" and vowing to work to make sure it would continue uninterrupted.

[08] Erdogan and Merkel to meet next month

EG/

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