Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-05-31

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

[01] Eroglu demanded all the "citizens" of the occupation regime who granted the "TRNC citizenship" to be consider as citizens of the Federal State to be in case of a solution

[02] Hughes said that a federal or a co-federal solution will be beneficial for all the Cypriots; He explained why he used the illegal Tympou airport to visit occupied Cyprus

[03] The so-called council of ministers approved the new "e-passports" of the occupation regime

[04] Ozersay stated that the new movement under his leadership is open to discuss the possibility of becoming a new party

[05] Turkey's support for EU membership drops to 47.2%

[06] Turkey expels Syrian diplomats after Houla massacre

[07] A positive agenda

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

[01] Eroglu demanded all the "citizens" of the occupation regime who granted the "TRNC citizenship" to be consider as citizens of the Federal State to be in case of a solution

Speaking during a visit paid to him by the "Association of War Veterans", Eroglu said that it was out of the question for the Turkish Cypriot side to abandon Turkey's active and affective guarantees and added that the continuation of Turkey's guarantee was crucial for the Turkish Cypriots.

Describing Turkey's guarantee as one of the Turkish Cypriot side's "red lines", Eroglu said that it was out of the question for the Turkish Cypriot side to make any concessions on this issue.

Touching upon the issue of "citizenship", Eroglu repeated that, during the Cyprus talks, he defended the idea that all "TRNC citizenships" granted by previous, current or future "TRNC governments" would be recognized in the event of a solution.

He said that anyone with a "TRNC citizenship" would become a citizen of the new partnership state, if a solution to the Cyprus Problem was ever to be reached.

Reminding that the Turkish Cypriots continued to live under inhuman "embargoes" despite their positive efforts towards a solution, Eroglu complained that the Greek Cypriots, which had deceived the international community into recognizing them as the legitimate owner of the island and granting them EU membership, were deliberately dragging their feet at the negotiations process.

He also said that it would not be possible to reach a solution by just giving attention to the Greek Cypriot side's demands.

Meanwhile, Eroglu met with the outgoing Finnish Ambassador to "south Cyprus", as the Republic of Cyprus is called Riitta Resch. No statement was issued before or after the meeting.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (31.05.12) reports on Eroglu' statements and writes that Eroglu has asked for the "TRNC citizens" to be consider as citizens of the Federal State to be, in case of a solution.

AK

[02] Hughes said that a federal or a co-federal solution will be beneficial for all the Cypriots ?He explained why he used the illegal Tympou airport to visit occupied Cyprus

Asked if the fact that he used the illegal Tympou airport to arrive in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus carries any messages, Hughes said that he visited Cyprus many times in the past and he used Larnaka airport for conducting his visit in the "South", as he called the Republic of Cyprus. By using the Tympou airport for his visit, he wanted to send the message that he keeps "equal distance between the two sides in Cyprus", he stated.

Asked about the "embargoes", Hughes said that the leaders are not obliged to pay the price for the fact that there is no result coming out of the negotiations. He said that everybody in the island of Cyprus is equal and added that the two leaders in Cyprus must realize that the solution of the "isolation issue" is in their hands and that the solution of the "isolation" will be beneficial for both sides in Cyprus.

He also stated that Britain is keeping equal distance between the two sides in Cyprus and added that when he will return to the UK, he will inform his friends in the British parliament on the issue and they will safeguard that Britain will place a more active role regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem.

He also said that the Cyprus problem is the only unsolved problem in the European Union and added that the solution of the Cyprus problem must be a priority.

[03] The so-called council of ministers approved the new "e-passports" of the occupation regime

In statements after the meeting of the so-called council of ministers, Nazim Cavusoglu, "minister of interior and local administration" and also "spokesman" of the "council", announced that the so-called council of ministers discussed the e-passport proposal which was prepared by the "ministry" in order for the occupation regime's passports to be in accordance with the international conditions, and approved it.

Cavusoglu stated that the new e-passport will start to be in use by the end of this year the latest. Concerning the e-identity he said that the e-identity will also be approved by the end of this year.

Cavusoglu continued and denied allegations that the name of the "state" is to change.

As regards the colour of the new passport, he said that this will be bordeaux (blush wine) in order to be suitable with the international conditions.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (31.05.12) under the title: "Seperatist efforts", reports on statements by the United Cyprus Party (BKP)'s organizational secretary Abdullah Korkmazhan, who expressed strong criticism to the so-called government for the new e-passport implementation and the change of the code of the "TRNC" as well as to the efforts exerted by the occupation regime for the Cyprus Republic's passports to be restricted.

In a written statement yesterday, Korkmazhan said that this situation constitute the "continuation of the separatist efforts in Cyprus".

Also, writing in his daily column in Yeni Duzen newspaper (31.05.12), columnist Cenk Mutluyakali commenting on the new e-passports to be used in the "TRNC", wonders what will change with this implementation and with the change of the characters which are written in the "passports". He continues and writes that no matter what it is written on them, the real thing is that the world would not accept them. (...)

AK

[04] Ozersay stated that the new movement under his leadership is open to discuss the possibility of becoming a new party

Ozersay stated that the new movement has nothing to do with the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and added that he is heading the new movement as a simple citizen and academician.

Ozersay said that the next meeting of the movement will take place on Saturday at Misirlizade cinema.

AK

[05] Turkey's support for EU membership drops to 47.2%

According to a collection of surveys by Turkey's statistics authority, support for the EU among young Turks plunged to 47.2 % in 2011 from 74 % in 2005. Among adults, support as well dropped from 63 % to 44.3%.

Opposition to EU membership among young Turks almost doubled from 16.8 % to 30.8%, and 27.6% of the adults said they would have voted against the accession if a referendum was held today. Young Turks who said they had "no idea" about the issue was up from 9.2 % to 22.1%.

Turkey applied for associate membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1959. Turkey is a candidate country for EU membership following the Helsinki European Council of December 1999. Accession negotiations started in October 2005.

So far, only one chapter (science and research) has been provisionally closed. Twelve more have been opened, but eight remain blocked by France, Austria, Germany, and the Republic of Cyprus.

[06] Turkey expels Syrian diplomats after Houla massacre

The motive behind the decision was cited as the recent Houla massacre, where "110 innocent citizens, 50 of them children, were murdered."

"It is not a possibility to remain silent in the face of such an act, which constitutes a crime against humanity," a Foreign Ministry statement said. "It is the international community's common responsibility to react to this massacre in a unified voice."

The statement further referred to the Vienna Diplomatic Affairs Contract and asked Syrian diplomats to leave the country within 72 hours, starting from May 30.

Turkey's recent decision followed a series of similar actions by international powers. Several countries, including Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Britain and United States, have also expelled the Syrian diplomats in their countries following the massacre that took place May 25.

[07] A positive agenda

If the 'Economic and Monetary Policy' chapter, which was blocked by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy five years ago, is to be reopened in June, during the final days of the presidency of Denmark, thanks to current French President Francois Hollande's approval, the positive agenda may gain additional momentum. There are many reasons for this new wave of action.

As the European continent undergoes an existential crisis, there are a decreasing number of decision-makers interested in the enlargement policy and in its main player, Turkey. Turkey's prospective membership has become such a remote possibility that even Sarkozy, who used and abused that membership in every election, hardly made reference to it during the recent presidential campaign.

The fact that Cyprus will assume the term presidency on July 1, has added a new dimension to already cooled relations between the EU and Turkey. The negotiation process is not advancing, despite the isolated efforts of the EU Affairs Ministry. The primary reason is lack of a clear perspective for Turkey. It is not enough to say that "harmonization with the EU is in Turkey's interest." As during Sarkozy's presidency, it is not likely that Turkey will pay attention to EU harmonization if the country is systematically ostracized. Also, harmonization is tough to achieve and costly. Not to mention the Turkish government's lack of enthusiasm.

The European Commission is the natural ally of candidate countries. The success of the candidate means the success of the commission. The problems Turkey encounters during the negotiation process are a nightmare for the commission. EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule has therefore taken action to get things moving. In addition to his staff and the official channels of communication with Turkey, he engaged with independent intellectuals in an attempt to seek an answer to the question in terms of what else could be done to fix the current situation and rebuild confidence.

The 'positive agenda' is so far an unheard of practice in terms of enlargement policy techniques. Turkish bureaucrats will work with 'eurocrats' in eight working groups. The working principles of the groups are summarized by the commissioner with the following formulas: 'We will not teach you anything, we will be equal partners around the table; we will talk about all the crucial aspects of our relationship; the process will be interactive and civil society will be part of it.'

Meetings will be held in Ankara and Brussels; member states will be informed about the progress; in case the opening criteria for the chapters are met, the commission will inform in writing. Work won't be interrupted during the presidency of Cyprus.

Frankly, this is not something we are used to from the beginning of the accession process in Helsinki in 1999. The working groups will focus on eight negotiation chapters. These are no substitutes for negotiations, but the aim is to facilitate the process through the commission's involvement.

Selected chapters include 'Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services,' which was blocked since 2006; five chapters under negotiation: 'Company Law,' 'Information Society and Media,' 'Statistics,' 'Consumer and Health Protection' and 'Financial Control.' These are no key chapters, and with the exception of the chapter on health protection, rapid progress can be achieved there.

The remaining two are crucial chapters: 'Judiciary and Fundamental Rights' and 'Justice, Freedom and Security.' These two chapters were unilaterally vetoed by Cyprus in December 2009. The second chapter includes visa facilitation (not total waiver, as some unreasonably advocate) which is one of the top issues of the positive agenda.

In due course, it would be wise to create a ninth group on 'Regional Policy' which indirectly refers to the notion of decentralized administration, a vital matter that Turkey is considering in connection with the new constitution. The chapter was vetoed by Sarkozy as well.

EU decision-makers who value the integration between Turkey and the EU are not pleased with the current state of affairs. The same applies to large social groups in Turkey who look for solutions to chronic problems, for the appropriate management of newly emerging ones and the consolidation of democratic fundamentals. They are fully aware of the functionality of the EU norms, standards and principles. Thus, the common goal is to avoid further weakening relations.

If a new dynamic is achieved with the positive agenda, the next step should consist of bilateral consultations for the articulation of a reasonable accession date. The results of the elections in Cyprus and Germany in 2013 should be the right moment for these consultations". http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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