Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-04-10

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] More about Davutoglu-Kerry meeting; Davutoglu called the USA to be actively involved in the Cyprus negotiation process; Kerry gave signals for a different policy by the USA

[02] Eroglu alleges that Foreign Ambassadors reportedly start to see the "reality of two states" in Cyprus

[03] Bagis: Turkey will support any solution in Cyprus based on the "political equality"

[04] Self-styled minister of energy: The only way out of the economic crisis of the Republic of Cyprus passes through Turkey

[05] Ankara invites Baku to join Mediterranean energy rush

[06] The Southern Gas Corridor: a project for peace and integration

[07] The occupation regime has launched a new campaign in the UK with the slogan "Just relax, there are no euro worries in north Cyprus"

[08] Tripadvisor web site gave to Rocks Hotel casino in occupied Cyprus 2012 certificate of excellence

[09] Suspicions for mad cow disease in occupied Cyprus

[10] Parliament approves establishment of commission to address settlement process

[11] Gilmore: We expect the 22nd chapter to be opened to negotiations officially in July

[12] Turkish airlines to buy 95 planes from Boeing

[13] Kerry will visit Turkey for the 3rd time

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] More about Davutoglu-Kerry meeting; Davutoglu called the USA to be actively involved in the Cyprus negotiation process; Kerry gave signals for a different policy by the USA

According to information acquired, Davutoglu has stated that a new political era has been launched compared to the past with the election of Anastasiades in the Greek Cypriots side and sent also the following messages:

"We are close to the solution

In fact, we are very close to the solution. If the Greek Cypriot side's leadership show the necessary political will, Turkey, Greece, the TRNC, the Greek Cypriot side and the UN could immediately sit to the table and negotiation talks for the solution could be launched. With the solution of the Cyprus problem, the dispute related to the political and energy policies which affect negatively the region will disappear. Together with a United Cyprus State, the economic crisis experienced by the Greek Cypriot side will become a thing of the past. And the EU which is in a contradictory position will be discarded. This opportunity should be evaluated. It's being a long time that the USA is not participating to Cyprus.

We are ready

Washington should become more active in Cyprus from now on, and should implement an active policy towards the solution, especially on the Greek Cypriot side to proceed to the table. We, as the Turkish side are ready for this. I should say it openly, that if the Greek Cypriot side will not show the political will towards this, the problem will become more complicated. I have sent you a letter and explained to you about the unilateral oil exploration activities of the Greek Cypriot side and what the Greek Cypriot side is thinking about the natural resources in Cyprus. If the Greek Cypriot side insist on this, the process for the official division of the two parts of the island will be intensified. In short, we are in a crucial threshold in Cyprus.

Note down

Kerry, who has heard Davutoglu's words about Cyprus and sometimes took notes said: 'I have noted down very clearly your message 'we are in a crucial threshold. We have to evaluate this. We will discuss this matter in details in Washington', and gave the first signal that the USA government will follow a different policy on Cyprus".

(AK

[02] Eroglu alleges that Foreign Ambassadors reportedly start to see the "reality of two states" in Cyprus

Eroglu alleged: "Unfortunately all efforts to this date to reach a settlement have failed due to the Greek Cypriot side's intransigent attitude. However I can say that the world has started to acknowledge the realities on the island. There are the reports of foreign ambassadors which show that these countries have started to see the reality that there are two states on the island. The international community has started to become bored of the Greek Cypriot side's intransigent attitude."

[03] Bagis: Turkey will support any solution in Cyprus based on the "political equality"

Speaking at the press conference, Bagis said that Gilmore and he discussed Turkey's EU negotiations process, the chapter on "Regional Policies" expected to be opened to negotiations soon, the chapter on "Social Policies and Employment" which he plans to discuss in a visit to Brussels, the Cyprus problem and visas.

Thanking Gilmore for his constructive attitude, Bagis underlined that the Irish term presidency has always been beneficial for the EU.

"Egemen Bagis and I held a fruitful meeting on Turkey's EU membership process and the progress that could be made during the Irish term presidency", Gilmore stated.

"Ireland has been a strong supporter of Turkey's EU membership. During our 7th EU term presidency, we have made it our aim to revive accession talks between Turkey and the EU," Gilmore stressed.

"We are conducting works so that the chapter of 'Regional Policies' gets opened to negotiations with Turkey. I do hope that we can use this opportunity we have to make progress in Turkey's accession talks," Gilmore noted.

"The revival of accession talks would benefit both the EU and Turkey", Gilmore said.

Asked if progress could be made on the Cyprus problem during Irish term presidency, Gilmore said that they wanted to see the Cypriot problem solved.

According to Ankara Anatolia (09.04.13), Gilmore stated: "We support the Annan Plan which foresaw a federal solution based on two zones and two peoples. I do hope that efforts to solve the Cypriot problem gain new momentum after a new government came to power in southern Cyprus".

Replying to the same question, Egemen Bagis underlined that Turkey would support and approve any solution on which the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots agreed as long as the solution was based on "political equality". "Let them agree and we will support them", Bagis noted.

In regard to a question on opportunities for commercial cooperation between Turkey and Ireland, Egemen Bagis said that there were opportunities present for Turkish businesspeople in Ireland and vice versa.

"Aside from this, the investors of both countries could cooperate in third countries," Bagis stated.

Gilmore indicated that there was a trade volume of 1.3 billion USD between Turkey and Ireland. "Despite the economic crisis, the trade volume between Turkey and Ireland grew 20%", Gilmore noted.

"Talks between Turkey and the EU in the commercial field are part of the EU process. Ireland, as a member of the EU for almost 40 years, is ready to share its experiences with Turkey. This way, we could generate new opportunities in the commercial field," Gilmore underlined.

Responding to Gilmore's comments, Bagis said that "we could start the day with Turkish coffee and end it with Irish coffee".

[04] Self-styled minister of energy: The only way out of the economic crisis of the Republic of Cyprus passes through Turkey

Atun made these statements speaking to Ankara Anatolia news agency.

He said that all the Turkish Cypriots have as much rights as the Greek Cypriots to all the natural resources found in the island of Cyprus. He said that the Greek Cypriots can overcome the problems created by the economic crisis only with cooperation with Turley and the Turkish Cypriots.

He said that he is in favor of lifting the trade limitations between the Republic of Cyprus and the breakaway regime and alleged that if Turkey, Cyprus and the breakaway regime trade between them, there are potentials for annual three million euro profit.

He alleged that under the current conditions, the Republic of Cyprus can trade the gas that may obtain only with its liquefaction, which make the immediate trade very difficult and suggest that this problem can be overcome with a pipeline through Turkey.

[05] Ankara invites Baku to join Mediterranean energy rush

"Turkey has extended an invitation to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to explore offshore oil and gas reserves off the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts of Turkey, which the Azeri oil firm is to consider and decide upon by the end of this year.

'Azerbaijan can search for oil and natural gas in our waters,' Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said on April 8 after a one-on-one meeting with SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev.

Yildiz, who is currently in Azerbaijan to attend the World Economic Forum, said they could carry out a partnership with SOCAR just as they had been doing with several international oil firms which explored oil and gas in Turkish seas.

According to Turkey's deals with exploration companies, if the company reaches any resources the output is shared between the firm and the Turkish state but in the event that the searches fail to find anything, all the expenses are undertaken by the private company. 'For these searches Turkey hasn't paid a penny,' Yildiz said. Turkey would appreciate undertaking exploration operations near the southern provinces of Iskenderun, Mersin and Antalya with SOCAR under the same scheme, the Minister asserted.

He added that they would also like to carry out joint projects with Azerbaijan in third countries.

Abdullayev said the company was evaluating the Turkish offer and that it would make a decision in approximately six months or by the end of this year at the latest. Considering SOCAR's 60-year-long experience in oil exploration in the Caspian Sea, it is capable of these operations, he said.

Mediterranean Sea has been watering the neighbouring countries' mouth as Cyprus and Israel as well have been seeking to obtain resources there through deals with international firms. Lately, Egypt joined them as it has announced it will hold a tender for energy drilling in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Chairman also commented on the two countries' joint project, the Azeri-Turkish trans-Anatolia Pipeline (TANAP), and said the decision over the route that would transport the gas to Europe would be made by June as an agreement is due to be signed by October.

The construction of TANAP, which was actually scheduled for 2013, has been delayed to 2014, he added during the press meeting.

TANAP will bring the gas from Azerbaijan to the European territory of Turkey, to connect with either Nabucco -through Bulgaria or TAP - through Greece. (?)"

[06] The Southern Gas Corridor: a project for peace and integration

"Energy continues to be an object of potential wealth as well as of political conflict for the Middle East and Caspian region. Oil and natural gas pipelines have become akin to chess pieces being set up between the EU, Turkey and Russia. An energy game is being played out, closely watched by the US.

The facts that these new energy routes are being created with no initiative from Russia and even leave Iran out of the energy game, are important signs and steps for the US. For example, the realization of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project between Azerbaijan and Turkey, in spite of Russia and Iran, is not just about an energy move; this, as much as it represents political change, is also a step towards regional integration, starting from the Caspian region and reaching out to Austria, and marks the start of the EU's eastern expansion. However, at the same time, all of this, in addition to meaning the formation of new energy supply hubs in the Caspian and Middle East regions -- aside from those of Russia and Iran -- is a development that will disturb the traditional German-Russian alliance.

Energy security specialist John Roberts wrote for the Caspian Strategy Institute's Caspian Forum, saying: 'So even though energy use looks set to shrink in Europe, gas demand looks likely not only to hold steady, but to rise as and when there's a real economic recovery. And this is where the Southern Gas Corridor really does come to the fore. Russia may have plenty of gas, in terms of both reserves and actual production, but both its ability and willingness to increase its levels of actual supply to the European Union can be questioned. Immediate supplies are impacted by Gazprom's continued belief in the proposition, so clearly enunciated by Vice President Alexander Medvedev in 2011, that the oil linkage provides the best balance for buyers of natural gas, at a time when hub pricing is becoming ever more prominent in European gas deals. What this means is that Gazprom considers the retention of the link to oil prices -- which in current terms means higher prices than those offered by its competitors -- to be more important than the pursuit of specific export volumes.'

Now this is very important because, just as Roberts mentions, Gazprom's price adjustments not only assist an economy-market balance, but at the same time a political balance, and this without a doubt shows signs of political normalization. What I want to emphasize is that more players in the energy market, the diversification of supply routes and increased price competition describe a free market economy that is undoubtedly good and preferable for the end consumer while at the same time bringing greater democracy, and this means stability out of democracy is being ensured in the Middle East and Caspian regions. We should not forget that democracy does not just mean political parties coming to power as a result of electoral votes, but also a regime that has fewer monopolies as well as less nation-state market intervention. This means natural resources will be used for the benefit of humanity. This will bring the 'old' energy game played in these regions -- where the lead roles were played Germany and Russia, with Iran as the understudy -- to an end and will mean the start of a new journey in the region from war to peace. However, political will is needed to support and realize such a journey.

Today, TANAP has become the most important project of the Southern Gas Corridor. Azerbaijan and Georgia intend to increase the capacity of the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), but Turkey and Azerbaijan especially, wish to complete TANAP. Here, the fact that Azerbaijan and Georgia are reaching out to European markets via Turkey represents not only an energy move but a vital step in Europe's eastern expansion.

Let me explain clearly what this means. Independent of Germany and Russia and, in fact, despite these two countries, it means the expansion of EU borders to Baku and Turkey's increased activity, both economically and politically, in these regions. This is why the cost of projects such as TANAP is not so important. In fact, there is no point in even questioning the case of an initial supply surplus; Turkey alone should just commit to buying it, because the whole world and especially the US should know that Turkey will be behind the TANAP project and will carry it through right to the end, no matter what the cost.

As mentioned above, Turkey does not see this project as one of energy alone but as a project for peace, democracy and integration."

[07] The occupation regime has launched a new campaign in the UK with the slogan "Just relax, there are no euro worries in north Cyprus"

According to the paper, the "TRNC", as the occupation regime is described, has designated a new strategy on tourism, taking into consideration the uncertain economic picture in the Greek Cypriot side. Within this framework, the occupation regime with several advertisements sent the messages that the economic crisis in the Greek Cypriot side will not affect the "TRNC" and that the "TRNC" is a separate "country".

The paper goes on and writes that in the past the Greek Cypriots implemented a campaign with the slogan "Don't go to the north, it's under military occupation", and now, the Turkish Cypriots, adds the paper, come into prominence and they make advertisements about the economic crisis of their neighbours.

The advertisement points out that the tourists who are visiting the occupation regime can change their money to Turkish Lira. Here are some examples of those advertisements: "Do you now this? North Cyprus is not in the euro zone". "It does not use the euro". "Just relax; there are no euro worries in north Cyprus". "We are the other half part of Cyprus, we are separate, we use the Turkish Lira".

In statements to Milliyet about the issue, the "undersecretary" of the so-called ministry of tourism, Sahap Asikoglu has said that they follow now a new strategy on tourism due to economic crisis experienced in the Greek Cypriot side. He added that the strategy they designated is based on two stages, adding that the first one is that they have launched an initiative so that to attract the tourists who are planning to visit the Greek Cypriot side and secondly, their efforts have as a goal to change the perception about Cyprus. "By saying that 'Cyprus experiences an economic crisis'; a perception is created that it is the whole of Cyprus under economic crisis. Thus, we have launched an initiative to change this perception by using different slogans like "We do not use the euro; we are not in the euro zone. North Cyprus is separate", Asikoglu said.

Asikoglu signalled also that new flights might be conducted to illegal Tymbou airport and said: "If openings will be made towards Ercan in the forthcoming days, we will experience an explosion on tourism".

Asikoglu stated also that because of the advertisement they make, they expect an increase around 35% on the number of tourist during 2013. He said that 660 thousand tourists came to the occupied area of Cyprus in 2012 and added that their goal for 2013 is for this number to reach to 850-900 thousand, while, for 2016 he said, the aim is to reach 1.5 million.

Also, in statements to Milliyet, Orhan Tolun, chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot Tourist and Travel Agents Union" said that they are very lucky because they are not in the euro zone and added that when he participates to fairs abroad, they ask him whether they use the euro and he says "we do not use the euro. We have not affected by the crisis, we are separated from the south".

[Translator's note: more information about the occupation regime's campaign can be found in the following address, http://welcometonorthcyprus.co.uk].

(AK)

[08] Tripadvisor web site gave to Rocks Hotel casino in occupied Cyprus 2012 certificate of excellence

The hotel received 4.5 points in the list for the most excellent hotels which took place in the website.

In January 2013, Tripadvisor, sent a letter to the so-called "Ancient shipwreck museum", which houses the Keryneia ship, saying that the museum earned top ratings from Tripadvisors travelers regarding its standards. (See Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review No. 12/13 on 17.01.13)

[09] Suspicions for mad cow disease in occupied Cyprus

The paper writes that blood samples of the patients were sent to Turkey in order to be confirmed that he suffers from the disease or not. "Hospital officials" stated to the paper that for the time being there are only suspicions about the illness. The issue created panic at the hospital, writes the paper.

[10] Parliament approves establishment of commission to address settlement process

AKP parliamentary group deputy chairman Nurettin Canikli recently announced that his party was contemplating submitting a proposal for a new commission which would inform Parliament and society about the ongoing settlement process.

The AKP's proposal was accepted with a majority of the votes in the General Assembly. The gathering was boycotted by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which last week announced that they would not take part in any parliamentary commission to be established by the ruling party to advance the settlement process.

The opposition parties protested the government's proposal to set up a new commission in a session and left Parliament. MHP parliamentary group deputy chairman Oktay Vural slammed the government in his speech. "We will leave you alone with the Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK] in Parliament," Vural said in an indirect reference to cooperation between the AK Party and the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), which had until recently been seen as the political extension of the group.

[11] Gilmore: We expect the 22nd chapter to be opened to negotiations officially in July

"Trade volume between Turkey and Ireland reached 1.2 billion USD in 2012. Out of this figure, Turkey's exports to Ireland were worth 248 million USD and Ireland's exports to Turkey were worth 845 million USD," Caglayan emphasized.

"Between 2002-2012, international direct investments coming to Turkey from Ireland were worth 410 million USD. Direct investments in Ireland from Turkey were worth 742 million USD. I do hope that the visit made by Gilmore would lead to an increase in trade volume and our foreign trade with Ireland would get more balanced," Caglayan stated.

"Our two countries have good diplomatic relations. However, there is no commercial consultation mechanism between our two countries. We will make proposals to Gilmore on this issue. In the second half of this year, technical delegations would meet in order to help commercial and economic relations be placed on a mechanism," Caglayan said.

"We will discuss cooperation between our two countries and cooperation with third countries," Caglayan noted.

"We will evaluate increasing the number of mutual investments and talk on contractors, tourism, health and issues suitable for cooperation," Caglayan stated.

"Ireland is serving as the EU term president for the seventh time. We hope to overcome the unfair obstacles in our EU process during Ireland's term presidency. We have no doubt that Ireland would handle related issues with good sense," Caglayan noted.

"The EU has a structure violating free trade when it comes to the free movement of goods and Turkish products are faced with the obstacle of quotas", Caglayan claimed.

Touching on FTA talks to begin between the EU and US, Zafer Caglayan underlined that the EU did not include Turkey in the talks. "Such a situation creates unfair competition for Turkey. I believe that Ireland would eradicate this unfairness during their term presidency," Caglayan stressed.

Deputy Prime Minister Gilmore said that this was his first official trip to Turkey after assuming office two years ago. "Turkey and Ireland have important commercial relations and the trade volume constantly rises", Gilmore noted.

"Turkish-Irish commercial relations will continue to develop in 2013. Irish companies made crucial investments in Turkey in recent years and this shows the confidence Irish investors have in Turkey", Gilmore said.

"Ireland always supported Turkey's accession into the EU. We believe that an expansion would increase the EU's strength as a global actor. We think that the inclusion of Turkey and Western Balkan countries into the EU would increase the sphere of influence of the Union," Gilmore said.

"As the EU term president, we consider it as our duty to revive Turkey's entry negotiations. We expect the 22nd chapter to be opened to negotiations officially in July," Gilmore stated.

Touching on the FTA planned to be signed between the EU and US, Gilmore said that this agreement would be the continuation of a process of an advice a high level group made between the sides.

"We are aware of Turkey's concerns. We know that the effects of an FTA between the EU and US get debated in Turkey," Gilmore noted.

"The issue of a concurrent agreement between Turkey and the US came up at the European Commission. The Commission is ready to extend assistance to Turkey. European Commission has taken certain steps whereby Turkey would be informed about the process (between the EU and US)," Gilmore noted.

[12] Turkish airlines to buy 95 planes from Boeing

"Our board of directors has decided to buy 20 planes in 2016, 20 in 2018, 15 in 2019, 30 in 2020 and 10 in 2021 from Boeing to meet the need for narrow-body planes," a THY statement said, adding that 70 of the orders were guaranteed, while the remainder were options.

THY ordered 20 B737-800s, 65 B737-8 MAXs and 10 B737-9 MAXs amounting to more than $9.3 billion based on their average list prices for 2012.

THY will not have to pay tax on this purchase as it will be exempted from the customs duties on its new purchases thanks to a recent law change that will positively affect its competitive power in the domestic market particularly against Pegasus Airlines, which has gained a substantial market share in recent years.

In March 14, the airline said it would buy up to 117 planes from Airbus, which are scheduled to be delivered between 2015 and 2020.

The company's fleet size reached 202 planes last year, and this total will rise to 470 by 2021 with these new orders.

Last October THY ordered 15 jet airliners from Boeing, in a deal worth $4.7 billion, and 15 long-range jets from Airbus valued at $3.5 billion.

Turkey's largest private airline, Pegasus Airlines, also ordered Airbus jets worth $12 billion in an agreement reached last December, ordering a total of 100 new jets.

[13] Kerry will visit Turkey for the 3rd time

During this visit, it has been decided to form a "core group" that will discuss the opening of an aid human corridor for Syria and to accelerate the leaving of Assad's administration in Syria, the channel broadcast.

Moreover, this "core group" consisting of 11 countries including Turkey, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and USA, will convene in Istanbul towards the end of this month after the 20th of April. As a result, Kerry will come to Turkey for the third time. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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