Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-04-23

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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] Statements by Eroglu on the Cyprus problem

[02] Cyprus was in the agenda during Davutoglu-Kerry meeting

[03] Arinc criticized Kerry's statement on Erdogan's visit to Gaza as wrong

[04] Nami and Tacoy informed the self-styled assembly on their contacts in Brussels and Strasbourg

[05] Twenty-two million crossings since the opening of the barricades ten years ago

[06] Generals end anti-BDP boycott

[07] Davutoglu in Brussels to attend a NATO meeting

[08] Arinc on the meeting with Israeli officials on redress for flotilla victims

[09] Gul and Abbas discussed the Middle East peace process

[10] No step back on terror fight, military vows

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Statements by Eroglu on the Cyprus problem

Reminding that he will be meeting with the UN Secretary's Special Advisor Alexander Downer who will be visiting the island this week, Eroglu said that he will once again convey to the UN Special Envoy the Turkish Cypriot side's "official" request for the immediate resumption of the Cyprus negotiations process. He added: "We shall continue to be persistent because waiting for the solution of the 'south's' economic problems could take years".

Claiming that both sides should want a solution if any progress is to be reached on the Cyprus problem, Erolgu alleged: "Unfortunately, to this day, we have not seen such a desire or willingness from the Greek Cypriot side". Claiming that the international community should exert pressure on the Greek Cypriot side, Eroglu said: "Unfortunately I cannot say that a solution will take place tomorrow."

Moreover, "BRT" broadcast that Eroglu, evaluating his contacts in the Turkish city of Adiyaman at the illegal airport of Tymbou, said that he was extremely pleased with the attention and interest shown towards his visit in Adiyaman. "I held several meetings during my visit and I can say that the most important aspect I noticed during my contacts was the strong sense of loyalty and sensitivity the citizens of Adiyaman have towards the Turkish Cypriots and the Cyprus problem", he added.

Eroglu further said that he also found the opportunity to meet with officials from the Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

[02] Cyprus was in the agenda during Davutoglu-Kerry meeting

Recalling a source, the paper reports that another important issue in the agenda of the meeting between Davutoglu-Kerry was Cyprus. Davutoglu asked once more that the opportunity for a solution of the Cyprus problem should not be missed, the paper reports.

[03] Arinc criticized Kerry's statement on Erdogan's visit to Gaza as wrong

"We are not in a position to receive permission from any other authority or accept their approval", Arinc stressed.

"Mr Kerry knows this. The world knows this. Turkey has the strength to accomplish what it wants and when it wants," Arinc also said.

[04] Nami and Tacoy informed the self-styled assembly on their contacts in Brussels and Strasbourg

Nami, who reminded the "MPS" that the EU has commitments towards the Turkish Cypriots, stated that in the 2012 EU Progress Report for Turkey, calls were made for the opening of the Famagusta port and for direct trade.

He also commented on the issue of the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the works of the European Parliament (EP) as observers and said that a big step was taken but there is a long way to go.

On his part Tacoy commented on the EU Progress Report for Turkey and claimed that every year the Cyprus problem is mentioned in the Reports and is used in order to slap Turkey.

Commenting on the statements of Nami and Tacoy, the self-styled minister of foreign affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun, said that the representation of the Turkish Cypriots in Brussels and Strasbourg must be strengthen. He also expressed the hope the Turkish Cypriots to be represented soon with two seats at the European Parliament. On the issue of the opening of the Famagusta port, he claimed that the port is "legal and open" and that the call made is not sincere.

[05] Twenty-two million crossings since the opening of the barricades ten years ago

The paper writes that 8 million crossings on behalf of the Greek Cypriots and 14 million crossings on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots took place.

Commenting on the issue, Cenk Mutluyakali, editor-in-chief of Yeni Duzen, writes that during these ten years people went and go but no permanent friendships were established. However, there was not any hostility among the persons who unfortunately crossed just as "tourists".

[06] Generals end anti-BDP boycott

Generals from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will attend Tuesday's reception together with BDP deputies for the first time. The Generals had previously boycotted the receptions, refusing to meet with members of the BDP, which they see as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). They did attend last year's reception; however, this was due to a boycott by the BDP, which was protesting the courts' refusal to release some of its Deputies who were in prison on terrorism-related charges.

[07] Davutoglu in Brussels to attend a NATO meeting

Kerry - attending his first meeting of the alliance's governing body, the North Atlantic Council, as America's top diplomat - will also see Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the side-lines of the session. Officials said those talks would likely include a discussion of the ethnic Chechen brothers accused of last week's Boston Marathon bombings.

Davutoglu will also hold talks on the margins of the meeting with his counterparts

[08] Arinc on the meeting with Israeli officials on redress for flotilla victims

He underlined that "no discussion took place between the Turkish and Israeli sides on Monday on the amount of compensation for the families of the Turkish victims killed in a deadly Israeli raid in May, 2010".

"The amount of compensation was not clearly mentioned. However, the sides discussed the methods and principles to be used while calculating the compensation and they determined the parameters," Arinc emphasized.

The Israeli delegation was headed by Netanyahu's national security adviser, Yaakov Amidror. Talks were held behind closed doors at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) headquarters.

Israeli officials later met with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc in a meeting which lasted around half an hour and was closed to press. In regard to rumours published in some international media that the Israeli delegation arrived in Ankara to ask for permission to use the Akinci Airbase nearby Ankara for training purposes, Arinc underlined that it was out of the question for the Israelis to use such an airbase in Ankara.

[09] Gul and Abbas discussed the Middle East peace process

The two Presidents took up issues such as bilateral relations as well as the Middle East peace process and the efforts to reach a reconciliation between rival groups Fatah and Hamas, according to a statement posted on the official website of the Turkish President.

The statement cited Gul as telling Abbas that the appointment of Turkey's ambassador to the state of Palestine constituted the first concrete gain from Palestine's upgraded status at the United Nations as a non-member observer state. Gul also expressed hope that Turkey's move to send an ambassador to Palestine would set an example for other states.

Abbas expressed his gratitude for Turkey's long-term support and contribution to the Palestinian cause.

[10] No step back on terror fight, military vows

A list titled "News from the Turkish Armed Forces," was posted on the official website of the TSK, with item one titled "The Turkish Armed Forces' Fight the Terrorist."

"The Turkish Armed Forces' fight the terrorist, as stated in laws and in the government's directive, is continuing," the TSK wrote, without naming "the terrorist" and explicitly citing the name of the PKK.

On March 21 jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called for a cease-fire and for thousands of his fighters to leave Turkey as part of a government-led peace process aimed at ending the three-decade-old conflict between security forces and the PKK. Hours later, although welcoming the call, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sounded a note of caution, saying Turkey wanted to see "to what extent it is implemented" by the militants.

Erdogan said Turkish security forces would cease operations against the militants as soon as Ocalan's call was implemented.

When the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, was asked about the TSK's statement, he said, "In accordance with the law, the army will perform its duty. This is not a big deal."

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 22.04.13), under the title "General Staff says fight against terrorism continues", reports that also on Monday, some Turkish newspapers claimed that PKK commanders are planning to announce their decision to withdraw their terrorists from Turkish soil most probably within a week.

The newspapers, without identifying a source for their claim, reported that PKK commanders are positive about withdrawing from Turkey as part of the settlement process. According to the newspapers, the PKK commanders will send a letter to Ocalan in which they will declare their decision to leave Turkey. The decision will then be announced to the public. This will take a week or so, the newspapers reported.

BDP deputy Sirri Sureyya Onder confirmed the reports, saying that the PKK has "displayed its position in favour of the settlement process" and that it may make an announcement for withdrawal later this week. "We are expecting the announcement to come as soon as possible," he stated. "What is important is the will [of the PKK] to withdraw. It is not important when it will happen provided that the will exists. The Kurdish movement will keep its pledge about the withdrawal," Onder added. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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