Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-04-29

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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] Eroglu sends a letter to Barosso

[02] Davutoglu reiterates his proposal for official division of Cyprus

[03] US Congressmen send a letter to UNSG and EU officials on Cyprus

[04] "The 'Cyprus cauldron' will boil again!"

[05] Besir Atalay will reportedly not meet with Eroglu during his illegal visit to occupied Cyprus

[06] Cyprus problem was in the agenda in the Bozer-Gul meeting

[07] Downer met with Kucuk

[08] Thirty seven Palestinian refugees took shelter in the occupied area of Cyprus

[09] So-called head of the "religious affairs department" continues his contacts in Egypt; he asked for the establishment of ties between Egypt and the occupation regime

[10] Tatar said that interest for properties in the breakaway regime rose due to the economic crisis in Cyprus

[11] Trade base on Green Line Regulation has been decreased

[12] Turkey became "dialogue partner" with Shanghai Cooperation Organization"

[13] Gul to visit Portugal

[14] Turkey allocated one billion USD for Egyptian projects

[15] Bagis says Washington excited about Turkish PM's upcoming visit to US

[16] New Constitution and BDP's red lines

[17] Raki to become Turkey's "national alcoholic drink" if accepted by European body

[18] The distribution of Turkish military spending

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu sends a letter to Barosso

Saying that he congratulated President Anastasiades after the latter's victory in the elections and invited him to a meeting for determining a road map for the commencement of the talks with the aim of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, Eroglu added:

"While the Turkish Cypriot side takes positive and constructive steps for finding an overall solution to the Cyprus problem, the fact that the General Secretariat of the European Commission has sent a letter that instructs all general directors and heads of departments to use the Greek names in the signboards and names for northern Cyprus, is unfortunate. Such a move is far from contributing in the possibility of an agreement to be reached by the two sides on the island. We expect from the European Commission, as one of the leading institutions of the EU, to prevent any act which will ignore the sensitivities on the island".

Eroglu said that using the mother tongue is one of the most fundamental human rights protected with various agreements and conventions of the EU and argued that it is Turkish Cypriots' "most natural right" to use signboards and names in the Turkish language, which is their mother tongue.

Eroglu claimed that the Turkish language has been registered as one of the official languages of the EU in 2004 with the accession of the "Greek Cypriot administration", as he called the Republic of Cyprus. He argued that in spite of all the calls made by the Turkish Cypriots in the direction of accepting the Turkish as one of EU's official languages, the Greek Cypriots refuse to do this and in this manner they allegedly violate article three of their own constitution.

Eroglu also said that another issue, which caused disappointment to them, was the fact that the European Commission's Directorate-General for Transports demanded from the representatives of the Turkish Cypriot civilian organizations, who participate in working visits in Brussels, to travel through the Larnaca International Airport. "I would like to bring to your attention that there is no international decision that prevents the use of the ports in northern Cyprus", he alleged and argued that "it is not practical" for the Turkish Cypriots to use the Larnaca Airport. At the same time, he claimed, forcing them to do so is contrary to the EU norms and values.

Eroglu told Barosso that he hoped that next month he will meet with President Anastasiades and that this meeting could be the means for the commencement of the negotiations.

Eroglu concluded by arguing that avoiding decisions and actions as the above-mentioned decisions of the EU is of vital importance for not harming the efforts for finding a solution.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Davutoglu reiterates his proposal for official division of Cyprus

Commenting on Downer's visit to Turkey, Davutoglu said that the economic crisis in the government-controlled area of Cyprus and the internal discussions delayed these contacts and argued that the picture in Cyprus is very clear. He alleged that on the one hand there is a side which wants the immediate commencement of the negotiations and a solution, and on the other there is a side which prolongs the problem and finds various pretexts.

Davutoglu alleged that the Greek Cypriot side has interrupted the negotiations last year showing as pretext the presidential elections in the government-controlled area of the island and allegedly hoped that it would impose some things on Turkey during its EU term presidency.

Claiming that the pretext now is the economic crisis, Davutoglu argued: "?An important question is when these pretexts will end and they will seriously sit at the table. While these pretexts are prepared, the Greek Cypriot administration [Translator's note: as he described the government of the Republic of Cyprus] issues from its parliament a law regarding the natural resources. They do not wait at all for these procedures, but they make up a lot of excuses when they need to negotiate and participate in the peace process. I will discuss these things tomorrow with Mr Downer".

Davutoglu said that he had discussed the issue in the contacts he held last weeks with the Russian and American Foreign Ministers, Sergey Lavrov and John Kerry respectively, as well as with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.

Noting that he would convey to Downer what he discussed in these contacts, Davutoglu added: "This process should start somehow now and a stance on this problem should be exhibited. If these pretexts will continue, my three-alternative proposal is always on the table. Either they will come and we will find a solution or let us achieve an agreement that encompasses these resources in the context of a limited solution if they could not go for a definite overall solution, or if they say that 'these resources belong to us and the resources in the north belong to the Turks', this means that the time of thinking about a two state solution has come".

Noting that there are enough problems in the Eastern Mediterranean, Davutoglu argued that instead of creating more problems we should solve the Cyprus problem the soonest, as this problems had allegedly reached close to a solution, which had not been possible because of what he described as the "lack of will" of the Greek Cypriots and their "no" vote.

He said that he tell Downer that we should find a solution in the one or the other way by negotiating.

(I/Ts.)

[03] US Congressmen send a letter to UNSG and EU officials on Cyprus

According to the paper, the two Congressmen are co-chairmen of the friends of Turkey Group at the US House of Representatives. The letter has reportedly been prepared by Steve Cohen, who expressed their support to the recommencement of the negotiations for the reunification of the island on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

The letter, which has been sent to the members of the Congress asking for their signature, argues that the economic crisis in the government-controlled area of Cyprus has turned the solution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of the island into a necessity.

The letter will be sent to the UN Secretary-General, the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu, President Anastasiades, the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Greece, the USA and the UK, as well as to the President of the EU Commission and other EU officials.

(I/Ts.)

[04] "The 'Cyprus cauldron' will boil again!"

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (27.04.13) also referred to the Cyprus problem under the banner front-page title "Activity is increasing" and reported that the efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem gained acceleration again. The paper referred to the visits of Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General's special adviser on Cyprus, to the self-styled prime minister, Irsen Kucuk and the "minister" of foreign affairs, Huseyin Ozgrugun.

The paper noted also that the Cyprus problem was on the agenda in Ankara on Friday, as Hasan Bozer and Sunat Atun, self-styled speaker of the "assembly" of the regime and self-styled minister of energy respectively, held separate meetings with President Gul and the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cyprus, Besir Atalay. The paper wrote that Atun said that he had briefed Atalay mainly on the economic developments on the island, the ongoing explorations for oil and natural gas and the investments.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Besir Atalay will reportedly not meet with Eroglu during his illegal visit to occupied Cyprus

The paper writes that Besir Atalay has not even informed Eroglu's office about the program of his current illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus and that there is no preparation at Eroglu's office for receiving a Minister from Turkey. The paper cites political observers, who said that in absolutely no other period in the history of the relations between the "TRNC" and Turkey, the so-called president, who is considered as community leader by the UN, has not been "excluded" so much.

Atalay arrived last night to the occupied area of Cyprus for a two-day visit during which he will not meet with Dervis Eroglu. Atalay is illegally visiting the occupied area of the island upon invitation by Irsen Kucuk, with whom he will reportedly exchange views mainly on investments in the field of tourism and other economic and financial issues.

After the meeting to be held today between Atalay and Kucuk, they are expected to sign various "protocols", which will be facilitating cheap and easy loans to tradesmen. After the meeting, Atalay and Kucuk are expected to hold a joint press conference.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Cyprus problem was in the agenda in the Bozer-Gul meeting

Bozer said he and Gul are sharing the same opinion for the re-start of the negotiations process as soon as possible.

As part of their contacts in Ankara, Bozer also met with the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

[07] Downer met with Kucuk

Kucuk also said that he told the UN envoy that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to do all its best in order to reach a settlement in Cyprus.

"We are continuing to put forward all our best in order to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. I once again told Mr Downer that we will always be the supporter of a solution which will be find within the framework of UN parameters", Kucuk claimed.

[08] Thirty seven Palestinian refugees took shelter in the occupied area of Cyprus

The Palestinians, who have been living in the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus for seven years as refugees, applied to the "TRNC Refugee Rights Association" to take shelter in the "TRNC".

The chairman of the "Association" Ceren Goynuklu told the Turkish press that there was no regulation in the "TRNC" regarding a refugee mechanism, and this might create an international problem.

Goynuklu said that 37 Palestinians, including 21 children, arrived in the "TRNC" having a tourist visa for 30 days.

One of the Palestinians told Turkish press that they had been staying in Greek Cypriot side under very harsh circumstances, adding that they had been under pressure there because they were Muslims. "The EU has refugee rights but these rights don't work in the Greek Cypriot administration", he argued.

Meanwhile, the "TRNC" Red Crescent extended a helping hand to the Palestinians.

Referring to the issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (29.04.13) reports on statements by a 58 years old Palestinian refugee, father of 6 children who had asked for shelter in the occupied area of Cyprus and writes that the above person who wanted to remain anonymous said that while they were living in the "south" they did not had a work or a place to stay. "In the past, a total of 500 families from Palestine were living to Larnaka. But, because of the pressure exerted by the Greek Cypriot side and the bad implementations, now only 100 families remained in Larnaka. And those families, the same like us want to take shelter in other countries. The EU has laws about the rights of the refugees but South Cyprus does not implement these. How south Cyprus is an EU member? We ask from Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend his hand and help us. We know that he (Erdogan) constitutes the voices of the Palestine in the world".

(AK)

[09] So-called head of the "religious affairs department" continues his contacts in Egypt; he asked for the establishment of ties between Egypt and the occupation regime

According to information acquired by the so-called religious affairs department, during the meeting, Atalay thanked the rector and the vice rector of the Al-Azhar University for their warm interest and expressed hopes that Egypt will overcome the difficult period it entered.

Atalay referred also to the ties of Egypt with the Greek Cypriot side, and asked for the establishment of ties with the "TRNC" in all fields, as he said, pointing out the need for balancing out of the situation.

In statements also during the meeting, Hamada expressed regret over the fact that no relations were developed between Egypt and the "TRNC" so far, adding that they are ready to do the necessary in order to cooperate and provide assistance to the occupation regime.

(AK)

[10] Tatar said that interest for properties in the breakaway regime rose due to the economic crisis in Cyprus

Speaking during the meeting, Tatar stated that the participants paid a very useful service to the "country" and added that the interest for properties in occupied Cyprus has been rose due to the economic crisis in the Republic of Cyprus. He also said that the participation in international exhibitions and fairs is the "duty of fighters (for a sacred cause of idea)" for the persons living in the breakaway regime.

[11] Trade base on Green Line Regulation has been decreased

The paper writes the selling of goods to the Republic of Cyprus was 613.267 Euro for the two first months of the year 2013, which is the lowest amount since 2006.

According to KTSO, the reason for this is the economic crisis in the Republic of Cyprus.

The paper publishes a table regarding the trade base on Green Line Regulation to the Republic of Cyprus starting from 2004 until 2013 which is as follows:

Year Total

2013

(January- February) 634.266

2012 8.944.202

2011 29.407.435

2010 5.909.238

2009 6.006.347

2008 7.172.115

2007 4.125.547

2006 3.228.342

2005 1.673.459

2004 (August-December) 470.821

[12] Turkey became "dialogue partner" with Shanghai Cooperation Organization"

Noting that Turkey was located in a multi-dimensional geography and interested in many foreign policies on the same scale, Davutoglu said that Turkey, due to its situation, became member or partner of many international organizations.

None of them is an alternative to another, said Davutoglu, adding that Turkey's relations with EU did not mean that it would stay away from SCO which was Asia's most comprehensive security and cooperation organization.

[13] Gul to visit Portugal

Gul will visit the Portuguese Parliament and hold talks with Portugal's President Silva, Parliament Speaker Maria da Assuncao Esteves and Prime Minister Pedro Manuel Passos Coelho, according to a statement released by the Turkish Presidency on Friday.

Gul will hold talks in Lisbon in regards to Turkey's EU accession process, current and regional international issues and cooperation opportunities alongside bilateral relations. Gul will also address participants at the Turkish-Portuguese Business Forum's closing session.

[14] Turkey allocated one billion USD for Egyptian projects

Hegazy said that Egyptian government decided to use one billion USD to develop infrastructure services and to purchase buses fuelled by natural gas.

Hegazy appreciated Turkey's help to Egypt which had been passing through a sensitive period.

[15] Bagis says Washington excited about Turkish PM's upcoming visit to US

"The preparations for the visit are being done with great sensitivity and the instructions regarding the preparations for the visit are being given by US President Barack Obama in person," said Bagis, speaking to Turkish journalists in Washington during his visit to the US on Saturday.

Erdogan, set to visit the US on May 16, is scheduled to meet with Obama, who has a close relationship with the Turkish Prime Minister.

"As a person who has closely followed the last 30 years of Turkish-American relations, I would like to stress that this is the first time I have seen the American side this excited about a Prime Minister's visit to their country," said Bagis.

Bagis also stated that one of the aims of Erdogan's visit was to strengthen the trade relations between Turkey and the US, which already enjoys good political and military relations with Turkey.

Stating that the US was an important trading partner for Turkey, Bagis added that approximately 60 leading businessmen would accompany Erdogan on his visit to the US.

[16] New Constitution and BDP's red lines

Topping the proposals, which contain features of "red lines" for the Kurds, are "equal citizenship, equal representation." While the BDP wants "We, the people of Turkey" written openly in the Constitution preamble, it says: "We believe all individuals and people have universal human rights and freedoms. We regard everybody equal regardless of their race, language, sect, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background and any similar discrimination. All different identities, cultures, languages and beliefs existing in Turkey are under the assurance of this constitution..." BDP sees this definition as "the charter of the intention of cohabitation..."

BDP has important demands regarding the characteristics of the state of the Republic of Turkey, maybe in which it overlaps with the AKP the most in this aspect: "The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state based on human rights and the rule of law. The state recognizes the pluralism regarding ideologies, religions, beliefs and life styles and remains neutral before the pluralist structure of the society. No ideology, religion, belief or life style can be protected or guarded by the state."

The "sine qua non" of our present Constitution, the "Ataturk principles and nationalism" emphasis is not included in the BDP draft preamble, just like the AKP draft. However, the BDP does not have any problems with the symbols of the state. It does not oppose the flag, national anthem or the capital city. However, differing from the present constitution on the language issue, it favours the expression, "The state's official language is Turkish." The BDP, with this, wants to open the way to mother tongue education.

AKP defines Turkish as the "official language" in its draft. The BDP says, "Other main languages people of Turkey speak may be used as second official languages upon decisions of local governments. Everybody has the right to use their own mother tongue alongside the official language in their private life and in their relations with public authorities."

One of BDP's distinct red lines is the definition of "citizenship." BDP prioritizes this definition in the article for "Citizens of Turkey." BDP proposes, "In obtaining, maintaining and losing citizenship of Turkey, no differentiation is made regarding language, religion, race, ethnic background, culture, gender, sexual orientation and similar differences."

The BDP, different from AKP, CHP and MHP, asks for constitutional assurances for "conscientious objection" and for the "right to cultural identity."

The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), in contrast with the other parties, demands that the following is written in the Constitution: "Everybody has a right to live in peace and in a disarmed society." The BDP proposes that the state takes measures for to make it difficult to access arms, in a sense, attempting to carry the peace process to the constitutional platform on a permanent basis. The BDP also proposes that constitutional assurances are given for the "setting up of a Parliamentary commission to determine war damages, compensation, and for mine clearing.

[17] Raki to become Turkey's "national alcoholic drink" if accepted by European body

GISDER has been working for the past two years in an attempt to patent the drink as "Turkish raki," which included initial legal processes at the Turkish Patent Institute. With the patent having been received from Turkish officials, the association now aims to patent the drink abroad, starting with the European Union.

The final decision of the European body will come in a year, GISDER head Egemen Demirtas said, adding that whiskey, cognac, brandy and champagne have all previously been identified and recognized by the Codex. Demirtas added that if it received the patent, it would remove inferior-quality products, mostly produced in Germany, from the market.

Erdogan recently vowed to introduce further measures to decrease alcohol consumption, dismissing the general notion that considered raki as the traditional Turkish drink. Erdogan had said that Turkey's real national drink instead was ayran, a beverage made of yogurt and salt, adding that further prevention policies against alcohol consumption were in the party's plans for the near-future.

[18] The distribution of Turkish military spending

Professor Asaf Savas Akat, an academic at Bilgi University, also wrote about military spending in his column in daily Vatan on March 21. "It is even said that the 30-year cost of a war is $400 billion. Official annual military spending is 4% of the national income. It would reach 5% with the additions of confidential ones. To illustrate, a two-point austerity corresponds to 30 billion liras ($16.6 billion) annually. It is a considerable source. Remember that the total public investment in 2012 was 50 billion liras ($27.8 billion). If it is invested in infrastructure, for instance, there would be a 60% increase [in total public investment]," Akat says.

The real extent of military spending always remains a "secret." The claims written above are not based on any scientific research. The only entity conducting such studies is the Public Expenditures Monitoring Platform. A study led by Professor Nurhan Yenturk tries to shed light on the real aspects of public, military and domestic safety expenditures.

Yenturk, who conducts monitoring work at Bilgi University on military and domestic safety spending under the title of "nongovernmental organization activities," states that only a certain part of the military spending could be fully monitored, while some portion of it could be relatively observed, and the rest could only be based on bare presumptions. From the database of the Finance Ministry's General Directorate of Public Accounts, the spending of the Defence Ministry, gendarmerie, Defence Fund and Coast Guard Security could be monitored.

The total spending of these institutions is estimated about 27 billion liras ($15 billion) for 2012. Moreover, the secret service expenses that could be only limitedly monitored, the expenses of village guards, funds allocated to the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) and the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK), the aid sent to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and foreign military debt discharges correspond to 10% of the overall monitored spending, thus total military spending in 2012 reached nearly 30 billion liras.

The paper publishes the following table on military spending in 2012: TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

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