Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-05-08

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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] Turkish Cypriot politicians on the new phase of the negotiations

[02] Ozersay: The joint declaration forms a framework for the federal partnership

[03] Ozersay met with Peter Van Nuffel

[04] Sheikh Nazim Kibrisi died

[05] The Australian and Spanish Ambassadors met with Turkish Cypriot candidates for the European Parliamentary elections

[06] Turkey's reactions to Germany; Davutoglu: "No one can treat the Turks as second-class Europeans"; Erdogan rejected Weil's demand to meet him

[07] Diyarbakir court sentences Turkey's youngest mayor to over four years in jail

[08] Turkey approves F-35 acquisition

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkish Cypriot politicians on the new phase of the negotiations

Speaking during a visit paid to him today, the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said that exchanging proposals at the first meeting on substantive issues was a good beginning. Commenting on the new phase of the talks, he said that the Turkish Cypriot side had put forward proposals on the issue of property and public administration whereas the Greek Cypriot side had presented proposals on the authorities of the federal government. "The papers have been put on the table. The important thing is to evaluate and reach an agreement on the proposals made at the next meeting," he said.

Eroglu also said that both sides could be suggesting bridging proposals on the outstanding issues if there was any progress towards achieving convergences. "We could have a chance to move onto the other chapters if we do this. This is the only way the negotiations can move forward. All I can say at the moment is that we have a good start" he said.

Also commenting on the new phase, "prime minister" Ozkan Yorgancioglu said that good results rather than a good beginning are needed. He said that the "government" will do all it can to ensure that the current negotiations are concluded successfully. Yorgancioglu also said that he will be meeting with Eroglu and the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay in the coming days to discuss the negotiations process.

The "speaker" of the "assembly" Sibel Siber for her part welcomed the start of the new phase, expressing the hope that the desired results will be achieved.

"Both communities require a solution in Cyprus. Our desire is for the talks to achieve positive results. The two leaders must prepare their respective peoples for a settlement", she said.

[02] Ozersay: The joint declaration forms a framework for the federal partnership

Ozersay, in a speech at the "Eastern Mediterranean University's Business and Economy Faculty" before a group of academics and EMU Senate members, said that the second stage of the negotiation process, where the substantive issues will be discussed is difficult. Noting that it will be a process that not only the Turkish Cypriot side has to show flexibility but also the Greek Cypriot side has to in order to have results, Ozersay said that the Turkish Cypriot "people" expect to reach a comprehensive settlement and to end this uncertainty and this status that they are in.

He said that they, as the negotiating team, will do whatever they can in order to reach a mutually acceptable settlement by protecting the basic rights of the Turkish Cypriots within apparently some flexibility.

He also said that it is important to constantly inform the political parties, the civil society organizations and the people about the negotiation process, adding that for this reason he will send the meeting minutes to the "deputies", the "foreign ministry" and to the "prime ministry" and he will also meet with the representatives of NGOs and the political parties in order to inform them about the process.

[03] Ozersay met with Peter Van Nuffel

Ozersay was accompanied during the meeting by "undersecretary of Foreign Minister" Erhan Ercin, the "head of political affairs" Gulfem Veziroglu Sevgili and Ozlem Ince.

According to the reports the timeline and method of negotiating the EU heading was the main agenda point of the meeting. Speaking to TAK after the meeting Ozersay said " As we said in our earlier remarks, we are always ready to exchange opinions with Mr Nuffel regarding the EU heading as long as we stay within the framework of the UN Good Offices mission . I can comfortably say that these dialogs will continue in the upcoming period".

[04] Sheikh Nazim Kibrisi died

Kibrisi was buried at Naqshibandi Tariqa's Devish Convent in occupied Lefka. His funeral was held at the Selimiye Mosque in the occupied part of Nicosia.

[05] The Australian and Spanish Ambassadors met with Turkish Cypriot candidates for the European Parliamentary elections

During the meeting, Birinci said that the Turkish Cypriots are the only Europeans, who are not represented in the European Parliament, adding that it's time the voice of the Turkish Cypriots to be heard.

Tugberk, for her part, said that it is important all the communities who live in Cyprus to show tolerance to each other.

Replying to the question what is the reaction regarding their candidacies, the Australian High Commissioner said that generally the reactions are positive although it is difficult to break some taboos.

The Spanish Ambassador said that their participation in the elections is an important move.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (08.05.14) reports that both Ambassadors met also with the Turkish Cypriot independent candidate Sener Levent at his office. It is reported that they discussed about the elections and the Cyprus problem.

The paper also reports that a while ago Levent was invited at the resident of the German Ambassador to Lefkosia and representatives of the French Embassy, the Canadian High Commission as well as the British High Commissioner visited him at his office.

[06] Turkey's reactions to Germany; Davutoglu: "No one can treat the Turks as second-class Europeans"; Erdogan rejected Weil's demand to meet him

"If a German President comes to Turkey and says: 'I'm concerned about Turkey's future' due to false information, then we will go to each German city and say: 'We are concerned about Germany's future' because of neo-Nazi murders," Davutoglu said.

"If someone wants to be respected, he should respect us. No one can treat us like second-class Europeans," he added.

"We will offer every kind of hospitality, but we won't allow anyone to hurt this nation's honor. There's no need to worry about us ... The only authority to worry about this nation is the nation itself. No one else has the right to worry or to express his worry about this nation," he added. "If we have something to worry about, we should be worried about the racism that has penetrated the European streets, Islamophobia, the sabotaged houses of Turks," Davutoglu also said.

After German President Joachim Gauck's visit, Prime Minister Erdogan said Gauck was still acting "like a pastor" ? the President's former occupation in the former East Germany ? for supporting an atheistic interpretation of the Alevi religion in Germany.

Gauck visited Turkey last week and warned against the consequences of curbs to freedom of expression, while also criticizing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership style. He said he was shocked by the government's harsh attempts to stamp out street protests and clamp down on the media.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (07.05.14) under the title: "Big dishonour to Germany", reported that after the latest statements by the German President, Erdogan has replied negatively to the demand of Stephen Weil, a German politician, leader of the Social Democratic Party in Lower Saxony in Germany who is visiting Turkey, to meet him.

As the paper writes, Erdogan is still very annoyed with Gauk's statements and thus he did not responded to Weil's demand to meet him. Weil's and his delegation were received by the Speaker of the Turkish National Assembly Cemil Cicek while they are expected to meet with President Abdullah Gul on Saturday.

(AK)

[07] Diyarbakir court sentences Turkey's youngest mayor to over four years in jail

The 25-year-old student became Turkey's youngest ever mayor after winning the March 30 elections with fellow co-mayoral candidate Harun Erkus with a record 91%of the votes.

The Diyarbakir 2nd High Criminal Court found Zugurli guilty on charges of committing crimes "on behalf of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)" even while admitting that she was not a member of the group. Prosecutors were demanding up to 35 years in prison, although the court ultimately sentenced her to four years and two months in jail.

[08] Turkey approves F-35 acquisition

The committee chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and with the participation of the Chief of General Staff and the Minister of National Defense also announced that the country still plans to buy another 100 of the advanced jets. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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