Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-05-20

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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 Cavusoglu on Biden's visit

[02] Turkish Cypriot daily alleges that "the confidence building measures' package" discussion between the two sides has been suspended

[03] Commentaries on Biden's visit to Cyprus

[04] Nami criticizes the Turkish Cypriot candidates for running for elections

[05] Self-styled health minister Gulle to attend World Health Assembly

[06] "18th international Bellapais music festival"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Statements by Cavusoglu on Biden's visit

Cavusoglu said that they want a just peace for Cyprus and added: "There are many elements like the property, the borders, and the missing people. We want all these important issues to be included in the framework of a plan with a win-win formula, where everyone is winning. There is the joint statement by the leaders of February. If you try to negotiate every issue individually, then the negotiation process will stretch. Some issues are easier, some issues are more difficult."

Cavusoglu also said that their view, as Turkey, is that all the issues should be agreed within a framework of a plan and to be binding to a timetable. He added that they want to reach a solution under the auspices of the UN and the support of the EU, but firstly the issues will be discussed between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides, later the UN, Greece and Turkey will also sit at the negotiation table.

Cavusoglu noted that Biden's visit to Cyprus is important, but they don't think that he will come with any special issue. He concluded by saying that they think that Biden will go to the island to support the peace process.

[02] Turkish Cypriot daily alleges that "the confidence building measures' package" discussion between the two sides has been suspended

The paper writes that reports in the Greek Cypriot press confirmed that the two sides are holding negotiations on the "confidence building measures' package" to be announced during Biden's visit but as it is said, the "Greek Cypriot side" has asked for the talks to be suspended since it feels uneasy about the content of the package.

Asked to corroborate the reports saying that the negotiations on the "confidence building measures' package" were suspended after a demand by the Greek Cypriot side, the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret Ozersay said: "I would not like to enter into a game of accusations. The Greek Cypriot side's leadership should understand very well like we do, that it is necessary to have a fair balance on the gaining's of the two sides on the issues that should be agreed".

"We have shown during the previous week our readiness to do all the necessary in order to reach to an agreement on the issues related to the widely distributed statements and mutual prejudices. We will continue forward with the same positive approaches", Ozersay said.

(AK)

[03] Commentaries on Biden's visit to Cyprus

Hasturer wrote: "The expected momentum was not achieved in the talks after the joint declaration. The Turkish Cypriot side has not been blamed for the failure to achieve the expected result. (?)

Let us briefly focus on the essence of what has been disclosed?The Turkish Cypriot side supports the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem. The fenced off town of Varosha cannot be a part of the confidence-building measures. The opening of Varosha will have negative effects on the motivation for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

If the opening of Maras will be considered, then an equally important proposal must be made to the Turkish Cypriot side in return for the area.

Is the Turkish Cypriot side worried about an unexpected demand during the Biden visit? No it is not. Why? Turkey's importance in the area increased particularly after the developments that took place in Ukraine.

Considering the present situation, the United States, or the western World in a broader sense, cannot put pressure on Turkey in connection with the Cyprus problem."

On the same issue, columnist Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, in Turkish daily Milli (19.05.14), under the title "The United States' new Cyprus game", wrote the following:

"The Cyprus pressure on Turkey continues to increase in a multi-dimensional way. In this context, the simultaneous moves by the duo of the United States and the EU in efforts aimed at eliminating Turkey's sovereign rights on the island are rather noteworthy.

In this new process, referred to as a 'two-way squeeze', the fact that, after the ECHR's [European Court of Human Rights] sentenced Turkey to pay 90 million euro in compensation for the [1974] Cyprus Peace Operation (a decision that has been pending for the past 13 years), US Deputy President Joseph Biden is going to visit Cyprus on 21-22 May, is rather important. What appears is that the new geopolitical environment coming about on Cyprus has caused the United States as well to go into action.

The priority reason for the United States' taking a close interest in the issue seems to be that an American company has invested in the new natural gas resources. Yet another reason is that its close Middle Eastern ally Israel possesses a portion of the natural gas resources in question.

(?)

The United States wants to be determinant on the point of providing energy security in this region as well, and in the natural gas reaching world markets in a secure way and the 'solution process' on Cyprus has been stepped up on account of this.

(?)

On the other hand, it has not become firm how and via what route the natural gas that has been found as of now is going to be brought to the world market. But one of the strong options here from the standpoint of the United States and the West consists of Turkey. Consequently, Cyprus and Turkey have a special place and importance in the Eastern Mediterranean crisis!

It is expected that the United States, acting with this awareness, will play a more active role in the Cyprus issue, in the same way that it has taken 'constructive steps' in the Turkey-Israel relationship; this latest step emerges before us as an indicator of this.

For the United States to begin to play an active role on the Cyprus issue and in the Turkey-Israel relationship can be explained in terms of the effects of the new natural gas reserves. But in addition to this, the instability in countries that are in a position to impact the geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean, such as Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Libya, show that the United States is, at the same time, looking at the issue from the perspective of security as well.

(?)

This, in turn, equates from the US perspective to the construction of a 'New Cyprus' and a 'New Turkey'. Indeed, this underlies the entire struggle. On account of this, it is imperative not to think of the Cyprus issue independently of Turkey, and to follow a policy in accord with this!"

[04] Nami criticizes the Turkish Cypriot candidates for running for elections

Nami said: "This is a matter of individual choice. Our job is to put communal interest forward. When we look from that perspective I would put my signature under Talat's words. We are actually insulted as a community". Nami also claimed that two of those six seats for Cypriot MPs are reserved for Turkish Cypriots, but they have been taken away.

He also said: "We send representatives to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Our political parties directly report to PACE not through Greek Cypriot's will. Something similar should have been done at EP. They tell as 'come and register'. It is already my right and I don't need anyone's favour. In addition to that we should have been sending MPs to EP not based on their ethnic origin but based on their ideology.

If we want a Turkish Cypriot to be elected, all Turkish Cypriot electorate should cross from the check points the same day. Does this exist in any democratic country? That is why we are not very warm to the idea. But of course we respect everyone's choices."

[05] Self-styled health minister Gulle to attend World Health Assembly

The World Health Assembly which is organized annually in May will begin on 20th and continue till May 24th.

[06] "18th international Bellapais music festival"

In this event, artists from Turkey, Israel, Italy, Russia and Argentine will participate in the festival. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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