Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-05-05

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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] AKP to hold extraordinary congress on May 22 Davutoglu not to run for leadership

[02] Bozkir said 72 criteria asked by EU on the visa lifting issue had already been met

[03] Izcan said that Turkey's decision for lifting visa requirements for EU citizens should be evaluated with political reality

[04] CTP: The normalization is only possible with the Cyprus settlement

[05] Ozgurgun claims that his "government" supports the Cyprus negotiations

[06] Atun: The economy protocol with Turkey will be signed within a month

[07] Sinirlioglu carries out an illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus

[08] Siber met with the Federation of European Microbiological Society

[09] YKP, BKP and KTOS are seeking for a left-wing cooperation

[10] Cypruvex Ltd Company in the occupied area of Cyprus has re- launched exports after 15 years

[11] Demirtas on the lifting of immunities; AKP to hold a referendum if the lifting of immunities is not accepted

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] AKP to hold extraordinary congress on May 22 Davutoglu not to run for leadership

The meeting ended at around 12.50 p.m., with Davutoglu now expected to hold a press conference to announce an extraordinary party congress.

A key meeting between Davutoglu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace lasted for one hour and 40 minutes on May 4.

Relations have reportedly been tense between the President and the Prime Minister amid rumors that Davutoglu would resign after saying on May 3 that he would not hesitate to "walk away from any job position."

In pointed remarks before the May 4 meeting, Erdogan said "you should not forget how you got your post."

[02] Bozkir said 72 criteria asked by EU on the visa lifting issue had already been met

As part of a Turkey-EU migrant deal reached to curb the flow of migrants into the bloc, the EU pledged visa-free travel for Turkish citizens by July on the stipulation that Turkey met all 72 required criteria.

Bozkir stated speaking during a press conference in Ankara that he believes all 72 criteria had already been met.

"The Commission confirms this to a large extent," Bozk?r said, adding that he hoped the process could be completed on schedule by the end of June.

[03] Izcan said that Turkey's decision for lifting visa requirements for EU citizens should be evaluated with political reality

In a written statement, Izcan stressed that this decision shows that Turkey acts with concern for its own interests and benefits in its international relations.

Commenting on the issue that with the decision all Cypriots who own a passport of the Republic of Cyprus will enter Turkey without a visa, Izcan said that there are important lessons to be drawn from this for the Turkish Cypriots.

(DPs)

[04] CTP: The normalization is only possible with the Cyprus settlement

In a written statement issued by CTP on the proposal by the European Commission to lift the visa requirements for the citizens of Turkey, it reminded that accordingly the Turkish citizens will be able to travel to "south Cyprus" (translator's note: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus) without a visa.

(DPs)

[05] Ozgurgun claims that his "government" supports the Cyprus negotiations

"The UBP [National Unity Party] government will not fall in a difference of opinion in an apparent way when it comes to reaching solution for anything in Cyprus," Ozgurgun said in an interview with AA.

"The obstacle in the way of solution has always been the Greek side. It is not possible for the president [Mustafa Akinci] to face any obstacle from the government side," he claimed all the while praising Turkey's "effective and active" role as guarantor of the breakaway regime.

Ozgurgun also added that as the UBP placed great importance on positive and strong relations with the "motherland", noting that fresh water provision from Turkey to the breakaway was a "very important milestone" in the history of Cyprus.

"We hope that the water will reach the Turkish Cypriots as soon as possible. Our work has started on that matter," said Ozgurgun.

In addition, illegal Bayrak (04.05.16) broadcast that during his first interview

to BRT after the new "government" received a "vote of confidence in parliament" last week. Ozgurgun stated that their efforts will be concentrated on removing difficulties experienced in the "country".

He also touched upon the economic protocol to be signed with Turkey and stated: "We do not think the difficulties which have been a source of various disputes cannot be overcome. I think the protocol will be signed soon" he said.

He also denied claims that 25 thousand new "citizenships" will be granted.

[06] Atun: The economy protocol with Turkey will be signed within a month

Atun made these statements during a meeting he held with the so-called ambassador of Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus, Derya Kanbay.

Atun stated that the protocol will be signed by the self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun after a meeting that Atun and the "minister of finance" Serdar Denktas will have with the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for Cyprus Affairs, Tugrul Turkes.

Atun further said that cooperation between Turkey and the breakaway regime will continue as always.

(CS)

[07] Sinirlioglu carries out an illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus

Sinirlioglu will meet today with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, the so-called prime minister, Huseyin Ozgurgun and the so-called foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu.

(AK)

[08] Siber met with the Federation of European Microbiological Society

The board of directors of the "federation and the president of the Turkish Cypriot Doctors' Association" Filiz Besim visited the "speaker" of the "assembly" Sibel Siber together with the President of FEMS Enrico Reginato.

Speaking during the visit, Besim said that representatives of 27 medical associations will be participating in the meetings. She added that a health conference will also be held within the framework of the organization.

Siber said that the international community could and should not ignore the Turkish Cypriots "who have their own organizations, democracy and culture of peace".

[09] YKP, BKP and KTOS are seeking for a left-wing cooperation

In statements during the meeting, Sener Elcil general secretary of KTOS, stated, inter alia, that they had decided to undertake their responsibilities in the political sense and added that "There is an alternative for the Turkish Cypriots".

Elcil pointed out that taking into consideration that the "communities' identity, culture, religious perception and existence is under Turkey's threat", he stated that it is inevitable the need for them to establish a wide-principled union for their salvation. He added that the Turkish Cypriots have no alternatives right now and added that the trade union has undertaken the initiative to unify the patriotic powers.

Elcil expressed also the view that the unification of the patriotic powers will reflect positively to the solution of the Cyprus problem and the peace process in Cyprus.

Also speaking, Izzet Izcan, chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) stressed the need for the establishment of a widely-extended union and explained that its aim will be to protect the existence of the Turkish Cypriot community, to defend the worker's rights and to contribute for the peace and democracy in the "country".

In his turn Murat Kanatli, "organizing secretary" of the New Cyprus Party (YKP) said, inter alia, that they took the responsibility to build a common path.

Supporting that the establishment of widely-extended unions is necessary for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Kanatli added that the establishment of an organization such as that called "This Country is Ours' Platform" [Translator's note: Bu Memleket Bizim Platformu] is necessary in order to produce mechanisms for the solution of their daily problems.

"It will be a political movement aiming to change the system", Kanatli added.

(AK)

[10] Cypruvex Ltd Company in the occupied area of Cyprus has re- launched exports after 15 years

Saygili said also that the company's works go well due to their good cooperation with the "administration board" and added that no products will be left in the stock this year.

Explaining that they experienced difficulties in finding markets due to the deterioration of ties between Turkey and Russia, Saygili explained that their harvest was concentrated 99% on grapefruit production. He added also that they exported 25 thousand tons of mandarins to Iraq and other Arab countries while on the other hand he added that they have sent king mandarins and Valencia oranges to the Netherlands, the UK, Spain and Switzerland.

Saygili stressed also that their goal is for the export of their products to Europe to reach the 40% of the total exports. He explained that in order to be able to sell their products in the European markets they need the "global export permit document" and claimed that if their products are of high quality, they will be able to export them in every place of the world.

(?)

(AK)

[11] Demirtas on the lifting of immunities; AKP to hold a referendum if the lifting of immunities is not accepted

According to the paper, Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of the HDP who held recently contacts in the US on the immunity issue, met with his party's Deputies in order to determine their policy towards this issue.

Meanwhile, according to the paper, HDP's central committee is expected to convene today in order to take crucial decisions.

The paper adds that Figen Yuskedag, co-chairwoman of the HDP has sent a letter to several European MPs against the lifting of the immunities. At the same time, a delegation from the party is expected to have contacts with several foreign Ambassadors to discuss the issue. The HDP will point out during the meetings, that the aim of the lifting of the immunities is to leave the HDP party outside politics, describing this move as a political coup.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah (05.05.16) reports on the issue and writes that the AKP party asked from all its Deputies to be present at the Assembly's meeting which is to take place on May 16, where the 1st round of voting on the lifting of immunities will take place.

According to the paper, if the AKP won't secure the necessary votes for the proposal to be approved as a constitutional amendment, then it would lean towards submitting the constitutional amendment on the lifting of immunities to a referendum.

(?)

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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