Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-05-30

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci insists that they should have also taken part at the UN summit; Apliki crossing point may be opened in 5-6 months

[02] Burcu called for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiation process

[03] Siber claimed that the Turkish Cypriots live under "unjust embargoes"

[04] Denktas said that they should ask Turkish and Greek Cypriots if they prefer the continuation of the status quo or not

[05] Settlers want to cross to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus

[06] Trade volume between Turkey and the breakaway regime has been reduced

[07] "Golden bay hotel" in occupied Karavas poured concrete at the beach to build a kiosk

[08] Vote of confidence to Yildirim's government

[09] EU's Timmermans cites progress on visa-free travel for Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci insists that they should have also taken part at the UN summit; Apliki crossing point may be opened in 5-6 months

Akinci described the developments that occurred after the UN World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul as a storm in a tea cup. "We, as the Turkish Cypriots, should have taken part at that summit" Akinci claimed and added that "the Turkish Cypriot people is one of the equal partners of the Cyprus Republic however they have been excluded and could not return to their rightful place for the past 53 years".

Claiming that it is not fair for a community leader to represent the whole island, he argued that not only UN member countries and states but others also participated at the summit and added that even if the "TRNC" is not recognized it could also have attended the event.

Explaining that he was invited as the "TRNC president" to a dinner by the Turkish President, which was organized in line with the summit but at a different venue, Akinci said: "I accepted this invitation".

Noting that he held a fruitful meeting with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, he added that a storm was broken out in a tea cup after this meeting. Akinci noted that the developments occurred after the summit were perceived as "an aim to increase the status of the TRNC", adding that "this will not be allowed".

Stating that their aim is to achieve what is reasonable and possible, a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution based on the politically equality of the two founding states, he said their efforts are towards achieving this aim.

"Everyone should know that no one can decide which dinner the TRNC president will attend or not or if he can meet with the UN Chief or not", Akinci stressed.

Stating that he was sorry to see the Greek Cypriot side so outraged, Akinci said that he could understand this only at a certain extent. "However it is not possible to understand some circles in the North who could not stomach our participation in the dinner and meeting with the UN Chief. What's really saddening was if we didn't participate in this event and if only the Greek Cypriot leader had attended the summit and the dinner, then these circles will then ask where Akinci was, where the Turkish President was and they will say that we were excluded by Turkey and that Turkey recognized the Greek Cypriot side only", Akinci argued.

Stressing that he will continue to work towards establishing a united, federal Cyprus, Akinci said that "such incidents can upset me but cannot sway me from my path".

Stating that he will guard the rights and legitimate interests of the Turkish Cypriot "people", he reiterated that he will not ignore the reasonable sensitivities of the other society.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (29.05.16) reported that Akinci, speaking at the "walnut festival" at the occupied village of Lefke, reminded that the opening of the crossing point in Apliki has been in the agenda for 15-16 years, adding that they took the decision of opening it with the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades immediately after himself took office.

Explaining that the construction of the crossing point will be put out to tender by the UN next Friday, Akinci noted that the works may be finished in 5-6 months and then the crossing point can be opened.

(DPs)

[02] Burcu called for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiation process

Burcu issued a written statement, noting that they had learned from the statement of the Greek Cypriot Spokespman that following his telephone conversation with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon, the Greek Cypriot leader, as he called President Nikos Anastasiades, will not perpetuate the unnecessary crisis his "unjust" reaction has caused and that he is ready for the negotiations.

"As it is known, president Ak?nc? has shared his views regarding the immoderate reaction of the Greek Cypriot leadership as to his visit to Istanbul with the public and expressed his regret and disappointment. He reiterated his determination to maintain the negotiations and called on the Greek Cypriot leader to return to the negotiation table", Burcu said.

He added that Ak?nc? deems it necessary to underline the following issues. "It is an unjust but a well-known fact that the 'Republic of Cyprus', where the Turkish Cypriot people are not represented and which is administered only by the Greek Cypriots, is recognized as the only legal entity for the whole of the island", Burcu stated.

"There is no need to ask for a confirmation for that from the UN Secretary General. It is also pointless to consider that this can change with the presence of our president in Istanbul. Our president is aware of the fact that this unjust status quo can only be changed with a settlement that is based on a new bizonal, bicommunal federal structure based on political equality", noted Burcu in the statement and added that Ak?nc? is already maintaining his efforts to that end on every possible platform.

"What really matters for Ak?nc? is to defend the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people on every platform without the permission of anyone else. He will continue his efforts towards that end whether in Istanbul or in any other platform. As specified in the relevant statements of the United Nations, Ak?nc? maintains his determination for the intensification of the settlement efforts and reaching a solution in 2016 by which both communities will be able to live in equality, freedom and security", Burcu also said.

Expressing his satisfaction that the Greek Cypriot leader is correcting his mistake, Burcu claimed it is clear that recurrence of such "unjust" behavior would be detrimental to the negotiation process.

Burcu said within this context that Akinci expects Mr. Anastasiades to initiate, in the shortest possible time, the necessary consultations with the UN and the Turkish Cypriot side, to decide on a new meeting date instead of the meeting that did not take place on May 27th.

[03] Siber claimed that the Turkish Cypriots live under "unjust embargoes"

Speaking during the event, Siber referred, inter alia, to the "unjust embargoes" imposed on the Turkish Cypriots and argued that they do not deserve to live with them.

Reminding that Turkey is the only country which recognizes the "TRNC", Sibel stated that it is via Turkey that they are able establishing relations with the world.

Recalling that the Turkish Cypriots live under "embargoes in the fields of sports, culture e.t.c", Siber described them as "inhuman" and alleged that both the "TRNC" and Turkey are the sides which support since 1968 the ongoing efforts at the negotiation talks aiming to reach a solution on the Cyprus problem.

(AK)

[04] Denktas said that they should ask Turkish and Greek Cypriots if they prefer the continuation of the status quo or not

(DPs)

[05] Settlers want to cross to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus

Speaking to the paper, various settlers claimed that the fact that it is forbidden for them to cross is against human rights and an injustice against them. They also said that the only way for them to cross is to get married with a Turkish Cypriot and claimed that is easier for them to travel to Greece than to cross to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

(CS)

[06] Trade volume between Turkey and the breakaway regime has been reduced

According to the paper, there is a reduction of 8,6% compared to the trading volume for the three first months of 2015 which was 229,385,000 and the trade volume of the same period in 2016 which was 209,680,000.

In addition, according to data by the Turkey's Institution of Statistics, exports from Turkey to the breakaway regime were reduced to 28,44% while imports were also reduced to 5,90% for the above mentioned period.

(CS)

[07] "Golden bay hotel" in occupied Karavas poured concrete at the beach to build a kiosk

Mehmet Envergil, an officer of the "district governorate", said that a "legal procedure" will start and the "antiquities department" will also be informed.

The paper published also photos from the area that was damaged.

(DPs)

[08] Vote of confidence to Yildirim's government

"As AK Party [AKP] governments, we have a characteristic attribute: No matter how many votes we garner at the elections, we become the government of all. After winning a vote of confidence under this roof [of the Turkish Parliament], we became the government of all 79 million [citizens]," Y?ld?r?m said during his address to parliament.

"We will firmly walk towards accomplishing the 2023 goals of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk," Y?ld?r?m said, referring to the founder of the modern Turkish Republic, saying that they would be in service to the nation and work to further develop the country's democracy, rights and freedoms.

Some 453 Deputies attended the vote, with Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli as the only opposition leader present, as main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) chair Kemal K?l?cdaroglu and the co-chairs of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Figen Yuksekdag and Selahattin Demirtas, did not attend the vote held.

The ruling party, which has 317 Deputies in the 550-seat parliament, gathered 315 votes, as one of AKP's Deputies was unable to attend the vote while another AKP Deputy is the Speaker of Parliament and was hence excluded from voting.

(?)

[09] EU's Timmermans cites progress on visa-free travel for Turkey

Timmermans said on Twitter after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and the EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik that they shared a "joint determination to overcome last remaining obstacles to visa liberalization."

(?)

Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that officials from Ankara would meet with their European counterparts next week to determine a roadmap on visa liberalization.

(?) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(AK / AM)

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article