Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-07-12

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: Guarantees were not the only problem during the Cyprus Conference

[02] Cavusoglu claims Anastasiades' remarks are for domestic consumption

[03] Turkish spokesman says Greek FM Kotzias makes unfounded allegations and engages in blame game over Cyprus

[04] Turkes to President Anastasiades: "You should first cut your ties with Greece"

[05] Turkish Cypriot political parties disagree on the UN parameters for a solution in Cyprus; Akinci discussed the situation with Cavusoglu

[06] Akinci briefed Sibel onthe failure of Crans Montana summit

[07] CTP: "The federal solution is the only realistic plan for the change of the unsustainable situation in the island"

[08] Reactions to the failure of the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana

[09] Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce alleges that the Cyprus Conference collapsed because of the Greek Cypriot stance

[10] Saner attends OIC meeting

[11] Atun met with ministers in the framework of the 22nd World Petroleum Congress

[13] Fifty-two informatics personnel detained over alleged links to Gulen

[14] HDP MP Leyla Zana acquitted of terror charges

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: Guarantees were not the only problem during the Cyprus Conference

He further alleged that the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey had exhibited the necessary flexibility for achieving a solution in this process and that the Turkish Cypriot side was "an actor not a figurant" both in Geneva and Crans Montana.

Referring to the presence of troops in Cyprus, Akinci alleged that the presence of 40,000 troops was preferred to a military force of a few hundred. He argued that clear messages had been conveyed during the conference that the guarantees could be evaluated and the system could be reexamined. He further referred to the existence of a "gap" on other issues besides the guarantees.

Furthermore, Akinci said that the sides had started explaining the reasons of the failure in Switzerland but that he would wish the UN to announce these reasons. He noted that he received the UN report on the extension of UNFICYP's mandate and that reference to the Crans Montana Conference was made in this report. He said that in the report the UN thanked all sides which participated in the conference, which is a "typical stance exhibited by the UN". Noting that the UN's position was sensitive and that their role was to facilitate the process, Akinci said that the UN had tried to continue the policy of keeping equal distance between the sides.

Referring to the two years of negotiations with President Anastasiades, he said that a great progress had been achieved during the first year, but after September 2016, the Greek Cypriot side had allegedly gradually started to change its attitude and that in 2017 it had distanced itself from the solution.

Noting that they [the Turkish Cypriots] would carefully evaluate the situation, Akinci said that all Turkish Cypriot political parties agreed that they should have "a relation between equals" with the Greek Cypriots, that they would never become a "patch" to the Greek Cypriots, but at the same time that they did not accept to become a Turkish province. Underling that he did not say that everything ended, Akinci added that no one should expect him to accept all the conditions of the Greek Cypriot side.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cavusoglu claims Anastasiades' remarks are for domestic consumption

Evaluating Greek Cypriot Nicos Anastasiades' statement that Turkey was responsible for the negotiations to remain inconclusive in Switzerland, during the Organization of Islamic Conference's Foreign Ministers Council meeting in the Ivory Coast, Cavusoglu claimed that Anastasiades' remarks were wrong, shallow and for domestic consumptio.

Recalling that Turkey had stressed that the Crans-Montana would be the last conference and also had expressed the need for bringing the problems to the table without delay, Cavusoglu noted that UN had accepted a proposal to discuss all issues in a package.

Claiming that all sides had accepted that Turkey adopted a constructive manner, Cavusoglu alleged: "The Greek Cypriot side had only one desire and criterion. They wanted zero soldiers on the island. In other words, the Turkish army will be withdrawn completely. The guarantee of Turkey will end and it will not have a unilateral intervention right. All bonds between Turkey and Cyprus will be broken. These are all they desired. This was a nonsense proposal and it was not possible for us to accept it".

Arguing that Turkey had conducted the negotiations within the framework drawn by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, he said: "Continuing negotiations does not mean to accept all demands of the Greek Cypriots. Of course, we will reject nonsense proposals".

Asked if the Greek Cypriot side would use this argument in the international arena, Cavusoglu said: "They can use it. Everyone including the EU was talking about this at the G20 Summit. Everyone knows what the problem is. However, if they apply double standards as in 2004 and are not fair this is their problem".

[03] Turkish spokesman says Greek FM Kotzias makes unfounded allegations and engages in blame game over Cyprus

In a written statement, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu said Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias earlier this week had accused Turkey of displaying an uncompromising attitude during the Conference on Cyprus.

Muftuoglu said Kotzias' remarks "were completely unacceptable, his alligatiosn were unfortunate and that he was engaged in a blame game.

"Those who know that their approach is unconstructive and completely of a compromise spirit , are prone to voicing baseless and untrue allegations in order to blame those who display good faith and constructiveness.

"As the one responsible for the failure of the Conference on Cyprus to produce results either in Geneva or in Crans-Montana, Greek Foreign Minister Mr. Kotzias' futile efforts to place the blame on Turkey are actually an attempt to disguise the fact that the negotiations failed because of the lack of good faith and political will on the part of his country and the Greek Cypriot side," he said.

"We invite Minister Kotzias, who exerted no effort whatsoever towards a positive conclusion of the Conference, to at least act responsibly from now on."

[04] Turkes to President Anastasiades: "You should first cut your ties with Greece"

Claiming that the Turkish Cypriots would protect their tenacious historical bonds with Turkey, Turkes alleged that Anastasiades had no right to speak about Turkey's ties with the Turkish Cypriots and provided as an example an experience he had while being in the "One Road one Belt International Forum" in Beijing.

"The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras delivered a speech at the forum. In his speech he stated that they would support projects on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus. Since when does Mr Tsipras make statements at international meetings on behalf of the Cyprus Republic?. This is the first. The second is that it is the Greek Cypriot leadership that decided for the Enosis plebiscite to be commemorated at schools. Anastasiades should first give answers to these. You should first cut your ties with Greece", Turkes argued.

(AK)

[05] Turkish Cypriot political parties disagree on the UN parameters for a solution in Cyprus; Akinci discussed the situation with Cavusoglu

In statements after the meeting, Huseyin Ozgurgun, chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), alleged that the Greek Cypriot side did not want a solution within the UN parameters and that if there was no interference in the negotiations, which had been conducted on this basis for 48 years, the process would continue for another 48 years. Ozgurgun argued that UN, EU and UK officials share the above view and added that the Turkish Cypriots would not accept to become a minority of the Greek Cypriots in contrary to the UN parameters and they did not intend to be turned into the 82nd Turkish province.

In his statements, Serdar Denktas, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), argued that not blaming each other in the internal politics was important at this point and alleged that the Turkish side had exhibited a constructive and even soft attitude in Crans Montana but the Greek Cypriot side showed that it was not ready for sharing. Asked to comment on the statement made by Turkish officials that the UN parameters for finding a solution in Cyprus should change, Denktas claimed that it was not possible to have a result with these parameters, that they should explain to the UN and the EU why these parameters had not been useful and demand that they should change.

Moreover, Tufan Erhurman, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), alleged that if the statements made the day before yesterday by President Anastasiades and the letter for interrupting the work of the EU Commission's for implementing the acquis in the occupied area of Cyprus were taken into consideration, it seemed that President Anastasiades was not ready for a solution. Erhurman said that they told Akinci that the CTP considered the bi-zonal bi-communal federation based on political equality as the only realistic solution in Cyprus.

Furthermore, Cemal Ozyigit, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that the Turkish Cypriot community's need for a solution continued and that they paid a price because of the fact that they were outside the international community. Replying to a question, Ozgiyit noted that the TDP would not approve a change of the UN parameters and added that they opposed to becoming a "patch" of the Greek Cypriots and a province of Turkey.

After the meeting, Akinci held a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. They evaluated the current stage of the Cyprus problem following the Conference on Cyprus and agreed to continue consultations.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (12.07.17) refers to the above statements made by the Turkish Cypriot political party leaders under the title "Disagreements on the parameters" and writes that while before and during the Crans Montana conference the parties agreed, as soon as they returned to Cyprus, they started "transmitting on different frequencies".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Akinci briefed Sibel on the failure of Crans Montana summit

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Siber said that a joint effort in unity was needed to plan for the future of the country.

She alleged that the Turkish Cypriots continued to be "the victims of the non-solution of the Cyprus problem despite repeatedly expressing its will and support for a settlement on the island".

She said that the talks in Crans Montana, which was seen as a final conference not only by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side but by international observers as well, had ended in failure.

"Rather than focusing on who said what at the negotiating table we need to focus on what the people think" said Siber, arguing that there was no sign or proof that the Greek Cypriot leadership had prepared the Greek Cypriot community for a federal settlement in Cyprus.

Claiming that the Greek Cypriot people who had overwhelmingly rejected the UN Sponsored Annan Plan in 2004 had not convinced their leader of their support for a federal settlement; Siber said that a leader needed to derive its strength from his people in order to be strong.

"The Turkish Cypriot people said yes to a federal model of settlement in 2004 and we have parliament decisions backing a federal model of settlement. But when we look at the position of the leaders, it is my conviction that the Greek Cypriot leader actually never had the support of the people for a federal settlement. Greek Cypriot proposals tabled prior to Crans Montana implied a unitary state model, particularly on the issue of governance and power sharing" she said.

Underlining the importance of respecting the views of the "people", Siber said that it was important that Turkish Cypriots should not made to wait "under the weight of embargoes" until the Greek Cypriot side was ready for a federal settlement.

"The talks have failed but we are yet again forced to live under embargoes until the Greek Cypriot side is ready for a federal settlement. Should the UN Secretary General's report on the talks in Switzerland indicate that we are not to blame for the failure of the talks then the Turkish Cypriot side should not be forced to wait for a new solution model under isolations and embargoes" she added.

[07] CTP: "The federal solution is the only realistic plan for the change of the unsustainable situation in the island"

Pointing out that the party would launch an initiative for dialogue first in the EU and then in all the international organizations and states in order to support the efforts towards this direction, the party adds that it will establish a committee that will work on the Confident Building Measures.

CHP also calls on all the involved parties and especially the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to evaluate the situation with common sense and calmness and then share their views publicly.

Claiming that President Anastasiades' stance during the Crans Montana Cyprus conference was not compatible with the principle of reciprocity which should be protected, CHP underlined that we should not forget that at the current stage it was important not to move away from constructive behaviors. The party stresses also the need to remain committed to our goal and continue the efforts that will lead to a mutually accepted solution of the Cyprus problem.

The party underlined further that current global problems, developments in the region and especially the hydrocarbon issue, prove once more the need for the solution of the Cyprus problem. It called on all parties in the island to undertake responsibility in order to prevent any possible tension in the country related with the hydrocarbon issue. "The two communities should not allow the common natural wealth in the island to become a cause of dispute", the party further said.

(AK)

[08] Reactions to the failure of the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana

In a written statement, Elcil said that the negotiation process was interrupted and a big fraction both in the north and south Cyprus were overjoyed.

Elcil also argued that the blame games, which started after the failure of the Cyprus talks, only aim at perpetuating the division of the Republic of Cyprus. He added that they lived the same game after the Annan plan's referendum.

Stressing that the communities could create peace, Elcil noted that "peace cannot be created behind borders, army, walls and barbed wires". He added that the peace can be achieved if the two communities came together, fully cooperated and trusted each other.

Furthermore, Alpay Durduran, member of the secretariat of the New Cyprus Party (YKP), argued that the side which avoided solution in Cyprus should face the world, that there are should be political pressures and that the current situation did not benefit anyone.

In a written statement, Durduran argued that Akinci, who was elected as the most appropriate candidate for solution, was the one who prevented the most prosperous solution by still continuing the blame game.

Stressing that the statements regarding plans B and C were not realistic, Durduran argued that in order for the Cyprus talks to resume, the UN General Secretariat should open a new period of contacts. He added that the Cypriots did not consider that they could continue with the situation and waited for solution.

The paper also reports that the general secretary of the Communal Liberation Party – New Forces Sonay Adem argued that their persistence on the federal solution, would not allow them to escape from this.

In a written statement, Adem said that the fact that both sides engage in a blame game after the failure of the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana, serves separatists in both sides. He stressed that they should try hard in order to avoid the point of no return from the federal solution perspective with the unknown plans B and C. He criticized Turkey's Foreing Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's statemetns that he would first inform the Turkish Presiden and Prime Minister and then the "TRNC officials" as an unacceptable stance.

Adem futher said that the fact that only the political parties represented in the "parliament" were briefed by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci was unacceptable and added that all political parties inside or outside the "parliament should be called in the meetings by the "presidency".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Demokrat Bakis newspaper (12.07.17) reports that former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, evaluating the outcome of the Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana, claimed that "the main cause of the Cyprus problem is that the Greek Cypriots do not see themselves as an equal people with the Turkish Cypriots and that in their dreams the island is under the Hellenic hegemony". Eroglu further alleged that all the proposals, strategies, thoughts and tactics of the Greek Cypriot and Greek sides show that they would never abandon those dreams.

Eroglu added that the failure of the Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana was not surprise either for him or the majority of their "people". He claimed that everytime the Greek Cypriot side tries to show that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side does not abandon Turkey's guarantee system and Turkey's interference rights then any conference would end with failure.

(DPs)

[09] Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce alleges that the Cyprus Conference collapsed because of the Greek Cypriot stance

Addressing a meeting at Kocaeli Chamber of Industry in Turkey, Toros alleged that in spite of all the positive efforts of the Turkish side during the Cyprus Conference which started on 28 June, the process collapsed because "the Greek Cypriots did not back down even by a millimeter". He claimed: "We are very disappointed. We are very sorry, but were we have not been shocked. The main cause of the Cyprus problem has not changed during the past 54 years".

Expressing the view that "we have to be rescued from this situation" because the existing status quo is unacceptable for Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, the EU and the other neighboring countries, Toros said that 12 chapters of Turkey's EU accession negotiations are blocked by Cyprus and recalled that Turkey has a population of 80,000,000 and Cyprus of only 800,000. He argued: "Only if the Cyprus problem is solved, could Turkey recognize the Republic of Cyprus through the normalization of the relations between Cyprus and Turkey. If the Cyprus problem is solved, the Eastern Mediterranean Natural Gas and Oil Project and geo-political and geo-economic relations could be established and only this way could progress be achieved in Turkey's accession talks".

Toros argued that the Turkish Cypriot community should give priority to its economic development and added that under these conditions of so-called isolation from the world and the EU, with a high risk factor and with expensive and limited financing resources, economic development is possible only through the harmonization with the acquis.

He pointed out that because the Cyprus problem continues, there is a "legal debate" on the "abandoned" Greek Cypriot properties, as he described the occupied Greek Cypriot properties in the northern part of the island. "We definitely have to call the owners of these properties to pay the necessary compensations of exchange [these properties] with Turkish properties in the south, that is, in brief, to legalize the status of the title deeds", he claimed alleging that "we have to legalize the land and the property of northern Cyprus".

Moreover, Toros called on Turkish businessmen to make use of the investment opportunities in the occupied area of Cyprus in the fields of tourism, port operation, water administration, agriculture, telecommunication and renewable energy.

(I/Ts.)

[10] Saner attends OIC meeting

Saner delivered a speech during the second day of the summit.

Stressing the importance of coming together at these meetings and discussing "the role of youngsters in a world in solidarity, development and peace", he said the 2025 action program of the OIC had offered a new framework for acting in solidarity.

Touching upon the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, he claimed that despite all efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey the Cyprus Conference held in Crans Montana, ended without an agreement "because of the maximalist and irreconcilable positions of the Greek Cypriot side".

"Therefore, after almost 50 years of negotiations the efforts to form a federation within the framework of the UN Good Offices Mission parameters were expended. After this point, the Turkish Cypriot people who have been unfairly isolated from the world for half a century cannot be condemned to endless negotiations and an uncertain future within the framework of relevant parameters. Now, the only way is for the two equal peoples on the island to solve their problems within the framework of good neighbourly relations and live side by side in peace and respect" Saner alleged.

Expressing the hope that the meeting would contribute to the cooperation and solidarity between their countries, he said: "I want to stress that as an observer status country we are ready to contribute to peace and development in a world in solidarity."

[11] Atun met with ministers in the framework of the 22nd World Petroleum Congress

The congress titled 'Bridges to our Energy Future' that is taking place at the Istanbul Congress Centre will continue until the July 13.

Atun attended the official opening ceremony of the congress. He later met with ministers from other countries.

Minister Atun is accompanied by his "undersecretary" Emin Bilgen, "private secretary" Hurside Baybora, "resident of the board of directors" of K?b-Tek Hasan Cetin Ercen and K?b-Tek "director" Gurcan Erdogan.

[12] Atalay returned to the occupied area after being released on judicial control

Issuing a written statement, Atalay's lawyer Hakan Kes, claimed that "accusations against Atalay are totally groundless. He recalled that Atalay faced charges of being a user of the "ByLock" cryptography system which is allegedly used by FETO supporters, and denied that his client is a user of this system. "This is a clear provocation against my client", Kes alleged, describing all this as a well-manufactured attack.

(AK)

[13] Fifty-two informatics personnel detained over alleged links to Gulen

Police launched an Istanbul-based operation in at the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), leading communication company Turk Telekom, Turkish Airlines (THY), defense company HAVELSAN, and tech company Surat Bilisim on charges of "being a member of an armed terrorist organization" in eight provinces across Turkey.

Most of those on the list were users of ByLock, an encrypted messaging application used almost exclusively by Gulen supporters, according to a statement by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

A total of 52 of those for whom there were detention warrants were detained, while search operations for 53 others were ongoing, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Meanwhile, 40 detention warrants were issued for academics and administrative personnel of the now closed Turgut Ozal University for having alleged links to Gulen as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office, the agency reported. Suspects on the list were also reportedly users of ByLock.

[14] HDP MP Leyla Zana acquitted of terror charges

The Diyarbak?r 5th High Criminal Court ruled for Zana's acquittal on charges of "being a member of an armed organization," "praising crime and the guilty," and "refusing to disperse despite warnings during illegal gatherings and marches," citing that her activities "were not constant and there was no direct evidence of the guilt."

Zana was detained on Feb. 8 and released on the same day on probation. Following the detention, the Diyarbak?r Chief Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation demanding between eight and 21 years in jail.

At the first hearing of the trial in Diyarbak?r, the prosecutor stated that they "found no concrete and convincing evidence which is above suspicion on the imputed offence" and asked for her acquittal. The lawyers present agreed with the prosecutor's observation and the court ruled her acquittal.

A prominent figure in Kurdish politics in Turkey, Zana had previously served 10 years in prison for "being a member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)" after she had taken a part of her parliamentary oath in Kurdish following her election as a lawmaker in 1991.

After serving her sentence, she was released in 2004 and elected again twice in the 2011 and 2015 elections.

Following her release, she was accused of "making terrorist propaganda" and "committing a crime on behalf of a terrorist organization despite not being a member in a number of cases. In April 2008, she was sentenced to two years in prison and in December 2008 to another 10 years in prison. That sentence was outrun by the Supreme Court in 2014.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(CS / AA)

Copyright (C) 2017 Press and Information Office, All rights reserved.

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